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First Baptist Church ripoff political corruption Sevierville Tennessee
In the Summer of 1997, I had visited this particular religious-political group. Made a few friends at the time. Later, was tired of the phone call to meetings, visits, or just for my money. Affiliated groups, like...Little Cove Missionary Baptist, Sevierville; Antioch Baptist, 615/625 Whites School Road, Sevierville, 37862; Valley View Baptist, Sevierville, all have one thing in common. They are a bunch of snakes after your money.
Retaliate with people within their group stealing and blaming you for it and sending fraudulent mail to the victim whom whiches not to support any of their crooked groups. Also, to note they sexually harass victims as my self with prank calls, calling and asking for someone at my phone number and somehow got my new one? Tennessee Code Annotated 48-101-513, prohibits unfair acts and practices affecting the conduct of solicitations for contributions.
These groups violate every law known to man in the book. Guess because their more political than scriptural. Even local police support this frivolous, yet dangerous groups. Don't waste your time visiting here. Unless, you can afford to lose everything you have. These members have nerve to condemn you and harass me at the workplace, telling others I'm gay, insane, or a cult member. Their the cults, gang and trashballs all in one.
Matt
Sevierville, Tennessee
24 Updates & Rebuttals
Gage
Chattanooga,Tennessee,
United States
Unbiased assessment
#25General Comment
Sat, March 12, 2022
Valley View in Wears Valley has a preacher that is a Freemason. No wonder his church is so popular in Wears Valley. The wealthy couple on Clabo Road in Sevierville own valley view church cult. Here it is folks ... " Only the wealthy are Christians" or so they want us to think. After my own witnessing of these churches how they work, etc ,I haven't seen anything " Christian" in the local church here in forever.
Sevierville often hypes up religious or educational agendas in their local news media to push the narrative that Sevierville has " Christian" leaders , but again that is the narrative they like to push. After all Dolly Parton is the idol this town looks up to. Yet Dolly criticized America and is now full Woke and supports liberal agendas. Yet Sevierville claims her to be the "Christian" idol of the town.
As if all are to look up to this woman that is indeed a l*****n. Yes she spends time with a woman and less with her husband. I used to work Dollywood. I know all about her and what others in the area told me about Dolly , etc. And my own experiences as I've witnessed the hostility over the years by the inbred, demented members of FBC, etc. Even the transgender people fear the big Baptist cruel churches of this area.
I'm not for the LGBTQ Movement but maybe such influence for change in the community is needed for reform. Many folks in the community already promote they yearly summer car shows or Rod Runs as locals call them, in this area where woman pull down their bras and show their big t**s. While dudes gawk and hollar. It can be exciting. Then we have teens having sex outside of marriage and their parents of grandparents think it's normal.
Wives here cheat on their husbands and the Baptist church is okay with that. There were kids helping with tobacco leaves in Wears Valley years ago on Curtis' farmland. All this child labor goes to that particular wears Valley church. So you see this isn't anything new. When you pay gas to the wears Valley gas stations that money goes to their facist corny Baptist cult clan groups. It goes to their evil ideaology. The Baptist cults in this area have cruel methods in dealing with us outsiders.
I've become so sick of how this town hides behind religion. It's a mental illness many in these religious groups have. They have their silent rules these big churches. Their rules apply to you even if your not a member. One of their cruel rules is " don't speak to us". They have mannerisms that resemble a supercilious rich person club. Only perfection is welcome. All others treated like sin.
There are a few nice smaller Baptist church groups not to spread hate for all baptists. But majority of these big churches are very nosey, they criticize and they censure those that dare to be different. I heard about how mental most of the people in this cruel Sevierville target a person they have no remorse for or simply hate, they will drive by and only name calling prevails.
Derragatory words, humiliation seems to be the tools these low lifes use to punish people that don't fit into their cliques in Sevierville. These so called educated people that attend these big churches . They smokepot, do drugs, obsessed with smoking their brains out. Yet they condemn anyone not going with their political cliques. It is all political if not religious. Either one or the other.
