Author: Lois

Galatians Study Part Nine: 3:21-25

NLT: “Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

“23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.”

NASB: “Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

“23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

Remember what we have discovered so far – that the law was not of faith and because of this, no one will be justified by obeying the law. It ONLY comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ redeemed us from the law so that we may live by faith.

Paul now poses the question of whether the law opposes the promises of God and his answer is no. If a law could have been given that would impart life and make us right, or righteous with God, then it would have been done. It did not happen.

What God promises is given through faith in Jesus to those who believe. Before this, the law held people as prisoners. They were constantly offering sacrifices and being reminded of their sinful ways. No matter how many rules they perfectly followed, it never changed them on the inside. No matter how many rules they were able to keep, if they messed up on one issue, they failed. The law was a continual reminder to them that they did not measure up. A sacrifice for their sin had to be made.

Do you remember back in chapter two, where Paul spoke of the false brothers who had infiltrated their ranks, spying on them? What did he proclaim about these cunning men? They were spying on the freedom the believers had in Christ Jesus and wanted to make them slaves. That is what returning to the law does. It makes you a prisoner, robs you of your joy, takes your focus off of God, places you under a curse and you become a slave.

The law was never meant to accomplish what was accomplished by Jesus. It demonstrated that all had sinned. The law was supposed to lead people to Christ. Then he came and fulfilled the law and redeemed us. Once this happened, the law was supposed to pass away and die as its purpose had been accomplished, so that faith in Jesus for our justification would take its place. It was a temporary guardian to lead people to Christ.

Consider also how that earlier in chapter three, Paul shares how the law was given to them through a mediator. God didn’t speak directly to all the people and share with them these laws. He spoke to them through Moses and he passed them on to the people. Yet with God’s promise to Abraham, he spoke to him directly and no mediator was involved. Contrast this with the issue of following the law/rules or allowing God himself to speak to us directly through the Spirit.

In addition, the law was conditional and pronounced blessings and cursing. It was up to each individual to work hard to learn and remember all the rules, and diligently follow them to the letter. Yet the promise to Abraham didn’t require him to perform any tasks, nor to keep any rules.

Think about how this applies to any rules set up by ministers, churches and anyone who would add to the gospel and distort it. “And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.” Let the truth of this passage sink in. Do we choose to live by a list of rules or do we choose to walk by faith, allowing God’s Spirit to lead, guide and teach us? If we are walking by faith, we no longer need the list of rules to be our tutor as we learn directly from God. Is the importance of this message becoming clear?

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This is a continuation of our coverage on former United Pentecostal Church pastor and presbyter, Robert Anthony “Tony” Langston, born November 9, 1964, who has been charged with sexual crimes against a minor in Colorado. Langston also had been the Colorado District Youth Secretary and the District Youth President. This is case number 25CR03894 in Denver County.

Back in 2000, we made two blogs about this, though no names were mentioned at the time as no arrests or charges had been made. You may want to read Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 3 and Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 4 for additional information. See also Part 1 and Part 2 of our recent posts.

The alleged crimes happened while Tony Langston was the youth pastor of Landmark Tabernacle, a UPCI church in Denver, Colorado. The pastor was Billy Hale, now considered the bishop, who was also the Colorado District Superintendent at the time. Hale’s son-in-law, Dannie Hood, is the current senior pastor. Some readers may recall our article about Dannie Hood refusing to testify in the trial of Jesse Klockenbrink, a twice convicted sex offender, in 2018. Klockenbrink still attends the church. See United Pentecostal Pastor Dannie Hood’s Refusal To Testify.

In our previous post, we shared the charges, bond, and a basic summary of what has happened since July 10 through July 24, 2025, as well as a rundown of his UPCI licensing and positions from 1987 through 2011.

In this post, we are sharing the four page supporting affidavit for his warrant, which gives more insight into the charges. It had already been redacted by the court but I redacted two things. Some may find it triggering.

You will learn that the SVU of Hudson County, New Jersey was investigating Tony Langston earlier this year for the sexual assault of a child. Due to that investigation, they discovered that there was an assault in Colorado during September or October of 1998.

In May 2025, the Colorado investigator interviewed the victim. The victim shared that while Tony was a Youth Pastor at the church, he took an interest in him and “started to mentor him.” They began to be together more and more, including him babysitting Tony’s young daughter. “Most of the time [name redacted] would be alone with Langston.”

Since Tony’s wife got a position working overnight, Tony would tell the victim that he was lonely and wanted company. On one of these occasions, Tony invited him to watch a vampire movie and while there, Tony asked “if he wanted to have some fun.

