As of late, "Christian" leaders have been taking it on the chin in regards to their morals, motives, and methods. As we present a trilogy of Pastoral happenings (sent in by our readers), keep in mind that our goal on Yolanda Ro Speaks Life is not to belittle anyone, especially not true shepherds of God, but to inform the public of those in positions of authority, who may possibly prey on the spiritually weak:
NJ Pastor Accused Of Stabbing Another Pastor March 4, 2011
A respected New Jersey preacher at Koinonia Christian Ministries has been arrested for stabbing another pastor. Pastor Edward Fairley, pictured right, is accused of stabbing fellow pastor Simone Shields. Both Shields and Fairley are said to have been in a relationship although the nature of the relationship is unclear.
Shield, 52, is an English teacher and associate pastor of Koinonia Christian Ministries. A former student of Shields stated the teacher is not married but was about to get engaged as of December.
Fairley, who is 59, is described as being a "good man, a pillar of the community, and respected pastor by his peers". But what congregants may not have know was the pastor has had a troubled and violent past, in which he served six years in state prison after being convicted of aggravated assault, kidnapping, armed burglary and weapons possession. Farley was also convicted of committing a violent attack against his former wife In 1983. Fairley broke into his estranged wife's apartment and also stabbed her, according to the Associated Press.
Whatever relationship Shields and Fairley had, obviously took took a violent turn Tuesday when Hestormed into Shield's beautician's home, where she was getting her hair done, and stabbed herseveral times in the face and torso. The beautician told authorities Shields was expecting Fairley to come over to return some personal papers. The beautician stated after the assault was over, he quietly and calmly walked out of the house.
Shields was taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center and remains in critical but stable condition, police said.
Fairley was arrested after he was spotted on the street soaked in blood, the knife still in hand, authorities said. He is charged with attempted murder and was in Paterson police custody with no bail set as of late Wednesday, according to the Passaic County Jail.
The incident has left church goers at a loss for words; "I don't know what the Lord wants us to look at with this situation," said the Rev. Chester Taylor, of Calvary Baptist Church.
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15
Everyone one is used to the collection plate being passed during church service. But Dallas pastor, Sandy McGriff, decided to make a collection of a different nature, from one of her congregants. McGriff was arrested Christmas Eve, after allegedly breaking into the home of long time friend Serita Agnew. Her "collection" consisted of 10k worth of fur coats, designer purses, and electronics.
Pastor McGriff claims, however, that she didn't break into her friends home. She explains her plight as being orchestrated by the "Holy Ghost". On her way to pick up a peach cobbler, she was led by the holy ghost to stop by Agnew's house. Upon arrival she spotted a broken window and two men leaving the property Fearing that the burglars would return, McGriff says she proceeded to climb through the window and "protect her Friend's belongings".
What McGriff didn't realize is she was being watched the whole time. Agnew's neighbor reported to authorities that she saw a woman break the window and attempt to climb through. The neighbor called the police who arrived as McGriff was making a second trip from the house to the car.
Incidentally, there was no trace of the "two burglars" McGriff claimed to have seen. In fact, It wasn't until after she was released, on $26k bail, that the burglars were mentioned.
Pastor Bans Members from Facebook-Apoligizes for Infidelities
Over the Thanksgiving holidays, 48 year old New Jersey Pastor of Living Word Christian Fellowship Church in Neptune Township demanded his church leaders stop using Face book out of fear it could lead to infidelity. Pastor Cedric Miller cautioned "Face book can reconnect old relationships, stir up past feelings and destroy marriages". He ordered ordered 50 married church officials to delete their accounts with the social networking site or resign from their leadership positions. Miller also stated he would be leaving Face book as well. Miller's caution stems from his own personal infidelity which took place some years prior. It is not clear whether or not the affair began on Face book, but Miller testified, in a related case brought against his church assistant, that his wife had an extramarital affair with the assistant. Pastor Miller said he participated in many of the sexual encounters and said the assistant's wife was sometimes present, too.
The threesome/foursome often occurred in the Millers' home, but sometimes took place during Thursday Bible study meetings and Sundays after church. Miller said the encounters "came to a crashing halt" when several women in the congregation accused the church assistant of having sex with them also.
Miller makes no apologies for instructing the leaders to disconnect from Face book "My life as a minister, husband, father and friend has led me to the conviction that I must do all that I can to help as many people strengthen, preserve and repair the often times fragile cords of marriage," Miller wrote. The pastor has however, apologized for his past actions. "For any pain my past mistakes have caused you, I again, as I did many years ago, ask for your forgiveness." Source: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_jersey&id=7800778
Question: Can you afford to be a member of Pilgrim Cathedral of Atlanta?
The following pastor was reported to the Preacher Bureau of Investigation. The below account appears on their website:
"Salvation is NOT FREE at Pilgrim Cathedral of Atlanta - EVERYTHING COST!
Question: Can you afford to be a member of Pilgrim Cathedral of Atlanta?
Bishop Kent David Branch is the full-time pastor (no 9-5 outside job) of Pilgrim Cathedral of Atlanta. He has a ministry of about 350-400 members, yet he lives in the exact same neighborhood as a professional millionaire athlete such as Evander Holyfield (million dollar+ home)- on the same street as Gospel recording artist Canton Jones. Inside his house is a home theater and bowling alley.
