Sincerely Minister K. Wheeler
Pastor Lewis, you’re absolutely right – Tonex has lost his mind.
Back in – let’s see, 1997 I joined Truth Apostolic Community Church in Spring Valley CA pastored at the time by his late father with his mother as co-pastor. I left to move to New York City shortly before the tragic attacks. I haven’t been back to California much at all since then, but I did go for 2008-09 new years and I made a trip by my old church.
I was floored and disgusted by what I saw.
Let me tell you how I remember TACC while Tonex’s father was living. A very normal looking church on the inside and out – that seats probably up to 350 people if packed. Normal aesthetics all around. Nothing abnormal except for the fact that church services are typically longer since his late father insisted upon pausing service for the spirit to move (which I definitely favored). The membership was good and loving and very convivial and cohesive. New Year’s Watch Night Services – don’t plan on finding a parking spot any time after 10pm…not going to happen.
Well, I flew in to San Diego and got in my mother’s car and headed south to Spring Valley and I arrived right around 10pm. The parking lot? Please… 15 cars at most. I thought I had arrived early so I simply sat and waited for the caravan to come piling in to the parking lot…no caravan. So I walked in. Mind you, I hadn’t stepped foot on that facility since just after 9/11 when his father was still living and pastoring. I walk in, and the vestibule carpet is gone and replaced with ceramic tile… a light blue color – the type that has no grout in between. I thought it as odd but I didn’t pay it too much attention. I looked through the window-cutouts to the doors to the sanctuary and there were maybe 20-30 people congregated toward the front rows, and no musicians on post. Again, I thought I was early. I went into the men’s room and noticed more changes. The walls were accented with black faux-fur. I also remember seeing faux-tiger print material accented in there as well and I thought that was rather weird for the men’s room at a church. So, I started to wonder what was going on.
When I entered the sanctuary – trust me, I was in no way prepared, nor could have I possibly been prepared for what I saw. The carpet? Dark grey with deco color accents. The walls? Multi-colored in different sections of the church – some in silver. There are literal sofas on both side-walls of the church – both bright jewel-tone in color. Toward the front of the church on the left side – on that portion of the wall there is an electric “traffic light”… the plastic toy-type that lights up. Oh, before I forget, on the opposite side, toward the front on the right side, there is a very elegant elevated table that’d look more fitting in a dining room – the type of table that would require stool-chairs for height allowance. And in the very front on the right side (right in front of the table), there are two sofas arranged in an “L” formation (allowing for the seated people to face the pulpit) which is where I concluded that the ministers sit – I assume during night services or when the main platform pulpit is not used.
And I’m saving the best for last… two details. First, the organ. Liberace painted that organ. Let me tell you… it was painted a radiator-silver color, very bright and reflective. What was even more disgusting is that the foot pedals were all painted gold. The volume pedal and all of the key-pedals underneath. Gold. The organ is on the left side of the sanctuary, near the “traffic light”. It faces diagonal so that the organist can face the pulpit. On the right-side of the organ (the side that faces the congregation), there are two square mirrors decorated on the side (probably on the other side too… I didn’t see).
You think that’s it? No. Here’s final detail #2. I decided to leave at 11:30 because I REFUSED TO TURN THE CLOCK INTO 2009 IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. When I was walking out, I saw that the vestibule doors were painted black, with those same mirrors that I saw on the organ decorated all over the vestibule doors. There are two sets of double-doors – both of them had this decorum.
I’m forgetting an additional detail – the wall behind the pulpit at the front of the church – also painted in black but the artistry of those walls looked like outer space. It had that white-warp effect. If you want to know what I mean, just go and look at any of the pictures of the desktop images of the computer monitors on the Apple Computer’s website. …that black/purple outer-space warp effect and feel is what I mean…except there was no purple at the church.
Now let’s talk about Tonex’s behavior. He had on the dreadlock wig that we have seen him in on his myspace page. Technically I can file that under “so what.” But his respect for the church has been compromised. During service, while ministering to the congregation, he had a shofar that he was blowing (which is also fine and rather impressive) but he was sometimes going and standing on the pulpit chairs to rally the crowd into praise while he blew the shofar…not just any of the pulpit chairs – the pastor’s chairs…which I’m assuming is fine since he’s one of the pastors and apparently no one complains.
