Faytene Grasseschi is taking her Cry rallies on the road to Hollywood (move over Bing and Bob )–and the event may have an impact that none of us may see at first.

Faytene herself may be at a crossroads. A recent video may imply that she is considering the value of moderation, while The Cry Hollywood looks to carry on with her past dominionist impulses.

Barring a revival in Hollywood caused by Faytene’s rally, the most significant impact of The Cry Hollywood may perhaps wind up being how it affects Faytene’s future ministry itself.

I wonder this because of a video that the former Faytene Kryskow released through her friend Patricia King’s ministry three weeks ago, The Kiss of Heaven.

In this video, Faytene shows an amiable and down to earth side of herself in explaining how charismatic Christians should be very natural in how they seek to co-operate with God in ministering to others (especially when using the gifts of the Spirit).

If you watch the video you may, as I was, be struck with Faytene’s efforts to be just “naturally aupernatural” in what she does, if she follows her own counsel. Wise advice, in this instance.

“What does it mean to be ‘naturally supernatural’?” she says in the video. “Well first of all it means don’t be weird, it means just be yourself. Love God with your whole heart and just let him leak out. It isn’t really rocket science…”

Developing a heart for the sick and those suffering in other ways, she adds, will develop a motivation in your heart to go out and minister and allow God to use you for His purposes.

She suggests that people pray in an interesting way:

“‘God, help me not be weird about it’…just be yourself. You know, God loves you. He loves how he created you. He loves everything about you, and it’s beautiful. All your little quirks, all the little things that you do, all your little things that you love, all the little things that you maybe don’t prefer, you know, He’s made you that way. Be who He made you to be. Let His love, let His creativity, let His compassion, let His truth, let everything that He is flow through you as you connect to him as a source.”

“….People just like people they can relate to, people who are normal. And God wants to use you to influence people….People don’t want to see the put off, they don’t want to see the fake face, they don’t want the mask….”

Very sound advice. But here is the kicker.

In her Canadian ministry Faytene, it’s fair to say, has become known as a hard-edged dominionist, who may be the sort that takes no prisoners. Christians have to take over the world for Jesus. When we control the press in Canada, it will be very different. And various other things that we have blogged here about.

I find it a bit difficult to put the lady who had her followers stab flags out over an audience and this lady, who is trying to be–very laudably I would add, moderate sounding–in the same body. Her demeanor in this video doesn’t seem to match her theology and political ideas–as expressed in the past.

I’d like to ask Faytene whether she now thinks that some of the things she has said and done in the past were being “weird about it [her faith]?”

I can see the Faytene of this specific video getting along amiably with more liberal Christians in a way that the Faytene of The Cry rallies and her books, CDs and past sermons would not.

There’s something else that I have noticed as well. The past messages that she has put on CD and sold at her website are no longer available, at the moment that I am writing my post. Free downloads are promised in the future. [BDBO readers have been able to read several posts in which we have been able to quote these now shelved messages to good effect in explaining her mindset.]

Could Faytene have sat down recently and thought “You know, my dominionist ideas brought out something in me that I never really liked. I want to be kind and encouraging and I really need to have a theology that matches the kind of Christian that I now think is best to be.”

I have found things to respect and admire in Faytene’s ministry in the past. If she has decided, quietly, to become more moderate–in her manner anyways, that may be something to add in the list.

But, before we get carried away, we do need to remember that a “kindler gentler Faytene” may also, sad to say, be a cynical selling point. I am hopeful, though.

But before I get carried away, I do need to mention The Cry Hollywood.

The Cry Hollywood is scheduled for March 5-17 in Hollywood. The first day will be a “prayer event” roughly akin to the Canadian Cry events, with follow-up meetings afterwards.

Christians are right to be interested in the arts and praying about it. In addition to several of the “usual suspects”, conservative and Christian film industry observer, Ted Baehr is scheduled to participate.

In Faytene’s promotional video for the event, she explains why she started to think about Hollywood:

“It was a couple years, uh months ago, excuse me that I felt the Lord begin to burden my heart and, you know, the Bible says that we are to pray for those in authority…and I began to think, who has more cultural authority than entertainers?”.

She adds that she hopes to operate in “a spirit for blessing…”

Faytene is being shrewder than in the past. Recall earlier this year how she helped with Patricia King’s plans to “take over Facebook and Twitter” (and Faytene’s own lack of Facebook manners? Well, one hopes it is because they have learned a useful lesson, but Faytene is being more careful this time in what she says.

Which way is The Cry Hollywood going to go? Will it genuinely be an effort to bless what God may be doing in Hollywood, or is it a step towards getting the dominionist mindset in front of Christian efforts to be salt and light in entertainment, taking the “mountain of entertainment and media”.

If there is a dominionist aim here, they’ll be a lot shrewder about not letting the rest of us know.

The Cry Hollywood conference may have an impact on Faytene herself on two levels.

It may be a relaunch for Faytene. Instead of having to refer to her efforts in Canada–which may have petered out with the recent The Cry Ottawa rally–she can be the lady “who was behind the Cry Hollywood, which resulted in…”. The Cry Hollywood may be worthwhile anyway, but if it helps Faytene herself to create a new “You thought I was American, but I just don’t mention that I was Canadian anymore…” persona, it may be useful to her.

Hollywood is a perfect stage to take an opening bow before an American audience.

[She plans to leave praying for the Canadian media and entertainment industry, which needs a Christian influence too, to someone else perhaps.]

What may be more of significance is how The Cry Hollwood–what is said and done there–will affect Faytene Grasseschi’s future ministry.

Will she continue to be the fire-breathing dominionist of old, or will The Cry Hollywood reflect a more mature and moderate way that Faytene Grasseschi does things, something that is never spelled out?

Faytene may think that she needs to cry “we will take Hollywood and subject it…” to rally support of her work. Readers will forgive me if I have a wait-and-see attitude, but I would like to be hopeful that she has matured enough in recent months to resist the temptation.

Could there be a post-dominionist Faytene? The Cry Hollywood will either show this–or a Faytene who is much more cunning in how she presents herself.

I don’t think that, either way, she will spell it out explicitly to us. Pity.

This registration occurred shortly after Charles McVety’s program was kicked off Crossroads Television System and his show Word.ca was dropped by the ichannel.

CTS is a member of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, which reviewed complaints about 14 of McVety’s programs.  A decision was issued  in June 2010. The council is a voluntary, non governmental organization which exists to administer standards set by its members.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has found that the broadcast of various episodes of Word TV between July 19, 2009 and February 21, 2010 breached provisions of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code.  By airing abusive or unduly discriminatory comments about persons on the basis of sexual orientation, CITS-TV breached the provisions of the Human Rights Clauses of both Codes.  By so doing, CITS-TV also broadcast material which had the effect of conveying an attack on gays and lesbians, contrary to the terms of the Religious Programming Clause of the CAB Code of Ethics and Negative Portrayal Clause of the CAB Equitable Portrayal Code.  In its observations about Gay Pride parades, CITS-TV also broadcast derisory comments about the practices of gays and lesbians, contrary to Clause 6 of the Equitable Portrayal Code.  By making inaccurate statements about various issues relating to human rights and hate speech, and by mischaracterizing the purpose of the revision of the Ontario school curriculum and Gay Pride parades, CITS-TV also breached Clause 6 of the CAB Code of Ethics, which requires full, fair and proper presentation of opinion, comment and editorial.

