Posted by Nadine

I need to speak on something that’s been heavy on my heart, and I know some folks won’t like it, but truth has to be told. Here in Bladen County—right in little East Arcadia and even over in Delco—I’m seeing more and more pastors rise up, and too many of them are not living by the true word of God. These churches are doing whatever they want, and in the end, they’re dragging the name of the Lord through the mud. And that’s not me being hateful—that’s me standing on what the Bible already told us.

Let’s start with something plain and simple. The Bible says that a woman brings dishonor to her head when she prays without her head being covered. That’s Scripture, not Nadine talking. But what do we see now? Women pastors walking around with no covering, caked in makeup, full lace fronts and hair extensions, standing in pulpits preaching like it’s a fashion show. And I don’t care who gets offended—the Bible says God is truth, and you can’t preach His word while living false. How are we going to call ourselves leaders for Christ but walk around in vanity and pretense? That’s not holiness, that’s performance.

And it’s not just appearance. I’ve seen and heard about these so-called leaders out here caught in scandals. Folks in Fayetteville know what I’m talking about—a pastor not too long ago got caught doing unspeakable things with people right inside the church. He was messing around, looking at filth on his phone, doing everything opposite of the Word. Now, how can you preach deliverance when you’re bound up in sin yourself? This ain’t hearsay—this is the reality of what’s going on in the pulpits across our communities. And it breaks my heart because the name of Jesus gets dragged down with this foolishness.

The sad part is many of these folks don’t even know who Jesus is. They can pick up a Bible, they can flip through verses, they can jump and holler and scream, but do they know Him? No. They’re looking for applause. They want people to pat them on the back and say, “Preach, pastor!” They want that “it factor,” like they’re on some kind of stage play. They hold these big ceremonies, shouting and carrying on, but the spirit of God ain’t nowhere in the building. It’s entertainment. It’s hype. And meanwhile, souls are starving for the true bread of life.

Let me tell you something—God has to call you to be a pastor. This isn’t something you decide on a random Tuesday because your daddy or your uncle was one, or because you just felt like it. No. God had to call the prophets. He had to anoint the apostles. And He has to anoint His pastors too. Without that calling, without that anointing, all you’re doing is talking loud and saying nothing. And people are following folks who don’t even have a word from the Lord, just words from their own mouths.

And don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying every pastor is false. God still has a remnant. There are still true leaders out here who are fasting, praying, and living the Word for real. But the problem is the fakes are louder. The show-offs are putting on the biggest performances. The people hungry for God are being deceived because they don’t know how to tell the difference. And that’s dangerous.

I’m just a concerned elderly woman, but I’ve been around long enough to see what’s happening. This is a call to action for our community. We can’t keep sitting in these churches, clapping our hands and acting like everything is okay when sin is parading around in the pulpit. We need to demand holiness again. We need to hold our leaders accountable. And we need to make sure the next generation knows what it really means to walk with God.

Yes, the Bible said in the last days many false teachers would rise up. And we are seeing it right now in Bladen County, East Arcadia, Delco, Fayetteville, and everywhere else. But that doesn’t mean we sit silent. No, we lift up our voices. We call out the madness. We keep pointing people back to Jesus Christ—the real Jesus, not the watered-down version that’s being sold for claps and cash offerings.

At the end of the day, Jesus is still Lord. He’s still holy. And He’s still coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. That’s why we can’t let ourselves be fooled by the lights, the sound systems, the shouting, the “look at me” performances. The Word has to be in their hearts. The Word has to line up with their lives. Otherwise, they are just another distraction keeping people from the truth.

So I’m saying this because I love my community. I love the people who are really searching for God. And I don’t want to see nobody led astray by folks who are out here pretending. I’m encouraging y’all—open your Bibles. Pray for discernment. Ask God to show you who’s real and who’s fake. And don’t be afraid to step away if the Spirit ain’t there. Because at the end of the day, your soul matters more than somebody else’s performance.

Reports say the Bladen County Board of Education voted to close East Arcadia School, and students would likely be moved to Clarkton School of Discovery, which is about 20 miles away.

Many residents are also asking whether the voices of the people who live here were truly heard before this decision was made. School boards often face difficult choices when it comes to…

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