Mr. 1% for President

ABS-CBN reports…

“Jesus is Lord (JIL) Church founder Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva will once again seek the highest post in the land “in the name of the Lord.” 
 
In the 2004 elections, Villanueva was the first evangelist to run for president. His party, the Bangon Pilipinas Movement, presented Villanueva as the righteous leader to usher in “new politics.” He was badly defeated.
 
In 2001, the Social Weather Stations estimated that the JIL’s voting strength was 307,000 or only 10% of its claimed membership. Today, JIL has 4 million members, Villanueva said. Both the SWS and Pulse Asia surveys show Villanueva’s poll rating at 1%.

He started off with 0.3% in the July 28-August 10, 2009 survey of Pulse Asia but climbed to 1% during the next two surveys.
 
In the series of SWS surveys conducted since September 2007, he started off with 0.5%. In the middle of the series, he scored lowest with 0.1% and took him a year to consistently move up in the standings until he reached 1% in the September 2009 survey.
 
Villanueva said in GMA 7’s presidential forum “Isang Tanong” that his 1% will be higher when the formal campaign period begins.
 
Analysts say his TV talk shows at QTV, Zoe TV and GMA 7 would not help him get votes: “TV exposure does not translate to votes,” Benito Lim, a Ateneo de Manila political science professor,  said.
 
Baggage
 
The murder charge against Villanueva’s son, Bocaue Mayor Eduardo “Jonjon” Villanueva Jr., is an issue that continues to surround the self-proclaimed “chosen President of God.”
 
It was “in the name of the Lord” that Villanueva appealed to the administration to dismiss the case filed against his son in 2007. This is in relation to a soldier’s death in the shootout between the army and the Villanuevas in his hometown of Bulacan on May 4, 2007. Eleven died on that day alone.
 
“God’s prophet” cried foul and said that this is the administration’s way of harassing him for asking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to resign from her post following the 2005 “Hello Garci” scandal.

 In 2005, Villanueva and his television network Zoe Broadcasting Network, Inc. were sued for not paying back Vintage TV (VTV) Corporation the amount of P20 million after their memorandum of understanding was mutually rescinded. He was later on dropped from charges filed by VTV Corporation with the appellate court in 2008.
 
Villanueva evaded arrest in 2005 after a graft case was filed against him by Benito Araneta, cousin of first gentleman Mike Arroyo. Villanueva entered into agreement to turn over the management, programming and marketing of Zoe Broadcasting to Araneta’s Entertainment Network Ltd. Araneta issued checks to Villanueva that totaled P15 million before finding out that Zoe broadcasting made previous agreements with VTV Corporation.
 
This was months after 200,000 JIL members rallied and asked GMA to step down.
 
The misdeeds of one of JIL’s prominent members somehow reflected negatively on Villanueva. Early 2009, Securities and Exchange Commissioner Jesus Martinez was accused of receiving house and lot gifts from Legacy Group founder Celso delos Angeles.
 
Martinez , in 2001, was a 3rd nominee of the Citizen’s Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC), JIL’s anti-corruption party-list. CIBAC only gathered enough votes to accommodate 2 seats in Congress.
 
In the heat of the Legacy Scandal [13], Martinez was disowned by the CIBAC party-list. CIBAC representative and JIL founder’s son Joel Villanueva said that Martinez is not even a JIL member and has not been active after the 2001 elections. 
 
Artistas and Josiah’s army
 
In the 2004 race, Christian showbiz personalities formed the “Bangon Artista” organization to support Villanueva. Big names—including matinee idol Piolo Pascual, former MTV VJ Donita Rose and singers Gary V. and Kuh Ledesma—publicly testified to Villanueva’s goodness and righteousness.
 
Villanueva’s campaign leaders called their electoral campaign “Oplan Josiah.” It was inspired by King Josiah of Judah who campaigned against pagan worship and idolatry.
 
Similar to Josiah’s story in the bible, Villanueva presented himself as someone who wanted to fight against “moral bankruptcy” and corruption, but in the Philippine setting.
 
Oplan Josiah’s strategy was similar to multi-level marketing or “networking.” They planned to recruit 7,000 Christian Church leaders who would recruit 7 volunteers; those 7 would recruit 7 more and so on. They hoped to get a total of 16.8 million votes come election time—higher than Estrada’s presidential win in 1998.
 
But this did not happen. Despite boasting of the then-3 million strong JIL, Villanueva only got 1.9 million votes, according to the final Congressional canvass. He did not even win in his hometown of Bulacan where he placed 4th (out of the 5 candidates) with only over 100,000 votes.
 
But this was to be expected. Pre-election surveys conducted by the SWS on the registered voters’ preferred presidential candidates from January to May 2004 showed that his highest poll rating was 4%.
 
Beyond the Church
 
Villanueva blamed “wholesale, nationwide cheating” for losing. But, campaign analysts said that Oplan Josiah limited its campaign to Christian groups.
 
Political analyst Ramon Casiple said that in order to win in the 2010 elections, Villanueva should not present himself as a religious candidate.
 
Voters, he said, do not vote based on a candidate’s religious beliefs. Even though Villanueva presents himself now as a morally upright candidate and not a religious leader, Casiple added that the public could not be blamed for associating Villanueva with the JIL.
 
Casiple said that in past elections people voted based on: 1) how platforms could help them in supporting their families, 2) recommendation of others and 3) media popularity which Villanueva’s camp failed to consider.
 
The seven E’s platform
 
Villanueva disclosed his 7 E’s platform during his declaration of candidacy at the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan.
 
He said that should he win, he will:

1. Empower the Filipinos;
2. Emancipate the Filipinos;
3. Educate the Filipinos;
4. Elevate the standard of living;
5. Energize the economy;
6. Eradicate corruption; and
7. Establish peace in the land.

 
Days before his declaration, The Inquirer reported that should he win, he would postpone the appointment of Secretary of National Defense (SND) and he would act as SND to overhaul the Armed Forces. He would demolish and destroy “the apparatus of corruption and all forms of injustice.” 
 
During his declaration, he mentioned that he will create more state colleges and universities and increase the education budget. 
 
Creating “economic growth centers” in each province will also be a priority. But he did not explain what these centers are.
 
Separation of Church and State
 
When Villanueva was studying bachelor of laws at the University of the Philippines , he said that he learned that separation of Church and State meant that the government has no say in the ecclesiastical duties and functions of the Church. He finished his law studies but failed to take the bar examinations because he devoted his time to activism during the Marcos regime.
 
He said that the separation meant that the government respects the religious freedom of the people and not prohibiting Church leaders to run.
 
He cited former US President John F. Kennedy’s experience as the first Catholic president of America : a Catholic bishop asked him to favor Catholics. To which JFK responded that he is a full-blooded democrat, his religion is secondary to him and that he will favor only what is favorable to all.
 
“I am a full-blooded democrat, religion cannot intrude in establishing a humane and just society,” the evangelist said.”

From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/30/09/tv-evangelist-seeks-presidency%E2%80%94again

The Bishop, the snakes and the body parts

Joy online reports…

“The General Overseer of the International God’s Way Church has promised to fully cooperate with the police in their investigation into a case of conspiracy to attack a rival evangelist.

The Suame police are investigating a case where Bishop Daniel Obinim is alleged to have contracted one Frank Annor who claims to be a former confidante to bury snakes and suspected human parts at the church premises of a rival pastor, Reverend Adarkwa Yiadom at Ahenema Kokoben in a scheme to ruin his reputation.

Bishop Daniel Obinim who was at the Suame police station over the weekend after a warrant was issued for his arrest has denied contracting anyone and ever knowing the so-called confidante.

Speaking to Nhyira FM’s Ohemeng Tawiah, the pastor referenced portions of the Bible – which suggested Jesus Christ survived several temptations – and said the allegations would amount to nothing.

For him the ordeal Christ suffered was worse than he is going through, insisting, it is all a frame-up.

Bishop Obinim said he believes strongly that Frank Annor had been contracted to disgrace him and collapse his church but adds that the God’s Way Church is strongly rooted in Christ and that these trials would amount to nothing.

“I am not disturbed at all by these developments,” he suggested.

Meanwhile the Christian Council of Ghana says recent war of words between the two Kumasi-based ministers of the gospel, calls for complete vigilance among Christians.

The council said the occurrences must give Christians a clear sense of direction in deciding their spiritual faith.”

From http://news.myjoyonline.com/news/200911/38633.asp

God made Adam and Eve, not Steve Fielding

The Age reports…

“Family First senator Steve Fielding has compared same-sex marriages to incest, as a Senate inquiry …… recommended against allowing gay marriage in Australia.

A day after the first legally recognised same-sex civil ceremony in Canberra, Senator Fielding spoke out against allowing gay couples to wed.

”A bloke cannot marry his brother; it is not right,” he said. ”A woman cannot marry their sister; it is not right. A bloke cannot marry a bloke because it is not right, and a female cannot marry a female because it is not right. I don’t support this.”

Labor senator Joe Ludwig reiterated the Rudd Government’s stance that gay relationships should be recognised across the nation in civil partnership schemes and not with marriage.

But Greens leader Bob Brown said the Government was made up of ”undemocratic wowsers” and ‘’sad sacks” who wanted to override the Australian Capital Territory laws allowing gay couples to hold a ceremony to create their legal relationship.

He said Labor’s reluctance to embrace gay marriage was a ”Howardian hangover”.

”Why on earth in 2009 can’t this Labor Government remove discrimination from people who care to love each other and want to engage in the same rights to publicly celebrating that connection that everybody else in the community has?” he said.

”It is just Howardian hangover by Rudd Labor. It is offensive, it is hurtful and it is destructive.”

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland this week asked the ACT Government to amend its civil partnerships ceremonies scheme, and it agreed…..

After strong advocacy from the Australian Christian Lobby, Mr McClelland sought changes meaning same-sex ceremonies would remain but they would have little legal effect.

After the ACT Government said it would adopt the changes, he indicated the Commonwealth would not seek to quash an amended scheme. But many gay activists were unhappy at the changes. Activist Corey Irlam said: ”The critical difference between the ceremonies originally sought by the ACT and those allowed by the Federal Government is that the latter have little legal effect, leaving the formal declaration of a civil partnership in the hands of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and not in the hands of civil partnership celebrants.

”It is a step forward that Prime Minister Rudd has backed off from a veto, but the system the ACT Government has now accepted is still essentially a paper process without legally binding ceremonies.”

From http://www.theage.com.au/national/fielding-likens-samesex-marriage-to-incest-20091126-juo3.html

I still wonder how Guglielmucci got away with it

The New Zealand Herald reports…

“A churchgoer pleaded guilty to fraud today after gambling away money that fellow parishioners thought they had donated for his “medical” treatment.

Gerard Francis Marychurch, 39, was remanded on bail to reappear in Auckland District Court in February for sentencing.

