Dennis Worre - Jesus People Church - Advice Needed.

[Professor Freshwaters]

I discovered that Dennis Worre, the one-time pastor of the Jesus People
Church is trying
to get the church going again.

Can you recommend Dennis and this church from your own experience?

Thanks,

Professor

[LJ]

"Professor Freshwaters" <any...@mercgears.com> wrote in message
news:1144023576.4...@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups.com...

Smells like bait to me. Lemme go through the checklist:
-have I ever seen this poster before, No
-does it involve something with a potential to be inflamatory, Yes
-is there any way a rational person would ask strangers they kno nothing
about for their opinions on this topic, No
-does the return email look suspiciously anonymous, Yes
-is there any way that any possible answer would be of any help, probably
not

Yup, there's a 99.6% liklihood that this is a bait

[Professor Freshwaters]

Nope.

[Spartakus]

Professor Freshwaters wrote:

Is this the same Dennis Worre who was accused of having sex with
several female members of his church several years ago?

[Professor Freshwaters]

Dennis Worre and his new church: http://www.jpfamily.org/

Do you have any knowledge of what happened with his first church?

I am considering a visit to his new church. What happened in his old
church?

[WDS]

http://www.factnet.org/discus/messages/3/14551.html?1141293271

"Years later after the church broke up becuase it was discovered that
one of the Senior Co-pastors, Dennis Worre
http://www.jpfamily.org/welcome.html had sex with over 15 women -- some
missionary wives no less! -- the youth pastor Bob Whitsel was
discovered to be committing adultery with 2 girls in his youth ministry
on an ongoing basis. The newspaper article said he prefaced each
session of sexual intercourse with prayer so as to maintain his
authority over these girls. Simultaneously, he would rage against us in
his youth ministry if we somehow disobeyed our committment to our
responsibilities."

[S. Smith]

On 2 Apr 2006 17:19:36 -0700, "Professor Freshwaters"
<any...@mercgears.com> wrote:

Back in high school in the early 80's, I had a friend who became
involved with the Jesus People Church in downtown Minneapolis.
I even attended a "worship session" at the church downtown with
him after he asked me to check it out (I attended church, synagogue,
"worship", etc. with several friends in high school, mainly out of
curiosity). I found the Jesus People Church session to be more than
a little bizarre. There were people "speaking in tongues", "spiritual
healing", etc. It had a very evangelical revival feel to it. They
also had a very pushy "youth outreach" thing going on, with a lot of
younger followers who were aggressively encouraged to bring
more friends into the group. I thought it had a very cultish
feel to it, much more so than any other church I had experienced.

Based on that experience, and what some of the others are posting
here about the sexual misconduct that came out of that group, I
would recommend staying away from them and looking for a more
established and reputable place of worship.

- Scott Smith: sc...@sludgereport.org
Books Blog: http://scottsbooks.blogspot.com
Blue States Rising: http://www.bluestaterising.blogspot.com

[will_...@yahoo.com]

visit the site: http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/jpcsurvivors

there are discussions going on there right at the moment from people
regarding Mr. Dennis Worre and his starting of a new church. Most are
against him because of the fact that he had "relations" with over 20
women in the church--although 300 women had accused him--he admitted to
only 20. I believe that time has passed and its okay for him to start a
new church up--although many believe that the "molesting" and the
touching will start again by him.

[Howard Beale]

"S. Smith" <sc...@sludgereport.org> wrote in message
news:0ut432h25gidekelu...@4ax.com...

> Back in high school in the early 80's, I had a friend who became
> involved with the Jesus People Church in downtown Minneapolis.
> I even attended a "worship session" at the church downtown with
> him after he asked me to check it out (I attended church, synagogue,
> "worship", etc. with several friends in high school, mainly out of
> curiosity). I found the Jesus People Church session to be more than
> a little bizarre. There were people "speaking in tongues", "spiritual

I'm always fascinated when people describe non-mainstream religious
practices as bizarre, but don't consider the mainstream practice of eating
the
flesh and drinking the blood of their diety as the ne plus ultra of weird.

[S. Smith]

Oh, I definitely find most organized religions to be a bit bizarre.
I just found the Jesus People Church session I attended to
be *more than a little" bizarre. Of course, I find the whole
"born again" and "evangelical" stuff to be *more than a
little* bizarre.

In general I think all organized religions are bizarre, it's
just a matter of degrees, IMO.

