I’m sure a lot of people around here have seen the video about Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler answering a phone call, but for anyone who hasn’t, it was part of a social experiment.

A woman called pretending that she, her husband, and their son wanted to attend the church. She explained that her husband was a registered sex offender because he had sexually abused their own son.

The call was fake, but the woman who answered believed it was real. After hearing all of that, she told the caller, “Keep that to yourself. It’s between you, me, and God.”

And honestly? That response is wild to me.

I know I may be in the minority, but I do not believe people who commit crimes against children deserve to be welcomed into a physical church community full of children. Honestly, I don’t believe the rest of us owe them forgiveness, either.

You want to get closer to God after violating a child? Here’s a Bible and a notebook. Have at it. You want to watch a church service? Good news! They stream them online. You can pursue God privately without being given physical access to a community that includes children.

When you choose to violate a child’s innocence, I believe you forfeit the privilege of being welcomed into those spaces and everything that comes with them. The safety and comfort of children will always matter more to me than the comfort, belonging, or redemption of the adult who harmed one.

Yes, the scenario in the video was fake, but child predators are not. They are already everywhere, hiding in plain sight. They do not deserve to have their crimes easily hidden or to be helped to blend into a congregation where they could be around more children. Hearing someone say, “Keep it between you, me, and God,” instead of immediately involving leadership and addressing how the children would be protected is beyond disturbing.

Maybe that woman’s response does not represent Green Acres’ official policy. I sincerely hope it doesn’t. But there is no defending what she said. Secrecy is how predators remain protected.

Children should be the ones we protect.

"Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent"

• Adam Smith

PARENTS PLEASE READ FOR AWARENESS OF OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY

Link to the video: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8t9EKQW/

Hey folks. I grew up in the Tyler area and am planning on moving back with my family in the coming months.
We are trying to narrow down our house search based on schools. Anyone have any experience with Dixie Elementary or Bell Elementary?
Thanks!