CTS temporarily removed McVety from their line up, perhaps in hope that working with him on maintaining basic broadcast ethics would be productive. That of course didn’t turn out to be the case. I wrote about his initial reaction to the ruling in December: Crossroads Television System dumps Charles McVety. We are not talking minor ethical slip ups, his lack of compliance to basic codes was egregious and he went on the war path, sputtering to anyone listening. Being Charles McVety, he sputtered censorship. Efforts by CTS to help him comply with not only CBSC standards, but their own code of ethics failed, and they dumped his show, taking the rare step of issuing a statement repudiating McVety’s claims.
You can read about it here: This time CTS really dumps Charles McVetys Word TV show.

McVety went nuclear, and managed to get 12 friends to sign a petition about kangaroo courts and censorship called Protect Free Speech. If any of the 12 actually read the CBSC decision or the CTS statement or understand  the Canadian Broadcasting Act and the CRTC Religious Broadcasting Policy,  you can colour me surprised. One of the signees was Peter Marshall of Victory International Ministries/Peter Marshall Media Ministries:

Rev. Peter Marshall, Victory International Ministries, the censoring of Dr. Charles McVety unfortunately reveals that there are individuals and groups within our nation who are committed to removing our liberties and silencing the voices of those who may appose their philosophical, political, social and religious views.  This is something we cannot tolerate or accept. Action must be taken in order to preserve the freedoms that we have always enjoyed as a nation.

Oh. Marshall is the new president of the new Canadian Religious Broadcasters Association.
Hard to say where this reactionary effort is going, the domain name for the site was only purchased for a year, and the code of ethics reads like something a primary school student would write.   There are a couple of points I think need to be said, such as paying your bills, but the ‘code’ falls far short of serving the Canadian public. Works just fine for the US, because it is a cut and paste of the NRB Code of Ethics.

1. I will conduct my personal life, corporate ministry, and business affairs in a way that will not bring shame or reproach to the name of the Lord or the CRBA or its members. Rather, I will speak to bring glory and pleasure to our Lord and encourage others to do likewise. (I Peter 1:14-16, 2:12, 4:11)

2. I will speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:1-16)

3. I will recognize and respect what the Lord is doing through other individuals and organizations while refraining from unnecessary criticism of them. (I Peter 3:8-9)

4. I will not use the media to knowingly speak falsely against anyone. (Exodus 20:16)

5. When I believe a fellow member has sinned against me or the Lord, or has violated this Code of Ethics, I will follow the principles and procedures set forth in God’s Word and in Article I of the Bylaws. (Matthew 18:15-17)

I have no idea what Article 1 of the Bylaws are since the Canadian Association of Religious Broadcasters either haven’t written them yet, haven’t bothered to put them online, or don’t think it’s necessary to do so. (The CBSC lists it’s membership and full membership requirements).  Only evangelical Canadians need apply:

The end of the sentence above is not a snipping error on my part, that is exactly how the description appears on Facebook.

The Membership Benefits is a bit of a giggle, because, well because you get a discount if you want to go to the National Religious Broadcasters convention in the US. And supposedly someone will lobby for your rights in Ottawa.  Okay – who?

• Representing your rights and interests in Ottawa, Ontario.
• Maintaining important relationships with elected and appointed officials.
• Providing CRBA member access to those with influence and authority in government.
• Partnership with one of the most prestigious communications law firms on Capitol Hill.
• Access to legislative information on issues affecting Christian media.

If I want legislative information on issues affecting ‘Christian media’ I can use teh google. Membership fees are not posted. The last thing Canadians need is less transparency in religious media/broadcasting. The executive and Presidents councils are not listed.  I mentioned at the top of the post, this association/corporation is a reactive one. This is the legal page:

Canadian Religious Broadcasters Association plays an increasingly important role in defending and promoting communication rights in the legal arena. The fundamental liberty of Christian broadcasters to proclaim an unfettered Gospel of Jesus Christ to a troubled world is being threatened like never before. Whether before the Federal Communications Commission, or other federal agencies, or within the halls of Congress, or before the courts of this land including the Canadian Supreme Court, CRBA fights for the basic rights of religious freedom, free speech and freedom of the press as they impact Christian communicators.

Last I checked we had a parliamentary system of government, no Congress or FCC.

Over on the News page, there are a few items posted by SuperUser and a William.  One is about the NRB encouraging poor besieged Charles McVety, his wife Jennifer and Peter Marshall. I’m not making this up.:^)  Chilling News from Canada. No date, no reference points, just Canadian Chilling news. I’ll help SuperUser out, it was written by the NRB Director of Communications and posted August 17,2011. The word gullible comes to mind. Erroneous also works.

The last thing I noticed was the International page. It’s a chatty diary, no name. I had to go to the NRB to get the writers name. It was written by Ronald R. Harris Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnership, National Religious Broadcasters. Mr. Ronald R. Harris is in Texas.

So, who are the Canadian evangelical broadcasters jumping to join Charles McVety’s Canadian Religious Broadcasters Association? Darned if I know. The Miracle Channel and Grace TV aren’t carrying the CRBC logo. Vision TV and CTS are members in good standing with the CBSC, and are not likely to fall for this latest offering from McVety. Salt and Light can’t participate, they are a Catholic broadcaster.  Many of these Christian radio stations wouldn’t meet the fundamentalist requirements of Marshall and McVety. Churches doing their own streaming on their websites are a dime a dozen, perhaps some Canadian churches would see this new McVety organization as an opportunity. Some. A few. A few Canadians purchase time on CTS, Grace TV, Vision and independent stations. A few.

The Canadian Religious Broadcasters Association has grand ideas, and given what it has been birthed from, this is an organization that needs monitoring. It will be interesting to see who the Canadians are who believe there are benefits to essentially joining the NRB.

The SEC states that through his company Axcess Automation, Gordon Driver fraudulently raised money from over 100 former investors in a ponzi scheme.

The SEC also states that Driver solicited funds from family, friends, neighbours and business acquaintances to wire transfer funds into bank accounts over which he had sole discretionary authority. Driver raised 14.1 million and told potential investors he had proprietary software, and would use their funds for trading “e-Mini S&P 500 futures,” promising returns of 1 to 5% a week.

The SEC says  Driver used $3.7 million  for trading, there was a loss of $3.55 million.

The SEC also states Gordon Driver hired finders to solicit new investors from their circle of family, friends and business acquaintances. Reynold and Ronald Mainse of Crossroads Christian Communications Inc and cousin David Rutledge who was a former Crossroads employee, were named by the Ontario Securities Commission as finders for Axcess Automation/Funds. Ronald Mainse and David Rutledge settled with the OSC in April 2010. An OSC hearing for Reynold Mainse and Steven Tayor was scheduled for April of this year.

From 2006 to 2009 the SEC says Gordon Driver operated as an unlicenced broker.
In February 2009, he sent out a false annual statement showing an account balance of over 9 million dollars for the year ending December 2008. The SEC says the actual balance was about $276,000.

The SEC decision comes two years after Gordon Driver was in California District Court.  A final judgement was issued prohibiting him from violating US federal security laws. The SEC  initial decision states:

Driver’s actions were egregious and recurrent. Driver engaged in a “ponzi scheme” spanning more than three years causing substantial harm to over 100 investors. He provided false and misleading information to certain of those investors and “finders.” Additionally, Driver used significant investor funds for his own benefit.
Driver acted with scienter. Driver had sole discretion and authority over the bank accounts into which he directed investors to wire transfer their funds. He had actual knowledge
of the trading losses he was incurring, while at the same time continuing to provide false and misleading information to investors regarding the account balances.
Driver has not admitted the wrongful nature of his conduct. In his Answer, he denies the Division’s allegations to which he previously consented, asserting several affirmative defenses.
Likewise, he has made no assurances against future violations. Throughout his Deposition, Driver asserted his privilege against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment. (Div. Ex. 4 at 5-40.) Without an associational bar, the potential for Driver’s future violations remains.
Further, the Commission has often emphasized, the public interest determination extends to the public-at-large, the welfare of investors as a class, and standards of conduct in the securities business generally.