I was highly disturbed. I have since moved on and matured and am now an Assembly of God preacher and the spirit is highly different than how TACC used to be when his father was living. So I had to stay in the spirit the entire time I was there in order to keep my shock factor under the anointing.
The church only had – at most – 50 people in attendance… for Watch Night Service. That’s traumatic for what I remember TACC to be. AND YOU’D BETTER BELIEVE THERE WERE NO MUSICIANS… at least not while I was there… I’m sure that the only person who would touch an organ that looked like that would be Tonex himself, since the boy does know what he’s doing on a keyboard.
Oh, and the music that was playing at the service was a praise-dance-music (shoutin’) track that he composed at home a couple of nights prior-to. It was playing on repeat and must have looped-around about 20-30 times. The beginning and end of the track had that “doomsday” type of feel – like you’d see in a scary scene in a horror flick.
Tonex’s father? HE WOULDN’T HAVE STOOD FOR ANY OF IT. Now he’s gone and Tonex has lost it. He’s absolutely lost it. And his mother and he are equal co-pastors… I’m able to see now why it is that people disliked her when I was a member there. She’s very eccentric except I didn’t see it being she was merely the co-pastor and not the Senior Pastor. Now that the founding pastor has passed, Tonex and his mother have gone over the top and turned my beloved Truth Apostolic Community Church into what looks to be the Truth Apostolic Night Club.
I also find it interesting how Tonex never acknowledges his mother publicly when he’s identifying himself as the pastor of the church – he gives off the image as if he is the sole pastor. However, if you call the church and listen to the voicemail, his mother’s name is mentioned first. If you call and ask “may I please speak to the pastor” without mentioning a name, they’ll connect you to HER. And when I spoke by email to an old friend of mine who attends TACC still to this day, I asked her “who is pastoring?”… her response was exactly this: “Dr. Betty and Pastor N8ion (Tonex)”.
JR
I was at Elizabeth Baptist Church when you visited Atlanta. I was so thankful when I heard that you were going to share the message about hip-hop there. My wife and family brought alone several of my kids friends. After hearing about you coming I truly thought that the Holy Spirit had done a work in Bro. Oliver, we were wrong. However, we praise God for the one night, for we know that all things work together for the good for those that love God and to those that are the called to His purpose. Keep peaching the truth my brother.
May God richly bless you, your family and the EX family
Min. Raven
Just wanted to tell you how timely and necessary your message is about hip hop and its affect on the youth of our generation, I am a saved man who was indeed bound by the spirit of Holy Hip Hop, I dressed like the secular artists, and all and my justification for doing this was ok, I see the Holy Hip Hoppers doing this so Its ok for me to do it, after all I'm saved and in order to reach the streets you gotta be street........boy was my spiritual eyes opened when i Got the meaning of your message, you broke me down when you answered the question, what do we listen to now?........Just listen to God, turn off all music for awhile after your get this and allow God to minister to your Spirit and lead you in the right direction, we are to preoccupied with being entertained by t.v. radio, cell phones,newspaper, talk shows, no wonder we cant hear from God about spiritual things. thank you for being Gods vessel and allowing me to understand the importance of BEING STILL and knowing that he is God, Look forward to seeing you in August at NCBC in Columbus Ohio, God Bless
Ambass4Christ Columbus, OH
God has truly blessed my ministry. About six months ago, someone approached me and was sharing about the ministry of Craig Lewis. I was very apprehensive at the time. About two weeks ago, a member of my church gave me the DVD of “The Truth Behind Hip Hop.” I wouldn't even look at it. I was doing ok with my speaking engagements on Reaching the Hip Hop Culture. I felt that Brother Craig was too controversial. The Saturday before my youth service, I told myself that I would at least watch the video so that I can at least tell the young lady who gave it to me to review that I watched it. I thank God with all my heart for moving my spirit to watch this tape. Word cannot express the change and views I have in the assignment that God has entrusted with me. I asked God to forgive me for being so blinding in leading his youth. I showed it my youth and they were blown away. My son has made a choice, “his choice,” not to listen to hip hop. He told his mom that he tried to listen, but it made him sick. Praise God for your ministry!!!!!!!!!
