First Baptist Church

First I read that the church is booming with a new influx of people then I hear that the original members of the church are trying to throw out the new attendees. What is going on there?

www.southshoreexpress.com The local reporter Maribeth Conway did an article on it. Also, they are going to court the 22nd (yesterday) to see if the pastor has any standing.
They are extremely anti-catholic and will have no problem saying so. It's a hard thing when it comes to Whitman.

I have more information but I am off to work.

It is so sad that a Church that is booming has to go through such hard times. 1Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Obviously the person who is taking the Church/Pastor to court is not a real Christian. I feel sorry for those who want to support a pastor that has brought a dying Church back to life.

Even a man of God has to play nice with others. I think they teach you that not only in the Bible, but in Kindergarten.

dmv wrote:

It is so sad that a Church that is booming has to go through such hard times. 1Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Obviously the person who is taking the Church/Pastor to court is not a real Christian. I feel sorry for those who want to support a pastor that has brought a dying Church back to life.

The Pastor does play nice, it just so happens that a so called "Christian" Parishioner did not attend kindergarten. She is a control freak. If it is not her way it is not the right way. She is the root of the enitre problem.

Because this week looks forward to Easter and most likely both of our groups will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, I think it’s a good time for all of us who are involved to examine our own behavior and ask God to convict us of our own actions and words that have not been Christ like. Then I think that our time would be well spent making a confession to God. Praying for God to bless the other group and then asking God to show us a way out of this mess.

I think that a lot of reflection thus far has been in identifying where we are right and the other side is wrong. I think that I need to turn this process up side down, and instead reflect on where and when the side I am on is wrong and where and when my opponents have been in the right. I know I cannot say that I have done everything 100%. Even when I’ve tried I know I have fallen short. I am asking for God’s forgiveness and your forgiveness. I hope that somehow both of our groups can recognize that Jesus died and rose for each other.

When the early church was divided over ministry to the gentiles. The disciples in Jerusalem listened to both sides and realized the Holy Spirit was working in both groups. Paul went forward to minister mostly to the gentiles and the Church under James continued its ministry primarily to those who were Jewish. I think that our Lord must have a plan where we both can be faithful to the ministry to which we have been called. I pray that our hearts are open to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit making clear the way of the Lord.

I hope we all have a blessed Easter.

well said Pilgrim. Amen!

zooe wrote:

The Pastor does play nice, it just so happens that a so called "Christian" Parishioner did not attend kindergarten. She is a control freak. If it is not her way it is not the right way. She is the root of the enitre problem.

Boy, have you ever hit the nail on the head. Talk about a "baby Christian!" She's the only one who knows the right way to do anything at that church. And now she has just about driven all former parishioners out the door with lies and just plain hard-headedness against change of any kind.

You have hit the nail on the head. She is dead set against change of any kind that does not meet with her approval, and none does. If she does manage to drive the new Pastor and his flock out of the church, she'll be attending Sunday services all by herself. Maybe that's what she wants!

Hi there. I'm posting with my real name, since I have nothing to hide. I served as the pastor of that church for two years (1996-1998). I was initially serving as the interim pastor after being approached much the same way the current pastor was (at a local Christian school). My problems were two fold: first, the denomination is very liberal and will not stand for the Word of God as the word of God. Second, while Jean is a big part of the problem, she is not the only one. Most of the people in the church will not stand up to her, because most do not care. We had a big influx of younger people in the two years I was there, but they were slowly driven out after I left.

Classic Jean... within a few days of me being there, she began telling me who the biggest givers were in the church. Her reasoning? So that if I ever needed to mediate between families, I would remember to side with the biggest givers.
Yikes!!

The group that is in there, now, though, however alive they might be, new people coming in, etc., are not completely in the right either. King James only? Come on, Jesus did not read the KJV! If you want to get back to the "original text", study Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic!

It is sad to see this happening. That church is in a great location, and could be (as it once was) a voice for Christ in Whitman.

*******WANTED********
The First Baptist Church is in need of parishners (with large pocketbooks) to attend Church with Jean Porter. Maybe the Judge has alot of money, and Jean can welcome her to help support a church.

FOLLOW UP *****
Church for sale ****CHEAP****
Please Call Jean Porter.......She is willing to work out a great deal with you. A little to TABCOM and alot into HER POCKETS....

Wonder who is going to preach to Jean and her 10 parishners? Maybe Marlene will be kind enough to do the dirty job...

I went back to the first Baptist church after being away for a while because of the hypocritical so called Christians decided to play devils advocate to a pastor who brought with him the preaching that I was brought up on during the past years when I did attend. I wont go into my personal experiences that turned me away from MY church, but there were many. PASTOR MIKE made me feel that even tho I hadn't attended because these so called Christians had made me feel unworthy. Pastor Mike taught me the only way for eternal salvation, is to accept JESUS CHRIST as my LORD AND SAVIOR. I attended a few weeks and PASTOR MIKE said it was as simple as ABC. A admit you are a sinner B believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST and C Confess with mouth JESUS CHRIST as your LORD. So I was finally BAPTIZED something that I had hoped and dreamed would occur before my time to leave this EARTH came and I could face GOD as a true BELIEVER!!!! May god bless the Whitman First Baptist Church, and its few remaining members. And may God Bless Pastor Mike, for showing me the way to Enternal Salvation.

Eva Walther from Whitman

I have to say at first I was very distraught over the judges decision (which totally shows just where our court system stands, I mean come on give a church over to some money hungry, control freaks rather than to people who love the Lord and don't want everyone else in the world to die and go to hell, makes alot of sense) But after a lot of thought I realized you did not win Jean. You might get the building but thats all it is a building. We hav the love of God on our side. We have an awesome church family, we have peace knowing we came to that church and did what we had to do-GET SOULS SAVED!- Remember FBC that is what the church is for.
As for Pastor Mike, anyone who can't see what a kind caring and compassionate man he is, is obviously blind. I have never met a man so dedicated to people as him. He has helped me and hundreds of others. His time and energy has only been used on getting all you lost people of the world to know the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We know these things will happen to him because the Bible says he will come up against opposition. So it doesn't matter, the things of this world don't matter.
So Pastor I say keep moving forward, keep up the good work, and we thank you for all that you are and all you do. We love you GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVENT, well done.

pastor mike has been asked by more than two churches to leave its time for him to look in the mirror why did the second church in holbrook not grow he had his favorites most of them all left its about time.

See everyone at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Hanover. I would like to take a minute to welcome every one to come and see Pastor Mike.

I would also like to Thank Pastor Ray for allowing us to remain a family, and grow with his family. God Bless Pastor Ray, and his family.

How about the Church on Center St in Holbrook. Does everybody know that story? Why did at least 25 members stop going to the second Holbrook Church? If after 10 years of collecting everyones money why can't pastor Mike buy his own church? I am sure his house has plenty of extras bought from the church money. How can both him and his wife afford not to work with chidren driving nice cars and having a nice house? He makes sure he always gave sermons about how we all need to give at least 10% of our pay to the church. I wonder why?

Samantha you have no idea what your talking about.although 2 churches in holbrook one in whitman know in hanover whats next