“Langston offered [name redacted] what he believed to be cough syrup or Nyquil. Langston told him it would feel good and he should try it, it was liquid Benadryl. Langston told him that it’d make him feel loopy. He poured [name redacted] a cap full and talked him into taking it. Later, Langston asked [name redacted] if he felt it, to which [name redacted] responded no.” Langston then gave him another and he started to feel sleepy, so Langston told him to go and lay on the bed and he’d finish the movie alone. The victim woke up to find Langston performing oral sex on him.

There is also a brief mention of an interview with another victim. They “stated that Langston appeared to prefer boys in the church who had absent fathers or were raised by their grandparents.”

Billy Hale was interviewed on May 20, 2025 and he shared he knew about the victim being molested. “Hale stated that he has heard other people hint about sex abuse by Langston, but no one has come out and said it. Hale stated he didn’t report the incident to police because he was under the impression that [name redacted] wouldn’t testify.”

The victim shared that he told a friend what happened, “who then reported it to Pastor Hale.” There was a meeting with Hale and it was shared that he attempted to contact the police chief. “Hale gave Langston time to gracefully leave the church but told him he could no longer be a youth pastor there.”

In our blog from 2020, where we initially did not name anyone, we shared what a former member of the church had witnessed at the time this was happening. Below is part of what she shared.

“Then…it happened again. It almost felt like a horrible déjà vu. A Sunday night service came and went without Youth Pastor Z one Sunday…and again the visitors were asked to leave the service because of an ‘all church meeting.’

“Youth Pastor Z was asked to resign and we were not allowed to have any contact with them. They were also leaving the state immediately. No details were given.

“I was so sick to my stomach. What happened this time? Why is our youth group cursed?

“This time, I didn’t hear for years whatever happened with Youth Pastor Z. This story was kept under wraps for a long time. He moved away and has since pastored a church in another state.

“…I have found out from a couple of the victims that after everything came out, the church pastor asked to meet with them and their parent/guardians. They were instructed not to involve the authorities in both of these cases because it wasn’t ‘biblical.’ The pastor said that he wanted to allow God to deal with them and that God’s punishment would be far greater than anything the law could ever do to them.”

This is not the only case where similar happened at Landmark Tabernacle under the leadership of Billy Hale. As you can see from our previous post, Billy Hale did not ask Tony Langston to turn in his license and obviously did not report the information to UPCI headquarters as Langston remained licensed for a decade after leaving Landmark Tabernacle. One wonders how many other allegations have been similarly mishandled.

Anthony Langston is the founder and former pastor of Tapestry Church, which in June 2025 became Freedom Church Jersey City, when Tony resigned and turned it over to former UPCI minister Wade Haskins.

I originally posted about this on  July 25, 2025 on our Facebook Page.

You will find a complete list of articles in this series by clicking here.

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This is a continuation of our coverage on former United Pentecostal Church pastor and presbyter, Robert Anthony “Tony” Langston, born November 9, 1964, who has been charged with crimes against a minor. Langston also had been the Colorado District Youth Secretary and the District Youth President. This is case number 25CR03894 in Denver County.

Back in 2000, we made two blogs about this, though no names were mentioned at the time as no arrests or charges had been made. You may want to read Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 3 and Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 4 for additional information. See also Part 1 of our recent posts.

The alleged crimes happened while Tony Langston was the youth pastor of Landmark Tabernacle, a UPCI church in Denver, Colorado. The pastor was Billy Hale, now considered the bishop, who was also the Colorado District Superintendent at the time. Hale’s son-in-law, Dannie Hood, is the current senior pastor. (We previously wrote about Dannie Hood refusing to testify in the CSA case against now registered sex offender Jesse Klockenbrink, who still attends Landmark Tabernacle. See United Pentecostal Pastor Dannie Hood’s Refusal To Testify.) They have been aware of the investigation of Tony.

The case was entered into the court on July 10, 2025 and an at large warrant was issued. Tony Langston was arrested on July 23, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. He was charged with 18-3-405.3(1),(2)(a),(b) Sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and the victim is less than fifteen years of age and as part of a pattern of abuse (Class 3 felony) and 18-3-405.3(1),(2)(a);18-2-101 Criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and the victim is less than fifteen years of age (Class 4 felony). The charges go back to 1998.

We could possibly see additional charges in Colorado, as well as charges in New Jersey.

