The Randy Pastor of Alabama.

Some days ago, the entire congregation of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama got the rudest shock of their lives. Their “jolly” pastor, Juan Demitrius McFarland confessed that he had contracted HIV in 2003 and by 2008, the HIV had become full-blown AIDS. There were loud murmurs of “What?” all over the church. This was followed by expressions of sympathies…until he calmly delivered the “mother of all bombshells”. The man said he had (in his own words) been “regularly banging several female church members inside the church building”. Now, all hell broke loose!



Since the grave confession though, three groups of people in the church have been beset with problems beyond their control.

The Pastor:

1. Biblically, he committed adultery…of the highest order.


2. Legally, he knowingly spread STDs although in the state of Alabama, this is merely a Class “C” misdemeanor that carries a maximum of only three months in county jail.


3. Morally, he should have been above board. He lacked the right to preach.

The Church:

1. Christians are always enjoined to forgive. Even Jesus advocated that we “forgive 77 times 77 times…” And the Bible says “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…”


2. The pastor refused to step down from his position even though there are also allegations of financial impropriety against him. He will not “budge” an inch! In my ancestral homeland, people will say “na wahala be this o!” (This one is a serious problem!)


3. The church was therefore forced to wash its dirty linen in public by going to court where a judge finally ordered the randy pastor to “step aside”

The Female Church Members:

1. Since the pastor’s confession, panic has gripped a lot of female members. It’s especially worse for married women who are known to have worked closely with the pastor as choir members, ushers, vestry officials and others. One particular member of the church is reportedly filing legal papers for separation from his wife. Why so? The woman was always in the habit of publicly squirming while referring to the pastor as being very cute. This issue was said to have caused bitter arguments between the woman and her husband long before the pastor’s confession.


2. Secondly, no one among the women who slept with the pastor has honored the invitation of the church leadership to come forward for counselling, prayers and any other assistance.


3. Thirdly, what manners of church would have so many women gawking at and sleeping around with their pastor?