No gold dust, please. Is this heaven, or Redding? Mr. Scheide welcomes your comments and story tips. Riddle me this: Pretend you are a retired lawyer, and you have a beautiful Siskiyou County home, and a vacation get-away in Mexico. . A non-Bethel incumbent up for reelection was the top vote getter. Imagine you are overworked and stressed out, Crocket explained, and your neighbor took it upon themselves to mow your lawn. Redding residents are divided on the churchs impact on their city. She is a member of Turtle Bay, Friends of the Library, Redding Rotary, Shasta County . Pity Partin, whos a respected professional in his own right. From Audettes perspective, the impact from Bethel has been overwhelmingly good. What about Schreder, Sullivan, and Dacquisto? encourage attendees to vote for Trump or risk facing Gods displeasure. She didnt. I waited and watched Winter carefully for signs that shed wear Bethel on her sleeve. Whats noteworthy is these endorsements are from a broad cross-section of individuals and organizations of all stripes and beliefs. At first, to look at the un-clicked link, one might assume its an active, working site. Hmm! She also served on the board of Advance Redding that manages the Redding Civic Auditorium, as well as Bethel Tech. Buck Fethel shirt by Nathan the Creator. is listed by the Shasta Economic Development Corporation as the 8th largest employer. As a reader-funded outlet, we rely on donations to fund our work and keep our content paywall free. The wording in the article could lead some to believe that it is still in that fellowship. This story is part of Shasta Scout's citizen-powered election coverage. At worst, based on your weak analogies, a person belonging to one of these Facebook groups could be in danger of being fired, if chamber HR members whove read your blog post now feel justified in handing out pink slips to those who belong to Facebook groups youve characterized as Bethel-haters. Bethel members Tenessa Audette, 45, a first-time candidate, and Jack Munns, 64, who first ran two years ago, will now join Bethel elder Julie Winter on the 5-member council. When the Redding Civic Auditorium faced closure, Bethel created the nonprofit Advance Redding to lease the facility. Having participated in various Facebook groups critical of Bethel for the past year-and-a-half, I can help answer that question for you. Scheide. Incumbent Michael Dacquisto posted on Facebook a photo of his completed ballot marked with just two Redding City Council selections. Listen to Sheas story, and then tell me youd reject this former Wall Street finance expert, the grandson of immigrants who fled Communist China. Hand Counting, Supervisor Jones Says. And Lord have mercy, what does Bethel have against the LGBTQ community, outside of selective biblical literalism? Also, you know who else besides social media trolls say ethnic groups are going to hell? But many in the community, including Crockett, feel that a harder look at Bethel-affiliated candidates is valid given the size, funding and theology of Bethel Church. From left, Red, White and Blueprint co-collaborators Jeremy Edwardson and Carlos Zapata. Aside from being Dacquistos two-fer candidate, you may recall Partin from his ambitious 2012 Wine Village plan that never panned out. A dear Democrat friend of mine, whos voting only for Hill out of solidarity with his fellow progressive, said he finds Audette, Johnson and Shea just a bit too zealous for his liking. Article VI, Clause 3 works both ways. In the meantime, pass the Alka Seltzer. For example, when The Stirring held a preachers conference, among the slate of speakers were BSSM staff member Hayley Braun, and Pastor Tinasha LaRaye, a frequent Bethel speaker and performer. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. Join Kris Vallotton as we seek the Lord for heavenly strategies to release our city into breakthrough, prosperity, and abundance. Below are excerpts from Johnsons post of accusations against Dacquisto: City of Redding insiders describe incumbent Dacquisto as weary and worn out. Ministry Watch reports: Redding is a city of 93,462 in Trump-red Shasta County, which has a popula Prayer Meeting for Redding. Have a question? Crockett has impressively watched/endured every city council meeting since 2017. It doesnt apply to the voters, who, not being state actors are free to manifest their religious bigotry against the members of Bethel Church as much as they can refuse to elect Jews. Mayor Kristen Schreder declined to run for re-election. At every forum Ive attended, Dacquisto has made a shameless plug for his pal Partin. But Audette said she knows of only two two instances when she has seen Bethel actually become politically involved. Shes engaged with the public. 2008. Tenessa Audette leads the way in fundraising in the crowded Redding City Council race. Four to eight inches of snowfall is expected in most of the state. Hes one of two 30-year-old Redding City Council candidates; a gentle spirit who jumped navely into the deep end of an election pool in which he is in waaaay over his head. At Shasta Scout, we believe a democratic community requires access to just and equitable news. Local critics oppose Bethels promotion of gay conversion therapy and its fight against COVID masks, vaccinations, and closures. Do you have feedback on how we are covering Bethel or other topics? Bethel is a congregation of worshippers of Jesus Christ in Redding, California, who long to see hearts ignited until heaven meets earth. Listen to Audettes desire to make Redding a safe, thriving city. I believe elected officials should serve the people they represent, not control them, and that the government should empower its constituents, not restrict them., Audette said Bethel leaders wouldnt influence her vote because they dont tell her what to believe about anything. And even though I attended Bethel Church in my youth, way back in its early Assemblies of God days, there remain many, many things I will never understand about Bethel Church. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. I don't know about Dacquisto. Bethel members Tenessa Audette, 45, a first-time candidate, and Jack Munns, 64, who first ran two years ago, will now join Bethel elder Julie Winter on the 5-member council. Work ethic and family values were built and fostered in me beginning in the . She left the church eight years ago. Candidate Jack Munns has also attended Bethel Church. Methinks this explains wee Patrick's attempt to change the oath for county employees. The theology is sometimes referred to as dominionism, and is widely believed to include the idea that believers should take dominion over society to bring more of heaven to earth. The four have disagreed over everything from land issues and staff raises to homeless solutions and even holiday lights at Turtle Bay Museum. Am I too angry about the subject material? But most of all, at what point will citizens who feel distraught by what they classify as lousy election options stop complaining and run for office themselves? In English, that means its critics believe Bethel is taking over the town and re-creating it in its own image, as its theology commands. Thats where it says, [N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. Steve Rabey is a veteran author and journalist who has published more than 50 books and 2,000 articles about religion, spirituality, and culture. But he lacks endorsements, and his social media pages look like neglected, empty warehouses decorated with some 60s-era posters that fit perfectly with his slogan, Chill with Hill. The two discuss Jordan's backgr. Once was the churchs vocal response to a 2018 California bill which would have made it illegal for Bethel to sell resources with the intent to reduce or eliminate same-sex attraction, according to a tweet from Vallotton. If youre suggesting the chamber supports LGBTQ rights, you should know Bethel Church actively opposes LGBTQ rights at the local, state and national level, and spends a lot of money doing it. But forget election-deniers for a moment. Steve Rabey November 30, 2022. Evangelical Christians who follow End Times theology (ahem, Bethel) that condemns Jews and other non-believers to an eternal lake of fire! They can be a nuisance. Connections between some of those candidates and Bethel Church have become a flashpoint in the race. As a nonprofit religious institution, Bethel is not permitted to endorse or fund political candidates. Some students are packed-to-the-max into single family homes; their fancy cars clog neighborhood driveways. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Two closed Facebook groupsthe 960-member Investigating Bethel Redding and the 1.8 million member Bethel Affiliated Businesses monitor and critique the church. When Crockett quips that hes attended more city council meetings in these last few years than incumbent Dacquisto, that line always gets a laugh, but its no joke. We are on the edge of the greatest revival of all time. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Colossal understatement. But humor me for a moment, and set aside knowledge of candidates who attend The Stirring and Bethel Church. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. The sobering reality is that Redding voters are backed against a Bethel wall with some tough questions: Do I wish, for the sake of a more balanced election playing field, that the Redding City Council race wasnt flooded with candidates who attend The Stirring or Bethel Church? No One Knows. In reply to Jeff Gorder. With three more Bethel-affiliated candidates running for three open council seats this fall, a win by any two would leave the council with what might be described as a Bethel majority., Thats exactly what persuaded candidate James Crockett to run for the council this election. Redding is a city of 93,462 in Trump-red Shasta County, which has a population of 182,000. These two closed groups combined have more than 2000 members, most of them local citizens concerned about Bethels growing influence on our economy, our politics and our lives. The last go-round she was running for the Shasta County District 1 race, but she dropped out mid-race, citing a lack of financial resources that would enable her to compete with the other well-funded candidates. I grew up embracing a ranch life with early mornings feeding horses and late nights mucking stalls. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? One of the most frequent election questions posed recently on North State social media sites pertains to whether candidates do or do not attend Bethel Church or The Stirring. He and his wife Lois live in Colorado. ods role in government and if politicians should Christianize a nation. In reply to R.V. We break down why. Some people even draw parallels between Councilman Dacquisto and his broken website address. With that kind of success, it would be waste of talent and experience to not tap him as a resource to create a similar Redding program. To think that people wouldnt call out my attendance at one of the biggest organizations in town, Shea said, is unreasonable. I'm scared Lol. Kathy Vallotton, Bethel Church senior pastor, $1,000. Yikes!! 