The beginning of the end for Ray McCauley

The Times reports…

“Rumblings at Rhema over Ray McCauley’s fat lunch tabs and other expenses.

The devil has been let loose at the Rhema Bible Church as several staffers were effectively axed after calling for the church’s finances to be examined.

Scores of staff lost their jobs this year during a “restructuring” process, which doesn’t appear to have stopped the church’s head pastor, Ray McCauley, from enjoying lavish lunches at top Sandton and Umhlanga restaurants at the organisation’s expense.

Church insiders said more job cuts were on the cards next year, with 150 people set to lose their posts.

Yet McCauley’s business credit card statement shows that, in a period of just a few weeks, more than R25000 was spent on bills at restaurants such as Lekgotla in Sandton’s Nelson Mandela Square and Butcher Boys in Umhlanga.

The church pays for this credit card.

The meals include 600g T-bone steaks, washed down with R365 bottles of Meerlust merlot.

Documents in possession of the Sunday Times also reveal that McCauley’s son, Joshua, submitted a claim for R2030 for Prada sunglasses.

This expense was described on a claim form, dated October 11 2007, as “Ps Rays Birthday gift”.

Another claim involved golf equipment to the tune of R540.

The church has been embroiled in an ongoing battle with one of its pastors, Brian Hogan, who raised the alarm after the church spent R3.5-million on a luxury Umhlanga apartment.

Hogan was suspended earlier this year. In June, the Johannesburg Labour Court ordered that Hogan was protected under the Protected Disclosures Act. He has since been reinstated.

Hogan’s wife, Audrey, McCauley’s personal assistant, was placed on “special leave” around the same time — and has been told that she also faces retrenchment.

The couple’s daughter, Terry, was retrenched last month and days later received a letter stating that the church “had no other option but to terminate” her membership.

The letter, dated December 1, said the action taken was triggered by her “negative attitude” and “disdain towards the church”.

Terry Hogan said: “They’ve got an absolute cheek to call themselves Christians. If that’s what being a Christian is about, I have to question my faith.”

Gideon Cogzell, who worked as a volunteer every Sunday, claimed that he got the boot in September for asking “uncomfortable questions” about what was being done with the congregation’s tithes.

He also wanted access to the disclosures Hogan made in court regarding the church’s purchase of the Umhlanga apartment, as well as McCauley’s violent rages during which he would allegedly verbally abuse staff.

Cogzell sent the church an attorney’s letter asking for information. He received a terse response, advising him to stop “taking your differences with us into a legal realm”.

In his “excommunication” letter, church management said it remained “committed to pray” for him although he had “rebelled against and refused to accept all Godly counsel and advice”.

Brian and Audrey Hogan declined to comment.”

From http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=908421

Why Fred Nile is still a dickhead

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports…

“The New South Wales Government and Opposition say they will not be heeding the Reverend Fred Nile’s call for a vote to ban topless sunbathing.

The acting Premier Carmel Tebbutt says she does not support a ban.

“Commonsense should prevail,” she said.

“We have had topless sunbathing on beaches in NSW for quite some time now.”

“I think the real issue is we want people to take some care in the sun, and topless sunbathing or any sort of sunbathing does expose you to a risk of melanoma.

“I’d just say to people, cover up and get out of the sun because you don’t want to place yourself at risk of sun cancers.”

The Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell says topless sunbathing is a third rate political issue that does not warrant the State Parliament’s attention.

“This is not a subject for a conscience vote,” he said.

“Local government has the power to regulate what’s going on at our beaches whether people can smoke, whether beaches are going to be free beaches or not.”

“We need to leave those issues to local councils.”

The Christian Democrats MLC, the Reverend Fred Nile, had earlier claimed he had the support of both Labor and Coalition MPs for a ban on topless sunbathing.

Mr Nile believes people are offended by the practice.

“I think it’s just a matter of having community standards,” he said.

“If we observe those then we can all live together in in harmony.”

The Liberal MLC David Clarke agrees, but the Nationals MP for Coffs Harbour Andrew Fraser says a ban would be “prudish.”

From http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/30/2456656.htm

Livenews further reports…

“FROM THE DESK OF THOMAS F. FRONTBOTTOM, CERTIFIED WOWSER:

As I cast my eye across the day’s news selection, I happened to notice that the lily livered, so-called-conservative, The Reverend Fred Nile, has put together a plan to ban topless bathing.

Well I say that’s not far enough!

For eons I have been disgusted not only by the bare bosoms, buttocks and bellies of wonton harlots disgracing the pure sands of mother Australia’s glorious beaches, but also the outrageous display of elbows, shins, foreheads and kneecaps that surface on our shores too often than not.

The simple fact is that the naked body, and any piece of exposed, unbaptized flesh, is a shameful, revolting thing, and should be hidden from view at all times.

Our good Lord did not design our bodies to be exposed – that is why he gave us Lowes, and Lowes Ladies; giving us a wonderful selection of colourful and affordable garments to completely cover our filth ridden hang parts and our turgid, repulsive holes of sin.

Now, of course, you are going to get the normal Satan sympathizers who will come out in defense of these malignant mammaries and argue such redundant topics as freedom of the body and the beauty of the natural form.

But what I ask is this. What is more beautiful: an exposed, fleshy, mastitis ridden teat with floppy, pancake areola? Or the wondrous plume of a full length Ken Done 2009 body suit, draped over the form, executing an extravagant recreation of the 1988 bicentennial.

I for one know what I would rather see on our esplanades.

As for the bleeding hearts (and leaky boobs) complaining about mothers being fearful of prosecution if they breastfeed in public, I say this to you.

Jesus did not die on the cross for you to schlep out your sinful sweater puppy and shove it in the gob of your tot. He sacrificed his life so we could see the flourishing of socially conscious companies such as Nestlé, which provide a brilliant range of feed-substitutes, staving off your bosom, and averting the impending smiting from our lord.

Milky mothers hang your heads in shame!

So, I say this to you, Mr “woosy-bags” Nile – pull your finger out, get tough on the flapjack criminals, and stamp out the boobs!

Then, when you are done with that task, follow through, you limp-wristed lizard, and get cracking onto the rest of the layabouts – cover them up in Jenny Kee jumpers, Acubras, and sensible RM Williams slacks and shoes.

Let as leave no inch of exposed s(k)in uncovered!

Anyway, I must trot. Lowes has a walk-shorts and long socks price bonanza blow out.

Cheerio,

Thomas F Frontbottom.”

From http://livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/12/30/Topless_bathers_A_disgusting_outrage

Great predictions of the 21st century – Brian Tamaki – 2003

“(Brian Tamaki – Destiny Church ‘bishop’ – 2003) I predict…in the next 5 years…by the time we hit our 10th anniversary…and I don’t say this lightly…but we will be ruling the nation..”

“(Reporter) You predicted …by 2008..Destiny would rule the nation…you’re nowhere near that”

“(Tamaki) 2008 hasn’t come yet…..anything can happen….and it’s not over”

Sunday Adelaja Watch

Clueless in Castle Hill

Bobbie Houston blogs…

“…..OKAY …. NEWS, NEWS, NEWS !!!!!! For those of you who don’t know our grandbaby arrived two weeks ago. SAVANNAH WINTER HOUSTON, 7.7lbs with a healthy head of black hair. Absolutely adorable!Lucille is doing great and I’ve attached a wee photo of my lush, yummy Ben kissing his new little bundle. So Brian is “Pops” and I’m “Grammie”. Brian thinks that when we have a brood of grandchildren, I could have annual “Grammy awards”!! (ha!Such a comedian. We should call him “Oscar” and then we could have both the Grammy AND Oscar awards).OH … & speaking (indirectly) of Hollywood. My lovely friend Holly Wagner (and Phil), are here for our College Graduation and she and I managed to get ourselves into the first night of “AUSTRALIA” (Baz Lurhman’s new epic movie). I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!! It’s a spectacular adventure, with romance and humour, mixed with that somewhat zany Aussie spirit, with history and more importantly a strong message of reconciliation. Personally I think it’s going to be great for our nation. Anyway, that’s what I’m praying for!

THEN … we also celebrated our 25 year anniversary of Hillsong. But that might be old news.Took the whole church down onto Darling Harbour in Sydney (right where we will be holding COLOUR this year), floated a stage on the water and had church in the open air, with our gorgeous church packed in around the waters edge. They were even standing on the fly-over bridge above. So there’s a couple of pictures of that too.

THEN … the COLOUR brochure invitation went out this week! Hope you’ve gotten your copy or had a look at the website. We’re having lots of fun with the “jingle song” at church. A few people are saying that they are waking up with the song in their head … (“do do do join along, join along …”) So kiddo, if you are planning to come, don’t delay in registering eh! The “London Edition” brochure should be out very shortly … and no doubt, Vera in Kiev is madly translating it all into Russian. 

