Jericho City of Praise - and the bigger picture

[sjonathan02]

I'm convinced that if we're going to make strides in winning a generation that is steadily turning toward atheism, it's going to have to be done OUTSIDE of the church. No one is going to take us seriously when they pick up the freaking Washington Post and see THIS crap. The situation is complicated, yes, but a sense of awareness is in order. You DO NOT feed a media engine that lusts after any shred of drama that will make the church look bad. These people are grown, they should act like it and start considering the BODY, not just their personal agenda.

This. Simply this.

[Docdb04]

They also changed the locks on the pastor's office and didn't give him a key. That wasn't an attempt to lock him out? LOL

Yes (secondary) and to protect themselves from the series of burglaries (primary).


This is when a church being ran like a business gets a little complicated and I am one that church is a business and should be treated as such.  I guess you have to take all that comes with territory of treating it like a business. 

Based on the pieces of the article, depending on how you view it will determine how you feel.  From a church perspective, one will say it is wrong how he was treated.  From a business perspective, depending the information one will say it was the right thing to do.

Sad to see him escorted like that.   
 

[nessalynn77]

I wonder if any members are inclined to go with him?  That's a tell-tale sign.  If everybody's staying put, then they all wanted him to go.  If it splits the church, then the board just went renegade and tried to do something crazy.

[LaylaMonroe]

I wonder if any members are inclined to go with him?  That's a tell-tale sign.  If everybody's staying put, then they all wanted him to go.  If it splits the church, then the board just went renegade and tried to do something crazy.

From the videos I watched, he had a nice size following that will be going wherever he goes. One guy said those exact words. In that first video, there were three ladies who had been there for years, I think one lady said 40 years, another said 23 and the other said 13, if I'm not mistaken. They all support him and not only that, they were really hurt that he was being treated that way and believe that his mother was taken advantage of in her illness (made to sign legal documents and contracts while she was incapacitated).

I saw about 200 people at a prayer vigil, and one video where they were marching around the walls of Jericho, there were probably about 100 ppl. HOWEVER, I don't know what that means in a church of 10k members.

Another note, I read somewhere (and this wasn't even related to all the mess) that the church grew exponentially under his leadership. So I'm willing to bet that if he starts another church (though it doesn't sound like he wants to - it sounds like he wants Jericho back), he will have no problem building up the membership.

But this is about so much more. That church owned an apartment complex, a university, a school, and a parking facility for Redskins games... and probably more stuff that I don't know about. They had MEGA assets, and if he's telling the truth, they snatched it all from his mother's legal "ownership" (or control) by making her sign a document that made her an employee of the church, and made them all the new board members. If that's true, that's some shady stuff... ain't no getting around that shade.

[blyempowered]

I'm convinced that if we're going to make strides in winning a generation that is steadily turning toward atheism, it's going to have to be done OUTSIDE of the church. No one is going to take us seriously when they pick up the freaking Washington Post and see THIS crap. The situation is complicated, yes, but a sense of awareness is in order. You DO NOT feed a media engine that lusts after any shred of drama that will make the church look bad. These people are grown, they should act like it and start considering the BODY, not just their personal agenda.

PREACH SIR!!

[Mysteryman]

It's better is the pastor decides if he started the church. What happened to the days when the saints would just pray you out if you weren't doing right.

[csedwards2]

if every pastor who left a church, started another................................ ....oh wait, well thats what happens already




Its already too many dead churches where a leader is not sent, and just went. Rather than wait on Gods leading, these leaders start churches out of hurt. A ministry with that kind of foundation, develops man-made doctrines that arent necessarily Biblically based or Spirit-led that try to prevent the same hurt the church was born out of. And Im in no way saying that is whats happening here; but it could, and it has in so many other churches nationwide.

[funkStrat_97]

It's better is the pastor decides if he started the church. What happened to the days when the saints would just pray you out if you weren't doing right.

But how do we that these people are even "saints"?........just a thought.

[Mysteryman]

But how do we that these people are even "saints"?........just a thought.

