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Benny and Suzanne Hinn divorce: What will the forensic accountant be looking for?
In a divorce petition filed in Florida last month, televangelist Benny Hinn's wife, Suzanne Hinn, said their marriage is "irretrievably broken." Suzanne requested spousal support and asked the court to "Require the Husband to contribute to the Wife's attorney's fees and costs, including forensic accountant fees, both temporarily and permanently …" Because Florida is a no-fault divorce state, the forensic accountant would not be looking for financial fraud or other financial crimes. (Christian Post 8/16/24) READ MORE>>>>>
In a divorce petition filed in Florida last month, televangelist Benny Hinn's wife, Suzanne Hinn, said their marriage is "irretrievably broken." Suzanne requested spousal support and asked the court to "Require the Husband to contribute to the Wife's attorney's fees and costs, including forensic accountant fees, both temporarily and permanently …" Because Florida is a no-fault divorce state, the forensic accountant would not be looking for financial fraud or other financial crimes. (Christian Post 8/16/24) READ MORE>>>>>
AARON BURKE: ‘CHRISTIANS DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO PREACH TO PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVEN’T PRAYED FOR FIRST’
Aaron Burke emphasized that Christians don’t have the right to preach to people they haven’t prayed for first. The lead pastor of Radiant Church (Tampa Bay, Florida), Aaron Burke, discussed ways to share one’s faith. According to him, one thing that Christians could do for those who haven’t encountered God was to pray for them. “Prayer is the most powerful way to invite God into a relationship, whether it’s a friend or a coworker or a spouse. If you want to see God change their life, pray for them,” he highlighted.
(Church Learning 4/25/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Aaron Burke emphasized that Christians don’t have the right to preach to people they haven’t prayed for first. The lead pastor of Radiant Church (Tampa Bay, Florida), Aaron Burke, discussed ways to share one’s faith. According to him, one thing that Christians could do for those who haven’t encountered God was to pray for them. “Prayer is the most powerful way to invite God into a relationship, whether it’s a friend or a coworker or a spouse. If you want to see God change their life, pray for them,” he highlighted.
(Church Learning 4/25/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Florida Christian School Cancels 'Autism Awareness Week,' Just Like Jesus Would Have
Last weekend, conservatives lost their very minds over President Biden putting out an announcement for the Transgender Day of Visibility, which occurred the same day as Easter. Now, many of us just assumed that these were people who would prefer trans people be invisible and were particularly upset over them being recognized on Easter, because of how it’s their special day. But, as it turns out, it is entirely possible some were just upset about the idea of awareness, in general, as a concept. Trinity Christian Academy in Palm Beach County, Florida, canceled its Autism Awareness Week after the school’s lead pastor decided it was “demonic,” because people aren’t supposed to have identities outside of Jesus
(Wonkette 4/8/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Last weekend, conservatives lost their very minds over President Biden putting out an announcement for the Transgender Day of Visibility, which occurred the same day as Easter. Now, many of us just assumed that these were people who would prefer trans people be invisible and were particularly upset over them being recognized on Easter, because of how it’s their special day. But, as it turns out, it is entirely possible some were just upset about the idea of awareness, in general, as a concept. Trinity Christian Academy in Palm Beach County, Florida, canceled its Autism Awareness Week after the school’s lead pastor decided it was “demonic,” because people aren’t supposed to have identities outside of Jesus
(Wonkette 4/8/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Plain white Cru not white enough for Florida evangelicals
Earlier this month, Erika Booth, “an Osceola County School Board member backed by the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee” won the GOP primary for an upcoming special election for the state legislature seat in Florida’s District 25. Former Navy flight officer Tom Keen won the Democratic primary in the district formerly represented by Republican Fred Hawkins. The reason I’ve paid attention to this race is because of the candidate Booth defeated in that Republican primary, former Republican congressional candidate Scotty Moore. Moore lost the support of many Florida Republicans because of his long history with a radical, “woke,” left-wing parachurch ministry linked to George Soros. (Fred Clark/The Slacktivest 11/22/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Earlier this month, Erika Booth, “an Osceola County School Board member backed by the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee” won the GOP primary for an upcoming special election for the state legislature seat in Florida’s District 25. Former Navy flight officer Tom Keen won the Democratic primary in the district formerly represented by Republican Fred Hawkins. The reason I’ve paid attention to this race is because of the candidate Booth defeated in that Republican primary, former Republican congressional candidate Scotty Moore. Moore lost the support of many Florida Republicans because of his long history with a radical, “woke,” left-wing parachurch ministry linked to George Soros. (Fred Clark/The Slacktivest 11/22/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Quotables: November 1, 2023:
