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-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
Walt Thompson |
| To: |
****** |
| CC: |
Mollie Steenson |
| Subject: |
Re: 3abn |
| Date: |
Jun 2007 |
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Dear ******,
Thank you for your recent e mail expressing your concerns
and questions. We appreciate hearing from our viewers and supporters.
Let me begin by saying up front that things are well at 3abn.
Many rumors and false allegations are flying around the world
and creating questions in people's minds, just as in your's.
And it is because of these false statements and inuendos that
3abn has found it necessary to seek the help of the courts of
the land to expose the truth. I will say more about that briefly,
but first, let me respond to your other questions.
Yes, 3abn owned a plane for a few years, and then leased one
for a few more. This is no longer true. We first purchased a
used Jet a number of years ago when Danny and Linda were traveling
all around the country doing live programming in churches and
colleges several weekends per month. To make these trips by commercial
flights was taking them out of the office at least three days
of the week, away from a ministry in a rapidly growing mode that
required a great deal of attention. Our board then determined
there would be great benefit in having a private plane so as
to facilitate that travel and to give them time to do their work
in the office. In retrospect, that was among some of the most
important decisions we have made for the success of 3abn as a
world wide ministry. Because of the quality of programming this
allowed 3abn to produce, the 3abn signal is now broadcast around
the world, and has just this past year been placed on Dish Network,
at & t, Verizon, Quest, and many cable networks. Had we not had
that benefit, it is doubtful 3abh would have qualified for its
present positioning in the television field. It is our position
at 3abn that God has an urgent message to deliver to the world.
He also has all of the resources necessary to deliver it. He
has no shortage of funds. He has called this ministry into existence
to deliver the message. We believe we should avail ourselves
of every available tool to tell the world the message it so urgently
needs to hear. And by the way, contrary to rumor, Danny did not
use the plane for personal travel.
I am not able to comment on Danny's alleged "huge tax deduction"
for horses other than to say that all of my dealings with Danny
have shown him to be honest and above board. I know that he raises
horses as a hobby, and that he has had some pretty valuable stock
at times. This is not part of the 3abn ministry, and I have had
no discussions with him about those personal matters. I also
know that there are those who want to ruin both Danny and 3abn,
and will spare nothing in their attempt. I suspect this, like
the other allegations, is published now as a further attempt
to undermine his and our credibility. I expect it too will be
proven without basis.
3abn is a supporting ministry of the SDA Church. We preach
the message of the Church. We encourage viewers to join and support
the Church. Our board is composed of faithful Seventh day Adventists.
But we are not legally affiliated with the church. We continue
to operate independently of the church. While we believe it is
our role to invite people of all faiths to join us in our faith,
we do not compromise our ministry to join them. Perhaps this
answers the question about preaching a "non-denominational" message.
Now back to the issue of the law suit.
About 9 months ago, e mails, Internet posts, personal letters,
etc. began circulating around the world accusing 3abn and its
people of all manner of false allegations. Initially, we attempted
to respond to some of the questions being asked and allegations
being made. The things we said were then often twisted, edited,
or otherwise given a different meaning, then posted on the Internet
for the world to read. We plead with them to stop, for even if
any of the allegations were true (which they were not), it was
not right to destroy people in such a public way without knowing
all of the facts. In time, we realized we needed to do something,
and after some discussions with some in Church leadership and
meeting as a board, requested ASI to help us out. In response,
after some discussion, ASI agreed to set up a commission to respond
to our request. So as to credibly fulfill our request it would
be necessary to hear both sides of the story. Unfortunately,
Linda and those she had chosen to represent her were unwilling
to abide by the procedure established by ASI, and hence made
it impossible for ASI to arrive at an opinion. Since 3abn is
a supporting ministry of the Church, leadership of the church
rightfully stated that they had no authority to interfere with
3abn activities - nor were they willing to hear our side of the
story. Where else does one go for help? When we could find no
other options by which to have our case heard so as to reassure
our viewers and supporters, and when the leadership of the Church
began to curtail their people from participating with 3abn because
of the effect the rumors were having on the world church, we
believed we must do something. But what?
Let me say again at this point. 3ABN has committed no crime
or immorality, quite contrary to the terrible things being said
about us. From the beginning of this ministry, we have had as
a primary objective to do things right and above board. We believe
we have upheld that standard.
None of us were concerned about our own persons, and would
not have considered a law suit to defend ourselves. We have dedicated
ourselves to the cause of Christ, and know that one must sometimes
pay a price for doing so. But when the criticism began to seriously
affect the ministry, and limit its ability to perform the task
God has commissioned us to do, we believed it was time to act
on His behalf. Yes, we might have continued to pray and expect
God to yet bring us through the crisis. But as I read the record
of the Bible, though God has always been the One who goes before
His people into battle, He has often insisted that they also
have a role to play. Gideon is just one example of many.
As far as going to the courts, I might site the example of
the Apostle Paul, who wrote the portion of First Corinthians
6:5-7, about the courts, but himself finally appealed to Ceasar
because he was unable to work things out with his own people.
I quote from Acts of the Apostles, " "When Festus was come into
the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against
Paul, and besought him, and desired favor against him, that he
would send for him to Jerusalem." In making this request they
purposed to waylay Paul along the road to Jerusalem and murder
him. But Festus had a high sense of the responsibility of his
position, and courteously declined to send for Paul. "It is not
the manner of the Romans," he declared, "to deliver any man to
die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to
face, and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime
laid against him." He stated that "he himself would depart shortly"
for Caesarea. "Let them there . . . which among you are able,
go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness
in him."