Also, pray for Vera and Zhenya … they had an explosion in our rented church facility on a Saturday night recently (thank God, no one was hurt), but now we have no venue for church. Venues are ridiculously expensive to hire and the operators get very greedy for money, so pray God will open some new doors. Interesting that the enemy always gets rattled when we start stepping out more and more with “good works”. A team from the church (who are building houses for victims of recent floods that left 40,000 homeless) were also involved in a car accident on their way back from that region. They’re okay, but we need to be covering our Russian family in prayer. (Hey, I’m mindful that many of you reading this, have your own churches to navigate and pray for, but I guess I’m really asking our own Hillsong girls around the world to be mindful of these things).

WHAT ELSE … For the London-girls, I heard you had a fantastic Sisterhood morning recently, with Chris Caine. Heard it was relaxed and different … and then this week, we also in Sydney had a fantastic “Sisterhood UNITED Night”. Had just on 2,700, with guest artist Julia Grace from NZ and then Holly shared for 15mins – was fun, relaxing and a perfect way to finish the year!

OK ENOUGH NOW … so I’ve caught ya up to speed from my world. Once again, I may not know each of you by face or name, but we LOVE YOU TO DEATH, which is a weird saying, but I hope you know what I mean! Sometimes I say to our girls (or church), “Ok I may not know your name, but I love you so much, I’d take a bullet for you!!”

The reassuring thing is that GOD DOES KNOW YOUR NAME (PLUS HE’S TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH YOUR FACE, just like Ben’s totally in love with Savannah’s little face) …AND NOT ONLY DOES HE KNOW YOUR NAME & ADDRESS, BUT EVERY INTIMATE DETAIL OF YOUR LIFE. HE’S GOT YOU COVERED BABE! DID YOU HEAR THAT, HE’S GOT YOU COVERED!!!!!!! And if He truly has “every hair on your head numbered” (and in my case, they are greying hairs)then why do we ever wonder/doubt/despair about His heart toward us, or more importantly His ability to watch over and direct us. Psalm Ninety-One, go read it Sweetheart!

Okay, LOVE YA, BE SAFE, BE BLESSED!
Bobbie…….”

From http://www2.hillsong.com/sisterhood2/default.asp?pid=2066

The Dirty 30

The Christian Post reports…

“An independent organisation that reviews Christian ministries for financial accountability and transparency has released its annual list of the top 30 most exemplary ministries and, for the first time, a list of 30 “donor alert” ministries.

Though Matthews, N.C.-based Wall Watchers for years has released its list of “Shining Light” ministries and a regular bulletin of “donor alerts” concerning potential frauds and pitfalls for donors, this year marks the first time it has released an official list of “30 Donor Alert Ministries” through its website, MinistryWatch.com.

“Most donors expect charitable organizations to act on behalf of others and not for greed, personal aggrandizement, or other reasons; however, ministries are operated by human beings who are subject to the shortcomings common to man, including what some may call the ‘principle of ethical entropy,’ or as Christians call it, sin,” the evangelical organization states in introduction of the newly released list.

“Donors do not always have the power or know-how to pursue accountability; however, each donor can do their part by making an informed giving decision by looking at various factors and issues,” it added.

For its new list, Wall Watchers took into consideration issues important to donors, such as lack of transparency, high salaries, misleading marketing efforts, revocation of tax-exempt status, ties to cultic practices, and in-process investigations. The organization’s stated aim is to offer the list as one of the various factors that donors can access in making giving decisions.

Among the ministries included in the 2008 list are the six that made headlines after Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa requested last year that they provide financial statements and records and respond to a wide range of questions regarding their personal and organizational finances.

Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Finance, said the probe was part of a long-standing priority of his to make sure that tax-exempt organizations are accountable to their donors.

“As a Christian myself, and a person who believes in tithing, I feel I have a right to know where my money goes,” he explained. “If a person gets a tax deduction for a donation, the deduction and donation should be for a legitimate purpose.”

Since the request last November, four of the six have come to cooperate with Grassley’s investigation, namely Joyce Meyer Ministries, Paula White Ministries, Benny Hinn Ministries, and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries. Creflo Dollar Ministries and Kenneth Copeland Ministries, meanwhile, have both contested the investigation, arguing that the proper governmental entity to examine the Church is the IRS, not the Committee on Finance.

Though Joyce Meyer Ministries has been praised for cooperating fully with Grassley from the get-go and providing information “over and above what was requested,” according to the senator, it was still included in Wall Watchers’ “Donor Alert” list along with the others with “Senate Investigation” being the main reason.

In its general evaluation criteria, Wall Watchers noted that any one of the seven items it looks at could be a reason for inclusion.

Aside from the “Grassley Six,” other prominent organizations listed in Wall Watchers’ “Donor Alert” list include TD Jakes Ministries for “Transparency Grade of ‘F,’” Inspirational Network (INSP) for “High Salary,” and Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) for four previous “Donor Alerts” that covered several issues.

On the other side, ministries that were noted in the list of “30 Shining Light Ministries of 2008” for being ”‘Christian’ more than in name only” included widely respected organizations such as Campus Crusade for Christ, Mercy Ships, Trans World Radio, Voice of the Martyrs, and Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Wall Watchers noted that the list of 30 included only “some of the ‘best ministries’” and that identifying a diversity of the best ministries “is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ.”

“[W]e developed this format to highlight a sampling of ministries which are exemplary,” it stated.

Wall Watchers has released its “Shining Light” list every year since 2005.”

From http://www.christianpost.com/article/20081221/ministry-watchdog-releases-2008-donor-alert-list.htm

A man in a frock is preaching to me about gender norms

The Times reports…

“The Pope has been condemned by clergy and gay rights campaigners for arguing that mankind needed protection from homosexuality much as the rainforest needed protecting from environmental damage.

Roman Catholic leaders in England, traditionally a liberal province, sought to distance themselves from the Pope’s remarks, claiming that he had been misrepresented because he never used the word “homosexual”.

A close reading of his annual Christmas address to cardinals at the Vatican makes clear that homosexual and transgender people are the targets of his comments on creation, order, gender and the manipulation of human nature.

The Pope said that the Church had a duty to “protect Man from destroying himself”. He called for an understanding of the “ecology of Man” as well as of the environment and said that the “natural order” of human beings as man and woman should be respected. Gender theory had led Man away from God, and marriage, a way of life not permitted to Catholic priests, was a “sacrament of creation”.

Referring to the 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, which banned artificial contraception and which is ignored by hundreds of thousands of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics, he said that the intention of its author, Pope Paul VI, “was to defend love against consumer sex, the future against the exclusive claim of the moment, and human nature against manipulation”.

The strength of the reaction against his remarks from bloggers and other online commentators worldwide gave one of the clearest indications to date that the row over gays that has taken the Anglican Church almost to a schism is one that is close to erupting in the more tightly ruled Roman Catholic Church as well.

The Church has become increasingly entrenched in its insistence that homosexuality is ordered towards an “intrinsic moral evil” and that gay people are “objectively disordered”.

One Vatican official referred to homosexuality this year as “a deviation, an irregularity, a wound”. The Vatican has also this year approved psychological tests to make sure that men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” or “uncertain sexual identity” are not admitted to seminaries for training for the priesthood.

The Rev Giles Fraser, vicar of St Mary’s Church in Putney, southwest London, and founder of the pro-gay Inclusive Church movement, said: “I am extremely disappointed. This is not much of a Christmas message. This will not change anyone’s mind.”

He added: “I thought the Christmas angels said, ‘Fear not’. Instead, the Pope is spreading fear that gay people somehow threaten the planet. And that’s just absurd. As always, this sort of religious homophobia will be an alibi for all those who would do gay people harm.”

Mark Dowd, campaign strategist at Operation Noah, the Christian group campaigning against climate change, who is gay and a former Dominican friar, said that the Pope’s remarks were “understandable but misguided and unfortunate”.

He said: “The problem is that if you study ecology seriously, as any intelligent man would do — and the Pope is a fantastically intelligent man – you realise that ecology is complex. It has all sorts of weird interdependencies and it is the same with human sexuality. It is not a one-size-fits-all model.”

Bishop John Arnold, an auxiliary to the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, defended the Pope, saying: “He never uses the word homosexuality.”

He said that the Pope’s reflections on the environment were inspiring. “The Pope said we have to be speaking out on the environment but we cannot divide the physical environment away from the human ecology.”

From http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5391794.ece

The Trials of Ted Haggard

The Denver Post reports…

“Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard has agreed to help promote a new documentary following his life in exile after a 2006 sex scandal — no longer bound by an agreement with his former church that prohibited him from talking publicly about the events that led to his downfall.

“The Trials of Ted Haggard,” directed by Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is set to air next month on HBO. Haggard has agreed to take part in publicity for the project, HBO said.

“We look forward to presenting the film, Ted Haggard and his family at a press tour in Los Angeles next month,” a spokeswoman for the cable network said Wednesday.

Haggard’s latest return to the public eye comes after he re-emerged last month at a rural Illinois church, where he delivered guest sermons and said he was sexually abused as a second-grader.

Haggard, 52, resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals and was fired as senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., in November 2006 after a former male prostitute went public with allegations that Haggard paid him for sex and used methamphetamine.

