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On January 19 there was an Inaugural Prayer Luncheon
for Unity and Renewal at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington
D.C. Tickets cost $100. The Washington Times Foundation
sponsored the luncheon. As is often the case the committee
that sent out the letter for the luncheon was not part of the
Washington Times Foundation. They included Doug Wead.
Doug Wead is an unpaid political adviser. Larry Zillioz
was kind enough to send me some background on Wead. Doug
Wead is an unpaid political adviser. While Bush has shunned many
of his father's old political advisers, Wead is one exception.
During the Bush administration, Wead, ordained as an Assemblies
of God minister, served as a liaison to various groups, including
the evangelical community. He is now reaching out to gather evangelical
support for the younger Bush. In an interview with the Center,
Wead acknowledged that Bush turned to him during the intense
media scrutiny over rumors of cocaine use. "I'm a friend,
and he did call me that week. I'm not in his inner circle,"
Wead said.
Wead is a motivational speaker, an author and business consultant
based in Irving, Texas, near Dallas. In the past he's been viewed
as a religious extremist. When he ran for Congress in Arizona
calling himself a "Goldwater Republican," Barry Goldwater,
objecting to his views, endorsed the Democrat, who won. He lost
his job at the White House when he objected that the Bush staff
had invited a number of gay groups to the signing of hate crime
bill, according to the Arizona Republic. His popularity with
the evangelical community is a valuable asset to Bush, who is
said to call him regularly. Wead is credited with Bush's strong
showing in the Iowa straw poll last August.
According to the New Republic, Wead helped George W. Bush's
brother, Neil, after the government investigation of the Denver-based
Silverado Savings and Loan. Neil had sat on the thrift's board,
but he was not prosecuted. Wead, according to the newspaper,
offered him a share of his lecture-circuit business.
Also on the committee who sent out the invitations was Rev.
Walter E. Fauntroy, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church and a
former delegate to Congress. Rev. Fauntroy has a long history
of appearances at Moon sponsored events. His appearance
lends the Unification Church the luster of his association with
Martin Luther King and congress. He was a strong lobbyist
on the Parents Day legislation especially to Rep. Dan Burton,
Republican from Indiana. Burton gave his speech to the
house and a few weeks later Fauntroy attended the Second World
Peace Conference, held in Seoul Korea to coincide with the Unification
Church's 40th anniversary.
At this conference Fauntroy presented Sun Myung Moon and his
wife with a framed copy of the Parents Day resolution proposed
by Burton. The list of those attending this luncheon
needs to be an eye opener for all of us. Even more important
everyone needs to read how the event was reported both in the
Washington Times and on the Unification News' web page, which
I am sure will end up front page of the Unification News.
I will not go through the whole list of those attending but the
key names need to be given. John Ashcroft was the Bush
representative who attended. Rev. Tony Evan, senior pastor
of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas gave the opening prayer.
I honestly do believe that Rev James Merritt, president of
the Southern Baptist Convention was caught off guard and did
not realize it was a Moon sponsored event. He states the
invitation came from Wead. Merritt gave a tribute to Rev
Billy Graham. However, we can be sure that Jerry Falwell,
Robert Schuller, Pat Boone, Jack Hayford were well aware of the
sponsor. They have all attended other Moon sponsored events.
Paul Crouch from TBN television, and Kenneth Copeland also
spoke at the event. The two reports tell about these ministers
honoring Billy Graham, Martin Luther King and Sun Myung Moon,
with Moon accepting an award from the ecumenical ministers for
his work in support of traditional family values. It is
important to point out here that While Rev. Merritt was caught
off guard and when he realized the intention of the luncheon,
he decided to use his time to honor Graham and as an opportunity
to share the gospel message.
Unfortunately the Unification News web-page and the Washington
Times reported a modified story. While they acknowledged
honoring Graham and Martin Luther King, they placed Sun Myung
Moon equal to those honors and when they gave him the ecumenical
award left out with ministers were involved in presenting the
award. Thus their readers still believe that Merritt, Falwell
and Paul Crouch etc., were part of that presentation. An
e-mail from Paul Carden said that Crouch showed the luncheon
on his TV program including showing Sun Myung Moon getting the
award. What a recruitment tool that now makes for them.
I also need to point out that the editor in chief of the Washington
Times, Wesley Pruden, was the one to introduce Sun Myung Moon
and Mrs. Moon as old friends. Upon leaving those attending
were given the book True Family and World Peace, which includes
the sermons of Sun Myung Moon in the New Testament Age.
