I'm building Gundams in America

Chapter 149 Who is the child and who is the father? (Seeking monthly votes)

The Church of the Witness in South Seattle.

The church doors had just opened when a man in a long robe, with black hair and black eyes, sat in the front row, resting with his eyes closed.

At his feet was a small dog, wagging its tail incessantly.

"Hey sir, you can't bring your dog in here. This is a temple of God!"

A church deacon in his thirties strode over, stopped beside the man, yawned, and frowned as he spoke.

He had just gotten up and had never seen anyone come to the church so early before.

Especially non-denominational churches like theirs.

Protestant evangelical churches are mainly divided into two types: denominational churches and non-denominational churches.

Evangelical denominations generally have a unified denominational system, doctrinal tradition, and management structure. Common examples include Baptists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, and Seventh-day Adventists.

These sectarian churches all have a unified declaration of faith, hierarchical management, relatively fixed doctrines, and shared resources.

Non-denominational churches, on the other hand, are not affiliated with any denomination. They elect their own pastors, manage their own finances, and set their own bylaws. They regard the scriptures as the highest authority and are not bound by any particular denominational doctrine, making them more flexible and free.

Most non-denominational groups only emphasize the basic tenets of evangelicalism: the Trinity, justification by faith, the inerrancy of scripture, and being born again and saved.

To put it simply, sectarianism and non-sectarianism are like the difference between chain stores and independent stores.

However, everyone uses the same recipe book, with only minor adjustments to the flavor.

The South District Gospel Witness Church is a non-denominational church.

"Hey sir, I'm talking to you! I'm calling security!"

The church deacon looked Wayne up and down and found that he was dressed plainly, even had a stubble beard, and did not have any fancy attire, so he was obviously not a rich man.

He looks more like a homeless person.

Such a person only defiles the Lord's temple, especially since he brought a hunting dog with him.

This is the greatest blasphemy.

When will these people abandoned by God be able to have some self-respect and understand that they have no right to enter God's temple?

The church deacon frowned, about to call security, when the man in front of him said in a deep voice, "Anthony, go and call Pastor Martin."

When the other party called out his name accurately, Deacon Anthony felt a chill run down his spine. Did the other party know him?

But what surged up in his heart next was anger.

Since this homeless man knows me, how dare I enter the temple of God?

They even dared to call Pastor Martin by his first name, and even wanted to wake the esteemed pastor from his sacred slumber so that he would condescend to see this vagrant.

It's simply a horror of slipping the world!

Anthony took a deep breath, about to angrily rebuke the other person and call for security: "Sir—"

The man in front of them took out a stack of US dollars, placed them on the table, and slowly said, "I want to donate ten thousand US dollars to the Church of the Witness for the Gospel."

Anthony's initial anger vanished instantly; all his angry words were swallowed back down. His anger transformed into gratitude, and he said, "Oh, sir, you are truly a generous and devout believer! I think you have a heart of gold!"

"Please wait a moment, I'll go and invite Pastor Martin over right now!"

"By the way, your dog seems a little thirsty. Our church has always treated all life equally, and there is a special pet area on the west side where you can let your dog rest."

With that, he turned and left in a hurry.

As a Protestant evangelical church deacon, he understood all too well who the core members of the church were.

Only financial backers are truly essential.

As a city brimming with bourgeois charm, Seattle has never lacked wealthy people with eccentric hobbies.

He admitted that he had misjudged the situation.

The man's demeanor and the ten thousand dollars he pulled out without batting an eye clearly indicated that he was a truly wealthy person.

A new donor who has not yet been accepted by the church.

The initial investment of $10,000 implies that there will definitely be more revenue to come.

Soon, Deacon Anthony arrived at the lounge at the back of the church and quickly knocked on the door.

"Pastor Martin, Pastor Martin!"

After a while, the door to the lounge was opened, revealing a middle-aged blond man in pajamas who reeked of alcohol.

It was Martin, the head pastor of the Church of the Gospel Witness.

He has a big house in the wealthy area, but he drank too much last night for some reason, so instead of driving home to find his wife and children, he slept in the church lounge.

Hearing Anthony's shout, he frowned and said, "Why are you so panicked, Deacon Anthony? This is a church. Under the Lord's watchful eye, you should remain calm."

Anthony took a deep breath and quickly said, "Reverend Martin, donations! Someone has donated ten thousand dollars, in one lump sum, in cash!"

The drunkenness and anger in Pastor Martin's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by perfect clarity. He quickly said, "Why didn't you tell me this sooner? Give me a minute."

As he spoke, he closed the door to the lounge, from which came a commotion.

Soon, the door to the lounge opened again, and Reverend Martin had changed into a well-fitting dark suit, sprayed on cologne, combed his hair, and was holding a gold-embossed scripture in his hand.

His entire face was imbued with an aura of holiness.

Deacon Anthony walked briskly ahead, while Pastor Martin strolled slowly, trying to project a holy aura.

As an ordinary Protestant evangelical church in the South Side of Seattle, Martin's congregation does include some wealthy individuals.

Not to mention, Protestant evangelicals also support tithes, although it is not strictly enforced and depends entirely on personal will, but there are some devout believers who do strictly adhere to tithes.

However, a single donation of ten thousand US dollars, especially in cash, is almost unheard of.

Only wealthy people with eccentric temperaments would donate so much at once.

This is a big fish; he must hold on tight.

Soon, Pastor Martin arrived in front of the black-haired, black-eyed man.

What angered him was that the man was so arrogant that he didn't even get up after seeing him, the pastor, appear.

But thinking that his goal was to conquer the other person's soul and demonstrate God's love, Pastor Martin tolerated it.

Once you've completely tamed this person, you must make them kneel on the ground, crying and repenting to you.

At this moment, Deacon Anthony quickly introduced the man before him: "Sir, hello, this is Pastor Martin from our South District Gospel Witness Church. Pastor Martin has always dedicated himself entirely to the church—"

"He didn't even go home last night; instead, he spent the entire night in church praying for the souls of those who perished in the floods. But when he heard you requested an audience, the pastor came immediately without hesitation."

As he spoke, Deacon Anthony's face showed compassion, he raised his hand to make the sign of the cross, and murmured Amen.

Reverend Martin was secretly pleased and very satisfied with Deacon Anthony's reaction.

He had to present an image of utmost piety in front of others, especially in his first impression of this man.

Martin had already seen the stack of US dollars and was even more eager for it.

This $10,000 came at just the right time; it could be for his new car tires or a Christmas gift for his sweetheart.

Of course, it's all for the purpose of serving God.

Seeing that the man before him remained silent, Pastor Martin, with a look of pity on his face, began, "My child—"

But the man before him spoke at the same time, his deep, husky voice magnetic: "Martin, my son, did you have a good time with Lucy last night?"

Martin Jensen, a fallen priest from Washington state, treats missionary work as a business. He has a son and a daughter and lives with his wife and children in a mansion in an affluent neighborhood. He is secretly having an affair with a female parishioner named Lucy. Last night, he was drunk with his lover and lied to others, saying that he was praying for disaster victims at the church.