Pastor Bill Johnson, who became leader of the Assemblies of God congregation in 1996, described his view of the churchs role in society in Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate, a book he wrote with self-proclaimed Trump prophet Lance Wallnau: Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. This has become a great concern for many people who believe the separation of Church and State imagined by the Founders is a solid wall, not a picket fence. Photo by Steve DuBois. Ive saved three candidates for last: Tenessa Audette, Joshua Johnson and Alex Shea. As a nonprofit religious institution, Bethel is not permitted to endorse or fund political candidates. Bethel Church is an American non-denominational neo-charismatic megachurch in Redding, California with over 11,000 members. In a normal county, candidates religious beliefs wouldnt/shouldnt be relevant in local elections. encourage attendees to vote for Trump or risk facing Gods displeasure. Email us, or join the community conversation at Shasta ScoutsFacebook page. People post mean things sometimes. Some say the church has helped the city in many ways: Members volunteer and serve throughout the city. They are predominantly well-coifed young hipster men dressed in skinny jeans and designer t-shirts with that preternatural glow that comes from a ramen starvation diet, abstinence from sex, cigarettes and alcohol and countless late-night sessions getting drunk in the spirit.. While Crockett says its clear that Bethel is passionate about making a positive impact in the city, he worries that the ways they attempt to do so may not take into account the perspectives and needs of all. Some Christian Nationalists advocate keeping prayer in schools, outlawing abortion access and gay marriage and enshrining a Christian Nationalist version of American history in public school curriculums. Dozens of local businesses have been started by Bethel attendees and many local short-term rentals are either owned by those affiliated with the church or house those who visit the region for faith tourism. The Redding City Council seat that belongs to non-evangelical councilor, Mark Mezzano, is his to keep for another two years, alongside Winter. There are three primary reasons members are concerned about Bethel, not all of them shared by all members. Some students are packed-to-the-max into single family homes; their fancy cars clog neighborhood driveways. Hmm! Behind the scenes last week, a struggle played out over the Shasta County Board of Supervisor's agenda. Methinks this explains wee Patrick's attempt to change the oath for county employees. Candidate Ian Hill says he's running to to shine a spotlight on city needs and bring together resources and people to act on what's important. Mayor Kristen Schreder declined to run for re-election. Its notable that Partin, like Valenzuela, has also been identified and selected as a true conservative candidate by some of the same ultra-conservative folks whove embraced Dacquisto. It's designed to attract shoppers downtown . Am I too angry about the subject material? Were talking about vision, Jake. Evangelical Christians who follow End Times theology (ahem, Bethel) that condemns Jews and other non-believers to an eternal lake of fire! From left, Red, White and Blueprint co-collaborators Jeremy Edwardson and Carlos Zapata. But both Audette and Shea say the 7 Mountains Mandate is really about reminding Christians to get involved in the community and find ways to use their skills and resources to make the community better for everyone, although, Shea added, he understands thats not always how the theology is seen. The way Dacquisto drags Partin behind him reminds me how my mom insisted I bring my little sister along to birthday parties when we were kids; invited or not. Thursday, August 17, 2023 Aug 17, 2023 - Register Now. First, many members view Bethels strange brew of Christianity and New Age as a straight-up cult, a holy rolling, faith-healing pyramid scheme sucking the lifeblood out of the town and preaching a false gospel. Local critics oppose Bethels promotion of gay conversion therapy, and its fight against COVID masks, vaccinations, and closures. ods role in government and if politicians should Christianize a nation. A non-Bethel incumbent up for reelection was the top vote getter. Clearly, theres no love lost between Dacquisto and his three female city council colleagues, Erin Resner, Julie Winter and Mayor Kristen Schreder. Redding Area Bus Authority - Regular Meeting. The trio of Redding City Council candidates who attend The Stirring church are Joshua Johnson, Kymberly Vollmersand former Bethel member James Crockett. But click on the link, and its soon apparent that theres no there, there, and that site has been non-functioning for some time. Even so, his campaign is lackluster, with just a smattering of campaign signs, and to date, few to none