A married father of five, Haggard said he bought the drugs but never used them. He confessed to undisclosed “sexual immorality” and has said, “I really did sin.” In February, New Life Church announced that Haggard prematurely ended a “restoration” process designed to help him heal.

Neither Pelosi nor Haggard responded to requests for comment on the documentary, which is scheduled to first air Jan. 29. However, a Web site for a Toronto-based entertainment company that promotes HBO and other television projects describes it as “a behind-scenes-look at the rise and fall of Pastor Ted Haggard.” The 41-minute documentary “follows Haggard and his family as they move from houses to motels as the excommunicated pastor tries to redeem himself and support his loved ones,” it says.

Haggard was not excommunicated, but rather dismissed as pastor by a church oversight board. Under a severance deal with New Life Church, Haggard agreed to leave Colorado Springs and not talk about the scandal publicly, church officials said. He received a year’s salary, or about $130,000.

The deal expired at the end of 2007, which allowed Haggard to move his family back to their Colorado Springs home, the church’s new pastor, Brady Boyd, said earlier this year. But Haggard continued to tell reporters last summer and again this fall that he was forbidden to talk to the press.

Boyd said Wednesday that church leadership decided in the last few weeks to release Haggard and his wife, Gayle, from any legal obligations. He said they can do as they wish, including promote the documentary.

“They are not acting outside any parameters we set for them,” said Boyd, who recently met with Haggard. “We want them to be free to move forward with their lives the way New Life has really moved forward.” Haggard moved his family to Arizona after the scandal, and also lived in Texas. He is now selling insurance. At the Illinois church last month, he was introduced as a “Christian businessman,” hinting at a possible future speaking to churches and organizations about his experiences.

His public return was criticized as premature by a former counselor and church members who think his sins cost him any public role, but allies say Haggard has a gift and calling that cannot be suppressed.

Haggard was prominently featured in the 2007 HBO documentary “Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi,” which was filmed before the scandal.”

From http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_11257091

Todd Bentley & The Nanny

Charisma Magazine reports…

“Leaders of the Canadian ministry evangelist Todd Bentley founded a decade ago say the one-time revivalist is “intent” on divorcing his wife and is yet to begin a restoration process.

In a six-page letter to ministry supporters, the board of Fresh Fire Ministries (FFM) released more details about the circumstances that led to Bentley’s departure in August from the Lakeland, Fla., revival meetings he led for four months.

 

“Todd Bentley has demonstrated himself unfaithful to his wife by entering into a relationship with another woman while still legally married,” the board said in a statement issued last Friday. “Todd has yet to enter into a clear system of accountability with the leaders he identified that would be involved in such a process.”

 

The leaders claim Bentley, 32, has no biblical grounds for leaving his wife, Shonnah, and their three children, and that the nature of his relationship with his children’s former nanny is “that of adultery.”

 

“The legal separation from Shonnah was initiated completely by Todd and he has not seen her or the children since the last week in July,” they stated.

 

“It also needs to be clarified that Shonnah has in no way initiated this divorce and has no present intention to do so at any time in the future. She is understandably hurt by Todd’s infidelity, but is not asking or pressing for a divorce.”

 

On Tuesday, Bentley said there had been no sexual immorality between him and the former nanny. He claimed that for two years no “spark or interest” in the former staff member existed, and that the two developed only an emotional relationship several weeks after July 1, when Bentley filed for divorce.

 

He admitted, however, that the budding relationship was “absolutely” bad timing.

 

“I would call it an inappropriate relationship, in the sense that it was too soon, too quick, and should’ve never happened the way that it happened,” Bentley said. “Emotionally, she had stepped in to comfort me as a friend would.

 

“But I never left my wife to be with another woman,” he said. “There was nothing premeditated or inappropriate in my heart. I had never even entertained the idea that I liked this girl. It never went there.”

 

Claiming to have gone through years of counseling with his wife, Bentley said he is divorcing her over “irreconcilable differences.”

 

He denied disconnecting from his children and told Charisma he is in constant phone contact with them and plans to see them as soon as he sorts out issues with his visa.

 

Bentley said FFM let him review the letter before they made it public and that he was unhappy with portions of it. He said he felt the letter implied that the breakup of his marriage could be blamed on his relationship with his former nanny and the pressures of leading daily nonstop revival meetings in Lakeland.

 

“I have the utmost respect for my team in Canada and we have had a lot of years together,” he said. “[But] I’m not in agreement with my board on this. The point is, [the former nanny] wasn’t the cause. And I don’t want to blame Lakeland. I want to blame a bad marriage.”

 

Bentley said he is willing to take 100 percent responsibility for his actions and that he readily admits he’s guilty of doing a lot of things wrong over the years. “In a lot of ways, the ministry has been my mistress,” he said. “That did destroy my marriage. That I have to take responsibility for.” 

The FFM leaders said they had been on an “emotional rollercoaster” for several months before releasing the statement, seeking to persuade Bentley to abandon his relationship with the former nanny, return to his wife and children, and quickly embrace a process of counseling and accountability.

 

In the letter, the board thanked leaders of other ministries who have reportedly tried to help implement a process of restoration for Bentley. “But what we have come to realize is that ultimately, the buck stops with the FFM board of directors,” they said. “No one knows Todd better, or has more access to all the facts from both sides than we do.”

MorningStar Ministries’ founder Rick Joyner announced in October that he would be leading a team to help restore Bentley and would be assisted by Revival Alliance member Bill Johnson and Texas pastor Jack Deere, along with pastors John Arnott and Che Ahn serving as advisers.

 

Bentley said he is still involved at an emotional level with his former nanny and soon plans to move to Joyner’s headquarters in Fort Mill, S.C., to “fully embrace a healing and restoration process.”

 

Joyner confirmed that the process could begin as early as January. He did not confirm if abandoning his relationship with the nanny was a precondition Bentley would need to agree to before entering a healing process led by Joyner.

 

Joyner did express disappointment with FFM’s recent statement about Bentley and said he tried to persuade them not to send the letter in its current form.

 

“There is almost always another side to a story, as there is to many of the things they presented in this letter,” Joyner said. “Sometimes the truth is found somewhere between the two sides, but if we’re going to ever get to real healing and reconciliation I don’t think this kind of thing helps.”

 

The FFM board said they decided to send the letter to supporters after spending months of silence “in deference to [the] leaders” involved in trying to lead Bentley through a restoration process. “We struggled for a while with the question of how to satisfy two important obligations—that of honoring Todd, while believing for his restoration, and at the same time, our obligation to be completely honest and open with you.”

 

Although Bentley experienced a moral failing, the FFM leaders said the Lakeland Revival he led was an authentic move of God. “Through the weakness and failure of man, the enemy seeks to defame and discredit what God has done,” they said. “[But] Lakeland was and is an authentic move of God. God poured Himself out in Florida and through the Internet and television around the world.”

 

FFM is in the process of restructuring its ministries with assistance from Johnson’s church in Redding, Calif., and Joyner’s ministry in South Carolina.

 

Their letter also stated that Bentley has officially resigned and that the Abbottsford, B.C.-based FFM is searching for another leader. “We love Todd dearly, [and] it is our deep desire that our brother should be restored,” they said.

 

“Please let us make it clear, that although what Todd has done is inexcusable, it is not unforgiveable. We do not judge him unworthy of a second, third or even fourth chance.”

From http://charismamag.com/cms/news/archives/1204081.php

Apostles of Fear

Neo-Baptist blogs…

“When I arrived at the church I’m in now I soon discovered that it was a place of refuge for people who had been spat out the other end of a cult church called Brisbane Christian Fellowship – ‘BCF’.  This church looks like a church on the surface but underneath the presentable veneer is a world of manipulation and fear.  In the years since I have listened to the most horrendous stories from people who have either left the church [and subsequently paid the price of being cut off from immediate family] and I have also listened to the stories of children being put out of their own homes, wives separated from husbands, and grandchildren separated from grandparents.

Finally, a book called Apostles of Fear has come out that blows the lid off this extended cult which although controlled from Brisbane has churches in many Australian cities and shares in common a theology espoused by many across the world who run similarly abusive churches.

Morag Zwartz is an investigative journalist who has carried out extensive research in piecing together the origins, history and practises of this cult, which has its origins both in the Latter Rain Movement and William Offiler’s Bethel Temple.  The book is divided into two main parts.  The first deals with a rapacious leader eventually brought down by one of the victims of his voracious sexual appetite: Ray Jackson.  The first half  of the book centres on Melbourne and deals with a church called Immanuel, with Ray Jackson as its chief leader/prophet.

The second half of the book focuses on Brisbane where the new undisputed leadership of the post-Immanuel church resides.  Vic Hall and Murray Wyllie become the centre of attention and in particular the pathological way in which the bizarre, esoteric doctrines of the church are enforced.  The methodology often involves the driving apart of marriages, families and extended families and in many cases the breakdown of people subjected to public humiliation, public rejection, spiritual and emotional abuse, and the teaching that they have lost their salvation.

