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by Martin_Kaine from Birmingham

Last Post 7 days, 15 hours Ago


An Open Letter to the Hunter Street Babtist Church
Apr 4, 2008 | 6:21 PM
Category: Faith
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Twice a day, Monday thru Friday, I drive by your church. It is one of the largest churches I have ever seen. There are college campuses that are not nearly so impressive. I became curious.

 

I wanted to know more about a congregation of people so generous that they could raise enough money to build such a church. I went to your website. I saw pictures of services. I saw pictures of your church. I saw the beautiful interior of your church. I saw people rejoicing. I saw a choir of smiling people singing. It is all very impressive, to say the least.

 

There are however some things I have not been able to find, which brings me to the point of my inquiry.

 

Where is the Hunter Street Baptist Children’s Hospital?

 

Where is the Hunter Street Baptist Homeless Shelter?

 

Where is the Hunter Street Baptist Battered Women’s Home?

 

Where is the Hunter Street Baptist Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Center?

 

Where is the Hunter Street Baptist Thrift Store and Donation Center?

 

Where is the Hunter Street Baptist Halfway House?

 

Matthew 25: 34-46

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

As a man I am not qualified to judge you, but I would ask you to judge yourselves. Look at yourselves through the eyes of a poor young carpenter and ask yourselves “Is this what Jesus would have us do?”

 

Do you pray to God or a massive golden calf on a hill, not made of gold, but of brick and glass? When you think of church do you picture a building or people?

 

You celebrate yourselves in a mansion on a hill overlooking a community that has never needed you so much. You are not asked for help because both believers and unbelievers see you as hypocrites, interested only in your community status. God depends on the church to bring people to him, but you drive them away. Your vulgar display of obscene wealth makes the common man ashamed to cast a shadow on your golden door for fear of not being accepted.

 

It isn’t them that should be ashamed.

 

~Martin Kaine~

34 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 34
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PDB1
Apr 5, 2008 | 5:09 PM

Martin,
I am and have been a member of the body of believers called Hunter Street for many years. Please understand that my comments are my own personal thoughts and in no way would I want to make a formal statement on behalf of the entire body.
I would begin by saying that I certainly understand and can see why you and other’s that I have met can be overwhelmed or intimidated by a lot of buildings. However, I would really encourage and welcome you to visit. Every Sunday, our pastor constantly reminds us that we are part of a body of believers and not part of a building. As you correctly point out, to worship a building would be wrong. In fact, to worship anything other than the one true sovereign God would be idolatry and therefore a sin. You were also correct in describing a community that desperately needs a message that we carry, that is – we are sinful and separated from God – there are eternal consequences for this separation – God through His mercy sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die so that our sins may be paid – it is only through faith in Jesus, His death, burial and resurrection, that we can become adopted into the family of God. You are so right in that our community needs this message. God chose people and not buildings to spread His message and that is what I see this group of believers, including myself, trying to do.
As I said, I would invite you to visit to learn more of who we are. I believe that it would be difficult to truly understand who we are and what we stand for if only visiting a website or viewing from the outside. The structure may s
PDB1
Apr 5, 2008 | 5:11 PM

Sorry, here's the rest.

As I said, I would invite you to visit to learn more of who we are. I believe that it would be difficult to truly understand who we are and what we stand for if only visiting a website or viewing from the outside. The structure may seem large but I can assure you that it pale’s in comparison to the heart of our faith family. Please give us a fair try. I’ll wait on our front steps at 9:20 in the morning and will welcome you in order to provide you with an opportunity to better understand our body of believers. We are certainly not perfect and that is why we stand in awe of an awesome God that would provide a way of salvation for us. However, I believe that you will find that we take very seriously the opportunity and command that God has given us to minister to the community around us. We have numerous ministry programs going on similar to the ones that you mention that do not carry the Hunter Street name. We always have room for one more and if you can’t find a ministry that you are passionate about, we’ll make a new one!
Respectfully and in His Love,
Paul
BPDMotor6 read my blog view my photos
Apr 6, 2008 | 1:30 AM

Open letter to Martin,
SNAP!! Before I made a statement that strong I would have at least attended a sermon! I have never attended service there but have a number of friends who do, and I assure you none of them are pretentious and would welcome you with open arms and brotherly love! As I understand it the congregation there is HUGE and such a large building is needed just to hold the sheer volume of people. I would be tempted to say if that many people are packing into the building great things are happening there. Again, I have not attended service there and I have a tendency to be very bold and brave with some of my speeches but I STRONGLY encourage you to be careful when speaking about specific people or things unless you have personal experience or knowledge of a wrong doing. You left the impression you have not be to a service or spoke to anyone there, is that right?
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 6, 2008 | 11:06 AM

BDPMoto6, make me a list of things a person has to know before he is allowed to exercise the right of free speech.