On July 24, there was an entry of appearance by his attorney Colleen Kelley, along with a motion for discovery, which is normal. Bond was set, though the judge approved a much lower bond of $50,000 than the asked amount of $200,000. $5,000 via a credit card was paid and Tony was released that morning. He had to sign a waiver of extradition as he lives out-of-state and a protective order was issued. You will see that his wife was involved and paid via a credit card. I have redacted their personal information.

In the afternoon, a motion was filed for him to relinquish his passport and it was granted. You may recall in our previous post that Tony Langston stated he and his wife planned to go backpacking in Europe in September.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 11, 2025.

Tony Langston first appears in the 1988 UPCI Directory with a general license and living in Federal Way, Washington, which is indicative of him having received his license in 1987. (The Directories are issued every January and can be more reflective of the prior year.) The 1989 Directory shows him living in Lakewood, Colorado.

Starting in 1990, he is seen in Brighton, Colorado and is likewise listed the same in 1991 and 1992. He is not listed in 1993. (I do not have Directories from 1994-1998.) In 1999 he is again not listed, but is seen in the 2000 Directory in Littleton, Colorado with a general license and also serving as the District Youth Secretary. The 2001 Directory shows him in Englewood, Colorado and he is listed as the District Youth President.

2002 finds him in Carmel, Indiana, with the 2003 Directory listing him in Bogalusa, Louisiana. 2004 lists him with an ordained license in Jersey City, New Jersey, with 2005 showing him as pastor of the International Christian Center. The same holds true for 2006. Starting with the 2007 Directory, he is listed as a presbyter of the New Jersey Metro District, now called the North/Central Jersey District. The 2008 issue has the church name changed to International Church and he is still a presbyter. It is the same in 2009.

The 2010 Directory lists him as a presbyter and shows the church name changed to Tapestry Church, and it remained with this name until Langston resigned as pastor in June 2025 and it became Freedom Church Jersey City, though that happened well after he was no longer licensed in the UPCI. Former UPCI minister Wade Haskins is the new lead pastor.

The last Directory in which he is listed is 2011 and he is no longer a presbyter. This could mean he stopped being licensed in late 2010 or any time in 2011.

Tony’s father, Robert P. Langston, also had been licensed by the UPCI. He used to operate a group home for minors in Canada and Colorado.

I originally posted about this on  July 25, 2025 on our Facebook Page.

You will find a complete list of articles in this series by clicking here.

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Just over five years ago, we published an article about a United Pentecostal Church minister in Colorado who had been alleged to have sexually abused several boys. Robert Anthony “Tony” Langston was working as a youth pastor in a large well known UPCI church, Landmark Tabernacle in Denver. He is the former pastor and founder of Tapestry Church in New Jersey, where he has been since the early 2000s, and no longer holds license with the UPCI.

Back in 2000, we made two blogs about this, though no names were mentioned at the time as no arrests or charges had been made. You may want to read Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 3 and Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 4 for additional information.

Tony Langston was arrested on July 23, 2025 in Colorado and charged with two CSA crimes which happened while he was the youth pastor of Landmark Tabernacle in the late 1990s. Billy Hale was the pastor and Colorado District Superintendent during the time in question. This is case number 25CR03894 in Denver County.

Instead of taking appropriate action, where Langston should have been made to forfeit his license and been reported to the police, he was permitted to retain his UPCI license for at least ten more years, all because it was internally handled by Billy Hale.

On June 29, 2025, Robert Anthony “Tony” Langston announced that as of that day he had retired from being the lead pastor of Tapestry Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, though he claimed he was not retiring from ministry. Tony stated for the past six months the church leaders have been meeting with him about this change.

The timing of Langston’s resignation came as no surprise to those of us who heard he was being investigated in both New Jersey and Colorado.

The church is now called Freedom Church Jersey City and replacing Tony Langston as lead pastor is Wade Haskins of Freedom Church. Haskins, who moved to Maryland in 1998, is also a former UPCI minister. Freedom Church has multiple locations, mainly in Maryland, but also in North Carolina, Arkansas and Nairobi, Kenya. Tony and Wade Haskins have been friends for over two decades.

Tony stated that he was not leaving the church and would continue to attend when he was not traveling. He hoped to mentor other pastors. (He and the church have been affiliated with Rod Parsley’s City Harvest Network since January of 2022.)

He also shared that he and his wife planned to go backpacking in Europe in September and were still deciding on what to do the following two months as they make this transition.

Tony’s letter to fellow pastors

On July 12, 2025, Tony Langston, or “PA” as many of the members of Tapestry Church in Jersey City, NJ called him, sent the following letter to a number of pastors. There was nary a mention or hint that he was under investigation for CSA crimes.