[S. Smith]

Why is it that so many pious religious moralists seem to frequently
be creepy sexual predators as well?

Is it because the psychosis of religion also lends itself to opening
up other mental disorders?

Has anyone ever done a good study of this?

[S. Smith]

On 3 Apr 2006 18:14:59 -0700, "Professor Freshwaters"
<any...@mercgears.com> wrote:

Based on Worre's "Welcome" on their Web site:

"We believe God wants our new church to reach out with love to
the lost, to the hurting, the disconnected"

It sounds like he may be trying to prey (pardon the pun) on the
weak and impressionable again.

[WDS]

S. Smith wrote:
> On 4 Apr 2006 06:07:48 -0700, "WDS" <Bi...@seurer.net> wrote:
>
> >Professor Freshwaters wrote:
> >> Dennis Worre and his new church: http://www.jpfamily.org/
> >>
> >> Do you have any knowledge of what happened with his first church?
> >>
> >> I am considering a visit to his new church. What happened in his old
> >> church?
> >
> >http://www.factnet.org/discus/messages/3/14551.html?1141293271
> >
> >"Years later after the church broke up becuase it was discovered that
> >one of the Senior Co-pastors, Dennis Worre
> >http://www.jpfamily.org/welcome.html had sex with over 15 women -- some
> >missionary wives no less! -- the youth pastor Bob Whitsel was
> >discovered to be committing adultery with 2 girls in his youth ministry
> >on an ongoing basis. The newspaper article said he prefaced each
> >session of sexual intercourse with prayer so as to maintain his
> >authority over these girls. Simultaneously, he would rage against us in
> >his youth ministry if we somehow disobeyed our committment to our
> >responsibilities."
>
>
> Why is it that so many pious religious moralists seem to frequently
> be creepy sexual predators as well?
>
> Is it because the psychosis of religion also lends itself to opening
> up other mental disorders?

No, they are using the position of authority that being a religious
"figure" grants them. They would (and do) use other leadership
ositions, too, but going the religious figure route is easier.

[S. Smith]

More opportunity for impressionable and weak people to prey on?

[Craig A. Finseth]

In article <12352rs...@corp.supernews.com>,
Howard Beale <use...@grasslake.net> wrote:

>"S. Smith" <sc...@sludgereport.org> wrote in message
>news:0ut432h25gidekelu...@4ax.com...

>> Back in high school in the early 80's, I had a friend who became
>> involved with the Jesus People Church in downtown Minneapolis.

...

>I'm always fascinated when people describe non-mainstream religious
>practices as bizarre, but don't consider the mainstream practice of eating
>the
>flesh and drinking the blood of their diety as the ne plus ultra of weird.

Bizarre: (noun) other people's religious practices.

Many (:-)s.

Craig

[Professor Freshwaters]

Radio Station KKMS, AM 980, is currently broadcasting Dennis Worre's
radio program. It's on every week night at 9:30 PM.

Check it out: http://www.kkms.com/programschedule.asp

Is KKMS desparate for programming? KKMS claims to be a christian
station. Why do they have Dennis
Worre on the schedule?

[Professor Freshwaters]

I heard a lot about the JP church about 20 years ago and I even
saw "Scrooge" once. I have relatives who were members and even now
they are in contact with Worre. My relatives want me to visit the
new JP church.

My specific questions are:

Did Dennis ever graduate from a "real" seminary or is "Pastor" a
title that was given to him by whom?

Is Dennis a recovering alchoholic?

How many women did Dennis have sex with while being the pastor at
the JP Church?

Did Dennis ever have sex with missionary's wives?

Did co-pastor Vann die of drug abuse? When?

How many ladies did Whitesel have sex with?

What other items such as lawsuits, etc was JPC involved with?

Anything else I should know about his ministry that would help me in
making a decision?

I need this info so that I can decide about visiting his church.

"Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."

Thank you.

[S. Smith]

On 4 Apr 2006 21:18:52 -0700, "Professor Freshwaters" <any...@mercgears.com> wrote:

>I heard a lot about the JP church about 20 years ago and I even
>saw "Scrooge" once. I have relatives who were members and even now
>they are in contact with Worre. My relatives want me to visit the
>new JP church.
>
>My specific questions are:
>
>Did Dennis ever graduate from a "real" seminary or is "Pastor" a
>title that was given to him by whom?
>
>Is Dennis a recovering alchoholic?
>
>How many women did Dennis have sex with while being the pastor at
>the JP Church?
>
>Did Dennis ever have sex with missionary's wives?
>
>Did co-pastor Vann die of drug abuse? When?
>
>How many ladies did Whitesel have sex with?
>
>What other items such as lawsuits, etc was JPC involved with?

