Like I said, I cant make you think differently, nor can you make me. Georgie Silvarole/USA TODAY Network New York, Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I guess members of Cornerstone have enough faith to get saved but not enough faith to get rich. Simple as that. Man leads, but the Holy Spirit will let us know whether or not its the truth that we are being told. All Right, all right, I never said I was a shining beacon of light. I think anyone looking up the good pastor should have access to some information about his past, shall we say, issues. In an interviewwith Buffalos WKBW-TV in March, Wayne Aarum told reporters he'd like to knowthe identities of thewomenwhoare accusing him ofimpropriety. Advocating for sexual abuse survivors If you were sexually abused by a #MattRasor, Chief Financial Officers of Cornerstone Church - Maumee/ Toledo, we want to help. Another thing how ignorant are you to say somthing about paying 10% of your income to Pastor Michael. Pastor Pitts claimed complete vindication. 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. What kind of a moron would log into his book that he saw Pastor in a state park on a day when Pastor was out of the country. In all of those years, much to the shame of its leaders, I have NEVER heard such righteous teaching. Are there a series of steps you must follow in order to be truly saved (like a series of studies, profession, then baptism?) Hey!! WHAT HURTS HIS CREDIBILITY MORE THAN ANYTHING IS THAT HE WAS DRUNK AND WAS DRIVING. Dont waste your time or money with this church. Inever meant to make you feel uncomfortable.. you go girl!! Get Involved. Its called the 10 Commandments. But I believe that people who give no grace to others better hope they dont ever need any. There have been patterns of sexual misconduct and perversion from ministers and associate pastors over the years when I was a member and before then. Its well in excess of 5 million dollars a year. Pastor what do you mean by an understudy degree. You want to argue a point that is mute. The Holy Spirit is our abiding comforter and helper, and leads us in declaring Jesus. caused Mohlers faith in Mahaney to waver on iota. MAUMEE--A local pastor convicted of drunk driving is back home. 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" Source: http://crabwalk.com/2003/08/pastor-pitts/, 2000-Pastor Pitts charged with drunken driving:https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2000/08/30/Pastor-Pitts-charged-with-drunken-driving/stories/200008300021, 2007-Pastor Pitts Faces Judge: A urine test taken after troopers smelled alcohol on the pastor during a routine stop in December of last year putPitts' alcohol level at .13,well above the legal limit. You think they were convinced of his innocence? Once again, my fault with Charasmania is that its beliefs are wrong, thus discounting its actions. All Im doing here is making sure that people who are interested in the church have full access to information about it. (Of course, I hadnt to surf in secret and never told anyone at church that I was questioning the church) I felt like I had become so obsessed/convinced that I was in the one, true church that I couldnt leave or I would surely lose my salvation. You did. Note the mispelled words and general language style. As for why people still worship at his church the good pastor is a charismatic man. I dont foresee that happening. At the time of the Delta incident, Pitts was driving a teal blue Saab; which was identified by two boys. Getting caps on your teeth is no different. None. Im an attorney and helped a small church that had a similar situation aka the pastors both were extremely ill. You need the Lords covering and to find a church that preaches His love and His true doctrines. Gillissaid he brought the concern tohis Chapel colleagueWes Aarum Jr., Wayne Aarums brother, who said hed handle it from there,Gillis said. You would think, If I were going to impersonate someone of any stature at all that I would atleast spell things correctly and not say things like I have an understudy degree in law. Some peoples zeal needs redirected because it is more detrimental than it is beneficial. BTW I happen to know Pastor Michael Pitts didnt go to college. Unfortunately, there is no one to rebuke him sharply, openly and to his face until he repents. Separate in the fact that it happened years prior to the much public criminal case. I honestly didnt even know what was happening to me, said Snell, now 21. You are the one that needs to pray for discernment! Its so easy to stand outside a situation and form opinions based on the malarky that the media puts out there, as well as the gossip of others. Women whoallege inappropriate interactions withWayne Aarum as teenagers,manyof whom did not know each otherthen,gave nearly identical accounts ofhiscommon phrases andactionstowardthem. Wheres your god for them? 