Tag Archives: pastor

Seminary Graduation

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Seminary (M.Div. Homiletics) is finished “with distinction” and fully paid for… only in Christ.

PRAISE THE LORD!

(See diploma and backstory below.)

Some have abandoned me when needed most. I thank the Lord for those of you who have not jumped to conclusions, but instead have unconditionally loved and supported (2 Cor 6:3-10). Thank you!

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:1-2

The Backstory:

In 2000, I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a dual major Bachelor’s degree in Business and Political Science. In my past life, my grades were less than stellar.

While climbing the corporate ladder at PNC Bank for nearly 15 years, the Lord brought me to repentance and called me to the ministry.

Repeatedly reprimanded for evangelizing the workplace and refusing to support the LGBTQ agenda under the banner of “Diversity & Inclusion,” it was impossible to remain faithful to the Lord while also pleasing PNC. The Lord led to Cambodia.

Initially rejected from seminary, treated as inferior by many pastors and ultimately my wife, I delayed. Much like the bank, it has been impossible to remain faithful to the Lord while also maintaining the approval of the church.

Interestingly, the Lord used the pressure of these trials to strengthen and provoke me to action…

For the past two years, I have been studying online from Cambodia in Liberty University’s John W. Rawlings School of Divinity.

In December 2022, I graduated “with distinction” (GPA 3.93) with a Masters of Divinity in Homiletics (Preaching).

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:3-5

Lesson Learned: No matter what happens, Fight Forward to please God, not people.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Any of us could die at any moment. Click Here to find out how you can know enduring peace, God’s purpose for your life and be sure you will go to heaven when your brief time on earth is up.

Interview: Rick & Carole Karchner, Parents of a Gay Prodigal – Overcomers Overcoming Podcast

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Parents of a Gay Prodigal: How Rick & Carole Karchner (Dad & Mom) Handled my “Coming out”.

Click below to listen to the podcast (35 mins):

Rick & Carole (Dad & Mom)’s First Podcast, 2021

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:9-11

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Tim 4:3-5

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Praise the Lord!

Ex-Gay Testimony Dramatically Retold

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Thanks to #Unshackled for revising (some details changed) & acting out my #ExGay #Testimony as a dramatic story for radio.

Click the following link to listen (30 mins) – https://unshackled.org/program/matthew-karchner-pg/

Praise the Lord!

Moved to support our ministry? Please click here.

Respect & Authority

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Coming into the church broken has not been easy. But going against the Bible’s warnings can incur judgment and delay our growth. The purpose of this video is to share lessons I have learned the hard way to spare you the pain of making the same mistakes:

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” 1 Peter 4:19

1) Respect your elders.
Tough… popular culture says no. The Word of God says Yes.

“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”
1 Timothy 5:1

2) Submit to authority.

Don’t touch (rebuke) the Lord’s anointed (1 Chronicles 16:22).

Advice to my younger self: Do not sign on to work within a ministry or organization unless you are aligned with the leadership and willing to follow the rules. If you sign on and later realize it was not what you expected, follow the rules as best you can until you are able to move on. Respectfully asking questions is ok.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
Hebrews 13:17

3) Don’t judge.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:1-3

4) Don’t envy. (compare yourself to others)

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21

5) Trust the sovereignty of God.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

6) The Lord will avenge.

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Romans 12:19

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:19-21

7) Forgive. It’s in your best interest.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15

The Lord chastises those He loves. If you have erred similarly, apologize, repent (Matthew 5:24- first make it right with the person, then with the Lord) and move on.

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.”
Hebrews 12:6