Trinity United Methodist Church condones lying and fraud

[spill the beans]

The youth minister (Mercer) at this church called a meeting for all parents and kids going on a ski trip sponsored by the church, so he could explain the rules while on the ski trip. Most of the kids were 13 years old and a few 14 and 12. During the instruction portion of the session he told the 13 year olds that when he’s up at the ticket counter buying lift tickets and they hear him by them a 12 and under ticket, don’t go running up and saying I’m 13 because 12 year old tickets are half the price of 13 year old lift tickets. Which is true, a 3 day lift ticket for a 12 and under is over $130 less than a 13 year and older ticket. Bid savings when you have a lot of 13 year olds. So this youth minister at the Trinity United Methodist Church just taught these kids that lying, cheating, and fraud is OK if it’s in your best interest. Should he be in jail for teaching kids that lying and fraud are OK if it benefits you and you don’t get caught?

[Joe Bleau]

Gotta just LOVE religion!!! But, of course, despite it, people ARE people, hehehehe!!!

[casualobserver]

as long as it's done in the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost, it'll be OK

[family feud]

Hi "spill the beans". You are correct to point this out. It is fraud, lying and a bad example. But doesn't the New Testament teach us to settle our differences in the church, not out in public like in this online forum? Please confront the youth minister and possibly personnel committee about this instead of defaming the church and Christians in general. As long as people are involved in the church, it won't be perfect!

[agree with stb]

family feud wrote:

Hi "spill the beans". You are correct to point this out. It is fraud, lying and a bad example. But doesn't the New Testament teach us to settle our differences in the church, not out in public like in this online forum? Please confront the youth minister and possibly personnel committee about this instead of defaming the church and Christians in general. As long as people are involved in the church, it won't be perfect!

Spill the beans seems to be telling it like it is. I hear the church has rewarded Mercer for his methods and accomplishments since he has been promoted to associate pastor of this huge church. I’m sure he trained his successor well. I know atheist that attend burning man religiously that have more moral character than that youth minister. That can’t be the only time he has done such things. I say he should be charged with fraud and tried for it since he was suppose to be an example to the kids. People like this need to be punished. Who knows what he will do next, or is doing. What’s bad is that he seems to have done it in such a way as to get a whole group of people to join in with the act of fraud. But coming from the youth minister it must be OK, right?

[thank you]

spill the beans wrote:

The youth minister (Mercer) at this church called a meeting for all parents and kids going on a ski trip sponsored by the church, so he could explain the rules while on the ski trip. Most of the kids were 13 years old and a few 14 and 12. During the instruction portion of the session he told the 13 year olds that when he’s up at the ticket counter buying lift tickets and they hear him by them a 12 and under ticket, don’t go running up and saying I’m 13 because 12 year old tickets are half the price of 13 year old lift tickets. Which is true, a 3 day lift ticket for a 12 and under is over $130 less than a 13 year and older ticket. Bid savings when you have a lot of 13 year olds. So this youth minister at the Trinity United Methodist Church just taught these kids that lying, cheating, and fraud is OK if it’s in your best interest. Should he be in jail for teaching kids that lying and fraud are OK if it benefits you and you don’t get caught?

Thank you for exposing evil within a "church". The Lord has instructions for us in a situation such as this.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17
King James Version (KJV)

14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

[wow]

thank you wrote:

<quoted text>
Thank you for exposing evil within a "church". The Lord has instructions for us in a situation such as this.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
King James Version (KJV)
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

who has Given any of You the Authority To Expose?.. and Why NOT expose the GOOD.........Stop Hating.and Get Ur Lives Right with Jesus......stop exposing all Bad ...Now Thats Judging

[thank you]

wow wrote:

<quoted text> who has Given any of You the Authority To Expose?.. and Why NOT expose the GOOD.........Stop Hating.and Get Ur Lives Right with Jesus......stop exposing all Bad ...Now Thats Judging

Well, not sure exactly what you advocate. You say "who has given any of YOU the authority To Expose....then a short pause and you are saying "Why NOT expose the GOOD" then back to the first statement .
"stop exposing all BAD". You say don't expose, do expose, don't expose. Huh?

[quiet riot]

Why expose Bad things?

[thank you]

quiet riot wrote:

Why expose Bad things?

I ask you, Why not expose bad. My Lord did. Are we not to follow His example?
John 2:14
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

John 2:15
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

John 2:16
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

Do you think God is pleased to have lying, and cheating taught to children without even a whisper of protest from believers? We are to teach our children right from wrong, not condone it. It should be exposed what is happening in a so-called "church". It is unchristian what the man told the children.

