The Destruction of Other Churches

The most cult-like of all characteristics of Wellspring Church has been the destruction of other churches!  Certainly, this action has been the most puzzling and strange and bizarre position the church has ever taken. At one point, Wellspring Church was part of a larger group of over a dozen churches under an association called ANTM.  But the two leaders of the church, Chris and Norman slowly began disfellowshipping and dismembering these other member churches. But it all came to a head when the former senior pastor was terminated in 2023. In less than 12 months, FOUR OTHER CHURCHES, all in other states, were destroyed: one in Maine, one in Cleveland, one in Columbus, and one in New Jersey. Three of the four were destroyed in quick order, the people directed to move back to Pittsburgh and join or re-join the mother church, Wellspring, or be permanently disfellowshipped and lose a life-time of friends and family. There were no exceptions made to this hard-line position.

 "Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.” Ecclesiastes 9:18

 The elders of Wellspring, particularly Chris Otis, set their hearts on the COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF FOUR OTHER CHURCHES, and that without mercy! The buildings that existed were sold and the assets generally transferred back to Wellspring church, as most of the buildings were mortgage free. As per both state and federal law, those churches had the right to dissolve and to send their assets to other appropriate nonprofits, so not all of the money came back to Wellspring, depending on the situation, but the goal was the destruction of these other churches and the consolidation of people and power and money back in Wellspring. 

 Do not doubt for a second: Chris Otis and a few key members of the Wellspring eldership destroyed four other churches over which they had no authority. There are many eyewitnesses to these events and specific accounts of exactly what transpired.

 “Every fact is to be confirmed on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Corinthians 13:1

 And in all four of these situations, the destruction and dismemberment of these churches was done through a combination of false accusations, coercion, manipulation, dishonesty, bribery, corruption, and spiritual bloodshed.  Do not doubt this!  This is based on the testimony of dozens of people of all of these former churches and the stories are all basically the same: a determination was made to destroy a church by Elder Chris Otis, and he worked hard to assemble a FALSE set of charges with which to discredit the pastors, elders and status of the church.  This happened in every circumstance and there are many witnesses to these things.

 And most of the people of Wellspring will have little to no information on these matters. Everything was done in secrecy and protected by the pastors and elders nondisclosure agreements. So anyone involved had to remain tight-lipped and could only give vague responses regarding these dealings. This was done intentionally so that the dealings and the corruption could be covered up and glossed over with DISHONEST and VAGUE statements such as, “Well, they are living in sin. Or, they are deceived. Or, they were not willing to be submitted. Or, there are things that happened that I cannot get into because of confidentiality, but it’s not good.”  But Jesus described this very kind of thing:

 “Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.” Luke 12:3

 Do not doubt that what was done in secret will be shouted from the rooftops, both in this life and in the life to come. 

 The situation at the Columbus Church was unique in that the pastor, Jason Elliott, was a good friend of Chris Otis and had close ties with key family and friends in Wellspring. He wanted to fully cooperate with destroying his church and encouraging everyone to move back to Pittsburgh. It seems more than half that church had a desire to move back to Pittsburgh, but that distracts from the fruit of this decision: a long-term, established congregation was shuttered and the assets sold off and the lives of the sheep scattered.  It was so sad to witness – many lives upended and many having to look for a new church home.  Of course, the fact that a better-paying position awaited Elliott in Wellspring helped to sweeten the deal. As all dealings with Chris Otis, they involved bribes and/or threats.

 But this whole affair with the Columbus church originated with Chris Otis and a few close elder friends of his. He was the genesis of this initiative. He made it his goal to destroy and consolidate.  Certainly, there is NOTHING in the Word of God that warrants or gives a pastor or elder in another church the right to destroy another church congregation. This was a SIN and a divisive, destructive sin – stepping outside of the confines of the Bible to enact man’s own intentions.

 "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them." Romans 16:17

 "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” Matthew 12:25

 How could one man do all of this? For one, he did not act alone. But more importantly, it was done like so many other initiatives: in secret and behind closed doors, and given greater secrecy through the NDA’s (nondisclosure agreements) the elders and pastors of these member churches were required to sign. All of the members of the church in Cleveland and Bowdoinham, Maine were called by Chris Otis and/or one of his elders to find out how they felt about their churches and were encouraged to not talk to their pastor or any of the James family.  There was a sense of fear: fear of talking to the wrong people, fear of losing your salvation, fear of “becoming deceived.” That fear drove many decisions over the coming weeks and months.  Everyone was coerced into recognizing that the only safe place to be was in Wellspring, and so dozens of people sold their homes, quit their jobs, changed schools and lifestyles, and they moved back to Pittsburgh to the promised “safety” of Wellspring.

 The leaders of Wellspring, especially Elder Chris Otis, and key members of their entourage have become PERSECUTORS OF THE GOSPEL!  Make no mistake about it. Elder Chris Otis and his closest allies have conspired to thwart the gospel, those taking out the gospel, and any effort of new churches and ministries. They have systematically set about to destroy efforts to take the gospel of the kingdom out from Wellspring Church. Even as they have tried, in man’s strength, to start a new campus church, but does it even matter? You cannot build with the same bloodied hands you used to tear down and destroy other congregations and lives! 

 “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue [or church], but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.” John 16:2-3

 “Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them. For their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.” Proverbs 24:1-2