Ted Haggard To Host More Prayer Services After Last Week's High Turnout

Former New Life Church pastor Ted Haggard says the prayer group started in his basement last week could ultimately turn into a new church. The pastor, who was forced out of New Life Church in 2006 after admitting that he paid a man in exchange for sexual acts and drugs, recently moved back to Colorado Springs after spending time away from the city in accordance with the terms of his departure from New Life. Last week he started a widely attended prayer service at his house.

From the AP:

Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard isn't ruling out the possibility that a new church could form out of prayer meetings he will begin hosting at his Colorado Springs home.

But Haggard said outside his home before the first meeting Thursday evening that founding a new church is not his intention, and that loneliness was one of his motivations in beginning the meetings.

The gatherings are reminiscent of the meetings Haggard held in his basement in 1985 with a few dozen people when he was starting New Life Church. The church eventually expanded to 14,000 followers.

Haggard also opened up to 9News about his sexual orientation, telling reporter Torres "Once in a while I'll have a thought. But I never have a temptation."

Comments

[LMPE]

Ted, just admit it: you prefer the company of guys. It's as simple as 1, 2, 3.

[american-dolt]

The Shameless...so many in America

[ColoradoAngryRU]

Hey Ted! If you are having thoughts then the "cure" did not take. You are attracted to men. To deny that fact only causes you pain. Get a clue.

[NoSillyName]

He is so repulsive.

[groosemoose]

This is why I'd never even consider subscribing to a religion like this even if I thought for a second there was some truth to their myths. So many of these vocal Evangelicals are utter hypocrites.

[mick7191]

Dude, just give in to it. You'll feel better. God does not care.

[Geronimo08]

Well of course he still has "homosexual thoughts" as he is either a homosexual in denial or a bisexual who has desires to be with a man. It is unfortunate he can not come to terms of who he is for then the rest would be less tortured for him and his loved ones!

[darr]

I know this comment is going to probably upset some people, but I got to say it.
I feel very sorry for this man.
It cannot be an easy life when you deny who you are even to yourself.
He must be a tortured soul.
You cannot turn off who you were born to be.
This is akin to someone bleaching their skin to appear lighter. It's denial and it can't be healthy.
I remember having a conversation with my father about my then four year old son about the possibility of him growing up to be homosexual. That is all the evidence I need to see that homosexuality is in your genes. He showed signs of being gay before the age of four! That should tell you something.
I am so glad that my son grew up with the freedom to be exactly who he is, with no apologies.
It's hard enough being gay in today's political climate, but being ashamed for who you are must be like living a nightmare.

[roald]

I feel sorry for him as an individual, unable to come to terms with his reality. I am disgusted with what he stands for - hypocrisy and moral judgment.

[GAQT466]

What is a thought, if not the seed of a temptation?