Church of the Highlands Conspiracy Theory

 

A Worship Service or a Widespread Panic Concert?

Is the Gresham Road roundabout part of a conspiracy to donate/sell the new Ag Center to the Shoals Church of the Highlands? We had forgotten that troubling theory until yesterday's blog. Our vote is "no."

It will be interesting to see if this psychedelic congregation offers to revise its plans and build in a more remote area. How about you guys in St. Florian? Wouldn't you love to have them?

We'll give you a good deal if you also take the Salvationists in a package arrangement...

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With the holidays fast approaching, where should you give to help the most in the Shoals? We recommend your cash, clothing, and canned goods donations go to:

The Help Center

621 S Court St, Florence, AL 35630

Mailing address: PO Box 1713, Florence, AL 35630

When Preachers Commit Rape - Part II

 

You Can Clap For The Wolfman, But Never Shout For The Rapist!

This is Micahn Taune Carter, the 43 year-old one-time darling of a Washington State mega church and until this week a fixture at Church of the Highlands. He's also accused of being a violent rapist who sought out a vulnerable employee and told her the rape was her fault because she was a sex magnet. You might want to catch his YouTube talk about purity and boundaries; it's a hoot!

This is 40 year-old April Lonna Williams Carter. She's Micahn's long-time wife, senior "pastor" (keeper?), and alleged enabler in Micahn's shenanigans. 

Together these two told enough people what they wanted to hear to grow a mega church that they used to promote themselves until the rape allegations emerged two years ago. Other "senior pastors" at the church then shipped the Carters off to Birmingham to be "restored" and proceeded to cover up as much as possible. Then it hit the fan last week and the COTH promptly kicked Michan under the bus where he belonged.

After several months of Micahn working in administration at the Birmingham church, he was presented to the public to again preach. His introduction is interesting to say the least. If you're not familiar with the COTH, some would call it charismatic. An older term that we're sure has fallen out of favor in woke circles is holy roller. And, yes, they have a franchise in the Shoals that dabbles in sex offender ministries.

When COTH head Chris Hodges introduced Micahn to his first Birmingham audience in July 2020, he told those assembled to offer up amens and shouts. Shouts? Really?

What kind of shouts? Maydays? Rebel Yells? Hallelujer, Lorts? Ah, the gospel according to Chris Hodges, but not deemed appropriate for a worship service. 

Now we wonder why more from the Carters' Yakima, Washington, congregation didn't shout out to the people of Birmingham what Michan was capable of? We're pretty sure he'll find sex magnets wherever he goes next.

When Preachers Commit Rape - Part I

 

How Many In The Audience Could Tell Us Why This Rock Band Worship Is Pleasing To God?

Slightly over two months ago, we published the following in Shoals Crime:

The Pulpit Abusers

Now an interesting rape accusation has been made within the Church of the Highlands. Some are suggesting there's been a massive cover-up. That's not unusual, nor is it new. Let's consider a decades old tale from Phil Campbell.

The condensed version: A father hears his innocent 14 year-old daughter scream, picks up a shotgun, runs to her room to find a dark figure pinning her down, and shoots. Enter the paramedics, and off all of them go to the local hospital where it's discovered that the would-be rapist is the pulpit minister of the church the family attends. Don't remember this? It's not surprising. There were no charges brought. Keep it hush, hush for both the congregation and the minister's family and all that.

Teaching isn't the only profession where the trash is passed. It's never the correct thing to do, and those who do it should be held accountable. What did the Birmingham Church of the Highlands know about the alleged Washington State rape of a church employee? Exactly why did the church think this preacher needed to be restored? We doubt anyone thought he'd been merely a chronic speeder. How many employees in the Birmingham church were placed in danger by giving this man a job, first in administration, then as a teacher/preacher?

Just because one forgives does not mean prudence should be thrown out the stained glass window.

Sex Offender Paradise? Maybe Not!

Look for some bombshell news about the Church of the Highlands sex offender program in the next few days. It won't bode well for Chester McKinney's practically free labor project.

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We've just been told that a person who intentionally speeds when late for work is as guilty of evil as the man who lies in wait and rapes a toddler. Really? What Bible is this commenter reading? We don't advocate intentional speeding, but we're pretty sure some super nice police officers just might let someone off for that. We're not so sure about an officer letting a rapist off...

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Patterns to sexual deviance? We recently published something from "Aunt Jane" who bases her deductions on village patterns of behavior. We see at least 50% of sexual assaults on children come from neighbors, etc., who groom and/or entice little ones. Take care of your children; better to err on the rude side than to have your child's innocence taken by a neighbor.

Taylor Ryan Bloodgood

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For those who asked, our follow up on the UNA survey is coming.

Colbert Countian's Letter to Church of the Highlands

April 16, 2018

Mr. Chris Hodges
Founder and Senior Pastor of Church of The Highlands
4700 Highlands Way
Birmingham, Alabama 35210

Dear Mr. Hodges:

It has come to my attention as well as others that Chester and Joe Mckinney have opened a halfway house. Their plan is to house former inmates that were incarcerated at the same prisons where Church of The Highlands ministry operates. The two men presently living at the Four Way Inn Motel at 512 Hwy 43 S Tuscumbia, Al 35674, are convicted sex offenders. Both men were brought into our community in secrecy without a word from Chester or Joe Mckinney. There was no notification by law SB 301 from our Sheriff Frank Williamson.

On March 20, 2018 during our County Commissioners meeting I addressed the Commissioners concerning this “so called” halfway house. Not long after, Chester McKinney spoke and explained his plan for this program headed by Willie Simpson. Mr. McKinney announced to the public that Church of The Highlands is helping with this program. Mr. McKinney also told the Tuscumbia Mayor Bubba Underwood that Church of the Highlands was to oversee the sex offenders.

