I wrote a reply and I suppose it was eaten..

I sertainly beleive that he can ask God for forgiveness..but hemust be truley repentant. Not just sorry he was caught, but sorry for his acts as a whole. I also beleibe that being repentant doesnt mean he shouldnt be punished. There are consequences to every action. Even the Bible teachs us that. I do feel bad for his family. But tha is something he should have throught of. It isnt my fault or anyone elses that his family is suffering. Its his fault..

Forgiveness requires repentence. Sincere repentence.

Forgiveness does not negate responsibility or punishment.

The first is an issue I can only decide for myself.

The second is one me must bear himself.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

Indeed all sin is equally sin in God's eyes. So without grace the smallest lie will put you Hell as will murder.

As with forgiveness at repentence, all are equally saved.

BUT, as rewards are not evenly given or of equal value, neither is eternal punishment for sin equally given or of equal severity.

And neither is God's view of the punishment on this earth. As ours should not be.

Grievous sins, such as murder and rape are death penalities, Biblically. God never changed such from from the OT to NT.

Point being, don't begin to try to equate sin, such as this, to such as telling a lie, or even stealing something. It is far worse.

Condemnation should be just. But it still should be condemned.

Try to help him change, but don't let him off the hook.

God says to judge justly, not never judge.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

I agree that it's a shame people cant live up to their calling. BUt this isnt the first time this church in paticular had been part of ethical and sexual scandal. It's just the first time the staff has been caught with their "pants down" so to speak. They have been able to silence others hurt in the past through spiritual blackmail, if you will... that wont work this time. The state overseer's office cant sweep this scandal under the rug. I know the spiritual devestation this staff caused a former member, and other families involved. How many more lives will this church be allowed to ruin? HOw many more spirits will it break , and then be allowed to hide behind the act of forgiveness? In case their leaders are unaware, the bible also speaks of being accountable.. I have had to help put some of the lives they destroyed back together, and it greatly saddens me that their is still no one taking notice.

No surprise there. The staff and even the lay leadership will look the other way. Rather than be vigilant to risk of children, they let the problem fester and then cover it up. This church would have covered it up if it had not been for the PTC police. We had a youth leader molest a young child in our big Fayette church and no one knows about it. Why ? Because he wasn't arrested here and his fancy lawyer got the judge to cover it up.

This all ties into what was said about denominations holding the denomination and the leadership as more important the following Christ and be true teachers to their congregations.

Some denominations are worse than others for hiding it. But all who do so have not a clue what it is to be Christian.

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Keeping it real and to the core of the issue, not the peripherals.

This is what I was talking about, when I said christians don't practice what they preach.
I am a christian, but being with other christians when they act like this makes me sick. Going to church is a waste of time when you are surrounded by this.
I hope that young man is sorry for what he has done. Walk the walk or shut up!

Depending on the location, the "church" has always been able to cover up sins (illegal) of their administration, but hardly ever for their ordinary membership. Many church administrators feel that they have that right since they are practicing, forgiving, christians. All one has to do is look at the poor catholic church and their alcoholic and homosexual and pedophile problems (since forever). Could be the same percentage in other denominations, I don't know. This thing of standing up for an administrator until he is proven guilty is a front just in case he is not guilty. If only church people would treat all humans equally, this wouldn't happen. Think a minute: what kind does the church attract with extremely low wages for associates, no house in which to live, surround them with young people who innocently don't know how to protect themselves at their most vulnerable sexual time, and their youth minister wasn't given any kind of pshycological, background, or recommendations tests? It happens often.

Anyone who wishes to help make sure the children in their church are safe should read the book "Safe Sanctuaries" - Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church - by Joy Thornburg Melton. She is a recognized expert on the subject (do a Google search on her name, and you will find a lot of information). She is a United Methodist, but the book is used by many denominations.

What is Fairburn thinking? That 2nd lot is an eyesore. Great job on zoning/enforcement.

I agree, the city should not have granted a business licence with a gravel lot. Two years ago I had to pave my lot before I was given a licence. That business is a "Buy Here-Pay Here", I don't suspect it will be here much longer. At any rate, feel free to stop in at my lot. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. ~Jim

Jim Shores
Peachtree Auto Sales
www.peachtreeautosales.com

I cannot understand how a community can continue to stand behind an accused child molester. Yes, he's innocent until proven guilty. If he has done nothing wrong, he'll reclaim his innocence...Unlike the children that have been victimized. Thank God for the vigilance of our police department.

It is sad to see that here is another guy who will never recieve a fair trial. He has only been accused. You have heard one side of the story. If he is guilty then shame on him. There is a chance that he is the victim here like many others that have been falsely accused. I would be willing to bet that most people do not realize the crime of child molestation requires no evidence whatsoever to convict somebody. It would only take a girl to go to the police with a fabricted story of how your husband, brother, etc. did something to them innapropriately. Yes this is how easy it is to change your life forever. Please stop judging this guy until all the evidence is in if there is any at all, or until both sides of the facts are out. Remember this type of crime can easily happen to you.

