Betrayal of the Flock: Traveling Evangelical Pastor and Wife Face Justice for Crimes Against Young Girls

Pictured: Pastor Benjamin Garlick, 35, and his wife, Shaantal, 32, will be praying to God for forgiveness after they were convicted of sex crimes against three girls on Monday

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We at Blackchristiannews.com/ bcnn1.com reported on this horrific, tragic story in the month of September 2023, nearly three years ago. Here is how we covered it:

WATCH: THERE IS A DEVIL LOOSE IN THE INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH! A MISSIONARY COUPLE SUPPORTED BY FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, AND RENTING A BUILDING FROM THE SWORD OF THE LORD IN MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE, PREACHER BENJAMIN GARLICK AND HIS WIFE SHAANTAL GARLICK HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CHILD RAPE

Daniel Whyte III, President of Gospel Light Society International, says this is a satanic-driven, flesh-driven “Ship Wreck” tragedy for the children, the extended family that now have to raise these children without their parents because both are going to jail, the First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana, the historic Franklin Road Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, that has had to tell the media there used to be a relationship between them and the ministry of this preacher but that relationship was broken up years ago, and the dear people at the Sword of the Lord that has been named in another negative article that they have nothing to do with. Whyte says he believes this is one of the many preachers and preachers’ wives whose minds, hearts, and spirits have been corrupted and destroyed by pornography. Pray for the salvation of this couple, and pray for the salvation, peace, and healing of these children.

An itinerant minister based in Middle Tennessee has been charged with multiple counts of child rape and sexual battery. His wife has been charged with facilitation of the alleged crimes and related abuse and neglect.

This morning at Rutherford County Circuit Criminal Court in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Benjamin Garlick, 32, and his wife, Shaantal Garlick, 29, appeared for an initial arraignment hearing.

Benjamin Garlick faces five counts of aggravated rape of a child, five counts of aggravated sexual battery, and one count each of soliciting sexual exploitation of a child under age 13 and continuous sexual abuse of a child.

Shaantal Garlick faces one count each of facilitation of aggravated rape of a child and aggravated abuse/neglect/endangerment of a child age 8 or under.

According to multiple reports, the couple has ministered as itinerant Christian evangelists with their six children. In recent years, the Garlicks have led church services in multiple states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, and their home state of Tennessee.

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Authorities arrested Benjamin Garlick on Sept. 12 at his residence in Blackman, a suburb of Murfreesboro. Garlick remains in custody at Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $750,000 bond.

Shaantal Garlick was also arrested on Sept 12. She bonded out on Sept. 15, paying $75,000 in fees. The charges against both Garlicks stem from actions that were alleged to have occurred on Feb. 13, 2021.

A representative of the county court told The Roys Report (TRR) that at today’s hearing, the Garlicks were appointed an attorney. A plea hearing in their case has been scheduled for November 27.

According to a report from WGNS Radio, Benjamin Garlick spoke fluent Spanish and often ministered in Spanish-speaking congregations, which recent YouTube videos confirm. He is the son of the late evangelist Daniel Garlick, known for his ministry to Spanish-speaking audiences, who died in May 2020.

The Garlicks have been supported in their itinerant ministry by First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, a flagship church of the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement. As of publication time, the couple was still listed on the church’s website as church-supported missionaries.

TRR reached out to First Baptist Hammond for comment but did not receive a response.

In a GoFundMe fundraising page started last December, Benjamin Garlick sought $40,000 to purchase a Ford Transit van, ostensibly for the family’s itinerant ministry.

He wrote in part: “We have 60 days of special financing with no interest. We are calling on you, our faithful supporter and prayer warrior, to help us raise the money to pay for this vehicle before that deadline expires. We need to raise forty thousand by February 7th to meet the goal.”

According to the fundraising page, which is no longer active, Garlick raised $18,000 from 20 donors prior to the deadline.

One month prior to their arrest, on August 14, 2023, Shaantal Garlick filed for an order of protection against Benjamin Garlick, according to a news report.

Source:Julieroys.com, Josh Shepherd

Evangelist and wife had big plans to spread the Gospel; now both are charged in child rape case

Sword of the Lord Publishers, a Christian publishing ministry in Tennessee that rented a building to the ministry of evangelist and father of six, Benjamin Garlick, who was recently arrested and charged with several counts of child rape, said they were “shocked” by the allegations against the preacher who has been saved since age 5, and had big plans to spread the Gospel in the Hispanic community.