429
{AA 428.1}
This was not what the Jews wanted. They had not forgotten
their former defeat at Caesarea. In contrast with the calm bearing
and forcible arguments of the apostle, their own malignant spirit
and baseless accusations would appear in the worst possible light.
Again they urged that Paul be brought to Jerusalem for trial,
but Festus held firmly to his purpose of giving Paul a fair trial
at Caesarea. God in His providence controlled the decision of
Festus, that the life of the apostle might be lengthened. {AA
429.1}
Their purposes defeated, the Jewish leaders at once prepared
to witness against Paul at the court of the procurator. Upon
returning to Caesarea, after a few days' sojourn at Jerusalem,
Festus "the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul
to be brought." "The Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood
round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul,
which they could not prove." Being on this occasion without a
lawyer, the Jews preferred their charges themselves. As the trial
proceeded, the accused with calmness and candor clearly showed
the falsity of their statements. {AA 429.2}
Festus discerned that the question in dispute related wholly
to Jewish doctrines, and that, rightly understood, there was
nothing in the charges against Paul, could they be proved, that
would render him subject to sentence of death, or even to imprisonment.
Yet he saw clearly the storm of rage that would be created if
Paul were not condemned or delivered into their hands. And so,
"willing to do the Jews a pleasure," Festus turned to Paul, and
asked if he
430
was willing to go to Jerusalem under his protection, to be tried
by the Sanhedrin. {AA 429.3}
The apostle knew that he could not look for justice from
the people who by their crimes were bringing down upon themselves
the wrath of God. He knew that, like the prophet Elijah, he would
be safer among the heathen than with those who had rejected light
from heaven and hardened their hearts against the gospel. Weary
of strife, his active spirit could ill endure the repeated delays
and wearing suspense of his trial and imprisonment. He therefore
decided to exercise his privilege, as a Roman citizen, of appealing
to Caesar. {AA 430.1}
In answer to the governor's question, Paul said: "I stand
at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the
Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if
I be an offender, or have committed anything worthy of death,
I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof
these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto
Caesar ." {AA 430.2}
Festus knew nothing of the conspiracies of the Jews to murder
Paul, and he was surprised at this appeal to Caesar. However,
the words of the apostle put a stop to the proceedings of the
court. "Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered,
Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go."
{AA 430.3}
Thus it was that once more, because of hatred born of bigotry
and self-righteousness, a servant of God was driven to turn for
protection to the heathen. It was this same hatred that forced
the prophet Elijah to flee for succor to the widow
431
of Sarepta; and that forced the heralds of the gospel to turn
from the Jews to proclaim their message to the Gentiles. And
this hatred the people of God living in this age have yet to
meet. Among many of the professing followers of Christ there
is the same pride, formalism, and selfishness, the same spirit
of oppression, that held so large a place in the Jewish heart.
In the future, men claiming to be Christ's representatives will
take a course similar to that followed by the priests and rulers
in their treatment of Christ and the apostles. In the great crisis
through which they are soon to pass, the faithful servants of
God will encounter the same hardness of heart, the same cruel
determination, the same unyielding hatred. {AA 430.4} (Witness
the posts on the Internet and other places!)All who in that
evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates
of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of
God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted,
their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted,
and their names cast out as evil. Satan will work with all his
deceptive power to influence the heart and becloud the understanding,
to make evil appear good, and good evil. The stronger and purer
the faith of God's people, and the firmer their determination
to obey Him, the more fiercely will Satan strive to stir up against
them the rage of those who, while claiming to be righteous, trample
upon the law of God. It will require the firmest trust, the most
heroic purpose, to hold fast the faith once delivered to the
saints. {AA 431.1}
This statement describes the vicious attacks against 3abn
and its people exactly. Those making the attacks never came to
us seeking truth, but rather, came to us with false accusations
challenging us to prove them wrong in the "court" of public opinion
where no oath requires truth to be told.
The suit is not about revenge. It is not about hurting anyone.
It is all, and only about fighting for a ministry our Lord has
raised up to proclaim the Three Angels Messages to the world.
We believe He is leading, just as He lead Paul and Elijah and
those of the past who faced similar opposition.
While I do not equate the Church Manual with EGW or the Bible,
I do think that God does guide the Church.
The current CHRUCH MANUAL clearly states that there are situations
where the church has neither the authority nor the ability to
resolve disputes, and in such cases recourse is only to the civil
authorities.
The CHRUCH MANUAL also states that the church should not be
diverted from its mission to preach the gospel to become a civil
magistrate.
I hope this has been helpful to you in trying to understand
our actions. The order to impound was requested in our attempt
to slow the flow of false information that was flooding the Internet
and gosip circles. As I understand it, the word only means that
certain legal documents are not available to be published on
the Internet or other public places prematurely. It does not
mean that the "books" will never be opened - only that there
is a proper time for that to occur.
The law suit is about the discovery of truth at a time when some
would like to see 3abn tried and condemned in the Internet court
of public opinion where there are no ethical rules of conduct.
In the short run, it is easy for lies to win over truth. God
faced the same dilemma when Satan rebelled. He could have told
the whole truth about Satan at the time, but none would have
believed. We are in a similar position. God chose to reveal truth
by a process of judgment. We have chosen to follow His example.
Truth will win in the long run.
Thanks again for expressing your concerns. I would be happy
to discuss this further if you have further comments or questions.
Sincerely in Jesus' precious name,
Walter Thompson MD
Chairman, 3abn board
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