FT. LAUDERDALE AND PROSPERITY PREACHING

Unlike Dallas, Atlanta, or Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale is hardly known for their Prosperity and Seeker Sensitive preachers. But just because we are "under the radar" when it comes to these big cities, it doesn't mean that the town is not flooded with some of the most respected teachers in this arena. Take for instance the man to the left, "Rev". Daniel Stanley (D.S.) Mundell.

Up until 2004, Mundell had a very popular church in town called Solid Rock Family Worship Center (COGIC). Then all of a sudden, Mundell announced to his congregation during a service that he was shutting down the church. Flash forward four years later: After a period of time spreading his prosperity message around the country, Mundell has resurfaced in Hallendale Beach, FL (just outside of Miami) and has started a new church called Good Shepherd Ministries.

This past Sunday, the Sun-Sentinel, our local newspaper, did a special report on the workings of "Rev." Mundell. And from visiting his church on occasion back when I was in this health, wealth, and prosperity stuff, and knowing people who have been members of his "ministry" (my mom's best friend and my sibling's father included), I can speak with affirmation to a lot of the things exposed in this report.

Now many will say that the media is trying to attack Christianity by doing this report, but I would like to help many of my brothers and sisters understand that Mundell, and other teachers like him, are not representing Jesus. But rather, are wolves in sheep's clothing. Just because a man claims to be speaking in the name of Jesus, does not mean he has Christ's endorsement in what he says. And as long a people continue to use other means, such as experience or their personal preferences, to be the standard in their lives--and not Holy Scripture--men like Mundell will continue to be exposed but many will still be too blind to see the sunlight.

To read articles and watch videos on D.S. Mundell, click here

UPDATE (5/20/08): The Sun-Sentinel is reporting today that "Rev." Mundell has been removed as the pastor of Good Shepherd Ministries. Apparently, the backlash of the special report from the newspaper caused the church's vice-president to dismiss him immediately. To read the article, please click here

A QUOTE FROM CHARLES SPURGEON

Anthony Carter uses the term "Dead Heroes" when referring to the men whom he admires in the Faith who has passed on. Well, without question, my favorite "Dead Hero" of all-time has got to be Charles Haddon Spurgeon. As many in Reformed circles know, he has an eloquence in his preaching that makes you want to shout "Hallelujah" with all your might. And this is proven once again from the following quote on true saving grace:

“A man who is really saved by grace does not need to be told that he is under solemn obligations to serve Christ. The new life within him tells him that. Instead of regarding it as a burden, he gladly surrenders himself–body, soul, and spirit–to the Lord who has redeemed him, reckoning this to be his reasonable service.”

A MAJOR STEP

One of my first assignments, when I started working at my church, was to write a grant that would aid in the reforming of our church's worship services. The grant we applied to was the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship's Worship Renewal Grant, which paid up to $10,000 for projects that dealt with reforming worship in churches. Well, I am proud to say that my church was a recipient to one of these grants, and we will be implementing the project entitled, "Reformed Theology and the African-American Pastor". This project will equip our ministers in--not only the doctrines of the Reformed Faith--but also in how we should implement it within the African-American Worship experience. We hope that the LORD will bless this project, and that next year (LORD willing) more churches will be involved in our endeavors.

I ask that you please pray for this project's success, as we at OZPBC look to carry the truths of the Reformed Faith to our African-American communities.