He admitted 14 charges of obtaining money by deception. Eight of the charges related to sums of over $1000.

Marychurch is alleged to have used the pretext that he needed cancer treatment and parishioners at a number of churches collected money on his behalf.

Last month, a letter of apology bearing his name was handed out at St Francis and St Therese church in Pt Chevalier.

In the letter, he said he had been unwell and some of the money had been used for medical bills, but most had gone towards his gambling addiction.”

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10611805

Bunbury church believes gays shouldn’t be on town streets

The Bunbury Mail reports…

“A Bunbury church has attacked a proposed gay parade in the city, describing homosexuality as an “abomination.”

Calvary Assembly Foursquare Gospel Church pastor Frank Mitchell told the Bunbury Mail the act of homosexuality was unnatural and a gay and lesbian Pride Parade would threaten Bunbury’s peaceful community atmosphere.

Pastor Mitchell said he was confident his 130 strong congregation shared his view.

“I want to emphasise we are not against homosexuals as individuals but, as the Bible says, the act of homosexuality is an abomination and is not natural,” Pastor Mitchell said.

“Bunbury has a lovely community atmosphere and the last thing we want is for this to be disturbed.”

At a City of Bunbury council meeting last week councillor Wayne Major wanted council to investigate the feasibility of Bunbury hosting a gay and lesbian parade but no councillors were willing to second the motion.

Council received petitions in opposition to the parade from the Calvary Assembly Foursquare Gospel Church, the Spencer Street Seniors, the Catholic Community of Bunbury and the Salvation Army.

Cr Major was undeterred by the lack of support and introduced the idea of conducting a cost benefit survey at last night’s full council meeting.

Mayor David Smith said council would consider fairly any proposal to hold a Pride Parade.

He said the outcome of last week’s council meeting was not just about supporting a gay parade in a general sense but about council’s financial involvement.

“We are an inclusive community and if the gay community applied to council to hold their own activities they would be considered fairly,” Mayor Smith said.

Mayor Smith said money had already been allocated for different events to be held next year and he emphasised that council was not homophobic.

A majority of Bunbury Mail readers voted no in the website poll which asked readers if they supported Bunbury holding the next gay and lesbian Pride Parade.

Yesterday the poll stood at 45.6 per cent in support and a 54.4 per cent in opposition.”

From http://www.bunburymail.com.au/news/local/news/general/pride-slammed/1687555.aspx

Guess who’ll never get to preach at Hill$ong?

Christian Sh*tty Church still supporting Mercy Ministries

Pic - nancyalcorn.blogspot.com

Nancy Alcorn blogs…

“I first met pastors Phil and Chris Pringle from Christian City Church (C3) in Australia over 10 years ago during one of my first trips to Australia. I had the pleasure of speaking in a Sunday morning service at their beautiful campus in Sydney. Pastors Phil and Chris have planted close to 300 churches around the world, and one of those churches is in the Atlanta, Georgia area. The pastors of the Atlanta church are Dean and Jill Sweetman. Pastors Dean and Jill also oversee all of the C3 churches in the U.S. under the leadership of Phil and Chris Pringle.

In March of this year, I had the privilege of speaking at Jill’s annual women’s conference called Imagine. Our hearts connected, and the rest is history! The ladies of this church have now made two trips to Nashville, spending two days with us each time. In the first group there were approximately 30 women, and just this week, we hosted another 12. Our staff and girls had the privilege of hearing Pastor Jill as she brought a special word to our staff and girls. Our time together was so encouraging!!

I want to give a big shout out to Pastors Dean and Jill and also legends Phil and Chris Pringle for the amazing network of churches they oversee around the world. Both our girls and staff loved having them here!! I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the pictures. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!”

From http://nancyalcorn.blogspot.com/2009/11/atlanta-christian-city-church-visits.html

3 Hebrew Boys

The Times and Democrat reports…

“A federal jury on Friday found three South Carolina men guilty of swindling more than $80 million from thousands of investors, many of whom prosecutors say fell victim to the Ponzi scheme because of their mounting debt.

The jury of five men and seven women deliberated for less than four hours before finding Timothy McQueen, Joseph Brunson and Tony Pough guilty of nearly 60 charges each, including conspiracy, mail fraud, and money laundering.

The three showed no reaction during the 15 minutes it took to read the lengthy verdict. An hour later, the same jury ordered the men to forfeit $82 million, the maximum sought by authorities.

The trio called themselves the “3 Hebrew Boys” after the biblical tale of three men who were thrown into an inferno after refusing to bow to a statue, but emerged unscathed because of their faith. The three preyed on debt-plagued investors to ensnare them in a Ponzi scheme — “robbing Peter to pay Paul,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Moore has said.

The men called their scheme a ministry, telling people their mailed-in investments would earn fantastic rewards that would pay off their mortgages, car loans, or other debts, or pay lifelong dividends. Despite almost no financial training, they convinced at least 7,000 people they knew the secret of how to make money on the foreign currency exchange market. However, they invested less than 0.01 percent of their collections there, prosecutors said.

Investors from two dozen states, plus soldiers serving in Iraq, gave the men money to invest beginning in October 2004. Authorities seized $17 million when the operation was shut down less than three years later.

The men paid themselves salaries of about $1 million and spent more than $25 million on assets including three suburban Atlanta condos, luxury suites at football stadiums, a Gulfstream jet, limousines, a motorcoach and 20 acres in Orangeburg, prosecutors said. Defense attorneys claimed those were investments that would make money for clients

Their attorneys argued the three intended to honor the contracts and paid out more than $22 million to early investors. Contract clauses warned the investment was risky, they argued, but prosecutors said the three lied about how they would invest the money.

While jurors debated the amount of forfeiture Friday, U.S. District Judge Margaret Seymour revoked the trio’s bond until their sentencing hearing, which should be in several months. Before doing so, Seymour read from a rambling motion filed Friday by the defendants in which they called any charge against them “a deliberate act of war … and treason against the United States.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Holliday called that argument “the nail in the coffin” in his request to revoke the bond.

Brunson, McQueen and Pough handed ..money, jewelry and neckties over to supporters seated behind them in the courtroom. Led out of the courtroom by federal marshals, they exited without commenting to reporters.

Before leaving, Brunson turned to whisper to supporters, “We don’t walk by sight. Don’t walk by what you see. Walk by what you know.”

Outside the courtroom, Brunson’s wife expressed disbelief at her husband’s fate.

“I’m completely shocked, because of the complete and total injustice,” Isolde Brunson said.

Attorneys for all three men declined to comment on the verdict or if they were making plans to appeal it. The men face decades in prison and millions of dollars in fines.

As for the money in forfeiture, court-appoint receiver Beattie Ashmore said Friday his team is still searching for missing assets and need prospective victims who are seeking relief to fill out a proof of claim form.”

From http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2009/11/22/business/doc4b0722a85d3a6344458873.txt

 

Rhema pastor fraud probe

The Sowetan reports…

“Pastor Tshifhiwa Muligwe of the Rhema Kingdom Life Church in Limpopo and his wife have allegedly defrauded their congregants in Thohoyandou of about R1,6million.

It is alleged that the two duped 10 members of the church to invest in a scheme that would enrich them. The scheme was allegedly started in December 2004.

The congregants claim that unbeknown to them, “Muligwe’s wife was the sole member of the scheme”. The congregants are now livid after being told that the investment experienced a deficit “because of the recession”.

From http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1086773

Former Perth Scientologist blows the whistle

The Australian reports…

“The Church of Scientology is a “criminal organisation” hiding behind religion, the Senate was told last night.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon tabled explosive letters from former Scientology officials and staff alleging a litany of abuses, including coerced abortions, assault, imprisonment, covering up sexual abuse, embezzlement of church funds and blackmail.

Senator Xenophon, who said he had referred the allegations to police, demanded a Senate inquiry into the church. And he questioned the tax-exempt status given to the church, which he said “turns supporters into victims in its pursuit of power and wealth”.

“In my view, this is a two-faced organisation,” he told the Senate.

“There is the public face of an organisation . . . that claims to offer guidance and support to its followers and there is the private face of an organisation that abuses its followers and viciously targets its critics, and seems largely driven by paranoia.

“Scientology is not a religious organisation; it is a criminal organisation that hides behind its so-called religious belief.”

Senator Xenophon tabled a letter from Perth man Aaron Saxton, in which he admits to torture and blackmail while working for the Church of Scientology in Australia and at its American headquarters between 1989 and 1996.

Mr Saxton says he assisted in the “forced confinement and torture” of a female church member who was kept under “house arrest” on a farm in western NSW for a month.

“Several abortions were ordered as well,” his letter states.

“The staff that got pregnant were taken into offices and put under duress.” His letter says the victims were “always in fear” because they were told they could be expelled from the church and “severed” from their family.

“We had one staff member who used a coat hanger and self-aborted her child . . . all her files were destroyed.”

Senator Xenophon also tabled a letter from a former executive director of the Sydney branch of the church, Carmel Underwood, in which she alleges a child abuse cover-up. In the mid-1980s, the letter states, a trainee Scientologist counsellor had been molesting his stepdaughter, but church officials “coached” the girl to lie about it to the NSW Department of Community Services.

Another former Scientologist, Sydney man Dean Detheridge, who spent 17 years on church staff, stated that parishioners’ counselling sessions were “culled for embarrassing revelations and confessions” to be used against them if they criticised the church.

He also wrote that he had witnessed and participated in “concerted efforts to extract as much money as possible from parishioners with absolutely no regard for the financial security of the individual or his or her family”.

The Church of Scientology released a statement last night accusing Senator Xenophon of an “outrageous” abuse of parliamentary privilege.

“Senator Xenophon is obviously being pressured by disgruntled former members who use hate speech and distorted accounts of their experiences in the church,” the statement read.

“They are about as reliable as former spouses are when talking about their ex-partner.”

The church described the former members’ statements as constituting a “propaganda campaign that would suit a totalitarian regime, not Australia, a country that recognises freedom of religion”.

The church’s statement did not respond to any of the specific allegations made against it.”

From http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/scientology-criminal-says-senator-nick-xenophon/story-e6frg6nf-1225799077820

Borrowing from the Pente fob-off playbook

A Church of Scientology media release states…

“Statement from Church of Scientology Regarding Senator Xenophon’s “Xenophobia”

This is an outrageous abuse of Parliamentary privilege from a Senator who would not even meet with Church representatives several months ago to discuss his concerns.

Senator Xenophon is obviously being pressured by disgruntled former members who use hate speech and distorted accounts of their experiences in the Church. They are about as reliable as former spouses are when talking about their expartner.

Senator Xenophon’s attempt to marginalize Scientologists by saying that they should not be believed, is fascistic and violates freedom of speech and the right to religious beliefs. It is former members or apostates that are notoriously unreliable as witnesses.

