So I was interviewed about my experinces at MOSAIC. Here it is.

Bio:
RubenReviews: What occupation are you in and how long?
My Name is Francisco Loaiza and I am a Member of the Technical Staff (Systems Administrator) at an Aerospace Company in Pasadena, CA I have worked there since 1991.
RubenReviews:What is your connection to Mosaic church--what ministries where you involved in and how long?
I visited the Church on Brady when I was 16 years old, in 1986 through Holly Byrd, (now Holly Hair) and later became a member in 1987. I was a Bible Study Leader and then became a Youth Worker , (1989), in the Youth Ministry and led Weekly Bible Studies. At MOSAIC, I was a leader in the College Ministry.
My Wife and I decided to leave MOSAIC in September 1998.

RubenReviews:You have spoken admiringly of the old Church on Brady. Why do you have such strong affection for that church?

It was during my time at The Church on Brady that I really began to understand the Scriptures and I was surrounded by people and leadership that really invested in my Christian walk. People like Holly Byrd, Eddie Marshall, Laszlo Veszpellar, Margaret Veszpellar, Dave Mushegan, Bruce Welch, Steve Walker, Clara Welch, Kristin Klindt, etc....These people helped me to understand the Scriptures and to apply them to my life. This was a time in my life where I was new to the Lord, I was full of the joy of my new found salvation.

These Youth Leaders provided opportunities for me to serve others, (Vacation Bible School, and other service projects and Mission Trips). These were very formative years for me spiritually, and I have many fond memories and close friends that I still communicate with to this day from that time. It was at the Church on Brady where I met my wife to be and at the Church on Brady where we were wed.

RubenReviews: Regarding the pastor of Mosaic, are there serious character issues with him? If so, can you provide and example or examples of those character deficiencies?
I think that the main thing I see/saw in Erwin R. McManus is deception. I think he uses deception in various ways to get things done. Here are a couple examples:

In 1993 David Arcos invited me to a Bar-B-Que. He told me that Erwin might be at this Bar-B-Que, so I asked him where I can meet him. He then proceeded to tell me that he, (David Arcos), would pick me up. He picked me up and we ended up at Erwin's home in Alhambra, (at the time). That threw me for a loop since David had told me that Erwin might be there, and we were parked in front of his home! Before we entered the home for this Bar-B-Que, David told me not to bring up any Theological questions with Erwin, that this was only to be a relaxed atmosphere "to get to know each other". I complied and we entered the home. Mark Kaprive and Erwin were inside, and nobody else. I thought it was kinda strange for a Bar-B-Que... This turned out to be a very exclusive Bar-B-Que indeed...
Erwin was fidgeting around with the the grill and I approached him and asked him if there was an issue between he and I... He responded with an adamant YES!. He proceeded to tell me that every time I meet with him , or talk with him, that I always have a Bible question or a deep Theological discussion comes up. He just wants to get to know me for who I am and not be confronted with Theological discussions. He also told me that the Elders at Brady have already "tested" him on what he believes and that he doesn't need me to check on him as well. I was taken aback. Wow, I thought, this guy is really upset about this. Needless to say, this Barbecue turned out to be a set-up confrontation. Mark Kaprive and Erwin basically spent the rest of the time speaking about Predestination and Erwin began to take apart RC Sproul's belief's on Election and being Born-Again. I felt that I was tricked into something.....

Example 2: In 1994 Catherine and I were engaged to be married and we wanted to have a bilingual wedding. We wanted to have Bro. Tom Wolf and Erwin do the Wedding. We envisioned Bro. Tom doing the English part of the ceremony and Erwin doing translating it to Spanish. We approached Bro. Tom and he agreed to do it and we approached Erwin and he said that he doesn't speak good enough Spanish.I asked Erwin that since he was a Pastor at a Spanish speaking congregation in the past, (Dallas, TX), that I think he would do well. He said that he cannot speak Spanish well enough. I was confused as to why he didn't want to do it. Several months later,(August 1994), Catherine and I attended a wedding at Brady that Erwin led, and he executed the ceremony in English and was translating the ceremony in Spanish "on the fly". His Spanish was actually pretty good. I could not understand why he didn't want to do my wedding in Spanish. Once again I felt that I was deceived by Erwin....

