Information gathering techniques and information advancing techniques were some of the most disgraceful we had ever witnessed. These are strong words but none-the-less necessary to be addressed. Remember when I was informed by a gentleman that was not a member of the church that I had transgressed by approaching the mike and sharing my advice during the small church meeting? This is how information was gathered and dispersed by the leadership. Everything operated on the grapevine which is insulting and degrading. It appeared that everyone knew our business yet no one truly knew our business. Even the comments we heard concerning Jim and Bonnie gave further proof that the rumor mill was judgmental, degrading, and void of much truth. Jim and Bonnie were members of another church in another town, yet their Christianity was heavily scrutinized. Information was flowing through different individuals which made it impossible for the truth to come forth.
We found while in Lawson no matter what we said about our situation people generally thought and concluded on their own what they wanted to believe and reacted accordingly. However, I felt that the lack of action went deeper than that. I was certain that everything was being directed from the leadership and their ldquo;arms length” assessment of the situation. It was as if certain members were selected to gather information and then report back to the leadership. This way the leadership would always “know” what was going on without actually getting involved, which they never did. This was a grave error.
In our situation, we let their imaginations run to their own delights. People will believe whatever they want to believe, and there is not too much anyone could do to change that. There are times when God will put His children in strange places, and while in that place they have to allow people to believe whatever they want to believe. As Michel de Montaigne said, “Nothing is so firmly believed except that which we least know.”1 People will believe whatever they want to believe and no amount of verbal defense ever seems to matter. Words of wisdom to all who may find themselves in a similar situation: 
do not try to justify yourselves. Simply tell the truth and keep your eyes on God.