Earlier this year after The Hamilton Spectator made the public aware Crossroads Christian Communications executives Ron and Reynold Mainse had allegedly invested in an ponzi scheme, the founders sons and their wives were yanked as hosts of the flagship show.
We want to inform you that Ron and Reynold Mainse will not be appearing on any Crossroads programming or otherwise represent Crossroads while they focus their energies on certain matters in their personal lives. They have stepped down from their duties until such time as the Board of Directors has a complete understanding of all of the issues related to a financial investment matter that they were involved in outside of their ministry at Crossroads.
 In July Crossroads board announced the organization had been cleared in a forensic audit; personal statements were released from both Ron and Reynold acknowledged they had been finders for Axcess Automation/Funds. It is not publicly known how much money the hosts lost, or who they drew into investing during their involvement with Gordon Driver/Axcess.  It is not known if the hosts remained on the payroll during the internal investigation. It is not known if investors drawn in by Ron and Reynold were told what the brothers finder fee was. It is not known how much the brothers made in finders fees.
It appears (and this is vague to me) that retired founder David Mainse who hosted the summer fundraiser will be hosting 100 Huntley Street once a week. I’m open to correction on my understanding.
Ron’s father David Mainse has announced Ron Mainse, President of Communication for Crossroads is returning to the show with his wife Ann the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.  (October 13th?) with a half hour interview with Crossroads Christian Communications US President Jim Cantelon.
In July the charity received an all-clear from the Canadian Council of Christian Charities.
CCCC is satisfied that the board has fulfilled its responsibility to act in a prudent, proactive and thorough manner to address this issue and safeguard the ministry. They took the matter very seriously when they became aware of it, and have sought and acted upon several different types of professional advice. As it should, the board has exercised independence from management. It has acted in what it believes are the best interests of the ministry, as is their duty. Beyond these general comments, CCCC will not report what the board has done because it is the responsibility of the Crossroads board and management to determine how much of this information to make public.
After the 1/2 interview Ron and Ann Mainse will return to hosting 100 Huntley Street by promoting a book associated with an independent film in the US.
The 2008 film Fireproof has been packaged with a book The Love Dare which was part of the story line in the film. It sold 2 1/2 million copies in the US. The screenwriters will be releasing a follow up book this month.
Ron Mainse will return to the show with a half hour interview with Jim Cantelon, President of Crossroads Christian Communications USA.
No word on Reynold and wife Kathy Mainse return to air.
It is not known if Reynold Mainse has resumed his position as VP of Missions. Â
Mainse relative David Rutledge was ordered by the OSC in May to cease all activity with Axcess Automation/Funds. Rutledge was the former director of ministries at Crossroads prior to moving to Axcess Funds.Â
There is a civil suit ongoing in the US between Gordon Driver/Axcess Automation/Funds and the SEC/CFTC. As well there is an on-going criminal investigation in the US.
The Commodities Future Trading Commission court documents state the 13.5 million ponzi scheme targeted 100+ investors from Canada and the US. Investors who were introduced to Axcess Automation/Funds through connections with Crossroads Christian Communications and who lost a great deal have remained publicly quiet.
Regulatory timeline
Media timeline
Status report of CFTC civil suit
ChristianWeek reported in August Ron and Reynold Mainse were not facing charges.
 Canadian Christianity reported neither brother had taken investment training as was believed when the story became public in Canada.
ChristianWeek
Did the board do the right thing when it removed the Mainse brothers from their positions at Crossroads? Why did they wait until the Hamilton Spectator story appeared before they took public action? Is there more housecleaning yet to come? How will donations be affected? What other changes are likely?
Media coverage has been odd, a few Canadian media outlets picked up the story but didn’t correct an error calling Crossroads a church. It is not. It is a charity with an off-shoot non-profit cable network, CTS.
A commenter made a reasonable point this summer.
What questions would you ask?
A lot like pastor’s spouses who do not draw a salary but are “expected†to do a lot of volunteer work. Garnet
Garnet you must be quite old or come from another planet because you are talking about things in the last century or later?
Today in many Pentecostal and Vineyard churches wives are also co-pastors, draw salaries and are even on the board of directors of churches or nonprofit corporations!
If you would do your home work you would find a husband and wife on a three people board can swing votes in any direction and even in a five people board.
