For Abuse Survivors Like Jules Woodson, the Indiana Pastor Video Is All Too Familiar

By

-

May 26, 2022

(RNS) — When Jules Woodson saw the viral video of an Indiana church applauding a pastor who had confessed to sexual misconduct, her heart sank.

It was a scene Woodson had experienced before.

In 2018, Woodson came forward to confront Andy Savage, her former youth pastor who pressured her into performing a sex act when she was 17. After Savage left that youth pastor position, he had gone on to lead a megachurch in Memphis, Tennessee, and write books about marriage and family.

Woodson confronted Savage on social media about his past actions, leading him to admit his sexual misconduct in a church service. The congregation responded with applause.

The Indiana video revealed how abuse and sexual misconduct are sometimes handled in churches, especially those that are nondenominational or independent — years after the #Metoo and #Churchtoo movements revealed the scope of abuse and misconduct in churches and other institutions.

A pastor confesses a “moral failing” and steps away from ministry while seeking God’s mercy and restoration. The church stands by the pastor. Survivors are asked to forgive and forget.

“They are doing the same s***,” said Woodson.

In the viral video, taken at New Life Christian Church & World Outreach, a nondenominational church in Warsaw, Indiana, pastor John B. Lowe led the congregation in an altar call on Sunday (May 22), followed by what’s known as the “sinner’s prayer.”

Then he began to confess to adultery, which he said occurred 20 years ago.

“I will not use the Bible to defend, protect, deflect my past sin. I have no defense,” he said. “I committed adultery. To say it plainly, I didn’t make a mistake. I did not have an affair. I didn’t make a misjudgment. I sinned.”

Lowe admitted in the video that he had overseen church discipline for church members who were guilty of “sexual failure” but failed to confess his own misconduct. He then said the church was involved in a “biblical process” to restore trust.

After his confession, church members began to applaud.

Texas School Shooting Begs the Question: Where Is God?

By

Jeremiah Johnston

-

May 26, 2022

Texas School Shooting — Two Texas Troopers light a candle at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Desperation turned to heart-wrenching sorrow for families of grade schoolers killed after an 18-year-old gunman barricaded himself in their Texas classroom and began shooting, killing several fourth-graders and their teachers. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

This prayer of Habakkuk is one we must pray in the horrific aftermath of Uvalde, Texas. I’m the father of five young children, including our son Justin. He is the same age as the students in the 4th-grade classroom at Robb Elementary, where the shooter barricaded himself and committed pure evil.

Before Justin left for school this morning, I held him and audibly prayed over him and didn’t want to let him go. And now I ask, how can we pray when we cannot find the words? How can we comfort when pure evil leaves us paralyzed, numb and questioning? How can we live by faith in God’s promises when what we would prefer is an explanation? How can we find peace when we will never be the same?

Court Interested in Dispute Over Michigan 1931 Abortion Ban

By

AP News

-

May 26, 2022

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals opened the door Wednesday to abortion opponents who are trying to overturn a recent decision that suspended the state’s long-dormant ban on the procedure.

The court set a briefing schedule that runs through July 5.

A judge at the Court of Claims last week issued a preliminary injunction that freezes a 1931 ban on abortion in most instances. If the injunction stands, it means abortion would not be illegal in Michigan if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade decision by summer.

Right to Life of Michigan, the Michigan Catholic Conference and two county prosecutors are asking the appeals court to throw out the injunction granted by Judge Elizabeth Gleicher, who said the law likely violates the state constitution.

They said there was no reason for Gleicher to act since abortion remains legal in Michigan.

They also noted Gleicher’s past legal work for Planned Parenthood of Michigan, which filed the lawsuit, and her financial support for the organization. The judge disclosed some ties to the group but didn’t step aside from the case.

In a separate legal action, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is trying to get the Michigan Supreme Court to reach over lower courts and declare the 1931 law unconstitutional.

“The issues are live and squarely presented in this case, and there is no reason for the court to delay its consideration of these issues of vital state importance,” Assistant Attorney General Linus Banghart-Linn said in a filing Wednesday.

This article originally appeared here.

Pastors Gather To Respond, Recount Minutes Before, After School Shooting

By

Scott Barkley

-

May 26, 2022

UVALDE, Texas (BP) – Ten minutes. Maybe 12. That’s the time from when Neftali Barboza and his wife, Hilda, left Robb Elementary School yesterday until The Call. Their son, Levi, still had his All A’s Honor Roll certificate and was in the truck with them. The caller was relieved to hear it, because a shooter had just entered the school.

Barboza, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Nueva Jericho, turned the truck around. Approaching the school, he saw police and recognized the helicopters circling overhead as being the same ones he worked on as a mechanic with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. His friend had called from the funeral home across the street and asked for Barboza’s help in calming the numerous children who had fled there in terror.

“I stayed and helped take care of the kids,” he said. “I let as many parents as I could know their child was safe. We were there an hour or two; I’m not really sure.”

As a parent and local pastor, Barboza has joined others trying to make sense of the shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children and two adults as well as left others in critical condition. Uvalde is a close-knit town full of people who stick together and pray for each other, he told Baptist Press. It’s the place where these kinds of things aren’t supposed to happen.

“My heart is broken,” he said. “I can only imagine what other families are going through.”

The shooting is the third deadliest on a school campus in the nation’s history, behind 33 killed at Virginia Tech University in 2007 and the 28 deaths at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., in 2012.

What becomes a list for observers will remain an indelible mark for those close to the scene. Barboza knew many of those families. His son had friends in the classroom – on the same hall as his – where the shooter barricaded himself before a Border Patrol agent ended the carnage.

No members of Barboza’s church were directly harmed in the shooting, though one member has a niece whose daughter was among the wounded. Tommy Larner, director of missions for the Del Rio-Uvalde Baptist Association, said a pastor contacted him yesterday for prayer. A man who had been attending his church off and on lost his granddaughter in the shooting.

