Chapter 16: Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

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Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

Pastor Hoogenboom’s Sexual Misconduct!

I had felt God’s call to start attending the Elk River Assembly of God Church for about three years before I actually went there. By the time I did

go, the church had undergone a self-destruction and was in disarray. Only a fraction of the members remained after the pastor’s sexual misconduct hit the news. To say that Elk River was abuzz with the sordid details would be an understatement. In fact, the whole Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area was

abuzz. Sex sells papers and the falling out of grace of any pastor is a big deal and something the mainstream media eats up. Remember Swaggart?

Jackie and I were in disagreement about attending this church. She

didn’t want any part of it. She was always more perceptive than I was when it came to church matters. Still, I had ignored God for three years and now I felt I absolutely had to go even if I did not understand why. I remember asking God several times why I was supposed to attend this church. God

told me more than once: “You are here to worship and observe. You are my witness.” God, what should I witness? “Just observe Edward!”