Court documents cited by WGNS Radio said earlier this month that Garlick, 32, was charged with five counts of aggravated rape of a child, five counts of aggravated sexual battery of a minor who was under the age of 13, one count of soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor who was under the age of 13, and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child. The abuse allegedly began in February of 2021.

The pastor’s wife, Shaantal Garlick, 29, was also charged with one count of facilitation of aggravated rape of a child and one count of aggravated child abuse or endangerment to a child aged 8 and younger. The husband and wife were both arraigned by Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell on Tuesday.

Mary Katherine Hughes a spokesperson for the Christian publisher, which “has existed to partner with those who are fundamentally and biblically like-minded to promote revival and soul winning within our local churches” since 1934, confirmed with The Christian Post on Wednesday that La Espada, a Murfreesboro-based ministry for Spanish speakers that Garlick helped run, was served an eviction notice on Aug. 29 for not paying rent to Sword of the Lord Publishers.

When asked how long La Espada had been paying rent to Sword of the Lord Publishers to use the building located at 214 Bridge Ave in Murfreesboro, Hughes said she didn’t know because she is “kind of new” with the company. She also insisted that there was no relationship between Sword of the Lord Publishers and La Espada.

“We didn’t have any relationship with the ministry. The ministries are not related, they were simply renting the building,” Hughes told CP. “I don’t know how long they were there. I’m kind of new here but we were just as shocked as anything,” she said before referring CP to a statement the company released last Thursday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“ALL children are a gift from God, and to harm one of them in any fashion is a gross sin and punishable by law. We are shocked and saddened by the news of the abuse of a child anytime, anywhere,” the statement said.

“Children, all children, are precious and deserve the full protection of all of us. As a proponent for the safety of children (pre-born and born), we recommend to all pastors, ministry leaders, and everybody else, ‘If you see something, say something,’” the Christian publisher noted. “Report any suspicious criminal activities against children to your local authorities. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. If you are unsure of your local helpline, call 1.800.4.A. CHILD for guidance.”

Although La Espada’s website is not currently functional, information from cached pages of the website which go all the way back to 2001, shows that Benjamin Garlick has worked for the ministry under the direction of his late father Daniel Garlick, who died in May 2020, since at least 2015. At one point he was based in Ontario, California.

A cached bio page for Benjamin Garlick and his wife on the ministry’s website shows that La Espada was started by the itinerant preacher’s grandfather, Rolando Garlick.

“I have a great spiritual heritage …. My grandfather, Rolando Garlick, began the ministry of La Espada and he had a tremendous impact on my life,” the young preacher wrote.

He said that almost as soon as he was born on July 9, 1991, he began traveling with his father and “learned to love ministry.”

“I was saved at the age of five in South Texas. One Sunday I went to church with my dad, the preacher talked about my need for a Savior what he said, so I started asking my dad what it meant. He explained to me about God’s gift to me and there in the car with my family, I accepted Jesus as my Savior,” Benjamin Garlick recalled.

“When I was eight years old, I went on a trip with my dad to a conference, someone else had preached about following God’s call in his life. God began to work in my Heart. One night I asked my dad: how do you know if God calls you to preach or not. He explained to me that God’s call is simply the desire to preach. I had been reading my Bible and found this verse,” he said, pointing to 2 Timothy 4:2 which says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

“These words had a great impact on me, and just like my dad, I dedicated myself to preaching the word of God. And from this day, I began to preach as an evangelist. Please pray for me to continue serving our Lord,” he wrote.

Shaantal Garlick who also tells her story of growing up in a Christian home and recalled how she decided to “accept Jesus as my only Savior” in April 2001.

She said she really didn’t know what God had in store for her until she met her future husband at a youth conference, and he swept her off her feet into ministry and became her “prince charming.”

“At the age of 15, I went to my church’s annual Youth Conference and there God called me to surrender my life to Him full-time. I really didn’t know what God had in store for me until I met my prince charming, Benjamin Garlick at the age of 18 during another youth conference,” she wrote.

