I read an article in yesterday’s Washington Post about a “pastor” I had the displeasure of meeting several years ago – which brought to my remembrance a particularly disturbing display of filth in the “pulpit”.
The man pictured above is Deron Cloud, Pastor of “The Soul Factory” - a hybrid church/performance theater organization based in Maryland. The church has a satellite location here in Metro Atlanta, and (not surprisingly), Cloud is yet another infamous “spiritual son” of legendary Alpha Pimp Eddie Long (who is reproducing bastard “spiritual” children across the globe). Back in 2005, Cloud was a guest speaker at a Men’s Conference that Eddie Long hosted in suburban Charlotte, NC. Eddie introduced Cloud as his “gangster son in the Lord”, and warned that Cloud was very direct in his delivery but he was going to say things that we needed to hear.
Cloud walked into the auditorium to thunderous applause (thank God it wasn’t at a church building), and with 4-6 burly bodyguards in tow. Before he spoke, he showed a video presentation depicting the plague of fatherless children in the Black community. Once the video ended, Cloud LITERALLY started cursing like a drunken sailor at the over 2,500 men in attendance. He lamented how men (even Christian men) neglect their own children, and he used words like “motherf*****s, bulls**t, f**k” and more!
We were all stunned into complete silence – you could literally hear an ant breath in the place.
Cloud went on to say how much he loved “Eddie cause he’s a real n****r. That’s a hard motherf****r!” He went on and on about how “Eddie ain’t no punk b***h like so many other n*****s in the pulpit today!”. Then Cloud starts calling “n*****s” to the altar for “deliverance” (thus, the burly bodyguards in case someone was offended by his vile language directed at Eddie Long). After the 1.5 hour verbal assault, Eddie comes back to the mic. Instead of denouncing the vile act we just saw, Eddie essentially blessed the display – and summons an altar call where he does his “if you need a daddy, I will be your daddy” line.
Even though my pimp (at the time) cautioned those of us who came with him to “swallow the fish and spit out the bones”, I was still stunned that such a vile display would be allowed to take place – or continue. Of course, I was a brain-dead drone slave to the false gospel and my pimp, so I didn’t walk out. In fact, NO ONE walked out. Not surprisingly, Cloud instructed the media team to stop recording before his presentation. You can, however, search for him on YouTube to see some of his interesting soliloquies on various topics (and if you’ve ever seen Cloud in rare form live, you can corroborate what I’ve seen and heard with my own eyes).
So here’s the point of this post – it appears that “pastor” Cloud is being sued by two of his former congregants, who allege they “loaned” Cloud almost $900,000 to start the Atlanta branch of his church. Of course, Cloud calls it a “donation”:
Md. couple file suit against church, saying they were swindled
Two former churchgoers say they were swindled out of a small fortune by the leaders of the Soul Factory, a large African American church in Prince George’s County — accusations the church denies.
In a lawsuit filed against the church, the married couple, Jose and Yvette Strickland, say they lent nearly $900,000 under a verbal agreement to the Soul Factory so that it could open a satellite church in Atlanta. The church says the money was a gift.
“It was not a loan; it was a donation,” said Timothy Obitts, a lawyer hired by the church. He said the church is in the process of filing a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
The article goes on to confirm (yet again) that pulpit pimps seek to groom their followers by treating them like VIP’s and “special members” in order to pick their pockets:
According to the Stricklands, they began regularly attending the Soul Factory in 2000. In 2005, the church’s founder and pastor, Deron Cloud, began courting Jose Strickland’s financial help, the couple said, by inviting him to Wizards basketball games, on trips to Las Vegas and other activities and introducing him to top church leaders.
In 2006, the Stricklands say, Cloud asked Jose for $1.5 million to help open a satellite church in Atlanta. A few weeks later, Strickland, Cloud and other church leaders discussed financing the Atlanta church while in a private booth at a professional fight in Atlantic City, the couple said.
Months later, according to the lawsuit, Strickland gave the church $886,500, which Jose, a mortgage banker, and Yvette, a real estate agent, said they raised by mortgaging several properties they owned to a private lender.
