Saturday, March 29, 2014

Food for Thought- An Open Letter to Marvin Sapp, by Eddie Allen- 03/29/2014



An open letter to gospel artist Marvin Sapp (and “shepherds” everywhere)
 
                                              Dear Pastor Sapp:
 
            An unkempt stranger once walked into a Toledo, Ohio sanctuary, behaving erratically. When the pastor asked church members to rise, the man stood at attention in soldier-like fashion. At another point, the graying visitor gave a military salute. Without interrupting the service, without even speaking a word, the pastor, Kevin Bedford, caught the man’s attention and beckoned to him while an on-duty police deputy kept close watch.
A retired naval chaplain, Bedford guided the visitor through an exit, calmly asking if the man had ever been enlisted. He quickly learned that, yes, the man was a veteran who suffered from related emotional problems, but had fallen on hard times and been without medication for months. Not much later, the sheriff’s deputy re-appeared, interested in the pastor’s safety. The minister shared what he’d learned with the officer, immediately asking the deputy to help solicit resources for the visitor, who didn’t know what to do for his troubles – but knew he wanted to be in a church.
Pastor Sapp, I don’t know your ex-congregation member Dr. Teleka Patrick, who went missing last year, or her family. But, like that suffering veteran, she deserved spiritual support. “The Bible makes it clear that, even the ‘wilderness’ – the prostitutes, the mentally ill – needs a voice,” says Bedford, now pastor of Aurora, Ill.’s Progressive Baptist Church. “Kicking them out is the equivalent of closing the blinds on the hungry and shutting the door on the beggar.”
Many of us have read the protection order that was issued to secure your family, and we’ve seen the letter banning Dr. Patrick from Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids, Mich. We’ve heard that you were – perhaps reasonably – concerned that Dr. Patrick crossed boundaries into your private life, Pastor Sapp.
What we’ve not seen or heard is any sign that you fed this lamb in your flock with the bread of compassion. Not only have all media been denied interviews since Dr. Patrick’s December disappearance, but private investigator Jim Carlin says that neither you, nor your staff, will speak even to him as he works to locate your excommunicated member; in fact, he tells me that Dr. Patrick’s family hasn’t even been contacted for an offer of prayer. Conversely, Mr. Carlin, a Catholic who had never heard Dr. Patrick's name before he was contacted to help find her, took the initiative of submitting a prayer request that resulted in a chain of e-mails stretching around the world, solely because he recognized the need. If a self-described "Irish cop" can show love toward a stranger, why doesn't her former pastor?
"At the end of the day have to ask ourselves why we gather on Sundays," says Bedford, the minister. "Do we gather to be entertained, or do we gather to learn from Christ's example in our daily lives?"
Pastor Sapp, I can appreciate that you’ve already spoken to police, according to reports, and you owe me no personal explanation – but refusing to make yourself and every potential source of information from the church available to those interested in Dr. Patrick’s safety comes across as cold and disturbing.
Christ said, “What you did to the least of these, you also did to me,” and a 30-year-old woman who vanishes from loved ones and a prestigious job one dark, frightening night on a highway ranks among “the least.” It’s not too late to set a more Christ-like example, Pastor Sapp.
Your silence is speaking more loudly than all of your concert performances combined.

EDDIE B. ALLEN JR. is a published author, award-winning reporter and freelance journalist.  Both of his major non-fiction works explore the lives of well-known Detroiters: His forthcoming book is a ghostwriting collaboration with the family of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, and he is independently producing his first biography, Low Road: The Life and Legacy of Donald Goines (St. Martin’s Press), as a feature film.

 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Mary Denise Lands 10th Anniversary Memorial Vigil a Success even in a snow storm


Clifford & Anita Marshall and I deeply appreciate the support in our community, and to Craig Kempf and his staff who permitted us to hold our event in the chapel of the Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home in Marshall . We truly believe that 2014 is the year we will bring Mary home, and the person/s responsible for her disappearance and murder will be held accountable in a court of law.
Thank you to the dedicated members of law enforcement who continue to promote public awareness about this case and the issue of domestic violence in out community.

News Link- FOX17 Grand Rapids, Michigan March 12, 2014

News Link-WWMT, Channel 3 Kalamazoo, Michigan- March 12, 2014

News Link- WZZM13, Grand Rapids, Michigan March 12, 2014

News Link- WWMT, Channel 3 Kalamazoo, Michigan March 12, 2014

News Link- WOODTV8, Grand Rapids, Michigan- March 12, 2014

News Link- Battle Creek Enquirer- March 12, 2014

If you have information that can help solve this case, please call any of the following;
Chief Jim Schwartz, MPD- 269.781.3431, Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office- 269.966.6980, or Michigan State Police, 5th District- 269.657.6081. You can remain anonymous. Please join us on March 12th and show your continued support for the Marshall family.

