He was the principal of the Christian school which met at the church. His dad was the Senior Pastor. He had four years of teacher training and all the obligatory certifications, internships, and education needed. He added a Masters Degree in Theology and another Masters in Educational Administration. He was fully qualified to do the job he was doing.
During the five years he had been principal, his dad’s church had grown from 200 members to almost 1500. In that medium-sized town, the church dwarfed all the others. The main draw for newcomers was the Christian school.
And that’s when the accusations started.One 8th grade girl told her teacher she wasn’t going to detention any longer. (Note: The school practiced corporal punishment and a very difficult regimen of consequences for even the smallest infractions. Detention often meant at least an hour of menial labor, supervised by a teacher or administrator).
The teacher lectured this girl on how rebellion was like witchcraft. The girl still wouldn’t go to the detention as long as the principal was there.
The teacher probed for more explanation and the girl blurted out that during her last detention the principal had touched her in private places. The teacher knew she was a mandated reporter, but decided to report it to the school instead of the police. She told one of the vice-principals. He was also a mandated reporter. But he decided to tell the elders of the church about the accusation. They told the Senior Pastor and the investigation was on.
Two weeks later, the elders board concluded the following:
• The young girl misunderstood a harmless action
• She was histrionic and wanted attention
• She had become a problem for the school and would be asked to seek education somewhere else.
• The family, who were members of the church, were discouraged from talking about this incident to anyone else, including law enforcement.
The church assumed the matter was settled. The young girl was frightened of what the church could do to her family, so she said nothing.
Two years later, two sixth grade girls came with their parents to an Elders board meeting. They independently told similar stories. The principal had been in charge of disciplining them for breaking the rules. During sessions with each of them, he had fondled them sexually. The fathers wanted him removed immediately from the school or they would go to the police.
The Elders board met with the Principal and his dad the Senior Pastor. They met a total of five times to discuss what should be done. This was before I became involved. They decided the principal should resign and immediately go into counseling for his “problem”. The Elders thought they had handled it correctly and they assumed the matter was closed.
They had not handled it correctly. They should have gone to the police.
And the matter was certainly not closed.
First, the church should have immediately called the police and reported the sexual abuse. They should have done it with the first girl. Second, instead of trying to cover up the matter, they should have let the entire student body and their parents know about it. They should have asked if there were more victims who would be willing to come forward. Or, they should have allowed the police and the District Attorney to do it instead.
But as a result of messing this up so badly, the situation quickly went beyond their control. A month passed, and the principal still had not tendered his resignation. When the board members asked him about it, he told them his father would not accept his resignation. They approached the Senior Pastor who suggested they call a congregational meeting to deal with the situation.
At that meeting, the Senior Pastor was given a special privilege. This man was a master manipulator. In a long diatribe, he castigated and smeared the reputations of these girls and their families. He told stories about them which could only have come from their classmates. By the end of the meeting, he called for a vote to have all the family members of the victims thrown out of the church!
He failed to get the congregation to back him on this. That’s when the organization I was part of was called in. At the meeting, the Senior Pastor had also suggested the board should resign for believing these horrible rumors being floated by hormonal teenagers. The board didn’t resign. But they also didn’t know what to do.
We held several meetings with the young girls and the families involved. At the first meeting, I walked the leadership team through the process they should have done. Then I introduced the ADA to them who explained what was about to happen. He explained that uniformed police had taken the principal into custody. They were doing what should have happened years before.
And here is the real point of this article. The principal never did admit he had done anything wrong. He continued to call all of it lies, even though four more victims came forward with corroborating and damning stories of abuse. And his family continued to back him up. None of this should surprise anyone reading this.
Here is the shocker though. With all the evidence we compiled, MOST congregation members still defended him. MOST congregation members felt that a grave injustice had been done against the principal.
In addition, students held all-night vigils in prayer so the devil would be bound and the principal set free to resume his leadership over the school.
Even 27 years later, I shake my head at the gullibility of those people. But I have seen this pattern over and over. When Ted Haggard was found guilty of hiring gay prostitutes, few people in the church would believe it. Even when he finally admitted parts of what he did, there were people who felt he was just being kind to the church and falling on the sword by accepting false blame.
Why do churches and church members doggedly defend Pastoral Abusers? What are the essential reasons this happens? Here is what I and other victims’ advocates and abuse consultants have found.
Familiarity Bias: Technically, Familiarity Bias is a financial term. When newcomers start investing in the stock market, they believe companies they are familiar with will make the best investment. They falsely believe they really know the company just because their name is recognizable. This is a dangerous way to invest.
And, this is what congregation members do when they assume they really know a leader. That leader has publicly revealed things about their life, so congregants adopt a false intimacy with them. Most people believe the story of someone they know more than someone they don’t. The victims are often people that very few members of the church know well. Or even if they know the victims, the pastor is often perceived as the best known person in the congregation. Because of this notoriety, the average person will automatically assume the person they know (pastor, principal, etc.) is more trustworthy than a victim they’ve never met.
Over reliance on Personal Experience: Abusers do not abuse everyone. They could not possibly do so. In a previous article, I laid out the blueprint for how pastoral abusers choose their victims. Only a small number of people are actually victimized by even the worst sociopathic offenders. That means the vast majority of people in a church have never known the pastor/principal/worship leader to abuse them.
Most abusers are Narcissistic and Machiavellian in personality. This means they can be tremendously charming to all people, even their victims. They appear as disarming, warm, confident, nurturing, and intelligent. It is virtually impossible for the vast majority who have never been hurt by the pastor to initially believe the story that the victim tells. It is simple: “Pastor X never treated me that way. I can’t believe what this victim is saying. The so-called victim must be making this up.”
A Theology of Leadership Protection: Many churches teach some variation of the idea that the leader of the church needs to be protected from outside attacks. The congregation members feel no compulsion to abstain from criticizing him privately, but as soon as someone brings the criticism into the public eye, everyone becomes his defender. You will hear Psalm 105:15 quoted often: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” This is interpreted to mean that no one is allowed to touch God’s leaders; they are above criticism from the outside.
Other people will hide behind Matthew 18 and the process for dealing with conflict among believers by saying that these victims should have confronted their abuser the “biblical” way. This implies they should have made their accusations in-house and never included outsiders. This adds to the problem, because the congregation already believes the pastor more than the victim. The church will rarely side with the victim without an outside entity directing the process.
He Who Controls the Microphone, Controls the Direction of the Discussion: The Senior Pastor is the voice everyone knows and most people trust. This person is afforded a platform to express his views every week. When the Senior Pastor is an abuser, he is also the one who controls the narrative of how the abuse will be viewed. When the Senior Pastor is not the abuser but wants to defend the person who is, they still control the microphone and they can subtly shift focus away from the offense. They can minimize it, shift blame, victim-shame, sin-level the offense, or call for unity to gloss over the offense. Anyone who controls the pulpit during the time of inquiry controls the most important place where the narrative of abuse can be discussed. If that person is the offender or a friend of the offender, then it is unlikely the average church attender is going to believe or sympathize with the victim until someone else is given the microphone. Anyone who has followed the process of recent disclosures of pastoral abuse will affirm that the pastors and elders of those churches have used the pulpit to do damage control. Very few churches use their public platform to help the victims. Most just pay lip service to the victims at best.
Retroactive Reality: The cost entailed with believing a victim involves believing the pastor has always been an abuser. This causes church members to have to re-examine their spiritual walk in light of this information. Victims are revealing to the congregation that the abusing pastor is a deceiver. Therefore, church members fear their own spiritual formation is tainted as a result. Some congregation members have spent their entire spiritual lives in that one church. They begin to think, “what does this say about me?” This comes out so much in one-on-one interviews I have done with congregation members.
I said it myself years ago. The man who mentored me in the Christian faith when I was 14, assaulted two other boys sexually. I was about six years into my faith walk when I heard about these accusations. I could not believe it. I would not believe it. If he did this, then maybe everything he taught me about God was wrong. It spawned an existential crisis of faith. Most people hate existential crises and will avoid them. The easiest way to do this is to discount the story of the victim.
Doubling Down: Once you have publicly declared you believe the pastor more than the victim, it is hard to change your story. It has been proven that once people have taken a position, whether voting for a candidate or choosing a particular story to believe, they are more likely to keep holding onto that story even when evidence suggests they are wrong. This explains why people can continue to support a political party or candidate even when these are shown to be duplicitous. If the individual congregation member publicly defends a pastor near the beginning of the discovery process, they are very unlikely to change that opinion no matter how much evidence is revealed.