“I grew in Christ and God showed me through him that my calling is to serve him full time, with my beloved husband, Benjamin, and work with La Espada to reach the Hispanic world with the gospel of Christ,” Shaantal Garlick added.

It appears that Benjamin Garlick did not maintain his role as his wife’s “prince charming” because last month she filed for an order of protection against him.

Source: Christian Post

Traveling pastor, wife facing child rape charges in Murfreesboro appear in court

Benjamin Garlick helped run La Espada, a Murfreesboro-based ministry for Spanish speakers.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) – A traveling pastor and his wife, both facing several child rape and abuse charges, appeared in court on Tuesday morning.

Benjamin Garlick and his wife, Shaantal, were both arraigned by Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell. An arraignment is when a judge and prosecutors formally present charges against defendants.

Benjamin Garlick, 32, is charged with five counts of aggravated child rape, five counts of aggravated sexual battery, sexual exploitation of a child, and continuous sexual abuse. His wife is charged with facilitating child rape, aggravated child abuse, among other charges. The rape charges stem from actions that were alleged to have occurred in February 2021, police said.

Garlick helped run La Espada, a Murfreesboro-based ministry for Spanish speakers. A sign posted at the business showed Garlick had been given an eviction notice on August 29 for not paying rent to Sword of the Lord Publishers.

Benjamin Garlick remains jailed in the Rutherford County jail on a $750,000 bond. Shantaal Garlick was released on a $75,000 bond.

The couple is back in court on Nov. 27 at 9 a.m.

Source: wsmv.com, Daniel Smithson

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Below is the news article 3 years after the initial arrest of this couple; The same things Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, said in his commentary above 3 years ago still stand today:

Traveling Pastor Benjamin Garlick, Son of a Famous Evangelist, Who Solicited Donations for a Family Ministry Van Is Sentenced to Life in Prison for Years of Child Rape—His Wife is Also Convicted

Convicted Pastor and Wife Sentenced for Child Abuse After Decades of Traveling Ministry

Faithful Facade Crumbles: Traveling Preacher Gets Life for Raping Minors While Wife Facilitated Crimes

From GoFundMe to Life in Prison: The Fall of a Family Pastor and His Wife

“God Provided a Van”—But Prosecutors Say the Pastor Provided Years of Unspeakable Abuse

Tennessee Pastor Who Used Religion to Solicit Funds Is Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Child Rape

The Preacher and His Accomplice: Wife Convicted as Couple’s Ministry Masked a Decade of Atrocities

Betrayal of the Flock: Traveling Evangelical Pastor and Wife Face Justice for Crimes Against Young Girls

For years, Benjamin Garlick projected the image of a devoted servant of God. A married father of six, he traveled across the United States with his wife, Shaantal, leading worship for Hispanic congregations in Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas. Most recently, they were tied to La Espada, a now-defunct Spanish-language ministry in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, which had been founded by Garlick’s grandfather. Archived videos showed him singing Spanish hymns on stage, exuding the warmth and trustworthiness of a pious preacher continuing a family legacy that included his father, Daniel. He met his wife at a youth camp when she was just 18, and together they built a life centered on evangelism.

However, that virtuous façade came crashing down in September 2023 when the couple was arrested, shocking the faith communities they had cultivated since 2015. The investigation, launched by the Murfreesboro Police Department in August 2023 after reports that a five-year-old girl had been assaulted by Garlick in 2021, unearthed a horrifying pattern of abuse. Authorities ultimately identified three young victims—all girls under the age of eight. The crimes spanned nearly a decade, with documented incidents dating back to July 2014. Shockingly, investigators determined that Shaantal was not merely a passive bystander; she was actively complicit, having knowingly neglected one child’s welfare and actively facilitated the sexual abuse.

On Monday, a court delivered its judgment. Benjamin Garlick, now 35, received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the rape charges. On the very same day, Shaantal was convicted on charges of facilitating aggravated child rape and aggravated child neglect. She had previously posted bail twice—initially after her charges were dropped and later reinstated with a $75,000 bond—but was immediately remanded into custody following her conviction. Benjamin had remained jailed throughout the proceedings on a significantly higher bond of $825,000.

During the two-week trial, the three young survivors bravely testified against their abuser. Assistant District Attorney General Hugh Ammerman praised their resilience, expressing hope that the jury’s decision would aid their healing process. According to court records, Shaantal has since filed for divorce from her husband.

