Dear friends,

In light of some very recent events, we are writing to all former and current participants of the Weigh Down Workshop and Strongholds series to pass on some important information. Since 1997, we have participated in and/or coordinated the Weigh Down Workshop. In 1998, I (Adam) began coordinating the Exodus from Egypt Strongholds series. We have greatly benefited, as have many of you, from these programs. Through them, God has developed in us a deeper relationship with Him, a renewed love for His word, and freedom from a variety of emotional and spiritual strongholds.
These blessings notwithstanding, Maria and I have very recently decided to stop coordinating and participating in the Weigh Down Workshop due to some disturbing developments emanating from the Weigh Down Workshop headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. Approximately two and a half years ago, Gwen Shamblin, David Martin, and their families left their church and founded a church called Remnant Fellowship. Around one year ago, Gwen issued a faith statement and e-mail on her website denying the existence of the Trinity as taught in mainstream Christianity.
In June of 2001, we visited the Remnant Fellowship in Nashville for a Remnant Weekend. There, we received encouragement from Gwen and the Remnant Fellowship leadership to leave our church because it did not live up to the standards of purity and holiness for Jesus' church that Gwen claims are found in the Bible. We also received considerable encouragement to found a Remnant Fellowship branch in New York City. Needless to say this was disturbing and upsetting, as the leadership in Remnant Nashville knew very little about the church we call home. Due to our zeal for Gwen's teachings, we're ashamed to say we followed her advice without too much independent thought or searching of the Scriptures, and raised a real ruckus in our home church.
Fortunately, we had several friends and church leaders who had questioned this rapid change in our attitude about our church, and who were willing to discuss the related Scriptures with us. Through careful study and comparison of Gwen Shamblin's teaching on the concept of grace with that revealed in the word of God, it became clear that there is something fundamentally innacurate and misinformed about the way that Gwen presents this central concept of Christian teaching, as compared to mainstream Christian teaching. This understanding of grace leads to a radically different presentation of Jesus and the reason for His death, burial, and resurrection. Gwen Shamblin labels salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ as a "false grace" that gives people a "license to sin."
We sincerely apologize to anyone who participated in Weigh Down or Strongholds who may have gotten a confused or unclear understanding of the grace of Jesus Christ. Many of you mentioned things earlier on that should have been warning signs to us, and for that, we thank you. We know that many of you have been blessed by participating in these programs just as we have, and we believe that such blessings come only from God! It is clear to us that when God finds a willing heart in someone, He can use anything, even a flawed message, to bring them closer to Him.
We no longer coordinate Weigh Down or Strongholds; however, these programs do continue to be available in our city. We wanted to write this letter to all of you because a new series by Gwen Shamblin entitled Weigh Down Advanced is going to be offered in our city beginning this fall. As former Weigh Down or Strongholds participants, or people who expressed interest in the program, you may receive an invitation to join this program. We previewed much of this material at our visit in Nashville, and we want to warn you up front that it seems to us that Gwen's inaccurate conception of grace as it differs from mainstream Christianity is strongly propagated in this series. You may also be encouraged to examine your church body and leave your church if it does not measure up to Remnant Fellowship's ideal of what a church should be.
There is not room enough in this letter to discuss the ins and outs of all the Scriptural arguments for and against Gwen Shamblin's teaching in Weigh Down, Strongholds, and Weigh Down Advanced. We only write you to inform you of our departure from the program, our reasons why, and, from our perspective, the direction that you can expect this ministry to proceed. You can seek more information on the Internet at some excellent websites that we have found. At www.midwestoutreach.org, there is an excellent piece entitled "Weighed Down with False Doctrine?" You can also find plenty of information at www.hoyweb.com, and an excellent piece on her theology at www.str.org/free/solid_ground/SG0011.htm. Of course, if you have any questions, feel the need to talk, or need more information, feel free to call or e-mail us. You can reach us at  snatchedfromfire@yahoo.com
We hope that this letter finds you well and that your walk with God is moving on to heavenly destinations. We often think of you, and when we do, we say a prayer that God will continue working in your lives. This is not a pleasant occasion for us to write about, but we felt that all who we had worked with or impacted through this ministry had a right to know what was going on.
Please continue to stay in contact with us. Give us a call, or e-mail us anytime. We'd love to hear how you are doing.

In Christ,

Adam and Maria Brooks