Note: The following discussion is a biblical analysis of the qualifications of the Copeland, Pearsons, and Neece families for ministry. It is preceded on this blog by the article, The ‘Family Test’, which details the scriptural foundations of such an unpleasant discussion. Since this is one of the most disturbing and regrettable posts that we have had to write to date, it is extremely important that it be understood within its proper context. Thus, it is highly recommended that everyone first review the preceding article before venturing into the content below. This will help to avoid misunderstandings regarding its presence here on KennethCopelandBlog.com.
Lastly, full names and dates are given (when known) to permit others to verify the information that we have presented here from public records.
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(Update on August 4, 2010: New marriage and name information was added to the ‘David Neece’ and ‘Richard Neece’ listings. Copeland family members names and birth dates were updated also, including Gloria’s birthday. A new section on “ex-spouses” was added below the Jeremy Pearsons listing. Other minor tweaks have been made as well.)
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There is little doubt that Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s testimonies are quite remarkable. What is doubtful is how accurate those testimonies might be.
Many aspects thereof have been published within their books and periodicals, and mentioned during their services and television broadcasts. However, there are some details that are typically left out of these family anecdotes that are quite revealing about the true character and history of this group.
We will be discussing not only the Copelands and Pearsons, but also Gloria’s side of the family, the Neeces. Several members of the Neece family currently work at Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM), and several more worked for them in the past. Thus, the character of this ‘ministry’ is revealed within the family members on Gloria’s side as much as among the other Copeland/Pearsons children and grandchildren.
Cover image of the book, "The First 30 Years: A Journey of Faith" (Click to enlarge.)
For simplicity’s sake, we will primarily utilize within this brief timeline the information provided in the book that was published in celebration of their 30th ministry anniversary back in 1997. It is entitled, The First 30 Years: A Journey of Faith (hereafter referred to as, The First 30 Years).
Augmenting this information, however, will be some details provided by court documents given to us by advocates of KennethCopelandBlog.com. We will also utilize information provided to us by sources both inside and outside of KCM concerning the Copeland and Neece families (i.e. Gloria’s relatives). These include public sources, as well as the testimonies of family/ministry insiders.
The additional sources of information mentioned above certainly provide us a MUCH more comprehensive view of these families, and a more robust timeline of Kenneth Copeland’s earlier years. These details will prove helpful in evaluating their ministerial qualifications; and they will be very useful when we discuss some of the family members more specifically in subsequent posts.
As a quick note: We want to thank the “whistle blowers” who have helped to provide this information. They have a real zeal to see the true nature of KCM brought into the public light in order that others might be warned. They all have also acknowledged a sincere desire to see the Copeland, Pearsons, and Neece, families repent of their sins; and to see them demonstrate true Christian character and pure ministry integrity. Thank you all for your help and encouragement.
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Kenneth’s Early Years/First Marriage:
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Kenneth Max Copelandwas born on December 6, 1936, in Lubbock Texas. His parents were A. W. and Vinita Pearl Owens Copeland, and they remained married until Vinita’s death in 1988.
Daughter Terri Lin Copeland Pearsonswas born to parents Kenneth Max and Ivy Sandra Bodiford Copeland on August 26, 1957. Obviously, Ivy was Kenneth’s first wife. He would have been 20 years old at the time of Terri’s birth.
Ivy Sandra Copeland was the one of the two who filed for divorce; which is revealed by the fact that she is shown as the “plaintiff” of record in the court document (download the court document by clicking here). She was granted the divorce (to include child support) on March 18, 1958. The civil docket records within a handwritten note,:
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Both parties were present at trial. Divorce granted – custody of child to her – he has right to visit. He is ordered to pay $15 each Friday beginning this Friday. Defendant…” referring to Kenneth, “… gave notice of appeal. She is awarded ½ interest in income from contract on all recordings she has made to date under Leonard Contract.
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Three years later, court documents show that Kenneth was found in contempt of court on March 31, 1961 for failing to consistently pay his required $15 per week child support to Ivy for Terri (download the court document by clicking here). He was in arrears for $1,090.00 (just over 72 weeks worth of support).
To comprehend the size of that amount of money in today’s dollars, it would be about $8,000ifwe can believe government inflation statistics. It would be more accurate to say that amount is about $26,000 in today’s comparable purchasing power (see the Shadowstats.com chart to the right)
Another way to imagine it is to compare the price of gold: In 1961 the U.S. dollar was still on the international gold exchange standard, based upon the 1944 Bretton Woods agreement. Back then, $1,090 would buy about 31 ounces of gold. Today, it would take about $37,000 to buy that same amount of bullion.
Terri Lin Copeland as a child, in an undated photograph. (Click to enlarge.)
