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John Davies
Christian New Today
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Psalm91@mail.com
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1 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Content
PREFACE
WORKERS OF INIQUITY
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1
Prosperity Teachers
Followers: Pastor's gospel of wealth yielded little return
Preacher's focus on fundraising raises questions
Kenneth Copeland – Prosperity Preacher
CHAPTER 2
John & Carol Arnott The Deceivers
Lying And Lawlessness
Perjurer and Liar John Arnott Visits Florida Revival
John Arnott - President
SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN
TACF CRIMINALS MUST BE INCARCERTED
CROOKED CHARITY
TACF is hateful, selfish, greedy, arrogant, proud and self centered
Subject: TACF Is Not A Christian Church But A Cult
TACF Another Weird Cult
TACF Is A Cult
Toronto Blessing
CHAPTER 3
Rodney Howard-Browne & Friends
Weeping for those who laughed
CHAPTER 4
Rev. Karl Strader – Senior Pastor
CLEMENCY BID DENIED
Rolling the Dice With the Jury
Clemency for Strader? Don't Buy It
Carpenter's Home Church Sold to Without Walls
Strader Seeks Reduced Sentence
Judge Denies Strader's Last-Chance Appeal Writ
CHAPTER 5
Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn A Real Scoundrel
Benny Hinn Sues A Former Colleague
Hinn's lavish lifestyle not defensible
BENNY HINN CURSES ALL WHO SPEAK AGAINST HIS MINISTRY
Quotes by Benny Hinn
CHAPTER 6
Bishop Randy White
Tampa televangelists draw Senate scrutiny
Without Walls Says Interest In Properties Spurred Sale Talk
Trying To Fill The Void At Without Walls
The Loss Of Paula
CHAPTER 7
2 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Preface
WORKERS OF INIQUITY
God Does Not Endorse An Unrighteous Preacher Of The Gospel
"It is always God's desire that those who proclaim the gospel be righteous, yet when an evil or
immoral person preaches His Word, God can still work in the hearts of those who receive His Word,
with commitment to Christ. God does not endorse an unrighteous preacher of the gospel, but, He
will endorse Biblical truth and these who accept it in faith." - The Full Life Study Bible
"The power of working miracles had no necessary connection with piety." - Barnes' Notes
"Success, as the world counts it, is not a criterion of one's knowledge of Christ and relation to
Him." - Robertson's Word Pictures
God cannot and will not endorse an unrighteous Preacher of the Gospel - even though he may be
operating in the miraculous.
This is where the multitudes are deceived. They think that because there are signs and wonders
performed in a man's ministry that he is of God... God is well pleased with him...or that He is
endorsing his ministry. Nothing could be further than the truth!
The Lord Jesus in Matthew 7 "blasted" all the false professors who would do things in His Name,
yet not do the will of His Father. In His statements, He made it plain and clear that He doesn't
accept shadows without substance. He doesn't endorse any ministry that calls Him "Lord," yet lives
to please Self. He made it very evident that the acid test for every ministry or every Christian life -
the decisive test of being in the Kingdom - is obedience to the will of the Father. This marks men
and women as true followers of Him.
In Matthew 7:21-23, He said - "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Which is in heaven. Many will say to Me
in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils?
and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from Me, ye that work iniquity."
Here Jesus emphasized the sharp contrast between the mere talkers and the doers of His will.
There were those who were calling Him Lord and Master - who were professing subjection to Him.
Because of their mere profession, they were consequently claiming admittance into the "kingdom of
3 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
heaven," yet they were destitute of piety, holiness, or being separated unto Him. Their outward
profession of Christianity - however remarkable - was not enough to bring them to heaven - that is,
without being totally committed to the Truth and righteousness as revealed in His Word.
One thing that is definitely overlooked in the Christian circles of today is this fact - ministerial
success is not the standard by which to judge one's relation to Christ.
There are those who are calling Jesus "Lord" and yet have not gotten the bad tree rooted up and
the good tree planted in its place...they do not have a hearty love to Christ nor a true faith in
Him...nor do they have a true concern to preach His Gospel, advance His glory, and promote His
kingdom and interest.
They can be likened unto the Roman soldiers at the whipping post who put a gorgeous robe on
Christ, bend the knee, and then say - "Hail, King of the Jews!" That is, after they had just scourged
and whipped Him!
We want you to notice one word that Jesus used in His discourse which is rather shocking. That
word is "many"
This is what He said - "... Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord..." What He was saying is
this - "Many" would call Him Lord and Master..."Many" would profess subjection to Him..."Many"
would call upon His Name..."Many" would make use of His Name in public ministry..."Many" would
make mention of His Name in their sermons...and "Many" would seek to cover themselves, take
away their reproach, gain credit with, or get into the goodwill of the people by being called by His
Name.
The sad thing about it is that it would be the "few" who would show a hearty love to Christ...seek
unto, look unto, commit themselves to...trust in...rely on...and believe on Him for righteousness,
salvation, and eternal life. It would be the "few" who would be faithful dispensers of
His Word...declare His whole counsel...keep back nothing profitable to the souls of men...not be
afraid of the faces of men...speak the Gospel boldly with all sincerity...or seek to please Him rather
than men.
Resultantly, "many" professing obedience will find themselves self-deceived. It will be the "few"
who will be counted as the faithfully obedient.
"In that day" - the last day...the great day of the Lord...or the day of judgment when the secrets
of hearts are made manifest and every one's true colors are shown for what they are - the
pretenders as well as the true ministers will be made manifest.
The "many" had great success in their ministries. They were involved in three of the highest
services rendered to the Christian cause - prophesying, casting out devils, and working miracles.
Yet, Jesus called them - "workers of iniquity" - "...Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that
work iniquity."
What Jesus is stating here is rather shocking! He is actually saying that "workers of iniquity" can
prophesy...teach the Word...write excellent books...preach excellent sermons...give good
advice...cast out devils...and perform wonderful works or miracles. They can make an external
profession of Christianity, yet walk unworthy of its precepts - being lukewarm or indifferent to Christ
in their hearts - while loving the world and its pleasures.
In spite of their claims to intimacy with Christ, they are evil doers - evil doers who are
performing great works in His Name!
4 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
It is to be understood from this passage of Scripture that not all miracles are of a divine origin.
And not all miracle workers are divinely sanctioned. When we examine the meaning of the word
"miracle" and see that one definition states - "a supernatural power that is at hand" - we have to
reason that that power may or may not be divine. It can be demonic! Fervent gospel
preaching...having a zeal for righteousness...and operating under a powerful "anointing" - can all be
the workings of Satan.
Jesus will say to the "many" who deceived the multitudes with their phenomenal signs and
wonders ministries - "...I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." One way of
interpreting this is by saying - "I never approved of your conduct...I never regarded you are My
servant or friend...or I never acknowledged your ministry as one of Mine."
Who would be included in this - "I never knew you" - group? They would be all the Preachers
or individual believers who were unholy in heart...unrighteous in conduct...or held the truth in
unrighteousness - while preaching the pure and holy doctrines of the Bible.
"Depart from Me" - Could there be more terrible or dreadful words found to be spoken by God
to any man or woman than these?
"I never knew you" - In other words, Jesus would say that these "many" were never "real" in
their relationship with Him. They didn't build their life on His Word...they didn't build their church on
His Word...and they didn't hear the Word and do it. Instead, they claimed to believe the
Bible, while, at the same time, supporting things contrary to it. In spite of what the Bible said, they
walked contrary to it. They ignored God's Word to go forward in sin. They constantly reasoned
around their sinful lifestyle - looking for loopholes to cover it up.
Jesus made it plain and clear that the "many" would be successful in their ministries. They would
surely operate in their gifts. "Many" would be deluded as a result.
There are two kinds of professors in Christianity today. There are those who acknowledge Jesus
as Lord of their lives and then there are those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and back it up with
obedience.
Read again what Jesus said here in this passage of Scriptures - "...Not every one that saith unto
Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father
Which is in heaven..." Here He laid the law down. No one gets to heaven without living a life
of continual obedience to His Word. This is the acid test that marks all men and women as being true
or false. Are they doing the will of the Father? Are they glorifying His Son, or are they bringing glory
to themselves?
Don't forget - Balaam, Caiphas, and King Saul all prophesied, while Judas cast out devils - but
they were not pleasing in God's sight. They did what they wanted rather than the will of the Father.
They were actually a law unto themselves.
Whenever you see a minister or ministry that is a law unto themselves - WATCH OUT! Warning
sirens should immediately be going off in your spirit. These are a part of the "many" of whom Jesus
warned us.
In closing, we leave you with some thought-provoking quotes relating to this message.
Our prayer is that your spiritual eyes will be opened, and that you will grow in discernment as far
as who is true and who is false that is ministering in Jesus' Name in our day and time!
"They think that they shall go to heaven because they have been of good repute among
5 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
professors of religion (Christianity), have kept fasts, and given alms and have been preferred in the
church; as if this would atone for their reigning pride, worldliness, and sensuality; and want of love
to God and man."
- Matthew Henry
"Everything short of doing the will of God is merely saying, 'Lord! Lord! and it is working
iniquity."
- Pulpit Commentary - New Testament
"A great truth proclaimed. The religion of Christ (Christianity) is to be practised, For the
teachings of Jesus are only understood as they are put into practice. They are only honored as they
are put into practice."
- Biblical Illustrator - New Testament
"A man shall be as vigorous as a panther, as swift as an eagle, as fleet as a stag, and as strong
as a lion, to do the will of his Creator."
- saying among the rabbins (Adam Clarke)
Introduction
MT 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are
ravenous wolves.
ACTS 20:26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 20:27
"For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 20:28 "Therefore take heed to
yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd
the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 20:29 "For I know this, that after my
departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 20:30 "Also from among
yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
20:31 "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night
and day with tears. 20:32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace,
which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 20:33
"I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 20:34 "Yes, you yourselves know that these
hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 20:35 "I have shown you
in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the
Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
Jesus told us to beware of ravenous wolves and Apostle Paul told us to beware of savage wolves.
So we can assume they knew something that we don‘t know because after all they were authorities
on the subject while we are only dumb sheep?
Since 1995 Christian News Today has been writing articles and making postings about wolves
in sheep‘s clothing. This book is a compilation of some of the articles about particular evangelical
wolves! Importance is not given to any particular wolf because they are all part of the same family
and are to be avoided such as Todd Bentley, John Arnott, Rodney Howard Browne, Karl Strader,
Benny Hinn, Peter Marshall, !
7 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Chapter 1
Prosperity Teachers
Followers: Pastor's gospel of wealth yielded little return
By Sally Kestin South Florida Sun-Sentinel May 11, 2008
To a chorus of "Amens" and "Thank You, Jesus," the Rev. Daniel S. Mundell tells
followers God will free them of debt, even make them millionaires.
Then comes the sales pitch: Back up your faith with donations. Give, even if it's
your last $100. Write a check. Pay by credit card.
Former followers say the only one who seemed to attain wealth was the preacher.
Before starting New Generation Ministries in 1991, Mundell had filed for
bankruptcy protection and lost a home in a foreclosure. By 2005, he was living in a
$1.8 million estate in Safety Harbor, near Tampa, with basketball and tennis courts
and a putting green.
The ministry paid the preacher $206,000 in 2005 and once provided him a
Mercedes-Benz, a Jaguar and a Corvette, according to court records.
"I'm not going to deny that it was lucrative," Kimberly Mundell told the South
Florida Sun-Sentinel.
For 10 years, Mundell preached in the Fort Lauderdale area at the Solid Rock
Family Worship Center under the umbrella of New Generation. He raised money for a
new church but then left the congregation in 2004. The church was never built.
Mundell traveled the country on crusades, soliciting donations for overseas mission
trips he never took and making predictions to followers that they said never
happened.
"Do you need a miracle? Do you need someone to talk to?" Mundell asked in a Feb.
6 broadcast. "Well you can have that happen today, right over the telephone. As
you're getting ready to dial the toll-free number that I'm going to give you, your life's
getting ready to change."
At its peak in the late 1990s, New Generation took in about $3 million a year,
Mundell testified in a July bankruptcy court hearing. In addition to his Solid Rock
8 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
"What I believe was that he felt like he was called to help the rejected, the
downtrodden, the forsaken," said Kimberly Mundell, who is black.
In April, Mundell hosted Apostle J.G. Rice of Columbia, S.C., for a "Flame of Fire"
crusade at Good Shepherd. Rice blessed attendees with "miracle oil" and at one
service encouraged them to give $300 each in collection envelopes that included
options to pay by credit or debit card.
Last year, Mundell teamed with the Rev. W.V. Grant of Dallas. Grant spent more
than a year in federal prison after a 1996 conviction for failing to report $375,000 in
taxable income in the purchase of two homes, including his $1 million residence.
Grant's "miracle revival" at Good Shepherd lasted more than six months.
"Fifteen thousand souls have been saved. Scores have come out of wheelchairs, off
the crutches, canes and out of their braces," Grant wrote in an October letter to
prospective attendees.
"My short leg grew out 3 inches!" said the caption over one man's photo.
Grant could not be reached despite messages left at his Dallas church.
Phillip Umphres, a former assistant U.S. attorney in Dallas who prosecuted Grant,
described the traveling evangelists as a small community.
"There's a whole little subculture and they know each other," he said. "They'll
borrow each other's written materials if they're successful."
NO 'SILVER SPOON'
"I didn't come from no family with a silver spoon," Mundell said in a Feb. 25
broadcast. "My daddy was a prisoner in San Quentin (Calif.) Prison. The whole time I
was growing up we had to go visit him there."
California archive records show Mundell's now-deceased father spent less than four
months at San Quentin. He first entered prison in 1961, just before Mundell turned
nine, for writing a bad check and returned twice for parole violations, serving a total of
9 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Mundell preaches that he is living proof of miracles, paralyzed from the waist down
from a 1976 car accident in California. Told by doctors he'd never walk again, Mundell
says Jesus healed him one night two and half years later.
California police agencies no longer have records from that time. Kimberly Mundell,
who met her husband after he says he was healed, said she pressed him for evidence,
but he never produced any.
"If what he says is true, it truly is a miracle," said Maria Amador, director of
education at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami School of
Medicine.
Preaching financial prosperity, Mundell tells followers that above all God wants
them rich. "God made me debt-free and blessed me with multi-million-dollar wealth,"
he said in a sermon dated Nov. 10, 2006, on his Web site.
By then, Mundell had stopped making mortgage payments on his Safety Harbor
home, which he lost in foreclosure in January. In his bankruptcy petition last year, he
listed debts of $1.5 million on the home, credit card bills including $10,385 to Saks
Fifth Avenue, and $28,041 in unpaid child support for a daughter from a previous
marriage.
"We believed and taught that there was nothing wrong with being prosperous, so
the lifestyle fit what he was teaching, preaching, except we weren't debt-free," said
Kimberly Mundell, who was not a party in the bankruptcy filing. "We were in debt
trying to live the lifestyle."
That lifestyle included European vacations, $1,000 shoes, Rolex watches, and fine
Italian suits, she said. And it took root in South Florida.
The ministry's success soared after Mundell settled in Fort Lauderdale in 1994 and
started Solid Rock. "We hit big," Kimberly Mundell said.
Within three months of his first service in a Lauderdale Lakes office park, Mundell
was drawing crowds exceeding 800 worshipers.
Annette Hopkins of Margate, who met Mundell on a crusade, was so taken by the
preacher that she moved from St. Louis to South Florida in 1998 to be part of his
ministry.
"People believed in him," she said. "You were encouraged not to hold back in your
giving, to trust God."
Former Fort Lauderdale resident Winnie Francis, now of Land O' Lakes on Florida's
west coast, said she gave about $20,000 one year. "I wasn't even earning that much,"
Francis said, adding that she used savings and proceeds from property she sold.
Preaching mainly from schools and leased buildings, Mundell told his congregation
he would build a church. "It was going to be beautifully decorated," Hopkins recalled.
10 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Property records show New Generation purchased 4.5 vacant acres in Oakland
Park in 2003, land upon which Mundell said a church would rise. A little more than a
year later, Mundell closed Solid Rock without ever breaking ground.
"The very night he said the church was closing, he took up a collection," Hopkins
said. "We never knew what happened to the money."
In June 2005, New Generation sold the land for an $800,000 profit. Two months
later, Mundell and his wife bought their $1.8 million estate, putting down $525,000,
records show.
Kimberly Mundell said the couple used some of the proceeds from the land sale in
the purchase of their home. She provided New Generation bank records that show
four payments totaling $189,366, three to an escrow account and the fourth to a title
company.
Now 71, Hopkins said she had planned to retire but is working as a substitute
teacher as a result of the money she gave to Mundell.
As for the preacher, Hopkins said: "It's over for me and his ministry."
"He just was friendly, knew you on a first-name basis," she said. "He did a lot of
promising, that it's your time for the Lord to bless you financially."
Miller said she gave the preacher about $16,000. Her daughter, Kelly Smith of
Santa Monica, Calif., said she reviewed her mother's financial records and calculated
the total was $43,000.
Mundell talked about his missionary work in poor countries. Skeptical, Smith
attended a crusade he held in Los Angeles and pressed the preacher for details of his
work via e-mails, copies of which she provided to the Sun-Sentinel. Mundell sent
Smith photos from India, though he was not in them, and an e-mail that he described
as confirmation of an upcoming trip to Africa.
"We are under a great burden of finance for our upcoming mission trips," he wrote
to Smith on Aug. 13, 2006. "I want to ask you if you can give an offering any thing
would help, also you may have some friends that might want to help… I have to send
a payment next week."
Miller said the mission trips never occurred. Kimberly Mundell said they were
canceled "because we did not have the money to go."
Miller, 66, now resides in an assisted living facility in Glendale, Calif., unable to pay
her bills, and is financially dependent on her daughter. She said her once-trusted
preacher stopped taking her calls.
11 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
PROMISING MONEY
Mundell's message of prosperity struck a chord with his mostly poor followers in
North Carolina, said Monte Carr, who had heard Mundell's radio show and helped bring
the preacher there for crusades, the last one in 2006.
"He promises in his broadcasts that somebody's mortgage is going to get paid,
somebody's bills are going to get paid," Carr said. "That's what appealed to us was the
idea and concept of giving back to the people of need."
Mundell urged crusade attendees to give donations and in return God would bless
them, Carr said.
Carr said one follower took out a $600 loan. Another, a Hurricane Katrina evacuee
from New Orleans, gave the preacher her $1,000 tax refund. Carr herself gave the
preacher $1,000, she said.
"I'm in the middle of a divorce," Carr said. "He said, 'God's going to send you a
wonderful husband; he's going to be a minister.' I haven't seen this man yet."
Carr said attendees complained to her when their blessings never came true.
"He continues to send these people letters saying, 'Give me money and in seven
days this and that is going to happen to you,'." Carr said. "These people believe in him
and they're sending their hard-earned money, and these things never happen."
"Today's offering is going to be the first offering going into the property, not
because I need it, you need to give," Mundell said on a videotape of a class last
spring.
"He never said where the property was, who he was trying to buy it from, but he
wanted us to give," said student Vera Jackson.
The church never materialized. Within several months, Mundell left Norfolk and the
300 students who enrolled in his school. LaVerne Johnson, a school bus driver, said
students gave donations, including $100 for a cap and gown and graduation banquet
to be held in February.
Mundell had returned to Florida amid mounting personal debt and allegations of
domestic violence.
FAMILY TURBULENCE
On Oct. 7, sheriff's deputies were called to the Mundells' Safety Harbor home. The
preacher told them "he had called a family meeting so he could fire Kimberly and her
daughter" from the ministry board, said sheriff's spokeswoman Cecilia Barreda.
12 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
On Oct. 9, Kimberly Mundell sought a domestic violence protection order from her
husband, saying he had "slapped me, punched me, dragged me by my hair, choked
me," she wrote in Pinellas County court records.
Kimberly Mundell's mother, Loyce Alexander, who lived with the couple, wrote in a
court statement that she saw Mundell "beat and kick my daughter on many
occasions."
One time, "I was told if I called 911 he would stomp her to death and beat me,
too," wrote Alexander, 78, who said she needed a walker to get around. "These fights
would always take place when he would return home from doing a revival. He would
be very drunk."
A judge granted the order, prohibiting Mundell from being within 500 feet of his
home or the ministry's office, also in Safety Harbor.
On Oct. 22, Pinellas sheriff's deputies arrested Mundell at the ministry office on a
misdemeanor charge of violating that order, according to records. Mundell has pleaded
not guilty, and the case is set for trial in June.
In an e-mail to the Sun-Sentinel, Mundell said his wife obtained the order after she
had been fired, "listing my office as her place of employment."
"She did so to shut the ministry down, knowing it was no longer her place of
employment," he wrote. "I went to my office to collect docs [sic] and equipment."
While in the Pinellas County Jail, Mundell was served with divorce papers. He has
filed a counterclaim, calling his marriage "irretrievably broken."
Now preaching at Good Shepherd in Hallandale Beach, Mundell said during an April
27 service that he was called back to South Florida and predicted that soon lines
would form outside with people waiting to get into the mostly empty but growing
church. He urged the crowd of about 40 to pledge donations of $100 a month and told
them they were on their way to a "debt-free life."
On his radio program, Mundell has announced plans to start a minister's school on
May 17 and recently sent a letter to prospective donors with a packet of "gold dust"
and instructions to sprinkle it on their bills and credit cards.
God "is poised to bless you with prosperity and abundance," Mundell wrote.
"However, He can only do it as you OBEY HIS FAITH INSTRUCTIONS!"
report
By Sally Kestin South Florida Sun-Sentinel May 20, 2008
A Hallandale Beach church where the Rev. Daniel S. Mundell has held revivals and
preached for nearly a year has cut ties with the evangelist, a church spokeswoman
said Monday.
The action came after the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported May 11 that Mundell
had raised money for a church in Fort Lauderdale that he never built, solicited
donations for overseas mission trips he never took and made predictions that followers
said never came true.
"I told him he had to leave," said Melody Gustafson, vice president of Good
Shepherd Ministries, where Mundell has been preaching out of a storefront in a strip
mall on Hallandale Beach Boulevard. "This is a 55-year-old ministry. I couldn't let his
scandal bring it down."
Mundell did not respond to an e-mail Monday. He has declined to comment but
told the Sun-Sentinel he would grant an interview after a June 11 court hearing in
Pinellas County.
Gustafson, the daughter of Good Shepherd's Pastor David Epley, said she was
aware of Mundell's personal turmoil but not the allegations from former followers.
"When I read how adversely other people had been affected at other churches . .
.if it's true, it goes against everything the church stands for," Gustafson said. "People
come to church for hope and faith, and if you destroy that hope and faith, then you
have nothing."
The Sun-Sentinel reported earlier this month that through church services and
crusades across the country, Mundell had raised millions of dollars from mostly poor
worshipers, encouraging them to give, even if it's their last $100, and God would bless
them with wealth.
"Church isn't about raising money," Gustafson said. "It's about healing and
uplifting people, and if that becomes the primary focus, then something is very, very
wrong."
She said she informed Mundell last week that he would no longer be allowed to
preach at Good Shepherd.
Mundell had advertised on his weekday radio program, broadcast on WEXY, 1520
AM, that he was starting a ministers training school at Good Shepherd, with the first
class to be held May 17.
Gustafson said she allowed Mundell to come Saturday to inform students the
school would be moving and canceled his Sunday church service. "He will never be
back," she said.
Gustafson described Mundell as a "guest pastor" and said Good Shepherd was
14 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Literature distributed during services in recent weeks and the sign on the door of
the church listed both New Generation and Good Shepherd ministries. By Monday
afternoon, the sign had been removed.
"I did not know his name was on that door until this morning," said Gustafson,
whose office is in the same strip mall as the church.
As recently as last week, Mundell said on his radio program that God had joined
him with Epley, whom he described as a "wonderful soldier in the army of the Lord."
Gustafson said her father has suffered health problems and is recovering from
surgery. She said Epley helped Mundell for several weeks last year and, with his own
health failing, let him continue preaching "so the members have some place" to go.
Gustafson served on the board of New Generation until she resigned in February.
"I was not comfortable being affiliated with him," she said.
For 10 years, Mundell preached at the Solid Rock Family Worship Center in the
Fort Lauderdale area, raising money for a church that was never built. Mundell closed
Solid Rock in 2004. The next year he moved to Safety Harbor, near Tampa, where he
bought a $1.8 million house with basketball and tennis courts and a putting green, the
Sun-Sentinel reported May 11.
Mundell filed for bankruptcy protection last June and in January lost his Safety
Harbor home in foreclosure.
On his radio program last week, Mundell said the newspaper report had actually
brought former followers back to him. He did not address his fundraising or spending
of donations.
"Is it something I'm ashamed of?" he asked on his Thursday broadcast. "No, I'm
holding my head up high."
Copeland's office issued a statement saying that about 2,000 ministers gathered for
the conference. It said representatives from the Huckabee campaign rented a room
there to hold a rally and fundraiser.
Huckabee spokeswoman Alice Stewart told The Associated Press that he and Copeland
spoke by phone recently.
"Basically, Kenneth Copeland simply asked him how he could pray for him and the
governor asked him to pray for physical stamina for the team and the financial
resources that they need each day," Stewart told the AP.
Watch the video:
www.wittenburgdoor.com/huckabee-copeland
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/448608.html
Chapter 2
John & Carol Arnott The Deceivers
The Holy Spirit is gentle. Jesus boldly drove the moneychangers out of the temple
with a whip. But when He prayed for sick people, there is no record of Him head-
banging or leg-dropping anyone. He rebuked evil spirits authoritatively, but He never
hit, slapped, choked, mounted or kicked a person. He was meek, which means He
knew how to control His strength, and He never threw His weight around. J Lee Grady,
Bam! Pow! When Prayer Ministry Gets Violent June 18,2008
GAL 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship is different and unique from other Christian
groups in that is a church/charity/cult led by con-artists/executives/pastors who
conduct criminal activities including financial, crimes, hate crimes, perjury, slandering,
etc.
Yes they preach another gospel than the one that Jesus or Paul preached and call
it Toronto Blessing when it reality it‘s Toronto Curse, Toronto Con-Artists, Toronto
Hypocrites, Toronto Cult, Toronto Crooks, Toronto Cowards, Toronto Deceivers,
Toronto Violence! So why should we be surprised to read the following emails:
Good luck with your lawsuit. These people need to be made accountable
for their violent actions against innocent people and their families.
Have just printed off your articles on:- Todd Bentley & The Arnotts from
Toronto, both are very well written and researched. Ray Kirkup
17 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
AND HERE IS A CLASSICAL EXAMPLE OF WHAT TACF AND JOHN ARNOTT THINK
OF THEIR CRITICS
Dear Brother,
I am in constant prayer for you and have released your name on my prayer listing
for those who desperately need a visitation from the Lord and Mass deliverance.
May the demonic spirits that wrapped up your soul and confused your mind be
bound in the name of Jesus!
John Arnott is a great man of GOD and has the fruit to show it. I have seen
hundreds come to the Lord through his ministry and I personllay had a miraculous
healing in his church at his hand. He walks in total LOVE, preaches LOVE, teaches the
importance of Forgiveness and walks in gifts of healing.
You obvously need to read his book on forgiveness. May God forgive you for
attacking a man of God.
info@hisevents.org
Robin Rowan is the Director of His Events, (God is the creator). This assignment
God gave to her in 2006 and is continuously growing. She is a student of Paul Keith
Davis, serving White Dove Ministries as an active volunteer, and attends Church of His
Presence under Pastor John Kilpatrick in Daphne Alabama. Robin is single, a devote
servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and works in the marketplace for the Department
of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General, as an Auditor for Disaster
Assistance Oversight in Biloxi, Mississippi. (Bringing the prophetic into the
Governmental marketplace. Hallelujah!).
Editor‘s note: In any civilized country this email from Robin Rowan is considered as
a hate crime and it‘s a fact that TACF, John Arnott and Steve Long are guilty of hate
crimes against Walter Kambulow and family!
Todd Bentley could not supply one name of a person healed to the news media
http://www.benedictionblogson.com/2008/07/12/canadian-todd-bentley-leaves-
from-lakeland-revival-after-expose/
Todd‘s friends Patricia King asks Are you a Revival Cow? Lakeland Revival Cleanup
Starts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZZ93PzKwaA&eurl=http://healtheland.wordpr
ess.com/
Subject: Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, John Arnott, Steve Long and their
supporters continue to believe in and practice lying and lawlessness
―it has been publically established by various individuals and published on the
internet and to the Prime Minister of Canada and Members of Parliament and the news
media, as well as the Supreme Court of Ontario, that the Plaintiff‟s TACF and Pastors
John Arnott and Steve Long, are proven liars, slanderers, back stabbers and thieves
who have continued their character assassination and slander in their lawsuit against
the defendant, Walter Kambulow‖
"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your
name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And
then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!' Matthew 7:22-23
Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Members of Parliament and the News
media,
Religious pharisaical liars, perjurers and thieves would tell us MT 7:1 "Judge
not, that you be not judged? But they conveniently ignore 1COR 14:29 Let two or
three prophets speak, and let the others judge? Believe it or not! It is true Toronto
Airport Christian Fellowship (Toronto Airport Church of the Flesh or Cult of Fools), its
executives and their friends such as Evangelist Benny Hinn, Pastor Stephen Strader,
Rodney Howard Browne and Richard Roberts, believe that their ―Third Wave
Anointing‖ allows them to lie, slander, steal, use dirty tricks, and perjure as they are
only accountable to God or to their friends/partners!( Liars and Perjurers in
Revivalhttp://www.a2zbookdepot.com/revival.pdf ).
Mr. Kambulow would be more than pleased to give concrete examples of all
this to the Superior Court of Ontario of their lawlessness and lies including the fact
that on January 15, 2008 TACF‘s Solicitor Pamela Miehls promised Justice Clark to give
Mr. Kambulow within ten days a statement of defense as ordered by Justice Clarke in
regard to Kambulow v Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship et al
Page 24
THE COURT: So you‘re going to do your Statement of Defence, you‘re
19 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
And later TACF‘s Solicitor, Howard Winkler, a litigation specialist, lied and told
the Superior Court Justice Mossip on June 6,2008 that TACF, John Arnott and Stephen
Long never promised to serve and file by email a Statement of Defense to Walter
Kambulow as ordered by Justice Clarke on January 15, 2008. Amazing how Mr.
