Jacksonville pastor Stovall Weems, pastor of Celebration Church (which is a member of ARC - Association of Related Churches) put up a rap video wishing a sister church in Arkansas and their pastor a happy 10th anniversary.
All in fun, I suppose, but a little creepy to watch a grown man, a pastor, immitate rappers in a video. But church members seem to love it! They are a growing church with multiple campuses, and if their website is correct, FBC Jax is no longer the biggest church in town. Celebration says they have 10 campuses and over 12,000 people in attendance.
So, who has more raw rapping talent, Ed Young or Stovall Weems? I am not sure, but I am waiting for a rap video from Steve Gaines, Mac Brunson, or perhaps even from Robert Jeffress.
Dog,
ReplyDeleteYou really don't get it do you? The joke is on you. They absolutely thrive on riling you up and motivating you to write these pointless points.
...or pointless posts :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, if a rap video is pointless, then I suppose a blog post containing the rap video is even more pointless.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, just trying to help the pastor out and direct traffic to the video.
The joke is on all of us, I think.
I was wondering what all of these megas did with all of that spare time. Jr was right. The pressure of being the "franchise player" must be tremendous. These rap videos are a lot harder to make than you would think. Yo Yo Yo Bible!
ReplyDeleteMy Pastor hits a home run every single Sunday!!
ReplyDeleteCelebration Church is where it is happening NOW!!
We preach it, live it, rap it, and we are taking the Gospel to a whole nutha level!!!
Got on board this Gospel Ship and put your seat belts on....it is quite a ride!
This stuff is right out of the Book of Acts!!
Yes, Celebration Church has overcome FBCJ in attendance - their Christmas program had some 20,000 I'm told to attend (from ticket count) . . .many of the "ignorant" FBCJ members now go there. Just wait pretty soon Trey & his A-Team marketing will piggyback and have a rap video going theirselves - I recall seing a rap video on the big screen one Sunday evening when Brunson first came with some of the deacons and their wifes walking out.
ReplyDeleteThank you, but I'm a home church member since Brunson became the preacher, love this blog for keeping us up-to-date on activities of other churches.
I don't call this a pointless post and have heard FBCJ "blast" this church as well. Could it be jealousy that their "ignorant" members say they love Celebration Church.
My my, Stovall has his sunglasses glaring while Brunson has his face smothered in Krispy Kreme donuts, & snuggled up in his A-team blankie Christmas gift. Great marketing teams from these young fellows that our tithing monies goes to pay for.
Thanks WD, for this free blog! You're the best!
All this reminds me of Neil Postman's book: Amusing Ourselves to Death.
ReplyDeleteWe forget that the generation which is now 40 was raised to focus on themselves and their own amusement and comfort. Of course, a work of the indwelling Spirit would change their hears if saved.
That is why entire congregations will say: It was only in fun and miss the true problem.
What they miss is how pedantic they are in "what" amuses them. And they do not understand the Biblical defintion of "Joy".
Some churches are full of staffers who are little boys who never grew up. The mega churches are full of them. They are constantly pulling elaborate pranks and seeking to be more "on edge" than anyone else. Then they become shock jock preachers.
ReplyDeleteThey are performers. Hirlings.
Even better. Stovall and his other pastor buds are all using their church members tithes right now in Dallas, at Ed Young's C3 conference. Lots of rapping going on. Lots of 'leadershipping' going on. Lots of 'here's how you organize your church, so that no member of the congregation can ever do/say anything, except volunteer of course'.
ReplyDeleteAll that and Joyce Meyer too.
Good times.
Troll - you make me laugh!!!
ReplyDeleteMakes you wonder if Paul emulated the culture by visiting vomitoriums after gorging on the love feasts. it was quite the in thing in some Roman circles.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the hippies of the 1960's. Its an assault on the previous generations. They echo we can do it better. Its all about them and their marketing. It has nothing to do with the true gospel regardless of their claims. Just a bunch of silly children that never grow up. God help us and like someone said a few weeks ago. Worse and worse.
ReplyDeleteI like that phrase, "shock jock preachers."
ReplyDeleteWhy does the church feel it needs to emulate the world? Is worldliness the answer to filling pews?
ReplyDeleteSeems anything goes as long as you can get people to support it. we are still very interested in the "loaves and fishes". Christ had a large following as long as they thought they would get something they wanted. No wonder the "health and wealth" group and the seeker friendly believers want to congregate but you had better not try to wean them from the milk and try to prepare them for the meat. Itching ears don't want to hear anything but what pleases them
ReplyDeleteI would be embarrassed to call this man my Pastor. Christians are supposed to be separate from the world, not try to look like it. Jesus is coming soon. Does a Pastor not have more important things to do for God? What is the point? I agree, where is the holiness and the meat of the Word in these seeker friendly lets-look-like-the-world man-pleasing churches. Where is the discernment?
ReplyDeleteI don't think you will be getting a rap video from Robert Jeffress- he is too stiff for such a thing (even if it was done in fun).
