GRANDVILLE, Mich. (AP) — The pastor of a West Michigan megachurch who raised a storm of controversy within evangelical Christianity this year with his book questioning traditional beliefs about hell has told his congregants they'll do fine without him.
The Grand Rapids Press says (http://j.mp/pQ4eqr ) Rob Bell made the comment Sunday at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville. He announced plans to leave last week.
Bell says he and the congregation he led for 12 years have had a "beautiful thing" and says members are "going to be great" without him.
Bell's book "Love Wins" questions the traditional Christian belief that select believers will spend eternity in heaven while everyone else is tormented in hell. He's said he wrote it because the Christian message that God is love became obscured.
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Information from: The Grand Rapids Press, http://www.mlive.com/grand-rapids
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