Mark's Notebook


	Things are more like they are now than they have ever been. - Gerald Ford

One sinner's repentance

San Jose Mercury News

Thursday 14 April 2005, 1:47 pm
Keywords: Christian Topics , News Articles

Santa Cruz church embraces confessed sex offender, now assistant pastor

By Ken McLaughlin, Mercury News

During his morning sermon last Sunday, Senior Pastor Dave Johnston of the Calvary Chapel in Santa Cruz preached redemption. He mentioned Mary Magdalene, the prostitute chosen by Christ to be the first witness to his resurrection, as a powerful example of faith changing someone's life.

But when he began to talk about someone "closer to home," Johnston choked back tears.

One of his own assistant pastors, Johnston disclosed to 250 members of the congregation, is a registered sex offender who has spent time in prison.

Church members know him as an ordained pastor for the past three years for a congregation that is part of a worldwide network of more than 2,000 non-denominational churches founded by Chuck Smith. Smith is the originator of "the Jesus Movement," which more than three decades ago in Southern California began ministering to flower children, gang-bangers, heroin addicts and many of society's rejects.

Everyone from religious leaders to prison guards understands that true change comes from deep within. Whether it is through Jesus or hours of intense clinical therapy, sex offenders learn to understand and control the forces that led them to commit their sordid crimes. Still, powerful questions remain -- religious as well as secular.

Do those with troubled pasts -- like Mary Magdalene -- become especially vigilant Christians because they remain aware of past sins? And where does all of this leave victims?

"It is a hard pill for a lot of people to swallow," said Michelle, who heads the women's ministry.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/central_
coast/11359232.htm