I am saddened by your publication of the article on the ministry of Rodney Howard-Browne and Juneau Fest.
The weekend before last several churches here in Sitka hosted a representative of the Great Awakening Team. He was the most courteous, sincere, and competent young man. We pastors who work to bring the gospel into a world that is often indifferent, and sometimes hostile to our message, were refreshed, encouraged, and inspired.
I will be attending the meetings in Juneau later this week, because I appreciate the joy and liberty which are gifts of the Holy Spirit offered us by Jesus Christ. I may not endorse everything RHB’s ministry says or does, but could say the same about every minister (except my husband :), church, and denomination on the face of the earth. Human beings ought to be able to extend a bit of grace to one another something totally lacking in the article — especially during this Christmas season.
Just think how you would feel if someone investigated you, quick to write down every negative comment they could solicit from people who have heard of you. Highlight mean-spirited accusations from people unwilling to identify themselves. Report all the critical ones, add in some malicious interpretations of your motives. Give the piece a scandalous title, bury a few sentences in your defense far into the article, and then publicize it.
Rev. Diane Wonnenberg
Sitka
Comments (8)
Add commentYou completely missed the point, Diane
The issue wasn't the preaching. The issue was the deceptive way that free gifts were acquired from merchants and the widespread deceptive advertising of the event.
The fact that you failed to acknowledge any of that in the slightest in your letter suggests that you don't recognize how wrong that was. If you're wondering why you encounter hostility sometimes when trying to proselytize, here's Exhibit A.
Stockholm syndrome-like response
Is she seriously attacking the merchants for wanting to remain anonymous? Wow.
A defensible action here would be if that faith-group apologized, asked for forgiveness, and offered to return the thousands of dollars of goods they received from charitable citizens.
Is that unreasonable?
Mike
When it is
introduced by hook, or by crook, it is built on sand. But I gather the fringe benefits to the presenters, are out of this world.
Say, Rev. Diane...those gifts of the Holy Spirit you mention wouldn't happen to include roundtrip airfare and accommodations for the festivities, courtesy of RHB Enterprises?
Somehow,
I think that lots of folks got a "Great Awakening" out of this.
Some of us already knew what phony, greedy types "Sell" religion.
Yep, ya gotta give'r credit...
The Right Reverend Has got the "faith" in her all right.
To bad, she can't see the crooks for the thieves.
Diane - I wonder how you
Diane - I wonder how you would feel if a religious group that you were not affiliated with was standing outside your child's school thrusting flyer's into their hands offering free electronics for them to go to a "festival"?? What if that religious group was Pagan? Wiccan? Mormon? Buddhist? Muslim? Then how would you feel? I'll tell you how I felt about it - enraged. Those people crossed many lines and that was the worst one, for me. Stay away from my child.
I agree with JNUKara
I made a comment on that other post about this. I too would be enraged if strangers approached my kids on school grounds. A place where they are supposed to be safe from strangers. My kids thankfully were home sick on those days and were not approached.
My family is active in our church. Regularly attend and volunteer. My kids do not need someone else pushing their religion on them.
The church that sponsered this event, by the way, is located... in a school. Found that our from their site.