endorsements. Jack Munns is one of three Bethel Church members running for the Redding City Council. Theres plenty of hate to go around. The church elder on the Redding City Council. But after watching many hours of multiple candidate forums, and after spending entire days transcribing audio, trawling websites and doing deep dives into social media pages, Ive reached a conclusion: Of the 10 Redding City Council candidates, Audette, Johnson and Shea appear the most qualified to serve as Redding City Council members. Crockett says while hes sure some in the church would endorse Christian Nationalism he doesnt believe most in the churchs rank-and-file are even sure what that term means and he has not heard it taught from the pulpit. A big fat $150 million casino on the south side of town, a den of iniquity to balance the $150 million purity palace Bethels constructing on the north side of Redding. All rights reserved. Now pretend you also own a tiny apartment over a garage behind your old legal office in downtown Redding between the railroad tracks and Court Street. compared the COVID vaccine to the mark of the beast. To make a donation,click here. Sunday morning sermons stream out to viewers in more than a hundred-and-fifty countries via Bethel TV, and church leaders are in demand as itinerant speakers both nationally and internationally. Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Christian Musician Sean Feucht Held Defiant Seattle Worship Protest After Concert was Banned, Sean Feucht Protest Worries Los Angeles Homeless Advocates, Sean Feuchts Finale Worship Protest on the National Mall Included More Politics Than Usual, Andrew Wommack Urges Followers to Take Over Colorado City. Yes, Johnson attends the Stirring Church. Is ctfirewood.com a scam or a fraud? Several of the candidates running for the Redding City Council this fall are connected to Bethel Church. While neither candidate directly addressed whether they might be able to pull on Bethel funding for the city in future, both said the churchs finances had not impacted their campaigns. Each year, thousands of believers come from every corner of the globe to worship at Bethel, or spend thousands of dollars to enroll in its three-year-long Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Now Im not, Listen to Sheas story, and then tell me youd reject this former Wall Street finance expert, Northern Pygmy Owl Whiskeytown Nat. People who havent drank the Kool-Aid find themselves on the outside looking in and naturally resent Bethels newfound economic power, attached as it is to the on-earth-as-it-is-in-heaven Seven Mountain Mandate. AFAIK, Schreder and Sullivan are not. Copyright 2023 Shasta Scout | Powered by. The City of Redding, incorporated on October 4, 1887, is a general law city formed under state legislative statutes and governed by a body of laws in the State Constitution. Members of Bethel the 11,000-member northern California megachurch famous for elaborate healing services, Bethel Music and musician Sean Feucht's nationwide worship protests against COVID restrictions now hold the majority on the Redding City Council after November's elections, according to nearly complete vote counts. But right now, after all the North States been through, Redding could benefit from some youthful zeal. Some are even Trump supporters, so go figure. The church used to be part of the Assemblies of God denomination but is now non-denominational. He said in his speech to delegates 'They are pressing and saying, 'no peace without the Jewish state He was an instructor at Fuller and Denver seminaries and the U.S. Air Force Academy. It doesnt apply to the voters, who, not being state actors are free to manifest their religious bigotry against the members of Bethel Church as much as they can refuse to elect Jews. They feel like their vision for Redding is being supplanted by someone elses, that theyre being replaced by Bethelbots, that the system is rigged. She's been featured and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, L.A. Times, Slate. Bethels pull on the local housing market, both short-term and long-term, is tremendous, and Bethel-connected dollars spent by attendees in the city are significant. Mr. Scheide welcomes your comments and story tips. Some people even draw parallels between Councilman Dacquisto and his broken website address. All are equal under the law and representation.. In fact, Johnson agrees so much that he took to Facebook with an accounting of the some of the most damning charges against Dacquisto in a post that pretty much summarizes Johnsons stance, I voted for Michael Dacquisto 4 years ago. Redding is a city of 93,462 in Trump-red Shasta County, which has a population of 182,000. Behold, Redding City Council candidate choices: (Click on their names for more information.). Contact him at RVScheide@anewscafe.com.. I have received no funding from Bethel, Audette