Driver represented himself, after several delays. He was granted time to find a new attorney, was given 30 days to file his answer to the administrative judge and failed to meet the deadline. Driver received another extension to file his answer and did not file  opposition to the SEC motion.  The SEC has ordered:

that, pursuant to Section 15(b)(6)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Gordon A. Driver is barred from association with any broker, dealer, investment adviser,
municipal securities dealer, municipal advisor, transfer agent, and NRSRO, and from participating in an offering of penny stock.

The initial decision ruling was issued Thursday. Driver has 21 days to appeal upon receipt of the ruling, 10 days to file a motion to correct manifest error of fact and 21 days after that to file a petition for review. Appeals go before the full SEC Commission and if Driver’s appeal is unsuccessful he has recourse to go to US Federal Court. If there are no appeals by Driver or the SEC, the SEC will issue a final ruling.

There is no word on further decisions by the CFTC or the OSC. He is forbidden from trading in Canada. Gordon Driver lives in Las Vegas and has a home in Freelton Ontario.

Internet Liars: Peter Youngren comments

Written by Peter Youngren on August 30th 2011

The Internet has become a haven for anonymous liars, who operate without accountability. The lies about myself, our church and ministries are too many to itemize. To list them would dignify that which is inherently evil. Grant it, a few statements are by people, who probably have good intentions, but they are just as ignorant and untrue nevertheless. Others make serious lies, which rise to the level of defamation. The worst lies are half- truths; facts are twisted and motivations are imagined.

I do not know who the people are that attack our ministry. Some deceptively pretend to be current or past staff members. Other engage in conversations with themselves, making an entry under one name, only to comment on their own entry under a different name, making it seem there is a big interest in their ideas. Blatant lies by anonymous writers can go unchallenged for years.

I am writing this because people ask me why I don’t respond. To me, it is just so unscriptural to respond to anonymous accusers. When the sons of Korah accused Moses, or when Shimei taunted and mocked David we know the names of those accusers. Moses and David were willing to meet their accusers; that’s my attitude, and the attitude of any man of God.

The only exception to the above anonymity is a pastor of a small church in Europe. I know who he is, and he writes under many different headlines and names. This man has dedicated himself to spread lies. I have tried to speak with him, but to no avail. It is so sad to see a man once on fire for Jesus become obsessed, trying to vindicate himself, by attacking others.

I have many faults and failures, just like everyone else, including the great heroes of the Bible and of Church history. God’s grace has enabled me to be transparent about those flaws before my church and before spiritual friends, like our partners. But you won’t see me share my heart in cesspool of mudslinging on Christian blog sites. Jesus said something about where you share your pearls.

This lying spirit is not new; it has always been at work against the Gospel, through evil rumors, distortions and false accusations. Jesus was accused of being a deceiver (John 7:12), and possessed by Beelzebub, the devil. Paul didn’t fare any better. He was called a “plague”, a “creator of dissension”, and “a ringleader” (Acts 24:5).

Earlier this year veteran broadcaster, David Mainse, spoke on television about bloggers that lie, “You get on the blogs and the blogs are always lies. Half truths are lies. One of the reasons that gossip, backbiting, is in the same list in the Scripture as murder and adultery … because if you don’t have all the facts—this is why you have editorial controls where there are checks and balances. That’s why an editorial board is in a newspaper. Checks and balances. But on the blogs—I treat a blog just like I treat the rags that are at the checkout counter at the grocery store. I don’t read them. I refuse to read them. They are half-truths. They have not been well researched. The have no editorial control. There are no checks or balances on these, so they are not reliable.” Amen to that.

In one way I am encouraged when I see liars so active in and around our ministry. I know the one, who is really interested that our ministry would suffer setback and loss, the devil.
Meanwhile Grace Television is reaching people, and in the next 9 weeks we have 3 mega Gospel Campaigns that will reach hundreds of thousands with the Gospel.
- Peter Youngren

Criticism can hurt. It can be difficult to read negative comments, observations or facts about your organization, choices, leadership or behavior.
The question I’m asking myself is why would Peter Youngren (World Impact Ministries/Grace TV) chose now to express his feelings and thoughts about what is online? What has been happening with his organization, and in his life to warrant his blog post? Why and why now?
The next question I have is what lies are online about Youngren, his church and his ministries?

The choice to respond to critics in a personal one.  Management of an organization’s online presence is varied, the decision to respond, and the ‘how’ of a response is based on a leaders personality and his or her management teams style, as well as other factors such has how criticism is affecting the day to day of the operation, staff moral and the bottom line.

This Youngren post is aching for a fisking. I’ll start with what Mr. Youngren has said that I can agree with.

More below the fold.

1) Yes, people lie online, often anonymously.  People lie off line.

2) Do anonymous online liars operate without accountability? Not always, but yes, they can and do. Different countries have different laws regulating public speech and accountability depends on who or what the lies are directed at.

3) “Grant it, a few statements are by people, who probably have good intentions, but they are just as ignorant and untrue nevertheless.” While uniformed or partially informed expressed opinion  can spring from different motives, sometimes partially formed opinions and ideas can be ignorant or untrue.

4) “Blatant lies by anonymous writers can go unchallenged for years.” Yes, they can, the decision to leave things be or challenge is in the hands of the person or organization lies are directed toward.

6) Sock puppeting (writing under different names, responding to your own comments) is a problem online. People do represent themselves as something/someone they are not; conning occurs online and off.

7) “Jesus said something about where you share your pearls.” Yes, He did. Matthew 7:6

8 Yes, on January 3, 2011 David Mainse went on 100 Huntley Street and said what Peter Youngren says he said.  I not only transcribed David Mainse remarks, I reached out to the few others who have bothered to blog about Crossroads, for counsel.  I also wrote Crossroads. You can see for yourself: David Mainse of Crossroads slams blogs – the blogs are always lies. One salient point has been omitted by Mr. Youngren. David Mainse clearly stated  he does not read blogs. That’s his choice. He then rendered his opinion.

9) “I know the one, who is really interested that our ministry would suffer setback and loss, the devil.” The bible does address the role of Satan.

Peter Youngren is not addressing critics or criticism. He is addressing accusers. To him they seem to be one and the same.  He presents a  blanket belief, all or nothing thinking with a tiny caveat to ignorance. On his blog off all places. Ironic. He makes no distinction between criticism, critics, opinion or query; all falls into the camp of other/enemy expression.  He perceives himself as a victim of copious online hate and misunderstanding and wants the reader to agree. The implication is clear: even well-intentioned ignorant people online are evil, compared to Youngren, Moses, David, Jesus and Paul.
This was a laugh out loud read: ” the cesspool of mudslinging on Christian blog sites.” Convenient. Call everyone liars, don’t identify or address these lies and you too can be a victim. It is not evil to respond to accusers or liars. Lies are evil.  Satan gets blamed for a lot of things we are reluctant to take responsibility for.

