I have given this post a very specific title for purposes of searches online. My name has been smeared beyond repair on the Internet, but I am posting this after having hundreds of searches in the last 2 years appear on my blog dashboard regarding my sudden disappearance from Crosstalk and departure from VCY America in 2011.
A malicious and dishonest family member deliberately floated the rumor (several lying rumors actually) that I am now divorced and that suggested search term appears when my name is put into google.
For the record, I will have been married 18 years in June to Tom, the greatest gift from God I could have received. He is the love of my life. It is an outright lie.
For the record, Tom and I left VCY America in May of 2011 after my prayerful attempt to honestly address some long standing, extended family and employee concerns was met with open hostility on March 5, 2011. Unable to function with integrity in our jobs in the ensuing fallout, we had to walk away from our livelihoods – jobs we had done for a combined 43 years, and for me, a lifetime at VCY America. Despite repeated attempts to get help from the board, we were treated as less than human and discarded.
There is an obscene, fictional account online of my departure on a hate blog that has linked here to my own blog so I see the incoming hits from those doing searches. We have strong reason to believe that the sick individual writing the lies online was encouraged by the same hostile family member whose well concealed malice has done a great deal of harm.
I worked hard for 2 decades to bring essential information to Christians at a time of enormous changes within evangelicalism. Despite a near constant stream of incoming personal attacks that result when you address these spiritually rooted issues, the 23 years of work that I did speaks for itself, and I feel no need to defend the quality or motivation involved.
A short time ago, I removed the posts here at the Hope Blog that detailed the harm done to us in the past 2 years by VCY America. They were pulled, not because anything had changed, and not because any of it is OK. It’s not OK. But we are making every effort to accept the losses and move on, and removing the record of wrongs was a step I took for me. God has the only record book that matters.
So if you something bizarre online, or notice google bombs (dishonest false search terms repeatedly put into google for purposes of slander) with my name attached, please just contact me if it worries you. I’m always here to answer questions if someone feels they need to know the facts about something. It’s interesting that despite the many times I have seen my name with ugly search terms next to it on my WordPress dashboard, I have yet to hear personally from more than a handful. I would think that when reputations are at stake, going to the source would be the Christian thing to do.

21 comments
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March 5, 2013 at 23:34
Teresa
Ingrid,
I am happy that you are speaking up because I just had someone Sunday ask me what happened to you. I did tell them what I know to be true but I will direct my friend to this. You are a person of such high integrity and so proud of you and how you have handled this matter. You have brought honor and glory to the LORD. keep your heart true to the LORD and God’s speed to you.
March 5, 2013 at 23:45
Ingrid Schlueter
Thank you, Teresa.This is something I should have posted immediately, early on. Sadly, things continued to develop, and in the bewildering aftermath, bits and pieces came out, but not a succinct summary. There is no other story. It is simple. I tried to address some things. The response was hostility and punishment that was serious enough we literally had no choice but to leave. There had never been any issue raised by any staff member or anyone else regarding program content, performance or integrity. I am the same person I was 2 years ago with the same beliefs in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been called “prodigal”, accused of being a “heresy hunter”, utter nonsense that was crafted after the fact to cover embarrassment at our departure. There is no scandal. The lies got worse and worse as things became more public, and the worse his lies became, the more public I felt I had to respond. It was a vicious cycle and utterly unacceptable for those who claim to know Jesus.
I made the statement exactly 24 months ago today in my kitchen. Either God can fix this situation or our faith is a lie. Failure to heal interpersonal blow-outs is the number one way to discredit our Lord. But healing can only take place where HONESTY undergirds all that is said. Cursed pride and its lies are sure death.
March 6, 2013 at 00:36
Jean Selden
Ingrid,
Only those without the Spirit of God in them would ever question your integrity. The blogs you post from your heart, your faithfulness towards God, the life you live as a dedicated wife and mother speak volumes. Your children are a testimony of a godly woman.
“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Pr 31:29
In Christ Alone,
Jean
March 6, 2013 at 03:11
Donna
Lucky to know you, proud to be your friend.
March 6, 2013 at 03:41
Lorrie
I second what Teresa and Jean said!
