Eagle Heights Worship Center

                                                                  Pastor’s article as it appeared in the Springfield News-Leader

(Published in Springfield NewsLeader on August 24th, 2005)

To NewsLeader Editor:

     In response to the article written Friday , August 12th entitled, “Diversity hard to see in area, but growing”; I have a vastly different view of Springfield and our region. Our church, Eagle Heights Worship Center, located in the city’s Westside, has such a rich, loving, and noticeable diversity. On the backdrop of an improving landscape in Springfield, we show an entirely different scene each Sunday as we meet for worship. EHWC looks like the mix that the Body of Christ resembles in big metroplex cities.

City of Springfield                                                                Eagle Heights Worship Center

White-     91.7%          White- 42.5%               Black- 3.3%                   Black- 41.8%                   Amer.Ind.- 0.8%     Amer.Ind.-3.7%

Asian-1.4%                 Asian-0.0%                   Haw.&Pac-0.1%           Haw.&Pac-3.0%             Hispanic-   2.3%     Hispanic-   7.5%

2 Race-       2.0%        2 Race-       1.5%

     Pastoral & Ministry Staff is also diverse with 4 races represented on the team, most are volunteers. We believe that love and acceptance has been a powerful drawing for all races. Our Praise & Worship Team is made up of 3 races and sings some songs blended in Spanish. Racism is not found at EHWC, neither the separation and division of culture or language barriers. We honor the flavor and background that each individual brings to our church family. We have not always been this diverse. At the beginning, there were just 12 white adults and a hand full of their children in 1998. We opening welcome  and accept individuals and families of all races because we make up the ONE human race.

     Most of those who are relocating from large, diversified cities notice that Springfieldonians still carry a small town “me & them” attitude. The statement quoted from your article- “They must be laying low, because we don’t see them in here”, shows this distinction. We have members who have relocated here from: Georgia, Illinois, SE Missouri, Florida, Connecticut, Louisiana & Hawaii. From big cities like: Miami, Chicago, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Rockford (IL), Kansas City & St. Louis. From countries & islands: Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Cherokee Indian Nation, Samoa. The new diversity of Springfield Metropolitan Area is definitely noticeable at EHWC. Whether some want to accept it or not, we, the melting pot of the United States of America, are alive in Springfield, Missouri, (once almost 100% white). It is time for Springfield to grow up into the big city that it is becoming and take on a new attitude. Change is occurring; diversity is inevitable. We must embrace it and our new neighbors.       

Cordially,  Senior Pastor- Donald J. McClintock, Jr. 

            Office Titles: President & Senior Pastor          WHCMF Ozarks Region Area Director

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 July 3, 2004 Unpublished

To NewsLeader Editor:

     In response to the article written July 2nd, entitled, “Churches divided on gay marriage”; I write to draw some clarity to the Christian Biblical & Principled Beliefs not according to personal interpretation, nor based upon opinion and feelings. In an age of “Situational Ethics” (do whatever feels right at the moment), there must be a Standard to guide us or every criminal is really innocent because they thought it was right to rape, murder, molest, steal, etc. If we have no clear Standard of Right and Wrong, then all behavior must be condoned and all things are right no matter how wrong. There can be no justice without godly and moral beliefs legislated as law. Civilization is dependent upon the rule or standard of law, preferably those that promote clean living.

     The Bible, which is our moral compass and standard, is clear in both the Old and New Testaments about what is right and wrong concerning the “choice” of homo-sexuality. The Bible clearly defines the homo-sexual lifestyle as unclean, unnatural, & vile affections. God Almighty did not create homo-sexuals nor bi-sexuals; He created humanity, male and female.  The Creator designed that natural biological chemistry be such that men are attracted to women and vice versa. Each individual chooses their sexual behavior. The clue is in how that we procreate and promote having babies. A woman is born with a womb and is a receiver; a man is born without a womb and is a giver of seed.

     Romans 1:21-28 is quite clear about the transition that occurs as man wonders away from God Almighty, whose Son is Jesus.  Men challenge the accountability unto the Creator by demonstrating their rebellion against God:

(1) Although men realize God's existence, they refuse to glorify Him.

(2) Men express their ingratitude to God and refuse to obey his statutes.

(3) In the process of time men become increasingly "empty" and turn to imaginations and dark concepts of men’s intellect. 

(4) Finally, the process climaxes in a  distortion of  who God is and of what His creation is.  From this develops idolatry and the abuse of  physical bodily functions. 

    In the Old Testament, before grace, homo-sexuality carried the death penalty. (Leviticus 18:27; 20:13)

 I Corinthians 6:9-11, says, effeminate and sodomites cannot inherit the Kingdom, unless they turn from these sins, receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ, the Lord, then are cleansed by faith through the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. 

     Question- Was there a misquote in the article? I read a direct quote from the Rev. Nelson Parnell. The quote stated that “The God” I (he) worship is a god of love who does not discriminate “her” treatment of......  It seems to me that “her” is a different gender, thus shouldn’t it read: “The goddess that I (he) worship is a goddess of love who does not discriminate “her” treatment of ....... It seems to me that any worship of any other god or goddess was labeled by God Almighty, (God our Father) throughout the entire Bible as “idolatry” and certainly not a correct interpretation of Christianity (to be Christ-like or like Jesus). It sounds like Greek mythology masquerading itself as “Christian”.