The late Bryan Wilson, Ph.D. of Oxford University, one of the most renowned sociologists of modern times, put it this way:

The disaffected and the apostate are in particular informants whose evidence has to be used with circumspection. The apostate is generally in need of selfjustification. He seeks to reconstruct his own past, to excuse his former affiliations, and to blame those who were formerly his closest associates… Apostates, sensationalized by the press, have sometimes sought to make a profit from accounts of their experiences in stories sold to newspapers…”

As various instances have indicated, he is likely to be suggestible and ready to enlarge or embellish his grievances to satisfy that species of journalist whose interest is more in sensational copy than in an objective statement of the truth.

This is a propaganda campaign that would suit a totalitarian regime not Australia, a country that recognises freedom of religion.

Scientology has fought for and upheld religious freedom around the world and is accepted as a religion throughout the world. In a few countries, the Church has been forced to litigate the issue of its religiosity, either affirmatively or in response to outrageous unfounded charges. Inevitably, the Church has prevailed in these cases and its religious bona fides have been unequivocally recognized. Some of these decisions, including decisions by the Cassation Court in Italy and the 1983 decision by the High Court in Australia, are now considered by leading scholars and judicial authorities to have established the standards regarding religious recognition that all religions must meet.

The High Court of 1983 that decided the case that declared Scientology was a bona fide religion in Australia was one of the most venerated benches in the history of the High Court. Moreover the decision was a unanimous decision of the full bench.

The decision has stood the test of time and has proven an authority on issues related to religions and tax status in Australia and throughout the Commonwealth.

The Church of Scientology internationally has grown from one Church in 1954 to more than 8,000 Churches, Missions and groups in 165 countries today. The Church sponsors an international human rights education initiative as well as the world’s largest nongovernmental drug education program. Four new Churches have opened in 2009, most recently the Church of Scientology of Rome on October 24, with a new Church opening in Washington, DC, on October 31. In April, three new Churches were dedicated: in Malmo, Sweden; Dallas, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee. The Scientology religion has expanded more in the past year than in the past five years combined and more in the past five years than in the past five decades combined.

SOURCE: Church of Scientology”

 

Pente pastor Australia’s ‘biggest bankrupt’? – updated*

*The Brisbane Times reports…

“Creditors of former Gold Coast solicitor and preacher Glenn Phillip Duker have a glimmer of hope of recouping some funds after his accountant and auditor was struck off last week.

The Companies Auditors and Liquidators Disciplinary Board (CALDB) cancelled the auditor registration of Allan Gregory Walker following an application by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Mr Walker, of Melbourne, worked as auditor for Mr Duker’s failed Gold Coast property development company, RVP Group Limited. The company went into liquidation last year owing 63 creditors more than $40 million.

Mr Walker also worked as accountant for Mr Duker and his wife, Lorilea also a bankrupt.

A damning ASIC report released last week found Mr Walker failed to carry out his duties in relation to the audit of RVP’s financial reports for the 2005 and 2006.

The report said Mr Walker was: “an incompetent auditor who has demonstrated ignorance of or indifference to important statutory requirements and a lack of understanding of or indifference to rudimentary professional requirements,” the report said.

“ASIC submits that the protection of the public requires the cancellation of Mr Walker’s registration.”

Mr Walker had blamed investors who had lost their money of being ‘‘stupid’’. Many investors were also members of the Christian fundamenatlist church, Revival Centres International of which Mr Duker was a pastor.

Accountant Scott Bennison who is also a member of the church took up the cause for some creditors, claiming Mr Walker had a conflict of interest.

ASIC’s report agreed with Mr Bennison: “Mr Walker does not have an adequate understanding of or is indifferent to important standards of professional conduct relating, in particular, to independence and conflict of interests.  We believe Mr Walker is not a competent auditor and he should not be allowed to continue auditing.”

Mr Bennison said the findings meant the company’s liquidator was in a stronger position to claim against Mr Walker’s insurance.

“This means that creditors have a greater chance of receiving some money back,” he said.

Former church members and creditors, Sue and Craig Williams of Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast had been ostracised by the church for trying to get their $150,000 back.

Mrs Williams said “the saga” continued to put emotional stress on her family.

“Both Glenn Duker and Allan Walker tried to blame Craig (her husband) for the troubles with the company,’” she said.

“The ASIC report is further confirmation that we have spoken the truth and eventually we hope people will be held accountable for their actions.”

Mr Walker could not be reached for comment. Mr Duker is reportedly working as a solicitor in Victoria.”

From http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/glimmer-of-hope-for-gold-coast-preachers-prey-20091114-ifk2.html

Cult de sac

The Sacramento Bee reports…

“The message members of Radiant Life Church said they heard was this: To receive blessings from God, they must honor, submit and give to their pastor, Tony Cunningham.

One family said it paid for the pastor’s family vacation to Maui and a stay at a five-star hotel. Another said his wife was encouraged to leave him because Cunningham said he was spiritually unfit. Many purchased upscale homes in the same Elk Grove neighborhood, at his urging, they said. On his street, so many bought homes that former church members call it a “cult de sac.”

Allegations about Cunningham first came to light in a lawsuit filed by one couple in Sacramento Superior Court.

Since then, more members have come forward accusing the pastor of abusing his authority as a spiritual leader. Recently, they have complained, sometimes with hurt and anger, on a Web site devoted to controversial religious movements. They have detailed in interviews how their relationship with a pastor they once revered was fractured.

“This has been devastating for us and a lot of people who have been hurt,” said Daniel Plant, 45, a former member. “So many families are trying to pick up the pieces.”

Plant and his wife, Callie, 43, who own an Elk Grove mortgage company, filed the suit last year against Cunningham, accusing the pastor of psychological manipulation and forcible indoctrination. They claim Cunningham used his position as their spiritual adviser to defraud them of more than $221,000.

The lawsuit reflects other former church members’ contentions that Cunningham, 46, abused his position as their spiritual leader, as the lawsuit states, “to give up basic political, social and religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept Cunningham’s regimented ideas.”

The Bee requested an interview with Cunningham and received an e-mail from the church declining the request, citing pending litigation. Cunningham did not respond to phone calls. The five members of the church’s board of elders declined to speak on the advice of legal counsel, or did not return phone calls. The church’s attorney, Talia Delanoy, did not return phone calls.

However, in a deposition for the Plant lawsuit obtained by The Bee, Cunningham said he could not remember the gifts the Plants gave over the years. He was asked about a time when the couple allegedly came to his office with an envelope with $2,000 cash inside.

“I don’t recall that,” Cunningham said under oath. “But I don’t find that difficult to believe.”

Experts said spiritual abuse complaints are rare but have surfaced in other churches nationally. Also rare, experts said, are lawsuits by members seeking restitution for money they said they were misled and coerced into giving. “It’s unusual to file suits because for them it would be like taking God to court,” said Jeff Van Vonderen, an author and leading authority on spiritual abuse.

Radiant Life Church is an independent evangelical congregation that recently moved from Elk Grove to south Sacramento. In the deposition, Cunningham said church attendance has dropped significantly in recent years. Cunningham has led the congregation for 17 years. At a recent 8 a.m. service for about 50 members, he delivered a sermon in a conversational manner about “threats, tests and trials” facing churches today.

The dozen former members interviewed by The Bee include middle-class professionals, business owners, college students and church staff. Many purchased homes in Cunningham’s neighborhood and still live there.

“We now call it a ‘cult de sac,’ ” said former member James Carmazzi, 48.

Members paid $500,000 and up for their homes during the height of the real estate boom because, they said, Cunningham told them it would be good for the church community.

“It’s like a messy family breakup and a divorced man living next to his ex-wife,” said Matt Wanner, 46, who served 15 years as a church elder before leaving.

Daniel Plant stood in the living room of the 4,200-square-foot, six-bedroom home he paid $785,000 for in 2005. “We can’t even go outside without being reminded,” Plant said.

Critics: Obedience rewarded

According to former members, those who were obedient to Cunningham were rewarded with jewelry – typically, gold rings for the men, tennis bracelets for the women. Carmazzi said they were given the gifts in a special covenant ceremony and were allowed into what Cunningham described as his inner circle.

That group consisted of about five families, said Carmazzi and Matt Michalak, 27, another former member, who were both part of Cunningham’s circle.

“It was an honor,” Carmazzi said. Carmazzi said he funded several vacations for the Cunningham family, including the trip to Hawaii, while his family vacationed modestly. Carmazzi said he lost more than $1 million in his dealings with Cunningham.

Michalak, of Carmichael, still has his ring from the covenant ceremony. He said Cunningham believed gifts were the best way to show honor.

After a sermon in which Cunningham said he admired classic cars, members restored a replica 1965 red Cobra, designed by Carroll Shelby, for the pastor. The car was appraised at $65,000, according to Jesse Mancillas, the former president of the board of elders who spearheaded the restoration.

“We thought, OK, this is one way to honor him,” said Mancillas, 53, who has since left the church. “He drove it up and down the street, racing it.” Members said this was one of several vehicles given to the pastor over the years, but DMV records show no Cobra registered to Cunningham.

In his deposition, Cunningham was asked if he ever received honoraria from his members on Sundays. “I received a pumpkin pie last Sunday,” he replied. He was asked if he received cash. “I think the most recent time that I could think of was about four months ago. Someone gave me some, like $20.”

Daniel Plant said the pastor was given money after Sunday worship services. Michalak, who often met Cunningham in his office after Sunday worship services, said many gave twice. “A lot of people were asked to pay second tithes.”

Seen as a prophet

Former members said they were easily swayed by Cunningham. They described him as a smart, charismatic pastor who makes instant connections with people and who comes across as deeply spiritual.

“I met him at a River Cats game and I was very impressed because he talked about helping people,” said Carmazzi.

Some believed he was a prophet.

Michalak, a married father of three, said he gave nearly half his annual income to the church even though he was a student making only $18,000 a year. The Plants gave so much – nearly 41 percent of their annual income – that they were audited by the Internal Revenue Service in 2007, according to the lawsuit. The Plants, according the lawsuit, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2008.

Former followers said they allowed their pastor to dictate their lives because they believed Cunningham had the answers to their spiritual questions. “And that’s what we were all looking for,” Carmazzi said.

The Plants said they know how difficult their actions are to comprehend.

“You have to understand, there are a bunch of smart good people in that church and you felt like, wow, they get it. What’s wrong with me?” said Daniel Plant. “And you felt that if you questioned him, it was like questioning God.”

In their lawsuit against Cunningham and the church, the Plants say they met Cunningham in 1998 and began regularly attending Radiant Life soon afterward. In 2001, Cunningham encouraged Daniel Plant to become his “disciple” which he defined as a “submitted, committed relationship,” according to the lawsuit.

Plant said over the next few years, he began attending church almost daily as Cunningham grew more involved in his life and business decisions.