The baptists are mostly smokers, drug users and drinkers. There was a gang of Native American wannabees that would arm themselves with tiny metal balls and toss at persons they think are "gay". When the person they targeted walked into the entrance of Kroger on wears Valley road near the carts, this gang one or two people would toss the metal balls at the direction of the shopping carts to avoid hitting their " gay" target.
It is so sad that none in this town have shown much of any kindness. "Hatred and jealousy", is the assessment of many of why this town is so evil. So you can see just how two faced those that own and run these franchises and or businesses really are the cruel bastards they were born to be. "Haters gotta hate".
Rob
Orlando,Florida,
United States
Mean members
#25Consumer Comment
Fri, March 04, 2022
There is a face from First Baptist I recognized, she is good looking, she was buying beers with a male and female couple at Kroger years ago, she made a smirk at me and as I looked away, she brushed her shopping cart up against my hind leg. I have diabetes in my feet and if she pushed any harder it would have bruised my foot causing medical problems.
Seems that a few encounters from FBC members in past was rude. Hopefully they changed. A priest in Gatlinburg named Toni did same thing to me. Not sure why they do that. Maybe they just don't like people in general. Haven't had this issue in other areas only mean people exist in Sevierville at these brand name church clubs.
Andy
Sevierville,Tennessee,
United States
The churches have failed people
#25General Comment
Thu, March 03, 2022
The Bad These so called church preachers are insane, here is a few things these evil, false preachers yell at the top of their lungs and complain about on Sundays prior to 2009 at a Townsend contemporary church on Wears Valley Road... " You hurt our ministries. You make us look bad. Yeah, join the world" " Take off your Christian bumper stickers..... stop doing anything Christian".... The Good Here is what true Christians and others have said about the local church groups... "Church is an idol.." " They are the dividers"... buff Scott Jr. " You don't need to belong to a church, but you do need some kind of fellowship" " Church is a business, is a social club, of the world"... " They ( church goers are sad people. They lead people into a ditch..." " Baptists are not Christians"... An atheist professor at Walters State College Sevierville campus once said , " let's get rid of religion"... I recommend www.wickeeshepherds.com for some opinions on why church is not necessary.
Plenty of books and websites out there that explain why church is evil and or spiritually abusive and why people should decide to trust Christ Jesus over religion. Church and Jesus are not the same. So much spiritual abuse and manipulation by many IRS friendly churches and ministries across East Tennessee continue to prey on the elderly and disabled and sadly even law enforcement is in on the money and drugs that are ongoing at these churches as a few have exposed online. The Gathering according to www.sniitch.com members have exposed The Gathering church in Sevierville, a tithe robber Pastor.
Pastor David Travis of a defunct motorcycle ministry in pigeon forge his fake church went out of business, his dumb son works up at Sevierville Walmart. David Travis' church on sugar hollow road in pigeon forge had sexy women but the music and David and his wife were so demented and possessed by evil spirits that many college goers that went to this church learned how cultic it was when their lives went from glamourous to f*cked up after leaving the church that spiritually wore them out.
All these churches are tight knit rebels that have distrust in outsiders. I read google reviews on Little Cove Baptist in wears valley in Sevierville that had nice reviews but when I went with my relative they condemned and judged us. The relative of Little Cove across from the church had a confederate flag on their porch and the dude had long hair. According to the baptist religion long hair is a sin. The baptists in this area truly are two faced and hold hatred for anyone not born or raised in this area.
Must be the rough upbringing. It does seem over the years visits to various churches in this area that many of the church members just go due to peer pressure or because they are lonely. Maybe pandemic has changed people in this area and they hopefully left these church groups to find peace and hope in Jesus alone.
John
Las Vegas,Nevada,
United States
Oh yeah
#25General Comment
Fri, February 25, 2022
Rev. Ernie Coleman of Antioch Baptist church is a funny looking dude. Reminds me of Groucho Marx. A son of his has a temper and a stalking habit.