Maximum vs. Minimum Harm Concept: This is an easy one to understand, but hard to admit to. Even though we love to cheer for the Long Shot, if we have a horse in the race, we will cheer for him. In addition, most people will choose the path of least harm time and time again. With abusive pastors, many congregation members when they must choose whom to believe, will choose the path of least destruction.
In the case of a church, if the pastor is forced to admit sin and resign, the church will lose members, community standing, financial support, and future opportunities. Members then decide the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. This is the underlying emotional reason why some will admit the pastor should be disciplined in some way as long as they can stay on at the church in some capacity.
Misapplication of Grace and Sin-Leveling: These are simply two versions of the same false teaching. Misapplication of grace teaches that since God has forgiven all our sins, we should just admit that a sin was committed and allow the pastor to say he is sorry–hopefully with tears and a standing ovation at the end–and then the congregation can move on emotionally.
Sin-leveling is the teaching that we have all sinned and all sins are the same. But this is not true. Thinking about having sex with someone not your spouse is not the same as committing adultery. They are related to one another, but they are not the same sin. Nor do they have the same consequences, which is the key point. But it sounds good, because all of us carry some shame around with us. It is easy to see our own faults and think that we would want people to overlook our mistakes. But abuse is not a mistake. Abuse pours acid on the soul of another human. God reveals great wrath about those who abuse “one of the least of these”. He says it would be better if a millstone were hung around their necks.
This is what we did with the principal and the pastor. The principal went to jail for ten years. The pastor was removed from the pulpit and the Elders board made the recommendation he never pastor again.
So many churches are wrestling with these decisions. We are cleaning out the septic tank of abusers, and it is going to be messy for awhile until we get rid of all the pastoral abusers.
The pulpit unfortunately attracts some narcissistic individuals and these days their victims are coming forward. But will they be believed? I desperately want to say that they will. But most congregation members won’t believe them.
2 thoughts on “Why Churches Disbelieve Victims and Believe Pastoral Abusers, a very interesting article sent through to our twitter account.”
My family has experience of sexual abuse not directly related to the Jesus Army, but dealing with that and the Jesus Army at the same time was hard. I have asked myself since, were my children safe? NO.
There were too many strange visitors and for many years too little supervision and an atmosphere that promoted much love but also much unthinking obedience that promoted abuse. That’s what cults do.
I suppose it was a little easier for those of us not in community. We could be hypocrites behind closed doors and turn up all spiritual to meetings. I could feed my family stuff not out of an FDC cardboard box and out of one. I could put my kids in normal clothes because I had an unsaved husband.
I defy anyone to make sense of their JA past. My memories are mostly, of spiritual abuse.
I do not want to minimize the community kids experience and the harm done. Mine suffered in a different way. Well here goes. I have tried to put the cult aspect beneath each thought.
I am newly around. I hear a parent beating a child. The parent is saying “grateful acceptance! with each blow. I watch a mother spank a child under one for crying. Why did I not run for the hills then?
The cult assumes an authority that tells any person lacking in self-esteem they cannot trust their own thoughts and must be wrong. They justify violent actions as God’s will.
Years later, I threw away the wooden spoon my husband opposed. How dare any organization cause friction in a marriage? I maintained my husband and I needed to be in agreement.
What was I doing agreeing with the cult instead of my husband? Cults pervert scripture to obedience and submission to them becomes all.
I am at Harlestone Road, a visitor. Why would I accept a rule that meant I could go nowhere alone? After I lived on my own at college and was independent in every way.
Cults never let their members out alone. They make you feel the entire outside world is dangerous and an enemy.
Why at Ashburnum, did I believe an elder who said there was something sexual about me? He left me thinking everyone was staring and thinking the same.
It took years to figure out I had no problem. He did.
Cults often become over prudish or overtly sexual. Women are demeaned, given second place and seen as sexual objects who cause men to fall. The idea of any male responsibility for sexual sin is absent. Jezebel exists. David, with Bathsheba, is excused.
My husband was a little put out when we all went quiet and wore black, brown or grey.
Cults impose clothing rules or customs and expect you to follow them. What kind of advert for Jesus wears dark clothes and serves up a perpetual diet of white cabbage and gooseberries who knows.
What right, for that matter, had a group of young men to tell me to leave my fiance?
I tried to move into community, and left unable to cope, two weeks later, returning to him.
Cults control and manipulate relationships.
I now understand the feelings I experienced at that time were post-cult traumatic stress. I would wake at night, terrified. Jesus had come again and I was left behind because I left what was then the Jesus Fellowship.
Cults insist you are out of God’s will if you leave them. They are the only true way and everyone else is not as good or inherently mistaken and evil.
For months I was a walking shell. The feeling of loneliness was extreme and intense and never mitigated by the presence of people around me. I was haunted by the idea I had walked outside God’s will and would be condemned. For years, I could do nothing without the Jesus Army in my head.
Cult teaching inhibits your ability to think rationally. It destroys any true understanding of a loving and forgiving God and replaces this with fear of judgement.
I told nobody from the Jesus fellowship I was getting married. I walked down the aisle terrified they would break into the service and disrupt the wedding! Even my closes friend was not invited for that reason. I doubt this would have happened. However, the effect of the community was to create that kind of fear.
Cults instill fear of negative actions from other members.
Lonely, mixed up and desperately wanted to find Jesus and follow Him again. I couldn’t find a local church dynamic enough for me.
The love but atmosphere of a cult creates dependency and a feeling it is superior to any alternative.
Perhaps that is why a few years later, married and unhappy, but recently returned to the Lord after backsliding, I went back as a non-community member.
When the idea of covenant was introduced, I opposed it. I ran out of the meeting. The pressure to do as my friends did was intense. IfI didn’t agree, would I be outside of the will of God? I would be excluded from the weekly agape which I loved. I felt so in need of true Agape love. So, along with others, I took an unscriptural covenant. It took years to understand that covenants of control are not of God.
Cults tie you in in a way that makes it hard to leave without feeling extremely isolated and lonely. They do this by making you a valued member of a group that is somehow superior to every other group.
Why did I need a second baptism marred by Noel Stanton spending almost the entire meeting haranguing the congregation and saying if they did not behave there would be no baptism? That is beyond bizarre. I remembered that today and thought “what a truly mean thing to do.”
Cults discount your previous spiritual experience.
By what right did any church have the right to produce a parenting booklet and tell me not to show it to my, by then, unsaved husband or demand I attended meetings at the expense of marital harmony?
Cults interfere with husband and wife and God-given parenting roles.
When I shared incidents of domestic violence I was told, “you are the Christian.”
Cults minimalise or spiritualise abuse. They rarely allow authorities to sort the problem and often blame the victim.
Married, but not living in community. I struggled with a double standard. My kids had toys but I felt guilty. My kids did go to all sorts of out of school events and we had holidays, but I felt second class and as if I was doing something vaguely wrong. You lived with a feeling of being less spiritual and second best. Every nice thing you do is tainted because “we as a community do not.” Then you give in and buy the Christmas tree and half enjoy it because you must be in the flesh.
Cults impose rules for living so nothing is done from the heart.
Oh and please! We were second class. We who did not, could not or would not live in community. We never really fell for the insane lie fed to us we were not.
Anyone not fully an insider is a second class member of a cult.
We suffered financial abuse too. All those times gathering gooseberries when we might need a second job at home, all the lost pensions because in our old age the JA was going to take care of us. All the failed marriages, unhappy children who even though they did not live in community still blame us for dragging them to meetings, putting them in danger.
As the years passed, I began to take long detours in my car to get to meetings late. I could not bear Noel shouting and the extraordinary length of meetings any longer. My marriage failed. My kids, now adults, themselves say they hide from Jesus Army buses.
In cults, leaders shout.
My daughter was asked not to be around as she was a danger to the brothers. So these brothers had no responsibilty and no way do I think she ever was.
In cults women are often a percieved danger to men.
When I spoke out about a situation that was wrong, I was rebuked.
I was a woman. Sisters in cults are meant to be submissive and not have a voice.