The irony of their crimes is magnified by the family’s public pleas for financial assistance. In 2022, they launched a GoFundMe campaign begging supporters for $40,000 to purchase a larger “ministry van” to accommodate their family of eight. In the appeal, Benjamin dramatically recounted how his wife had once prayed for a minivan and claimed God miraculously provided it. He urged followers to donate—suggesting 40 churches give $1,000 each or 80 give $500—framing it as a divine mission. That message, written in both English and Spanish, now reads as a cynical manipulation of faith.

Benjamin was connected to the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist movement, a sect that rejects mainstream Christian hierarchies. He is scheduled to receive additional sentencing on November 10 for related charges, alongside his wife. The Daily Mail has reached out to their legal representation and family for further comment, but no response has been forthcoming.

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Daniel Whyte III has been preaching the Gospel for over 46 years and is the founder and President of the over 42-year-old Gospel Light Evangelistic Society International, Pastor of the over 38-year-old Gospel Light House of Prayer International, and Founder, President, and Editor-in-Chief of the over 22-year-old Black Christian News One (BCNN1.com)—reaching millions with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, discipleship preaching, and the whole counsel of God around the world by any means necessary — “Crying in the Wilderness” and “Exiled on the Isle of Patmos.”

Daniel Whyte III was honored by being named one of the 17 most notable alumni in the history of the 134-year-old Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas, and one of the 69 most notable alumni in the history of the 53-year-old Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Daniel Whyte III holds the following degrees from these universities:

• Doctor of Ministry (D.Min., in progress) – Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, Lynchburg, VA
• Master of Theology (Th.M.) – Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, Lynchburg, VA
• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) – Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, Lynchburg, VA
• Bachelor of Arts in Religion (B.A.) – Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas
• Bachelor of Theological Studies – Bethany Divinity College and Seminary, Dothan, Alabama (Honors: Summa Cum Laude)

Daniel Whyte III was also honored to sit with presidents and world leaders by being invited by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to attend the homegoing of Dr. Billy Graham.

He is the Essence national best-selling author of Letters to Young Black Men and the Amazon best-selling author of Letters to Young Black Women (African-American category). He has authored over 100 books.

He is also the founder, president, and editor-in-chief of the 20-year-old BlackChristianNews.com (BCNN1.com), which has impacted every denomination in the evangelical and Christian world and has influenced presidents, the U.S. government, governments around the world, and the public square. BlackChristianNews.com has been named the #1 Black Christian website and blog in the world for four years running by the independent Feedspot and is on the list of the top 60 Christian news sites in the world—red, yellow, black, or white.

He has preached the Gospel and the Word of God in person across America and in over 24 countries to thousands of people. He has preached the Gospel and the Word of God to millions of people around the world with the help of the internet, preaching live and on-demand multiple times a day for over eight years, to this very day. His mottoes are “Crying in the Wilderness,” “Exiled on the Isle of Patmos,” and “Preaching the Gospel by any means necessary,” all for the glory of God and Jesus Christ.

Daniel Whyte III is the president of the over-40-year-old Gospel Light Evangelistic Society International and the over-37-year-old Gospel Light House of Prayer International. He is known worldwide as the prophet who predicted the Coronavirus Plague over 10 years before it hit in recorded preaching and writing. God also led him to guide thousands through the Coronavirus Plague that killed over 20 million people because of the sins in the Judas-Laodicean church.

Daniel Whyte III’s greatest blessing in this life is his “quiver full” of 10 children—Daniella (Danni), Daniel IV, Danita Evangeline, Danae Mary-Louise, Daniqua Grace, Danyel Ezekiel, Danyelle Elizabeth Breedlove, Danielle Tekeela, Duran-Daniel, and the first Daniel IV (deceased and in heaven with the Lord)—along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Daniel Whyte III has been unblissfully but sexually satisfyingly married to his first and only wife, Meriqua Whyte of Christiana, Jamaica, for over 37 years since December 19, 1987. Jesus Christ said: “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Even though many evangelicals, charismatics, and Protestants try to act as if these words of Jesus Christ are not a reality in our modern Christianity—primarily because of the Satanic-driven prosperity gospel and an over-positive philosophy, which is a lie not based in reality or biblical truth—the words of Jesus Christ are true for every person who preaches the Gospel. The outcomes of the Gospel are a changed life and opposition from family, lukewarm Christians, Laodicean-Judas pastors and churches, the world, and the devil. This is a reality in our present evil world.