He described his business dealings with Cunningham as “completely out of character,” but said he felt compelled to continue giving.

“He (Plant) had no ability to say no to any directive given by Cunningham,” the suit states.

By 2007, the Plants said, they were under “tremendous financial, emotional and social stress.” When Daniel Plant asked Cunningham for his money, he said he was shunned. The Plants were “in constant fear of not pleasing God by not pleasing and caring for Cunningham,” according to the suit.

The Plants left the church in the fall of 2008, a break Callie Plant compared to a death in the family. “It became a nightmare,” she said.

The congregation of Radiant Life Church, formerly Elk Grove Community Church, now meets on 44th Street. On the church Web site, their vision is described as “Win the Lost, Equip the Saints, Raise Up Leadership, Plant New Churches.”

Cunningham has been challenged legally before. In 2003, the church sued Marvin “Buzz” Oates, alleging the church was duped in a $1.2 million deal. A letter from Cunningham, however, showed the church had agreed on the deal. It dropped the suit and publicly apologized to Oates in an ad in The Bee. Church members said Cunningham apologized to the congregation.

Stories posted on Web site

James Carmazzi and his wife, Angela, 42, Elk Grove business owners, said they joined the church in 1999. In 2003, they met with the pastor regularly for marriage counseling together and then sessions alone. Their families spent holidays together.

Those who didn’t show him the proper of amount of honor – or who questioned his teachings – were publicly berated and shunned, according to Plant and Carmazzi.

“He gave the impression that he was spiritually elevated,” said Michalak. “You believed he had the gift of prophecy and he told you that you could get it, too.”

Michalak said that both he and his wife, Sarah, 28, stopped talking to their parents for a year at Cunningham’s counsel. Michalak said he left the church after he learned the pastor was urging his wife to leave him because he wasn’t spiritual enough.

Several members have written about their experiences with Cunningham and Radiant Life Church and have posted their stories on a Web site run by the Rick Ross Institute (rickross.com), a New Jersey nonprofit organization that studies controversial religious movements and cults.

“A lot of people started leaving when they saw the blog,” said Michalak. Several of the people who wrote had been among Cunningham’s closest advisers. “Before, everyone wondered what was going on, but no one talked about it.”

Carmazzi said Cunningham dismissed his detractors. “He has said several times that he’s righteous with God and there will be other casualties along the way.”

Several former church members contacted by The Bee did not want to discuss their experiences, saying they had been too painful and they were embarrassed by their involvement.

The ones who did speak say they believe they need to talk about what happened to them – even at the risk of public ridicule.

“This has been a humiliating and humbling experience,” said Carmazzi. “But I would be disgusted with myself if I didn’t say anything and other people got hurt.”

The Carmazzis, the Plants and other once active members of Radiant Life no longer attend church anywhere. “I’m disgusted with the church right now,” Carmazzi said.

Callie Plant said she and her husband are still believers. But they are now skeptical of becoming involved in a church again. Their children want nothing to do with pastors or organized religion, she said.

“I would never in my life imagine that something like this could happen,” said Callie Plant. “But what I’ve learned is that it could happen to anyone.”

From http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2326224.html

The non-lucrative underground trade in Jesus All About Life banners – updated*

The Hills Shire Times reports…

“The Jesus. All About Life advertising campaign seen all over the Hills has become a target for thieves.

Kenthurst Anglican minister David Misztal said his church’s banner had been cut down from its poles outside the church.

“All that was left was the rope tied to the poles,” he said.

“When I drove past the other local churches, I noticed that their banners had been cut down too.”

He said in Kenthurst alone the Nazarene Church and the Uniting Church had lost their banners, which cost $300 each.

“The campaign is designed to raise awareness about Jesus,” Mr Misztal said. “Obviously the campaign is making an impact on someone out there for them to steal our banners.”

Signs have also disappeared recently from outside Hillsong Church, Norwest and the Wesley Uniting Church Castle Hill.”

From http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au/news/story/thieves-take-jesus-from-all-over-hills/

It’s now actually possible to number the hairs on Pat Mesiti’s head

This Parrott has ceased to be

The Star-Ledger reports…

“After bilking Newark parishioners out of nearly $160,000, disgraced Pentecostal bishop Steven Parrott pleaded guilty to misconduct by a corporate official, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced Friday.

“In pleading guilty, Parrott admitted that he stole $157,580 from five victims named in the indictment,” according to a statement released by the AG’s office. “Under the plea agreement, Parrott must pay full restitution to the victims, and the state will recommend that he be sentenced to three years in state prison.”

In 2005, Parrott, former pastor of the Lighthouse Temple on Market Street, borrowed money from parishioners, saying he was about to receive a major grant from the government and would pay back the loans with interest. Depending on the victim, Parrott at turns said the money was going to a fictitious after-school program, necessary church repairs, or burying a family member.

According to Cynthia Fleming, Parrot’s lifelong friend and principal victim, the guilty plea helps ease the pain of the swindle, but after four years she said she is still suffering. Because of poor treatment by church officers in the intervening years, Fleming said she is suing the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith — the umbrella church under which Parrott served.

“I was unable to buy a house, and because of what he’s done to me I have so much debt,” Fleming said today. “Even to the point where me and my grandkids were homeless.”

After her son, James Jenkins, a decorated Iraq war veteran, killed himself in 2005, Fleming was awarded a sizeable death benefit. Throughout her battle with insurance agencies, Fleming said Parrott was a constant source of support. When the settlement was awarded, Parrott called the grieving mother and said God wanted him to borrow $25,000.

“The Lord told me to ask,” Fleming recalled Parrott saying at the time. “It’s for my church.”

Parrott invoked God several more times before claiming a total of $75,000 from Fleming, who today said she never imagined he was capable of such treachery.

“Ever since we were children, I never knew anything bad about him,” Fleming said. “He was always a very gentle person and I had great respect for him and that’s why it’s so devastating.”

Worse, said Fleming, the Church of Our Lord has washed its hands of Fleming and her family and has offered no assistance since the theft.

“Bishop Rubin was nothing but nasty,” Fleming said of Rev. Fred Rubin, a church leader. “I told him I was being evicted and he said ‘I’ll pray for you.’”

Bishop Rubin declined to comment for this story.

According to Fleming, the checks she wrote to Parrott had a stamped endorsement from the “Metropolitan Diocese,” which she said makes the church liable for monetary damages. She says the church’s refusal to offer any kind of assistance exacerbated her suffering, already profound from the loss of her son, and the betrayal of her pastor.

“I endured such a hardship and no one would reach out and help me,” Fleming said. “It was like I never existed.”

Fleming is currently living in Burlington County with her daughter and grandchildren because she cannot afford her own home. While the attorney general says Parrott will be responsible for paying back all of the victims, he declared bankruptcy in 2005 and has not worked as a pastor since 2007, when the church barred him from performing services. Despite her ordeal, Fleming is not without mercy.

“God forgives,” Fleming said today. “And I have to forgive him as well.”

From http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/disgraced_newark_pastor_admits.html

Turn to the person next to you and :)

CNN reports…

“Hjalti á Lava was searching his iPhone for a Bible app when he stumbled across Church Online, a service of Web site LifeChurch.tv. Soon he was regularly logging into the Oklahoma-based cyber-church — some 4,100 miles away from á Lava’s home in the Faroe Islands, west of Norway.

“It allows me to connect with others and have conversations about the message,” says á Lava, who shares his faith with other believers in the site’s live chat room. “Technology allows us today to have fellowship across borders and cultures.”

In doing so, á Lava joined growing numbers of Christians worldwide who are migrating from the chapel to the computer. A map on the Church Online site showed users from 22 countries logged into a recent service.

Online religious services offer convenience to those who are too isolated or infirm to attend a real-world church. But can worshipping via a computer offer true spiritual fulfillment?

Internet pastors and parishioners cite their 24-hour access to interactive tools and social-networking platforms to show their online experiences are as meaningful as those that take place with face-to-face congregations.

“We were blown away at how people could actually worship along [online],” says Craig Groeschel, senior pastor at LifeChurch.tv. “The whole family will gather around the computer, and they’ll sing and they’ll worship together. Instead of trying to get people to come to a church, we feel like we can take a church to them.”

But critics believe virtual worship separates followers from a trinity of spiritual essentials found in brick-and-mortar Christian churches: community, Communion and connection with Christ.

“Online church is close enough to the real thing to be dangerous,” says Bob Hyatt, a pastor who leads the brick-and-mortar Evergreen Community Church in Portland, Oregon. In a blog post for ChristianityToday.com, he writes that calling it virtual church “gives people the idea that everything they need is available here.”

The debate is an extension of a wider argument over social interaction in virtual environments versus the physical world. But because practices of faith are involved, both sides are deeply invested in the outcome, seeing it as a statement on the nature of the Christian person’s relationship with God.

Supporters of online churches have a common response to their skeptics: Try before you criticize. The virtual experience goes far beyond using live chat rooms to exchange emoticons instead of hugs and handshakes, they say.

Links allow congregants to “raise their hand” and publicly commit to Christ, while prayer requests and one-on-one guidance are a click way. Sermon notes can be shared and discussed. And many online churches are aided by volunteers, allowing them to hold services several times each day.

The Internet campus of the Flamingo Road Church in Cooper City, Florida, pulls in more than 2,000 congregants from around the world during its Sunday services. Pastor Doug Gramling said his three children are part of the Internet generation that will eventually decide the future of worship. They use Web tools to stay in constant connection with friends over vast distances, which Gramling says “gives me confidence that it can happen in online church.”

But the disconnect from physical closeness is what Hyatt said he’s “fighting hardest against.” His own church offers online extensions such as podcasts and forums. But he believes “the computer screen is a supplement, not a replacement.”

Hyatt and other critics are particularly distressed by the online offering of traditional sacraments, such as Communion and baptism. He believes it is “ridiculous” that someone can grab grape juice and a cracker from the fridge and watch a computer screen, thinking they are truly participating in a gathering of the faithful.

“Something about the physical presence, breaking the same bread, is what Communion is meant to be,” he says.

But Church Online participant Donna Coledisagrees.

“Knowing that others are also celebrating Communion, regardless of location, makes it an especially wonderful time,” says Cole, who believes real-world Communion can ring hollow. “When I’ve taken Communion in live surroundings, I often got the sense that it was ritualistic and without meaning.”

Matthew Bailey, aparishioner in the Franktown United Methodist Church in Virginia, believes that the meaning of the ritual is what matters.

“If people are willing to go to the trouble of giving their own Communion, then it is quite probably ‘real’ for them,” he says. While Bailey chooses to remain at his face-to-face church, he believes any person “faithfully attending an online church service, is being more proactive, and thus probably more attentive, than many longtime churchgoers.”

Douglas Estes, lead pastor of Berryessa Valley Church in San Jose, California, andauthor of “SimChurch,” a book about Internet church services, would like to see this debate go away.