You would think that he had 3000+ members. He drives a Bentley that the church bought for his anniversary. The church pays for the house. I assure you...they do not have celebrities, professional athletes in the church. Low to mid-income workers made up majority of the congregants. Approximately 6-8 of the members were "upper-class" members.
Bishop Branch stands before his congregation EVERY 3RD SUNDAY in the middle of the aisle and demands his Bishop's offering (Shepherd's offering). Before the offering is taken up a member (leader in the church) stands before the congregation and give a 5-10 minute biblical teaching or testimony as to WHY YOU SHOULD BLESS [pay] BISHOP BRANCH.
Each member is required to give him at least $50 a month, plus their 10% tithes and two offerings during the service. His wife gets her offering on 2nd Sundays ($30.00 or more). Each service there is a general offering that is taken up and after the SERMON - preached word - there is another offering - SEED OFFERING....in order for the "preached word" to come to pass you have to "sow a seed"...basically pay for the "Word".
The 3rd weekend of every month is Bishop's Weekend. On 3rd Saturday you have to meet at the church for 8 am prayer and afterwards you are to buy breakfast (all money goes directly to Bishop).On the 3rd Sunday you are also strongly influenced to purchase a Sunday dinner ($8.00 or more). Bishop Branch teaches that the order that members are to give is as follow: (1) Bishop's offering (2) Tithes & (3) Offering. Yes - his offering comes before GOD! Every month he post the tithes report which shows who has paid their tithes..if your name is not on the list, you cannot participate in any ministries (choir, etc) and you have to meet with the Asst. Pastor and you are ostracize and shamed.
Once a year there is the Bishop's Anniversary wherein each member is REQUIRED to give at least $150.00, every ministry is REQUIRED to raise at least $1000. There are people assigned - Captain's that will HOUND/HARASS you every week about your money (worse than bill collector's). As the ministry leader it is your responsibility to come up with the $1000 mandatory offering...which may mean asking the members of that ministry to give an additional amount (outside of their required/mandatory $150) and if you are in more than one ministry - it adds up and you are required to pay even if you are in 3-4 ministries.
Every Watch Night service (December 31st) you are required to give an offering - the amount correlates with the year...2010 - you are required to pay either $2010 or $210.00...plus members give Bishop Branch an individual offering.
The church sends Bishop and/or his family on expensive vacations 3-5 times a year.
On his birthday he stands in front of the church for his birthday offering...one year he didn't get the response he wanted and he actually stood at the exit door at the end of service stopping members before leaving asking where is his birthday gift (money).
There have been several members leave because they basically could not afford to attend the church anymore.
His very first member that joined his church, got married in the church. On her wedding day, while in her wedding dress, standing outside the main door, was stopped before going down the aisle by one of the trustees and asked for her $1000.00 payment. She had to ask someone to go get her purse out of the car before she could get married.
The church also has a Daycare (Pilgrim Christian Academy and Learning Center - PCALC)and a Pre-K program in which Bishop receives all of the money. PCALC receives state money for parents and there are some parents who have taken their children out of the daycare and the Prior to becoming a Pastor, Bishop Branch was a Accounting so he knows how to "doctor the books". PCALC is staffed with church members and their tithes are taken out of their payroll checks before they receive them (just like Federal taxes). The church secretary works in the church office and the daycare...but receives little money for both jobs.
Once a year members are asked to give a First Fruit offering in which they must give either (1) month salary, (2) weeks salary or (1) week salary. Prior to the due date. Each member must fill out a form and pledge this offering. Each member also stands before the church and announces in the microphone how much they are pledging whether it's (1) month salary, (2) weeks salary or (1) week salary. Even members who are unemployed or low-income have to make a pledge. Unemployment counts.
If a members is down and out and need financial assistance from the church another offering is taken up from the congregation and instead of giving the member a check from the church account (that's what tithes and offerings are for) the already over-taxed members give money and the money is taken into the office and counted and then the Bishop decides how much of that collection the member is actually going to receive and the amount given is a LOAN...yes you have to give your social security number and you have to pay the money back to the church....(even though the money did not technically come from the church).
Bishop Branch, his wife and their children have separate armorbearers/assistants/entourage who serve them all day on Sunday and even come to the house to clean, wash clothes, cook and serve as maids/waiters/servants during holidays and special ocassions....ALL VOLUNTEERS...no one is paid. There is a man - who does all of the shopping (clothes, decorations for home, church) for Bishop, his family and the church.
Throughout the week the entourage/armorbearers/assistants go out to house and run errands, clean, cook, landscape yard, etc.
If you have any skills, business, - your skills and businesses (landscaping, catering) are for the church (Bishop Branch) use - FREE OF CHARGE.
One of his favorite scriptures: Matthew 10:41 King James Bible
"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward."
Bishop Branch teaches that he is a prophet and when you receive him as such you will bless him and in doing so you will be blessed with a prophet's reward...but THUS FAR...HE and his family are the only ones profiting (receiving the blessings).
Members have to pay Bishop Branch for every significant thing in his life: birthday, wedding anniversary, church anniversary, Shepherd's month (every 3rd month). If responses are slow he will stand in the pulpit and ask you to stand up if he (not God)has helped you get an apartment, job, car, house and by standing you acknowledge that you wouldn't have these things if it were not for him and therefore you should HONOR HIM by giving your money. Now this "help" is not financial help. "Help" = he prayed for you to get it, not God has blessed you.
You are only blessed by God as you bless the pastor - Bishop Branch.
