One Bethel Church elder, Julie Winter, is already on the Redding City Council, with two years left in her term. At every forum Ive attended, Dacquisto has made a shameless plug for his pal Partin. Bethels slogan, On earth, as it is in heaven, directs its believers to infiltrate every aspect of their communities. What about Schreder, Sullivan, and Dacquisto? Dacquisto was recently quoted in a newspaper story with words that may eventually come back to haunt him: If people dont think I participate enough and want someone to do more, then they should vote for that candidate., Bingo! Now Im not, Listen to Sheas story, and then tell me youd reject this former Wall Street finance expert, Northern Pygmy Owl Whiskeytown Nat. Bethels theology and practices have long been controversial. Redding is a city of 93,462 in Trump-red Shasta County, which has a population of 182,000. Christian nationalist Doug Mastriano of Pennsylvania lost his Senate race to his Jewish opponent, while Kari Lake lost Arizonas governors race to the incumbent. Like Vollmers, Valenzuelas social media posts suggest a mindset aligned with election-deniers. Members of Bethel, the 11,000-member northern California megachurch famous for elaborate healing services, Bethel Music, and musician Sean Feuchts nationwide worship protests against COVID restrictions, now hold the majority on the Redding City Council after Novembers elections, according to nearly complete vote counts. Of the 10 Redding City Council candidates, who would get your vote if you were ignorant of their religious affiliations? Ive saved three candidates for last: Tenessa Audette, Joshua Johnson and Alex Shea. There are three primary reasons members are concerned about Bethel, not all of them shared by all members. She also served on the board of Advance Redding that manages the Redding Civic Auditorium, as well as Bethel Tech. Non-Bethel City Council Candidates. Thanks to Bethel, Redding is now known as a leader in the field of conversion therapy, the scientifically unfounded belief that LGBTQ people can purposely change their sexual orientation or gender identity using reparative methods such as praying the gay away. The next time you talk to your neighbor, you say hey, I am thankful you mowed my lawn but this is my property, before you do that again can you please ask me? Then imagine if you will that your neighbor launches into this diatribe about how you are this poor struggling person but that they are rich and powerful! Its not clear whether he continues to attend there. Slight segue, but Vollmers and Valenzuelas distrust in the election system begs the question: If the women win, will they accept the election results as valid? Hi. Imagine you are overworked and stressed out, Crocket explained, and your neighbor took it upon themselves to mow your lawn. These three appear the most polished, most prepared, most experienced, most articulate and most accomplished. Full disclosure: Im a member of two such Facebook groups, Bethel Affiliated Businesses and Investigating Bethel. Aside from being Dacquistos two-fer candidate, you may recall Partin from his ambitious 2012 Wine Village plan that never panned out. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Bethels theology and practices have long been controversial. Work ethic and family values were built and fostered in me beginning in the . If you are new here, or if you just fell off a turnip truck, Bethel Church is a world-famous Redding mega-church that boasts more than 10,000 members. Michael Dacquisto is the only incumbent candidate, and hes struggling to keep his footing upon a slippery slope studded with loopholes, gray areas and alleged white lies. In interviews with local candidates Shasta Scout avoided asking directly about Bethel Church involvement to avoid discriminating against individuals on the basis of their faith. Some people even draw parallels between Councilman Dacquisto and his broken website address. Would your relationship with that neighbor be positive or negative?. The fact that members of the group routinely observe and discuss whats known as the Bethel look is not necessarily hateful. As evidence, she points to the Civic; to Winter's place on the city council; to the hordes of Bethel students who volunteer across Redding, saving the city money. James Crockett, who says hes a former Bethel Church member, is now a member of The Stirring. A non-Bethel incumbent up for reelection was the top vote-getter. The device costs $2,000 and will make AED available to the general public 24/7. Its designed to attract shoppers downtown during the holidays and drive-by stoners, I guess, for the rest of the year. Local critics oppose Bethels promotion of gay conversion therapy, and its fight against COVID masks, vaccinations, and closures. That struggle led Jones to create a new, On