To the Tulsa 6
 

I read this on another site and thought some folks here might be interested:


January 8, 2008

Johnny Godair, Kenny Godair, Larry Booker, Floyd Odom, Crawford Coon, N.J. Wilson, (sent to other concerned Ministers)



Dear Brethren:

Please forgive me, but I feel I MUST write this to you and allow others that are involved read my sentiments. If I were 30 years old, I could never write this letter; but I am 63 now and contemporary with all of you. I have shared a wonderful relationship and friendship with most of you and my heart is deeply grieved, to say the least. I do not consider myself higher or deeper in holiness than anyone else. I seek the Lord earnestly every day and ask for His Precious Blood to cover me. Just last Sunday I preached, “Cleanse Me” – “Search me oh God, and know my heart…..see if there be any wicked way in me”. I must be saved!

Brethren, I have always had great love and respect for all of you.

Brother Odom – we have known one another for years and we’ve been on a first name basis. Your ministry has been incredible in our movement and you have a special gift. Your life has been impeccable.

Brother Johnny Godair – from the time we ‘connected’ in Manila at the World Conference there has been a special love and deep admiration between us. Few men have impacted the movement or a city as you have.

Brother Crawford Coon – there is just no way that I can describe to you the love and respect we have had for your ministry, and the times we have spent together in Camp Meetings, your home and church, and elsewhere have been so awesome.

Brother Larry Booker – you have always been to us the gentle giant, with the big heart, and incredible ministry in our movement.

Brother Kenny Godair – you have had a dynamic ministry and your stand for holiness and righteousness is well known.

Brother Wilson – Sister Mallory and I had the privilege of working closely with you for more than 5 years, my middle son for 20 years. Two of my sons married girls from your church. We have had unbelievable times of close fellowship and dreams together. Men outside marveled that two strong men could get along so well together. In all the time we were together, not one unkind word passed between us. You were a perfect gentleman to me and my family and we will always appreciate that.

So, I want it understood from the outset that I have great love for you men. I do not wish to accuse you of ulterior motives. I know you have felt strongly about the passing of the resolution. I have consistently voted with you every time it came up for a vote. However, what is happening at present appears to be the forming of an unholy alliance that will surely fail. You can say, “Who is he to say these things to us”? Right now, I must take the risk, because I cannot tell you how deeply I feel that what you are insisting happen is wrong and doomed for failure. This is not what I ‘think’. This is what I know! Two wrongs don’t ever make a right, and there are several things that are just plain wrong.

It is wrong to break up families over this. I have heard all of the arguments that this is about more than TV and that our movement is full of make-up and all kinds of worldliness, and that many of our young preacher’s don’t even believe the New Birth anymore. I think I’m about as well traveled as any of you, and although we will always be fighting against the world and its influence just as Paul did, the UPCI is full of Godly men and women, both old and young, that have an intense love for this Truth. I have been incredibly encouraged as I’ve traveled in so-called liberal and conservative churches and found men following hard after Truth and Holiness more than ever before. Our Fundamental Doctrine and Articles of Faith are totally intact. We are the strongest and most powerful Apostolic movement on earth and the potential for this revelation coming to the masses has never been greater. The UPCI will always struggle to keep the world out. Sorry, but I happen to know people that said they are going to Tulsa that have a real problem with the world themselves. These are problems we all face.

Would you agree that it is wrong to lie or misrepresent? When one of the Philippine Dream Team Captains gave an interview to a recent World Report, I pointed out to the Chairman of Pentecom, and to Brother Wilson, that the article was totally bogus and just plain wrong, and that a similar report in the same magazine in 2004 contradicted the later article. This isn’t a little white lie we are talking about here. This is the most blatantly untrue article I have ever seen in print, in the church, in all my years in ministry. I never did hear from the Dream Teamer, whom I challenged directly, but only from Brother Wilson who wrote a short E-mail telling me that the mix-up was because they were ‘between editors’. Does that explain the article full of falsehoods? And instead of calling me, someone called Brother Art Martinez from the Philippines, to verify or not, the article. Everyone now knows that the article was totally false. And yet the ‘Dream Teamer’ is listed on your website as a member of your Foreign Missions Committee. Is this the kind of leadership that is forming in your organization that some of you have even denied is an organization? And is this consistent with an ‘Apostolic Alternative’?

Do you think it is right to be calling pastors all over the country talking to them for hours at a time trying to convince them to be a part of the ‘Alternative’? I have personally had men call me to tell me they had been offered positions on Counsels or Committees and then were surprised to see their names show up on lists that they never approved. One told me that he felt like he was being ‘bought’. I have seen letters from some of you that seemed to indicate you would not do what you are now doing. Whether it is the intent or not, this is causing confusion in the minds of some and in the ones I’ve talked to, has caused them to change their minds about Tulsa. It seems to me if the ‘Alternative’ is necessary and viable that men would be clamoring to be a part and that you wouldn’t have to resort to a ‘Full Court Press’ to try to convince men to come. This is not a ‘movement’ that is starting. This appears to be a desperate attempt to divide the body.

