His blood alcohol level was .206, he was a visitor in Australia and he was going 110 kmh in a 50km zone. (for our US friends that is 68 mph in a 30 mph zone) Correction: That was a sloppy mistake on my part, police were not summoned until he crashed, so his speed was not part of the case against him. The 110k clocked was how far he drove drunk. - BD
Jason Hooper, a neo-charismatic evangelist touring with a Hillsong guy in Australia, got off scott-free when he appeared before a judge. The maximum sentence 18 months in jail and a maximum fine of $3300. Hooper lost the right to drive in Australia for three years. New The sentence was described as a joke. The judge let Hooper off saying Hooper, recently part of Rick Joyners Morningstar Ministries was a “person of good character” under a lot of ‘ministerial pressure.”
The dad of three, who recorded a blood alcohol reading of .206, had clocked 110km, despite Macksville only being 50km from Kempsey.
A sheepish Hooper begged the court for mercy, saying he didn’t normally drink and would seek counselling on his return to the US.
“I have spent the last week wrestling night and day with how I could have made such an error in judgment,” said Hooper, whose conviction placed the rest of his NSW tour in jeopardy.He travels the globe as an evangelist, recently appearing as guest preacher in several ministries in NSW.
Pleading guilty, Hooper said it was out of character for him and he had prayed for forgiveness.
What he is is a good actor. He was doing double shots of scotch before climbing into the car and driving drunk. Hooper, who is from South Carolina, burst into tears when the judge handed down the driving ban. New South Wales has a zero blood alcohol limit for drivers with an overseas licence.
He blew .206. That is tanked, that is 3 hours of bending his elbow, and I think it’s quite a stretch to believe it’s out of character. People of good character don’t get behind a wheel when they’ve been drinking. He said he’d pay damages for the rental car and the car he hit. If he is under financial pressure, where is the money for significant car repairs coming from? He wasn’t shipped back to the US, he gets to finish his preaching tour with Pour It Out. Yeah, he should have just poured it out. I have no patience with drinking and driving, if Hooper has an alcohol problem I hope he gets into a reputable rehab. Restoration by Rick Joyner won’t cut it. Fortunately passenger Ben Hughes escaped without injury.*
There are no favourable comments at The Daily Telegraph, and this just hit Fox News Atlanta a few hours ago. James warned against becoming a teacher in the New Testament because ” Not many of you should presume to be teachers my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1. While an Australian court has shown leniency, the court of public opinion is not.
The crash occurred June 19th. This is where Hooper was scheduled to preach in Coffs Harbour. Part of Hoopers preaching tour was billed “Your Kingdom Come.” It very nearly did – drinking and driving can hasten an event like that.
Hooper must be having financial trouble – his website for his revivalist ministry has been suspended. (see update – BD)
Hooper took the offering for one of Todd Bentleys webinars in 2009, and seems to have partnered with him in some fashion at Morningstar for other events. He was billed with Bentley the first of June for “The Greater Glory Gathering” in Virginia Beach.
via: Group Sects
* A commenter points out that Ben Hughes was not in the car. The statement is “… the association between Mr Hughes and Mr Hopper was terminated after their first meeting together. There are no plans for future meetings with Mr Hooper.”
Update: Hoopers website is back up, it appears to have undergone an upgrade and is not fully functioning. There is no mention or discussion of his arrest and conviction on his website, Facebook or Twitter account.
I have no doubt it will be business as usual; its quite miraculous how jesus manages to hide or assimilate into biblical language these little evangelistic detours! Where was Rick when Jason was worried about being broke etc., didn’t Jason have anyone to pour his heart out to in his hour of need, speaks volumes if you ask me
Concerning July 6, 2011 at 10:01 entry, Jason Hooper is now off Jeff Jansen’s calendar. However, this video is still firing away out there. So, will Jason Hooper be there or not?
http:www.frequency.com/video/healing-in-america-tour-with-jeff-jansen/10707994
Concerning July 6, 2011 at 9:29am entry, Jason Hooper is now off the ignitedchurch.com calendar of events for first week of August 2011.