Winkler could lie so freely in court?
But lying seems to be a way of life with the Straders in spite of being
Pentecostal Christians. The Tampa Tribune on July 8, 1995 reported the following that
says it all about Dan Strader.
Durden then pressed Strader on what his morals were all about.
―Do you feel it was wrong to lie to people? He asked.
―Yes.‖
―But you did it anyway?‖
―Yes,‖ Strader responded. ―I definitely feel I compromised on ethical and moral
conduct.‖
―What kind of value system do you have to enable you to lie to people?‖ the
prosecutor pressed.
―I had a very poor value system.‖
At Dan‘s sentencing, Pastor Karl Strader asked from the Judge for mercy for his
son because this is his first offense. Maybe this was Dan‘s Strader first offense at
getting caught but reading the factual diverse material that I read, the pattern was
already there in 1989 when Dan was in the insurance business forging signatures, and
deceiving people.
The prosecution had shown that in 1990-1994, Dan and a Christian friend and
graduate also of Oral Roberts University ―floated checks between each other‘s banks
off and on for more than four years‖ in what is referred to as a ―Check Kiting‖ scheme.
It means checks are written even though the money to cover them is not in the bank.
20 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Judge Doyle asked Pastor Karl Strader ―How he could show mercy when the
defendant has not shown remorse for his crimes.“
the defendant unsuccessfully tried to convince a jury and the court that his
only mistake was to make bad business decision because of this trust of other people
.... The defendant quite clearly thought that he did not intend to hurt any one that he
has not committed any crimes. He was unwilling to acknowledge the truth that it was
criminal for him to lie to people to get their money and then use their money for his
own purposes. He evidently believes that he is above the law and it is perfectly
acceptable for him to defraud people [or deceive them]. There are many people who
never will accept the truth of this case.”
Judge Doyle as a Minister of God went on to say something that was amazing
to me and explains why God gave Dan Strader a 45 year sentence. He said, ―I have
prayed for wisdom on this, but how can I, as the conscience of the community forgive
the man when, I have yet to hear Mr. Strader say he did anything illegal.‖
Almost 40 people, including Strader‘s sister and wife, in one day, spoke on Dan‘s
behalf. Karla Dixon his sister stated that her brother had a dream and not a scheme.
His dream was to build homes for families on fixed incomes.‖ Most of the 11 investors
who attended asked Judge Doyel to impose the maximum sentence.
Judge Doyel said ―Since he won‟t acknowledge stealing millions from the
elderly, its not likely Daniel Strader will be rehabilitated‖ and sentenced the son of an
Assembly of God preacher to 45 years in prison. Pastor Karl Strader and Dan‘s wife
Melissa were visibly upset with the sentence.
Karl Strader later said, ―The sentence was unexpected, though he couldn‘t
understand why victims were so vengeful.‖ He said his son plans to appeal. Karl also
stated ―we hurt with those who hurt.‖ [Another one of his heavenly exaggerations as
his son Stephen would put it.] Smiling Dan Strader declined to comment on the
sentence and told the reporters ―You can see me in jail.‖
So why should the Senior Pastor of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, Steve
Long, be any different but an unrepentant liar, slanderer and back stabber? Yes on
many occasion that Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship Corporation and its
executives/pastors defamed Walter Kambulow by using the web to spread hateful
untrue things about Walter Kambulow. For example Pastor Steve Long of Toronto
Airport Church sent an email to Rick Meyers on April 25, 2006 stating:
Sorry Rick, but Walter is as bad as they come. He has been disciplined by several
churches in his past for rebelllion and blames every and all churches he has every
been a part of. His wife wasn't stolen, she left him and if he had been a part of our
church, which he wasn't; I wold be all over for him for slander. The way that he
slanders his wife in public is horendous. He is not a part of our chrch so we are not
responding to him-
It seem that the ―spirit‘ that leads and guides and inspires TACF and its
followers and causes them to lie, behave like animals, and shake just like the devil,
who is also very fearful and cowardly, taught them to character assassinate people
when they didn‘t know how to deal with substance of any serious issue, also taught
them to persecute and sue their critics, who are calling for their prosecution, rather
than to bless them as instructed by Jesus Christ – MT 5:44 "But I say to you, love
your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray
21 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
It is also unethical if not immoral to have Pastors John Arnott and Steve Long
start a fight with Walter Kambulow by ―remote control‖ using the services of highly
priced ―Bay Street‖ lawyers saying all kinds of lies about Mr. Kambulow, character
assassinating Mr. Kambulow, and charging all the legal costs of their solicitors, Aird &
Berlis, to their family owned and run nonprofit charity loaded with family and friends
and board of directors handpicked by founder John Arnott just like Richard Roberts did
with his board of Regents of Oral Roberts University?
Justice Herman in her ruling of April 18, 2008 stated Respect for the rule of
law requires that a court order, however wrong … may feel it is, be obeyed until it is
set aside by a court (see Boucher v. Kennedy, O.J. No. 1612 (Gen.Div.); aff‟d O.J.
No. 3407 (C.A.)) at para. 54).
So how come Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, John Arnott and Steve Long
are literally lawless and have no respect for the law including obeying Justice Clarke
order? How come they want others to obey the law when they don‘t obey it
themselves? How come they are refusing to give Mr. Kambulow a Statement of
Defense?
How come John Arnott and Steve Long can steal money from their nonprofit
charity and pay off their own mortgage tax free and buy corvettes and charge
anything they want to their charity? How come they can file a $ 50 million dollar
lawsuit against Walter Kambulow that is based on perjury?
How can they commit hate crimes by saying publically hateful things, untrue
things about Walter Kambulow? How come they can run away and hide and do nothing
to stop their crimes? What makes them so special that they can be lawless and have
no respect for the law?
This is something that the Prime Minister, the Government of Canada and the
News Media must look into at how so called men of God can be liars and murderers
about whom Jesus said:
JN 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want
to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own
resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Regards,
Walter Kambulow
Burlington, Ontario
have suffered and will continue to suffer damages, their character and reputation,
personally and in the way of their profession, office or calling, have wrongly been
brought into public disrepute, their public and general reputation has been and will
continue to be seriously damaged, and they have been subjected to embarrassment,
ridicule and contempt.
have had and will continue to have a detrimental effect on the ability of TACF to
continue to serve its members and on the ability of Arnott and Long to continue to
perform their work as pastors
This Statement of Claim filed by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, John Arnott
and Steve Long in the Superior Court of Ontario, Toronto Canada was not only a lie
out of the pits of hell but perjury because there has been no proven detrimental effect
on the ability of TACF to continue to serve its members and on the ability of Arnott
and Long to continue to perform their work as pastors.
http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/liars_and_perjurers_revival.pdf
Arrogant proud and unrepentant John Arnott and Steve Long not only believe they
are only accountable to God and no one else but also have no respect for the rule of
law! They have refused to comply with the order of Justice James H. Clarke of
January 15, 2008‖ which states:
“THIS COURT ORDERS THAT the Defendants shall serve on the Plaintiff by email
and file their Statement of Defense within ten days.”
The Plaintiff has not received by email a Statement of Defense nor have the
Defendants filed their Statement of Defense!
The Plaintiff, Mr. Kambulow, requests that that Court note the Defendants in
default in not submitting a proper ‗Statement of Defence‘ which they could have done
as they definitely don‘t lack manpower or resources and be held in contempt of court.
The Lakeland Ledger reported on May 18, 2008 about this lawless group:
The Toronto revival began at the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church under evangelist Randy Clark just
as the Carpenter's Home revival was ending. It drew attention - and ridicule - for some practices
that were even more unusual than holy laughter, such as people roaring like lions, barking like dogs
or flapping their arms. Eventually, at the request of the Association of Vineyard Churches, the
church withdrew from the association and changed its named to Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20080518/news/805180341&tc=yahoo
Yes, they are nothing but con men who on the surface are always kind, nice and
pleasant just like Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship's John Arnott. But when you ask
too much questions from them they show their true nature and become "vipers" and
sue you in court for $ 50 million dollars and then use legal maneuvers to try avoid
going through with their lawsuit because it's all a con job!
One of the most prominent and common problems I encounter with this „blessing‟
movement is that it promotes a culture in which no one is allowed to question or
critique the teachings, „revelations‟, latest book by a „Prophet‟, or the „manifestations‟
of the Spirit.
I also notice that often the teachings coming from this movement have poor
sources or misquoted sources which are often used out of the original contexts. Most
23 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
of the folks believing all these teachings either don‟t realise this or do not do their own
study and research to verify the Scriptural validity or accuracy of the teachings. Matt
http://www.theapologeticresponse.org/?p=235
John and Carol Arnott, the leaders of the Toronto Outpouring revival, at the
Lakeland Revival blessing it. Filmed on Tuesday May 20th. http://video.aol.com/video-
detail/toronto-blesses-lakeland-revival/771983197
I received this letter a few years ago, and for some odd reason, namely fair use, I
decided not to make this public. Then, a few days ago, I figured "why not" and have
decided to share this wonderful little letter with you. Isn't it great that you can help
someone pay his $100,000 mortgage for being such a Godly man!
Dear friend,
I am writing on behalf of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship to let you know our
Senior Pastor, John Arnott is about to have a birthday. Not only is he having a
birthday, but this next one is when he turns 65! John's birthday is on Christmas day,
December 25th, 2005.
Earlier this year, some of the guys in John's cell met to talk about how to honour John
on this special day. We had some ideas. We thought of sending John and Carol on a
trip. No, they already travel too much. We thought of buying John a corvette as he
often talks of owning a sports car.
Well, being a married man, I have learned that the safest thing to do is talk to a
woman. So I talked to Carol and told her that we wanted to honour John in some way.
Carol thought the idea was great and she began to probe as to what John would like
to do next year id he had any extra money.
At almost every discussion she had, John stated that he would love to pay off their
house mortgage and be personally debt free. For those of you who don't attend TACF,
let me tell you a little tradition that John began 5 years ago.
My wife Sandra had a dream many years ago about us getting a house. In the Toronto
area, like in other cities, if you don't have two incomes, you usually can't afford a
house. We made the choice for Sandra to stay home while our children were small,
meaning that we rented a house. One day the Lord spoke to us about our home and
said that if we were to give away towards someone else's home that He would give us
one.
We were already in debt on our credit card and this was really a step of faith. We
borrowed $1,000 and asked God to bless our gift a with a 100% increase. The very
night we gave away the seed, John Arnott had a dream about helping us buy a house!
Several weeks later, John took a second offering for us at TACF to help us buy a
24 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
home.
There was no notice given ahead of time and it was a holiday weekend. Our church
family enthusiastically responded and gave us $102,000 and the keys to a car!
Amazing!
Well, since then we have taken second offerings about once a year for our pastors
who don't have a house. We have been able to bless John and Patricia Bootsma (now
pastoring John and Carol's first congregation in Stratford ON), Darrin and Daphne
Clarke (our children's pastors), Will and Madeline Walker (they headed up our Prayer
and Care department) and Stuart and Lynley Allan (operations and prophetic).
So, to say happy birthday to John, Carol is suggesting that we also help them to pay
off their home. They have a little over $100,000 left on their mortgage and we would
love to surprise John on Christmas Sunday by burning their mortgage. If there is more
money than we need, we can also get him the car!
Included in this letter is an envelope for you to send a birthday gift to John and Carol.
Please make cheque payable to "Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship". If you live in
Canada or America, we are able to provide a tax receipt for you. If you want your gift
to be tax free to John, please specify that you do not require a tax receipt for your
gift.
Ideally, we are looking to have all the gifts returned to us by December 15th so that
we can head tot he bank with Carol to pay off the mortgage.
There are two other things I'd like you to join with us on. The first is that we are
putting together a massive birthday card for John. We would love to include your
greeting to John. We are asking that you send a note, no longer than 50 words, to my
e-mail address at tacf.org If you don't have e-mail, you are welcome to include a note
with your gift.
The second item that we'd like you to include is a photograph of yourself so that John
is able to identify you. Many of you he knows by name, but there are far more of you
who know him. If you can add the photo to the email, that would be ideal, otherwise it
can also be included in the envelope.
Would you join us at TACF in honoring John Arnott? John for many of you has become
a spiritual father, He and Carol has blessed you through their conference ministry,
itinerant travel and television ministry. Many of you have had John and Carol pray for
you and impart our Father's blessings.
I am looking forward to a very busy December as our team put together this birthday
card! I look forward to hearing from you and receiving your photo, your greeting and
your gift towards paying off John's mortgage! Remember this is a surprise so no
talking to John!
Bless you and thank you for letting me share on behalf of the congregation at Toronto
Airport Christian Fellowship.
Steve Long
Senior Associate Pastor.
http://www.fstdt.com/forums/thread.aspx?t=15245
25 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Senior Pastor Steve Long is the Vice President of Toronto Airport Christian
Fellowship, a religious nonprofit organization, and here in his mass mailing letter we
see a clear abuse of a classical ―Pentecostal family run and owned ministry‖ which
exists for the benefit of its founder, John Arnott President of Toronto Airport Christian
Fellowship. Steve Long is using TACF facilities and resources to ask friends and
members to pay off John Arnott‘s $ 100,000 mortgage by making a check payable to
"Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship" and if you live in Canada or America, we are
able to provide a tax receipt for you. Note the phrases We thought of buying John a
corvette as he often talks of owning a sports car. If you want your gift to be tax free
to John, please specify that you do not require a tax receipt for your gift.
How can a gift be tax free to Pastor John Arnott especially when it‘s given to
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship?
have suffered and will continue to suffer damages, their character and reputation,
personally and in the way of their profession, office or calling, have wrongly been
brought into public disrepute, their public and general reputation has been and will
continue to be seriously damaged, and they have been subjected to embarrassment,
ridicule and contempt.
have had and will continue to have a detrimental effect on the ability of TACF to
continue to serve its members and on the ability of Arnott and Long to continue to
perform their work as pastors
This statement of TACF is not only a lie out of the pits of hell but perjury because
there has been no proven detrimental effect on the ability of TACF to continue to serve
its members and on the ability of Arnott and Long to continue to perform their work as
pastors.
And it‘s also a fact that TACF Solicitors could not prove to the Superior court of
Ontario that John Arnott and Steve Long have suffered and will continue to suffer
damages, their character and reputation, personally and in the way of their profession,
office or calling, have wrongly been brought into public disrepute, their public and
general reputation has been and will continue to be seriously damaged, and they have
been subjected to embarrassment, ridicule and contempt
All THIS MAKES TORONTO AIRPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP THE HOME OF LIARS
AND PERJURERS IN REVIVAL! See http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/revival.pdf
Jesus Christ never approved of having unrepentant proven thieves, liars &
perjurers such as John Arnott and Steve Long to be pastors. Lying stealing suing,
committing perjury and destroying people is totally against the teaching of the New
Testament.
26 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
HOW CAN SO CALLED MEN ON GOD MEN OF INTEGRITY DELIBERATELY LIE AND
PERJURY THEMSELVES IN A LEGAL DOCUMENT UNDER OATH TO THE COURT ABOUT
THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED?????
They are not men of God, men of integrity but liars, thieves and perjurers who
used and use their personal family owned and run Pentecostal charity to pay off their
own mortgages and buy themselves new cars – see
Besides their financial crimes of stealing money from a nonprofit charity and hate
crimes against Walter Kambulow, the crime of perjury is a very serious one that the
executives of TACF are taking very lightly! They should not!
As a result because a crime is a crime and cannot go unreported or not deal with,
Mr. Kambulow has been properly asking the Honorable Prime Minister of Canada,
Stephen Harper, through the different Canadian Government agencies, should order
an immediate investigation of this nonprofit charity Toronto Airport Christian
Fellowship and ensure nonprofit corporation status be revoked especially as the
executives of TACF have used the charity to pay off their mortgages and purchase
luxury cars tax free. See http://www.fstdt.com/forums/thread.aspx?t=15245
Mr. Kambulow has requested that the Justices and the Superior Court of Ontario
take immediate steps to have the executives of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
nonprofit charity be charged and incarcerated for the their proven financial crimes,
hate crimes and perjury!
CROOKED CHARITY
June 20, 2008
MT 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven
suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Religious “rapists, liars and thieves” cannot pilfer the country and its people while
the Justice system does nothing about it and the righteous cry out for justice. Walter
Kambulow to Supreme Court of Ontario Justice
I got a response from someone on my mailing who I had forgotten was a member of
the TACF. He left because of lack of biblical teaching and integrity, scripture being
taken out of context and historical Christian leaders being misquoted. He also left
because of the misuse of church funds. David Upton To Walter Kambulow
LK 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure
27 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Subject: Mr. Kambulow is waiting for TACF charity to pay of his mortgage and legal
bills and buy him a new corvette, all tax free, just like they did for John Arnott and
Steve Long
The law of the land both in Canada and United States clearly states that a
nonprofit corporation/charity including Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship cannot
exist for the benefit of any single individual including President John Arnott and Vice
President Steve Long.
Since Rodney Howard Browne and Jesus Christ are friends of Toronto Airport
Christian Fellowship and John Arnott and Steve Long, and to make it fair to all Mr.
Kambulow has requested that Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship not only as an
example of Christian charity but of equity, fairness and justice, pay off Mr.
Kambulow‘s mortgage, legal fees and buy him a new red corvette fully loaded. (See
Mr. Kambulow letter of May 26, 2008 to TORONTO AIRPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
and Pastor/ President John Arnott and Pastor/Vice President Steve Long on the
subject: TACF Lawsuit against Walter Kambulow and Legal Costs). And since Jesus
clearly told TACF and its executives, Give, and it will be given to you: good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom and 'It
is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) there should be not problem for
TACF in complying with the command of the King? If there is maybe you should take
it up with Jesus Christ?
Also since TACF and its executives as well as supporters are supposed to be unique
anointed men and women of God, could you explain to me and the world why
character assassination is their favorite weapon when they cannot deal with the
substance of any issue? Do you agree with and approve the hateful unsubstantiated
remarks made by your friends about Mr. Kambulow such as:
May the demonic spirits that wrapped up your soul and confused your mind be
bound in the name of Jesus! Robin Rowan
Walter is as bad as they come. He has been disciplined by several churches in his
past for rebelllion and blames every and all churches he has every been a part of.
The way that he slanders his wife in public is horendous. Steve Long
Was it Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit who taught TACF and its executives to
character assassinate people for that appears to be the Christian thing to do as
demonstrated by the Senior Pastor of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship!
And what do you think about the remark of the distraught parent who said about
Kambulow‘s lawsuit against Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship:
Good luck with your lawsuit. These people need to be made accountable for their
violent actions against innocent people and their families.
28 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Some things in life do go away especially problems, sins, or crimes and they must
be dealt with sooner or later and if not properly dealt with they seem to get bigger
and bigger and more and more people become aware about them bring a reproach to
the Church and body of Christ! And that is not a good thing?
So I suggest that you send the money to pay off Mr. Kambulow‘s mortgage, legal
bills, and new Corvette by express courier which you solicitors have done many times
before!
Walter Kambulow
Burlington, Ontario
Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Members of Parliament and the News media,
Canada is a beautiful democratic country that is tolerant and accepts all kinds of
people of all races, creed, religion, sizes and nationalities. But it seems that we have
in Canada some religious folks who are very intolerant of others and want to impose
their narrow minded dogmatic views on others even to the point of getting involved
uninvited in our homes, marriages and vocations such as Toronto Airport Christian
Fellowship, a Pentecostal ―family owned and run‖ religious nonprofit corporation –
www.tacf.org
Jesus Christ the founder of the Christian faith told us to "Beware of false prophets,
who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. I trust
that you and your colleagues especially the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C.,
M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, are
becoming aware of these ravenous wolves and are doing something about it?
Wolves in sheep‘s clothing are not a laughing matter especially when they use
their Government given nonprofit corporation to try to destroy and imprison their
critics such as Pastor John Arnott of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship is trying to do
with Walter Kambulow. Yes the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
must look into TACF and what it is saying and doing!
Jesus Christ also instructed His disciples to bless, not destroy, their persecutors.
And Apostle Paul wrote to all Christians and stated:
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 12:16 Be of the same
mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the
humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have
regard for good things in the sight of all men. 12:18 If it is possible, as much as
depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge
yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay," says the Lord. 12:20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is
thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
So what kind of Church is Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship that doesn‘t bless its
persecutors but rather repays their enemies with evil suing Walter Kambulow for $50
million dollars? What kind of Church is TACF which thinks that its leaders are men of
God who are accountable only to God and not one else and lack transparency and
accountability? Yes there is something wrong here and not with Walter Kambulow!
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee,
said he was investigating the finances of Benny Hinn and five other TV evangelists.
Grassley is asking about Hinn's multimillion-dollar home in Dana Point, Calif., his
private Gulfstream jet and his "layover trips" while traveling on ministry business. But
not only ―birds of feather stick together‖ Benny Hinn is the friend and mentor of Pastor
John Arnott who also travels on ministry business and lives in an expensive home!
The Attorney General of Canada must also investigate the finances of John Arnott and
Steve Long!
leaders of his days hypocrites, murderers, serpents, brood of vipers, liars, blind
guides, sons of hell, etc. and told them they would not escape the condemnation of
hell (Matthew 23:15, 33, Luke 11:24-25, 23:38-31), told us "Beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous
wolves. "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes
or figs from thistles? "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears
bad fruit. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Matthew 7:15-18
And yes Pentecostal ―Family owned and run‖ Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
is not a true church of Jesus Christ but a ―profit‖ corporation headed by money
changers, wolves in sheep‘s clothing, liars, slanderers, and back stabbers whose
action, words and deeds, contrary to the teachings and principles of Jesus, prove it to
everybody! In other words it‘s a bad tree that bears bad fruit and needs to be cut
down because:
A true church of Jesus Christ doesn‟t take away the rights or freedoms of any
Canadian guaranteed by the “Charter of Rights” while a “profit” corporation can and
does! Rights such as
a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the
press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association.
A true church of Jesus Christ is not run by pastors who are proven liars, slanderers
and backstabbers while a ―profit‖ corporation can be! Its pastors tell lies such as:
TACF‘s solicitors frown at passages of the bible being quoted in the lawsuit and
before the court and instead they quote secular law cases about unions, nurses, etc.
all of which cannot and do not apply in this case because in Toronto Airport Christian
Fellowship by its own confession and website states that it‘s vision statement is "To
31 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
walk in God‟s love and then give it away to Toronto and the world" and it‘s mission
statement is ―To impact Toronto and the world by welcoming and responding to God's
presence, communicating effectively and developing world class leaders.‖ Yes Toronto
Airport Christian Fellowship says it‘s a Christian Church and not a secular institution in
any sense of the word? So it cannot be examined by the what other secular people
say and do! The only way to measure and examine TACF is by the bible and
especially the New Testament and the Words of Jesus and Apostle Paul and John who
stated:
Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not
murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 5:22 "But I say to
you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council.
But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. 5:23 "Therefore if you
bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something
against you, 5:24 "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 5:25 "Agree with your
adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you
to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
5:26 "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid
the last penny.
MK 10:19 "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not
murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your
father and your mother.' "
JN 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want
to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own
resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due,
customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. 13:8 Owe no
one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the
law. 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not
murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not
covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying,
namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 13:10 Love does no harm to a
neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
1COR 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the
unrighteous, and not before the saints?
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but
have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 13:2 And though I
have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body
to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 13:4 Love suffers long and is
kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 13:5 does not
behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 13:6 does not
rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 13:7 bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are
prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is
knowledge, it will vanish away. 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
32 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
13:10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done
away. 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought
as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 13:12 For now we
see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know
just as I also am known. 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the
greatest of these is love.
PHIL 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the
interests of others.
1JN 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the
brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 3:15 Whoever hates his
brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to
lay down our lives for the brethren..
A simple perusal of TACF‘s Lawsuit against Walter Kambulow and its actions and
words and deeds today shows that TACF has not only denied the words of Jesus, Paul
and John but it has no love towards others including a stranger Walter Kambulow but
are murderers and hateful people who are trying to harm Mr. Kambulow instead of
doing any good for him.
Yes TACF and its pastors John Arnott and Steve Long are very hypocritical in that
they are angry with a brother without a cause and have not only judged him but
slandered and defamed him and said awful things about him. They have not heeded
the words of Jesus about wrong to their Christian brother "Therefore if you bring your
gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
"leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your
brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while
you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge
hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
They have born false witness and have not honored Walter Kambulow nor spoke
the truth about him. They have ignored the words of Apostle Paul who told them
―Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom
customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to
love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the
commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall
not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any
other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law. Their lawsuit is a complete rejection of Apostles Paul‘s
admonition to them “ Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law
before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? And Though I speak with the
tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a
clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries
and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but
have not love, I am nothing. … Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love
does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its
own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the
truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. … And
now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
And contrary to Paul‘s words “ Let each of you look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others” TACF and its Pastors have not been like
33 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
the Good Samaritan that Jesus talked about who spent his own money to help the
poor man who was robbed and beaten and left at wayside to die but have uses the
money given to them in trust by the dumb sheep to try and destroy a private
individual and his family with a $50 million dollar lawsuit and mean and evil motion
that requested that Walter Kambulow be put in jail. Where is the love in all of this
never mind their so called good deeds of Christianity in action?
TACF and its Pastors have shown themselves to be non-Christians and not
Christians in any sense of the word unless murder, raping, killing, lying, slandering,
stealing are what professing Christians are supposed to do? Since when is it
permissible in our society to have a so called Christian church continually stonewall
somebody or sue him or her for $ 50 million dollars? It is not permissible!
TACF and its Pastors have not laid down their life for Walter Kambulow and have
ignored what Apostle John told them - We know that we have passed from death to
life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal
life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we
also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren..
TACF has demonstrated that it has no love and is hateful, selfish, greedy,
arrogant, proud and self centered and doesn‘t deserve to exist or to be considered as
a Christian Church never mind a religious nonprofit corporation. As a result it‘s ―Article
of Incorporation‖ must be removed by the Federal Government.‖
So again for the good of all Canadians checkout, investigate and deal with all
Pentecostal Family Owned and Run Ministries in Canada including Toronto Airport
Christian Fellowship, the Prayer Palace in Toronto, Victory International Church in
Hamilton, and 100 Huntley Street in Burlington, just like United States Senator Mr.
Grassley is doing and as a result news media coverage of the letters to the six
ministries, his office has been flooded with calls about them and other church
organizations, too, the aides said. In other words the New York Times told us there is
a serious problem with lack of transparency and accountability with Ministries in
America!
Thank You!
Walter Kambulow
Burlington, Ontario
http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/revival.pdf
I do not know the man, nor do I know much about the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. I do
remember, about 10 or 12 years ago, that the pastor of our church took a field trip to this
―movement‖ and came back shocked at what was taking place. People were barking and clucking.
Acting as though they were possessed. And not in a good way. Another weird cult.
Apparently, TACF are suing this Walter fellow for several million dollars. According to their statement
of claim, Kambulow falsely and maliciously published, to specific individuals, which may or may not
34 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
include me, and to the world at large on the internet false and defamatory words. The defamatory
words apparently included things like adultery, rape, robbery, exploitation, embezzlement. (Walter
Kambulow is now suing Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF) for 100 million dollars for
slander, lies, and defamation)
I am not a lawyer, so I cannot comment on the merit of the claim. However, Wikipedia has a
fascinating entry on the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship which reads, in part:
The church is also the source of the so-called Golden Sword Prophecy. Another notable phenomenon
that broke out there in March 1999 was the outbreak of allegedly instantaneous, allegedly medically
documented dental ‗miracles‘ including amalgam fillings or porcelain crowns being ‘supernaturally‘
changed to high-quality gold.
At TACF Revival services, worshippers have exhibited unusual behaviours that they attribute to an
encounter with God and the ―fire of the Holy Spirit‖. The most common described behaviours include
laughter (or ―holy laughter‖), weeping, deep bowing, shaking, ‗drunkenness‘, falling to the floor
under the Holy Spirit‘s power (aka ―slain in the Spirit‖) and speaking in tongues. Other less common
behaviours include manifestations that resembled roaring like lions and crying like an eagle. At one
time the TACF website described it thus: ―The Toronto Blessing is a transferable anointing. In its
most visible form it overcomes worshippers with outbreaks of laughter, weeping, groaning, shaking,
falling, ‗drunkenness,‘ and even behaviours that have been described as a ‗cross between a jungle
and a farmyard.‘‖
If that is what these folks at TACF stand for, then I would stay far away. Here is one perspective that
claims the group is led by false teachers.
Richard Cleaver
http://www.richardcleaver.com/?cat=3
It‘s to be noted that On June 29, 1994, in Rockville Centre, L.I., John Arnott spoke on
many of the different origins of the outpouring that came to be known as the "Toronto
Blessing." He and his wife, Carol, had spent much of 1993 and the beginning of January
1994 seeking the Lord for a fresh anointing. They spent all of their mornings with Him. They
had been powerfully impacted many years previously by Kathryn Kuhlman, and then more
recently, by John Wimber, "who really taught us that the anointing was available for
everyone and in the context of team ministry things could be much improved [John Arnott
to Richard Riss, Sept. 19, 1994]." The Arnotts were friends of Benny Hinn, who also had an
impact upon them. - Richard Reiss, A History of the Revival of 1992-1995
It is a fact that John Wimber later severed relationship with the Toronto Airport Vineyard
which was later renamed Toronto Airport Christian Fellows and had them leave his
denomination (Association of Vineyard Churches), because of excesses. So the defendant is
not alone in his criticism of TACF as a genuine Christian Church but rather a cult which it is!
CBC News Fifth television documentary has portrayed Benny Hinn as a liar, a thief and a
man of no integrity - http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_miracles.html
Apologetics Index, Back to the Bible, Banner Ministries, Biblical Discernment Ministries,
Cephas Ministry, Christ Church Virginia, Christian Witness, Christian News Today,
Discernment Ministries Incorporated, Deception in the Church, Firm Foundation, God Net,
In Plain Site, Personal Freedom Outreach, Sheep Trax Media and many others and most
Christian Apologetic web sites, even since 1995, have been reporting that TACF is a cult,
influenced by demons and has false teachings!