wrote, In fact I have one donor from the over 400 staff that work there. It says so right in the Bible. Kathy Vallotton, Bethel Church senior pastor, $1,000. is listed by the Shasta Economic Development Corporation as the 8th largest employer. Do I feel fantastic about my conclusion? Hes back for more, and once again, he hasnt asked for anyone to endorse him, or to donate money to his campaign, because he doesnt want to be beholden to any person or organization. Interestingly enough, Ive yet to hear Partin ask voters to cast their votes for Dacquisto. Jesus instituted it as an army that brought transformation to society, starting with salvation and continuing with seven spheres of influence: Church, family, education, government, media, arts, and commerce, they wrote. The fact that members of the group routinely observe and discuss whats known as the Bethel look is not necessarily hateful. I spend just 2 hours at Bethel each week and 45+ hours in the community, helping unlock funding for real estate deals, putting my financial skills to work, and investing in our local nonprofits. Independent online journalist Doni Chamberlain founded A News Cafe in 2007 with her son, Joe Domke. Sterling: 3 inches. But forget election-deniers for a moment. The 11,000-member Bethel Church in Redding, California, led by Bill Johnson, now hold the majority on the Redding City Council after a successful electoral run in November by Bethel members saw them emerge victorious and now hold the swing vote. Now Im not.. Several of the candidates running for the Redding City Council this fall are connected to Bethel Church. My duty isto serve ALL people . This story is part of Shasta Scout's citizen-powered election coverage. The Awakening Australia eventand its main speaker, Bill Johnsonare increasing the awareness of the controversial church throughout the continent. Non-Bethel City Council Candidates. 2023 anewscafe.com. at the sports complex at the Bethel School. Add to the information pile the fact that Valenzuela, one of the youngest candidates at age 30, is one of three Redding City Council candidates recommended by Kathy Stainbrook, a notorious ultra-right Red, White and Blueprint supporter, and Leonard Moty recaller. To donate, Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate,, Jack W. Hayford, Charismatics Gold Standard, Has Died, Vandals Deface Church Hosting Sean Feucht New Years Eve Worship Event, Charismatic Revivalist Todd Bentley Widening Ministry Despite Scandals and Disqualification, Eden Village Ministry Aims to End Homelessness Through Tiny Home Communities, Gateway Seminary to Fund Short-Term Mission Trips for All Students, Vineyard Pastor Resigns, Wont Cooperate With Probe Into Sons Alleged Misconduct, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. Tenessa is a graduate of Leadership Redding, and serves on the Steering Committee, organizing the Government program. Dacquistos now-predictable Partin endorsements usually include Dacquistos mention that one of the reasons he endorses Partin is because Dacquisto is sick of being on the losing end of so many 3-2 or 4-1 votes. A question you might have asked yourself before writing is why do so many local citizens have such negative opinions about Bethel? Based upon his performance during forums (though absent from the Shasta Environmental Alliance event), he seems a nice enough, grandfatherly guy. (And yes, it's free!). We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Feucht also worship-campaigned for Doug Lamborn, U.S. House member from Colorado Springs, who coasted to reelection. Listen to Audettes desire to make Redding a safe, thriving city. Bill and Beni Johnson, senior pastors Bethel Redding. Thats a vision for everybody, Jake. The last go-round she was running for the Shasta County District 1 race, but she dropped out mid-race, citing a lack of financial resources that would enable her to compete with the other well-funded candidates. Alex Shea hosted a launch party for his candidacy Saturday and Joshua Johnson made . If they lose, will they cry fraud? Who the heck are these Blue People, Jake? They continue saying you should be appreciative of the help and that they really dont need to stop because they are just doing it to serve you. The kidsand Glenn Beckcall this cancel culture.. No gold dust, please. Steve Rabey November 30, 2022. Redding is teetering upon the unprecedented brink of being governed by a city-council majority comprised of followers of Bethel Church, The Stirring church or a combination of both. Ten candidates are running for three seats on the Redding council this fall. Theyre threatening to boycott not just Bethel businesses, but any business represented by the chamber. Tenessa Audette, age 45, Representative for Senator Brian Dahle, James Crockett, age 41, Social science teacher, Michael Dacquisto, age 68, Redding City Council incumbent, Ian Hill, age 30, Shasta