I am in anguish because another prominent Pastor has resigned due to being "outed" as a closet homosexual. The type of sex is immaterial but the fact that another vaunted leader could climb the ladder of Evangelical success without anyone discovering and ministering to his secret world is a terrible thing.
Paul Barnes has resigned as pastor of the 2,100-member Grace Chapel in Denver, confessing to sexual infidelity with other men. "Barnes is not a household name," The Denver Post notes, but his "admission is attracting more attention because it came a month after Colorado Springs pastor Ted Haggard was fired amid allegations that he had paid a male prostitute for sex."
Jesus is known as The Great Physician and indeed it was His life, teachings and ministry that led the Christian world to develop a strong healing ministry. Almost all charitable medical facilities in the world spring not from Galen the Greek but Jesus the Jew. How is it that the institution He left to carry on His work has failed so miserably at bringing health and wholeness to its ministers and members?
I unfortunately see a declining church interest in pastoral care, counseling and healing of mental, emotional and relational issues. I am biased, of course, for that is my passion and my call as well as my gift. However, can pastors, seminary teachers and denominational leaders be unaware of the terrible pain of people in depression, divorce and aberrant behavior? Especially when the church is the single best place ever invented to bring the love, truth and power of God to "Heal the broken hearted and set the captives free."
Instituting a healing ministry is not easy. Talk is easy but ministry is challenging and difficult, but the rewards are great. Any pastor or church interested in developing better ministries to hurting people can contact me for assistance. If you do we will have a ball.
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