“Leaders of Embassy Christian Center scrambled to hold together their Irvine, Calif., charismatic church, an affiliated Bible school and other related ministries after founder and senior pastor Roberts Liardon’s mid-December disclosure of his short-term homosexual relationship with the church’s youth minister, John Carrette Jr.”
Charisma magazine article below
Donald Elley of Bellingen:
I used to think that Roberts Liardon must be an extremely godly man. After all, he’d complied magnificent biographies of great Christians like John G Lake and Smith Wigglesworth. So I thought it was self-evident that he must be a very godly man.
Then, in response to a comment I made on this site lauding him, a reader replied that he’d committed gay sins, which really surprised me.
It was a complete surprise to me when I discovered that Frank Houston, the founder of Hillsong, was a pedophile and also a shock to find out that Peter Laughton and Frank had a four year secret affair. Peter was aged 23 and Frank 58. Peter told the Sydney Morning Herald reporter David Marr that Frank took advantage of him. However, the homosexual liaison lasted four years and Peter was a live-in boarder with Frank and his wife Hazel.
Hazel would fall asleep watching TV while Peter and Frank locked the study door, probably on the pretence of doing something creative or spiritual, but instead they experimented homosexually. Masturbating into coke bottles and endless bum caresses is how Peter described some of this creative gay activity.
Having heard Roberts Liardon had been caught out being gay, I decided to google “Roberts Liardon homosexual”.
This is what I discovered.
Charisma Magazine
Most Students, Church Members defend Roberts Liardon after confession
28 June 2002
The pastor-evangelist’s church and school are trying to survive after he admitted to a moral failure in December
Leaders of Embassy Christian Center scrambled to hold together their Irvine, Calif., charismatic church, an affiliated Bible school and other related ministries after founder and senior pastor Roberts Liardon’s mid-December disclosure of his short-term homosexual relationship with the church’s youth minister, John Carrette Jr.
About one-fifth of the church members, 37 of the 180 Spirit Life Bible College students and at least four Roberts Liardon Ministries missionaries departed during the first two weeks after the liaison was disclosed.
Calls for restoration have been hampered by charges of betrayal, accusations of spurned counsel and a possible lawsuit initiated by former Bible school students seeking to recoup unused tuition payments.
“We have gone through something here that has ripped people apart,” Larry Black told about 650 worshipers who gathered at Embassy for a Jan. 6 Sunday morning service. “The enemy is at work. He wants to destroy the leadership, the works of God. This is not just a test for the leadership. This is a test for the people of God,” Black said.
Black, a minister from Bakersfield, Calif., is filling the pulpit while Liardon, 34, takes a hiatus of at least three months to recover from health problems and to seek counseling from a group of nationally recognized pastors.
In a statement, Liardon told Charisma: “I have voluntarily taken a leave of absence from the ministry for at least three months and have placed myself under pastoral and professional counseling with a team of ministers headed by Charles Nieman and Trevor Yaxley.” Nieman is pastor of Abundant Living Faith Center in El Paso, Texas. Yaxley is based in New Zealand.
“Roberts Liardon is trying to do the right thing,” said Liardon’s spokesperson, Lawrence Swicegood of A. Larry Ross and Associates, a public relations agency whose media specializations include “reputation management.”
“He wants forgiveness,” Swicegood said. “He is spending an enormous amount of time in prayer, studying the Bible and [undergoing] counseling, seeking how he can get this horrible thing behind him.”
Yaxley, who is providing pastoral accountability, said Liardon is responding well to the process of restoration.
“I’m encouraged. I think Roberts is on his way back,” Yaxley said. “He is making good, positive steps. He is not hiding. He is transparent.” Yaxley said he plans to make periodic trips to California from his office in Auckland to encourage Liardon.
A timetable has not been set for Liardon’s return to ministry, but Black declared to the Embassy congregation that it will happen in God’s time and that Liardon and the ministry were yet to see their greatest days.
“It will be a minimum of three months,” Swicegood said of Liardon’s sabbatical. “At that point the professional counselors will assess how the treatment [is going] and re-evaluate. He [Liardon] is committed to spend-ing the time to make sure he is right with God.”
Liardon has never been married. This was his only homosexual encounter, Swicegood said.
As many as 120 former Embassy members now attend California Victory Church in Newport Beach, a nearby congregation started in October by Canadian church-planting leaders George and Hazel Hill.
“We do not know Roberts Liardon and are not connected with his ministry. We are just dealing with the fallout,” George Hill said. “A lot of people [who have left] were leaders. A lot of them feel betrayed. You break trust like that, and it is hard to rebuild.”
Swicegood said the inappropriate sexual behavior between Liardon and Carrette began in September. In November, Liardon and Carrette received advice from an undisclosed professional counselor and from Les Bowling, pastor of Eagle Rock, a church in Pickerington, Ohio.
Bowling, a longtime Liardon associate, laid out specific steps for Liardon and Carrette that involved removing themselves from ministry, receiving further counsel and resolving other issues, Swicegood said.
Bowling is no longer counseling Liardon. Carrette, the son of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International Executive Vice President John Carrette Sr., has resigned from Embassy. He is currently living in Guatemala and could not be reached for comment.
Many people have been devastated by the recent events at Embassy. Daniel Harbour, 45, said he and his wife and five children attended the church for five years. Two of their children are Spirit Life graduates.
“We do not have any problems with Embassy or Pastor Liardon,” Harbour said. “I pray for pastor every day. But until both sides step up to the plate, there is no reconciliation.”
