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A letter from Gayle Haggard, addressed to the women of New Life Church, was also read to the congregation. "I love my husband, Ted Haggard, with all my heart," she wrote. "I am committed to death do us part. ... My test has begun. Watch me. I will try to prove myself faithful."

Neither the letters nor those speakers at the pulpit directly addressed the homosexual nature of the allegations, and instead focused broadly on sexual immorality. But the letters from both Haggards emphasized that Ted Haggard's beliefs had not changed.

"As you try to make sense of these past few days, know that Ted believes with all of his heart and soul all the things he has ever taught you, those things you are putting into practice," Gayle Haggard's letter said.

Ted Haggard's letter likewise noted that his thoughts and desires "were contrary to everything I believe and teach. ... The public person I was wasn't a lie. It was just incomplete."

The 10 a.m. service at New Life Church, filled beyond its capacity, focused largely on God's sovereignty, and included the songs "Blessed Be Your Name," and "It Is Well with my Soul."

"Worshippers are always challenged by crisis," said Ross Parsley, interim senior pastor of New Life Church. "And when tragedy and crisis strikes it is at that moment that you truly decide whether you are a worshipper of the Most High God. The question of Is he Lord or isn't he is a big one."

As for his former boss, Parsley said, "God is not angry at Ted. He loves him. He's wrapping his arms around him. God is determined to erase the sin that ruins our lives and he has provided everything that Pastor Ted needs for life in godliness. This is his nature. It is his character. It is his nature. It is his plan."

Within hours of Parsley being named interim senior pastor, his wife, Aimee, gave birth to their fifth child Friday morning.

"A new life in the midst of this occurrence—I consider that to be prophetic," said Haggard's letter.

Stockstill likewise emphasized God's sovereignty, and dismissed questions of how the scandal could influence Tuesday's election.

"God chose to reveal Pastor Ted's sin," he said. "In this case, God chose at this particular moment to allow this sin to be exposed. Now we can be mad at God. We can say that's not fair. The timing is terrible. Or we can say Blessed be the name of the Lord. One of the things I've learned about God is that he is wiser than me. ... What's going to happen in the nation? You know what? I don't think that's your concern or mine. God is a holy God and he chose this incredibly important timing for this sin to be revealed, and I actually think it's a good thing. I believe America needs a shaking, spiritually."

Minnesota pastor Leith Anderson, credited with saving the National Association of Evangelicals from financial ruin during his 2001-2003 presidency, will lead the organization in the aftermath of the resignation of president Ted Haggard.

Anderson is senior pastor of the Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, which has 5,000 regular attendees. He is also the author of several books on leadership, including Leadership That Works and Dying for Change. His most recent book is How to Act Like a Christian.

"Dr. Anderson knows the evangelical world and is uniquely positioned to serve the National Association of Evangelicals at this time," NAE board chairman L. Roy Taylor said in a press release. "He's a man of great personal integrity and spiritual leadership who can step into the president's role without missing a beat."

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November (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50