Pastor Haggard resigns

By now I'm sure everyone has learned of the Rev Ted Haggard fiasco. Haggard has been accused of having sexual relations and buying meth from a male escort. Today, Haggard has formally resigned his position from the 15,000 member church New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO.

I have somewhat of a connection to Haggard so this horrible news really makes me sad. Ted Haggard, in the early 80's used to be a youth pastor at one of the local churches just outside of Baton Rouge. He was a very dynamic pastor with a real vision and heart for young people. In just a few short years, he reached hundreds of kids for Christ including my sister. And if my memory serves me correctly, he left BR to build the church he has just resigned from in Colorado Springs.

Needless to say, all of us who knew Pastor Ted are in shock and heart broken. Christians should never take pleasure in seeing the fall of a Christian leader. We should be praying and believing for his total and complete restoration. Not simply throwing him out with the trash. I know that there are conflicting testimonies about what actually went on between Ted and the escort, but the damage has been done and he will need the church now more than ever.

I have seen many evangelist, pastors, and priest fall throughout my 20 years of being a Christian. Not one time did I ever questioned my faith or belief in Christ or His church. I know that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that I am saved only by grace. People continue to attend or support the church because the church was and is established by God, not man!

I mentioned in a previous post about the importance of living a 'blameless' life as a leader. I can't think of a better example of the consequences.