Pastor Tony Westbrook - Center of Praise, Sacramento CA
Oh taste & see that the Lord is good! Thank you Min. G. Craige Lewis for
hearing from God while caring for us & sharing with us. You have left a
burning trail of evidence from the anointing here in the Hampton Roads area. In just 2 days you delivered a Word from the Lord that opened the blind eyesof not only young people, but adults also. It causes all Christians to look at yourself then look at Jesus and measure your love for Him versus the way of the world.
It's been over 2 weeks since you were here at Hampton University and people are still disposing of Hip Hop CD's, DVD's, video tapes, books, magazines & even clothing. As of 12/5/03 the # of CD's that have been brought to me for destruction is 873 & still counting. There have been numerous souls saved & rededicated to the Lord Jesus Christ. I've even had to minister to young people that were disappointed after denouncing Satan & Hip Hop, because their parents wanted them to keep the CD's that had bound them up & caused them to lose so much sleep while living on the edge. One set of parents rebuked their daughter saying that you were collecting the items for resale.(Even though we have them!)
Thanks be to God for giving us you, Min. G. Craige
Lewis because you keep it real.
Min. Raymond Cullen
SCA Advisor
Hampton University
Hampton, Va.
Hey i am from Cedar Hill Texas... and Min. G. Craige spoke at my school today, Trinity Christian School, I was so changed by his message on hip hop.. I never would have realized the problems with secular music!! I have trashed every cd and tape I own unless it is a Gospel one! I just want to thank Craige for the difference he made in our school. His message had such an impact on Trinity Christian School. I know that personally I plan to never ever go back to that kind of music.. I am also going to change the type of television i watch!! just wanted to say thank you SOOO much Craige!!! Come Back Soon!
Kristen Bentel - Trinity Christian School/Cedar Hill, TX
Rev.G Craige Lewis and his wife came to our fellowship to do a two day Awareness Revival. He came armed with Knowledge and the SPIRIT OF THE LORD! By the time THE LORD was through, CD's were turned in and destroyed , both by young people and adults. Scales dropped from the eyes of those --WHO WERE BLIND. Our youth were delivered from pain they did not know they had.WE ARE NO LONGER IGNORANT OF SATAN'S DEVICES! The religion of HIP-HOP with it's worshippers and disciples was dealt a severe blow. AND, A powerful "hedge" was prayed upon Rev. Craige, His wife and family and All the EX-MEN! Go--Rev. Craige ! Proclaim LIBERTY to those who are bound ! Free those who are in PRISON and OPEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND IN JESUS' NAME!
Pastor Mark -Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
Keep Up the God-Work! Your presentation, to our youth, here at the Texas Youth Commission was outstanding! The Educational information and Spiritual perspective are invaluable in helping troubled youth to adopt values and principles that brings success
and not destruction! As Texas Youth Commission staff, we see firsthand, the powerful negative influences of some of the Hip Hop artists in America. We thank God for raising up Ex-Ministries as a standard against the flood of destructive influences on our youth! We will plan for an encore and KEEP UP THE GOD-WORK!!
SINCERELY,
ROBERT LOUIS, DIRECTOR OF TREATMENT
TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION/ COTTRELL HOUSE
DALLAS, TEXAS.
The ministry of EX and words of my brother G. Craige Lewis changed my life. I was on e of the 4 members of the secular group "Color me Badd" and I sold millions of records about sex and sin. I was sitting in a crusade that Bro. Craige was speaking at and the Spirit of God led him to speak this powerful message about the music! The message was for me. I went backstage and he began to minister to me and I repented. I went and quit the group that night. I am ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this day and I thank this ministry for not compromising and standing on the truth. I am a living witness of what this ministry is called to accomplish. Praise God!! I am truly an "EX" man now.
Kevin Thorton, former member of "Color me Badd"
This page has effected me like no other site. You are stating things I have
being feeling for years. This has even floored me. I cry as I type this
letter. I am a Gospel Music Producer. I knew it was bad, but not that bad.
For the first time, I am considering leaving the business. I am ashamed for
God to be associated with artist that compromise so viciously. I am
speechless, I support your cause 150%. Please get the word out.
