LEFT HIGH AND DRY IN A CORNFIELD

In 1999, Pastor Steve Gray informed his congregation at the Smithton Community Church in rural Missouri that "the cloud has moved." Apparently for Gray and those who would follow him, the cloud was moving 100 miles west and would settle in Kansas City. Beginning in 1996, Gray's small country church hosted what was called "The Cornfield Revival," worship services punctuated with twirling and jumping manifestations. In the years that followed, the church recorded an attendance of 250,000 people.

When Gray opened the new World Revival Church in Kansas City in January 2001, two thirds of the Smithton congregation had moved west with the pastor. But for the 32 families who stayed behind—including four of the church's five deacons— feelings of betrayal and frustration are paramount. One of those deacons, Douglas Galey, told Christianity Today magazine, "We were deceived. We were all told that a building would be built close by. I didn't give money to build Steve Gray's kingdom."

Galey said he contributed $8,300 to the building fund. Another family, who also did not follow the "cloud," claims to have donated $43,788 to the church's building fund. Jerry Spencer wrote to Gray charging, "Many members of the congregation, including ourselves, paid for construction of a new Smithton church and had no idea you would take our money elsewhere." Galey added that another individual had donated an undeveloped plot of land close to the Smithton church to accommodate its future growth. Gray told CT magazine that the Smithton land has been sold and its proceeds are being invested for possible purchase of land in Israel.

Gray's lawyer, G. Stanton Masters, argued that the Smithton offering envelopes stated that the church leadership "reserves the right to redirect all funds to the area of ministry most needed." Masters has also threatened countersuits against any former members who may seek legal action against Gray and the WRC. Charisma magazine, reporting on the dispute, stated, "Revival Church Compares Detractors to 'Spiritual Terrorists'" and cited the church's web site which claimed, "these spiritual terrorists use similar tactics as international terrorists."

Gray contends that the growing church had surpassed its potential in the tiny community of 532. "We determined that we couldn't grow in the middle of nowhere," Gray told CT magazine. As the relocation plans progressed, church leaders spent $400,000 of the church's money for land in Kansas City and borrowed another $500,000 for construction of the new building. The Kansas City facility is a 25,000-square-foot building with capacity for 1,800, seated on 62 acres. Services in the new location draw about 550 people each Sunday.

—MKG

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