     This whole matter of homo-sexual marriage is clearly an attempt by a tiny minority to force their beliefs upon all of the United States citizens and what this country stands for. This country’s foundation is God and the Bible, upon which are built Laws, a Republic Government (Representative-Democracy)  as established by our Constitution, our Freedoms, Free Market Capitalism, and our Society in general.  The right for marriage between one man and one woman is a clear civilized society belief tradition from Adam & Eve (as created by God Almighty) to present day marriage.

     We must not make God Almighty- Jehovah Yahweh God- generic, nor should we make marriage generic. There are those who clearly believe in a different god or goddess and also in different relationship styles, but these are not the beliefs of Christians nor of the United States of America which God Almighty has blessed.    

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 April 18, 2002
Ozarks Voices
Darrell Moore should be praised for taking a stand

I write to commend Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore for his deep commitment to execute the duties of his office to prosecute those who have broken the law and endangered our community. Specifically, I respond to the April 8 article “Bookstore sex activity targeted by legislation.”

It is highly necessary to protect our liberties and freedoms granted by God and our Constitution. It is important to enforce the laws that protect our community from those who wish to cause harm to our person, our families, our children and our belongings. It is a tragic mistake for the masses to sit idle when a few want to interject their “civil liberties” at the expense of our health and well-being.

Although I believe in personal freedoms and that certain privacies should be respected, I cannot condone the misuse of public places and businesses for inappropriate expression of sexual activities. If it becomes legal and allowed to display such sexual improprieties in a public place (however secluded), then we will have no restraints in allowing grotesque immoral behavior in our libraries, our schools and even our churches. To ban homosexual acts from the eye of the public or even in a public place is not a restriction upon civil liberties, but a respect for common decency and common sense.

Those who practice such offensive behavior can consent to act in a private place — not that it’s morally right, but they have that freedom in this country. Let private things be in private places, not public areas.

If our health department can close down a public establishment for food contamination and those kinds of health issues for the safety of the general public, then why not empower our local department with the authority to close down a business that subscribes to such violations as rotting, bacteria-infested, semen-covered ceilings and walls? We, the good people of Springfield and Greene County, must voice our support of our officials as we must protect our community from the spread of disease.

Anyone who stands against the protection of the general health, against our children, against our health and well-being, against our families, against our God-given and law-enforceable freedoms must be considered a criminal when breaking the laws of our land.

Keep the pressure on to do what is right, Mr. Moore. I applaud and back his efforts to keep us safe by upholding the laws of this country, state and county.

Donald McClintock, Springfield, is pastor of Eagle Heights Worship Center.

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(Printed in Springfield News-Leader on Wednesday, August 15th, 2001)

To News-Leader Editor:

     Much can be said concerning the deep seeded issue of racism that the Springfield Area has been known for. It seems so strange to be living in a Bible-belt city and be faced with the realism that racial undertones still prevail in the heart and actions of so many local residents, especially when you consider the fact that thousands are transplanted from other areas of the country.

     It saddens the heart to know that this community can call itself  “Christian” in majority and harbor such evil & error that racism prescribes to. It is time for the voices of love and common sense to prevail in the arena of public civility.

     In reading the front page article of Sunday’s Edition, I was appalled at the apparent unfriendly gestures that arise over the interracial couple issue. If a couple loves each other and can settle any cultural differences they may face, what right do we have do affix any prejudice to their relationship.

     Why does it seem to be a black & white thing? Have we not learned from our shameful past? There doesn’t seem to be much hoopla made over Hispanic & White, Italian & Jew, or Oriental & Indian. What’s up with selective racism? Since such a large percentage of the Springfield population thinks that they are Christian, let’s ask the next question. How can a real Christian profess Christ and be racist, when Jesus was a Jew?  Our Lord was not white or black. Look in the Bible: Moses, a Hebrew (Jew), married an Ethiopian woman (African), and God came to his aid when Moses’ family members tried to discredit his leadership on the charge of interracial marriage. Jesus crossed the dreaded race lines to talk to a Samaritan (mixed-breed) woman and started a revival.

     The boundaries of hatred & ignorance must come down. More than a token of kindness, or a face of acceptance, it will take a cleansing of the heart & mind to purify the silent mood of the masses.

     Our family is example of the harmony of Christianity & interracial marriages. I have a sister-in-law who is Philippine-American. I have another sister-in-law who is Mexican-American.

     Our church, Eagle Heights Worship Center, is example of multi-racial worship. The Body of Christ is not white, black, green, blue, or any other color than blood-bought crimson. We have several American minorities represented in our congregation, including Black, Indian, & Philippine.

     I, myself, being White, but raised cross-cultural, have no problem in welcoming all races and nationalities into the church for worship of the Creator of all humanity. My family was taught to break the barriers even in the time of racial riots. We have brought that same power of love into the church that we pastor. Our Leadership Team & Praise Team are multi-racial. Everyone is welcomed and loved as the individual that they are.

     Its time to wake up to reality that this country is a melting pot of many peoples, all human, all living in the greatest country on this planet. Still yet, until all are won over there will always be those who dare to show the lack of cranial intelligence that the Creator made for us to use “To Love our Neighbor as Ourselves.”