Finally, when news of an elder jailed for sexual abuse broke out, I was devastated and talked to one elder that have now stepped down. I was shocked. How had this person become someone who clearly felt unhappy about the situation become so controlled as to toe the party line. At a time when safeguarding told us “children never lie about abuse,” there be such a cover up?
Cults cover up rather than expose abuse. They blame the victim.
I began to see my own dependency. To hate the way nobody ever really healed because they were always “going through it.” I saw the control. Much happened in my own life that took me away at this point.
Cults make you think you will not survive without them and their presence in your liffe is healing whereas the opposite is true.
I believe I was one of the first people the community allowed to leave in peace. It wasn’t enough for me they repented and saw the error of their ways. True repentance would have meant dissolving the community.
Cults, under scrutiny, may repent. If hearts are genuine for the Lord, then it requires a complete dismantling and revision. Unfortunately, people get to dependent on each other, you then get factions and divisions, old school and new school thought.
One day, I experienced the incident that broke the camel’s back and poured out all my concerns. This was after 21 years of being a non-community covenant member. I don’t remember the concerns just scales falling from my eyes and repeating over and over, “this is a cult.”
What happens in a cult with a controlling leader is that the leader gets in your head. You have a fourth person in your relationship with Father, Son and Holy Ghost and decisions are made, not always consciously, with reference to the fourth unwelcome visitor. It takes time to identify and eliminate the fourth person.
I recently did a course where terms used in the JA were used and was shocked. When we looked at “the Kingdom.” I triggered badly and also realised how wrong the JA was. I had no idea I still needed healing over 20 yeas after leaving.There were ways Noel or JA teaching still lived in my head. I see it in others. I think I may finally be free.
A long time ago a church elder touched me inappropriately, while holding me at arm’s length. I froze in fear believing he wanted to rape me. I decided to let him do whatever he wanted so he may hurt me less. I was 22 and having a mental breakdowns. His wife had just left the room. I am certain she knew what he was going to do and so went to another room in their flat.
The elder didn’t rape me but from that moment he had a deep control over me in several ways. I fought hard years later and eventually got free.
I have only recently started talking about this because, although he and his wife are now dead, and I believe the Holy Spirit showed me he repented if this before he died, I feel something is still wrong.
The main thing that bothers me is that if a pastor or elder sexually abuses you , be it inappropriate touch or rape, they usually do it alone where no one else witnesses it. If the person being abused speaks up it seems to me that 1. You are just not believed, especially if he has a good reputation, is very well regarded etc. It’s your word against his, and it’s very likely you may be branded as a dirty little whore and vicious liar. 2. Even if it’s somehow proven to be true it’s very likely that many in the church will stick with him like glue, and you will just end up on the outside looking in, feeling like a pariah.
I feel I can do v little about this. They have 3 daughters who all love him, as do many others still. If I exposed this man’s identity there would be places here i could not go to any more, Inc certain churches
It seems on the surface to all victims that everything and everyone favours the guilty. Most of us will compromise in order to stay in a place of feeling comfortable, while the victim occupied the isolating outside.
However, having been through a lot of real trauma this past week alone, and having found peace by what is sheer miraculous I feel I can try to offer some
comfort to others – there is a God who sees all, who also sees how this affects us, and who knows what to do about such situations, in his time and in his way. I am certain he does deal with such abusers, even if it’s not how we might at times prefer. But he will. Life is not a game . I am not a game. You are not a game, and no matter how little they care about us, there really is a God who hates this stuff and who will do what’s right.
And for me – I stay well away from everyone and every place which reminds me of this and others abuses elsewhere, and I keep asking Jesus for wisdom and guidance. Many a time I cry and agonise so much I’m surprised I’m still alive sometimes.
I know what it’s like to suffer, though there are so many others who have suffered so much more than me. But please try to consider that there is a God , that he does see, and care, and will do what is right.
uncomfortable so left.


Winter can drag on, cold days, wet or frozen, windy, long nights, seemingly endless. It’s the time of year that people can feel really depressed, devoid of optimism and hope. We can get caught up in a cycle of depressed, moody days, and it can be hard to shift the mood. What’s the point of even trying since nothing changes. It just goes on and on. Some of us even wonder if we can go on and on.
Here it’s been very wet for days, windy but mild, the days dark, the valley shrouded in mist, people looking sad. The weather gets locked into its pattern. “When will this end?” one wonders. It can be very hard to have hope when things keep going on the same way and nothing seems to change.
We can lose sight of how things change. Nothing stays the same, although it doesn’t seem like it. Everything is in motion. The seasons change, slowly but inexorably. Winter is replaced by spring. Even as I write, the snowdrops are coming up. I brought them from England and put them in a little damp spot under a stone wall and they’ve survived the hot, dry summers and are peeping out of the ground, white tips appearing in the grey, auguries of approaching spring. The camellia,
battered by winds, is nevertheless likewise a mass of buds opening into pink heaven. Primroses on the lawn are showing buds, readying to flower soon, a carpet under the also-budding cherry tree. The seasonal cycle of nature calls us to remember, that warmer, sunnier weather is coming. Change brings new hope, even when it doesn’t seem like it.
The human spirit has hope. Without it, we wouldn’t do things in adversity. Life has faith, hope and trust built into it. We just need to attend to it.
I always think of St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “…these three things remain, faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians, 13:13).
It’s a powerful process, to re-member. We have this awareness within us, but it needs will and determination to shift our awareness within to the candle of love that burns constantly inside each of us. It might be a small, faint flicker, but it is there nonetheless.
Just before the dawn is the greatest darkness. It can even be our “dark night of the soul” as St John of the Cross recognised. The darkness can be black, gloomy and despairing, and it can contain the inner secrets of our salvation. We need to regularly revisit that space, not allowing the darkness to overwhelm us. For this, we need to exercise our will. “This too shall pass”, and the dawn will break once again. Nothing stays the same.
Always have hope, and know that this love is always within.


“If its not easy, Give up”
I have looked at many quotes of encouragement. I have studied many great men and women of history. Victorious men and women don’t succumb to the above statement. Many of the undocumented losers in history have said this but it is Napoleon that is credited with “History is written by the victors” This statement was also echoed by Churchill. In fact it is the giving up is the opposite we see through history.
Another good one is “Never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill. My favorite encouragement comes from Jesus who in Matthew 24:13 Said “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
December was a record month. We saw our largest month of donations yet. However it was not enough to get us to Odessa. We also saw our largest loss of donors. Last year six of our donors felt forced to quit giving to the ministry. Since returning from Montana we have lost over $600 in monthly donations so while our donations base has grown each month it has been a hard fought battle. We hope you stand with those in prayer who have encountered bitter battles causing them to have to pull back their gifts. Also remember it is the forces of evil that we battle against not people.
Ephesians 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
We Have taken January to pray and consider how to continue to wait on the Lord and how to serve him in light of our current situation. We feel that if we are going to wait or serve the Lord for an extended period of time we need to do that by living in a home as family. We have shared residences with others over the last 14 months. Due to us surving on less than $2000 per month for a family of five this has not been an option. We have been in prayer over God presenting us with an open door to one of the following prospects.
Choice #1 is a interim position with a Church so that we may continue to engage in ministry while we wait for full funding and possibly be able to lead some short term mission trips.
Choice #2 is that I receive a position with Maersk who is a large shipping company. Our hopes is that Maersk will take over four Russian Ports over the next two years and expand their inland operations. If I take position with Maersk most likely I would be paid as a local which is much lower than US standards so support would still be necessary. Our real hope is that David could prove himself a worthy candidate to mange one of the ports by the time the contracts for Russia comes active. This action seriously hinder our time for ministry once in Ukraine or Russia but would be a way we might begin the ministry until full funding comes in.
Choice #3 is David takes a position in the oil fields working a 28 day on and 28 days off schedule. During his time off he would lead missions trips to multiple world Site hoping to increase the awareness for the need of missions to foreign lands and help others to see success as witnesses for Christ. The ultimate is to help someone first hand witness a profession of faith because of their willingness to go according to the Great commission. Our fear is that the six weeks away from family out of every 8 weeks would take a toll upon the family.
Choice #4 is David takes a secular job. First he would not be available to the type of employment of his past as he cannot commit to being there long term as our dedication is to the mission field of Odessa Ukraine. Also another fear is that once a secular job is achieved the giving would die off as people lose faith in us working in the ministry. Only three people gave while David was employed before, and all three were family.
