I think it’s time to make some documents available to readers that I have been sitting on this week.
Last week Canadian Magazine ChristianWeek presented information that Peter Youngren/World Impact Ministries had legal proceedings started against them in Finland. I wrote Evankeliumi Kaikkiin Maihin with some questions which I’ll get to in a moment. the responses are from EKM’s VP, David Sterling.
One of the things I believe is important for Canadians to understand is that EKM in Finland is the second association I am aware of which has clearly stated it will no longer be associated with Peter Youngren of World Impact Ministries/Grace TV/Celebration Churches out of St. Catherines (sic – St. Catharines – sorry- BD) and Toronto Ontario.
The first organization I completely stumbled on was a Canadian one called Open Bible Faith Fellowship which put up a public notice in April 2010 after questions about Peter Youngren ministerial credentials began to surface. OBFF made it public that they dumped him in 2007 after this post Peter Youngren – running out of grace? in February 2010.
Within the past week Finland’s Evankeliumi Kaikkiin Maihin (EKM) wants Canadians to be aware they have been dealing with troubles of it’s own around their association with Peter Youngren/World Impact Ministries.
On April 6, 2010, the Finnish organization EKM sent out a letter to World Impact Ministry partners and partners of Peter Youngren, on their letterhead and signed by their board. Click on the image to read the full letter.
Below are the first and last paragraphs.
We here present more specific information about the disassociation of our Missions Organisation EKM with Peter Youngren and his organization World Impact Ministries. We hereby present some basic facts which have lead us to this decision.
This information is now general news which is publicly available here in Finland.
The process of disassociation has not happened lightly and has been a very painful and drawn out process. Several people have been wounded and seriously offended during this process….EKM is now continuing with legal procedings against Peter Youngren.
…Youngrens lack of integrity, transparency and his unwillingness to face accountability as a board member of both EKM-Finland and Pearl-Media Ltd. have forced us to make this decision to remove him from the boards of EKM-Finland and Pearl-Media Ltd.
We are not as such able, as a board to recommend Peter Youngren and WIM for any form of co-operation in ministry work or partnership.
That’s strong language. According to EKM’s website Peter Youngren established his Finland organization September 24, 2009.
On April 22nd, 2010, a letter from EKM’s attorney, Christer Eriksson was posted in Finnish on the website of EKM, outlining why this Finnish organization has taken legal action. Here is the garbled google english translation.
Simply put, Finland has a strict Personal Data Act, in compliance with the European Union Data Protection Directive. Any Canadian charity doing business in another country has to honour the sovereignty and laws of that country.
Finland’s data protection ombudsman is appointed for a five year period.
Why Do We Have a Data Protection Ombudsman?
The Finnish Constitution guarantees every citizen’s private life and honour and the sanctity of the home. The protection of personal data is stipulated in detail by an Act. One of the objectives of the Personal Data Act is to improve the opportunity of individuals to control the use of their personal data. We have the right to know why and how our personal data is being processed and to decide about the processing, unless otherwise stipulated by the law.
As the use of information technology is on the increase and the sphere of communication is rapidly expanding, the protection of privacy is becoming even more topical. Everyone should control the processing and circulation of his or her personal data.
To keep this simply put, you can’t get yourself on the board of an overseas organization and use their mailing list for your own special reasons. Well, you can, but there are consequences. And first and foremost, the consequences land in the lap of the folk in Finland.
On to the questions I’ve asked the board of EKM. Asking questions is the easy part, it is the answers that are difficult. We have a language barrier, legal and cultural differences, time zones to communicate through and theological differences. I do not subscribe to Word of Faith doctrine. The programming on Finland’s Christian channel is partly US televangelists who can afford to pay. The differences I have are secondary issues, people have been harmed and no matter how this plays out a Canadian charity is involved.
I believe Canadian bloggers can pick this story up and I believe BDBO readers can help shed light for this organization in Finland.
Questions to EKM Finland. Response April 19th 2010.
I assume the Finland investigation will take time. Any idea how long?
Further about the details of the legal case EKM is launching against Peter Youngren.
Pastor Tom Lipkin acting as chairman of EKM made the first reports to the police to investigate these matters on the 2nd Feb. 2010 and presented the first “accusations”on behalf of EKM.