2 min read. Bethels theology and practices have long been controversial. As it grows, Bethel has better connected Redding to the world. You then assert the same sort of hateful things are being posted, with Bethel taking the place of Blue People, in Bethel Affiliated Business, Investigating Bethel and numerous other Facebook groups you say are devoted to hating Bethel Church and its members., You write, Any of these posts would create a huge issue in the human resources department of your business and perhaps land the author in court for libel, defamation of character, or perhaps even a hate crime.. Both Bethels size and its commitment to Seven Mountain dominionism have gained it increasing local influence over the last decade as it seeks to create heaven on earth.. Slight segue, but Vollmers and Valenzuelas distrust in the election system begs the question: If the women win, will they accept the election results as valid? Now Im not.. First, many members view Bethels strange brew of Christianity and New Age as a straight-up cult, a holy rolling, faith-healing pyramid scheme sucking the lifeblood out of the town and preaching a false gospel. Copyright 2023 Shasta Scout | Powered by. Like the $500,000 Garden of Lights project dreamed up by Redding City Council member and Bethel Elder Julie Winter and recently passed by the council. All are equal under the law and representation.. Bethel also operates multiple schools, including the three-year Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM). In fact, aside from the times she recused herself to avoid even the perception of a conflict, as far as I know, Winter never uttered the the word Bethel. Its social media, Jake. Steve Rabey is a veteran author and journalist who has published more than 50 books and 2,000 articles about religion, spirituality, and culture. Some of them have been doxing you. Let Us Worship participants, many from Bethel Church and The Stirring church, crowd around Sean Feucht and musicians. In fact, Johnson agrees so much that he took to Facebook with an accounting of the some of the most damning charges against Dacquisto in a post that pretty much summarizes Johnsons stance, I voted for Michael Dacquisto 4 years ago. She also praised the volunteerism Bethel students are required to engage in with the city as part of Bethels School of Supernatural Ministry, a total she says of over 14,000 hours of community service every year. Audette says those hours indicate strong community buy-in and that as a result of them, the city has regularly qualified for andreceived grant funding. During winter storms, Shasta Countys lack of low-barrier shelter leaves many struggling to stay warm in the cold and snow. But Shasta County is anything but normal. (And yes, it's free!). Bethel attendees represent approximately 10 percent of the City of Redding and Bethel is listed by the Shasta Economic Development Corporation as the 8th largest employer in Shasta County. His answer matters, because if he lives in Mt. Put all three of those concerns together, Jake, and Redding starts looking a lot like Clearwater, Florida, global headquarters for Scientology. She cited the churchs involvement in bringing funding to the city to help secure a daily flight from Redding to Los Angeles on United Airlines, the half-million in funding given by Bethel in 2017 for local police staffing, and Bethels decision to form Advance Redding, a nonprofit that was awarded a contract to run the citys Civic Auditorium. For some, its one more reason to appreciate the churchs outsized local impact, which they feel is mostly positive. They continue saying you should be appreciative of the help and that they really dont need to stop because they are just doing it to serve you. My duty isto serve ALL people . Thats why, for this 2022 general election, I will overlook candidates religious affiliations. Email:[emailprotected] Feb 21, 2023 5:15 PM Agenda Agenda Packet Action Agenda Lake has claimed the vote was rigged and B.S. and is challenging the outcome. Hates a strong word. Aside from not attending either Bethel Church or The Stirring, another noteworthy distinction is that Hill is the only Democrat in the race, which tells you everything you need to know about Shasta County politics. They say that judging by his frequent absences, it appears he no longer prioritizes his city council position. He later explained his point, that homelessness is a community problem, not a government problem. The device costs $2,000 and will make AED available to the general public 24/7. To make a donation,click here. His honors include winning the California Newspaper Publishers Associations Freedom of Information Act and best columnist awards as well as best commentary from the Society of Professional Journalists, California chapter. Suddenly, theres the implication that companies should protect themselves and be rid of those youve now damned as Bethel-haters people whove done nothing more than belong to a Facebook group, or who happen to express negative opinions or concerns about