“You can’t come up with adjectives to describe such a horrible act,” Larner said. “Please pray that the people here would experience the tender love of our Heavenly Father and for pastors to be able to share that the only hope is through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Larner is a retired International Mission Board missionary, having just returned from an Orlando event honoring IMB emeriti. He and his wife served for 15-and-a-half years in Ecuador, nine years in Mexico and five in Peru.

SBC Executive Committee Sets up Hotline for Abuse Claims

By

Brandon Porter

-

May 26, 2022

NASHVILLE (BP) – A hotline has been established to allow those affected by sexual abuse within Southern Baptist churches. The number is 202-864-5578.

According to the joint statement from the SBC Executive Committee, Guidepost Solutions and the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force, “Since the release of the Guidepost report on Sunday, the SBC Executive Committee, Guidepost Solutions, and members of the Sexual Abuse Task Force have been fielding calls from survivors regarding allegations of sexual abuse.”

A 288-page report on the alleged mishandling of sexual abuse claims was released on May 22.

In the initial statement from the SATF, one of the initial needs was, “We recommend that the Executive Committee hire a subject matter expert(s) to receive calls, provide initial guidance for reports of sexual abuse, and work with state conventions for training and educational opportunities.”

“This hotline will be an important stopgap measure for survivors between now and the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim when the messengers can pass even more meaningful reforms,” the statement said.

The hotline will be facilitated by Guidepost Solutions. All information will be held as confidential.

In addition to being available by a separate number, an option will give callers the ability to connect with the hotline when they call the main phone line of the SBC EC.

If needed and desired, reports made to the hotline can also be submitted to the SBC Credentials Committee for inquiry.

The full statement reads:

A joint statement on the creation of an SBC Sexual Abuse Hotline:

Since the release of the Guidepost report on Sunday, the SBC Executive Committee, Guidepost Solutions, and members of the Sexual Abuse Task Force have been fielding calls from survivors regarding allegations of sexual abuse. Today, the SBC Executive Committee entered into an agreement for Guidepost to maintain a hotline for survivors or their proxies to submit allegations of abuse within the SBC. All submitters will remain confidential. Survivors will be notified of the available options for care and will be put in touch with an advocate.

While Guidepost will not be inquiring into the allegations at this time, they will hold the information confidentially. The Sexual Abuse Task Force will be assisting the SBC Executive Committee and the Convention in establishing processes for proper inquiries, and this hotline will serve as a resource to survivors and entities in responding properly while we work to put more permanent procedures in place. This hotline will be an important stopgap measure for survivors between now and the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, when the messengers can pass even more meaningful reforms.

The hotline can be reached at 202-864-5578 or SBChotline@guidepostsolutions.com.

Willie McLaurin, interim president, SBC Executive Committee
Julie Myers Wood, Guidepost Solutions
SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force

Bruce Frank, lead pastor, Biltmore Baptist Church, Arden, N.C.
Marshall Blalock, pastor, First Baptist Church, Charleston, S.C.
John Damon, chief executive officer, Canopy Children’s Solutions, Jackson, Miss.
Liz Evan, judicial law clerk, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Nashville, Tenn.
Heather Evans, director, Evans Counseling Services, Coopersburg, Pa.
Andrew Hébert, lead pastor, Paramount Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas.
Bucas Sterling III, senior pastor, Kettering Baptist Church, Upper Marlboro, Md.
Rachael Denhollander, task force advisor
Chris Moles, task force advisor

This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.

Nanci’s Death Isn’t the End of Our Relationship, Only a Temporary Interruption

By

Randy Alcorn

-

May 26, 2022

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

I’ve been reflecting on the changes in our home with Nanci gone. The house is so quiet without the sound of her laughter. There is a profound sense of absence.

Our double doodle Gracie clings to me and is by my side day and night. I think she misses Nanci as much as I do. We are grieving together. Someone said to me that it must be tough to come home to an empty house. But I don’t. I come home to Gracie, and she reminds me constantly of Nanci. (Trust me, Nanci wouldn’t be offended by that!)

I’m struck by my loss of a sense of time. Time is fluid. Two weeks after Nanci died, it seemed like it happened yesterday. Yet in another sense, it seemed long ago. Even before she died, I had to look at my watch, not to see what time it was, but what day it was, and occasionally what month.

Reminders of her absence are everywhere: the mail she sorted through, the bills she paid, the giving checks she wrote on our behalf, the things in our freezer and cupboards, the groceries she bought. On April 3, I sent my daughter Karina a birthday greeting, like I always do. And it suddenly occurred to me that Nanci always sends the presents! So I thanked God for Amazon and emailed Karina a gift card.

There were movies we were waiting to watch together when they came out. Now I can watch them, but I’m aware how much more fun it would have been to watch them with her. I hear about the next season of a show we enjoyed, and my instinctive reaction is to tell Nanci so we can watch it together.

I’m learning all the things Nanci did over the years that I didn’t see or think about—like the clothes that were always magically in my drawers and hanging in the closet. I started learning to do the wash in Nanci’s final year, but she had to tell me what to do, and how much detergent and fabric softer to use. Now she isn’t here to remind me, so when I didn’t have something to wear, I realized it was time to wash clothes. Not long ago I was looking at a bottle that only said “All” but nowhere said detergent. Apparently, I was the only person in the world who didn’t know it was laundry detergent. (I had to call my daughter Angela for help!)

It’s true that I haven’t lost Nanci because I know where she is. I’m not concerned about her safety or well-being because she is safely home, and better off than she ever was in this world under the Curse. But I miss her so much. I frequently have the instinct to “tell Nanci.” Yet I am so aware of where she is. I often ask Jesus to tell her about her grandsons’ tennis and track accomplishments, and I have no doubt He does, as I can’t think of a single reason He wouldn’t.

We wanted to grow old together. If you’d told us when we got married at 21 that we would live to be 68, we would have said, we DID grow old together! But when you’re 68, it’s like the new 48. Nanci and I were married in 1975, but we were best friends from the day we met as freshmen in high school, December 7, 1968. She was my closest friend for 53 and a half years. That is a privilege and a treasure. I will not regret the years we might have had but be profoundly grateful for the years we did have—and not just the quantity, but the quality.

