Comments on: Hillsong’s original press release on Mercy Ministries

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:22:34 +0000

Hi Peter,
I don't think I explained myself first time around – the free healthcare is NOT from bulk billing medical centres. They are doctors and counsellors from the church that give their time. They do ask if the counseling has helped you that would contribute a little bit, but not one cent comes from bulk billing Medicare.

By: Peter Bowditch

Peter Bowditch — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:39:47 +0000

"They provide FREE, yes Free Healthcare in both Hills and City"

Free health care from a bulk-billing medical centre is free in the same sense that counselling at Mercy Ministries is free if you assign your Centrelink benefits. Someone is paying.

By: SeandBlogonaut

SeandBlogonaut — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:24:27 +0000

I notice you tend to misinterpret and twist what people are saying. They say with good intention and you twist it around

Actually Debra, I asked you to clarify what you meant be traditional values. And now after several paragraphs I still not entirely sure what values you are espousing. But I'd you go back to a point you made early, values need to be instilled. If you come from a broken home, an abusive home, if you are bullied or picked on it effects you ability to cope with life's challenges.

Look at Elisabeth Fritzl, she is strong and now trying to live her life again.

Really, how do you know this? DO you know what counseling she is recieving? Are you in a position to say how well she is coping?

Lovely if someone makes a mistake, engages in some risk taking behavior then what, they deserve everything the get? Of all the mentally ill women I have worked with none of them match the discription you outlin above. And when people go out and really wipe themselves out, its usually an indication of underlying issues that they are not dealing with. Please stop watching Dr Phil and think you know anything about the psychology or addiction or self harm.

In the first place, they end up in these situations themselves where they are not able to look for a job and support themselves.

You know this how? You seem to be saying that they got themselves into this predicament, the should get themselves out – forgetting of course that in some cases we are talking about people with mental illness.

As to Centrelink money funny you should question why the government should give them money – Mercy certainly had no qualms about taking it form the did they.

If they have the money, they would probably try to misuse them.

Again I love the assumptions you make about these women. One the one hand you say that they should be able to look after themselves and get themselves out of their predicament. Yet on the other you don't credit them with the ability to be self determined.

That is precisely what I am talking about Western society. You say one thing with good intention and out comes all these twisted misintepretations like yours. Everything, in the media, news etc is sexualised. It all starts in the home, in school, what values these women

Funny you seem to be living in Western Society, do you not like it, perhaps you could trade places with someone on Christmas Island?

Twisted interpretations? Well I can't help it Debra if you can't present your points with clarity – don't blame me for your own short comings

By: Debra

Debra — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:48:06 +0000

What are these trdational values of which you speak? Maybe, honour you father while he rapes you night after

I notice you tend to misinterpret and twist what people are saying. They say with good intention and you twist it around.

Well, if these women comes from broken homes where their parents are screwed up, then I emphatize with them and they definitely need help. That's what I mean. If their families are screwed, they will be screwed up as well, unless they are strong and can rise above this. Look at Elisabeth Fritzl, she is strong and now trying to live her life again.

However, if they come from decent families and they go out and take drugs and alcohol in excess because its fun, cool and popular and then end up with issues like drug and alcohol addiction, unwanted pregnancies, eating disorders etc etc. I have heard of women, they do not want to eat anything before they go to the pubs so they can drink more. I mean have you seen some women after some parties, they are loud, drunk and disorderly. Everywhere, in the news,media etc is sexualised. Women are programmed to think to be beautiful, you need to be thin, wear the latest clothes and makeup. That's why these women have eating disorders, they do not see themselves as beautiful, they want to lose as much weight as possible. I am glad Susan Boyle came and smashed all these preconceptions. A frumpy 47 year old and yet she is beautiful and she has a beautiful gift.

So Sean, the values I am speaking about for these women are – Know who you are, you are beautiful, a valuable and worthy person. No matter what happens in your life, good or bad, rise above them. You do not have to follow the crowd, have a mind of your own. Know what is right, not end up with silly things like injecting heroin into yourself. You are valuable, contribute to your community, society. Once they know this, they will take care of themselves more and not harm themselves.

Why yes how dare they complain about psychological abuse when they are given such wondrous gifts, paid for out of their own centrelink money.

In the first place, they end up in these situations themselves where they are not able to look for a job and support themselves. Why should the government bail them out? The centrelink money is not a huge sum of money, it helps in the expenses they incurred while staying in the Home. If they have the money, they would probably try to misuse them.

By: SeandBlogonaut

SeandBlogonaut — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:45:38 +0000

Debra,

Interesting point of view.
Of course all these Western women with their western problems like drug, alcohols, eating disorders, self harm – if they have good, traditional values instilled in them, they would not have all these problems.

What are these trdational values of which you speak? Maybe, honour you father while he rapes you night after night?