February 28, Supervisor Jones hopes to persuade others on the Board to initiate hand counting as a way to tabulate election results in Shasta. Pity Partin, whos a respected professional in his own right. I can confidently say that (the issue of homosexuality will have) no influence on my role as a council member, Audette wrote by email. Shea said only that he has heard both positive and negative comments about the impact of Bethel in conversations around the dinner table with his wifes family, who has lived in Redding for generations. If the voters dont like the way the city is run under the new city council, they can boot them out at the next election. Duly noted. They say that judging by his frequent absences, it appears he no longer prioritizes his city council position. If you believe their statements and I do these three are enthusiastic in their dedication and genuine desire to make Redding a better place. Yes, Audette and Shea are Bethel Church members. As you can imagine, the conversation sometimes gets testy. Scientologists have bought most of downtown and the chamber of commerce. Earnest deputy county clerk Ian Hill falls into a bless his pea-pickin heart category. Redding City Council candidates Joshua Johnson, left, and Alex Shea. Thousands of people attended, the majority of whom were members of Bethel Church and The Stirring. Thursday, August 17, 2023 Aug 17, 2023 - Register Now. Instead, I make my selections based upon candidates backgrounds, experience, endorsements, creativity, tenacity, enthusiasm, ideas, energy, and the amount of work theyve invested in their campaigns. Is it appropriate to scrutinize candidates religious beliefs or the church they attend? Tenessa is a graduate of Leadership Redding, and serves on the Steering Committee, organizing the Government program. I certainly dont advocate boycotting, doxing or threatening anyone. Dacquisto delivers that line with a chuckle, but his meaning is serious: Dacquisto and Partin will vote in tandem. Bethels 2017 donation of half-a-million dollars to help fund Redding police and another $25,000 to fund police drones hasnt been forgotten by the community. She also praised the volunteerism Bethel students are required to engage in with the city as part of Bethels School of Supernatural Ministry, a total she says of over 14,000 hours of community service every year. Audette says those hours indicate strong community buy-in and that as a result of them, the city has regularly qualified for andreceived grant funding. the three fall flat when it comes to suggesting tangible, realistic solutions for those problems. Both candidates said despite that teaching they would not discriminate against the gay community in any way in their role on the council. I recall my concerns/fears/disappointment when Julie Winter first won a seat on the Redding City Council. Bethel Affiliated Businesses currently lists 67 businesses, including restaurants, bakeries, cafes and salons as having a Bethel affiliation. . He and his wife Lois live in Colorado. And with that slippery slope, youve hit rock bottom. A big fat $150 million casino on the south side of town, a den of iniquity to balance the $150 million purity palace Bethels constructing on the north side of Redding. I was born in the mid 80's in Yuba City, California but moved as an infant to Redding, California where I was raised and ultimately started my family. Audette called the idea that she has access to Bethel funding one of the biggest myths she has heard. The City of Redding, incorporated on October 4, 1887, is a general law city formed under state legislative statutes and governed by a body of laws in the State Constitution. As a nonprofit religious institution, Bethel is not permitted to endorse or fund political candidates. Were talking about vision, Jake. Do you have a correction to this story? Which of those three domains would you assume is Dacquistos true residence? Im not down with cancel culture. To donate, Invading Babylon: The 7 Mountain Mandate,, Jack W. Hayford, Charismatics Gold Standard, Has Died, Vandals Deface Church Hosting Sean Feucht New Years Eve Worship Event, Charismatic Revivalist Todd Bentley Widening Ministry Despite Scandals and Disqualification, Eden Village Ministry Aims to End Homelessness Through Tiny Home Communities, Gateway Seminary to Fund Short-Term Mission Trips for All Students, Vineyard Pastor Resigns, Wont Cooperate With Probe Into Sons Alleged Misconduct, Why Businessman Peter Chung Matters for the Future of The Kings College. As Trump ran for reelection, Vallotton used the Bethel pulpit to encourage attendees to vote for Trump or risk facing Gods displeasure. They feel like their vision for Redding is being supplanted by someone elses, that theyre being replaced by Bethelbots, that the system is rigged. If you live in