It speaks volumes to me and a lot of other people, Thrush said. In an article in The Christian Post, many well-known pastors and leaders have come out strongly against the despicable abuse committed by the late Ravi Zacharias, ranging from rape, spiritual abuse, and unwanted touching of numerous women. ptr Ricky has sent a letter of apology to the CCF leadership & staff for going to the party as BIN LADEN. Based in suburban Atlanta, RZIM has operations in about 20 countries and a roster of scores of traveling speakers. There are many more lessons that we can draw out from this predicament: 1. The question over whether to keep playing Hillsongs music in worship falls in an interesting place. He doesnt forget any of us, no matter what we have been through. I cant know the motives, but I am sure it is untrue. Also going public with criticism was Max Baker-Hytch, a philosophy instructor at the University of Oxford who has worked for several years with RZIMs Oxford Center for Christian Apologetics in Britain. It is in this light that we encourage you, that if you observe any misconduct or impropriety on the part of our elders, pastors, and leaders or members, to please file a report directly to your Area Pastor or Satellite Pastor, or Dgroup leader. http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoFST \r\r| SOCIAL |\rFacebook: http://facebook.com/faithstrongtoday\rInstagram: http://instagram.com/faithstrongtoday\rTwitter: http://twitter.com/stayFaithStrong\rWebsite: http://faithstrongtoday.com\r\r| HASHTAGS |\r#RaviZacharias #RZIM #FaithStrongToday Its main worship church is located at the CCF Center in Ortigas East (formerly Frontera Verde), Pasig. What began as a home Bible study in 1983 with a few unchurched couples has now grown to over 122 local and international satellites, and to which millions are tuning in worldwide. I knew that it was going to hurt them to hear it, but they had to hear it from me. There has been heavy pressure on RZIM from its British affiliate, the Zacharias Trust. I didnt know how God would use what happened. What is Christs Commission Fellowship? The men started to converse with me, saying things like: We wouldnt do this if we didnt have to.. The decision to share openly about what happened to the three of us marked the beginning of our journey towards healing. Perhaps the Irish priest will meet 44-year-old Antonello Tropea, who in December was also discovered on Grindrbut in his case, luring underage boys to have sex in the rectory of his church . Here are therefore some of our personal insights and lessons. For a while I blamed myself for what happened to them. "We believe the Lord is calling us to move into the. Open Table MCC's response to CCF's Pastor Bong Saquing's preaching associating monkeypox with homosexuals. Lone auxiliary: Bishops' resignations 'a painful process' but 'an document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); one who forms opinions on the basis of reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established belief; one who doubts or denies religious dogma. We may also disappoint others. Apologies should be as far reaching as the damage.. Ted Haggard, 2006 Ted Haggard was the pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado . 10 Sex Scandals that Rocked the Christian Church | Essence Zacharias had been entangled in some previous controversies over how he had publicly described his academic credentials and over his claim, later challenged in legal proceedings, that he was the target of an extortion scheme related to sexting and sexually explicit photos. It is a certainty, not a false promise. In an Instagram post on April 6, Hillsong Worship announced its withdrawal from an upcoming tour with Casting Crowns and We The Kingdom, saying, Uniquely, Hillsong Worship is not and has never been a band. RZIM spokesperson Ruth Malhotra told The Associated Press that the organizations senior leaders, including CEO Sarah Davis who is Zacharias eldest daughter and President Michael Ramsden, were declining to grant interviews until after the law firms investigation concludes. 