Category: News

Following the revelation that pastor Tony Evans is temporarily stepping down from his ministry role on account of “unnamed sin, “Evans’ teaching ministry has reversed course and now says a planned week-long Christian cruise through the Riviera featuring the prominent pastor will NOT proceed, after initially insisting it still would.

Last week, false teacher Tony Evans of the 9500-member Dallas megachurch Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship announced that he was stepping away from public ministry on account of unnamed sins he committed years ago.

While Evans was stepping down from church ministry, he did not intend to step down from all ministry. Evans’s personal teaching and preaching ministry, The Urban Alternative, had a Christian cruise planned that would feature Evans and his children, and a little sin wasn’t going to stop it. According to the Christian Post:

A representative of The Urban Alternative, founded over 40 years ago by Evans, had previously told CP that the cruise, which was set for Nov. 9–16, would still go on even after Evans stepped away from the helm of his church on Sunday.

An agent with Inspiration Travel, which was administering the cruise that featured suites costing up to nearly $4,000 per traveler, also told CP on Tuesday that the cruise would still go on because The Urban Alternative is a separate entity from Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. The agent noted that The Urban Alternative had a contractual obligation to go on with the cruise.

Not so anymore. The Urban Alternative has now cancelled it, telling TRR:

 “Following the announcement that Dr. Tony Evans will be stepping away from his senior pastoral duties at OCBF (Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas), and as he pursues the healing and restoration process established by the elders, The Urban Alternative has decided it would be best to cancel the Mexican Riviera Cruise with Tony Evans.”

(Evangelical Dark Web) Bane once said, “They expect one of us in the wreckage, brother.” that is exactly what was said to FBC Alexandria as thousands voted to kick them out of the Southern Baptist Convention while also voting against a ban on female pastors.

FBC Alexandria was not booted from the Southern Baptist Convention for having female pastors but for being too open about having female pastors. FBC Alexandria is at least being honest, which is more than can be said about Brent Leatherwood’s church, Jonathan Howes’s church, and many…to continue reading click here.

This article was written by Ray Fava and published at the Evangelical Dark Web

Kirk Franklin continues to reap the rewards of his newfound resurgence following his successful collaboration with Maverick City Music, this time pulling Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris up on stage during the White House’s second annual Juneteenth concert to dance and sing with her.

It’s not the first time Franklin has done this. He previously called up Whoopi Goldberg from The View to dance with and join them in performing a gospel song.

During the event, Harris listed off her party’s recent accomplishments, including making Juneteenth a national holiday, passing gun safety laws, seeking student loan forgiveness, appointing a black Supreme Court Justice, and defending and promoting LGBTQ freedoms and women’s right to murder her baby through abortion, sharing:

As we move our nation forward, there are those who are trying to take us backward. Across our nation we witness a full-on attack on hard fought, hard won freedoms and rights, including the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body, the freedom to be who you are and love who you love openly and with pride, the freedom from fear of bigotry and hate…

Despite her just praising and defending the slaughter of tens of millions of babies and the continued destruction of the family unit, Franklin did not rebuke her, but rather made her the belle of the ball, dancing and singing with her a rendition of his song “I Smile’

“I almost gave up, but a power that I can’t explain
Fell from heaven like a shower now

I smile, even though I hurt see I smile
I know God is working so I smile
Even though I’ve been here for a while
I smile, smile
It’s so hard to look up when you been down
Sure would hate to see you give up now
You look so much better when you smile”

Bonus Franklin Content

The murderous Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a brazen attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province last week, which saw the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces coordinate a massacre through multiple small villages and kill an estimated 80 Christians. According to Open Doors, an organization that documents the persecution of Christians:

The attacks happened between 4 and 8 June in several villages, the deadliest day being 7 June when armed militants attacked Masala, Mahihi and Keme, killing more than 50 believers. Homes have also been burnt, and several people are reported missing.

The horrific attacks continue despite the “Cheng Gong” operation underway in the region. It’s led by UN peacekeeping forces (MONUSCO), and the coalition between the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF) and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC).

The victims are members of various churches, including the 3e CBCA, CEBSE, Catholic and CECA20 churches. Many were working on their farms when attacked. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant group with ties to so-called Islamic State (IS), are believed to be responsible.