Tom Lipkin has already been interviewed by the police (7 hours total) David Sterling shall be interviewed soon.
If Finland authorities decide the investigation is closed, what are the consequences to EKM?
To our understanding the following issues come under criminal law, which means that the police regardless of EKM investigate the matter, once it is revealed to them.
1) Illegal use (twice) of a mailing list by Youngren in his own name without the permssion of the board of EKM-Finland.The second letter was mailed also in the name of a his new organistation AEM. This is also covered by both Finnish and EU laws (statutes)
The first letter was mailed around 20th Jan. 2010.
The second letter mailed around 14th March 2010.
2) The illegal requesting of monies / funds without a licence in the name of their new organisation, using the stolen mailing list of EKM to perfom this.
The second letter contained this information including bank account details etc.
(bank account mentioned 4 times in this letter)
This issue is now a direct matter between Youngrens organisation AEM and the police.
Is AEM the Finnish translation of World Impact Ministries Finland? Yep.
World Impact Ministries in Finnish.
What other missionary organizations are EKM informing about their decision and difficulties?
By the looks of the letter I did a screenshot of above, anyone they can.
How many countries does EKM go into, with or without Youngren?
Reading the ChristianWeek article and a google translation of the EKM and Helmi-Media site, I’m not sure.
Readers?
What are the penalties under EU law if Youngren and his female partner are found guilty?
I don’t know the answer to that question as of yet, EKM has laid out their civil action:
The following issues come under civil law although number 3 is also a criminal offense.
3) Gross, mailicious slander of the chairman pastor Tom Lipkin and vice chairman David Sterling, by name in these letters. These are both are mentioned numerous times in both letters. Also Youngren has posted 7 seperate messages on their new web-site which repeat and increase the amount of slander aimed at both EKM and us personally.
4) Purposefully and seriously harming both the reputation and financial well-being of our organisation. EKM-Finland is not a WIM-foreign office. EKM is an independant Finnish Missions Organisiation, registered here in Finland and Youngren was a member of the board. There will be sustantial reclamation / damage compensations to be dealt with.
The female partner I asked about has been discussed publicly in Finland and in Canada at ChristianWeek and here at BDBO.
She is from Finland and is working for World Impact Ministries in Canada.
Would an investigation in Finland involve police and the equivalent of Rev Can?
Readers?
I see what I think is the TV station in Finland released a strong statement about taking Youngren off the air. Would Finnish law require that removal, or is that standard practice when an investigation is asked for? (Taivas TV7)
Unanswered. Readers? Celebrating Life with Jesus/Peter Youngren still lists his program as being on in Finland.
According to EKM, the program was removed in March after being aired for about four years.
The removal Youngren’s program is mentioned in the EKM letter.
The Finnish Christian TV-channel TV7 has informed EKM-Finland (26.3) that they will immediatley withdraw and no longer show Youngren’s 30 min. program which has been broadcast for about 4 years on the channel. Ms. Taina Kuusiluoma appears on all the programs as commentator. TV7 is the only christan channel and can been seen throughout the whole country. Youngren has also been informed of this change on 26.3. by TV7.
This is not about throwing mud on the wall to see what will stick. I believe there are a lot of people completely unaware of what is going on in Finland with WIM/Youngren and in Canada with WIM/Youngren/Grace TV. I think people of genuine good will deserve the opportunity to make informed choices no matter how criminal and civil proceedings play out in Finland.
Peter Youngren has told Canadians the decisions by EKM are ‘ frivolous and laughable at best.’
I’m not laughing. A lot of people in Finland aren’t laughing and have made an attempt to lay out the case to Canadians and others why their concerns and course of action are not frivolous.
If you could ask questions to EKM Finland and World Impact Ministries, what would you ask?
April 6, 2010
EKM (text)
To ministerial partners of WIM and Peter Youngren
We here present more specific information about the disassociation of our Missions Organisation EKM with Peter Youngren and his organization World Impact Ministries. We hereby present some basic facts which have lead us to this decision.
This information is now general news which is publicly available here in Finland.
The process of disassociation has not happened lightly and has been a very painful and drawn out process. Several people have been wounded and seriously offended during this process.
Some of the following information may already be familiar to you and others also.