1 Timothy 5:19-20 says, 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. We were targeted, groomed, exploited, malevolently litigated against, falsely accused as elaborate extortionists, the statement said. The reality, though, is that What a Beautiful Name and other Hillsong hits will likely remain in the regular music rotation for many churches. But Jesus gave His life, to restore and heal what sin took away, to give us hope. Calvary Fellowship Church | A Christ First Church | Downingtown/Exton PA [MEETUP] Come Closer: An intimate conversation on bridging the Gender Pleasure Gap, [MEETUP] Caf Humaniste: A Humanist Future Sunday 8 August 2021, The Case for Unconditional Assisted Suicide, In Defense Of Nadine Lustre And Cohabitation: A Response To Anna Cosio. LUZON SOUTH REGIONAL & VISAYAS, MANNY SALVADOR CCF & Pastor Phil CCF is a church of the living God. It is true that big-name Hillsong artists like Brooke Ligertwood and Joel Houston have their own brands and images, but they are still employees of the church, and they have acknowledged the difficulties facing Hillsong, though in relatively veiled or general terms. We wanted to talk about Gods goodness, to thank Him for sparing our lives, and to acknowledge that He spared us for a reason. He creates this great pile of symphonies that lay the blueprint for the future of the genre, just invaluable work, Mercer-Taylor said. The AP is solely responsible for this content. CCF Center Christian Church Worship Generation Clothing Store JESUS CHRIST TO GOD BE THE GLORY CHURCH INT'L Religious Organization EIG Ever Increasing Grace - Candelaria Nonprofit Organization CCF Eastwood Religious Organization Light TV - God's Channel of Blessings TV network Pages Liked by This Page Elevate Main Unique Special Needs Ministry In a statement posted online on Dec. 23, Thompson and her husband thanked RZIM employees who questioned the organizations handling of the case. He isnt like the people or problems that steal and take away what is precious to us. However, he doesnt normally ask event organizers who else will be speaking at a particular event. In 1995, Joy experienced something terrible. Christ's Commission Fellowship - Home | Facebook (The revised response from CCF leadership as of March 14, 2021). My friends and I were very fortunate to be surrounded by people who genuinely cared about our well-being. I wasnt sure why they dropped by and I didnt have much time to talk to them. Let us do our best to have open accountability and discipleship with the people we are close to. Official Twitter Account of Christ's Commission Fellowship Sunday Worship Services at 10am 12nn 3pm 6pm Landline (02) 8866 9900 questions@ccf.org.ph. Lanas parents rushed over to be by her side. Give your family and other accountability partners permission to call your attention should they have any concerns about your behavior. Stories - CCF Main - Hayden Kho - YouTube But I remembered that God has an everlasting love for me a love that was demonstrated at the Cross through His Son, Jesus, when He died for my sins and suffered for my sake. Our role is to pray for our leaders and not idolize them. 12. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. 5 Lessons You Need to Know. Joy (standing, second from right) is the daughter of Dr Peter Tan-Chi (seated, sixth from right), founder and senior pastor of Christs Commission Fellowship (CCF) in the Philippines, and his wife Deonna. He wrote that he normally does his own research on others invited to speak. Leaders and Staff | Colorado Christian Fellowship But take heart, because I have overcome the world.. One measure of his stature in Christian circles: Vice President Mike Pence spoke at his memorial service, lauding him as a great evangelist armed with intellect, girded with truth and love.. They told me to make everything seem like it was okay. I asked my parents if I could hang out at school in the evening with my friends, but they suggested that Irene and Lana come over and spend the night in our house instead. Ask God to reveal these things to you by intentionally setting aside time for personal reflection, bible reading, and prayer. The need to flee temptation and take heed lest we fall is a warning we must take seriously (1 Corinthians 10:12-14). But even the musicians dont claim to be their own entity. We need to be careful stewards of influence. Worshippers then split in order to attend at a venue in CCF Sucat, and one at the Valle Verde Country Club. Irene and Lana had arrived at 7pm as planned, with no clue that they were walking into a nightmare. Just two weeks after celebrity pastor Carl Lentz was fired from Hillsong Church, a woman has come forward claiming she had an affair with the disgraced figure. Finally, let us pray as David did that the Lord acquit [us] of hidden faults and to also keep us back from presumptuous sin that they may not rule over [us] (Psalm 19:12-13). The Lord is a Redeemer. The parents and new husband of 30-year-old Eunice . It was not until later on in the evening when we were all tied up together that I found out Irene had been raped by four men in the master bathroom where my assault started. In the past year, televangelists - including Kenneth Copeland, who