ABC 4 Corners journalist Chris Masters is quoted on the book cover as saying:

“The proposition that a church might operate to the moral standards of a girlie bar or tobacco company is ideal for investigation.”   Chris Masters flew in from Sydney to address the book launch in Brisbane last weekend.  He said that in his long career of investigative journalism it had taken him 100 episodes of the award winning 4 Corners before he focused on a church.  He said that throughout his 25 year career in journalism he had witnessed terrible scenes of destruction and death.  Within those circumstances he had always encountered the church – in a caring and interventionist capacity.

It is against this backdrop of a life of experiencing a caring and compassionate Christian church that his research of BCF shocked him.  What he began to unravel was the antithesis of the church he had experienced in so many parts of the world. The reach of BCF extends through many branches all under the control of central command:

Brisbane Christian Fellowship

Melbourne Christian Fellowship

Melbourne Christian Fellowship Sunbury

Toowoomba Christian Fellowship

Stanthorpe Christian Fellowship

Sydney Christian Fellowship

Citywide Christian Fellowship Cairns

Sunshine Coast Christian Fellowship

Maryborough Christian Fellowship

Warwick Christian Fellowship

Citywide Christian Fellowship Adelaide

Perth Christian Fellowship

This book is an important work that ilfts the lid on a pernicious and abusive church culture which many people are trapped by virtue of family & marriage, and also a church that many fall into unawares.  It never ceases to amaze me that the BCF people I encounter are all upper middle class, highly educated people who seem to be under a spell.  A normal, rational thinking person would laugh Vic Hall out of town but somehow many of these people willingly allow their lives to be controlled and manipulated by these men and their esoteric, self serving teaching.”

From http://neobaptist.com/2008/12/18/apostles-of-fear/

 

Pastor Mark Conner blogs…

“I am currently reading a recently released book by Morag Zwartz entitled Apostles of Fear. It is a tragic story about a number of events that have taken place over the years in two related churches: Melbourne Christian Fellowship (formerly called “Immanuel”) and Brisbane Christian Fellowship, under the leadership of Vic Hall. The injustices done to so many people over so many years needs bringing to the light and confronting appropriately.

My dad, Kevin Conner, was involved in Immanuel (now Melbourne Christian Fellowship) in the very early years. Ray Jackson was the leader of the church at the time and after becoming aware of some of the immorality taking place, my dad confronted Ray directly. Unfortunately, Ray did not respond and he began to shut my dad down and eventually excommunicated him from the church. My dad continued to help people as he was able but was basically cut off from the church.

Our family moved to the USA in 1971 where we lived for 10 years. When we returned in 1981 we became involved with Richard Holland and Waverley Christian Fellowship (now CityLife Church). By this time Richard had cut off all relationship with Immanuel. Essentially, my dad has had nothing much to do with Immanuel since 1971.

Morag had a brief meeting with my dad and I while doing research for her book. Unfortunately, because my dad didn’t know Morag, he chose not to say very much at all to her about his experiences with Immanuel. As a result, Morag ends up shedding a fairly negative light on my dad and his perceived lack of action in confronting issues within this church. Due to people such as my dad not saying much to Morag, she makes a number of unsubstantiated claims in her book and she lacks some of the details needed to paint a complete picture of what actually took place.

What I do know is that my dad has been very saddened by the developments that have taken place in Immanuel after his departure and the many people who have been hurt. He believes that he did all he could at the time in confronting Ray Jackson and he has helped as many people who have left as he has been able to.

Hopefully, this book will be a wakeup call against all forms of abusive leadership within any church, a leadership style which is so un-Christlike. I pray it will also encourage those within cultic groups characterised by fear, manipulation, and control to leave and to know that there is hope and healing available for them.”

From http://markconner.typepad.com/catch_the_wind/2008/12/apostles-of-fear.html

Triple dipping

The Philippine Star reports…

“Instead of perpetually criticizing the government, the Catholic Church – to which 85 percent of Filipinos are flock members – should do its share in providing relief for hard-up parishioners by doing away with burdensome second and even third collections.

This was suggested yesterday by Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, who underscored the sorry plight of the laity in light of the continuous rise in the cost of living – both in cities and rural areas.

“The church should try to regulate the second and third collections,” she told reporters who attended the weekly Serye forum in Quezon City.

The lawmaker, herself a Catholic, clarified she is not speaking ill of the church, but is only making practical suggestions.

“The first collection should already have been budgeted, whether a percentage should go to the priest, a certain amount for (church) management and an allocation for charity.”

The first collection usually goes to the maintenance of the church, while the second or third collections are usually allotted for the improvement, construction or beautification of churches, and for other church-related advocacies.

Garin also proposed a significant reduction in the exorbitant fees charged by the church for KBLs –kasal (wedding), binyag (christening) and libing (funerals).

“Many are not buried or baptized (because of the excessive fees). Many also do not get married because of the choir and decoration in church” which, she lamented, are pre-requisites.

The senior administration legislator also proposed that the local Catholic hierarchy “stop remitting to other countries” its collections because the Philippines seems to be “subsidizing” other countries, which should not be the case.

The church, which wields enormous influence in Philippine politics, and whose transactions are all tax-free as guaranteed in the constitutionally enshrined separation of church and state, has been criticizing the government for its imposition of unnecessary taxes.

Garin observed that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the powerful bloc that often condemns government policies, has been full of assessments and analyses but always fall short on providing solutions.

“The CBCP keeps on criticizing the government but they do not give concrete alternative solutions,” she stressed.

“It all boils down to population, many are already poor,” the lawmaker, an obstetrician-gynecologist by profession, said.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol, who was among the guests at the forum, insisted they do not expect any good word from the Catholic bishops, because they have always been critical of the administration.”

From http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=72294

It was Esau they hated

The Cape Argus reports…

“At least a dozen members of the Holy Redeemer Anglican Church in Sea Point say they are fed up with the antics of their priest, Father Matthew Esau, and want him removed from the church.

On Monday the members staged a sit-out during the service and after church, those protesting were locked out of the building while the rest of the congregation had their tea.

The disgruntled members of the congregation have written and signed letters addressed to Cape Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba citing reasons why they want Esau removed.

In a letter which is in the possession of the Cape Argus, former church warden Alastair Fraser said Esau showed no interest in the growth of the congregation which has diminished by 50 percent since his inception about three years ago.

The letter also slams Esau’s managerial style as destructive and says he had no respect for the congregation and often used foul language during meetings.

When the Cape Argus put the members’ grievances to Esau, he said: “I know nothing about this or of any allegations or resignations”. Esau said he had seen nothing in writing, conducted no meetings nor liaised telephonically with the members.

At least four council members have resigned from the church as they could no longer “deal with his unreasonable and irrational behaviour”. They also accused him of greed and arrogance.

“He was a very angry man once it was clear to him that the church council would not allow him to have the whole rectory as office space.

Susan Diedericks, another member of the congregation, said the church was astonished when John Benfield, the treasurer, had resigned.

“It is all a money issue, our treasurer was an asset to this church. Father Matt condemned the cookery book and 2009 calendar because he didn’t have a part in it, but it would’ve brought money into the church,” she said.

Elizabeth Gidlan said: “We can’t accept Holy Communion out of his hands. We are sick and tired of this man”.

The controversial Esau made headlines when he pleaded guilty to misappropriating nearly R500 000 from the now defunct Athlone NGO, Careers Resource Information Centre, in the Cape High Court last year.

He was ordered to pay R100 000 to USAid, the US government’s aid agency, and was sentenced to serve 104 hours of community service. His three-year suspension from the ministry was suspended for three years.

The Cape Argus could not get hold of the Archbishop or his office for comment.”

From http://www.capeargus.co.za/?fSectionId=3571&fArticleId=vn20081215112450853C983659

Come to church – pray for a car

 

Photo:Fabrizio Costantini for The New York Times

The New York Times reports…

“The Sunday service at Greater Grace Temple began with the Clark Sisters song “I’m Looking for a Miracle” and included a reading of this verse from the Book of Romans: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Pentecostal Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, who shared the sanctuary’s wide altar with three gleaming sport utility vehicles, closed his sermon by leading the choir and congregants in a boisterous rendition of the gospel singer Myrna Summers’s “We’re Gonna Make It” as hundreds of worshippers who work in the automotive industry — union assemblers, executives, car salesmen — gathered six deep around the altar to have their foreheads anointed with consecrated oil.

While Congress debated aid to the foundering Detroit automakers Sunday, many here whose future hinges on the decision turned to prayer.

Outside the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, a sign beckoned passers-by inside to hear about “God’s bailout plan.” Roman Catholic churches in the Detroit area distributed a four-page letter from Cardinal Adam Maida, the archbishop, offering “some pastoral insights and suggestions about how we might prepare to celebrate Christmas this year when economic conditions are so grim.”

In the letter, Cardinal Maida acknowledged that “things in Michigan will probably never be the same” but encourages the region’s 1.3 million Catholics to maintain their faith. “At this darkest time of the year, we proclaim that Christ is our light and Christ is our hope,” he wrote.

