All posts tagged: pastor

‘The Autism Pastor’ Lamar Hardwick dies at age 47

‘The Autism Pastor’ Lamar Hardwick dies at age 47

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — The Rev. Lamar Hardwick, a disability activist, author and preacher known as “The Autism Pastor,” died on May 22. He was 47 years old. “With heavy hearts, we want to share that Lamar has transitioned after his journey with colon cancer,” Hardwick’s wife, Isabella Hardwick, said in a recent post on Facebook. “He was surrounded by love, peace, and family, and we are grateful for every precious moment we shared with him.” Friends and colleagues have described Hardwick as “brilliant” and “surprisingly funny” and said he was known for his dynamic preaching style. He is survived by his wife and three sons. Born June 5, 1978, in Killeen, Texas, Hardwick was influenced in his youth by his father’s dual career in the U.S. Army and as a Missionary Baptist Church pastor. Frequent moves created instability in Hardwick’s childhood, but he found comfort in the predictable rhythms of church. As an adult, he discerned a call to ministry and earned a Master of Divinity from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Hardwick later completed …

Florida pastor and son’s million Covid fraud case comes to bizarre end

Florida pastor and son’s $8 million Covid fraud case comes to bizarre end

Published by Sam Flores

It was one of the strangest Covid fraud cases brought by the Justice Department, with the kind of wild details that seemed ripped from a Hollywood script. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. There was an $8.4 million pandemic relief loan based on records purportedly signed by a dementia-stricken accountant. Bags of shredded documents were discovered in a Mercedes SUV. Cellphones were found inside pouches specially designed to block radio frequencies to keep them from being tracked. And there were allegations of faked mental health problems that recalled the notorious case of mobster Vincent “The Chin” Gigante. At the center of it all was a supposed man of God — a Florida-based pastor with an unusual past, who is alleged to have run a sham ministry. The pastor, Evan Edwards, and his son, Josh, were arrested in late 2022 on charges of fraudulently obtaining millions in Covid relief aid and trying to use some of the money to buy a luxury home near Walt Disney World. …

Farage pastor charity: Muslims ‘eradicating the native population’

Farage pastor charity: Muslims ‘eradicating the native population’

Published by Sam Flores

The charity of a street preacher backed by Nigel Farage has been reported to the regulator by the National Secular Society for promoting anti-Muslim bigotry, misogyny and homophobia. Stephen Clayden (pictured) is a trustee of the charity Bread of Life Community Church. It is registered under the charitable purpose ‘the advancement of religion’ and other charitable purposes. Charities are legally required to act for the public benefit. In March, the Church was issued with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) after its street preachers allegedly told passersby they were going to hell. The CPN was issued by Safer Colchester Partnership, which is run by Colchester Council, and requires the Church to “stop intimidating behaviour” and to not use loudspeakers. Earlier this month, leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage MP told Clayden he was “fully on your side”. The Church’s appeal against the CPN is due to be heard in October. As a registered charity, Bread of Life Community Church is exempt from most forms of tax. It is also recognised by HMRC for gift aid. Muslim …

Assemblies of God ignored warnings, freeing a children’s pastor to sexually abuse girls, lawsuit says

Assemblies of God ignored warnings, freeing a children’s pastor to sexually abuse girls, lawsuit says

Published by Sam Flores

Survivors described the same devastating cycle: children who tried to warn adults, pastors who minimized or ignored allegations, and church leaders who extended grace and protection to abusers, clearing the way for more children to be harmed. Davis’ account was one of the starkest examples. After NBC News’ investigation was published, more women came forward with stories of abuse by Waller and cover-ups by church officials, joining Davis’ legal effort to hold them accountable. “The Assemblies of God caught this predator red-handed in 2004, holding his camera and his list of nude exercises in their hands,” the women’s lawyer, Joshua D. Gillispie, said in a statement. “Instead of calling the police or protecting vulnerable children, they actively chose to shield the denomination’s reputation and treat a child molester with tenderness and forgiveness at the expense of children’s innocence.” In a statement, the General Council of the Assemblies of God, the denomination’s U.S. governing body, said it didn’t learn of allegations against Waller until 2015. “Mr. Waller was promptly reported to the appropriate legal authorities, investigated, …

On Pentecost, one California pastor is aiming for the world’s largest synchronized baptism

On Pentecost, one California pastor is aiming for the world’s largest synchronized baptism

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — On the first Saturday in May, Pastor Mark Francey stood in the chilly waters of Pirate’s Cove, a beach off the coast of Southern California, and baptized dozens of people, one by one, over the course of an hour. “I’m in there dunking people,” recalled Francey, the leader of a megachurch in Irvine, California. “I love it.” Francey said more than 1,100 were baptized on May 2 at Pirate’s Cove, while thousands more spectators from many congregations stood on the surrounding rock formation to witness the baptisms and join in worship music. The famous spot, located in Corona del Mar, has been host to large water baptism ceremonies before. The late Chuck Smith, founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, baptized hippies there in the 1970s during the Jesus Movement — later depicted in the “Jesus Revolution” movie — and Greg Laurie, Smith’s mentee and leader of Harvest Ministries, began mass baptisms at the same site in the 1990s. Pirate’s Cove was one in a series of baptism events, sparked by what Francey considered …