Pat Minichello got me a copy of the book. It would be important
for us to have anyone one we know who received the book to read
pages 25- 28. There the quote from Moon's speech July 6,
1992 clearly states that he is the Messiah, Lord of the Second
Advent. The book also tells of Jesus' failure to accomplish
his mission. Moon presses the teaching that Jesus failed
and asked him Moon to do what he could not do. Simply based
on that teaching every Christian should take a very strong stand
against it and Moon or they really are not Christians.
There should be no doubt that the Washington Times and its
foundation are not only owned and controlled by Sun Myung Moon,
but are used to give Moon both creditability and help recruit
members into his movement. In preparing this talk, Pat
Minichello made me aware of the November/December 2000 issue
of Today's World, the Unification Churches magazine, and
the article about a newspaper the Middle East Times. This
paper according to the article was established as a project of
the New World Communications, the parent company of the Washington
Times, UPI and other secular publications. Dr. Bo Hi Pak
and Robert Morton proposed the idea of the paper in 1982 as an
English-language newspaper that would promote understanding and
reconciliation in the Middle East.
The article goes on to state that Unificationists can be proud
that their just views have been disseminated continuously by
a small yet persistent and consistent voice for almost two decades.
What is the difference between this paper and the Washington
Times who have the same owner and leadership? Moon has
claimed to have given over one billion dollars to the Washington
Times to keep it running. What is he getting for his money?
Yes, the paper plays to the right and conservative beliefs.
But is it any different than any cult group that we have studied
where they use maybe up to 90% or more of the Scriptures and
change the rest? This picture of Moon getting an ecumenical
award has got to be worth a couple million bucks to Moon and
his movement.
The Luncheon was held in conjunction with an American Leadership
Conference, that the Washington Times reported was an inspirational
and training events for clergy and state legislators.
The American Leadership Conference is another Moon front.
Remember that this group sent out millions in mailings to get
Bush senior elected.
The problem is two-fold. Moon has apparently a very
unlimited supply of money and is willing to spend it to attract
names he can use for his advantage. We are all well aware
of the vast amounts of money Jerry Falwell has received from
Moon over the years and has clearly indicated he is still willing
to do so. Jerry has stated that he would be willing to
preach in hell if they let him back out. We need to assure
Jerry that Satan would love to have him preach in hell, first
of all since no one in Hell can be saved and Satan will let him
come and go as he wants because Satan gets to keep some of those
who followed Jerry down. As for Robert Schuller, it's a
waste of time and that could be another whole workshop.
However, it is important to know that Schuller has spoken at
several Moon events and get paid well for them.
What we need to do is go after everyone attending these events
and make it clear that if they did not know the sponsor at the
time that they do now and we will let the Body of Christ know
if they continue. As ministries we also need to take a
stand and if they continue to accept Moon money be sure that
we are completely disassociated with them in every way.
Many of the politicians have also received large sums of money
from Sun Myung Moon through one of his from organizations.
It has been estimated that George Bush senior after losing the
election on the second term try received a golden parachute from
Moon. He was asked to travel and speak with Moon in Asia,
the United States and South America. The reports vary from
3 to 10 million dollars as to how much Moon paid for Bush's services.
One strange case took place back in Argentina in 1996 where Bush
declared: "I want to salute Reverend Moon as a man of vision."
While at the same time Moon's speeches were terming the United
States as "Satan's harvest and that American women were
descended from the line of prostitutes. Unfortunately I
believe that we must get the Christian ministers away from Moon
before even trying to get the politicians away.
If we can get the ministers away most of the politicians will
follow. There are other moves on Moon's part that we need to
be aware of and warn our Christian brothers about. Most
of you heard about Louis Farrakhan's Millions Family March back
on October 9, 2000. I am sure that most of you are also
aware that Sun Myung Moon paid the bills for that march.
The question is why? The answer is really simple.
Moon has for some time been going after the black population
and black churches. Farrakhan helps him in this area.
However, there is even a larger part to this picture that everyone
is overlooking. Moon was able to have the United States
declare Parents Day. The original bill actually stated
True Parents Day, but true was left off the final bill.
This Moon was able to insure his following that dedicated to
Mr. and Mrs. Moon.
