MIKE RAY: If you are a member than you are welcome to attend this meeting -that's what we announced. This is family business - or if at one time you were that's fine too.
When I moved here 34 years ago I had
one goal in mind to reach a city for Christ
that was it.
I left everybody I knew to move here
My parents were weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth when they said goodbye to their little grandkids.
I didn't know anybody. I didn't even speak the language here. I didn't know all the obscene gesture or all the cuss words until I moved here.
In four years I knocked on every door
in this city. I've been to every house. If you live in Napa - your house.
I'd go in alone to reach people. See, my goal was not to move here... let's just find out - if you've got saved, if I personally led you to Christ, please stand. If you've got saved in one of the church services here after I came, would you stand?
If someone from this church led you to Christ would you stand?
What’s wrong with the rest of you guys?
*laughter*
Thank you, you may be seated thank you.
So, here’s the deal: Nine years ago, it was brought to my attention that our youth pastor, brother Eric, was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a young lady in our church.
They were both adults at this time - had she had been a minor I would have done what I have always done since we are mandatory reporters. I would call the police immediately file a report. Some of you have been in my office when I have made those hard phone calls.
I talked to Eric, sat down and said okay give me the whole story - you can't be changing the story every week - I need the whole story
He gave me the whole deal, I called the young lady - I will not mention her name tonight - I said, alright what's the story?
I wasn't there. All I could do was go with what I was told. I went to the parents of the girl, said what do you want me to do?
He seemed repentant.
Do you want me to fire him?
Do you want him to stand up publicly and confess it to the church?
Do you want the daughter to stand up publicly and confess it to the church?
If he confesses then everyone's going to wonder who the girl is.
I felt like he could be restored here.
I believed at that time according to Galatians 6:1, we could restore him after that meeting.
I put Eric on a very short leash. I don't go around airing everyone's counseling in front of the whole church I've never done it. Some of you've been in my office who've had affairs
*amens* we didn't announce it
to the whole church.
*amen*
Eric, for a season, was no longer in the forefront - though I didn't announce it.
You might say, Oh I don't remember that - but he was not even leading the choir at that time.
Brother Jeffs was.
He did not teach Sunday school. He didn't travel. He had accountability on his phone. Counseling with his wife who said, I want to stick with him. Our narrowing was discussed and the counseling was very confidential.
Recently, however, this entire story has gotten out.
Some of the story is the same. Some has been enhanced.
So... he has lost his good name.
He has lost his credibility.
He can no longer be on staff.
Nor will he attend this church.
Nor will he serve in this church.
Say what you really want.
We have never swept minors sexual abuse under the rug.
There’s one post on the internet now by someone and they said something like this, when I was four years of age I lived in Napa I was molested and then it said I attended Hopewell Baptist Church.
It wasn't at the church
It was someone that had babysat them
Someone that hurt someone and then not long after that committed suicide.
That was never brought to me while that man was alive.
I apologize.
I sided on mercy
Hindsight's always 20/20 If I could go back and do some...
I just thought he could be restored.
I was informed recently about someone else having received some inappropriate text.
I had not heard that until this past week.
I got a phone call today from someone that said something else...
So, from henceforth we're gonna have some committees in our church it's going to be you see anything, or you think anything, you know anything - talk to them.
People will be very available to hear the story. You may have something else to add to this story.
We want to hear it. Document it. Write it all down there there may be things that come up about some of our members in the
future.
We want to deal with them - well those couple that we need to know
The Joneses, the Ritzes volunteer so far to help make up that committee.
The information you tell will be confidential. We’ll not share this information or publish it anywhere.
After the service tonight I could hang around a while until my body wears out. I will be at the front if you have any questions or something you feel is not... it's not totally ...
I want you to see this personally for just a moment.
Psalms 84 it says, "who passing through the valley.”
I don't know if you feel it but I'm in the valley tonight... deep valley.
My grandkids are.
My wife is.
My family.
You are.
Our church family is.
During COVID in the last four months, we’ve had the least amount of people saved in
our church's history.
It is turned down to almost nothing... more people are going to burn in hell.
We've got to get back at it.
We've got two choices tonight
We’ve got two choices
You can stay in this valley and for the rest of your life, say, man I gave up on God, I don't trust anybody...and I'll show them!
I'll let everybody go to hell.
I'll never serve the Lord.
Or you can give thanks through that valley.
There's more for all of us to do.
When I was in the hospital today I said,
Lord, I think you've got a few more things to do
...and that's what I want to do.
There's people I want to reach.
...
no bus riders. no bus kids. nobody surrendering to preach.
You can pass through it.
You say, I'm going to stay right here. Talk about it the rest of my life. I guarantee you, I know people are hurt. People say things.
But if Jesus would have been talked about as much as we talked about everything else this week, the whole world would be saved.
While I pray, let me encourage you to go through the valley. Go through it.
Is it gonna be easy for us? No.
A lot of years ago, someone got drunk, you’re trying to help them, they got help. But the whole world didn't know. Now everybody knows everything.
There’s something wrong.
Satan hates our church, he hates our church's name.
This has been a gospel station all these years. I'd like to stop it in its tracks.
It might stop you.
I want you to meditate on that passing through the valley.
We’ve got to get through this.
How long is it going to last? Years.
How long is it going to hurt? Rest of your life.
How long are you going to cry? Probably, if you are like me, every day.
How long are your kids gonna cry? Probably a lot.
It's been a hard season of my life.
Pray for me, for our family.
[[[PRAYING]]]
Father, bless this time...
we've got a great church with great people,
they love you.
People come to church with cancer, they come when their parents have cancer, buried their loved ones, many have broken hearts.
Some were so proud of their beating addictions - they are doing so good
...the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Satan would love for a deadbolt to be on the doors and we turn into a bowling alley or dance hall...
goodnight...
please help us. Have mercy on us.
Thank You for grace.
Give courage to those that do need to come forward to tell someone ... this needs to be dealt with ...
In Jesus name, amen.
I'll be up here as long as I can stand.
Let’s get some music.
[Music]
AMBER ALVES (FORMER MEMBER):
Are we serious? Okay what about ______________ who was molested by Eric as a minor? Anybody want to hear about that???
[Music volume increased]