World Impact Ministries, Grace TV and Peter Youngren do not get much attention online, either positive or negative.  Hittin’ teh Google  for 2011 I found a news article from Bali on a crusade, an article on the Finnish police investigation out of Sweden, three blog posts bouncing off that issue, some chatter at Topix in an ongoing thread, a discussion in a pentecostal forum in Finland on the relationship between Youngren and employee Taina Kuusiluoma and Youngren’s latest divorce. There is nothing in broadcast trade magazines because nothing much is new with Grace TV.  There are two  people online I’ve found over the past couple of years who do not like Peter Youngren.  They make no bones about what they think and feel. They don’t like his theology, they don’t like his behavior, and if he took a long walk off a short pier into cold shark infested waters, it would make their day.

The reality is World Impact Ministries and Grace TV are under discussed, barely noticed online, because the niche audience is small. Even Peter Youngren with the disarray of his personal life, his leadership decisions,  and his projects and plans, isn’t nearly as accused and attacks in reality as he projects. He seems to be feeling some strong feelings, and fires in whatever direction he can at a very large group of people, some of whom are probably viewers and perhaps even donors.

Television is a brutal business. It is a glaringly public space, and in taking ownership of a station, Youngren has opened himself to a different level of scrutiny online that he shows himself with this blog post to be under equipped to manage.

I thought I would be angry or irritated as I read the first few sentences of Internet liars.
David Mainse on camera silliness in January got my dander up, but Youngren’s post is just sad.

There are numerous articles online for charities, non-profits, ministries and businesses about helpful and productive ways to respond to online criticism. . Phil Cooke, who wrote the book on televangelists for televangelists (The Last TV Evangelist Why the next generation couldn’t care less about religious media and why it matters)  begs his broadcasting professional readers to deal with ambiguity and criticism and the loss of absolute control in a changing world.  He gives solid advice on how to navigate online criticism.

Youngren and Mainse have done Canadian Christian television no favours with their outbursts this year. Both rants are in a nutshell, unprofessional.  In villifying people online, which a majority of their viewers are, both broadcasters harmed themselves. I cringe at their contempt for people who help keep them and their shows on air.

Painting others who go online to discuss your leadership, personal behavior and public/private persona;  as anonymous accusers, liars, defamers, attackers is bizarre to me. Lumping in anyone online with sock-puppeters and trolls, and likening their opinions, feelings and discussion as par with Satan himself, is just bizarre.

I have no idea how many sock puppets Youngren’s web administrator deals with. As someone who writes frequently about Grace TV, I can tell you how many I’ve dealt with.
None.  People who have corresponded with me are not pretending to be former staff members.  If I was a current staff member, I’d look at that statement as a threat, an attempt at intimidation.
Shooting the messenger can be an effective way to silence critics or even none critics. Ad hominem can work well in closed environments such as the workplace, a family, or a church. Scapegoating  is a power tactic, to put blame on a group for the sins of a few.
We don’t know who the few liars may be (if they exist) because Mr. Youngren has made a choice common in a scapegoating scenario to remain vague and non-specific. In medical terminology it’s call displacement and projection. The feelings underneath scapegoating are frustration, aggression and hostility.  Scapegoating frees the person engaging in it from accountability for their own feelings, decisions and behavior.

And perhaps that’s where my sadness at such a sorry blog post from Youngren comes in. I and I think others who are concerned about religious broadcasting in Canada,  broadcast personalities behavior on and off camera, business practices and convenient theology, openly and clearly  reject dehumanization and bullying. It doesn’t have to be this way. Religious broadcasters can learn that other mediums are not the camp of the enemy.
Identifying and naming the type of criticism correctly, staying calm, positive and direct is part of  successful cross media communication.  I respect  Mr. Youngren for approaching his colleague. I also respect walking away when the situation is too toxic.

Here is how it works Mr. Youngren. I have people online and off  who I am accountable to regarding BDBO. They know me personally, or they have dealt with me for years online. They are free to approach me anytime to correct. If a mistake or wrong attitude is brought to my attention, it is acknowledged and publicly corrected with an apology if necessary. If you believe I have wronged you in the “cesspool of mudslinging on Christian blog sites,” you have the right, and I believe the responsibility of response –  the contact button is on the header.

Update: This might as well go up somewhere now.  For quite some time there were rumours that employee Taina Kuusiluoma was dating Peter Youngren.

After the divorce of Peter and Roxanne Youngren, was announced in May 2011, people began to comment on the engagement of Youngren and Kuusiluoma. Recently commenters have said there was going to be a wedding (his 3rd) with various dates mentioned. I haven’t posted because the information wasn’t sourced. Commenter Ronald Tate grabbed a screenshot of the couple in the Grace TV prayer centre from the September 13/11 Encounter program.  Ms. Kuusiluoma  is wearing an engagement ring.

Crossroads general funds budget is down 600 thousand dollars this year.

I don’t follow the finances closely, and I thank readers who do. While I expect some short fall,  given how much broadcasting is a money pit, I wonder how much the Axcess Automation/Axcess Funds scam hurt viewership and giving? Add in global economic uncertainty and it’s no surprise religious broadcasters stand in line begging for every cent they can get.

Since Ron and Reynold Mainse and a cousin were named as finders in a ponzi scheme by the OSC in 2009, only management would be aware of how much the publicity hurt the ministry. Assurance that money was not taken out of the charity still does not rebuild viewer trust, nor should it. The average age of a religious program viewer is 54. Board level changes and new partnerships are no guarantee that young families and younger viewers are going to support a tv show. Tomorrow’s viewers are online. Renyold Mainse was kicked off air along with his brother when news broke, and while Ron Mainse settled with the Ontario Security and Exchange Commission, there is no news about the April 2011 hearing for Reynold Mainse and Steven Taylor, just as the matter isn’t closed with the SEC and CFTC in the US. Reynold’s father mentioned him during the fundraising this week, noting he was working for himself, and that he had helped out with the missions arm of Crossroads during the Haiti crisis. (That was back when he had been taken off-air)

David Mainse made his pitch this week, letting viewers know that he was concerned about cost for the digital switchover required by the CRTC by the end of August. Fair enough, the CRTC had granted a few extensions in the industry, even though Canadian broadcasters have had since 2004 to become compliant.

Mainse mentioned conversions and studio upgrades. I’m assuming he means the Burlington behemoth as well as the CTS stations in Edmonton and Calgary.

I’m not a broadcast engineer or an operations manager, but I wondered how far behind Crossroads is in acquiring equipment and what it takes to convert. Crossroads has it’s HD cameras, I’m assuming they are paid for, they are operational.  Let’s assume Crossroads has 30 high quality Ikemamis. They run about 100 thousand each. Lenses run about 20 thousand each. Factor in extra lenses, say 2 for every five cameras.
If tracks are required, that is approximately 10 to 15 thousand per studio. Digital processors are needed, let’s say 2 in each studio – 6 at about 50 thousand each.

Tripods run about 5 thousand each.
Mics and countryman headsets (for crew) run about 4 thousand apiece.

Converting transmitters and antenna  runs about 200 thousand dollars per station.
Some speciality channels can set up an operational digital station for one million dollars.
The company (like any company) has dedicated servers, that outlay is complete.

Hardware maintenance and hydro varies according to the operation. If a broadcaster wants to digitalize their tape library, it’s a few thousand for that equipment. I would think converting a 35 year old library from tape to video costs would be in staffing.