“Christian nationalism is a form of religious extremism making its way into our policies and undermining our democracy. These extremist actors are co-opting the language of Christianity and religious freedom to push an undemocratic agenda that seeks the very opposite of what they claim to do.” --Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla (10/25/23)
June 14, 2023: Religion News Service: Ouster of Saddleback and Fern Creek from SBC over women pastors is affirmed
A third church, Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Florida, was also voted out after the SBC’s credentials committee had recommended it be expelled for its “lack of intent to cooperate in resolving concerns regarding a sexual abuse allegation.”
A third church, Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Florida, was also voted out after the SBC’s credentials committee had recommended it be expelled for its “lack of intent to cooperate in resolving concerns regarding a sexual abuse allegation.”
Franklin Graham
"If you're not going to preach the gospel, you don't have anything to worry about. If you're not going to talk about sin, you're not going to have anything to worry about; but if you're going to proclaim the gospel, they're going to try to shut you up.....Jesus told us the world hated [Him] first and they're going to hate you," he said. "If you stand for Christ, the world is going to hate you..........I believe there's a coming storm that we're all going to [have to] be ready for," he told the audience of about 2,000 attendees. "It's not going to be good. The world is deteriorating so quickly. It seems like every demon in hell has been turned loose."
--Franklin Graham; keynote speech in Orlando, Florida; May 2023
--Franklin Graham; keynote speech in Orlando, Florida; May 2023
April 15, 2023: The Nor'Wester: DeSantis is trying to attract young evangelicals to Liberty University
After signing the nation’s toughest abortion law, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presented himself to thousands of evangelical college students in the public square as a defender of truth, common sense and decency.
“Yes, the truth will set you free,” said Mr. DeSantis invoked the words of Christ. “We must wage a war as soon as we are awakened, because being awake means a war on the truth.”
After signing the nation’s toughest abortion law, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presented himself to thousands of evangelical college students in the public square as a defender of truth, common sense and decency.
“Yes, the truth will set you free,” said Mr. DeSantis invoked the words of Christ. “We must wage a war as soon as we are awakened, because being awake means a war on the truth.”
March 24, 2023: Christian Post: Docs show churches paid up to $100K to be part of Hillsong Family, an alleged honorarium scheme
Among the churches stateside that have paid or are currently paying since 2014 to be a part of the Hillsong Family are: The Judah Smith-led Churchome in Washington state; City of Life Church in Kissimmee, Florida; Grace City Church in Lakeland, Florida; The Cause Community in Kansas City; Chicago City Church in Illinois; Calvary Church in Miami, Florida; City of Grace in Arizona; Capital City Church in Washington, D.C.; El Lugar De Su Presencia in Arizona; Citizen Heights in Washington, D.C., Christian Faith Center in Seattle, Washington; Colonial Church in St. Augustine, Florida; and Motor City Church in Detroit, Michigan
Among the churches stateside that have paid or are currently paying since 2014 to be a part of the Hillsong Family are: The Judah Smith-led Churchome in Washington state; City of Life Church in Kissimmee, Florida; Grace City Church in Lakeland, Florida; The Cause Community in Kansas City; Chicago City Church in Illinois; Calvary Church in Miami, Florida; City of Grace in Arizona; Capital City Church in Washington, D.C.; El Lugar De Su Presencia in Arizona; Citizen Heights in Washington, D.C., Christian Faith Center in Seattle, Washington; Colonial Church in St. Augustine, Florida; and Motor City Church in Detroit, Michigan
Mar 12, 2023: Daily Mail: When good pastors go bad: From disgraced Carl Lentz's multiple affairs in Hillsong scandal to NYC's 'bling bishop', these are the biggest falls from grace
Former Southern Baptist Convention President, Johnny Hunt, 69, was suspended from the Southern Baptist Church (SBC) for allegedly sexually assaulting another pastor's wife during a beach vacation in 2010.
