Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 26, 1990 TAG: 9007260200
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The church, in Chapter 11 bankruptcy for more than two years, recently changed its name to Lakeside Baptist.
Robertson told his congregation Sunday that he is returning to evangelism work at a church at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to the Rev. Art Hearne, associate pastor in Salem.
Robertson is in Florida this week and he will be moving after the Aug. 5 service, Hearne said.
Hearne said he does not believe the resignation has anything to do with the church's payments to creditors under a Bankruptcy Court plan. "It's his [Robertson's] desire to be in Florida and back in evangelism," Hearne added.
Robertson came to Salem with a record of leading a Florida church to pay more than $5 million in debt. Robertson, 55, and a Richmond native, had been running an evangelism ministry in Greenville, S.C., for two years when he moved to Salem last July 30. Earlier, he had been pastor of New Testament Baptist Church in Miami for 10 years.
His resignation came as "an absolute surprise," said James L. Williams, business manager for Lakeside Christian School, the former Berean Christian Academy.
Hearne said the congregation's deacons have met and plan to appoint a pulpit committee to select another pastor.
"Things are going well. I feel the people will move forward," Hearne said.
Church attendance has been averaging about 380 during "a little slump" this summer, he said.
Asked if the congregation is meeting payments required under the bankruptcy plan, Hearne said, "We are making it."
The plan, approved by Bankruptcy Judge H. Clyde Pearson in November, anticipates average weekly offerings of $8,700. Secured lenders are paid first and unsecured creditors are expected to start receiving payments in 1993.
The church filed for reorganization under Bankruptcy Court protection in April 1988 after it was unable to meet payments on bonds and certificates issued by the church at rates as high as 12 percent. The Rev. Rudy Holland, former pastor, also filed for reorganization in Bankruptcy Court.
Ross Hart, attorney for the church's unsecured creditor, said he doesn't know about repayments but he hears that the church "hasn't been packing them in like it wants to."
by CNB