My Experience with Westwood Christian Fellowship of Weatherford, Texas

Thanks!
Jerry K.”

There was no reply. It was clear to me that I had not only been disfellowshipped, but now I was being shunned. I knew that somehow I had posted something that was not compatible with the group’s beliefs, but I had no idea what. Moreover, as a Christian of 31 years, I really did want to know, as I had no desire to be crossways with a Christian group with whom I had riding motorcycles in common. I sent off another memo to the anonymous group leader who had handed me their business card. It was absent any name, but he had written the group’s e-mail address on the back. Again, there was no response. I decided to forget about it.

Then about five months later, this situation began to trouble me, so I began to pray and to seek God’s will in this matter. There were Christian principles, protocols, and biblical principles involved that though at first seeming not to be terribly significant, I began slowly to conclude otherwise. I continued to pray. I e-mailed the mystery group leader once again and wrote that I believed that he and the group were in violation of one of the biblical protocols for dealing with a Christian brother with whom one had a disagreement (never mind that they had steadfastly refused to so much as even tell me what that disagreement was). Here is the verse I quoted him:

“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man,
and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” (2 Thes. 3:15)

Again there was no response and the shunning continued. That was when I decided to see if the pastor, Curtis Tucker, would try to make this rift right between brothers in Christ in the biblically prescribed Christian manner, or if he would justify the shunning, or perhaps even participate in it. My worst fears were soon confirmed. I politely asked pastor Tucker if he knew what I had done, and if he could help to find a reconciliation. Here was his reply: .

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Jerry,
I am responding to the email you sent concerning our Honorbound Motorcycle Ministry. My response is sent as a courtesy to you and to explain my thoughts about this wonderful ministry. Our honorbound ministry is made up of some of the most loving, committed, and servant-oriented people that I have ever had the opportunity to pastor. Since forming this ministry about 3 years ago, this group has raised thousands of dollars for missions’ endeavors, they have done multiple toy runs at Christmas for underprivileged children, they have helped families who were struggling financially, they have gone into inner city neighborhoods of Fort Worth and Dallas helping with special projects and outreaches in those areas, and, most recently, they have adopted the family of Toby and Holly Turner, who have taken several children whose families could not care for them, and our group is providing clothes, food, and financial support.
These men and women are also wonderful evangelists. When they are out on “rides” or participating in special events they almost always find people to pray with, witness to, and influence toward Christ. And, the people who make up Westwood’s HonorBound ministry are not just motorcycle riders. They serve in several leadership roles in our church: some of them are part of our prayer ministry; some are part of our worship team; some serve in our children’s ministry. They are ushers, nursery workers, and greeters…in other words they are everything the church should be. They continually work at presenting a positive Christian example to the community they live in and the motorcycle culture that they enjoy fellowship with. One way they do this is through social media where they give an opportunity for their group and others to be encouraged by a devotional thought, an uplifting scripture passage, or just some encouraging words to lift up those who may be struggling.
Words cannot adequately express how much I love, respect, and admire these folks. Their commitment to Christ, His Church, and the world in which they live can be seen in all that they do. I always appreciate the opportunity to share my feelings about these wonderful people and this very worthwhile ministry.
In Christ Service,
Curtis
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Now on Pastor Tucker’s bio on the church’s website, there is no mention of a formal biblical education or any pastoral degree, but still, I expected better than a response like this. Here is what I find wrong with it.

1.) There is the clear assumption that the good deeds done by the motorcylcle group place them beyond the reach of any legitimate criticism.
2.) The clear and deliberate circumvention of my stated points and direct questions, and biblical verses.
3.) The fact that a brother in Christ had been offended by their actions did not rise to the level of a direct and focused response.
4.) The old, worn out tactic of defending the church institutions rather than taking the documented grievances, and hurt of another Christian seriously.
5.) Responding to legitimate, documented criticism on the basis of institutional and personal loyalties rather than biblical principles.
6.) The immediate removal from the group of anyone who expresses dissent or criticism, (although I am only assuming that was the case in the absence of their desire to directly tell my “sin.”)

The above five things that I have enumerated are what will eventually make any church a place that is dangerous to personal Christian liberties. While one person being kicked out of an online church group may not seem terribly significant, I believe strongly that it has provided a window into the inner workings of this, like many other churches. It is a clear and distinct harbinger of what any person should expect should they align themselves with Westwood Christian Fellowship and then find themselves in a position of disagreement on any issue, no matter how small. This church and its pastor, Curtis Tucker adhere rigidly to a longstanding rule of policy common to many churches: “DON’T STAND UP IN THE CANOE!”

