The Catherine Grove Controversy
A Tragic Yet Honest Account by Catherine Grove
To all that have been following the Catherine Grove Controversy: In the video above, Catherine has recorded a statement on the matter of her departure and return to Wells, TX. Of her own free will, believing it to be her moral obligation and the will of God, she has attempted to honestly share the recent account of her personal experience with her parents, Andy and Patty Grove; she has also willingly humbled herself in ways she believes she has erred. No doubt, this testimony and turn of events will come as a shock to many, but it is no major surprise to those that have rightly understood the deceptive, aggressive, and anti-Christian ways of the Groves, who have falsely and relentlessly accused the Church of Wells for the very things to which they are now found guilty. Though we have feared that the Groves would hold Catherine against her will, manipulate her, and unrighteously attempt to bring her into their own legal custody, the fact that such an atrocious thing has literally happened now is still a heart-wrenching grief and sorrow to our souls. Indeed, it is a shame and a mockery that the Groves have propagated lies against their own daughter of mental illness; blessedly, after Catherine was involuntarily taken to a Psych Ward because of those lies, she has been completely acquitted*. As Christians who believe the Bible to be God's Word, we pray that the Groves would be held accountable by those who are involved in this situation and morally obligated to do so, to the end that they would repent and be saved, and that their lives and behavior would begin to agree with their profession of faith in the true and only biblical Lord Jesus Christ.
May the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy!
Ryan Ringnald
* Here is the official assessment from the hospital.
May the Lord Jesus Christ have mercy!
Ryan Ringnald
* Here is the official assessment from the hospital.
A Letter to the Townspeople of Wells put in the Lufkin Daily Newspaper
Dear Townspeople of Wells,
From the beginning of our move here to Wells, the slander, gossip, and hear-say was incessant. There was talk of us burning down the town, stock-piling weapons, and taking over the town from the get-go, with many other conspiracies. As we walked the streets for personal prayer, as we sang songs and hymns for personal edification, suddenly we were seen as madmen from the start … but why?
Our focus has not been, nor ever will be young children. We will preach to those who will hear us, this is true. Often times young adults (older children) are spoken to because young adults are the ones who will hear us. Do you remember how Jesus said to the 1st century Jews that their children shall be their judges (Matt. 12:27)? Do you know what He meant by this?
As for our time in Wells, young adults are often the ones who are out of their homes and in the streets, and most residents will not allow us to approach them on their properties. As for Saturday, we could not help that there was a 4 year old child in the crowd of people at the parade … what else are we to do? God is sending us to speak to you because He does not want you to perish!
Would you meet with and hear us while leaving your children at home? If so, we would be glad for it! What else are we to do for a town which is perishing? Hear me, we desire the adults, not the children! And we have pursued you all as our primary focus and desire. We desire whole households saved for the glory of God, not families divided!
This issue in Wells is not about the children. Oh that you would hear it! Making this an issue about the children is a Satan-inspired front to deceive you to make it easier for you to escape accountability to the message we are seeking to communicate, a message which you have heretofore denied the allowance of space to simply hear it … and what if God sent us to Wells?
Think of it, my dear people. What else do you have to do with your lives? Children are exposed to and taught violence, murder, selfishness, jealousy, anger, vengeance, covetousness, and more just from what is commonly allowed to be seen through the television, what is commonly communicated through peers, and often times, what is commonly seen in the lives of their parents themselves. How is it that this lifestyle is so acceptable, this exposure is so flagrant, and personal prayer, songs sung for purposes of worship, and a zeal to spread the word of God is so condemned?
Oh that the sleeping and seared conscience would awake! Oh that we could meet one another face-to-face in peaceable, God-fearing dialogue over the truth of scripture, salvation, and eternal Judgment! Dear people of Wells, our desire is for your salvation! It is with this heartbeat we have prayed, fasted, and wept for you all for years. It is for this reason that we have, up to this time, sought to win you all through a mild expression of evangelism which is below the standard rule of boldness which is seen in the scripture.
