Pros
When people go through stress, fear, or instability together, especially in environments where there’s pressure, unpredictability, or even emotional harm, they often form unusually strong attachments. The brain starts to associate relief and connection with those same people who are experiencing the stress alongside them. It’s less about healthy compatibility and more about shared survival. This was my experience with my coworkers at Pinelake, and when I speak to others who have worked there, they share the same sentiment. I left that job with deep friendships with people I wouldn't typically connect with so strongly outside of that experience.
Cons
I cannot put into words how deeply scarring and traumatizing this work environment was. The gossip, passive-aggressive comments, and constant fear that everyone on my team and the broader teams experienced is like nothing I've seen before. I watched my coworkers, most of them single-handedly, manage 60-80 hours of work each week. The church attendance and the number of staff were vastly disproportionate to other campuses and to what is normal, placing an even greater stress and workload on employees. The pay was also far below average, and there was no account for the area you lived in, the workload (which was wildly different among same-title positions), years of experience, or the cost of living. The raises we received were only 3%. Over the last 5 years, inflation has far exceeded that rate. The financial stress only adds insult to injury.
I began working for a secular company a year after leaving Pinelake, and I remember how heartbreaking it was to see Christian values played out more in that environment than I ever did in a church. The grace, kindness, compassion, safety, servanthood, encouragement, and justice without cruelty were so natural that I felt even more disheartened in my experience at Pinelake.
I met a woman several years ago who told me her husband was a pastor at Pinelake, and I neutrally asked what their experience was. She said it wasn't a great one. When I dug in a little deeper, she shared the same thoughts I shared above through many tears. The fear, rejection, and humiliation they experienced at the hands of the SLT were still hard for her to discuss. Deep, deep wounds. I told her about the restoration that took place after Tim left, and we both celebrated healing for the staff and were hopeful that change was on the horizon. With that said, I genuinely hope there is a constant push for healing and a strong advocate for my friends who are still employed there.