Last week Cardinal Maida gathered 11 Detroit-area religious leaders, representing Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations, to call on Congress to approve the $34 billion in government-backed loans that the automakers have requested.

At Greater Grace Temple, an 8,000-member Pentecostal church in northwest Detroit, the Sunday service was dedicated to addressing the uncertainty facing workers whose livelihood depends on the well-being of General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler.

“We have never seen as midnight an hour as we face this coming week,” Bishop Ellis said, referring to the possibility that Congress would soon vote on a deal to give the carmakers enough money to stay afloat into next year.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but we need prayer,” he said. “When it’s all said and done, we’re all in this thing together.”

Greater Grace, the largest church in Detroit, invited officials from the United Automobile Workers union to speak before Bishop Ellis gave his sermon, titled “A Hybrid Hope.”

The S.U.V.’s on the stage, a Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Escape and Chrysler Aspen on loan from local dealerships, were all gas-electric hybrids, and Bishop Ellis urged worshipers to combat the region’s woes by mixing hope with faith in God.

“We have done all that we can do in this union, so I turn it over to the Lord,” General Holiefield, a U.A.W. vice president for Chrysler, told the crowd. A vice president for the parts suppliers, James Settles Jr., asked those present “to continue your prayers, so we can see a miracle next week.”

Bishop Ellis encouraged the congregation to pray, not that Congress would “do the right thing” and approve loaning money to the car companies, but that Detroiters would “make it” through these tough times.

“We’ve got to keep the faith,” said Mike Young, 47, who works for the Dana Corporation, a parts supplier, and has spent more than three months of this year on furlough. His factory, in the suburb of Auburn Hills, builds drive shafts for Chrysler, which has said it would soon run out of money without billions of dollars in aid from Congress. “But you can’t count on that,” Mr. Young said. “All my hope is in God.”

 

From http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/us/08pray.html?_r=2&ref=us

Kenya’s pastor-robbers

The Standard reports…

“The Lord has revealed to me that someone here is about to surrender Sh50,000 which will be miraculously doubled,” an evangelist announced at a charged crusade in Nakuru.

One by one people stepped forward with cash as he kept lowering the amount all the way down to a meagre Sh10.

A woman who hurried home to fetch loan money her husband had just withdrawn from a bank was lucky to escape with just a divorce when her husband learnt of it. The preacher has not been seen in the town since.

In Nairobi Wangeci (not her real name) was approached by two smartly dressed men with Bibles under their arms who identified themselves as preachers. They offered to alleviate her financial woes by doubling whatever money she had.

Just then a woman joined them and excitedly thanked the two for doubling her money moments before. Convinced, Wangechi handed over Sh10,000, her entire salary, in a manila envelope and got it back after a long prayer in an alley. On reaching home, she hurriedly tore open the bulky envelope only to find some neatly arranged newspaper cuttings.

The Bible is fast replacing the gun as a weapon of robbery. It is more effective, and less likely to arouse suspicion from the police. Today, the streets of our urban centres are swarming with Bible-totting conmen who take advantage of the prevailing economic woes in the country.

And the churches are not any safer, for here are to be found even more of these preachers whose greedy eyes are set on the wallets of their gullible followers. But they must first tame the soul and mind. A friend once joked: “You wanna get rich? Start a church!”

Preaching in Kenya is now a booming business, as the hallowed isle is fast being transformed into a cutthroat business venture. A dead conscience is all you need, and you are in business.

From their glittering limousines that sweep into the church compound like the limos of Hollywood stars, these pastors are a symbol of opulence.

In ‘church’ the pastor performs on stage like a pop star, dressed in an expensive suit while a live band belts out catchy Christian tunes from the background through giant amplifiers.

Some of them are even led by bodyguards in and out of their crowded churches. The kind of lavish living exhibited by some of the country’s popular evangelists is enough to turn any politician green with envy.

On Sundays many pastors drive in stylish, mainly four-wheel-drive cars from plush upmarket homes to meet their flock. And in rural areas, their palatial houses stand out amidst poor village huts. It is not uncommon to see a lone costly car parked outside a ramshackle iron-sheet church. The car happens to be the pastor’s.

‘Financial breakthrough’ has become a favourite subject of sermonizing for these charismatic preachers. Also known as the ‘prosperity gospel’ or ‘seed planting’, the doctrine requires that you, as a condition for getting rich, give up what you have to the preacher and declare your wish — a car, house, job a plot.

Some of the preachers have been known to move their followers to sell their cars and houses to give money to the church. Not a few people have taken loans from their places of work only to surrender it all to their pastors with the hope of reaping a bumper ‘harvest’.

From http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144001129&cid=349

Kenneth Copeland forced to pay tax on ‘ministry’ jet

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports…

“A $3.6 million jet owned by Kenneth Copeland Ministries will remain taxable property after a Tarrant Appraisal District review board on Monday denied a protest filed by Copeland’s attorneys, who were seeking to make it tax-free.

The district had denied the jet’s tax-exempt status because Copeland’s ministry refused to disclose salaries of its directors and employees, including Copeland, his wife and other ministers. The ministry has also refused a U.S. senator’s request for compensation information.

David Middlebrook, an attorney for Copeland, said the ministry, also known as Eagle Mountain International Church, will consider its legal options but declined to elaborate on what those may be. The jet in question is a 1998 Cessna Bravo 550, which seats nine people. Taxes on the jet would be about $75,000, a district official said. The ministry is based in Newark, northwest of Fort Worth.

Rick Duncan, another attorney for Copeland, said that revealing ministers’ salaries should be a concern to all churches in Tarrant County and that the request for salaries was unprecedented in his experience.

At Monday’s appraisal review board hearing, Duncan said that the ministry has not been given any reason why the information is necessary and that such information was “universally ignored” in the past.

“That information, if provided, is going to be public information and anyone can walk in off the street and get that,” he said during the hearing. “And we think that has all kinds of privacy concerns, not just for Eagle Mountain but every church in Tarrant County.”

Duncan also said the church has provided an audit to the district. District officials said it had an affidavit from the church’s accountant but not an audit.

The affidavit was accepted in lieu of a salary list on previous Copeland ministry aircraft exemptions, district officials said. But this year the district, under new leadership, started enforcing the salary disclosures.

“We do receive this information from all churches,” said Ruby Bressman, the district’s senior exemption specialist. “Before, some of them used to send [the district] audits, but as of 2008 that’s not accepted.”

The request for a salary list is standard on a form provided by the state comptroller’s office and used by the district.

Pete Evans, chief investigator of the televangelist watchdog group Trinity Foundation of Dallas, who attended the review board hearing, said donors have a right to know how their money is being spent.

“I think that there’s a total lack of transparency. They’re hiding behind their church designation,” Evans said. “They claim that it’s an issue of privacy rather than of secrecy, but the net result is the same. They get away with whatever they want and use the church as their own piggy bank.”

Other aircraft

The ministry owns at least four aircraft, including a $17.5 million Citation X. Other Copeland aircraft that are already tax-exempt are not expected to be affected, officials said. Exemptions are reviewed every 10 years unless someone files a complaint, officials said.

The aircraft are used for disaster relief, prison outreach, church meetings, worldwide conventions and other church activities about 90 percent of the time, the church has said.

The rest of the time they are used for personal trips, and “individuals are all charged for personal use of planes … These are all legal activities,” the ministry said last year.

But unclear are layovers of ministry jets in Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii, and the Fiji Islands, according to a letter sent last year to the ministry by U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. Grassley has asked for financial details from several televangelists after reports of lavish lifestyles enjoyed by the ministers. So far, the Copelands have refused, but they said they would cooperate with an IRS inquiry.”

From http://www.star-telegram.com/176/story/1081240.html

The first-ever half-decent Christian television advertisement

(produced by ChristLife West Toowoomba Presbyterian Church)

Roll up! Roll up! See the man with ’spiritual hiccups’

Eastside Church, Mt Gambier, South Australia

Being defrauded is ‘your Christian duty’

macon.com reports…

“A former Macon pastor and a former Macon banker were indicted Tuesday by a Bibb County grand jury on RICO charges stemming from an alleged scheme to swindle church members into taking out fraudulent loans totaling more than $600,000, according to court records.

The indictment names Steven Pittman, a former employee of BB&T Bank in Macon and Jimmy Collins, former pastor of God’s Worship Center on Gray Highway.

Collins said he was unaware of the indictment. “Nothing was done intentional or unethical,” he said Tuesday. He said he was going to get legal counsel and declined to comment further.

The indictment charges Collins and Pittman with violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, bank fraud, criminal attempt to commit bank fraud, residential mortgage fraud, criminal attempt to commit residential mortgage fraud, forgery, theft, criminal attempt to commit theft by taking and theft by deception, according to court records.

Between July 5, 2002, and May 16, 2008, Pittman and Collins allegedly used Pittman’s position as a bank officer to obtain loans and lines of credit for about 10 church members, according to the records.