LOL

Is this a church we're talking about here, or a professional ball team? ;-)

- Scott Smith: sc...@sludgereport.org
Book Blog: http://scottsbooks.blogspot.com

[Professor Freshwaters]

> Who are these people that go to JP family center anyway? Why would
anyone go there?

They are Worre Apologists. Seems he can "hook" them. They tell me
that Dennis deserves another chance.

Who are they? This is a small town and some of them are my shirt
tail relatives.

I'm doing a lot of online research about Worre and I will print it
out and lay it on them. Thanks for the help so far. If you know of
any other resources or URL's that could help me compile the history
of this cult then please let me know. Old newspaper clippings and
first hand testimony is the strongest evidence.

I am amazed that Worre, Bill Clinton, and Jim Bakker are walking
around free and clear and that their respective fan clubs are blind,
intentionally blind. These three seem to gain an unreasonable hold
over some people.

Worre is trying to pick up a fresh batch of victims and I would not
like to see that happen.

The truth about Worre and the JPC? Tell me where to find it and I
will make certain that people learn of it.

[LJ]

"Professor Freshwaters" <any...@mercgears.com> wrote in message

news:1144281373.6...@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...

So as I said, bait. You asked a question that you already knew the answer
to in order to start a rant about an abusive minister that you already have
all the information you're ever going to need. Sure that are predatory
pastors that abuse their position just as there are coaches, teachers,
bosses, coaches, politicians and HSA press secreataries. Why don't you do
some research on them or are you just pissed at Dennis because he slept with
your mom

[Professor Freshwaters]

Why don't you do
some research on them or are you just pissed at Dennis because he slept
with
your mom

Reply Rate this post: Text for clearing space

Amazing. How did you know that he slept with my mom? He gave her a
dose of syphilis, too.

[markspr...@gmail.com]

I understand some of the hesitation expressed in this blog, but I also know that it is not our job to judge Dennis Worre. The Word tells us in Luke 6:37, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." I attended the original JPC regularly in downtown Mpls and frankly loved the services. I was heartbroken when it was discovered that Pastor Dennis fell into sin and I also felt that the leadership structure was not proper; that there was not good accountability. After much prayer, I and my family left the church and found another church home. You see, I also believe we are to be discerning in our walk with God. 3 John 1:11 "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God."

[markspr...@gmail.com]

I am in no way endorsing Dennis' new church, but I also will not condemn it as "bait" and that Dennis is still "preying" upon women. You see, I believe God can restore someone back to their position. In the old testament David fell into sin to the point of placing the woman's husband in a bad place to be killed so he could have her. God brought David to repentance and restored him to a place of honor. Are we such cynics that we do not think God could restore Dennis. If God held any of us to a golden standard, none of us would ever see Heaven because only Jesus was and is worthy. But God in His mercy heals us of the stain of sin, past, present and to come. Can we do anything less. Yes, be discerning, but you can't be discerning if you are not open to the fact that he has been fully restored by God.

[Lutsen Lumberjack]

Dianetics is already well-established here following the disbanding of Jesus People. Jesus People would be up against a wall and most likely unable to re-establish itself, because

Dianetics is based on an old muscle-building formula often shown in commercials starring Verne Gagne.

[Lutsen Lumberjack]

On Sunday, April 2, 2006 7:19:36 PM UTC-5, Professor Freshwaters wrote:

Congragts. Your post brought out several jackasses I wasn't aware even follow this newsgroup anymore.

[Lutsen Lumberjack]

Hey, wait, I take that back -- those earlier post were from 2006!

[mkmfrom...@gmail.com]