The couple acknowledges that Cloud made nine payments to repay the “donation”, but stopped several years ago (read the article in entirety). It appears that the Strickland’s believed the “pay to play” gospel that so many hirelings are selling to the church today, and they felt some obligation to “build God a house…”
Overall, this is another example of how bereft the church is of sound doctrine today.
Lord have mercy…
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My mouth is still open!!! Due to the worldliness in the church; many have turned the purity of the gospel into entertainment, fleshly appetites as many are serving the Lord not in the spirit but in the flesh. How can you preacher the Word and curse in the same breath? And how can a man of gawd not denounce this? Where is the reverence of God?
2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV)- But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
Act 17:11 (NKJV) These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so
That’s the problem with us today; we do not read the Word for ourselves. We think that what the man of gawd says as gospel.
Mark 13:22-23 (NKJV) – 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
Todays’ church just simply adds Jesus’ name to their present shenanigans and then are ignorant enough to think that sanctifies what they do. How in the world (exactly so) does this man and his so-called bishop present this as a biblical example of ministry or service to GOD? A clear demonstration of the love for the world. At the very least wouldn’t Long reject being called a mother——? sigh
Who is coming to the altar for prayer after that, I wonder? I suppose many did.
Never heard of this guy but saw the video below and I was gob-smacked. My little christian ear couldnt even watch all of it
I clicked on the link to the Soul Factory website. Cloud is listed as “founder and visionary leader” of the Soul Factory. Both the Maryland and Stone Mountain, GA locations are listed as theaters. So, it appears the Stricklands invested in a theater, not a church building.
Where did this guy get the “pastor” title? There is nothing on his site to indicate a Christian affiliation – spiritual, inspirational or otherwise.
So Long exposed his sheeple to some “playwright” to be cussed out and similarly verbally abused. It is quite telling about Long that you say he offers himself up (during the altar call) to “father” his male following.
You call him a “pimp” – I also call him a “pied piper” – calling his male flock to himself, not to God and leading seeking and searching men down the path of destruction.
cloud without water
Praise the Lord saints!
Thanks to the Strickland I got me $10 free gas-you heard me i did not stutter Cloud came to Decatur gave cars free gas, waffles and chicken; in addition, he gave out two free tickets to his theater. I went the Sunday night amazed by the hallway of videos. My fellow brethren and I grabbed our seats and the presentation for starters was oh so captivating-the abuse he suffered from his father and the love of his wife who put him in his place at first oh what attention grabbing-now I got your attention!!! he started cussing and going on -a preacher in a storefront close by warned us to never go back there again cause he heard about Baltimore. Big ups to that short preacher man in the storefront who warned us. Believe me I aint went back yo.
Very little dumbfounds me anymore when speaking of Pulpit Pimps, Pied Pipers or the rest of these opportunistic tools disgracing pulpits across America… but this cat?
WOW!
You find some good ones brother. This was yet another in that litany. Amazing.
Peace.
Wow I thought I’d seen everything! What next??!!
Shocking, just shocking.
$900,000.00 are you serious???
For these to be 2 successful business people and “loaning” anyone $900,000.00 without paper work is crazy!
You can’t even get a cell phone without a signature, credit check and yo mama’s maiden name!
This is insane and shame on this pimp and shame on this mindless couple for allowing themselves to be fooled.