As pastor of the church, Collins is accused of using his position and influence to identify potential borrowers who “lacked financial sophistication” to “assist” the church, the church’s One Step alcohol and drug rehabilitation program or the Car Vision car lot in which he was a silent partner, according to court records.

Collins allegedly convinced his congregation that “it was their Christian duty and they needed to obtain these loans in order to fulfill God’s will for their lives,” according to the records.

Collins further is accused of telling church members that they were at no personal financial risk because the church, One Step or car lot would be responsible for any repayment for the bank loans, according to the records.

Collins and Pittman provided false financial information about the church members in banking documents, submitted forged documents to the bank and misrepresented the true use of the loan funds, according to court records.”

From http://www.macon.com/198/story/552096.html

Studying the sacred texts

RIA Novosti reports…

“Russian Orthodox monasteries have begun exploiting modern technology and are now accepting requests for prayers for the living and the dead by email or through mobile phone text messages, a respected Russian daily said on Monday.

Izvestia wrote that one such monastery, northern Russia’s Valaam Monastery, charges 150 rubles ($6.3) for a ’sorokoust’, a prayer for the living or the dead by a priest in church each morning for forty days in a row. The paper specified that the monastery used the WebMoney payment system.

Another monastery in the Vladimir Region receives donations via text messages.

However, the Russian Orthodox Church did not rule out that believers could fall victim to fraud. “It seems to me it is better to personally visit a church or help those you know,” said priest Mikhail Prokopenko, a spokesman for the Moscow Patriarchate, the Russian Church’s governing body.

However, Alexei Osipov, a professor at the Moscow Theological Academy, said it would be “sad if people treat the Church as a common service center,” noting however that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with monks using the Internet.”

From http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080505/106601877.html

Police: Pastor played ‘musical money’

WSBTV reports…

“Smyrna police said the pastor of a metro Atlanta church funneled money from an apartment complex where he worked during the week to his church’s account.

Police said all they did was follow the money. Security deposits meant to go to former tenants of a Smyrna apartment complex ended up in an unusual bank account.

“Where these security deposit refund checks were issued by the company and then the victim’s names were forged on the checks and they were deposited into an account for the Sanctuary Church of the Living God in Decatur,” said Lt. Tony Leonard with the Smyrna Police Department.

It turned out one of the property managers at Mission Galleria was Maurice Easley, who happens to be pastor of the aforementioned Sanctuary Church of the Living God.

Police said their investigation expanded, eventually totaling nearly $70,000 of deposits, rent payments, and fees meant for the apartment complex. Police said the money was instead directed to the church.

“What Mr. Easley was doing apparently was he was playing musical money with some of the checks. He was using some accounting fraud practices to cover his trail to what he was doing,” said Leonard.

An arrest warrant said the thefts started in 2006 and went through early 2008, when the apartment company did an audit.

Pastor Easley was not at the home listed as his address Monday and an administrator reached at the church would not comment.

Many of the victims, police said, probably still don’t know they are victims.

“Since many of these people that were supposed to be receiving these checks were no longer residents there and may not have been aware they were supposed to be receiving a security deposit refund, they weren’t aware the checks were missing,” said Leonard.

Easley bonded out of the Cobb County Jail on a $75,000 bond.”

From http://www.wsbtv.com/news/18230722/detail.html

Story video http://www.wsbtv.com/video/18230993/index.html

Go get ‘em Grassley

Short, balding poppy syndrome

The New Zealand Herald reports…

“In 2001, Pat Mesiti was living his dream. He had managed to overcome a deeply troubled upbringing to become one of Australia’s most popular, and wealthy, evangelists. He had his own TV show, a lucrative career as a motivational speaker, a mansion in a flash Sydney suburb, a devoted wife and two beautiful daughters.

And then it all turned into a nightmare. It was discovered that he had been visiting prostitutes. He was sacked as national director of Australian Christian Churches and stripped of his licence to minister. His marriage imploded.

For the Australian media, the scandal was even more delicious as the same church had been rocked by a similar saga just two years previously. Its spiritual leader, Frank Houston, had been forced to resign amid allegations he had sexually abused young members of his congregation while a minister in New Zealand.

“I lost everything,” Mesiti recalls. “I was so depressed that I couldn’t talk for two years. I struggled with my mental health.”

Yet seven years on, Mesiti claims business has never been better. While he is no longer a minister, he is back on the speaking circuit and doing what he loves most – preaching what he practises.

After some serious soul-searching, he has a new wife, another daughter and a very busy diary. He got himself back on track, he explains, “one day at a time, and one friend at a time”.

Next week he will visit New Zealand, courtesy of The Knowledge Gym, for a seminar titled “The Mind to Succeed”.

His message? If you want to be successful, hang out with successful people. If you want to make money, you have to make a plan. Follow your passion, be prepared to make changes in your life, and go for it.

Naturally, it’s a bit more complicated than that, he insists.

“I don’t just do the cheesy American stuff – ‘you’re amazing, you’re wonderful’. I tell people: ‘If you want to grow your business, you’ve got to grow yourself first’.”

In fact, Mesiti has visited New Zealand many times over the past few years and claims to love the place. It would be his first choice of somewhere to live other than Australia, he gushes. Or maybe second, after the Amalfi coast in Italy.

One of the things he likes about New Zealand is that the tall poppy syndrome is not as bad here as it is across the Tasman. Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he? But if his testimonials are true, then Mesiti does indeed still have the gift of the gab.

It has to be said that none of the information about his hasty departure from Sydney’s infamous Hillsong Church is included in his publicity material, and it certainly isn’t mentioned in his Celebrity Speakers profile. But Mesiti is happy enough to talk about it – it is, after all, all there on the net.

“I made a terrible mistake and I paid dearly for it. Seven years on, I’ve put my life back together and I say to people: ‘Look, everyone makes mistakes’. My mistakes were an event. It doesn’t have to be a permanent condition in my life.

“When I share this story publicly … especially men, because men struggle with sexual issues. And it happens all the time, and they don’t have to kill themselves for it. In my talks, I talk about men and women and relationships a lot.”

He is understandably reluctant to promote his religious views in his marketing, but says his faith has never wavered.

When I mention that there appear to be some similarities between Hillsong and New Zealand’s Destiny Church, he is diplomatic.

Hillsong, which remains one of Australia’s fastest-growing churches despite its bad press, is these days led by Frank Houston’s son, Brian.

As well as a book on sex, Brian is the author of You Need More Money: Discovering God’s Amazing Financial Plan for Your Life. According to press articles, Brian owns a Harley-Davidson. And his father Frank, who died four years ago, was known as “The Bishop”.

Mesiti confirms he has met Destiny’s Brian Tamaki and wishes him all the best, but is quick to note that his own view is that you shouldn’t judge other people’s morals.

These days he finds that people often want to talk to him about their problems.

“I’ve always been a bit of a radical. I was one of the first ones to bring in the rock music, and the drums. But no one made me the moral police of people’s lives.

“If someone’s struggling with a challenge, or a sexual issue, I’m not going to beat them up. I want to help people, I really do, and I’m not going to beat up on anybody I’m trying to reach.”

Mesiti has talked to all kinds of groups in New Zealand, from real estate agents to schoolchildren.

He still helps run a drug rehab course known as Teen Challenge, which has a branch in New Zealand. And he continues to both raise money and donate a fair chunk of his earnings to charity – supporting underprivileged kids in Uganda, for example.

“Once you become a giver, greed is conquered. In our organisation, we feed about 7000 kids a month in Third World countries. I’m also very involved in drug rehabilitation of teenagers in high school.”

Like many others, he blames the current state of the world’s economy on greed. Yet lots of people still want to know how to make more money, it seems.

Earlier this year, Mesiti shared a platform with Donald Trump in Australia. He also runs a millionaire’s club. This week the club scored a phone interview with American economist Paul Zane Pilzer, a former adviser to Ronald Reagan, who was due to share his thoughts on possible solutions to our economic woes.

So far, Mesiti complains, there have been an awful lot of people keen to wallow in the mud of the worst recession in decades. But very few have been keen to talk about how we get ourselves out of it.

Despite, or perhaps because of, his own personal dramas, Mesiti is resolutely one of the “glass half full” brigade, although – to his credit – he doesn’t mention the phrase. But he does note that current share prices are a fabulous opportunity. It’s the same in your personal life, he says.

“One of the things I teach people is when you fail, you’ve got to fall forward. Having a family breakdown is an awful thing to happen. I wouldn’t wish that on any parent’s children. But I’ve got three beautiful daughters and they’re all doing great. They all love their daddy, and I love them.”

I manage to squeeze out of him what he has bought his new wife for Christmas. All I’m allowed to print is that I’m sure she will be very pleased. I don’t think he’ll mind me also saying that it probably cost a fortune.

Money might not buy you happiness, but I suspect that in Mesiti’s world, it still helps.”

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10546655

Slaves to righteousness

The Age reports…

“Jesus have mercy on me, I’m dying of exhaustion.” That plaintive cry came from a Chinese teenager who had just finished yet another 19-hour shift producing crucifixes for sale in churches.