Prior to the march Moon had the American Clergy Leadership
Conference send out letters to all the Christian churches in
New York State and other areas offering them a free family flag
and asking them to fly it on September 24. Please notice
the bottom sponsor of the Family Flag Day committee and the flag
itself. It is none other than the Family Federation for
World Peace and Unification. For those who may not be aware
of it Moon changed the name of his church from the Unification
Church to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
There is no question that he will next be seeking for the United
States to declare a national day of recognition of Family Day,
which he will also declare in honor of his movement.
The wheels and flags are in place for that to happen if we
stay asleep. I would like to spend a few minutes on the names
listed on the Family Flag Day Committee. These names appear
on several other publications of Moon events. The one Dennis
Dillon who is the publisher of the New York Christian Times was
actually the MC of Moon's last mass wedding in Madison Square
Garden. I spoke with him and was told in very clear terms
that Sun Myung Moon has done more for the black Christians in
New York than Billy Graham ever did. What Moon did was
give Dillon and others money as he bought them off. Others
on the list such as Bishop Billings have appeared at numerous
other Moon events and we can be assured that they were well paid
for their names. Thus money is the major key Moon uses
to buy his power and creditability with.
There is one more area I would like to cover here and this
one may open Pandora's box. The Queens Federation of Churches
publishes a newspaper that carries an advertisement for only
one seminary. This seminary is located at 4 West 43rd street
and is an extension of the main seminary in Tarrytown.
The difference is that those attending this branch are not yet
members of the Unification Church. The editor and executive
director is a Rev. L'Heureux. Rev. L'Heureux has attended
the Cult Information Service conventions in New Jersey with the
Scientologists defending them. He has also spoken out in
strong support for the Unification Church. How can we wake
up the member churches to see what they are supporting?
Yes, they are part of the National Council of Churches.
However, most of them still claim to be Christian. L'Heureux
is very out spoken in the defense of Scientology and has traveled
to Europe and Washington D.C. routinely. I pray his movement
is limited to the Queens Council or Federation of Churches, but
fear it may be the whole national council.
- I have to blame us the Apologetic ministries for some parts
of this growing problem with Moon. Yes, we need the freedom
of religion and can be happy and proud that it exists in our
country. However, that freedom is what allows us to also
express our beliefs and the truths of Scripture. Apologetics
is not taught in most seminaries and most pastors have no knowledge
on how to cope with the problems or even able to recognize the
problems until it is too late. It is our job or calling
to inform the pastors and their congregations when the defense
is needed or what they need to defend against. If the federation
of churches is off base we may need to go after the churches
one at a time and get them out of the federation the same, as
we would do with a cult member. We cannot sit back and
just write them off or ignore the facts. We are the only
ones trained to see the problem and defend the faith.
- [ Source: http://tlem.homestead.com/unifinfil.html
]
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- Christians add spiritual significance
to inauguration with prayer services
By Todd Starnes
Posted on: 01/19/2001
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- WASHINGTON (BP) - While the U.S. Senate involves itself in
confirmation hearings for President-elect George W. Bush's cabinet
nominees, some of the nation's religious leaders are in Washington
to provide spiritual encouragement to the new administration
through intercession.
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- Prayer meetings and religious gatherings sponsored by church
groups and the Presidential Inaugural Committee are scheduled
throughout the city during the four-day inauguration celebration.
- Evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, will
offer the invocation at the Jan. 20 inauguration. The elder Graham,
82, originally planned to deliver the invocation before President-elect
George W. Bush is sworn in. However, doctors advised him to skip
the ceremony after medical tests revealed that a brain shunt
is working improperly.
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- Graham, according to a report in the Associated Press, was
disappointed. He had hoped to offer prayers to help heal some
of the wounds of the tense weeks after the election when Vice
President Al Gore challenged Florida's certification of Bush's
victory.
- "Prayer is a common denominator that unites us as people,"
spokesman Larry Ross told the Associated. "IT is more important
now than ever before to pray for all of our leaders and our nations
at this critical time in our history."
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- Graham, America's best-known evangelist, will be honored
at an interdenominational prayer luncheon today at Washington's
Hyatt Regency Hotel.
- James Merritt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention
and pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church of Snellville,
Ga., will deliver a tribute to Graham at the luncheon.
- "It's a great honor and privilege to pay tribute to
a godly man like Billy Graham," Merritt said. "He has
been a true servant of God and his untiring ministry has impacted
this nation."