Congo is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians. Open Doors explains their precarious situation:

Christians who live in the eastern part of the DRC are at incredible risk. The region is home to more than 100 armed groups, some of whom specifically target followers of Jesus. This leaves Christians and churches in this part of the country vulnerable to attacks, including murder, abduction and sexual violence.  Church leaders who speak out against the violence are at risk of being targeted, making it difficult to raise their voices against the atrocities. The violence has led to a massive displacement crisis in the DRC, and many believers are among the displaced. 

The situation in the DRC continues to be extremely violent and volatile for believers. The stories are heartbreaking, and the church is suffering—the people of God are resilient, but the violence can be overwhelming. 

Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston, TX, is led by Rev. Dr. Jennifer Hope-Tringali and Sergio Rodriguez, the latter of whom is a graduate of Baylor University and the Pastor of Community Living.

According to his bio on the church’s website, he “currently lives with his boyfriend Justin in Houston with their two cats and several plants.”

During the church’s June 10 sermon, impastor Rodriguez preached on Jesus asking who his true family was, describing Jesus coming to earth as an example of God “coming out” and “speaking his truth” in solidarity with the LGBTQ community.

Those of us who have had or have a family member who is coming out in any of the LGBTQIA spectrum, we know that these questions are mixed in with grief and fear over what will happen to my loved one now.

This occurs whenever people speak their own truth on how God has made them and is making them anew in many and various fabulous ways.

God sent Jesus to preach this healing message to a world wounded by all kinds of internalized “isms” that keep us from living the truth of whom God has made us to be/

And if I may be bold in saying this: we see God coming out in Jesus. We see how God begins to show God’s fullest self through the healing power of Jesus. And this God isn’t just coming out, but he’s coming to a world divided, listening to the lesser angels of our nature.

Beaming Books is a branch of 1517 Media, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Beaming publishes “high-quality children’s books that help kids thrive in every part of who they are–emotionally, socially, and spiritually.” Other imprints include Augsburg Fortress and Fortress Press.

In 2020 it published the book “Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens, which has an introduction by former CCM artist Jennifer Knapp and is edited by Leigh Finke, a transgendered, trans activist who recently helped pass legislation making Minnesota a “safe state” for sex change operations on children.

Finke’s book tells LBGTQ teens that Jesus was “totally fine” with queerness, instructs them to limit contact with and don’t listen to parents if they are not gay-affirming, and explains how porn can be helpful and “silly fun.”

“If your parents do not accept you and your queerness, then they do not know what’s best for you. They just don’t. Even if they love you, even if they’re praying for you…Just because they love you does not mean they know what is best for you. Limit contact with any adult who tells you something is wrong with you…just know that you are the only authority on who you are.

…Please, if your parents are unsupportive, remember this: You are a separate human person from your parents (crazy, right?!). They don’t know you like you do; they don’t get to decide who you are. God decided that, you have accepted it, and if they are going to be part of your future, they’ll have to accept it too.”

Regarding pornography, including the use of “educational” “queer porn” it says:

“For starters, porn can be a safe way to explore your sexuality. You can learn about your body and pleasure and how to make the most of both. You can also take that information, when applicable, and put it to use on your partner’s body.”

The book recommends watching porn “with your partner, which can open up new conversations about sex and pleasure, stimulate our natural arousal systems, or it can just be a silly fun thing to experience together.”

This is not the only gay-affirming book for children that the ELCA publishes. For Pride month, they are featuring several books, including Rainbow Boy, “A story about a boy with a heart too big for one color alone.” and Rainbow Allies; The True Story of Kids Who Stood against Hate

h/t Exposing the ELCA

Prominent worship leader Sean Feucht is suing the city of Spokane and several former city council members who publicly denounced the mayor for her appearance alongside him and a former government official at an August 28 ‘Let us Worship’ event.

At the time, Feucht was joined on stage by former Washington State Representative Matt Shea and then-Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward, where Shea prayed over the mayor. According to reports:

Woodward’s appearance was highly controversial due to Shea’s past involvement with domestic extremism and political violence, and both Shea and Feucht’s anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs; she later denounced Shea and his beliefs in an interview with NonStop Local KHQ.