As long as I can remember, the UPCI has been a movement that has granted great liberty to preach, teach, publish, etc. We are a diverse group and there is strength in diversity, but not in disunity. Diversity without unity is like having eggs, flour, shorting, sugar, etc. on a plate and calling it a cake. You don’t have a cake until everything is blended together. This is why within the UPCI structure you can have meetings like PSR (West Coast), Landmark, Impact, No Limits, East Coast, Because of the Times, Steadfast, on and on. Many of these meetings and others will continue to evolve where the convictions and hearts of men can be dispensed with no strings attached. And the passing of the resolution has not negatively impacted these meetings or my local church even one iota. But local church members, who do not understand what is going on, have been stirred and unsettled because this Tulsa news has filtered out. When you have all of these meetings where men can still get together and preach their convictions and concerns, you tell me….why do we need Tulsa? You may like me or hate me….obviously I am not running for political office here. As I see it, the ‘Alternative’ is not about Holiness….it’s about politics.

Now, I am not naïve, I know that you six have crossed over the line, the dye has been cast, and you cannot be un-convinced. But I will still boldly suggest for you brethren to reconsider what you are doing. How can you possibly believe that you can now have more influence for preaching righteousness and holiness from outside the body. We need to stay together!

Lastly, since the birth of Ruth and Verena Cady in 1984, they have shared much. They shared the same womb before their birth, and the same room after birth. But the bond between Ruthie and Verena goes even further. They share the same heart. Their bodies are fused together from the sternum to the waist. Though they have separate nervous systems and distinct personalities, they are sustained by the same, singular three chamber heart. Neither could survive without the other. Since separation is not an option, cooperation becomes an obligation. They’ve learned to make up for each other’s weaknesses. Brethren, we need each other! You may feel that what you are doing is irreversible, but that’s not true.

This may have been an effort in futility as far as you responding , but if it helps others to see things a little more clearly and understand that our potential as a movement toward holiness and evangelism is now stronger than it’s ever been, I’ll be happy.

Yours in His Service,

Gordon Mallory

God bless Brother Mallory and continue to give him courage to speak for righteousness and truth.

Help us God, in these terrible moments of the United Pentecostal Church. Give us Your mind, help us to reconcile our differences, help our ministers to know Your Way, and to walk on that path, no matter how challenging that may be.

As one closely associated with ministry all my life--as one involved in ministry--I must confess to feeling troubled and unsettled. I know God is our answer and our hope, but He works through men, and it frightens me to see powerful, good men so divided.

I trust the organizers of Tulsa have considered us who have no say, no vote, no voice, but who are God's sheep, God's tender sheep, who may be damaged by such division and discord.

God help us, sincerely I pray. God help us.

God bless him indeed!! Wow...

That's neat... when I read the last line I said out loud... WOW.

And I'm so glad such a letter was written, even if it's not heeded. It was obviously written in love and kindness.

We do need each other.

It appears they have only one agenda...their own, with no thought of who it is they are called to serve - the sheep. The under-shephard should be about feeding the sheep. Jesus told Peter, "If you love me, feed my sheep!" I am afraid they are bent on serving self more than the sheep. God help the sheep. God help the home missionary. God help the foriegn missionary. We can do so much more together, despite our differences, than we can divided. Oh, God help us all!

Yes we do...

Well, this confirms all that some of us have been saying and were told wasn't correct!

Way to go Bro. Mallory!

I kept waiting for a joke and his googly eye thingy.

I have the utmost respect for Bro. Mallory. Wisdom from God.

Respectfully,
Rhoni

When Gordon Mallory speaks, I am very much inclined to pay close attention.

Certainly, he has put his finger dead on the problem. It is not about the work of God, it is about amputating the body of Christ for the sake of politics.

God bless brother Mallory, a proven faithful warrior of the cross for many years.

I must say " Amen" to Br. Mallory. He has been a favorite minister of mine for years. I think he has spoken his heart and spoken for many of the membership of the UPC.

ummm hmmmm
same Bro Mallory who tried to sue the UPCI???

I agree 100%

He is like a goose he wakes up in a new world everyday! One letter he is indicting them to high Heavens then this? Some folks are consistent in that they are never consistant.

My guess there will be more nuts like GR from Tampa at that meeting than upci preachers. GR is salvating like a rabid dog over the Tulsa Tango.

I very seriously doubt that GR goes to Tulsa I would be surprized.

