If you Google "Adams Road Ministry", described as "a religious organization in Winter Garden, Florida", a face page pops up with a red banner stating "Permanently closed".

I had only heard of them because my best friend, who is a Christian, sent me a card years ago with their leaflet enclosed. She and her husband had gone to one of their concerts and she wrote glowingly of their enjoyable evening listening to the Christian music.

She thought I would be interested because the band members used to be Mormons who had all converted to Christianity and started a music ministry proclaiming the Christian word.

I just came across my pal's card yesterday while pawing through some old boxes full of papers. I looked up the band because she spoke so highly of it and found out, to my surprise I must admit, that they no longer play and preach due to a major scandal.

From Reddit, 7 months ago (I resisted the urge to correct the spelling):

“Popular "christian" ministry lead by former mormans is exposed as hypocrates, for sexual abuse, and internal polyamorous relationships.”


From Mormonism Research Ministry (long):

https://www.mrm.org/adams-road


Excerpts:

“A number of churches and ministries, including Mormonism Research Ministry, helped platform and promote Adam’s Road Band beginning around 2008. The band was formed by ex-Mormon professing Christians. Their music and testimony was an encouragement to those learning about the differences between Mormonism and Biblical Christianity.

“Since then we have been devastated by the news of “long-standing sexual immorality within the band”, namely a “polyamorous heterosexual arrangement among the band members, which had been ongoing for more than a decade. This arrangement involved all the active band members at that time, with the exception of Matt Wilder, the pianist, who was completely unaware of the situation, and was understandably devastated when it came to light.”


August 6, 2024:

Apology from one group member (long):

https://www.adamsroadconfession.com/

Excerpt:

“I want to apologize to all of you who have partnered with Adam’s Road in ministry, the hundreds of pastors who have hosted us at your churches, the hundreds of thousands of you who have listened to our music and to our testimonies, and all of you who believed and trusted in the false, hypocritical image I presented to the church and the world about myself. With the way I lived my life behind closed doors, I lied to you. I deceived you. I betrayed you. For so many years. I have personally hurt you and I am so truly sorry. Faith without works is dead so I will show you that my faith in Jesus and repentance are sincere and that I am a changed man by my actions, starting with this public apology. I hope that one day, in time, you will see me as a brother in Christ.

“I am ready to face all the consequences of my sins and place myself at the mercy of my God. I have stepped down from all ministry capacities because I do not meet the qualifications of an elder or overseer in the Body. Because of my choices I am not nor may ever be above reproach.”

-----

Likely many will say they are not shocked. Obviously, many **are** shocked.

I never understand myself how people can be so hypocritical. Performing for the crowds for years, preaching the "gospel" to thousands, but living a lie behind the scenes. And it's not *just* that former Mormons engaged in polygamous relationships but also that some of them were sexually abusive. But then they go out on stage and perform for practising Christians who thought they were supporting Christian musicians. Instead, they were the worst kind of hypocrites and some were abusers.

I always think I won't be surprised any more about anything but then I turn out to be wrong. I will resist saying this is unbelievable because, sadly, it is not.

I'm not sure of the timeline here but as one of the members of the band just wrote his confession/explanation/apology in August 2024 it's current enough.

I'll sound like an apologist, perhaps, by saying that one bad example shouldn't spoil the whole barrel but really, the vast majority of Christians - all that I've met and known anyway - do follow the decent path they believe in and shouldn't be judged adversely because of people who profess Christianity but don't follow the basic principle of at least not being raging hypocrites.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2024 04:50PM by Nightingale.

I think everyone is quite aware of this scandal of Jerry Jr, his wife and a pool boy. A 3-way that lasted for nearly 7 years until they were caught.

https://www.salon.com/2022/11/02/the-6-most-shocking-jerry-falwell-jr-scandal-moments-from-hulus-god-forbid-documentary/

Living here in the Bible belt, this has been a common activity it seems in the mega-churches. Ex-Mormons claiming to be Christians then acting like these religious hypocrites is hardly shocking in comparison. Sad though for the folks that get hurt by this.

And this is why people should be wary of over-idealizing any human. People are people. I'm sure that even among the Mormon apostles, there are stories to tell.

I'm personally very wary of anyone performing a Christian "ministry." To me that's a walking red flag right there. I realize that the word has legitimate uses, but to me it flags a possible scam.