We have came to the conclusion as a board that we are no longer able to support Peter Youngren’s ministry due to his recent self-inituated separation from his present second wife Roxanne (April 2009). Also Youngren purposely covered up from us here at EKM-Finland the case of adultery with a married staff member in the church at Niagara during 2002 where he was then head pastor. This affair resulted in the birth of a child. This is general news which is now publicly available.
Youngrens offensive dealings with other previous staff and ministry members in both WIM and NCC have come to the surface during this time period.
Peter Youngren has personally spread false information, slander and lies in the last 3 months about EKM-Finland, after we as a board confronted him on these issues.
Youngren used the mailing list of our Missions organisation EKM-Finland without the permission of the board to spread slander, contempt and false accusations about EKMs board members. Youngren has purposely and seriously damaged the work of our Missions organistation EKM. He has by name grossly slandered chairman Tom Lipkin and the vice chairman David Sterling. This is a very serious and illegal action. A 4 page letter was sent out in Youngrens name to about 6,000 people in Finland in Janurary 2010 which has resulted in EKM-Finland starting prosecution procedures against Youngren. EKM is now in the middle of legal procedings with Peter Youngren.
Now since then Youngren has for the second time with the help of Ms.Taina Kuusiluoma sent out another 6 page letter throughout our country. This has been done once again illegaly using the mailing list of EKM-Finland Missions organisation. It has happened during week 12 (24.-26.3). This action was done despite warnings to Youngren and Ms. Kuusiluoma of the serious consequnces of this illegal action.
In this second letter Youngren has once again used gross, mailicious slander by name of the chairman pastor Tom Lipkin and the vice chairman David Sterling. He also states that the board of EKM has stolen and misused funds. By doing this Youngren is again purposefully and seriously harming both the reputation and financial well-being of EKM-Missions organisation.
EKM is now continuing with legal procedings against Peter Youngren.
The Finnish Christian TV-channel TV7 has informed EKM-Finland (26.3) that they will immediatley withdraw and no longer show Youngren’s 30 min. program which has been broadcast for about 4 years on the channel. Ms. Taina Kuusiluoma appears on all the programs as commentator. TV7 is the only christan channel and can been seen throughout the whole country. Youngren has also been informed of this change on 26.3. by TV7.
Youngrens lack of integrity, transparency and his unwillingness to face accountability as a board member of both EKM-Finland and Pearl-Media Ltd. have forced us to make this decision to remove him from the boards of EKM-Finland and Pearl-Media Ltd.
We are not as such able, as a board to recommend Peter Youngren and WIM for any form of co-operation in ministry work or partnership.
This letter and information is not confidential and may be used as you see necessary. On behalf of the boards of EKM-Finland and Pearl-Media Ltd.
Tom Lipkin
David Sterling
Anki Sandvik
Juha Kotisaari
the name kotisaari is familiar. i wonder if juha kotisaari is related to johanna kotisaari who works for wim in canada? apparently she works in the tv department:
http://www.peteryoungren.org/impact/staff/
i am not happy about the proceedings but i am happy that the ekm board has the kahunas to stand up to peter. obviously these board members are nothing like the yes men peter has on his wim board.
peter deserves every bit of bad press he is getting and more.
the way peter treats people is clearly evidenced by his lack of relationship with his family and lawsuites (not just ekm but a previous pastor in st. catharienes is also suing peters old church for wrongful dismissal. this of course happened when peter was running the show at that church and now that peter is gone the local church has to suffer for his lack of interpersonal and leadershihp skills).
I understand that Johanna Kotisaari is the daughter of the man mentioned as a board member Juha Kotisaari. (inside info)
She is innocent person not mixed up in this mess.
Just happens to work at WIM. (GraceTV)
Thank you.
Thanks to Bene and others who have provided this information …
So many big-name evangelists, pastors, prophets, apostles, or teachers have been linked to inappropriate, illegal, immoral, unscriptural, or questionable behavior, that it begs the question “who is not tarnished”?.
They may shine as bright stars today, then tomorrow the blackened remains bear testimony to the falseness of their lives.
ANY type of television, or any huge public ministry “seems” to ultimately lead to corruption. Are there any examples to the contrary?
What’s the message?
* Don’t be too quick to send your hard-earned cash, or support.
*Assume that every big name has a black side, and watch for it to appear.
