He has consistently denied allclaimsagainst him of inappropriate conduct. His face, withbrighteyes, asalt-and-pepper goateeand weatheredsmile lines, could easily blend inwith those of otherlikable dads. [8], Pitts was consecrated as a bishop by the International Communion of Charismatic Churches in October 2009 for his oversight of the Cornerstone Global Network, a network of more than 120 churches. Rather the DA, deputy sherriff or a Sherriff himself. Cornerstone Church 18755 Stone Oak Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78258 210-490-1600 connect@SACornerstone.org Thats all besides the point. I can tell you, that is NOT Godly. Herdetermination to bringto lightwhat she calls her Wayne story propelled her through the events of the last yearconfronting Aarum, speaking to investigators and police and comforting other women whove been through similar experiences. I am a member of Cornerstone and I want to say to Kevin (and whoever else may be wondering) exactly what happened the service after the DUI. So I. But I think he is great to take such a stand for his faith, on the radio!!! This policy was included in a 2003document from a camp event titled The Circle CTen Commandments, and was mentioned by multiple camp staff members interviewed for this story. As for why people still worship at his church the good pastor is a charismatic man. Cmon, how stupid would he have to be? Sheexplained how it took months of therapy to realizethat herinteractions with Aarumdidnt happen because he loved her like a father. I am a member and was when these incidents occured. I know one year Pastor Banks initiated a birthday donation for Pitts and they actually did pass around the buckets. Simple as that. It was difficult not to notice this car, nor identify it incorrectly. Ive seen those same patterns. Julie: I just liked seeing you going back and forth with Dan. The nature and content of Mohlers stack was apparently so moving Mahaney devoting 190 words to it and to Mohlersworld-class gifts.. Rather the DA, deputy sherriff or a Sherriff himself. Your hilarious. Finally, the prosecutors said they agreed not to file charges if Mr. Pitts would agree to counseling, which Mr. Smith said Mr. Pitts did. 2 days ago. Contact Sarah at STADDEO@Gannett.com. It detailed the Ranchsdenial of the allegationsand called the data found by theMinistrySafe investigationessentially meaningless.. Does this make him righteous? Do you find yourself not telling them everything because they just wouldnt understand/agree? Suggested duration 1-2 hours Suggest edits to improve what we show. You may choose to wrap yourself in deception and lies and your bitterness like you obviously have, but you need to keep it to yourself. Finally, Cornerstone Church is a place completely centered on Christ. The church is very huge and the people seem nice but a little clicky which isn't ideal. Its funny that redneck Carty Finkbeiner could get less media coverage for all his real crimes. I wish Id done more, Gillis said. Snell could not be reachedafterrepeated attempts, including a letter to his home, phone calls and an email to his wife. I am not interested in legal charges or threats, I only wish that whoever owns this forum would stop this nonsense. If people want to support Pastor Pitts, so be it. He said,I loved you guys and viewed you as my own children. I WAS in fact looking for some past info. Police and the Cattaraugus County district attorney,Lori Pettit Rieman,ultimately determined that none of the allegations, some of which could have been considered criminal in nature at the time, were criminally actionable now,because the statute of limitations hadexpired,according to police reports. When a pastor resigns after his 77-church network is implicated in the largest evangelical sex abuse scandal to date, how long does it take for him to regain the trust of his colleagues? Drinking alcahol is not going to send you to hell no more than any action is. Since late 2019, allegations aboutWayne Aarums misconduct have gained momentum. than to poke my nose in the buisness of one man. If 72 hours pass, and this forum still exists, my attorneys will be issuing your warrant. Rembember, we are all sinners. Where in the Bible do you get that we are supposed to withdraw from those who preach prosperity? The boys identified him in person, right there! Although I find posting here quite enjoyable. And if they are out of control spiritually and naturally, where does that leave those following them? Its the people on here that call themselves Christians, yet put everyone else down for their opinions that give Christians a bad name if you ask me. There are many (legal) ways to structure things where you can take the burden of insurance off the church. He said, I need you to make sure Wayne isnt touching girls or is alone withthem.In a sick way, I already felt like that was myresponsibility.. This info was disclosed via tape recordings to the defense and they were ready to use it. Thankyou