The Faithful BEWARE
or
They only want your money
I recently had the extremely eye opening and wallet draining
experience becoming a minister in one of those online ordination sites. I was asked to officiate at my daughter's
wedding and perform a ceremony at death for another person, I was warned by my daughter that if they
charge, they are most likely a fraud designed to bleed you dry in the name of
religion. I found one that lists
"Some folks want to get ordained to be just wedding ministers and that is
totally acceptable". (I found out
later that was not exactly true. Soon
after joining there was a newsletter sent out saying that if you were not being
an active minister, performing a minister's duty then they should quit.) Even
though I did research I was still unprepared for the bank-draining slippery
slope. I should have realized the scam
when the "leader" made sure I stayed away from the other
organizations with similar names to their organization. I was told those others were not
"real" religions and if I should associate at all with them I would
be "terminated." It set me
aback; terminated? I was not an employee
but a nondenominational independent minister.
I let that slip by unchallenged.
Maybe it was thought I wouldn't understand any other description of why
I shouldn't associate with them. That
was warning sign # 1. Don't compare
EVER! You may find out the scam
The first charge was for my ordination packet. The ordination was free but I had to purchase
the "Required To Purchase Their Ministerial Credentials. Credentials of
Ministry Are Required By Law. " OK,
there is a charge but hey, they are supposedly a not for profit organization
and the printing and filing and mailing should be covered by me. I should have known that, holding my
ordination hostage and worthless until paying for the "required
documentation", was warning sign # 2. Pay or not official
I received my documents after paying for them and HEY! A
free Doctorate of Divinity. Say What?!
Why do so many attend Christian colleges and invest so much money and
time when they can get it for free and then can use the prefix Dr. and suffix
D.D.? I was thrilled that a life long
calling to Christ was finally coming true.
I had no real plans for anything beside performing a wedding or two but,
back to previously mentioned newsletter, it was expected that I do more than
just the occasional wedding. Warning #3. Pressured to do something that was not
as first advertised
OK, that is 3 warnings I passed by but I did have a calling
so, I decided to start a "The Digital Ministry" church. I am on some medications that can affect my
memory if I don't write it down or need reminding. I started a website to minister through blogs
and video sermons. In addition, I listed information on weddings, funerals,
etc. on the website. I even lined up a fund raising campaign. The only thing I had active was the
blog. The fund raising and video sermons
had to wait. I was waiting for the ability to purchase (I know more $) my
bishop certificate and my church charter.
These were needed to be an official church. $10.00 to become a bishop and $50.00 for the
church charter. Warning # 4. Money buys anything these days
On what I had to buy, there seemed to be an extremely
expensive mailing costs that I was charged.
It was explained to me as "In accord with our phone conversation,
order totals cannot exceed 25 items, the system only calculates shipping of
$9.95 for the first item ordered and $4.95 for each additional item ordered up
to 25." There has to be a more cost
effective way to send these out. I did
email the "leader" once because I wasn't sure if I had received all
items. The tracking numbers didn't
include items associated with it. To add
to the confusion on my part, items showed up in separate mailings. One conversation with the "leader"
and all items were verified as received.
Little did I know that a few weeks after, this was thrown back in my
face and implied I was trying to pull something over on them. Warning #5. Vengeance is mine sayeth the
"leader"
I had been asked to contribute blogs to their web page. I jumped right in and was sending a blog
every week. The "leader" told
me to back off and send one a month or so.
I complied and didn't send any for three or four weeks. I was reprimanded by the "leader"
for not submitting any more blogs. He
didn't seem to care that he told me to cut back, plus I had been working
several hours a day on the upcoming radio show.
He kept saying that I was not doing as I had said I would. Warning #6.
Don't do as I say, do as is convenient to me even if I don't know it
Now for the kicker; the "leader" had asked for
people to host a weekly spot on their radio show. I agreed as it was said "$25 monthly donation on or around the 15th". Indulge me a moment while I add the
definition of donation: The
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
do·na·tion
noun \dō-ˈnā-shən\
Definition of DONATION
: the act or an instance of donating: as
a : the making of a
gift especially to a charity or public institution
b : a free contribution : gift
Correct me if I am wrong but, if a specified amount is
required, isn't that a fee? Donations
are gifts.
Warning # 7. Words
are twisted and redefined to sound better
I worked tirelessly on the blogs and the first radio program
and was quite disappointed that I might not be able to broadcast my piece
because the $25.00 monthly fee (donation) may be more than I can manage. I am a disabled American living on a fixed
income. I spent any savings, however
meager, on certificates, titles, charters, etc.