* Look at the history of the famous names, study them carefully and learn. Be wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove.
*Where is the fruit?
*Ask questions! Challenge, judge, expose!
Much good has, and is being done by Christians, and Christian organizations all over the world, but a dividing line between genuine ministry and falsehood exists.
Where is that line?
When does a man or woman cross over?
What influences differentiate between an open and accountable ministry, and a ministry burdened by lies, deception and immoral behavior?
What can we learn from Peter Youngren’s example?
H
I’d like to encourage other bloggers to pick this information up and post, send this information out to as wide an audience as possible.
Give Canadian and international viewers of Grace TV and Youngrens programs a chance to choose for themselves.
As this criminal investigation and civil case unfold, those who are aware of what is occurring can help every blogger willing to post and keep them informed.
It is complicated – I spent a lot of time in Google translation, asking questions of different parties, reading emails and legislation and I know I don’t have all the questions, let alone the answers.
Youngren operates largely under the public radar and as non-communicative as possible. He learned young to control information. I can appreciate the difficulty of putting together a clear post.
What other Canadian and international associations have disassociated from WIM/Youngren and his other organizations? I think there are other compelling stories which have not been told, and I think there is more to know about Youngren’s business interests.
Youngren’s bio says he began preaching as a teen.
The claim he was dumped by the PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) in the 1980′s has not been refuted or verified.
The Canadian group with gave him licencing severed their relationship in 2007. (OBFF)
There has been no word that Youngren remains ordained or licensed.
The Registrar Generals Office in Ontario which lists accredited ministers still has him on their active list.
What denomination or association has vouched for his right to be on that list, to be perceived as ‘pastor’ or Reverend?
He was born in 1954 which would make him about 56.
That is over 30 years of building his organizations.
His family has distanced themselves.
Former employees talk about fear and relief about getting away.
There is a lot we don’t know about the man who had people come to his home to suggest he purchase what is now Grace TV.
He did so unchallenged by other religious media in Canada and for about 12 cents on the dollar.
Where is the line and what can be learned?
Howie51 is correct, there are so many Christians and Christian organizations who do not cross that line.
When a self serving line is crossed, light must prevail over heat.
I think it’s important to hear WIM’s side. To that end, Peter Youngren responded to ChristianWeek on April 29th, 2010.
Mr. Youngren/WIM have not provided documentation to date, while documentation in itself isn’t proof of anything, it would be helpful.
Here is Mr. Youngren’s response to the magazine. If WIM choses to respond to BDBO, I’ll put it up.
(BD here: The EKM information states the interview with acting board chair Tom Lipkin was February 2nd, 2010. There is no word from Finland any police interviews have been conducted since)
(That’s a classic red herring in the current he said, they said. BD:^)
That appears to be the crux of the matter for Mr. Youngren – who owns and owned what and when. That having been stated, was Finlands privacy law violated and is EKM continuing their civil suit?
Ownership and money is discussed on the EKM site in Finnish. BD)
(EKM states on it’s website (in Finnish) problems in the relationship began prior to August 2009 as Youngren has stated. Why the dispute began earlier is the subject of investigation. As well the EKM lawyer letter addresses these concerns. I’m reading in the EKM letter sent to Canada that they are proceeding with a civil suit, there is no statement the criminal investigation is closed – BD)
(I think that is a fair request and will ask if EKM leadership have ever produced programming or have had programming taken off TV 7 – BD)
(This has a great deal to do with a ‘Canadian Christian newspaper’ and Canadians. Mr. Youngren was given a licence to broadcast. That licence carries obligations, responsibilities and public awareness. Questions about WIM/GraceTV/Celebrate Churches and Youngren are reasonable. Go to blog aggregators, the few posts around Peter Youngren is mostly pr put out by Peter Youngren – BD)
Peter Youngren
St. Catharine’s, ON
@Bene #5
Posted the link on my Facebook page and if I had a Blog of my own, it would be there also. Folks don’t realize the POWER of the Internet, and the personal power they have to make a difference.
