More On The Gospel For Asia Lawsuit
Warren Throckmorton has posted the entire lawsuit that has been filed against Gospel For Asia.
The suit alleges that Gospel For Asia has engaged in fraud and racketeering for the benefit of its directors.
“Soliciting charitable donations to benefit the poorest of the poor while covertly diverting the money to a multi million dollar personal empire is reprehensible; using a Christian organization as a front to attract and exploit the goodwill and generosity of devout Christians is a particularly vile scheme. But that is exactly what K.P. Yohannan and the organization he controls, Gospel For Asia, have been doing for years.”
This is also a class action suit…if it is successful GFA could be forced to reimburse donors before it collapses in a heap of avarice.
I would suggest that people read the facts presented in this document, facts that have been presented previously, but stand out when put in this format.
For example, between 2010 and 2013 GFA collected 4.2 million dollars for “Widows and Abandoned Children”.
Only 31,265.00 was actually spent on “widows” and nothing was spent on abandoned children.
That’s just a sample…read the entire suit to get a grip on the extent of the fraud alleged.
If these allegations are true there’s a special place in hell for people like this.
The lawsuit doesn’t address the injustices against the GFA Diaspora…put it all together it it is a sordid and wicked picture of a “Christian” organization.
For reasons I’m not sure of, the board members overseeing this (alleged) cartel are not named in this suit.
One of the constants on that board for years was the presence of Skip Heitzig.
More than a few of the rank and file Calvary Chapel pastors have wanted him to answer some of the questions regarding this debacle, as he is also one of the members of the Calvary Chapel Association “council”.
Leaders…should lead.
Instead, they have been stonewalled in the same manner as donors who have inquired have been.
They are finding out first hand what we’ve been saying for years…autonomy that leads to a complete lack of accountability serves the causes of sin and the aspirations of despots.
The only encouraging point to be made here is that some men are asking questions and seeking the truth in this matter.
We commend them.
Meanwhile, Heitzig has been named one of the speakers at the annual Costa Mesa pastors conference.
I’m not sure if he’s speaking before or after Bob Caldwell…
I’m hoping he’ll teach on how ethics are irrelevant if your church is large enough.
It’s the only subject he’s qualified to address.
In the meantime, while leaders refuse to lead, Gospel For Asia is still spending tens of thousands of dollars advertising their (allegedly) fraudulent programs and inducing more large hearted people to donate to what appears to be one hell of a family business.
The leaders of Christendom whose main calling is to protect the flock sit back in mute silence and watch the slaughter of the lambs while gathering speaking engagements.
I’m sure that at this conference they will rail against the evils of the world and those that hold different doctrines than they do.
They will name all they see as wicked and against Christ…after all the mirrors have been removed from the facility.
Make your own application…
This should be sobering for anyone who serves on a board. The position is not one of honor but trust. The trust is given by the people who honor the cause and sow into the vision of the spokespersons of the organization. The board is there to see to it that the organization has not just a vision but the integrity to carry through.
A board member should exist to validate the ones sowing not just the one casting vision. Is the organization staying on mission and are the donations faithfully being applied to the mission.
As an aside, I have had more bad experiences with India over financial integrity. These days I always verify any work I do with India through the auspices of two or more witnesses.
BD,
Thank you…well said.
this episode is one of the PhxP topics that makes me think about things that i don’t think about – in doing so it amazes me where some of the rabbit trails take me … 🙂
it seems like our nation has caught a disease of some sort… we elevate people who are good at posing… we don’t recognize competence and, as a result, we sure don’t celebrate it… in this instance, men who claim positions of authority and respect in the Church have shown themselves to be posers… but we and they are either too lazy or ignorant or – God help us – too corrupted to even be ashamed… cook up a good excuse, press your shirt, get your teeth whitened and press on … is it too late to wake up? if so, it’s going to have a bad end
Many folks who sit on boards have little understanding of board governance. It is often more of a prestige position, and board members are easily manipulated by the organization’s founder/family (and or staff), and simply function as yes-men. It is largely a sham, with the organization being able to claim legitimacy because “we have a board”. The organization is happy. The board members are happy. But little board governance occurs.
Em,
This is nothing more than the inevitable result of the corporate model of evangelicalism.
All that matters is numerical and financial success.
