[Thank You for Your Prayers and Support]
Date:
Wed, 20 May 1998 19:41:02 -0700
From:
charles sosebee
To: ... "jaganath@pacbell.net"
To all my Family in Christ:
Please read this and pass it on and keep this young man in your prayers. I have had a chance to share with him he is a very brave young man
Blessing,
Chuck
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 1998. SUNLAND, CA--
Pastor Rick Reisner called a special congregational gathering this evening at the Sunland Foursquare Church. The meeting was called to give three members of the congregation an opportunity to repent of their sexually immoral sins or be removed from the congregation excommunicato until they publicly repent, apologize and ask for forgiveness. A cheerful farewell was also given to a member-family who was leaving the church.
Approximately 100 members present in audience heard Pastor Reisner read several passages from the Bible regarding sexual immorality including verses from Leviticus, Romans, 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy. Pastor Reisner also quoted verses from Matthew, 1 Corinthians and Titus which address the issues of removing unrepentant sinners from the congregation as well as committing their souls into the hands of Satan so that they may be saved on the Day of Judgement.
Members Marke Bridge and Jana Cox were asked to stand in front of the congregation and repent, apologize and ask for forgiveness for their sexually immoral sins. Cox is currently pregnant with the young couples' second child conceived out of wedlock. Since this will be the couples' second child, it was the second time that they were required to stand before the congregation or face excommunication. Although no date for their wedding was announced, the couple was tearfully, yet cheerfully reintegrated back into the congregation. Applause resounded as Pastor Reisner encouraged the congregation to acknowledge Jesus' forgiveness of Bridge and Cox's sexual immorality and their public confession.
Silence filled the sanctuary as Pastor Reisner gave three opportunities for 18-year-old Steve Payne to repent of his sexual immorality. Terrified, yet resolved, Payne sat mute facing the accuser, his friends and the rest of the congregation. A member since age 12, Payne had given written notice to Pastor Reisner effective two days ago requesting to be removed from the rolls of membership. But Pastor Reisner did not publicly acknowledge receipt of Payne's letter and instead chose to proceed with the excommunication. Payne shares a studio apartment with his boyfriend, Frank, and it is assumed that allegations of sexual immorality stem from Payne's monogamous, homosexual relationship even though the word "homosexuality" was never once mentioned in the pastor's quoting of scripture.
Thanks in part to his Christian education by Pastor Reisner and the Foursquare Church, Payne aspires to be a pastor himself and has already established a cyber-ministry dedicated to the Christian education of gay/lesbian youth (www.angelfire.com/la/gayChristianyouth) and is currently attending another church, Christ Chapel of North Hollywood.
Having been given ample opportunity to repent of sexual immorality which went unanswered by Payne, Pastor Reisner then prayed and warned his congregation to have nothing more to do with the 18-year-old claiming scripture which says that churches are to banish and avoid any further communication with unrepentant sinners. Although it was threatened by the Pastor Reisner, the committing of Payne into the hands of Satan was not accomplished, and the meeting was concluded with a cheerful farewell to a member-family followed by a time of prayer. Payne left the church. No one spoke to him.
(--witnessed and reported by Dana Seufert, email:
Surfr92651@aol.com. Seufert
loves the ocean but hates gnarly reefs. He is a professional musician with 20+
years of experience in music ministry and looks like a cross between Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart and Eric Stoltz, Ludwig Van Beethoven and Sammy Hagar. Seufert
is a free-lance journalist writing about all kinds of humorous and silly
stuff, especially the most ludicrous which occurs vainly in the name of Christ
Jesus).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The following was written or included by Steve Payne:
Church address and letter to all that was supporting in here...please forward this to anyone please that you know...I gave permission...thanks in the case you have not receive the letter that Pastor rick sent here it is:
Subj: Re: Please Read
Date: 98-05-13 04:23:49 EDT
From: BigREVRic
To: PRAISHIM98
Steven,
I want you to know that we are having a congregation meeting on Sunday evening
(17th). If by that time you have not repented of being involved in
homosexuality, you will be taken out of fellowship with this
congregation...based on 1 Cor 1:1-5.