Carl
Knoxville,Tennessee,
United States
Visited there once or twice
#25General Comment
Thu, February 17, 2022
Any here about the rape that online news source exposed happened at New Era Baptist on New Era Road think last year? She was young. Scary a pastor preying on our youth. They creepy smiles on a couple of the women while visiting there makes you think twice to go there.
I can say music is good there. Hard to meet and date here. At times, a member is in your face asking for money here. They have nice cars , a big building. Why beg?
This bible belt town I've noticed various church groups in front of Walmart doing car washes , some begging for money as you walk into Walmart. Gets annoying. Not sure FBC does that. Just wanted to share this for information only.
Kim
Knoxville,Tennessee,
United States
Oh my god!
#25Consumer Suggestion
Tue, February 15, 2022
Please don't hunt me down for saying oh my god lol Oh wow. I too moved out of this area back in 2017. After the floods, fires in Gatlinburg and smoke filled the air after two kids blamed for it. Come on two kids made a fire burn down entire Gatlinburg town? That's crazy how officials blame kids when it may have been nature or possibly the cops themselves?
Speaking of distrust in government why was it that a member of this church Ron Seals hasn't been kicked out for hiring a young escort to lap dance for him? We heard this from a past credible source. Also why some people have their car mirrors turned in when they park at the church? That happened a few times to me and my wife.
Someone said that happens because they don't want you there. We've heard rumors of theft of various items in the restrooms, the janitor wouldn't be able to recover them. So much drama and unecessary stress all over visiting a establishment that should be pleasant. Geesh! Talk about weird. We hope people find a more comfortable place to go too. Time to be human again
Darren
Chattanooga,Tennessee,
United States
Some thoughts to ponder
#25General Comment
Sun, February 13, 2022
Is humiliating , shaming people publicly in order to correct behaviors or ways of thinking right? Answer: Nope! It is Authoritarianism.
Darren
Chattanooga,Tennessee,
United States
Doug and Traci are lying...
#25General Comment
Sun, February 13, 2022
Checklist to determine if a specific group is cultic/ spiritually abusive: The group displays an excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader, and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law. Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished. Mind-altering practices (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, or debilitating work routines) are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).
The leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel (e.g., members must get permission to date, change jobs, or marry—or leaders prescribe what to wear, where to live, whether to have children, how to discipline children, and so forth). The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and its members (e.g., the leader is considered the Messiah, a special being, an avatar—or the group and/or the leader is on a special mission to save humanity).
The group has a polarized, us-versus-them mentality, which may cause conflict with the wider society. Everyone is "evil" or must avoid all human interactions. The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify whatever means it deems necessary. This may result in members participating in behaviors or activities they would have considered reprehensible or unethical before joining the group (e.g. not going to church makes someone evil, going to a bar is sinful, reading the bible outside of a church is hypocritical).
The leadership induces feelings of shame and/or guilt in order to influence and control members. Often this is done through peer pressure and subtle forms of persuasion. Subservience to the leader or group requires members to cut ties with family and friends, and radically alter the personal goals and activities they had before joining the group. The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members. The group is preoccupied with making money.
Members are expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to the church and group-related activities. Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other church or group members. The most loyal members (the "true believers”) feel there can be no life outside the context of the church. They believe there is no other way to be, and often fear reprisals to themselves or others if they leave—or even consider leaving—the cultic group There was a few people some years ago that visited one of those independent Baptist churches in this area that was condemned and humiliated for being human.
People like that become the whipping boy or girl simply for not following religion authoritarianism. The Baptist seem to be just exactly what they say they are not. I try to love and be peaceful with all my neighbors. After all being a Christian has everything to do with God's love and loving our neighbors. I haven't been to any church that shows genuine compassion or love for neighbors at all for the past 20 plus years living in East Tennessee.