So we ask you to pray with us as we simply look for any of these opportunities to be presented to us so that we may follow the Lords leading. I do find it interesting that of the people who have “questioned” our decisions to endure none of them were givers. Those who invest in the kingdom look for victory while those who only watch the show hope for failure. Thank you all for continuing to believe in Gods calling and continuing to support us even when it’s not easy.
Praise – David has shared the Gospel with 7 Interns from foreign lands this month for the first time and with two non believing Americans and one Catholic who places her faith in the sacraments. Six have attended church.
Praise – The van is need of some work including tires this past months influx will help us to afford the new tires for Goldie our 13 year old van.
Prayer – Please pray that those around us encourage us and look for the success of the kingdom and not encourage us to give up. We pray we have the strength of Job and continue to praise God while others say curse him and walk away.
Make it or break it?
Here it is a few days after Christmas and I hope you
enjoyed the holiday and found ways to share the
good news of Christ to others. As I write this letter
Christmas has not arrived yet so I do not have the
pictures of the happy kid faces unwrapping presents
to share with you. Our plans are to support a local
women’s shelter Christmas morning and spend
time with the kids there. Hopefully I will have some
pictures to share with you in our January newsletter.
I have come to realize that all of my kids sang
and performed for different concerts, plays, and
productions this December and it is surprising for I
cannot sing and have no clue about how to carry a
tune. I have enjoyed seeing them venture out into
an area I have no knowledge. It is a joy to see the
saplings grow outside the shade of the oak.
This month has seen some good ministry and we
have enjoyed reaping where others sowed, seeing
the salvation of many and actually getting to
participate in some of their lives. We also are sowing
in places we very well may not see the harvest with
our own eyes. We pray God will complete the good
work in them that he has started as we move to the
next point in this journey.
So where are we? This month is our “Make it or break
it month.” Should we not receive funding this month
for Odessa Ukraine we will start to evaluate “How
we can get there?” A friend once told me “If you are
willing to go then God will provide a way”. I also
heard “Where God guides, He provides.” We have
put our lives into this. We have sunk everything we
own into this venture. We have sold it all. We have
given all we are to being in the service of the Lord.
We are not giving up. All of our belongings fit into
our 2000 Ford Windstar van, yet we are rich in the
experiences we have had over the past few years.
Our parents have been so gracious in the past year
allowing us the use of their homes and utilities, but the
issue remains that should our support for the mission not
come in we will need to change the manner in which we
wait in order to complete the task God has set before us.
Our prayer is that others will desire to see the kingdom of
God advanced in Odessa Ukraine. We must ask ourselves
how we are contributing to seeing this come to fruition.
We know that all money belongs to the Lord. Will you use
the gifts God has given you to support us in the mission?
Please pray today if you have not felt led to give to this
ministry. I am in great anticipation to what next month
brings. As always thank you for your prayers and support.
David Price-Williams & Family
The Job Offer
Once I was offered a job making more than I had
ever made before. The company was rumored to
have a lot of problems but who cares if they are
paying you a lot? The first paycheck I received I
was told “You might want to hurry up and cash
that. There will not be enough in the account
to cover all the checks by the end of the day.”
As you might have guessed, I didn’t stay there
long. The job was not worth it, and of course it
took a while but the company folded. Now, I am
on the other side. I am making less than I ever
have before in my life. However, this is the best
job I have ever had in my life. The size of the
paycheck is not the gauge I use to determine
the best job.
I have had the opportunity to witness to many
people. Most are not citizens of this country.
In fact, one of the interns had a shocking
revelation. “Americans care more about their
country than they do their God. Muslims are not
this way.” I am thankful for this job opportunity
that allows me to reach those whom I may not
have come in contact with otherwise.
Ministry is a big part of what we do. We have
shared with religiously lost people, those
who place their hope in their works being
judged rather than their faith in God. We are
often asked the age-old question “If God is a
loving God then why do bad things happen?”
It has been a joy to be the ones that these
people seek out for the truth. We have had
the opportunity to talk to some before certain
difficult decisions are made. To the lost the
decisions seem hard, but to us they are simple.
It has also been a joy as people are beginning
a new walk with Christ we have had the
opportunity to help guide them to someone to
help in their discipleship and accountability.
Sometimes we have had the opportunity to
participate in humanitarian help as well like
feeding the poor and reaching out to the
community. I love our new job. The pay stinks
and the hours are crazy—up at 5:00am and
other times I have gone until 3:00am. I can’t
always post pictures and tell all the great things
we see happening out of concern for those
We continue to trust God for our provision. We
continue to tithe and use our finances to glorify
God. We hope you understand this letter is our
way of asking you to help us in the work we do
and the work we hope to do in Odessa Ukraine as
The Price-Williams Family
“I have found that there are three stages
to every great work of God: first, it is
impossible, then it is difficult, then it is
done.” – Hudson Taylor
Hold firm but be flexible!
Oxymoron or good advice? Good advice I say. We are closer to our departure date than we ever have been before. As I have spoken to many other missionaries I always thought due to the burden upon my heart that God would provide funds quickly. Many have waited. Some of our good friends had 7 years before they finally were able to go. Of course, there were others that sent out letters to 50 people and received full funding immediately. A few who paid their own way and in all accounts it ended badly. Learning to trust in the Lord for your provision is a big part of becoming a missionary and I do believe God wants me to get all the training possible. There are many who go as “tent makers”. Often performing jobs that do not pay enough to support missions and ministry but it gives them access to a place otherwise closed off to long term missions. They are usually in “closed” countries. Russia is one of these nations where you need a business visa for long term stay. So we are holding firm to Gods call BUT we are flexible in how and when we will serve Him.
We sought out advice from those who were living in the U.S. while waiting to go. The main advice on how to survive was ministry and giving. David took on part time work at Chateau Elan (golf, winery, resort) in order to accomplish this. David is working and giving the proceeds of this job directly to International Messengers to help cover some debt of shortages each month. David has begun missions work among the 10-15 interns there. They come from China, Turkey, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Brazil and South Africa. David has had a chance to work hard and show them he cares for people and will joyfully endure and share their burdens. He has had the chance to share the gospel fully a few times. The biggest obstacle has been Americans who call themselves Christians but provide no evidence of it with their life. This is often the largest objection to them placing their faith in Jesus. God is faithful and every shift provides more fruit and Lord willing, before we go we will have already impacted the world.
In these past few months we have enjoyed being part of and serving some churches that we have built relationships with. Generally on Sunday we go to two church services enjoying the fellowship and the Word of God while connecting with people so that once we are in Ukraine it is not just people we met once, but our friends. On Sunday afternoon Megan participates in a youth bible study followed by youth group at The Vine Church. Megan has enjoyed using this opportunity to bring friends who are lost to have a chance to engage the gospel. Monday- Friday our general work load in the morning is getting three kids to school. Jacob rides the bus but Emily and Megan have to be transported. We also devote our selves to physical training at least 3 days per week. We also have scripture and prayer time each day in order to seek the Lord. We schedule one hour per day to read and pray but often this time grows. On Wednesdays at Black Shear Bapist, David participates in the men’s ministry “Fuel”. Megan is involved in the youth program as well as Jacob in Awana. David works with “FAITH evangelism” class on Wednesday nights also at Black Shear Baptist. David also is involved in men’s ministry small group on Thursday mornings at The Vine Church. Teniece also participates with The Bridge women’s ministry on Wednesdays. Megan has brought some of her friends to Blackshear as well. Sometimes we feel like the van is part our ministry getting to and fro. With gas prices at their current level we burn $600-$700 plus per month just on fuel plus we have spent over $1000 in repairs over the past couple of months. We also attend Ekklesia on Friday nights. We also try to plan for a couple of ministry meetings each week. David averages about 30 hours per week in addition to this so we remain quite busy while waiting on the Lord to go to serve the Kingdom. Thank you for standing with us in this busy time of waiting.
Prayer – Funds, we are still in need of funds and that is the only hurdle to leaving for Odessa. We wait for Gods provision and please pray that we do not go further into debt to IM while waiting.
Prayer- Please pray our van would suffice until we leave without any further repairs.
Prayer – Please pray for continued strength and fruit in this time.
Endure, pray, and listen.