But he returned to the pulpit in January 2023 at Hiland Park Baptist Church in Panama City, Florida, where he gave his first sermon in eight months.
Hunt used to preach at a First Baptist Church Woodstock in Georgia before he was suspended after SBC's Executive Committee released an investigative report in May that found truth in the sexual assault claims against him.
He was accused of sexually assaulting a young pastor's wife - who was 24 years younger than him - and telling her he wanted to have sex with her three times a day while on a Panama City beach vacation in 2010.
The pastor was found guilty in the report of kissing the woman and 'touching her breast over her clothes' and 'pulling down [her] pants.'
In a May 2022 statement, after the 288-page report was made public, Hunt admitted to getting into a 'compromising situation' and had a 'brief, but improper, encounter' with the man's wife, who was not named. He said he 'fled' the room after getting an 'overwhelming feeling of conviction.'
He maintains that it was a 'consensual encounter' and that it was 'not abuse nor was it assault.'
In 2022, Hunt and his wife Janet joined Hiland Park Baptist Church, where he was introduced as 'one of the greatest pulpiteers in our generation.'
Former Southern Baptist Convention President, Johnny Hunt, 69, was suspended from the Southern Baptist Church (SBC) for allegedly sexually assaulting another pastor's wife during a beach vacation in 2010.
But he returned to the pulpit in January 2023 at Hiland Park Baptist Church in Panama City, Florida, where he gave his first sermon in eight months.
Hunt used to preach at a First Baptist Church Woodstock in Georgia before he was suspended after SBC's Executive Committee released an investigative report in May that found truth in the sexual assault claims against him.
He was accused of sexually assaulting a young pastor's wife - who was 24 years younger than him - and telling her he wanted to have sex with her three times a day while on a Panama City beach vacation in 2010.
The pastor was found guilty in the report of kissing the woman and 'touching her breast over her clothes' and 'pulling down [her] pants.'
In a May 2022 statement, after the 288-page report was made public, Hunt admitted to getting into a 'compromising situation' and had a 'brief, but improper, encounter' with the man's wife, who was not named. He said he 'fled' the room after getting an 'overwhelming feeling of conviction.'
He maintains that it was a 'consensual encounter' and that it was 'not abuse nor was it assault.'
In 2022, Hunt and his wife Janet joined Hiland Park Baptist Church, where he was introduced as 'one of the greatest pulpiteers in our generation.'
Mar 12, 2023: Daily Mail: When good pastors go bad: From disgraced Carl Lentz's multiple affairs in Hillsong scandal to NYC's 'bling bishop', these are the biggest falls from grace
David Stocker, 46, was fired from Brave Church in Miami's Westchester district in April 2022 for allegedly having steamy affairs with three women from his congregation.
The clergyman, who had preached at the church since 2014, was also accused of using the church's credit card to fund some of his illicit encounters, including paying for a flight to New York for one of his lovers.
The shocking allegations were contained in a 307-page complaint filed by the council that sued Stocker after he refused to step down and continued preaching despite being dismissed for breaching the church's bylaws.
The pastor was investigated after the scorned woman from his first alleged affair reported him to the council in a damning email, in which she supplied 'hundreds' of photographs, videos, and text messages cataloging his shame.