Her homegoing has left a great hole in my life. But isn’t that what I would want? Healthy sorrow recognizes the size of the loss. The only way for the sorrow to be less would be for the loss to be less. Would I choose to have less pain because she meant less to me? Of course not. Sorrow can be great even while we recognize it to be temporary. Nanci’s death wasn’t the end of our relationship. It was only an interruption—to be followed by the Great Reunion.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Why It Takes Five to Seven Years to Become the Pastor of a Church

By

Thom Rainer

-

May 26, 2022

You are the new pastor of the church. Expectations are high on your part and on the members’ part. Perhaps you celebrate with some type of installation service.

You are ready to lead and move the church forward. After all, you are the pastor. Right?

Wrong.

In most established churches, there is a prolonged period before the church members as a whole will truly embrace you as pastor. When that time comes, most pastors enjoy their greatest and most joyous years of ministry.

But the majority of pastors never make it to year five, much less year seven. So why does it take five to seven years to be embraced as the pastor of most established churches? Here are seven common reasons.

It takes a long time to break into established relationship patterns. Many of the members have been around for decades. They have their friends, family members and relationship groups. Pastors will not meaningfully enter into many of those relationships for several years.
You are creating new ways of doing things. You may not think you are a major change agent, but your presence as the pastor changes things significantly. You lead differently. You preach differently. Your family is different. The church has to adjust to all the changes you bring before they begin to embrace you fully as pastor.
Most relationships do not establish fully until they go through one or two major conflicts. The first year or two are your honeymoon years. The church thinks you are absolutely great. Then you do something, lead something or change something that goes counter to their expectations. Conflict ensues. You are no longer the best. So you have two years of honeymoon, one to two years of conflict, and one to two years to get on the other side of conflict. Then you become the pastor in five to seven years.
The church is accustomed to short-term pastorates. Many churches rarely see a pastor make it to the fifth, sixth or seventh year. They never fully accept the pastor, because they don’t believe the leader will make it past the first major conflict.
Previous pastors wounded some church members. There are many reasons for this reality, some understandable and some not. In either case, a previous pastor hurt some church members, and the members take several years to accept a new pastor and learn to trust again.
Trust is cumulative, not immediate. This reality is especially true in established churches. Regardless of how the ministry unfolds, it simply takes time before church members are willing to say with conviction, “That is my pastor.”

I know. I wish we could snap our fingers and enjoy immediate trust. But, in most churches, it just is not going to happen quickly. It will take five to seven years.

Are you willing to stick around to enjoy the fruit of a long-term pastorate?

This article originally appeared here.

How To Talk With Kids About Shootings

By

Dale Hudson

-

May 26, 2022

I was in Buffalo this past weekend speaking at a church. As I’m sure you’ve seen on the news, there was a shooting there at a local grocery store.

In the church where I was speaking, there were several people who personally knew some of the people that were killed.

One of victims was a precious senior citizen lady. She came to that grocery store every Saturday to buy food for the homeless.

The world we live in can be a scary place. Today’s kids live with the reality that they could be shot at school, in a store, in a movie theater, at a concert and yes…even at church. All of these are places where shootings have taken place in recent years.

When kids see or hear about shootings, it can cause anxiety, fear, grief, helplessness and anger. It is important that we guide them toward stability and trust in God. Here are some key tips you can use when talking with kids about tragic events like this shooting.

First of all, remember that each child is unique and there is not one way to address tragedies. But here are some tips that can help you and their parents know what to say during times of crisis.

Examine yourself first. See how you react before you ask children how they are feeling about this. Young children will be more affected by their parents’ and caregivers’ distress than by the actual tragedy itself. They will pick up on your reactions. Be ready to present yourself in a calm manner. They will be comforted more by your actions than your words.

Talk about the heroes. Let them know about the brave people who stepped in to help, even at the cost of their own life. This will help kids think about the positive things rather than just all the negatives.

Consider their age. Many psychiatrists recommend avoiding the topic with children who are under the age of 8. But again, it depends on the child. Share information based on your child’s individual personality and developmental stage.

Reassure them that it’s all right for them to be upset, and that you’ll do everything you can to protect them from harm. Let them know that you are there to protect them.

With young children, many doctors recommend to keep the story you tell short and simple. One sentence or two will suffice for anyone under the age of 6.

Elementary children will ask many questions. Encourage them to ask questions and answer their questions directly.

Church Sound Gear Selection and Set-up

By

Duke Taber

-

May 26, 2022

Before you even start shopping for a sound gear, it’s important to remember that no sound system is complete without speakers. (There are some preliminary steps you can read about here.) Therefore, your first step in building a church sound system should be choosing which type of speaker will work best with the worship style and musical requirements of your congregation.

1. Choose a speaker system

There are two types of speakers to consider when beginning the process of selecting sound gear. You can choose passive or active units, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. An example would be that an active speaker is self-contained with regard to power amplification while a passive speaker requires external amplification in order to function.

Active speakers also tend to cost more than an equivalent set of passive speakers would, but they do offer some other advantages as well. For example, you can set up multiple active speakers in different areas of the room and control their volume independently.

Passive speakers are less expensive but do not offer as much flexibility when it comes to controlling sound output. While it is possible to place multiple passive speakers around the room, they cannot be adjusted independently of each other without using an external amplifier for power and volume control.

The main advantage that active units have over their passive counterparts is flexibility; however, if simplicity trumps flexibility in your book then you may want to choose a set of passive speakers.

Passive speakers are ideal for churches that have a limited budget, or those who do not want to be burdened by the unnecessary complexity of an active speaker setup. Whichever option you choose will depend on your unique situation and what needs need to be met in order for you to accomplish your goals.

2. Choosing Microphones

Once you’ve decided on the type of speaker system you need, it’s time to choose microphones. There are two main types of microphones that can be used with a sound system – dynamic and condenser. Each has its own individual advantages as well as limitations so deciding which one will work best for your specific situation is important.