Jim Carlin
Justinian Investigative Services
269.753.1181
269.274.6334
Email- JustinianLaw@sbcglobal.net

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Mary Denise Lands, 10th Anniversary Memorial Vigil, Wednesday, March 12, 2014- 10:00 A.M.

 March 12, 2014 will mark the 10th anniversary in the disappearance of Mary Denise Lands. For each of these events the family have conducted our vigils at the Brooks Memorial Fountain in Marshall, however this year because of the severe winter weather it will be held indoors. Craig Kempf has offered the use of a chapel at his facility, and we greatly appreciate his wonderful gesture. As we have done in all these events we plan to again promote public awareness about Mary's disappearance, and ask the public to help law enforcement solve this case.

The Memorial Vigil will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 in the chapel of the Craig Kempf Funeral Home, 723 Old U.S 27 N, in Marshall, Michigan. We expect numerous law enforcement officers from the community to attend including Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert, Sheriff Matt Saxton, Undersheriff Tim Hurtt, Marshall Chief Jim Schwartz, Emmett Township Public Safety Director Mike Olson, and others. Mary was a battered woman, a tragic victim of domestic violence, and as we have done in the past, we have invited Jennifer Fopma, and representatives of S.A.F.E. Place Shelter to the vigil. We also have the honor of the presence of Pastor Melany Chalker, of the Marshall United Methodist Church, who will provide an introductory prayer for the family, and our community. This church provided comfort to the family last year with their prayers and words about faith and hope. Today, Mary has been missing for 9 years, 11 months, and 27 days. If she were alive she would be 50 years old on September 3, 2014. 

There is a person in our community who can provide that one crucial tip that will help the team of investigators solve this case. We have never lost hope, and we believe that this will be the year that Mary will be brought home, and the person/s responsible for her disappearance and murder will be held accountable in a court of law. It has been difficult for some to attend Mary's vigil's in the past because of the weather, however, with this indoor event  we ask all our supporters to please attend and support Cliff & Anita Marshall.
If you have information that can help solve this case, please call any of the following; Chief Jim Schwartz, MPD- 269.781.3431, Calhoun County Prosecutor's Office- 269.966.6980, or Michigan State Police, 5th District- 269.657.6081. You can remain anonymous. Please join us on March 12th and show your continued support for the Marshall family.

Jim Carlin
Justinian Investigative Services
269.753.1181
269.274.6334 (Cell)
Email- JustinianLaw@sbcglobal.net

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Today, Teleka Patrick Missing 3 Months- An Open Letter to Pastor Marvin Sapp

An interested person who has been following the story submitted this letter to me, and the Patrick family. He gave permission to publish it in any forum that might help Find Teleka.
 
Open letter to Marvin Sapp (and “shepherds” everywhere)
 

By Eddie B. Allen Jr.
 
Dear Pastor Sapp:

 
An unkempt stranger walked into a Toledo, Ohio church, behaving erratically. When the pastor asked members to rise, the man stood at soldier-like attention. At another point, the graying visitor gave a military salute. Without interrupting service, the pastor caught the man’s attention, beckoning to him. A retired naval chaplain, the minister led his guest through an exit, quickly learning that the visitor was a veteran who suffered from emotional problems and had been without medication for months. Not much later, the pastor, Kevin Bedford, began seeking resources for this stranger who didn’t know how to handle his troubles – but knew he wanted to be in a church.

I’ve never met your former congregation member, the missing Dr. Teleka Patrick or her family, but, like the veteran, she deserved spiritual support.The Bible makes it clear that, even the ‘wilderness’ – the prostitutes, the mentally ill – needs a voice,” says Rev. Bedford, now pastor of Aurora, Ill.’s Progressive Baptist Church. “Kicking them out is the equivalent of closing blinds on the hungry and shutting the door on the beggar.”
We’ve read the protection order and the letter excommunicating Dr. Patrick from Lighthouse Full Life Center Church in Grand Rapids. We’ve heard that you were, perhaps reasonably, concerned that she crossed boundaries into your private life. What we’ve not read or heard is any sign that you fed this lamb in your flock with the bread of compassion.
Not only are all media denied interviews since the doctor’s Dec. 5 disappearance, but private investigator Jim Carlin says that you and your staff refuse to talk even with him as he works to find her; Carlin says that Dr. Patrick’s family hasn’t even been contacted for an offer of prayer.
Well, Christ warned: “What you did to the least of these, you also did to me.” A 30-year-old woman who, one lonely night on a highway, vanishes from loved ones and a prestigious job, certainly ranks among “the least.”
Please set a righteous example, Pastor Sapp.
Silence can speak volumes.                       
Eddie B. Allen Jr. is an author and filmmaker in Detroit.