The middle-aged mother alleged she and Stocker had sex on their first date as part of their 'whirlwind romance' and later had each other's names tattooed on their necks with the day they met.
She also claimed the fired minister, whose position demanded he abstain totally from alcohol, was frequently drunk. One such incident was with a different alleged mistress at a Miami Heat basketball game, where police were called when the pair tried to walk on the court.
David Stocker, 46, was fired from Brave Church in Miami's Westchester district in April 2022 for allegedly having steamy affairs with three women from his congregation.
The clergyman, who had preached at the church since 2014, was also accused of using the church's credit card to fund some of his illicit encounters, including paying for a flight to New York for one of his lovers.
The shocking allegations were contained in a 307-page complaint filed by the council that sued Stocker after he refused to step down and continued preaching despite being dismissed for breaching the church's bylaws.
The pastor was investigated after the scorned woman from his first alleged affair reported him to the council in a damning email, in which she supplied 'hundreds' of photographs, videos, and text messages cataloging his shame.
The middle-aged mother alleged she and Stocker had sex on their first date as part of their 'whirlwind romance' and later had each other's names tattooed on their necks with the day they met.
She also claimed the fired minister, whose position demanded he abstain totally from alcohol, was frequently drunk. One such incident was with a different alleged mistress at a Miami Heat basketball game, where police were called when the pair tried to walk on the court.
March 10, 2023: Baptist News Global: Griffen and Ravitch warn Floridians of dangers of DeSantis’ attack on public education
Baptist minister and retired Arkansas judge Wendell Griffen stood before an audience of faith leaders and education advocates in Tallahassee, Fla., March 9, pointed to his lapel and dared Gov. Ron DeSantis to have him apprehended for being politically and racially aware.
Baptist minister and retired Arkansas judge Wendell Griffen stood before an audience of faith leaders and education advocates in Tallahassee, Fla., March 9, pointed to his lapel and dared Gov. Ron DeSantis to have him apprehended for being politically and racially aware.
Feb 23, 2023: Baptist Press: Churches respond to action of Executive CommitteeFreedom Church in Vero Beach, Fla., was deemed to be not in friendly cooperation because the church failed to cooperate in resolving concerns regarding an abuse allegation.
The churches have the opportunity to appeal the decision at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans on June 13 and 14.
The churches have the opportunity to appeal the decision at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans on June 13 and 14.
Feb 17, 2023: Christianity Today: Latino Evangelicals Ask DeSantis to Spare the Life of a Man on Death Row
Latino evangelical leaders are calling on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Donald David Dillbeck, who was convicted of fatally stabbing a woman after escaping from custody while serving a life sentence for killing a Lee County deputy. Dillbeck’s attorneys have argued that his neurobehavioral disorder—which they say is similar to an intellectual disability and related to alcohol exposure before birth—should exempt him from execution under constitutional law,
Latino evangelical leaders are calling on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of Donald David Dillbeck, who was convicted of fatally stabbing a woman after escaping from custody while serving a life sentence for killing a Lee County deputy. Dillbeck’s attorneys have argued that his neurobehavioral disorder—which they say is similar to an intellectual disability and related to alcohol exposure before birth—should exempt him from execution under constitutional law,
Feb 16, 2023: Billboard: A Cappella Group Says Concert at Florida Christian College Canceled Over Member’s ‘Lifestyle’
“It has become clear to us, from a flood of correspondence from students and members of the public, that these concerns related to the sexuality of member of our group,” the six-member group said in a statement. The letter on the Singers’ site noted that they have performed at PCC before and that they signed a contract to play there again “in the knowledge that this is a fundamentalist Christian institution,” adding that their belief is that “music can build a common language that allows people with different views and perspectives to come together.”
