This is something I wrote one night in 2011. This is harsh reading and will offend many (you are forewarned to skip if you are easily offended). My words here will come across as self-righteous, I know, but they are the most honest words I have ever written. They were certainly the most liberating words! This document marked the end of my dialogue with UBF. I tried to find some sense from UBF leaders for 4 months. In August 2011, I had reached the boiling point. In fact, it became a turning point, for which I am grateful.
SUMMARY REBUKE OF KOREAN AUTHORITY IN UBF
8/14/2011
SOURCE OF REBUKE:
2 Peter 2:16
“16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey–a beast without speech–who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.”
For 24 years, from 1987 to 2011, Brian Karcher has treated Korean leaders in UBF with double-honor. He has obeyed absolutely at every turn, treating them as prophets of the LORD and acknowledging the glorious work of God done through Korean leaders. Surely the LORD God has poured out His blessings abundantly through the sacrifice, integrity and hard work of Korean leaders in UBF. For 50 years, God has used the vessel made by Korean missionaries sent from UBF to many countries. It has been said that Brian Karcher is an exemplary fruit of UBF ministry–a model of obedience, faithfulness and thoughtfulness. His testimony has already been reported around the world among thousands of UBF coworkers. And many have rejoiced.
Brian Karcher is a man of few words. For all practical purposes, he has been like a donkey who cannot speak. Since being alone in Detroit for 8 years, God has now given Brian Karcher a voice to speak and to restrain the madness that has also been created by the Korean leaders in UBF. Along with the many, many blessings, Korean leaders have intentionally and unintentionally exerted excessive demands to obedience, placing heavy burdens on American shepherds and shepherdesses. This has caused many American families much sorrow, anguish and confusion. This open rebuke from Brian Karcher is to address this excessive authority issue in an attempt to prevent the pattern of pain from re-occurring in the next 50 years of UBF ministry.
BASIS OF REBUKE:
To rebuke is to criticize sharply; to reprimand, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. God’s command for Christians to rebuke is clear in Scripture.
Leviticus 19:17
“Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.”
Psalms 50:21
“These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face.”
Proverbs 27:5
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”
Matthew 18:15-17
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
1 Timothy 5:17-21
“17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.”
2 Timothy 4:1-3
“1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
DESCRIPTION OF THE SIN COMMITTED:
American leaders have been like donkeys, carrying Korean leaders in humble obedience on their backs for nearly 40 years.
Korean leaders have beaten down the American leaders and refused to turn over leadership to them. Korean leaders have refused to obey the vision God gave to the UBF founders, Sarah Barry and Dr.Samuel Lee. Their vision and prayer was for 561 American campus shepherds to be raised.
The story of Balaam and his donkey being confronted by the angel of the LORD is a Biblical metaphor that describes the sin of Korean leaders in UBF. In this metaphor, Balaam (the prophet of the LORD) represents Korean leaders. Balaam’s donkey represents American shepherds and shepherdesses. It is time for American leaders in UBF to take a stand in hopes that God may spare His wrath and pour out his blessings once again upon UBF.
Numbers 22:20-33
20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.” 21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. 24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again. 26 Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” 29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. 32 The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her.”
EVIDENCE OF THE SIN:
Brian Karcher has observed the excessive authority of Korean leaders for 24 years, since 1987. He has stored up many things in his heart, but not knowing what to do about the sin. As Brian Karcher prepared his 2011 Key Verse testimony, no word of God came to him. Then he read Sarah Barry’s New Year’s letter. In it she prayed this prayer: “I pray for the UBF ministry worldwide to be salt and light in the world. I pray that our lay missionaries, who live and work in every area of society, may be men and women of integrity, with unashamed gospel faith. May they penetrate society like salt and light with godly influence that changes the world. May each of us dig deep into the Scriptures, grow in the image of Jesus and be Bible teachers. May God make us a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Based on this prayer, Brian Karcher took Matthew 5:13-16 as his key verse, not knowing how God would use this word.
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
After attending the 2011 Easter Bible Conference with Toledo UBF, Brian Karcher was introduced to the Holy Spirit through a presentation on the Holy Spirit prepared by Tuf Francis. At that conference, Brian Karcher suddenly became an instrument in the hands of the Spirit of Truth (John 16:7-14).
The Holy Spirit of God prompted Brian Karcher to open a dialogue with Korean and American leaders in Toledo UBF on April 20th, 2011. He opened this dialogue by sending a conference report that contained an explanation of things that troubled him and also things he learned from the conference.
From that day until now, August 14th, 2011, Brian Karcher has intentionally kept the dialogue open, refusing to quickly reconcile matters with Toledo UBF. The Spirit has worked in new and remarkable ways. Korean and Americans began talking to each other like never before. Instead of vertical-only conversations with shepherds, Brian Karcher’s dialogues opened up many horizontal-conversations, sparking debates and dialogues among numerous groups of coworkers, both in Toledo UBF and in other chapters around America. This dialogue has now run its course. This document serves as the closing reminder of this dialogue.
DEMANDS OF THIS REBUKE:
Leave no family alone in the mission field and send coworkers to every lone house church in America.
Create a plan for 561 American campus shepherds to plant 561 UBF chapters so that each chapter is fully supported by a regional chapter.
Request a succession plan from every Korean director to establish American leadership as ordained pastors by the central chapter
Draft a collaborative UBF Constitution, UBF Core Value Statement and UBF Mission Statement.