Government-funded programs are beginning to pop up. Pomona's Shield of Faith Christian Center headed by a black and white couple, are the driving force behind the church's successful, government-funded Welfare to Work program. The leadership told reporters, there is high unemployment in Pomona, California and we couldn't focus on the message of salvation alone; we had to address the context. That meant helping unemployed homeless residents to get jobs.. the welfare reform in 1996 enabled churches to apply for federal dollars for social services they provided on church funding. They received $250,000 for a two- year contract... They acquired extra responsibilities of satisfying the government accounting requirements, as well as making at least 75 job placements in the two-year contract. It was done and the contract will be renewed. (Charisma Magazine, August 2001 p.18)

Bishop Dennis Leonard of Heritage Christian Center announced that his church will be participating in "Faith-base pursuits. Dennis was in construction before he designed and built his own mega church. Visitors like Thompson and Parsley quickly increased his membership beyond capacity. One night we made the mistake of going to the old building where the youth held their meetings. An evangelist from England was busy entertaining the youngsters with the Revival Spirit of laughter and put many kids under the spell of carpet time. Some of the kids were virtually jumping to the ceiling in hysterical laughter. I remained in the back of the room and that spirit of laughter seemed to get to most attendees. My friend's child, a former Mormon, went down to the floor as soon as she entered the hall. Her dad was overwhelmed with delight that God would touch her that quickly.

We know today that is not what happened. Heritage Center is ecumenical and multicultural. Like Marilyn Hickey's church, flags from most countries decorated the walls when we attended.They offer third dimension worship and have a choice of many programs, from bowling to drama, finding employment to helping people get off drugs. They are now participating in the Charitable Choice/ Faith Based Initiative.

I can safely say that the Hickey's of the former Happy Church in Littleton, led the way in building mega organizations to gear into what is happening today. We have known Marilyn Hickey unbeknownst to her, from the time she was a simple school teacher simply reading the Bible on radio. That ministry literally exploded internationally through a whole many ideas which have covered the earth. She is the one who introduced bringing the world into the church to make people feel at home. It worked. From her ministry sprang thousands of ministries.

The cell group concept came from China. Young ministers were sent over there to learn how to do it. The concept was embraced because it was supposed to bring in new members by inviting neighbors into the meetings. There was roll call and very tight surveillance of each member in the group. They shared their most intimate experiences. The concept was the foundation to the Faith-Based concept.

In these meetings people prayed about their needs so the group could then come in and try to fix the problems. In example: we had a neighbor who had divorced her husband and she had never worked and could not hold a job. Every meeting she would pray over her flat tire, or needing her plumbing fixed, or needed food ect.. The church had to substitute for her husband who had married someone else. It was easy to identify the problems in the congregation. That laid the foundation for what wants to happen today where the government wants to move the whole social responsibility into the church and under the Republicans with little government funding.

According to Marilyn's testimony, she purchased a $36 million shopping center for around $7 million telling everyone that God was behind this effort. The church kept expanding from reconstruction to reconstruction of the sanctuary to hold all the people. She now has a university, and school classes from kindergarten up.

Unknowingly Marilyn had an influence on the Baptist Derek's life who joined the Goth. His comment to his Baptist pastor was: "Christian mimes wear makeup," which was one of Marilyn's specialties. She encouraged young teens to do mimes and go and witness with these performances. The whole TBN agenda was influenced by her ministry. One of the choirs could very well be Goths. They have the look without the white faces. The conductor wears black long stringy hair and the choir wears black

Marilyn welcomes anyone no matter what they wear or who they represent. Her ministry is totally open ecumenical and multicultural. She is very popular in Africa. Her bookstore is lined with Kenneth Hagin and Copeland's books which brings me to the next subject.

This comment was made in the White House. "Quakers are in opposition to slavery," so was this one. Anyone who knows something about Freemasonry would know what "the thousand points of lights" refer to. We featured an article about the Grand Lodge in Texas which put a Mason on the moon and claimed it.

Pentecostal leaders rally in D.C. to support Bush's 'Faith-Based Initiative'. Hundreds of pastors are seeking a controversial partnership with the government to provide services to the poor. "It's time to bring new resources to people in need," Vice President Dick Cheney announced at the summit's opening reception. "And I;m speaking to experts tonight - those with a real track record of changing lives.

The national Center for Faith Based Initiative (NCFBI) in West Palm Beach, Fla., served as co-host for the summit. Bishop Harold Calvin Ray said his organization will serve as a clearinghouse for more than 50,000 churches to help them secure needed resources for economic rejuvenation and for empowering troubled communities. Ray also is founder of the Kingdom Dominion Church Fellowship of about 300 independent Pentecostal churches in the United States. Harold Ray, a black former attorney has gained support from 10 of the most prominent black pastors in the country who serve as its board of governors: Charles E. Blake [who just built a $65 million cathedral in Los Angeles and multimillionaire Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas.

The NCFBI has partnered with the National Black Chamber of Commerce, The National Center for Neigborhood Enterprise, and The American Center for Law and Justice. The alliances are part of Ray's overall plan to make NCFBI the flagship of the faith-based initiative in this country. [Charisma Magazine, July 2001, pp. 31, 32}

Habitat is the "in" thing right now. President Bush (hit his thumb) and President Clinton visited and hammered nails into new homes built for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian organization which has been in existence since 1976. Franklin Graham's ministry builds homes in South America from this same funding plus donations. More than 100,000 houses have been built in more than 60 countries. East Pasco Habitat in Dade City near Tampa, Florida, broke ground on their 14th house. John Finnery wants to build 24 homes. The land would cost $96,000, he said. "We want to tear down the shacks and build decent housing for people in need." 35 volunteers and friends of the community gathered to break ground. People who get the homes are required to put "sweat equity" into building their home. (The Tampa Tribune, May 21, 2001)