Question, have you gotten responses from gospel Artist concerning these
things? I was at one of Karen Clark's Concerts were she sang songs from DMX,
and company. She also had young girls get on stage and dance provocatively
doing the head bang. In case you don't know already, sex had entered the
Gospel Marketing spectrum. Look at Yolanda Adams new album.
C - Gospel Music Producer, Michigan
Awesome," is the only word that adequately describes the gift that is within G.Craig Lewis. I had the privilege of having him share with our youth and the youth of another ministry during our crashing satan's party(halloween alternative) here in Charlotte, NC.
His ministry has impacted the lives of youth and adults. They will never be the same. I had an usher run up to me the Sunday after Craige ministered to tell me that her beautician greeted her with this statement, "girl what did yall do to my daughter on Wednesday, I don't know who the guy was that spoke, but he got to my daughter. She got saved, came home and broke up her CD's, and threw them away. The next day a friend picked her up from school and she was listening to power 98(secular hip hop station) and she told the individual, I don't mean no harm, but I can't listen to that stuff anymore, please don't be offended!"
People were saved, healed and delivered. Our phones have been ringing off the hook, asking for Craig's website address. This message needs to get out to the masses. My prayer is that God will usher him to the forefront and allow him to share this transforming truth. William Cosey, III - Youth Pastor, Greater Salem Baptist
Church Charlotte NC
It was exciting to see and experience the power of God that was brought forth through this mighty ministry. Our youth are giving up their secular cd's and making vows to only invest in Christian music. Curses where broken and God gave us new beginnings through the power of your message. We want you back.
Cynthia Small, Youth Director of Saintsville COGIC
Your words came out and touched me like God was really speaking directly to me. It really made me understand the power that music had over me. - Ben McKinney, Dallas Tx
Bro Craig, Greeting in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We just wanted to let you know how awesome God presented his presence through your ministry. The wealth of information you imparted concerning negative hip-hop music and it's demonic influence on behavior. Your anointing was so great we literally watched as a number of our youth went to their cars and returned with cd's that they could no longer possess, because of the negative message it gives...their slogan as you put it "I don't want to be down with the devil" God bless and we look forward to future fellowship with you!
Kay Morgan, St. John Ministries, Tampa Fl.
You have blessed our youth each time you have come to our area. Thank God for a ministry that is not afraid to tell the total truth. Our young people will never be the same. God bless your ministry - Miss'y Pringle Temple of Joy, Wichita Falls, TX God has gifted you with a special message. Don't be afraid to share it with the world. The truth truly will make us free. You have been a blessing to our jurisdiction and I pray you will continue to uphold the standard for the Kingdom of God. - Bishop W.H. Watson, TX NW Jurisdiction Our ministry will never be the same. You opened our eyes to something that we didn't even know was going on. God bless you - Hope of Glory Ministries MY SISTER DEBORAH PERRY ATTENDS ST JOHN'S MINISTRIES AND SHE ALLOWED US TO VIEW THE VIDEO OF YOU SPEAKING THE NAKED TRUTH AND WE WERE VERY ENLIGHTENED WE REALLY DIDNT KNOW LIKE YOU SAID. MY DAUGHTER IS 19 YEARS OLD AND BONE WAS ONE OF HER FAVORITE GROUPS AND SINCE SHE SEEN THE NAKED TRUTH SHE ISNT DOWN WITH THE DEVIL ANY MORE. WE WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN PERSONALLY FOR ALLOWING GOD TO USE YOU AS HIS TOOL TO REVEAL THIS THINGS TO US. WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS BLESSED YOU ALREADY AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. I WISH YOU WOULD HAVE HAD DAYS HERE TO FINISH TELLING US ALL OF THE NAKED TRUTH. MY SISTER DEBORAH WANTS TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR PRAYING FOR HER DAUGHTER SHANNA. SHE HAS REALY BEEN A DIFFERENT PERSON EVERY SINCE. WE THANK FOR BEING THE BOLD SOLDIER THAT YOU ARE AND ALLOWING GOD TO DO HIS WORK THROUGH YOU AND HAD HE NOT WE STILL WOULDN'T KNOW.
THANKS BROTHER LEWIS AND WE LOVE YOU.-- BARBARA W ALCINDOR
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