Christians in Australia have strongly supported the FairWear campaign for clothing outworkers and fair trade in coffee and tea, but might unwittingly be involved in some of the worst exploitation: workers producing devotional souvenirs, gifts and trinkets.

The Uniting Church in Australia has launched a campaign, Just Holy Hardware, to work with retailers and wholesalers to reduce exploitation and to educate Australian Christians.

“I don’t think many Christians would want to buy a product celebrating their faith made under great exploitation,” said Antony McMullen of the church’s justice and peace unit.

The scandal broke when America’s National Labor Committee bought a cheap crucifix in New York and traced it back to a Chinese factory where workers were labouring in appalling conditions. Investigators found women and girls — such as the 15-year-old quoted above — working up to 19 hours a day, seven days a week for 40 cents an hour, from which money is deducted for accommodation and food. They sleep in filthy dormitories and eat hot water with a few vegetable leaves.”

From http://www.theage.com.au/national/slave-trade-in-religious-souvenirs-20081206-6swy.html

The Wichita lyin’ man

The Emporia Gazette reports…

“A man convicted of scamming his family and church friends in McPherson, Kan., for more than $500,000 has been sentenced to almost four years in federal prison.

David E. Burkholder, 55, of San Francisco, Calif., received a 46-month prison sentence for making fraudulent claims that resulted in his receiving more than a half million dollars from the McPherson-area residents.

Burkholder had pleaded guilty in September to 24 counts of wire fraud and agreed to pay $548,000 in restitution to his victims, according to information from Jim Cross, public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wichita.

In his plea, Burkholder admitted that from 2003 through April 2005, while he was living in California, he fraudulently persuaded his parents in McPherson to raise $548,000 on his behalf from friends and members of their church.

In furtherance of his scheme, Burkholder fraudulently claimed:

- He owed singer Barbara Streisand more than $100,000 to terminate a contract between her and his partnership.

- He needed money to settle a personal injury lawsuit in which a woman was claiming to have miscarried due to the accident.

- That one of his business partners had been killed in a tsunami and he needed cash to give the deceased partner’s family.

- That he would repay people who gave him money by selling his rental property on Aztec Street in San Francisco.

- That he was going to be paid a $1 million signing bonus when his partnership incorporated.

 As a result of Burkholder’s false statements, his parents caused funds to be transmitted by wire transfer from McPherson to San Francisco, Cross said.

 Parker commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.”

From http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2008/dec/06/scam_garners_500000_mcpherson_residents/

Wolf in Wolfe’s clothing

The Arizona Republic reports…

“A  judge has ruled that the owners of a non-profit Christian investment company committed fraud and called for them to repay $11 million to investors they swindled in Arizona and 11 other states.

The administrative-law judge also said that Chandler residents Ed Purvis and Gregg Wolfe should pay $250,000 in fines for their part in operating Nakami Chi Group Ministries.

The judge’s ruling must be ratified by the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates securities and oversees corporations in the state. The commission is scheduled to vote on the Nakami case before the end of the year.

The ruling crowns a three-year investigation by the Corporation Commission into Valley-based Nakami, which investigators say targeted churchgoers as part of a Ponzi scheme, including at least one pastor, church elders and members of Chandler Christian Church and Vineyard Church in Avondale.

None of the principals could be reached for comment Friday. Purvis has denied any wrongdoing.

Wolfe last year agreed to turn state’s evidence and admitted to investigators that he and Purvis for years funneled millions of dollars in investors’ money into offshore accounts as part of the scheme.

Tony Senarighi of Prescott, a one-time investor who testified against the pair, said he was pleased with the ruling. “They are crooks,” said Senarighi, who invested $50,000 with Purvis and later got it back from him. “They took other people’s money. … There was a lot of deception here.”

The civil ruling could lead to a criminal-fraud investigation into a case that has already involved accusations of fraud, bribery of a police officer, harassment of public officials and a series of bizarre legal filings against lawyers, a judge, investigators and a reporter.

A Ponzi, or pyramid, scheme is an investment scam that uses money from new investors to pay old investors. Authorities said that, while he promised investors 24 percent annual returns, Purvis was dipping into their money to buy cars and jewelry, make a down payment on an $800,000 home, and pay gambling debts and other personal expenses.

Evidence led the judge, Marc Stern, to set the restitution order at $11 million, but the Corporation Commission could vote to lower or raise the amount.

The judge said there was ample evidence to show that Purvis and Wolfe’s wives knowingly benefited and ordered Maureen Purvis and Allison Wolfe to share in the fines and restitution.

Ed Purvis is serving an 18-month prison sentence at Safford after being convicted in May of bribing a Chandler police officer and on four counts of harassing public officials in an attempt to thwart the Corporation Commission’s investigation.

Purvis and Wolfe filed so-called admiralty claims against two attorneys investigating the fraud allegations, a judge in the case and the clerk of Maricopa County Superior Court. They also filed liens and lawsuits against a financial adviser who alerted authorities to their scheme and an reporter.

Admiralty law concerns ships and commerce on navigable waters, but groups with roots in militia movements have used it to suggest that it supersedes the Constitution.

Purvis and Wolfe told investors that their company was worth $170 billion and controlled assets around the world, including gold mines, Australian developments, telecom firms, banks and a Phoenix technology company.

A Republic investigation in 2006 raised questions about the size and holdings of Nakami, which used a Scottsdale post-office box as its company business address.

State records showed Purvis was a licensed practical nurse and Wolfe is a former roofing contractor. Records also show Purvis and Wolfe do not have brokers’, lenders’ or banking licenses.”

From http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/12/06/20081206purvis1206.html

The flip side of faith – the vivid imagination

WPTV reports…

“Suffering for nearly a decade with countless medical problems, Pamela Latrimore was waiting for a miracle.

She says, “I pray and talk to God about my health.”

She prayed, like always, while getting an MRI in 2002 and while looking through old medical records this week says she found evidence of that prayer being answered.

Latrimore claims her step-daughter first noticed an image of the Virgin Mary in one of the brain images,

Latrimore tells NewsChannel 5, “She’s like, ‘Oh my God, you have the  Mother Mary in your head.”

The picture gave her divine inspiration of how to pay some of her overwhelming medical bills; she’s posting it for sale on eBay.

She admits, she’s heard from some people who don’t think the image looks like anything divine – some even calling it a blasphemous scam.

But she says her intentions are good, explaining she’s trying to help not only herself but everyone else suffering from similar medical issues.

Latrimore claims her health problems were caused by Agent Orange, that, according to the Department of Justice, was manufactured and leaked in her hometown, Jacksonville Arkansas decades ago.

She hopes to use the eBay sale to raise awareness, saying, “Even if I got a dollar for it, for the amount of people who would look at it and read the story underneath it, that would be, for me, blessing enough.”

It’s a blessing she admits is unconventional, but feels is too picture perfect to pass up.

Latrimore adds, “I’m not going to question it and I believe God works in miraculous ways.”

She plans to post the sale on eBay Saturday morning, and has not decided what the starting bid will be.”

From http://www.wptv.com/content/tcoast/story/Local-woman-claims-to-find-Virgin-Mary-image-in/BlY_gVLVnUmXpTJ72F4adQ.cspx

You’ve already got a criminal record for forgery? Sure, you can be our pastor

The Statesville Record & Landmark reports…

“The pastor of a Love Valley area church faces 13 charges after authorities said he conned a church member into giving him money for real estate and a vehicle.

Jeffrey Lynn Lambert, 46, of Statesville is listed as the pastor of the Crossroads Gospel Church near Love Valley.

Lt. Stanley Watkins of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office charged Lam-bert with 12 counts of ob-taining property by false pretense and one count of felony conversion by bailee on Tuesday. His bond was set at $15,000.

Watkins said the case began when Edward Strelko, a disabled Vietnam veteran, filed a report with Detective Sgt. Allen Sipes of the fraud unit.

Strelko told Sipes he met Lambert at the church after Streklo began attending services there.

After several weeks, Strelko said, Lambert offered to sell him some property off N.C. Highway 115 after learning he was looking for property in that area.

Lambert, Strelko said, told him the property belonged to a family member and it could be purchased cheaply. He then told Streklo it needed to be surveyed and asked him to pay for those services, Sheriff Phil Redmond said.

Strelko said he was shown the property and noticed a real estate sign.

He questioned Lambert about the sign and Lambert said the Realtor wasn’t able to sell the property, authorities said.

Sipes said Strelko was told by Lambert that a lawyer was needed, and he told him about a lawyer named Mary Snead.

Strelko gave Lambert money for the attorney. After not hearing anything, Strelko asked Lambert about the surveying and Lambert told him he fired two surveyors for not completing the work and a third was bitten by a copperhead snake while working, Sipes said.

On another occasion, knowing Strelko had an affinity for older cars, Lambert told him Snead was closing an estate for a client and he could purchase a 1966 Chevrolet Corvette, Sipes said.

