On a normal day, Antioch Baptist Church was a calm, peaceful place, as it usually is in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church. That is, until someone dares to stand up against the actions of a person of prominence, particularly one who is in ministerial work of some fashion. When that disagreement is voiced, especially in a way that is more public, the wolves come out and attack, all the while portraying their actions as protecting the poor, helpless sheep. A few hours after the evening service, my husband, Matt Olds, noticed he had a missed call and a voicemail from Douglas Stauffer. It was not too surprising, though still anxiety-inducing, considering the recent post, but we had no idea of the harassment that would ensue after that, beginning with this voicemail. [Voicemail is also transcribed below.]
Transcript of Doug Stauffer’s Voicemail to Matt Olds on Sunday, June 3, 2018
“Hey Matt, this is Doug Stauffer. I just had somebody to bring Crystal’s comments on Facebook to my attention. Um, actually Pastor Ray. I guess somebody brought it to him and I guess some people went to Lula about it. Uh, you know, it’s pretty disheartening for her to be quoting, uh, Matthew 18 about if you have an issue with a brother, take it to them, etc. I’m just dumbfounded how this, these comments can be on Facebook if they aren’t brought to the pastor or the person preaching. I mean, isn’t she guilty of the very thing that she’s saying should have been done all along? And, you know, we probably need to talk as soon as possible. Um, I would suggest that, you know, she probably remove those posts, you know, from Facebook. It’s really, you know, childish, divisive, destructive to the church to air that type of, um, material on the internet. I mean, REALLY? Is that the maturity that she is trying to gain and, and put out there? It’s really quite destructive, divisive and immature, carnal even, for her to put those notes out there. Um, a person preaches. They say things, it doesn’t always, you know, come across exactly the way they would necessarily say it every time. But um, the people that left that were complainers, and whiners, and left and split because, most of them, had to do with um- whether somebody was dating somebody else. Um, you know, most of that is completely childish. We helped many of the people out, um, beyond comprehension, and then, you know, basically get stabbed in the back.
Listen. We are all for reconciliation. I still meet and talk to those people that left. Um, but I think it was the worst thing in the world that those that are complainers and gripers and destructive in the church left, and I’m upset about it? I’m not. I think it was good for the church. I think that, um, division and divisiveness, um, you know, there’s no place for it in the church. There’s no place for your wife’s comments on Facebook. Um, I’m not going to respond back publicly because I think then that just worsens the situation. I think what she’s going to do is then draw some of those people that have liked her comments to her and then she will create a worse problem, so if she’s truly trying to, uh, help a situation, she’s going in the opposite direction. This will draw complainers to a complainer and she’s going to be guilty of the very carnality that she’s so worried about.
So, anyway, you give me a call tomorrow if you’d like. I know its late tonight. ***-***-**** [Phone number]. Uh, we do need to talk about this, um, as soon as possible. Thanks. Bye.”
In this series, I share my thoughts and opinions concerning these ministers and the events which led to my departure. Click here to continue reading: “Blindsided: Personal Response to Douglas Stauffer’s Voicemail” or click on the link below.
For a list of the complete series, click here.
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What an insecure man he must be. He may say whatever he wishes in public during church sermons, that also air on social media, and claims “you gotta be gracious with the preacher.” But God forbid a member has an issue with something and writes a Facebook post about it, that way less people see, and he goes berserk! No being gracious to them! He’s gotta stomp on them real hard in an attempt to silence them.
i wonder what would have happened had the comments about the church been from your husband?
That is a question we have wondered for ourselves, but my guess is that things would have progressed very differently considered other circumstances that have taken place.