Orthodox Christian Information Center which is not a cult has reported:
35 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
The Toronto Blessing (or TB, as it is now often called) is a worldwide spiritual movement
within Pentecostal and charismatic churches. It is named after the Toronto Airport Vineyard
Church in Toronto, Canada, where the movement first hit the headlines in January 1994. Its
advocates claim that the Blessing is a "sovereign move of God", a new and glorious work of
the Holy Spirit. Many of them call it a "revival." However, others, conscious that scarcely
any unbelievers are being converted through this movement, do not call it a revival, but a
"renewal" of the Church. Many of them add that this renewal of the Church is being done by
God as a prelude to a revival. Others claim that this is more than a mere renewal of the
Church; it is God bringing to birth a new super-Church for the end times—a view which fits
in with the doctrine known as "Latter-Rain Restorationism," which has been around in
Pentecostal and charismatic circles for some time. The claim is also made by many
advocates of the TB that those who resist this great move of God will, if they persevere in
their resistance, be guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and various dreadful things
will happen to them. What exactly will happen is often left rather vague; the language used
is that opposers will be "swept aside," "crushed," that sort of thing. On his video, The
Coming Revival, Rodney Howard-Browne warns that opposers will be struck dumb and
blind.
… I would suggest that we can account for the TB by a combination of hypnotic power
and influence, and supernatural demonic power. To keep ourselves safe against such
deceptive movement, we need a true understanding of how the Holy Spirit works in the
believer; and Scripture leads us to the conclusion that He works through the Word of God,
through the truth, and that the first point of contact that the Spirit uses in us is our minds,
our understandings. We must therefore reject all so-called spiritual experiences that by-
pass or short-circuit the mind, or are not produced by the spiritual application of truth to the
mind and heart. We must make sure that we have a spirituality that gives a prominent place
to our minds, to understanding the truth, and we must make sure that Scripture is central
in our relationship with God, and also in our worship of God, through the preaching and
teaching of God's word. Isaiah [Esaias] 8:20: "To the law and to the testimony! If they do
not speak according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/toronto.aspx
Walter Kambulow has only been repeating in his emails what is known to be an
established fact in the Christian world that TACF is a deceptive movement which is contrary
to Scriptures. Their so called leaders teach that they are anointed ones who are not to be
touched or challenged by no one except God. They say they are accountable to no one but
God! And when they are exposed for their obvious errors including being hypocritical,
unkind, unloving, uncompassionate and unwise, they say ―Judge not, lest you be judged.
They not only assume all prophecies to be from God but all supernatural manifestations to
be from God as well including body jerking, animal noises and other kinds of weird
manifestations. Many of their meetings are noted by the sheer stupidity of people who are
not only out of mind but out of control. You have to see it to believe how crazy they are
never mind their theology which they cannot and will not defend publically! They even
threaten lawsuits against their critics, taking Christians to court and that a wife/husband
can divorce or separate in any given marriage!
TACF and Pastors by their lies, words, actions, deeds and lawsuit have shown
themselves to be non-Christian there by leaving themselves wide upon to be sued by
a Christian who is not as bad as they come, who has not been disciplined by several
churches in his past for rebelllion and blames every and all churches he has every
been a part of and who doesn‘t horendously slander his wife in public and is not a
slanderer.
John Wimber of Vineyard USA made some important position papers on what to
do if a leader is slandered publically and nowhere in his papers did he advocate that
Christians sue Christians like Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship has done. TORONTO
36 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
AIRPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP et al. and WALTER KAMBULOW Court File No.C9-
cv-342052 pp3
―Yes Pastor Steve Long of Toronto Airport Church of the Flesh (Toronto Airport
Christian Fellowship) strayed from the faith and is false. He has never met me or
spoken to me or known me never mind the churches that I have attended most of
which I wasn‘t a member. So how can he lie and state Sorry Rick, but Walter is as bad
as they come. He has been disciplined by several churches in his past for rebelllion
and blames every and all churches he has every been a part of. … and if he had been
a part of our church, which he wasn't; I wold be all over for him for slander. The way
that he slanders his wife in public is horendous. He is not a part of our chrch so we
are not responding to him- (Pastor Steve Long to Rick Meyers Tuesday, April 25,
2006)
TACF Is A Cult
On June 29, 1994, in Rockville Centre, L.I., John Arnott spoke on many of the different
origins of the outpouring that came to be known as the "Toronto Blessing." He and his
wife, Carol, had spent much of 1993 and the beginning of January 1994 seeking the
Lord for a fresh anointing. They spent all of their mornings with Him. They had been
powerfully impacted many years previously by Kathryn Kuhlman, and then more
recently, by John Wimber, "who really taught us that the anointing was available for
everyone and in the context of team ministry things could be much improved [John
Arnott to Richard Riss, Sept. 19, 1994]." The Arnotts were friends of Benny Hinn, who
also had an impact upon them. - Richard Reiss, A History of the Revival of 1992-1995
1COR 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and
Him crucified.
1JN 5:11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life
is in His Son.
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears,
they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the
truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2Timothy 4:2-5
The motto of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship is ―To know the Father‟s love and
to give it away” or ―You too can experience the fullness of God's love, the power of His
Holy Spirit and his healing in your life.‖
Did you notice here that Jesus Christ is left out of their motto? Did you notice that
Jesus Christ is not the center of all that they say or do but rather the Father‘s love and
revival?
37 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
But there is no healing, wholeness or deliverance without Jesus Christ and His
shed blood! It‘s Jesus Christ who is the centrality of the Christian faith and no other!
Have you ever noticed how few pastors and preachers in America including those
associated with TACF really do what the word of God tells them to do? When was the
last time you heard a pastor rebuke those who are false or as a matter of fact give
more of the word of God then his own thoughts or opinions? And can anybody who is
associated with Benny Hinn have any brains? Check out CBC documentary on the vile
character Benny Hinn, http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_miracles.html
Many in the House of God claim they love but their love is based on their desire to
serve themselves and their best interests. Their desire is not the best interest of the
sheep. But it is for their own betterment that they draw near to them. This is
especially seen when you contact them for whatever reason and then your mail is
flooded with requests for money to support their ministry or special projects. But try
asking money from them? Then see what kind of response you will get. Ask them for a
financial statement and the salaries of the founder and his family members. Then see
if they are any longer nice to you. They try in feeble ways to serve God and promote
God His love on earth but even this is weak and watered down to the real love He has
for His sheep.
The sad part is they ‗think‘ they are doing God‘s perfect will yet they are missing
the finer points of His truth. They have interpreted His Word in such a way and it is
not what He really meant. They have missed the meaning behind the words and
therefore missed the truth all together. They have no real understanding and
therefore end up teaching what appears to be truth but is not truth. A literal lie
clothed in what is supposed to be truth.
The sad part is His sheep believe and accept this teaching as God‘s ultimate truth
and live their lives according to it resulting in loss of life, peace, joy and God‘s
personal safety. They are living on the fringes of the faith—not in the portals of the
true faith. They are living in deceptions established by men and women misguided by
the doctrines of demons.
The promises of God are to everyone who will receive them. The promises are like
metal girders in a great big building. They are the backbone of the faith within the
church. If they are corrupted then the building will collapse and the revival will never
begin there in that place. Half-truths corrupt the integrity of the girders and the
building collapses. When the Word of God is not taken for what it says and is
interpreted according to man‘s twisted understanding it becomes corrupted wisdom
and it‘s end is a lie. Any and all who believe this half-truth ends in the same way--
having believed a lie. The Word is clear: God‘s people perish for lack of knowledge--
knowledge of the real truth! Knowledge of the real Jesus and His true intentions.
TACF which is part of the ―Third Wave of the Holy Spirit movement‖ has this foolish
idea that since prophecy originates from God then it carries the same weight as the
Word of God. They also believe that prophecies can never be judged or contested. As
a result you have fools making up prophecies to each other which are supposed from
God but in reality are from the flesh and/or demons. These same fools prophesied
numerous times that Pastor Jack Frost would live and not die while Walter said he
would die. And in reality Jack Frost died unhealed a terrible death from cancer.
Yes I have had, heard and read so many of their so called ―prophecies‖ and most
of them are nuts, off the wall. Even many of the prophecies that had been made by
Revivalist Todd Bentley had never come to pass and will never come to pass!
38 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Their so called leaders teach that they are anointed ones who are not to be
touched or challenged by no one except God. They say they are accountable to no one
but God! Hogwash! And when they are exposed for their obvious errors including
being hypocritical, unkind, unloving, uncompassionate and unwise, they say ―Judge
not, lest you be judged.‖
In reality most of the deceived ones in the ―Third Wave‖ don‘t operate in the gift of
discernment. They not only assume all prophecies to be from God but all supernatural
manifestations to be from God as well including body jerking, animal noises and other
kinds of weird manifestations. Many of their meetings are noted by the sheer
stupidity of people who are not only out of mind but out of control. You have to see it
to believe how crazy they are never mind their theology which they cannot and will
not defend publically! They even threaten lawsuits against their critics, taking
Christians to court and that a wife/husband can divorce or separate in any given
marriage! Yes they are completely off the wall and should be put away for their own
good or learn to do the right kind of fast!
Isaiah 58:6 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of
wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you
break every yoke? 58:7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you
bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you
cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 58:8 Then your light shall
break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your
righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
58:9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say,
'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger,
and speaking wickedness, 58:10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy
the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness
shall be as the noonday. 58:11 The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your
soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And
like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 4:8
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and
purify your hearts, you double-minded. 4:9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your
laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 4:10 Humble yourselves in the
sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another,
brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the
law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a
judge. 4:12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to
judge another?
Toronto Blessing
Jim Paul is the senior pastor of Metro Church International of Hamilton, Ontario, a
satellite of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship under John Arnott. Jim also serves on
the Board of Directors for Godspeak International, an internet based prophetic/healing
training school in California. He is a pastor who is a feminist and whose wife Diane
suffers from bipolar disorder, and along with their church are praying for Walter
Kambulow‘s repentance to return back to their church when in reality they are the
one who need to repent from all their foolishness and doctrine of demons and allowing
witches to run rampant in their midst. They are really foolish if they think that Walter
39 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
will repent in anyway proving they are really nuts and not in touch with reality or what
is happening around them!
Yes Jim Paul is a proven liar, a deceiver, a bankrupt one, and a false prophet, along
with his church as well a proven failure not a success who not only filed for Personal
Bankruptcy but whose church East Gate Christian Fellowship in Hamilton Ontario
literally died when the majority of members left it because they didn‘t like the way
Pastors Jim and Diane Paul did things. See http://torontoblessing.tripod.com/
Pastor Jim Paul was sent out by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship to represent
it! In other words he was created by TACF and is their representative of it in every
way including being a bankrupt one and a feminist and false prophet! He is a good
representative of the Toronto Airport Church of the flesh as a proven false prophet
who prophecies are useless and dead the moment they are spoken.
Yes, his original church died when most of the 400 attendees left including the
treasurer because they didn‘t like the way Pastor Jim Paul ran things or Pastor Diane
running around the church backwards during the service including communion or her
constant complaints about depression!
Yes, true men of God do not go bankrupt in any sense of the world like Jim Paul
did. You cannot argue with success or failure for they speak for themselves! Just like
success speaks for itself so does failure. And Pastor Jim Paul is not successful in any
sense of the word be it in marriage, finances, raising of children or being a pastor.
Yes he is not a true man but a feminist who is being ruled by a wife who suffers
and has suffered with bipolar disorder and manic depression for most of their marriage
and has not been healed? There is nothing wonderful about defeated lying Pastor Jim
Paul who is deceiving others that God speaks through him. – see
http://www.godspeak.net/OpenHeaven
Jim has been on staff with GodSpeak for many years, as one of the prophetic
school list leadership core, and as a member of GodSpeak's board of directors. In
addition, he is senior pastor of Metro Church, plus he ministers internationally in the
prophetic, physical healing and in the releasing Open Heavens over various areas. To
date, Jim has ministered in 26 different countries. He is internationally recognized and
respected as a prophet, and his ministry is earmarked with a strong prophetic
anointing, as well as with physical healing, signs and wonders and angelic activity.
Jim was ordained as a Baptist in 1976 where he served as a pastor for twelve
years. In 1986, Jim became associated with the Association Of Vineyard Churches
(AVC) and stayed with AVC until Partners In Harvest was (affiliated with TACF) was
formed. p> Jim was part of the original Church plant team for Toronto Airport
Christian Fellowship, under John Arnott. Jim officially joined the TACF staff in 1994,
where he was heavily involved in ministry there during the early days of the renewal.
Jim served as the Minister of Church Planting and also as a part of their renewal
itinerant staff. In February of 1996, he was "sent out" to become the senior pastor of
their church plant (East Gate Christian Fellowship) in Hamilton. Jim also joined the
leadership core of an online school of prophets in 1996, through GodSpeak
International, and he joined the board of directors shortly after that.
40 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Over the last few years, Jim's wife Dianne has started ministering prophetically in
meetings with him. Jim also ministers frequently with Georgian Banov. Jim has
authored a book titled Prophecy In Practice.
Deceivers want to tell us that the ―Toronto Blessings‖ is from God but LAUGHING
PASTOR RON CLARK WENT DOWN IN FLAMES CRYING is a great proof that South
African Evangelist Rodney Howard-Browne is demonized and so is his laughter
movement that is espoused by Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship or Toronto Airport
Church of the Flesh.
You cannot argue with facts including that Pastors RON CLARK and JACK FROST
ended up being destroyed and cursed not blessed for trusting in men not God.
So why is it surprising that anybody who gets involved with these Pentecostal fools
and false prophets finds himself in places he never expected to be including being
destroyed and cursed for not heeding what the bible tells them:
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his
craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 11:4
For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you
receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you
have not accepted-you may well put up with it!
Colossians 2:6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in
Him, 2:7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been
taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through
philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic
principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 2:9 For in Him dwells all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily; 2:10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of
all principality and power.
I do have not much respect for those who are slain the spirit or soak as espoused
by the Toronto Blessing. I find very little change in their lives or character or faith
except they become egotistic and even arrogant and proud and liars if not deceivers.
A true experience must result in being like Jesus in the fruits of the spirit and
ministering to others in the gifts of the Spirit especially to the poor and needy not the
rich and mighty. Being slain in the spirit and soaking are a poor substitute for the
Word of God and praying in tongues which is the main building blocks of the Christian
faith. God‘s word is true:
2TM 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 3:16 All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,
JUDE 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Spirit, 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the
mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
HEB 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to
all who obey Him,
HEB 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Jesus Christ not man nor demons is the author of the Christian's faith and of
eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Buying into any religion including the
Evangelical Religion or the Third Wave is dangerous to your spiritual and even physical
41 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
health. All of God‘s true children are anointed ones and not just some lying thieving
idiot such as Benny Hinn or Jim Paul who prophecy things that never come to pass
and have proven to be false.
Everything in life must be checked with the Blessed Holy Spirit and not some ―ding
dong‖ who claims to be a man of God but is a false one. Religions come and go but
Jesus Christ alone remains the same yesterday today and forever! And Jesus Christ
alone can do what no other can do including save, heal, deliver, bless and prosper His
true trusting ones!
Scott Holtz states Unfortunately in all my travels the last 21 years, I have seen
much compromise, gross Scriptural error, and demonic manifestations that have gone
unchecked in the current prophetic movement. ...However, as we put quick distance
between us and Paul Cain and especially those other ministries in North America who
considered Paul Cain their "spiritual father" we noticed a very tragic thing begin to
happen in that local Messianic Fellowship. Strife, division, presumptuous prophetic
words, and then friends dying of cancer and many marriages washing up into the
secular divorce courts. Read below how Pastor Jack Frost in spite of foolish soaking
and prophecies died unhealed)
Check out http://godnet.org/tb.htm where other people have a problem with the elitism that the
Toronto Blessing seems to bring with it and Christian families that are in are in full crisis because of
this movement. Our Findings:
A group of people and I formed a panel to research the Toronto Blessing also known by the names of
"The Pensacola Outpouring", "The Brownsville Experience", "The Great Renewal", "The Third Wave",
"The Signs and Wonders Movement" and "Power Theology." This is our findings:
We feel that there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit going on today. However, we feel that there is
also an indulgence of the flesh, not unlike John Wesley had in his day. Check out what John Wesley
thought of this type of Phenomena.
We have a problem with the elitism that the Toronto Blessing seems to bring with it. Those who do
not embrace this movement are not only made to feel like Second Class Christians but are shown no
tolerance for questioning it. Here in Pensacola this movement has been a mixed "Blessing". We know
of churches that are on the verge of a church split over this. We also know of Christian families that
are in full crisis because of this movement.
John Wesley said [if you look for anything but more love, you are looking wide of the mark, you are
getting out of the royal way. And when you are asking others, 'Have you received this or that
blessing?' if you mean anything but more love, you mean wrong; you are leading them out of the
way, and putting them upon a false scent. Settle it then in your heart, that from the moment God
has saved you from all sin, you are to aim at nothing more, but more of that love described in the
thirteenth of the Corinthians. You can go no higher than this, till you are carried into Abraham's
bosom.]
Red flags should really go up when "Benny Hinn Condemns People Seeking "Revival" More Than
God.. Mr. Hinn said on July 4, 1997 in a Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) interview: "Quit seeking
revival and seek the Lord Who will revive you. You see, we are not seeking a move, not an
experience. We are seeking Jesus, and when you seek Jesus, He'll breathe that mighty power of the
Spirit. We're not seeking something that gives us a goosebump on the spine that only lasts on
Sunday and is gone Monday. We want a genuine experience in the Spirit, and it only happens when
Jesus is present."
42 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Mr. Hinn went on to say: "Saints, I beg of you, come out of your little picnic sessions and get out on
the streets and let the world know that Jesus lives! How much more do you want? How many
meetings can you go to? My God, some people are so fat they can't move. They've been fed, they've
been blessed more than they could ever contain any more blessings. They've had more, more, more,
more than the world that's starving for the crumbs."
John Wimber (the founder of the Vineyard Church) said: We need to move from a "["bless me" kind
of focus to a "bless them" kind of focus.]" He said: "[I feel that it's very important that we direct this
"refreshing" and "enabling" move of the Spirit to the New Testament works of the church, that is to
say, having been refreshed, we now must channel these people into work that would express that
refreshing in solid, biblical context.]" In other words we need to go out and do "MINISTRY". Many of
the people that are into the Toronto Blessing are becoming so heavenly minded they are no earthly
good. Case in point, a couple of youth at a local church were contemplating suicide so they could see
Jesus sooner. This is, to us the most troubling aspect of this movement. This is NOT to say that the
Charismatic type of worship is wrong. In my Fathers house there are many rooms and ALL ARE
WELCOME, even the Non-Charismatic people.
All we do know is the test of the Spirit is (Gal 5:22-26 NIV) (22)But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against
such things there is no law.(24) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature
with its passions and desires. (25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
(26)Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Chapter 3
Rodney Howard-Browne & Friends
―It was the pastors job to fleece the sheep‖ RHB
"One hundred million souls for Christ‖ GHB
By John Davies
Mark 4:22 "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed,
nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light
"Miraculous manifestations are never the test of a true revival —
fidelity to God's Word is the test," wrote AOG Superintendent George O.
Wood. "Jesus Himself said there would be many who would do miracles
in His name and even cast out demons, but he does not know them.
Jesus warned that 'many false prophets will appear and deceive many
people.'"
43 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
When I went to see RHB, the first night he looked around to a very unpacked
church (one-quarter filled and a small church) -- he said, "I feel the spirit of poverty in
this church.... I feel it very strongly." He was supposed to come to this church for
four nights in a row.... he sent one of his helpers to come the next three nights.........
no money to be made at THAT church... so why bother, right>? - Catherine, U.S.A
Pastor Ron Clark, Randy White and Rodney Howard Browne were very close friends
in the 90‘s, were also friends of the thieving pastors Karl Strader of Carpenter‘s Home
Church, and all started their megachurches in Tampa around the same time! Ron
Clark, the former pastor of Church of the Living Water, a "megachurch" in Tampa,
Florida, and a very close friend of Oral Roberts, has become a police officer with the
city of Zephyrhills, reported the Tampa Tribune. Clark became the center of
controversy at the church in 2003, when the church unraveled as Clark and his wife,
Belinda, became embroiled in a bitter divorce. The proceedings brought to light the
church's hefty assets -- as well as the assets of the Clarks. The pair each drew salaries
of $70,000 and owned a $500,000 horse farm in Dade City and a $275,000 rental
home in Celebration, near Orlando, the case revealed. Although the Clarks never were
charged with illegal activity, the information from their divorce case disillusioned the
congregation's almost 2,000 members. By October 2003, the church filed for
bankruptcy.
As she passed away, Rodney and Adonica offered up to Jesus the best gift they
had to offer, their daughter. Rodney then vowed, that because the devil had taken
their daughter with this dreaded disease, he would pay with 100 million souls over the
next 10 years.
44 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Thus began the burning of the vision for 100 million souls. The Kelly May
foundation was born and the beginnings of World Outreach began with the planning of
two great crusades this year. The first in May/June 2003 in Mexico and the second
Oct/Nov 2003 in Soweto, South Africa. There will be 6 crusades next year and 12
each year thereafter.
Hence it was not a surprise to learn that Gil & Loraine Howard-Browne were
moving to Tampa this March to help Evangelist Rodney Howard- Browne win "One
hundred million souls for Christ over the next 10 years?" Considering the Howard-
Brownes are naturalized Americans who don't belong to ECFA and are accountable to
no one but themselves, this is a very stupid and impossible vision, especially
considering that there have never been one hundred million souls won for Jesus in a
period of ten years through out earth's history.
But the Howard-Brownes are nothing but liars, thieves, con-artists and wolves in
sheep‘s clothing. A first-hand Account, Accurately Reported by Yves A. Brault.
Roy Aldrich, a retired school teacher, was robbed of $100,000.00 by Pastor Karl
Strader and his son Dan Strader of Carpenter's Home Church Lakeland, Florida.
Rodney, who was a personal friend of Karl Strader who practiced nepotism, and
bought him a Lincoln town car, was asked to help the elderly victims who were robbed
by the Straders and he refused. But when German Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke‘s
decided to relocate his ministry to Florida, Rodney Howard-Browne decided he would
give Bonnke a house. At first he offered Bonnke his own house in Tampa, but Bonnke
had to locate in Orlando to be closer to his operational base. It was then that Howard-
Browne decided to build Bonnke a new $250,000 home in Orlando. Rodney then drove
a brand new car to Bonnke‘s driveway.
Nepotism was also practiced by Rodney who had his parents on the payroll!
Rodney‘s older brother, Gil Howard Browne, who was burnt out in his ministry, was
asked by Rodney to move to Tampa and help him with the vision God has given him
"One hundred million souls for Christ over the next 10 years." And Rodney‘s other
brother, Bazil, was also a scoundrel who used a scheme to get rich by enticing other
pastors ordained or not to join him – ―Come under the covering of River Family
Church, and Pastors Bazil & Ann Howard-Browne, receive ordination through River
Family Church, and as a ministry tithe to RFC.‖
Of course Bazil‘s ministry, the River Family Church, would profit from the tithes of
all pastors who would join him. Hence it's not surprising that the Statement of Faith
of Bazil ministry reflects the former bigoted white South African supremacy policy and
states:
The programs and activities of The River shall be based upon and at all times shall
be consistent with the following beliefs:
The fact remains that multi-million dollars Family run Evangelistic Ministries in
America be it the Hinn's of Orlando, the Straders of Lakeland, the Howard-Browne's of
Tampa, the Falwells of Lynchburg, the Brights of Orlando, the Robertson's of Norkfolk,
the Roberts of Tulsa, the Copelands of Forth Worth, and the Graham's of Minneapolis
are notorious for hiding their total salaries and those of their family members and
special friends in their indirect personally owned non- profit religious corporation while
they live in palatial palaces like kings and royalty.
Just like with the Bakker's of PTL Club fame personal misconduct,
mismanagement, and pillaging of the treasury and misuse of Ministry resources are
quite common. Benny Hinn had to flee from Orlando Florida, when the media started
to dig into the different scandals in his ministry. The Straders of Lakeland, personal
friends of the Jim Bakker, Benny Hinn, Oral and Richard Roberts and Rodney Howard-
Browne, went through a major split of Carpenter's Home Church in 1989 when the
Straders refused to relinquish the financial control they had on the ministry, the
46 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Unlike Jesus Christ who owned nothing, Televangelists Jan and Paul Crouch who
once had lost their tax exemption for their Trinity Broadcasting Network are definitely
not lacking in any material possession. Their home is described as "a palatial estate
with ocean and city views and was purchased for around five million dollars. It has six
bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a billiard room, a climate-controlled wine cellar, a
sweeping staircase and a crystal chandelier. The three-story, nearly 9,500-square-
foot house, has an elevator, also has a six-car garage, a tennis court and a pool with
a fountain.
Trinity Broadcasting, established in 1973, has more than 768 TV stations on the air
worldwide. The Crouches oversee a $100-million-plus-a-year enterprise. One of the
Crouch estates is TBN's ranch in Colleyville, TX, just minutes away from the
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The 80-plus acre ranch contains eight houses
and horse stables, is estimated to be worth about $10 million.
Mind you President Clinton did and President Bush does release his total salary and
his personal income tax to the public while Billy and Franklin Graham and their friends
do not. But adulterous and lying Bill Clinton seems to have more integrity and
accountability than TV Evangelists do in this area?
It seems that all of these family run ministries including RHB are bigoted and see
the dumb sheep as God sent to be fleeced for their own hidden agenda and growth of
their personal kingdom of which they are kings and rule supreme and are not
accountable to the public but only to God. But they collect their money from people
and not God? And their tax exemption comes from the people and not God? So whom
are they fooling? Not God and not the people!
Is it possible that they are really crooks who use the separation of Church and
State to fleece the sheep as South African Evangelist Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne had
said, it was their responsibility to fleece the sheep?
The leadership of the Assembly of God denomination both in Lakeland and Missouri
also would not accept the testimony of one of its members Roy Aldrich that he was
robbed and raped by money changers and wolves in sheep's clothing in Carpenter's
Home Church during the so called "revival". But the State of Florida who cared about
justice, righteousness and truth accepted the words and testimony of Roy Aldrich
about the Straders.
The Florida State prosecutors proved their case and convinced the jurors that Dan
Strader, the son of the senior pastor Karl Strader, devised an elaborate scheme to
attract cash in the real-estate and mortgage investments. He was selling the securities
without a license and that the securities were unregistered. This was done in an
organized method amounting to Racketeer-Influence and Corrupt Organizations, or
RICO Act.
Daniel, 37, was sentenced to 45 years in prison in August 1995. He was convicted
of 238 felony counts for bilking 57 mostly elderly investors, some members of the
church, out of $2.3 million by selling investments in properties that didn't exist or
already had liens against them. Others who were involved along with Dan Strader
were not pursed by the State of Florida as they felt that the conviction of Daniel
Strader was a good example for others to take notice.
While most doctorate degrees are earned through serious study at through hard
work at a credited University Life Christian University of Tampa, another diploma mill,
gives out honorary degrees to prominent Charismatic Christians based on stupidity
and has stated:
"Many full-time ministers continue their education to the doctoral level through our
Distance Learning program. These doctoral programs can include work in which the
minister is currently involved and advanced standing is awarded for published works.
Our illustrious alumni include such internationally-prominent ministers as:
Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Theology
I have some problems with this considering all the promises of healing made by
Browne. It seems that not only Browne, but others are unable to heal people they love
the most despite the braggedeering attitude in all the stories they share; where the
power of God fell or flowed out of his finger tips like a water hose.
The story was that she must be enjoying heaven too much and that's why she
wouldn't come back to life. So does this mean if someone does not enjoy heaven like
earth they can come back? This is absurd to say and unbiblical to the max.
The sermon given was Acts 2:15 and also a verse about ―joy‖ to explain the ―Holy
Laughter‖ phenomenon. Browne in his service had people falling and laughing, the
ministry was not affected at all. You would think one would take time off, I would
think one would take stock after all the creative miracles they claimed to have fail.
Browne‘s position has been that the anointing breaks the devil and his work, this is
the problem with the 3rd wave and faith healing, all this talk and no action. His
daughter was sick all along yet he claimed to have the anointing to heal people.
Browne says, ―Kelly is totally healed now,‖ he added. ―She's better off than any other
Christian on the planet.‖ He is turning his grief into action. ―My daughter dying is the
worst career move the devil could have made. We're going after 100 million souls, and
he will pay.‖
You would think with this tragedy Browne it would have had him come to a different
conclusion, but he did not, it actually reinforced his false theology. Is not God in
control of the believers life, does not he number our days. So the devil is now more
powerful than God. Does the Bible not say Jesus has the keys of death and hell. How
can the devil take a believers life? Rodney is placing blame on the wrong one. This is
very sad to see such a reaction.
Has there ever been 100 million souls won for Jesus in a period of ten years in earth's
history. Browne has pronounced something no other braggart would think of saying,
giving a number like this. But this is the extension of his latter rain theology.
Rodney said the same at NY coliseum. Brownes six-week crusade in Madison Square
Garden were nights the river did not flow. Only 3,000 a night attended most who were
his trained workers in the 19,000 seat arena. Even though the free meetings include
entertainment, Howard-Browne's ―Good News New York‖ campaign that was begun by
a dream from God failed
Howard-Browne boasted to the hosts of Dominion Sky Angel‘s satellite network ―We‘re
believing for 150,000 souls to come to Christ,‖ (7/5/99 Sky Angle broadcast)
Reinhardt Bonnke told Howard-Browne, ―I believe that the harvest will be three times
that amount.‖ (Howard-Browne quoting Bonnke 7/5/99 Sky Angle broadcast).
It failed because Browne is not an evangelist, he did well when he played to the
Christians who laughed along with him to forget their problems and look for an
experience. But to present the gospel, dealing with sin and salvation by the cross has
always been his weak point.
But it was this story that got me to write this article. On the Daystar network June 18,
2003 Rodney Browne shares about Dec.25 when his daughter died. He promised her
that he would bring her back from the dead and she would have new lungs. He claims
the funeral parlor could not bury her for several days later so he requested the body
be brought to his office so they dropped off his daughter there.