County deputy clerk, Joshua Johnson, age 39, Business owner/developer, Jack Munns,age 64, Retired police officer, Alex Shea, age 36, Housing finance executive, Jordan Valenzuela, age 30, Business owner, book, Invading Babylon, The Seven Mountain Mandate, Connecting yet more Bethel/Stirring dots, Nathan Edwardson, Feucht kicked off his first unauthorized Let Us Worship, I voted for Michael Dacquisto 4 years ago. Put all three of those concerns together, Jake, and Redding starts looking a lot like Clearwater, Florida, global headquarters for Scientology. Contact usor review ourprivacy policyfor more information. Both candidates said despite that teaching they would not discriminate against the gay community in any way in their role on the council. For example, during one of the forums, when asked how he would deal with homelessness, Crockett addressed the audience, flipped the question and asked whattheyd done. Granted, The Stirring lacks Bethel Churchs flashy signs and wonders fixation on everything from speaking in tongues, healings, tunnels of fire, and gold-dust glory cloudsto angel feathers, grave-soaking, gay-conversion therapy and attempts to raise the dead. For others, its an indication of the dangerous power and influence on local politics that the church already wields. About. Bethel Redding has also become associated with certain phenomena that are interpreted by the leadership and the congregation as manifesting the presence and glory of God. Their social media pages are meaty, informative and substantive. To donate, click here. Although Im a Democrat, for me, a shared party is not reason enough to vote for someone as politically out of touch and woefully inexperienced as Hill. Discagem Grtis: Estados Unidos e Canad: 1.855.613.2303 ou 1.800.709.6205 - Brasil: (800) 591 4613 - WhatsApp: (+001) 310.844.0166 San Francisco: (415) 537-9877 - Fort Lauderdale: (754) 702-0257 - Tampa: (813) 803-9457 - Braslia: (61) 4042 1275 - Belo Horizonte: (31) 2342 1207 - Porto Alegre: (51) 2042 0087 - Rio de Janeiro . Both Bethel Church and The Stirring are noteworthy because The Stirring is often described as Bethel lite or Bethels little-sister church. The city approved a 10-year. Scientologists have bought most of downtown and the chamber of commerce. Redding council candidate Tenessa Audette is open about her involvement at Bethel Church. We are on the edge of the greatest revival of all time, says Bethels website. Great! Have a question? Is it fair to criticize any candidate who has the courage, confidence, vision and chutzpah to run for city council, board of supervisors, or any number of school boards or water districts? Bethel also operates multiple schools, including the three-year Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM). Our news will always be free to read, but its not free to create. Aside from not attending either Bethel Church or The Stirring, another noteworthy distinction is that Hill is the only Democrat in the race, which tells you everything you need to know about Shasta County politics. Correction made. Prayer Meeting for Redding. But most of all, at what point will citizens who feel distraught by what they classify as lousy election options stop complaining and run for office themselves? Shea said only that he has heard both positive and negative comments about the impact of Bethel in conversations around the dinner table with his wifes family, who has lived in Redding for generations. 1. Is it religiously intolerant to reject the most obviously qualified candidates solely because of the churches they attend, and their religious practices inside those churches? In reply to R.V. The council voted 4-1 to draft a contract with Bethel for running the 41-year-old . The race for Redding City Council is heating up as two candidates have made public announcements in recent days. Members of Bethel the 11,000-member northern California megachurch famous for elaborate healing services, Bethel Music and musician Sean Feucht's nationwide worship protests against COVID restrictions now hold the majority on the Redding City Council after November's elections, according to nearly complete vote counts.. Bethel members Tenessa Audette, 45, a first-time candidate . Youre committing the fallacy of composition here, mistaking the part for the whole, missing the forest for the trees. Help increase access to important information. Did you mean the Blue Man Group? For example, when The Stirring held a preachers conference, among the slate of speakers were BSSM staff member Hayley Braun, and Pastor Tinasha LaRaye, a frequent Bethel speaker and performer. Old City Hall Gallery Exhibion Proposal 2017 2018 Shasta County Arts Council accepts Exhibion Proposals for art . And with that slippery slope, youve hit rock bottom. Second, Bethel Church and its infinite number of horizontally networked sub-ministries has raked in hundreds of millions of dollars