Since the ponzi troubles the new board has positioned itself for the future with partnerships. The Salvation Army is busy doing Sunday School curriculum programming, the World Evangelical Alliance is appealing to volunteers to participate in MyVu, and is part of what is a rather poor ‘newscast’ called World Report. There is a partnership with a well known religious newspaper in the US called The Christian Post. (Read some of their Canadian news, the conservative slant is, er, interesting). Again this year, Crossroads is partnering with Sony Pictures to promote another Christian movie. The last one gave Crossroads an opportunity to push product from Fireproof, this one is called Courageous.
Crossroads gave most of it’s Circle Square Ranches to Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship who are known across Canada for their skills in running summer camps for kids.  IVCF received an outside grant of 35 thousand to integrate their marketing for the transition. I would think that these partner ministry supporters would help with costs. In the programming end, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada put on a concert called Rock the River, mirroring an equivalent concert promotion in the US. When Robert Schuller Jr left the Crystal Cathedral he teamed up with a family member and formed ComStar Media LLC. (FamilyNet and American Life radio and television) Schuller Jr. filed a claim in the Crystal Cathedral bankruptcy proceedings:

Several Schuller family members have also filed claims in bankruptcy court – Robert A. Schuller, son of the founder, for $1.4 million; son-in-law Timothy Milner for $98,313; son-in-law Paul Dunn for $52,037; daughter Jeanne Dunn for $25,908; daughter Carol Milner for $10,615…

for Crossroads bought into the venture and got themselves use of a tv library. CTS runs a retro comedy block now. A Mainse relative who has been quite successful in the Christian entertainment industry is now back on staff, producing programming and one of his concert shows called God Rocks has aired on CTS.  Crossroads also runs a teen video contest called Check Your Focus. It may wind up as a weekly show on CTS.

Willow Creek made a deal to air their leadership conference and received a grant of 35 thousand from a Canadian foundation. Redeemer College also got a conditional 35 thousand dollar grant to air some of their theatre productions from Stronger Together 2011.

Crossroads hosts mentioned game show coming down the pipes, and a Christmas special which was  filmed in the Middle east that Canadian radio host Drew Marshall took part in. There is a teen show and kids shows in the works. A distribution company has been set up called Tricord Media.
Tricord Media had a website,  and I didn’t grab a screenshot at the time. It was parked online and not updated. I mentioned it in a previous post. There is a Tri-Cord Media in the US being run out of a double wide trailer in Texas. It doesn’t appear to have a website either. I may be missing some of Crossroads programming plans, it remains to be seen what viewers are captured by and whether they have disposable income to support ongoing programming.

The missions arm of Crossroads partnered with Compassion Canada and The Christian Reformed Church of Canada. While CIDA refused to fund Crossroad mission workers this past year, CIDA matches donations to various degrees. As well Crossroads does not pay it’s broadcast interns – they pay their way for a six month placement. I’ve noticed male students don’t seem to apply. Given that there are broadcast internships available which do pay, perhaps they seek those internships out, while female students take what they can get. I don’t know, it’s just odd. Maybe there are male Crossroad interns who are just too shy to go on camera and talk about what they’ve been up to.

While younger viewers have fled tv land or watch what they want on demand,  CTS needs to fill air time and need to distribute their productions well beyond Canada.

As this broadcaster positions for the future, what caught my attention was the appeal by CEO Don Simmonds.  After the Axcess Automation/Axcess Funds publicity, Simmonds was hired as CEO and crossed Canada raising several million for capital costs. Soon after the ComStar deal was announced.

I’ve written about this before also. Mr. Simmonds is convinced Crossroads has 9 million viewers in Canada. A former Crossroads employee pointed out in the comments that Crossroads staff are probably completely sincere in that belief, even if most of us express an understandably healthy skepticism.

Perhaps they factor in internet and YouTube views and then multiply by pi. The bottom line is the bottom line: This is a huge beast that is constantly in need of feeding.

This is what caught my attention in the fundraiser this week. What are the millions needed for?  Mr. Simmonds makes his pitch at 52:25:

And we are even launching a very special campaign where we need 40 people that will each give 500 thousand dollars or more to provide strategic capital to speed up our ability to impact the world through media. And if you feel God calling you to this, would you please get in touch with me directly.

The full transcript is below the fold. 

Next year is Crossroads 50th birthday, and for almost half a century we have had the privilege of helping millions of people know who God is and what He can be to them
Now I want to share some of the exciting new things we are doing to advance the impact of this in the future.
First I want to thank those of you who so faithfully partner financially and through your prayers and for helping us finish our financial year strong. Perhaps you’ve been able to send us a special year end gift or move to a new level of monthly support. Thanks so much.
And there is still a high number of you who watch 100 Huntley Street regularly and who have never give financially. I do want to encourage you to become a financial supporter today and share the load of bringing great programs of faith and values to millions of people.
I can assure you that your investments are significantly multiplied when you give to Crossroads. And it was God himself that created the concept of multiplication and he is pleased when we multiply the resources He has given us. And your support of 100 Huntley Street was multiplied as over 9 million Canadians watched this program in the past year. And in the spring, we took Full Circle, our woman’s program from a weekly to a daily basis, multiplying its impact.We are getting ready to launch a brand new Christmas special called A Journey to Christmas, an award winning production in HD format and your support has made it possible for the true Christmas message to be seen by millions in the upcoming Christmas season.
And waiting for funding are for children, youth and a game show that reinforces correct moral choices, just to name a few.
And a brand new initiative called MyVu I’m really excited about, uses new technology to enable every day citizens to gather and submit video stories of faith from all around the world that we can then rebroadcast. We’ve also just partnered with Sony Entertainment to bring a powerful new movie to Canadian theatres. It’s called Courageous. It’s all about the need for fathers to love and lead their families the way God intended. It will launch in North American theatres September 30th, and over the next few weeks you’ll hear a lot more about Courageous and how your church can be involved.
And we have a wonderful partnership with The Salvation Army that will multiply efforts. Production is underway now for this innovative media based Sunday School curriculum that will give The Salvation Army one of the most up to date methods of teaching young people giving captivating video elements and the internet.
And our missions partnerships enable your mission giving to be multiplied, often taking a dollar and making it 3 or 4. And in September we will launch World Report, a global faith news report that will be seen daily all over the world.
And we are intent on engaging younger people. Equipping for Excellence is our internship program where young people work with us to gain experience so that they can go into the market place trained and ready to multiply their skills for God’s purposes.
And we are even launching a very special campaign where we need 40 people that will each give 500 thousand dollars or more to provide strategic capital to speed up our ability to impact the world through media. And if you feel God calling you to this, would you please get in touch with me directly. On an ongoing basis you can also multiply the use of the resources we offer on 100 Huntley Street. You can actually receive a 5 pack and while it will require a larger gift, we’d like you to give these resources away, to your kids, your pastor or to each of your neighbours perhaps. You could put several in your church library or hold them for birthdays or Christmas presents.
And of course everything we do is multiplied through the power of prayer. We pray with 1000 viewers every day about their own needs, or a prayer request for a loved one. This prayer engine accesses the very power of God himself to multiply our collective efforts in supernatural ways.
And this is why we urge your financial assistance to multiply our positive impact, just like the little boy who brought his loves and fishes to Jesus, his resources were remarkably multiplied.
And your gifts, put into God’s hands will touch the lives of millions for Him.
May God richly bless your life and ministry

