In response to the recent allegations concerning Pastor Jose Rosa, who has been missing since May 21, our prayers are with his family, his congregation and especially the children's lives that have been marred by these sinful and reckless acts. Should he be caught, tried and found guilty, he needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law.

To the community at large and those who are genuinely seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ, I want to say that there are many ministers, pastors and churches in the local area that are "walking the talk" in their homes, their ministries and in the honored role of serving God and reaching out to people.

I often get together with local pastors for prayer, and when these issues come up in the larger church community, we are saddened and heartbroken that the very message that has been entrusted to us -- the "Good News" -- is maligned and weakened toward those it was intended to heal, restore and renew.

The word of God is clear from 1 Peter 4.17: "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

God is not mocked; what we sow, we will reap. Leaders in the church who supposedly are representing "God" have a double-duty to live what they preach, to love and to be accountable to their wives, to submit themselves to oversight in ministry and, for the sake of their own souls, submit to God Almighty.

God forgives and heals through the finished work of the cross, but there are no second chances for anyone, Hebrews 9:27 says. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment ..." Like it or not, we will all give an account for the deeds done in the body, in the mind, and the intentions of our hearts will be judged.

Thankfully, these kinds of things will continue to be exposed and should be. God is exposing, and this is a good thing because there have been too many lives that need to hear that their sins are forgiven because of what Jesus Christ has accomplished through his death, burial and resurrection from the dead.

Keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Jesus cares!

Dan Langan,

Lewisburg

n Dan Langan is pastor Harvest House Christian Fellowship.