BD,
I don’t have a great personal interest in this issue, but I understand its importance. I am impressed at the efforts that you’re going through to bring out the truth in this. I am also impressed at your commitment to fairness in posting the other side of the story in comment #6. Please keep up the good work!
hey bene,
in Peter’s quoted response in your last entry, Peter states “…Interestingly, the main newspaper in Orissa ran a headline, “Youngren distributes the magic of God’s love†on the same day…”.
it’s funny that on the peter youngrens website there is an blog entry written by peter’s ‘mini-me’ nathan thurber called exactly that:
http://www.peteryoungren.org/impact/blog/peter-is-distributing-the-magic-of-gods-love
my assumption is that peter submitted nathans article to the newspaper he is referring to and paid them to run it. its all part of the py propeganda machine
On April 29, 2010 Peter Youngren wrote Christian Week and said:
On March 29th, 2010, Taivas TV7′s statement from managing director Martti Ojares on World Impact Ministries Finland regarding the removal of Youngren’s program states:
Also stated in the Channel 7 translation (which I am not sure is printed in full by World Ipact Ministries)
a) Peter Youngren states he has not heard from Finnish authorities, fair enough, he gets the benefit of the doubt. A request has been made for a statement from Finnish police.
He is aware an investigation was launched.
b) World Impact Ministries was aware the program was pulled in March as EKM states
c) EKM doesn’t appear to have had any programs on Channel 7, only product. From what I understand from the station statement EKM software sales were suspended
c) It appears EKM has not had programming on the station contrary to the inference that EKM leadership could not get their programs on the station – false equivelency fallacy from where I sit
d) Despite the Youngren program being yanked off Channel 7, World Impact Ministries continues to advertise it on thier listings page
Thanks to commenter Hiski.
None of this is funny, but I can’t help picturing PY in court, saying “Look, Jezus forgives me, and that’s all I need.”
As they slap him with fines and show how he was in the wrong – “Jezus forgives me!”
As they ban him from one country after another – “Jezus forgives me!”
As they cart him off to jail – “Jezus forgives me!”
As his entire empire falls apart – “Jezus forgives me!”
Ministers like this have been forging a Golden Calf in their head for YEARS. I’m talking EXTREME MENTAL ACROBATS that he very well may actually be deluded into actually believing himself. It’s more a tragedy than anything. This whole situation is bad, despite however many numbers he likes to throw around.
“For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.”
-http://bible.cc/2_thessalonians/2-11.htm
PY loves to quote Paul, so why don’t we give them both the honor here of a full – in CONTEXT quote:
2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. 2:8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; 2:9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2:10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2:11 Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; 2:12 that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2:13 But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth; 2:14 to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 2:15 So then, brothers, stand firm, and hold the traditions which you were taught by us, whether by word, or by letter.
http://ebible.org/hnv/2Thes.htm
Language barrier, Bene? Do you think that Tom Lipkin and David Sterling are Finnish names? Pastor Sterling, whom I know and respect, is originally from Newcastle, England. Incidentally, many native Finnish Pentecostal and charismatic preachers have been trained by Americans. This often causes Lutheran Finnish churchmen to dismiss them – the argument being is that Americans are superficial people, therefore their spiritual teaching must be lightweight too.
As for your question of why TV 7 took Mr. Youngren off the air: there is no legal reason for such a move. People with much heavier charges against them appear regularly on Finnish TV.
Thanks Hiski.
I went over the Channel 7 site as carefully as I could.
To my Canadian eyes it is The Miracle Channel (TBN north) – same old exports, Myers, Hinn, Prince.
I assume Finnish televangelists on 7 are independents with the money to pay for airtime. Correct me if I’m wrong.
That’s the basic religious broadcast model in other countries – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK.
I don’t expect a response from channel 7, but I believe it’s important to ask.
How I read this secondary fallout so far is that Mr. Ojares is a businessman distancing himself from public conflict.
Police investigations, government probing and civil suits on home ground are not good for the bottom line or for the station image.
TV is about perception.
It’s a business no matter what the programming is.
Channel 7 is a peripheral of the main event, but has to keep its eye on the bottom line. Mr. Ojares can’t afford to alienate his base, no matter how many Benny Hinns or Joyce Meyers pay to play.
Direct mail – which is part of this Finland fight is about – is about results. Donors.
No one has stated an obvious here.
The alleged list of 6000 Finnish donors was used twice by Youngren according to EKM without permission. (January and March 2010)
Youngren wasted no time dismissing and ridiculing EKM in Canada.