Rob,
What you say is true…but it doesn’t remove the responsibility that such board members have to those who give.
This is one reason Lutherans don’t work with outside groups. We refuse to farm out our missions and benevolence.
For those big names still on the board, what do you think is their reason for staying?
1. Ignorance? (How could they be ignorant at this stage?)
2. Apathy?
3. Willful disbelief of the facts as presented?
4. Arrogance towards GFA’s critics (“Touch not the Lord’s Anointed”)
5. Sticking around to help right a sinking ship? (Good intentions)
6. Disbelief of the evidence? Downplaying the evidence?
7. Cronyism? <— (Most likely, IMO)
#7, ditto.
My 3 and 5 aren’t exactly the same. 3 suggests a willful refusal to consider the evidence while 5 means they just don’t believe it.
Xenia,
Your #8…all of the above.
There are pastors who have said all those things (especially 2-6)
6, not 5. Sorry. Too much allergy medicine this morning.
I nearly ran over a jay-walker a little while ago.
Lord, have mercy on His dopey servant Xenia.
I’m wondering why Skip and ALL board members were not listed in the suit. Wouldn’t they be responsible for where the funds have and have not gone? Isn’t that what the board would be responsible for?
Nonnie,
They should be…
A while back I stuck up for one of the board members, Francis Chan, hoping he was sticking around (A friend sticks to you like a brother) to help KP get back on the right path. But it’s time for him to say something.
“The only encouraging point to be made here is that some men are asking questions and seeking the truth in this matter.”
Good for them!!
Nonnie,
Keep those men in your prayers…they don’t seem to understand what they’re up against.
I don’t know who “those men” are in the CC movement, but I am so proud of them and thankful for them.
Nonnie,
You should be…I am.
We’ll see how long they are allowed to remain in the “movement”.
Should they be attacked, we’ll be here to fight for them, I hope.
Got a note from GFA the other day…”we noticed you have dropped off in your giving,” Is there anything we can pray for you about?” LOL
Cash, you could ask them to pray for Matthew and Jennifer Dickson, who are suing a corrupt mission organisation.
PRAISE JESUS!
Grenier collected lots of money for “Reaching Youth!”
….ended up in his accounts that he controls to support his lifestyle etc.
The Trend….is your friend 😉
Lots of Calvary Chapel Pastors do similar.
I LOVE the smell of Justice and Accountability in the morning.
Marathon, not a Sprint.
All sorts of stuff in the works.
Michael,
I agree that board members are responsible for board governance. Unfoortunately, too many are ignorant of that responsibility, and organizational leaders are perfectly fine with the prestige board.
By the way, I’m wondering if or when crimininal charges will be filed.
Rob,
I would think that if this suit is successful, criminal charges can’t be avoided.
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/feb/11/gospel-for-asia-donors-misled-couple-s-/
17 – while praying for those men with integrity would it be amiss to pray for Divine Discipline to be administered to the posers? to love a movement, an organization above the name of God… doesn’t that put these men today right in there with those who cried out for His crucifixion? after all, Jesus was hurting their kingdom and their kingdom came straight from God… did it? does this gang know what they’re setting themselves up for? r-e-p-e-n-t and repent for the right reasons, not to save your position
IMV – these prop-er-uppers are much worse than the man of the cloth who is unfaithful to a spouse… i’m mad, not because i have a dog in this fight, but because they’re giving my Father a bad name
maybe this board can come up on charges of malfeasance? didn’t they have a fiduciary obligation to the Church also? i’ll forgive them after they’re punished and they repent
Em,
Here’s the truth… without the blogs this bunch wouldn’t say a word.
Not that they are saying a helluva lot now…
Michael, these blogs are God’s shot across the bow… i believe… i don’t know the hearts of these men – but i still wouldn’t want to be in their shoes… i really think that God does repay – grace doesn’t negate justice
Vengeance is mine.
….sayeth the Lord.
Maybe Gospel for Asia has just been misunderstood. Maybe “Asia” is KP’s nickname for his wallet, then this really has been good news for it. Yeah, that’s it. This has just been a simple misunderstanding.
I suggest we rename it GNFKPW- Good News For KP’s Wallet. That will help clarify things.
