By Apprising Ministries correspondent Chrystal Whitt of Slaughter of the Sheep

Elevation Church, founded by seeker driven pastor Steven Furtick, has made news headlines for removing a child from services for being a “distraction.”

On Easter Sunday, twelve-year-old Jackson Helms, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, attended Elevation Church with his family. During worship, Jackson, according to his mother, “let out his own kind of ‘amen’ “ and was quickly removed from the service by Elevation staff.

The following is from an article on wsoctv.com:

“Easter Sunday he got all dressed up, got ready to go, no small feat with a kiddo like him,” she said. But, right after the opening prayer inside Elevation’s sanctuary that Sunday, Helms said Jackson voiced his own kind of “Amen.”

“We were very abruptly escorted out.” Kelly Helms said.

Helms said it was not a good feeling but saw an opportunity to contact the pastor with an offer to start a ministry for special needs children. She says the idea was rejected.

When Eyewitness News went to Elevation Church, an employee told us they focus on worship and not ministries. (Source)

While some people will argue that a child like Jackson disrupts service, I would argue that Jackson’s mother is the one who is responsible for controlling his outburst, which sounded like a mild outburst, to be honest. But if anyone out there feels like strenuously defending Furtick and Elevation Church, then I urge them to consider what one wise commentor of the above news article pointed out:

Luke 14:12-14 Then Jesus said to his host,”When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Jun. 10, 2011 5:50pm EST | from smahl2075

Amen!

I would say Furtick and Elevation should mold themselves more after the Savior and less after the circus church of the day.

This post appears in its original form with a comments section, where we encourage you to participate, right here.

See also:

STEVEN FURTICK PERFORMER WANNABE?

STEVEN FURTICK CALLS JOEL OSTEEN GREAT MAN OF GOD

STEVEN FURTICK SOUNDING MORE LIKE JOEL OSTEEN