Dear friends,

I pray this message finds you well and blessed. I wanted to take a moment to share some personal news with you, as brothers and sisters in ministry whom I deeply cherish and respect.

After much prayer, reflection, and consideration, June 29th marked the end of my 29 years of active service in pastoral ministry.

This has not been an easy decision, but one that I believe is the right step for my family and me as I transition into a new season of ministry.

As most of you know, 22 years ago, we dreamed of a great revival in Jersey City. We declared a diverse, relevant, spirit filled community when it was just five of us in a living room . To say that God has blessed our efforts is an understatement. We stand in awe every Sunday as we watch happy hundreds vibrantly worshiping service after service.

The vision that God placed in my heart was a membership of 10,000 and 100 church plants.

We are well on our way to the first part of that vision but alas, I will not be at the helm for its completion. I recognize that I lack the skill set necessary for the growth ahead. And for that reason, I am so thankful for my dear friend Wade Haskins of Freedom Church, who has demonstrated an expertise in church planting and church growth. I’ve actually been following his lead for many years and our churches are already aligned in every way.

So Tapestry Church will become a campus of Freedom Church. Pastor Wade Haskins will become our lead pastor. Pastors Markus and Stephanie Robinson will become our campus pastors. Tanya, Brooklynn, Josh and baby Langston will remain on staff at Freedom Church Jersey City and I will attend when I am not out of town.

But the cry for church planting is still strong in my spirit. I hope in this next season to wrestle with the second half of that vision to mentor and manage church planters and pastors to see New York and New Jersey shaken with the gospel, not to mention your city should God choose to link us together.

This process started for me 15 months ago. I felt like God was transitioning me, although I didn’t know what that would look like.

In January, we started meeting with our leaders, overseers, and board to see what the next season would look like. And after much prayer, fasting and counsel I decided it was time to retire from this phase of ministry.

My primary focus after retirement will be to dedicate myself to mentoring and supporting other pastors and church leaders. I believe strongly in the importance of nurturing leadership, encouraging spiritual growth, and helping churches thrive in their mission. My desire is to be a source of encouragement, wisdom, and practical help for those who are called to lead God’s people, especially during these challenging and rapidly changing times. Phil and Darlene Bishop Driscoll prophesied to me last year that God was raising me up to show other pastors how to experience the kind of revival that we have experienced in Jersey City.

A youth culture revival with an 84% conversion rate while still maintaining a spiritual church culture with a focus on emotional healing. I hope that is true. I claim it in Faith. I do love the body of Christ!

All that said, I intend to take a brain break for the next several months. Do some traveling. Rest. Breathe. And Inquire of the Lord and really seek His face about the future. Please keep me in your prayers.

Thank you for your friendship
Love
Anthony Langston

Freedom Church Scrubs Social Media

Not long after Tony’s resignation, the church hid the video of his retirement announcement service and then later they temporarily hid their YouTube channel, brought it back up after they’d scrubbed it, changing the playlists and video descriptions. They have hidden other videos.

They also changed the links for the church Facebook Page and Instagram accounts, and the website, along with removing many posts which mention Tony or show his picture or videos.

More information will be shared in future articles.

I originally posted about this on June 23, 2025, June 29, 2025 (includes video clips from his retirement service), July 24, 2025 and July 27, 2025 on our Facebook Page.

You will find a complete list of articles in this series by clicking here.

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Galatians Study Part Eight: 3:15-20

NLT: “Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.

“19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.”

NASB: “Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

“19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.”

Paul, in continuing his letter to the Galatians, shows the difference between the law and the promise given to Abraham in order to show that they are not under the law. You may want to read Hebrews 8 through 10:25 along with these passages.

Take note of verse 15, where he shares that when a covenant is made, you cannot add to it. It cannot be set aside. Paul is showing that the covenant was made with Abraham long before the law was put into effect. Because it cannot be set aside, nor added to, the law never changed the promise/covenant between God and Abraham.

The purpose of the law was to show people their sins. It was temporary until the Messiah would come and redeem us from the curse of the law.

Though this was all in the past, those causing confusion and perverting the gospel were insistent that at least some aspects of the law must be kept in order to be saved. This was removing the Galatians from a walk with God by faith.

Let’s also take note of verse 18 about the inheritance, “For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise.” Consider that believers are given an inheritance and keep in mind that this inheritance is based upon a promise.

Ephesians 1:11: In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

Colossians 1:11-12: strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Hebrews 9:13-16: For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.

1 Peter 1:3-5: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Ephesians 1:13-14: In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Remember when Paul asked the Galatians if they received the Spirit by observing the law or by believing what they heard?

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