“The Bible sees church not as a man-made building but as a people gathered to glorify God with their lives,” he says. Estes believes the quality of a community should be judged by the spiritual fellowship it offers.

“There is only one substantive difference between an online church and a brick-and-mortar church: The place where they meet.”

From http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/13/online.church.services/

Ted Haggard can still draw a crowd

The Denver Post reports…

“Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard led worshipers for the first time since scandal forced his exile from his New Life Church congregation as about 110 people showed up for a prayer meeting in his home Thursday evening.

Haggard said he had expected perhaps five to 20 people and that it was not his plan to start a new church.

“I don’t have that hope,” Haggard said. “I was a 28-year-old boy when I started that (New Life).”

Yet, he said, he knew at his age, 53, that things can evolve in unpredictable ways. And he does anticipate holding regular prayer meetings.

Haggard left New Life and Colorado Springs in November 2006 after his relationship with a Denver male prostitute came to light.

Haggard and his family moved to Arizona, where he underwent part of a “restoration” process supervised by several ministers. He took up insurance sales to support his family, later returning to Colorado Springs in mid-2008.

“I died. I was buried,” Haggard said. “The sun didn’t come up for me for a year and a half.”

However, he also said he has felt God’s touch in his life more in the past three years than in the previous 30.

“I believe Jesus came for the sinner. God loves people like me,” he said.

Haggard, clad in jeans, a T-shirt and stocking feet, talked briefly with a handful of reporters, who were barred from the prayer service. He said his remarks that night would be on 1 Corinthians, Chapter 13 — St. Paul’s homily on the patience and endurance of love.

“People treat me better now than they had at any time in my life,” Haggard said. “They realize my frailty and my weakness.”

People love a resurrection story, he said.

About a quarter of those who showed up Thursday night were strangers to him. Most guests brought cookies or other food to share in the living room of his handsome brick Colonial-style home just down the road from New Life Church.

“It’s a Norman Rockwell scene,” Haggard said. “It’s a ‘Kumbaya’ moment.”

An HBO documentary about his downfall and exile, “The Trials of Ted Haggard,” premiered in January. During a media campaign to promote it, Haggard appeared on programs such as CNN’s “Larry King Live” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Since then, he’s been traveling the lecture circuit with his wife, Gayle.

Her book about their travails, “Why I Stayed,” should be out Jan. 26, her publicist said.”

From http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13777156

How rooting his Personal Assistant brought Pastor Gary Lamb face to face with the truth about church

Gary Lamb blogs…

“At this time in my life, I am no longer in “full-time” ministry though I would argue that I have had more opportunities to do ministry since not being on a church staff than I ever did while on a church staff. After 10 years of being in a paid staff position, the change to the “real world” was HARD! Actually, I was shocked at how hard of a transition it has been.

As I begin to think of what God has next for me in regards to starting another church, I can’t help but think of how out of touch pastors are with the world they are called to reach.  However, if I write this post about how out of touch pastors are with the real world, people will say I am jealous, bitter, and angry because I am no longer a pastor so instead I thought I’d share some things I’VE learned during this transition.

• I had NO clue the kind of financial, job, and family pressure most of our people were living with
• Getting up and preaching what people should do is easy. Living it out is not.
• So much of what I preached, I will never preach again because the fact is it is not possible to do in the real world.
• I worked less than the people I pastored. Ministry was my job yet I asked our people to serve, volunteer, etc. AFTER they have worked 50-60 hour work weeks.
• There are a lot of hurting people in the real world. As a pastor I preached this but I had lost touch with how true it was.
• People HATE the church. Wow! Again, I knew the church was a sore subject for people but I had no idea how deep the feelings ran. People hate churches and to be honest, I can’t blame them.
• Divorce is the Scarlet Letter. Trust me, I know it is awful, grieves God, and ruins lives but the church better learn what to do with it because marriages are falling apart everywhere and cute little sermon series [aren't] cutting it. Divorced people are the ones I meet most hurt by the church.
• You aren’t someone’s pastor because you have the title.
• Criticism makes me better. I had shielded myself from criticism to the point that I couldn’t see my flaws. In the “real world” I don’t have that luxury.
• Just because you left the church I pastored while I pastored there doesn’t mean you were a bad person. I use to joke that I was the Godfather to people that left. Some of the people who left Revolution before I left have been the most gracious to me.
• God provides. I honestly didn’t understand how huge this statement was while I was a pastor.  Today I understand it.
• God forgives. People don’t.
• Men are pigs.  I was the king of sexual jokes, second looks, and inappropriate thoughts (yes as a pastor and you’d probably be shocked at some of your current pastors in this area) but this is one of the areas I have been getting the most help to overcome. As I overcome it, I am left speechless at how little respect men have for women.
• “I’m sorry” goes a long way.  I have been blessed to rekindle some old friendships with people I hurt and it was simply because I said “I’m sorry.” As a pastor I would have never said this, but the real world lets you know you aren’t always right.
• Revolution Failed. That is not a knock on Revolution, the people or the staff, it is a knock on me. Big freaking deal that we ran the numbers we ran. The fact is the people in Canton aren’t going to church, want nothing to do with the things of God, and are searching for answers.  They could care less how cool the show was every week.
• It will take a different type of church to truly reach communities. I’m not sure what that looks like but I’m praying and thinking about it a lot. Once God shows me what that looks like, I’ll be a step closer to doing it again.
• I had some of the fakest friendships in the world.  People I thought were my best friends I haven’t spoken to once since I had an affair.  However, God has brought some friends that are the real deal. Sad thing is that some of them are pastors I wouldn’t make time for when I was a pastor. You can’t make it in this world without friends.
• I missed out on so much. As a pastor, I was so busy trying to build a great church (notice I didn’t say change a community) that I missed out on enjoying life, my children, and blew my marriage.  Working in the “real world” I refuse to allow that to happen again. I am taking time to smell the roses.

Overall, it is just amazing how out of touch I was with what was going on around me. God had to knock me down, humble me, and let me hit rock bottom where I can be more effective for Him in the future.  If God ever allows me to do it again, I think I will be much better at leading the people God trusts me with because I will have been there, done that, have the T-shirt to prove it.   “

From http://www.garylamb.org/2009/10/31/transition-from-pastor-to-real-world/

Ray McCauley – where did all the money go?

Times Live reports…

“His megachurch collects tithes and offerings of around R70-million a year and he lives the life of a millionaire, but Pastor Ray McCauley needs his flock to bail him out financially.

His son, Joshua, 26, has gone cap in hand to about 100 close friends and family to help get his dad, the leader of the Rhema Bible Church, out of debt.

Joshua’s impassioned plea was attached to an invitation to McCauley’s surprise 60th birthday party at the Sandton Convention Centre on Thursday night in “Old Hollywood” style.

“I would love nothing more than to help my father settle his existing debt and see him go into his 60s debt-free,” he wrote.

“As his son, I have felt it in my heart and now humbly request that, should you be considering giving him a gift for his 60th, you consider participating with me in this endeavour.”

McCauley and his wife, Zelda, recently announced that they would be moving back to Johannesburg, after several years of flying from Durban – where they lived in a R6.5-million beachfront mansion – to lead services at the 40000-strong Randburg congregation.

Depending on how the offerings went this week, this year’s gift is likely to be more substantial than the R2030 pair of Prada sunglasses Joshua bought for his dad in 2007. At the time, he billed the church for “Ps Ray’s birthday gift”.

In his quest to help his dad, Joshua described how “from a young boy”, he watched his father “do his utmost to walk the talk”.

“You may be aware of the challenges my family has faced, but no matter what the circumstances, I saw my dad be true to the convictions of his faith,” his letter read.

“As his son, it is my greatest wish to honour him with a gift that I know will change his life forever.”

Joshua has refused to reveal how guests responded.

“I don’t believe it’s anybody’s business. I only gave that letter to his close private friends and family. It probably went to about 100 people,” he said.

“The reality is that I did it without his knowledge.”

The charismatic pastor’s money woes come as a surprise, as he is believed to earn more than R100000 a month, and he and his wife have often hit the headlines over their penchant for the finer things in life.

A few years ago, Zelda arrived at a Sunday Times interview carrying a Fendi handbag, and McCauley rode up on his Harley-Davidson motorbike.

Zelda once told the Sunday Times that the secret to her cleavage was Victoria’s Secret, the exclusive underwear range.

“I particularly love French and Italian lace. It may be a bit pricey, but a girl has got to feel good about how she looks,” she said.

McCauley’s birthday was celebrated just days before the 30th anniversary conference of the Rhema Bible Church at the Dome, north of Johannesburg, this weekend.

Guests at the conference included pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen, from one of the fastest-growing churches in the US, pastor Joseph Prince from Singapore and two-time Grammy winner Israel Houghton and New Breed. According to the church website, Karen Zoid, Joe Niemand and Kabelo were also due to perform.

Thursday night’s birthday party was only for the “rich and famous,” according to a disgruntled church member.

“Ordinary citizens and staff of the church were not invited. It’s an abomination what’s happening in that church,” he said.

McCauley has been under pressure over his lavish life-style. Last year he was criticised for spending R25000 on meals, including R365 bottles of Meerlust Merlot, in just over a month.

Zelda, who grew up in an orphanage, said in a magazine interview in 2004 that she set aside Wednesdays for personal pampering, including Botox treatments and massages.

“My appearance is important to me,” she said. “I believe God expects a wife to look good for her husband.”

She said she also shared a weakness with her husband – shopping. “In America, we love hunting for bargains in big shopping centres such as Saw Grass Mill. We love giving to others just as much.”

From http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article165051.ece

The corporatising of Paul Andrew

Before

 

After

 

‘If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off..’

The Brisbane Times reports…

“The mother of a 15-year-old girl suspended from school for shaving her head to raise money for cancer charities says her leukemia-stricken husband is proud of her actions.

Emily Pridham was sent home from Mount Alvernia College yesterday and will not be allowed back until her hair regrows after she shaved it off as part of a cancer research fundraiser on Saturday.

The Catholic girls’ school has cited its dress code policy for the temporary ban.

Emily’s mother Barbara Pridham said she was “gobsmacked” at the school’s punishment and said the family had been given no warning about the possible consequences.

She told ABC radio her daughter had made the decision to part with her locks as a way to cope with her father’s battle with leukemia.

“I understand that school rules have to be abided by. However, I’ve gone through the school rules and the uniform policy and nowhere does it say that a girl cannot shave her head,” Ms Pridham said.

“At no stage did [the school] contact me or tell me. At no stage did I think I needed their permission for Emily to do this.

“I am absolutely gobsmacked that this can happen for the reason that it has happened.”

A Facebook group supporting Emily’s decision to shave her head has appeared, with members calling the school’s decision a ‘joke’ and an ‘absolute disgrace’.

