My name is Stephen L. Salaun Jr. I used to post to these boards a few years ago, I believe, under the user name, RevSteve 48, or was it 46? The following is something I posted in 2004:

First of all, let me start out by saying where I am NOW. For the last 2-3 months, I have just RETURNED to NTCC (New Testament Christian Churches Of America, Inc.), after an approximately 3-year long absence. All I can say, it is GOOD to be HOME again. My first time back in the church in Augusta, Ga. & Rev. & Sis.Olson just happened to be there on a visit to the Pastor, Rev. King. Rev. Olson warmly embraced me, said it was good to see me again, and told me the church had been praying for me.

Now, let me backtrack a few months. On Jan. 17 of this year, I was in an auto accident. I was thrown into the back seat, had 4 ribs broken, a broken left scapula shoulder bone, a broken pelvic bone, & a ruptured aorta. During the operation on me, a coma was induced to speed my healing. A week or so after that, my gall bladder got infected & had to be removed. I still have a loooooong scar running from below my navel to my chest from that.

When I woke up from the induced coma, I had no memory of the accident. I had to be told the details of the accident from my Mom. I learned that HUNDREDS of people from a Yahoo chat room I had started, Born Again Christian had been praying for me. I ALSO learned that Bro. Watson had been notified of my accident, he in turn told Pastor Davis. Pastor Davis announced it in the church in Graham, or a conference on Phoenix, or both, and asked prayer for me.

Let me say ALSO, that during the 3 years I was away from NTCC, I saw nothing but a MESS! I saw Charismatic churches that only sang Praise & Worship choruses. I saw MANY people with only a shallow-appearing love for God & the brethren. Yes, I saw a FEW that appeared to have the GENUINE love of God, but not very many. When I heard about Rev. Davis asking the church to pray for me, I realized I needed to go back HOME. Just like the Prodigal Son! Am I ever glad that I did. When I was out there in the church world, I was STARVING spiritually! Now it is like I have a FEAST for my soul. I fellowship with Bro. & Sis.Cantrell & their son Neil, with Bro. Bentley & Pastor Mayers, in the NTCC church in Tucker, Ga., near Atlanta.

In August, I will be going to my FIRST conference since Fall, 2000. I have NOTHING but LOVE & RESPECT for Rev. Olson, Rev. Davis, Rev. Kekel, Rev. Johnson all the OTHER leaders & their wives. I have been saved for 21 years now, and known them for almost as long. NEVER have I EVER seen ANYTHING but the love, comp***ion & mercy of God shown by these men.

Are there rules? Yes, there are, but they are PRIMARILY for the Bible School students, staff & ministers in the church. Any denomination that does not have RULES, is, by definition, CHAOTIC! That is not God's will. Yes, we have an Executive Board that meets to consider sending out or recalling ministers, new by-laws, etc. But they are a Board that is led by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Well, what about the members who do not wish to conform to Holiness standards? That is, ultimately, between them & God, if they are not attending Bible College, or at the Conference & Campground in Central Missouri. NO ONE has EVER. to my knowledge, been kicked out of the church for failing to live by Holiness standards. Yes, Ministers & their wives have been disfellowshipped for such, but that is because they are bringing reproach to the ministry, IF they live in open rebellion against rules.

Ultimately, if a church member wishes to rebel against our standards,, and they believe the Holy Spirit is leading them to do so, they are welcome to try. The Judgment Seat of Christ will ultimately tell who is right who is wrong. But I would not want to bet my SOUL, that rebellion is all right.