Ben Young preaching at Second Baptist Houston
Pastoral succession, megachurch wealth and family dynasties combine in a lawsuit filed against Second Baptist Church of Houston and its leaders April 15.
The Southern Baptist congregation is the 17th largest church in America, according to Outreach magazine, with average weekly attendance of 19,735 in 2024. After 46 years as senior pastor, Ed Young stepped down last May and named one of his sons, Ben Young, his successor. Another son, also named Ed Young, leads a Dallas-area megachurch called Fellowship Church, which is the 13th largest church in America.
But all is not well in Houston, nearly one year after Ed Young the elder took a sudden retirement at age 87 — amid grumblings inside and outside the church that he had become a bit unhinged in his rambling sermons — and orchestrated naming his son as successor.
This turn of events pitted two groups within the church membership against each other: Younger members who wanted new leadership versus older, wealthier members who remained loyal to Ed Young regardless. But that’s only the beginning of this saga.
Now there are allegations of deceptive practices,
an illegal church business meeting
and a family’s attempt to enrich itself by control of the church’s $1 billion in assets.
There is a very good reason
to
heed
Scripture.
1988, When Rev. Jimmy Swaggart was caught in a bad situation after years of good works, his congregation both physical and by social media did suffer greatly. Wondering about God. Wondering loudly if they had been foolish to give money to promote the Lord. Conned.
One of the most vivid articles I remember, when paper newspapers were part of normal life, The Dallas Morning News responded in full Glory. They said, God, Himself, Who sees the Heart, Knows the Good Souls working to make the earth the Good God sees. And this will always be the blessing of loving and knowing the Lord and being known to Him.
Considérez la Révolution française comme un contexte historique:
Harris-Walz campaign hired a female Presbyterian Minister, somewhat retired to instead do longtime activist, to lead faith outreach. And the campaign issues a set of goals in the new position hire for Pastor Faith Outreach for the White House Administration.
It was more of a threat than a promise.
New Head of Faith Outreach
Recognize that we’re at a pivotal moment in American democracy where faith voices for justice are needed now more than ever,” she said. “The Harris-Walz campaign is a really unique opportunity to shift the debate."
Faith in Public Life, a faith-focused advocacy effort incubated at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, was the starting point. Concerned about religious freedom, and engaging new ideals.
Civil Disobedience was part of these works.
To lead or participate in campaigns supporting a range of causes such as immigrant rights, voting rights, health care reform and LGBTQ rights. Drawing in the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which was critical of the current health care proposals.
The post of Religion Pastor would engage all the Churches to understand they had been worshiping incorrectly in the past. The former form of Nationalism would be replaced and intolerance incorrectly interpreting Scripture. With a bold new look at Churches in the future.
When the Churches cease to govern themselves, advertising their Hezekiah funds for the warring outsiders, there is a very grave line being crossed.
Notre Dame has seen fires before.
The statues smashed. The chairs, before pews, piled in the center. Fire set upon them as a sacrifice to the Roman gods. Then the Bibles and books of Notre Dame. It was not a one-time occurrence, and happened again and again when the Revolutionists wanted to poke God to do something to them.
39 At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.
2 And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.
3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?”
Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.”
4 He said, “What have they seen in your house?”
Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah,
“Hear the word of the Lord of Hosts: 6 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.”
Having loved Hezekiah in the Scriptures, verse 8 is beyond comprehension. We build for our children and their hope and future. We do not please ourselves and instead put the city wall around the entire city to build for the future.
It will not need a 123-page lawsuit and instead the Church in Good Standing will be the Light in mankind Jesus Christ tells us is the way, truth and life for those who believe God rewards those who seek Him.
Follow the Way, Truth and Life of Jesus Christ.
Plan for a Hope and Future in Him.
Abba, Father,
Very much a work of the Lord.
When the
Events of
Easter
coincide
We remember
John Wesley said, “The Work of God
continues
His workers go home”
Coinciding
John Wesley never left the Anglican Church
and The Anglican Church
never left
The Roman Catholic Church.
One God,
One Plan
As we think of the Sacrifice
of Jesus Christ
His Love
as He Forgave
We realize
a Thousand Years
are a Day to You.
And Give You Thanks
for
our
Salvation.
God of Light
You are in all things
You are Light of the world
Light of mankind
Light of Heaven
In all Things, You Create
You have given us Jesus Christ
Holy is
the Highest Name
Above
all others
Your Kingdom come
Your Good Will be done
we pray for more
on earth
just as it is in Heaven.
Give us This Day
Our Daily Bread.
Jesus the Living Bread.
Forgive us our Trespasses
as
we forgive those
who Trespass
Against us.
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from Evil.
For Thine
is the
Kingdom
and
the Power
and
the Glory.
Amen in Jesus Christ
John 21
Thank you, Jesus our Lord Christ
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