The
House Of Yahweh The
House Of Yahweh To the citizens of Taylor, Callahan, and Jones Counties,
I am writing this letter to you in hope of bringing some enlightenment to this area about our cause. I would like for you to know what The House of Yahweh is all about, what we teach and why we teach the Message that we do. I would like for you to understand why our Message is so contrary to what you are accustomed to hearing from other religions. Please don't think that I am trying to get you to leave your church, I am not.
Neither am I condemning the news media. I am sure they are doing what they think they must do to sell their broadcasts and publications. But they truly are misleading the people, causing a lot of hatred and distrust. We tried to be open with them and allowed them interviews but they distorted the truth, told blatant lies, and many times slandered our members. However, we hold no grudges. We decided that we would not be drawn into hatred and retaliation. We teach and practice to quickly and to completely forgive.
We know that you, our neighbors, have been misled about The House of Yahweh's teachings and people. Since we know from past experience that we cannot trust the news media to be accurate and unbiased in its stories about The House of Yahweh, and since the evil reputation the media gave us is continuing, in order to sell their product, we decided to come directly to you. We are only asking for your understanding of our cause and our rights as American citizens.
Every religious organization has its share of problems. The members are not always aware of these problems, but they do have problems, every last one of them. Below are only a few of the many examples coming from the churches and universities. The first one is quoted directly from a local preacher addressing some problems he has encountered within his congregation. This excerpt is from a sermon that was given on 7/20/08 by Dr. Don Greenway of the Northside Baptist Church in Abilene and is available on-line.
I'm
honest with you, I keep a
gun in the office
because I get threatened
pretty often. Now, I don't intend to take another beating. I
may intend to
kill somebody but I'm not gonna take another beating, I don't care. But
I had a
guy a while back come in the office, he had got drunk and beat his
wife. And
I'm telling you her lips was all bruised up, all swelled up and
everything and
there sitting there and she's holding her head down because this guy
had just
beat her within an inch of her life. And they're sitting there and now
he's
all, "I don't know why she can't get over this." And so I said a
couple of things and he got hot. And the thing like, well maybe the
reason she
[can't get] over it is because you beat her like a dog. Maybe that's
what the
problem is. And he started to get up and I started to go for the drawer
and he
realized, "this probably may not turn out real well."
You know the problem? The problem is we
cannot see the wrong
that we do.
This guy beat his wife like she was a drum but he couldn't see that he
had done
anything wrong. Why? Because we automatically see what everybody else
does
wrong, but we only see what we do right.
Dr. Don Greenway
İNorthside Baptist Church, Abilene
Fourth
McMurry Student
Arrested On Aggravated Assault
Charges
A fourth
McMurry University
student has
been arrested on aggravated
assault charges in connection with the October beating of an
18-year-old
Abilene High School student who was visiting the campus, a
sheriff's office
spokesman confirmed Monday.
Darrell
Jackson, 18, originally of San
Antonio, was arrested
in San Antonio
last Wednesday, Sergeant John Cummins said.
After
an investigation, Abilene police
received warrants last
week for the
arrest of, Jackson and Osiris Taylor, 18 originally of Houston, Joe
Hall, 18,
originally of Waco, and Justin Chandler, 18, originally of Houston.
Police
arrested the other three and
have been searching for
Jackson. On
Sunday afternoon, October 18th, the four men allegedly beat an
18-year-old who
was visiting a friend on campus. Police will not issue a motive for the
assault, nor will they release the victim's name, Abilene police
department has
said.
Three
of the suspects Hall, Chandler
and Jackson were listed
on the roster
of the McMurry University football team. Aggravated assault,
a
second-degree felony, carries a possible punishment of two to twenty
years in
prison and up to a $20,000 fine.
Abilene
Reporter News
12/31/07
Annual
Crime Statistics Report
Abilene Christian
University Police
2003
2004 2005
2006 2007
Aggravated
Assault
0
0
1
1
0
Burglary
10
17
22
21
9
Motor
Vehicle Theft
0
0
4
6
1
Arson
0
0
0
1
0
Forcible
Sex Offenses
2
0
1
3
1
Disciplinary
Actions/Judicial
Affairs Referrals
Liquor
Law Violations
4
5
2
9
14
Drug
Law Violations
2
0
0
3
1
Illegal
Weapons Possessions 0
1
1
1
1
Prestonwood
Baptist Pastor;
Church Appalled,
Disgraced By Minister's Sex
Sting Arrest
PLANO:
A Prestonwood Baptist Church
minister arrested for
soliciting a minor
on-line has resigned from the church, Pastor Jack Graham told his
congregation
Saturday evening.
The
Dallas Morning News
May
18, 2008
People normally choose a religion so that they can straighten out their lives, find peace, and achieve salvation. Sometimes these same people have very serious problems that they have not yet worked through, so much so that the police sometimes get involved in their activities. However, the news media rarely reveals what religious organization they belong to, unless they want to demonize that religion or, of course, they are members of The House of Yahweh.