Doug! For MANY reasons. Everyone says they always turn you down though, and you have to fight. He just pleged another 750 million over the next five years. Actually, God did show the truth, they just choose to ignore it. CJ Mahaney, the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM), recently spoke at a conference called "Conviction to Lead 2013" at an SGM megachurch in . Lucky the Leprechaun. she was kinda snotty! How does being arrogant and manipulative have anything to do with intelligence? Men will rise and men will fall but the one I came to preach about is JESUS! Unlike the other incidents hes accused of, at Delta Pitts was actually caught on the scene! I think you need to know more than what Pitts and Clan want you to see in the saftey of the congregation. I need to make one correction in my statements. Follow her on Twitter @Sjtaddeo. Community. It is not pastor Pitts efforts that will make him righteous, nor mine or yours. The goodness of the Lord affecting all nations is a recurring theme of the Ministry of Cornerstone. But then again, dealing with false teachers is never pleasant. How to they do it? If Pastor Pitts is guilty of that sin FORGIVE HIM mind your business and go on preaching the truth to the ones in need. Self Guided "Detroit's Spirit and History" Solo Walking Tour, History Along the Maumee: A Self-Guided Driving Tour in Ohio, Private Antique Car Tour of Historic Belle Isle, Toledo Scavenger Hunt: Toledo Perspectives. Thank You Lord for all that you are doing in my life and in the lives of those who you have called and anointed for this season!!! Not sure how he found this website, but none-the-less, Im broken-hearted that my unfortunate past has been BB-Q (to quote my nonsense impersonator). I would play this weird game of being bold and defending thesegirls, butdoing it in a way that doesnt get you removed,he said. Look at the lineage of Jesus in the book of Matthew, Jesus line is litter with imperfection. Do you have any idea what the tithes and offerings are for a 4,000 member church? Let me just say that when you verbally attack Michael Pitts on this forum, your not attacking him anymore. If you dont feel like you can approach a leader, why not? What does that matter? Yes I am. It sounds to me as if you could use what Pastor hasGod. app is safe and it keeps me connected to what I need most, thank you Lord, https://pushpay.com/legal-center/privacy/. p.s. Im sure you cant let this die.youre character is such that you must have the last word. Dekalb declined to comment generally for this story. Members are told to shut up and follow him, and believe me that's what they do. So, my friends, Im not going to be here anymore. And you go girl. God is the ultimate judge. He is one of the greatest men of God I, or for that matter the world, has ever known. Let me know what happens this birthday! Do you think these mega-churches he preaches at aernt paying him? It was 1997, and Aarum was her youth pastor. We all fall short of Gods laws. Reviewed October 12, 2018 . Those who didnt fit the type boys and plain-looking or heavier-set girls wereoftenignoredorbrushed off, said Ferrante and McDonald, whom Ferrante said he often saw inone-on-one conversationswith Aarum. Gillis didnt thinkto lookatWayne Aarums personnel file at the time, he said. Thats an improper assumption on your part. Maybe the bucket passing a few years ago is what it was, and it got mixed up in the rumor mill.?? Even if the girls get closure, theres a good chance that hes going to continue on spiritually manipulatingpeople if none of the truth gets out there.. Hes more focused on speaking to asset owners. Thanks. (Its in Maumee, a Toledo suburb.) When a pastor resigns after his 77-church network is implicated in "the largest evangelical sex abuse scandal to date," how long does it take for him to regain the trust of his colleagues? That is why he was not found guilty of ANY of them. But for the record, I am a pastors wife. It's only a matter of time before this mess of a church is shut down for good. The developer provided this information and may update it over time. His roles asyouth pastor atBuffalo-area churchThe Chapelin the 1990s and then as presidentat Circle C RanchinruralCattaraugus Countyplaced him in close proximitytodozens ofgirls particularly youth group members from area churches, andcamp staff members. [3] It was the first racially integrated church in the region. #18 of 19 things to do in Maumee. How sad. Michael was identified in Delta on the date of the offense and did attend his court approved sex counseling. People dont have problem with a church, until they see you building beyond the church structure itself. Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. The Cstone app from Cornerstone Church connects you with everything that is happening. Pastor John Onwuchekwa's decision comes a year after Cornerstone Church received a $175K grant from the denomination to renovate its building. Actually, God did show the truth, they just choose to ignore it. I have questioned if his indescrepencies subtract from the validity of his message. Pastor Pitts hired some very fine attorneys and, in the end, all charges except for two criminal trespass misdemeanors were suddenly dropped. The Cattaraugus County Sheriffs Office opened aninvestigation into this case in early 2021 after Norris contacted them regarding the allegations, according to police reports. What we should concentrate on is the plank in our own eye and not the speck in our neighbors. The leadership is very secretive, deceptive, and full of greed. Another aspect of the story that is seldom told is the fact that the park official who brought the charges against Pastor Pitts was indicted for purgery. However, I dont need the copy to know its true. If this kind of a critical error could be made it is obvious that this man is an idiot who is incapable of trustworthy testimony because he may have forgotten what day it was! Everything is just a gray area.. God takes care of His own Lily, I think youd better remember that and to finish that statement you can look to the Bible! It looks like we have some Christian potty mouths in here. and called and tried over and over to contact the church (it was a service night)to let someone know. By now you would think that everyone at Cornerstone should be rolling in wealth. Pitts, Wife Included Among Power Shifters", "Growing strong: Four local churches where the congregations are rising to the heavens", "Diversity a goal of local congregations", "Pastors Lament Loss of Access to WDMN-AM", "Cornerstone Church and its leader are the real deal", "Bishop Pitts: New period of awakening is coming to California", "Spiritual revival event showcases talented teens", "Pr Jessica shares her testimony in Ghana", "Toledo charity lost its leader but not her spirit", "Churches equip U.S. soldiers with over 5000 Bibles", "Cornerstone Toledo Youth Visit Mercy Ministries Today", "Local church to sponsor benefit for city's needy", "Cornerstone pastor writes 2 books on handling crises", "Metropark ranger in Pitts case suspended", "Low-power Toledo TV station produces a high-stakes drama", "Toledo Area Pastor Released from Jail after Serving Nine Days", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Pitts_(pastor)&oldid=1125867950, This page was last edited on 6 December 2022, at 08:34. [2], In June 1986, Pitts and his wife Kathi moved to Toledo to start a non-denominational church, which they named Cornerstone Church. As I said before, I posted this stuff online precisely because it wasnt available anywhere else, and people considering joining his church had a right to get all sides of the argument. Had he been conclusively identified at the seen, he would have gone to jail! But despite all the religious grandstanding, court records and media reports show Pitts cant seem to keep his private parts in his pants while he is in public places. it doesnt matter to me if he makes a billion dollars in a day. Why dont you make meaningful comments or not make any at all. on Mr. Pitts. 48hr left. Thats a Christians main goal, to do what God wants. You are a very good lecturer. Its so much more damaging than you could realize, especially at such a young age,said Michelle Poulsen, 38, who alleges Aarum initiatedphysically and emotionallyintimatemomentswith her when she was a teenage youth group member at The Chapel. Never. But thats the truth. Nineteen years later, in 2016, ata Christian children'scamp in Western New York,16-year-oldLaura Snell straddled a bench facing Aarum, whowas nowthecamp's president. Although he will likely never be as popular as he once was, with the help of friends like Mohler, he can continue to speak and earn a four-digit speaker fee. Jeffrey Swinger for the USA TODAY NETWORK. At the time of the Delta incident, Pitts was driving a teal blue Saab; which was identified by two boys. Eight additional public indecency charges were dropped due to "substantial evidentiary considerations" and Pitts pleaded "no contest" to two charges of criminal trespassing and was sentenced to 60 days in jail. CJ Mahaney, the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM), recentlyspoke at a conference called Conviction to Lead 2013 at an SGM megachurch in Knoxville after a long absence from the public eye. I have never intentionally said or done anything to hurt anyone, Aarum said. PhilR2057, Manager at Cornerstone Church, responded to this review Responded April 8, 2019. Michelle Poulsen and Joy McCullough allege Wayne Aarums physical and verbal behavior toward them was inappropriate and abusive while they were youth group members at The Chapel in the late 1990s. Theres really no other option unless you want to be partakers of their sins. Today, far too many called Christian clergy are spiraling headlong into perdition. So there are two possibilities: Also, Im not the one that is acting like this shining beacon of light like you are. no problem Julie if anyone wants to know the