Emily’s mother said her daughter had struggled with her father’s diagnosis and saw the fundraiser as a way to deal with it.

“Ten months ago he was given six months to live and we had to explain all of this to Emily,” she said.

“I didn’t want her to do it. She had beautiful, long blonde hair halfway down her back and I told her she might regret it because she can’t just stick it back on … but she’s just been so determined to do it.”

The school has defended its actions to enforce uniform guidelines and has said other, “ongoing issues” were behind the suspension.

But Ms Pridham said the only trouble her daughter had been involved in included a warning over nail polish after the school formal two weeks ago and her use of a rude word in the presence of a teacher.

She said her husband, who has undergone a bone marrow transplant, was supportive of Emily’s decision to go bald.

“He is very proud of her as everybody that knows her is,” Ms Pridham said.

“He is very angry and worried about the rest of her academic year.”

Ms Pridham said she had been in contact with the school about the suspension order.”

From http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/schoolgirl-suspended-for-cancer-head-shave-20091110-i6ee.html

Questioning Hill$ong for dummies

The Thinking Theologian blogs…

“It’s possible for a person to be a member of a church like Hillsong for years, and have deep concerns about its doctrine and practices which are never properly addressed. After a while, the tendency is to accept things as “just the way it is”, and hold on to some vague hope that, in time, things might improve.

But how will things improve? If something is never recognised as being a problem, time and effort will never be put in to changing it (“if it aint broke, don’t fix it”). For something to be recognised as a problem, those in positions of power must be made to pay attention.

The challenge for the earnest Christian then, is to voice their concerns to the right people, and in such a way that the underlying issues can not be ignored. So I’ve put together a few thoughts on how to navigate through the false walls and mirrors that are the maze of Hillsong’s rhetoric and spin, so that the concerned Hillsonger might have half a chance of having their questions heard.

Rather than address each and every issue, I will deal in general terms with the common problems that someone questioning Hillsong is likely to come up against. Hillsong spokesmen approach sceptics in much the same way, and I suspect their tactics are common to most other cult-like organisations. By being wise to their devices, I hope you’re able to survive them.

1. Damage Control
When a person first questions an element of Hillsong, whether it be their “open book policy”, or some dodgy doctrine, the first response is invariably damage control. You see the problem is not really with Hillsong, they’ll say, but with your perceptions of it. In the nicest possible way, it’ll be suggested that you’ve been listening to negativity, and should check your attitude. If you persist, the responses will gradually become less and less ‘pastoral’ as they move away from their defensive stance, toward an offensive one.

2. Personal Contact
Usually, a leader who is closest to the dissenter will be dispatched to smooth things over. This might be a youth pastor if you’re under 25, or the leader of the team in which you serve on a weekend. If you’re on staff, it’ll be your department head, or oversight. But the strategy is always the same: a friendly face.
By trying to make your concern a person-to-person disagreement, the hope is that you’ll fold, in favour of maintaining brotherly unity.

3. The Personal Contact Taking it Personally
If the usual rhetoric and spin doesn’t wash, your contact (whether it’s still the ‘friendly face’, or a ring-in tag-teamer) will feel personally wounded by your “attack” on Hillsong. This is probably a legitimate response in most cases. After all, for you to insist that something is wrong, the fact they believe everything’s fine means that you’re suggesting they, too, are wrong. The hope at this stage of course, is that by appearing hurt and saddened by your behaviour toward them, you’ll admit that perhaps you have been a bit harsh, and maybe its just all been a big misunderstanding. Nonsense. The important thing to remember is that your concerns are not personal, but relate to systemic problems of a far more pressing kind.

4. The Stone Wall
If your argument is sound, and leads to the logical conclusion that Hillsong is flawed, what happens next is a little discouraging, and quite anti-climatic: you’re stone walled. You’ll simply be ignored. Suddenly your friendly faced contact is swamped with work and can’t spare even a moment; your phone calls are never returned; people you thought were your friends won’t look you in the eye, and walk past you as if you don’t even exist. This, fellow-dissenters, is when Hillsong proponents show their true colours. “If you don’t toe the party line, you’re not one of us”, is the message sent loud and clear.

This is the point where I suspect most dissenters either leave Hillsong altogether, or admit defeat and convince themselves they were wrong, and everything’s alright really. I would really suggest the former: leave, and never look back.

You see, what matters to people who want to get ahead at Hillsong, isn’t Christ’s love, or even the salvation of souls. It’s “building the church”. And to build it, you’ve got to believe in it… and believing means giving your life to it. Once they have your heart, your mind will not be far behind.

But with any luck, you won’t reach the stone wall. If you insist that your concerns be taken seriously, and don’t cave-in at their tried and tested tactics, you may yet stave the terminal write-off.

But remember that the issues at Hillsong are not down to petty differences of opinion, or mere methodological disagreements; they are fundamental problems of Christian doctrine and practice. There is far more at stake that one person’s ostracization from the ‘Hillsong club’. In the grand scheme of things, what does it really matter if you have to find yourself another church? Surely of more importance is Christ’s bride who, thanks to the likes of Hillsong, is far from blemish-free, and covered with spot and wrinkle.

If each and every member of Hillsong who has a legitimate concern (and there are more than you might think), were to pluck up the courage to speak up, I believe there would be cause for hope; and hope for positive change.”

From http://tttdiscussionforum.blogspot.com/2009/08/hillsong-heretics-dissenters-guide.html

Basil Faulty

The Star reports…

“A number of parents are stuck in a desperate battle with a church in Durban’s upmarket suburbs that they accuse of “stealing” and brainwashing their teens.

Calling Grace Gospel Church in Pinetown a “mind-controlling” Christian cult, the parents claim girls have been married to men they hardly know, chosen for them by the church.

The church is a branch of Church Team Ministries International (CTMI), an international Christian group with head offices in Mauritius.

The group’s leader, Basil O’Connell-Jones, was sent to Durban from another CTMI branch, Selborne Park Christian Church in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, in 2003.

He is well known in charismatic Christian circles for his autobiography Amazing Grace, which details his time as a soldier in the then Rhodesian army and his near-death experience of being shot in the head and then overcoming the injury.

Now O’Connell-Jones is accused of ministering to many young people, aged between 18 and 30, and encouraging them to abandon their tertiary studies and careers and leave their families to live with him in his Hillcrest home or in other church leaders’ homes.

CTMI is led by founder and televangelist Miki Hardy, who is said to live in luxury in Mauritius. The group is alleged to encourage its members to leave their home countries and go to the island to help build the Mauritian church and “serve the Lord”.

Parents who have lost children to the group have formed the Concerned Parents Group, to fight the church.

They tell of how, when pastors initially approached the Grace Gospel Church with their concerns, including the church’s aggressive recruitment of children from their churches, they were called “pathetic Pharisees”, jealous of the church’s secret doctrine, which no other church apparently has.

CTMI is considering suing the parent group for defamation, for calling it a cult and for accusing it of kidnapping children.

But the parents are undeterred. They believe that any court case would lift the lid on the church’s activities.

Keith Brown, who was part of a team of members from other churches at a meeting with GGC leaders, says a CTMI leader bluntly told them: “Jesus did not come to bring peace in families but a sword”.

Brown says his eldest son Stuart (then 27) was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and died in a hospice after being cared for in church leaders’ homes because the leaders “felt uncomfortable visiting Stuart in our home”.

Steve and Heather Goddard, of Kloof, say their daughter, who they did not wish to name, has been a member of the church for almost three years and started avoiding her other Christian friends “in favour of members of Grace Gospel”.

Anthony and Romaine Chaplin, of Durban North, say their son had been a top pupil at Kearsney College before going to study at the University of Cape Town.

Last April, he abandoned his studies to go to Mauritius.

The parents have now set up a website – www.ctmi concernedparents.com – with stories about their children and links to websites about dangerous cults and the characteristics of cults.

“This church has brainwashed our children. They are encouraged to reject their biological families and their studies and will more than likely be pushed into an arranged marriage,” says one of parents.

But O’Connell-Jones’s daughter Kara-Jane and her husband Richard Seynisch have defended the church, saying they are like any other young person in their age group.

“My life started and ended with drinking, clubbing, fornication and all other ‘youthful lusts’ that surrounded me,” she says. “Then, during my first three weeks in Mauritius, I was bowled over by the light, the joy and the freedom that was so evidently oozing out of the people in the church.”

But Melany Wood, 21, who attended a youth camp in Mauritius at the end of 2007, says: “People there are blinded. They are so struck by this church that they cannot see reality.”

Another girl, 22, who wished to remain anonymous left the church in high school after she had questioned the teaching.

“I’ve seen my good friends, girls of 18 and 19, give up their dreams because the church labelled them ‘worldly’ and ‘of the flesh’. They’ve had their lives mapped out for them, and some of them have been married off to men who were chosen for them by the church – guys they hardly know.”

Leaders of the GGC did not wish to respond to the allegations. “CTMI is a non-denominational missionary organisation with thousands of members across 25 different countries. We do not wish to be involved in the dispute between four families and their relationships with their children, all of whom are major citizens.

“We have chosen therefore not to reply to any allegations against us and to leave it to the young adults themselves to address the issue, as they are the ones who are directly concerned,” they said in an official statement to the Saturday Star.”

From http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=vn20091107072434816C446171

Christian Demogogic Party

The Australian reports…

“Fred Nile’s Christian Democratic Party plans to run an emotive anti-Muslim, anti-carbon trading campaign in the by-election for the northern Sydney seat of Bradfield.

And in a case of “onward Christian soldiers”, the CDP has decided to stand no fewer than 11 candidates in the federal seat.

In what is a blue-ribbon conservative stronghold, the CDP is hoping to capitalise on unease among some Liberals with federal party leader Malcolm Turnbull’s willingness to negotiate an emissions trading scheme with the Rudd Labor government.

The party’s propaganda for the December 5 by-election, which has been provided in advance to The Australian, declares “Enough!” and urges Australians to “Stand your ground in defence of Christian values”.

It uses a selection of alternating slogans, including, “Ten-year moratorium on Muslim immigration”, “No nukes for Iran — we must defend Israel” and “No carbon tax — stop the ETS”.

Mr Nile — who sits alone in the NSW upper house since expelling fellow MP Gordon Moyes from the CDP six months ago — yesterday denied the CDP was dragging the politics of race into the battle for Bradfield.

“The CDP is opposed to racism and we have people of all races on our team,” he said.

“But Muslim is not a race. It’s a religious and political ideology.”

While Mr Nile agreed the anti-Muslim, anti-ETS campaign would alienate the majority of voters in a “trendy” electorate such as Bradfield, he claimed: “There are at least 10 per cent who would agree with those policies, maybe more.”

But the Greens candidate for Bradfield, Susie Gemmell, condemned the CDP strategy and said: “Directing hatred towards people of any religious faith is totally unacceptable.”

