Lee Domingue is an entrepreneur for over 34 years, as well as dad, grandparent and avid LSU fan. In January 2021 we launchedGrowLeader in order to better support pastors and leaders in their desire to personally grow in leadership so their churches can reach more people and make a greater impact. Michael R. Jordan of New Era Baptist Church in Birmingham slammed the Church of the Highlands as racist and "hypocritical" in its bid to start a church plant in one of Birmingham's most violent neighborhoods. That means acknowledging that an affair or inappropriate relationship between a pastor and his congregant is, in fact, abuse. During that time, Lee committedto help business leaders live out their legacy by partnering through their local church. David, I confined my reporting to facts that are substantiated, and stated what is known and what isnt. Church of the Highlands - Huntsville Worship Team (Here I Surrender / Have Your Way) - YouTube Filmed in downtown Huntsville October 2020.Have Your Way (Spotify):. Clisby argued that Kirk, who has denounced white nationalism, is well-known to hold views such as white privilege being a myth., White privilege is defined in a number of ways and one definition as highlighted by the University of Dayton is: A right, advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of all others; an exemption in many particular cases from certain burdens or liabilities.. So why are a few likes on social media becoming such a defining moment for this, Freelance Journalist. Jaclyn Hayes, a former Wave Church volunteer, describes in the series how Lentz talked about sexual purity, the importance of fathers controlling their daughters, and his rules for dating such as a mandate that a couple should not even kiss for their first year together, and never have sex before marriage. The Roys Report reached out to Chris Hodges and COTH for comment about these pastors and the churchs restoration process, but no one responded. "I cant see into Pastor Chris Hodges heart. Thats fine. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. We believe the result is eternal as good leadership grows churches. I remember being in a greenroom at a Church where this clown (Hodges) was bragging about how little he pays lower staff members because people are lined up wanting jobs at COTH. The reason he isnt building a retreat center for victims is because he sees upper level ministers/pastors as more important than your average lowly church attender. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Michael Hodges, son Chris Hodges, founder and senior pastor of the nearly 40,000-member Church of the Highlands in Alabama, returned to the pulpit this month in what appears to be his first public engagement since he was removed as pastor of the churchs Greystone campus for a moral failing just over a year ago. An AL.com reportsaid Michael, his father and brother, David, spoke at separate campuses of the Freedom House Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, from Feb. 16 17 during an event billed Hodges Takeover.. To waste money setting up a place for people to go to restore is outrageous. So he made a quick $307,500-$410,000. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Highlands Auburn East Campus is located a short distance from Interstate 85 in a facility on Samford Avenue in Auburn. He seemed to come up with his points first, then filled in the scripture. Id just rather catch that on the front end.. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Not only a whole lot needs to be said, a whole lot needs to be done, Hodges said, to applause from a limited audience that was on hand to prepare for the possible reopening of in-person public worship services on June 21. Restoration of relationship and ministry requires full disclosure and an acceptance of responsibility. The focus isnt on exalting Christ from that statement, ex. Theres no evidence given that restoring pastors is lucrative. ARC President Greg Surratt denies the charges. Personally this doesnt seem to me like a safe church to be at. Chris remains the senior pastor and Chancellor of Highlands College, a ministry training school that has trained and launched hundreds of students into full-time ministry careers all over the world. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.. Auburn East Campus 2001 East Samford Avenue Auburn, Alabama 36830 Get Directions Weekend Services Sunday Attempting to restore fallen pastors appears to be a passion for COTH Senior Pastor Chris Hodges and Outreach and Missions Pastor Dino Rizzosomeone whose past includes an inappropriate extramarital relationship. I think it would be better if the pastor sold insurance or used cars in the future.and not lead the church of Jesus Christ. Chris is married to Tammy Hodges and they have five children. Oxford, Alabama 36203 According to Karim, over the course of their affair, Lentz cried in front of her, which she took as a sign of his vulnerability. But behind the scenes, he was not practicing what he preached. Whether or not youre a christian, It only takes an ounce of humility to realize that, especially in a time of crisis, the church is essential to many people. This story has been shared 122,601 times. Our Oxford location meets at the Oxford Civic Center. In 2001 Chris Hodges founded Church of the Highlands, now known as one of the largest churches in the U.S. with over 60,000 members and 23 campuses. Theres never been a pastor in the history of my life who has given my sons, so thank God for the opportunity to stand here but thank you sir for loving my sons the way you do. To think otherwise is clear evidence the bible isnt the standard of ethics. First Wednesday Messages. Chris said he invited a guest speaker to speak this past Sunday because he had been busy training 41 pastors this past week, the post stated. Grow Leader also sponsors two-day Round Tables, where for $7,500 lead pastors and leaders can learn from Hodges and Domingue in an intimate setting. Some arent. When the manager of a baseball team fails he gets fired and then a year or two later another team will hire him as their manager. Amy Spreeman Association of Related Churches: Time to get off the ARC: https://bereanresearch.org/association-of-related-churches-time-to-get-off-the-arc/, Chris Rosebrough Che Ahn Modern-Day (Restoration of) Apostles: http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2019/1/if-im-a-butterfly-why-am-i-still-crawling, Chris Rosebrough Che Ahn Who Are the Apostles: http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2018/7/live-fearless, Chris Rosebrough Chris Hodges: Do You Love Me? 3100-3198 Harrison Pike, Chattanooga, TN 37416, USA. Theyre wondering, where do you really stand? GrowLeader is also committed to generosity by supporting organizations like Highlands College. Communism fell. He said Courtney Winston, wife of Steven Winston, spoke up. A former Wave Church staffer, who appears in the documentary anonymously due to having signed a nondisclosure agreement, says on-screen, I was at Wave for a few years before Carl left. Ranin Karim, 35, alleges she had a five-month-long affair with Lentz that eventually led to Hillsong ousting him in 2020, as she exclusively told The Post in November 2020. Chris Hodges, founder and leader ofChurch of the Highlands, one of the largest churches in America, apologized Sunday for liking social media posts of Turning Point USA leader Charlie Kirk that have been criticized as racially insensitive. And that number is..dont know. Theres no biblical authority or principle for the specifics of his failure to be shared publicly. The rumor is that Carl and his wife were going to make their exit from Hillsong, and I think that Brian [Houston] knew his profile was too high and that people would follow him so I think it was just kind of getting rid of him and trying to tarnish his brand, Janice Lagata, a former Hillsong student and volunteer who worked with Hillsong NYC church leadership, speculates in the doc. The sign also caught my attention. After Lentzs allegedaffair with Karim made headlines, Hayes watched the news and remembered how Lentz split her from her boyfriend, simply because they had had premarital sex. Providing online services in a cautious way that doesnt lead to mass gatherings of people in accordance with the HO's guidelines is not at all a bad thing. and our Through fresh and practical content, you can read any of our recommended best-selling books, listen to our monthly podcast, or attend a GrowLeader event that we know will be transformative in the way you lead. We all know what divides us, but what can bring us together? Hodges said. Surratt confirmed to The Roys Report that ARC churches often give a portion of their annual income to ARC. Houston, 68, stepped down as the churchs director in January (amid a court caseaccusing Houston of hiding his late fathers sexual abuse of children all of which the church has denied), and he resigned for good March 23, after an internal misconduct investigation, which found Houston had behaved inappropriately towards two women. It was his birthday. And, Ill own it, by the way, but that is not what I believe., The church spent much of their time over the weekend addressing the issue of racism and Hodges said dealing with the coronavirus and the explosion of racial tensions at the same time has made it an incredibly tough season for our nation. ", White supremacy or any supremacy other than Christ, is of the devil, he said. The. "I understand how this has made you feel and I apologize. Yesterday, I dug into the attic and pulled it out, he said. The Roys Report reached out to Rizzo and Vibrant for comment, but neither responded. Pastor Chris, we dont need you to say anything, she said, according to Hodges. Grow, now called Highlands Resources,continues to provide resources to over 16,500 churches globally at no cost. And though ARC seems to have a number of challenges and potential mistakes around leaders who fail morally, we still dont have all the facts. They got little pick-axes. Cookie Notice , a ministry training school that has trained and launched hundreds of students into full-time ministry careers all over the world. Oxford Civic Center 401 McCullars Lane Oxford, Alabama 36203 Get Directions Weekend Services Sunday We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. If you would like to contact a member of the team directly, please email us at . He needs to be Habilitated in the first place, and over a period of years, so hes not a novice. A Baptist church in Harrison, Tennessee. We need to be the church. You cant really get all that God has until something is stripped from you, until youre humbled, tested and disciplined, Hodges said. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The biblical standard for an elder is being above reproach or blameless, so it is very difficultif not impossibleto attain that standard after admitting to impropriety. But factspartial, circumstantial, second-handarent synonymous with truth. He continues to serve these churches and leaders through making all of Highlands Resources available at no cost. In 2019, after a period of restoration, Hodges returned to the pulpit at Freedom House Church, an ARC member church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Larrry Stockstill is Pastor Chris' longtime friend and mentor, and currently serves as teaching pastor at Bethany Church. The Roys Report also looked into the financial arrangement between ARC and its church planting pastors. In introducing Chris Hodges to speak at the main campus on Feb. 17, Freedom House Pastor Troy Maxwell called him a longtime friend. : https://evangelicaldarkweb.org/2020/03/30/is-chris-hodges-a-false-teacher/, Russell Hinson Church of the Highlands bloodless gospel: https://churchofthehighlandsbloodlessgospel.com/, 9Marks 4 Reflections after Listening to 18 Hours of Sermons in Americas Biggest Churches: https://www.9marks.org/article/4-reflections-after-listening-to-18-hours-of-sermons-in-americas-biggest-churches/, Disrupting Giants Chris Hodges: http://disruptinggiants.blogspot.com/, The Wartburg Watch Where Have All the Flowers Gone? We dont have to look alike, we dont have to act alike, but we do have to have one heart, Hodges said. During that time, Lee committed. Do you think Chris Hodges is setting himself to take over when John Maxwell is no longer able to do conferences? Nor any promises of returning to pastoral employment. . They were definitely checking for mix-ups or errors. Hodges said he met with the four black campus pastors for the Church of the Highlands this past week. VickiBlue. He was later found to be using church funds to put her up in a $1,500 per month apartment he also had a key to for easy access. Hodges and his [..] band of professional pastors are the upper echelon of the church. His brother who is a member of the Freedom House congregation spoke at the South End campus. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Yes, sir. As allegations of sexual abuse against a former pastor took hold on social media, the Church of the Highlands has cut ties with the accused minister they had agreed to help rehabilitate. I was a member and my wife was a prayer partner at Healing Place Church in 2012. They can blame Carl, and not the culture in the church, she says. All rights reserved (About Us). *All services are in Central Time Zone unless otherwise specified. What does a guy have to do to be unqualified for ministry these days? They did their part, until all of us brought it down., Hodges said he has a piece of the Berlin wall that he had put in a box in 2001 and stored in his attic. And as ARC states, it has not only a personal relationship with the churches/pastors it launches, it also has a financial relationship. Lentz told Hayes and her then-boyfriend to stop seeing each other, and they did, to their mutual heartbreak. So he made a quick $307,500-$410,000., Chris said he invited a guest speaker to speak this past Sunday because he had been busy with training 41 pastors this past week. In the case of Rizzos inappropriate relationship, we dont know all the facts, much less the truth. Some facts are. Hillsong originated in Australia in 1983, founded by Houston, who grew up in dad Frank Houstons Sydney-based Pentecostal church. Hodges came under fire when someone noticed he had been following Charlie Kirk, president of Turning Point USA, and liking posts by the controversial conservative commentator. backstage sign on the pic at the top. A summary of Michaels address to the church was not immediately available when The Christian Post reached out to Freedom House on Tuesday and representatives said they did not record it. I just went from sharing something so personal and youre using it to shame me and condemn me.. Post reporter Hannah Frishberg is featured in the documentary. . This year, two lawsuits have been filed against ARC or its Executive Director Dino Rizzo for negligence or cover-up in sexual harassment or abuse cases involving ARC pastors. "Now they want to plant a white church in a black neighborhood under the umbrella of supposedly to fight crime? It looked almost insurmountable to tear the whole thing down. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. If you live in the Oxford or Anniston area, you and your family will feel right at home with us. If the leader wants to keep what he did private, thats fine. Chris remains the senior pastor and Chancellor of. But when they questioned her about it, Crenshaw says, It fel[t] like an interrogation.. Difference between revenue and profit. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. In Alabama, the Church of the Highlands is kind of a big deal. Michael Hodges (pictured) son of founder and Senior Pastor of the nearly 40,000 member Church of the Highlands in Alabama, Chris Hodges, was recently removed as pastor of the Greystone campus due to a moral failing. So, this notion of restoring a pastor while keeping almost all the relevant details of his sin private does not seem biblical at all. Clericalism only Clergy (Priests, Monks, Nuns, Ministers, Pastors, Worship Leaders, Full-Time Professional Christians) matter before God; Laity (everyone else) can all go to hell. They have 5 children and are Boss and Lovey to 7 beautiful grandchildren. On an FAQ page for pastors at ARCs website, it says, We ask you to make ARC a part of your regular missions giving. Pastor Chris Hodges. You tempted my father. (Brian Houston has denied he said the abuse was Sengstocks fault.). Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? GrowLeader is devoted to sharing ideas, tools and resources that will help grow your leadership. When all of this came out, I was really mad, she says. He said he proposed to his wife, Tammy, in Germany in 1986 when the wall still stood. But as I read farther, I could see that there are serious concerns not over the concept of helping to restore a fallen brother or sister, but of cover-ups of abuse, sordid financial gain from the ministry, and some sense that high-profile ministers are in a special class above lesser believers and have special right to their high positions. Rizzo has a history of sexual misconduct himself. It makes you feel like your belief system is valid in the modern world, Hardy says, referring to Lentzs cutting-edge haircut, tattoos and clothing, which lured in millennial and Gen Z congregants. He co-founded ARC (Association of Related Churches), which has launched hundreds of churches across the United States and world. The controversy erupted after Pastor Chris Hodges liked social media posts by Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA, a high school and college campus organization sometimes considered controversial for its political stances. I want to be known for that., Hodges said hed rather prevent moral falls than clean them up, but added, I dont mind doing that. Oh wait sorry, these are all independent churches doing their own thing and where transparency typically does not exist. I AM an RZ survivor. I understand how this has made you feel and I apologize. Hes influenced our church. One day a group of people, young people, got a little discouraged about, if this is not who we are anymore, then why is that still there? Restoring pastors also appears to be an emphasis for ARC, where both Hodges and Rizzo serve on the Lead Team with well-known Christian celebrities, like Christine Caine and Miles McPherson. Two years ago, controversial longtime Alabama pastor the Rev. Former Hillsong College student Yolandi Bosch says, If you were a church that was open and trusting, why would you get your members to sign an NDA?