Anger over ’stealth evangelism’

Arise lured young people through ‘‘insidious’’ offers of free food and giveaways, Josh Barley said.

American Christian preacher Reggie Dabbs has angered parents again, with a motivational speech at Kapiti College being slammed by some as evangelism by stealth.

Dabbs spoke to about 280 year 9 and 10 pupils on Thursday as part of a tour of Wellington secondary schools including Wellington College and Rongotai College.

At the end of his speech, flyers advertising Arise Church’s Impact convention at Wellington’s Opera House on Friday night were made available, which sparked an uproar on a Raumati community Facebook page.

One parent voiced her concerns on the heated thread saying the flyers were ‘‘inappropriate’’ and that Dabbs’ speech was delivered with ‘‘a side of church’’.

Arise is a pentecostal church and registered charity that receives millions in donations from its followers every year.

Kapiti College principal Tony Kane said Dabbs’ speech was motivational, and he was given ‘‘absolute restrictions’’ not to preach.

Kane said he was ‘‘not uncomfortable’’ with the flyers.

‘‘I understand that people could see it as stealth evangelism, and I think if the words Arise Church were not on the flyer, that would be completely fair comment."

In a statement on the Facebook thread Kane said the issue was a difficult ethical question for schools, but young people might be more sophisticated in matters of theology than they were given credit for.

‘‘So I guess to answer the question: should we allow a religious group to preach their views to a captive audience in schools? Absolutely not,’’ Kane said.

‘‘Should we allow someone who happens to be Christian to give a worthwhile presentation in schools?

‘‘There are a variety of views in the thread, but I am struggling to see the harm.’’

Arise Church was contacted for comment.

In May, Dabbs was criticised for delivering motivational speeches at Victorian state schools, incensing parents who said his presentation was deceptive and went against the ideals of a secular education.

Former Arise member Josh Barley, now 30, left the church and the Christian faith when he was 23.

He said Arise had a sinister agenda, which was to see ‘‘a nation won for Jesus’’.

In his talks, Dabbs speaks of a

ARISE CHURCH

2015 FINANCIAL REPORT BREAKDOWN $8,176,082 total income (88 per cent from donations) $2,683,723 (35 per cent) is spent on wages and salaries for 47 permanent and 21 temporary employees $2,365,180 (30 per cent) of expenditure goes on ‘‘cost of service provision" $2,187,169 (28 per cent) of expenditure is labelled ‘‘other expenditure" 0 grantswere given this year tough upbringing with his prostitute mother, as well as being adopted and being bullied.

While Dabbs’ message was genuine and promoted common human values, the preacher walked a fine line between inspiration and evangelism, Barley said.

Arise lured young people through ‘‘insidious’’ offers of free food and giveaways, he said.

Its big evangelical conferences, like the Opera House gig, often preyed on ‘‘emotionally vulnerable’’ young people. .

Lisa Rodgers, Ministry of Education’s head of early learning and student achievement, said Kane had done the right thing putting restrictions on Dabbs.

‘‘It’s unfortunate if the speaker took advantage of the situation by distributing flyers for his Church,’’ she said.

Teaching in state schools was required to be secular but Boards of Trustees can close a class or the school for up to 20 hours a year to offer religious instruction for students to participate in on a voluntary basis.

Any religious instruction programme must be delivered by volunteers.

No student should be made to attend if their parents have asked for them to be released from the class, she said.