Dear Pray’s Mill Members and Concerned;

 Thank you.

 Thank you all for all the kind words, letters, email, and phone calls of support shown after my website was setup last Friday May 4^th 2007. The response I have been getting is phenomenal. Most of the reaction has been shock as I said it would in the letter. There have been several hundred hits on my site and this is without ANY publication or notification whatsoever about the truth coming out and this corrective action taking place. The website stats show hits coming from everywhere in the US and even some outside the US, So the word is spreading. Again I say to you that all statements made by me are true in fact and in nature and nothing I am about to say is speculation or rumor. I will not say anything that is considered hearsay, rumor or untrue and I will  be disclosing some things which may shock you as members of a church and you will not want, but you must consider and believe what I am stating in this letter is true. If you do not want to read and hear the truth about these issues or have your spirituality world turned upside down, then DO NOT READ THIS LETTER as it will only hurt your heart as it has hurt mine to have to write about these issues! There were many, many other issues dealt with that did not personally involve me but was known by me and I will not discuss these issues or the individuals. I will only explain issue I have direct knowledge of, and which I was personally involved. I am doing this to clear my mind and honor God so that I may move forward and put this behind me.

 I did the first letter two days after some serious accusation were thrown out about me at the Church. I was going to allow this to “go away” and move on after several weeks of no contact between either party. I was on the verge of clearing my conscious and moving to another church. As you know I had not been at Pray’s Mill for services for several months ( 5 TO BE EXACT ). Until Mike Everson and his “deacons” lit the fire and totally disruptive the process I was praying about where God wanted me and my family.  I will address these and other issues and attempt to answer what I will call the “top twelve” questions asked of me while I was at Pray’s Mill. I will also clear up some matters/ wording / issues written in the letter.

 This site was set up to counter the false statements and actions of the leadership at Prays Mill. This was done  in an attempt to discredit me as a person and to destroy my credibility. I only found out about these actions AFTER it was found out by several members and deacons ( yes - even a couple of deacons) during a “conference” at the church on May 2^nd 2007. I received numerous calls immediately concerned at the leaderships attempt to destroy my character and credibility. I was told the charges were for” allegations against Ric and Clay.” 

 I was stunned what I heard.

 I  WILL NOT ever allow anyone to attempt or destroy my dignity, character and reputation, which I have taken as a  very serious matter during my life, be taken away by a “few puppets” or  “Yes men”. Mike Everson has destroyed and split many families while there as Pastor at Pray’s Mill with his willful neglect of Pray’s Mill By-Laws and God’s word. As a matter of fact as of this day May 9^th 2007  I still have not been notified in writing or verbally by staff or deacons, other than members calling me about what had happened, that I was “dismissed” in conference at Pray’s Mill. But coming from what I consider “counterfeit & lost” leadership at Pray’s Mill it means absolutely nothing to me. Other than the deceitfulness and how it was handled I really could care less about their actions.

Below are answers to your “ TOP 12” questions concerning the letter and afterwards;

1.Doug, how can you be dismissed as a member of the church after you elected to leave 5 months ago and was already considered a non member of Pray’s Mill?

 Great question. I have not been at a service or Sunday School since December 24^th 2006. The only contact I had with Pray’s Mill was while I working on the computer system until our argument in Mike Everson office and  I was railroaded out  on March 19^th 2007. I was already removed from Sunday School rolls, was not receiving the monthly newsletters or voice information, etc.,…as a matter of fact I told Mr. Everson in the first week of January 2007 I was leaving Pray’s Mill Baptist Church due to issues, but that I was not mad at anyone and it was time to move on and I was going to visit other church’s. This was done in an attempt to avoid confrontation with him and leave on good terms even though I knew about many issues within the church. After I left I believe he took it as a personal attack that I would even think about seeking another church. I was then called by my Sunday School teacher and I also told him I was going to visit other church’s and seek God’s direction for my life.

2.      We were shocked at how this occurred, were you ? No, not really. Since it had been done to others in the past, and how it was done to others in the past and the way that it was handled then, I put nothing past these guys.

3.      We are concerned about this happening to others. What is the course of action our church is suppose to take on matters such as these?

 Super question JP…Below you will see a copy of  Article 12 of the church’s by laws which Mike Everson and the Deacons setup years ago. In this particular text it states actions concerning discipline. If I were a member ( which at the time of his actions of dismissal I was not) this is how it is suppose to work

   “…ARTICLE XII

Discipline.

 Section 3 – In every case in which a member is charged with an offense that would subject him or her to expulsion, the Deacons shall invite such a one to meet them and hear the charges and offer such explanations and evidence as may be desired.  After hearing all, the Deacons shall express a judgment upon the merits of the case and shall communicate their judgments with recommendations to the church.  The accused shall be duly notified of their proposed action, and the church shall adopt or reject their recommendation without discussion, unless the accused demands a rehearing, in which case the examination before the church shall be conducted in the same manner as before the Deacons, it being understand that any person may upon his own responsibility bring charges directly before the church…”

 I will now address what happened based on this above article 12 in reference to me.