Dynamic mics

Dynamic microphones are the more affordable option, but they do have some limitations. Dynamic mics are less sensitive than condenser models so they pick up less background noise and require a higher sound pressure level (SPL) to operate effectively.

On the other hand, they are more durable and can handle high SPLs which is important if you’re going to be using them for a live performance.

Due to their flexibility and affordability, dynamic mics are a popular choice for instrumentalists who do not want or need an extremely sensitive microphone that will pick up every nuance of their performance.

Condenser mics

Condenser microphones are known for being extremely sensitive, which is why they are often used to record vocals and acoustic instruments. This high sensitivity means that condensers will pick up background noise much easier than dynamic models; however, modern technology has made it possible to adjust the microphone’s settings so that background noise is not as much of a problem.

In addition to being extremely sensitive, condenser microphones are also very fragile and more expensive than their dynamic counterparts. Because of this, they tend to be the choice for singers who want an exceptionally clear recording of their voice during practice or performance.

3. Choosing A Mixer

The mixer you choose will depend on the number and types of speakers and microphones that you’ve decided to use. It’s important for all of your speaker wires to match up with the inputs on your mixer so make sure everything is compatible before making a purchase.

If you choose to go with a passive speaker system, then your mixer will need an external power amplification source.

Most mixers also come equipped with onboard EQ and effects so that the sound coming from each individual speaker can be tweaked as necessary during installation or performance.

The number of microphones, instruments and other audio sources will determine how many channels the mixer needs to have. If you only need a few channels and your sound system is relatively basic, then an entry-level mixer should be sufficient for your needs.

Entry-level mixers are usually intended for smaller groups or solo performers who don’t require any extra bells and whistles on their sound equipment. Most models in this range come with onboard equalization as well as some effects processing which can be helpful for adjusting vocals or instrument sounds.

Father’s Day Ideas: 11 Ways to Celebrate Dads and Special Men

By

Karen Ehman

-

May 25, 2022

Do you need some new Father’s Day ideas for June? Then check out these suggestions, and adapt them for your church and Sunday school classes. Kids will love honoring their fathers and other special men.

These Father’s Day ideas give kids and congregants an excuse to pamper beloved guys. That includes dads as well as grandfathers, uncles, and other men who are like a father.

Check out all these Father’s Day ideas for showing your appreciation!

11 Father’s Day Ideas to Celebrate Dad

1. No chore week

Declare a no-chore week leading up to or surrounding Father’s Day. Everyone else mows the lawn, takes out the trash, or changes light bulbs. Give Dad time off to do whatever he wants to do. He might enjoy a free day to go bowling or stroll through a nature center. Or he can simply relax in a hammock with a glass of iced tea.

2. Fill Dad’s love tank

Tell Dad why you respect and appreciate him. Write your reasons on index cards and in everyone’s own handwriting. Then let Dad keep the cards to read when he needs some encouragement.

3. Watch a sporting event Dad likes

Put down books, phones, and video games. Then actually watch the game with him! Just making the effort to learn about what Dad likes will make him feel loved.

4. Ask Dad about his occupation

Take an interest in Dad’s work life. Learn as much as you can about what he does for a living. That way, you can have more conversations in the coming weeks.

5. Video love notes

Make videos for Dad on your cell phone. Keep them short, but allow each child to share a message. You can even create your own message, telling your husband what a fabulous father he is. Send them as text messages the next week, spreading them out to keep the love going.

6. I love you because…

Give a child some paper and coloring utensils. Then ask, “Why do you love Daddy?” Allow the child to draw or write their answers down. Tuck them in an envelope and hide it somewhere Dad is sure to find it.

Funny Church Videos: LOL at These 16 Clips Teens Will Love

By

Stephanie Martin

-

May 25, 2022

Funny church videos are guaranteed to provide good belly laughs. And if you’re serving in youth ministry, surely you can use hearty chuckles from time to time. Being willing to laugh a lot—including at yourself—is essential for success. So check out the funny church videos we’ve assembled!

Thanks to the internet, funny church videos are everywhere. Whether you prefer YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest or another site or app, you’ll find oodles of humorous material to tickle funny bones.

Clips range from seasonal to sarcastic, with lots of church fails thrown in for good measure. Youth leaders and volunteers often post funny church videos of games and activities they’ve tried. While chuckling along, you (and your teens) might just learn something. Plus, humor helps you connect and engage with kids at church.

PRO TIP: Funny church videos are great discussion-starters, too!

So check out these funny church videos—and then suggest or film your own!

16 Funny Church Videos to Watch and Share

1. “The 12 Days of Christmas” Acted Out

Begin a Christmas lesson or church holiday party with this funny interpretation of a classic carol.

2. The Ha-Ha Icebreaker Game

When a new year or semester begins, try this icebreaker activity with teens.

3. If Bible Characters Had iPhones

In one of their funny church videos, John Crist and Trey Kennedy imagine if Bible characters had modern-day technology.

4. What If Darth Vader Joined Your Small Group

Whether or not your kids are “Star Wars” fans, they’ll get a kick out of this church clip!

5. Top 15 Worship Fails

Every youth pastor has experienced an “oops” during a church service or youth program. Commiserate with your peers while having a laugh at their expense.

Church Was Built on ‘Lies, Deceit, Abuse, Rape, and Fear’: Another Woman Comes Forward Against John Lowe’s Son

By

Jesse T. Jackson

-

May 25, 2022

Another alleged survivor from New Life Christian Church and World Outreach in Warsaw, Indiana, released a statement less than 24 hours after the church’s pastor, John Lowe II, confessed to an adulteress relationship 20 years ago—a confession that seconds later was corrected by the woman he allegedly sexually abused.

Survivor Jessi Kline posted the statement on Facebook, alleging that Lowe’s son, Jeremy, molested her when he babysat for her and her brother when they were “young, prepubescent children.”