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. Citing client confidentiality, Dr. Forgac would not comment. I think you perhaps mean undergraduate degree because Ive never heard of anything called an understudy degree. with that said, youre right. And I dont think that things are on the up and up at Cornerstone. What exactly is the Cornerstone Church Affiliation? The vehicle stood out and was recognizable for its color, make, model, and convertible status. Im also curious why everone at Cornerstone who does tithe isnt rich by now. Your a joke. Warming up yet? Thats your defensiveness rising up in you. Hindsight isa ridiculously good teacher.. Your gossip bone must have got the best of you. He demanded details and full eye contact. Yep, I think they are one in the same. Pastor Pitts is from that particular branch of Christianity that believes that being a holy man and making enormous profits from ones church are not mutually contradictory. Do you know someone connected to The Chapel or Circle C Ranch? Id settle down on the f word if I were you. Your hilarious. The Lord showed Bishop Pitts to me in a very vivid dream because I was idolizing him. And if they are out of control spiritually and naturally, where does that leave those following them? What Cornerstone Church is doing, is beautiful and successful. Of course, why would he want to speak with someone who doesnt have any money? It doesnt just pop out of my mouth as a cuss word or as in vain. Sorry to have hit a sore spot with you! Im just curious what would happen if everyone at Cornerstone quit tithing. 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. Your Welcome!! . The witness never actually was indicted for purgery, but maybe, the charges were suddenly dropped because he was going to be??? Carolyn McDonald alleges Wayne Aarum physically and emotionally abused her, including touching her crotch over her clothes and barging into her bedroom while she was in her underwear, while she was on staff at Circle C Ranch from 2006 to 2008. JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF CORNERSTONE CHURCH TOLEDO. You can unsubscribe at any time. hes a big jerk who should mind his business (Oh I guess hes a stereotypical journalist) and leave people alone. I need to make one correction in my statements. Ive been a part of the Charasmatic movement for over 20 years and a part of Cornerstone Church for over 10 years. In 1995 Bill Gates gave what is considered the single largest charitable donation in history totaling 5 billion. They lived bored lives and were hungry for entertainment. Anyone that builds a multi-million dollar organization is not stupid, slow, ignorant or any such thing. I am a member and was when these incidents occured. Did you see him doing the act.. The judge was SOOOO MAD! Does he teach that Cornerstone is the one, true church? I suggest you read your Bible. If youd like, please call our office on 419-725-5000 with suggestions. I do believe in God. So, yes, then when she heard I was a pastors wife, she then said that she was, and told me who she was. I was uncomfortable in retrospect looking back on this and wishing I would have done more. Two young men step out. Have faith in him and He will move your mountains of impossibility. They are both the same because they are both sin. You fool! He grooms them to the point where they have noboundariesanymore. But there was a significant amount of evidence that many people found quite convincing. Circle C Ranch wouldultimately determinethe initial allegationswere false through its own internal investigation. Michael Pitts is an American pastor, preacher, and author. All Ill say is I no longer go there. This info was disclosed via tape recordings to the defense and they were ready to use it. His final punishment: 14 days of house arrest with an ankle bracelet and a $500 fine. Were talking about the kingdom of God. Your post is very attacking to the point of threatening. It was 1997, and Aarum was her youth pastor. Well, coincidentally Cornerstone is not a cult. I have to say tooI Love Denny Schafer. The people at Cornerstone are blinded to the truth because they worship him. I left after the drunk driving incident because there was no true remorse from Michael for the ordeal that he put his members through. Similarly, if anyone wants to read an article written by Josh Benton they could visit the DMNs website. What restaurants are near Cornerstone Church? Pitts recurring issues with liquor, sex and false teaching do not meet the standards. They were righteous. Ive never called you anything close to a prick. He was released over the weekend. At that point, Carolyn McDonald briefly considered alawsuit, butdropped it after her lawyers saidit wouldbedifficult to bring her most egregiousallegations of abuseto court, because she couldnt remember whether she was 17 or 18 when they occurred. That has been my point. 