I'm talking about the prayer warriors in the church as a whole. Usually the mothers board. lol

[LaylaMonroe]

if every pastor who left a church, started another................................ ....oh wait, well thats what happens already




Its already too many dead churches where a leader is not sent, and just went. Rather than wait on Gods leading, these leaders start churches out of hurt. A ministry with that kind of foundation, develops man-made doctrines that arent necessarily Biblically based or Spirit-led that try to prevent the same hurt the church was born out of. And Im in no way saying that is whats happening here; but it could, and it has in so many other churches nationwide.

I agree with you in principle, but not as it relates to Jericho. I think that if a person is pastoring and pastoring well, with no integrity/character issues to speak of, and he is fired or asked to step down from his church, he should start another work (or apply for a pastoring job elsewhere - but the problem with that is that only certain organizations hire pastors like that, and his church is non-denominational and probably not affiliated). So it's not like an AME church or Baptist church is gonna hire him. If he's gonna do what he believes he's called to do (and what he's proven he's equipped to do), he has to start another church... or wait for the courts to resolve this situation.

Whole 'notha shame that this is in the court system.... smh.

[funkStrat_97]

I understand the Scriptural argument against Christians not resorting to the world's legal system to resolve conflicts, but in a situation like this I don't think that the church is adequately equipped to handle something of this magnitude.  And then sometimes the actions of others force your hand; if someone comes against  you with a full-fledged legal attack and you don't respond in like force, it would be like showing up to a gunfight with a knife!

[LaylaMonroe]

I understand the Scriptural argument against Christians not resorting to the world's legal system to resolve conflicts, but in a situation like this I don't think that the church is adequately equipped to handle something of this magnitude.  And then sometimes the actions of others force your hand; if someone comes against  you with a full-fledged legal attack and you don't respond in like force, it would be like showing up to a gunfight with a knife!

I know it sounds simplistically idealistic and maybe even naive, but if I were on that board, I would've done everything in my power to convince my fellow board members to pull together a panel of 5 respected men of God and of wisdom, and ask them to judge the matter.

That's Biblical, reasonable, and fair.

And I take this thing seriously... We can't just apply the word when it works for us. That's hypocrisy at its finest.

When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers!

Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves?

Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.

If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church?

I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues?

But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!

Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?

Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.

[LaylaMonroe]

I just read that they are terminating the membership of all those who support Joel Peebles.

[blyempowered]

SMH!!!

[Mysteryman]

Even if you terminate my membership how are you going to stop me from coming? Sounds like some rights are being broken.

[SirTJ]

...I don't want to be anywhere near the electricity when the lightening strikes.

[nessalynn77]

Wow.  I've never seen such a thing.  Above all else, people should carefully consider that they will stand before God to give an account for every deed.  I'd be very cautious before making a move like that on the pastor.  And if I was a pastor, I'd be cautious before taking any unwarranted, excessive actions toward the congregation.

[nessalynn77]

...I don't want to be anywhere near the electricity when the lightening strikes.

Really.  Somebody's trying to kindle the wrath of God.  That's some Miriam and Aaron stuff right there.

[LaylaMonroe]

I'm reading some of the depositions and stuff (basically just trying to get another side of the story because EVERYTHING I've read and watched thus far has been slanted toward Joel Peebles), and it's just sad.

Mind you, the late Apostle Betty Peebles' entire family were members of Jericho City. Her two other sons died, but their widows and children still remained. Allegedly, these "board members" forged documents and manipulated Apostle Peebles into changing her will, leaving EVERYTHING to the church (which would be under the control of the new board members, not the ones she appointed herself), and nothing to her surviving son, daughters in law and grandchildren. Not a single thing. Even her fur coats, clothing, property, all money and other assets, including wedding ring and other jewelry was allegedly left to these people.

I'm slow to speak on this without knowing both sides, but that just doesn't sound right to me. She wasn't estranged from them. Her son preached at that church for 30 years, by all accounts, and he said that in the past 30 years, he's only missed 3 Sundays. They couldn't have had a bad relationship. So why would she change her will to exclude her son and all grandchildren?

[sjonathan02]

I just read that they are terminating the membership of all those who support Joel Peebles.

From where did you get this?   As in, why is it online?

Lastly, are they going to change their street address as well?


Even so, quickly* come, Lord Jesus.




*my emphasis added