Doug and Traci are fools and lie. Maybe Biden's Domestic Terror program is a good idea to keep watch of these big churches as they don't serve the public anyway. In this respect we praise Biden for his efforts in this program doing this Check out what Doug is hiding... https://www.facebook.com/corruptseviercounty/
Jerry
Charlotte,North Carolina,
United States
Traci is not telling us everything
#25General Comment
Sun, February 13, 2022
The members do spy, harass, intimidate and bully anyone not supportive of this cultic, spiritually abusive church. My wife and I have visited this baptist church for years, as well as many other churches. At first this church had positive vibes. The problem we seen is that long time members were in cliques. They favored certain members. It seems that the original writer was correct that we do s hear other concerns from the community about this church.
We have seen more people with First Baptist bumperstickers than any other church. We've also heard a deacon and many other members work the Sevier County Electric System. Could that be the reason the electric system employees are rude? We in fact heard from a family in Wears Valley years ago that employees checking their meter flattened wooden crosses on their property and drove off like a bat out of hell. It seems that members fear people outside their church. That is a sign of a spiritually abusive church.
We have visited many baptist churches over the years. It seems they are friendly a couple of times. But if you don't join them or participate they seem to treat the person or family as crap. This is sad for churches to be this way. We've been studying our bibles outside of any church for several years now. We don't market or sell anything. Religion is of this world. It appears that majority of the families of these prideful churches never do what they make the so called sinners do. We do see members say sorry, or hug anyone new at their church, we don't see anyone being a genuine and loving friend at these churches. It is all theater or entertainment.
We've studied how cults work and read books on spiritual abuse. Traci if her group is truly Christian should prove they really love people. So far we've seen and heard nothing biblical from this church. Just marketing, bragging and rude behaviors towards people the church deems "evil" or "lost". Maybe your church could convert your church into a homeless shelter that would be really helpful since Sevierville has little housing to the rampant homeless in the area.
The bible does say God loves the poor. This would be an act of faith and your entire church could split up into homes as the bible teaches anyway. The Roman Catholics have their build beautiful churches but aren't really able to serve the people. Traci you should consider this idea. Our country thanks to Biden is flooding our country with illegals anyway. These useless big church buildings would be useful housing the illegals and the poor of East Tennessee.
We pray that anyone hurt by this First Baptist cultic group study the bible for themselves and suggest they start a home bible study group. Avoid these big , abusive and even at times violent church groups. We do hear the deputies do a lot of the secretive crimes here for corrupt Republican officials that regulate these local churches. If they don't want you to be considered a "Christian" they will force you out of the church and try to censor anything you do from being "Christian".
Kevin
Las Vegas,Nevada,
United States
Passing through
#25Consumer Comment
Sun, February 13, 2022
We've visited this area for years. Our friends lived here for over twenty years. Our friends have told us about how the baptists do treat people different if your not born and raised in Sevierville. While there a handful of nice people. It does sound like from what our friends off wears valley have told us that some of these baptists don't like people that are not baptists. It surprised me and my friend. We are single men living together.
There is a prejudice and hatred for single men perceived as "gay". Not long ago we visited a couple of area churches and it seemed there was a lack of friendliness towards us. We don't find any love in this area. It appears that baptists and other area churches have a hatred for single men. It can get scary if you've lived around here. We stayed near Pigeon Forge back in 2015. It does seem that many area churches are advertising in the local newspapers.
We've witnessed a man run on our side of the road with a First Baptist bumpersticker. We've also heard there is a group of baptists that hate outsiders using Christian bumperstickers. From what our senior citizens friends have told us so far about this bible belt area is that if your not married and not a same sex couple your treated as evil. We hear even pebbles get thrown at cars up town in wears valley where this religious tension exists.
Our senior friends told us people like Doug exist all across Sevierville hiding truth from visitors. A website called www.SevierCorruption.com no longer exists but had exposed that wealthy families own businesses all across Sevierville including churches. It seems really scary now to even visit or live in this area. With all the crazy things we've witnessed and heard about here. It is no wonder people left this area.