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. Ive never said I thought he was arrogant or manipulative. Are you expected to get advice about all aspects of your life from people who are more spiritually mature than you are? His alleged penchant for public masturbation only became a story after he was facing criminal indictment. The Blade is a terrible newspaper devoid of ethics and integrity! July 16, 2020 09:07 AM. Ron, being accquited in this country doesnt really mean to much. I dont expect anyone to understand the blessings of being a child of Abraham. Why are there so many people concerned about Cornerstone, if its not their money that people given to the church? How to they do it? 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. Many ofthose womenwould later spend years in therapyto erase traces of emotional entanglement with him. He must be brushing up on his law. His final arrest was the drunk driving incident. They are non-denominational. During the meeting,Wes Aarum Jr., a Circle C board member and Wayne Aarums brother,called the allegations horrific. Fellow board member Daryl Dekalbexpressed reservations about the process andsaid they couldnt truly respond without Wayne Aarum being present. Myself, My family, and my church are passed the past, and I will not stand for defemation of charector. Oh, looks like I stuck a nerve. He is the founding pastor of Cornerstone Church and oversees the Cornerstone Global Network, a network of over 150 churches throughout the US, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, South Africa and the UK. And just because an organization is growing, doesnt mean that he is doing what God wants of him. The answer, apparently, is 7 months. Im known by the entire Cornerstone congregation.I dont need the trouble or the headache. If youve had experiences with Wayne Aarum that you believe to be abusive, please help us investigate. LASTLY: I am a family member, and I know him well. Theres really no other option unless you want to be partakers of their sins. He was out of the country on half of the alleged dates. By signing, you accept Change.orgs Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and agree to receive occasional emails about campaigns on Change.org. What we should concentrate on is the plank in our own eye and not the speck in our neighbors. Thats how I was raised. Are you pushed to bring people to church and invite so many per month? Galations 6:1. And others here. Did Mark Driscoll Plagiarize the Wrong Person? Then, in 2012,Elle Campbell, a staff member and youth leader at The Chapel,went tocurrentLeadPastor Jerry Gillisabout a concerning incident between a youth group member and Aarum at Snow Camp. That is why he was not found guilty of ANY of them. Mayor of Toledo, Department of Justice: Investigate Cornerstone Church for Sexual Assault and Abuse, Investigate Cornerstone Church for Sexual Assault and Abuse, http://crabwalk.com/2003/08/pastor-pitts/, https://www.toledoblade.com/local/2000/08/30/Pastor-Pitts-charged-with-drunken-driving/stories/200008300021, https://www.wtol.com/article/news/pastor-pitts-faces-judge/512-e11a9b95-93b0-42b3-8c56-a395a7481a30, https://gcmwatch.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/the-michael-pitts/, https://lifeaftercornerstonetoledo.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-just-me-life-after-toledo-pit-stop.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Pitts_(pastor), This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. I agree with Lily on the things that she compares with the Bible. Since late 2019, allegations aboutWayne Aarums misconduct have gained momentum. Reporters also tried to contactRonald Snell,a longtime friend of Wes Aarum Sr. andCircle C board member for a short period, whowas also present at the meeting. MinistrySafes investigation, separate from Circle Cs independent investigation, first focused onallegations of abuseat The Chapel youth groupin the 1990s. I am poor, but I live in the realm of reality and dont deceive myself into thinking that God wants me rich. The USA TODAY NETWORK asked for comment from five individuals whosupport the Ranch and the Aarums. In this December 2020 file photo, the Rev. Im not trying to critize, just inform you. Silleman confirmed in May that theSheriffs Office investigation isclosed. With all of these public sins, why hasnt there been some