August has been both a struggle and a success
for us. The beginning of the month seemed a
free fall with David coming down with the flu
while we visited Mobile and Pensacola. He took
medicine for two days until he basically had to
yield to the sickness. We drove back to Atlanta
where David fought off the 104° fever and was
nearly bedridden for a week. We then had to
cancel two very important meetings he had been
looking forward to for most of the summer. His
sorrow might have been a reason the bronchitis
took hold. It then took another two weeks to get
to the point where he wasn’t constantly coughing
on everyone. He has now returned to good
health, for which we are all thankful.
As with many parents, the return to school was
celebrated like a holiday. Initially, Emily was
excited to go to pre-school but this excitement
soon turned into a Mommy deficiency.
Thankfully, she has recovered and has settled in
just fine. Megan was excited to return to her old
middle school and rejoin her friends, thankful for
God’s provision for her to have a scholarship for
eighth grade. Jacob was also excited to get back
to making new friends. Three different schools in
1.5 years and I am amazed at how his social skills
have improved. He now looks forward to the
opportunity to make new friends in fifth grade.
Teniece really enjoyed having Megan’s birthday
party this month. It was a joy to have family over
to celebrate. On Sunday some family friends
from Covenant Life Church enabled Megan to
have some of her friends come over to ride
horses and have another small party. We were
really blessed by this as we saw the joy in our
daughter’s eyes. What a blessing it is to see others
bless your children!
Our focus has been raising short-term teams for next
summer and meeting with churches for support.
We have made great strides and had some great
meetings. We look forward to partnering with these
churches and others. Churches tend to run on an
annual budget so it appears we will be in Atlanta
until January 2013. Since we are also running
about $600 short each month David is considering
part-time work so that we will not go in debt with
International Messengers during this time of waiting.
Another focus this month has been continued
ministry wherever we are able. David was offered
a chance to join Ekklesia on training day again this
month and felt that he learned as much as he taught.
This has also been a big month of growth for us
spiritually. We have seen grace in such a new way
and have witnessed how abundant it is in our lives.
We have grown thankful that the Lord would allow
us to pursue Him and this mission and are humbled
in His provision. We would love it if you could join us
in whatever capacity you have available to you. We
love all of you and look forward to the opportunity
to love others as Jesus did.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love
each other: just as I have loved you, you also are to
love one another.” John 13:34
Thank you for your support and prayers!
The Price-Williams Family
A missed opportunity.
As a child I watched Dana Carvy as the Church Lady and enjoyed one of the most memorable skits. As the “Church Lady” in the skit “Church Chat” Dana’s Character draws the conclusion that Santa is Satan if you just move the “N”. We laughed it off and thought nothing of it and went on in our jolly holiday. Little did I realize I was allowing an opportunity to learn to just slip by me.
As I have watched organizations fight feverously against the Country moving Jesus out of the public eye. I have often thought of the Crusades and how the “Christians” went and by force battled for the promise land to be under Christian rule. Often the Church wrote certifications “covering” the sins of men who brutally fought killing men who were just defending their home. I wonder how far we should go to “fight” for Jesus. I look back to the word to find that often God let armies of 100k perish because they fought without his blessing and then I see where he used only 300 to defeat and Army of 100k because they allowed him to work. I wonder sometimes in my diligence to fight for Christ if I have done it by the sweat of my own brow or by the glory of God? I have often “fought” against Santa feeling he took away from the holiday designated for the Christ. All the while I was missing and important lesson that I could have learned from Santa.
Once I had a conversation surrounding the development of the peace sign. As we look at the history of it we find different speculations of its origin. Some point to the fact it was a marking upon on of the German Tank regiments and was meant to be the incognito version of the swastika since the swastika was outlawed. We also heard it was from and artist who painted it for the purpose of a peace sign and each section stood for something different. Then we hear of the upside down broken Cross with is a sign of Satanism. What is the true meaning of the peace sign?
Another item close and dear to many of our memories is the Christmas Tree. This also has many belief’s on its origion. Some say it was because it was an evergreen it had spiritual powers and was the Sun Gods promise he would return to full strength in the summer and so many adorned their house with it at the winter solstice or the shortest days of the year as praise to the sun God. Others say because it was evergreen it symbolized eternal life. Many used it to keep the evil spirits of disease away by hanging it over the door and placing it inside since winter was the time when most people died of illness. The Catholic Church had a Saint claim to use the shape to teach about the trinity. The red balls once were apples to hang upon the tree to symbolize the tree in the garden and the lights were Jesus. The list goes on and on, but one can easily see the real meaning of the tree could be evil but our memories of childhood we reflect on are of good.
Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
In all things, will you see the good that God has for you, or will you see only the evil the world has intended for you? So often I fought Santa rather than learning how to use the idea of Santa to the Glory of God.
“The Polar Express” was beautiful movie full of mystery and marvel. I stumble at the thought that the main character (the train Director) is also the man in “Da Vinci Code” in which the fundamentals of Christianity are painted as false. This movie encourages children to believe in Santa Clause. It forces the question, can we believe? So I ask myself, a few questions, first who believes in Santa. Who encourages the belief in Santa Clause, and finally who is Santa Clause?
Once again turning to the pages of history nothing is recorded in early Church documents about St. Nicholas. Most of his history is that of legend written in many books and stories but nothing “legal”. Saint Nicholas of 300 AD is agreed to be the persona of which Santa Clause is based off of. Kriss Kringle is the name which Martin Luther referred to Santa as. He was from Turkey and was from a rich family. This is about the only constant in all the stories. Some claim he was a miracle worker as a child. Some claim his Parents died while he was a lad, others claim as a young man, some never mention them. One of his most famous exploits is there were three girls who were so poor, they were without food. They decided that they would go be prostitutes the next day and he gave them money that night. Some said it was thrown through the window others say it was placed in their stockings which were by the fire drying out. Some even say the three were prostitutes who had been killed and he raised them from the dead. Some say he named them Faith Hope and Love.
Another story of the most beloved Saint in the history of the east and west Church is that he would make night time visits to the poor and leave gifts for them in the cover of darkness so that he would not be praised for his kindness. However in the year 303, the Roman emperor Diocletian commanded all the citizens of the Roman Empire, which included Asia Minor, to worship him as a god. Story has it he was put in jail for not worshiping himself for no one knew his true identity and as he was a Christian he would only worship God. Over 2000 Churches where built in his honor and he was the patron saint of many. The English split away from the Catholics brought about Father Christmas. The name Santa Clause may have come from the Dutch Version of Saint Nicholas.
All of the History is unsubstantiated legend yet how many parents teach it to their children? I wonder how this legend can glorify Christ. We cannot even for certain tell the history of Santa Clause to our children yet they believe. Why do they believe? First they believe because we believe. Second they are dependent upon their parents for their livelihood. They trust us for their provision and we ask nothing in return but love, so to them to believe there is one who would bless them with a gift and ask for nothing in return but belief is believable. Santa Clause is a small way to learn how to believe. The difference is that Santa Clause is not even the real story yet it is believed by children because they trust you. When the falseness of Santa is discovered a piece of that trust in you as a parent also fades away. When I tell them the love Christ has for them they will subconsciously remember the heartbreak of Santa and they will live by the Old saying “fool me once shame on you, Fool me twice, shame on me”.
The missed lesson of Santa Clause is that Christ said if we believe like children we will find Heaven. So by watching the way little Children believe in Santa is how I learn I must trust in Jesus and his words. Santa came from a good start, I guess. It has turned into something that actually tears down the trust between a child and the parent or Grandparent, or neighbor, or anyone who “fools” them with this lie. So when the story of Christ is taught they will feel it is too good to be true and they will not be fooled again.
Santa is a good way to learn how to believe, but the story will build walls that may one day hide the truth from them who once believed. The question is not whether it is evil or good, but how you use it, how you see it, that determines whether it is good or evil.
Genesis 50:20(a) You planned evil against me; God planned it for good


Operation Reach the Mature
O.R.T.M. began in 2000 in two nursing homes in Toronto. A bi-weekly Bible Study and weekly one-to-one visits are continuing in one home. A chaplaincy position has been established. In 2001 a second home opened and a weekly ministry of Bible Study, taking Communion to the residents and visiting with them began. Continued growth is being seen and the residents look forward to these visits. It is a delight to see their growth and participation.