If you have TIVO, you can slo-mo the pictures WXIA broadcasted over-the-air of the chatroom conversations. It was XXX-rated to say the least and if anyone thinks this sleazy youth pastor was doing anything besides tring to have sex with a 14yr old, you need help.

NUK

You are defending this guy and trying to say that he is innocent until proven guilty and that there is a possiblity that he can be innocent. And that anyone can go to the cop and make such a accusaction. Well I want to tell you that, that is not true. I for one am a victim of sexual abuse by my father and brother and according to Georgia law I can't go to the cops and make an accusation against him or I can and nothing can be done about it. Because of the statue of limitations. And most of time when someone is accused of a crime they are in fact guilty of that crime. Yes it is true that some people have been falsely accused and they are sitting in prison for a crime they did not commit, but that can only be a handful of people per state. While most of the people sitting in jail actually committed a crime, they were accused of it before hand and found guilty in the court of law. You mentioned that you know personally that this can happen. Well that means either you were accused or someone you know was accused. Just because you don't admit to it or they don't admit to it doesn't make it not true. Maybe it wasn't. I don't know the story.

To your comment regarding a girl can go to the police and make up a fabricated story my question to you is what does she have to gain? From going through what I have had to go through there is no way a person would want to put this on themselves. It is a painful process. This youth pastor is guilty, the cops didn't make up evidence they have months worth of stuff I am sure. They would want to have all the evidence in because if they falsely arrest someone they stand the chance of a lawsuit. Having two cops in my family I know that they do there job right. They don't arrest people just for the fun of it. In fact my step-father goes out of his way to try to help people that he could otherwise arrest.

I never said I am defending this guy. I said he is innocent until PROVEN guilty. Here in this state he is GULITY until proven innocent. You are just another clueless person to this. Do not tell me a girl cannot go to police with a fabricated story and this persons life is ruined. It is terrible that you were abused as a child, but just because you were abused does not mean that every person accused of this crime is in fact guilty. There are many more innocent people in prison than a handful. You say you have had to go through alot, Im sure you have, but me and my family have been through just as much. You are a victim, but so am I. You do not know me nor my story so until you do dont tell me I need to admit to something I did not do. I also have cops that are family members, and they dont go around looking for people to arrest, but there are many cops that indeed like to harass people.

i know the family of this guy... hes admitted hes guilty.

just FYI. Hes always been a really nice person.Just goes to show how well you know a guy

It's not a made up story. He typed his requests. I'm betting he pleads out.

No way could somebody be "entrapped" by something like this. It's very far from somebody going to the police with a "made up story" as you compare it to.

I am not saying that the story is inacurate. I am only saying to until he does plead out (if that is what he does) dont crucify this guy. He might be the terrible person you potray him, but it is not for you to decide. I was not trying to potray this incident as being a so called "made up story" type crime either.

It's sick, many of these guys show for these meetings to help the youth they claim to want to help with condoms etc on their persons.

ONE of these perverts has chosen to take it all the way to trial (also a supposed Minister saying he wanted to help), I believe he was found guilty in court got 10 years. All the others have plead guilty.

Kudos to PTC and their work on this.

You are correct in the fact that this individual has not yet had his “day in court” and therefore should not be perceived as “Guilty”.

However your last statement, “Remember this type of crime can easily happen to you”, not on your life and not on mine!

If this individual was indeed looking to “help” someone than I would suggest that in the future that members of church groups or anyone else attempting such a thing work closely with their local police department while doing so. That way there can be no misinterpretation as to the intensions.

I am not saying what this guy did could easily happen to you. I am saying the crime of say child molestation could easily happen to you. I know for a fact that it could.

I understand that many church groups and private individuals are truly attempting to “help” those that need it. But without proper training and safeguards, say working as a group and NEVEN alone, consulting with local law enforcement, peer review of all communication and/or contact, an individual is asking for and will often get into trouble.

Church groups have been doing good work for a long time, but remember, it’s not a priest that’s going to arrest you. Work with the police. There are established protocols for this type of work that the police can provide training for.

I totally agree with you on that. If the intentions of this guy was to help, then he definately went about it the wrong way.

You're absolutely right! I am amazed that folks aren't outraged. I understand that you're innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but the police don't go after you unless they have a very good reason, along with proof of the crime. Enough to get a warrant for your arrest from a judge. They are very careful NOT to entrap someone, they let the criminal incriminate himself, which they seem to be more than willing to do. The police have been through training and know what they can and can't say. It's not just an innocent mistake, it's a calculated risk the criminal is taking, hoping he doesn't get caught. Well, you got caught Mr. Amerson. I just hope it was before you assaulted a young child.

You are wrong, you are not speaking from experience. Police do pretty much what they want.

There are several calls for castration, how is that not angry and outraged?