ReplyDeleteI am now on the job. I have had enough of these deceivers and now I am ready to help bust these CULTS and look to have some fun.
ReplyDeleteSo everyone is invited to view what will be one of the hardest hitting sites concerning CULTS and their leadership.
Would you join me at my site www.thecultbuster.blogspot.com?
Watchdog and others I am going to help bust these men and their deception with you.
Enough is Enough, and I DO know what I am talking about.
Warning to all those who are weak at heart as my site will expose many issues that are deep and truthful.
WD, brother I am sorry for what they have done to you and your family. I am here to help the cause not harm Christ and his Kingdom.
And if your not a CULT leader, have NO fear - If you are well prepare yourselves to enter the "Blogger Zone"!
TROLL ALERT
ReplyDelete"We preach it, live it, rap it, and we are taking the Gospel to a whole nutha level!!!"
Another TROLL stirring the pot!
Cult buster:
ReplyDeleteWhile I totally support your effort, a few tips:
1. Do not promote a blog with nothing on it of substance. Wait until you have something on there.
2. Take your gender off your profile. If folks know you are a female, they won't take you seriously in Christian circles.
Danger Will Robinson Danger Danger
ReplyDeleteFEMALE ALERT! FEMALE ALERT!
From the Celebration Webiste:
ReplyDeleteYou have the opportunity to give in a couple of different ways: your tithe and offerings. The Bible teaches us that the tithe is an act of worship to the Lord, which is ten percent of our income given to our home church on a regular basis. When we give over and above our tithe, we do so as an offering.
Don't forget to BLOG on THIS!!
Maybe she should put "androgynous".
ReplyDeleteThat will keep em guessing!
"but I am waiting for a rap video from Steve Gaines, Mac Brunson, or perhaps even from Robert Jeffress."
ReplyDeleteFORGET THAT! How boring. I think it would be great fun for you to put your own rap video, dog.
Thanks ANON;
ReplyDeleteI promise I know how to deal with
Just letting know all that it is up and post # 1will begin Saturday the 19th.
And maybe I am not a female, or maybe I am-----
why can't I be decieveing like Caner, Brunson, Gaines, White, Harris, the Everson's ( thanks again Chad) and just like all those other " male" hypocrites within the Baptist Cult.
I am the CULTBUSTER..who ya gonna call? CULTBUSTER!!!!!
Welcome to the " Blogger Zone "
You can call me /us "intersex" and us CULTBUSTERS woudl not feel slighted......
ReplyDeleteWe are or will become a force within the " BLOGGER ZONE " -
And ya know CULTBUSTERS plans to expand, - right?
Help is here, I promise.
Wow, what a cool video!
ReplyDeleteI went to an Emerging Church 2 weeks ago that was in an amazing series about Sex. The Pastor handed out condoms after the sermon....it was moving!!
I tell you, these Churches sure know how to grab your attention!
Maybe if you are bored at your Church you need to check out of these other new Churches.
They sure know how to make you feel real good!
Wow a series about sex with condoms as door prizes.
ReplyDeleteWere there demonstrations flashed on the IMAG?
Did they show you how to use the condoms?
Did they tell the young men how to get lucky?
Some of these Churches are really out on the edge.
ReplyDeleteI went to this service and the subject was on Immorality and the Pastor came out dressed like a Pimp.
He talked about how Satan pimps us out and then at the end the stage was converted into a Bar scene and the Pastor was preaching behind the bar and talking about how God wants to give you a drink that will satisfy your soul.
Made me thirsty!
These Churches sure know how to draw a crowd.
Bay Area Fellowship of Corpus Christ Texas gave away prizes last Easter! One lady won a BMW!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Church had to turn people away.
The gave away Flat Screen Tv's and Furniture....This is the way Evangelism should be done!
This old school way of singing hymns and passing the plate is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y!!
I hope to win a Cruise this Easter.....This is like the Hokey Pokey...It's what its all about!
LA MARQUE, Texas -- In a game-show-style giveaway, a church plans to award a $120,000 three-bedroom house to one of its worshippers on New Year's Eve. "It encourages people to come to the service, and it helps keep people off the street with all that revelry going on," pastor Walter Hallam said. During Saturday's service, 20 names will be selected at random and placed with 100 others chosen from services throughout the year. Twelve finalists -- symbolizing the 12 apostles -- will be selected. Each of the finalists will receive a key, which they will try in a door onstage. The person whose key unlocks the door wins the home.
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS AWESOME!!! THIS IS N.T.!!!
OUR CHURCH GAVE AWAY CHICKEN WINGS ONE SUNDAY AND WE WERE PACKED!!!!
CHRISTIANITY IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE GOOD OL' USA!
Bizarre
ReplyDeleteSome of these posts remind me of Jesus running the Money Changers out of the synagoue. Those that have done much harm to the cause of Christ will be judged more severely than those that have done little. I would assume a big church with all of its connections would be more apt to be given more stripes than the little ones that do less in the way of bringing disgrace on the name of the Lord.
