May 22, 2020
It is an incredible testament to our church family that so many would unite to protect and save our congregation. Numerous fantastic groups are forming with the intent to pray for and call to action members and regular attenders to save our beloved Church. We are best when we all speak together as one voice -- a vote.
As time passes more and more effort is being devoted to divide, dilute and/or destroy the momentous effort to save our beloved Church. Numerous roadblocks are being deployed to prevent the voice of the congregation from being heard.
With permission, we wanted to share with you a recent email exchange between a church member and the response from former Deacon Body Chairman Paul Weinberg as to what will happen with the Petition request for a no-confidence vote of James Robert Welch. Please pay close attention to the response from the Chairman of the Deacon body.
Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 7:39 PM
To: Paul Weinberg <pweinberg@keithteam.com>
Subject: Reply to Paul Weinberg, Deacon Chairman
Micah 3:11 (NLT) "You rulers govern for the bribes you can get, you priests teach GOD's laws only for a price, you prophets won't prophesy unless you are paid.Yet all of you claim you are depending on the LORD. :"No harm can come to us" you say, "for the LORD is here among us."
Dear Deacon Chairman, Paul Weinberg,
It has been frustrating not being able to worship GOD with our Church family through Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, but God is doing a work in His Church and in the World, as there is a global Revival pending.
I was mildly surprised that the pressing concern of over 680 members of this body was not addressed in this letter you sent to us. Ignoring to mention the "Petition" by name re the "no confidence" in our 1 yr old Pastor would not make this concern go away. This body has been torn asunder and not looking for an immediate resolution would only prolong the pain. As per the Church's By Laws we need to vote on this Petition as soon as we are able to congregate as a body for a Meeting.
The 680 are not going anywhere to allow the few to change the Biblical way we want to worship GOD reverently at FBFTL. Prolonging the agony is not Biblical Love.
We forgive Pastor James who has experience in Church planting. FBFTL is established. FBFTL needs to continue to grow in GOD's Love, Grace, Mercy, Salvation and Forgiveness and build on GOD's legacy here in South Florida.
I love you with the love of the LORD
---------- Original Message ----------
From: Paul Weinberg <pweinberg@keithteam.com>
Cc: Jay Johnston <JayJ@fbftl.com>
Date: May 7, 2020 at 12:17 PM
Subject: RE: Reply to Paul Weinberg, Deacon Chairman
Good morning – I hope this note finds you well and thank you for your follow up on the note that I sent to the congregation. I agree that it has been frustrating not being able to gather in house of God and worship as a body of believers, but I am thankful for technology and the ability to stay at least some what connected during these times. First of all I am sorry if my note discouraged you or others in anyway. Please know that my heart is one of trying to lift up the body and continue to try and focus back on Jesus. I know that many are hurting – I want their to be healing; I pray for this daily and beg God to have his way with His Bride, our church. Not my will but his be done and in the end I have to trust in the Lord and lean not on my own understanding. I am not a perfect, far from it, just ask my wife! � I will continue to try and do my best and will default back to a focus on Jesus as much as I can in all situations and by trying to show the fruits of the spirit in any exchange that I have with an individual, small group or congregation.
Please know that the issues addressed in the petition and as voiced by those in membership as well as just concerned regular attenders and others have been heard. They have been heard by our Pastoral Team, Trustees and Deacon Body. My letter to the congregation was not intended to address only those on the petition but all of those in our congregation. I am sorry if you feel it would be appropriate or helpful for me to address those that are on the petition directly I would be glad to do so – but I feel that my responsibility is not only to those on the petition but also those not on the petition. There are essentially three groups of people in our congregation at this time. Some that are upset and believe that Pastor James should no longer be our pastor, some that are concerned with some of the decisions and/or process by which decisions have been made but believe Pastor James should remain as a part of the solution and another group that believes in Pastor James and the decisions that have been made. I believe that all of these groups have intentions to build the Body of Christ and His Bride. I believe that Godly men and women make up these groups. No matter which of these positions/groups someone finds themselves it is important as a church we remember that there are multiple perspectives on these matters at hand.
As I have discussed with others, in my opinion there will be no winner if it comes down to a vote. The Bride of Christ will suffer in either scenario or outcome. At this point I am asking you to pray that God would move in a mighty way and have grace and favor on the Bride. That as a church our focus would be on Jesus Christ and that our Pastor would be able to connect with the congregation to inspire and instill not only trust; but more importantly a heart for the Lost in south Florida. Let us not grow weary of doing good! Praying for you now that God would meet you at your place of need.
No matter what anyone’s opinion is on these matter‘s at hand I’m begging people to set down any personal interest and pray for the Bride of Christ.
Pray that Gods people would be granted wisdom
Pray for healing and reconciliation
Pray that God and Gospel will go forth
Pray that Holy Spirit would bring forth love, joy, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control
Pray that we will hold things with open hands and not clenched
Pray that our actions as a church in this moment will not impair our witness in the community
Pray that our focus can be on Jesus and the Lost
God is not surprised by anything; nor is He worried. Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. If you would like to talk at all about your concerns or to confirm any details you may have heard that don’t sound right to you (or others) I am available.
Love in Christ –
Paul Weinberg, PLA, ASLA
Executive Vice President
2312 S. Andrews Ave, Ft. Lauderdale
Office: 954.788.3400 | Mobile: 954.593.7848
Email: pweinberg@keithteam.com
www.KEITHteam.com
To: Paul Weinberg <pweinberg@keithteam.com>
Date: May 7, 2020 at 4:52 PM
Subject: RE: Reply to Paul Weinberg, Deacon Chairman
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be to GOD who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
Dear Deacon Chairman, Paul Weinberg
Just picking up your response. Thank you for your heartfelt details. Spent today on various virtuals, praying with the faithful on this 2020 National Day of Prayer for the USA. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
So good to learn that the concerns of the "Petition" have been heard. The "Body" exercised it's FBFTL BY LAWS Right when it commissioned and authorized by a Vote, for the search of a Pastor, and it is not up to " you or others" to make a final decision, when one is selected turns out not to be what was expected, and that a "Vote" will make the "Bride of Christ" suffer!
The Deacon Board or the Trustees cannot prevent a vote of "No Confidence" by the "Body" as per the FBFTL BY Laws. Even our perfect Savior, Jesus the Christ choose His betrayer, His doubter and His deny-or as disciples. Our search committee in their haste and despair after 3 years hurriedly choose a misfit.
"You and others" cannot push reconciliation down the throats of so many of the faithful when the BY Laws state we have the right to the "VOTE".
The "Bride of Christ" will recover from the Surgery!
I love Pastor James and pray for him, but I believe GOD will use his GOD given talents elsewhere.
We are pleading for what the FBFTL BY Laws afford us, "The VOTE".
GOD will Rehabilitate us! We continue live by faith and prayer!
Lovingly in God's name, the name above all names, and in the name of Jesus the Christ, our Savior, and all in the power of His Holy Spirit