While Daniel Whyte III thoroughly enjoys his married life because he did not allow his wife to have her way at any point and was and is solidly and biblically the head of his household throughout the marriage—often quoting Joshua, “As for me and my house, we’re going to serve the Lord” “up in here!”—and because his wife never failed in the very important area of sex, which he got married for in the first place to avoid sinning against God, he has especially enjoyed the privilege and joy of raising his children in the Lord virtually by himself. He served the Lord with them every day of their lives, from the time they were born until they graduated from college, became adults, and moved on.

However, his wife, Meriqua Whyte—motivated by Satan, with a Pharaoh-style pride mixed with the well-known female Jamaican-style pride, stubbornness, rebelliousness, and witchcraft—has been his greatest Judas enemy in the world and has been what Paul spoke of: a “messenger of Satan” and a “thorn in the flesh.” Amazingly, and by the grace of God, that Satanic evil opposition has spurred Daniel Whyte III on to preach the Gospel probably more times than any man on record. God has honored him because he did not “hearken to the voice of his wife.” Whyte tells other Christian men to only hearken to the voice of God and Jesus Christ—not to their wives, as so many thousands of church men have been taught by pastors and other older men throughout the years. Remember, we are in this worldwide, multi-generational mess because Adam hearkened to the voice of his wife and not to the voice of God.

Before they were married, Daniel Whyte III told his wife Meriqua Whyte that they would not do family life as her parents did, because their married life was hellacious and ended in divorce, as did some of her other family members, including the aunt she was living with. He also told his wife they would not do family life as his parents did, because it was also hellacious and out of order since his mother was the head of the household, not his father. But thanks be to God, they never got a divorce. Whyte told his wife before they got married that they were going to do it God’s way according to Ephesians chapters 5 and 6, or no way at all. And then he asked his wife, “Are you willing to do marriage God’s way according to Ephesians chapters 5 and 6?” And she said yes. Whyte told her before they got married that if she did not live up to her end of the deal, all bets were off.

Because Daniel Whyte III’s wife, Meriqua Whyte, was so proud, unsubmissive, stubborn, and rebellious after they got married, God led him to read Ephesians chapters 5 and 6 every day in their family devotions throughout their marriage. In the first year of their marriage, Daniel Whyte III also gave his wife a list of verses for women from the Word of God for her to read, which she still reads to this day. He also bought her many books to read to help her be the wife God wanted her to be.

Whyte realized early in the marriage that his wife was not a born-again, saved person even though she lied and said she was before they got married. After over 37 years of marriage, she is still not saved, never bearing any fruit of a saved person, to the point of not even wanting to tell her children, “I love you” and not wanting to hug them when they were little children, even after her husband told her to do so. She also hated the daily family devotions that her husband led and tried to hinder them. She also demonically hated and tried to hinder every Gospel preaching service to this very day.

However, only by the grace of God, they are still married, and despite the devil constantly working through his wife to try to hinder him from preaching the Word of God, he is still preaching the Gospel and the Word of God live and on-demand. His ministry reaches over 148,800 people per month with over 21,000 unique views per month, reaching 149 countries, preaching the Gospel and the Word of God in 2 to 3 services a day, 7 days a week. Glory be to God!

Mrs. Meriqua Whyte’s Apology to her Husband and Their 7 Children for not Being a Biblical Wife or Mother

Mrs. Meriqua Whyte, the Wife of Daniel Whyte III, Gave him the Best Father’s Day Gift Ever About 10 Years Ago When She Unexpectedly and Voluntarily Apologized for the First Time to Him and Their 7 Children for Not Being the Wife, Mother, and Christian Example of the Woman She Should Have Been Over the Past 37 Years of Marriage

Here is what Mrs. Meriqua Whyte wrote ten years ago after verbally apologizing to the entire family on Father’s Day, right before church service:

Over thirty years of marriage. Over thirty years of ups and downs. Over thirty years of trying to make our problems a personal thing between my husband and me. Thankfully, he did not allow me to do that and kept telling me it was between God and me—over thirty years of acting on my feelings and not on what the Bible says. Over thirty years of refusing to obey God’s simple command to a wife—to be obedient to your husband in all things. Over thirty years of disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, lying, and dishonesty, all rooted in pride. Over thirty years of simply not choosing to mature as a Christian.

