Ex-members of church where teens were beaten talk of decline

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Ex-members of church where teens were beaten talk of decline
Mary Esch, Associated Press
Updated 10:01 pm, Saturday, October 17, 2015

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Former members of the upstate New York church where two teens were viciously beaten paint a picture of a once vibrant and joyous house of worship that declined into a place of fear and intimidation under new leadership.

"When I first arrived, it was warm and welcoming. It was encouraging. It was helpful," said Chadwick Handville, a massage therapist in Phoenix, Arizona, who left the Word of Life Christian Church in June 2000 after 10 years that included a stint as a worship leader and trustee. Things went downhill after founder Jerry Irwin returned from some time away and reclaimed his position as pastor, Handville said.

"What was off the wall was his attitude toward others," Handville said. "It wasn't happy. He accused every male of lusting after his wife."

Handville said Irwin's preaching was filled with personal attacks on parishioners, whom he forced to work long hours renovating the Irwin family's apartment on the third floor of the former school building that houses the church in New Hartford, which is 100 miles west of Albany.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Ex-members-of-church-where-teens-beaten-talk-of-6575532.php

[kelliekat44]

1. Bet they are ll "Pro-lifers." nt

[7962]

2. Terrible bunch in some of these "churches" nt

[restorefreedom]

3. wow,AP, you don't say

decline, really? I can't imagine why people wouldn't want to spend time with a bunch of cretinous psycho freaks who believe it's OK to torture a child to death because of some twisted view of religion. Boy i guess there is just no pleasing some people...

[Bluenorthwest]

4. They murdered that kid. Those who play with religious bigotry as if it was a fun toy need to

think about what it is they are legitimizing. I offer to you that those who defend any clergy that berates and denigrates others contributes to the power clergy has to do harm.

[Karma13612]

5. Positively horrible. Anyone involved in these senseless, cruel acts should

go straight to jail.

What happens in the name of religion, anywhere in this world, is beyond me.

Pro-life often ='s Pro-abuse

Those who are pro-life feel that religion is above everything including rational compassionate treatment of others.
Who gives them the right?? And don't tell me God. He would not have wished the effects of their actions on anyone.

disgusting.

[keithbvadu2]

6. Religious freedom

Huckabee should be along any minute now.

[NonMetro]

7. Looks Like A Cult

Charismatic leader, closed group, secrecy, etc., it's all there. People were living in their own little world. Pity is the word, IMO.

[vlyons]

8. Jealousy is a green-eyed monster

and what in his mind caused him to think that the men in the church lusted after his wife? Might it be that he was "seeing" what was already in his own heart and mind? That is, he himself had lustful thoughts towards married women?

[DhhD]

9. Prophet of the Charismatic Movements based on visions, private revelations and prophecies,

not those taught by Jesus.

https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0SO8ydV5SNWDX8AYcOl87UF;_ylc=X1MDOTU4MTA0NjkEX3IDMgRmcgMEZ3ByaWQDNzFwZGVBMlZUVzZjaVpTeWtPSFBfQQRuX3JzbHQDMARuX3N1Z2cDMTAEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMEcXN0cmwDMjEEcXVlcnkDQ2hhcmlzbWF0aWMgTW92ZW1lbnQgBHRfc3RtcAMxNDQ1MTkzMDg1?p=Charismatic+Movement+&fr=sfp&fr2=sb-top-search&iscqry=

[sulphurdunn]

10. In this country there is still a separation

of church and state. There is no such thing as a theologically justifiable homicide (no more burning of witches and heretics). Do the crime, do the time. Sane people need to make sure it stays that way.