What would you do???

[Steven Stone]

All last week the pastor and I had been planning our evening service around a video of a gentleman who had cancer and gave an awesome testimony about God and His power. The song he wrote was called "Healer".

On Sunday afternoon at about 4:00 I discovered that the whole story of the gentleman was a fraud. He made up the whole cancer story to cover up his Pronography addiction. I wrestled the rest of the afternoon as to whether to tell the pastor, who was ministered to through this entire testimony and video presentation earlier.

I went to him and told him the story prior to the service and we decided to go ahead and show it. We showed the song and then the testimony and then the pastor told the congregation the truth about the gentleman. But he did bring it back around that the people at the worship event were worshipping God and not the singer. God did move in an incredible way.

I have been thinking about this though, for the last couple of days, and wondering if I would have done the same thing, or should we have scrapped the whole thing and take the service down another road.

Just wondering what you would have done.

Below are some links about singer Mike Guglielmucci. The story and song are on the new Hillsongs DVD "This is our God" Though I hear they they are pulling it off the shelves and re-editing it.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24216087-5006787,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Guglielmucci

[Dave McClung]

All last week the pastor and I had been planning our evening service around a video of a gentleman who had cancer and gave an awesome testimony about God and His power. The song he wrote was called "Healer".

On Sunday afternoon at about 4:00 I discovered that the whole story of the gentleman was a fraud. He made up the whole cancer story to cover up his Pronography addiction. I wrestled the rest of the afternoon as to whether to tell the pastor, who was ministered to through this entire testimony and video presentation earlier.

I went to him and told him the story prior to the service and we decided to go ahead and show it. We showed the song and then the testimony and then the pastor told the congregation the truth about the gentleman. But he did bring it back around that the people at the worship event were worshipping God and not the singer. God did move in an incredible way.

I have been thinking about this though, for the last couple of days, and wondering if I would have done the same thing, or should we have scrapped the whole thing and take the service down another road.

Just wondering what you would have done.

Below are some links about singer Mike Guglielmucci. The story and song are on the new Hillsongs DVD "This is our God" Though I hear they they are pulling it off the shelves and re-editing it.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24216087-5006787,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Guglielmucci


There is now way that I would second guess your decision. You and the pastor did what you thought was best.

[Billy Cox]

All last week the pastor and I had been planning our evening service around a video of a gentleman who had cancer and gave an awesome testimony about God and His power. The song he wrote was called "Healer".

On Sunday afternoon at about 4:00 I discovered that the whole story of the gentleman was a fraud. He made up the whole cancer story to cover up his Pronography addiction. I wrestled the rest of the afternoon as to whether to tell the pastor, who was ministered to through this entire testimony and video presentation earlier.

I went to him and told him the story prior to the service and we decided to go ahead and show it. We showed the song and then the testimony and then the pastor told the congregation the truth about the gentleman. But he did bring it back around that the people at the worship event were worshipping God and not the singer. God did move in an incredible way.

I have been thinking about this though, for the last couple of days, and wondering if I would have done the same thing, or should we have scrapped the whole thing and take the service down another road.

Just wondering what you would have done.

Below are some links about singer Mike Guglielmucci. The story and song are on the new Hillsongs DVD "This is our God" Though I hear they they are pulling it off the shelves and re-editing it.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24216087-5006787,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Guglielmucci

Information wants to be free and the truth yearns to be told. I think that telling the whole story was far better than scrapping the program and acting like none of it happened.

[Alisa Stoll]

Phillipians 1:15 - 18 came to mind when reading your post:

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,


So with scriptural backing, I would have done as you did and used the information planned as well as telling the truth and then rejoiced as Paul did that God could use something that was not done with the right motivation to further His kingdom.

Alisa

[Jim Franklin]

The old saying, "God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform" applies here.