The New Life Christian Church and World Outreach announced on Monday, May 23, that their pastor had resigned. The church has also announced that they have shut down all social media and will communicate with their members via text message.

Kline’s statement appeared after a video clip of pastor Lowe went viral, wherein he confessed before his congregation to what he called an adulterous relationship that occurred 20 years ago. The video then captured Lowe’s presumed survivor unexpectedly taking the stage with her husband to correct the pastor’s lies. The woman alleged to the congregation that Lowe had sexually abused her for nine years and that it started when she was just 16 years old.

In her own statement, Kline said, “[Jeremy] sent my brother upstairs to get him something to drink.” That is when the pastor’s son “proceeded to have me get on top of him and molest me” in the dark basement of her home.

After molesting the young Kline, Jeremy allegedly instructed her not to tell anyone, or she would “get in trouble.” She said her molester told her that the pastor of her church would “get mad” at her, physically threatening her if she said anything.

“I was so scared, and I didn’t understand because I was a child,” Kline explained.

Kline shared that when she was 13 years old, she told a friend from the church’s youth group what had happened. At the time, the youth group was pastored by Lowe’s other son, Bryan, who is currently the church’s associate pastor.

The survivor’s friend told a youth leader, who immediately grabbed Kline’s parents from the adult service they were attending to speak to them. The couple then shared the details of what took place in their basement several years ago between their young daughter and the pastor’s son.

After being told what happened, pastor Lowe, his wife and co-pastor Debra, and Bryan “were not surprised,” according to Kline’s statement. They called their son, the abuser, into the room, where he confessed to molesting Kline.

The pastors told the Klines that they would take “any action necessary.” However, they told the family “not to go to the police,” because they’d handle the sexual abuse internally. They quoted scripture in their appeal.

‘This Is Horrific’—Church Leaders Express Heartbreak Over School Massacre in Texas

By

Stephanie Martin

-

May 25, 2022

In the aftermath of yesterday’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, pastors and faith leaders are lamenting the loss of life. Some are calling for action and change, saying “thoughts and prayers” alone won’t prevent future gun-related tragedies. Others admit solutions are tough, especially because Americans have the constitutional right to bear arms.

On Tuesday, an 18-year-old gunman allegedly shot his grandmother before entering Robb Elementary and killing 19 students and two teachers. All the deaths occurred in two adjoining classrooms, authorities said Wednesday. A border patrol agent responding to the scene shot and killed the suspect, who had attended high school in Uvalde. The tight-knit community of about 16,000 people is located 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

The massacre occurred just 10 days after 10 people were shot and killed in a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.

Local Pastor: ‘God Is Still God, and He Is Able to Heal’

Doug Swimmer, pastor of The Potter’s House Church of Uvalde, spoke about his grieving town on “Good Morning America” Wednesday. “It’s been very difficult for me as a pastor to see our community in this tragic time,” he admitted. “But I know one thing that is going to help us through is God’s grace and God’s love.”

Swimmer, who has been praying with victims’ families at the hospital, said, “When you see these families broken in this manner, what the world needs and what our community needs is a light that shines in the darkness.” Although tragedies will always occur, the pastor added, “God is still God, and he is able to heal. He is able to bring comfort in times of distress.”

Christians Share Anguish Via Social Media

Social media quickly filled with expressions of grief, prayer, and anger. The adjective “unimaginable” became a common refrain, yet some people noted that mass shootings, even of children, have become “the most imaginable thing in America.” Others criticized pro-life advocates for trying to protect children in the womb but not in classrooms.

Christian leaders shared their heartbreak and prayers, asking for God’s mercy and comfort. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, tweeted: “Weep with those who weep. The deadly shooting in Uvalde puts us on our knees. May the God of all comfort be near to the broken-hearted.”

California pastor Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, tweeted: “My heart breaks for Texas; children massacred, teacher killed. Praying for healing. Something is definitely broken. God, please heal our land, in Jesus name!”

James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia, wrote: “My heart is crushed for the parents of the children and the families of the teachers who were killed. May the Lord grant peace grace and mercy in this time of need.”

Dare2Share founder Greg Stier, whose ministry path was impacted by the 1999 Columbine High School shootings, tweeted: “This is horrific…. My wife is a 5th grade public school teacher. I can’t help but imagine the anguish being suffered by kids, parents & teachers right now. Join me in prayer for them all.”

Faith Leaders Focus on Uvalde, Texas

Faith-based groups began mobilizing to provide comfort to Uvalde residents. Chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are heading to the town. In his tweet about their deployment, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association president and CEO Franklin Graham wrote: “As our chaplains minister in this hurting community, please keep those who have lost loved ones in your prayers.”

Josh Duggar Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison After One of His Charges Was Dropped

By

Jessica Lea

-

May 25, 2022

Josh Duggar Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison After One of His Charges Was Dropped — L: Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons R: Adobe Stock

Josh Duggar was sentenced to over 12 years in prison on Wednesday, May 25. The Sun reports Duggar had no reaction when the sentence was announced.

This is the day that smug gross smile slowly fades as he gets locked away.

— Amy Rachelle King (@amyduggar) May 25, 2022

Josh Duggar Gets 151 Months

Federal prosecutors sought a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for Josh Duggar, who in December 2021 was convicted on two counts: receiving and possessing child pornography. His defense sought a five-year prison sentence.

Duggar has also confessed to a pornography addiction and to being unfaithful to his wife, Anna Duggar. There are credible allegations that as a teenager, he molested five young girls, four of whom were his own sisters.

On Tuesday, Judge Timothy L Brooks denied defense attorneys’ request that Duggar be acquitted or receive a new trial. Duggar’s lawyers made this request on the grounds there was insufficient evidence to convict him. Brooks was not convinced, saying, “Mr. Duggar’s argument lacks merit, as there is ample evidence he viewed the images of child pornography that had been downloaded to his business computer.”

Josh Duggar’s wife, Anna Duggar, his father, Jim Bob Duggar, his brother, Jason Duggar, and his sister, Joy-Anna (Duggar) Forsyth, were seen with Josh outside the courthouse before his sentencing.