Not being able to carry the casket upstairs they carried her body upstairs into his
office and put her on his couch few days. His family along with the assistant pastors
gathered from 8-5 to pray for her. Rodney came in ever half- hour praying all day but
nothing happened. The next day she was buried.
50 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
But this story is not finished. An assistant pastor had a dream or vision, he was taken
out of his body and went to heaven. He approached a girl with her back turned to him,
she was on her knees with her hands raised. He yelled Kelly and she turned and said
to him you don‘t belong here. He could see Rodney underneath her praying over her
body below. She looked at her body in disgust saying what an ugly thing (Hmm same
words Rodney says to people who does not like). Then two lights appeared one went
to the throne of God the other went into Rodney‘s room above his head. He said to
Rodney ―I don‘t know if you know there was an angel in the room‖ Rodney says yes I
felt the presence.
He thinks God gave her a choice to go back to her body but she declined. ―why would
I want to go down there when you guys are coming up here soon‖
It amazes me the lengths these men will go to have an excuse for the lack of power
they claim to have and demonstrate.
Well a number of things seem to come to remembrance. Browne is friends with Benny
Hinn, and the Harfouches both claim miracles and healing in a unprecedented number.
In TBN Oct.23 1999 Hinn had this outrageous prophecy to say ―You‘re going to have
people raised from the dead watching TBN. Programs, just plain programs. Programs
that haven‘t done much when it comes to supernatural manifestations. Teaching
programs. It‘s not gonna be a Benny Hinn saying, Stretch your hands. It‘s gonna be
your average teaching program, your normal Christian program that‘s blessing the
church. There‘s gonna be such power on these programs, people will be raised from
the dead. Worldwide. …People around the world who will lose loved ones, will say to
undertakers, ahh, not yet. I want to take my dead loved one and place him in front of
that TV set for 24 hours.… People are going to be canceling funeral services and
bringing their dead in their caskets, placing them, my God, I feel the anointing here.
… Placing them before a television set, waiting for God‘s power to come through and
touch them. It‘s gonna happen time and time, so much it‘s gonna spread. You‘re
gonna hear it from Kenya to Mexico to Europe to South America, where people will be
raised, from the, so much so, that the word will spread that if some dead person be
put in front of this TV screen, they will be raised from the dead. And they will be. By
the thousands. You wait. ―
Hinn describes this vision he is having on the set of TBN ―And I see them bringing
them closer to the TV set. And as people are coming closer, I see ahh, a, actually
loved ones picking up the hands of the dead and letting them touch the screen, and
people are, are getting raised as their hands are touching that screen. With just
programs. I‘m not talking about my program. I‘m talking about programs, plain
programs airing.
What a story to tell millions how many have died and not been raised? We are still
waiting, and I predict that this is all we will do, wait. But why does not those who
believe in Hinn do this, certainly Browne is aware of Hinns prophecy. And what of
David Hogan who claims to have raised near 200 people (speaks at Brownsville),
surely Browne and others are aware of this. Why was he not solicited for help.
Something is amiss when you are surrounded by healers who claim miracles
everywhere they go but are unable to work them among their own. Rodney Browne is
also friends with the Harfouches; he dedicated their church. Robin Harfouche
interviewed on the Sid Roth program said when she went to heaven Jesus told her
―your going to see my created hand created miracles, arms growing out legs growing
out amputated limbs where there have been no limbs will begin to grow out… Jesus
told me he said he gave us all power and authority over work of darkness...‖
This is the same thing Browne had said about the new Pentecost he was promoting,
that ―Eyeballs will form, legs and arms will grow out, people will leap out of
wheelchairs...‖ (Rodney Howard Browne, The Coming Revival p. 27)
51 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Rodney Browne is quite the character. Rodney believes that he has a special anointing from the
Holy Spirit which makes people laugh. Not only laugh, but fall our of your chair laughter even during
times of quite somber worship or during times of sorrow. It makes no difference. This supposedly
holy laughter is truly a scary thing as people all over the world are now claiming it is truly something
of God. Churches all cross America and other points are getting more and more into this type of
behavior. Holiness for the Lord is thrown out the window.
Chapter 4
Rev. Karl Strader – Senior Pastor
Carpenter‘s Home Church, Lakeland, Florida
One thing can be said for Assembly of God Pastor Karl Strader of
Lakeland -- he just refuses to go away quietly. A year after giving up the
most visible symbol of his one-time religious conglomerate -- the
monumental Carpenter's Home Church sanctuary -- Strader is now 76 and
fighting prostate cancer. And after experiencing the loss of a once-thriving
ministry and seeing one of his sons serve years in jail, his theology now
embraces a concept not much talked about in his Pentecostal tradition -
suffering. Karl Strader is also fighting cancer just like Pastor Jack Frost
fought it and died!
52 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
One thing can be said for the Rev. Karl Strader -- he just refuses to go
away quietly.
Yet he still preaches twice on Sundays and has plans for new ventures,
launching a satellite preaching ministry and an Internet "congregation."
"I feel very fulfilled . . . because I've turned the baton over to younger men.
I don't have to deal with the nuts and bolts of pastoring," Strader said
recently in an interview.
Relaxing in his home not far from the sanctuary he built, Strader said he has
no regrets about selling the building to Without Walls Central Church because
it had become such a burden. Saturday, July 15, 2006 by The Ledger
I would like to join the ranks of those who Karl Straders counts as his
“enemies.” by the following statements:
53 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
1) I am the enemy of lying and deception which hurts and robs people.
2) I am the enemy of those who practice cruelty in the administration of
any corporation, especially churches.
3) I am the enemy of any minister who allows the use of his pulpit for
personal vendettas.
4) I am the enemy of any minister who uses his pulpit for soliciting
public and personal sympathy over controversial matters involving his family.
5) I am the enemy of every minister in the world whose sense of right
and wrong is based on nepotism and favoritism.
6) I am the enemy of the policy of Karl Strader who raised $52,000.00
for Dan‟s defense fund and $58,000.00 for repairing a roof and not one dime
for his son‟s elderly and devastated victims.
7) I am the enemy of the disrespect represented in the Strader attitude
towards the State Attorney and Judge Robert Doyel, a true servant of God.
8) I am the enemy of the policies of secret salaries which conceal huge
benefits flowing from trusting church members to their leaders- salaries
which provide sumptuous life styles, while at the same time, these same
leaders are firing and traumatizing the “little people” under their care like
Cindy Deaton, Patricia Aldrich, Jack and Betty Collins.
9) I am the enemy of huge personal gain to Karl Strader and Joe Perez
derived from their secret management fees from the CHC Life Center
Retirement Estates.
10) I am the enemy of the thinking that some claimed “anointing” or
supposed special privilege with God gives anyone the right to turn a Christian
church into their own personal “cash-cow.”
11) I am the enemy of the thinking expressed in the attached sermon
outline which implies that the welfare of CHC is determined by any one man
or family. We are supposed to worship Christ, and not the Straders.
12) I am the enemy of any minister who uses his oratorical ability to
rally church audiences into cheerleading and other emotional excess as a
device to shore up a crumbling personal empire.
13) I am an enemy of any organization that suggests opposing the
leader‟s lifestyle and words is opposing God.
The money that flows through the Assembly of God denomination, as well as
other denominations in America and is not openly accounted for, is in the
hundreds of millions of dollars per year, and offers religious politicians and
54 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
unscrupulous scoundrels a gold mine or ―cash cow‖ as Roy Aldrich called it.
Some of the things that go on in AG (Assembly of God) CHC (Carpenter‘s
Home Church) and Baptist Christians make the soap operas on television
appear mild in comparison.
More money is embezzled from the church each year ($16 billion) than is
given to foreign missions ($15 billion) reported the newly published second
edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia. The exhaustive survey of global
Christianity contains some good news. It notes that Christianity has become
―the most extensive and universal religion in history,‖ with some 2 billion
adherents—one in three of the world‘s population—at the start of the new
millennium.
Strader, 48, has been searching for mercy since his 1995 conviction on 238
criminal charges.
But the State Attorney's Office in Bartow received a letter Tuesday from the
Office of Executive Clemency in Tallahassee with news that Strader's request
to waive the clemency rules to allow his case to proceed had been denied.
Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet members, who serve as the Clemency Board,
denied Strader's request on Feb. 6.
"It has been the position of this office all along that his case wasn't
appropriate for clemency," said Chip Thullbery, administrative assistant state
attorney. "We believe the board made the correct decision."
Calls to the Governor's Office did not glean any further detail about why the
board came up with its decision.
"There is not an in-depth explanation for decisions written in the files for the
clemency hearings," said Russell Schweiss, a spokesman with the Governor's
Office.
55 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
"The individual cases are decided by the board based upon the
recommendations of the clemency office in addition to testimony and also
records that are provided to the governor and Cabinet members."
Strader may not apply for another waiver for at least three years from the
date the waiver was denied, according to the rules of executive clemency.
He agreed -- and then renounced his guilt, rejected the plea, and tried to
convince a jury to let him go.
It is a decision that he and his family have much reason to come to regret.
After five weeks in court, the jury spent a mere three hours convicting him of
238 out of 240 counts of fraud. One juror told The Ledger he was let go on
those two counts because the jury "gave him the benefit of the doubt
because he had paid back their money."
Circuit Judge Bob Doyel imposed a 45-year sentence saying, "The court can
have no confidence in the word of a man who is unwilling to admit his
wrongdoing. The first step toward rehabilitation is an admission of guilt, so it
seems unlikely Mr. Strader will ever be rehabilitated."
Now Strader's family wants Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and the state Cabinet to let
Strader out of jail.
Before the governor and Cabinet members vote to give Strader a full hearing
on reducing his 45-year sentence, they owe it to Strader's victims and the
cause of justice generally to familiarize themselves with how badly Strader
abused the trust placed in him.
Just after he agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a 14-year sentence, Dan
Strader stood in the pulpit of his father's church while about 2,000 people
listened.
"So what did I do wrong?" Strader, then 36, asked the congregation as a way
to explain away his guilty plea. "I didn't follow through with the intricate
details of every business transaction to ensure the integrity of every
investment I represented."
There you have it: Sloppy bookkeeping, that's all it was. Evidently, Strader
convinced himself it was exactly that. So he withdrew his plea and went to
trial.
56 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
After conviction, Strader tried to claim his defense lawyer wasn't competent.
That may have worked if the defense lawyer had been a novice. But Jack
Edmund was representing Strader. Before his death in 2002, Edmund was
considered one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the state, and he
advised Strader to stick to his plea bargain.
There are trust accounts set up more than five years ago that potentially
could be used to repay victims. But supporters also said a bank account
related to the fund currently has only $110 in it -- the minimum needed to
keep it open.
It's nothing compared with millions of dollars needed for restitution. If people
are serious about wanting Strader out of jail, there should be serious money
in it to make restitution for his crimes.
And then there was the $500,000 mortgage on development property. Daniel
Strader's supporters said it could be an asset used to pay victims. They
claimed the mortgage's validity was being questioned in an ongoing lawsuit.
But Lakeland lawyer Mark Miller, whose clients sued Strader's companies
over that mortgage, told The Ledger last week that there's no dispute about
it: "I have a final judgment from the court invalidating that mortgage," Miller
said.
State Attorney Jerry Hill, whose office prosecuted Strader, attended the
hearing. He told the aides that Strader "earned every day" he served -- and
will serve. For some, said Hill, there is no restitution because the victims
have died. Many couldn't afford their losses, and Hill said he thought some
had suffered premature deaths as a "direct result of the deceit and harm"
Strader's dealings caused.
A Web site attempting to raise support for Strader's early release notes that
one of Strader's business associates, Gary Pernice, received probation for his
part in the scam. (He was also required to spend one weekend a month for
57 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
15 years in the Polk County Jail, and ordered to pay 28 percent of any
earnings toward restitution.)
The site notes Stephen Smith of Winter Haven, another scam artist convicted
in the late 1980s, served only four years of a 15-year sentence. And Alice
Faye Redd, who also separated investors from their money, only served 18
months of a 15-year sentence.
But here's the difference: Pernice, Smith and Redd all confessed to their
crimes and settled for plea bargains. Pernice pleaded no contest to the
charges. Smith pleaded guilty to charges involving oil and gas explorations.
Redd, charged with selling bogus investments in a clinic where her husband
worked, pleaded no contest and was sentenced. (She was granted a
"conditional medical release" in 1998 because she had terminal cancer. She
died in 2002 at age 65.)
Strader rolled the dice and went to the jury -- perhaps believing they would
trust him just as much as the people who had given him money.
Supporters of imprisoned Polk con artist Daniel Strader say the 45-year
sentence he received is too harsh and ought to be undone by a grant of
clemency.
But State Attorney Jerry Hill feels so strongly the other way that last week he
journeyed to Tallahassee for a pre-clemency hearing to argue against an
early release.
Strader, who is the son of Carpenter's Home church founder the Rev. Karl
Strader, was convicted in 1995 of swindling investors, many of whom were
elderly and lost their life savings.
Among his petitioners was Strader's father, who asked the state clemency
officials to release his son, saying he would be better able to repay his
victims if not incarcerated. The imprisoned man's 16-year-old daughter also
testified, saying she and her brother missed their father and wanted him
home.
One can sympathize with the family tragedy the younger Strader selfishly
created when he elected to steal his millions, but his family's anguish should
not become a compelling reason to release him.
Strader and his supporters can talk all they want, but not everyone who lost
their money to Strader is able to be heard. Some of the victims can't speak
for themselves because they are dead, having expired in Strader-induced
poverty.
58 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Hill is their advocate. On Friday, he talked to The Ledger about why Strader
should serve out his sentence and about the damage Strader caused his
victims and society.
"It's not as if this was a petty, poorly thought-out, one-time scam," Hill said.
"Among the things you have to remember is that Danny Strader didn't make
cold calls. He went to people in the church, to old friends he sold insurance
to. He picked on people he knew and who trusted him. Instead of using a
gun, he used trust, a smile and the confidence people had in him.
"He didn't just take a watch and a wallet," he said. "He took the trust and
security from these folks, who generally were older and more vulnerable. . . .
This involved people who were already close to the line financially. These
were people who needed every dollar every month."
As for the effect on his family, "if the love of a family or the harm done to a
child are grounds for releasing a felon, then we can pretty much empty the
jails tomorrow," Hill said. "He created victims in his own family. That's
unfortunate, but no excuse for releasing him."
Like most con artists, Strader arrogantly believed himself to be not just
above the law but superior to most of the people he encountered in the legal
system, including his own counsel.
What else could explain his decision to renounce, on the eve of his trial, a
guilty plea that would have given him a 14-year sentence. Instead,
convinced he could game the system as surely as he conned his victims out
of their money, he went before a jury.
"He complains about the sentence he got," notes prosecutor Wayne Durden,
"but he had his chance and gave it up."
Among the victims Durden remembers are "an elderly couple he hit up on
Christmas Eve for tens of thousands of dollars. Strader would tell his victims
59 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
anything he thought they wanted to hear in order to part them with their
money. He had no scruples about what he had to do or say to get it."
Circuit Judge Robert Doyel, who presided over Strader's trial and sentenced
him, noted in his sentencing report that Strader "is unwilling to acknowledge
the simple truth that it was criminal for him to lie to people to get their
money and then use the money for his own purposes. He evidently believes
that he is above the law and that it is perfectly acceptable for him to defraud
people as long as he intends eventually to pay them back."
To this day Strader has not acknowledged that "simple truth," which Doyel
pointed out to the Clemency Administration in a Sept. 9 letter.
Clemency, says Hill, "is nothing more than an act of grace or mercy. Strader
is entitled to exactly the same amount of clemency he granted his victims --
none."
Thomas Roe Oldt is a Winter Haven-based columnist for The Ledger. His
opinion column appears on Sunday.
Worship services are as lively as ever, but the worshipers easily fit in the
much-smaller school auditorium. The Carpenter's Home congregation has
been worshiping there for about two years, since not long after a deal fell
through for a Tampa megachurch, Without Walls International, to purchase
the sanctuary.
Now Carpenter's Home is one step closer to having the burden of the idle
sanctuary lifted from it, although the future of Evangel Christian School and
Day Care is uncertain beyond next year.
The Rev. Karl Strader, pastor of Carpenter's Home, told the congregation
Sunday that the church's board has unanimously approved a contract that
would sell the sanctuary to Without Walls.
"We have a contract with a deposit in escrow, but there are several
contingencies that must be met before closing, which must take place within
60 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
60 days. We are not done yet," he said. He did not say what the
contingencies are.
As Strader outlined it, the deal calls for the Without Walls Central and
Carpenter's Home congregations to exchange places, although there would
be a transition period of one year during which Carpenter's Home would
continue to hold worship services in Lakeland on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Carpenter's Home would continue to own and operate Evangel for one year,
Strader said, but he implied that the school's future beyond that is unclear.
Referring to Evangel's principal, Mike Cooper, and Without Walls Central's
pastor, Scott Thomas, Strader said, "One of the things we're hoping is that
Brother Mike will get Pastor Scott to take an interest in the school so it can
continue on."
Strader said the deal would enable Carpenter's Home to be free of debt and
to use its resources for advertising and evangelistic outreach.
"I can't tell you what this means to me. It's a new era for us. . . . We haven't
gotten behind on any bills, but we've been living on our assets the last few
years and you know you can't do that," he said.
Following the service, church member Randy Baatz, who lives near the site of
Without Walls Central in Auburndale, said he supported the deal.
"I want whatever God wants. It would be good to be able to pay off our
debt," he said.
The church has a wide-ranging set of ministries, from food and clothing
distribution to Spanish-language programs.
The current deal between the churches was made public when the Whites
told the Tampa Tribune last week that a contract was in the works. The
report caught Carpenter's Home officials off-guard, and they were cautious in
their comments, because the church board had not approved the contract
and church members had not been notified about the deal. A letter was
hurriedly sent out to members, and Strader said Sunday, "Randy and Paula
got a little rambunctious. They're excited about it."
61 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Strader led the First Assembly of God of Lakeland to build the sanctuary in
1985 at a cost of $12 million, renaming the church Carpenter's Home. At the
time the church had about 5,000 worshipers, a TV ministry and an FM radio
station, but its fortunes fell after an internal struggle in 1989 over Strader's
leadership led several hundred people to leave and form Victory Church. The
1995 conviction on fraud charges of Strader's son, Daniel, further hurt the
church.
"We hope to be in at least two new locations soon. We want to be sure you
go with us wherever we go. We want the best for you," he said.
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050613/NEWS/506
130356/1134
BARTOW -- Daniel Strader is turning to the Internet and Gov. Jeb Bush for
salvation, having exhausted his legal appeals.
Nine years ago, a judge sentenced Strader -- son of Karl Strader, founder of
one of Polk County's largest churches -- to 45 years in prison for swindling
elderly investors out of more than $3 million.
About a month ago, the family created a Web site to jumpstart what it refers
to as a "divine intervention." See http://www.danielstrader.com
The site includes essays from the 46year-old inmate about his divorce and
incarceration, updates on his appeals, pictures of Strader with his son and
daughter and a "Free Dan" graphic that explains the clemency process and
how to write a letter of support to Bush.
"He needs to be with his family -especially his 16-year-old son who has
62 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
In the past 24 years, the office has commuted 118 sentences, according to
state records. That means the sentences were nullified or lessened.
"Post-conviction relief is a rarity," said Tim Weber, the St. Petersburg lawyer
who represented Strader on his last appeal. "In my experience, the cases
where you get relief are where you are able to show the court clear
innocence.
STRADER'S STORY
Strader's is not the story of a man with a vast fraudulent scheme but one of
a man who lied in a desperate attempt to save a failing business, Weber said.
In his bid for clemency, Strader likely would argue that his trial lawyer, the
late Jack Edmund, provided an ineffective defense and that he was given an
unusually harsh punishment, Weber said.
Karl Strader described his son as a "political prisoner" who fell victim to a
media blitz in the early 1990s as eager prosecutors looked to win praise for
defending the elderly.
Another white-collar criminal convicted about the same time as Strader, Alice
Faye Redd, received a 15-year prison sentence and served 18 months for
bilking $3.6 million out of people who thought they were investing in Watson
Clinic.
63 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
However, unlike those people, Strader rejected a plea bargain offering a 14-
year sentence. Instead, he went to trial and was convicted on 238 charges -
ranging from theft and conspiracy charges to securities fraud and
racketeering.
Another aspect separating Redd's case from Strader's is that Redd, who died
at age 65, received a "conditional medical release" in 1998 because of
terminal spinal cancer.
Assistant State Attorney Wayne Durden spent more than a year with three
investigators working full-time to unravel the complex web of deceit in the
Strader case.
Karl Strader contends his son was an honest businessman who intended to
repay everyone.
"There are about half a dozen people involved in the investment who want
vengeance and want him to rot in prison," he said. "They are full of hate.
Nora M. Kuppinger, 81, who retired to Lake Wales from Chicago, was one of
60 individuals and couples who testified against Daniel Strader.
When she met Daniel Strader in 1979, Kuppinger said she thought he was a
good insurance agent and was impressed with his morals.
"You have faith in a man like that because he has a big religious
background," she said.
Kuppinger said Strader assured her she would not lose anything. She handed
64 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
over $100,000. Investigators calculate she lost about $56,000 in the scheme.
"He took me into it," Kuppinger said. "I just felt he was so honest. Here I am
a bigcity girl from Chicago, and he got me."
For years, Kuppinger said she felt embarrassed and was grateful that her
husband, John, died years before the scandal broke.
"When he died, he thought that he'd taken good care of me," she said.
Kuppinger said she has tried to forget Strader's lies but does not feel he
should be given clemency.
"In this case, it was absolutely pure greed, and I have no sympathy for him
at all for what he did," she said.
Some of Strader's victims said they do not believe they will ever see their
money again. At the time of Strader's 1995 sentencing, five of his victims
had already died.
Karl Strader said his son continues to maintain his innocence and wants to
get back home.
The family has managed to stay together -- calling on the telephone, writing
letters and making visits every couple of weeks to Avon Park Correctional
Facility, where Strader is incarcerated.
"We've kept close in touch, but it's like having four hurricanes in a row -- it
begins to wear on you," Karl Strader said.
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041003/NEWS/410
030380/1004
BARTOW -- After nearly a decade, a federal court ruling this week all but
ended Daniel Strader's appeals of his 45-year prison sentence for cheating
elderly investors out of millions of dollars.
Unless Bucklew or the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta grants
Strader what is known as a certificate of appealability -- basically, permission
to appeal -- Bucklew's decision means Strader is out of legal challenges.
Tim Weber, the St. Petersburg lawyer who represents Strader, said he
65 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
But the heart of Strader's allegations was that prosecutors had coached
their star witness and his former business partner, Gary Pernice, to change
his testimony about promises they had made to him about receiving a lenient
sentence in exchange for his cooperation.
"We do not feel that the court even addressed the primary argument that
we made, which is a little disconcerting," he said.
Chapter 5
66 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Benny Hinn
Benny Hinn‘s Lawyers met Sen. Charles Grassley‘s Staff
Lawyers representing the World Healing Center Church met Friday, December 07,
2007 with members of Sen. Charles Grassley‘s staff to discuss a Senate request for
the church to turn over its internal financial documents.
The Grapevine, Tex., church, which oversees the affiliated Benny Hinn Ministries, is
one of six evangelical groups that Mr. Grassley has asked for information as part of an
informal investigation into the groups‘ spending and compensation practices.
(IN REALITY BENNY HINN IS NOT A CHURCH AND DOESN‘T HAVE A PHYSICAL
CHURCH OR ANY MEMBERS IN HIS CHURCH AND LIVES AND WORKS OUT OF
CALIFORNIA)
On November 6, 2007, United States senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced an investigation of
Hinn's ministry by the United States Senate Committee on Finance. Grassley asked for the ministry
to divulge financial information to the committee to determine if Hinn made any personal profit from
financial donations, and requested that Hinn's ministry make the information available by December
6, 2007. The investigation also scrutinized five other televangelists: Paula White, Kenneth Copeland,
Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer, and Creflo Dollar.[17]
In March 2005, Ministry Watch, an independent evangelical organization which reviews Christian
ministries for financial transparency and efficiency and advises potential donors accordingly, issued a
Donor Alert stating that "the reported exorbitant spending of the Hinn family reveals that BHM has
far more money than it needs to carry out its ministry" and advising Christians to "prayerfully
consider withholding contributions to Benny Hinn" while praying for his restoration and
repentance.[6] Benny Hinn Ministries is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial
Accountability.[7]
Hinn lives in an ocean-front mansion valued at an estimated $8.5 million in an exclusive gated
community in Dana Point, California, travels by private aircraft, and stays in hotel rooms costing
upwards of $3,000 per night.[8] In December 2006, he sent out a mailing asking for donations
towards a new Gulfstream G4SP jet valued at an estimated $36 million.[9]
Starting in June of 2007, at the end of his This is Your Day program, Hinn stated he is behind in his
bills to TBN and said he needs "your love gifts" so he can become current and continue to preach the
gospel around the world. Hinn stated the cost of his worldwide crusades and the increased price of
everything else has left him financially behind in his bills, but says TBN founders Paul and Jan
Crouch have been very supportive.
On August 24, 2007 the CBC Television show the fifth estate did a special on the apparent
transgressions committed by Benny Hinn's ministry. With the aid of hidden cameras and crusade
witnesses, the producers of the show attempted to demonstrate Benny's misappropriation of funds,
his fabrication of the truth and, the way in which his staff chose crusade audience members to come
on stage for televised healings. According to the show the seriously disabled who attend his healings
are interviewed and then weeded out from ever getting the chance to come on stage. Instead, those
who have minor injuries are brought up in their place. Benny Hinn claims proof from the faithful's
67 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
doctors that healings have been successful. However according to the show none of these doctor
notes have ever been produced as evidence to his claims.
Hinn made a number of unfulfilled (religious) prophecies for the 90s, such as God will destroy
America's homosexual community in 1995 or the death of Fidel Castro,[6] election of the first female
president of the USA,[7] the East Coast of the United States will be devastated by earthquakes,[6]
etc., all before the third millennium. Hinn also appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network in
October 1999 to claim that God had given him a vision that thousands of dead people would be
resurrected after watching the network -- laying out of scenario of people placing their dead loved
ones' hands on TV screens tuned into the station -- and that TBN would be "an extension of Heaven
to Earth." Hinn has also claimed that Adam was a "superbeing" who could fly to the Moon; that God
froze the Red Sea with his breath when he parted it; and that Christ would make a personal
appearance at a crusade in Nairobi, Kenya in 2001.
In April 2001 HBO aired a documentary called "A Question of Miracles" on Hinn. [3] The director
Antony Thomas told CNN's Kyra Phillips that they did not find cases where people were healed by
Hinn.[4] Thomas told the New York Times about Hinn's claims, "If I had seen miracles, I would have
been happy to trumpet it . . . but in retrospect, I think they do more damage to Christianity than the
most committed atheist."[5]
In 2002, Joe Nickell of the Skeptical Inquirer wrote a critical analysis of Hinn's healing claims.[8]
Nickell cited information that Hinn's cures have not been documented by independent reviews, and
said "there is a danger that people who believe themselves cured will forsake medical assistance
that could bring them relief or even save their lives."[9]
In March 2005, Ministry Watch, an independent evangelical organization which reviews Christian
ministries for financial transparency and efficiency and advises potential donors accordingly, issued a
Donor Alert stating that "the reported exorbitant spending of the Hinn family reveals that BHM has
far more money than it needs to carry out its ministry" and advising Christians to "prayerfully
consider withholding contributions to Benny Hinn" while praying for his restoration and
repentance.[10] Benny Hinn Ministries is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial
Accountability.[11]
In November 2006 the CBC Television show the fifth estate did a special titled "Do You Believe in
Miracles" on the apparent transgressions committed by Benny Hinn's ministry.[12] With the aid of
hidden cameras and crusade witnesses, the producers of the show attempted to demonstrate
Benny's misappropriation of funds, his fabrication of the truth, and the way in which his staff chose
crusade audience members to come on stage for televised healings.[13] According to the show the
seriously disabled who attend his healings are interviewed and then weeded out from ever getting
the chance to come on stage. Instead, those who have minor injuries are brought up in their place.
[14]
Benny Hinn claims proof from the faithful's doctors that healings have been successful.[15]
However according to the show none of these doctor notes have ever been produced as evidence to
his claims.[16] I
In December 2006, BHM sent out a mailing asking for donations towards a new Gulfstream G4SP jet
valued at an estimated $36 million and costs over $600,000/year to maintain and operate.[17]
Jesus had a money box which he used for the poor. Today‘s prosperity preachers,
such as Benny Hinn, do nothing for any of their people who helped them but ask for
more money and when the people give all they could they ask for even more and
make the people feel guilty for not giving enough. It seems that ―Prosperity‖
Theology works for one person and one person only to make the pastors rich. We
need to clean up these pastors and churches that prey on its parishioners, it‘s
abhorrent!
68 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Benny Hinn began his healing ministry in Toronto by hosting his own evangelical
program on local television. His success in Canada inspired him to travel with his
healing missions. In Orlando, Florida he met and married Suzanne, the daughter of a
local pastor and it was there that Benny Hinn began to build his evangelical empire.
Today he is known as Pastor Benny . Without doubt he is one of the best known
and possibly richest televangelists in the world. Each year he travels the world
conducting so-called miracle healing crusades that are very closely patterned to a rock
concert tour.
He produces a daily television show called ―This is Your Day‖ from his studios
based in California and has written several books about his life and ministry, which he
markets and sells, along with video tapes of his crusades, music CDs and bibles.
The World Healing Center Church, the Irving-based church run by televangelist
Benny Hinn, is suing its former vice president of television operations, contending that
he and his wife defamed the famous faith healer as ―wild and out of control.‖
In the lawsuit filed last week in Dallas County district court, the church contends
that Truett Hancock, an employee since 1992, and his wife, Malena, an employee
since 2004, revealed confidential information about the church several times last
month in breach of their employment contracts.
―Specifically, Truett has communicated to third parties that the pastor of World
Healing Center Church, Benny Hinn, was wild and out of control, painted him as
wicked and accused him of alleging ‗death threats‘ to other staff members,‖ the
lawsuit says.