Oh by the way, the original writer of this we are told by the older friends in Wears Valley was a 87 years old lady in Kodak that didn't like any churches. We don't blame her actually. We pray that this town will grow more loving. We are sad to here so many tragedies, disasters etc have happened to this once great town. We hear this town was really peaceful and loving before any church, business was visible.
camper
Sevierville,Tennessee,
USA
In the know
#25General Comment
Mon, April 10, 2017
The church is mostly all white people. There is a lot of inconsistentcy there. They allow only the wealthy to be treated highly with respect and those poor or middle class treated like crap many times. A wealthy man of the church outside the city recently broke up with his lawyer of a wife. She was cute. He owns the wine store near Collier Road in Sevierville. Another member has a sister out in Wears Valley that does a solo gig as a massage specialist. These folks get so angst when they see people having a swell causual time up town but don't get on their own.
Ron
Atlanta,Georgia,
USA
Another reason
#25General Comment
Thu, March 16, 2017
Avoid this group because Hillary Clinton is supposedly a member of this denomination. It is a performance based lipstick on the d*** entertainment that anyone should make fun of. Why because they laugh behind your back. It is all political and all about looks and favors. Feel bad for the kids how messed up they will turn out and warped into more heavey baptist brainwashing.
Budweiser
Knoxville,Tennessee,
USA
A Positive Suggestion
#25General Comment
Wed, March 15, 2017
With all the homeless living to this area. It would be a really great blessing if this big church and similar groups did what Jesus actually taught about the rich to "sell all their goods -including church buildings and property, land and give it all to the poor". The poor in spirit will inherit the earth not the wealthy , materialistic people. Just think of the hundreds of people that flock to this church and walk away poor for building such a big idol. God doesn't live in buildings or temples made by men's hands. Ask the fundamentalists. They will knock this and similar churches flat on their asses. Many living in this area are becoming poor due to all the wealthy Baptists that aren't living holy and disregard the scriptures. Even most of the JWs, Mormons and false beliefs out there show more appreciation for the sick and dying.
Jack
Seymour,Tennessee,
USA
someone said...
#25General Comment
Tue, February 28, 2017
People have been saying a lot about these fakes like... "Baptists are not Christians". Another said "They are inbred and scum". Women there are taught not to talk or associate with men as men are "beasts" or have satan in them. I think this church promotes lesbianism or covers those that practice this sin. Sad too. Another thing is this church has changed pastors like every month or year. That is a bad sign. These types of bible cults push Romans 13 down a person's throat. Unlimited obedience to government is not biblical. It is insanity. It is Dominion Theology. Lots of people are abused by these types of churches. The Bible calls satan the "god" of this world. So many pastors from non-Baptist churches have warned that many churches are a doorway to hell! A member here often yells when he talks-you know who you are jerk. A previous pastor of this church said this once: "As long as you pay your tithes and give to this church you will be protected". This cult carries a lot of blood on their hands and deceives if not hundreds of converts weekly. Just being helpful not hateful here. Beware a man named Glen goes here. His whole family has been in and out of jail. A bunch of troublemakers. That is the type of people this church attracts. Troublemakers! Beware!
Revblack
Dallas,Texas,
USA
unhappy lives
#25General Comment
Tue, February 28, 2017
Some of the folks here have a imbalanced view or inconsistent view of God. It is hard to really get to know anyone here as the staff is very favoring. The son of the pastor once wore a shirt with a red dragon on it. If you are a heavy smoker,drinker and sleazy you'll fit in just fine here. Anthony's pastor is insecure, have a unhappy life, marriage.
Karen
Roswell,Texas,
USA
Church Addiction is a illness
#25General Comment
Sat, February 25, 2017
Nothing wrong with wanting to meet new people and make new friends if you're a kid. As adults reality shows we don't make friends so easily. There is many different factors to consider. So many are obsessed with being a member of a church simply because their lodge wants them to join a church to make themselves look good. Half the folks there met are mostly illeterate, and don't think for themselves.These uneducated mostly persons like to sit down in the pews for hours listening to story after story by pastors. Not all the pastors are awful or bad so to speak. It seems folks idolize this group as a golden calf for a thrill to the psyche or just have no life outside the church-sphere. Jesus never begged for money or instructed anyone to attend or worship inside a "church" building for fellowship. In fact Jesus never owned a church or even owned a house. If you don't give money to their church or agree with every little thing they do -they will scold and harass the person till that person is driven out of that town. If you park at this or similar groups in the community that are Southern Baptists they will push your veichle mirrors inwards-as a way to tell you to get the hell off their property. Just how silly and childish are some of these church members? Very childish! They drive with their windows down flipping cigarettes at you while they drive by you.