Nest year is Crossroads 50th birthday, and for almost half a century we have had the priviledge of helping millions of people know who God is and what He can be to them.  Now I want to share some of the exciting new things we are doing to advance the impact of this in the future.
First I want to thank those of you who so faithfully partner financially and through your prayers and for helping us finish our financial year strong. Perhaps you’ve been able to send us a special year end gift or move to a new level of monthly support. Thanks so much.
And there is still a high number of you who watch 100 Huntley Street regularly and who have never give financially. I do want to encourage you to become a financial supporter today and share the load of bringing great programs of faith and values to millions of people.I can assure you that your investments are significantly multiplied when you give to Crossroads. And it was God himself that created the concept of multiplication and he is pleased when we multiply the resources He has given us. And your support of 100 Huntley Streeet was multiplied as over 9 million Canadians watched this program in the past year. And in the spring, we took Full Circle, our woman’s program from a weekly to a daily basis, multiplying its impact.We are getting ready to launch a brand new Christmas special called A Journey to Christmas, an award winning production in HD format and your support has made it possible for the true Christmas message to be seen by millions in the upcoming Christmas season.
And waiting for funding are for children, youth and a game show that reinforces correct moral choices, just to name a few.And a brand new initiative called MyVu I’m really excited about, uses new technology to enable every day citizens to gather and submit video stories of faith from all around the world that we can then rebroadcast. We’ve also just partnered with Sony Entertainment to bring a powerful new movie to Canadian theatres. It’s called Courageous. It’s all about the need for fathers to love and lead their families the way God intended. It will launch in North American theatres September 30th, and over the next few weeks you’ll hear a lot more about Courageous and how your church can be involved.
And we have a wonderful partnership with The Salvation Army that will multiply efforts. Production is underway now for this innovative media based Sunday School ciriculum that will give The Salvation Army one of the most up to date methods of teaching young people giving captivating video elements and the internet.
And our missions partnerships enable your mission giving to be multiplied, often taking a dollar and making it 3 or 4. And in September we will launch World Report, a global faith news report that will be seen daily all over the world.And we are intent on engaging younger people. Equipping for Excellence is our internship program where young people work with us to gain experience so that they can go into the market place trained and ready to multiply their skills for God’s purposes.
And we are even launching a very special campaign where we need 40 people that will each give 500 thousand dollars or more to provide strategic capital to speed up our ability to impact the world through media. And if you feel God calling you to this, would you please get in touch with me directly. On an ongoing basis you can also multiply the use of the resources we offer on 100 Huntley Street. You can actually receive a 5 pack and while it will require a larger gift, we’d like you to give these resources away, to your kids, your pastor or to each of your neighbours perhaps. You could put several in your church library or hold them for birthdays or Christmas presents.And of course everything we do is multiplied through the power of prayer. We pray with 1000 viewers every day about their own needs, or a prayer request for a loved one. This prayer engine accesses the very power of God himself to multiply our collective efforts in supernatural ways.And this is why we urge your financial assistance to multiply our positive impact, just like the little boy who brought his loves and fishes to Jesus, his resources were remarkably multiplied.And your gifts, put into God’s hands will touch the lives of millions for Him.May God richly bless your life and ministry

Don Simmonds, CEO of Crossroads says, “It is a privilege for the Crossroads family to partner with Sony and Sherwood to become the conduit through which Canadian fathers will be challenged to a whole new standard of courage. Our dream for Canada starts with churches and families inviting their neighbours to see this gripping movie, and ends with the dream of a nation of fathers who have decided to step up courageously to lead and love their own families!”

Focus on the Family is heavily involved with the film, as are other US parachurch groups, providing resources for churches which buy up blocks of tickets, and for viewers who want to be “All-Pro” or a “Championship Father,” who raises sons who are “modern day knights. The Canadian branch of Focus on the Family recently moved into a new 8 million dollar building in British Columbia.

Sherwood Pictures is a division of a Southern Baptist affiliate, Sherwood Baptist Church, out of Albany Georgia. This is their 4th film.  Their 3rd film Fireproof (2008) grossed 33 million in US theatres and over 32 million in DVD sales. The evangelical movie market (faith based films) has grown in North America, as has spinoff product.

Back to Canada and 100 Huntley Street – employees go on summer vacations – but it’s odd that a religious media company the size of Crossroads cannot find a staffer able to provide loyal 100 Huntley Street viewers an updated online program guide. I pulled this snip tonight.

Tricord Media bills itself as a distributor of Canadian faith and values media content to broadcasters and other media players domestically and internationally. There is a Tri-Cord Media Inc. in Porter Texas (Google street view shows a house trailer at the address), however Crossroads spells it’s company TriCord. A previous job posting for Crossroads TriCord Media Inc. indicates the posting is in Burlington. A website was registered by Crossroads Communications in 2010, but the URL is not active.

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has found that CITS-TV’s broadcast of Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural breached provisions of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code.  By alleging that “Muslims believe it is their divine call to eliminate” another nationally identifiable group, the CBSC has found that CITS-TV aired abusive and unduly discriminatory comments about Muslims, contrary to the provisions of the Human Rights Clauses of the CAB Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code.

CTS is required to broadcast the above announcement twice, and to provide the complainant  and the CBSC with written confirmation and airchecks of compliance. The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council noted that CTS Program Manager Rob Sheppard

…responded carefully, if briefly, to the complaint raised by the complainant.  While that response did not deter the complainant from filing a Ruling Request, the Panel considers that the Program Manager had focussed directly on the issue of the treatment of Islam that concerned the complainant.

The complaint centered around a Sid Roth guest, an author named Joel Richardson. The show aired on CTS in September 2010.

The CBSC concluded that aspects of the discussion about Islam on the challenged episode of the program were in accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ (CAB) Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code, but that one of the assertions breached the Human Rights Clauses of both those Codes.

While the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council panel ruled that the discussion was in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code, one thing said on the show breached both codes Human Rights clauses in a statement of opinion that, “Muslims believe it is their divine call to eliminate the Jewish people.”

Crossroads Television System (the non-profit branch of Crossroads Christian Television Communications Incorporated) also has it’s own Code of Ethics:

2. Religious groups who purchase time on CTS are entitled to state their faith and beliefs freely and clearly within a framework of responsibility, however:a) While groups and ministries are free to express their views about beliefs or behaviour theyconsider to be wrong or contradictory to their own values, such comments must only beexpressed within the context of religious belief.b) If a religious broadcast refers to the beliefs, practices, liturgy or behaviour of adherents ofanother faith, the references must be accurate and fair and must not take words or phrases out of context.

3. The tone and content of programming must not abuse, misrepresent or incite hatred against any individual or identifiable group.  It must not call into question the human rights, equal rights or dignity of any individual or group.

It’s Supernatural with Sid Roth also buys airtime on CHEX Peterborough, CKWS Kingston, Vision TV and two western stations (Joytv) owned by ZoomerMedia. Roth is also broadcast on The Miracle Channel and Grace TV, which are not members of the CBSC.
One of the difficulties is that Roth and others can just stop buying time on Canadian networks and stations subject to CBSC conduct codes. The problem of really bad and unethical religious programming becomes circular.  Christian celebrities don’t go off air because of wrong teaching or bad behavior, they are stars in their sub-cultures and fans will keep sending money.  There is no way for religious broadcasters to offer sound programming 24/7, when it comes to distribution,  he/she who pays, plays.

CTS was the subject of another CBSC complaint last year. Charles McVety’s show The Word was eventually yanked off Crossroads Television when McVety refused to comply with the CBSC ruling and the CTS ethics code. McVety moved his show over to The Miracle Channel.

If you scroll through CBSC rulings online for Crossroads – Sid Roth, Charles McVety, John Hagee, and a curious Nite Light complaint where CTS logger tapes were somehow mislabeled and unavailable to the CBSC panel, these shows remain in business, distributed on as many Canadian broadcast outlets as they can pay for.

Roth is headquartered in Georgia.  His Canadian ministry director is Barry Boucher, a New Apostolic Reformation Apostle.