Wednesday morning, KNWA reporter Anna Darling, who attended the proceedings, tweeted, “Out for lunch break. Duggar’s defense team had 22 objections to the pre-sentence report so we have spent the entire morning hashing those out. Some Judge Brooks has supported, others not.”

One development Darling mentioned was Duggar was now only being sentenced for one charge, receiving child pornography. “The court has officially vacated his second count, which was for possession of child pornography, and was the lesser charge,” she said. “Receipt of child porn is the only charge being judged.” Both the defense and prosecution vacated the count of possessing child pornography without prejudice.

Duggar has been sentenced to 151 months, that is, 12 years and seven months, in prison. Brooks will recommend that Duggar receive sex offender treatment while in prison, but Duggar will not be required to pursue this treatment.

Former EC Chairman Mike Stone Accused of Intimidating Sexual Misconduct Witnesses, Report Reveals

By

Dale Chamberlain

-

May 25, 2022

Georgia pastor and former SBC Executive Committee (EC) chairman Mike Stone has been accused by the members of another Georgia church of helping cover up the misconduct of that church’s pastor, intimidating witnesses who sought to bring the misconduct to light in 2019. Stone denies the allegations.

On page 77 of the Guidepost Solutions report on how the EC handled sexual abuse allegations in the SBC from 2000 to 2021, investigators describe an alleged account wherein Stone helped another pastor draft an apology letter to his church after it was discovered that the pastor had acted inappropriately toward a single mother in his church to whom he was offering pastoral counseling.

The inappropriate behavior included “sending her text messages and photographs that were sexually suggestive.”

Stone was the EC chairman at the time. Stone and the unnamed Georgia pastor are friends from college.

Witnesses from the church told Guidepost Solutions investigators that the apology the pastor delivered to the congregation was inaccurate and shifted blame toward the single mother involved, whom Guidepost describes as a survivor.

Further, the “witnesses stated that they felt intimidated by Mr. Stone for bringing the pastor’s behavior to the attention of the deacons in the church,” the report says. “One witness attempted to call Mr. Stone and was instead contacted by Mr. Stone’s assistant who told him that Mr. Stone planned to help the pastor, not the church.”

Following the pastor’s apology, he took a leave of absence from the church but later returned to the pulpit. Witnesses told Guidepost investigators that they felt church deacons retaliated against them for attempting to contradict the pastor’s account of the misconduct.

“One witness stated that the deacons told him that an anonymous complaint had been lodged against him for inappropriately touching a parishioner, which the witness perceived to be retaliation against him,” The report states.

All the witnesses left the church as a result of the situation.

When Guidepost investigators interviewed Stone, he said that though the pastor had engaged in inappropriate conduct, to Stone’s knowledge, none of that conduct “reach[ed] the level of sexual impropriety.”

Vatican Legal Expert Says the Vatican ‘Is Learning’ When It Comes to Penal Trials

By

Claire Giangrave

-

May 25, 2022

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — It is as complex a legal case as the Vatican court system has ever prosecuted, with 10 lay and religious individuals on trial, including, for the first time in history, a cardinal of the church. The defendants are accused of, among other things, abuse of power, embezzlement and money laundering in an endlessly twisting financial saga centered on the purchase of a luxury property in a fashionable London neighborhood.

The trial would be a difficult one for any legal team to manage, but both prosecutors and the defense are operating according to a Vatican penal code that dates to the 1800s and that gives extraordinary powers to prosecutors backed by a nearly 2,000-year-old absolute monarch — currently Pope Francis — who can exercise his will through a form of decree taken from Roman law known as rescripts.

Defense lawyers have accused the Vatican court of employing rescripts to undermine their rights. Others have called the tribunal of Vatican judges overseeing the proceedings a kangaroo court.

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, a canon law expert, admits the Vatican “is learning” how to deal with prosecuting crimes within its walls, but he pushed back against the idea that prosecutors have an unfair advantage. “It’s normal for lawyers to bring forward only the arguments that are in his favor while ignoring other elements,” Arrieta told a group of Vatican journalists on Tuesday (May 24).

“The Vatican is not a democratic society,” Arrieta added. While this might offend the sensibility of people in the 21^st century, he said, “the Vatican judicial system must be respected.”

The basis of Vatican law is canon law, supplemented by the Italian penal code of 1889, both of which need some discreet rejiggering to address legal concepts such as offshore accounts, not too mention the modern, technologized financial manipulations and real estate operations at the heart of the financial trial.

When the Vatican joined the European monetary system in 2009, the judicial system was suddenly pressed to catch up to 21st century standards for prosecuting financial crimes. “The first trials that were brought to court showed the penal and especially procedural limitations” of Catholic legal practices, he said.

The Holy See “had to get on the same level as all other countries, it had to create its legal code.” The Vatican, he said, “cannot show in front of other states that it cannot handle the situation.”

Mons. Juan Ignacio Arrieta talks to journalists during a press conference at the Vatican's press room, Rome, Thursday, May 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Monsignor Juan Ignacio Arrieta talks to journalists during a news conference at the Vatican’s press room, Rome, May 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Arrieta, the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, recently published a “Course on Vatican Law” outlining the judicial system at the Vatican, which has undergone reforms under Francis. Arrieta is also part of a team working on creating a new code for penal procedures at the Vatican.

But he said the current system is sufficient for the ongoing trial. “I don’t think the Vatican prosecutor is absolutely free because it’s the judge who guides the process,” he said. While they act with fewer limitations than modern Western legal systems, “the Vatican prosecutors can’t just do as they please.”

Many of the anomalies in the Vatican legal system have been modified already to handle financial crimes, a focus of Francis’ reforms, said the bishop. “What we found at the Vatican is that things didn’t work because there were no norms,” he said.

“This can no longer be said on financial matters because the laws are there,” Arrieta said, while acknowledging that the new measures were rushed into service when Francis began pressing for greater regulation. “They were made very quickly, sometimes cut and pasted and inserted, but the laws exist,” said Arrieta.