ReplyDeleteIt appears all the signs of the return of Jesus Christ are fulfilled. I'm just waiting on the trumpet to sound. Praise God that He will be coming soon. It will take Him and Him alone to fix the problems man has placed on this planet in the last 2000 years. I believe pastors have done more damage than lost people in some areas. I recall Nineveh (who repented) will stand up and witness a better "well done" than this current generation. Even more so to those that follow us, if the calling up hither is postposed for another 50 years.
Does any truly, legitimate, serious Christian not believe that we are in the last days? Even so Come quickly Lord Jesus!
ReplyDeletewatchdog, its a joking rap video...what is wrong with that? Honestly, its like you have a problem now with EVERYONE. ???
ReplyDeleteNew Day Church, a year-old congregation in Hendricks County, Ind., is finding sex helps sell God. An edgy marketing campaign asking, "What happens when God gets between the sheets?
ReplyDeleteWe need more Churches that do this!
Ed Young encouraged his members to have sex every day for a month.
They reported their nursey grew by 25% the next year!
This stuff is Biblical and it works!
This is Church Growth God's Way!
I wish my Pastor preach like that.
These comments are in incredibly bad taste. Not to mention blasphemous!
ReplyDeleteAnon. 10:57...You ever read the Song of Solomon?
ReplyDeleteGet your head out of the sand Brother!
Christianity is dying in America and simply preaching the Gospel is not getting the job done.
We need car giveaways, sermon series on Sex, and Rap Music in our Churches.
Have you never read some of the Leadership Books?
You keep doing what your doing and you'll get getting what you've been getting.
New wineskins here we come!!!!
"From the Celebration Website:
ReplyDeleteYou have the opportunity to give in a couple of different ways: your tithe and offerings. The Bible teaches us that the tithe is an act of worship to the Lord, which is ten percent of our income given to our home church on a regular basis. When we give over and above our tithe, we do so as an offering.
Still waiting for you to blog on this from their website.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCheck down several topics; we kind of wore out the tithing discussion.
ReplyDeleteBlogger 2/19 11:24: Now I understand what the term Carnal Christian really means. Thanks for your making it clear. Although Carnality and Christian are a dichotomy.
ReplyDeleteNo Preacher has any business in between the sheets with my wife and me. Nor do I need a Preacher to tell me how often to be intimate with my wife. If you have to have a Preacher tell you how often to be intimate with your spouse, your marriage has big problems.
ReplyDeleteWishIhadknown, God talks about being intimate with your wife!
ReplyDeleteWhy can't your Preacher?
We are dying on the vine folks.
People are bored at Church.
So sermons on Sex really gets the crowds back at our Churches.
You can go thru the Book of Romans if you want too,but as for me and my house, we want the Song of Solomon!
If you are bored at church its because you don't belong there!
ReplyDeleteOff Topic: Another Con ...
ReplyDeleteNYT > Dubious Deal, Cloaked by National Security Claim
Federal officials are hiding dealings with a programmer who claimed his software could catch terrorists.
If you are bored at church its because you don't belong there!
ReplyDeleteThe person making this statement is probably a robot. He never spent time in the desert discovering god. Likes to make decisions for others. Serves satin. Should I continue?
Quite the opposite.
ReplyDeleteOf course, on the other hand, your hero, Ed Young, has no problem telling married couples what to do in the most intimate area of their lives.
ReplyDeleteQuestion, when the church is identical to the world, has the world become more sanctified or has the church become worldly.
Serve satin, not really I prefer cotton.
ReplyDeleteWish,
ReplyDeleteYou're being baited by a troll whose feeble attempts at parody are actually improving! S/he's gotten off a few good ones lately. Practice makes perfect, I guess. Please stop taking the bait. S/he's not serious except for apparently not having a life, craving attention, and trying, rather successfully it seems, to get under your skin.
Serve satin, not really I prefer cotton.
ReplyDeleteHeh heh.
Ah, com'on let me feed the trolls
ReplyDeleteYou're right. It's none of my business. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteokay so first of all, i am a member of celebration..second am thankful to FBC for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI will admit i didn't take the time to read this whole thing.
i noticed that there are a lot of anonymous posts on here..why is that, are you not supportive enough of your point.
As for the rap videos that cost so much money..we at celebration have our own studio which is used to edit our programing and for live broadcast to our campuses...so the money spent was more like a couple days of editing that one of the employed editors put together.
also i have been in a handful of the closed door staff meetings..and pastor stovall's heart, from what i know of him is pure..all he wants to do is help spread the gospel..and if making a rap video helps bring attention to the church which in turn brings attention to Christ then by all means let him make rap videos
thank you for your time,
Your brother in Christ, Adam
I agree with dialog but most of this reminds me of the pharisees trying to destroy Jesus. Instead of stabbing other Christians in the back (blasphemy) we should remember Unity in the essentials, grace on all the rest. God's got this one, just like the last one.
ReplyDelete