They hypocritical talk about agape or unconditional love and state ―Agape is
rational, reasonable and strong. It overcomes all the situations and circumstances. If
you look at 1st Corinthians 13, it‟s the thing that stands when everything else has
fallen and that‟s what‟s not happening,‖ But they don‘t practice it at all even though
their bible states: And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of
these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
But if Suzanne Hinn is crazy and out of control why not Benny Hinn? Check out the
Video of Suzzane Hinn being herself http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jhw_5ye8Qo
in ―you need the Holy Ghost Enema up your rear end.‖
So why should anybody be surprised that Suzanne Hinn, the wife of Benny Hinn,
would be speaking at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship Signs and wonders
conference September 26-29, 2007 Toronto, Ontario whose elite proud and arrogant
leadership of Pastor John Arnott and Steve Long also are liars and deceivers if not
cowards. Many have a problem with the elitism that the Toronto Blessing seems to
bring with it. Those who do not embrace this movement are not only made to feel like
Second Class Christians but are shown no tolerance for questioning it.
Check out CBC documentary on the vile character Benny Hinn, ―Do you believe in
miracles?‖ Download the free game Benny Hinn's Bible Blast For Cash at
http://www.tojam.ca/games_2007/benny_hinn.asp
Guide Benny Hinn in his quest to liberate the citizens of Toronto from their cash!
Grab all the loot you can! Don‟t forget to send this website to all your friends so they
can also play the game
MT 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good
to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
People all over the world are waking up to the fact that Benny Hinn is evil and a
liar and a thief who curses people openly on television, says stupid things and makes
false prophecies.
It‘s a fact that familiar and unclean spirit plays all kinds of games with many
Christians and they don‘t discern what is going on! When a person yields to a familiar
spirit he becomes a medium for the spirit to speak through her/him! But what many of
God‘s people are not aware that there are many sincere Christian folks who are
unknowingly yield to familiar spirit who cause them to say and do foolish things and
even prophesy things that come from a familiar spirit, not God.
Aug. 17
Toufik Benedictus Hinn, aka Benny Hinn, has been repeatedly exposed in the news
media and through Internet websites, yet people continue to donate to his ministry
and flock to his crusades, in spite of the prophecies that never came to pass and
miracles that never transpired when the people were followed up months later. The
latest exposé on The Fifth Estate is just another `drop in the bucket' and a rehashing
70 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
of the same revelations which came before it (CNN, Dateline, apologetic websites,
books, videos, ad nauseum).
Jesus lived a modest lifestyle and set the gold standard for righteousness. He
never demanded the royal treatment, with private jets, motorcades, bodyguards, five-
star hotels, expensive suits, luxury cars and mansions by the ocean. In fact, he took
on the role of a servant, came riding on a donkey, and had no place to lay his head
(which is the direct antithesis to Benny Hinn's lavish lifestyle). There's no mention of
tailored suits, luxury cars and multi-million dollar mansions in exclusive gated
communities.
Even if Benny Hinn donates some of his ministry money to charity, it doesn't
address the underlying fact that he is still living a life of material excess above and
beyond his basic needs, which contradicts everything Christ stood for and preached.
You can twist Scripture to justify anything (such as bringing up the fact that King
Solomon was extremely wealthy and that since you're a child of God, you also deserve
to live like royalty) but you cannot fool God. If it walks and talks like a duck ... then
walk out because you're in the wrong pasture.
Jesus heals for free and doesn't qualify his miracles based on one's monetary
donation.
"People in my position will have threats," Benny Hinn told the Star. "If you ask for
a secure (hotel) floor, you're going to pay more money."
I always find it quite interesting that people like Hinn defend their stealing of, and
spending of, mostly frightened peoples' money by saying the above.
Real people of faith rely on that faith – in all circumstances. This isn't a theory, I
have lived it. I did crisis work many years ago (sometimes with police accompanying
me, sometimes not) where my life was threatened many times. I went into areas
where the police wore bullet-proof vests when they came to assist me (we had none),
where the police sent out a memo to all agency workers not to go into certain areas
unless they were accompanied by the police (this was directly related to a case I was
involved in). I was able to do this work because of my faith, which meant I prayed for
protection, kept my head up and didn't knowingly do anything that anyone would
personally want to harm me for.
"Yes, Lord, I 'll do it. I place a curse on every man and every woman that will
stretch his hand against this anointing. I curse that man who dares to speak a word
71 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=04622c53ebc366a68c0a
Benny Hinn's Duplicity in Christianity Today, Oct. 5, 1992 Benny Hinn lies about
heretical statements he made, as well as his testimony. He is credited as being a
mentor for John Arnott of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. "Television
preacher Benny Hinn, whose sales in Christian bookstores in the last year-and-a-half
have exceeded those of James Dobson and Charles Swindoll combined, told CT last
September that he would submit to the counsel and constructive criticism of others
(Christianity Today, Oct. 28, 1991, p. 44). But Hinn's rhetoric since then has raised
questions in some people's minds about his sincerity. For instance: "Now I'm pointing
my finger with the mighty power of God on me. ...You hear this. There are men and
women in Southern California attacking me. I will tell you under the anointing now,
you'll reap it in your children. You'll never win. ...And you children will suffer. You're
attacking me on the radio every night; you'll pay, and your children will. Hear this
from the lips of God's servant. You are in danger. Repent, or God Almighty will move
his hand. ..." That is what Hinn told an audience on August 7 at Melodyland Christian
Center in Southern California."
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/bhinn.html
2TM 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and
being deceived.
And, wonderful partner, remember YOU ARE A VITAL PART of such a ministry, for
every time you give, the Gospel is being preached!
Every time you sow a seed, men, women, and children are being saved, healed,
and delivered.
Every dollar you give to His dear cause is being spread around the globe for
worldwide evangelism and will reap a harvest ―good measure, pressed down, shaken
together, and running over‖ (Luke 6:38). Benny Hinn
http://www.bennyhinn.org/articles/articledesc.cfm/id/222
YES BENNY HINN GIVES $20US TO A 'homeless woman with a baby' AND
$1,0000US TO HOTEL CONCIERGE
Tips given to the staff at the Savoia Hotel in Milan, Italy (see chit .pdf)
72 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
$5000US dollars cash given to Pastor Benny Hinn (PBH), no details for the
reason (see chit .pdf)
A gift from Benny Hinn to a 'homeless woman with a baby' of $20US (see chit
.pdf)
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_miracles.html
Watch the entire CBC documentary online DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? (runs
appox 41:30) THAT SHOWS BENNY HINN TO BE A LIAR AND A MAN WITH NO
INTEGRITY CONCERING HIS FINANCES AT
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_miracles.html
CBC's The Fifth Estate recently challenged his claims of miracle cures and
described a lavish lifestyle of fancy cars, a 7,000-square-foot ocean-side mansion and
luxury travel to five-star hotels on a private jet. In the show, reporter Bob McKeown
estimates Benny Hinn Ministries takes in as much as $250 million a year in donations
and proceeds from sales of such items as autographed bibles. Hinn has also criticized
the CBC for using hidden cameras and old footage he says depicts his wife just before
she had a nervous breakdown.
Benny Hinn insists that every penny is spent on God's work. But the fifth estate
obtained confidential financial records from inside the Hinn ministry. These documents
were provided by individuals who say they want the public to know how Benny Hinn
spends the money entrusted to him. (The documentary shows that Benny Hinn is a
liar who has no integrity just like Steve Long of TACF See
http://torontoblessing2.tripodcom )
The fifth estate asked Roddy Allan, a forensic accountant, to review the ministry's
expense and travel records. He says, "I'm a mere bean counter, but it would be hard
to persuade me that you had to incur that kind of expense in order to accomplish a
business objective."
Here is a very small sampling of financial records from the summer of 2003. At
that time Hinn had crusades in St. Petersburg, Russia and Stockholm, Sweden then
departed for a four day whirlwind trip to Italy and London, billing it as a simple
layover. AND THEY SPENT ABOUT $200,000 IN ITALY AND LONDON FOR THEIR
HOLIDAY LAYOVER AND CHARGED IT TO THE MINSTRY
Although most major American churches and ministries release financial information
voluntarily there are no public records for how much the Hinn ministry makes or how
that money is spent.
On his evangelical ―healing‖ trips, Hinn has had ―layovers‖ between crusades piling up hotel bills
ranging from $900 per night to royal suites that cost almost $3,000 for one night‘s stay in lovely
73 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
places such as: Hawaii, Cancun, London, and Milan.From The Theology of Benny Hinn, by Kim
Riddleberger:
Claiming to possess the power of God in his hands, Hinn maintains that his personal ―anointing‖ feels
like electricity radiating through his extremities. Often, Hinn will call those in the audience, who
claim that they have been healed, to come up onto the stage and testify about what they feel has
happened to them during the emotionally charged crusade. Hinn may blow on them or ―lay hands‖
upon them individually, slaying them in the spirit. If they persist in remaining on their feet–in a
somewhat embarrassing situation for all parties involved–Hinn ―slays‖ them in a rather aggressive
manner, placing both of his hands upon them, then pushing them backwards into the arms of the
waiting attendants who catch them. In the words of one reviewer, Hinn‘s ministry ―bears all the
marks of manipulative, staged performances.‖
And here's what I said, if its in the word we accept it but if you dream it and your
vision is not in the bible then you got to dismiss it because its not based upon the
word.
And let me add this: Had the Holy Spirit not been with Jesus, He would have sinned.
Are you ready for some real revelation knowledge... you are god.
Because we are continually growing in the Lord, preachers and lay people alike must
be open to the Lord's correction.
Because when God heals a body, that is temporal; but when God saves a soul, that
has eternal importance.
But I don't believe we can just confess any Scripture and make it happen.
God sent Jesus as an example to see if we could retain and maintain the Holy Spirit in
human flesh.
God will begin to prosper you, for money always follows righteousness.
God will not move unless I say it. Why? because He has made us coworkers with Him.
He set things up that way.
However, I do not believe it is right when a minister corrects his theology - or his view
on a point of Scripture - and the critics continue to bring up that same subject.
I can tell you this, if it wasn't for my book royalties, I'd be in debt.
I do admit there have been times when I have made a statement that was incorrect.
I don't believe confessing the Word works the way I taught it in the past.
I feel terrible that I once put too much emphasis on material prosperity.
I have come to realize that God is sovereign, and there are things I just don't
understand.
I know me, and those close to me know me. But sadly, the outside world thinks I'm
some kind of a crook.
I see rows of caskets lining up in front of this TV set... and I see actual loved ones
picking up the hands of the dead and letting them touch the screen and people are
getting raised.
If I did not believe God healed, I'd quit tomorrow and go get a job.
If you will come back and make that pledge, God will heal your heart tonight.
In the future, rather than focus on healing, I plan to focus on Jesus Himself, and let
Him heal whomever He wills to heal.
Now I have quit teaching such things, and I have made it clear that I no longer believe
them.
75 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Our supporters support us for one reason, people pray for us for one reason - because
of the healing ministry.
Poverty is from the devil and that God wants all Christians prosperous.
The day is coming when there will not be one sick saint in the body of Christ.
There's the real and the genuine, and there's the phony.
They are happier than many Christians I know in America who have everything.
They think that God doesn't really heal, so these guys are just fooling the world.
Though we are not Almighty God Himself, nevertheless, we are now divine.
We believe our partners are entitled to know what happens to their money.
We follow every healing and say go back to your doctor and make sure you are healed
don't throw away your medication.
We have documented miracles in our ministry that we done ourselves with doctors
that we work with ourselves and they said no, they wanted people that they could
document themself.
What does God the Father look like? Although I've never seen Him, I believe - as with
the Holy Spirit - He looks like Jesus looked on earth.
What happens between them and God is between them and God.
What was the appearance of God the Father? Like that of a man... God has the
likeness of fingers and hands and a face.
When God heals them, they can't go right back in that wheelchair again because then
he did it. And God doesn't do it and then take it back.
When I taught the little gods doctrine, I was using Scriptures that didn't fit.
When it comes to the income of the ministry, I have no problem talking about it or
what happens to the money.
When one is born again by faith in Jesus, he is given a new spirit man that wasn't
there before - a spirit man that is divine in nature and God-like.
You have so much today that is pure flesh, yet people have labeled it as the Spirit. It's
not the Spirit, because it's not centered on Christ.
You see, we are not seeking a move, not an experience. We are seeking Jesus, and
when you seek Jesus, He'll breathe that mighty power of the Spirit.
Check out CBC documentary on this vile character, ―Do you believe in miracles?‖
Ole Anthony — president of the Trinity Foundation — submitted a three-inch-think report to the
Internal Revenue Service in an effort to show that Hinn‘s ministry fails to meet the IRS‘s definition of
a church. Hinn started a church in Orlando in 1983, then sold it in 1999. However, Benny Hinn
Ministries (BHM) is still classified as a church. Anthony has a problem with that. ―Claiming himself
to be a church, he doesn‘t have any accountability,‖ he asserts.
―He has a revolving-door board of directors — in comes somebody who disagrees with him, he
changes the board; and so he‘s using that ministry [and] its well over a hundred million a year [that
he is taking in] as his personal piggy bank.‖ According to Anthony, Hinn lives in a $10 million
parsonage, has charged to the ministry hotel rooms costing thousands of dollars a night, and
provided thousands of dollars to family members for ―shopping sprees.‖ Anthony fears that Hinn‘s
action are ―going to bring down the real churches if he keeps up these kinds of excesses.‖ The
evangelist, he adds, has ―absolutely no accountability — he‘s just run amok.‖ It is because of Hinn‘s
refusal to be held accountable that MinistryWatch.com has issued a ―Donor Alert‖ [PDF] encouraging
donors to prayerfully consider withholding contributions to the ministry. BHM officials were given
more than two weeks to comment on this story but did not return repeated requests for interviews.
William Lobdell, a Times staff, wrote about Benny Hinn and the target-rich
environment: the unregulated industry of televangelism is estimated to generate at
least $1 billion through its roughly 2,000 electronic preachers, including 80 nationally
syndicated television pastors. He told of the founder of the Dallas-based Trinity
Foundation, Ole E Anthony, whose operatives struck dumpster pay dirt five years
ago in south Florida when they found a travel itinerary for Benny Hinn, the Trinity
Broadcasting Network's superstar faith healer who has filled sports arenas with ailing
believers seeking miracles cures. Hinn's itinerary included first-class tickets on the
Concorde from New York to London ($8,850 each) and reservations for presidential
suites at pricey European hotels ($2,200 a night). A news story, including footage of
Hinn and his associates boarding the jet, ran on CNN's "Impact." In addition, property
records and videos supplied by Trinity investigators led to CNN and Dallas Morning
News coverage of another Hinn controversy: fund-raising for a $30-million healing
center in Dallas that has yet to be built.
Hinn and other pastors ask viewers to send in donations for both specific projects
and for general expansion of the television ministry. Donors aren't told of the opulent
lifestyles led by some of the televangelists, but that fact isn't too much of a secret
either--perhaps because it fits nicely with the message of the Prosperity Gospel they
are spreading. A quick computer search of homes owned by Trinity Broadcasting
Network, for example, reveals 17 residences in Orange County alone, including two
hilltop mansions in a gated Newport Beach community.
There's a darker side to Hinn and his organization. In 1998 two members of his
inner circle died of heroin overdoses. In 1999, after one of his many vows of reform,
he fired several board members and hired an ex-cop named Mario C. Licciardello to do
77 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Hinn runs the largest evangelistic organization in the world that is NOT a member
of the Evangelical Council for Financial Responsibility. That means his finances are
private, his salary is secret, and his income is anybody's guess. Royalties from his
books alone are estimated at $500,000 per year, but he essentially has carte blanche
to take anything out of the till he wants. "He lives the lifestyle of a billionaire," says
Ole Anthony, "all on the backs of false promises and selling false hope."
As Hinn put it himself, in a moment of rare revelatory candor, "I don't need gold in
heaven, I gotta have it now."
During 1993, his one year of "reform," he talked about being stung by being
portrayed as a millionaire and how he wanted to be "more Christ-like." His solution:
"The Lord said sell the Benz and the watch."
He got rid of his Rolex and his Mercedes. Notice he didn't give them away. He sold
them – and then replaced the Mercedes with a $65,000 BMW. This is what God told
him to do. And who better to know what God wants, because Hinn, after all, is only
the third person in the history of the universe to have actually seen God and lived to
tell about it. God, he says, is 6-2 or 6-3, with long hair of a light brown color, and
eyes that can look right through you. (Jan/Feb 2004 issue of The Door Magazine)
Ministry Watch in its Donor Alert of May 2005 recommended that Donors
Withhold Giving to Benny Hinn Ministries
The Issues
MinistryWatch.com calls upon donors to prayerfully consider withholding
contributions to Benny Hinn Ministries/World Outreach Church (BHM) in
response to facts and allegations regarding reports that Hinn:
• Lives a lavish lifestyle with funds intended for charitable purposes;
• Preaches a self-serving prosperity theology message;
• Manipulates individuals at healing crusades‖ for personal gain;
• Makes unsubstantiated claims of healings;
• Is nontransparent and lacks independent board oversight.
The Details
DATELINE interviewed a number of critics, including current and former BHM
employees, who argued that Hinn, instead of modeling the sacrificial life lived by
Jesus, is motivated by his own self-interests, hence turning the Gospel of Christ on its
78 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
head. Hinn is founder, chairman, president and CEO of BHM. Through his crusades —
which collect untold amounts of cash, as well as donations through checks and credit
cards— and television program, This is Your Day,‖ Hinn raises upwards of $100 million
annually, according to NBC.
MinistryWatch.com Take
Hinn‘s refusal to be accountable to anyone — rooted in a conveniently defiant view
of accountability (he is to answer only to God since he receives extra-biblical words,
hence the Word of Faith moniker) — is the primary precipitant for each of the critiques
amplified above. MinistryWatch.com I believes donors are entitled to make an
educated and knowledgeable giving decision based on all the facts about a church or
ministry. The disclosures noted above raise issues of concern to MinistryWatch.com
and the donating public it serves, Concerns include, but are not limited to:
DATELINE, through its well-documented investigation, has raised serious questions
as to whether the benefit and compensation package for Benny Hinn and many of his
family members diverts funds intended for designated, charitable purposes.
• The same investigations raise questions about BHM‘s board composition and
whether the influences Benny Hinn enjoys on the board compromise its independence.
• Because book royalties are made possible in part by the work of ministry and
employees, and in keeping with the best practices of other published church and
ministry leaders, all royalties should be returned to the ministry to be used for the
ministry‘s designated, charitable purpose.
• Hinn is in a position to exercise not just substantial influence over the affairs of
the organization, but total control. He is pastor, president, and chairman for life, he
appoints the vice president (who is also a board member), Hinn picked the board, and
he can suspend any board member.
According to a June article in The Dallas Morning News, shortly after Hinn
announced his move to Texas, he said God had told him to build a "World Healing
Center," and Hinn appealed for money. As much as $30 million was collected, but the
center was never built. In April 2000, he told Trinity Broadcasting Network's Paul
Crouch, "I'm putting all the money we have in the ministry to get out there and
preach. The day (to build the healing center) will come. I'm in no hurry; neither is
God."
Also about April 2000, Hinn's ministry began building a 58,000square-foot office
79 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
building in Irving. A few months after that, in August 2000, a holding company that is
a subsidiary of Hinn's ministry began building a "parsonage" -- a $3 million, 7,200-
square foot oceanfront home -- in Dana Point, Calif.
The Associated Press reported recently But while others like Jimmy Swaggart, Jim
Bakker and Robert Tilton have fallen from grace over the past two decades, Hinn
plows ahead, relentlessly seeking souls and money.
Like some colleagues, he embraces his worldwide followers who say he has cured
them, like heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, who has credited Hinn
with correcting his heart problem.
For the most part, he brushes off scrutiny, though not always gracefully. He once
wished aloud for a "Holy Ghost machine gun" to blow off the heads of his critics, who
object to everything from his unverifiable healing claims to his perfectly coifed hair.
While Swaggart's and Bakker's high-flying ministries were leveled by sex scandals,
and Tilton eventually was brought down by reports of false promises and a legal battle
with his first wife, Hinn has tripped over no such obstacles.
Hinn has not joined the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, a sort of
Christian Better Business Bureau to which evangelists such as Billy Graham belong.
The council assesses the financial integrity of Christian organizations that join it.
Nor has Hinn publicly acknowledged his salary, though he told CNN in 1997 that
his yearly income including book royalties was somewhere between $500,000 and $1
million. A spokesman has said Hinn generates about $60 million a year in donations.
CBC has estimated that Hinn‘s revenue is around $250 milion a year.
With an estimated total viewership of ten million, the money that TV preachers
rake in by any reckoning, are immense. In his heyday Jimmy Swaggart was making
close to US$140 million a year. The Bakkers were close behind with an estimated
yearly income of US$130 million. Jerry Falwell netted, by his own reckoning, about
US$60 million a year.
The money, which was meant for their ministry, went to maintain their
extravagant lifestyles. Swaggart bought himself a US$ 1.5 million mansion. In his
show of fatherly affection, he bought another mansion, worth US$700,000 for his son,
Donnie with money loaned by his ministry. The Bakkers had bought mansions and
luxury cars, even the doghouse was air-conditioned.
WILLIAM LOBDELL, Times Staff Writer in an article titled ―For Critics of Extravagant
Faith Healer Benny Hinn, the Good Book Isn't Enough. They Want His Ministry to Be
an Open Book.‖ Los Angeles Times Magazine, July 27, 2003 wrote:
Hinn is not obligated under federal law to release information publicly about its
revenue or the identities of its board of directors. But at this meeting, he says he has
nothing to hide.
"I'll tell you this," Hinn says, a likable guy who is bewildered that he could
generate so much hostility. "I'm an open book. I think it's time for me to just say, 'Let
me give you the blunt truth.' "
That's easier said than done. First, Hinn declines to divulge his salary. (He told
CNN in 1997 that he earns between $500,000 and $1 million annually, including book
royalties.) "Look, any amount I make, somebody's going to be mad," he says.
He offers to make available his ministry's general financial picture, along with
access to his accountant—both unprecedented. "When it comes to the income of the
ministry, I have no problem talking about it or what happens to the money," Hinn
says. "We believe our partners are entitled to know what happens to their money."
But two weeks later, he backtracks, saying his board won't allow it.
But just before this story went to press, Hinn and his board changed their minds
and had their public relations consultant provide the names. The board veterans are
Hinn; Bill Swad, described as an Ohio businessman who authors books such as "Don't
Let Satan Steal Your Harvest"; and Steve Brock, a pastor and featured soloist for the
Miracle Crusades. New members, according to the ministry, are Bob Inello, a
businessman from Boston, and Doug Wead, former special assistant to President
George H.W. Bush and author of "All the President's Children." (DOUG WEAD IS
CONNECTED TO KARL STRADER'S WIFE WHO IS A WEAD AND SECRETLY RECORDED
PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS WITH PRESIDENT BUSH!)
Hinn does reveal that the $89 million taken in by his church in 2002 is a record for
his Grapevine, Texas-based ministry, which has experienced double-digit growth
during the past three years through direct-mail requests, viewer donations and
offerings taken at the Miracle Crusades. By comparison, the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Assn. had revenues of $96.6 million in 2001, the last year available.
These small, soft hands could be one of two things: anointed by God to heal the
sick, or props in a televangelist money-making scheme that preys on the vulnerable.
Shades of gray aren't a part of the Benny Hinn story.
Financially, at least, he's the world's most successful faith healer, having received
$89 million in donations last year, according to officials with his ministry, World
Healing Center Church. His followers pack stadiums here and abroad for his free
events called "Miracle Crusades." He conducts about 24 of these each year, traveling
in a leased Gulfstream jet. Attendance averages 50,000 to 60,000 people over two
81 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
days, with a crusade in Kenya two years ago drawing 1.2 million worshippers,
organizers say.
From his broadcast center in Orange County, Hinn's "This Is Your Day" show is one
of the most-watched Christian TV programs in the world, with viewers in 190
countries. In the U.S., it runs on purchased air time more than 200 times each week
on 80 stations, ministry officials say. The shows are translated into Spanish,
Romanian, Norwegian, Italian, Hindi and Tamil.
"He promised me 10 years ago that his personal and ministry finances would be an
open book," says Ole Anthony, president of the Trinity Foundation, dismissing Hinn's
latest vow for more candor. "Hinn's incredible wealth and lifestyle does more harm to
Christianity than all of his preaching."
On March 21, 1997 on TBN live, Benny Hinn said, "THE DEVIL CANNOT TOUCH
YOU IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN." This is a demon lie. Millions of people viewed that
program throughout the world, and they were told a lie. Benny believes it. The devil
does not believe it. We certainly do not believe it. No wonder so many "Christians" are
DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.
On March 16, 1997, CNN "IMPACT" had a profile of Benny Hinn and his ministry.
What was revealed were FACTS, and was very negative. Some of the things THEY
DISCLOSED were.
His ministry operates in a "veil of secrecy" as it will not disclose the financial
status.
Benny Hinn's salary was $500,000.00 a year, not counting benefits, which are
many. Ask yourself what YOU would do with that much money a year.
CNN reported on one of Hinn's trips HIS hotel room was $2,200.00 a night.
One of Hinn's former body guards was going to go public about Hinn's ministry and
the money flow. The guard was paid $103,000.00 to keep quiet. He did.
Hinn's ministry receives 15,000 to 18,000 pieces of mail a WEEK. Think there may
be money in some of those envelopes? They have "forty people working 40 shifts" to
handle all the mail.
Hinn talks and acts like deceased Kathryn Kuhlman. "The only difference between
the two is she wore a white dress, and he wears a white suite".
When asked why he had to drive such an expensive car, Hinn said, "what do you
want me to drive, a Honda?"
82 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
On the CNN Impact Sunday Show of March 16, 1997 when questioned by CNN.
Evangelist Benny Hinn had failed to provide for six months to CNN the promised
financial statements of his ministry.
Benny Hinn admitted that he made more money than the President of United
States around $ 500,000 to $ 1,000,000. Personal profit which came to him as a
result of love offerings, tithes and financial support given by the public and for which
he and his friends refuse to give financial accountability while they hold others
accountable for their spiritual state.
Now If Benny Hinn wants to make a million dollars a year honestly, let him resign
from the ministry and go to the private sector and do it. He and others are not entitled
to make money from inside trading and complicity from their positions in the
ministries.
If Benny wants to become a book writer and make money from his books let him
leave the ministry and become a private individual. There is no justification under
heaven and before God in becoming rich off the gifts and love offerings of God's
people.
The favoured churches are the new-generation Pentecostal assemblies, that are
owned and managed solely by fast-talking American-style pastors.
Rich and powerful Nigerians run after the pastors for "spiritual protection" from
imaginary 'enemies' who, they are convinced, are lurking around the corner to pull
them down. These are the big spenders in the churches. The attraction, perhaps, lies
in the often-quoted biblical injunction that "givers never lack" and the fact that most
pastors don't ask the donors how they make the money they give.
Devoted service
In March 2003, a cashier at a five-star hotel was arrested for allegedly stealing
nearly 40 million naira (then about US$400,000) from his employer.
His colleagues were shocked because there was nothing to suggest that he was
living above his means - he had no car and he lived in a rented flat in a non-
fashionable part of Lagos. The man confessed that he gave all the money to his
Pentecostal church in cash and equipment.
In another case a bank clerk stole 40 million naira from his employer and gave 10
million to his church as 'seed money' in the belief that the seed would germinate and
yield several fold as promised by his pastor.
Many Nigerians believe that a large number of pastors are honest and devoted to
the service of God and mankind.
83 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
But they readily take umbrage under the Yoruba saying that "only God knows who
serves Him truly."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4619733.stm
Chapter 6
Bishop Randy White
Two U.S. Senators sent out a new round of letters today to some of the nation‘s most high-profile
televangelists, urging them to turn over key financial records. The Senators told the ministries that
they want to know how their ―non-profit organizations are structured and operate,‖ amid allegations
that some of the televangelists have misused church funds to enrich themselves.
One of the letters was mailed today to televangelists Randy and Paula White, who founded the
Without Walls International Church in Tampa 16 years ago, calling it "the perfect church for people
who are not."
A half dozen former church employees and insiders told NBC News that they have questions about
how millions of dollars in church offerings have been spent. They said that the Whites sometimes
urged the flock to make checks out to them personally.
A church spreadsheet obtained by NBC News lists $43,129 in so-called "personal offerings" to Paula
White in May 2006. NBC News also saw cancelled checks made out to Randy White.
One longtime former church insider, who asked to remain anonymous, said the checks were part of
a troubling pattern. ―It says to me that they were shearing the sheep,‖ the former insider said, a
charge that the church denies.
The insider and five other former staffers say the Whites sometimes took cash from uncounted
84 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
donations, misused church funds for personal expenses and even pressured the faithful to take
equity out of their homes to boost church donations. ―They came up with every kind of idea possible
to get money, to make money,‖ the church insider said.
Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Montana) of the Senate Finance Committee
said they sent the new letters to the Whites and three other televangelists to remind them that ―the
committee‘s jurisdiction includes the federal tax policy governing the billions of dollars donated to
and controlled by the nation‘s tax-exempt groups.‖
Grassley first wrote to the Whites last November. He also sent letters to: Benny Hinn of World
Healing Center Church, Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas; David and Joyce Meyer
of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo.; Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland
Ministries of Newark, Texas; Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop
Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga., and Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church
International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga.
Without Walls:
The Whites‘ church, Without Walls, has grown over the years into a multi-media empire, devoted to
preaching the ―gospel of prosperity.‖ That‘s the belief that God wants parishioners to be wealthy but
that, for that to happen, churchgoers must first give money to God.
"God is going to speak to you to sow a one-week's salary. He's going to speak to you to sow one
month‘s salary,‖ Paula White has told her followers. ―I want you to get up and go to the phone and
to obey God!‖
Cindy Fleenor was one such follower. ―We're taught if we don't pay our tithes and give offering and
alms that we're robbing God and we're under a curse," Fleenor told NBC News.
One church board member told NBC News that he was surprised when a 2006 audit reported the
church had $25 million in debt, even though it had brought in $35 million that same year.
During the same period, the Whites appear to have prospered with a $2.1 million waterfront home in
Tampa, a $3.5 million condo on Park Avenue in New York City and salaries reported to exceed $1
million each. There‘s also a costly Bentley convertible, driven by Randy White.