I would like someone to respond to my reply to this. I was a part of the construction of this Jesus People Church, I along with a lot of other teens. I offered to help get the church ready for its FIRST service there as they re renovated the theater there downtown Mpls. My therapist and I have been working with some memories I have when I attended the church after it's renovation. When the theater was restored for the new church it was an enormous job but it was really something to see when it was finished and church started. I remember Dennis Worre, he and his office gals were quite ON FIRE to get on with the service. They had alter calls too. Yes they spoke in tongues and Dennis who was NOT an ordained minister at the time made it clear to all, IF YOU SPEAK IN TONGUES AND ARE LED TO DO SO THERE MUST BE AN INTERPRETER PRESENT TO SPEAK FOLLOWING THE LANGUAGE OF TONGUES. There was also a fella by the name of Bud VanLoon that I mentored with. He was MORE socialble than Dennis, Dennis was INTO the "Stage" if you will. Appearances. Spot Light. ON him. He loved the recognition. Bud was VERY sociable and personable, you could relate to Bud. I also wondered what happen to Bud. He did an exorcism on me one time and nearly killed me in the process. He had his hand on my throat, squeezing it, I told him I could not breath or swallow and he insisted that it was a demon trying to cut off my air and started excorsizing it more intensely and I thought I was gonna die from suffocation right then and there, so in panic I turned my head and frantically tried to get Bud's attention and then in a split second he realized what he was doing. Immediately he jerked his hand off my neck apologized saying, I thought it was a demon, I almost killed you. Needless to say his hand left an imprint on my throat. I gagged a lot to get air and we got up off the floor and went on from there. That was my experience at Jesus People Church. I do not know or remember if there was any sexual abuse going on there, I know I have been trying to remember my abuse from back there during that time. IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPEN TO BUD VANLOON I WOULD SURELY LIKE TO KNOW. IF I THOUGHT I COULD GET CONNECTED WITH DENNIS I WOULD TALK TO HIM ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE mkmfrom...@gmail.com MaryKay

[mkmfrom...@gmail.com]

I went there and I want to know what happened to Bud Van Loon mkmfrom...@gmail.com MaryKay

[Bert]

In news:8ba8f75c-64ca-485f...@googlegroups.com

mkmfrom...@gmail.com wrote:

> On Monday, April 3, 2006 at 12:33:35 PM UTC-5, Spartakus wrote:

>> ...

>
> I would like someone to respond to my reply to this.

You're a little late.

What is it with all these googlegroupers replying to decades-old posts?

--
be...@iphouse.com St. Paul, MN

[scherr...@gmail.com]

On Sunday, April 2, 2006 at 7:19:36 PM UTC-5, Professor Freshwaters wrote:
> I discovered that Dennis Worre, the one-time pastor of the Jesus People
> Church is trying
> to get the church going again.
>
> Can you recommend Dennis and this church from your own experience?
>

> Thanks,
>
> Professor

we went to jp church for 2 yrs before moving to kansas most loving people must spirt filled people weve been with started at melodyland christian in calif jp was like or old home but new we were always blessed by pastor worres words a beautiful place. will visit when in minn again

[mktr...@gmail.com]

I went to this church back when it was first organized in the 70's, and on 24 th and Nicollet and visited it at the State Theatre, and I experienced a great spiritual awakening in my life, that brought me closer to God, and I'm thankful to this day for the leadership of the church and the way God moved in their midst. I grew up not knowing what it was to Praise the Lord and my spirit was opened to experience in a new way what the fullness of what God had for us, and my life has truly been changed by the experience.
Now if you who are looking for answers to the power of God and what it is to walk with Him and want to experience a more full Spiritual Life, maybe you should lift up your hands that hang down and find out for yourselves the power of Praising God and see for yourselves what God can do in your life.
We can all point fingers and say things, that's the way the world wants us to be, but God forgives and restores our lives, He accepts us for who we are and where we are and loves us in spite of it. He loves us so much that He won't let us stay the way we are, He wants to be a part of your life.
God sent His Son not to condemn the world but that we might all be saved. If we fail He is always their to help us find our way back to Him, He never turns His back, Never!
We could all stand in judgement, but it is not our job, Not our Job! God raises up each one of us who is willing to turn to Him, even if at some point we have failed in our lives. We need to realize that God gives second chances, and many more to the truly repentant heart. For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
Yes you should go to this church and see for yourself what God had done and witness with your own eyes, and let God transform your life. God can and will Bless you to and change your life. You are just a prayer away, and you'll never be the same when you truly come to know Him.
Give God a try, you don't know what you are missing.

[bpnt...@gmail.com]

Lol. I was in this church when it was at 24 and niccollet, then dwtn. Roger and Dennis were senior pastors. I Remember Whitsel and Hesed. Haha so you know I'm legit.

I'm pretty sure Whitsell never touched my sister. I found him like eight years later in Shorewood.
Dude always seemed cool to me, I never heard nothing bad.

They had these Sunday school classrooms. Along sixth street I think. Shinders on the corner. Video games were just coming out. The ids center had the alien exhibit on the observation deck. Hey it was a pretty cool church to sneak out of and walk around Dayton's. Except when I saw middle school vice principal there when I was supposed to be in church.