RubenReviews:Did you ever approach leadership with any of your concerns?
Not about these concerns in particular, but I approached The Elders about the fact that I felt that Erwin's Sermons didn't make sense to me.I also felt that there was not enough discipleship at Mosaic, there was a great emphasis put on evangelism, but not enough discipleship of the evangelized. I have been told that Erwin has quoted me as saying that I said, "Mosaic is too evangelistic" This is simply not true, I never said this. I said that we had an unbalanced emphasis on evangelism and not enough emphasis on discipleship.

RubenReviews: Have there been any attempts from Mosaic leadership recently to contact you? If so, did that go well?

No, I have contacted MOSAIC leadership myself and Eric Bryant has written me back several times, but I have yet to hear from Erwin, but I know he is very busy with Speaking engagements around the country.

RubenReviews: You have expressed some of your opinions on a website and blog critical of Mosaic. There are those who say that this is an unbiblical way of expressing concerns. Why shouldn't those who have concerns simply approach the leader they had a problem with and then come to some sort of resolution behind closed doors?

Because it is very difficult to meet with Erwin. I think that he hides behind his staff.

RubenReveiews: Wouldn't this be the best choice given the possibility many unbelievers and new believers have read the blogs and formed an unsavory opinion of the Christian church?

Yes, I agree.

In Proverbs 22:1 we read; "A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold. "I am so amazed that Erwin has not done anything to restore his good name.

RubenReveiews:Have there been any attempts from Mosaic leadership recently to contact you? If so, did that go well?
No, I have contacted MOSAIC leadership myself and Eric Bryant has written me back several times, but I have yet to hear from Erwin, but I know he is very busy with Speaking engagements around the country.

RubenReviews:Finally, given your interest in politics, I'm curious: who's going to be the next GOP candidate for president, Guliani or McCain?

I would like to see Newt Gingrich or Sam Brownback get nominated. John MCCain flip flops as much as John Kerry and will probably suffer the same consequences that Kerry did politically.

Thanks.

I Corinthians 16:13-14 states:
"13Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
14Let all that you do be done in love. "

This is so appropriate for me right now since I have been thinking back on all that I experienced at MOSAIC before I left. I think it's always healthy to evaluate one's heart in light of Scripture. As I have spoken with others who were very close to the leadership at MOSAIC I see the same patterns of deception and twsiting of truth. It makes me want to pray more and more for Erwin McManus and his leadership style and his character.

I know, (but sometimes have to remind myself), that God is in control.
I know, that the timing of Robbie's blog, Ruben's blog, and MosaicOfPain's myspace has all been done in God's timing. Some have accused Robbie of leading some type of conspiracy against MOSAIC; this is not so.
Robbie NEVER contacted me regarding his Mosaic of silent sorrows....
I actually contacted him. I have been discussing Erwin and his deception for many, many years. Some things I have kept to myself. Other things I have shamefully told people out of my anger and my bitterness. I have made several attempts to meet with Erwin back in 1998 before I left and it never happened.
I assumed that Erwin did not want to meet with me, my assumption has now been verified. We, (as humans), are so emotional sometimes, and this is why its good to look at the Scriptures and measure our hearts with the Truth in The Bible and check our attitudes as well. I would like to encourage everyone who has been hurt by a leader, or a Pastor or a church to do this regularly. Stand firm in your Faith in God, when your faith in man is destroyed or questioned. Stand firm in the face of opposition, and stand firm for the Truth. Don't let emotions get the best of you, and always test your heart with His Word.

In His Grip,
Frank Loaiza
2 Corinthians 4

1Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,
2but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.
6For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Yep, that's me.... Not sure when this picture was taken, but it was way before facial hair......
Here's a verse from the Scriptures that means alot to me right now....

Romans 12 NASB
Dedicated Service
1Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17Never pay back evil for evil to anyone Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
19Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.
20"BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I know , Iknow that's alot for you to read.....
In light of what has gone on, (and is going on) with Robbie's blog-site, (http://truthdiscovery.blogspot.com/), this is a very appropriate verse for all of us to read and ponder. I know that God's word has cut me to the quick this week with my heart attitude and the manner in which I have reminisced regarding my experiences at MOSAIC.

Your Bro,
Frank Loaiza