Have you read the scripture lately? God was burdened for souls and He sent bold men. Urgent situations demand urgent and uplifted cries, and so men lifted up their voice in proclamation. It is urgent that men are converted before they die! And how suddenly does death surprise men? We have refrained from open air preaching in the town of Wells for nearly two years because of the intensity of misconceptions in the town and the possible violence which would ensue. We have preached all over this country without restraint, but here we have exercised so much restraint hoping to win you in other ways … but Satan has successfully caused you to flee and treat us like the Black Plague.
I wish it were not so, dear people. How can we stop the rampant slanders and lies? Will you talk to us? In the face of all this, we can just stand before you with immovable conviction concerning the message that we preach, come what may, but will you rather meet with us? Can we have a town meeting in which we are invited? Can you give us a fair hearing so as to express the message of biblical Christianity?
Concerning the threatened persecutions, we can only affirm the promise that blessed are those who suffer it. We can just stand before you and plead the claims of the gospel of Christ whether you will hear it or not. We can just stand before you, denying the lies. We entrust ourselves and long after the arrival of our final boulevard — the Great White Throne Judgment — for there we will be happily received into the company of men who suffered like things as we from their countrymen, as we do from you (1 Thess. 2:14-16).
Oh that you would not fill up the cup of the wrath of God ordained for yourselves by forbidding us to speak the scriptural gospel of Jesus Christ! We do not wish this eternal fate upon you or any man! No! We would rather have a peaceable conversation over the truth, and those of the town who know us can attest that we are peaceable with those who are peaceable.
We are earnest, hopeful, zealous, and unwavering … yes, but it is for the love of your souls. “For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause” (2 Cor. 5:13). How many people have died these past years? How many have been struck with diseases? It's time to turn to Him that binds up the wounds! God knows, The Church of Wells has been yelled at far more than we have ever lifted up our voices to preach, but their voices were raised in hate and ours in love. Alas, what is the volume of our proclamation if it is not heard?! At least God will be able to say that He sent you a messenger. “Give them warning from Me”, God said (Ezek. 3).
And if it comes to it that some of us must die, if it is appointed to us by God’s sovereignty that the wrath of Wells Texas cannot be abated until some from the Church of Wells do suffer martyrdom, then so be it. What a privilege it would be to lay down our lives for the elect’s sake! God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, yes, and He will give more of His sons for you, dear people of Wells! God willing some of our number!
Our martyrdom may not be meritorious — NO! — but it is a testimony that the biblical Jesus Christ who died for you lives in us (2 Cor. 5:18-21), and He loves you enough to send you such men who are willing to tell you the hard truths of scripture, truths that men need to hear to be saved, and they are willing to seal it with their blood to testify of a God of LOVE! This is not because we are anything, but that Christ is in us, and loves you!
Oh that God would confirm my words before the nation, then would you hear (Rom. 8:36)? What will it take that men will hear us and give us a fair space to speak? Nothing is too precious of a cost only that some of you might hear and be saved, dear people of Wells. Before God, I state these things as one that will give an account. Do your pastors love you so? If there was a public square, God willing we would preach there every day! Every day we love you, people of Wells, and we know that there is a truth that you need to hear even if you deny it: “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).
We are praying about if the Lord would send us to meet you there at Dairy Queen at 1:30 on Saturday, dear people of Wells. Will you speak to us peaceably? Can we bring our wives? Would you like to meet them and speak to them? We love you.
My sincere love and affection,
Sean Morris, on behalf of The Church of Wells
Dear Townspeople of Wells,
From the beginning of our move here to Wells, the slander, gossip, and hear-say was incessant. There was talk of us burning down the town, stock-piling weapons, and taking over the town from the get-go, with many other conspiracies. As we walked the streets for personal prayer, as we sang songs and hymns for personal edification, suddenly we were seen as madmen from the start … but why?
Our focus has not been, nor ever will be young children. We will preach to those who will hear us, this is true. Often times young adults (older children) are spoken to because young adults are the ones who will hear us. Do you remember how Jesus said to the 1st century Jews that their children shall be their judges (Matt. 12:27)? Do you know what He meant by this?
As for our time in Wells, young adults are often the ones who are out of their homes and in the streets, and most residents will not allow us to approach them on their properties. As for Saturday, we could not help that there was a 4 year old child in the crowd of people at the parade … what else are we to do? God is sending us to speak to you because He does not want you to perish!