Pastor Says Comparing Gold Trump Statue to ‘Golden Calf’ is ‘Blasphemy’

Pastor Says Comparing Gold Trump Statue to ‘Golden Calf’ is ‘Blasphemy’

Published by Jenni Sidey

Earlier this month, the Trump National Doral golf course in Miami got a new resident: a 15-foot bronze sculpture of President Trump, finished with gold leaf. The statue, which rises to 22 feet with its pedestal, cost around $360,000, Ohio-based sculptor Alan Cottrill told the Columbus Dispatch. If there was any worry that the golden effigy dubbed the “Don Colossus” was just a bit too on the nose, have no fear: Pastor Mark Burns, who was involved in getting the statue erected, said at the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday that it was “not a golden calf,” according to a Daily Beast report Sunday. Related Articles “Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf, this statue is a celebration of life,” Burns reportedly said. “It is a symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, strength, and the will power to keep fighting for the future of America.” Later, Burns posted on X that the statue was “not a golden calf” and then, on Sunday, told LBC radio host James Hanson that the statue “represents the miracle …

Pastor fined for breaching Northern Ireland abortion safe access zone – Humanists UK

Pastor fined for breaching Northern Ireland abortion safe access zone – Humanists UK

Published by Sam Flores

A retired Baptist pastor has been fined after being found guilty of breaching a safe access zone outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. Northern Ireland Humanists said the case shows that safe access zone legislation is working as intended, helping to protect women from harassment and intimidation when accessing healthcare. Clive Johnston, from Sion Mills, was convicted at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court of two offences under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023. He was found guilty of conducting a protest inside the safe access zone and of failing to comply with a direction to leave. He was fined £450.  Mr Johnston argued that he was not protesting, but holding a religious service. However, the prosecution argued that, in context, the activity amounted to an anti-abortion protest inside a legally protected area. The court heard that he was near a large crucifix, using a microphone, and quoting from the Bible. Safe access zones were introduced to protect women and girls and staff accessing abortion services, as well as those accompanying them, and staff providing …

Kansas last sent a Democrat to the Senate in 1932. A megachurch pastor aims to change that.

Kansas last sent a Democrat to the Senate in 1932. A megachurch pastor aims to change that.

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Thirty-six years ago, the Rev. Adam Hamilton co-founded a church with a handful of people in a funeral home chapel. Now, that congregation is the largest United Methodist church in the nation, and Hamilton is setting his sights on a new venue: the United States Congress. Hamilton, 61, announced his run for U.S. Senate on Thursday morning (April 30) in a press conference in Prairie Village, the suburban city he was raised in. Describing himself as an “independent-minded Democrat,” he emphasized his church’s community building and charity work and said his decades in ministry prepared him to be a bridge-builder in Congress. “In a world that feels more and more divided, I’ve had the privilege of being a pastor for 36 years of a church that’s roughly equally divided between Republicans, Democrats and independents,” said Hamilton at the press conference. “Our people love each other precisely because of their differences.” With over 24,000 members and nine locations in the Kansas City area, Resurrection, A United Methodist Church has earned a reputation for its …

Dallas pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts recovering, ‘almost paralyzed’ in accident

Dallas pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts recovering, ‘almost paralyzed’ in accident

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts, co-leader of the Dallas megachurch founded by her father, Bishop T.D. Jakes, is recovering after suffering a neck fracture that she said almost paralyzed her in mid-April. Jakes Roberts, 37, a popular conference speaker, author and co-senior pastor with her husband at The Potter’s House church, posted on social media that she was injured during an accident while playing with her daughter on a trampoline and was hospitalized. “Last night was scary. I was almost paralyzed, but God didn’t see fit to let that be my story,” Jakes Roberts said in identical posts on Facebook and Instagram on April 19. “I was playing a game with my Ella on the trampoline and landed on my neck. Instantly, I heard several pops in my neck.” On Sunday (April 26), Pastor Touré Roberts, her husband and co-senior pastor at The Potter’s House, expressed his concern for his wife. “I love Sarah with all my heart,” he told T.D. Jakes as they began a previously scheduled on-stage discussion at the church about …

Pastor charged with manslaughter after 61-year-old drowns during baptism | UK | News

Pastor charged with manslaughter after 61-year-old drowns during baptism | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

Pastor Cheryl Bartley, 48, has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the drowning of a 61-year-old man at a baptism ceremony in Birmingham in 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Robert Smith, from Brixton in south London, died at an address in Erdington on October 8, 2023. Malcolm McHaffie, head of the special crime division, said: “We have decided to prosecute Cheryl Bartley, 48, with one count of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to her role as a pastor during a baptism. “This follows the death of 61-year-old Robert Smith from Brixton in south London, who died from drowning at an address in Slade Road, Erdington on October 8, 2023. Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. “We have worked closely with West Midlands Police as it has carried out its investigation. “We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that she has the right to a …