“It has become clear to us, from a flood of correspondence from students and members of the public, that these concerns related to the sexuality of member of our group,” the six-member group said in a statement. The letter on the Singers’ site noted that they have performed at PCC before and that they signed a contract to play there again “in the knowledge that this is a fundamentalist Christian institution,” adding that their belief is that “music can build a common language that allows people with different views and perspectives to come together.”
april 2022
Apr 19, 2022: Stovall Weems, who on Jan. 7 was suspended as the senior pastor of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Fla., announced on Instagram that he was resigning from his positions at the church effective immediately. Weems’ resignation comes in the middle of a bitter legal dispute with Celebration Church.
Sept 12, 2022: While visiting a private Christian college in southern Michigan that wields influence in national politics, Gov. Ron DeSantis rephrased a biblical passage to deliver a message to conservatives. “Put on the full armor of God. Stand firm against the left’s schemes. You will face flaming arrows, but if you have the shield of faith, you will overcome them, and in Florida we walk the line here,” DeSantis told the audience at Hillsdale College in February. “And I can tell you this, I have only begun to fight.” (Tampa Bay Times)
November 13, 2022: Last week, DeSantis raised some eyebrows with a new campaign ad, an ad that seems to claim the Almighty created DeSantis especially for the good people of Florida. According to the ad, on the eighth day of creation, “God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ‘I need a protector.’ So God made a fighter.” The fighter is DeSantis, of course, who will “save their jobs, their livelihoods, their liberty, their happiness.” (Religion News Service)
Dec 18, 2022: Walter Gnida, a retired truck driver and part-time accountant, was 88 years old and suffering from dementia when his name appeared on a loan application from a Christian ministry seeking millions of dollars in federal Covid relief money. The application was filed by Josh Edwards, whose father, Evan Edwards, was the leader of ASLAN International Ministry based in Florida. The Edwardses ultimately got a boatload of aid money: $8.4 million. But they’re now in federal custody and facing multiple counts of fraud — as well as the ire of Walter Gnida’s family. (NBC News)
march 2022
March 6, 2022:
Rev James Wigton; pastor at First Baptist Church of Cape Coral in Florida wrote the following in a column a local paper there called the News-Press"
"The News Press carried a guest commentary on Oct. 17 (C.A. Farrington, Bible’s truth about a fetus, abortion) advocating that “there is nothing in the Bible to indicate that a fetus is considered to be anything other than living tissue,” and that the fetus does not become a living being until after it has taken its first “breath.” The author claims biblical support for this position. The author further claims that the Old Testament provides for a “ritual” abortion.
Nothing could be further from the truth – if you believe the Bible as I do."
The quote that caught my immediate attention was "..if you believe as I do." So, if you dont believe like he does, then it's Ok to accept the position he is trying to criticize?? The 9 words he chose leaves a lot of room for interpretation. As a believer ...... assuming he is...then truth is truth whether anyone else believes it or not.....in fact, truth is truth even if no one believes it. I didnt bother to read the rest because his truth appears to be subjective and truth is not subjective.
Rev James Wigton; pastor at First Baptist Church of Cape Coral in Florida wrote the following in a column a local paper there called the News-Press"
"The News Press carried a guest commentary on Oct. 17 (C.A. Farrington, Bible’s truth about a fetus, abortion) advocating that “there is nothing in the Bible to indicate that a fetus is considered to be anything other than living tissue,” and that the fetus does not become a living being until after it has taken its first “breath.” The author claims biblical support for this position. The author further claims that the Old Testament provides for a “ritual” abortion.
Nothing could be further from the truth – if you believe the Bible as I do."
The quote that caught my immediate attention was "..if you believe as I do." So, if you dont believe like he does, then it's Ok to accept the position he is trying to criticize?? The 9 words he chose leaves a lot of room for interpretation. As a believer ...... assuming he is...then truth is truth whether anyone else believes it or not.....in fact, truth is truth even if no one believes it. I didnt bother to read the rest because his truth appears to be subjective and truth is not subjective.