This poses SERIOUS questions for Colbert County...

1. What part does Church of the Highlands (COH) play in the plan for a halfway house here in Colbert County, in the State/ ADOC, and in other cities?

2. What connection is there between COH and LifeLink ministry? How long has it been around?

Randy Walker for years has been the head or pastor of the Prison Ministry at COH. He is the founder of LifeLink and is on the Prison campus in the “Faith Dorm.”

3. Does LifeLink run the Faith Dorm?

LifeLink has been assigned space in the dorm and has a full time employee in Bibb County Correctional Facility.

4. How is all this funded? Who screens the guys before the Reentry? Who is responsible if they get out in my community and molest a child or my child?

5. How does the work release program through “Faith Dorm” at Bibb County Correctional Facility work?

I know that Church of the Highlands hosts all the ADOC training at your churches main campus. I’’ also aware COH has a ADOC employee come in and train COH members to go into the 17 different prisons. We (Randy Smith and I) had a sit down meeting with Shoals COH pastor, Caleb Chambers. I ask him who pays the ADOC employee to come in and train your members.

6. Has COH taken over the ministry and the work release program in Alabama State Prisons? Who pays the ADOC employee to do the training at your COH campus(s)?

7. Does COH / LifeLink / The Halfway House(s) get funding from the DOJ (Federal) ADOC (State) or County/Local grants and or money from local businesses/ corporations or foundations?

8. What does COH know about the Faith Based Partnerships ( U.S. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS Title 28Chapter IPart 38 - PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAITH-BASED AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS )which involves the church and ministries as Government contractors?

9. Is this or any other of your Reentry programs required to be ran, including the Faith Dorm- as an Interfaith or all Faiths operation like other Faith Based Programs are ran?

10. If you are taking money from the churches or from your own church too, Isn’t their not a *Fiduciary Responsibility on the part of COH - LifeLink - Randy Walker - Chris Hodges - and everyone involved in this prison Reentry ministry - given that funding is being solicited and support in other ways - volunteers are being organized - Isn’t there a Fiduciary Responsibility with this program to those who help fund it and the community it is to serve?
(*Fiduciary Duty- A legal obligation of one party to act in the best interest of another. The obligated party is typically a fiduciary, that is, someone entrusted with the care of money or property. Also called fiduciary obligation!)

11. Who is responsible if a child is harmed by former inmates in your Reentry Programs?

I think at a minimum you owe Colbert County and our communities families answers to these questions! Your prompt reply is appreciated to clear up any and all confusion on this subject.

Sincerely,

Ed Bowman
Concerned Parent &
Colbert County Resident

Cc: Breken Terry-WAAY 31 News
Russ Corey, Times Daily
Dino Rizzo, Executive Director of ARC (Association of Related Churches)
Associate Pastor of Church of the Highlands Birmingham Campus
Caleb Chambers, COH,-Shoals Campus
Randy Walker Correctional Ministry Pastor/ Lifelink Church of the Highlands

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A Worship Service or a Widespread Panic Concert?

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In case anyone missed it, the two remaining sex offenders at the Four-Way motel have been moved to the luxurious Regal Inn in Sheffield. Weren't there facilities in Montgomery to take them?

Anyone else find it interesting that Chris Hodges calls himself founder of this church? We owe Al Gore an apology.

Finally, while we disagree with Mr. Bowman on many of his views, he's spot on concerning this issue.

"Expose Church of the Highlands?"

Edward Bowman, critic of Chester McKinney's Four-Way Motel halfway house has stated: 

I’m going to expose Church of the Highlands for what they really are. 

Bowman has also accused the local leader of the mega-church of not telling the truth about the church's involvement in the unpopular project. It appears that while part of this story is winding down, other aspects are heating up.

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Morning Consult produces a quarterly poll on many subjects, including the popularity of state senators. Alabama's highly respected Richard Shelby has a 51% approval rating for the first three months of 2018. How about Doug Jones? Our Democratic senator is only four points behind with a 47% approval rating. 

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So how is Sen. Jones' former opponent doing back home in Alabama? Roy Moore's Facebook page just keeps on going, announcing a lawsuit against his chief accuser from the fall campaign. He's also taking swipes at Sen. Jones' gay son and considering suing Disney and Viacom for producing television talk shows which belittled him. 

Perhaps it's time to announce an official state clown?

Is Term "Sex Offender Ministry" off Target?

Our blog has been called out for using the term "Sex Offender Ministry" in connection with the current ministry centered at the Four-Way Motel. We used this term, since those connected with it have stated 50% of those who will reside there will be sex offenders. If any found this misleading, we apologize. Again, it's the sex offender element that we find unsettling. We will say a second time, if this ministry catered to former cat burglars, we would have few qualms about it.

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Here are some points that cannot be disputed:

1. The organization "Outreach Reentry Ministry" is registered to Willie Simpson and John Williams and is over 25 years old.

2. This organization began to increase its profile last summer. Why? 

3. Offices for this organization moved recently from a local church building in Florence to the old Four-Way Motel in Tuscumbia.

4. According to Chester McKinney (speaking at a very public Colbert County Commission meeting), the Church of the Highlands will be working with this ministry.

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Does this blog have a problem with the Church of the Highlands? No, at least not in the way it's been asked.

It is our opinion that if the pulpit minister for this church spoke on the subject of divorce, alcohol, etc., the 40,000 regular attendees would soon diminish greatly. Please note that's an opinion; however, we encourage anyone to listen to sermons regularly given at any mega-church and then tell us they don't preach a feel-good or uber prosperity gospel...or both.