recently went viral for an inflammatory . Steven Furtick, the founder and senior pastor of Southern Baptist Church (SBC) Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, has drawn theological criticism for statements he made in a recent Facebook post. Joy, now 42, has been married to her husband, Edric, for 18 years. Terry and Judith Crist, former lead pastors of Hillsong Phoenix . Is Singapore still a place of hope for strangers and sojourners? Harry T. Chandler (Assistant Director of Environmental Services), sentenced to 2 years probation and a $33,000 fine Ronald Wilson (Chief Engineer for Environmental Services), sentenced to 13 months imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Sin will always be found out. This is good change. At that time Tracy Hansen took over where Albie left off. Ask God to examine your heart. 11. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Our Worship Is Turning Praise into Secular Profit, How Bethel and Hillsong Took Over Our Worship Sets, After My Dad Died, God Didnt Answer My Anguish, Complete access to articles on ChristianityToday.com, Over 120 years of magazine archives plus full access to all of CTs online archives. When I ran out to the gate I saw Lanas parents on their motorbike. Evangelicals. RZIMs leadership initially challenged the claims, asserting that the allegations do not in any way comport with the man we knew for decades we believe them to be false.. Joy (standing, second from right) is the daughter of Dr Peter Tan-Chi (seated, sixth from right), founder and senior pastor of Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) in the Philippines, and his wife Deonna. In 1982, Pastor Peter Tan-Chi began an evangelistic home Bible study in Brookside Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal. We wanted to talk about Gods goodness, to thank Him for sparing our lives, and to acknowledge that He spared us for a reason. My mom asked herself: If I dont cling to God where would I go?. Clarence Barber, former County Maintenance Chief, sentenced to 5 months imprisonment. Faculty - GLC EAST ASIA MOVT COORDINATOR, PAOLO ZAGALA I know the feeling of losing hope hope for the future, hope for acceptance, hope for security and protection, hope that you can ever be whole and undamaged again. Belonging to a church community is vital and important. His ministry, preparing to downsize in the wake of a new investigation, expresses regret for "misplaced trust" in a leader who used his esteem to conceal his sexual misconduct. Avoid being alone with the opposite sex in a private place or room. Dear CCF Family, It is with heavy hearts that we release this response to the final report of Ravi Zacharias' sexual misconduct. The Ravi Zacharias Case: 14 Foundational Lessons. Our life is a model to both believers and unbelievers. While the intentions for dressing up in the costume may have been innocent, what message does it send fora high-ranking official in a Christian church to portray a violent stereotype of another religion? Here is what God says about Himself: Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Im going to spit back to you what one of you commented, PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH BROTHERS. The 1994 Christian Children's Fund Scandal - CounterPunch.org . When some of you mockingly dressed as catholic bishops in one of your pro-RHA Bill rallies (public). Let us not allow the failures of a few famous leaders to discourage us, make us cynical, or lose heart. We dont evaluate historical compositions and Billboard hits in the same way we consider music meant to facilitate worship, but the question of the separation between art and artist, or even art and the system that generated it, is a relevant one. The consequences of sin heartache, hardships, problems, pain and multiplied sorrows these are the enemies of hope. Sheila Wray Gregoire. Some churches had already opted not to include songs by Hillsong (or Bethel or Elevation) because of conflicting beliefs or different approaches of ministry. Satan does this by corrupting Godly Men and using their influence. LUZON NORTHEAST HUB OVERSEER, CCF SATELLITE PASTORS & LEADERS CENTRAL LUZON, ABET FARIAS Hannah Frishberg. Another pastor, Manly Perry of Old Path Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, posted a video Nov. 19 distancing himself from the New IFB. When a cheating scandal blew up the pastor's life, some Hillsong congregants were left to question their relationship with a church that cultivated its own kind of fameand the double standards. Numbers 32:23 tells us, and be sure that your sin will find you out., 10. Or it came as a longing to return to the