Another reason why Westwood Christian Fellowship is a potentially dangerous church has to do with a word they use to describe themselves, as many churches do: “Family.” (Their website is even WCFFAMILY.COM) All churches portend to offer, among other things, refuge and solace from the world. The message is, “You are safe here.” “You are loved here.” “You are understood here.” In fact, that perhaps somewhat true in a lot of churches . . . up to the time when you disagree with the leadership. Then you will find, as I did at Westwood Christian Fellowship, that the way they deal with a member of the body that seems to them not in harmony with the rest of the body is very simple: they cut it off! That is how churches operate.

I pointed out to Pastor Curtis that Christians are given by God, “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). I pointed out to him that two Christians at odds with one another should seek restoration “in the spirit of meekness” (Galatians 6:1). I pointed out to him that God takes rifts between His children so seriously that He says for us to “Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come an offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:24). God makes it plain that He does not care to even hear from the Christian who is content with an ongoing breach in fellowship with a fellow believer. Would it not be offensive to God for such a brother to not only ignore this injunction from God by themselves praying, but to themselves lead a church full of believers in prayer? But no one need take my word for it. Read that last Scripture again, and ask God for yourself. I think you will find that He has not changed His mind.

So fellow-Christian, or non-Christian seeking God, ask yourself if you want to be a part of a church characterized by what I believe I have experienced as highly conditional acceptance –- a church that will look you in the eye and tell you, “We are here for you.” Their actions, at least to me, have said something quite different: “You are there for us. And when we detect the slightest hint to the contrary, we will show you the door in very short order. Then we will break all ties with you and pretend that you do not exist. We don’t care if you are face down in a bar in the middle of the night, we will not reach out to you. We will be the priest who walks by you as you lay in the ditch, not the Samaritan.” This is the way of the church, at least as I have experienced it often and witnessed it again and again in my three decades as a Christian. (You can join the 3 million people who have been blessed by a radio drama of my testimony heard in 27 countries on 2,600 radio stations: YouTube.com + KAIFETZ UNSHACKLED).

Surely this church will respond, if they respond at all, by attacking me personally. That is what churches to. (An adulterous pastor once stood before his congregation of 5,000 and lambasted me for forty minutes when I joined the cadre of principled Christian men who exposed him.) I believe in light. Light illumines. Light reveals. Light evidences danger. Light cleanses. Light warns. Light heals. Light soothes. The only people who fear light and attack the source are those who have something to hide. Unfortunately, that often includes churches and pastors. (You can see my list of the ones in my Christian life below)

I have told the truth here. I am producing the documents below. Beyond that, everyone is free to make their own decision and establish their own judgments regarding Westwood Christian Fellowship and pastor Curtis Tucker. I am sure that in many ways Curtis is a good man. I am sure that he has the calling of God upon his ministry. Sadly, that is neither pleasing nor honoring to God. To “offend one of my little ones” carries severe consequences in the Bible. Pastor Curtis Tucker has come to the place where he is willing to do anything to protect the corporate institution of the church. I am sure that many will have good things to say, and legitimately so. No church is all bad, or all good. All that being said, I have recognized a disturbing and dark pattern of institutional loyalty in this church that always eventually leads to good people being hurt, marginalized, abused and offended. Often the very faith that churches work so hard to build up is destroyed.

All that I would ask of anyone is that you make your efforts to balance these two perceptions an effort involving honesty and prayer. If anyone from Westwood would like to sit down with me with an open Bible between us, as I have indicated is always God’s prescribed preference for His people, I will be there. (My condition for such a meeting is that I be allowed to record it.)

“I have believed, and I have spoken.”

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E-MAILS

My Experience With Westwood Christian Fellowship of Weatherford Texas
and Pastor Curtis Tucker

I am writing my account of an experience with Westwood Christian Fellowship of Weatherford, Texas and its pastor, Curtis Tucker, believe I believe it should be told. On a scale of one to ten, how much this has to do with personal offense on my part is very close to zero. Please read this account before you make a judgement in that area. There was a group of men in the Old Testament we call the prophets. Theirs was a ministry of judgement. Yes, we are told not to judge (in my opinion, THE most misunderstood verse in all the Bible), but their was a ministry and lives dedicated to not their personal judgment, but to applying God’s judgment. That is how I have tried to live as a Christian fro over thirty years. My life is an open book; in fact, about twelve of them. If you want to know who I am, just Google my name: Jerry Kaifetz. I have nothing to hide.