Many evangelistic non profit corporation have wives on the board of directors and they even get paid a salary.
Previously I brought up the point of Rodney Howard Browne and family and his board and family! And in Florida even Karl Strader’s wife on occasion would order someone to draw up a check on her order.
And yes nepotism is quite alive and well in many Evangelical churches and ministries! Mind you it seems that it’s most Pentecostal churches where the Pastors own outright the church or nonprofit corporation and has a board of ducks who quack at his commands and rubber stamp all his wishes!
Richard Roberts who stepped down amid allegations he misspent school funds to live in luxury, used to brag how he chose and fired board members if he or she didn’t do what he wanted!
He and his wife, Lindsay, were accused of dropping money on shopping sprees, home improvements and a stable of horses for their daughters at a time when ORU was more than $50 million in debt. ORU regent Harry McNevin, quit the board in 1987 because of the misspending he alleged he witnessed
And yes, Nepotism, pilfering and looting of Pentecostal “Family run and owned†ministries by the senior anointed Pastor or Evangelist is more common than people realize. And some of looting is of great magnitude such as displayed by the Assembly of God Senior Pastor Karl Strader who stole “First Assembly of God†after the dissidents rebellion failed and turned it into Carpenter’s Home Church Incorporated with Karl Strader president for life.
Pilfering and looting was the cause of the downfall of Evangelist Rex Humbard. Pilferers such as senior pastors or TV Evangelists use various techniques to shield themselves from scrutiny by their own supporters including clichés such as “Touch not my anointed,†“Judge Not!,†“Preachers are accountable only to God, “Evil is he who sees evil, “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity, ” “The Devil is behind all the news reports,†etc..
Pilferers and looters also ensure the composure of their board of directors including family, friends and staff and the instant removal of any dissidents. The news media reported about President Richard Roberts remark “I have the deck stacked—I am elected to three year terms and if a Regent appears to give me trouble, I remove him. I stack the deck… .
Yes, stacking the board is also a very common practice in many Pentecostal “family run and owned†ministries including Carpenter’s Home Church, Victory International church of Hamilton, Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, etc. As a result of Walter Kambulow’s complained that Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship was in reality a profit corporation set up to benefit solely its founders, a “family run and owned ministry†whose board of directors is composed improperly of family, friends and staff and not others. It doesn’t exist to benefit the public but solely its founders!
In other words they are literally wolves in sheep’s clothing who don’t exist for the welfare of the sheep but their own. So John Arnott, Steve Long and TACF sued Walter Kambulow for $ 50 million dollars because they didn’t want anybody to find out the truth about them!
And even in the private sector you can have for a corporation a husband to be president, and a wife to be secretary/treasurer and it’s all legal!
And the next lie you are going to tell me that besides not being rich, the Mainse clan are people of integrity?
Walter:
Stop.
Garnet is not lying, he is not niave; he is skeptical and rightly so.
Try this.
Compile a list of Crossroad Christian Communication employees who are directly related to the Mainse and Rutledge families.
Make a list of what music Norma Jean Mainse composed.
Who wrote opening themes to shows.
Prove past boards have been ‘stacked.’
You’ve shot right past the point, please focus your intelligence and energy and do. not. name. call.
I will ban you for another two weeks. This is an important topic which won’t be hijacked because someone posits a different point of view from yours. Play nice.
I would go easy on insulting these two individuals. I expect there is a lot of talent there. They have clearly made some big mistakes but then so have I and I expect most of us would say the same. The difference is that my mistakes were less public.
Garnet – Being an agent for a ponzi scheme and not telling your suckered clients is more than just a mistake and lack of integrity it’s a criminal act! Are these the kind of big mistakes you have made?
And these two individuals are more than just stupid they are criminals! And that is what you want in Christian leadership? Wow!
Bene
Because Ron and Ann occupy a very important position in a Christian nonprofit corporation to prove they are people of integrity they can voluntarily issue their income tax just like the President of United States and his spouse does for he is also after all a public servant who works for the people!
I did advocate this in a previous post?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all heads of Christian nonprofit churches and corporation would issue to the public their income tax and their spouse and prove that they are not in the ministry for the money! That would settle this thorny issue of conflicts of interests and greed and they would set a good example like Paul stated:
2COR 6:3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
GAL 2:11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
Bene,
I am hoping that this interview is very revealing.
