Below is an open letter from Mark Sharpe reporting on a church staff meeting that took place this week. Apparently, during the meeting, Dr Gaines acknowledged having made certain statements about Bellevue Baptist Church to his congregation at Gardendale. He also spoke to the issue of the dream that was raised earlier this week.
Please be in prayer for Mark and myself as we begin our second interview this evening. Pray that God’s will would be done, that the right words would be said, and that we would be able to finish this evening.
Below is Mark’s letter:
Josh,
I wanted to give you an update on a meeting held this week for Steve Gaines to address the employees of Bellevue. This meeting raises additional issues I'd like to share with the congregation. I've been told by a deacon brother that Steve Gaines made several statements of interest.
Steve Gaines admitted saying the things that were reported on the internet (at savingbellevue.com) last week when he addressed Gardendale First Baptist the night he accepted the call to be Bellevue’s pastor. The portion of the video was available on the website for anyone to see but at the request of Gardendale, the video clip was removed. He told Gardendale that on the last meeting he had with Bellevue’s pastor search committee that told them all of the changes he was going to make at Bellevue. He told the committee everything he didn’t like about Bellevue and all of the things Gardendale was doing right. He also told the Gardendale congregation that he tried to “tick” the committee off to see if they really wanted him. He told the Bellevue employees he was sorry for the statements made.
I’m told that he also made a statement that (paraphrased according to the source) he never had a dream about this man. He said his wife and family was just now finding out about the dream and got very emotional at the employee meeting. (If readers haven’t seen the interview last week dealing with the dream issue, they can read it at: http://bellevuetruth.blogspot.com/2006/09/sharpe-interview-still-on-blog.html )
As I heard the account of what was said by Steve Gaines in the meeting, several thoughts came to mind which I’d like to hear Steve Gaines address:
· Why did he confess to the employees the statements made to Gardendale? If he was asking for forgiveness, perhaps he will do so today in church to the congregation.
· Did Steve Gaines actually tell the committee he was going to be making the changes? If so, why didn’t the committee tell the congregation before we voted?
· Did Steve Gaines ask Gardendale to pull the video clip off of the internet?
· Since Steve Gaines has been confronted over his statements earlier in time, why is he just not asking forgiveness? Is it only because He was exposed?
· On the dream issue, would Steve Gaines explain why or how Mark Dougharty told other staff members that he had a dream and described it in detail?
· If his wife is just now finding out about the dream and Steve Gaines was confronted about the dream issues back in May, why is she just now finding out? This issue has been brought to Steve Gaines, Mark Dougharty, Chuck Taylor, and at least two other deacon officers as far back as May and June of 2006. If I was accused of such a bizarre story as this, I think I would share it with my wife and quickly deny the story.
· Why was the early request in May/June to bring Steve Gaines, Mark Dougharty, the staff members, and the member who was asked to be quiet into a room together to find out the truth refused?
· We have a problem because there are men whose lives have been affected. Someone is not telling the truth. We have men who have been compromised and now we have a pastor who says it never happened but refuses to simply find out who is not telling the truth.
· Why did Steve Gaines not bring this member of Bellevue into his office and ask him to stop saying Amen instead of dispatching others to take care of it?
· Do we not care about this man?
· Is this a cover-up?
Josh,
I appreciate your time today on this very sensitive and alarming matter. I am saddened by what is taking place but as I’ve said before, the truth is always the right direction to follow. Sometimes, it’s very difficult to deal with but it’s always the best.
Sincerely,
Mark Sharpe
