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Update: December 3/01

1) Comments from Bill M. -

I just got through briefly looking at a few of your pages http://www.seekgod.ca/toast2.htm  "AOG, CNP & Other Connections", the part on Jim Nichols and Denny Nissley floored me. When I was still in my late 20's, I went to a streetpreacher seminar hosted by Johnathan Gainsbrugh. His ministry was called Worldshakers For Christ. It was at that conference that I met Denny Nissley. I learned about Worldshakers For Christ through an out-of-print book entitled, "Take Him To the Streets" which I highly recommend. Everything up to that point was legit. To see him with close to a quarter million dollar income floors me. Also, while I was at Maranatha back in 1999, I heard he was going to be there for a visit. He never came, and I tried to e-mail him to say Hi and ask him whatever happened to Johnathan Gainsbrugh. You know, like old times, even thou I'd only met these guys once in 1982 for streetpreaching. Now, after reading your expose' on Nissley, I'm thinking that it all makes sense that he would be linked to Maranatha. When I saw Nissley, his testimony was that he was a drunk that had crushed his knee in an auto accident and God miraculously healed him. Looking at him one would have no doubt that he was telling the truth.

Also, you should know that Winkey Pratney is connected with Bruce Harpel of Maranatha and the rest of the Latter Rain. Another astonishing realization on the Maranatha Latter Rain spiderweb is that George "Jed" Smock> http://www.brojed.org >is connected with Maranatha. I never knew why until Smock spiritually abused one of his own church members in his Campus Church in Newark, Ohio. I figured that I learned plenty of lessons what with the Maranatha investigation, so I researched Smock on the same basis. That basis was that there had to be some sort of bad doctrine behind the spiritual abuse. In Jed Smock's case, he openly is into Pelagian Theology and is a big fan of Charles Finney. So, I simply did a web search on Charles Finney and found the link to Pelagius as well as a theology known as Moral Government Theology. To my surprise, in the web articles I read as well as some material written by two Professors of Theology:

E. Calvin Beisner

Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Social Ethics

Knox Theological Seminary

5554 N. Federal Highway

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33308

e-mail: cbeisner@knoxseminary.org

Dr. Alan Gomes

Associate Professor and Chair, Dept. of Theology

Talbot School of Theology

13800 Biola Avenue La Mirada, CA 90639

Phone (800-652-4652) Fax (562-903-4709)

e-mail:  alan.gomes@truth.biola.edu  

Not only did they do a very good job exposing the errors of Pelagius, Finney, Loren Cunningham, the "spiritual leadership" (disciplers) at YWAM, Pratney, Elseth, etc. but they documented the evidence after initially bringing the evidence under the scrutiny of God's word and to the attention of the leaders of YWAM. YWAM and Cunningham have never repented to this day. For me, this explains Smock's 20-yr connection with ecumenicist and Manifest Son of God [MGT] heretic Bruce Harpel of Maranatha. Pratney was at Maranatha's conference in 1999.

 MGT is apparently theologically compatible with LR doctrine. Jed is not against Rome either and I have a recent tape where Jed says he's an "apostle." The investigations by the two named professors show that Loren Cunningham and YWAM is heavy into MGT. I'm glad somebody did the research on MGT 15 years ago.

Further Correspondence:

"...I guess I've had to learn the hard way regarding being in the same camps as the Charismatics. I new realization for me is that the gnosticism of the Latter Rain, which prior to Maranatha I had no idea existed, is a counterfeit kingdom. I've always thought in terms of genuine and counterfeit. I had investigated conspiracy theories for over 14 years, but I spent way too much time and lost my way. God put me back on track on the same geographical place I went off. The greatest conspiracy is the one that you and other counter-cult apologists have exposed i.e. the conspiracy against the Son of Man!!!

Go ahead and post my comments. Feel free to mention my name if you wish. I am 44 and am an older student at the University of Minnesota. I am also an open-air preacher. Due to my investigation of Maranatha, I have also had to become a counter-cult apologist for my own spiritual survival as well as for ministering to campus students and Christians who haven't the foggiest idea just how wicked these spiritual sodomites are! Their tongues are smooth as silk, but indeed inwardly they are ravenous wolves...."

Update 2: Re: Matthew Barnett, [CNP's] Pastor Tommy Barnett's son, who is senior pastor at Phoenix First Assembly of God [http://phoenixfirst.org/Church/pastors/Biographies.htm], mentioned in the article as being "the sixth largest church in the United Stated of any denomination, listing average weekend attendance in excess of 10,000. As the largest congregation in the Assemblies of God, the Church is looked to for direction and innovative leadership by the more than 5,000 pastors and church leaders who attend the annual Pastors' School at Phoenix First Assembly..." [History>http://www.phoenixfirst.org/about us.html] Others suggest Barnett's church is 3rd largest in the US. The theology of the Barnett's is word-faith.

