Mock Debate With an Apostolic United Pentecostal Church Preacher On Historic Trinity

Mark McNeil was a former member of the United Pentecostal Church (anti-Trinitarian, Oneness Sabellianism doctrine of the nature of God) & valedictorian of their Texas Bible College (Texas Bible College was established after endorsement of the Board of Christian Education of the United Pentecostal Church International was granted in September 1962. It is located in Houston, Texas). Mark graduated from there in 1990. Mark later left the UPCI after his studies revealed to him that certain Biblical verses such as John 16:13, 17:5 & others could not be reconciled with Oneness Pentecostal interpretations.

This "mock" debate came about due to the fact that we could find no actual United Pentecostal Church representatives to come forward & debate Mark even though the invitation was given repeatedly. Finally, to present both positions this "mock" debate was devised using clips from Marvin Hicks' actual debates. Thus listeners could hear both sides although not in the exact way we would have preferred.

An ongoing controversy had been brewing at Austin, Texas' Christian radio station KIXL-970AM between a "Oneness Pentecostal" radio show hosted by a man named Mike East & the "Trinitarian" radio broadcast called "In Defense of the Faith" with both programs airing on the same radio station. The two radio shows attacked each other as being heretical & challenges were made causing the radio station mangement to eventually take action. A meeting was called at the radio station where Mike East brought David K. Bernard to represent him while Larry Wessels represented the "In Defense of the Faith" show.