Apostasy Clubs Counterfeit Apostolic Church at Pride Fest (Part 2)
Affirming Lives Destroys More Lives
Part 1 documented Becky Pagone, the Transitional Pastor of Spirit of Peace Church (USS). Becky was “ordained” at the First Congregational Church (UCC). You may have seen this downtown church with the colossal pride flag hanging over its entrance.
Spirit of Peace and First Congregational Church, both members of the UCC denomination, partnered with the Unitarian Universalist (UUA) denomination to produce the radically depraved OWL sex education curriculum that was profiled in part 1. All Souls Church is the local UUA church. All three of these churches were present at the Sioux Falls Pride Festival on June 14th.
The two other “churches” present at Pride Festival were St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) and the Shepherd’s Table.
These “churches” are reminiscent of the ancient church in Pergamum–described in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 2:14-16). Jesus warns this church that some of their leaders are teaching the people to commit sexual sin. St. Mark’s website states that they “celebrate and are affirming of our LGBTQIA2S+ siblings." St. Mark's is co-pastored by Sawyer Vanden Heuvel, who is also the pastor of the Shepherd's Table.
In a June 4, 2024 interview Heuvel, an openly gay pastor, said that he had "shed many tears of shame from a conservative church background that taught him being gay was a sin." The Shepherd’s Table derives its name in part from Matthew Shepard, who Heuvel claims should “be remembered as a saint and martyr for all of our queer siblings.”
The celebration and affirmation of sexual immorality, and the canonization of its adherents is completely contrary to what the Bible teaches. The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians that “Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 9-10) Later in this letter, Paul warns, "anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. If you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself." (Cor. 11:27,29)
In addition to the churches who had booths at the Pride Festival and others who “celebrate Pride Month” in their services, there is another group of Sioux Falls churches who are also similar to one of the seven churches in Revelation: The Church in Laodicea. This is the church that is “like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold,” that Jesus says, “I will spit you out of my mouth! (Rev. 3:16)
Who of us are among those lukewarm churches?
However, amid the darkness there is a ray of hope. Be sure to read the next article in this series to learn more about that positive development.
Interesting to note that Matthew Shephard was actually killed over drugs, not queerness.