As someone pointed out, one of his employees has the same last name as an EKM board member.
Is this another family swirling around Youngren which is wounded or in conflict?
Youngren’s alleged contacting of a Finnish police station and prosecutor was in February.
He publicly states that EKM dismissing him, contacting authorities and going public with their actions in Finland, and Canada is ‘frivolous and laughable at best.’ Note that WIM hasn’t used that list since.
As long as Christians are living in fear of the devil character
the “last days scenario”, having to be good enough or God will be angry, etc… as long as these fears remain, preachers can keep filling their churches and their pockets. No problem…
All you need is an angry god and a guilty consience” to get the relgion business going…
Regarding post number 15: I have to laugh or cry. Not sure which. No matter what Peter Youngren may have done or may not have done, any honest observer of his sermons will know he does not preach a message of an angry God. He preaches a God of grace and mercy. No angry God. No guilty conscience. Post 15 is so far from Peter’s message it is quite stunning.
Incredible – but so many seem to be missing the whole root of this mess / problem / scenario. The blindness is unbelieveable!
We have a man (PY) who preaches one message and acts, behaves in a completely opposite fashion.
He taks about love, grace, mercy, forgiveness them rejects and leaves hÃs wife (second wife) – and is somehow disconnected from his children, church and ministerial partners. (OBFF, EKM).
A facade of goodness and tolerance.
A reality of cover-ups and mis-infromation.
The dirty washing is coming out for all to see.
It could be worse than anyone can imagine?
Ellie, he has obviously changed from when I would hang around with people from his crowd. Being afraid to drink coffee because it’s a drug like alcohol is pretty extreme. Mind you, this was over a decade ago.
The one time I heard PY preach live, he boasted of how he had introduced real Christianity to Ethiopia – belittling the thousands of years of Christian tradition in that country. Too arrogant to my taste.
Bene, you asked about the Finnish preachers on TV 7. All of them are either Pentecostalists or so close that you can’t tell the difference. This is why the channel is viewed with suspicion by the Lutheran church of the majority of the Finns. Where they get the money is a mystery. Some of them come from so small and poor congregations that it cannot be their parish money only.
Ellie, I know what PY Preaches. I know he doesn’t play guilt trips.If you follow my comments I have always defended PY. Rest your heart Sister. but, I was referring to a drill sergeant like this. one…
While it does seem like this man’s personal life does stink very strongly, and that he isn’t worth the confidence the general public (and particularly the generous and God-fearing folks of the world), it should be important to note that every stepping-stone PY uses is a person. This media “empire” is built of people, and while I do realise how easy it can be to be duped by sweet-talking, it is up to the individual person to make his/her own stand (something Bene has made sure to mention multiple times). Otherwise we are just as guilty of slander, destroying and discrediting any gift God has placed in this situation (however misused it may be).
PY’s personal affairs are, as everyone here knows, largely public knowledge. Anyone expecting to be a widely-known “leader/teacher” should do as much, because to lead is to do so by example. Therefore, what I think should be key is that anyone who chooses to evangelize or give others a view about Christianity should show the truth about all things. And I do mean all things. Evangelizing isn’t about making a quick sale (of a potentially inferior or damaged product); it is about introducing someone to what we know is truth.
Although this may be difficult to undertake in the case of introducing people who have just heard the gospel, or in cases where people don’t have the skills or means necessary to do their own investigating, it should be the means we use when communicating to anyone we would consider intellectual or able to do their own research and form their own opinions.
That said, I agree with everyone who’s posted on here, that supporting an outreach ministry financially should be done with full responsibility. We weren’t given the ability to make money so that it could be wasted. And, more importantly, we weren’t given it so that we could pay our tithes towards anything that crossed our paths: the excuse that “if God wants to use this money, He can direct its use” isn’t valid. HE has put the ability to prosper in our hands, along with the ability to be in His Kingdom, and bring others into it. As such, if we can’t use these finances to directly impact people’s lives, then it is our duty to ensure that it flows into something that does.
The one thing I do pray for is that all the negativity from this issue doesn’t cause people to lose faith and go away from God, particularly those who have just found Him through WIM or some other evangelical avenue.