I contacted the "leader" to say I am having a hard time
fitting in the $25.00 monthly donation (fee) and I was going to take the night
to pray and figure anything out. I told
him I was not backing away from the program as of yet; I will see what I can come
up with. That was when I received the
wrath of God, err, I mean, the "leader". He even accused me of not composing my clogs,
that I had copied other people's blogs.
I can assure you, with certainty, the only copying done were Bible
writings and those were identified with book and chapter identification. His premise was my blogs were composed better
than my emails. The two are separate and
different styles. I worked hours on the
blogs and minutes on emails. Of course
the styles are different. I use spell check and grammar check on my blogs,
nothing on emails. Warning #8. What's up
with this guy
The following are the emails that were written between
myself and "leader". The only
editing done was to remove the "leader's" name and affiliation. My emails are black text and in italics, "leader's"
text is red and bold. You be the judge......
Bro. “leader”,
Do you know whet time
slot my radio program will be scheduled for?
I will be submitting a recorded show.
When I upload the piece, how does it know when to broadcast?
I don’t want to upload it and have it go on the air in the wrong time slot.
Peter:
You record through
the studio. You will be on Monday at 7PM. we will forward instructions after we
get payment of the $25 monthly donation on or around the 15th
I didn’t realize there
is a $25.00 monthly donations. I can’t
swing that, not just yet. My ministry
has, as of yet, not brought in any funds.
To date it has been totally out of my pocket. I am sure you remember my income is through
disability and it isn’t that much. I
need to focus my monetary limitations into building my home and digital
ministry. For now, I guess I will have
to withdraw from radio participation.
Once my ministry costs lighten up, charter costs et al, I will
reconsider the radio participation. I do
apologize but I do not want to enter into a program that I may not be able to
maintain. I am sure you would prefer a
sustainable participation and not one that may or may not be able to commit.
I am so sorry and promise I will reconsider once funds allow.
Peter:
We made that very
clear. Peter if your money is that tight? Perhaps you shouldn't consider doing
this kind of work. Why would you order a Charter if you are that hard up where
you can't afford $25.00? Than the day after you order a decal and a rosary?You spend money you don't have on three things you really didn't need, but here is something that can help others and cause you to become active and you change your mind. Plus last month your purchased stuff you really did need.
I asked you for long term commitment, Peter this is just not going to work. I think you need to give it up.
Br “leader”
You may be right. I heard the $25.00 but didn’t realize it was
monthly. As far as giving it up, it
wouldn’t surprise me. Every time I have
answered my calling, something comes along and derails it. I had hoped that this time would be
different. I am going to do some heavy
praying and reflecting before making any final decisions. The negative powers are still after me. I pray there is points for trying over and
over again.
Peter:
It is not your
decision, but it is our decision. You can purchase all these other items, but
when it comes down to doing it, you choose to back off. You are not in this for
just recognition as a Minister or Bishop, you are in this to be active and to
take action as a disciple of Christ. You are the one who derails it by refusing
to perform duties, you simply want the recognition for what it is you do not
deserve. Do you really want to be Minister or do you just want others looking
at you as a Minister?
Brother “leader”
Actually I am not
backing off the radio by choice. God
knows the hours of research and writing I have done for the first show. I have spent hours on the blogs. I have a nursing home that I planned on
visiting on a regular basis and they have my contact if they needed a minister
late at night or anytime. I have a web
page I have set up and a couple of campaigns and organizing a small home
ministry besides the video ministry to go on line. So, I do not think I have refused to perform
duties, I just can’t commit to $25.00 each and every month without knowing if I
will be able to raise the funds through the ministry to afford $25.00 a
month. July was budgeted but I can’t
count on that every month. I felt it
best to be up front once I realized the monthly monetary. As far as the rosary, decal, and charter I do
not have a rosary so, if I am to minister to any religion, I would need it,
especially visiting nursing homes. The
charter is so I can get the home and digital ministries up and running so that
my personal money won’t have to support the ministry on its own. Donations and tithing to a chartered ministry
was to fund itself after my initial personal money. THIS is what I really need to pray
about. I have had the calling for 30
plus years and something always comes up to derail it. I would have said prior to this that Satan’s
minions were the derailers but now? I
don’t know. I need to ask for God’s will to be done.
