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Posted: 11:06 PM May 12, 2008
Machesney Park Pastor Charged With Sexual Assault
Members of a Machesney Park church are reeling after learning their pastor has been charged with sexually assaulting an underage girl. Reporter: Alice Barr |
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7 Comments 
I personally know John Powell and his family, I have been friends with them for many years. I would have never expected anything like this to ever happen. John truely was a man of God. I'm not sure why or how this has happened. I'm not taking light of what has happened, He is human just like me and you. Any one of us can fall, we are no match for the devil. I will be praying for his children, his wife, and the church. Whom I dearly love. Just like Joel said, Don’t allow the foolishness of one man to hinder your relationship with God and His Word. Don’t blame God or Christianity. We will all stand before God one day and be accountable for what we have done.
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If you visit the Stop Baptist Predators website, you will discover that a charge of "bitterness" is often laid at the feet of those who track these abusive pastors. These sexual abusers of children are authoritarian, charming, high-energy men who make a church feel important and pivotal to the cause of Christ. But as others have noted here, they achieve this by devices of the flesh: story telling and self serving soliloquys in place of sermons that methodically teach the text of Scripture and exalt Jesus Christ. And the Fundamental Baptist denomination has dozens of criminally abusive pastors--the ones we know about. You can go visit www.stopbaptistpredators.org or go check out the book SCHIZOPHRENIC CHRISTIANITY or do a Google search for the "Fundamentalist Role Call of Shame." All of these resources will tell you that John Powell is part of a dangerous trend that continues to go unchecked in the porous structure of Baptist churches. Nobody tracks these men; nobody expels them.
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a man falling is not the issue here its one thing to cheat on his wife, but for a pastor to not only cheat on his wife ,but to do it with an under age girl and 4 counts mind you 2 different girls im sorry that is more than a mistake that is down right unacceptable its above and beyond a man simply failing in the face of temptation ,but committing serious offences against young girls that are sheltered and incapable of protecting them selves.
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John Powell is a kind-hearted man. He’s known as a giver, always helping others. This church was small and wounded before he came and he has worked hard to strengthen these people. Any man can fall, we’re all human. Pastor’s are human as well, and when they fall it hurts many. Only time will tell how his sin has damaged his family, friends and the cause of Christ. Don’t allow the foolishness of one man to hinder your relationship with God and His Word. Don’t blame God or Christianity or (like the embittered Jeri from Raleigh, NC) a group of people or denomination. We don’t understand how he could do such a thing and we don’t condone his wickedness, but we will forgive and we will pray for the hurting. We will all give an account before God someday!
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i attended this church through ought my child hood when there were different leaders of the church . my grandmother is a devout member to this church still . my children attend church there on Wednesday nights my grandmother teaches bible school there for children .my husband and i have visited this church ocasionally.when pastor powell took over the congregation i did get a vibe from him i was constantly saying i didn't want to go there because his sermons were always self serving and he had to sing at least once through every service which i also found very hard to stomach . a while ago my husband and i had lost a child and he did the service for her . my husband and i feel disgusted , but not surprised . like i said we never felt comfortable in his presence. the saddest thing about all this is that we as a community look up to pastors to guide us in a godly life not only did he abuse his power as a leader he has betrayed his family, and his congregation.
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The modern Independent Fundamental Baptist form of church government leaves a single man in total charge of a church, and he is often able to silently drive out dissenters from his policies. This is an increasing problem in these churches, and Powell is next in a growing list of men who, even when caught, are often able to stay in the ministry or soon return to it, even if they go to prison for a while. Remember, a prison term for most non-violent sexual offenders is usually less than 5 years time served, and often is 1-2 years time served. There is no accountability and no tracking of offenders in the Independent Baptist Denomination, so any offender is able to easily slide right back into the ministry.
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He seem like a really nice guy. He married my brother and his wife. My aunt, uncle and cousins go to his church for sunday service. He was also the pastor at my grandpas and uncles funeral last year. I feel sorry for his children and wife, who are all really great people.
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