I believe the outreach a church does is a part of its business model and it is that part that I am reviewing:
My family and I were moving out of our old home on Saturday, August 30th 2015. A very nice couple with a baby catch me on the street and ask me if I would be interested in talking to them about church. I respectfully declined. As I began working in the back yard, our older child comes to tell me that there are "two guys at the door talking crap to all (three) of the kids". I instantly assumed the couple came to our house and didn't realize we had already exchanged pleasantries. Unfortunately, as I turn the corner of our drive way to greet them, I realize there are two middle aged men talking to my children with the screen door open, appearing to begin to walk in with out my permission. Before I could make out what they were saying to my under age minors I yell at them and demand they leave at once. The leader of the two babbles and stumbles on his own words as if he had been caught doing something illegal and inappropriate. As he pleads to tell me the good news of his lord and savior and about how he is "only trying to save America", I continue to point him away and demand he leave. The man is nervous, anxious like a child caught with his hand deep in the cookie jar. His baffled and stunted final thought confused even the youngest of the little boys he was talking to - "But I am from the Philippines" spews out of his crooked mouth - as if for some magical super natural reason we should really try to care that this balding, full on white middle-aged American male is from the Philippines. Even our littlest one listening to the guy had strange affect over take his expression. With one final angry demand the door-to-door religion pimp fled the scene. It's too bad the nice couple I had a brief exchange with earlier turned out to be his buddies. One would have never guessed they were from the same congregation.
Now, to make things right, I decided to pay the Pastor of this "Church" a visit. He apologized, said it is not their routine to speak to children when parents aren't available and he would have chat with his buddy, the America saver from the Philippines. I was relieved to hear from the leader of this "church" that this was not their norm. I accepted his apology and went about my day. But the story doesn't stop here.
As I returned home I asked the boys what the two crazy sales men said. They replied:
They asked if any of us went to church. We said no but Mikey said he did (Mikey is their friend who was helping that day.) The bald man (Mr. "But I'm from the Philippines") asked Mikey how he would feel when he dies knowing that his friends are going to hell because they didn't go to church..." That is when I turned the corner and interrupted their attempt at indoctrination of little boys through fear. Our six year old was just told by an adult that he is going to hell. Please allow that to sink in for a moment.
This is where the apology from Pastor Lehman becomes null and void.
It's one thing to evangelize to little boys without parental permission and invading the home. But it is another to tell a 6 year old he is going to hell. This is hate speech and highly inappropriate.
This "church", in my opinion, is an opportunistic, fear and anger evoking organization that takes advantage of young people. Keep in mind, just because someone has a bible in hand and collects tithe money and dresses nice doesn't mean that God is present. I highly recommend you reconsider allowing your children to attend this "church". read more