Another good question would be the state of the OSC investigation regarding Ron’s actions. I doubt he can answer this unless they have concluded their proceedings. Still he may be able to shed some light on this.
I believe this would go a long way to help people understand that he did not do this with criminal intent but out of ignorance. Do not get me wrong, ignorance is not excuse, but it is a long long way from having done this intentionally.
Imagine telling a Judge you went through a red light in ignorance? The Judge would laugh you right into a mental institution!
Walter, it would be great if all heads of Christian nonprofit churches and corporations would issue to the public their income tax to prove they are not in the ministry for the money!!! As a result maybe people would trust them more and even give more to their ministry. Why is this not happening?
That is one thing. However… what Bene said “they spun their celebrity off into other paid venues.” I think the ‘real’ money is made in the ‘spin off’ and not in the salary. If you are just looking at the salaries, you are missing the ‘whole’ picture.
Any more information about the music royalties, in regards to Crossroads and all of their shows?
We need some facts here!!!
I doubt most big-name televangelists will release their tax returns because they probably have unreported income and don’t want people to have the ability to check them out.
If Ron and Ann released their tax returns, that would be a major step for financial transparency for religious nonprofit organizations.
We should hold religious leaders to a higher standard.
” … From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48
Jim Cantelon is a talented intellectual heavyweight who appears to have been handed something of a poison chalice in terms of interviewing Ron on live tv. It is a stretch to think that the interview will be characterized by objectivity, impartiality and spontaneity. One hopes there will be no whitewash and that the whole thing is not choreographed as to insult the intelligence of the viewers in some measure and consequently lead to the diminution of Cantelon. He (Cantelon) deserves better.
It would seem to me that an impartial interviewer would be better positioned to ask the tough questions.
Here are the questions posed in this comment thread.
1) What do the Mainse clan or their prominent religious friend care about victims?
2) How does Ron Mainse plan to make restitution?
3) Has communication with donors, employees and the public been transparent and ethical?
4) How much does the founder of the ministry make including total compensation and how much do members of his family make from the ministry?
5) Has there been clarity in respect of whether or not the investors knew that those who recruited them were being paid finders fees for their efforts?
6) Why aren’t investors speaking up?
7) Are the Mainse family rich? (StatsCan median)
8 What perks do the inner Crossroads circle receive?
9) Who is the close friend who introduced Ron Mainse to an investment opportunity?
10) What are the Mainse brothers doing in practical ways to help and recompense their victims for their losses, sorrow and pain?
11) How many people did Ron Mainse draw in to this investment?
12) What is the total compensation package for the Mainse family?
13) Were the Mainse brothers being paid by Crossroads while off air?
14) Where any Axcess transactions completed in Canada?
15) How much of the 13.5 million did Crossroads employees bring in?
16) What (is) the age and earning of the average supporter of 100 Huntley Street who is not aware that Ron and Ann are earning $ 270,000 per year and had no saying in the hiring of a husband and wife team?
17) What do any of you know about the world of Music Royalties? (executive perks and undisclosed income)
18) Did David Rutledge work his Crossroad contacts for Axcess Funds?
19) How many actual full time employess were there at that time (last tax filing) and how many now?
(economic realities and stewardship)
20) What training has Ron had for his job? (ethical stewardship)
21) What is Ron’s total compensation package? (goes to the alleged ponzi scheme and the desire to make more)
22) Being an agent for a ponzi scheme and not telling your suckered clients is more than just a mistake and lack of integrity it’s a criminal act! Are these the kind of big mistakes you (we) have made? (behavior, consequences, intent)
23) (What if) heads of Christian nonprofit churches and corporation would issue to the public their income tax and their spouse and prove that they are not in the ministry for the money?
24) What is the OSC decision regarding Ron’s involvement?
25) As Crossroads V/P of Missions, why is Reynold not here also answering in person to the questions that are being asked?
26) There are people who have inherited wealth who minister faithfully without seeking significant renumeration and others who have had a career before minstry who have accumulated wealth and serve faithfully without high salaries in ministry
How is it some who have not inherited serve in ministry and end up in an economic class well above most Canadians?