March 6, 2013 at 13:01
Bonnie
Ingrid, I was a Crosstalk listener for years and years and learned much from your shows. When all of this went down, I felt a definite loss and miss your shows. You saved me from getting involved on a Purpose Driven church which I will be eternally grateful. Crosstalk’s quality of programming has lessened in my viewpoint because there are issues that are not covered because a woman is not on staff. I have stopped listening to the radio station and stopped sending money. I believe VCY America has lost their integrity and I can’t support them as long as a certain man is involved with them. When he steps down, apologizes to you AND REPENTS, I will prayerfully seek The Lord whether I should be involved again. Meanwhile, I’m glad that you have continued to live faithful to The Lord and praise Him with your life. I enjoy your blog posts and believe you continue to impact and improve lives more than you know. Thank you for continuing on and standing for truth.
Bonnie
March 6, 2013 at 19:34
Lori Glass
So sorry for all you have been going through. I have missed you on Crosstalk also. I think removing posts and trying to move on is good. It shows who has class in this situation even though I am sure that is not why you did it. You did it because it was the right thing to do. Will continue to keep you and your family in my prayers.
March 6, 2013 at 20:40
Carol
Absolutely, I agree that people should go right to the source, that being you. God knows and sees all. I know that you have faith that He will have the truth come out in His way and His time. Ingrid, continue to speak the truth and put the situation in the Lord’s hands; He is working.
March 7, 2013 at 00:28
Janet
I know people do search for you online, as I did too, when I started missing you on Crosstalk. I used to listen on my way home from work and really loved it when you were on. I did email VCY as to whether you would be coming back on the air and got no answer. I wish you were still on, as you provided a valuable service in the “spiritual discernment” area, which is a real weakness in the contemporary church, I believe. Haven’t been to your blog in some time, I just pulled up my feeds that I hadn’t seen in months, but anyways, I hope there will be a restoration in the relationship, for the benefit of all concerned and the glory of God.
March 7, 2013 at 00:45
Judi Hayes
Ingrid, I want to offer you another possible reason why people may not have contacted you re. some of the ugly posts: because they are so patently false that the readers don’t believe them. I, for one, saw the obscene, fictional account that you referred to, and it was so apparent to me where the writer was coming from that I instantly discounted it as LIES. I did want to know what was going on, and why you left VCY, because I thought you did the best job on Crosstalk, for it was all so troubling and sad. My husband would tell me to call you and ask, or maybe he said to email you with my questions, but I didn’t want to bother you. However I could not believe the lies that I read about you. They just did not fit what I’ve seeen about you on your blog and on Crosstalk. But, sadly the lies do cast doubt in peoples’ minds, because those who don’t know you personally know that we don’t truly know a person just by what we read or hear. I think it was right to come out publicly, after getting no resolution to the problems any other way. And now, as you say, God has the only record book that matters; most of us know only one person’s word against another’s word. And we have to choose who appears to us to be most reliable. But GOD knows the whole truth of the matter. I still pray that repentance and healing will occur for your entire family. And I thank GOD for keeping you near the cross (I’m thinking of the hymn, Jesus keep me near the cross…) and in the shelter of His everlasting arms through all of this horrendous mess. Your post about metamorphosis is very pertinent to this whole situation. Know that many are indeed praying for you all, and we appreciate you so much. And I’m glad that you aren’t a quitter!
March 7, 2013 at 02:18
Beverley
Ingrid, Your struggles have been great. Thank you for being such an example of a God-fearing woman. You stated it so well, “God has the only record book that matters.” … I must remember this.
I agree with all the previous commenters and hope you will be encouraged by our words of love and friendship.
March 8, 2013 at 12:27
Teresa
Ingrid,
I commented once already and need to again.
Just you remember the LORD has you in the palm of his hand and no man, nothing can pluck us out, praise the LORD. We, your friends, your biggest fans are behind you every step of the way.
Our sin will find us out, it will be shouted from the house top and so will your fathers and the board at VCY. They can slash you and trash you all the want but…… the LORD will vindicate you, he will clear and repair your wonderful name. Sometime it is hard to see what that will looks like.
I pray for God to take this foolish thing and turn it around for his good, no matter how that looks. I do pray that repentance and restoration comes to Vic, all the staff and board member that are covering this mess up, they need help that only the LORD can give them. I think about Esau and how he prayed for repentance with many tears and God did not grant it to him. I am scared, concerned for Vic and his eternity.
