The Ongoing Saga of Applegate and The Courson Dynasty
While I commend the tenacity of reporter Rebecca Hopkins, all of this will come to nothing.
The fact of the matter is that evangelicals only care about stories of abuse and sexual impropriety if they are personally wounded.
These mega churches are personality cults and once people have invested in their idols, they are unlikely to let go…unless as I said, it’s their ox that was gored.
Jon Courson knows this…and he knows that the Searchlight teachings he’s spewing out about forgiveness and not speaking evil of anyone will be received as holy words.
In reality, they are simply reinforcing his defense against criticism and isolating himself from accountability.
Jon and Ben will say nothing other than these admonitions against “gossip” and “being mean” and when the storm passes will be back doing business as usual.
It’s an effective technique.
It’s also pure manipulation.
There is one other thing that could sink the Applegate ship.
If the allegations concerning homosexual behavior on the part of Ben Courson are proven true…that’s a whole new ballgame.
Evangelicals will support abusive leaders, but they draw the line at gay ones.
In the meantime…someone needs to be asking “lead pastor” Alex Heater some hard questions about the church he is now ostensibly in charge of.
I want to know if I’m able to see Jon Courson’s hand in his back when his lips move…
Are Calvary Chapels all independent of each other? Or, do they have some kind of ultimate authority? It just seems like someone needs to shut it all down.
The Calvary Chapel near my home has been through at least three major scandals/disagreements since I lived in my present city (over 25 years). They were very busy during COVID defying every order in place. One of my neighbors was on their “cop spotter” team to keep the authorities away during their unmasked services. The pastor is one MCClure (can’t remember his first name), but he really enjoys being in the limelight. So much so, that I will never attend that church.
CC’s are all independent in reality.
Mike McClure is Don’s son…the apple has not fallen far from the tree…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svWINSRhQU0
For those of you who have an ear to hear……..
And the SS Applegate takes another hit (hopefully below the waterline)….
At some point, the snowballing momentum of this bad PR avalanche will overwhelm this so-called “ministry”. When staff start resigning in droves, you know the rats are deserting the sinking ship.
I have no idea what all of this is about, but if Ben Courson is gay… well I’d still support him and his ministry. None of these leaders are perfect and no one should hold them up in this way. Its like pastor Jon always says, whatever youre struggling with in your walk with Christ, then theres a good chance I am struggling with it too. Cover sins, but not if they are illegal activity. I think thats a good guideline.
I’m unchurched and have certainly had some criticisms of the cult of personality in many MANY churches. Its honesly a place where youre super fortunate if you find other authentic believers. Its tragic really
Melanie,
The Courson’s are disqualified by sexual sin.
Read your Bible…
if Ben Courson is gay… well I’d still support him and his ministry. <<<
Why?
Maybe he would serve as a negative role model for some young men in his church. Better a mill-stone was tied around his neck than he lead these young ones astray.
The family is inverted as a religious ritual , I was once married to Tambo in my early twenties before he changed .
What?
Sandy Adam’s (CC Stone Mountain) and Josh Blevins, at CC Chino) are the worst protecting Jaca Kier (CC Woodstock) sexual sex and threw a local pastor under bus who exposed CC Woodstock. It’s a fraternity, but independent.
That’s a story I would cover if there’s proof…
phoenixpreacher@gmail.com
I sometimes listen to a Lutheran pastor who is gay. He considers it a sinful attraction and won’t indulge it
Can’t substantiate the claim but i heard from a pretty reliable source that both Jon and Ben are still at ACF. Apparently they are sitting in the back row. Wonder what their strategy is.
Just to let you know, Applegate Christian Fellowship does not consider itself a Calvary Chapel. Yes, it used to be affiliated with C.C., but that was a long time ago that they did, but then distanced itself to pursue its own vision of ministry.
I hope and pray that 90% of those who posted comments are not believers. Or the second prayer is that you are all 100% perfect, never made a mistake or if you did, that none of these folks ever find out about it.
liz. those are pretty daunting extremes. if you’d drop the lofty expectations for those who post here and impose them on the leadership of churches, you’d find yourself in a different frame of mind. sheep and wolves are apt descriptions for people because the terms fit the behaviors. Your comment is quite sheepish in that you want congregants to remain docile, obedient, and tame. Meanwhile, the wolves continue to feast on mutton and lambchops.
Where does the allegation of Ben being gay come from? You can’t just drop a bombshell like that with no background. Btw we always joked that he was in the closet because of the way he dressed. Straight men don’t wear tight capris, but that was just a joke… I thought.
“The family is inverted as a religious ritual , I was once married to Tambo in my early twenties before he changed .”
That is a ridiculous lie. I am personally disgusted by Applegate now but some of the lies people spin are worse than the events taking place (which is pretty bad). I grew up there and Tammi “Tambo is… and always was… a Meador sister (2 girls, 1 boy- NOT her, that would be Brett Meador). She married Jon very young after his first wife died- basically straight out of high school.
Some people…
Kristie, you’re absolutely correct. I don’t think anyone here believed that idiotic comment.
What a long strange trip it has been as an early Fellowship member on the picnic bench at Cantrell Buckley lot of history or as they say a lot of water under the bridge ambushrea
I’ve known others who keep their Bibles nearby, but they only use them to look for verses they can use to excuse their behavior. Such is the case here. Some will become even more devoted to them because they share the same hypocrisy. Those few hundred that remain in the congregation no doubt have found ways to excuse them.