. . . New website: . . .
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Another key player in Nashville is Stephen Mansfield. Richard Bartholomew, a religion columnist for Salon, has paid a lot of attention to Broocks. Mansfield finally answered him. But why does Mansfield need to do damage control for Broocks, why doesn't Broocks himself get on his own denomination's message board and set the record straight - about Sirotnak, Bonasso, Ball, Feste, the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"It was February of 1978 and I was a college junior at Mississippi State University. Sitting in Sarris's restaurant, I was invited to a campus meeting by two students, one of which was Steve Murrell, then a freshman. Although I had been born again, I was desperately searching for the power of God in my life. Walking into a small meeting that night, I was introduced to the pastor's
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The problems were from the beginning. Bob Weiner came to Paducah to have a youth rally at his father-in-laws Methodist church. I was not there. They had a bunch of kids get saved, rededicate their lives to God. Bob and Rose were previously heading to Sweden to preach there. They kept the commitment and then came back through Paducah to check up on things with the kids. They saw that many of the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"Maybe they should change the name to "Under the Bridge Austin"...lol. Once everyone found out about "the letter" from Sue to Helen Ball disclosing the real nature of her relationship with her boss, everyone disappeared. They were meeting in a house owned by Sally & Benny _______ , former members of the Austin church. Once the news broke, they said bye bye to Greg
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

TO: Bethel Church, Every Nation Churches, Inc., Victory Clubs of America, Inc., Steve Hollander, Rice Broocks, Jr. FROM: Maria and Felicia Vega, Laurie Noyes and Jill Gustafson ...The Plaintiffs are persuaded that members of Bethel Church, its pastors and the Bethel Parties have sincere beliefs which can be a positive influence in the world. The Plaintiffs are also persuaded that the vast a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"When Jesus saw similar multitudes, “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” His response to this need? To send out laborers – to send us – into this harvest. Among those He has sent in recent days is my friend, Darrell Green, the legendary twenty-year veteran of the Washington Redskins. From time to time, Darrell woul
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

GOP COURTS EX REDSKIN FOR VIRGINIA SENATE SEAT By Michael D. Shear Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, April 15, 2006; Page B01 Former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell R. Green is being urged to run for the state Senate from Loudoun County next year by leading Northern Virginia Republicans who hope he can use his fame on the football field to oust newly elected Democrat Mark R. H
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

VCM: STORMING THE CAMPUS FOR JESUS “Here’s a quote you can have about them: dangerous weirdoes.” That’s what Paul Litterick, spokesperson for the Rationalists and Humanists, had to say about Victory Campus Ministries (VCM). Victory Campus Ministries are an AUSA-affiliated club on campus. One of its members is running for the position of AUSA student president in the upcoming elections. But wh
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Focus On Sex, Love and Choices Speaker: Tony Fetchel Right to Life League of Southern California 14th Annual Education Conference "I grew up in Southern California. When I was in high school, abstinence was never presented as a choice. The philosophy was that "we were going to do it anyway" and so we were instructed in condom use and contraceptives. Looking back, I know
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"A lot of people in Washington wish they could hobnob with President Bush the way Darrell Green has. Green was the first topic in one of Bush's speeches, presumably with Green in the audience. "The most compassionate thing Darrell Green has done is to retire. Particularly if you're a Dallas Cowboys fan." Green was pictured sitting in front of the First Couple on the White
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Bryan Schwartz to speak Monday at clergy appreciation event in Aberdeen Arberdeen News 10/11/2002 As a middle linebacker, Bryan Schwartz followed highly planned defensive schemes set down by his coaches. Now he's just letting the Lord lead the way. The South Dakota native, who spent five years playing in the National Football League, moved his family to Austin, Texas, because "i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Pastor Sees Room on Mall for Slave Tribute By David Cho Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, March 8, 2003; Page B01 Something is missing from the Mall, says Herndon pastor Brett Fuller. When he walks its length, Fuller sees monuments to great presidents, marble parks depicting history-changing events and walls of black granite bringing comfort to relatives of war casualties. But there
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

My Lord!!! Finally...an opportunity to get this grief off my chest! It's been more than 14 years since my family and I left what was then known as "Morning Star Christian Church." As all here seem to know, it was formerly a branch of Maranatha Ministries. Right off the bat, please excuse me for unavoidably stepping on a few toes. Honestly, it’s part of the reason why I am writi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