Bethel Church on social media. I dont understand Catholic incense, midnight mass, Mormon underwear or Jehovah Witnesses disdain for celebrating birthdays, Thanksgiving or other wonderful events. Patrick "Hacker" Jones He knows a thing or two about hackin', lemme tell ya. While his two hours weekly at the church are important to him, he said, they have less weight in his life than the forty-plus hours he spends working and interacting in the city. The 2022 local election cycle is heating up in the Northstate. I think they are going to be disappointed after they find out that their positions will force them to be focused on municipal needs such as water, sewer, traffic issues and infrastructure needs, not drag shows and woke teachers.. Now Im not, Listen to Sheas story, and then tell me youd reject this former Wall Street finance expert, Northern Pygmy Owl Whiskeytown Nat. Johnson, who publicly endorsed Trump in 2016 and 2020, teaches that part of that revival will come through ballot boxes. People post mean things sometimes. Redding City Council approved Bethel to apply for development of a new church and school campus facilities. But right now, after all the North States been through, Redding could benefit from some youthful zeal. Its designed to attract shoppers downtown during the holidays and drive-by stoners, I guess, for the rest of the year. Anyway, your post begins with some rather inauspicious analogies, which might explain the perspiring palms: What if you stumbled upon a post on social media that read FingBlue People! or That ethnic groupis going to hell!? When A News Cafe contacted Johnson last week for clarification, he replied that he and his family have attended The Stirring for eight years. Audette sees the issue differently, saying that people shouldnt discriminate against a candidate based on their attendance at a church and emphasizing that Bethel doesnt participate in candidate election activities or try to influence votes. Local critics oppose Bethels promotion of gay conversion therapy, and its fight against COVID masks, vaccinations, and closures. Scheide. Submit ithere. Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye (252), Win-River Casino Expansion: One Step(4,632), Gateway School District Update: Clif(3,529), Comment on Against Ad Hoc Committee Advice, New State California Secessionist Chriss Street May Be Countys CEO by Jolly, Comment on Against Ad Hoc Committee Advice, New State California Secessionist Chriss Street May Be Countys CEO by George Winship. In 2016, I wrote a post titled, Bethel Redding: A Dangerous Evangelical Cult.Since that time, thousands and thousands of people (Almost 14,000 viewers in 2019, 18,000 in 2018, 24,000 in 2017, and 17,000 in 2016) have come to this site seeking information about Bethel Redding, an Evangelical megachurch in Redding, California pastored by Bill . Cancelled . 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. Now pretend you also own a tiny apartment over a garage behind your old legal office in downtown Redding between the railroad tracks and Court Street. Im not down with cancel culture. . Editors note: Portions of this column have been edited for clarity. Some locally higher amounts are possible . There are three primary reasons members are concerned about Bethel, not all of them shared by all members. If you agree please share this blog on your social . Help increase access to important information. Get involved and join us as we pursue the personal, regional, and global expansion of God's kingdom through His manifest presence. For the November 8, 2022 general election . You, the well-paid president and CEO of the Redding Chamber of Commerce, barged ahead and went full Bethel, suggesting that thousands of members of the numerous Facebook groups dedicated to criticizing the charismatic evangelical megachurch in our midst are committing the sin of hate speech. Ive saved three candidates for last: Tenessa Audette, Joshua Johnson and Alex Shea. I confess to suffering significant election heartburn with the knowledge that Audette was Winters former campaign manager, and that Audette received more than $15,000 in campaign consulting fees from Sean Feuchts failed congressional campaign in 2019 and early 2020, along with $2,800 in reimbursements. Council candidate Tenessa Audette lays out her goals to KRCR's Sam Chimenti (KRCR) REDDING, Calif. Another candidate has thrown her hat into Redding's crowded city . Redding is teetering upon the unprecedented brink of being governed by a city-council majority comprised of followers of Bethel Church, The Stirring church or a combination of both. The 11,000-member Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by Bill Johnson, now hold the majority on the Redding City Council after a successful electoral run in November by Bethel members saw them emerge victorious and now hold the swing vote. Great! As evidence, she points to the Civic; to Winter's place on the city council; to the hordes of Bethel students who volunteer across Redding, saving the city money. Several of the candidates running for the Redding City Council this fall are connected to Bethel Church. On the negative side theres that yawning gap in her leadership experience; a chasm too large for Vollmers to leap over and propel herself onto the dais as a qualified city council member. Alex Shea hosted a launch party for his candidacy Saturday and Joshua Johnson made . This