Many of the allegations regarding the Whites were first raised through a series of front-page
investigative articles published by the Tampa Tribune newspaper last year.
The Whites divorced last year, and Paula White is now pursuing an increasingly separate career
through Paula White Ministries, the Without Walls church's media ministry, as a life coach and host
of a syndicated religious program. But both Whites remain active in Without Walls and their
organizations' finances remain entwined.
The Whites' church is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) church organization. According to IRS
rules, it is not only tax-exempt but also not required to publicly release IRS filings. The church
website does not include specific information about its governance - it does not even include a list of
church officers or members of its board of directors.
The Whites have claimed their wealth comes from appropriate and legal compensation, comparable
to what other non-profit CEOs earn. They also have claimed additional wealth from for-profit
business ventures - including a real estate company, a travel agency and sales of a nutritional
supplement they themselves promote in an infomercial. But Senate investigators want to know
85 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
more. ―Questions need to be asked and questions need to be answered,‖ said Sen. Grassley.
So far, the Whites have not provided any answers to the Senate. When Cindy Fleenor heard that,
and learned more about the Whites‘ lifestyle, she stopped giving money. ―I felt like I was deceived
and been taken advantage of,‖ she said.
The Whites declined to be interviewed by NBC or to answer questions. They have denied
wrongdoing, stating: "We take our financial responsibilities to our partners very seriously and to the
best of our knowledge we comply with all tax laws."
Grassley said that the Whites have now agreed to cooperate with the Senate investigation. The
Senate has given them until the end of the month to provide documents, and answers.
http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/12/762204.aspx
"The church's two properties are situated in areas of significant development and
have appreciated significantly," said the written statement from Tucker/Hall Inc. public
relations. "To keep the church's expansion options open, the executive leadership of
Without Walls International Church decided that the time was right to list both
properties."
Without Walls leaders had declined to comment for a story in Wednesday's Tribune
about their hiring real estate agents to sell the 13.3-acre Tampa property near
International Plaza and the 75-acre campus in Lakeland.
The statement did not elaborate on what expansion options the church may be
considering. Attendance at Without Walls, once touted as the nation's fastest-growing
church, has declined in recent months.
"The church could consider using the proceeds on a more focused, functional
church facility to meet the needs of its congregation," the statement said. "It could
decide to use any excess proceeds to continue and expand its many current
community outreach programs."
The fact that the campuses are on the market came as a surprise to some
congregants and at least one church board member.
"I had no clue this was on the table," said Alick Clark, a board member from Acton,
Calif. "You can't make a decision like that without the board's approval. Right?"
The church statement Wednesday said the decision to list the properties did not
require board approval, but a contract to sell would.
Reaction to the potential sale was mixed and fueled speculation about the church's
future.
Sonja Krout, a former congregant who left the church when she moved to
Riverview, said she wasn't bothered by the fact the decision to sell was made quietly.
"The members don't always have to be told everything," she said, adding: "I
learned so much while I was there. My heart goes out to" the Whites.
Jill Wells, a private investigator in the Tampa Bay area, started taking an interest
in the church about a year ago. She said she thinks the potential sale indicates that
Randy White is in the final steps of shutting down the ministry.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/06/me-church-interest-shown-in-
property/
http://www2.tbo.com/static/special_reports_news/tbo-special-reports-news-
withoutwalls/
Randy White stood before the congregation of Without Walls International Church and fretted about
paying the $38,000 power bill, just one of many bills coming due.
Speaking at a Sunday service in late October, the co-founder of the embattled megachurch said he
would tally the weekend's offerings and decide which to pay.
These are not the best of times for Without Walls. Damaging revelations, one after another, have
stung church faithful in recent months.
In May, Tampa Tribune reports revealed financial problems and broken promises at the
nondenominational ministry, ranked as one of the fastest-growing in the nation in 2005. Then in
August, church founders Randy and Paula White announced they would end their 18-year marriage.
The most potentially damaging news came last week when U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa,
challenged the ministry's nonprofit status and the Whites' lavish lifestyle. He requested detailed
87 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
financial information on their expensive homes, cars, private jet and plastic surgeries. They have
until Dec. 6 to comply.
The revelations have prompted one Christian radio personality to say the Whites must step down
from their ministries.
"A divorce is an indication of deeply personal, spiritual struggles that would warrant a minister
stepping aside," said Paul Edwards, who hosts a Christian radio program in Detroit that featured
Paula White as a guest in October.
In the meantime, congregants are leaving and the offering baskets don't overflow like they used to.
In church's heyday two years ago, those who didn't come early could expect to watch the 11 a.m.
Sunday service from a television monitor in the lobby.
Today, latecomers find ample space in the cavernous sanctuary. At recent Sunday morning and
evening services, worshippers barely filled half the seats.
Many who have followed the church wonder whether it will ever regain its vibrant ministry.
"I am waiting for the church to close," said Charles Lucas, a former member who attended for three
years and participated in a program to identify leaders in the church.
The slump in attendance after the divorce announcement wasn't as bad as he had feared.
"We've lost 21 families, and offerings are down about 11 percent from the same time last year," he
said in an interview this month. "Our church is going very strong and will continue to grow."
The couple finalized their split about a month ago, he said. He wouldn't say where the legal
documents were filed, only that they're not in Hillsborough County.
Randy, 49, has no intention of leaving Without Walls, and he has put his plans for a Malibu, Calif.,
ministry on hold, he said. He also intends to make the church less independent and more involved in
the community. This year, for the first time, it's joining several Bay area congregations in partnering
with Metropolitan Ministries to provide food and volunteers for the shelter's annual holiday
assistance program.
That's not always easy, he acknowledged. On his darkest days, Randy does sometimes think, "I
really don't need this in my life."
But then, he can't walk away from his calling — or his sheep.
"What people don't always realize is that I'm a successful businessman away from the church. You
don't get the cars I drive or the houses I've owned with church offerings," he said. "But I wanted to
remain faithful to my people, the way they've been faithful to me for 14 years."
The church difficulties are only part of it. His private heartbreak is even more consuming, he said.
His daughter Kristen, 30, had surgery for a malignant brain tumor. His father had open-heart
surgery, and his daughter Angie, 28, was diagnosed with an ovarian tumor. All of that happened this
88 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
year.
Kristen's prognosis is good. The surgery removed 90 percent of the tumor, and she's undergoing
chemotherapy. Angie just found out she's pregnant with her second child. White's father, a retired
minister, is on the mend.
The Whites have since paid back the widow and bought the mother a home.
The congregation weathered the allegations of financial mismanagement with minimal fallout,
members said.
But the Whites' divorce dealt a blow. The split severed the spiritual bond of the pastoral union,
Bishop Randy and Pastor Paula.
Paula, 41, enjoys enormous success as a televangelist and life coach, selling her story of overcoming
childhood sexual abuse. Her powerful preaching and worldwide television ministry drew countless
fans and admirers to their home church. With the divorce, she stepped down as church pastor,
though Paula White Ministries keeps its headquarters at Without Walls.
Randy fashioned himself as the rock-star church CEO. He regularly preaches in jeans and designer
shirts, and over the years he has driven a fleet of exotic luxury cars, most recently a Bentley
convertible.
Some wonder whether the church can survive without Paula, who has a $3.5 million condominium in
New York's Trump Tower and recently purchased a $681,000 home in San Antonio, Texas.
Several current and former attendees praised Randy for his vision and ideas, but they said he's no
Paula. Her preaching filled the seats.
"He's a great ringmaster, but as a speaker of the word, well, no, that's not his thing," Lucas said.
Randy said it's difficult to compare styles.
"I consider myself a local pastor. Paula is a televangelist and life coach," he said. "People who sat
under my teaching would probably say I'm the stronger preacher."
At three services the Tribune attended after the announcement of the couple's breakup, Without
Walls never came close to filling the auditorium. Seats remained empty even with the arrival of the
Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., who spoke at two services Oct. 21.
Richard Levy, who left Without Walls a couple of years ago to help his father start a church, said the
89 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Without Walls is essentially two churches, Levy and others said. The one Randy represents is showy,
caters to high-profile members and is generally focused on money.
But the congregation quietly leads what some see as a second ministry. That church is an alliance of
fiercely committed members who feed the community's hungry and care for the poor.
"The best part of the church has always been the people and the good deeds they do," Levy said.
That church, he added, continues to thrive.
$91 A Month
Having fewer people has meant less money for the ministry. The church is $22 million in debt,
according to a 2006 audit. Randy attributed most of that to the purchase of the Lakeland campus
and building Paula's television ministry.
Recently, Without Walls launched a fundraising campaign. Associate Pastor Dan Brockman told
worshippers God had spoken about the debt to Randy, who was then inspired by a passage in Psalm
91.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him."
Brockman asked every family to pay $91 a month to clear the debt, and he passed out payment
booklets.
Asked about Brockman's appeal, Randy said he "absolutely" didn't speak with God about paying off
the debt.
"Danny just gets carried away in the moment. He gets inspirational," he said.
That said, Randy isn't shy about merging Scripture with dollars. The church wages similar
stewardship campaigns every two years.
For those turned off by the church's emphasis on money, he makes no apologies.
"If you're unhappy, there are a lot of great churches in the community that don't focus on economic
empowerment. We deal with a lot of indigent people who haven't been taught how to balance a
checkbook. We're here to empower them and teach them about economics."
The troubles extend beyond declining attendance and offerings. The Whites' divorce, the second for
both, polarized Christians nationally.
Critics in magazines, blogs and on the radio have lambasted the couple for preaching about the
importance of marriage, then appearing so casual about the split. The Whites said they underwent
counseling for several years but couldn't salvage the union. They said they remain the best of
friends.
That angered many evangelical Christians who believe divorce is a last resort and justifiable only in
the most abusive relationships.
Paula wasn't able to dodge the issue when she appeared on a Detroit Christian radio program in
90 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Edwards, the host, spent the first few minutes asking her about the breakup and its effect on the
congregation. Paula tried to steer the conversation away from the topic.
Edwards, an ordained minister, has long taken issue with her preaching of the prosperity gospel, a
theology that maintains God wants believers to be "abundantly successful" in every way, including
financially.
Rather than answering Edwards' questions, Paula criticized him for not asking about the welfare of
her stepdaughter Kristen, whom she described as having a "death sentence."
In an interview with the Tribune last month, Paula declined to discuss her personal life. She said she
preferred not to focus on the negative.
"Life is a constant transition," she said. "The challenge is how you handle leaving one thing and go
on to another. It can be perceived as a loss, but most of the time, it really is a gain."
She said she's amazed by the success she has achieved, but she was quick to give credit to God.
"I so trust him," she said. "I am shocked at what Paula has done, but not what God has done."
The Whites' supporters remain fiercely loyal and see only good things ahead.
"Of course it hurts," said David Ramos, who has attended the church for 14 years. "But that doesn't
change the mission of the church. We're still clothing the naked, feeding the poor and reaching out
to the community."
Nga Robles said she and her husband, Anthony, owe everything to Without Walls. When they came
to the church 14 years ago, she was a former stripper and he was a former drug dealer.
Today, the Robles own a house in upscale Cheval and are raising eight children — five of their own,
two of Anthony's and another whose parent went to prison.
"Pastor Randy and Paula taught us everything we know about God, economics and living right," she
said. "He particularly has been a hands-on pastor for us."
The sanctuary is starting to fill again, she said, and Randy is getting traction as the sole leader, she
said.
"He's come back on fire," she said. "He's like the comeback kid."
Chapter 7
Laughing Anointed Pastor Ron Clark Went Down In
Flames Crying
Ron Clark, the former pastor of Church of the Living Water, a "megachurch" in
Tampa, Florida, and a very close friend of Oral Roberts, has become a police officer
with the city of Zephyrhills, reported the Tampa Tribune. Clark became the center of
controversy at the church in 2003, when the church unraveled as Clark and his wife,
Belinda, became embroiled in a bitter divorce. The proceedings brought to light the
church's hefty assets -- as well as the assets of the Clarks. The pair each drew salaries
of $70,000 and owned a $500,000 horse farm in Dade City and a $275,000 rental
home in Celebration, near Orlando, the case revealed. Although the Clarks never were
charged with illegal activity, the information from their divorce case disillusioned the
congregation's almost 2,000 members. By October 2003, the church filed for
bankruptcy.
Pastor Ron Clark, Randy White and Rodney Howard Browne were very close friends
in the 90‟s, were also friends of the thieving pastors Karl Strader of Carpenter‟s Home
Church, and all started their megachurches in Tampa around the same time! Check
out:
“The Fleecer” Rodney Howard Browne http://cnt10d.tripod.com/rodney.htm
The Losers Randy and Paul White http://cnt10d.tripod.com/rw.htm
“The False Prophet” Oral Roberts http://torontoblessing.tripod.com/or.htm
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good
conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned
aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they
say nor the things which they affirm. 1 Timothy 1:5-7
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a
good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate,
sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not
violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who
rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a
man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of
God?); 1 Timothy 3:1-5
Rodney Howard-Browne, a South African minister associated with the Third Wave
Movement and now resides in Tampa, Florida, is the recognized "Father" of holy
laughter. He claims to have had his first experience with these phenomena in 1979,
while challenging God to "touch me" or Howard-Browne was going "to come up there
and touch You." God apparently responded by causing him to feel as if his body was
on fire and he broke out in uncontrollable laughter (see Howard-Browne's book, The
Touch of God). In 1989, while preaching in New York State, his congregation fell under
the same power. Soon Howard-Browne began influencing others, but on a small scale.
Then, while preaching at Carpenter's Home Church in Lakeland, Florida, in 1993,
laughter in the Spirit once again broke out bringing Howard-Browne out of obscurity.
But what happened during the revival in Carpenter‘s Home Church during the revival
was not a joke. See KARL STRADER, GOD FRAUD, NOT INNOCENT
Howard-Browne calls himself a "Holy Ghost Bartender," and dispenses the "new
wine" of joy that leads to people being "drunk in the Spirit." He claims to find the
Biblical base for his teaching in Acts 2, at the day of Pentecost. But a careful study of
that text does not reveal anything like what is happening today. The apostles were not
laughing uncontrollably, they were not barking like dogs, they were not stuck to the
floor in Holy Ghost glue, they were not being "slain in the Spirit. See TORONTO
BLESSING . And one of the persons who loved being ―drunk in the Spirit‖ and
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breakout in uncontrollable laughter was Pastor Ron Clark of Living Water Church in
Tampa Florida, a close friend of Rodney Howard Browne and Bishop Randy White of
Church Without Walls, Tampa, Florida.
A person can only judge things by what he knows and has experienced himself and
not by the experience of others. Well our experience with pastors and churches over
the twenty five years has been a dismal failure and disappointment especially with a
husband and wife team of pastors. James Brant wrote to me and stated:
Paul wrote to Timothy in 1st and 2nd Timothy about how to run the church.
Throughout the epistles Paul (through the unction of the Holy Spirit) teaches the
people how the church services should be conducted (spiritual gifts, etc.). James was
the pastor of the church in Jerusalem.
I wrote to Mr. Brant and told him that his remark was completely hogwash!
First you have not defined what a pastor is and what he does in line with the New
Testament church. You quote the book of Timothy as to how to run and church and
conveniently ignore the fact that most evangelical churches don't have Bishops and
their pastors are not men of integrity never mind being true men of God.
For the record in every church that my wife and I attended in the last twenty five
years there was a real scandal in the church involving the pastor including people like
Pastor Ron Clark of Living Water Church in Tampa Florida a personal friend of Oral
Roberts.
I only knew one pastor who had love from a pure heart, from a good conscience,
and from sincere faith, and all the rest were liars, thieves and idiots! None of the
pastors I knew ruled their own house well and definitely didn't have their children in
submission. As a matter of fact they were and are real hypocrites and deceived ones.
My last pastor not only filed for personal bankruptcy but his wife literally wore the
pants in the family and that was only the tip of the iceberg of all that was wrong in his
ministry and pastoral position.
Yes most of them departed from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons. Yes those who are sinning are to be rebuked in the presence of
all, that the rest also may fear just like Paul instructed Timothy to do.
Yes most of them were proud, knowing nothing, and could not defend their
theological position and were full of envy, strife, and reviling, evil suspicion. And they
all desired to be rich fell into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and
harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. They were not rich in
good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good
foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. They didn't
pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure
heart. They were hypocrites who were written about in the newspapers for all to see
and read. They were lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,
disobedient, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Read about one of
them, Pastor Ron Clark Living Water Church Tampa Florida.
In the last few years I have picked up on some strange going on in what I consider
cult churches led by a Charismatic leader. The Pentecostal pastor prophesies special
prophecies in church publicly over different members that God is going to make them
millionaires, make them super anointed, give them a world wide ministry, or give
them great fame! As a result the members are hooked on their wonderful pastor who
prophesies good things even though over the years none of the prophecy had ever
come to fruitrition. And the pastor attributed it all to lack of faith or unbelief or hidden
sin on the part of the member that his prophesies failed rather than because of
pastor's own sins, faults and failures.
About six years ago in Living Water Church, Tampa, Florida, when we were there
Oral Roberts in person prophesied that God was going to raise up many millionaires in
the church who would be rich and support the work of the kingdom. A few months
ago I checked with the St. Petersburg Times to see what was happening with the
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Living Water Church? And boy was I surprised! The church filed for Bankruptcy.
Since 2002 this large church was not able to meet it budget. And then the Pastor Ron
Clark and Belinda had gone off the deep end with a public divorce which only
compounded the matter.
Living Water, a once-thriving, 2,000-member non-denominational Christian
church, sought protection from creditors in bankruptcy court last October. By then,
the church's checking account balance had dwindled to $60 and the congregation had
fewer than 500 members.
Congregants left as details emerged from the divorce of Ronald and Belinda Clark,
the couple who founded Living Water in 1988. Ronald Clark accused his wife of being
mentally ill, unfaithful and a thief. Belinda Clark claimed in court papers that her
husband had a secret plan to sell the church and funnel the proceeds overseas with
the help of church board chairman Melvin Myer.
The rancorous divorce of the Clarks began to attract publicity a year ago, and has
been blamed for the defection of nearly three of every four members at the Living
Water Church, which was founded by the couple in 1988.
Ronald Clark, the $138,000-a-year church pastor, accused his wife of being
unfaithful, suffering from mental illness, dabbling in pornography and stealing church
mail filled with Easter church donations. It turned out that Pastor Ron enforced tithing
in his church and collected three offerings per service, but he, himself, never tithed!
Belinda Clark, Living Water's $70,000-a-year associate pastor who was fired in the
wake of the allegations, accused her husband of domestic violence, of lying to church
trustees to ruin her credibility and of having a secret plan to sell the church, place the
proceeds in a trust, then have funds funneled to him at a foreign location.
Hence I am very suspicious of prophets who only prophesy good things happening
to people and not telling them to repent from their hidden sins.
Walter Kambulow - contributor
from his obligation to pay temporary alimony to his wife and child support for their
two children.
Doug Boettcher, chief financial officer for Family Harvest, said Clark was
terminated because he was "unable to perform his tasks." The church hired Clark to
develop missions abroad.
"He's been the victim of a lot of false allegations," Boettcher said. "We've waited
and tried to be patient. But from a business standpoint, we need to move on."
Aside from his marital problems, Ronald Clark faces a personal bankruptcy and a
criminal investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.
George E. Tragos, a Clearwater criminal defense lawyer retained by Ronald Clark,
said Clark and Family Harvest "mutually agreed to part" because of continuing bad
publicity.
Ronald Clark has denied violating any IRS rules, and Tragos said there has "never
been a shred of proof" that Clark had committed any wrongful act alleged in media
reports.
urged Myer to reconsider so he can assist in completing the sale of the church. Myer
does intend to comply with the subpoena at a later date, Ford said.
Myer did not return phone calls from the St. Petersburg Times.
Baynes has scheduled a hearing in August to take testimony on the issue of any
retirement benefits owed to Belinda Clark. Funds from the church sale will be held in
escrow until the question of any award to her is settled, Ford said.
On Feb. 20, three days after the issuance of the IRS summons, Clark filed papers
in his bankruptcy case saying he needed to hire an accountant for, among other
reasons, "assistance in defending/ objecting to the pending claim of the Internal
Revenue Service, if any."
Clark's bankruptcy attorney, Matthew J. Kovschak, did not return calls Thursday.
With Living Water attendance and collections plummeting, the evangelical Christian
church went to bankruptcy court last year to reorganize its finances.
The church had just $60 in its checking account and $3.4-million in liabilities when
it filed bankruptcy papers.
After leaving Living Water, Ronald Clark took a position with a wealthy Illinois non-
denominational organization called Family Harvest Church, which in August took over
the operation of the Living Water Church on Interstate 4.
Living Water officials initially sought to sell the church's 16- acre property to
Family Harvest for $3.1-million, well below a recent appraisal of $4.5-million, but have
since decided to auction the property to the highest bidder in early April to meet
creditors' demands and facilitate building a new church.
Although at least one former Living Water board member said he has been
interviewed by IRS agents, the news of the federal investigation appeared to take
others by surprise.
"Wow, that's pretty serious," said Living Water board chairman Melvin Myer. "This
is not a good thing.
"But there isn't any off-shore money I'm aware of. I don't know of any
inappropriate handling of funds on my watch."
Buddy Ford, a Tampa attorney handling the Living Water bankruptcy, said he was
unaware of the IRS investigation, but said he doubted it was initiated on flimsy
grounds.
"I've seen (IRS) Criminal Investigation Division investigations in the past, and
before they open an investigation there has to be an underlying reason to do so," Ford
said.
The IRS summons seeks records pertaining to Ronald Clark's Real Life Productions
Inc., which handled his evangelical broadcasts; Magnolia Stables Inc., the company
overseeing the Clarks' horse stables; Family Hair Care, a Dade City salon which lists
Ronald Clark as an officer; Swalley Ministries, a company formed with a former music
minister, and Global Medical Missions and Global Medical Relief, two companies set up
to provide food and medical assistance in Haiti and China with Dr. John Gentri, a
Brandon physician.
Gentri said he worked without salary and never knew much about the business
side of the foreign missions.
He said he was frustrated when Ronald Clark reneged on a promise to provide
church funds to feed Haitian children, then backed away from the mission work
altogether to concentrate on TV evangelism.
"I think they were supposed to give us $3,000 a month, but we begged for every
penny," Gentri said. "We were always behind.
"Then Ron said he couldn't afford it any longer. He said he had to make a choice
between supporting his church and supporting the mission. I didn't believe him. But I
absolutely didn't know what went on with the money."
Gentri said he now runs the mission in Haiti through private donations.
He said he left Living Water Church after he learned that Ronald Clark was telling
other church members that Gentri had diagnosed Belinda Clark as mentally ill when he
had offered no such opinions.
Abstract:
The allegations derive from an affidavit filed by Linda Gestrin, [Ronald Clark]'s
sister. Gestrin said he revealed his plan to her in a phone call in February, saying
[Belinda Clark] was "crazy" and "out of control," and adding that his plan would cut
Belinda out of alimony, leaving her "half of nothing."
[Jack Hoogewind] says in court documents that the church never deducted Social
Security or Medicare payments from her paycheck, nor paid any money into the Social
Security system on her behalf. Instead, Hoogewind says, Ronald Clark told Belinda
that the church was paying into a retirement fund for her in lieu of payments to Social
Security.
Ronald Clark filed for divorce when Belinda was fired, saying she tried to ruin his
credibility at the church. Ronald Clark also said his wife had made "delusional claims"
that he was attempting to kill her after taking out a $1-million life insurance policy on
her.
Full Text:
Copyright Times Publishing Co. Jun 1, 2003
Fifteen years ago, the Rev. Ronald Clark and his wife, Belinda, brought their
evangelical fervor, organizational talent and youthful good looks to the task of
founding the Living Water Church of Tampa.
They started in a Holiday Inn meeting room with five members. The charismatic
Christian church ultimately grew to a congregation of more than a thousand, big
enough to spin off an international relief mission.
The growth sent the church from a storefront to a warehouse to the $5-million
cluster of buildings off Interstate 4, where church services today are advertised by a
flashing electronic sign.
But good times have given way to turmoil at the Living Water Church.
A rancorous divorce proceeding between the Clarks has chased away parishioners,
undermined church finances and left its future in doubt.
The marital discord has lawyers filing papers in two counties.
The Clarks' conflict has spawned a domestic violence petition, a criminal complaint
about missing church donations, a slander suit, a lien on the church to prevent its sale
and a lawsuit aimed at dissolving that lien.
"Hopefully for the church, the anger will settle down," said Arnold Levine, a Tampa
lawyer representing Ronald Clark. "But if this is going to be the battle of the ages, I'm
sure the church is going to be impacted."
At the center of the dispute is the valuable church property. Belinda Clark has
taken the unusual action of asking a judge to declare the property a marital asset, so
that she can share in the distribution of funds earned from the property.
Her success would likely end the Living Water Church in its current location, and
might trigger landmark tax consequences.
Tax exemptions in peril
The church property is owned by a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation and run by a
board of trustees.
If the property is determined to be an asset of the Clarks, church leaders worry,
then its tax exemption might be void, and the exemption for all donations to the
church over the years might be void, too.
Levine discounts that possibility.
"It's just absurd," he says. "The church is in the title of the nonprofit, and no one
has any ownership interest but the nonprofit. It's for the benefit of the parishioners."
Nonetheless, Belinda Clark's Dade City attorney, Jack Hoogewind, has asked for an
emergency hearing next week to consider a motion to freeze the church's assets so a
judge can determine if the Living Water Church is a marital asset.
Hoogewind claims in court papers that Ronald Clark had a secret plan to sell the
church, then place the proceeds in a trust that would feed him money in a ministry he
would establish out of the country.
98 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
The allegations derive from an affidavit filed by Linda Gestrin, Ronald Clark's
sister. Gestrin said he revealed his plan to her in a phone call in February, saying
Belinda Clark was "crazy" and "out of control," and adding that his plan would cut
Belinda out of alimony, leaving her "half of nothing."
Levine said Gestrin's claims are baseless and that she was in adispute with Ronald
Clark over some personal effects. Levine also said the church for some months has
considered selling its I-4 property to move to a more family-friendly location in the
suburbs.
Ronald Clark, 46, known as "Reverend Ron" to his congregation, moved to the
Living Water Church's current location 10 years ago. He is the founder of Global
Medical Relief, a humanitarian mission that built a hospital in China and clinics in Haiti,
according to the church's Web site.
Rev. Clark, who received a doctorate from Oral Roberts University, is the author of
Sailing Through the Storms of Life and Can a Christian Love a Muslim? He presided
over the memorial service for Hillsborough State Attorney Harry Lee Coe at the Living
Water Church in July 2000.
Belinda Clark, 41, served as an associate pastor at the Living Water Church for 10
years, but was fired from her $70,000-a-year job by the board of trustees in March.
Hoogewind says in court documents that the church never deducted Social
Security or Medicare payments from her paycheck, nor paid any money into the Social
Security system on her behalf. Instead, Hoogewind says, Ronald Clark told Belinda
that the church was paying into a retirement fund for her in lieu of payments to Social
Security.
Belinda Clark says she was assured by the church board that her retirement
account had grown to $300,000, but she says she's received none of those funds and
now believes the money was diverted to pay for the acquisition of church assets.
'Delusional claims'
Ronald Clark filed for divorce when Belinda was fired, saying she tried to ruin his
credibility at the church. Ronald Clark also said his wife had made "delusional claims"
that he was attempting to kill her after taking out a $1-million life insurance policy on
her.
Later, Living Water Church officials alleged Belinda Clark had illegally diverted
church mail for some weeks around Easter, depriving the church of thousands of
dollars in mail-in contributions during the biggest donation time of the year.
According to an April 28 complaint with the sheriff's office by Richard C. Barker Jr.,
an associate pastor at Living Water Church, Belinda Clark completed a change-of-
address form to divert all church mail to her Dade City post office box, even though
she was no longer on the church board.
The mail diversion complaint remains under criminal investigation, Hillsborough
sheriff's officials said last week. Levine said the missing mail created a financial
hardship for the church.
In her counter-petition in the divorce case, Belinda Clark seeks custody of the
couple's two children, the proceeds from the Living Water Church and title to the
marital home in Dade City, a $322,966 estate on Fort King Road that includes a
3,618-square-foot home and an 8-acre horse farm.
In the counter-petition, Belinda Clark says her husband slandered her during
services at the Living Water Church by telling others she was mentally ill, guilty of
adultery and morally unfit to be an associate pastor.
In seeking a temporary restraining order against her husband, Belinda Clark told a
Pasco County sheriff's deputy that her husband had threatened her and said, "I hope
you enjoy living in hell."
Mrs. Clark said she feared for her safety because he kept 13 guns in the home.
She also told the deputy that her husband was under investigation by the
Hillsborough Sheriff's Office, where Ronald Clark is employed as chaplain and reserve
deputy.
99 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Records show Clark took a 90-day voluntary leave of absence from the sheriff's
office beginning March 31. But there is no record of an internal affairs investigation of
Clark, according to an April 9 letter from Maj. Richard Cipriano of the sheriff's human
resources division.
Neither Ronald Clark nor Belinda Clark would discuss these matters on the record
with the St. Petersburg Times.
On May 23, the couple appeared in a court hearing in Dade City to offer testimony
in a petition for a permanent domestic violence injunction sought by Mrs. Clark.
Belinda Clark wore a gray busi-ness suit. Ronald Clark was in a gold blazer,
monogrammed blue shirt and cuff links. The couple might have passed for Fortune
500 business executives. They did not speak to one another.
Instead, they wrinkled their brows and winced at testimony about their messy
divorce.
Threats and lawsuits
Psychologist Timothy Foster, a $250-an-hour counselor paid by the church to see
the Clarks, said he saw so much anger "that it became obvious to me this was going
to resolve not in the counseling room but in divorce court."
Ronald Clark gritted his teeth as he was asked to recount what his wife had said to
him in a March phone call.
"She said she would crush my head, she said she would cut off my b----, she said
she would f------ destroy me," Ronald Clark testified.
Barker, the associate pastor, told of accompanying Ronald Clark to his home to
pick up belongings that Mrs. Clark had placed on the porch in a driving rain. Boxes
had become so saturated they split. The children were "hysterical," Barker said, and
Ronald Clark "was weeping the whole time he was loading up."