Liberal candidate Paul Fletcher, who is expected to win Bradfield easily, declined to comment on the anti-Muslim campaign, but said: “Local residents don’t want a rushed and poorly planned ETS which just turns out to be another tax.”

Mr Nile has been a leading campaigner against a proposed 1200-student Muslim school at Camden, in outer southwest Sydney.

He said the unprecedented strategy of standing 11 candidates against each other in Bradfield was designed to increase the CDP’s overall vote — by allowing the candidates to focus their efforts on different areas within the electorate — and to raise the party’s profile by having its name appear so many times on the ballot paper.

Mr Nile said the federal Opposition Leader’s position on climate change would help the CDP’s cause.

“He’s not a very strong leader and he’s taken this approach as the path of least resistance,” he said.

At the 2007 election, the CDP scored 1.74 per cent of the vote in Bradfield, the Greens 11.26 per cent.

Labor is not contesting the by-election, which was triggered by the resignation last month of former federal Liberal leader Brendan Nelson….”

From http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/fred-nile-raises-crusade-in-by-election/story-e6frg6nf-1225794863587

Gloria Jean’s forced to abandon another Christian venture

The UK National Secular Society writes…

“A new religious initiative has arisen that — if we believe its propaganda — will soon be as big, if not bigger, than the Alpha Course.

It is called “Café Church” and is the brainchild of Baptist Minister Cid Latty of Christchurch Baptist Church, Welwyn Garden City. The concept is simple – people won’t go to church, so why not bring the church to the people via high street coffee chains? “The idea is to encourage those who might feel uncomfortable in a church building to worship in a more neutral environment,” say the organisers.

Costa Coffee has gone along with this idea and is permitting these church groups to operate on its premises. The Gloria Jean’s coffee shop chain is also taking part in the scheme. There are now 50 “cafe churches” operating around the country from Glasgow to Torquay.

The Waterlooville branch of Costa is hosting an Alpha Course starting this week, the first time one has been seen outside a church. Organiser Gary Chapman, from Church of the Good Shepherd, had the idea after attending two separate training sessions about Alpha and Café Church.

“It’s church, but not in a church building,” said Mr Chapman. “It’s taking the idea of church into the wider community. It removes that barrier that people sometimes feel about walking into a church building, and helps those who want to find out more about their spiritual side in a place they already feel comfortable. Most Alpha courses provide food. We’ll be asking people to eat before they come, but we can give them a nice coffee! And the programme for Café Church is quite similar to Alpha – low-key worship, the chance to build relationships and have discussion.”

“I think the model works” said Costa Home Counties Retail Development Manager, Sandy Gourlay. “I want to take it forward through Costa because here is a way for our stores to engage with our communities.”

Kristian Thorpe, CEO of Gloria Jean’s Coffees UK, describes the partnership with Cafechurch Network as “fitting with their ethos; ‘We love innovation and we value people. This whole project is thinking outside the box and believing in people. For that reason we have asked the Cafechurch Network to provide our stores with cafechurches.”

Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: “As commercial operators, Costa and Gloria Jean’s can do whatever they want with their own premises. But as a consumer, I have a choice, too. Unlike with my tax contributions, I can decide whether my coffee budget will be used to finance religion. From now on I will be patronising Starbucks, and I will write to Costa to let them know of my decision.”

Mr Sanderson said: “As commercial ventures in a highly competitive market, these businesses should be careful that this concept doesn’t import the failure of the churches into their own establishments. The empty pews in churches can easily translate into empty seats in coffee bars if they become too closely associated with this heavy-handed fundamentalist Christianity.”

From http://www.secularism.org.uk/fancy-a-coffee-look-out-the-evan.html

Update….

“Following our story in last week’s Newsline about the incursion of a Baptist Church into High Street coffee chains, we have been informed by Gloria Jean’s Coffees that, after a change in ownership, it is no longer participating in the scheme. Gloria Jean’s has only three shops — in the British Midlands — although it has branches in forty countries…...”

From http://www.secularism.org.uk/gloria-jeans-says-it-no-longer-s.html

That coffee in the welcome lounge at the local Pente megachurch could be slowly killing you

The Daily Telegraph reports…

“The two best-known coffee chains are selling drinks with more than 100 per cent of the recommended intake of sugar or saturated fat – and 800 times the kilojoules of a long black – but customers have no idea because both are failing in their policies for providing dietary information.

The revelations come as international research that shows daily consumption of any of nearly 100 menu items sold by Gloria Jeans and Starbucks can lead to gaining almost 10kg a year.

Worryingly, the most decadent of the new wave of cold, cream-laden chocolate and coffee concoctions contains four times the energy researchers say may cause such a weight increase.

Nutritionists and dietitians said more had to be done to make information available to the 10 million-plus people who consume drinks from the chains each month.

They were responding to a Daily Telegraph investigation that revealed:

* A REGULAR-SIZE Gloria Jeans Mocha Chiller Coco Loco packs 95.5g of sugar, which is 106 per cent of an adult’s recommended daily intake. A large has 129g of sugar, or 143 per cent of the RDI;

* A LARGE Starbucks Signature hot chocolate with cream contains 24.3g of saturated fat, or 101 per cent of the RDI; and

* A LARGE Gloria Jeans iced chocolate with whipped cream has 3260kJ – the same as 815 long blacks. It would take more than three hours of bike-riding to use up this amount of energy.

Sampling the Gloria Jeans Mocha Chiller Coco Loco yesterday, Newcastle university student Laura Croger was horrified when told about the beverage’s sugar content.

“It tastes all right but not after you told me how much sugar and kilojoules are in it,” she said.

Her friend Nicola Evans tried the Gloria Jeans iced chocolate with whipped cream, which she said left a “fatty, greasy” taste in her mouth.

The Daily Telegraph also found that both chains’ stores were unable to provide nutritional information on request. On request Gloria Jeans staff are supposed to look up dietary information on a special site for franchisees, then advise the customer.

Starbucks outlets are meant to keep brochures behind the counter. None had them. That said, Starbucks provides nutritional information on its website and staff did direct The Daily Telegraph to the website.

Gloria Jeans does not have any information on its public site.

Dietitian Melanie McGrice said chains should have to provide such information in brochures in stores.”

From http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/coffee-hit-to-the-heart/story-e6freuy9-1225789034447

Delusional Danny’s One World Government fantasy

Danny Nalliah blogs…

“Dear friends and family in Christ,

Is Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Labor government, who have betrayed the Christian voters after winning the last federal election, now about to betray the nation of Australia once again? In his recent 2GB Radio interview with Lord Mockton, Alan Jones from Sydney stated in his closing comments, “Is the Prime Minister about to betray us all?”

In December at the Global Warming Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, PM Kevin Rudd will relinquish Australia’s democratic rights to make decisions as a sovereign nation, by signing a treaty to a ONE WORLD GOVERMENT led by the United Nations.

Janet Albrechtsen’s article on climate change in the 28 October edition of the Australian refers to the United Nation’s ‘Copenhagen Plot’. The article deals with a draft of the climate change treaty, which she says is ‘aimed at creating a world government that would tax rich countries and give to poor ones’. As members know, the United Nations Climate Change Conference will take place at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark from 7 to 18 December 2009. The conference includes the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

We at Catch the Fire Ministries fought a 5 year battle for freedom of Speech and freedom of Religion in the state of Victoria due to a bad piece of legislation which became law in 2002 under the Labor administration. Thank God we won this battle which helped us regain our freedom of speech. Is our entire nation of Australia about to lose it forever?

As reported in the Australian, ‘the question now is why the Federal Government failed to provide some of the information that is the basis for the treaty to indicate the direction the treaty is going. When 15,000 officials, advisers, diplomats, activists and journalists arrive from 190 countries they will be force-fed the treaty document to sign. We have to know what is in it. If Australia signs it—and I imagine Mr Rudd will enthusiastically commit Australia to it—what effect will it have on Australia? Lord Christopher Monckton, a former adviser to the Thatcher Government, made a statement at Saint Paul Minnesota on 14 October about his interpretation of the document. He has also been interviewed on Alan Jones’ program on 2GB. Lord Monckton claims that the aim of the Copenhagen draft treaty is to set up a trans-national government on a scale the world has never seen. It talks about a new trans-national treaty and refers to a new body to be set up under treaty as a government.’

Lord Monckton in his speech in the US in Oct quoted, “We are at the 11th hour, 59th minute and 59th second to save our nations from a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT. Your president is about to sign this treaty so are many other leaders. But you can stop it”.

Visit the following link to watch a 4 minute interview from Lord Monckton of the British House of Lords regarding the upcoming Global Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen in December where nations will cede away sovereignty to a global government body. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMe5dOgbu40
 
Visit the following link to listen to Lord Monckton’s 15 minute radio interview with Allan Jones in Sydney, Australia regarding the ETS, Copenhagen Treaty, and a One World Government. 

http://www.2gb.com/index2.php?option=com_newsmanager&task=view&id=4998

The left-wing secularists and most media attack us all the time for standing up for absolute moral values. Will they now cover up and sell their own birthright in order to protect a left-wing secular government. I hope we will wake up to the fact that our children and grandchildren will pay the price if we sign up to this ONE WORLD AGENDA. In particular what worries me is the key players behind it, the Rockerfeller family, Henry Kissinger, Mikhail Gorbachev, Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan [the little fat kid from Hey Dad - I added that one in - Ed ] and others, who are main representatives of the club of Rome. Communists, Muslims, and others are working together for a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT. We all know that they despise Democracy.

Australia we need to stop Rudd from signing this treaty. To email the PM with your voice of protest click on the following link and following the instructions for emailing the PM:

http://pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/Email_your_PM   

Alternatively, you may send a fax to the PM’s office at (02) 6273 4100.

One report recently stated in the last 30 years the ice melt down has been the least in the last year. The month of October saw a massive prayer operation across Australia and in particular on Mount Ainslie in Canberra. We thank God for exposing the above as we believe it is a direct result of prayer to save our nation and the world.

While a large part of the Christian church is in denial, much of the secular media is increasingly confirming what we proclaimed (and many other Christian prophetic ministries) several years ago regarding a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT!  Is this the beginning of the end before the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem, Israel as the reigning King of kings and LORD of lords?

We at Catch the Fire Ministries and millions of Bible-believing God-fearing Christians around the world believe it is so!  (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, Revelation 19:11-21, Daniel 7:13-14, 18)

Your Brother in Christ,

Pastor Daniel Nalliah”

From http://catchthefire.com.au/blog/2009/11/05/prime-minister-kevin-rudd-about-to-betray-australia-by-pastor-daniel/

Who wants to be a hundredaire?

The Chicago Tribune reports…

“At Lighthouse Church of All Nations in Alsip, the congregation can get more than just prayer at the Sunday worship services.

If a lucky — or “blessed and highly favored” — churchgoer is in the right seat, they can also receive a cash prize.