Peter:
If you do not do the
radio show, you will be terminated for breach of agreement and you will be
lucky if we do not seek damages. I was emphatically clear to you we needed long
term commitment. There is no excuse.
Brother “leader”
I had every intention
of trying to work out the monthly 25.00 you demand from me to do your radio
program. I don’t do well with threats
and accusations. I had asked that I be given
the night to think and pray on my ability to maintain 25.00 monthly. I hope it is not your intent to drive me
away, look at my prior email below! And,
how dare you say I am only doing this as recognition and not do ministerial
duties! Shame on you and you unchristian-like accusations and bullying tactics. The bit
about taking down the image of my Bishop Appointment was due to one of YOUR
prior emails accusing me of wanting to make people believe I am a minister and
not wanting to do the work. I took it
down because you perceived it to be a bragging and status showing off. I humbly removed it out of humility and what
becomes of it? Your nasty voice mail. Each time I come to the decision to complete
my mission, nay my calling, you show me nothing but high-pressured bullying.
Stop bullying me while
I pray for guidance. Each time you do, I
start writing a resignation but stop because I am called. Please BACK OFF! while I pray.
Peter:
The time for prayer
should of been before you agreed to do this, not after you submit a title,
description and your promise to do the show.
This is not bullying,
you already committed, we promoted it and you are backing out. You came to us,
we set everything up and than you dropped the ball. You can attempt to put
whatever spin you want on this, but it is you taking the path of a coward,
leaving us high and dry and causing our good name great harm, not to mention it
is a slap in the face toward Christians and Jesus Christ.
One thing I
absolutely will not tolerate is someone who makes a promise and than pulls the
plug making this institution look bad in the public eye. It will not happen
without severe consequences to the individual I assure you.
Put that in your pipe
and smoke it Peter, Ministers do not lie, cheat and attempt to steal
recognition that is not due.
~ Brother “leader”
What is your
PROBLEM! I said I was tying to work this
out YET you say things like “Put that in your pipe and smoke it Peter,
Ministers do not lie, cheat and attempt to steal recognition that is not due.”
Stop bullying me! Please BACK OFF! while I pray.? Are you trying to force me out?
What do you mean
force you out? We are going to proceed with fraud and misrepresentation
charges? You will not get a way with this. You came to us, you gave to us a
title and description. We will do everything we can to seek damages and to
insure you will not do this to anyone ever again.
Brother “leader”
You have made this a
hostile environment. I had said, all along I must have misunderstood the 25.00
monthly commitment to pay you for my services on the radio. I said I would need a night to pray and work
things out. YOU HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION
OF HOSTILITY AND AN ATTEMPT AT DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER. You have made my decision for me. I will no longer avail myself to an
organization that represents itself with Christian virtue yet displays anything but Christian. I did not misrepresent myself OR commit
fraud. I said all along I misunderstood
and needed a night to work through. I
had intended to email you that I would do the shows but you have made that
impossible to continue. I am truly
devastated by your insensibility and not waiting for me to figure out a way to
make the finances work. IT IS YOU that
have made this choice, I tried to work it through and was all set to send you
an email with the assurance I would continue with the broadcast. Too bad you beat it to me and berated me and
try to defame my faith. I assure there
is nothing I am trying to get away with.
You have made it impossible to tell you I would continue with plans for
the radio. Use the 50.00 I sent you for
Church Charter to ease my conscience.
I hope you the best, and God bless
Furthermore you lied
when you became ordained with us. You are a homosexual. The Christian Doctrine
strictly forbids such behavior especially by Ministers. You are a Big Liar.
Ascertainining a Christian ordination when you do not adhere to the Christian Doctrine
of Faith is another act of fraud and misrepresentation.
Brother “leader”
What? now I am a homosexual? What proof have you of
my sexual orientation, remembering I am a father of 2 and grandfather. I stopped with the blogs for a few weeks YOU
said I was submitting too many and people would not read through them. And as far as Christian Doctrine, I am a
Christian! PERIOD! I take medication
that does play with memories, ask my daughter. (oh yeah, You think I am
gay). Please cease communications to
me. Instead, address them to my lawyer. He is in the Cc section. Again, I am sorry you couldn’t wait the night
for me to figure things out.
Again, God bless
Good than your lawyer
is a witness, regarding proof of your self proclaimed homosexual
behavior.....Your Facebook page (See attachment). Those blogs are copied and
pasted without citations, that is plagiarism - They are not your blogs.
~ Brother “leader”
Now his threatening voicemail:
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