Belinda Clark said she'd had no support for the children. The electricity would be
turned off that afternoon if a $700 bill weren't paid, she said.
After a break, the couple adjourned to a conference room with their attorneys to
talk.
They emerged with an agreement to drop the domestic violence petition and to
share custody of the children. Ronald Clark promised to pay the electric bill by 5 p.m.
But reconciliation does not appear imminent.
Six days later, the Living Water Church sued Hoogewind and Belinda Clark in
Hillsborough Circuit Court, saying they had improperly placed a lien on the church.
The same day, Hoogewind filed the papers in Dade City that claimed Ronald Clark
had a secret plan to sell the church and leave the country.
- Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Jeff Testerman can be
reached at (813) 226-3422 or by e-mail at testerman@sptimes.com
TAMPA - 7/3/03 - Every Sunday for five years, Jim Peters attended services at the
nondenominational Living Water Church off Interstate 4. He got hooked on Pastor Ron
Clark's passion-filled sermons, his knowledge of the Bible and charisma like Peters had
never known.
Initially, Peters said, he was ``shocked'' by the 10-piece band at worship, the
shouting, the clapping and raising of hands, and the flags of many nations, not
crosses, hanging in the sanctuary. But something kept calling him back. When Peters,
66, participated in a laying of hands ceremony that rid him of chronic shoulder pain,
he knew he had come to the right place.
``That was the clincher for me to say, `This is the church where I belong,' '' he said.
101 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Though he enjoyed the preaching and camaraderie, Peters said he couldn't shake the
feeling something wasn't right. He never officially joined Living Water and disliked the
repeated solicitations for donations to the church by Clark, 46, and his wife, Belinda,
41, who was an associate pastor.
``What's gone on in their personal lives is theirs, but it tears me apart that they kept
wanting to get money out of us every chance they could and I come home to my little,
low-cost apartment,'' Peters said.
``At the time I thought it was money well spent. I am now terribly embarrassed,
totally angry.''
Peters and other former members of Living Water said it was disconcerting to have
two and three collections per service. Each Sunday for about a month, Peters said, an
extra collection was taken for Ron Clark's birthday gift - a new tractor for his ranch.
During the five years he attended Living Water, Peters said, he gave an average of
$10 a week, or a total $2,600. The retired civil engineer, who lives in a two-bedroom,
$347-a-month apartment, supplements his income singing at nursing homes.
Years Of Tithing
For seven years, Peters' friend Beverly Natario, 66, gave 10 percent of her take- home
pay to Living Water. Like Peters, Natario, a customer-service typist, was enraptured
by Clark.
``The anointing of God was there, the Holy Spirit was present, and the music and
word of God was so on fire that you'd sit there for three hours and feel like you hadn't
been there long,'' she said.
Natario, Peters and their friend Judy Gebo, 61, say they were as devoted a flock as a
church could want. Gebo, an office manager for a dental practice, also faithfully gave
10 percent of her income to the church. Both women underscore that tithing is a
biblical directive and that they do not regret giving.
The Clarks, they say, will have to answer to God about how they spent the money. All
three say they never saw a church budget and had no idea Belinda Clark was drawing
a salary. Then they began reading newspaper reports of the Clarks' finances.
``What I didn't know and what I couldn't understand is why [Belinda Clark] was
getting any money,'' Gebo said.
Belinda Clark said Wednesday that it was her husband's desire for her to make
$70,000. She said Ron Clark wanted to make $225,000 a year, but knew a minister
with that kind of salary would raise red flags with the Internal Revenue Service.
``I think it is a little outrageous,'' she said of her salary. ``I never questioned him.''
102 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
She said congregants interested in the church's finances didn't remain members at
Living Water.
``Many people were asked to leave when they pressed it or disagreed with Ron on
anything,'' she said. ``A lot of people in the past have left disgruntled because they
were told that because they weren't tithing, they were going to hell or they didn't
really love God and because of that, God didn't really love them and they were
cursed.''
During a recent court hearing, Belinda Clark testified that she was a co-pastor and
principal of Living Water's school, which had 11 students. She is seeking $7,000 a
month in support for her and the couple's two teens. Clark has asked the court to
declare the church a marital asset and wants half.
Clark said Wednesday that she worked 50 to 70 hours a week at Living Water and is a
few credits shy of earning her master's degree. She said she loves and misses
members of Living Water and has forgiven her husband.
Congregation Dwindles
Ron Clark recently resigned his position at Living Water and is international director of
education for Family Harvest International based in Chicago. He testified that he has
no money to give his soon-to-be ex-wife. He has blamed the negative publicity on a
decline in church membership - from a high of nearly 2,000 to about 400.
Clark didn't return phone calls seeking comment. His attorney, Arnold Levine, was out
of town. Melvin Myer, a former board trustee who is president of the Living Water
organization, referred questions to Rick Barker, acting senior pastor.
Edward Brennan, Living Water's corporate counsel, said that as a matter of course, a
church's board of trustees determines salaries and that the congregation typically is
not informed of things such as salaries and utility bills.
Several months ago, before reports of the Clarks' marital woes became public, Peters,
Natario and Gebo said they sensed a change at Living Water. Ron Clark's preaching
was different.
Then about three months ago, Natario said, Myer stood before the congregation and
said Belinda Clark no longer was affiliated with the church. Ron Clark stood up and
said he would not discuss Belinda's departure or the couple's marital problems.
Instead, he asked for prayers and said he was waiting for an answer from God.
Peters, Natario and Gebo say they wish the church luck in rebuilding its membership,
though they are looking elsewhere for spiritual guidance. Each has learned valuable
lessons as a result of what has happened to Living Water.
``I will attend a church, and if I feel that's the church I want to be at, I'm certainly
going to ask where their monies go,'' Natario said. ``This is the first time I've ever
been disillusioned by a church.''
103 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Chapter 8
Bi- Sexual Felon Or Hero - Jim Bakker?
The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
He who is abhorred by the LORD will fall there. Proverbs 22:14
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust. Proverbs 11:6
It was purely coincidental that I arrived just when the Bakkers flew the coop,
leaving Jerry Falwell to sweep in with a helicopter to seize control of their $129-
million-a-year operation.
Bakker spent five years in prison for diverting millions into his own pockets.
Tammy, soon after the debacle of The PTL (Praise The Lord) club, divorced her
104 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
INVISIBLE BOUNDARY
The country and western music, with all its hurtin' and cheatin,' really seemed to
be the flipside to the "gospel" fabric that still pervades the lives of the people here --
Baptists, Pentecostals or Lutherans.
Before long, as I ventured further south, I passed over some invisible boundary
line and knew I was well inside the Bible Belt.
There was nothing to signal this --no road signs, no guide books --but there was
that sense I had somehow passed into territory that was like nothing else I'd ever
seen.
If it was a Wednesday night and I was passing a Pentecostal church I'd see cars
parked bumper to bumper along the shoulders of the highways. If I rolled down the
car window, I would've heard singing and clapping.
Bible America.
Bakker is doing it again. He's bringing back the excesses of fundamentalism, and
that odd commingling of carnival razzmatazz, amusement parks, early American
revivalism and old-fashioned Protestant Bible camp camaraderie.
105 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
150,000 lifetime partnerships to the planned Heritage USA theme park in Fort
Mill, S.C.
Bakker's 45-year sentence was reduced to 18 years and he served five
before his parole in 1995. While in prison, his former wife, Tammy Faye -
now remarried as Tammy Faye Messner - divorced him.
Bakker has since contended that his years in prison were his salvation. He
re-read all the scriptures and crucially concluded that the so-called
"prosperity preaching" of his PTL days - wherein he equated dollar-wealth
with godliness - was misguided. For a while, Bakker lived by his new creed
that God also attended to the poor. He moved to Los Angeles where he met
his new wife, with whom he is now raising seven Hispanic foster children.
Although many sheep are leery of Bakker, the clergy admired his
propensity to rob and use the sheep. In 1995, when he was barely out of
prison, he addressed a Christian leadership conference where 10,000
clergymen cheered and gave him a 15-minute standing ovation. "I thought
people would spit on me," he later recalled. "Instead they received me with
open arms."
Bakker is now back on the air with "The Jim Bakker Show," taped in
Branson, Mo.
Jim Bakker is an evangelical fundamentalist who began his television
career co-hosting a children's puppet show with his wife Tammy Faye on Pat
Robertson's 700 Club television show. Bakker rose to fame as a TV
evangelist in the PTL (Praise the Lord) Ministry, an enterprise he started in
1974 and built from the ground up. The PTL claimed in 1987 to have 13
million subscribers and assets of $175 million including Heritage USA, a
2,300-acre Christian theme park and home of the PTL Network in Ft. Mill,
North Carolina. Other assets included the PTL Network, and a retirement
center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The PTL Network reached an estimated 13 million households on its own
cable channel and was also aired on 180 other commercial stations. Heritage
USA was a lavish resort with a 500-room luxury hotel, an amphitheater for
staging passion plays, an amusement park, and Billy Graham's boyhood
home--brought there piece by piece and reconstructed. (Hence Billy Graham
supported Jim Bakker in prison and out of prison!)
Guests who have made appearances on the Bakker's TV show included:
evangelists Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, James Robison, and Robert Schuller;
actors Mickey Rooney, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Pearl Bailey, Anita Bryant,
Little Richard, and Mr. T.
Speaking about the rise of an entrepreneurial movement in Pentecostal
Christianity author Susan Harding wrote of the PTL: "It reached its apogee in
Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's Heritage USA, a kind of postmodern
pentecostal mecca. Their 'inspirational theme park' conspicuously celebrates
consumption, play, excess, indulgence, immediate gratification, wild swings
of growth and crisis, anti- hierarchy, feminization, polymorphous perversity,
'name it/claim it,' visual images, spectacle and narrative fragmentation,
disposable identities, movement, artifice, depthlessness and decenteredness.
However, all has not been rosy for the PTL which by 1978 was $13 million
in debt and in 1979 was investigated by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) about Bakker's on-the-air solicitations for overseas work,
which were used to pay the bills for his domestic operations. The
107 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
the excesses of the nineteen eighties--the greed, the love of glitz, and the
shamelessness-- which in their case was so pure as to almost amount to a
kind of innocence."
The PTL, the Christian Broadcasting Network, and the Trinity Broadcasting
Network in April 1980 pooled their resources to provide live and taped
coverage of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International's day-
long prayer rally, "Washington for Jesus."
Jim Bakker claimed that the PTL sent "a large monthly contribution to
Mark Buntain whose overseas ministry feeds 12,000 children a day."
However, the Charlotte Observer reported in 1979 that the PTL raised
thousands of dollars for foreign missions that never went to the missions. In
1986 the PTL claimed it was in the process of building a School of Evangelism
which would use missionaries, radio, and television to send its message
around the globe. This, as with many other Bakker schemes, never
happened. At that time PTL television shows were being broadcast in Japan,
Taiwan, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Jim Bakker's daily TV show reached an estimated 5.8 million households
each month during 1986. After losing Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in 1987,
"The PTL Club" broadcasts went from 67 TV stations down to 32 stations, and
its viewing audience dropped by half.
In 1988 Bakker, his number 2 administrator Richard Dortch, and aides
David and James Taggart were indicted on charges of fraud and conspiracy.
Bakker and Dortsch were charged, among other things, with illegally taking
some $4 million in bonuses from PTL funds, defrauding at least 150,000
contributors to the PTL, mail fraud, tax evasion, defrauding the thousands of
"lifetime partners" who bought memberships to Heritage USA, and conspiring
to "create and continue to lead lavish and extravagant life-styles." Bakker
was found guilty on 24 counts of fraud and conspiracy and in October 1989
was sentenced to 45 years in jail and fined $500,000. He was paroled
because the original judge made some statements about Jim‘s religious
beliefs which were not proper.
Sources:
The life of Jim Bakker, the world's most famous fallen tele-evangelist, has
always been about numbers, and we are not just talking hymns and psalms.
There was the $1.9m salary he paid himself in 1986, the last full year that he
led the Praise The Lord (PTL) Ministry that he founded in 1972 with his
thickly mascara'd wife, Tammy Faye. At the time, he owned six luxury
mansions, 47 bank accounts and a single Rolls-Royce. He was accustomed to
raising $1m from his TV-goggling disciples across America every two days.
110 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
We could go on in this vein for ever. It was never exactly clear how many
sexual partners (allegedly both women and men) he enjoyed in those crazy
days before his reckoning with the law and crushing humiliation. We do know
he paid $265,000 in cash to buy the silence of a church secretary he had
been involved with in 1980.
The opulence of the Bakkers' lifestyle at the height of their reign could
not be measured in simple figures, however. They enjoyed the American
Dream, but a garishly inflated version of it. They had an air-conditioned dog
kennel and gold-plated bathrooms. Theirs was the kind of money that bought
everything except good taste. Tammy Faye, who used glove puppets to help
explain the Word of the Lord on air, is still seen today as the gold standard
for eye shadow run amok. There is even a documentary film about her
simply called The Eyes of Tammy Faye Bakker. Jim had a monkey face. His
apple-shiny cheeks contrived to look at once bloated and stretched.
The Bakkers flaunted their wealth and used it to raise more and more of
it. They offered a model of extravagant living that viewers drank in,
presumably not in a spirit of post-modern irony. At its peak, the PTL
broadcasts touched 13.5 million American households every day. The
Bakkers are still being pursued for $3m (£1.9m) in unpaid income tax.
But there is one number, above all, that Jim Bakker, will never forget. It
is 07407-058. Put "Inmate" in front of it, and you will see why. Bakker was
sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for his crimes, even though some of
the counts against him were later reversed and in 1994 he was released after
only five years behind bars. By then, Tammy Faye had divorced him and
Bakker, we all assumed, would fade into shamed obscurity. One thing was
for sure, he told one interviewer shortly afterwards - he would never preach
on television again.
He did write a book, however, simply called I Was Wrong. And then, lo
and behold, Bakker was wrong again. Not only is he preaching once more,
but he is doing it before the cameras. Second chances are encouraged in
Christian teaching and, for sure, they are allowed in America. For proof, you
need look no further than a joint called the Studio City Café in Branson,
Missouri, a folksy tourist town that peddles God and country music to Middle
America in roughly equal measures.
Since January, Bakker, 63, and his new wife, Lori Graham Bakker, have
been turning up here each weekday morning to record an hour-long show of
music, pious chat and, of course, old-fashioned preaching. The show is being
carried by a growing roster of television stations across America and, via
satellite, around the world. Assisting them are 20 Christian singers doubling
as waitresses and cooks and, on most days, a celebrity guest of questionable
calibre. Tony Orlando was on recently, and if you can't quite pin him down,
he is the man who sang "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" with
Dawn. On hand every day to ensure an atmosphere of wholesome devotion
to Bakker, are the paying customers of the 260-seat café, nearly all tourists
visiting Branson, cheering him on while shovelling down barbecued ribs and
eight-inch-high chocolate gateaux.
111 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
The theme park, with a Main Street to rival Disney World's, certainly
existed - but the hotel never did. It was the biggest time-share scam ever
conceived, cloaked in the false respectability of the name of God. Thousands
of American souls, mostly retirees, found they would be unable ever to get
their money back. Bakker was defrocked by his denomination, the
Assemblies of God, for "conduct unbecoming of a minister", and all of
America, and his fellow television evangelists, turned against him. Jerry
Falwell publicly declared Bakker a sexual deviant, an embezzler and a liar.
After taking over the PTL Club, as it was known, and taking it into
bankruptcy, Falwell called its founder "the greatest scab and cancer on the
face of Christianity in two thousand years of church history". Few at the time
disagreed.
Bakker has since contended that his years in prison were his salvation.
He re-read all the scriptures and crucially concluded that the so-called
"prosperity preaching" of his PTL days - wherein he equated dollar-wealth
with godliness - was misguided. For a while, Bakker lived by his new creed
that God also attended to the poor. He moved to Los Angeles where he
worked for a ministry working in a city ghetto. It was there that he met his
new wife, with whom he is now raising seven Hispanic foster children. Later
the couple moved to Florida where they founded a Christian camp for inner-
city teens, called the New Covenant Fellowship. And, as he did so, Bakker
discovered that he was not quite the pariah he imagined. When he addressed
a Christian leadership conference in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1995, when he was
barely out of prison, 10,000 clergymen cheered and gave him a 15-minute
standing ovation. "I thought people would spit on me," he later recalled.
"Instead they received me with open arms."
But, in fact, most of the credit for Jim's resurrection goes to a Branson
businessman called Jerry Crawford. Crawford's unbroken admiration of
Bakker stemmed from his memory of visiting Heritage USA many years
earlier, an experience, he has since claimed, that saved his then crumbling
marriage. Crawford owns the Studio City Café in Branson and persuaded
Bakker that it was the perfect venue for a television comeback. Relying on
the sweat partly of volunteers and the broadcast talents of other devotees of
Bakker, the restaurant was hastily converted in time for January's launch. It
112 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
remains a shoe-string affair. Fabulous has made way for folksy and Bakker
cuts a self-consciously humble figure.
And the reception has been remarkable. "I've never been welcomed so
wonderfully anywhere in my life," Bakker said of Branson and his new
audiences. "I'm beyond excited, I'm overwhelmed." His show airs daily on 30
Christian broadcast television stations around the US, even though in some
markets the time-slot is in the small hours. It is taken by 200 cable channels
and, most recently, reaches homes worldwide via the Christian Television
Network's "Angel" satellite. "We didn't really get any flak at all [for putting
Bakker back on the air]," commented CTN's president Bob D'Andrea. "We've
had a lot of favourable comments that people are glad to see Jim back."
And among the folks packing the Studio City Café, you will even find a
few who donated to PTL and to the hotel scheme and lost everything they
gave. But, apparently, there is just something about Bakker they cannot
resist. And they forgive him. "We lost money," Bill Armstrong, recently
retired from a metal casting company, told a reporter from the Springfield
News-Leader after visiting the café and watching Bakker do his thing again.
"He's forgiven." And people respond to his new low-key tone. "We don't
come as someone who has all the answers," Bakker insisted. "We don't come
as examples. We come as a demonstration of God's restoration."
So, what about Bakker's old fetish with numbers? At what stage in his
show, you may be wondering, does he stare deep into the lens of the
television camera and implore his new-found flock to send their dollars to
Branson? Wouldn't it be nice to build a Bakker motel adjacent to the café, at
least? No, that is not part of the script this time around and if it was, you can
be sure that Bakker would be scooped up by federal agents faster than he
can say "Praise be to Je-sus!"
But we cannot let him off the hook completely. Someone has to pay for
the cost of the show.
to write a cheque, large or small, to keep the show on the air. And donations,
believe it or not, are rolling in.
Bakker's downfall began in March 1987 when it was revealed he had a sexual
encounter with former church secretary Jessica Hahn in a Clearwater motel in 1980.
Bakker, 54, was convicted in 1989 of defrauding 116,000 followers who sent him
at least $1,000 each in return for promised lodging at his religious/recreational
complex, Heritage USA near Charlotte, N.C.
Followers were told they were buying three days and four nights at the complex
every year for the rest of their lives. Federal prosecutors said that was far more
people than the complex could accommodate, and Bakker spent the contributions to
live in luxury himself.
During his trial, prosecutors said the scheme brought about $158 million into the
Praise the Lord television ministry that Bakker and his former wife, Tammy Faye,
founded in 1972.
Bakker originally was sentenced to 45 years in prison, but that was twice reduced
by federal judges, and he ended up serving five years. He was released from federal
prison in December 1994 and now lives on a farm in North Carolina.
One of the terms of his sentence was that he is barred from television ministry.
But he does tour the country as a guest preacher at churches. ``I wouldn't go back to
the way things were for anything in the world,'' Bakker said during the 70-minute
sermon. ``As I began to study the word of Jesus, I began to realize that I was
teaching things that were not the word of Christ,'' he said. ``We need to teach the
whole word of Christ and not take a Scripture here and one there out of context.''
The Rev. Karl Strader, pastor of Carpenter's Home Church, told the congregation
he invited Bakker to preach because he's ``part of the family of God.''
``Another reason is I feel our young people need to hear from someone who has
been to hell and back and has maintained his integrity.''
114 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Strader and Bakker have been friends for years. Bakker helped dedicate the
10,000-seat Carpenter's Home Church in 1985. Bakker said Strader's wife, Joyce,
wrote him a letter once a week while he was in prison. ``I was one of those who
helped him build PTL,'' said Karl Strader, ``and I never did know what he did wrong,
frankly. And if he did do something wrong, I forgive him, and I know everybody else
here forgives him,'' said Strader, drawing a loud applause.
Strader called for a ``love offering'' to help pay Bakker's expenses. "As you know,
he and his family have lost everything they had,'' said Strader. ``He's just living by
faith. I know you want to participate in Jim's rehabilitation as he goes around the
country preaching God's faith.''
Karl Strader's son, Daniel, 37, was sentenced to 45 years in prison in August. He
was convicted of 238 felony counts for bilking 57 mostly elderly investors, some
members of the church, out of $2.3 million by selling investments in properties that
didn't exist or already had liens against them.
Austin Miles has been a well-known circus ringmaster for most of his adult life. It
was, he found, good preparation for his experiences with PTL and the Assemblies of
God churches. Miles is the first ordained Assembly of God minister to leave the
movement and write an in-depth book revealing the inner workings of this sect. This is
not rumor, not innuendo. It is fact, seen first-hand, and fully described for the first
time. Don't Call Me Brother is not a book written by an outside observer - Austin Miles
was an active participant in the evolution of the PTL Club.
- Austin Miles was on intimate terms with the entire cast of PTL's characters and
the high-tech world of Christian movers and shakers: Jim Bakker, Tammy Faye
Bakker, Pat Robertson, Charles and Frances Hunter, Richard Dortch, John Wesley
Fletcher, Christian celebreties such as Pat Boone and Ephram Zimbalist, Jr., and many
others.
- Austin Miles opened the door on the steam room where Jim Bakker was cavorting
- in the nude - with three other men.
- Austin Miles was there when televangelism hatched its super-successful fund-
raising schemes, and he participated in the staged "financial crisis" telethon, during
which millions of dollars poured into the coffers of the PTL Club.
- Austin Miles watched the development of Jim Bakker's violent mood swings and
saw the chilling possibility that Jim Bakker could have become another Jim Jones.
- Austin Miles was there when Jim Bakker started a fist fight with his producer over
the favors of the current Miss America.
Austin Miles had fame, wealth, and a wonderful family. But by the time he finally
broke free of the fanatic world of the religious right, he had lost everything. Don't Call
Me Brother is his story. A poignant, outrageous, sometimes hilarious drama peopled
with colorful real-life characters. Building to a climax with a surprise double-twist
ending, this story is tough but fair, a must-read for those who want to know what
115 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Note As a friend of the author Austin Miles, and having read the book, I have no
doubt over the matters he witnessed firsthand. Although I'm an Assemblies of God
minister, I recognize that in all human organizations (churches are human
organizations) there will be fallible people with poor judgment and liable to
temptation. Austin Miles has come back to Christianity, and has repudiated the
negative attitude he expresses in his book towards Christianity, although he still
maintains what he saw was true. He and I have had many wonderful conversations,
and will continue to do so. He is a preacher again, and travels to churches. He has
returned to Christian ministry with lessons learned and a new attitude. Rev. Richard F.
Lee.
A PBS Television documentary title "Religion and Politics" that first aired in
December of 1987 spotlighted Ronald Reagan's interference in the Justice
Department's attempted initial investigation of Jim Bakker, as well as the
investigations of the IRS and FCC. An interesting sidelight to this cover-up concerns
George Bush. He made a trip to Charlotte to meet privately with Jim Bakker in a hotel
room. He wanted Jim to endorse him for President on the PTL network. Jim asked him
if he was a born-again Christian to which Bush replied 'no'. Jim said that he would only
endorse Bush if he openly declared himself a born-again. "Carter did that", Bush shot
back, "and I don't want to be classified with him." "Then I can't endorse you", Jim
answered. That refusal in March of 1985 angered Bush and proved fatal to Jim Bakker.
It was George Bush, out of revenge, who instigated the investigation that destroyed
Jim Bakker and the PTL Club. It was not as a duty to the American public that this
investigation and conviction took place. It was done only for vengeance. This is in
keeping with Bush's CIA background, where he routinely de-stabilized entire countries
whose governments disagreed with him. This has been documented to me by a
confidential source with a news-wire service and who was very close to that entire
affair. (Church & State: A Secret Marriage by Austin Miles).
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape
who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we
turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the
earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the
earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of
those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the
things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving
a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may
serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a
consuming fire. Hebrews 12:25-29
Fire can be a very constructive and destructive thing depends on how it‘s
used. It does purge impurities out of certain things but it also destroys other
things leaving nothing behind. Assembly of God preacher and Evangelist Jim
Bakker presided as the king over one of the most corrupt television ministries
of the past two decades. A successful televangelism group run by Jim and
Tammy Bakker is a testimony that Evangelical pastors sold their own souls
just to make their wallets thicker, when they were supposed to bring God to
the people. As a result Jim Bakker and his sidekick Richard Dortch ended up
in prison accused of sexual immorality, tax evasion, and racketeering. The
wave of corruption not only affected other televangelists such as Jimmy
Swaggart, but also showed a dark, dirty fight for the control of PTL among
several other prominent televangelists.
116 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
these words from my heart at this very moment, "online"! Your obedience to
God's leading will be a needed breakthrough for us right now.
Would you make a pledge to this ministry for $100?
Bakker, who apparently made all of the financial decisions for the PTL and
kept two sets of books to conceal the accounting irregularities, took
conspicuous consumption to new extremes. PTL once spent over $100,000
for a private jet to fly the Bakker's clothing across the country. PTL also spent
more than $100 on a purchase of cinnamon rolls because Jim and Tammy
wanted the smell of them in their hotel room. "They [Bakkers] epitomized the
excesses of the nineteen eighties--the greed, the love of glitz, and the
shamelessness--which in their case was so pure as to almost amount to a
kind of innocence. "
PTL sold "lifetime memberships" for a $1,000 or more, which entitled
buyers to a 3-night stay annually at a luxury hotel in Heritage USA. According
to the prosecution at Bakker's trial, tens of thousands of memberships had
been sold, and only one 500-room hotel completed. Bakker had not only sold
more "exclusive" partnerships than could be accomodated, but had also
raised more than twice the money needed to build the hotel. The Bakker trial
revealed that a good deal of the money had gone into operating expenses of
Heritage USA, and Bakker kept $3,700,000 for himself. (Frances FitzGerald,
"Jim and Tammy," The New Yorker, April 29, 1990.)
Between 1984 and mid-1987, the Bakkers received annual salaries of
$200,000 each and Jim awarded himself over $4 million in bonuses. The
Bakkers own, among other things, a $600,000 house in Palm Springs, 4
condos in California, and a Rolls Royce. ("Fresh Out of Miracles," Newsweek,
May 11, 1987 & "TV's Unholy Row," Time, Apr 6, 1987.)
The former televangelist preached at Central Assembly of God in
Muskegon, Mich., July 30, 2000, Religion News Service reported. It was the
first time he had been there in 30 years. "If I've ever hurt you, I say please
forgive me," Bakker told the congregation of several hundred people during a
two-hour service. "My life was smashed, but Jesus Christ has put me back
together again." Bakker's grandfather helped start the church in the
Depression, and his cousins and their families still attend there.
Jim Bakker nor the Assembly of God with whom he was ordained have
never publicly discussed or dealt with the fact that Jim Bakker was Bi-sexual
or that his real lover was a man! Although a contrite Jim Bakker returned to
his childhood church to ask forgiveness, he never talked about David Taggart
his great male lover! Bakker, the founder on the now non existent PTL Club
and Village, has downplayed the role of the bisexual evangelist John Wesley
Fletcher, who arranged his tryst with Jessica Hahn. He hardly talks about
James and David Taggart, the brothers who many claim controlled Bakker in
his final PTL years Fletcher was bitter and said Bakker had failed to keep
promises and had forsaken him during tough times. Fletcher stated during
the "Pearlygate" media storm that he, too, had been sexually involved with
bisexual Bakker, reported Christianity Today.
So it was not surprising that Tammy Faye Bakker ( now Messner), who
divorced Bakker, would have a prominent role in the gay pride festivities in
Washington in June 2002. The former televangelist was to judge a Tammy
Faye look-alike contest, appear at a fund-raising dinner and speak from the
main stage of the Capital Pride 2002 street festival.
There are those who believe that Tammy Faye is really a drag queen.
119 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
former executive vice president, both served prison terms for fraud
convictions that resulted from a failed "Lifetime Partnerships" project for a
hotel at Heritage USA. Both men have since returned to active ministry
endeavors-Dortch in Tampa, Fla., and Bakker in Los Angeles and Charlotte,
N.C.
Bakker, was convicted in 1989 of defrauding 116,000 followers who sent
him at least $1,000 each in return for promised lodging at his
religious/recreational complex, Heritage USA near Charlotte, N.C. During his
trial, prosecutors said the scheme brought about $158 million into the Praise
the Lord television ministry that Bakker and his former wife, Tammy Faye,
founded in 1972.
Bakker helped dedicate the 10,000-seat Carpenter's Home Church in
Lakeland, Florida in 1985. The Straders went through a major split of
Carpenter's Home Church in 1989 when the Straders refused to relinquish the
financial control they had on the ministry, the church and its assets.
After getting out from prison Baker once spoke at Carpenter's Home
church and said Strader's wife, Joyce, wrote him a letter once a week while
he was in prison. I was one of those who helped him build PTL," said Karl
Strader, "and I never did know what he did wrong, frankly. And if he did do
something wrong, I forgive him, and I know everybody else here forgives
him," said Strader.
Karl Strader was being generous with Jim Bakker for he too wanted
absolution from these sins and crimes and those of his family. His oldest son
Daniel, 37, was arrested, tried and sentenced to 45 years in prison in August
1995. He was convicted of 238 felony counts for bilking 57 mostly elderly
investors, some members of the church, out of $2.3 million by selling
investments in properties that didn't exist or already had liens against them.
Dan's specialty was to pray with and prey on his victims with the help of his
father.