You will hear from some of my detractors that, “Jerry kaifetz has never gotten along with any church.” First of all, that is not truthful. Secondly, I have doggedly gone after pedophile pastors, adulterous pastors, immoral men in Christian leadership, and a host of other men in churches guilty of incest, rape, torture, kidnaping, heresy, and on and on that sordid list goes. The most recent of these men, a once close friend and pastor of a church of 20,000 now languishes in a federal prison for twelve years for raping a sixteen year old church. (Google Jack Schaap) The Christian world abounds with pastors who believe I should have kept my mouth shut. I disagree. I believe that God does as well.

I have given this church and its pastor, Curtis Tucker, every chance to reconcile with me. I have apparently said something online that has offended them. What that is, I do not know to this day, as they have steadfastly refused to tell me. While this may not seem like something that rises to the level of this investment of anyone’s time to pursue, I believe that in fact it does. What all this reveals is a church that thinks nothing treating someone whose only “sin” is disagreeing with them in a manner wholly opposite to the way in which all Christians are seen by the Lord Jesus Christ: “Accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6)

A church like this, as I will address farther along, poses a genuine danger to well-meaning Christians who join only to find that this acceptance is highly conditional. The ensuing experiences, revelations and realizations can leave good people devastated, confused, and often tear at the fabric of their faith. My ONLY purpose (nobody knows my heart but me and God) is to warn people before they make themselves vulnerable to this kind of experience at the hands of a church that is not, in my opinion, what it pretends to be.

Surely there will be support for the church, and that is fine. The edges of a bowl of soup may in fact be tasty, delectable, sweet and even nutritious. But when I see glob of spit on the other edge, I believe that it is incumbent upon me before God to caution people about a church that I believe is demonstrably inclined to disrespecting the rights and liberties given by God to Christians that they might protect the institution of the church at any costs. Here is the narrative of my experience with Westwood Christian fellowship, 1010 S. Bowie Drive, Weatherford, Texas, and their pastor, Pastor Curtis Tucker.

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In the summer of 2014 I began to develop a relationship with Westwood Christian fellowship through their motorcycle club, Iron Faith Riders, a part of Honor Bound Motorcycle , the national motorcycle ministry of the Church of God. My involvement with them consisted of attending one even at Westwood where I was recruited to become a member. I knew far too little about this group or about the church, and I was not a Christian who was much inclined in the direction of the beliefs and doctrine of the Church of God, but I did join their Facebook Group and received regular posts from them.

Like I did a couple of times a week or more, one day I went to their homepage on Facebook. I found that it was no longer accessible to me. I knew what that meant: I had been removed from the group. I have my own Facebook group (Profaned Pulpit, named after one of my books), and I am not unaccustomed to occasionally finding it necessary to remove someone from the group. That is always when their postings are such that I deem them an offense of some kind to the group and not compatible with our stated purpose. Something I had said was obviously deemed to have been of that nature and I was summarily kicked out of the Iron Faith Riders Facebook Group. This left me with very bad feeling, primarily because I had no idea why.

I found a business card from the group. It had no name on it, but it had an e-mail address: WESTWOODMM@YAHOO.COM, so I sent off this e-mail to them:

Hey brother, just wondering why you kicked me off your Facebook group. I have always thought fellowship was supposed to be based on Jesus Christ, so this is a little puzzling to me, not to mention hurtful.

Can you please be specific? I would sure appreciate it. Please try to not be too general, as this will help me to understand what I may have done wrong, or what specifically I may have said that would cause another Christian to break fellowship with me.

Again, I would ask you to please be specific.

Thanks!
Jerry K.

There was no reply. It was clear to me that I had not only been disfellowshipped, but now I was being shunned. I knew that somehow I had posted something that was not compatible with the group’s beliefs, but I had no idea what. Moreover, as a Christian of 31 years, I really did want to know, as I had no desire to be crossways with a Christian group with whom I had riding motorcycles in common. I sent off another memo to the anonymous group leader who had handed me their business card. It was absent any name, but he had written the group’s e-mail address on the back. Again, there was no response. I decided to forget about it.

Then about five months later, this situation began to trouble me. There were Christian principles, protocols, and biblical principles involved that though at first seeming not to be terribly significant, I began slowly to feel otherwise. I e-mailed the mystery group leader once again and wrote that I believed that he and the group were in violation of one of the biblical protocols for dealing with a Christian brother with whom they had a disagreement (never mind that they had steadfastly refused to so much as even tell me what that disagreement was). Here is the verse I quoted him:

“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man,
and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” (2 Thes. 3:15)

Again there was no response and the shunning continued. That was when I decided to see if the pastor, Curtis Tucker, would try to make this right between brothers in Christ in the biblically prescribed Christian manner, or if he would justify the shunning, or perhaps even participate in it. My worst fears were soon confirmed. Here is my e-mail to Pastor Tucker and his response.