Overseas missionaries apparently received conflicting information about ministry problems soon after Liardon’s announcement. “We knew something was up, but we never expected this to happen,” said a missionary who has since left the organization. Sixteen other missionaries, including one base leader, have left the field. A ministry spokesperson acknowledged that four people were not returning to the work in Africa, but did not specify if the reason was related to Liardon’s confession.
Shocked, many people did not see Liardon’s problems coming.
“It was a disappointment, but the vision is greater than the man,” said Spirit Life junior Farah Pattisalamuw, 31, who has chosen to stay at the school. “I believe restoration has already begun. I pray that pastor Roberts will come back soon. How can I preach the gospel if I cannot forgive people? That is how revival starts.”
Liardon’s ministry has offices in England, South Africa and the Philippines. Spirit Life graduates have been sent to missions outposts aroundthe world as part of an effort called Operation 500.
Steven Lawson in Irvine, Calif.”
My comments:
Robert Liardon is still unmarried and who knows what other homosexual activities Robert has engaged in prior to this liaison with his youth pastor, and since 2002, if any.
One things for sure, Robert Liardon has lost all credibility as a man of God. Sodomy is a sure way to loose one’s mandate to be a Christian leader and role model. It’s one of the worst sins known to man and there are very powerful demons enslaving gays in their many sins.
I went to Rhema when Roberts Liardon was first brought out in the Christian world. He appeared a godly person and had a great testimony with spiritual gifts. Despite all that, I heard he is preaching today. I cannot help but feel wierd listening to him as a single person with no marital ties to a woman. Doesn’t sound right. Not a good testimony. I will not follow him. I hope and pray he holds himself accountable to True and godly authorities t/ o his lifetime because The true Jesus Christ will judge Hime as He will judge me too. I don’t wanna see any more ” fallen Preachers”
i would like to leave a commit by piggy backing with carolyn who wrote in june of 2019. I have did deliverances and am involved with them. i highly believe in them. If the son has really set you free than you are free and no residue is there. If roberts never got deliverance counceling for a while than that demon is dormat. You can count on it. Homosexuality has hit our nation by storm and all 50 states making it legal to now being taught in the elementary school system. Its a very strong perverted sexual spirit. It has taken our nation on all 50 states. If you dont think this is not a very strong demon thats being fed than your sadly mistaken. Gods people perish with the lack of knowledge of Jesus opponent that he had to battle on a daily bases. Deliverance ministries are dieing out in the churches today to casting out devils and speaking pure truth on what needs to be said , not what you want to hear. He is still in bondage in no counceling has been done. A true freedom of this kind of perversion lies in a relationship with the oposite sex as a marriage covenant. i have seen this miracle happen on some occations. Those that was gay, jesus healed cause they was really serious about change, and would do anything to get it. plus they did get married. He should of never entered back into the pulpit.This demon is getting the christian men by storm that are married to a 70% problem with pornography on the websites and even magazines. This demon comes in different colors and approaches but he is the same. To me there are greater sins. Jesus said to pontius pilot, the one who gave me over, has the greater sin. aswell, blasphemy is a greater sin. Jesus mentions the 7 most sins He hates in proverbs. A sin is not just a sin. I hope the readers understand the consequences of pastors who portray homosexuality , even residue left. Jesus doesnt have residue in His healings. If the son has set you free, you are free indeed.
Did he go through deliverance from the unclean spirit? Not just counseling but also deliverance. If he didn’t go through deliverance, then that spirit is still lying dormant. I know of people who say that God has forgiven them but that spirit is still in them. When God delivers you, there is no residue left.
Carolyn. I don’t know
i am 66 years old and was bi sexual all my adult life till i came to Christ at the age of 53. I was fresh out of the packet and people were telling me to do this telling me to do that pray this pray that get deliverence etc etc. I went along with it for years and was in the same pentacostal church for about 11 years i then got sich to death with it all and left feeling less saved than when i walked through the doors all those years ago. I could have easily lost my faith completely. I was fortunate to have a love ot the word and the king james bible left and found a good right dividing assembly and i am fine today. I have come to beleive the whole deliverence ministry of the presumably “saved” Christians unbiblical and very dangerous. As a saved man I have the Holy Spirit living in my temple my body. How can an unclean spirit or curse be in the same temple and where does it say that is possible in the King James bible? That sounds like blasphemy to me
Action1953
We are all sinners. It is important to daily go to the Cross, as the Apostle Paul wrote, and be crucified with Christ spiritually, repent of all our sins and pray for deliverance from any demons. It is great you are now a Christian at age 53. Don’t worry about what other people say. God does not judge. All the best with your walk with the Lord. “Be holy as I am holy”, says the Lord. The Lord is gracious and holy. He will pick you up if you stumble. He always forgives. Your past is your past and you shouldn’t share it with people any more. Focus on the good things. Donald
acton 1953: Thank you for your post. That is very edifying and I believe the Bible says something about that too. God and the devil cannot live in the same body. Also God doesn’t like lukewarm Christianity. Either you are hot or cold for God… and God wants His Children to be on Fire for Him in the Holy Spirit walking in the Spirit every day of our lives like you said. Amen Brother and God, His son Jesus Christ bless you in Jesus’ Name amen and amen!!
Curious where in scripture you find anywhere that one sin is a “worse” sin. Specifically, please cite the scripture showing homosexuality to be “one of the worst sins.” Otherwise, it’s just your own opinion.
Romans 1
Unbelief and Its Consequences
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth [l]in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not [n]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
” It’s one of the worst sins known to man” Are we talking about man or God here? Because that’s a lie. God said, not to make idols; for this very reason.
One should have their own personal relationship / faith with only God and not rely on “man”.