public contrition from Pitts? No. If youre looking for the truth, I promise you that you will never regret if you choose to leave there. Look at OJ, just because he was aquitted doesnt mean I think he was innocent. All that matters now is that if this things are true is that Pastor Pitts ask for forgivenss and moves on. Given the lack of critical response to the appearance, Mahaney will likely feel more comfortable returning to the broader evangelical conference circuit. He told me, My son has a problem, hes an idiot, and hes going to ruin this camp if he doesnt stop, Ferrante said. so I dont sweat the small stuff. When reached by phone, Hilliker said she could not comment on what her recommendations were orwhether they were accepted or rejected by the board. (obviously this is paraphrased) Dont be blinded by the charisma of this man. The church is very huge and the people seem nice but a little clicky which isn't ideal. said Lester Sumrall about the Maumee building, We began holding services in East Toledo at the Historic Eastwood Theater, Cornerstone Harvest Church planted in Lima, OH, We invest 4.2 million dollars in world class facilities for the children's wing and multipurpose facilities at our Maumee Campus, Cornerstone City Church planted in Wayne, MI, We celebrated the consecration of Pastor Michael Pitts to the office of Bishop, We launched Heal The World as an outreach arm of Cornerstone Church, The historic Eastwood Theater was and once again began holding services as the new Eastwood Campus, Cornerstone City Church restructures as our Wayne Campus, Purchased the Summit building in downtown Toledo and began renovations, Cornerstone Harvest Church restructures as our Lima Campus, Cornerstone launches as the Downtown Campus, Phil and Meredith Ryburn installed as Lead Pastors. If you are worried about losing your standard of living because disability wont pay what your salary is you can have the church buy you a parsonage and pay for it the church can lease you vehicles. However, I dont need the copy to know its true. All rights reserved. If anyone ever cares to chat with me, feel free to email me at jminner2@aol.com, and Ill be happy to talk with you. Its simple so many of the main money makers are so riddled with sin, they form a club and perform at each others conferences. We also are losing our insurance because the church cant afford it. Once again, I agree we are all sinners. False prophetess Paula White is working hard to resurrect the church her selfish divorce helped tear down. [16][17], In December 2015, Pitts released the album Heal The World, containing songs co-written by Pitts and featuring Israel Houghton, Sheryl Brady, The Katinas, Lucia Parker, Linda Green (of Peaches & Herb) and Bryan Popin. Meanwhile,Adema, who alleged abuse from Aarum in the 1990s at The Chapel,confronted Aarum himself over a video callin early 2020. But several of themmadethemselves known to Aarum or his boardover the years in hopes that confrontingthe issue head-on would causeAarumsbehavior to change. Its sad but there are ways to work around it and stick uncle sam with the outrageous price tag of medical coverage. On the contrary, he is a manipulative, arrogant man. How is Charlotte this time of year, anyway? again, I also read Lilys posts. A urine test confirmed Pitts was legally drunk although he told the court he only drank two glasses of wine. Pitts says hes done nothing wrong, despite the evidence. Many camp staffers credit Circle C Ranch as being integral to their personal spiritual growth and the formation of lastingconnections within the area Christian community. Im sure Pastor Pitts isnt the happiest about this forum but you are doing more to defame his charactor by sounding like an idiot. Aarum was neitherdefensive norapologetic, she said. I also think P.T. Marjorie Taylor Greenes Red/Blue National Divorce Looks an Awful Lot Like a Confederate Flag, Can Rage Fuel the Struggle for Justice? Im not speaking of an arrest warrant, which is not actually issued by a judge. But unfortunately thats not the case. The fact is that God cammanded us to tithe so thats that. I told him that when #MeToo came out, hes the one I thought of," Adema said. That is love! And thats what Ive been doing just like everyone else. So, yeah, I certainly dont say God unless Im saying it to speak to Him, or talking about Him to someone else. Are you being sarcastic or is that a compliment? So many things in those cases didnt add up. None righteous, no not one. A subpoena is what you and your understudy degree are referring to which is: a formal order commanding a person to appear in court under penalty. On the contrary, I thought she spoke alot!! I do not believe Pitts is doing great things.