A Press Release has stated the following:

RPD 5919 10/16/2001 5:11 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE (From International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, http://www.foursquare.org)

CHANGE OF PASTORS AT ANGELUS TEMPLE

Los Angeles, California. On Sunday, October 14, 2001, Revs. Ed and Ivy Stanton announced their resignation as pastors of Angelus Temple, to be effective October 31...

As leaders of the Foursquare denomination considered the future of Angelus Temple, their attention was drawn to the renowned Dream Center, just a few miles away. At the same time, the senior pastor of the Dream Center, Pastor Matthew Barnett, approached Foursquare leaders to see if there was a way that the two churches could join their efforts to reach the city of Los Angeles.

It soon became clear that the Dream Center embodies the same values that have defined the ministry of Angelus Temple. Matthew Barnett embraces the same vision that the founder of the Foursquare denomination and Angelus Temple, Aimee Semple McPherson, so fervently followed regarding ministry to the city of Los Angeles.

The Dream Center began as a typical church... The church had 39 members at its inception in September of 1994; today it reaches multitudes of people. The center houses almost 400 people in its rehabilitation program and feeds more than 20,000 people each week in the Los Angeles area.

In addition, the Dream Center provides numerous other community services directed at meeting the spiritual and physical needs of the people of Los Angeles. Currently, 135 other Dream Centers have been established across the nation and the world.

Rev. Matthew Barnett, best-selling author of The Church That Never Sleeps,... At age 27... Matthew learned strong principles of ministry while he worked with his father, who pastors what Time magazine considers one of the largest churches in America. He received the Religious Heritage Award in 1999 and has spoken in some of the largest and most prestigious conventions, conferences, church camps and churches around the world. He has consulted with leading businessmen, celebrities and sports stars. His ministry has been endorsed by U.S. President George W. Bush who has expressed high regard for Matthew's achievements.

Leaders of the Foursquare Church and the Dream Center began to work together to find a way that the two denominations (Assemblies of God and Foursquare) could come together,... Pastor Matthew, encouraged by his father, Rev. Tommy Barnett of the First Assembly of God in Phoenix, Arizona, sought counsel with several Foursquare leaders. He and his father also consulted with Assemblies of God leaders who expressed great joy at the prospect of the two denominations working together to reach the world with one powerful voice.

It is with pleasure that ICFG President Paul Risser announces the appointment of Rev. Matthew Barnett as the senior pastor of Angelus Temple to be effective November 1, 2001. While continuing the phenomenal daily community service of the Dream Center at its nearby location (formerly the Queen of Angels hospital), a process will begin to merge the congregations of Angelus Temple, Angelus Temple East (which has been worshiping in Pasadena, California) and the Dream Center. Until the completion of the remodeling and the upgrading of Angelus Temple (presently scheduled for completion, Easter 2002), Sunday services will be held in the Angelus Auditorium and at the Dream Center. When the refurbishing is completed, services will be conducted in the Angelus Temple sanctuary, which will have a capacity of 3,500.

Regarding the appointment to Angelus Temple, Pastor Matthew states, "At the age of 20, I came to build a church in the city of Los Angeles that would be a light to our city and that would set a pattern of good works to the world - a different kind of church that would be open twenty-four hours a day ministering to the spiritual and social needs in some of our toughest neighborhoods. In seven years, we have seen God do amazing things and we have seen a great church rise up from the ashes of poverty, gangs and despair. We have also seen crime drop 73% in our community in the last three years. That church, founded by my father and myself, is the L.A. Dream Center. "The reason for this great change is because we are walking in the footsteps of another who changed her community - Aimee Semple McPherson. Her story, her life, her example have been the greatest inspiration in my life. Nearly all of what we do today is because of what she did yesterday. ... My dream as a young man was to some day carry on the legacy of transforming the city of Los Angeles into a beacon of hope. Now, through God's provision, I have the opportunity to pastor the church which Sister McPherson started."

In making this announcement, ICFG President Paul Risser remarks, "In welcoming Matthew Barnett into our Foursquare family, we are taking immense steps toward fulfilling the destiny which God has appointed for Angelus Temple and for the Kingdom of God. The Dream Center is more than a location; it is a spiritual movement providing a reproducible model of ministry to the city. We look forward to a dynamic future together."

From the CNP biography on Tommy Barnett :

Tommy Barnett - CNP 1984, 1988;  Phoenix First Assembly of God; Ordained Minister, Assemblies of God Conference; board evangelist and missionary; board member California Theological Seminary (Fresno); 3 time recipient Fastest Growing Church in America Award and Davenport, Iowa's Man of the Year. Head of  LA International Dream Center [http://www.dreamcenter.org/pastors.asp]--.  