There was a cool fire escape on the north side of the state theater. I saw the underground parking under the stage once. Very cool.
Kq had the heavy metal hour then.

So I hope you have enjoyed this trip. Thanks Mr ousterhous .spelling. Thx duffs bar. Lol

[swartz...@gmail.com]

Absolutely Dennis Worre is a Fantastic pastor. When I lived in Minnesota back in the 70s Roger vann and Dennis Worre were Great Spiritual Leaders and would be a mistake to pass on this oppurtunity. Dennis Thank you for all the Wonderful years of service. In the past. My Name is Jeffrey Swartz I was involved in Fishnet Fellowship back then. But even as a teenager. I enjoyed both above Mentiined men of God!

[bigeng...@gmail.com]

What happened to Roger Vann?

[concerne...@gmail.com]

Roger, it had been reported backslid and went back to worldly adventures, He was cared for by an acquaintance due to bad living and died in late 1990s

[gregor...@gmail.com]

Did Jesus graduate from a real seminary? There may be issues of importance but that is not one of them.

[kimel...@gmail.com]

Dennis was an alchoholic before being born again and accepting Jesus Christ into his life.

He did not graduate from a seminary. His ministry with Roger Vann started as a grassroots bible study in an apartment and grew. They bought a house which housed men and continued the bible studies and worship. Then they bought a second house to house women as most coming to committing their life to God were young people off of the streets who had no healthy environment to live in. After these groups grew, they bought one church and it became too small, a second church and it also became too small, and finally the State Theater.

I don't know how many women Dennis was involved with. But remember David in the Old testament who was the apple of God's eye. He accomplished great things for Israel in God's name, but he also committed adultery and murder and had a dysfunctional relationship with some of his sons who wanted to kill him.

Roger Vann died. He relapsed into opiod addiction after being prescribed codiene for a bout of pneumonia to quiet the coughing associated with the sickness. His life spiralled out of control and he was asked to leave Jesus People Church. He started another church but could not maintain the duties of a pastor as the addictiom became stronger. His home was put in foreclosure, his wife left him, and he was on his own. One day, very ill, he found himself at the doorstep of MN Teen Challenge. He knew the Pastor there and asked to be taken in. For the next few months he lived a quiet, drug free life, but his health quickly deteriorated due to the abuse of the last few years. He passed away in a state of Grace in Feb 2000.

I would say pray on going to the new Jesus People Church. God will let you know if this is the christian community for you. No one will ever find a perfect community. But I know when I attended the original Jesus People Church, even with all the sin and corruption going on, I grew ALOT spiritually and enjoyed the worship sessions.

[judith...@gmail.com]

My ex husband and I were involved in the Drama Ministry at Jesus People Church between 1980 to 1983. We worked as Tech Director (Patrick Ellis)and Costume and Make-up
Designer (me, Judith Ellis, now Nebel Ellis). We did “The TwinCities Passion Play”, including a show at the prison in Stillwater, and “The Gospel According to Scrooge” one show was filmed for TV and starred a popular Christian Hollywood actor, DEAN JONES, as Scrooge. We had to go to Bible studies for the Directors and Crew. It was a reputable theater group and I enjoyed most of the Church Services. My husband was overly eager to please Dennis Worre and the staff. I felt something was off, but didn’t know what. I felt sort of like an outsider. Later, we went to CAMPUS CHURCH, which was supported by its businesses, such as “THE GARDEN COURT RESTAURANT” and “FISH INDUSTRIES”, which made Christian plaques. The U of Mn students who made up the bulk of the Church, worked in one of the businesses and many lived in a residence the Church had. Once again, Patrick and I organized a Christian Theatre Group that laid the groundwork for a Dinner Theatre. We actually only produced one play, Eugene O’Neill’s “ALONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT.” It was a miracle to pull it off. The pastor and the staff were divided on some key issues. We left.

That church ended up having trouble with the pastor, but not of a sexual nature. The pastor and his Dentist wife left for France. Fish Industries ended in Minneapolis, but continued to flourish overseas in the UK and France.

[lindy frank]

On Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 8:23:10 AM UTC-6, concerne...@gmail.com wrote:
> Roger, it had been reported backslid and went back to worldly adventures, He was cared for by an acquaintance due to bad living and died in late 1990s

But Roger died from prescription drug overdose.