How the ‘Apocalyptic’ Southern Baptist Report Almost Didn’t Happen

By

Bob Smietana

-

May 25, 2022

Southern Baptist report — Messengers vote during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting at Music City Center, June 15, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee. RNS photo by Kit Doyle

(RNS) — For three minutes last summer, a call to investigate how Southern Baptist leaders have dealt with sexual abuse was dead in the water.

Then a little-known denominational bylaw and a pastor from Indiana saved it.

“I just had to do it,” said Todd Benkert, pastor of Oak Creek Community Church in Mishawaka, Indiana. “It was me or nobody.”

About 15 minutes into a morning business session at the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 2021 annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, Southern Baptist leaders announced that a motion to set up an independent sex abuse investigation was being tabled.

Because the motion dealt with the internal workings of an SBC entity — in this case, the denomination’s Nashville-based Executive Committee — denominational officials, relying on bylaw 26 of the SBC’s constitution, decided to refer the motion to that entity.

In other words, the Executive Committee would be put in charge of investigating itself.

Then-President J.D. Greear was ready to move on when Benkert stood up at a microphone with a motion of his own, based on another section of bylaw 26.

“I would like the opportunity to make a motion to overrule the Committee on Order of Business at the appropriate time,” he said.

Benkert’s motion was met with applause. Then a second, and then almost all of the 15,000 local church delegates, known as messengers, raised their yellow voting cards in the air — far more than the two-thirds majority needed to overrule the committee.

Those messengers would later approve the abuse investigation. A report from that investigation, released this week, would show that for decades Executive Committee leaders had done everything in their power to protect the institution from liability.

“In service of this goal, survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved, or met with the constant refrain that the SBC could take no action due to its polity regarding church autonomy — even if it meant that convicted molesters continued in ministry with no notice or warning to their current church or congregation,” the report concluded.

The report, compiled by outside investigation firm Guidepost Solutions, was an “apocalypse,” according to former SBC ethicist Russell Moore, who had been hounded out of the denomination in part because of his support for survivors of abuse. Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called it a sign of God’s judgment on the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.

SBC’s Willie McLaurin Practices ‘Ministry of Presence’ in Wake of Buffalo Massacre

By

Diana Chandler

-

May 25, 2022

Buffalo Massacre — Willie McLaurin (right) speaks with Mark Hamilton, senior pastor of Faithful Stones Church, a non-Southern Baptist evangelical church near the scene of the mass shooting at a Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket. Photo courtesy of Baptist Press.

BUFFALO, N.Y. (BP) – As Buffalo mourns the murder of 10 African Americans in a racially motivated supermarket massacre, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee Interim President and CEO Willie McLaurin is conducting a ministry of presence.

McLaurin traveled to Buffalo to hear the concerns and needs of area pastors, express his love and concern and visit the memorial outside Tops Supermarket honoring those murdered.

“For years I have valued the ministry of presence,” McLaurin told Baptist Press. “Being with fellow believers during a time of crisis provides comfort and reassurance that they are not alone. Ministry is complex and challenging.

“My goals were to listen to the stories of ministry leaders in Buffalo, learn about how God is at work in their church and community as a result of this tragic act of violence, and demonstrate the love of Jesus,” McLaurin said. “Simply put, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Brian Robinson, senior pastor of Fillmore Community Church about two miles from the supermarket, was among about 10 pastors in the Frontier Baptist Association and others who greeted McLaurin.

“Dr. Willie McLaurin’s visit is greatly appreciated; because of his own experience in the tragic death of a family member, he can empathize and sympathize with the grief and suffering of the family members of the victims,” Robinson said, referencing that George Floyd was McLaurin’s third cousin. “He also knows what is involved with comforting others while dealing with your own feelings.”

Faithful Stones Church, a non-Southern Baptist evangelical church near the scene of the crime, hosted the pastors’ meeting. Faithful Stone Senior Pastor Mark Hamilton is building relationships with area Southern Baptists.

“What happened on Saturday, May 14th, 2022, has brought and will bring the secret counsel of God’s good purpose to light,” Hamilton said. “We may not see it or understand why, how, what or when, but out of the ash heap of death will rise the goodness of a good God.”

Others welcoming McLaurin included Frontier Baptist Association Associational Missionary Mike Flannery, North Buffalo Community Church Senior Pastor Bill Smith, and Amherst Baptist Church Pastor Eric Napoli.

Frank Williams, a Bronx, N.Y., pastor and president of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention, said McLaurin’s trip was important to Southern Baptist relations.

“It means a lot that Dr. McLaurin took the time to visit the pastors, families and the Buffalo community,” Williams said. “It demonstrates his heart for the people whose lives are permanently changed in the wake of this tragic mass shooting. His presence represented our denomination in a way that demonstrated a care for this vulnerable community that was targeted.”

Williams did not attend the event, but previously reached out to Robinson and Smith, praying with them individually and on a Buffalo outreach on Zoom.

Southern Baptists have responded to the tragedy with prayer and tangible support, with community cookouts planned for May 28 and June 4 in the parking lot of Faithful Stones Church. The Southern Baptist Convention of Texas is among out-of-state groups planning to respond, McLaurin said.

Flannery believes McLaurin’s visit will help cement relationships with the broader evangelical community in Buffalo and speed Gospel outreach.

“The mere fact that he came, was willing to come, really showed that we are partners in the work together. And he wants to come back, this summer perhaps, and see additional work that can be done and encourage people,” Flannery said. “I feel like, even now … there’s a warmer fellowship between the evangelical community and Frontier Association because of this and how we’re working together.

“They talked about working together and getting the Gospel out in difficult times, meeting their (the community’s) physical, mental emotional and spiritual needs, but never forgetting their spiritual, as they meet with this disaster.”

Williams applauded the Southern Baptist response to the tragedy.