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- Also scheduled to appear at the luncheon are Morris H. Chapman,
president and chief executive officer of the SBC's Ethics &
Religious Liberty Committee, Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue
Baptist Church in metro Memphis, Tenn.; and Richard Land, president
of the SBC's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
- The luncheon, called "America Come Together," is
sponsored by the Washington Times Foundation. Other special guests
include Jerry Falwell, Anthony Evans, Kenneth Copeland, Pat Boone
and Max Lucado.
- Organizers of the event said the prayer luncheon will challenge
religious leaders from all denominations and faiths to join in
a call for unity and renewal.
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- "Members of Congress and the incoming Bush administration
will assemble beyond race, denomination or political affiliation
to pray for national unity and invite God's transcendent love
and power to bring about a genuine healing of our land,"
spokesperson Diana Banister said.
- A family prayer service for President-elect Bush and Vice
President-elect Richard Cheney will be held at St. John's Church
on Saturday, Jan. 20, prior to the inauguration.
- The St. John Prayer service is a private event for the families
and close friends of the president-elect and vice-president elect.
- In addition to delivering the inaugural invocation, Franklin
Graham, 48, will offer a homily during the Presidential Inaugural
Prayer Service at the National Cathedral on Sunday, Jan. 21.
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- The service at the Episcopal cathedral will include messages
from Jane Holmes Dixon, bishop of Washington pro tem; Nathan
D. Baxter, dean of the National Cathedral; Graham; Beulah "Bubba"
Dailey, Austin Street Center, Austin, Texas; Rabbi Emeritus Samuel
Karff, Beth Israel Synagogue, Houston; Theodore E. McCarrick,
Catholic archbishop Washington; Kirbyjon Caldwell, Windsor Village
United Methodist Church, Houston; Archbishop Demetrios, Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Jack Hayford, the Church on
the Way, Van Nuys, Calif.; Luis Leon, St. John's Church, Lafayette
Square, Washington; and Suzanne Love Harris, St. John's Episcopal
Church, Jackson Hole, Wyo.
- Contemporary Christian musicians Michael W. Smith and Larry
Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers will provide musical selections.
- Of particular note to historians, the service will include
the reading of a prayer adapted from the Book of Common Prayer
and A Prayer for our Civil Rights, used at George Washington's
inaugural prayer service.
- [ Source: http://www.churchbusiness.com/hotnews/11h199154.html
]
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- SBC leaders ‘shocked’ that prayer
luncheon was sponsored by Unification leader
- By Todd Starnes
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- WASHINGTON (BP) -- Evangelical leaders, including many Southern
Baptists, said they were unaware that the Jan. 19 Inaugural Prayer
Luncheon for Unity and Renewal was sponsored by Sun Myung Moon,
founder of the Unification Church.
- The prayer luncheon, held in Washington, featured more than
1,400 of the nation’s leading ministers, civic and political
leaders, including SBC President James Merritt, Executive Committee
President and CEO Morris H. Chapman, and Ethics & Religious
Liberty Commission President Richard Land.
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- Other Southern Baptists in attendance were Paul Pressler
of Houston, Houston pastor Ed Young of Second Baptist Church
and Prestonwood Baptist Church pastor Jack Graham from the Dallas
area.
- “I was shocked to see that Sun Myung Moon was on the
program and in essence, the host,” Chapman said. “I
was even more surprised on the way out of the banquet hall to
be given a propaganda book on the Unification Church.”
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- Merritt, who delivered a tribute to evangelist Billy Graham,
said he was stunned to learn that the event was sponsored by
Moon’s church.
- “We knew that it was going to be an interdenominational
event, but we had no idea that the luncheon was hosted by the
Moonies,” said Merritt, pastor of an Atlanta-area church.
“My invitation to the event came through Doug Wead.”
- Wead, a former White House senior staffer for George Bush,
was one of the organizers of the luncheon. In his invitation
to Merritt, no reference was made of Moon’s participation
or sponsorship. Wead could not be reached for comment.
- “I didn’t even see the program until I got there,”
Merritt said. “I had no idea this was the nature of the
meeting. I believe this incident will teach us to be a little
more judicious.”
- Pressler, a Baptist layman who played a key role in control
of the SBC, said he, too, was surprised.
- “This was completely unanticipated,” Pressler said.
“I was not pleasantly surprised by the focus of the luncheon.”
- The luncheon included an address from Moon as well as complimentary
copies of one of his books and other Unification Church materials.
- [ http://www.baptiststoday.org/btns1_22c.html ]
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