Dearest Friends,
I've just returned from the national, Calvary Chapel Pastors Conference (over 1000 senior pastors from around the world). The dismal political, social, financial and cultural shifts are not limited to Montebello. In fact, not only nationally, but are also being experienced all over the world, as testified by some of the international pastors present at the event (1 Peter 5:9 “…steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.). If I wasn't a follower of the Truth, I would be a bit hyper-phobic and vague about the latest, gloom and doom global political scenarios, let alone our own domestic state of affairs.
Well, in spite of the grim and gloomy circumstances, why is CCM doing construction, you may ask? To be honest…I dhont knaw! No, no, that’s not totally true; I do know, and I am inclined, SWAYED, in fact, and propelled by the sheer necessity to expand our borders, by the heartfelt, soul-convinced, Spirit guided compulsion to resume our development, due mainly by the obvious: the Gospel, the Truth, the Word of God, is sounding better and better each and dreadful day, and were expanding!
Throughout church history (not the Vatican kind), the church grows and bourgeons ever so fruitful; it grows whenever the society becomes weary and moral, financial, social, and political collapse are in the horizon (Acts 8 Now Saul was consenting to his death (Stephen). At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles; therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word…“).
As some of you can bear witness, construction is at an all, fast-paced hurriedness. Rick Ham Construction Company and its employees have been outstanding and are staying within the contractual, precise time-schedule. Now that the foundational, support-columns are in place and approved by the city, we shall now observe a flurry of activities, construction specialists from all levels, all of them, moved with enthusiasm, due, I believe, by some of the more than a few excited laborers that make CCM their home church!
Many of CCM’s ‘OG’s” (Original members) still around can give a shout-out testament to God’s benevolence towards Calvary Chapel Montebello. Come what may, we seem to make it through good times and bad times. God has been faithful to this minister and ministry; call me a fool and a dreamer...but the dreams, though foolish, do come true!
I love you all. May God’s blessings pour out upon you and yours. Don’t freak. Don’t flinch. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Pray for me and our entire pastoral staff and their families, and of course, the church-support staff as well.
Look up.
His and Yours,
Pancho
4 comments:
All I have is two mites, but I give it with my whole heart. I can't wait to see the final product... it's going to be GORGEOUS.
Besides, I need an office to work in :)
We miss you this past Sunday at CCM, but GOD Blessed us with a GREAT SPEAKER..
May GOD be with you at all times and bring you safe back home ;)
After just 2 years attending CCM, I have seen how GOD is has BLESSED THIS GORGEOUS church
So exciting! Lord willing by the time I am able to come back to CCM for a visit, it will be all done! Praying and anticipating wonderful things from our Faithful Father, Saviour and Lord!
I’ve been going to Calvary Chapel Melbourne since it started in a school building 14 years ago. Met Chuck Smith on a trip with him to Israel in ‘96..he baptised my Dad in the Jordan River.
Having been fortunate to be in Peter Lord’s church- Park Ave Baptist in Titusville ‘81 to ‘96 I was used to churches that were open in their finances and balanced in their view of the pastor & the laity with the issue of power & authority.
However, I’ve found that though the teaching at Calvary is generally pretty solid the issue of control, coercion and intimidation Calvary’s can use on the church body is scary and something I experienced recently.
Here’s a letter I wrote Pastor Mark Balmer(and forwarded to Chuck Smith,Bob Coy, & others in the church):
Dear Pastor Mark:
I’ve been involved in Christian Ministry for 28 years and only once was I called before the elders of a church for discipline. The sad thing is that it wasn’t for a moral failure like fornication, or stealing, or lieing, or being abusive. It was for asking a simple question within a church body- “Are the churches finances open to examination”. Now that’s an amazing thing…for no where in scripture did I see church authority to impose intimidation and coercion in an area of non Biblical areas of procedure and preference like financial transparency. Funny how pagan companies and government are required to be totally transparent but the church of Christ isn’t?
I’ve struggled with writing you about this for many months for when your elders called me to meet with them I was subjected to something that I can only describe as a form of spiritual abuse. Never in my life have I been so humiliated, character and motives questioned, intimidated and coerced into accepting what is generally described by numerous pastors I’ve met with as ‘a very bad policy and borderline abusive reaction’. I talked this over with the Pastor of the Church at Viera, 1st Baptist Eau Gallie, Larry Booth(Our Father’s House), Jack Taylor, Dr. Francis Schaeffers staff at L’Abri, and Billy Graham’s ministry.
All without exception were not surprised by what happened to me but sad that any church would behave in such an unbiblical and un Christlike manner-not to mention they all thought financial disclosure was essential to a healthy church.. Reminds me of Martin Luther at Wurm where the church wanted to kill the messenger rather than hear the message.
Personally I was offended when the elders at this meeting impuned my character and also rejected the idea that I could be speaking for God. What arrogance! When I wanted to meet with you to discuss this you told me in the commons “I’m not interested”. In my 15 years with Peter Lord’s church he would have never said such a rude thing to any of his flock..no matter how he felt about them. But I guess you’re not Peter.
I hope you take this in the right light. Whether you change your policy or not is between you, the church and God. In any case I certainly think a public apology is warranted. Otherwise I’m planning on going public with this experience that the body might be aware that the church is entering an area of control that I have only experienced in religious cults.
Sincerely,
Chip Rohlke
President Christ is Creator.com Ministry
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