Guy Who Outted Ted Haggard Welcomed to Haggard's Former Church
Haggard's accuser visits New Life Church
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The former male prostitute whose
accusations against New Life Church founder Ted Haggard led to Haggard's
dismissal as pastor visited the megachurch Sunday.
Mike Jones, who has a forthcoming book, told The Denver Post that
several people shook his hand and told him, "God bless you."
"I had read a lot about the church, but there's nothing like seeing it
for yourself," Jones told the newspaper. "It wasn't to rub anyone's face
in it by any means. I was wanting to get some perspective, to see where
they are coming from, what the magnet is."
Haggard resigned last year as president of the National Association of
Evangelicals after Jones alleged Haggard paid him over a three-year
period for sex and sometimes took methamphetamine during the encounters.
Haggard then was fired as pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church.
He publicly admitted in November to unspecified "sexual immorality."
In an apology to the church, Haggard had urged members to forgive and
thank Jones for exposing deceit.
Church members invited Jones to the church several times.
Jones visited on Sunday with members of a New York-based theater troupe,
The Civilians, who are researching a project on evangelicals. Church
leaders knew about the visit beforehand.
Associate pastor Rob Brendle saw Jones in the foyer.
"I told Mike, 'I don't want to impose my religious beliefs on you, but I
believe God used you to correct us, and I appreciate that,'" Brendle
said. "The church's response to him was overwhelmingly warm. One of the
wonderful and enduring truths of Christianity is to love people the
world sets up to be your enemies."
Haggard and his wife, Gayle, completed a counseling program in Arizona
and are back in Colorado Springs, Brendle said.
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Information from: The Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com
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