What could be the harm in having theocrat Christians take over Facebook? Well, you could look at the instructor of the course…

As we have recently mentioned, evangelist Particia King is offering a $20 webinar for Christians on how they can use social media such as Twitter and Facebook as a good witness.

Sounds like a good thing, until you read of King’s idea to “take over” media–even social media, which my earlier post discussed briefly.

Faytene Grasseschi (the newly married evangelist Faytene Kryskow) is to be one of the instructors of the internet webinar, which gives me pause. She has a history of being a bit overbearing on Facebook, and if she teaches webinar participants to be thuggish on Facebook and Twitter, it won’t be good for anyone.

Thanks to Bene D, we even have a clear example of bad Facebook manners, on Faytene Grasseschi’s part, that I can point to.

Last September, BD was contacted by a lady whose daughter had tried to ask Faytene some polite, but pointed, questions on Faytene’s Facebook Wall.

Faytene reacted in a huff, later thinking better of what she had written and deleting both question and response. She then rhetorically attacked the young lady with the questions without giving her a chance to respond.

Bene D wrote an excellent post–Don’t question Faytene Kryskow–on it all, so if I may suggest that you read it, that would be great. What I would have to add are comments to the effect of “If Faytene thinks it is all right to do this…”

Bene D summed it up well. He wrote:

Faytene’s responses can be, um, interesting. You get flattered and slammed, often in the same sentence. There have been a few of those exchanges here at BDBO, and I gave up. There is deflection, accusations and the conversation becomes circular. I don’t really care, passive aggressiveness isn’t a leadership trait. All anyone can do when confronted with passive aggressive patter is call double bind no win; but it continues to strike me as odd that someone who portrays themselves as interested in young people misreads sincerity so badly.

BD quoted Faytene’s response to the young lady, where she whinged that her questioner was, in her opinion, just interested in being “rude, bitter, critical and dishonouring” and not interested in getting honest answers. [You could perhaps address older folks, such as myself, in that way. But this is too heavy handed for a 19 year old woman.]

Added Faytene:

“…As for my wall, just as I would not allow a person to behave in a spirit of dishonour, bitterness or repeated hard hearted criticalism in my own home – I won’t allow it here either….”

Hmmm….I agree that it is her right to ask that people play nice on her Facebook Wall. But, as she is a public figure, shouldn’t she err on the side of being very patient with people who are trying to respectfully bring things to her attention and make her think about what she is doing?

After all, what happens in public, should be able to be observed and commented on in the same way.

The young lady who Faytene tried to take behind the woodshed replied ,in part, “Nothing in your response demonstrated a Christ-like mentality.”

Hear hear.

Bene D doesn’t know that I am writing this, but he offers a much better example of responsing to criticism. Blog…Facebook…it applies in the same way, I suggest.

Last fall, he reported on David Mainse’s comments on how evil and irresponsible he thought bloggers were. Instead of ignoring the comment, he reported on it, so that everyone could discuss the validity of what Mainse had to say.

Dialogue. Give and take. Things that Faytene, I fear, may teach in her upcoming shouldn’t be necessary in the “taken over” Facebook and Twitter of the future.

After all, if she has expressed an opinion that bloggers would have nailed Christ to the cross back in the day, she will no doubt find much to sniff at on Facebook and Twitter.

It’s one thing to ask people on her Facebook wall to have good manners (which is ultimately her right), but, as we have seen, there is talk of ‘taking over” Facebook and Twitter for her side.

Would we then see censorship of Facebook and Twitter? People being censored, or not allowed to share at all?

I do remember what Faytene has said about the media. Although she eloquently explained her point of view at BDBO that she wants to avoid media disruption of her work, she retained a policy where no reporter can cover her without her permission. Reporters, she once prayed, are possessed by demons. She talked about censoring the release of information that could hurt the Conservative party’s government.

I hope that the upcoming webinar is innocent. I pray that it is.

But I thinking I can fairly wonder if Faytene, given how she has used social media, and her ideas of media in general, can avoid having a bad ulterior motive in these matters. And as I noted in my previous post, there may well be unfortunate thinking on the part of Patricia King as well.

Use social media wisely, fellow sheep. While the wolves are not causing havoc in the lush and sociable pastures of Facebook and Twitter, that is.

Vote Pray Serve was set up by a person or persons unknown on March 21, 2011, five days before the write was dropped  and according to Whois was registered by  Sibername Internet and Software Technologies Inc.

The website states it is run by a group of volunteers who are soliciting donations which are not tax deductible. That means this is not a charity. But what I’m not clear about is why they need to solicit funds for a grassroots get out the vote web page.

What are the Election Canada Rules?

Anyone can volunteer during an election for whoever they chose.  However registration is required when an individual or group spends $500.00. Elections Canada:

Third party
A “third party” is a person or a group, other than a candidate, registered party or electoral district association of a registered party.

A “group” means an unincorporated trade union, trade association or other group of persons acting together by mutual consent for a common purpose.

A person or group is considered to be a “third party” when incurring electoral advertising expenses during an election period to promote or oppose a registered party or the election of a candidate, including taking a position on an issue with which a registered party or a candidate is associated.

So far this group has a web page, a Facebook and a YouTube channel with two videos. While I doubt the production costs of the two videos and a web page domain and hosting purchase amounts to $500.00, there is no way of knowing. There is no way of knowing how much the volunteer group has received in donations.

What is also troubling is the lack of identification.

Elections Canada:

7. Identification of Election Advertising

The Act requires that a third party identify itself in any election advertising it sponsors and indicate that it has authorized the advertising. Failure to do so is an offence.
[352, 496(1)(b)]

The following wording is suggested:

“Authorized by the Coalition for High Technology Investment”

or

“Authorized by the United Computer Workers Association, Local 2213″

My question is simple. Does this group fall under the criteria for registration? Are they violating the Election Act?

What does this volunteer group promote? They say they set themselves up to vote, pray and serve, and then they go off into some murky territory.

ON IT is a movement of Canadians that are committing to voting, praying and serving in this upcoming election. Stay tuned here for videos, resources and sweet things you can be a part of leading up to the 41st Canadian election!

A click on the prayer tab and up pops Proverbs 29:2.  Up pops links to various charismatic and pentecostal prayer groups, with a list of what to pray about from  Nation at Prayer out of Pickering Ontario. Nation at Prayer was registered as a charity in 2006, a quick glance at the directors, and a familiar name popped up. Kerry Carmichael was a board member of Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.  This charity has expenses and revenue of nearly 100 thousand dollars.

As a complete aside, the Vote Pray Serve site promotes Family Values. Sound suspiciously like the Hope for TV campaign which Crossroads Television Network said it was issuing tax receipts for – the campaign which did not get charitable status. This also sounds like Charles McVety language. I digressed. Back to the topic at hand.

The serve tab gets really interesting.  Family friendly candidates are listed, with an encouragement to readers to get out and help them. There is also a plug for The Conservative Party, thinly disguised:

Catch 22: An “anything but Conservative” campaign has been launched to oust Conservative MPs from 22 ridings by endorsing the next leading candidate regardless of where they stand on issues. We encourage you to check out these ridings, find out who the family friendly MP is (regardless of his/her party) and get behind them as these ridings will be a tough battle for all the candidates. Click here to see the ridings.