Rhonda
Townsend,Tennessee,
USA
Tinker & Deacons are Nosey & Stinkers!!!
#25General Comment
Sun, February 19, 2017
First off many in the community have seen how odd and shady most of the members are. When you say hi they frown and shake their heads at you. Beware! Those met here act inhuman. David Tinker and Tino are goofy, act prideful and are angst. Tinker's wife is ordained. Tinker is nosey, snitches on ya if he doesnt like ya. He tell almost every church you may visit that you are not a Christian even if you read your bible and pray. A lot of fake preachers in the community just ask cults like Jehovah Witnesses or Mormons. This bible baptist cult is fit for the very wealthy and snobs. Almost every baptist group in this county look down on the poor and those not borh there. They treat many like outcasts. Traci is wrong youre not missing anything here. You can learn more by studying the bible yourself and visiting decent internet Christian sites that are not affiliated with any church denomination. Many southern baptists preachers are freemasons. They call anyone they meet a brother. These Illuminati morons control local and federal officials and all 501c3 churches. They control the courts, education system and promote the brotherhood of man taught by Albert Puke Pike.
countycrower
stanton island,New York,
USA
Stupid jerks!
#25General Comment
Fri, February 17, 2017
They honor God with their lips but their hearts and behaviors of most of the members I met favor the wealthy. They preah and teach their idea of Jesus not the Jesus of the Bible. Their Jesus is based on their Southern Baptist indoctrination and hour long courses and classes based on man's interpretation of the Bible. Read Galatians 4 and you will know how fake this and similar churches are in the county that act rude up town. Act like snobs and often rude and miscievious. Very odd and backwards folks are members of this church. Just visit forums about this county on topix and learn what others have said about the baptists in East Tennessee. It will make your head spin and maybe even make you vomit and run and stay clear of such all talk, control freak cults that control everything in this county.
Mrdick
Rense,Indiana,
USA
Pharisees in baptist pride churches
#25General Comment
Wed, February 15, 2017
Anyone not fitting into their mold are treated like crap. If you are disabled or fat you are an outcast. They wealthy rule the roost at this particular church. Traci is a twisted b***h. She has two spoiled kids that are troublemakers. Judges, lawyers and businesses must be accepted by this church or rather cult to be accepted by the community of souther baptists. Beware of david tinker and david tino. This church promotes like many catholics have found out that many in this church cult beg for money and if you dont give money to this church or sleep with many married women and are single and disabled you will suffer mistreatment, segregation and ongoing harassment by rocks being thrown at you or being made fun of by the deputies that befriend this cult. Rev 21:22 James 1:7-8
Linda
Sevierville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
I Believe You Matt
#25Consumer Comment
Fri, January 06, 2006
I live here, too and that church is menacing to many others, even the devoutly religious. It is a money hungry operation that swallows up acre after acre of land to complete their control of the city. Nearly every local cop and politician is a part of this church and if you don't join, you may as well kiss your career goodbye. The locals that attend put massive pressure on those that don't and their chase of the money is notorious. I have heard about heavy handed recruitment tactics as Matt described and when a member of my family told his employer he wouldn't come with him there because he was agnostic, that was the beginning of the end. A co worker went there the following week and announced that a friend of his didn't believe and that he also feared this family member of mine was a satan worshipper. Huh? If you don't go to their church and buy their propaganda, you are a satan worshipper? He started getting inquiries from others after this was done, questioning why he was a satan worshipper. How dare they? No politician here can hold any significant office unless it goes through them and they certainly make sure they have the vote. They make this a scary town. Wish I knew you Matt. There have to be alot more like us.