In closing all I can say is a fool and his money will part~
mmmhmm! No way would I even loan anyone even $900 without a contract
WOW! GARCELLE, A-3-WORD SERMON! SAD BUT TRUE! GREAT JOB! ENOUGH OF MR. CLOUD,S BUSINESS. LET,S GET DOWN TO MY FATHER’S BUSINESS. PAUL GIVES THIS WARNING: “THE SPIRIT SPEAKS EXPRESSLY ,THAT IN THE LATTER TIMES SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH,GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPITITS,AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS;SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY;HAVING THEIR CONCIENCE, (THAT FACULTY BY WHICH WE APPREHED THE WILL OF GOD, AS THAT WHICH IS DESIGNED TO GOVERN OUR LIVES; HENCE (a) THE SENSE OF GUILTINESS BEFORE GOD; (b) THAT PROCESS OF THOUGHT WHICH DISTINGUISHES WHAT IT CONSIDERS MORALLTY GOOD OR BAD, COMMENDING THE GOOD, CONDEMMING THE BAD,AND SO PROMPTING US TO DO GOOD NOT BAD!) SEARED WITH A HOT IRON”(1 TIMOTHY 4:1-2). “OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS”. MY GOD! IS THIS WHAT’S IN MR. CLOUD’S HEART? OUT OF A HEART OF LOVE I SAY; REPENT AND BE SAVED! AGAPE! RON
I am not surprised anymore . . . well, my ex-wife did call me for the first time in 21 years today.
But, people, please: eschew the use of ALL CAPS, unless your house is on fire. Please.
Peter.
peter,why peter just why? f.y.i. i’m a slow typer and it helps to leave the caps button on! ? r.u. in charge of this blog? the house on fire thing —-I DON’T GET AT ALL! or could it be for “PETE’S SAKE ONLY”! I’m willing to lisen. In Love Ron.
I attended one of his plays back when his “church” was called Church of the Lord’s Disciples and I took several of my youth group thinking that it would be a nice outing.
I was wrong. I almost fell over when I heard cursing and other vile speech… What had I exposed my youth group’s young ears to?! They hear enough filth at school etc, they didn’t need to be exposed to this in a ‘church’.
I was so disappointed and continue to be. And have never gone back. They may have changed their name but apparently not their stripes.
It’s clear that many non-profits have only one thing in mind and that is being in business to make a profit off of God’s people. I can’t stand racists or drug addicts or killers; but i will tell you that i can’t stand wolves in sheep’s clothing the most. The patience of God is astounding to me.
- jared
I don’t want to be a BLOG—HOG! But—-I found 2 more scrips. That speaks directly to Mr. cloud’s PREFORMANCE! (In Amp. Bible)Eph. 4:29 “Let no foul or polluting language,nor evil word,nor unwholesome or worthless talk EVER-EVER-EVER! come out of your mouth;but only such speech as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (GOD’S)favor to those who hear it. 1 More:—Eph. 5:4 Let there be no filthiness(obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful(silly and corrupt talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming,but instead voice your thankfulness TO GOD. All I can say is, When we see these people “ON STAGE” Jesus can’t be too far behind! Even so,Come Quickly Lord Jesus! Agape,Ron.
Let’s not forget James 3:8-10
10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
What about exercising the fruit of the spirit called SELF CONTROL. My brother, let not filthy communication come out of your mouth. To all the “christians” in the congregation, why have you allowed these men to have you under a spell.LET GOD BE TRUE AND EVERY MAN A LIAR. WALK OUT ON THEM. WALK OUT. THIS IS NO MOVE OF GOD!!
Amazing! Just absolutely, positively amazed!
ST,
Man this is over th top bruh…I remember this dude from almost 12 years ago. The effect of money upon the mind of some or maybe all of us.
Not, ALL OF US! Brian. Some of us have the understanding of,Matt.6-24—-You cannot serve both God and Money!
Agape,Ron.
What if the couple lied?
Well, coming from the legal stand point why would he begin to pay them any money at all if they did not loan him anything. Come on somebody-
IST did you ever see this? (Real sign) Whalum came under considerable criticism for “preaching” this lowclass message, but I think he achieved his goal: generate controversy and attract more unrepentant lowlifes into the church to proof his textual dalliances.
Is that a really a real sign, gcmwatch? I use a “church sign generator” sometimes to create catchy pix for posts so I wonder if someone was playing around.
If it’s real, then Lord have mercy…
God is Holy. His Word is Holy. Pledging allegiance to a man is cultic and cursing in the name of preaching is blasphemous. To all the spiritual daddies who promote this ungodliness, “A plague on all your houses…”
Monica C. Holland
Charlotte Christianity Examiner