STOP THE HOLY SHOWBOATING Listen up, jocks: God doesn't care if you score a touchdown. So do your praying in private, not in the end zone. By Dan McGraw Salon September 28, 2002 | In the second week of the NFL season, Dallas Cowboy quarterback Quincy Carter heaved a 38-yard pass into the end zone. Cowboy receiver Joey Galloway was double-covered, but somehow outfought the defensi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

THE GOD OF THE GRIDIRON by David Plotz Slate It wasn't so long ago that sports fields were the devil's playground. Babe Ruth could commit five of the seven deadly sins before noon and hit three home runs by dinner. In Damn Yankees, it was Satan, not God, who offered the Washington Senators a pennant in exchange for a player's soul. (Lesson: Offense wins games. Demons win c
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Redskins' Gibbs Keeps the Faith Strong Christian Beliefs Provide Foundation for Coach By David Cho Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, April 11, 2004; Page A01 An hour before the revving of engines and the first wave of the green flag, the huge crowds of auto racing fans milling about the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee were told over a booming loudspeaker that they were in fo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"Mark Brunell has an awful lot of explaining to do. Never mind Skin Patrol's "Investigating the Mark Brunell Inigma." He has something a lot more serious to explain. Brunell introduced other athletes - and only he knows how many - to the notorious agent Greg Feste, who burned those athletes big. Brunell also was willingly the most prominent and outspoken member of th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

VICTORY CLUBS CULT SUED IN NASHVILLE Parents Say Bethel World Outreach Center Uses Schools to Recruit Nashville Tennessean by Lee Ann O'Neal May 14th, 2005 A Hillsboro High School parent says a teacher recruited her daughter into the Brentwood-area Bethel World Outreach Center, where a church staff member told the teen that her relationship with God was strong enough that she no
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

University of Southern California Football Training Camp 1979 “THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS” The sign hung in bold letters over the entrance to the locker room. Jake would need this reminder before his gut busting initiation into USC football. The field smelled of the fresh cut grass and the air was tainted with the smell of bodies and sweat, it was the first day of spring practice.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

DARRELL GREEN FOR VIRGINIA STATE SENATE Former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell R. Green is being urged to run for the state Senate from Loudoun County next year by leading Northern Virginia Republicans who hope he can use his fame on the football field to oust newly elected Democrat Mark R. Herring. Green, one of the most well-known Redskins from the team's recent golden era, lives
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

In a 1999 Sports Illustrated article, the author gets to the heart of Robinson’s Christian faith. David Robinson’s heart went to Jesus on June 8, 1991. He proudly notes it is “my second birthday”. Yet he is caught in this most secular of modern creations, professional sport with its instant gratification, easy adulation, and flowing beer taps. Money? It is paid for a rebound, for a jump shot,
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

CORRECTION: You can contact Richard Bartholomew at this link.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

How do we contact Andrew Bartholomew with updates? His website has no contact information.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"This will all blow over, of course." Like previous episode blew over. And the previous and the previous and the previous. And the next and the next and the next. The episodes haven't stopped since the day Bob Weiner founded Maranatha. Stop trying to do damage control for these people. For one thing, they have plenty of practice at doing their own damage control. For an
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"I know that MSI/EN has had some negative press recently. It has been interesting for me to observe the movement as a newcomer because I watch them do the right thing and get negative press for it ... I find that most of these charges are baseless or minor matters exaggerated while the major moral stands taken by the MSI/EN's leaders are ignored." Negative publicity? The next
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

RICHARD BARTHOLOMEW: I think there are basically two problems with Every Nation. First, there have been three occasions where groups associated with MSI/EN have provoked negative media reports: a few years ago there were ongoing concerns about Champions for Christ, and in the past year there have been complaints concerning the AIO fraternity at the University of South North Carolina and a club
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

www.geocities.com/ulyankee/ Bartholomew's Notes on Religion has several pages on Maranatha / Every Nation / Champions for Christ. Does anyone have a list of those links? Any more links to any more significant sites?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

REFRESHER COURSE: During the Curtis Enis controversy, Washington Redskins cornerback and Champions board member Darrell Green vehemently condemned the NFL investigation. NBA forward and Champions vice-president A.C. Green, its first pro member, fired off a letter to the editor of Sports Illustrated. Both Greens are longtime friends of Greg Ball, who co-founded Champions, who converted
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

LETTER TO THE NASHVILLE MEDIA: There's a major story waiting for you to pluck and it has several Nashville angles. Rice Broocks is pastor of Bethel World Outreach Center, co-founder of Champions for Christ sports ministry, co-founder of the Every Nation denomination, and former major board member of the notorious Maranatha Campus Ministries. He is based in Nashville. He recently
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families