It led the city council to pass a formal resolution a month later, stating that the council  “does not condone the hateful and dangerous behavior and beliefs of Matt Shea and Sean Feucht, nor does it condone Mayor Woodward’s public conduct with him.” The resolution repeatedly calls Feucht a “known anti-LGBTQ extremist.” (click to enlarge)

The resolution against Feucht has prompted him to take legal action, seeking damages for the emotional distress and other non-economic damages he claims to have endured. He asserts that the Spokane City Council violated his freedom of speech and religion, and that the resolution was passed to discourage public engagement in worship and prayer with him.

“We are taking a stand against the bigotry and hatred of Christians in the city of Spokane, and we’re not backing down.” He says if he wins, he’ll use the money to fund “the most lavish, expensive and wild worship service this city has ever seen.”

Sean said in a statement on his Hold the Line Facebook page:

I am not ashamed of the gospel.  It is the only hope we have as a people and a nation.  Our nation was founded by Christians on Biblical Principles. Even our money is inscribed with “In God we Trust”.  

We were once a great nation that stood for great truths. We embraced Christians and the Truths of Scripture.  Sadly our government has been captured by people who hate Christians and despise everything we stand for. Just last year the Spokane City Council condemned me and the Mayor of Spokane for worshiping Jesus. They filed an official city resolution condemning Christians and our worship.  

Well, I won’t sit quietly and let these anti-Christian bigots get away with persecuting Christians for exercising our Constitutional Rights.  

So I filed a lawsuit. I’m taking them to court. Their anti-Christian bigotry has gone too far. And it’s time that we fight back for the future of our children and their children. If we do not exercise our religious freedom and fight for it, then it will end with our generation.

Please pray as we file this case. That God would use Spokane and the state of Washington as a precedent for a BOLD Church rising up against discrimination and using OUR tax dollars to do it! More on this case to come. It’s gonna get real fun . #HoldTheLine

The hearing is scheduled for early September

The husband of a prominent Christian book author defended efforts by the Presbyterian Church in America’s annual convention to investigate his late wife’s book, insisting it has born “good fruit” for millions, despite being actually fit for the trash heap.

Yesterday, the PCA did the Lord’s work by approving a resolution investigating the impact and influence of Sarah Young’s egregiously awful book Jesus Calling, setting the stage for it to be potentially banned.

Published in 2004 by the now-deceased Sarah Young, a member of the PCA, Jesus Calling has 45 million copies in print. It is one of the most recognizable devotional books in recent history. It has spawned a multitude of spin-offs, all the while being one of the most dangerous books released in the last twenty years for its espousal of mysticism, speaking for God, extra-biblical assertions, automatic writing, and rejecting the sufficiency of the scriptures.

Passed by a vote of 947 in favor to 834 opposed, the resolution would have the Committee on Discipleship Ministries, which is “charged by the Presbyterian Church in America with the task of equipping and discipling the churches of the denomination” to investigate further and report back on the book’s “appropriateness for Christians in general,” to “outline its reasons for withdrawing the book from its inventory previously and not offering it for sale since.”

Offering a defense of his wife’s book and brand, which mainly consisted of pointing out all the accolades it has garnered rather than its fidelity to scripture, Stephen Young offered:

Speaking against this motion, teaching Elder Stephen Young Nashville; missionary with Mission to the World. Last year the late PCA Pastor Tim Keller was awarded the Pinnacle Award by the ECPA- Evangelical Christian publishing Association- for his contribution to influential Christian books. This April my late wife Sarah Young was honored to be the seventh recipient of the same award.

The Jesus Calling brand has ministered to millions of people around the world. In 2013 Jesus Today was the ECPA Christian book of the Year. Jesus Always was the Christian book of the year in 2018.

Sarah was a humble servant of Jesus who did not seek self-glory and prayed for her readers to know and deeply love the only Savior Jesus Christ. Her writings drew the reader to Jesus, to trust Him, worship Him, and love him.

Her writings do not add to scripture, but explain it. She would stand with Martin Luther and declare that her conscience was captive to the word of God. A majority of the PCA family and friends have been positively impacted by Sarah’s books. Matthew 7:17 Jesus refers to a good tree that does bear good fruit for his glory.

Sarah is a sister in Christ and wife who delighted in the law of the Lord and in his law she meditated day and night. She was led to share her meditations with the world. I humbly ask that you join me in voting down these potentially divisive amendments and thank God for the good fruit that continues to be born through Sarah Young’s books. Thank you