It is to be noted that Richard Dortch, a former Assembly of God district
superintendent and vice president of the PTL Club, who paid Jessica Hahn off
to buy her silence, led a campaign to raise $52,000 for the defense of Dan
Strader but not a penny for any of Dan's victims. In response to all of this
Paul Humphries wrote to the author and stated:
"See, you do expect too much from our preachers and their family. You
think a lil' ole raping and plundering and driving people to murder is wrong.
You've got to lighten up, the lord allows for preachers to twist and change the
commandments or even selectively choose which commandments are apt for
that particular time and place.
Since people are people, you can't expect them to follow all the
commandments do you? Since you can't follow all of them even part of the
time, then to hell with all of them, don't follow any of them........of course tell
the sheep to follow every one of them."
While Jeffrey K. Hadden, professor of sociology at the University of
Virginia at Charlottesville, and Anson Shupe in their book Televangelism:
Power & Politics On God's Frontier wrote:
There were many significant underlying themes to give the PTL scandal a
cheap theatrical appeal guaranteed to keep it in the news for months. The
1987 unholy wars of televangelism brought together most of the leading
figures in syndicated religious programming. Even Robert Schuller, whose
121 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
theology is light years and Crystal Cathedral a continent away from the
Bakker action, became involved early on when PTL counselor Norman Roy
Grutman commented that people who live in glass houses should not cast
stones-seemingly implicating Schuller as a culprit in the alleged "hostile
takeover."
The first and grandest theme tying all the other subplots together was the
fairy-tale life of the central characters themselves. The main scene for most
of the action was a fantasy world called Heritage USA, which Jim and Tammy
Faye created from the dimes and dollars of those who sent their savings and
Social Security checks. The sad part of the Bakker fairy tale began on March
19 when a tearful Jim told his television audience how a very mean man was
about to usurp Jim and Tammy's kingdom. The ammunition possessed by this
mean man (who was shortly to be identified as televangelist Jimmy
Swaggart) was information about an itty-bitty affair Jim Bakker had had with
a church secretary years before.
A second significant subplot in this unholy religious soap involved
evidence of personal misconduct, mismanagement, and pillaging of the PTL
treasury. Thus, there were two dimensions to the scandal: the Bakkers'
personal "moral" lives, and their mismanagement and misuse of Heritage
USA resources. And just when it seemed that all the sordid details had oozed
out, new disclosures and allegations of offenses emerged.
In the beginning, there was only the sexual indiscretion, when Jim
Bakker, in a moment of mental exhaustion and loneliness, succumbed to the
advances of a young seductress. The way Bakker told the story to Jerry
Falwell, he was so ashamed that he became impotent and was unable to
consummate the liaison. The hush money he paid to the woman, a church
secretary, was for the sake of the PTL ministry, Bakker said.
Within hours, newspaper reporters were in hot pursuit of tips about other
alleged incidents of personal misconduct. Lots of people were talking, but
nobody wanted to speak on the record.
Then, on the eve of a meeting of the newly constituted PTL board headed
by Jerry Falwell at Heritage USA, rumors suggested that Jim and Tammy
Faye might return to retake possession of their fiefdom, and this prospect led
the Reverend John Ankerberg, host of a debate format TV show broadcast
from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to tell what he knew.
Ankerberg used first "The Larry King Show," then "Nightline," to talk
generally about the sexual escapades, the mismanagement of PTL resources,
and the exorbitant salaries and bonuses paid to the Bakkers and their closest
cronies. Ankerberg was not explicit, but he told enough to intrigue the media.
After six weeks of intensive investigative reporting, the alleged details out-
Gantryed Elmer Gantry: infidelity, homosexuality, prostitution, alcoholism,
even wife-swapping among top managers at PTL.
While confessing that all have sinned and come short of the glory of the
kingdom of God, the Bakkers were not about to answer the litany of
allegations. "Ninety-nine percent of what they [the media] have printed or
said about Jim and Tammy Bakker bears no truth whatsoever," Tammy told a
gathering of reporters in April outside their Palm Springs retreat.
The Bakkers declined to meet their accusers. Jerry Falwell offered them
that opportunity; so did the elders of the Assemblies of God, which conducted
their own inquiry. When Bakker declined to appear before his district
presbytery to face charges, the Assemblies of God dismissed him for "conduct
122 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
unbecoming to a minister."
Reverend G. Raymond Carlson, general superintendent of the church, said
the "alleged misconduct involving bisexual activity" weighed heavily in the
decision to unfrock Bakker. Carlson noted further that the word alleged was
used because Bakker did not wish to defend himself.
For many people, allegations of misappropriating PTL resources for their
own personal use and the payment of huge salaries and bonuses were far
more serious charges than the allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Bakkers had appointed a rubber-stamp board of directors to oversee
their management practices. In return for acquiescing to Jim and Tammy's
whims, several of these board members received tens of thousands of dollars
in fees, bonuses, and contributions to their own projects.
In 1986 the Bakkers were paid $1.9 million; since 1984, a total of $4.8
million had been paid to them. In addition, PTL monies were used for
expensive homes, a palatial suite at the Heritage Grand Hotel, automobiles,
lavish wardrobes, vacations, and parties.
The Bakkers' closest associates were privy to their high living at the
expense of PTL partners. They, too, were well paid. Reverend Richard Dortch,
the Assemblies of God minister who many thought had brought some order
and organization to the rapidly growing Heritage USA operations, was paid
$240,000 in 1985 and $350,000 in 1986. He received approximately
$270,000 during the first three months of 1987 before Falwell sacked him.
David Taggart, a twenty-nine-year-old "personal aide" to Bakker, received
$360,000 in 1986; Jim Bakker's personal secretary received $160,000.
And then there were "consultants." James Taggart, interior decorator and
David Taggart's brother, was paid $10,000 a month, but, according to the
new PTL management, he had performed no services "for months."' Peter B.
Teeley, press secretary to George Bush until 1984, was paid $120,000 for
eighteen months to serve as a Washington "liaison"; apparently there were
no written records of any services performed.
Assembly of God Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, had been accused of
complicity in the "diabolical plot" to take over the Bakker ministry by Jim
Bakker. Swaggart said that he had initiated a church inquiry into Bakker's
personal conduct, but that it was "absurd and ridiculous" to suggest that he
wanted to take over PTL.
He also stated " I'm ashamed, I'm embarrassed. The gospel of Jesus
Christ has never sunk to such a level as it has today. We've got a dear
brother in Tulsa, Oklahoma, perched up in a tower telling people that if they
don't send money that God's going to kill him, then we got this soap opera
being carried out live down in South Carolina all in the name of God. (.
Jeffrey A. Frank and Lloyd Grove, "The Raging Battles Of the Evangelicals,"
Washington Post, March 25, 1987.)
In an interview on "The Larry King Show," Swaggart claimed that
Bakker's downfall represented a "very glad day, because this cancer has been
excised that I feel has caused the body of Christ untold reproach. ' (
Associated Press, "Swaggart Calls Bakker 'Cancer' of Christ," The Daily
Progress (Charlottesville, Virginia), March 25, 1987.)
These comments aroused Oral Roberts's ire, and he blasted Swaggart
while defending Bakker. Foolish Oral Roberts forgave and defended Jim
Bakker for something that was not forgivable. God does not forgive those
123 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
who rob, rape and murder in the house of God as Eli and his two sons were
not forgiven. Something that is in the very bible that they sometime use and
is true.
Oral Roberts forgave his friend, Jim Bakker, for robbing and raping in the
house of God. Roberts made large contributions to the Praise the Lord (PTL)
ministry of Jim and Tammy Bakker when they fell into hard times during the
1987 scandal. (Sara Diamond, Spiritual Warfare (Boston, MA: South End
Press, 1989). Then he wondered why the City of Faith of faith was not
finished, the law school was not accredited and ORU incurred a 40 million
dollar debt. (Robert's aides confirmed annual donations of $58 million in
1986, but the Association's Internal Revenue Service returns show that the
organization has been losing money steadily since 1986)
Jim Bakker always felt that people were conspiring against him-especially
journalists, politicians and judges. It was reported in Christianity Today in an
article by Terry Mattingly's religion column for 12/04/96.
" After the 1987 collapse of his empire, he said he had been betrayed by
other televangelists. "I sorrowfully acknowledge that seven years ago ... I
was wickedly manipulated by treacherous former friends and colleagues who
victimized me with the aid of a female confederate," he said. "They conspired
to betray me into a sexual encounter at a time of great stress in my marital
life. ... I was set up as part of a scheme to co-opt me and obtain some
advantage for themselves over me in connection with their hope for position
in the ministry."
In other words, the first domino at PTL was a scheme that preceded
Bakker's 1980 sexual liaison with Jessica Hahn, a conspiracy within his inner
circle that preceded "Pearlygate." Yet Bakker has nothing new to say about
these "friends and colleagues" and their scheme. In particular, he downplays
the role of the bisexual evangelist John Wesley Fletcher, who arranged the
tryst with Hahn, and he hardly mentions James and David Taggart, the
brothers who many claim controlled Bakker in his final PTL years.
In his book, Bakker confesses many sins. He repents of his "health and
wealth" theology, saying he sinfully twisted scripture. He offers 647 pages of
near-stream-of-consciousness details about lessons he learned during his
trial, divorce and prison years. But he continues to avoid some questions.
"For most Pentecostal and charismatic people, the most serious questions
about Jim Bakker were all those allegations of moral misconduct. ... People
haven't forgotten that," said historian Vinson Synan of Regent University in
Virginia Beach, Va. "There does appear to have been a kind of subterranean,
homosexual world inside PTL that has never been fully described. That's
where so many questions remain."
Mind you Jerry Falwell did conspire against Jim Bakker. By 1987 Jerry
Falwell Ministries had reached its peak but Jerry Falwell wanted more. Jim
Bakker then owned the largest Christian television network in the world
known as the PTL Network, being based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Yet
what was called "A Hostile Takeover of the PTL Network" was being
formulated.
That year, Jerry Falwell and his then attorney entered the home of PTL
founders Jim and Tammy Bakker stating they had evidence of a Hostile
Takeover of the PTL Network. The person Falwell accused of planning the
Hostile Takeover of the PTL Network was none other than the only man in the
world with a larger ministry than Jerry Falwell. Falwell convinced Jim and
124 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Tammy Bakker that if they would turn over the PTL Network to him for a time
he would protect PTL from the Hostile Takeover.
In Jim Bakker's book entitled, "I WAS WRONG", in Chapter 7 … the
chapter labeled "THE HOSTILE TAKEOVER", Bakker stated that "there was
indeed a Hostile Takeover being planned for the PTL Network, but it wasn't
being orchestrated in the offices of Jimmy Swaggart in Baton Rouge,
Louisanna. Jim Bakker goes on to point out that it was Jerry Falwell who had
designs on PTL. Richard Dortch, was Jim Bakker's right hand man on the PTL
Network. Richard Dortch stated on the Late Steve Brown Show that "if Jerry
Falwell would just admit that he tried to get the PTL Network … it was a bad
choice on my part … please forgive me … it would send out a breath of fresh
air in the body of Christ". Jim Bakker's wife Tammy, who has now remarried,
has stated repeatedly how Falwell's actions in the PTL situation has caused
untold harm to her family. Jim Bakker even went to prison for years. Jimmy
Swaggart made an appeal to have Jim Bakker relieved from his prison
sentence after receiving a phone call from Jim Bakker's son, Jamie. {That is
in Bakker's book as well.}
Jim Bakker's Grahams' Connection
As his fellow evangelists seemed to take their turns facing justified
criticism, Billy Graham maintained his own integrity and the sincerity of his
message. Far from publicly condemning his peers, Billy spoke of them with
concern, and even visited Jim Bakker in prison. When his Crusades would
generate more offerings than he had anticipated, both Billy and Ruth gave
their share to needy organizations. As for his own efforts to integrate
television into his ministry, Billy hosted a half-hour weekly program in 1951
but discontinued it a few years later because of the immense commitment of
time it required. Afterwards he telecast his Crusades but never again tried a
weekly program.
(The Grahams are no different from Jim Bakker. They are liars; deceivers
and thieves who claim to have integrity but are false. The Grahams are also
scoundrels and money lovers who will not reveal their total compensations as
chairmen's of non-profit organization. Of course as parasites they have not
worked in the private sector but have lived off the tax-free donations of
others. )
On the Graham family Jim Bakker stated - Franklin came to prison over
and over again to see me. He wrote me every month. The funny thing is,
when he'd come I'd ask him to teach and preach in the chapel. I didn't want
to just have him to myself in the visiting room. And the chaplain always
would say to him, "Now don't give an invitation to accept Christ and don't
admit you know Jim Bakker." He broke the rules every time, both of them.
You know when you're down in prison and Franklin comes and says, "Jim
Bakker's my friend," it would just elevate my life for that moment. And then
he'd give an invitation to accept Christ, and guys would come to the Lord.
When I was transferred to my last prison, Franklin said he wanted to help
me out when I got out-with a job, a house to live in, and a car. It was my
fifth Christmas in prison. I thought it over and said, "Franklin, you can't do
this. It will hurt you. The Grahams don't need my baggage." He looked at me
and he said, "Jim, you were my friend in the past and you are my friend now.
If anyone doesn't like it, I'm looking for a fight."
So when I got out of prison the Grahams sponsored me and paid for a
house for me to live in and gave me a car to drive. The first Sunday out, Ruth
125 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Graham called the halfway house I was living in at the Salvation Army and
asked permission for me to go to the Montreat Presbyterian Church with her
that Sunday morning. When I got there, the pastor welcomed me and sat me
with the Graham family. There were like two whole rows of them-I think
every Graham aunt and uncle and cousin was there. The organ began playing
and the place was full except for a seat next to me. Then the doors opened
and in walked Ruth Graham. She walked down that aisle and sat next to
inmate 07407-058. I had only been out of prison 48 hours, but she told the
world that morning that Jim Bakker was her friend.
Afterwards, she had me up to their cabin for dinner. When she asked me
for some addresses, I pulled this envelope out of my pocket to look for them-
in prison you're not allowed to have a wallet, so you just carry an envelope.
She asked, "Don't you have a wallet?" And I said, "Well, yeah, this is my
wallet." After five years of brainwashing in prison you think an envelope is a
wallet. She walked into the other room and came back and said, "Here's one
of Billy's wallets. He doesn't need it. You can have it." It reminded me of the
time I was in prison when she took all of Billy's Bibles in his library he wasn't
using and gave them to me to give to other inmates.
On Larry King live in the fall of 1998 Southern Baptist Evangelist Billy
Graham was insulted when he was compared with TV Evangelists such as
Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker and their sex scandals. Billy Graham said
that he did not do those things which Jim Bakker or Jim Swaggart did - a
statement that turned out to be a lie! For Ned Graham's own son turned out
to be no different than Jim Bakker.
Even though a President of an Evangelical Ministry must be blameless, the
husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable,
able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, and not greedy for money, Ned
Graham the son of Billy Graham, Southern Baptist minister, president East
Gates International, a group that distributes Bibles in China told Christianity
Today in an interview that he had abused alcohol and spent an "inappropriate
amount of time" with two women on his staff.
Grace Community Church, Southern Baptist Convention, in Auburn,
Washington--which counted Ned Graham, his wife, and their two sons as
members established in 1999 the fact that Ned Graham was an adulterer,
alcoholic, wife abuser, and drug user and revoked Graham's ministerial
credentials. It directed Graham to stop using the title reverend.
Yet in a style reminiscent of Jimmy Swaggart, who refused to be
defrocked by the Assembly of God denomination, Ned Graham left that
congregation for another church.
Most of the staff and board members of East Gates International resigned
amid controversies. East Gates, in Sumner, Wash., withdrew its membership
in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability after Ned replaced the
board members with his sister Ruth Graham McIntyre, brother-in-law
Stephan Tchividjian, and business leader Peter Lowe.
Christianity Today founded by Billy Graham did not report on one of its
own pastors Ollin Collins of Harvest Baptist Church in Fort Worth, and
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's board chairman. A man who
resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations when he was accused of having
sexual relationships with two women who sought counseling.
But it did report about the adultery of a black man and a National Baptist
but not about the adultery of a white man and Southern Baptist. An adultery
126 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
which was more hideous and gross because Collins raped unsuspecting
trusting women, while Lyons adulterous relationships were consensual. It
has been said that Lyons will go down in the history books as "Hugh Hefner
of the New Testament."
http://headlines.yahoo.com/Full_Coverage/US/Henry_Lyons
Now concerning the fallen hero, the church had suspended Pastor Collins
with pay pending an investigation. He resigned from his board position one
day after a story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the women's
allegations and their intent to sue. Southwestern is the world's largest
evangelical seminary, with 3,000 students on eight campuses.
But of course neither the Seminary nor the Church did nothing for the real
female victims but they did help and console the aggressor? Just like Billy
Graham stated about Bill Clinton "I forgive him . . . because I know the frailty
of human nature, and especially a strong, vigorous young man like he is. "He
has such a tremendous personality that I think the ladies just go wild over
him."
While Jeffrey K. Hadden, professor of sociology at the University of
Virgina at Charlottesville, and Anson Shupe in their book Televangelism:
Power & Politics On God& Ch 1: Getting Saved from the Televangelists wrote:
The first and grandest theme tying all the other subplots together was
the fairy-tale life of the central characters themselves. The main scene for
most of the action was a fantasy world called Heritage USA, which Jim and
Tammy Faye created from the dimes and dollars of those who sent their
savings and Social Security checks. The sad part of the Bakker fairy tale
began on March 19 when a tearful Jim told his television audience how a very
mean man was about to usurp Jim and Tammy's kingdom.
The ammunition possessed by this mean man (who was shortly to be
identified as televangelist Jimmy Swaggart) was information about an itty-
bitty affair Jim Bakker had had with a church secretary years before. Details
of the takeover plot unfolded gradually; Swaggart was about to blow the
whistle on Bakker to the church elders of the Assemblies of God Church.
This would lead to an investigation that would result in Bakker's being
stripped of his ordination. The shame brought by all of this was not deserved,
of course (God and Tammy had both forgiven Jim years before). A little-
known clause in the Heritage USA charter bequeaths the entire kingdom to
the Assemblies of God in the event that Jim and Tammy are not able to reign.
Swaggart, being the most powerful preacher in the Assemblies of God
alliance, thus would be the one to move in and take over.
A white knight named Jerry Falwell agreed to take the kingdom into
custody to protect it from Swaggart's evil intentions. Two months later, when
Bakker advised Falwell that he was ready to return home, Jerry replied, "Not
now nor ever." Jim and Tammy brushed back the tears and told "Nightline's"
Ted Koppel and 23 million Americans- who had stayed up late to see this
dramatic episode-how they had been tricked by Falwell.
Bakker now claimed that Falwell, the man from Liberty Mountain, had
become a thief in the night rather than a white knight. It was Falwell all
along, they said, not the honky-tonk preacher from the Louisiana bayou,
Jimmy Swaggart, who was the real villain. Falwell, with his slick-talking New
York lawyer, had tricked Jim and Tammy Faye into believing that the only
way they could save their kingdom was to relinquish it to Jerry-temporarily.
127 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Exhausted and bewildered, Jim and Tammy Bakker had tearfully given up
their magic kingdom with its Rolls-Royces and furs and goldfixtured dressing
rooms and presidential suite and credit cards and daily starring roles in their
own "Wheel of Fortune."
Ted Koppel had warned Jim and Tammy at the beginning of the
"Nightline" program "not to wrap themselves in the Bible." By the end of the
program, it was Koppel who had been wrapped in the mesmerizing
melodramatic tragicomic fantasy the couple had spun.
Playing to Koppel and the huge television audience with words that
sounded ever so sweet and loving, Jim Bakker now declared war against
Falwell. They just wanted to come home to Heritage USA, but if Jerry Falwell
wouldn't let them, they might start a new Shangri-La in the California desert
near their Palm Springs hideaway.
Koppel advised them that this might be difficult in light of reports from
Heritage USA that the mail was running overwhelmingly in support of
Falwell's measures to save the spiritual Disneyland. "If the people don't want
us back, if they want Jerry Falwell, then they should support Jerry Falwell,"
said an emotional Bakker. ". . . But if they don't, they should support Jim and
Tammy Bakker.''l3 The Bakkers seemed genuinely unable to grasp the reality
of the tragedy that had befallen them, to say nothing of its impact on others.
A second significant subplot in this unholy religious soap involved
evidence of personal misconduct, mismanagement, and pillaging of the PTL
treasury. Thus, there were two dimensions to the scandal: the Bakkers'
personal "moral" lives, and their mismanagement and misuse of Heritage
USA resources. And just when it seemed that all the sordid details had oozed
out, new disclosures and allegations of offenses emerged.
In the beginning, there was only the sexual indiscretion, when Jim
Bakker, in a moment of mental exhaustion and loneliness, succumbed to the
advances of a young seductress. The way Bakker told the story to Jerry
Falwell, he was so ashamed that he became impotent and was unable to
consummate the liaison. The hush money he paid to the woman, a church
secretary, was for the sake of the PTL ministry, Bakker said.
Within hours, newspaper reporters were in hot pursuit of tips about other
alleged incidents of personal misconduct. Lots of people were talking, but
nobody wanted to speak on the record.
Then, on the eve of a meeting of the newly constituted PTL board headed
by Jerry Falwell at Heritage USA, rumors suggested that Jim and Tammy
Faye might return to retake possession of their fiefdom, and this prospect led
the Reverend John Ankerberg, host of a debate format TV show broadcast
from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to tell what he knew.
Ankerberg used first "The Larry King Show," then "Nightline," to talk
generally about the sexual escapades, the mismanagement of PTL resources,
and the exorbitant salaries and bonuses paid to the Bakkers and their closest
cronies. Ankerberg was not explicit, but he told enough to intrigue the media.
After six weeks of intensive investigative reporting, the alleged details out-
Gantryed Elmer Gantry: infidelity, homosexuality, prostitution, alcoholism,
even wife-swapping among top managers at PTL.
While confessing that all have sinned and come short of the glory of the
kingdom of God, the Bakkers were not about to answer the litany of
allegations. "Ninety-nine percent of what they [the media] have printed or
128 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
said about Jim and Tammy Bakker bears no truth whatsoever," Tammy told a
gathering of reporters in April outside their Palm Springs retreat.
The Bakkers declined to meet their accusers. Jerry Falwell offered them
that opportunity; so did the elders of the Assemblies of God, which conducted
their own inquiry. When Bakker declined to appear before his district
presbytery to face charges, the Assemblies of God dismissed him for "conduct
unbecoming to a minister." Reverend G. Raymond Carlson, general
superintendent of the church, said the "alleged misconduct involving bisexual
activity" weighed heavily in the decision to unfrock Bakker. 15 Carlson noted
further that the word alleged was used because Bakker did not wish to
defend himself.
For many people, allegations of misappropriating PTL resources for their
own personal use and the payment of huge salaries and bonuses were far
more serious charges than the allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Bakkers had appointed a rubber-stamp board of directors to oversee
their management practices. In return for acquiescing to Jim and Tammy's
whims, several of these board members received tens of thousands of dollars
in fees, bonuses, and contributions to their own projects.
In 1986 the Bakkers were paid $1.9 million; since 1984, a total of $4.8
million had been paid to them. In addition, PTL monies were used for
expensive homes, a palatial suite at the Heritage Grand Hotel, automobiles,
lavish wardrobes, vacations, and parties.
The Bakkers' closest associates were privy to their high living at the
expense of PTL partners. They, too, were well paid. Reverend Richard Dortch,
the Assemblies of God minister who many thought had brought some order
and organization to the rapidly growing Heritage USA operations, was paid
$240,000 in 1985 and $350,000 in 1986. He received approximately
$270,000 during the first three months of 1987 before Falwell sacked him.
David Taggart, a twenty-nine-year-old "personal aide" to Bakker, received
$360,000 in 1986; Jim Bakker's personal secretary received $160,000.
And then there were "consultants." James Taggart, interior decorator and
David Taggart's brother, was paid $10,000 a month, but, according to the
new PTL management, he had performed no services "for months."' Peter B.
Teeley, press secretary to George Bush until 1984, was paid $120,000 for
eighteen months to serve as a Washington "liaison"; apparently there were
no written records of any services performed.
When the Bakkers departed, the financial records of the organization were
in shambles-as they probably had been for years. No fewer than forty-seven
separate checking accounts were found in the first days of the Falwell
takeover. "The books are a mess," proclaimed Harry Hargrave, the Dallas-
based consultant Falwell hired to become PTL's new chief executive officer.
Noted Jerry Nims (Falwell's CEO for the "Old Time Gospel Hour" in
Lynchburg), who came in to help dig out, "This was a business organization
that was totally out of control. 20 Added Nims, "For these folks, there were
no rules. You're not talking about people nudging over the line. There was
absolutely no line.... It was fiscal sin."
Early on, it appeared that $92 million was missing. As the financial
records of Heritage USA were consolidated and audited, much of this money
was accounted for, but then evidence of unpaid bills began to grow. By early
June, outstanding debts were estimated at $70 million owed to 1,400
129 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
Walter Kambulow
http://www.scribd.com/tag/walter%20kambulow
http://walthope.tripod.com/
TACF JOHN ARNOTT STEVE LONG VS WALTER KAMBULOW
http://www.scribd.com/doc/33446103
An Overview of Religious Financial Fraud http://www.scribd.com/doc/24336837
Not Innocent http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/xxcrxxoxxoks.pdf or
http://crooksaog.tripod.com/ , http://www.scribd.com/doc/33762241
Liars and Perjurers in Revival John Arnott and Todd Bentley
http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/revival.pdf
Rev. Karl Strader – Senior Pastor
http://www.christiannews.0catch.com/strader.htm
Wolves in Sheep‘s Clothing http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/wolves.pdf
False Prophet Rick Joyner & Todd Bentley‘s Adulterous Re-Marriage
http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/news/usa/false-prophet-rick-joyner-
todd-bentleys-re-marriage#more-4272
Todd Bentley: The Webinar
http://www.benedictionblogson.com/2009/09/30/todd-bentley-the-webnar/
Sarah Palin Broadcasts News About Todd Bentley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bAucWVzlQU&feature=player_embedded#
Todd Bentley John Arnott False Prophesy and Prayer
130 Wolves In Sheep‘s Clothing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aWpTvcM74U&feature=related
The rape of the church - the Todd Bentley quagmire
http://bolaoged.com/?p=743
Todd Bentley and His Circus Side Show From Hell
http://www.inplainsite.org/html/todd_bentley.html
Todd Bentley The Sorcerer http://www.scribd.com/doc/25451583/
Todd Is Back http://www.scribd.com/doc/16725487
Deliverance From Toronto Curse
http://www.scribd.com/doc/28159890/Deliverance-From-Toronto-Curse
Female Angels http://www.scribd.com/doc/21289068/Female-Angels
FALSE PROPHETS! http://www.newswithviews.com/West/marsha73.htm
The Delusional World Of Mark Stibbe & St Andrews Chorleywood
http://www.moriel.org/articles/discernment/church_issues/delusional_world_of_
mark_stibbe.htm
Benny Hinn Speaks Out Against the Florida Revival
http://www.christianresearchservice.com/BHinn39.htm
Lakeland Was False
http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/jessa-bentley-says-
lakeland-revival-was-just-an-introduction-a-table-of-contents-for-what-is-to-come/
The Deception of Lee Grady and Charisma Magazine
http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/the-deception-of-
lee-grady-charisma-magazine
THE LATTER RAIN REVIVAL http://watch.pair.com/rain.html
Pat Holiday Newsletters and church
http://www.remnantradio.org/Archives/articles/PH/PH.htm
http://www.miracleinternetchurch.com/
―Signs, Wonders & Miracles‖ The Gordon Williams Report August 2008 I
http://www.scribd.com/doc/33782544/Signs-Wonders-Miracles
Gordon Williams http://gordwilliams.com/
CEO of ministry building $4 million lakefront home
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/597/story/806505.html?storylink=omni_popu
lar
―The New Mystics‖ http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.php/news/new-
zealand/this-is-not-that-an-analysis-of-john-crowders-the-new-mystics
Urgent Kundalini Warning
http://truthspeaker.wordpress.com/2010/01/20/urgent-kundalini-warning-from-
andrew-strom
Holy Laughter and the Toronto Blessing
http://books.google.ca/books?id=5Pa4BVWwMgUC&lpg=PP1&dq=HOLY%20LAUGH
TER%20AND%20THE%20TORONTO%20BLESSING&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.scribd.com/doc/17098294
Rodney The Fleecer http://www.christiannews.0catch.com/rodney.htm
Bisexual Jim Bakker http://www.christiannews.0catch.com/bakker.htm
Pastor Karl Strader is history http://www.christiannews.0catch.com/strader.htm
Down in Flames http://walthope.tripod.com/rc.pdf
Parasites Pimps & Prostitutes http://walthope.tripod.com/rw.htm
Kenneth Hagin & Kenneth Copeland - Pentecostal Bedlam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SgByE0pX1M
Dr. Henry Lyons or Rev. Hanky-Panky
http://www.christiannews.0catch.com/lyons.htm
Suzanne Hinn's Holy Ghost Enema
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jhw_5ye8Qo
Benny Hinn: Who Cares If My Wife Left Me_I'll Continue Pimping The People.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LNQYd3bnww
Benny Hinn $1,000 Seed EXPOSED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97atZKdhHAI&feature=response_watch
Benny Hinn's Wife Files For Divorce
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLYQ8oFvMBg&feature=response_watch
http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/why-benny-hinn-became-our-wacky-neighbor
http://www.rickross.com/reference/hinn/hinn25.html
http://www.cephasministry.com/benny_hinn.html
IS IT RIGHT: To Judge, To Expose Error, & To Call Names?
http://www.av1611.org/crock/judbynum.html
http://believersjourney.blogspot.com/2010/04/21st-century-golden-calf-and-
new-age.html
Unholy Laughter http://www.inplainsite.org/html/unholy_laughter.html
Deliverance Ministry May Be Your Answer
http://www.slm.org/?p=292
Deliverance from Demons http://www.scribd.com/doc/31340123
TACF JOHN ARNOTT STEVE LONG VS WALTER KAMBULOW
http://www.scribd.com/doc/33446103
Demons From Hell
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000156220007#!/notes/walter-
kambulow/demons-from-hell/129039863801613
Kundalini in the church is a false Holy Spirit, the Hindu Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC5b2R3JER4