For a team of ministry leaders, who are very public with there events, it appears they are trying to put some fires out under the radar.
Or he has a scheduling conflict with rehab…
True. I would venture to say, with his mindset, he would choose a posh rehab. That would be costly, and that’s where he has issues. Those pressure issues about money that caused him to drink, along with his deadlines. Since he has not been ordered to attend rehab, he would have to admit himself. That would be interesting, indeed.
Won’t find this on his website
http://fatherlovesjacksonville.com/news
Guess rehab was a wrong guess:^)
It’s a good guess. He does appear to have conflicts with his scheduling. There is nothing distinct and clear about his message now:^)
American society has been re-defined to treat 2.5% atheists, 2% LGBT as the new normal.
Most atheists and gays have one thing in common: they believe Christians are against them.
ALLIANCE OF GAYS AND ATHEISTS
A highly visible alliance of lesbians/gays, and Atheists is emerging.
Richard Dawkins announced the Atheist OUT Campaign in 2007: “Being an atheist is like being gay”.
Dawkins’ outright association of ‘atheist’ with gay didn’t catch on with the atheist demographic, since being atheist has nothing to do with their sexuality. But the promotion of an alliance based on a mutual resentment of Christianity has proliferated through several sources.
Those who sin, rebuke so that the rest may fear.
http://bible.cc/1_timothy/5-20.htm
When this doesn’t happen, sin is winked at.
Good input, Brano.
What a shame it is that both gays and athiests cannot simply come to Jesus without some of the Church pointing the finger of condemnation.
We were not given a ministry of condemnation, but rather, of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5: 18).
Ronald,
Atheists commonly aren’t in quest of an approach to Jesus. But I do extend my appreciation for your suggestion, and I perceive you are a rare Christian indeed.
Scores of atheists have spent a lifetime in evangelical Christianity. We are on familiar terms with the interior thinking of the faith, the implicit bigotry towards atheist and LGBT communities, and the hostility to change. We have been a part of that belief system. Probably helps augment the “leak” of a million churchgoers annually in the USA into the lines of agnostic/atheists. Your religion is leaking it’s lifeblood, and is destined to wither and die.
As for believing that Christians are in opposition to gays and atheists – whatever would bring someone to that deduction? Everyone knows how much atheists and gays are loved by Christians. Can’t you feel it oozing out of them?
Atheists don’t care if you worship ants or gods. You may believe any myth or superstition you can conjure – and it’s perfectly fine with us. We simply don’t find enough evidence to support the existence of any of the thousands of gods, including your god, so please forgive us for not joining you.
But what isn’t fine is when your beliefs become mandatory, or your values entitle you to special privileges or benefits, or when your cult is given preferential treatment when it come to the collection of taxes, or when your principles are taught in the public schools, or when you stand in the way of scientific progress.
please do not say anything mean about him that is my uncle and him wife Tina Hooper is my aunt
christina:
I don’t know if I can appreciate your uncle’s actions being so public. That is his choice and it has to be difficult for you and your aunt.
I hope Jason is getting the help he needs.
On a few visits to Morningstar Ministries, during the service my husband came over to me and said there were some guys following him. He started walking all around the building and told me they followed him. On another visit I had a young girl run up to me and blurt out that I have a dancing ministry. She insisted I was a dancer. I did not know what to say. I’ve never had dance lessons. I had a young boy tell me he saw me with red shoes on like Dorthy in The Wizzard of OZ. One of the most difficult things I saw and heard at Morningstar, was when an adult came on the platform and said things not appropriate for little ears to hear. There were small children present in that worship area, who did not need to hear this type of adult issue. My husband spent an entire day with a young man who slept in a tent at Morningstar. Had very little money for food. He could not wait to get home to his family. He told my husband it was not what he thought it would be. Those things bothered me and they still do.