A Former Executive Presbyter of the  General Council of the Assemblies of God, he currently serves on the board and executive committees of many organizations, including the following: Oral Roberts University, Board of Regents; James Robison Evangelistic Association (CNP); "Ministries Today" Magazine ; Phoenix First Assembly of God; L.A. International Church; New Heritage Carolina Corporation; Dr. David Yonggi Cho = Church Growth International, Board of Directors . Tommy's teachings are Word-Faith doctrine, and he is one of the founding trustees of the Charismatic Bible Ministries (CBM), which was founded by Oral Roberts. See: Eject2 and 

From Shepherds in Disguise : "In 1986, the ever ecumenical Oral Roberts formed the International Charismatic Bible Ministries (ICBM) 13 ICBM advertises last years Conference audio and videotape which shows speakers/video workshops to have included “Bill Basansky & Rodney Howard-Browne” teaching, “Church Growth/Home Cell Ministries” and Oral Roberts & Benny Hinn working together. Their new conference is slated for June20-22, 2000. Their slogan has been “Love and Unity through Signs and Wonders.” 14 

The ICBM conducts “leadership conferences,”15 and is a “coalition of charismatic leaders,” many of whom are dominionists.16 While noting that the names change occasionally Al Dager cites an Ad for Charismatic Bible Ministries, in Charisma, May 1987 showing that the original officers and trustees were: Oral Roberts* -Chairman; Ken Copeland* -Secretary; Jack Hayford* - Vice Chairman; Billy Joe Dougherty* - Treasurer; Paul Yonggi Cho—International Honorary Chairman; Executive Committee Members: Charles Green, Marilyn Hickey, Karl Strader [Bolding added]

....

Re: Matthew Barnett and Religious Heritage Award --- CNP's Dr. Theodore Baehr is Executive Committee Chairman, The Religious Heritage Freedom Foundation >http://www.freedomministries.org/board.html, 

Other executive include, J. Kermit Campbell, John B. Damoose; Vonette Bright; James Barrett; Nancy W. Damoose, Freedom Ministries of America; Jay A. Sekulow (CNP), American Center for Law and Justice. 

The Advisory Committee includes: Bernice Brandel; Bill Bright; Sarah Belk Gambrell; Ruth Stafford Peale Center for Christian Living; Dr. Robert Schuller Senior Pastor, Crystal Cathedral; Sir John Templeton, Retired, Templeton Investment Group. 

Numerous categories of RHA awards include recipients such as Billy Graham and Sir John Templeton. [http://www.freedomministries.org/prev_reps.html] A must see list. One of RHA's Projects, is the 2001 The Great Freedom Train Project, which will take a 24-car train across America, departing in 2001 on a 5-year journey to 200+ cities and towns. The train will feature a state-of-the-art exposition on the US spiritual and moral heritage, it's spiritual roots, and the "two faces" of America today, all in the context of a Biblical World View. It will bring the Bible to life and "re-present," with excitement and impact, the fundamental lessons of the Old and New Testament. The Project, co-sponsored by the Religious Heritage of America Foundation and Freedom Ministries of America, is supported by a growing multi- denominational coalition, including Dr. Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ, Mission America (a consortium of hundreds of ministries and churches under the leadership of Bill Bright, Billy Graham and Paul Cedar), the Catholic Alliance, Promise Keepers, The North American Mission Board, the Southern Baptist Convention, and many others. RHA helped initiate the ecumenical National Day of Prayer.

....

Twice-divorced Aimee Semple McPherson's Foursquare Church is the American extension of British-Israelite Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance of Great Britain which has influenced the American Assemblies of God.

From our article 'A Little Identity Crisis ~ British Israelism "

The very ecumenical Aimee Semple McPherson worked with George Jeffreys. The Dictionary of Pentecostal & Charismatic Movements states that, “…Her vision was interdenominational from the start, and the cornerstone of Angelus Temple was inscribed to read that the Temple was dedicated to 'the cause of interdenominational and world-wide evangelism'" 65. 

Although having committed adultery and twice-divorced, McPherson was well followed. Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, had been raised in the Foursquare Church, although he states he never met Aimee Semple McPherson. “… I did not know Mrs. MacPherson. She had died before I ever went to Bible School. I do remember her coming to the Foursquare Church in Ventura when I was a small boy. That is the church my parents first attended, later we moved to Santa Ana where we also attended the Foursquare church. A couple of times we went to the Christmas Oratorio's at Angeles Temple when I was a child, but seeing her from the 1st balcony was as close as I ever got…” 74.  

However, while Chuck Smith himself never formally met Aimee, his wife was closely tied to Aimee’s ministry. Chuck Smith Jr. writes, “My mother sat under Aimee's ministry, even played in the band, and later on (after Aimee's controversial death) worked in the central offices there at Angeles Temple. However, to my knowledge, she never met Ms McPherson, and neither did my father…” 75

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