I'm writing to you in obedience to Matt 18, but it's not my Christian brother who has trespassed against me, it's my professing Christian stepson. Because he refuses to listen to me or to his mother, I'm incapable of confronting him, nor can I tell the matter to his church. If you'd kindly indulge me, I want to tell this matter to you, his pastor. The person I'm referring to is your long-time church member, Robert Aho.
Please allow me to give you some background; for we share a bit of common ground. I'm 66 years old and have been born-again for 26 years. I became born again in Los Angeles and was baptized by Xavier Ries at the Calvary Chapel Pasadena. When I was saved, a Christian suggested that I listen to Chuck Smith and so I did. For years I listened daily to the CC lineup on LA radio. I listened to C Smith, Greg Laurie, Raul Reis, Bob Coy, and several others. When I had questions, I'd often call the CC Costa Mesa hotline and speak to Joey Buran. I appreciate the solid biblical teaching (through the bible) I received early on from the Calvary Chapels.
About 20 years ago I met Rob Aho's mother, Barbara Aho. She's a Christian and we got along because we had similar "watchman" ministries that warned Christians about the various dangers and minefields that they may encounter.
Four years ago, when Covid 19 was shutting down Los Angeles, Barbara invited me to stay with her in Deland, Fl. She had been widowed from Rob's father for years and was living alone in a large 2 bed 2 bath apartment. I accepted her kind offer and later we were married.
Shortly after moving in with his mother, Rob Aho spoke with me on the phone. It was the first and only time I've ever talked to him. Did he welcome me with open arms? He literally screamed his threats, "You better get out of my mother's house now you freeloader. I know you are nothing but a loser..." It didn't matter at all to Rob that I had worked 40 years in Los Angeles, that I was retired on SS, and that I was helping his mother with about $700 / month.
Since then, Rob and his family were invited to my wife's apartment for Christmas Eve dinner. Even though Rob had traveled to Orlando, he refused to attend this dinner. Why? According to his mother, Rob refused because, "I'm a dangerous man with guns." The fact that I have never owned a gun didn't matter to Rob.
Thanks largely to Rob Aho, my marriage to his mother has been destroyed. I believe the core of the problem is that although he's a church member, he's never been born again by saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Rob Aho has also had many poor Christian role models. I've learned that his father, Tim Aho, a professing Christian and church member, committed adultery with dozens of women and Robert Aho's sister, Molly Rickenbach, recently died. She was also just a professing Christian church member.
According to Barbara Aho, Rob's wife, Sharon, is also just a professing Christian. To her credit, although she survived Anorexia Nervosa, she idolizes her father, who is a pastor in the Eastern Orthodox religion (which is akin to being a Priest in the Roman Catholic Church).
It's my hope that Rob Aho will take a long hard look in the mirror. I thank you for your time and any attention you may give to this matter.