 N O T H I N G!!!    I was NEVER notified  by anyone about any meeting. Nor was I was ever invited to a meeting  by anyone to HEAR, DISCUSS,  or was I ever told of ANY offer such explanations and evidence as may be desired.  The Deacons then expressed a judgment upon the merits of “NO” case  and communicated a judgments with recommendations to the church “without my knowledge” in a deceitful way.

 I was not notified of any action – proper or improper, and you were given recommendations to adopt or reject without the accused being able to have any say so or knowledge of any issues whatsoever!

 Article 12 also states unless the accused demands a rehearing, in which case the examination before the church shall be conducted in the same manner as before the Deacons, it being understand that any person may upon his own responsibility bring charges directly before the church, which if this I am demanding a rehearing immediately before the church in a conference to clear my name.

 But I guarantee you, this will not happen unless you force the issue. If it does not happen that I not be able to voice my opposition and not get a hearing before the church and the leadership will not apologize for their action against me to the church, then I have other ways to clear the record.

4.      It has been rumored you went to see Morris Roper, Chairman of the Deacons, and discussed the matter of the church’s neglect of any notification with him. What happened? Yes, I did go and see him and we had a hot debate about issues of him not notifying me especially since I am a relative of  him and his wife. We discussed several issues which he stated he was unaware of including the question of why the church had no idea we was paying for    Clay Cox college education to Brewton-Parker College in amounts close to $4000 per semester, and why were giving him “paid” training while a staff member at Pray’s Mill and him doing some of his  training during some ministry hours of  8:00-4:00 Monday - Friday at Pray’s Mill. He also did and said other thing that I will not disclose at this time.

5.      You state David was dismissed in August 2007 ?  OOPs  -  it was August 2006 not 2007.  Sorry.  

6.      You said you had a meeting on March 21^st 2007 with the deacons? Who was there and what was the issue? The issue was to bring charges against Mike Everson. There was a recommendation to bring several of these charges out but the deacons attending said it was “Old News” and we were told to keep it within the walls of the meeting room. Attending deacons were: Robert Reynolds, Morris Roper, C J Ellis, Travis Haines, Michael Nantz, Joe Brock, Stacy Wiggins, Andy Hester)  Attending Staff was: Ms Jeannine, Ms Jennifer, Clay, Ric , Mike Everson, Treasurer Vernon Collett, witnesses for the church as asked for by me were: Bro. Kerr and Bro. Jackson. (there may have been some others – sorry if I missed 1 or 2) No charges or discussions of any charges against me were discussed.

7.      You state Deacons in you letter. Were you saying all deacons. No I am only used the term deacon in general terms. The use of the word deacons is thought of as a whole, but by no means did I implicate all our deacons, only the ones with direct knowledge to our issues.

8.      How did you ask Vernon to see the salary’s of our staff and what was his response. It is simple, go to him and ask. As a member of the church you are entitled to see the real  and separate figures for anyone there at the church being paid. They are required to show you everything. Just make sure the figures are not the ones on the “budget” and see the written ones on a “spreadsheet”. When he showed me the real figures as stated in my first letter they were pulled out of a folder in the financial secretary’s office in December 2006. His response to me was he was required to show them as long as you are a “member in good standing”

9.      Do you have any knowledge why David was Fired and not allowed to repent and stay on as he allowed Jarrod Everson to do years earlier? All I can say is  that I was told David did not repent like Jarrod, whatever that means. Something about private sin, private confession - public sin public confession?

10.  What is your attitude toward the church? All I will say is I am praying for Pray’s Mill Baptist Church.

11.  What has been the general reaction ? I have received a death threat phone call three times from someone calling from a “private” listing which authorities are handling. Also, I  had a threat from Andy Hester saying “ this makes me want to fight and whip somebody” in a deacons meeting on March 21^st 2007 which went without being dealt with or disciplined by the deacons in the meeting or staff, and I have had a physical confrontation from a deacon that I will not disclose at this time. Other than that it has been a lot of tears when discussing this matter with many of the members. But most everyone says that “somebody needed to do this”.

12.   Why do the deacons handle situations this way? I really do not know. All I know is that if you ever say a negative word about Mike Everson you are labeled a “troublemaker” and they watch and “blacklist” you. As I look back and reflect and remember thing told to me, I remember him saying to me once during his fight with one of the former member at Pray’s Mill ; “ Doug it is like this, remember the Chief used to always circle himself and get the Indians to fight his battles and if he got the best to protect him he would never have to fight because they would fight for the chief to protect him to the bitter end …I have my deacons fight my battles for me”

There are many other question  you have asked but due to time ( plus I have a job and family to) I will have to discuss later in another letter and in the future in the forum/ blog area.

For now I leave you with text of something sent to me from a man I admire and trust his opinion immensely that really say’s it all.  Read and think about this in your own life and issues now before you as members of Pray’s Mill which are before you.

THE FOUNDATION: COURAGE

 “I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.” — Thomas Paine

LIBERTY

 You as a church should immediately call for his immediate resignation and if he will not resign – ask for his immediate dismissal

as Pastor of Prays Mill Baptist Church and removal in his position at the Georgia Baptist Convention.

 I will stand on my principles, character, dignity and integrity unto death. Will you?  

 Thank You and May God Bless.

 Doug Pittman