Chasing Deception by Dave Milbrandt

Author:Dave Milbrandt
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 149284747X
Published: 2013-11-25T05:00:00+00:00

Just because Jeremiah Harmon wears designer T-shirts and jeans and flashes an energetic smile, that doesn’t make him any different than Don Corleone in “The Godfather.”

Come to think of it, there is one difference between the two.

At least there was never any question as to what kind of man Don Corleone really was.

James T. Mitchell helps take a bite out of crime on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He can be reached at [email protected].

—

8:55 a.m. Friday, September 5

Student TV news crews from Foothill University and a nearby community college joined Melissa and the editor of Emerald Valley’s weekly paper. I bet Jeremiah is pretty mad the local network affiliates ignored this event, Melissa thought as she ate the doughnut she took from the conference table half-filled with breakfast snacks and bottled water. She also wasn’t too sad she didn’t have to fight for the choice morsels reporters ritually devour at morning press conferences.

Despite the small crowd, Pastor Jeremiah insisted on holding the press conference from the stage behind the two TV news microphones. Jeremiah waited until everyone was turned toward him before beginning with his traditional enthusiasm.

“I have called this press conference to announce the exciting changes in store for New Creation Fellowship. What was once adversity has been turned into opportunity. And through this opportunity New Creation will grow into the church God wants it to be.

“Let’s get down to business, shall we? In compliance with the ballot measure passed this summer, New Creation Fellowship will have its last service in this building on Saturday, September 27th, and will vacate this theater before the October 1st deadline. But just because we are leaving this location that does not mean God has closed the door for this church to minister to people’s needs.

“Instead he has opened up a new direction for this church to take. Today I am here to announce that New Creation Fellowship is on the move. We will be shifting our ministry from the suburbs of Emerald Valley to a mountaintop retreat in Crestline. This move will take place by the end of the month.

“This move also gives us the opportunity to change the focus of our ministries here at New Creation. Among those changes is a modification in my role as leader of this church. With the support of my denominational order, I am changing my title from Pastor Jeremiah to Shepherd Jeremiah. My job will be to gently care for those whom God sends to me and I think my title should reflect that.

“There are a number of things I could add, but how about I take a few questions first?”

Melissa was truly shocked when he picked her first.

“Pastor Jeremiah, what is your—”

Jeremiah interrupted her. “Excuse me, Melissa, but it’s Shepherd Jeremiah.”

She was flustered by the public admonition. “My apologies. Shepherd Jeremiah, what is your response to the charges that you are involved in a blackmail scheme involving relatives of New Creation church members?”

“Those charges were manufactured by people who don’t support my ministries, and they are totally ridiculous.

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