Yes it is a strong statement and no, I don't know the members of this church personally but I stand behind every word I said.

I sent this "open" letter privately several months ago and recieved no response. There are two reason's I posted it publically.

1. I felt I was more likely to get a response.

2. The Hunter Street Babtist Church isn't the only the church that needs to hear this message.

If a member or official of the church would like to put this issue to bed, make your financial records public. Let us compare what is spent internally to want is spent on the poor and the sick and the forgotten.

The church is a public entity. It's dealings should be public as well. A righteous man has no secrets.

Luke 21
1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Tossing a couple of bucks to Jim Hale isn't so heroic when you have a few hundred in your pocket.

There is a difference between a church and a country club. There is nothing wrong with a country club and there is nothing wrong with belonging to one, but when someone builds a country club and calls it a church, something needs to be said.
BPDMotor6 read my blog view my photos
Apr 6, 2008 | 10:42 PM

young man, slander is not free speech. Did you just wake up and decide you had to have the finanical records of any company or organization you felt like? I sense you have a larger axe to grind.Perhaps they should trade their fianical records for yours! If you want one simply go to the church and ask for one! Every church that I have ever attended issues a finanical statement to the members every year.
My point was who died and made you God and left you to judge anyone?An as for your quoting scripture sir, the devil can quote scripture!

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
Mother Teresa
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 7, 2008 | 6:40 PM

BDP, I think you are getting the wrong idea about what I am saying here. I am not anti-church. In fact I am very pro-church. I am also in favor of MAJOR financial restructuring in churches, not imposed by the government, ever, but by the churches themselves.

I am going to be doing a blog on how the church can save America from communism. I don't want to give the whole thing away, but basically I believe that if our churches were doing their job politicians would not be able to use socialist programs to buy votes.

I love God, I love our founding fathers, I love the constitution, I love the American people, and I especially love churches. I am counting on the churches. Charity is a righteous business, it should be carried out and managed by the righteous, not by politicians.
tj3891 read my blog view my photos
Apr 7, 2008 | 8:29 PM

i think a pastor should know each member personally, there's no way that happens at hunter st baptist. that church is nothing but a status symbol for the people of hoover...remember, you cant buy your way to heaven! bpd, i see no slander in martins blog, just because you're a cop doesn't mean you know the law perfectly. the last time i looked we had the right to free speech!
BPDMotor6 read my blog view my photos
Apr 8, 2008 | 7:19 PM

In print it's actually libel tj and I wouldn't ask you for legal advise!
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 8, 2008 | 7:52 PM

Take a look at this, for example.

From their website.
http://hunterstreet.org/info/serve.html
Jimmie Hale Mission
Hunter Street is responsible for a meal and worship time at the downtown Jimmie Hale Mission. Each month, volunteers serve the meal and participate in singing, testimonies and fellowship with those who attend. We demonstrate to the homeless that we care by meeting both physical and spiritual needs.
Ministry Commitment
First and third Sundays each month, approximately 3 hours plus travel time.

Prerequisites
None; no age limit, but children must be accompanied by an adult

Staff
Spencer Knight, Minister of Ministries

Serve
Contact the church by calling the office at 205.985.7295 or e-mail us if you are interested in serving in this ministry.

Coffee Ministry
Something’s brewing in the Coffee Ministry, where volunteers provide an invaluable service to hundreds of Hunter Streeters. Each Sunday, volunteers brew pots of coffee that are distributed to all Adult Sunday School classes. It takes about 30 minutes to make enough coffee for an entire Sunday School hour.
Ministry Commitment
Arrive 30 minutes prior to Bible Study hour and serve every other Sunday, provide a substitute when absent, training is on-the-job.

Prerequisites
Membership Information classes, church member

Staff
Kerry Jones , Minister of Media Adults and Discipleship

Serve
Contact the church by calling the office at 205.985.7295 or e-mail us if you are interested in serving in this ministry.
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 8, 2008 | 7:53 PM

Notice that the job requirements are higher for the coffee guy/girl job than the Jimmy Hale Mission job.

Priorities. It's all about priorities.
bellesmom2004 read my blog
Apr 8, 2008 | 9:30 PM

I have visited Hunter Street many times.I have always felt welcomed and never felt really effected by the bigness or all the people but I have very much felt the presence of God. I am a member of a smaller church but like to visit Hunter Street for the sweet spirit and the uplifting message Brother Buddy always gives. Yes I call him by his first name even tho I am not a member because he has always made me feel like I could. I know alot of people from other churchs come to Hunter Street to help with Mission because it is BIG and can offer so many. I have always left there feeling blessed. Any church will give you a financial report. I know my church gives one out monthly to those who attend business meetings. Mis-spending is everywhere, but please look before you accuse. Please attend before you attack.
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 8, 2008 | 10:37 PM

"Please attend before you attack."??

