April Drumbeat addition

A Season of Pain
Last Month trouble descended on our Inland Empire Church Family in an Pastor Hilly awful way. Our dear friend and brother, the Reverend Stephen Howard was arrested on April 13, 2014 by the San Bernardino Sherriffs Department and charged with the sexual abuse of two children. At this writing he is still in custody, awaiting his May 16 hearing date, and being held on a $500,000 bail. The shocking accusations and arrest have caused many of us to feel both pain and bewilderment. We find ourselves asking, How can this be? Rev. Howard has served admirably as pastor of Muscoy United Methodist Church for twelve years, and also for a number of years as Director of the Frazee Community Center for economically disadvantaged persons. We have known Stephen as a selfless man who works tirelessly on behalf of the poor and marginalized people of our community. It is he that often reminds us that we are called to be a voice for the voiceless and a defender of the weak. We love Stephen for his dedication, for his eager participation with us in Mission Area events, for his beautiful tenor singing voice, and his gentle personality. Thats why it is so difficult to put all that together with the horrible charges made against him. Pastor Stephen has pled not guilty to the charges. And at this point we do not know anything about the evidence collected against him. We do know, however, that like all citizens, he is innocent until proven guilty. We also know that as Christians we are to continue to love brother Stephen and to pray for him, his family, and for Muscoy United Methodist Church. But we must also pray for those who are alleging abuse. Child sexual abuse is a terrible and devastating crime that causes long-lasting damage and ruins lives. And yet it is also true that false accusations of this sort also cause lasting damage and also ruin lives. This is a grave situation that affects many people, churches and even our Annual Conference itself. Prayer, my dear friends, is definitely in order. And so in this season of Lent and Easter, let us pray that truth will be known, Justice served, and that all may know the grace of the Risen Christ whose love and forgiveness makes all things new. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. --Isaiah 53:5 Gods blessings, Rev. Dr. Hilly G. Hicks, Pastor Del Rosa United Methodist Church