This ministry outreach expanded into a senior’s retirement residence in 2007 with a bi-weekly Bible Study. This grew into a ‘weekly’ outreach later that year. A monthly Church Service has been conducted on the 4thSunday of each month since July, 2008. Andrea is supported with a team of volunteers from the local church. She and her team are seeing continued personal growth in each other as well as in the residents who attend regularly. They are being discipled on an ongoing basis.
The vision of this ministry is that ministry outreach programs and regular church services be established in every long-term care facility in the Greater Toronto Area. There are 614 facilities in Ontario with at least 90 homes in Metro Toronto.
Each of these residents NEED Jesus. The dream is to get into at least one home each day with at least one other person. Jesus sent the disciples out in teams of two.
To raise up teams who have the same heart cry and commitment that the Pastor in Charge has in order
that seniors will be won for Jesus and this outreach will continue under new leadership when she
can no longer do it.
Leaders must be raised up to take over from her.
The heart’s cry of the Pastor-in-Charge is that she (and her Team)
be instrumental in seeing seniors come to know Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior of their lives.


Living Hope Christian Ministries Inc. is a non-profit organization with a 501 (c) 3 tax exemption status. We rely on donations to maintain our mission to restore Broken Lives. Often, those who need help are least able to have the financial resources to have the financial resources to support themselves. A Majority of our funds are raised from individuals, churches, business, community organizations and fund raising events.
Your donations will address the following needs: Food, clothing, and shelter needs, educational, transportation costs,recreational activities, personal hygiene and medical essentials, operational costs such as utilities, maintenance and other basic needs.
Living Hope has been a strong, consistent voice calling for the empowerment, restoration and freedom for those stuggling with mental disorder, alcoholism and substance abuse addictions throughout the New York metropolitan area. Our services and presence in the community have worked positive change for countless people. In these difficult times, your support is essential for our continuing mission to help restore lives and spreading hope through the Good News of Jesus.
To Donate by Mail: Living Hope Christian Ministries, Inc. 107-55 166th Street Queens, New York 11433...
Contact: Program Director: Rev. B.Paul 718-805-0601 718-926-2447
Thank You For Caring & For Making A Difference!
Living Hope Christian Ministries
107-55 166th St
Queens, NY 11433
Rev. Andre B. Paul
Visit us on Facebook


Rev. Sam Rodriguez was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He served in the United States Army as a Chaplain Assistant, including serving in Kuwait & Iraq during operation Iraqi Freedom. He’s a graduate of Mid-America Christian University with a BS in Behavioral Science & Ethics and Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity. He has served OPC and PCA churches as a pastoral intern and Minister of the Word in New Jersey and Oklahoma. Rev. Rodriguez has been married to Amanda for over 20 years and they have twin daughters, Catherine and Johannah.


Major Keys to Marriage :: Relationship Goals (Part 4)Dating and Marriage. Recently someone who was the only faithful sibling left in his family, was asked why he had remained faithful. What had made the difference? He, among all his siblings, had not underestimated the importance of marrying someone who would help him and his future children make it to heaven 1 Peter The List. Over the years I have talked to various single men and women and they have talked about the list of desired qualities they have mind when it comes to finding a mate.
Recently someone who was the only faithful sibling left in his family, was asked why he had remained faithful. What had made the difference?
LOVE, SEX, DATING, AND MARRIAGE
He, among all his siblings, had not underestimated the importance of marrying someone who would help him and his future children make it to heaven 1 Peter The List. Over the years I have talked to various single men and women and they have talked about the list of desired qualities they have mind when it comes to finding a mate. Of course, such a list always includes a number of personal preferences, but in this lesson we will explore some of the more spiritual considerations mentioned in scripture that characterize great marriage partners.
The Successful Marriage. This is my short-list of the ingredients I have seen in Scripture and from life experience concerning a lasting and happy marriage. Mark Dunagan mdunagan frontier. Email Address. Add your personal message or comments here. A link to this page will automatically be included your email. The List Over the years I have talked to various single men and women and they have talked about the list of desired qualities they have mind when it comes to finding a mate.
Diligence Proverbs ; They do not try to get out of working or work as little as possible. They are not adverse to hard work. If they have a job that is not great, they make the best of it. A lazy person is never lazy in just one area of their lives Romans ; Colossians They are far more than a talker, they are a definite doer of relevant things James They serve. They are self-starters.
Sermons on Marriage And Dating The world sends us many messages regarding dating, marriage, and sexuality, are any of them useful to. Have you ever tried to list out all the different dating advice you've heard — even just the Don't date anyone until you're ready to marry them. Get sermon ideas from Ronnie Floyd by Love, Sex, Dating, And Marriage. Download free sermons, preaching outlines and illustrations.
They are willing to open their schedules for serving others Romans Optimistic Philippians When things go wrong, do they find the silver lining, the benefit that can come from this setback or that?
Do they see the big picture in life that when the physical does not deliver as expected, their joy is fixed on a happy eternity? They are biblically literate and can conversational about spiritual realities. They do not suddenly become quiet when the conversation goes to a very deep level. They read and are always learning.
Sermon on dating and marriage
They are routinely seeking to improve themselves Philippians While not content to stay at their current level of spiritual growth, they do like who they are. The take care of themselves. They are clean and practice good hygiene. They take care of what they own. In particular, dating and romantic relationships are something I love learning about. In the beginning God created man and woman, and ever since we have been asking questions about love, marriage, sex, and romance.
Loveology is an exploration of what the Bible has to say about the never ending story of male and female. Listen to Loveology Series by Bridgetown Church. One of my favorite parts of this podcast is when Mike Erre unpacks a passage in Song of Solomon to give us a guideline of three things to look for in a spouse. In this series, Pastor Michael Todd shows us how to make healthy relationship goals.
This sermon series was filled with so many nuggets of wisdom, but one that stood out to me the most was an analogy given on the powerful role God designed sex to have within marriage. Make sure your brother in Christ understands the difference between friendship and romance. Develop quality godly relationships. Develop friendships not romances, that comes later.
Christian dating. A date is defined as a pre-arranged social engagement. It can be either: A group setting — smart low commitment way of getting to know each other. One-on-one — More serious, needs a much more serious foundation.
Love Dating & Marriage. made with Faithlife Proclaim. Pastor Richard Lee. LLCKEM. Sermon • Submitted 10 months ago • Presented 10 months ago • . Dating and Marriage. Mark Dunagan 08/06/17 - Sunday Morning. Dating and Marriage. Recently someone who was the only faithful sibling left in his family, was. Sometimes children have an interesting view of marriage. And, sometimes it is more accurate than we would like to admit. Anita, a nine year old.
The seriousness of the dating relationship depends on the communication and honesty of the two people between themselves, each other and God.
What type of person should you consider dating? Single member of the opposite sex. Solomon and his wives.Before The Person :: Relationship Goals (Part 1)
Someone with similar maturity — benefits are obvious. The other person can be a commodity if you are needy or a blessing if God is your all.
Bread and water vs. God must be number one in your life. Patiently and trustfully waiting for His timing JamesPs. You have a solid identity in Jesus alone. You are walking in the Holy Spirit. You can bless that other person as God desires.
You can exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in that relationship. You are encouraging positive growth in each other. You have developed an agape only relationship with that person first. This takes time.
No one should date someone they barely know. It is unwise to allow a stranger that type of intimacy.
Dating & Singleness. Share on Twitter Wait to Date Until You Can Marry. Marshall The great prize in dating is not Christ-centered intimacy, but Christ- centered clarity. Sermon. Single in Christ: A Name Better Than Sons and Daughters. Some of my favorite sermon series and podcasts on Christian dating of relationships—friendship, singleness, dating, marriage, family, etc. The Biblical keys necessary to successfully navigate the dating scene, glorifying God and finding the mate God created you to live your life with.
Knowing someone for at least a year before you date is very wise. The relationship test: 1Are you individually and as a couple growing and maturing in Jesus and encouraging growth in each other? If you are lacking in any of these three areas you should seek God about whether you should be in this relationship.
How and why you should date? The goal of dating should be to glorify God and strengthen each other. Finding the right person vs. This will enable you to make a wise and informed decision about marriage. Give the relationship time to grow without that type of pressure.
If you realize this person is not someone you would be able to marry gently communicate and end the dating relationship, before further emotional involvement. We are made to stick together like duct tape — when we stick and peel apart we cant stick together as well the next time.