[quiet riot]

[QUOTE whoo="thank you"]<quoted text>
I ask you, Why not expose bad. My Lord did. Are we not to follow His example?
John 2:14
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
John 2:15
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
John 2:16
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
Do you think God is pleased to have lying, and cheating taught to children without even a whisper of protest from believers? We are to teach our children right from wrong, not condone it. It should be exposed what is happening in a so-called "church". It is unchristian what the man told the children.[/QUOTE] do u have Skeletons in Ur Closet??... If So, Its Gonna Be exposed!!.. Gal 6:6 ... Reap What u Sow

[thank you]

quiet riot wrote:

<quoted text> do u have Skeletons in Ur Closet??... If So, Its Gonna Be exposed!!.. Gal 6:6 ... Reap What u Sow

Don't know what you call skeleton's but if you are talking about sins; all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, BUT thank the Lord we are told in
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Trying to divert attention away from the teaching children in the church that lying and cheating is OK, trying to hide the evil of such teaching is not confessing wrong doing.

[thank you]

John 8:44 The Lord tells us

King James Version (KJV)

44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

[thank you]

spill the beans wrote:

The youth minister (Mercer) at this church called a meeting for all parents and kids going on a ski trip sponsored by the church, so he could explain the rules while on the ski trip. Most of the kids were 13 years old and a few 14 and 12. During the instruction portion of the session he told the 13 year olds that when he’s up at the ticket counter buying lift tickets and they hear him by them a 12 and under ticket, don’t go running up and saying I’m 13 because 12 year old tickets are half the price of 13 year old lift tickets. Which is true, a 3 day lift ticket for a 12 and under is over $130 less than a 13 year and older ticket. Bid savings when you have a lot of 13 year olds. So this youth minister at the Trinity United Methodist Church just taught these kids that lying, cheating, and fraud is OK if it’s in your best interest. Should he be in jail for teaching kids that lying and fraud are OK if it benefits you and you don’t get caught?

I think someone from the church should notify the ski resort to be on the lookout for a group of youth from Trinity Church of Ruston, La. that intends to defraud them by lying about the ages of members of the group. I'm sure they would be ready to have an arrest made. If I can find where they are going, I'll notify the resort. After all the resort owners are trying to make an honest living, paying taxes, upkeep and all expenses.It is not a christian act to plot to beat them out of their just pay.

[thank you]

3 John 1:4

King James Version (KJV)

4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

[thank you]

The actions of the youth director at the Trinity church has so bothered me, I can't quit thinking about it. I think of all the money we have given to the Methodist to spread the gospel, then to find now that the church condones such evil as to teach young people that lying, cheating and fraud are OK is a heartbreak. There is our next generation of leaders in this USA and we will have them taught- in a "church" that the love of money, put me first, have no compassion for those who try to earn a living is better than the love of God to the detriment of their souls and the morality of the citizens of our nation in what was once a Christian nation. Has the church actually given that director a promotion or kept him there as an employee? Where are the christian leaders within that "church"?

[tell]

Go tell the pastor

[thank you]

tell wrote:

Go tell the pastor

Does the pastor not know? If he don't that doesn't speak well of him as he should have oversight of the flock.

[agree with stb]

I know this dude. Brian Mercer. I was at this meeting when he did this. At the time I thought to myself what a jerk but since no one else said anything why should I. I don’t go to church for this very reason. Hypocrites. But I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it since my son was going on the ski trip and my wife is a big church fan and contributor. After he made the statement about lying and fraud I saw two fathers whispering about what he said and then Mercer makes this statement that went something like ‘ hey, I said to pay attention and not talk” I thought, what a jerk. What disrespect. Seems his ego is two times bigger than his IQ. For the person that wants to report him, it was a ski trip to Breckenridge. Personally, he should be arrested for fraud. Not for the act itself but for the lesson he taught to the kids. Or at least fired and given a job where he has no influence on the lives of others. What a loser. Religion. What a joke. I’ll check to see if he still has his job and report monthly. It will be interesting to see what excuses the church comes up with to keep him on the payroll. If they stays on the payroll that means he has dirt or pictures of someone doing something or he has friend in high places within the church.

[thank you]

agree with stb wrote:

I know this dude. Brian Mercer. I was at this meeting when he did this. At the time I thought to myself what a jerk but since no one else said anything why should I. I don’t go to church for this very reason. Hypocrites. But I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it since my son was going on the ski trip and my wife is a big church fan and contributor. After he made the statement about lying and fraud I saw two fathers whispering about what he said and then Mercer makes this statement that went something like ‘ hey, I said to pay attention and not talk” I thought, what a jerk. What disrespect. Seems his ego is two times bigger than his IQ. For the person that wants to report him, it was a ski trip to Breckenridge. Personally, he should be arrested for fraud. Not for the act itself but for the lesson he taught to the kids. Or at least fired and given a job where he has no influence on the lives of others. What a loser. Religion. What a joke. I’ll check to see if he still has his job and report monthly. It will be interesting to see what excuses the church comes up with to keep him on the payroll. If they stays on the payroll that means he has dirt or pictures of someone doing something or he has friend in high places within the church.

Thank you for the follow up you will report. It's time we Christians expose wrongdoing and oppose such actions as this youth director exhibited.