during the past decade and hasnt been shy about spreading the manna around. And Lord have mercy, what does Bethel have against the LGBTQ community, outside of selective biblical literalism? Redding residents are divided on the churchs impact on their city. Shes engaged with the public. Is this heaven, or Redding? Bethels 2017 donation of half-a-million dollars to help fund Redding police and another $25,000 to fund police drones hasnt been forgotten by the community. Disclosure:Annelise Pierce is a former member of Bethel Church and a graduate of the first year of BSSM. One of the most persistent criticisms against Dacquisto has to do with what should be a simple question: Michael Dacquisto, where do you live?. The Redding City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved renewing Advance Reding's contract to run the Redding . Julie Winter, a Bethel elder, already sits on the five-seat Redding City Council. In English, that means its critics believe Bethel is taking over the town and re-creating it in its own image, as its theology commands. Copyright 2023 Shasta Scout | Powered by Indiegraf Media, Privacy Policy | Subscriber Agreement | Terms of Use, Subscribe to get our latest articles and investigations sent straight to your inbox. (Stay tuned for that story soon.). Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Thats why, for this 2022 general election, I will overlook candidates religious affiliations. As evidence, she points to the Civic; to Winter's place on the city council; to the hordes of Bethel students who volunteer across Redding, saving the city money. Candidate Johnson agrees wholeheartedly. Old Lyme: 3 inches. Online streaming now reaches over 412,800 users internationally. In 2016, I wrote a post titled, Bethel Redding: A Dangerous Evangelical Cult.Since that time, thousands and thousands of people (Almost 14,000 viewers in 2019, 18,000 in 2018, 24,000 in 2017, and 17,000 in 2016) have come to this site seeking information about Bethel Redding, an Evangelical megachurch in Redding, California pastored by Bill . The device costs $2,000 and will make AED available to the general public 24/7. Full disclosure: Im a member of two such Facebook groups, Bethel Affiliated Businesses and Investigating Bethel. As Trump ran for reelection, Vallotton used the Bethel pulpit to encourage attendees to vote for Trump or risk facing Gods displeasure. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. I believe elected officials should serve the people they represent, not control them, and that the government should empower its constituents, not restrict them., Audette said Bethel leaders wouldnt influence her vote because they dont tell her what to believe about anything. Well just leave that there while we ponder the easy answer. But Shasta County is anything but normal. Like the $500,000 Garden of Lights project dreamed up by Redding City Council member and Bethel Elder Julie Winter and recently passed by the council. Ive never made such an inquiry, but it really is starting to look a lot like Clearwater around here. You recently wrote fondly of the project. eceived more than $15,000 in campaign consulting fees from Sean Feuchts failed congressional campaign in 2019 and early 2020, along with $2,800 in. Bethels theology and practices have long been controversial. Questions like that, generally asked while vigorously pacing about the room. Also, you know who else besides social media trolls say ethnic groups are going to hell? Six evangelicals three Bethel members and three members of The Stirring church, which has connections to Bethel were among 10 candidates running for three open seats, according to Doni Chamberlain, editor of A News Caf, a feisty local publication that expressed concerns about Bethel dominance. Were you afraid to write black people? Bethel Affiliated Businesses currently lists 67 businesses, including restaurants, bakeries, cafes and salons as having a Bethel affiliation. Christian nationalist Doug Mastriano of Pennsylvania lost his Senate race to his Jewish opponent, while Kari Lake lost Arizonas governors race to the incumbent. I hope everyone knows those things too.. Bethel fought for the right to perform it on adultsand won. While two of Bethels candidates won their races, former Bethel celebrity Sean Feucht was less successful in his worship-music-meets-campaign efforts on behalf of two Trump-endorsed candidates. While the Seven Mountain Mandate is controversial even among many Christian denominations for Bethel devotees, its considered gospel. They can be a nuisance. Hand Counting, Supervisor Jones Says. Its designed to attract shoppers downtown during the holidays and drive-by stoners, I guess, for the rest of the year. A non-Bethel incumbent up for reelection was the top vote-getter. This couldnt be further from my goals and ideas about how the government should work. Identity. Im not religious. And