innocence of my childhood. We must practice accountability and consistently avoid situations where we become vulnerable. Hillsong has produced a body of singable and infectious songs that are meaningful, encouraging, and comforting for many believers. They had raised me with good values. Pastor Phil speaks what he hears from the heart of the Father, these are truly what the Father wants His children to know and apply to their life. In the Midst of Infighting, Anti-LGBTQ Church Network's Website and As we take a look at Ravis failure, we are reminded of people from the Bible like King David and Solomon who blatantly disobeyed God and yet were still used by God. In recent months, the organization has been plunged into crisis, precipitated by a Sept. 29 article in the evangelical publication Christianity Today asserting that over a period of about five years, Zacharias sexually harassed three women who worked as massage therapists at two day spas he co-owned in an Atlanta suburb. On December 3, 1989, after serving as pastor of CCF for just under two years, Albie Pearson resigned as pastor, and he and Helen moved back to California. Allow your wife/husband access to your cell phones, computer, and social media. But Hillsong isnt just a megachurch. The 51-year-old popular preacher and author who co-founded Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley California issued a lengthy statement over the weekend in an attempt to refute any negative conclusions drawn from his decision to speak at The Send conference in Orlando in late February. On May 12, 2013, CCF held its first Sunday worship service at the new CCF Center in Frontera Verde in Pasig, with a 10,000 seating capacity. Zacharias, who built an international ministry that strives to defend Christianity on intellectual grounds, died Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at his home in Atlanta after a brief battle with cancer. [1], In 2020, the Pasig Church had 55,000 people.[5]. When a megachurch scandal makes headlines, it doesnt usually affect your Sunday morning set list. PASTORS & LEADERS, PASTOR JOEY GERONIMO They said vile things to me, made me do unimaginable, perverted acts, and eventually tied me up and laid me down by the entrance of the front door. In a letter to its staff on Dec. 23, the trusts board members said they were urging the U.S. leadership to issue a profound apology to any victims and commit to reform radically the governance, leadership and accountability of the RZIM organization.. A NJ pastor-politician is gunned down, and a community reels Yet there are loyalists, like C.D. I want to make sure that I am not guilty of the same thing., Follow Samuel Smith on Twitter: @IamSamSmith. *At the time of her writing, Joy had five children. Its just historically a very significant thing, and Michael Jackson was a very significant figure.. ICP LEADERSHIP DEVT COORDINATOR, WILSON GONZALES I saw Irenes backpack torn open with her things scattered on the floor. Not only that, Haggard had allegedly used crystal meth in front of his male lover. Kimes, meanwhile, was tasked with working as a nanny, housekeeper, and personal assistant for Hillsong New York's co-founder, 42-year-old Lentz, and his wife, Laura. | Danielle Smith After taking heat for speaking at a stadium event with pastors described as prosperity gospel preachers and "false teachers," Francis Chan has publicly responded to those concerns and vowed to continue speaking at events that feature people with whom . Megachurch leader in mega-sized sex scandal - NBC News If Jesus is present in our lives, we do not have to be afraid, to worry, nor should we doubt that He will take care of us when trials and difficulties come. CCF has more than 60 satellite churches in the Philippines and over 40 satellites abroad, with over 70,000 weekly worshippers (prior to the Covid crisis). The American worship music industry has always uncomfortably existed under the pressures of both the marketplace and the church. Creflo Dollar . In disclosing the interim findings, the RZIM executive committee members described themselves as heartbroken and expressed remorse on behalf of those victimized by Zacharias. She recently gave birth to her sixth child, Caylee, last December. Thrush finds it understandable that many worship leaders would continue using Hillsong music. [ This article is also available in More Hillsong pastors step down following leader's resignation, doc release. Once the scandal broke, he tried to end his life. Twice. But the Lord CCF (@CCFmain) / Twitter As I began to move past the initial shock and trauma of having been raped, I was left with an overwhelming sense of loss.