became apparent after I wrote the story about it and was scolded by Bethels then-communications person for not mentioning that many of those in attendance were from The Stirring, too. I read your blog post last week, in which you wrongly accused thousands of local citizens of religious discrimination, with concern from the very beginning. Theyre threatening to boycott not just Bethel businesses, but any business represented by the chamber. A meme response to Jakes blog post I found posted on Facebook. Scientologists have bought most of downtown and the chamber of commerce. This couldnt be further from my goals and ideas about how the government should work. Our news will always be free to read, but its not free to create. If the voters dont like the way the city is run under the new city council, they can boot them out at the next election. Annelise Pierce is Shasta Scouts Editor and a Community Reporter covering government accountability, civic engagement, and local religious and political movements. At first you are thankful, but you feel like it was a bit invasive. Sunday morning sermons stream out to viewers in more than a hundred-and-fifty countries via Bethel TV, and church leaders are in demand as itinerant speakers both nationally and internationally. Scripps. Their social media pages are meaty, informative and substantive. Ive never made such an inquiry, but it really is starting to look a lot like Clearwater around here. Pastor Bill Johnson, who became leader of the Assemblies of God congregation in 1996, described his view of the churchs role in society in Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate, a book he wrote with self-proclaimed Trump prophet Lance Wallnau: Jesus instituted it as an army that brought transformation to society, starting with salvation and continuing with seven spheres of influence: Church, family, education, government, media, arts, and commerce, they wrote. Bethel.TV established. We will never charge for the news but would so deeply appreciate your voluntary support. Is it appropriate to scrutinize candidates religious beliefs or the church they attend? Copyright 2023 Shasta Scout | Powered by Indiegraf Media, Privacy Policy | Subscriber Agreement | Terms of Use, Subscribe to get our latest articles and investigations sent straight to your inbox. Dacquisto may have once been an active member in the community, but it is widely known locally that is no longer the case. But click on the link, and its soon apparent that theres no there, there, and that site has been non-functioning for some time. Classificados de Traduo nos Estados Unidos. Its not so easy for incumbent Dacquisto, who is trying with all his might to prevent an energetic pack of young evangelical candidates from overtaking Dacquisto and stealing his chair during his run for re-election. 2023 anewscafe.com. Votes NO without offering any solutions, vision, or alternative direction. The way Dacquisto drags Partin behind him reminds me how my mom insisted I bring my little sister along to birthday parties when we were kids; invited or not. Independent online journalist Doni Chamberlain founded A News Cafe in 2007 with her son, Joe Domke. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time. Jack Munns is one of three Bethel Church members running for the Redding City Council. One Bethel Church elder, Julie Winter, is already on the Redding City Council, with two years left in her term. A casino! She's been featured and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, L.A. Times, Slate. The City of Redding has allowed them to sleep and stay there For months. I spend just 2 hours at Bethel each week and 45+ hours in the community, helping unlock funding for real estate deals, putting my financial skills to work, and investing in our local nonprofits. Youre committing the fallacy of composition here, mistaking the part for the whole, missing the forest for the trees. Thats a vision for everybody, Jake. I have no influence on Bethels decisions, financial or otherwise, Shea wrote, I am just one of several thousand people who choose to spend my personal time there as a private citizen on Sunday mornings.. As you can imagine, the conversation sometimes gets testy. Photo by Steve DuBois. Earnest deputy county clerk Ian Hill falls into a bless his pea-pickin heart category. Behind the scenes last week, a struggle played out over the Shasta County Board of Supervisor's agenda. Bethel withdrew from the Assemblies of God in 2006. Subscribe to Signals from Shasta Scout our stories and news updates, right to you. In reply to R.V. In this election cycle, one of the things that candidate Marcus Partin has become most known for is as Michael Dacquistos sidekick candidate. CT Firewood - Seasoned Firewood delivery to Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton.. Dacquisto was recently quoted in a newspaper story with words that may eventually come back to haunt him: If people dont think I participate enough and want someone to do more, then they should vote for that candidate., Bingo! And then there is the $500,000 donation to the city police department: "They did that with one thing in mind, to curry favor," Brady says. She attended Bethels School of Supernatural Ministry and says she now teaches a God and Government class there to help ensure that Christians know the importance of maintaining the appropriate separation between church and state.