Someone is not happy with some members of The Conservative Party, because when you check this list of approved candidates who ‘stand for morality you get what may be the parliamentary pro-life caucus;

THE VOTE THAT SHOWED THEIR TRUE COLOURS: Whether or not a candidate is truly strong on family issues comes through in the “tough” votes where an MP is challenged to choose between their conscience and party/political pressure. A vote that put MPs in this situation was Roxanne’s Law (C-510). Through Roxanne’s Law we clearly saw who the strong family values MPs were and who simply professed to be but were not willing to put their neck on the line when it mattered most (for women wanting to choose life).

Yes, the page claims Roxanne’s Law is not the key issue, but it’s the key issue. The message is, vote for these candidates if you are Christian who cares about righteous people ruling Canada.  REAL Women Canada and Campaign Life Canada are mentioned. REAL Women Canada is the Canadian arm of a right wing US group Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum. REAL Women Canada is a registered lobby group.
Campaign Life Canada is a well known anti-abortion group run by Jim Hughes. They are running a get out the vote video on their site.

There are 89 candidates listed of family friendly. from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. I have no idea where Atlantic Canada candidates are.  They are listed, back on blue, web error. No NDP, Green or Independent candidates were listed.

PEI
One Conservative Party incumbent listed, voted for Roxanne’s Law.

New Brunswick
4 Conservative Party incumbents listed. All voted for Roxanne’s Law.

Quebec
No incumbents listed. One ‘family friendly’ candidate.

Ontario
7 Liberals are listed for Ontario. All 7 voted for Roxanne’s Law. All the Conservative incumbents listed voted for Roxanne’s Law.

Manitoba
7 Conservative Party incumbents are listed, all voted for Roxanne’s Law.

Saskatchewan
13 Conservative Party incumbents are listed, all voted for Roxanne’s Law.

Alberta
18 Conservative Party incumbents are listed, 17 voted for Roxanne’s Law.

British Columbia
13 Conservative Party incumbents are listed, 12 voted for Roxanne’s Law.

The voting record for Roxanne’s Law is here. Any mistakes in counting above are mine. Assuming the best a group of eager volunteers culled their information from the same sources I did. But why cull names from Roxanne’s Law which was introduced by Rod Bruinooge, pro-life caucus chair?

Is this Vote Pray Serve web site just a group of volunteers?

On to the Facebook page. One of the first names which pops up is Faytene Grasseschi (nee Kryskow) of MyCanada. Rod Bruinooge has spent a fair amount of time onstage with Faytene and she was a strong supporter of Roxanne’s Law.
Did MyCanada put together the Vote Pray Serve website? The single Facebook admin is Judy K Jo out of Toronto Ontario. That’s it. That’s all there is.  And the fact she lists CTS (Crossroads Christian Television) on her about page along side Crossroads It’s Your Call and John Haggees CUFI situated at Canada Christian College, just means she likes religious television and is obviously a neo-charismatic. She also lists Faytenes group Bound4Life which is another right wing US offshoot founded by hard core dominionist Lou Engle. And I may not be fair, the names are familiar to me and pop off the page quickly. At least she is openly listed as admin. It’s one more person than the Vote Pray Serve website discloses.
While being a friend of a Facebook page is hardly sinister or a breach of lobbying or election laws, I find myself wondering who else listed as a friend may be financing and supporting this ‘group of volunteers.’

At the very least, I am troubled because the people behind this web page are not disclosing.
Unknown people are asking for your money and sending  the message that if you are a caring Christian – vote Conservative.

The lack of disclosure is disturbing. The solicitation of funds is disturbing.  To that end, I’ve written the volunteers at Vote Pray Serve and asked the following: Who are you and have you spent $500.00 on this election?  When I get a response, I’ll post it.

Update: Vote Pray Serve.ca volunteers have not responded to two emails sent in the last 36 hours. The Vote Pray Serve.ca main video was supposedly done by a 43 year old out of the United States. A source says the main video looks a lot like a 4MyCanada election video produced possibly in 2005 for the 2006 election. Hard to say, the original video is offline.

The Vote Pray Serve.ca volunteer group came to the attention of Le Devoir and Radio-Canada last week.  Rick Hiebert has a follow up post to this one, joining some more dots.

When it comes to people involved, the case seems no closer to resolution as court dates are missed.
Canadians became aware of the alleged ponzi scheme when Reynold and Ron Mainse, hosts of 100 Huntley Street were yanked off the air in 2009. While Ron Mainse was re-instated to on-air host position and given the position of Crossroads spiritual director, viewers were told his brother Reynold had left Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. about a year and a half earlier.  100 Huntley Street viewers were pretty much left in the dark until Ron and his wife Ann (host of Full Circle) were interviewed on 100 Huntley Street before re-instatement a few months later. The Canadian tv ministry underwent significant management changes when news of the case broke in the US and Canada.

Gordon Driver, a Canadian who lives in Las Vegas and Freelton Ontario is being sought by the SEC.  Driver was a no show for an agreed US court date in February. The SEC issued an administrative order December 2010 regarding Axcess Automation with a 210 day deadline. The Hamilton Spectator:

Lawyers for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission are asking a judge to force a Freelton man accused of operating a Ponzi scheme to appear in a California court to answer questions under oath about his “ill-gotten gains.”

The SEC contends that Gordon Driver, who lists addresses in Las Vegas as well as Freelton’s exclusive Wildan Estates, has already been a no-show for a February deposition and has refused to respond to the SEC’s appearance requests.

Now the SEC wants a judge to compel Driver to appear so the SEC can determine how much money needs to be paid back and how large a penalty he should receive.

In a December 2009 agreement with the SEC, Driver agreed to turn over his “ill-gotten gains” and pay a penalty, according to the SEC.

Driver and his company, Axcess Automation, are accused of operating a $14-million Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 200 Canadian and American investors with promises that they would receive returns on their investments as high as 5 per cent a week.

On Feb. 17, neither Driver nor his lawyer appeared at a scheduled deposition hearing in Los Angeles.

While US regulators try to to chase down Driver, the OSC starts another hearing Monday for Steven Taylor, a childhood friend of Gordon Driver, who is also alleged to have been part of the Axcess Automation/Funds 14 million dollar alleged ponzi scheme.

Ron Mainse, son of Crossroads founder David Mainse, and his cousin David Rutledge who is a former employee of Crossrads, settled with the OSC last year. They were named as finders and were ordered to pay back about 400 thousand dollars in commissions they received from their involvement with Axcess Automation/Funds, as well as administrative costs. The OSC found Ronald Mainse and David Rutledge were ‘not party to the fraud.’

The OSC does not have any documentation on a settlement with Reynold Mainse.

Driver was also a former Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. employee. The Mainse brothers and their cousin acknowledged drawing about a third  of approximately 200 investors into investing with  Axcess Automation/Funds.
Reynold Mainse statement. Ron Mainse videos.

To date, I’m not aware that any of the investors in the US or Canada have recovered a dime of the money they handed over in this religious affinity fraud case.

While religious affinity fraud is becoming depressingly common,  this on-going case made the 2010 OSC Enforcement Activity Report.

Working with the SEC and CFTC: Axcess Automation LLC

This case is an example of OSC staff working closely with other regulators, specifically the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This matter involved activity both in the U.S. and Canada.

In August 2010, the OSC concluded settlement agreements with two Ontario residents who traded in securities and futures contracts without being registered. The trading related to an investment scheme operating out of the state of Nevada by Gordon Alan Driver through his companies, including Axcess Automation LLC.

The OSC, SEC and CFTC have outstanding proceedings against Driver and the Axcess companies. Driver allegedly raised more than US$15 million from approximately 200 Ontario investors. In addition, the OSC has an outstanding related proceeding against two other Ontario residents who are alleged to have also traded in securities and futures contracts in Ontario without being registered to do so.