Even if a person visits The House of Yahweh for the first time, and somehow gets into trouble and is arrested, the news media will portray this person as a typical long-time, great standing member who follows all of the teachings of The House of Yahweh.
Like all religions, we have people come to us who have problems. We do not turn them away. We help when we can, and we have helped many. No matter what a person's ethnic background is, we do not turn them away. Many people have come to us in desperate need. Some of them are now successful businessmen and women in Abilene and the surrounding areas. I know that you know of some of them.
We ask everyone who comes to us for help to repent of sin and start practicing the Laws of the Creator just as the Savior practiced the Laws of the Creator. We see this as what the Apostles taught also. Conversion takes time and many simply give up and leave.
Contrary to the rumors about us, we absolutely do not teach, nor would we ever tolerate child molestation, underage marriage, or multiple marriages. We do not force our way into people's homes to see what they do in their own homes. But we do teach against breaking the Laws found in your bible. This is the same thing that the Savior and His Disciples taught.
I do not believe that churches, schools, or hospitals are responsible for criminal actions of their members. If that were so, every preacher, teacher, doctor and nurse should be arrested now.
We teach against the use of illegal drugs. Such drugs are never allowed on The House of Yahweh property if we know of them. We ask that anyone who may have a problem in this area to get help in overcoming this dangerous habit. We have even sent some who have come to us for help to other centers like Alcoholics Anonymous when we realized that we could not help them.
Like the Savior and the Apostles, we also teach that we must obey man's laws. We diligently strive to convince all people who come to us for teaching to do so. Those who refuse to repent and convert are asked to leave and to not come back unless they are willing to repent. Most do repent because they came to The House of Yahweh for that reason. However, there are some who won't repent so they leave. Some who leave get angry and say things about The House of Yahweh that are misleading.
Another rumor that we would like to dispel is the one about The House of Yahweh grounds being a compound where people are forced to stay. For security reasons, there is a gate at the entrance but no one is locked in, everyone is permitted to leave any time they please. They come and go at will. ACU has the same security and so do many apartment complexes, but the media tries to make this look bad only with The House of Yahweh.
Our local members either own or rent property in or around the Abilene/Clyde/Eula areas. Many other members live in other states and only come to Texas for the Feasts, or they visit during holidays. We do have some furnished shelters for new comers—single men, women, or families. These are temporary until the person finds a permanent home elsewhere. We also furnish food and clothing to anyone in need when they come to us for help. To the best of my knowledge, we have never denied anyone. Nor do we send anyone away who wants to stay, learn, and overcome.
We do have a campground, that is used three times a year for celebrating the three Feasts, with areas for travel trailers and tents. There are even a few mobile homes. We also have separate shower rooms for men and women. The campgrounds are occupied three times a year in celebration of Yahweh's commanded Feasts. The Laws concerning these Feasts are found in the Old Testament. The New Testament gives witness to the fact that these Feasts were kept by the Savior and His Disciples, and we follow their examples.
People come from all over the world to keep Yahweh's Feasts at His House. The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread is held for seven days in the spring. The Day of Pentecost is a one-day Feast, but many times the people stay for about three days. The Feast of Tabernacles is an eight day Feast that takes place in the early fall. During the times of the Feast, a great deal of revenue is brought into the Abilene and surrounding areas by the many Feast attendees.
Of course, after the Feasts end, everyone returns to their own nations, states, and homes. There are a number of members who have moved to this area in order to be near The House of Yahweh to attend weekly worship services, but as I stated before, they do not live on the campgrounds. They have their own homes, jobs, and businesses that they return to.
We
Do Not Discriminate All
peoples and
languages are welcome to
The House of Yahweh. To us
there is no such thing as "race". We all came from one people, and at
The House of Yahweh we are one people. We do not discriminate against
gays. We
welcome them and teach them Yahweh's Way. In Yahweh's House are many
families,
single men and women, nuns; people from many different walks of life.
All of
these people are here for the same reason, to learn to stop sinning.
Sin is the
breaking of the Laws.
I
Yahchanan (John) 3:4—
Whoever
commits sin, transgresses also
the Laws; for sin is
the
transgression of the Laws.
We
teach that to be
forgiven one must
repent of breaking the Laws and
convert to keeping them.
Acts
3:18-20—
18
But those things which Yahweh
foretold by the mouth of all
the Prophets,
that Messiah must suffer, He has fulfilled this.
19 Repent
therefore, and be
converted,
that your sins may be blotted
out; that times of refreshing may come from the Presence of Yahweh;
20
And that He may send Yahshua, the
Messiah Who was preached
to you.
We
do not recommend
marriage at this time
because of the soon coming
nuclear wars that are prophesied, but we do not forbid marriage either,
if all
is legal. We teach against multiple wives. We teach family planning. We
even
allow artificial insemination for single women who desire children,
because it
breaks no law of man or Yahweh. We teach our children to be respectful
to all,
young and old. We teach against abuse of children, spouses, neighbors,
and even
enemies. We know that everyone is in training and they do make
mistakes, but as
long as they are trying to overcome their problems, we are there to
help.
Practicing the Laws of Yahweh makes one Righteous.