Redding City Council member Resner decided to run for the Shasta County Board of Supervisors District 1 seat being vacated by Supervisor Joe Chimenti, who opted against running for re-election. Since the late 90s, under senior leader Bill Johnson, the church has been devoted to the pursuit of the presence of God, manifested in supposed signs and wonders, including messages from heaven, miraculous healings, gold glitter, feathers, and special stones. Were here to discuss the Redding City Council election. One area of government that could see significant turnover: the Redding city council. Council candidate Tenessa Audette lays out her goals to KRCR's Sam Chimenti (KRCR) REDDING, Calif. Another candidate has thrown her hat into Redding's crowded city . Reminding readers Bethel saved the Civic Auditorium and funded the RPDs homeless squad only rubs it in. His honors include winning the California Newspaper Publishers Associations Freedom of Information Act and best columnist awards as well as best commentary from the Society of Professional Journalists, California chapter. Listen to Johnson speak and tell me youre not impressed. When Crockett quips that hes attended more city council meetings in these last few years than incumbent Dacquisto, that line always gets a laugh, but its no joke. Discagem Grtis: Estados Unidos e Canad: 1.855.613.2303 ou 1.800.709.6205 - Brasil: (800) 591 4613 - WhatsApp: (+001) 310.844.0166 San Francisco: (415) 537-9877 - Fort Lauderdale: (754) 702-0257 - Tampa: (813) 803-9457 - Braslia: (61) 4042 1275 - Belo Horizonte: (31) 2342 1207 - Porto Alegre: (51) 2042 0087 - Rio de Janeiro . Prayer Meeting for Redding. . Since then, the North State is still in recovery over the dirty recall of a stellar supervisor, the baseless firing of the countys chief health officer and the resignation of a blackmailed CEO. Let Us Worship participants, many from Bethel Church and The Stirring church, crowd around Sean Feucht and musicians. compared women who seek out abortions to school shooters. In reply to R.V. At first, to look at the un-clicked link, one might assume its an active, working site. For the November 8, 2022 general election . I realize many interpret it differently, as a mandate to Christians to control all institutions, She explained. Westbrook: 2.8 inches. . Redding is teetering upon the unprecedented brink of being governed by a city-council majority comprised of followers of Bethel Church, The Stirring church or a combination of both. She left the church eight years ago. Scheide. Theres also concern that Bethel members are fanning secessionist movements and supporting militia groups in Shasta County. Its social media, Jake. The two churches sometimes share resources, facilities, musicians, staff and speakers. Local critics oppose Bethels promotion of gay conversion therapy and its fight against COVID masks, vaccinations, and closures. The four have disagreed over everything from land issues and staff raises to homeless solutions and even holiday lights at Turtle Bay Museum. Again, its not necessarily hateful to notice this. Although I dont always agree with Winter, theres no disputing that Winters been a responsible, dedicated and dependable city council member. Within the last two tumultuous years, Jeremy Edwardson partnered with a seemingly unlikely docu-series collaborator: militia-member, former-strip-club-owner Carlos Zapata, known for blood in the streets violent rhetoric that briefly thrust Zapata into fleeting, international alt-right celebrity status. Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye (252), Win-River Casino Expansion: One Step(4,632), Gateway School District Update: Clif(3,529), Comment on Against Ad Hoc Committee Advice, New State California Secessionist Chriss Street May Be Countys CEO by Jolly, Comment on Against Ad Hoc Committee Advice, New State California Secessionist Chriss Street May Be Countys CEO by George Winship. As it grows, Bethel has better connected Redding to the world. Editors note: Portions of this column have been edited for clarity. Scheide. Do you support free online news in Shasta County? Bethel is a church not a PAC, she wrote. Others have been threatened by Bethel supporters. His answer matters, because if he lives in Mt. When A News Cafe contacted Johnson last week for clarification, he replied that he and his family have attended The Stirring for eight years. The next time you talk to your neighbor, you say hey, I am thankful you mowed my lawn but this is my property, before you do that again can you please ask me? Then imagine if you will that your neighbor launches into this diatribe about how you are this poor struggling person but that they are rich and powerful! Submit ithere. But some residents have grown frustrated with the megachurchs combination of other-worldly theology and increasing this-worldly clout, as the appearance of Buck Fethel T-shirts show.