It is known Ron, your father built his retirement home on an island outside Kingston, you live in Kilbride where your neighbours salaries are in the upper income bracket.
How is this possible for a family that speaks of humble beginnings and has been in Christian ministry all their lives?
25) As Crossroads V/P of Missions, why is Reynold not here also answering in person to the questions that are being asked?
(excellent and obvious question Tim – moved it into the list:^) BD)
I WONDER WHAT GAMES THE MAINSES CLAN PLAY TO HIDE ALL THEIR COMPENSATIONS?
TORONTO STAR TODAY HAS A STORY ON
Bureaucrats skirt rules to hide huge salaries October 06, 2009
Deputy health minister Ron Sapsford, earns a salary of $443,611.55. Hugh MacLeod, associate deputy minister to the premier and head of climate change secretariat, was paid $320,695.60 in 2008. Gail Paech, associate deputy minister of economic development and trade, was paid $291,997.20.
Hefty salaries for some of Ontario’s highest paid civil servants – including the deputy health minister, who earned nearly $500,000 last year in salary and taxable benefits – are being channelled through hospitals to skirt government pay guidelines, the Star has learned.
As Premier Dalton McGuinty’s administration clamps down on untendered contracts and consultants’ meal expenses in the wake of the eHealth Ontario spending scandal, salaries for top bureaucrats are being buried in hospital budgets.
1) What do the Mainse clan or their prominent religious friend care about victims?
2) How does Ron Mainse plan to make restitution?
As a victim (not a Driver victim, but a victim just the same) I have noticed the kindness of “others”.
Lately, during our negotiations to get out of this mess, it is other people, that have stepped up to the help us. Some are forgiving fees or cutting them in half and deducting them. Others that have come after us in court, are now working with us to fix this huge mess. Daily, someone has come forward to help us. Some in small ways and others in a very big way.
But…unfortunately, the one person who has harmed us the most, has not offered anything!
My point is, I would be very surprised if Ron Mainse will make any restitution. If I was Ron, I would find it very difficult to sell the only thing I have left and give it to my victims. That would be the morally correct thing to do. Who ever said being a Christian is easy! It’s not!
Deleted – off topic – BD
Walter:
What was the outcome of the court matters you refer to that have involved you? Are they ongoing or are they over? Perhaps the book you’ve referred to covers the ground. If you have the link to your book it would be interesting to understand what you’ve been through. My apologies for not knowing of the matters to which you refer. Doubtless there are others also who know nothing of the battles you have fought.
You are absolutely right Mensch when you say that being a Christian is not easy, nor is it supposed to be. We are called to carry our cross and count the cost, but unfortunately most of the church has lost that revelation, hence the Saviour has relatively few true disciples following Him….But it’s really always been that way, even in the days of the Israelites, God only had a remnant who did not bend the knee to Baal, the false god of this world.
Here you go Tim, Walter’s book.
http://crooksaog.tripod.com/http://www.a2zbookdepot.com/revival.pdf
Thanks BD. I read it – not easy for more reasons than one.
Tim – Concerning the TACF I also don’t understand things like:
WHAT DID JOHN ARNOTT AND STEVE LONG LIE AND COMMIT PERJURY IN THEIR STATEMENT OF CLAIM THAT WALTER HAD DESTROYED THEY CHURCH, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION ANY MORE AND THAT HE WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF THEIR CHURCH AMONGST OTHER THINGS?
THEY ARE STILL TAKING CRUISES TO THE CARIBBEAN AND TRAVELING ALL OVER THE WORLD INCLUDING BRAZIL, INDIA, UAE, ENGLAND, ETC?
WHY WOULD ANY CHRISTIAN PASTORS SUE SOMEBODY FOR $ 50 MILLION DOLLARS AND ASK 3 JUSTICE TO INCARCERATE WALTER KAMBULOW IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE, CIVIL COURT, COMMERCIAL DIVISION UNLESS THEY WERE TERRIFIED OF SOMETHING?
FEAR AND LYING IS NOT OF GOD BUT OF THE DEVIL
WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIANS SUE A CHRISTIAN AND LIE, FABRICATE EVIDENCE, COMMIT PERJURY, HAVE A SECRET TRIAL AND OBSTRUCT JUSTICE LIKE THEY DID BEFORE JUSTICE TROTTIER ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 TO WHICH THE DEFENDANT WASN’T INVITED OR INFORMED?