Did you get that off a bumper sticker? Just because mis-spending is everywhere doesn't make it right.

I did look. I'm still looking. Just because visiting makes you feel better doesn't justify hypocrisy. Heroin will make you feel better, while it rots your body.

Ignoring the fact that we are becoming a society of narcissists will make you feel better, while it rots your soul.
tj3891 read my blog view my photos
Apr 9, 2008 | 2:16 PM

and a cop should not give legal advice!
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 9, 2008 | 2:27 PM

Come on now, there is no need to bash the police. If we disagree with this one man, it is him we disagree with, not his profession.

I'm glad the police are out there. Our local PDs have problems, yes, but almost every problem they have has been caused by poor management, not by the officers themselves.
southerngold read my blog view my photos
Apr 9, 2008 | 10:43 PM

I can see how BPD might not see the message you say you intended to get across Kaine; you certainly did bash the Church. I say you are the hypocrit; if people feel intimidated, they are using it as an excuse not to go to church. not every church is for every person, they must find one they feel gives them what they seek, which hopefully is God's message based on the Bible. You have no idea what this Church basis it's priorities on or how it makes its decisions and why, yet you spout off about it. Sounds like they do have community programs; it's also important they take care of their flock and have programs for their members too. You have your cause that you feel the Church should be also embracing; gotta love when people know what the rest of us should be doing. Why don't you go to the Church, make an appointment, and then discuss your agenda with the Pastor and Deacons or whomever you deem should be in attendance?
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 10, 2008 | 6:38 AM

Well I tried that but, THEY WILL NOT RESPOND.

I have written 3 times, and called twice. I emailed them a link to this blog even. I will keep trying.

...and yes, I do "have an idea what this Church basis it's priorities on or how it makes its decisions and why".
southerngold read my blog view my photos
Apr 10, 2008 | 7:40 AM

exactly, you have an IDEA, no facts ... I didn't ask if you had written or called or emailed ... I asked why you don't GO TO the Church and make an appointment ? Personally, I would be quite worried about meeting with you due to the tone of your message - who would want to meet with someone that bashes & attacks you? seems you could gain more ground if you appeared to want to work WITH a group of people rather than condemn them. Do you feel led by God to take this on or is it your very own agenda ?
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 10, 2008 | 9:29 AM

No actually I do have facts. I was quoting you when I said "idea". I know HSBS has about 6200 members. I know what the median income is in Hoover.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover,_Alabama
"According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $67,679, and the median income for a family was $86,160.[1] Males had a median income of $55,660 versus $34,836 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,361. About 2.1% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over."

I also know what a tithe is.

Crunch those numbers against the estimated cost of their mission expenses and you will see my point.

I don't get a response from them, not because I am hostile, but because I am right.

Now, I am not trying to come across as some "holier than thou", the truth is I have been a morally bankrupt human being for most of my life. I have no right to judge anyone, but I am going to speak up for what is right in spite of my past failures.

An imperfect man can do a perfect deed and I owe God a lot of deeds. There is no such thing as a perfect man, well, there was one, but none in the past couple of thousand years.

I would love to meet with someone from this church, or any church, many need to reevaluate their finances. I am bad at lots of things, but I am very good at streamlining and efficiency.

I believe I could be helpful and I will be, given the opportunity. I will eventually get someone to talk to me, if not this church, another one.
bigmenrin read my blog view my photos
Apr 11, 2008 | 9:46 PM

HSBC only has to answer to GOD and GOD alone. Get over yourself.
Martin_Kaine read my blog view my photos
Apr 12, 2008 | 7:28 PM

On the day of judgement they shall answer to God and God alone. Until then we answer to each other under the guidance of God's word and the law of the land.

Genesis 4
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Am I my brother's keeper? Is this my concern? Shouldn't I just mind my own business?

Yes, we are our brother's keeper.

Yes, this is our concern.

The welfare of the community is our business. The direction of our leaders, both political and spiritual, is our business.

It is not just our right to question what we percieve to be an injustice, it is our obligation.

We will answer to God, not only for what we did, but for what we didn't do, not only for what we said, but for what we didn't say.
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Martin_Kaine

My name is Martin Kaine. I am a resident of the Birmingham area. I am an amatuer poet, artist, photographer, and lawn chair theologian.______________
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Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Member Since: 4/4/2008


 

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