Would you meet with and hear us while leaving your children at home? If so, we would be glad for it! What else are we to do for a town which is perishing? Hear me, we desire the adults, not the children! And we have pursued you all as our primary focus and desire. We desire whole households saved for the glory of God, not families divided!
This issue in Wells is not about the children. Oh that you would hear it! Making this an issue about the children is a Satan-inspired front to deceive you to make it easier for you to escape accountability to the message we are seeking to communicate, a message which you have heretofore denied the allowance of space to simply hear it … and what if God sent us to Wells?
Think of it, my dear people. What else do you have to do with your lives? Children are exposed to and taught violence, murder, selfishness, jealousy, anger, vengeance, covetousness, and more just from what is commonly allowed to be seen through the television, what is commonly communicated through peers, and often times, what is commonly seen in the lives of their parents themselves. How is it that this lifestyle is so acceptable, this exposure is so flagrant, and personal prayer, songs sung for purposes of worship, and a zeal to spread the word of God is so condemned?
Oh that the sleeping and seared conscience would awake! Oh that we could meet one another face-to-face in peaceable, God-fearing dialogue over the truth of scripture, salvation, and eternal Judgment! Dear people of Wells, our desire is for your salvation! It is with this heartbeat we have prayed, fasted, and wept for you all for years. It is for this reason that we have, up to this time, sought to win you all through a mild expression of evangelism which is below the standard rule of boldness which is seen in the scripture.
Have you read the scripture lately? God was burdened for souls and He sent bold men. Urgent situations demand urgent and uplifted cries, and so men lifted up their voice in proclamation. It is urgent that men are converted before they die! And how suddenly does death surprise men? We have refrained from open air preaching in the town of Wells for nearly two years because of the intensity of misconceptions in the town and the possible violence which would ensue. We have preached all over this country without restraint, but here we have exercised so much restraint hoping to win you in other ways … but Satan has successfully caused you to flee and treat us like the Black Plague.
I wish it were not so, dear people. How can we stop the rampant slanders and lies? Will you talk to us? In the face of all this, we can just stand before you with immovable conviction concerning the message that we preach, come what may, but will you rather meet with us? Can we have a town meeting in which we are invited? Can you give us a fair hearing so as to express the message of biblical Christianity?
Concerning the threatened persecutions, we can only affirm the promise that blessed are those who suffer it. We can just stand before you and plead the claims of the gospel of Christ whether you will hear it or not. We can just stand before you, denying the lies. We entrust ourselves and long after the arrival of our final boulevard — the Great White Throne Judgment — for there we will be happily received into the company of men who suffered like things as we from their countrymen, as we do from you (1 Thess. 2:14-16).
Oh that you would not fill up the cup of the wrath of God ordained for yourselves by forbidding us to speak the scriptural gospel of Jesus Christ! We do not wish this eternal fate upon you or any man! No! We would rather have a peaceable conversation over the truth, and those of the town who know us can attest that we are peaceable with those who are peaceable.
We are earnest, hopeful, zealous, and unwavering … yes, but it is for the love of your souls. “For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause” (2 Cor. 5:13). How many people have died these past years? How many have been struck with diseases? It's time to turn to Him that binds up the wounds! God knows, The Church of Wells has been yelled at far more than we have ever lifted up our voices to preach, but their voices were raised in hate and ours in love. Alas, what is the volume of our proclamation if it is not heard?! At least God will be able to say that He sent you a messenger. “Give them warning from Me”, God said (Ezek. 3).
And if it comes to it that some of us must die, if it is appointed to us by God’s sovereignty that the wrath of Wells Texas cannot be abated until some from the Church of Wells do suffer martyrdom, then so be it. What a privilege it would be to lay down our lives for the elect’s sake! God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, yes, and He will give more of His sons for you, dear people of Wells! God willing some of our number!
Our martyrdom may not be meritorious — NO! — but it is a testimony that the biblical Jesus Christ who died for you lives in us (2 Cor. 5:18-21), and He loves you enough to send you such men who are willing to tell you the hard truths of scripture, truths that men need to hear to be saved, and they are willing to seal it with their blood to testify of a God of LOVE! This is not because we are anything, but that Christ is in us, and loves you!