TORONTO AIRPORT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, JOHN ARNOTT AND STEVE LONG STOPPED THEIR $ 50 MILLION DOLLAR EXTORTION LAWSUIT WHEN IT DIDN’T GO THE WAY THEY EXPECTED, AND TO PREVENT WALTER KAMBULOW FROM WINING HIS COUNTER LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM BECAUSE THEIR LAWSUIT WAS BASED ON LIES AND PERJURY AND THEY COULD NOT WIN IN AN HONEST COURT PROCEEDINGS , THEY COMMITTED PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE!
YES BASED ON A FALSE AND UNTRUTHFUL INFORMATION AND PRESENTATION T JUSTICE TROTTIER ISSUED AN ORDER STRIKING OUT MR. KAMBULOW’S STATEMENT OF DEFENSE, ASSIGNED COURT COSTS OF ABOUT $ 60,000 TO BE PAID BY MR. KAMBULOW, MAKING AN ORDER STRIKING OUT MR. KAMBULOW STATEMENT OF CLAIM AGAINST TACF, AND MAKING A PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGAINST MR. KAMBULOW MAKING CERTAIN REMARKS IN RESPECT TO THE PLAINTIFFS THAT THEY WERE LIARS AND ARE PERJURERS (A MATTER THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORTH TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ONTARIO AND LAW ENFORCEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS TO OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS!)
THE BASIS OF DEMOCRACY IN CANADA IS THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL AND TO A STATEMENT OF DEFENSE AND TACF JOHN ARNOTT AND STEVE LONG THROUGH CRIMINAL ACTS CIRCUMVENTED THE PROCESS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT WIN THEIR LAWSUIT. HOW CHRISTIAN OF THEM?
Tim – I also have some questions like:
Why would any Christian pastors sue somebody for $ 50 million dollars and ask 3 justice to incarcerate walter kambulow in the superior court of justice, civil court, commercial division unless they were terrified of something? Fear and lying is not of god but of the devil
What kind of Christians sue a Christian and lie, fabricate evidence, commit perjury, have a secret trial and obstructed justice?
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, John Arnott and Steve Long stopped their $ 50 million dollar extortion lawsuit when it didn’t go the way they expected, and to prevent Walter Kambulow from wining his counter lawsuit against them because their lawsuit was based on lies and perjury and they could not win in an honest court proceedings , they committed perjury and obstructed justice!
As a result the Plaintiffs Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship, John Arnott and Steve Long had a secret trial before Justice Trottier on September 19, 2008 to which the defendant wasn’t invited or informed, played dirty tricks, committed perjury and obstructed justice and made a mockery of the justice system and the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario and their deeds, words and actions are now considered to be guilty of indictable offences and liable to imprisonment!
Yes based on a false and untruthful information and presentation t Justice Trottier issued an order striking out Mr. Kambulow’s Statement of Defense, assigned court costs of about $ 60,000 to be paid by Mr. Kambulow, making an order striking out Mr. Kambulow Statement of Claim against TACF, and making a permanent injunction against Mr. Kambulow making certain remarks in respect to the Plaintiffs that they were liars and are perjurers (a matter that has been brought forth to the Attorney General of Ontario and Law Enforcements throughout the country as well as to other Government officials!)
The basis of democracy in Canada is the right to a fair trial and to a statement of defense and TACF John Arnott and Steve Long through criminal acts circumvented the process because they could not win their lawsuit. How Christian of them
Both my mom and I support Ron and Reynold.
Both my mom and I support Ron and Reynold in what sense? To conduct ponzi schemes? To be naive? Not to tell people they were agents for a ponzi scheme?
Do your husbands support Ron and Reynold?
Excuse me Walter. That’s quite enough.
Alysha, welcome.
I hope you find information here that is helpful to you in your search to find out what is going on with Axcess/Crossroads.
So do their husbands support Ron and Reynolds? Why not?
Walter, I said enough. When did you stop beating your wife ?
Comments are
closed.Upon reflection, it is not fair to others who have something they wish to say publicly and who can model self-respect and other respect. Rather than close this thread, I’ve reconsidered, comments will be moderated.