Here are three articles concerning the sexual charges against former UPC pastor, Matthew Kidd, starting from the most recent.

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbc...=2012201140330

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbc...=2012120113018

http://www.thestarpress.com/article/...WS01/201130337

Lois

I've been reading a book by a former UPCer called, Pigs In The Pulpit. I don't care for some of his resources listed at the end of the book, but a number are fine. I am going to share some excerpts from the book, to educate and possibly prompt some discussion. Note: J. Michael Wittmann is a pseudonym.

Michael was very messed up before he started his walk with God, being in part a heavy drug user. He had a very noticeable life changing experience with God outside of the UPC. His life took one of those immediate changes, according to his account, where he instantly stopped drinking, smoking and doing drugs.

Very soon after his experience, things started to get messed up as he became involved with the UPC, where he was told by the one giving him a Bible study that he wasn't saved. Michael knew the drastic changes that he experienced and insisted that he was saved, but this guy, Jason, kept on him. He wouldn't even allow Michael to be water baptized for weeks. Michael finally went over his head to the pastor, even though the pastor previously had told him that Jason said he wasn't ready. When Michael had spoken in tongues, Jason questioned its authenticity and said others in the church did, too.

This book doesn't appear to want to tackle doctrine much, other than outward standards. It is mostly him telling of his UPC & ex-UPC church (Word of Faith) experience.

Here is a quote from page 78 (note that he changed the names of churches and people): "I've been asked many times in the years since we were "in the fold" of the UPCI and the First Apostles Church, "Why didn't you just leave? How could you put up with so many rules that you knew weren't exactly Biblical?" Well, here is the key. When a person is newly "saved," there is a slow process of indoctrination; i.e. "to instruct in a doctrine, principle, ideology, etc., esp. to imbue with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view."

"Combine those teachings with a powerful conversion experience, dynamic and emotional worship, and a group of people who seem to love and accept you unconditionally. Then you have a recipe for a new convert's mind and heart that would be willing and eager to accept almost anything short of standing on one's head and barking like a dog.

"I was one of those eager to please my new leaders and conform to the group's way of thinking and behaving. What I fully believed at the time was the Holy Spirit within me, giving me a certain feeling of comfort and safety within the church and trust of our leadership...at least when I wasn't fully engaged with Jason."

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...iritualab0c-20

Lois

For those who were in the UPC, here is a guy doing impressions of a number of their ministers.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4wAlCBcACU

Lois

I had to pass this along after running into it online the other evening. I shook my head in disbelief when I saw it. There is a ministry now to help pastors "secure your continual leadership role within the local church with Apostolic By-Laws." You read it right. It takes away all voting rights of members and puts the pastor in complete control. It was ummm.... enlightening skimming the site.

This so-called Apostle's church affiliation, is some prophetic type of Pentecostalism and he held license with the AOG. The wife is a so-called Prophetess. He will help churches write or re-write their by-laws to make the church a 'theocracy' and give the pastor full power. And for a cost of just under $1300! I believe for an additional cost, you can have this self-proclaimed Apostle and his other ministry be the church or pastor's 'covering.' Just what unhealthy churches need- a way to ensure a pastor holds full power and control!

I also found basically the same site, without the apostle and prophetess titles at churchby-laws.com. I don't think by the use of 'apostolic,' that they mean what organizations such as the UPC mean.

The link where this by-law kit is found is: http://www.apostolicbylaws.com/home

Lois

Wichita WalMarts are donating $30,000 to a United Pentecostal Church Bus Ministry and some other groups. I wonder if they realize the UPC doctrine they support by doing this? Chances are, that doctrine would probably consider most of those WalMart workers as not saved.

http://www.kansas.com/2011/10/26/207...ghborhood.html

http://www.4-traders.com/WAL-MART-ST...hita-13862401/

Lois