God has been dealing with me for over thirty years now about changing my attitude and behavior as a wife, which has manifested itself in disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, lying, dishonesty, having an ungodly attitude and spirit, and simply not being the wife, mother, or example of a Christian woman that I should have been throughout the years. (By the way, for those of you who may be thinking that my disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, lying, and dishonesty have resulted in adultery, I will say here that I have never committed any adultery or had sex with another man besides my husband, Daniel Whyte III, since I was born.)

God kept telling me I needed to stop my rebellious and stubborn behavior, apologize to my husband and children, and get my heart right with him, my husband, and my children. He sent others my way to tell me how to behave:

• My husband, but I didn’t want to hear it from him
• Other Christian women speakers
• Other preachers
• Books and other materials, but I would not take heed

I knew what to do, but I chose not to do it. The devil had me thinking and believing—as he is having a lot of wives and mothers think and believe—that your relationship with your husband and how you respond to him, whether positive or negative, will not affect your relationship with your children or your relationship with God. I say without hesitation that this is one of the devil’s lies, and sad to say, many wives and mothers are falling for this lie.

Another lie of the devil that Christian wives are falling for is that you can still have a strong relationship with God without being submissive to your husband. Lie! Lie! Lie! There is no truth to this. I know because I have experienced this and am still experiencing this as I am going through this breaking process, which is not happening overnight.

Even throughout my years of rebelliousness, stubbornness, and pride, I still kept praying the prayer I used to pray daily before I got married: “Lord, make me be exactly what You want me to be. Lord, break, make, and mold me into what you want me to be.” Well, God took that prayer seriously, and once you accept Him, He will begin the breaking process. It’s up to us how long that breaking process will take. For me, sad to say, it has taken over 30 years, and the breaking is not complete. In what way is God breaking me down right now? Well, our children have grown up. The three oldest have gone through and are still going through college, have gotten their degrees, and some are working on their second, third, and fourth degrees, launching their careers and moving out. God slapped me into reality and truly intensified the breaking process. My husband told me before our first child was born and repeatedly while the children were young that my job was to love our children and make positive memories with them and that if I did that, I would have a wonderful relationship with them as adults in the time to come. Well, I disobeyed God and my husband, who did not let up on his duties. And he has a wonderful relationship with our children, even the girls, and I don’t. However, God led me to finally break the day before Father’s Day, and while I was helping my husband get dressed to preach, I asked him if I could apologize to him and the entire family. That’s the first time I ever did that on my own. Throughout the years, he has always told me that I needed to get my heart right with God, him, and my children; otherwise, I would never have the joy and peace of the Lord in my life. However, I kept on lying and denying that I was the problem.

Here is what I said to my husband and children on Saturday afternoon, June 17, 2017, the day before Father’s Day. My husband told the entire family that this was the best Father’s Day gift I have ever given to him:

“Daddy, children, I apologize for not being the wife, mother, and example of a Christian woman I should have been throughout the years. I have shown nothing but pride, disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, and a bad attitude and spirit toward God and my husband in front of you. My disobedience and rebelliousness have caused much unnecessary unrest and upheaval in the family. As my husband told me, things could have gone much better if I had obeyed God’s word from the beginning. Please accept my apology, and I am asking you to forgive me.”

The diminishing of peace and joy in my life throughout the years I brought on myself. Not having a proper relationship with God, my husband, and my children, I brought on myself—all because I chose the disobedient route. My number one desire is to live a life of peace—peace with God, my husband, and my children. I have learned that peace will not come as long as I live in disobedience, rebelliousness, stubbornness, and pride.

I will end this with two notes: (1) Happy Father’s Day to my husband: you have been a great husband and father. (2) Happy Children’s Day to my children: You all have been great children. I have no complaints whatsoever against my husband and, of course, children; you have never been at fault. My bad behavior is all on me, and I’m sorry I put you through this. May God bless your lives, and I love you.