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Jerry,
I am responding to the email you sent concerning our Honorbound Motorcycle Ministry. My response is sent as a courtesy to you and to explain my thoughts about this wonderful ministry. Our honorbound ministry is made up of some of the most loving, committed, and servant-oriented people that I have ever had the opportunity to pastor. Since forming this ministry about 3 years ago, this group has raised thousands of dollars for missions’ endeavors, they have done multiple toy runs at Christmas for underprivileged children, they have helped families who were struggling financially, they have gone into inner city neighborhoods of Fort Worth and Dallas helping with special projects and outreaches in those areas, and, most recently, they have adopted the family of Toby and Holly Turner, who have taken several children whose families could not care for them, and our group is providing clothes, food, and financial support.
These men and women are also wonderful evangelists. When they are out on “rides” or participating in special events they almost always find people to pray with, witness to, and influence toward Christ. And, the people who make up Westwood’s HonorBound ministry are not just motorcycle riders. They serve in several leadership roles in our church: some of them are part of our prayer ministry; some are part of our worship team; some serve in our children’s ministry. They are ushers, nursery workers, and greeters…in other words they are everything the church should be. They continually work at presenting a positive Christian example to the community they live in and the motorcycle culture that they enjoy fellowship with. One way they do this is through social media where they give an opportunity for their group and others to be encouraged by a devotional thought, an uplifting scripture passage, or just some encouraging words to lift up those who may be struggling.
Words cannot adequately express how much I love, respect, and admire these folks. Their commitment to Christ, His Church, and the world in which they live can be seen in all that they do. I always appreciate the opportunity to share my feelings about these wonderful people and this very worthwhile ministry.
In Christ Service,
Curtis
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Now on Pastor Tucker’s bio on the church’s website, there is no mention of a former biblical education or any pastor degree, but still, I expected better than a response like this. Here is what I find wrong with it.

1.) The clear assumption that the good deeds done by the motorcycle group place them beyond the reach of any legitimate criticism.
2.) The clear and deliberate circumvention of my stated points.
3.) The fact that a brother in Christ had been offended by their actions did not rise to the level of a direct and focused response.
4.) The old, worn out tactic of defending the church institutions rather than taking the documented grievances of another Christian seriously.
5.) Responding to legitimate, documented criticism on the basis of institutional and personal loyalties rather than biblical principles.
6.) The immediate removal from the group of anyone who brings dissent or criticism.

The above five things that I have enumerated are what will eventually make any church a place that is dangerous to personal Christian liberties. While one person being kicked out of an online church group may not seem terribly significant, I believe strongly that it has provided a window into the inner workings of this church. It is a clear and distinct harbinger of what any person should expect should they align themselves with Westwood Christian Fellowship and then find themselves in a position of disagreement on any issue, no matter how small. This church and its pastor, Curtis Tucker adhere rigidly to a longstanding rule of policy common to many churches: “DON’T STAND UP IN THE CANOE!”

Another reason why Westwood Christian Fellowship is a dangerous church has to do with a word they use to describe themselves, as many churches do: “Family.” All churches portend to offer, among other things, refuge and solace from the world. The message is, “You are safe here.” You are loved here. You are understood here.” In fact, that is true in a lot of churches . . . up to the time when you disagree with the leadership. Then you will find, as I did at Westwood Christian Fellowship, that the way they deal with an member of the body that seems to them not in harmony with the rest of the body is very simple: they cut it off. That is how churches operate.

I pointed out to Pastor Curtis that Christians are given by God, “the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). I pointed out to him that two Christians at odds with one another should seek restoration “in the spirit of meekness” (Galatians 6:1). I pointed out to him that God takes rifts between His children so seriously that he says for us to “Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come an offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:24). God makes it plain that he does not care to even hear from the Christian who is content with an ongoing breach in fellowship with a fellow believer. Would it not be offensive to God for such a brother to not only ignore this injunction from God by themselves praying, but to themselves lead a church full of believers in prayer? But no one need take my word for it. Read that last Scripture again, and ask God.

So fellow-Christian, or non-Christian perhaps seeking God, ask yourself if you want to be a part of a church characterized by what I believe I have experienced as highly conditional acceptance – a church that will look you in the eye and tell you, “We are here for you.” Their actions, at least to me have said something quite different: “You are there for us. And when we detect the slightest hint to the contrary, we will show you the door in very short order. Then we will break all ties with you and pretend that you do not exist.” This is the way of the church, at least as I have experienced it often and witnessed it again and again in my three decades as a Christian. (You can join the 3 million people who have been blessed by a radio drama of my testimony heard in 27 countries on 2,600 radio stations: YouTube.Com + UNSHACKLED).