I admire you on how you have handled this with such grace to those who have wronged you and with honor to the LORD,
Hold your head high, if God be for us, who shall be against us. Love Teresa
March 8, 2013 at 15:07
Ingrid Schlueter
Thank you, all of you, for your kind comments. It has been a very dark 2 years, but we don’t face the challenges alone.Your encouragement is very real to my heart.
When I said it was a lifetime at VCY, I wasn’t exaggerating. We grew up there as kids. We had no other world but that one all of our lives. Here is a photo of my sister, brother and me, I’m on the left. I wasin 4th grade, my sister in second grade, I believe. We’re standing in the front lobby at 27th and Vliet, what used to be VCY headquarters.
http://ingridschlueter.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/vcykids.jpg
March 8, 2013 at 19:20
Teresa
Ingrid,
Thank you for sharing your life, and your heart with us. When you are up on the mountain and when we are down in the valley, we are here but most of all God will never leave you nor forsake you. This is what I try to remember and this my favorite song, which I sure you know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ_1_aDvoCA
BTW Emmy looks half like you and half like Tom, giggles.
March 8, 2013 at 20:05
Char
My husband teaches computer classes to senior citizens. One woman taking his class this past week said she wanted to learn so that she could find your blog, since she wondered why you had disappeared from Crosstalk. Just thought you’d like to know.
March 11, 2013 at 15:35
ann
Hi Ingrid, I still listen to VCY and did not know there were program problems with Crosstalk. Since you left I don’t listen to Crosstalk as much, but very much like Brannon Howse’s show. (I thought you left to spend more time with Emily) What is missed most of all are the lighter shows you did about children, reading, books and making a sanctuary at home for family. Even though my kids are in their later teens and early twenties, it’s still so important. Glad I rediscovered your Hope Blog! I will pray for you and your family. Peace & May you all be reconciled!
March 13, 2013 at 01:10
None
Ingrid, you and Tom are an inspiration to me and many others. I believed your account immediately. I personally know what it is like to be slandered, but I have never experienced it to the degree you have. I have dealt with self-centered people and have quite a radar for them now.
God will bless you for your faithfulness, here and in eternity!
Please excuse me for not sending an encouraging word sooner.
March 19, 2013 at 23:29
Simplydannygirl
Hello Ingrid, Dear Sister Ingrid……
I’m so sorry to hear how much you have been suffering.(lol, finally sorry about something) But this sounds like something orchestrated from the pits of Hell. No doubt many of God’s sincere people are going through Trials, Tribulations, and Persecutions.
But, I’m sure God in His Wisdom he has allowed us to go through these Persecutions to share in Christ Suffering”. You know, “genuine, Yet regarded as impostors”. We suffer.
(“3giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,4but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,5in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,6in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,7in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;9as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,10as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.”)
I know hardship and sufferings like a coat of Faith. I sometimes find it too heavy and very suffocating. But Good likes or loves a new thing in US. In His whole Church. Your times are in His hands. I’m sure it is not over for you in Ministry…..
In His time, ay?
And, Uh…..
Oh, Ingrid, Dear Sister Ingrid……
I have not departed from being facetious and silly. Oh no, not Me. I’m just being Good. Lol!
Whether I want to or not.
God Bless
Dana
AKa: Simplydannygirl
April 11, 2013 at 10:25
David Mueller
Dear Ingrid. I am so sorry to hear that you’ve gone through so much difficulty over the last few years. It is good to hear though that you are keeping close to Christ. I think we last communicated via email in 2007. Would love to update you on some things.
May 3, 2013 at 18:25
Ryan
Dear Ingrid,
My wife and I benefited and profited so much from your ministry, especially from 2008-2011, as you showed us many things concerning the corruption and liberalism that was in certain circles that we previously had not known of. We miss your posts on the Crosstalk Blog and I am glad to have found your page here and know that you are well and pressing on. Thank you so much for your ministry. It is such a necessary one, and one in which many will hate you and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man, but it is necessary.
May 8, 2013 at 21:12
Bruce Atchison
While searching for places to promote my book on going from cultism to Christianity, I found your podcast and blog. What you said in the podcast about cults and pseudo-churches is so true. It fit much of what I experienced for 15 years. I wrote my How I Was Razed testimony in the hope that it would help folks who had been abused by toxic churches as I was. I hope God helps me reach the right readership with my memoir of God’s grace.