TRUTH about Pastor Pitts e-mail me at hockeyjk@yahoo.com lets just say I have an inside connection. You mentioned that Pastor and his family live in a home that costs 1/2 millions of dollars. I dont know about anyone else, but I think Mike Pitts is non other than the infamous Pastor Pitts from this forum. Go Denny!! In skits at church and later at Circle C, he played Jesus. Pastor Michael Pitts NEVER goes by Mike. In the end, she doesnt control what happens to Aarum, she said. But you dont have to be bamboozled. Truse me Pastor Michael is not making a small fraction of that amount. Ive been a part of the Charasmatic movement for over 20 years and a part of Cornerstone Church for over 10 years. THATS ALL. The truth is that God holds us and judges us and makes us accountable for our actions. Look people, if Pitts WASNT guilty, why did he plea bargain with a sudden deal? We pastor a small church, (no, Im not jealous, I wouldnt want a large church, too much stress) and I have an incurable disease. After all, they have been given the charge of teaching you the truth and will be accountable for it. Both clearly violated in this forum. You should read his Bio. Peter, the father of the church, denied Christ 3 times, tried to take off the high priest servents head, David was a murder, Abrham a liar, Simeon a zealot, so on and so on. Several of these individuals specifically said Aarum didnotfollow a widely known Circle C Ranchpolicyaboutavoiding bodily contact between members of the opposite sex. But there was a significant amount of evidence that many people found quite convincing. Lily was a ho, but know she is above pastors, In a May 7, 2021, email, Aarum said there were occasions, such as when problems arose at the Ranch, when he wouldhaveto enter a space where a female counselor is present.. so I dont sweat the small stuff. I do believe in God. Im sorry she doesnt fit your stereotypical pastors wife. Then again, how can you objectivly judge Kathy when youve already misjudged her husband? What restaurants are near Cornerstone Church? Former camp staffersand youth group members sayWayneAarum hada reputation for being boththe cool guyand the sensitive, serious type; some had a deep aversion to him. Similarly, if anyone wants to read an article written by Josh Benton they could visit the DMNs website. What I dont understand is how these modern Apostles can have all kinds of stuff while there are needs in their church. Like someone said above, we are growing and are much stronger. Its called the 10 Commandments. Hi Hayden!! 38 people follow this. I just dont get it. And my family is better because of it! And I dont think that things are on the up and up at Cornerstone. Note the mispelled words and general language style. I would bet he has more than one home anyway! whats one more sin I guess if I find you all Ill have to Get prayed over BY Pitts for whiping your asses and getting you fired like Toledos Denny S 92.5 FM your next. Last I checked, being arrogant and manipulative were not by-products of intelligence. After the lawsuit against SGM was dropped, in fact, Mohler and two fellow evangelicals published astatement of supportfor Mahaney, calling him our friend and a vast influence for good. The statement claimed that Mahaney was not charged with any credible, serious, and direct wrongdoing. Thus, they wrote, we, along with many others, refused to step away from C.J. Given the lack of critical response to the appearance, Mahaney will likely feel more comfortable returning to the broader evangelical conference circuit. Ok, Im tired of arguing about the Pittster. FIFTHLY:The reason INDEED that the case was dropped was definitely because of purgery. If he is a complete charlatan like you think, he must have built his church by plain business and marketing sense. Were talking about the kingdom of God. Shereportedhim at the timetopastors at The Chapel,who eventually met withhimat least four separate times between 1997 and 1998 regarding his physicalhabitswith teenage girls, according to excerpts from Aarumspersonnel fileat The Chapel, provided by email to the USA TODAY NETWORK by Chapel leadership. Pastor Michael was never conclusively identified at any of the locations of his charges. Im not speaking of an arrest warrant, which is not actually issued by a judge. He has nothing valuable to offer except false doctrinewhy is that so difficult for you to grasp? Mr. X, Pitts might be able to pull an I was out of the country claim on those, since he was never conclusively identified at several of those locations.) Hmmmmm. Service Times: Sunday: 10:00 am Thursday 7:30 pm That didnt seem right. So, yes, then when she heard I was a pastors wife, she then said that she was, and told me who she was. Again, what a joke. It is easy to criticize the Cornerstone Church and Pitts until you analyze the situation. Secondly I must say its amazing how you go from wishing me luck on finding the answers Im looking for to being a complete prick. Circle C Ranch