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife.
2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?
3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,
5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. (NIV)
It will also be based on Matt 18:15-17:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between
the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Marke Bridge & Jana Cox have been given the same deadline to repent before the congregation or face being removed from fellowship based on the same scriptures.
I am fairly sure you will not agree with this or in any way understand our position that each of you have forced upon us. You know that we loved you & we will continue to love you, but we are accountable before God to take this scriptural stance. It is not our way of doing things...it is God's way. He loves sinners...so do we. He hates sin ..so do we. We will always be here to help restore you....if you so desire.
I can not in words explain the pain this causes me & Bobbie. But there is no room whatsoever for negotiation or for compromise on homosexuality. It is an abomination to God. We tried (Mitch, Troy, Don, Bobbie, Me) to help you because you said you wanted help & wanted out of this bondage....when you feel this way again we will be waiting with open arms to embrace you. I know you don't mean to do wrong or to hurt the heart of God, but I am afraid that is exactly what you are doing.
I will continue to pray that God will open your eyes...and that you would come running back to the Body of Christ.
God Bless your decision making.
Pastor Rick
Steve Payne
8800 Kester Ave Apt 132
Panorama City, Ca 91402
Praishim98@aol.com
www.angelfire.com/la/gayChristianyouth
May 18, 1998
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I would like to start and say THANKS and may GOD BLESS you… This has been a
Struggle for me. I would ask that you please continue to pray for me in this
struggle. And continue to pray for my partner and our relationship as we
might break up. And also my help. Satan said to God: "Satan answered the
LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." (Job
1:7) Job was plagued with many trails and Scripture states: "The LORD said to
Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man
himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the
LORD. One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at
the oldest brother's house, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were
plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and
carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one
who has escaped to tell you!" While he was still speaking, another messenger
came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and
the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" While he was
still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three
raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put
the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons
and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house,
when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four
corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the
only one who has escaped to tell you!" At this, Job got up and tore his robe
and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I
came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the
LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." In all this, Job
did not sin by charging God with rongdoing. On another day the angels came to
present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present
himself before him." (Job 1:12-22, NIV) this was the First Test.
I would like to explain what took place at the Church when Dana and me went…As
you know I took a witness and went to hear what was going to be said. They
said that there was another person that was involved and was confronted about
their sexual immorality. And they mentioned my name and ask if I was going to
repent. I stayed in my chair and did not say anything to them. The
congregation look at me and I did nothing...I faced my accuser. There was a
few seconds of silences. They prayed for me. He also mentioned that I had
known them for many years…I believe that it was recorded. Dana or will try to
get a copy of the tape from Church. They did not follow what I stated in the
Letter that I had written to them.
Since the Pastor has changed his email address IN THIS LETTER I HAVE PROVIDED
THE ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH AND ALSO THAT OF THE FOURSQUARE HEADQUARTERS ADDRESS
AND PHONE NUMBER..If you would like to write please do. May the Lord take this
into his hands through my writing.
Church Address:
Sunland Foursquare Church
Pastor Rick & Bobbie Reisner
10602 Sherman Grove
Sunland, Ca 91040 USA
818-352-5943- phone
Foursquare Headquarters
Roger Williams
1910 W. Sunset Boulevard, Suite 200
P.O. Box 26902
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 989-4221-phone
Please send all general correspondence in care of the Communications Office.
Regarding Scripture I have faith that, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV) Also Paul says it best at Roans starting at chapter 8, "38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, either angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 9:1 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit." No I'm not lying and I pray that he will take care of it. Paul also continues at Roans 9:2-5 which reads: "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." I really have to say I feel like Paul here in Roans.
Thanks again for the support and the continued support.
In His Service,
Steve Payne
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."-Phil 4:13
Go to Jagannath's Lavender Chapel.
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