Ian Boyne: "Stout defense of Armstrongism from Jamaica"

I attach my Last Great Day message delivered in Ocho Rios Jamaica  to approximately 400 brethren gathered at the largest Feast site in the Caribbean and one of the largest in the world. Our Kingston congregation is one of  the  fastest growing of all COG groups in the world and is by far the  largest of all  Armstrongite groups in the  Caribbean, averaging over 200 on any given Sabbath. On Atonement we had  250 in attendance. Among those who heard this Last Great  Day message were American  brethren on a CEM cruise who had traveled over an hour to  join  us  for worship. It was a most delightful experience! The Americans stayed back after services to have a meal with their local brethren. We had a wonderful song by Karen Clarke of Eugene, Oregon, daughter of one of HWA's  earliest ordained ministers, Bryce Clark, a former district superintendent.   

I spoke relevantly to the crisis which faces Armstrongism today: widespread knowledge online about our history of massive corruption, abuse of power, religiosity with little spirituality, atrophied growth, profound disillusionment etc.  

I had been keeping up with my usual daily reading of your site, Gary, and had noted what was said  about the boring, repetitive and lifeless sermons at the Feast.  I myself can, sadly, confirm that, as every day after services I surveyed at least eight different Feast sites, which shall remain nameless. 

I spoke on the nook of Jeremiah and noted that Jeremiah faced our exact crisis, with a leadership that had become corrupt, deeply sinful and arrogant about it. But I said  the answer for Jeremiah was not to reject Torah or the religion of those who had become corrupt.  It was not to then accept the religion of the Assyrians or the Babylonians or the Egyptians.  

It was to be true to the faith.Similarly, I encouraged the brethren that today we should not reject Armstrongism because of the corruption of the Armstrongs (of course I did not use that offensive term. That's only for the "strong meat" people on this site!)  

I even mentioned Byker Bob's comment that after he left in 1975 he went out and partied. I mentioned others who had become atheists.  I spoke about those well-known ministers like Albert Portune, David Jon Hill, Al Carrozzo, Gary Arvidson and Robert Kuhn and Lester Grabbe who had left because of our corruption. The sermon received an amazingly positive reaction from the independent COG members from that CEM cruise. Many of them could relate  to the disillusionment and deep hurt I spoke about. One man said it was the best Last Great  Day sermon he had  heard  (which probably says more about the quality of those sermons rather than mine!)  

Our service ran nearly three hours with much praise and worship music. I had warned the Americans about this before which is probably why not everybody left the cruise to join us, including its only minister. Those who came knew what to expect. I only spoke for about forty five minutes though. I didn't want to push my luck! 

I wanted every American to get the message. Listen to it and tear it apart here. I am eager to hear  the response of my favourite and favoured participant on this blog, Byker Bob who is usually so insightful.