wouldultimately determinethe initial allegationswere false through its own internal investigation. Several women, including McDonald and Ashley Scibilia, 37, of Grand Island, separately remember him touching their crotches or inner thighs over their clothes while sitting in semi-public areas. And I know that the Lord sees him as His beloved son and He is very well pleased with him. He also formed deep emotional bonds with these girls,acting as a father figure and maintaining a constant stream of intimacy and adoration, according to the women alleging abuse. Updated: 11:03 PM CST January 30, 2020 SAN ANTONIO The brother of a San Antonio megachurch pastor was arrested Wednesday and charged with indecency with a child by contact and continuous . Pitts is not exempt from sin because hes carries the title of Pastor or Apostle or because he built a multi-million dollar organization. John: To contradict your statement, the following was taken from the article posted in the TOLEDO BLADE on Sunday, November 30, 1997. This is the foundation of Pitts message to his congregation. Case was dropped then and there, because there then WAS NO CASE. I dont ever want to give the wrong impression, and be a stumbling block because of misinterpretations of what Ive said. So why are you still there if the Bible commands to withdraw from those that preach inerrant doctrine? Both clearly violated in this forum. They also have issue with the fact that the church building and furnishings are so nice, but imagine how much it would cost in today. Why dont you do a search to find out what Michael really believes. And you will only know on the last day what a difference this conference made. But he saved his greatest praise for Al Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, architect of the conservative revolution in the Southern Baptist Convention, and the top-billed speaker at the conference. San Antonio's Cornerstone Church recently made headlines late last year by hosting a three-day gathering of far-right conspiracy theorists. And yes, it will all be settled out in the end. Thats it! As womensstories have piled up over the last year, thedevastatingeffects of Aarumstreatment of girlsare crystal clear to Ferrante. Who cares what kind of outward gifts he gives. Any attention on his perversion would jeopardize the flow on money which allow him to continue his upper echelon lifestyle. princess1075. As part of the unusual plea agreement, both prosecution and defense agreed that neither side would be allowed to discuss the reasons for the sudden deal. Last year, when Pitts appeared for a command performance at Paula Whites church, she declared it was by divine appointment. One of those happen to be Do not take the Lords name in vain. So, I assure you, I am not imagining anything. Im sure those that go looking for dirt on people find it amusing and helpful, however Ive learned if you go digging up the past all you get is dirty. Are you expected to get advice about all aspects of your life from people who are more spiritually mature than you are? This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The judge was SOOOO MAD! PS before I go. The USA TODAY NETWORKreached out to Wayne Aarum, his son Josh Aarum, andboard members Daryl Dekalb and Wes Aarum Jr.for comment specifictothis matter. Do you feel like you have to give more than you can afford or are you made to feel guilty regarding how much you do or dont tythe? Disgusting! I dont say these things lightly, I say them because Ive witness muchmuch more than youd ever know. Mike Baker, pastor of Eastview Christian Church leads the church's on-demand Christmas Eve service. We believe they are telling the truth, The Chapel's lead pastor, Jerry Gillis, said in an interview with USA TODAY NETWORK reporters. TOLEDO, OH - This will not be easy on the eyes. Thats why you see nothing negative regarding him on the internet. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. If he didnt do these things, then you have nothing to worry about, right? This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. In 1995, he was stopped by police after allegedly being spotted masturbating in front of two young boys hitting golf balls at a local baseball diamond. Wayne Aarum was the first man Joy McCullough ever held hands with. long time member youve got to be kidding me you really are a beacon of light Julie, Um, who said that? Ive set under Pastor Pitts teachings for over 6 years now and I see him as the Billy Graham of our generation. Am I annointed, well, God annointed a donkey to speak in the old testament, so why cant a man that is not perfect (being myself) be used of God. (I want to make sure that his lawyers, wherever they may be, see I am making this clear.) Righteous! In response, The Chapels executive pastor, John Camardo, said in a May 1 statement to reporters: The Chapel has reviewed the personnel file and believes that the assertations made by Mr. Aarum are not consistent with the contents of the file..