ONE CHURCH LEICESTER (FORMERLY TRINITY LIFE CHURCH): DAVID AND SUSAN HIND NARCIGESIS

 (171) One Church Message | David & Susan Hind (4th June 2023) - YouTube

After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things. At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. ” (Revelation 4:1- 2).

Context is king!

The Book of Revelation is concerned with a series of prophetic visions of apocalyptic events. Revelation 4:1-2 is a momentous event for John who is about to enter, and then enters, the very throne room of God through an open door. 

Does anyone dare reinvent these verses to suit their own interpretation? Yes, actually David and Susan Hind do! A classic Charismatic/Pentecostal/NAR tactic is to rip specific verses of scripture out of context in isolation and put their own spin on them, effectively misapplying them to some invented scenario of their own making. I have heard this practice described as narcigesis, which is a combination of narcissism and eisegesis. When presumptuous false teachers ignore the context of specific verses and crowbar them into their own small selfish ambitions and projects, they are in rebellion and are deeply offensive to the Lord. These false teachers do not rightly divide the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15). Warnings are given throughout the scriptures not to alter God's word in any way. (Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32; Proverbs 30:6). However in the book of Revelation, the revelation of Jesus Christ, a specific warning is given to potential scripture twisters. 

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near. (Revelation 1:1-3).

The warning at the end of the book of Revelation. 

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19).  

Same old same old 

What follows Hind's "prophetic word" is the same old hype we have heard from him previously. This time Hind attempts to convince us that they have "an open door, a prophetic word (Revelation 22:18-19), and a God plan".  I lost count of the number of times Hind repeated the phrase "open door" during this manipulative presentation. The apparent success of TLC/ONE Church is questionable in spiritual terms. ONE Church is comparable to the infamous monster, Hillsong Church, or more locally, Jesus Army aka Jesus Fellowship (by the way approved by the Hinds'), and also the "shipwreck" All Nations Church (previously at 10 Frog Island). These supposed successful churches are often lethal places where inestimable damage is done to vulnerable people. Success in material terms is not a sign that ONE Church is enjoying the favour of God. In fact, it may be a sign that God has actually given them over to apostasy. I have recorded the catalogue of ungodly decisions made by Hind and his cohorts in previous posts, not least how they managed to obtain lottery funding and worm their way into worldly influence through Adam Simmonds, former Director of Trinity Life Church and disgraced Northamptonshire PCC from 2012-2016. {1} This latest hype from the Hinds' confirms their continued pattern of ungodliness and throws up a number of additional red flags. 

* The folly of employing new "Worship Director" Ashtyn Michael. How they love their titles! (Matthew 23:5-12; 2 Corinthians 5:12). Hind wants to introduce "a new breed of worship leaders", and Ashtyn Michael will be moving from London to become their new Worship Director in August. Michael was previously part of the infamous Holy Trinity Brompton's worship team from September 2016 to January 2018. HTB is the source of the controversial Alpha Course and the so-called "Toronto Blessing" in the UK. In 1998 HTB was accused of using "cult methods", and the Alpha Initiative was accused of creating "a Mickey Mouse religion which is cheap, graceless and addictive". {2} After leaving HTB Michael briefly became a Junior Chef at TGI Fridays. {3} After his one-month stint as a Junior Chef, Michael moved to Leicester in September 2019 to be part of the staff team at Chroma Church (formerly Leicester City Vineyard). This position doesn't seem to have lasted very long either as he appears to have scuttled back to London during the pandemic. {4} It would be interesting to know what salary ONE Church will be paying their new Worship Director, but I think we are unlikely to find out since they do not divulge embarrassing details like individual staff salaries. 

* The folly of endorsing false NAR prophet Simon Braker who spoke at their "Encounter Night" the previous Sunday, May 28th. Braker prophesied:  "As you step back into your physical space, know that it is a prophetic gateway. You will walk into increased levels of influence and anointing and His glory. For God has found you faithful in this last season and He has seen your persistence and your refusal to give up, and His word to you is 'ONE Church arise and shine'". (31:00 mark)  I would advise my readers to do some research on the New Apostolic Reformation of which Braker is very much a part. (See Further Links). 