Peter Youngren like all of us going through the cleansing process by the power Of God’s LOVE
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have THEIR PART IN THE LAKE which BURNTH with fire and BRIMSTONE which is the SECOND DEATH.
Notice who is thrown into the SECOND DEATH, fearful, unbelieving, and liars…. These three alone describe every single person on the planet. We have all been fearful, unbelieving, and we have all lied and probably still tell those little white lies, and get scared, and lack faith. For example, we may lie because we don’t believe someone we care about will understand, we are fearful yet
This LAKE OF FIRE is NOT A FUTURE EVENT, as some would claim. It is a NOW event. Each of us, ( including Peter Youngren) has our part in the LAKE OF FIRE. Now believe it or not, that is GREAT NEWS!
Love in Christ-:)
To post nr. 14 regarding the similar name among the employs at WIM and EKM.
…”Youngren wasted no time dismissing and ridiculing EKM in Canada.
As someone pointed out, one of his employees has the same last name as an EKM board member.
Is this another family swirling around Youngren which is wounded or in conflict?”…
This person is not in anyway related to any member of EKM, they just coincidentally share the same last name. She has nothing to do or is in anyway mention-worthy in this case.
Other than that, thanks for an very insightful blog. Keep up the good work.
This should be a warning to all in leadership who think that their sins will not one day be revealed. It seems that Peter’s sins were not being disclosed by the sheep who did not want to be found as “gossipers”, who did not want to touch God’s anointed.
It seems to be a very difficult thing to be 100% faithful, to be both a doer of God’s word and to preach it when one has been entrusted with God’s power as well. Those who seek God’s power, His gifts, need to realize that there is a higher accountability and judgment associated with that.
We have God’s word, the Holy Scriptures-a man of God must be the husband of but one wife. Peter’s first wife left him to commit sexual immorality so he was not to blame. He did not remarry for a number of years and provided for his wife and family-materially and spiritually.
Yet he has now left the authority of God’s Word. His second wife has not been unfaithful to him. God’s word says that the only route open to him is separation-during which time he is to try to be reconciled with his wife or else remain single. 1 Cor. 7:10 He is the guilty one and must accept that he has violated God’s word through adultery and has pierced many hearts. He is not “free” to marry this third wife. He needs to hand over his ministry to someone else while he takes the time to get his theology right with God.
It is Jesus we are to lift up and be concerned about. We are Jesus’ followers and if one of Jesus’ servants sins, we must not water down what God’s word says: “Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, ” 1 Tim. 5:19-21
So, what is the recent news about youngren and his wife? Are they still separeted?
Last I heard they were still separated.
Lucky no one was hurt. When did this occur?
This happened in Kenya in 2009. Everyone who fell looks to have come out whole, except for Mr. Youngren. I believe that it shows the true mettle of this man. Although falling through a stage would be unnerving, he appeared to be relatively unscathed physically (may hurt his leg a little). Rather than 1) checking to see if the others are fine and 2) addressing the people assembled there to hear him preach, he says “I’m done” and walks off. To me that indicates a self-centred man with a very large ego, and when it is bruised look out. Perhaps this clip is a good metaphor for his falling from grace.
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The Swedish daily newspaper Dagen (Day) has today (19.2) published an article revealíng more information concerning Youngrens conflicts and failures in Finland (EKM). It mentions the fact that a charge has been instigated against him (the Finnish police).
It reports that Youngren has stolen the EKM-Missions postal list (names and addresses) and has been using these addresses for his own purposes which includes evil and slanderous attacks on those (EKM-Missions organistation) who cut relationships with him due to his complete lack of accountability. It mentions that over 60 lies along with other false information have been discovered in Youngrens dealings with EKM. The article states that EKM has grave doubts (suspicions) concerning Youngrens character.
It tells of his unwillingness to talk about his seperation from his second wife and how this created a deep lack of trust between the board of EKM and Youngren himself. Good reporting! Thanks to Dagen!
A simple translation into english can be obtained by using the “Google translator”.
Here is the link: http://www.dagen.se/dagen/article.aspx?id=243709
This information may be freely used and can be freely distributed.
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Question: How is possible that there verified miracles in his crusades & as well as in Canada? Maybe we should let God be the judge? Anyways, it appears that 100′s of people have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior at his crusades – what have we done for Jesus lately? God Bless