When are you ready for marriage? Not after 6 months of good feelings, because you really feel this is the one. Waiting will not kill you.
Are you circumstantially ready? Still in college? Getting married in college can be very rough.
Have any debt? If you love that person will you tie them to your debt? Are you ready to walk the marriage role God has provided for you provide, protect, be a mother?
Responsibility is vital!! Are you emotionally ready? Are you needy, seeking marriage as a security blanket? Are you spiritually ready? Is Christ your all? Are you growing in Him through this? Are you developing His calling on your life or is the relationship distracting you from that? It is possible to do relationships the right way.


We are glad you're visiting our website. Browse around, get to know us and join us on Sunday morning so we can get to know you! Wherever you are on your faith journey you are welcome at St. Thomas!
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (said)
9:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. Nursery
10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (sung)
10:00 a.m. Sunday School (school year)
Every Thursday - 1:00 p.m. Tai Chi Class
All are welcome
1465 Coburg Road, Eugene, OR
Facebook: St Thomas Episcopal Church
Our Parish Commitment to You:
To make you feel welcome.
To be family friendly.
To offer you time to stop and think in your busy life.
To be a place of rest, refreshment and grace.
At St. Thomas we are committed to being practical and relevant, while helping you explore answers to your deepest questions. Together, we will help you make sense of the Bible, and who Jesus is, and we will help you discover for yourself God’s love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
We are here to offer you a new start
in the love of God!
We are currently in the search process to call a new full time Rector. During this time of change we are blessed to have Fr. Doug Hale as our interim Rector.
Vestry Goals 2017
1. Support and enable existing activities and ministries by:
involvement with the community.
3. Support and explore youth
participation in the St. Thomas
and wider communities.
Some of the specific activities discussed:


Book Club will meet June 25 in the St. Philomena Lounge at 7:30pm. The next book is "The Ninth Hour" by Alice McDermott.
Holy Hour will be held Saturday, June 29, 9:00am.
MEET & GREET
Please join in welcoming Monsignor Michael Bliss as our new pastor with a Meet & Greet on Sunday, June 30, after the 11:30am Mass in the St. Philomena Parish Hall. Light refreshments will be served.
FIRST FRIDAY MORNING MASS
First Friday Morning Mass will be held July 5 at 7:30am at St. Philomena followed by Coffee & Donuts in the Second Overflow Room.
FIRST FRIDAY EVENING MASS
First Friday Evening Mass will be held July 5 at 5:30pm at St. Michael.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MEETING
The Knights of Columbus will meet Thursday, July 11, at 6:30pm in the St. Philomena Parish Hall.
GEMS OF FAITH MEETING
The Gems of Faith will meet Thursday, July 11, at 6:30pm in the St. Philomena Lounge.


Acceptance is the expression of unconditional love where we all belong to a family of love, warmth and forgiveness
Discipleship is valuing the teaching, mentoring and encouragement of growth in self and others in God’s truth
Taking each other at face value, loving them as they are, for God loved us while we were still sinners
Forming connections with people and community
We believe God’s inspired word and its ability to guide and transform us, becoming more like Christ
To see people experiencing God, entering His Kingdom and being transformed by his love
The Apostles Creed
As stated in the Apostles Creed:
We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried;
He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
From there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of the Saints, forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
The people of Northwest Community Baptist Church will never force these beliefs on anyone but will happily share them with any person willing to listen.


WHY JONAH, THE PROPHET, WAS ESCAPING FROM GOD???
One of the foundations that the Creator embedded in the world,
Even before it was created, is the ability to mend faults.
This is because of the possibility of free choice which God gave only to mankind.
Free choice is related to the will of man.
When a person corrupts the world by making a bad choice,
He has an opportunity to “fix” his own will that caused the failure
And to change his will to a good and positive free will.
The ability to make repairs provides incredible power,
Since God wants the world to continue to exist and not to be destroyed.
More than that, God wants a man to do a full repentance
So it would have a complete redemption, all mankind!
The story of Jonah the prophet shows
How hard it is for a man to cope with this tremendous power:
The inherent ability to mend faults in the world.
Learning Jonah story with SWEET INSIGHTS
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- What is Addiction?
- What is Christian Drug Rehab?
- How is Christian Drug Rehab Different from Regular Secular Rehab?
- Why Do Some People Choose Non-Faith Based Rehab?
- What Does the Bible Say About Addiction?
- Should You Go for Christian Rehab?
Studies have shown that drug addicted individuals who choose faith-based treatment programs are more likely to avoid relapse. They are said to be more likely to stay sober. But these studies only account for people who are already religious.
What we know for sure is that people respond better to treatment methods that are consistent with their own beliefs. What if a person isn’t religious? Do Christian addiction recovery programs still have the same effect? Is a drug addict likely to become sober under a Christian rehab if they do not have the same beliefs?
In order to answer these questions, we need to put Christian treatment under the microscope. What does it do? How does it help? How is it different from regular forms of drug rehab?
Christ-centered counseling certainly has its benefits. And today we are going to discuss the scope of its helpfulness, and why it is a viable option to consider when looking for an addiction treatment center.
A patient may or may not decide to undergo faith-based healing entirely. They may decide that their religion has little to do with their success in getting sober. But before we can take a look at the relationship between addiction treatment and faith, we need to get a brief overview of what we are up against.
What is Addiction?
Understanding addiction can go a long way in making the right decision for addiction treatment. There are a lot of factors to consider, especially because addiction affects everyone in different ways. And religion is just one of the many factors that come into play.
Addiction is the compulsive need to take a certain substance—even when your body is already suffering from its adverse effects. Many drugs out there can make you feel good. They will make you feel relaxed and euphoric. Some may even distort your perception of reality—literally making you unable to think about your problems. Those who seek to get away from it all can do so through the use of deadly and potent drugs.
The fact that drugs, as well as alcohol, can make you feel good about yourself is what makes them so compelling. They prevent you from living a sober life by making you not want to quit in the first place. Why would you give up something that feels so good?
But that’s the thing: drugs aren’t all good. They’re not good for your body at all. You may know that; you may not. But the truth is that drugs will destroy your body as you take them.
They are not supposed to be in your system—let alone high doses of them. That’s why these substances can easily kill people via fatal overdose. It’s why drug addicts have failing organs.
It also destroys the mind and alters a person’s behavior, to the point where they can’t make the right decisions anymore. They will have memory problems, they will have cognitive issues, and they’ll suffer from all sorts of psychological stress. They may become depressed, paranoid, anxious, violent, or suicidal.
All these emotional burdens pile up on top of the various physical effects that drugs create.
And the worst part is that the person will just want to take more. When a person’s body adapts to the drug’s presence, it becomes tolerant. This means they won’t get the same euphoric effects, unless they take the drug in higher doses, or they take it more frequently.
In no time, they will become drug dependent, which means their body will no longer function properly without the substance.
This is what makes drug addiction treatment so necessary. A person can’t just quit taking the drugs—the withdrawal will either be disastrously uncomfortable, or they will simply relapse. Not to mention that they will have extreme cravings for their drug of choice if they do try to quit.
Self-regulating is an ineffective and dangerous way to deal with drug addiction. The truth is, drug addiction treatment isn’t so simple either. But it’s the patient’s best chance of recovery.
There are many factors that have to be considered during the process of rehabilitation. The good news is that addiction treatments are staffed with medical professionals who can come up with a treatment plan based on a person’s specific needs.
Will the treatment be inpatient or outpatient? How long will they be staying in the facility? What treatment methods will be most effective?
The person’s drug habits will be considered. What drug did they abuse? How long have they been taking the substance? Have they been drinking or abusing other types of drugs? Do they have co-occurring disorders? Were they prescribed with certain drugs? How often did they take the drug and at what dosage?
Other personal information may change the treatment plan too. A person’s age, gender, body weight, and health condition will be taken into consideration. And depending on the treatment facility, even their hobbies, interests, profession, and religion can have an impact on the treatment process.
Christian rehab centers offer one specific type of treatment for a certain group of people. No doubt it is the best drug addiction program for Christians, because it offers spiritual guidance alongside the regular rehab program. But what exactly does that entail? Let’s have a closer look.
What is Christian Drug Rehab?