* Susan Hind's alleged "prophetic" aeroplane dream: "I saw a vision of a classic silver aeroplane and many people from ONE Church getting on it, and in the dream, I got up and declared 'There is a seat for everyone on the plane.'" 

* Four months to harvest?  Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. (John 4:35). More manipulation of the scriptures from Dominic Yeo (AOG Singapore) who feeds into the Hinds' delusional mindset. {5} On the strength of this verse, Yeo believes that there are four months to harvest. (31:00 mark)

* The folly of prophecy training. It is pure lunacy to attempt to train anyone in the prophetic. At these sessions, self-professed gurus in the prophetic teach people to replace the Holy Spirit with their own imagination. (Ezekiel 13:3; Jeremiah 23:16).

 

* Female pastors. Hind alone was allegedly invited to join TLC (although the way this was handled by Brian Niblock was very strange to say the least). Now, sixteen years later, ONE Church, formerly Trinity Life Church, are paying salaries to no less than four members of the Hind family, and the biblical precept that a woman should not have authority over a man is completely ignored. (1 Timothy 2:12). The information given on The Charity Commission's website is that no member of staff at ONE Church earns more than £60,000. I therefore surmise that the Hinds' are at the upper end of the pay scale, and that their combined annual salaries amount to somewhere in the region of just under £120,000. The Hinds' standard of living is probably far higher than most attendees who contribute sacrificially to ONE Church. 

Charities report - 22.1 (charitycommission.gov.uk) 

* David Hind's bizarre motivational presentations. According to Debretts, hand gestures make you look more charismatic: "..sweeping expansive hand gestures convey the idea that you are talking about a large idea or concept." {6} When hand gestures are overdone (as they are in Hind's case), they can actually have a negative effect on an audience because they look rehearsed. It is worth noting that overzealous or exaggerated hand gestures are not only cringeworthy to witness, particularly when coupled with a teenage hairstyle, but they can also suggest that the speaker is insincere. {7} In my view Hind's bizarre motivational presentations exude superficiality and are an indication of someone who is trying very hard to sell a bill of goods. (2 Peter 3:16).

* David Hind (1st May 2022): "This is a fulfillment season, an outbreak season."  Over a year later, according to David Hind, we are still on the cusp of revival. This is the typical mantra of false prophets who constantly repeat that we are on the cusp of something enormous, but that "something" never happens - NAR buzzwords: revival, breakthrough, outbreak, awakening etc.

* End-time revival or apostasy? The revival mantra of the false prophets has no biblical foundation whatsoever. No prophecy of an end-time revival exists in the New Testament. The New Testament prophesies rampant spiritual deception, apostasy, false prophets, lying signs and wonders, birth pains.. and ultimately worldwide spiritual deception under the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:14). We should be very wary of those who consistently prophesy "revival" or "awakening". False prophets tickle itching ears and tell us what we want to hear, not what we need to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3).

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24).

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; (Acts 20:29).

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.. (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons.. (1 Timothy 4:1).

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1).

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1).

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Trinity Life Church Leicester (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
2. Church accused of `cult' methods | The Independent | The Independent
3. Ashtyn Michael - Startup Team - naborly | LinkedIn
4. Ashtyn Michael - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki
5. Reverend Dominic Yeo – Assemblies of God Singapore (ag.org.sg)
6. What do your hand gestures mean? • Debretts
7. How to REALLY spot a liar | Daily Mail Online

Further Links

Major errors of Pentecostalism (bible.ca)
(178) What is The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)? with Holly Pivec - The Alisa Childers podcast #16 - YouTube
WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Simon Braker (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
Resource: A glossary of New Apostolic Reformation terminology. (churchwatchcentral.com)
AZUSA STREET-Birth of a Lie (scionofzion.com)