Oh that God would confirm my words before the nation, then would you hear (Rom. 8:36)? What will it take that men will hear us and give us a fair space to speak? Nothing is too precious of a cost only that some of you might hear and be saved, dear people of Wells. Before God, I state these things as one that will give an account. Do your pastors love you so? If there was a public square, God willing we would preach there every day! Every day we love you, people of Wells, and we know that there is a truth that you need to hear even if you deny it: “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).
We are praying about if the Lord would send us to meet you there at Dairy Queen at 1:30 on Saturday, dear people of Wells. Will you speak to us peaceably? Can we bring our wives? Would you like to meet them and speak to them? We love you.
My sincere love and affection,
Sean Morris, on behalf of The Church of Wells
Dear Townspeople of Wells, Texas and all others who have been heretofore included, “Being defamed, we intreat...” – 1 Corinthians 4:13 (KJV) Most, if not all of you have watched or heard about the news reports of the Lufkin paper and CBS 19. Most, if not all of you have heard about the crowd of individuals (some of which were pastors) which came to one of our properties demanding that Catherine would be brought out. I, Sean Morris, had spoken to some individuals there who explained their intent of joining the crowd. They appealed to me, generally, by saying, “If the rumors or reports are not true, then bring Catherine out...we want to see it for ourselves.” I told these men how unreasonable it is that a 26-year-old young lady should be brought before such a billowing crowd of people, for, it is no atmosphere where scripturally based conviction and careful reason would prevail, but rather peer pressure, coercion, misguided emotion, and perhaps energetic force (God knows what would have happened), and furthermore, we would not have brought her out against her own choice and will. And now, the accusations and fears which the Groves have made and voiced are not reaching a 100 person crowd in Wells, but the entire region of East Texas, our very own carnal families whom we love dearly, and beyond. Despite the fact that Catherine was not even in this house so that she could have been brought out, all my reasoning with certain individuals proved futile because they were overtaken in emotional alarm, being seized therewith because of the foul and untrue reports of Andy and Patty Grove. In contradiction to the report of the Groves, the police force judged Catherine’s condition to be well and safe on three separate occasions. At one of these police investigations (which was propelled by the unfounded accusations of the Groves) the top four authorities of this entire county made a personal visit (Sheriff James Campbell, Chief Deputy Radcliffe, and men of two subsequent ranks), and again, Catherine was well and desirous to stay. These accusations are disturbing to us all, but especially to those of us who are a part of the Church of Wells. As for me, personally, they have given me bodily weakness and sickness because they are so abominable to my soul... but my trouble is not so much for my name, but for Christ, who we confess and do represent. We have been made to look like we are telling people to cover their ears (literally) and not listen to anyone but “the elders.” That is absolutely absurd! We have been made to look as though we are brutally brainwashing our people, so that from the report (Catherine as an example) they are turned into mindless robots under our oppression and rule. We have been made to look like lunatics! And consequentially, we have been treated like animals by complete strangers everywhere! And none, except one or two here and there, would even consider talking to us about the scripture or past events which they have heard reported. Anyone who has been accused of the things which we stand accused of deserves self defense, and all people, as in the court of law, should give a just hearing of our report of what was said and done. Those of you who have known and built relationships with members of the Church of Wells, and have perceived that we are an honest people, please stand up for us in the midst of these allegations, being concerned, if haply they are not true. Would to God that all of the town could come into our houses, talk with the ladies of our Church, and search every soul... I am assured that you would find the word of God written and shining from their hearts, “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart” (2 Cor. 3:3). As for now, no Kingdom — even God’s — is without the weak and feeble, and concerning such there is a guardian’s heart as a good Shepherd would have toward his sheep, and in this heart we both received and maintain the civil rights and choices of Catherine Grove. We have hazarded our lives for the gospels’ sake, and Catherine’s eternal soul. In the case that Catherine does not want to see her family or speak to them for some certain amount of time, we are not going to breach her civil rights and try to force her to do so. If she feels that her faith in God would be hindered and subverted through overmuch interaction with them, then we will encourage her to limit her interaction with them so that her faith survives (at least for the present time). She may not have saving faith, but she has some faith, and she could savingly seal with Christ any day, but Patty and Andy Grove would have her believe that she is already saved. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and the world so hated God that they killed His Son. It may be, as it has been commonly threatened, that some of us will lose our lives, properties, businesses, and safety...but it was God that sent us here, and it is God that makes us stay. May God have mercy on us and give us grace to show the outstretched arms of Christ in the midst of such losses, for we are unworthy to “follow His steps”. For it is written, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). |
What is the real issue?