Why, all these donations to help the Mercy Ministries, provide a sheltered home for these women, doing renovations to make it a homely place for them, trying to help them with their problems, and yet these women turned around and said the ministry is trying to 'exorcise' them, abuse them etc etc. I cannot believe this.

Why yes how dare they complain about psychological abuse when they are given such wondrous gifts, paid for out of their own centrelink money.

I think you got off at the wrong century, try the Middle Ages.

By: Debra

Debra — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:50:06 +0000

Of course all these Western women with their western problems like drug, alcohols, eating disorders, self harm – if they have good, traditional values instilled in them, they would not have all these problems. And society would not need all these ministries like Mercy Ministries. Why, all these donations to help the Mercy Ministries, provide a sheltered home for these women, doing renovations to make it a homely place for them, trying to help them with their problems, and yet these women turned around and said the ministry is trying to 'exorcise' them, abuse them etc etc. I cannot believe this. Of course Mercy Ministries is using Christian beliefs and principles to help the women with their problems. Because like what I said before, if they have good values, know who they are in God's eyes, know they are worthy and valuable, they would not harm themselves.

By: John Weaver

John Weaver — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:02:06 +0000

Charlie,
You're also under the mistaken assumption that these practices don't harm people, and don't harm people's faith. My faith was destroyed by a place just like Mercy Ministries, and I don't want to see other Christians faith destroyed needlessly. Plus, exorcismdeliverance is an extremely dangerous practice. In Africa, its lead to the death of hundreds of children.

John

By: SeandBlogonaut

SeandBlogonaut — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:14:12 +0000

Well CHARLIE, Which Church are we talking about. The church behind the execution of gays in Uganda? The Church that campaigns against condom use in Africa? The church that spreads fundamentalism resulting in children burnt as witches? I understand that such bitterness and judgment can only come from your own bad experience and hurt, Well then your understanding is rather limited. I have had no bad experience with Christianity. Being fooled by it for most of my life is only a slight embarrassment when compared to the depths of human suffering. but maybe try writing about something worthwile... Sex slavery. drug traffiking. Childhood abuse, Poverty both nationaly and internationaly, the homeless, the list is never ending so why not look into something worthwile I do find writing about what I do worthwhile. I have worked with the homeless, the sexually abused, the mentally ill so I tend not to write too much about them. you are not a female nor have you worked or attended mercy ministries or Hillsong right? please correct me if you have... meaning what exactly, that I can't have an opinion that I can't criticise someone if they are plainly seen to be doing something wrong? so how can you write articles based of \"sources\" who only focus thier energy into destroying something or someone who has done nothing but try to serve them? It's this thing called evidence, you collect what you can, assess its credibility and then make a judgement. Not all that hard - the legal system makes good use of it regularly. According to your logic, we can not trust the word of persecuted Christians living in china because they act against the Party that tries only to serve them. So Charlie, how bout you take off your rose coloured glasses, stop defending Hillsong at the drop of a hat and comment on the topic of the post.

By: SeandBlogonaut

SeandBlogonaut — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:50:37 +0000

Hillsong Church has been doing wonderful things for the community for over 25 years now, there are thousands of people who would say that they have been helped by the work of Hillsong. Sure they might have made a few mistakes here & there, but from where I sit, it always seems that these happen in the goal of helping others.

Not entirely sure what you are getting at? Sure Hillsong probably helps some people in some fashion. But you seem to be saying that it doesn't matter what you do as long as your intentions are good. I am reminded about a saying something about a road to hell being paved…

I don't understand why people are so against them. Our community needs more people like those at Hillsong & other churches who care about others & seek the benefit of them & their community

We need good community minded people yes. These do not necessarily come from nor are they necessarily generated by churches.

Why do we always focus, look for & comment on the negative. Sean – why don't you spend as much energy on looking for the best in Hillsong, and others? You may be pleasantly surprised

Ah yes lets not criticize institutions when they do the wrong thing just because they might do good things eh? As for spending energy on Hillsong. I think I could count the number of posts made about Hillsong on one hand. Maybe you need to step back and lose the persecution complex – no?

By: CHARLIE

CHARLIE — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:08:56 +0000

Sean,

I agree with Jason…. Why dont you actually have a real look and see the impact across not only australia but the GLOBE, that the church as a whole is making..

I understand that such bitterness and judgment can only come from your own bad experience and hurt, but maybe try writing about something worthwile… Sex slavery. drug traffiking. Childhood abuse, Poverty both nationaly and internationaly, the homeless, the list is never ending so why not look into something worthwile.

you are not a female nor have you worked or attended mercy ministries or Hillsong right?
please correct me if you have…
so how can you write articles based of "sources" who only focus thier energy into destroying something or someone who has done nothing but try to serve them?