Doug
Sevierville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Matt it looks like you dont like anything about Sevierville
#25UPDATE Employee
Tue, September 28, 2004
If you search the this site using Sevierville as the keyword you will find that Matt has made several post. All appear to be bull.
Doug
Sevierville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Matt it looks like you dont like anything about Sevierville
#25UPDATE Employee
Tue, September 28, 2004
If you search the this site using Sevierville as the keyword you will find that Matt has made several post. All appear to be bull.
gregory
redding,California,
U.S.A.
Spirituality and Religion, there is a difference
#25Consumer Comment
Mon, January 27, 2003
It does sound like Matt is upset. Maybe he has good reason to be.
The charities your church provides are only done through the contributions of its members.
How do we know his allegations are unfounded?
There have been heads rolling in the Catholic church for past misdeeds.
Maybe its time some of the corruption that runs rampant in many churchs be brought out.
Religion is "Organized faith and worship".
Spirituality is "A personal giving of faith to the sacred matters of the life-giving force I refer to as God".
Organized religion has a way of mixing one with the other.
They are not the same.
Castigating another does not make you a superior, better or 'saved' individual.
RipOffReport.com let's the truth out and sometimes it isn't pretty. Thank you Ed Magedson
Traci
Sevierville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
Unsubstantiated Allegations against First Baptist Church of Sevierville, Tennessee
#25Consumer Comment
Sun, January 26, 2003
I was shocked and dismayed to read the report from Matt entitled "First Baptist Church ripoff political corruption Sevierville Tennessee." I have been a member of this fellowship for over 24 years and have never witnessed any of the claims alleged by Matt. Our church is dedicated to serving the Lord and to reaching out to those in need within our community and the world. Never have I felt unwelcome, uneasy, or unwanted at this church. Never have I felt that the church was "a bunch of snakes after (my) money."
I find it astounding that this report was published by your organization. Matt offered nothing but vague and confusing allegations with no concern for providing demonstrable facts. He accused the church of being "more political than scriptural" and of sexually harrassing "victims (such) as myself with prank calls". Yet he does not substantiate these claims with evidence or detailed accounts of the alleged misconduct. In fact, nowhere in the complaint does Matt offer any proof of his harsh allegations. If Matt can produce verified facts, then he should do so immediately. Otherwise his comments carry no credibility whatsoever.
The bad business bureas's new rules for rebuttal state that they do not accept "trivial and meaningless comments" or reports that use "insulting language against others". Yet this report by Matt seems to be nothing more than malicious rumours and slanderous comments. Indeed, the entire report contains examples of "foul and insulting languague" expressly forbidden by the rebuttal rules (such as Matt calling the church members "snakes" and "trashballs"). In addition, the bad business bureau should never have printed any report that lacked information to back up its claims. By doing so, the bureau has demonstrated a remarkably unprofessional and unethical treatment of a very serious topic.
Obviously, Matt harbours a lot of hostility towards First Baptist Church. He is certainly entitiled to his opinion, and he has the right to express his feelings. Yet Matt has not painted a clear or accurate picture of the church. First Baptist continually demonstrates its desire to reach out to the community by its numerous ministries. The church operates a 24 hour prayer line where people can call to request prayer and talk to a sympathetic and caring counselor. The church performs many services to the community (the Christmas Store, outreach and visitations to area hospitals and nursing homes, Helping Hands, etc.) and supports local and foreign missions. First Baptist Church genuinly cares for people and is devoted to spreading the truth of God's love for all humanity.
It is my sincere hope and prayer that Matt will find a church home where he feels accepted and can experience the wonders of God's love. To anyone else considering visiting First Baptist Church of Sevierville, I would like to assure you of a warm and genuine welcome in Christ.
Thank you for the chance to refute Matt's disturbing claims. You are welcome to contact me should any questions arise.
Yours in Christ,