Surely this church will respond, if they respond at all, by attacking me personally. That is what churches to. (An adulterous pastor once stood before his congregation of 5,00 and lambasted me for forty minutes when I joined the cadre of principled Christian men who exposed him.) I believe in light. Light illumines. Light reveals. Light evidences danger. Light cleanses. Light warns. Light heals. Light soothes. The only people who fear light and those who have something to hide. Unfortunately, that often includes churches and pastors.

I have told the truth here. I am producing the documents below. Beyond that, everyone is free to make their own decision and establish their own judgments regarding Westwood Christian fellowship. I am sure that many will have good things to say, and legitimately so. No church is all bad, or all good. All that being said, I have recognized a disturbing and dark pattern of institutional loyalty in this church that always leads to good people being hurt, marginalized, abused and offended. All that I would ask of anyone is that you make your efforts to balance these two perceptions an honest effort. If anyone from Westwood would like to sit down with me with an open Bible between us, as I have indicated is always God’s prescribed preference for His people, I will be there. (My condition for such a meeting is that I be allowed to record it.)

“I have believed, and I have spoken.” Jerry D. Kaifetz, Ph.D.

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E-MAILS

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Some of my Other Church Experiences

1. A pastor of a large church I attended (5,000) had an affair for years with his secretary. Books were written about him (“Fundamental Seduction,” & “The Wizard of God,”) and a television documentary was produced: “Preying From the Pulpit.”

2. A deacon from that church (A.V. ballenger) was arrested, tried, convicted and imprisoned for molesting an 11 year old girl in a Sunday School Class.

3. A former pastor of mine, William Beith, was arrested for soliciting a male undercover policeman for oral sex in a public park.

4. A pastor of mine’s son and himself also a pastor was caught in his Texas church with a briefcase full of nude photos of over 20 women from his church with whom he had sex.

5. The premier Bible professor at my old seminary, Joe Combs, is in prison for life along with his wife for incest and torture of their adopted daughter.

6. The son os a former pastor mine was the prime suspect in the murder trial of a child and, at his father’s advice (Jack Hyles) took the 5th Amendment when questioned. He remains the prime suspect today. His name is Dave Hyles.

7. The principal of a Christian High School in a church we attended was arrested, tried and sent to prison for kidnaping and repeatedly raping an 11 year old female student from the church’s Christian school.

8. The son of the pastor of the Baptist church we moved to Weatherford Texas to join lost his wife over an affair he allegedly had while himself a pastor, which he later confessed in a sermon. His father lied to our church about it.

9. A former pastor of ours embezzled $200,000 from a church insurance settlement, threw me out when I asked about it, and then left the state.

10. A deacon whom I knew from a former Baptist church was recently sentenced to 25 years in prison for operating a Ponzi Scheme and with the support of many pastors bilking dozens of elderly Christian couples out of millions of dollars in life savings.

11. Another pastor of a large church we attended made a good sum of money publishing books on marriage that sold exceedingly well. His wife divorced him this year for having an affair.

Of course, those with a vested interest (financial & otherwise) in maintaining the status of the corporate institution of the church (There are two churches in my town whose combine published weekly take is around $100,000) will read the above and of course conclude that I am “bitter,” angry”, and desirous only of revenge for past wrongs. That is convenient, but simply not the case. I have found Jesus right where he said he would be found: “OUTSIDE THE CAMP” (Hebrews 13:12). I am blessed Christian; in fact so much so that I have long ago stopped trying to describe those blessings to people. Our family is a source of joy, our business has prospered and grows beyond expectation, and my ministry has reached more people independently of churches than I ever reached in any church, and that despite having taught my evangelism program to 3,000 pastors through the church.

You see, the church hierarchists and professional clergy cannot accept that I have been as critical of the sins of their institutions and also been blessed of God. The facts and truths of this matter will just have to continue to confound and frustrate them. They are not going away, and neither am I. I will always be an advocate of the abuse, the disenfranchised, the marginalized, and those who have been tossed aside after their usefulness to the church has been depleted. If you are one of those “little people,” God is on your side. Jesus had NOTHING good to say about organized religion. He spent much of His ministry detailing and exposing their corruption. Jesus never said to tithe to any church. That is nowhere in the New or Old Testament. (See the book, “Sunday Morning Stickup” by David Lee, and “The Tithing Hoax” by R. Renee). He was finally executed by organized religion in league with big government.

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For a broader, biblically based view of my writings on Ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church), see my other blog posts on this subject, or my many videos on this and other Christian and political topics: YouTube.com + JERRY KAIFETZ