Christian drug rehab is for Christians who have substance abuse issues—but it’s not necessarily limited to those who have the same faith. Anyone can sign up for this type of treatment. But the approach itself is structured around faith, and so you need to have a degree of comfort with this method for it to actually work.
Looking beyond its religious aspects, faith based drug rehab is essentially the same as traditional rehab. It aims to provide individualized care, as well as group therapy for their patients. It aims to treat the person physically, psychologically, and in this case, spiritually.
Whatever your religion may be, it is known that your chances of recovering are improved when you are surrounded by people who are on a similar path as you are. How you define this similarity can be subjective, but it is up to you to decide whether this is a good type of treatment for you.
For some people, spirituality can play an important role in their journey towards sobriety. Some even believe that their personal health care issues are not sufficiently addressed by modern medicine. But it is also true that some secular rehab facilities overlook the importance of addressing the emotional and spiritual turmoil caused by the overwhelming effects of addiction and alcoholism.
When you’re trying to get rid of an addiction, there is a struggle to become a better person at the same time. And seeking God’s grace is an essential aspect of addiction treatment. Seeking forgiveness for these indulgences can have a positive effect on religious people, and even non-religious patients who want to become more religious.
It is in this sense that Christian drug and alcohol rehab becomes a multi-layered type of treatment. This is something a secular rehab program simply cannot offer—because they are focused on something else.
Studies suggest that 55 to 81 percent of clients in addiction recovery want to incorporate the spiritual aspects of treatment, because they it is part of their personal needs. These are important issues that need to be tackled before the patient can truly begin to reform.
In contrast, only 20 percent of people do not wish to discuss spirituality during the entire rehab process. This is a personal decision that people make. And ultimately, it works out either way—depending on the patient’s determination to succeed. If a person is motivated to become better, then they will have a higher chance of succeeding. Whether they need spirituality to achieve that depends upon their faith.
Christians with substance abuse issues often have it harder. On top of the physical, emotional, social, and financial problems caused by addiction, they also need to deal with the spiritual repercussions of self-indulgence. They can only heal with the help of other Christians who are suffering from the same dilemmas. They can create a bond between themselves that can help them get through their moral problems, as well as all the physical ones.
Christian drug rehab is a great choice for those who want to place the focus on Jesus Christ as the “higher power” throughout their rehabilitation. A personal relationship with God or Jesus Christ can underscore the quality of life issues such as acceptance and purpose. It can give them a clear way to view the world surrounding them, through the help of their values and morals. It opens them up to the possibility of healing and forgiveness.
You can expect Christian drug and alcohol rehab to offer Bible study, lectures, and Church attendance.
They may also involve the help of a pastor, working alongside the regular medical staff. This, and the community of recovering Christians, can create a safe and comfortable environment for the patient. This reinforces the fact that drug addicts and alcoholics are more likely to recover within a community of people who have similar backgrounds, beliefs, and dilemmas.
How is Christian Drug Rehab Different from Regular Secular Rehab?
It is important that we discuss what rehab entails beyond the spiritual aspects of Christian drug rehab.
Christian Drug Rehab is mostly the same as regular, secular rehab—except all the other faith-based benefits we mentioned above. Faith is very important, especially for religious people, but the medical aspect of addiction treatment is just as necessary.
It combines medical detox and behavioral therapy in order to achieve the best possible results. The former is all about getting rid of the adverse effects and restoring the patient’s health, while the latter is all about addressing the issues that led to addiction in the first place.
Medical detox is the process of gradually lowering the drug addicted individual’s intake so that withdrawal can be more manageable. Their symptoms will be handled by medical professionals who are ready to provide the patient’s needs 24/7 (if this is an inpatient program). This will make the withdrawal process safer for the individual, and it makes relapse less likely to occur.
Behavioral therapy tackles the emotional aspect of addiction: the reasons they got addicted, and the reasons why they never quit. The person’s family background, career, education, environment—and in this case, religion—will play an important role in this process. Therapists can properly create a plan of action by getting to the root causes of addictive and abusive behavior.
By getting to know the person deeply, therapists can help them overcome the mental burdens that keep them from becoming sober. They can teach the patient various ways to manage their cravings, and how to channel their energy in productive ways.
This is what makes individualized care so important. Some addictions are more severe than others, some have different causes, and some people react to different adverse effects in varying ways.
There’s no single way to address addiction. Rehab facilities usually take a flexible approach. Recovery options can easily be customized as needed.
In Christian rehab, this versatile approach has a certain roadmap or framework behind it, which keeps everything tied together: faith. A person’s faith is solid, no matter how severe their addiction is. It is there within them, and it’s something they can hold on to when things are becoming too much for them to handle.
Secular rehab will do the exact same treatments, but perhaps without the prayers before, during, or after meetings. The takeaway here is that neither is more effective than the other. It depends on the person receiving treatment and what they believe in.
Recovery options only work best when the patient believes in it and feels compelled to continue with it. After all, rehabilitation takes a long time. It requires a lot of effort on the part of the patient. They have to be dedicated to getting sober and remaining drug-free. Otherwise they will only relapse. Achieving and maintaining this motivation is the key here.
Christian rehab presents information that is relevant to the religious person’s beliefs. It makes them comfortable enough to continue with the group therapy and medical detox. Secular drug and alcohol rehab may need to find a different approach through the person’s hobbies and other interests.
Why Do Some People Choose Non-Faith Based Rehab?
Simply put, some patients don’t go for faith based addiction treatment because they don’t feel comfortable with it. This makes them unlikely to open up during recovery, preventing them from making any significant or lasting changes for their future.
They will need to keep their self-destructive thoughts at bay. And if they say faith based treatment isn’t for them—they are probably correct. But for those who do want to involve spirituality into their treatment, it can work wonders.
Many programs that deal with drug addiction and alcoholism are based on the format first developed in Alcoholics Anonymous: the 12-step program. Some people may find it useful, some people won’t.
And this has everything to do with the fact that the 12-step program itself emphasizes the religious side of recovery. There’s no denying that Alcoholics Anonymous has a history of religious tradition. Even the 12-steps are religious or spiritual in nature. Some of their values are overtly religious, including “spread the word,” “improve the connection to a Higher Power,” and “Appeal to a Higher Power for help”.
Certain people simply aren’t comfortable with that. They may have no true spiritual convictions, or maybe they just prefer the secular approach when it comes to treatment. Others are actually religious, but would prefer to keep their spiritual life separate from their current condition. Or perhaps the patient doesn’t feel the need to address their spiritual side at the moment.
In some cases, religious patients have tried the faith based approach but want to try other forms of treatment that are available.
What Does the Bible Say About Addiction?
Christian patients will certainly find comfort in the Bible, and what it says about addiction, as it is meant to give hope and strength to those in need. Addiction is a difficult thing to deal with—and for those who are seeking the help of a Higher Power—the Bible can be their source of strength.
These are some of the Bible verses that address addiction and other temptations in our lives:
1 Corinthians 10:13-14
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends flee from idolatry.
1 John 2:16
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
t have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
And here is a verse from Galatians that inspires Christians to avoid all temptations that keep them away from Jesus Christ’s teachings.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.
They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
What Does the Bible Say About Self-Control and Indulgence?
The Bible also urges Christians to maintain their self-control in order to be free from the temptations that control and enslave us. If anything, these verses are great inspiration to seek addiction treatment.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
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Should You Go for Christian Rehab?
A person may or may not involve their spirituality into their treatment plan, but the most important thing is that they seek treatment. An addicted individual will need to look for the right addiction treatment center so that it will motivate them enough to stay until they are cured.
If you are a religious and faithful individual, then by all means, go for Christian drug rehab. Look for the best Christian drug and alcohol rehab facility near you. The faith based approach may work best for you.
But even if you are not a religious person, and you don’t believe in a Higher Power, you must seek treatment for your addiction anyway. There are many different treatment methods out there, and there’s surely one that’s a good fit for you.
If you are in a relationship and your partner is also addicted to drugs or alcohol, couples therapy may be the right thing for you.
If you want a holistic approach with only the finest amenities available, luxury addiction treatment can work wonders.
If you are more comfortable when you’re around your family, then family therapy is a great option.
There’s a type of treatment for everyone, because addiction affects everyone in different ways. Religious or not, we are all human beings with great, sober lives to live, once the addiction is beaten.


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