SBC Executive Committee, Repenting for Handling of Abuse, Disowns Lawyer’s 2006 Letter

By

Bob Smietana

-

May 25, 2022

(RNS) — Moving to show repentance after Sunday’s (May 22) release of an investigative report that found that Southern Baptist Convention leaders mishandled abuse and mistreated survivors for decades, the denomination’s governing body vowed to mend its ways.

“This is a new day in the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention,” said the committee’s chairman, Rolland Slade, a California pastor, in a video meeting Tuesday. “And our commitment is to be different.”

Slade said the committee was in a time of “lamenting, listening and learning.”

Among the committee’s first actions was to repudiate a 2006 letter sent by former Executive Committee general counsel D. August Boto to Christa Brown, a longtime activist with SNAP, a nonprofit that addresses clergy sexual abuse. Boto, who was largely in charge of the SBC’s response to abuse until his 2019 retirement, called Brown’s requests for reform unreasonable and criticized her for using “hyperbole, argumentative language, strident tones, or pejorative adjectives” in dealing with SBC leaders.

In the letter, Boto also informed Brown that he was cutting off future communication with her and SNAP.

Gene Desen, one of the attorneys advising the committee in recent months, said Boto’s comments were wrong, adding that “nothing could be further from the truth.”

After several procedural disagreements, committee members officially adopted a statement written within hours of the report’s release, repudiating Boto’s 2006 remarks. “The SBC Executive Committee rejects this sentiment in its entirety and seeks to publicly repent for its failure to rectify this position and wholeheartedly listen to survivors,” the statement said.

The statement included a more general promise to address abuse more fully. “Today, in the immediate aftermath of the report’s release, the SBC Executive Committee seeks to make clear that it views engaging with survivors as a critical step toward healing our Convention from the scourge of sexual abuse and working to avoid its continued impact on our loved ones, their families, and our network of churches.”

The Rev. Rolland Slade, top left, prays with attendees before a virtual special meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Oct. 5, 2021. Video screen grab

Boto, who featured prominently in the abuse report by Guidepost Solutions and was quoted characterizing abuse survivors as part of a satanic plot, also played a key role in rejecting calls beginning in 2008 for a database of known abusers among SBC ministers as a resource for churches hiring new clergy. At the same time, he and other staffers kept secret their own list of abusers, according to the report.

The committee also plans to review and release the secret abuser list.

During the Executive Committee meeting, Slade and other leaders prayed for abuse survivors and thanked them for their dogged efforts to address abuse in the 13.7 million-member denomination. Among those named was Brown, an abuse survivor herself, who has been calling for reform in the SBC since the mid-2000s.

Bishop Mildred Hines, First AME Zion Female Bishop, Dead at Age 67

By

Adelle M Banks

-

May 25, 2022

Bishop Mildred Hines of the AME Zion Church. Photo courtesy of AME Zion Church

(RNS) — Bishop Mildred “Bonnie” Hines, the first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, has died at age 67.

“We are sad because we will miss her powerful preaching, her electrifying teaching, her dynamic leadership, and her loving spirit,” stated the board of bishops in a statement. “We are glad because she is free from her infirmities and is in the presence of her Lord, whom she served so faithfully.”

Hines, the 98th bishop of the AME Zion Church, died on Monday (May 23), the bishops’ statement said. She was the sole female bishop of the historically Black denomination that dates to 1796.

The Rev. George McKain, director of public affairs for the denomination, said Hines was known as an “unbelievable teacher” as well as a powerful preacher.

“She was our first female bishop, so against all the odds of the old system, she rose with a freshness and with a power single to none,” he said. “For her to be such a quiet yet powerful individual, it was amazing that she was the one God chose to raise up as the example and the pioneer for women in ministry.”

She pastored Los Angeles First AME Zion Church before being elected as the first female bishop of the AME Zion Church in 2008. In 2013, she became the first woman to lead the board of bishops.

Hines served as the presiding prelate of a West African district and later was assigned to the U.S. district that includes churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and West Tennessee.

Bishop Mildred Hines of the AME Zion Church. Photo courtesy AME Zion Church

Bishop Mildred Hines of the AME Zion Church. Photo courtesy of AME Zion Church

Most recently, she has overseen churches in South Carolina and Georgia. She was also the chairperson of the board of trustees of Clinton College in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Clinton President Lester McCorn mourned the loss of Hines, who he said served on his school’s board for six years.

“She was a strong advocate for the College, advancing the Special Education Fund in each of the Annual Conferences, in support of scholarships for students,” he said in a statement. “A lover of sacred music, Bishop Hines became an avid supporter of the new choir and music program at Clinton.”

Hines told The Sun-Chronicle, an Attleboro, Massachusetts, newspaper, that she knew from age 16 she was meant to be a minister.

Once a buyer for Belk Department Stores, she said an illness forced her to leave the fashion world behind. “I bargained with God,” she said, saying she would follow divine guidance if she survived.

She told the newspaper, located in a state where she once oversaw congregations after the death of another bishop, that she hoped her historic bishop’s role would be an inspiration for others.

“For myself, I’m honored and very humbled to be the first female to be elected,” she said of her denomination.

This article originally appeared here.

We all pray too religiously. God is big enough to handle our laments, complaints, and questions.

Look to the “who” when we do not understand the “why.”

Sound Gear for You Church

1. Choose a speaker system

2. Choosing Microphones

3. Choosing A Mixer

11 Father’s Day Ideas to Celebrate Dad

1. No chore week

2. Fill Dad’s love tank

3. Watch a sporting event Dad likes

4. Ask Dad about his occupation

5. Video love notes

6. I love you because…

16 Funny Church Videos to Watch and Share

1. “The 12 Days of Christmas” Acted Out

2. The Ha-Ha Icebreaker Game

3. If Bible Characters Had iPhones

4. What If Darth Vader Joined Your Small Group

5. Top 15 Worship Fails

Local Pastor: ‘God Is Still God, and He Is Able to Heal’

Christians Share Anguish Via Social Media

Faith Leaders Focus on Uvalde, Texas

Josh Duggar Gets 151 Months

New Articles

New Podcasts