I remember back in 2005 or 2006, while on staff at Murrieta Hot Springs. During a Sr. Pastor’s Conference, I was talking with a former student who was representing a missions organization working in India. I asked if he worked with GFA, to which he said that GFA wasn’t accountable, and they were just a money making machine. I asked for details, and he clammed up. I thought it was odd that he would make such a claim, but then refuse to back it up. Now it makes me think a lot of this was widely known a LONG time ago.
speaking of vengeance we should remember that no child of God will experience His vengeance, but His discipline … discipline from God is not a bad thing as it is intended to bring about repentance or correction … but vengeance is out there and the day comes – mocking God has a bad end
Good News for KP’s Wallet … 🙂 = bad news for KP
Mark, of course it’s widely known….but the Calvary Chapel “good pastor” Fraternity couldn’t care less.
“Not my problem”
Well, it’s gonna be their Problem in coming years….with lots of lawsuits, trust me on that one.
Hey, tried the other way.
The wheels of justice grind slowly….but they grind…and grind and grind.
Lots of years left sucking air on this rock and lots of stuff to keep pushing behind the scenes.
Don’t think I didn’t have a part in this stuff 😉
Art of War.
I don’t blab about 85% of what goes on.
Folks get the public info I want them to get.
“A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
“Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?”
“This is what the LORD says to you, house of David: “‘Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done– burn with no one to quench it.”
“O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.”
“What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.”
Al – but as a determinist you realize that the bad people can’t help doing bad, the evil can’t help doing evil. It’s just a bad mixture of internal and external molecules.
So give them a break – it’s all kumbaya.
MLD, everyone plays their part.
You play the fool. It’s your part LOL
“God” smote the heck out of Chuck Smith, ravaged him with the cancer.
I got that Spidey sense again….”I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes”–Chuck Smith
I may, but you and bob g are just doing a dance – you just happen to get upset with the gods (note the little g) – just learn to be happy – you can’t change the molecules.
Nah, it is what it is, it will be what it will be.
I just go with the “spirit” and let the chips fall where they may.
God smote the heck out of Chuck Smith though. Yikes, it was too specific a “prophetic word” LOL
And, lawyers are in fact looking into Calvary Chapel and other issues connected to GFA 😉
Lots of funny biz been going on for years
Absolutely ridiculous that I have to stop what I’m doing and drive home and moderate this blog.
Alex, one more profanity or one more insult to the readers and I ban you.
I’ve tried to call, I’ve tried to be gracious, and you don’t want to co-operate.
I’ve got too much on my plate to deal with this.
Later! 🙂
As far as the names on the lawsuit, I have been told that they will likely be amended with additions as the Discovery phase moves forward. This has been typed up by a lawyer. I would think that a good lawyer would start with the people that he thinks a jury is most likely to convict. If other names look really guilty through the Discovery, they can file motions with the court to add defendents. I think more names will likely be added with time, provided that KP chooses not to close it up and take all the money before Discovery is complete. I do not think that Skip will get out of this with a get out of jail free pass. There has to be consequences coming, or God is a liar.
2 Perter 2:3
and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
In their greed…
It’s probably time for the church to take notice of all the ways men are fleecing the sheep.
Was Pastor Al also known as ‘Ricky Bobby’ in times past?
Among other inglorious monikers.
As a current staff member of Gospel for Asia; I invite you to pray. Please pray that God would be glorified, the truth would be made known, and that the members of Gospel for Asia would follow the Lord’s leading and guidance.
Make your own application
Blink twice if there is danger.
praying for the staff serving GFA out of their love for our Lord
re: #54
of course, the prayers that i pray are for the staff that are serving out of their love for our Lord … didn’t mean that i was going to pray them out of their love … sigh
I see on Calvary Chapel Modesto’s web site ( Damian Kyle’s Church ) there is still a link to GFA . I was under the impression he resigned from GFA. I am disheartened.
“As a current staff member of Gospel for Asia; I invite you to pray.”
God please strike KP Yohannan with boils. Thank you, amen.
Congrats to GFA.
You made The Daily Beast.
Every dog has its day.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/12/did-this-preacher-rob-from-the-poor-to-give-to-himself.html
“God please strike KP Yohannan with boils. Thank you, amen.”
God, I’ve already passed judgement and am praying for you to punish someone I assume to be guilty, whether or not they are actually guilty.
Please pray that God would be glorified, the truth would be made known and the people at Gospel for Asia would follow His leading and guidance.