Thanks Susan – you might want to read the experience of a MorningStar walkaway at DeceptionBytes
I’m a relatively young person who has spent years involved as a volunteer with various ministries. It’s not a resume but I’ve served many different groups of people that thinking of them humbles me – I’ve worked with homeless folks, celebrity millionaire families, men in prison, toddlers and youth at evangelical churches, the elderly, the churched, the unchurched, academics, and addicts… Lately, I have been involved with with a non-profit health clinic, a home-care program for disabled adults, an after school ministry for handicapped kids, a church youth group, assisting with a Bible study and apologetics ministry in our county jail, and reaching out to our city’s homeless men, particularly by supporting one friend who left that life and started college this Fall. Jesus does those good things when I recede into Him.
I have learned so much about depravity, the hope that Jesus offers us, what a daily walk in the Spirit looks like, the power of His Word, the truth of Scripture, and so much more. The main thing I’ve learned is that I know relatively nothing of it all and a humble life is what I am called to.
I have this problem. I am still a fool and a sinner. I have not a mere tendency to do what is wrong. I have an impulsion towards it and an arrogance about it when left unchecked.
Several months ago, I was celebrating a friends marriage and I drank to the point of inebriation. Alcohol has been a rare part of my life but I did something wrong, as I am prone to do. I got in my car and drove. It was late and I drove widely around a turn. An officer stopped me, arrested me, and I was let go. It is a first for me.
I have plead no-contest and entered into a diversion program. I’ve owned what I did. I have repented. I have completed my alcohol-education class. I didn’t drink before and I understand that I can guarantee this nightmare will never happen again if I resolve to remove alcohol from my life completely. I’ve done that and it has been tested several times as it will be the rest of my life. It’s not a major battle for me though. It’s not my thing and it’s rare in my family, church, and local culture. Plus, I never enjoyed it that much and it’s expensive. Yeah, Jesus drank wine but his water wasn’t chlorinated. There will be a time, when I let my attorney know it’s right, where I won’t be able to drive for about a month and a half.
Anyway, I’ve been in preparation for years to work for a missions organization. My first job is not long-term but the last year has been spent building a base of support and more recently, in fundraising. When I was arrested 4 months ago and I was so humbled spiritually, it derailed my mind and body too. Fundraising has been a war, inside my head, in my behavior, and before my loved ones. I know I shouldn’t hide that I am a sinner. I have such a clear example of it and in that, there is a testimony to what the Lord can do with the Gospel. I have broken. I’m nothing but His. That is the discipline I train in.
My whole adult life, I have volunteered and worked without concern for affluence. I have no cash pile to float by on and be unemployed. I even live in a family’s basement because I’m in ministry.
My pride and fear belong only to the Lord and my peace is found only by resting in His Spirit and Word. I am blameless through Christ. I do not live my life, Jesus does. Yet, my corrupted, frail vessel continuously grows. I’m forever young before our Father.
Is being a homeless, indebted, depressed pariah with hundreds (a couple thousand, honestly) of relational bridges burned behind me where I am being called? Am I being responsible in handling my matter privately or am I being deceptive? Am I Hawthorne’s Hester Prynne and is this my scarlet letter? Was Hawthorne the best theologian? I am clean before my Judge but must I invite more judgement from other sinners to be right? Paul never outlined all of his sinfulness while he preached the Messiah in spite of it. What is the mandate here?
I’m curious if the church would support such a person as me to serve in overseas missions, local missions, ministry, or even employment… I’m curious if anyone here thinks I should take a donor’s money, rent a billboard, and write my sins on it like I’ve considered. Does anyone here have insight, wisdom, a lesson, or a stone to throw me?
Hi Bill:
Welcome to the human race…”does anyone here have insight, wisdom, a lesson or a stone…”
No stones.
This guy knows stones, lessons and is gaining insight and wisdom.
The Fallen Pastor
Go under the mercy.
hi its me again i appreciate all the advice that has been given towards my uncle Jason and i want to let you know he is fine now and is living with his 3 boys and his wife
-thank you
Hi christina:
I’m glad your uncle is home and doing okay. I hope he is able to stay sober, work on his addiction and keep balance in his life. Thanks for the update.
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