...Salvation |
I speak now concerning the professing "Church" of American "Christianity:" I am continually amazed at how “the law is slacked”, how “judgment doth never go forth”, how “wrong judgment proceedeth” (Hab. 1:4)! A corrupted law and wrong judgments sent forth through unending media streams, echoed back again by the church on every corner – it is all like a house of mirrors built up around each human soul, making them lost in a warped reality. God says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3), but depravity makes men rich in self-righteousness, a pseudo-religious sincerity, and they are honest people who are honestly deceived. They are sincere and religious but Godless…and therefore the mass of men who live in a certain generation become the final authority of faith and practice. They all join hand in hand as one voice to collectively decide on matters of conscience and religion, self-inventing the moral compass of righteousness and unrighteousness, self-identifying the feeling and communications of God’s love and wrath, and self-verifying the persons who will make up the populations of heaven and hell – and they do it all without God. The “thing” is right or wrong as the mass of people do decide it to be. Then, to help this cause, hell spawns for them such colorful preachers, a people’s preacher instead of God’s preacher, and they become, therefore, preacher parrots, pet preachers, repeating and resounding what tickles the clubhouse-congregation to passion and humor. Their sermons have just enough religious symbolism and biblical phraseology to suffocate the guilty conscience. The audience leaves built up in bondages, but feeling well, feeling like they are doing something right for “Jesus” in their life. The devil sought out for himself pastors that are, behold, “men after man’s own heart”. Willful sin is like an addictive hobby, and what is the matter with it, right!? Every “Christian” has his hobbies…and so, time passes, degeneration takes its awful course, and this collective conscience of once-born men unites in a terrifying direction – they become impassioned to destroy the true work of the living Spirit of Jesus Christ. “When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8), and when He moves in the midst of these religious circles, so that a person comes to be convicted of sin, then the people will call the conviction – itself – a sin, that the man is doubting God’s love, but this is because their faith is a “peacefulness of conscience” on the broad way, a “solid faith” without sincere conviction, an unashamed boldness, without fear, while reveling in personal hypocrisies. Real sin is treated like pets to tame – “pet sins”. The people learn to cage their pet sins just at the right times, some just for a little while, and the beasts learn to behave themselves, you see, at least for the hour of religion, but these pet sins are coddled and cherished, the people are encouraged to “live abundantly” in a life which is condemned, and it is because their pet sins have become culturally acceptable pleasures. Behold the conclusion of the whole matter – God says, “Their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men” (Isaiah 29:13).
The unavoidable consequence of so great a salvation extended into such a scenery, cannot be better said but by Christ Himself. Unashamed, and enduring so great a contradiction of sinners against Himself, He said: "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law" (Luke 12:49-53). To vilify this is to vilify God, but rather we should condemn ourselves and justify God. May God have mercy.
As we pray for the eternal salvation and good of our persecutors, our hearts are stayed upon the Lord remembering that it is written: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely [or lying], for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).
In Jesus’ Holy Name,
Sean Morris (on behalf of The Church of Wells)
The unavoidable consequence of so great a salvation extended into such a scenery, cannot be better said but by Christ Himself. Unashamed, and enduring so great a contradiction of sinners against Himself, He said: "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law" (Luke 12:49-53). To vilify this is to vilify God, but rather we should condemn ourselves and justify God. May God have mercy.
As we pray for the eternal salvation and good of our persecutors, our hearts are stayed upon the Lord remembering that it is written: "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely [or lying], for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).
In Jesus’ Holy Name,
Sean Morris (on behalf of The Church of Wells)