Kicked out of the YMCA... for witnessing??!

I read the story, it is absolutely unbelievable. Another Christian persecuted.
It's not like the guy went to a private daycare center to witness. It didn't seem as though he were imposing on the guys, they seemed to be engaged in the conversation. And we are talking about seniors, not small impresionable children who may not know when some one may be violating them.
This is the YMCA, a Christian organization.

 

I agree with the director. Personally, if my teenaged son came home with money given to him by a stranger and the adult stranger's phone number, I would probably be upset. This guy probably had the best intentions. I have no doubt about that. But, he seriously stepped over the line and didn't think about the implications of his actions. We must remember that there are also all kinds of perverts out there who masquerade as good Godly people, but whose intentions are not that pure.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I agree with JB. The guy had the best of intentions, but went about it the wrong way. This wasn't a case of a couple of people just sitting around and talking about faith. The guy needs to simply learn from his mistake, honest though it was, and rethink his approach.

 

True stories: both my sons'n'law were 'released' from their jobs because they are street preachers. Now mind you, they didn't do this while working...always on their own time, but not too many townsfolk like the way it looks.

One was working for a building contractor who bidded on a house for a dr. who has come out of the closet & one of our signs says "sodomite sin is filthy". The man said 'you do know you have to work in this town don't you', to which sil replied 'so?' It was a matter of days that he was given the pink-slip (for lack of work).

The second one worked for the town in the sewer dept & some of the councilmen didn't like his signs, especially the abortion pics. So he was "let go" for lack of work. He heard they were hiring elsewhere & when he went in to apply, the mayor told him no, due to his 'religion'.

One of our visiting street-preachers and his 16y/o son were arrested for preaching from the right-of-way because the (empty)store owner didn't want them near his store. The roof to his bldng was ripped off by high winds...none other was touched.

Sunday we had several magnetic scripture signs stolen from our '84 van and some of our yards have been trashed; not to mention the things that have been thrown at us & the ugly gestures/cuss words that are shouted. May God richly bless the ones who encourage us(& there are several).

 

Granny, the cases you cite are sad, and you have my prayers for blessing and encouragement. I was once threatened with termination because I had made some public statements (out of the office, on my own time), which my supervisor didn't like. BTW, I kept my job primarily because I threatened to fle a harrassment suit. My supervisor was "reassigned" a few years later. Now, I would question if it's a good idea to make yourself visible in regard to a person you're doing business with, but that's a different topic, and I don't with to debate your wisdom here.

The case in question in the OP is simply one where the guy meant well, but didn't use the best tactics. It was an honest blunder, but it was a blunder nonetheless. I don't think this guy was getting signled out for his religious beliefs.

We should not be singled out for our religious beliefs, but we should not be exempted because of them, either.

 

According to this cash exchanged hands in to the child's. umm as a parent and a Christian ... that is NOT witnessing. Just my take on it

 

Now that someone else had the nerve to say they agree with the Y to a point, so do I. If as a parent I walked out the door and saw a grown man in serious conversation with my daughter and then hand her money, I might have to be taken away in handcuffs because I REALLY would have misunderstood. Not only that, but nobody should be handing a child of mine money and asking them to go somewhere, whether it's a religious function or not.
Gina

 

Count another one who supports the YMCA on this one.

 

Have to side with the "Y" as well.

 

Count me in on the side of the YMCA. If I saw a stranger giving my child money...bad day for someone!

 

Well I guess I am about to be pounced on.
I am emphatically opposed to how the 'Y' handled this. I read the article. It appears the boys enjoyed the conversation. So I would guess it was not they who told a parent/cop/manager that "some weirdo gave us money".
I would suppose that some well meaning adult saw the exchange and reported it, without the facts. Hence the misunderstanding.
The "Y" was completely wrong in its "guilty" verdict without investigating what was going on.
I am on the Christians side.

(BTW) I also have children, and grandchildren. I also would be "tweeked" if I saw a stranger giving a child money. Senior high school age kids are quite different than elementary age kids.

If I had been passing by and saw it, would I instantly think "Pervert-alert!" or would I find it not so out of the ordinary. It could even have been the parent of one of the kids giving money. I don't think I would go on some rampage.

I agree, the director has an agenda. She would not even discuss with the man that he was witnessing about Christ at a CHRISTIAN organization.

Can somebody say "Rabid dog?" EEEK ! A christian! Run away!!!

In His service;
Jim

 

I find it unconscionable that professing christians would side with an obvious God hater, aka the director of the "Y".

In His service;
Jim

 

I was terminated by a man who attended First Baptist Church Houston. He claimed to be a Christian but regularly cheated customers. One time he told me to cheat a customer. I later wrote him a letter telling him that don't ask me to do it again because I won't.

 

Sorry, but the issue is a safety issue, and how much some underaged boys "enjoyed the conversation" with a stranger in this case isn't the issue. If the conversation was about satanism, and the boys "enjoyed the conversation", would it make a difference in this case to you?

But the issue here wasn't the guy's intentions. It was the guy's method.

 

Once again;
I see no foul.

In His service;
Jim

 

Somewhere I read that D.L. Moody was known to have chased children down the street, candy in hand, for the purpose of talking to them and getting them into Sunday school.
But we live in present-day reality where thousands of children are abused or disappear each year. The Bible warns about avoiding even the appearance of evil, as well as not offending others with the things that we allow (eating of meat, etc.)
This person was not being sensitive to concerns about the safety of children: The Y was justified in their action.

 

The YMCA director did. So do many of us.

 

These 'boys' were seniors in highschool. Rediculous.