Deuteronomy
6:25—
And it
will be our
Righteousness, if we observe to
do all of these Laws
before Yahweh our Father, as He has commanded us.
I
Yahchanan (John) 3:7-8—
7
Little children, let no man deceive
you; he who
practices Righteousness
is Righteous, just as He is Righteous.
8 He
who commits sin is of the devil,
for the devil has sinned
from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of Yahweh was manifested; that He
might
destroy the works of the devil.
Rumors
History shows that crusades were started by rumors. A group would start a vicious rumor about another group in order to turn people against it. As a result, hatred spread. Then came fighting and crusades ensued. Millions of people—men, women, and children—were killed. In Germany alone, six million people were killed. Surely, this is not what we desire in Abilene, a city named after Abel, the first Righteous Priest of Yahweh. Surely, we of the great United States of America, a nation founded on the right to worship as we choose, are above that in this age.
It was the freedom of religion that brought our ancestors here. Do we really want to go back to the Dark Ages, a time of witch-hunts, crusades, burnings, and stonings?
Our phone lines are always open to calls if you have questions about us, The House of Yahweh. Our gates are open to anyone who would like to come to services or to just say "hello" or "shalom". See for yourself what we believe and teach, and the simple way we conduct our lives.
Who
Are We? We are called by some a Hebrew-Christian sect. They called the Apostles, who kept Yahweh's Laws and followed the perfect example of Yahshua Messiah, the same, as many call us today. We believe in practicing and teaching the Ten Commandments among ourselves and to anyone who would like to learn, we teach.
We are not asking anyone to leave their church and join us. In fact, we are in hopes that we could just be left alone to live and worship the way we see the bible teaches, so we may teach our children to practice the Ten Commandments and keep them free from the curses caused by sin. We believe that soon everyone left alive after the coming nuclear wars will be practicing the Laws in their bibles.
We
will never retaliate. We teach as
the Savior did, to
quickly forgive and
to love your neighbor as yourself. Yes, even your enemy.
Luke
11:4—
And
forgive us our sins; for
we also forgive everyone
that is
indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from
the
evil one.
Mattithyah
(Matthew) 6:14-15—
14
For if you forgive men
their
trespasses, your Heavenly Father will
also forgive you;
15
But if you do not forgive men their
trespasses, neither
will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
Mattithyah
(Matthew) 22:36-39—
36
Teacher, what is the
greatest
Commandment in the Laws?
37
Yahshua said to him: You must love
Yahweh your Father with
all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
38
This is the first and greatest
Commandment.
39
And the second is like it: You
shall love your
neighbor as yourself.
Sin
is the breaking
of Yahweh's Laws, which
are found in every bible.
I
Yahchanan (John) 3:4, 7-8—
4
Whoever commits sin, transgresses
also the Laws; for sin
is the
transgression of the Laws.
7
Little children, let no man deceive
you; he who practices
Righteousness is
Righteous, just as He is Righteous.
8 He
who commits sin is of the devil,
for the devil has sinned
from the
beginning. For this purpose the Son of Yahweh was manifested; that He
might
destroy the works of the devil.
Acts
3:18-19—
18
But those things which Yahweh
foretold by the mouth of all
the prophets,
that Messiah must suffer, He has fulfilled this.
19 Repent
therefore, and be
converted,
that your sins may be blotted
out; that times of refreshing may come from the Presence of Yahweh;
Revelation
22:14—
Blessed
are those who keep His
Laws, that
they may have right to the
Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
We
teach against all
forms of sin that are
against Yahweh and against
mankind. We do not use force. We use teaching, the same way as the
Savior, our
example, did.
Mark
10:42-45—
42
But Yahshua called them to
Him, and
said to them: You know that
those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles exercise rulership
over
them, and those who are greater still
exercise authority over
them.
43
But this must not be so among you.
For whoever will be
greatest among
you, will be your minister—your servant;
44
And whoever of you will be the
first, will be slave for
all.
45 For
even the Son of Man
did not come to be
served, but to serve; and
to give His life as a ransom
for many.
We do not pry into the lives of our members, or behind the closed doors of our members. This was part of the persecution of the dark, evil days that our forefathers fled from. If anyone comes to us wanting to know the True way to Righteousness, we will teach the Laws in the bible. Those who desire to repent and practice Yahweh's Laws do so. But they are the ones who make the choice.
Our desire is to serve one another in the Righteousness of Yahweh. Tell us what you would like to see of us, that we might be able to fit into this community more readily. We will strive to do it, if it does not break any of Yahweh's Laws.
Those who have turned away from following Yahshua's example have brought many false accusations against our people. We hold no grudges against these people. We want only that they would repent and return to following the Savior's example.
The only thing we would like is to have peace in the community and the right to follow the example of the Savior.
In closing I would like to quote our President George W. Bush, a fellow Texan, "something we have been doing all along, is urging the government to understand that minority rights are a vital part of any democratic society..."
Call if you like. Your calls or letters are welcomed.
In the Love of Messiah,
Yisrayl
Hawkins
Pastor
and Overseer
The
House of Yahweh