At each of the three Sunday services, the Rev. Dan Willis pulls a number of one seat from a bag and the worshiper in that seat wins a cash prize. Two of the churchgoers win $250 and the third gets $500. The church gives away $1,000 each Sunday, Willis said.

The cash prize is part of Willis’ recent focus on helping his congregation pay bills and begin a debt-free life, he said.

“We’ve had soooo many of our people displaced from jobs, facing foreclosure,” he said. “When people’s faith was high, their debt was down. When their faith was down, their debt was high. I realized the two are connected.”

Willis concedes the cash prize is a gimmick to fill the pews. But he’s unapologetic about the plan, because it’s working. On a typical Sunday, his church draws about 1,600 people to its three Sunday services. But since the money giveaway started, about five weeks ago, the congregation has grown to about 2,500 each week, he said. The money for the giveaway comes from the church offering. Lighthouse is a non-denominational church.

“If I can get someone in here and teach them and give them money, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said.

As part of the lessons, Willis set up a shredder near the pulpit to encourage church members to shred their credit cards and commit to stop spending. He talks about budgeting, tackling past-due bills and saving. He encourages the prize winners to use the money to pay down their bills, rather than splurge on new items. One Sunday, he gave away 15 savings accounts with $25 already in them. And he had bank representatives at the service so church members could set up accounts.

“The Bible says even an ant stores up in the summer so it can live in the winter,” Willis said. “Even an ant can teach us. Even an ant knows how to save. We, with intellect, don’t know how to do it. When people see that in Scripture, it takes on a whole different level.”

From http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-church-cashnov02,0,5901781.story

Haggard starts new church

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports…

“Ted Haggard, who started New Life Church in his Colorado Springs basement and built it into a megachurch with thousands of worshipers, announced today he is starting a church in his living room.

“We wanted to do something in our house to connect with friends,” said Haggard, whose ties to New Life ended with the revelation that he’d been involved with a male prostitute in Denver.

Haggard will hold his first gathering at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at his house at 1865 Old Ranch Road. He referred to it as a “prayer meeting,” but said it would also be correct to call it a church. The gathering will include music and an offering to New Life Church. Haggard also will give a talk about the power of prayer.

Although Haggard said just recently he had no plans to start a church, he changed his mind two weeks ago after talking to a friend in Florida who was involved in prayer meetings.

Haggard anticipates that 10 to 20 people will show up, and said he has no expectations of building his new enterprise into something on the scale of New Life.

“For this prayer meeting, I have no goals,” he said. “I have no secret hope that more people will come. I am not driven as I was. Before I focused on the Great Commission. Now I focus on helping other people.”

Haggard started New Life Church in 1985 as a gathering of 25 people who met in his unfinished basement. It wasn’t long before he became a rising star in evangelical circles. In 1996, Christianity Today magazine named him one of 50 up-and-coming evangelical leaders younger than 40. He later became head of the National Association of Evangelicals, as his church grew to a membership of 14,000.

But in November 2006, a male prostitute in Denver broke the news that Haggard had been one of his clients, and had asked him to procure meth. Haggard first denied the story, then admitted it. He resigned from New Life with compensation, provided he would move away from Colorado and meet with overseers who would work to rehabilitate him. The agreement also prohibited him from opening a church within a 100-mile radius of Colorado Springs.

Several people who have worked with Haggard said it’s premature for him to be setting out on this path. C. Peter Wagner, who co-founded the World Prayer Center with Haggard, said Haggard should first seek approval  from the overseers before leading people in prayer and worship.

“My reservation is that he has not followed through completely on apostolic protocol,” Wagner said Wednesday.

Gary Black worked with Haggard in the 1990s when Black’s youth missionary organization, Rock the Nation, was affiliated with New Life. He, too, was taken aback.

“I would be shocked to think he’s ready to lead a church,” Black said.

The Rev. Brady Boyd, who took over leadership of New Life Church in 2007 and lifted the restrictions against Haggard, did not address the news directly, but said: “New Life Church will always be grateful for the many years of dedicated leadership from Ted Haggard and we wish him and his family only the best.”

From http://www.gazette.com/articles/haggard-65454-ted-church.html

Destiny church – the Tamaki spin and the real inside story

Part 1

Part 2

3 News reports…

“The “mighty men of God” is how Brian Tamaki refers to the men in Destiny Church. They have a covenant agreement between Tamaki, the “spiritual father”, and the men, the “sons”.
 

The Taranaki branch of the church is run by pastors Lee and Robyn Edmonds. Three months ago it produced a directive in the lead up to destiny’s Labour Weekend covenant oath to prepare the men for their testimonies to Bishop Tamaki.

 

Three Taranaki Destiny men refused to sign that covenant, and say the church is ripping their families apart.

Glen Lovegrove is a former drug addict and alcoholic. For 18 years he has been a born again Christian and drug-free. He was part of Destiny Church for six and a half years.

Bruce Harkness makes no secret of his violent past – he was a debt enforcer with a string of convictions. He has had no criminal convictions for 23 years, been a Christian for nine, and in Destiny for eight.

 

Ben Evans is an electrical engineer with a masters with distinction from Staffordshire University, and emigrated to New Zealand four years ago. He has attended Destiny on-and-off for two years.

 

They spoke to Campbell Live about the problems Destiny has caused them, and their fears for what the church will do next.”

 

Watch 3 News video

Gayside Church

SX reports…

“In what’s believed to be a world first, a pastor from a Pentecostal Christian church has issued a call for acceptance of GLBT people, and unequivocally invited queer people to join his congregation.

Pastor Rob Buckingham of the Christian City Church, also known as the C3 Church, issued the call during his weekly sermon on Sunday.

Buckingham is Senior Pastor of Melbourne’s Bayside C3 Church, which has three locations in Melbourne (Cheltenham, Frankston and South Melbourne) and a combined congregation of several thousand.

In the ground-breaking sermon delivered by Buckingham, the pastor said that real Christianity was accepting, and that people – not God – were anti-gay.

“Often the church is viewed as anti-homosexual,” he said. “Real Christianity is accepting … God is not presenting the attitudes sometimes presented by Christians and by the church.”

Referring to research published in the landmark book unChristian, by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, Buckingham said the church’s stance on homosexuality was its number one problem today.

“Christians’ criticism of gay people doesn’t just drive a wedge between the church and the gay community. Many [heterosexuals] in our community are not anti-gay, so when they hear an anti-gay message coming from the church it actually drives a wedge between Christianity and them as well.”

Buckingham went on to say that Bible stories were being erroneously presented as anti-gay. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah did not concern homosexuals, he said, but rather people who were “overfed, unconcerned, lazy, had lots of resources” and refused to help the poor and needy.

Speaking to SX after his sermon, Buckingham – a married heterosexual with three children – said he had broken with Pentecostal tradition because he firmly believed that GLBT people had a place in his church.

“This is simply something that we feel strongly about,” he told SX. “We believe that God loves everyone and that he sent his son Jesus to bring salvation to all … Bayside Church welcomes GLBT people to find God’s love and grace and to worship him freely within our community.”

Anthony Venn-Brown, convenor of Freedom 2 B[e] – a support group for queer people from Pentecostal, Evangelical and Charismatic Christian backgrounds – said Buckingham’s stance was “very significant because Pentecostalism is traditionally quite conservative”.

But he said it also represented changes that had already occurred within the denomination.

 “More than half of the Pentecostals anonymously polled in the Australian Church Life Survey [in 2004] said ‘yes’ when asked if homosexuals should be accepted as members of the church on the same basis as heterosexuals,” he said.

It remains unclear whether Buckingham’s views are shared by others in the C3 hierarchy.

A spokesperson from the church’s main Australian campus at Oxford Falls, Sydney was unable to provide a statement to SX by press time.

Buckingham told SX he did not “in any way speak for Christian City Church on this issue”.

From http://sxnews.e-p.net.au/news/world-first-as-pentecostals-welcome-gays-6345.html

 

Rob Buckingham video sermon

Rob Buckingham audio only

Focus on the Pharisee

The Canberra Times reports…

“Focus on the Family has been banned from the ACT school system for at least a month while allegations that the Christian group vilified homosexuals are investigated. The fallout has also spread to NSW.

The state’s Education Department has revealed it suspended the Performance in Schools program that included Focus on the Family’s ”No Apologies Impact” seminar.

But Christian lobbyists rallied to the cause, saying the bans are ”political correctness gone mad”.

Focus on the Family has been accused of demonising homosexuality, painting it in the same light as bestiality and giving religious education without parental permission in ACT public schools.

It promotes the ”No Apologies Impact” seminar at the heart of the controversy in Canberra as a program authorised by the NSW Department of Education as part of its Performance in Schools program.

But in a short statement, the NSW department said it did not support or endorse any unlawful discrimination in its schools and would take action in cases where this is shown to have occurred.”

From http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/govt-bans-christian-group-from-schools/1664491.aspx

Further Canberra Times reporting…..

“……….Education Minister Andrew Barr said preliminary advice from his department indicated the ”extreme views of a fringe organisation”, Focus on the Family, had been presented in six ACT schools in the past two years.

A student at Canberra High School who attended one of the seminars alleged it included claims sex was bad, painted homosexuality in a similar light to bestiality and warned students they could become gay by watching gay pornography.

Students were also allegedly warned they could become attracted to animals by watching animal pornography, that if a couple had sex it was the boy’s fault and that girls should not provoke boys by putting their hair up and wearing make-up.

The alleged comments were made during a series of ”No Apologies Impact” seminars held at the school and attended by students from years 7 to 10.

Mr Barr ordered his department conduct an investigation, which is expected to take weeks to complete.

The student’s parent, David Gould, said he was very concerned that Focus on the Family was teaching students to discriminate against homosexuals.

”It’s just wrong, it confuses young people already going through the confusing period that is adolescence and it’s spreading hatred.”

From http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/fears-on-extreme-school-seminars/1663523.aspx

Christian Sh*tty Church loses ABC boss?

The Australian reported, April 2007…

“……[ABC Managing Director Mark Scott's].. a devout Christian who worships at the evangelical Christian City Church in Sydney’s north, where the 5000-strong congregation are sometimes called the “happy clappers” as they wave their arms to rock music and strobe lights…..”

http://www.acl.org.au/sa/browse.stw?article_id=14615

Crikey reports, November 2009…

“The November issue of the SMH’s Sydney magazine features a profile of the ABC’s managing director Mark Scott which contains this curious line on page 36: “Their scant private time is devoted to family; once identified as a prominent evangelical Christian, Scott now says he doesn’t attend any particular Church”

Scott may not ‘attend’ any particular church but he is on the Board of Management and Honorary Treasurer of Wesley Mission. His photo is in the foyer in Pitt Street…..”

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/trevorcook/2009/11/02/mark-scott/

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