Then Strelko said he received a call from someone saying she was Mary Snead. Eventually, they agreed on a price for the car, and the woman claiming to be Snead told Strelko to pay Lambert, who would in turn pay her, authorities said.

Sipes said Lambert then offered to get Strelko a mobile home for free, but he needed to pay to get the axles moved and for Snead to research the deed.

Strelko gave Lambert money for these transactions, and after several months of getting nothing but excuses from Lambert, Strelko went to the sheriff’s office, Sipes said.

Redmond said the investigation revealed the land didn’t belong to Lambert or anyone associated with him. Investigators could not locate the attorney either.

During this investigation, Redmond said, Roanne Fogle came forward and said she had a Toro riding mower she took to someone for repairs.

While the mower was at the repair shop, she decided to sell it and the repair shop owner took it to Lambert to sell.

Within a week, Redmond said, Lambert contacted Fogle and told her he wanted to purchase the mower himself.

He promised to pay by the end of July, and by September, had not paid her, Watkins said.

After a few more promises to pay, Fogle obtained civil paperwork, and Lambert was ordered to appear in civil court. Watkins said he did not appear and a judgment was issued against him in favor of Fogle, and she was told to report it to the sheriff’s office as well.

As a result, Watkins obtained the warrants on Lambert, who was arrested Tuesday.

Lambert recently completed a probationary sentence for a forgery charge in Catawba County, according to N.C. Department of Corrections records……”

From http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/dec/04/love-valley-pastor-faces-fraud-charges/

James Bidgood, MP, end times nutter

The Age reports…

“The Federal MP under pressure for trying to sell photos of a man threatening to set himself on fire, has declared the financial crisis is the biblical “end times” and an act of God.

James Bidgood, a first-year MP from Queensland, told a function in Parliament House in October that he believed a march of Christians through London in April 1987 brought about the 1987 financial crisis.

Mr Bidgood went on to explain the global financial crisis was the product of God’s judgement on the actions of bankers and that the world was now at the End of Days.

“There needs to be some justice and I believe there is God’s justice in action in what’s going on here (the financial crisis), ” Mr Bidgood said. “(If) we look at Bible prophecy, we are going towards a one-world bank and a one-world monetary system.

“And if you believe the word of God, and you read Revelations … you will see clearly what is being spelt out. We are in the End Times.”

Mr Bidgood was speaking at the Voices for Justice function, organised by the Micah Challenge, a multidenominational Christian group.

Micah co-ordinator Amanda Jackson told The Age Mr Bidgood had been invited to speak.

Mr Bidgood on Wednesday offered to sell pictures he took of a man threatening to set himself alight on the front lawn of Parliament House. The editor of the Daily Telegraph Garry Linnell, who bought the photos, confirmed yesterday a $1000 donation had been made in return for the photos.

A spokesman for Mr Rudd would not comment last night.

Mr Bidgood could not be contacted for comment yesterday.”

From http://www.theage.com.au/national/financial-crisis-is-all-gods-work-says-mp-20081204-6rpa.html

(Lance’s note – Mr. Bidgood’s church affiliation is not confirmed at this stage, but he’s acknowledged in Parliament his good friendship with the pastor of Mackay Christian Sh*tty Church.

“…..To my friend and the pastor of Christian City Church Mackay, John Gilbank, I thank you for all your prayers—more will be required……”

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/firstspeech.asp?id=HVM

““You will find the people of CCC Mackay love people, love God and march to a different beat. This is because they have found true purpose in life and real direction is unfolding before them.

We clap, we sing, lift our hands in worship and generally enjoy ourselves in God’s presence. Sometimes the presence of God comes heavily upon people being prayed for and they are unable to stand. It’s an awesome experience!”

http://www.cccmackay.org/content/view/12/26/ )

Pastors Mutual Enrichment Circuit update

The Bargain Basement

The Washington Post reports…

“They’re still ready for Armageddon at the Church Universal and Triumphant, a religious sect that for almost two decades has kept a bomb shelter stocked for 750 people deep in a forest near Yellowstone National Park.

Church leader Elizabeth Clare Prophet has been silenced by advanced Alzheimer’s disease. And her followers say they’ve given up the assault rifles and armored vehicles they amassed in the late 1980s _ part of a post-nuclear war “re-emergence” plan that brought national notoriety and a federal investigation.

Scrambling to stay current as it reaches its 50th anniversary, the church has transformed itself into a New Age publishing enterprise and spiritual university. But still in the background is its “insurance” against the end _ the shelter buried beneath a hillside on the sect’s 7,500 acre Royal Teton Ranch.

There, more than 20 feet underground, 22,000 hours of video and audio recordings of Prophet survive. They’re stacked alongside periodically rotated, floor-to-ceiling crates of canned fish, dried meats, grains and cooking oils.

“Like Benjamin Franklin said, an ounce of preparation and prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said Lois Drake, the church’s co-president.

On the grounds of the ranch _ the picturesque mountain property just outside Yellowstone the group purchased from billionaire Malcolm Forbes _ most of the decrepit trailers and worker’s shacks that once housed 700 of the church’s most faithful are gone.

In their place has risen a large, two-story office building. Behind the walls of a quiet lobby furnished with antiques, workers in cubicles busily translate Prophet’s words into 27 languages.

Nearby, a sparkling new chapel known as King Arthur’s Court hosts regular conferences such as the recent “Prayer Vigil for the God-Victory of the Elections and the Economy.”

Church wares, available online or from its gift shop, range from a wallet-sized “Chart of Your Divine Self” _ $1.25 apiece _ to a framed portrait of Elizabeth Clare Prophet for $239.95. The church’s publishing arm, Summit University Press, has sold more than 3 million books in the last decade.

The church’s parent organization, Summit Lighthouse, was founded by Elizabeth Prophet’s first husband, Mark, who spent years touring and preaching from a gold-painted Trailways bus.

After his death in 1973, Elizabeth Prophet eventually relocated the sect from California to Montana. She preached from an altar crowded with icons from the world’s major religions, mixing western philosophy and mysticism with a dose of Reagan-era patriotism _ and, by the mid-1980s, warnings of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, according to her daughter Erin, who has since left the church.

To ensure its survival, Erin Prophet said, the church spent an estimated $20 million to build the massive shelter near Yellowstone and many smaller ones in surrounding communities. As members amassed weapons for post-apocalypse protection, Elizabeth’s Prophet’s then-husband, Ed Francis, and at least one other church member were convicted of violating federal gun laws after purchasing some of the guns illegally.

In March 1990, thousands of church members who had descended on the Yellowstone area entered the shelters to await the end. In a new book called “Prophet’s Daughter,” Erin Prophet said her mother had predicted Soviet missiles were on the way. Church leaders today insist the incident was a drill.

After the predictions of doom went unrealized, the church gave up its firearms under an agreement with federal authorities. As Elizabeth Prophet’s charismatic presence faded, most of her followers left or moved into the nearby towns of Livingston and Bozeman.

Observers estimate that fewer than 10,000 remain, from a peak of 50,000. Church leaders refuse to give a number, saying membership information is “proprietary.”

Those adherents say their mission is no longer to absorb Prophet’s message, channeled from on high, but to disseminate her words through books, CDs and online tutorial services.

With spiritual teachings now offered over the Internet, the long-term goal is to expand beyond the church’s “physical community” and create an “online community”, said its second co-president, Kate Gordon.

“It’s time to get in touch with Facebook,” she said.

At a recent Sunday service at the church’s teaching center in Bozeman, about 30 of the still-faithful gathered in a room hung with portraits of Jesus, George Washington and St. Germain. A table at the front of the room displayed small statues of Buddha and the Virgin Mary. A sword and dagger lay near a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

The church’s Rev. Carla Groenewegen invoked Christopher Columbus and Camelot’s legendary wizard Merlin as spiritual guides, then led the congregation in singing “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” A video on a large flatscreen TV showed Elizabeth Prophet delivering a 1992 sermon in Atlanta _ closing her eyes and channeling messages from the “ascended masters” with a trancelike voice.

While Prophet’s warnings of Armageddon never materialized, church members say a quick glance at the news _ global financial instability, terrorism, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan _ suggests the doom she forecast is still unfolding.

“What we believe is that it has been happening for a number of years. It’s not over,” Drake said.

She refers to the shelter as “an insurance policy.”

Its main denizen these days is Michael Galloway, a church employee and coach for the local high school ski team. He’s maintained the shelter for the past 15 years _ making sure the stacks of food don’t spoil, flashlights have fresh batteries and mice populations are kept in check.

Inside sleeping compartments that line a long, narrow corridor are bunkbeds. Many are stacked with bags of clothes and other personnel effects from church members who never returned in the wake of the 1990 prophesy.

As Galloway exited through the shelter’s heavy steel doors _ past shipping containers stocked with camping supplies and other equipment _ he said the facility was stocked with enough food, water and fuel to last 750 people for 49 days.

“Even after all these years I don’t find it spooky at all,” he said as he stepped into the outside world. “I find it peaceful.”

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/25/AR2008112500441.html