He posted on the apostolic pretender he was going. This group has about as much credibility as a skunk in a perfume shop. If the Tulsa Tango is open to anyone, they are going to see more hillbillies and inbreds than upci ministers.

I guess I was wrong. But he is not going to be a non-objective observer I promise you that.

Objective and GR in the same sentence never crossed my mind. I'm suprise he knows where Tulsa is.

I can assure you, whether you agree with his letter or not, Brother Mallory wrote from his heart. He is a faithful, powerful man of God. He and his wife have been tremendous blessings to my husband and I, and to our local church. His middle son is our pastor, and our church could not find a better shepherd anywhere!

I know I was slapped hard in this forum for suggesting that some appeared to be after and may have been offered positions....

It's only human nature...

The letter is timely and revealing, clearly the target audience was not the six men addressed.

If you were slapped hard on any forum....you probably deserved it :stirpot

Well you were slapped and not punched at least... i guess you can thank the Lord for that! :ouch

I have no doubt that Gordon Mallory spoke from his heart. However I think it is wrong to demonize those leaving a man made org. to form another whether it be a lib leaving or conservatives leaving.

Man made organizations are tools to further the Gospel and carry out the Great Commission. They are not sacred or "holy" within themselves.

While one is a member they should be supportive but once a decision has been made that the focus, direction, or elements of the organization no longer fit ones perception of what it should be and where ones ministry should be, then I see nothing wrong with leaving to join with likeminded brethern IF, of course, the seperation is done with integrity. (that last part is what can be debated as it appears there has been a surprising amount of prosletyzing going on from the organizers which disturbs me).

Exactly! If they are influencing others with false info it is a very unethical begining to say the least.

I also think the letter has special relevance because GM is on their side concerning the issue they claim as the catalist for the new org.

I don't think he is so much demonizing them for leaving, but the circumstances for leaving and the stuff you mentioned about proselytizing and some other things

Well said! I hope that these men do not try to manipulate their church members into following them if they don’t want to go. I pray that they will find their voice and that their Pastors will listen. I think that if these men want to leave then go ahead and go but don’t drag the congregation with them. Why not start from scratch to build their “utopia” church. Instead they are taking something that was possibly built with some assistance from an organization that they are choosing to leave. How many of these churches were given offerings from “Christmas for Christ” or some other program through the UPCI. I believe that everyone has a choice, but let every voice be heard. Of course there are some preachers who think that it’s their church when it should be God’s church.

This stuff happens all the time on a smaller level too. I know of a UC pastor that left the UPC recently that has been known to call members of other churches and former members and try to get them to switch churches to his....

I don't really know Mallory, but this letter came across very sincere and heartfelt. I think Tulsa 6 should seriously consider his letter. He is their peer and seems to know the UPCI well from traveling so much.

Well put! I did a search and didn't find this post anywhere else on the internet. Hmmmm. Interesting. Anyway, I know a couple of the men on this Tulsa 6 very well and if you knew them like I knew them, you might understand where they are coming from. I also find it interesting that Vaughn Morton from Fresno dosn't have his hands mixed with these guys. He maybe is in the background though. This select group of men, scratch each others back and when one goes against them, watch out. Funny how they planned there meeting at the same time as LandMark. But then again, these guys don't care about there saints, or what they think. This whole thing will rip families, churches, districts, and saints apart. By the way, Larry Bookers boys, Larry and Phillip are the ones doing the website, not Bro Booker.

I too saw it on "another site." It's a newer site and probably has not been visited by the Google 'bots.

I am told not to link here.

I found this Notice in the 1947 Pentecostal Herald and thought it was interesting.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...PHNotice-1.jpg

Everyone be patient and Elder Mallory will be writing against the UPC again.

really?? joggle my memory. was that about the phillpines ordeal?

My opinion is this and I'm not UPCI ,but if these men are ethical and want to form an org.then they have the right to do so as like minded folks stick together.
If people are happy in their affliation or happy being independent or whatever and as long as they are following Christ and living as a Christian more power to them.
Everybody does need to be accountable to somebody.

I love all of these people,and God certainly knows those that are His.

i dont personally know GM but let me submit something for your consideration.
I read the letter to the 6 and at first read it seemed ok to me. But after some thought it occurs to
me that this type of correspondence should have been possibly done one on one ie: separate letters
privately.

If you know these men that well i would think that a personal letter or call would be more effective
than airing it out to the public.
if your are a DS or the GS then i believe a letter to your district ministers voicing your concerns is also ok but i see the potential here of self promotion.
i am by no means taking sides. I have friends on this list and have been in two of their churches ministering and am saddened by the division in the body as much as GM but the danger of becoming an opportunist presents itself to someone especially that is widely known and well traveled to capitalize on this to strengthen their own power base.

Ahhhhhh....POLITICS!!! :)