Shasta County, youre probably familiar with Bethel Church, a North Redding megachurch with an attendance of approximately 10,000. Reviews, coupons, analysis, whois, global ranking and traffic for ctfirewood.com. For some, its one more reason to appreciate the churchs outsized local impact, which they feel is mostly positive. Bethel withdrew from the Assemblies of God in 2006. Votes NO without offering any solutions, vision, or alternative direction. Have a question? Feb 20, 2023 5:15 PM . Together, the trio has amassed hundreds of endorsements from the proverbial Whos Who of Shasta Countys movers, shakers, makers, workers, creators, business people, educators, elected leaders, law enforcement and influencers. Dacquisto may have once been an active member in the community, but it is widely known locally that is no longer the case. My heartburn worsened after watching Audettes guest appearance on Bethel top-gun pastor Kris Vallottons podcast, where Audette discusses, among other things, Gods role in government and if politicians should Christianize a nation. Crockett says while hes sure some in the church would endorse Christian Nationalism he doesnt believe most in the churchs rank-and-file are even sure what that term means and he has not heard it taught from the pulpit. 2018. Julie was elected to the City Council in November 2016 for a four-year term, and re-elected in November 2020 for an additional four-year term. Redding Area Bus Authority - Regular Meeting. Bloomberg News and on CNN, KQED and KPFA. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. That meant that some people threw their votes away on Vollmers, who endorsed Erin Resner, someone currently embroiled in an extremely heated run-off against opponent Kevin Crye in next months election. Jack W. Hayford, an author, radio teacher, and pastor once called The Pentecostal Gold Standard, died Sunday morning at his home in, Vandals defaced a California church hosting a New Years Eve event by controversial worship leader Sean Feucht with messages like F*** Sean, A charismatic minister is apparently widening his revival and healing ministry despite having been disqualified because of a steady pattern of ungodly. Dozens of local businesses have been started by Bethel attendees and many local short-term rentals are either owned by those affiliated with the church or house those who visit the region for faith tourism. I'm scared Lol. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. Bruce Dean . But you know what else has pretty lights? You then assert the same sort of hateful things are being posted, with Bethel taking the place of Blue People, in Bethel Affiliated Business, Investigating Bethel and numerous other Facebook groups you say are devoted to hating Bethel Church and its members., You write, Any of these posts would create a huge issue in the human resources department of your business and perhaps land the author in court for libel, defamation of character, or perhaps even a hate crime.. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Literally. As Snow Falls In A Redding Camp, Unhoused Community Members Keep Warm With Propane Heaters And Campfires, Shasta County Supervisors, Sheriff, Face Off Over Constitutionality Of Proposed 2nd Amendment Resolution, Reddings Proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance Update Doesnt Take Into Account City Housing Data: Heres Why That Matters, Proposed 2nd Amendment Resolution Is An Overreach of Boards Authority, Shasta County Legal Counsel Warns, Heres What We Spent To Produce The News In 2022, Heres How Weve Funded Free And Independent Shasta County News This Year, Editorial: We Build Democracy By Telling The Truth About Power, Our Diverse Community and Ourselves, Building Democracy: Were Opening Our Reporters Notebooks. Listen to Johnson speak and tell me youre not impressed. 1. In many ways, Crockett is a bright outlier in this race; but also someone who can come across as somewhat prickly at times. Shes engaged with the public. Such a deal! Below are excerpts from Johnsons post of accusations against Dacquisto: City of Redding insiders describe incumbent Dacquisto as weary and worn out. He was an instructor at Fuller and Denver seminaries and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Yes, Johnson attends the Stirring Church. Yikes!! The seven mountains are education, religion, family, business, government/military, arts/entertainment and media. Former Bethel volunteer worship leader and visible political activist Sean Feucht has openly endorsed Christian Nationalism over recent months, but Shea and Audette both said that belief is not part ofthe churchs teachings. Kathy Vallotton, Bethel Church senior pastor, $1,000. Council members must be residents of the City and registered .

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