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Ephesians 5:22 – 6:20 (KJV)

Below is the passage in the Bible that Daniel Whyte III read in their family devotions every day for decades. It covers the biblical duties of the husband, the wife, and the children, and includes how to fight against the devil who is seeking to destroy the family.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

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The Gospel in a Nutshell

If you were to die today, where would you go: Heaven or Hell? If you’re not sure, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

Jesus Christ said the most important words ever spoken in the history of the world when He said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Read further right here:

The Most Important Question in the World: Have You Been Twice Born?

This is the “Chief of sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, with the Gospel Light Minute X Podcast #447, titled, “The Big Question.” I’m here to remind you of what the Bible says: that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me.

“Have You Been Born Again?”

The question is not, “Have you joined a church?” or “Are you trying to do your best?” or “Do you have religion?” but, “Are you twice-born?” Jesus Christ said in John 3:3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

We enter the physical world by birth. Spiritual life, likewise, is entered with a birth. We become members of a human family by birth; we become members of the family of God by birth, by being “born again.” There is no other way to get into the human family except by birth, and there is no other way to get into God’s family except by the new birth. Neither education, nor cultivation, nor reformation, nor “turning over a new leaf,” will accomplish this. What is needed is not a new “leaf” but a new “life”! “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).

A New Nature Needed

By physical birth, we become partakers of human nature; by being born again, we become “partakers of the divine nature.” A Christian is the product of a divine “begetting.” The second birth is not an improvement of the old nature; it is the imparting of an entirely new nature. The old nature is hopelessly corrupt and incapable of ever being made fit for His presence. The new birth requires a creative act of the Holy Spirit. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”

Not “Trying” But “Trusting”

“Trying to follow Christ” is not Christianity. Christianity is not imitation of Christ; it is the indwelling of Christ. Christianity is not trying to do anything. It is trusting Christ, who has done it all! He has “finished the work,” and there is nothing left to do but simply to receive and trust Him. He shed His precious blood on the cross, and the work is all done once and forever! Cease trying and begin trusting! Believers will progressively become more and more like Christ, but by His power, not their own.

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Bible says in 1 John 5:1, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” The Bible states in John 1:12-13, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

You are born again, you become a Christian by trusting a Person—receiving a Person. The very moment you do this, the Lord Jesus Christ comes in and life begins!

What Is Meant By “Believe”?

To “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” means more than simply believing the historic facts concerning Him. Intellectual belief about Christ is not sufficient. The belief that brings salvation must be “with the heart,” that is, with the whole being. This belief also includes repentance: “Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Bible states in Acts 17:30, “God… now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.”

The faith which saves, then, includes the necessity to repent and to receive Christ as Savior and Lord, to rest upon Him alone for salvation. It means to trust Him so utterly and completely that, if He should fail, there would be no hope at all!

May I Know That I Am Born Again?

This is an important question. We know that we are born again by the testimony of God’s Word. God says in John 5:24, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as explained by God’s Word? If so, then you are saved, you are “born again,”; you have “passed from death unto life.” God says so! Take God at His Word, and go on your way rejoicing!

One Final Word

You may “belong to a church,” you may be “trying to do the best you can,” you may be “striving to live right.” Your outward life may be the model of moral correctness, and you may be looked up to, honored, revered, and respected. Yet, if you have not been “born again,” you are just as lost as if you had never heard of Christ. Yes, you may teach in the Sunday school, read the Bible, sing, shout, “feel happy,” and all the rest—but if you have never been “born again,” you are still in your sins and a stranger to the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you want to be saved from the wrath to come and from an eternity in Hell, and if you believe that Jesus Christ suffered, bled, and died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead, and you are willing to trust Jesus Christ with all of your heart so you can go to Heaven, please pray with me what is called the sinner’s prayer:

Holy Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and I admit that I have sinned against You and that I have broken Your Ten Commandments. I have lied before. I have stolen things before. I have lusted after people and things before. I have dishonored and disobeyed my parents. I have taken Your holy Name in vain. For Jesus Christ’s sake, please have mercy and grace upon my soul and forgive me of all of my sins, my failures, and my faults. As I now believe in Your Holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that He suffered, bled, and died on the cross for my sins, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me to repent of my sins past. Help me to turn from my old, evil life and follow You in the new life. For it is in Your Name I pray. Amen.

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