Regardless of how one tries to translate that 1961 amount into current values, that is some pretty significant unpaid child support. And there can be no doubt that the money was really needed by Ivy as she tried to raise their little girl as a single mother. No wonder she took Kenneth back to court…
Interestingly, the court documents indicate that Kenneth did not show up for the proceeding (download the court document by clicking here). So the judge found him in contempt and ordered the Sheriff of Tarrant County to arrest Kenneth and to place him in jail for one day minimum, and until he had paid the back child support plus court costs.
On June 5th, 1961 the court records show that he had surely been arrested at some intervening point, and that Kenneth had spent one night in jail (download the court document by clicking here). It would appear that such an experience got his attention. He subsequently made arrangements with the court to pay $50 down for the child support, $23.03 for court costs, and then $12.50 per week thereafter in regular child support, with the remaining $1,040 of child support in arrears to be paid later. It seems that he did not spend any additional time in jail after the court accepted this agreement (unless there are other records of which we are not aware). So it seems as if the matter was settled at that time.
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Kenneth’s Second Marriage:
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I was not able to determine the date of Kenneth’s second marriage. What is documented, however, is that on November 2, 1961, Kenneth and his second wife, Cynthia Ann Copeland, were granted a divorce (download the court document by clicking here).
This court document indicates that Kenneth was the “plaintiff” which means that he was the one who filed for divorce this time. However, it also calls Cynthia Ann the “cross-plaintiff” therein, which indicates that she was also wanting to end the marriage for some reason. Thus, it seems that their divorce was a mutual decision, though Kenneth is the party who originally filed. There were no children.
It is interesting to note also that the unpaid child support and jail-time incidents mentioned above took place during this second marriage. Was that a contributing cause to this second divorce? Or was it something else?
Regardless…
Only five months after his second divorce was finalized, on April 13, 1962, Kenneth and Gloria were married.
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Kenneth & Gloria’s Marriage:
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It is not known (nor can I find it to ever have been reported by the Copelands) what year Kenneth and Gloria first met. Again, it is only known from the records that they married about five months after Kenneth’s second divorce was finalized. It is also not known how long their courtship lasted. What is known is that He was 25 years old at the time, and she had just turned 20 that February before.
In the book, The First 30 Years, Kenneth explained his “courtship” and marriage proposal to his young third wife, Gloria Jean Neece, in this manner on page 26 (with emphasis added):
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A few days later, I met Gloria and fell in love with her the minute I saw her. “This is different!” I realized.
Every idea I’d ever had about love flew out the window.
On my first date with Gloria I found myself singing to her.
“Whooh! Man, this is something,” I thought when I caught myself. I hadn’t planned on singing. I wasn’t trying to impress her or con her into something. I just couldn’t help it. I knew right then that I wanted to marry this woman. I figured it would take me a year to talk her into it, so I decided to get an early start. I didn’t know what it would take to get her to marry me, but I was ready to lie, cheat, steal or con to make it happen.
I really thought, “This is going to take a long time—maybe years—to win her over, so I’m going to ask her now.”
After our date, I walked her up to the front porch and opened the door.
“Gloria,” I said. She turned around and looked at me. “Will you marry me?”
She said, “Yes—I will.” Then she turned around and went inside the house and closed the door.
Left me standing there stammering and muttering in disbelief.
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Gloria and Kenneth, in an undated photo from their earliest days together.
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In the light of Kenneth having been married and divorced twice already, his sudden marriage proposal on his very first date with Gloria seems very different than the “storybook” version that has been generally conveyed by KCM over the years. Since there have been no time frame given as to how long after the proposal it was before the two were wed, questions remain:
Did Kenneth meet Gloria before he was divorced from Cynthia Ann?
Did Kenneth and Gloria date each other while he was seeking a divorce?
Was Gloria the reason that he filed for his second divorce?
The close time-proximity and circumstances of Kenneth’s second divorce seem to support the possibility that any of the above questions could be answered, “yes.” Moreover, the lack of substantiated dates and timelines from the Copelands certainly leaves us with little clarification on their part. In fact, the evidence suggests that many of these details have been hidden by the Copelands for many years.
Why?
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Gloria’s Family, the Neeces:
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Neece family pictures, from the celebration of Kenneth's 60th birthday in 1996. In the top picture, from left to right: Doug, Richard, Jan, Missy, and Tommy. In the bottom picture: Mary Neece, Kellie Copeland Kutz and her daughter, Rachel Ward, and Gloria Neece Copeland. (Click to enlarge.)
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Gloria’s birth date used to be somewhat of a mystery, but my “whistle blowers” have come through again. She was born February 12, 1942 to Wallace RaymondNeeceandMary Lois Allinder Neece. She is the oldest of seven children, and her biological siblings are:
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Douglas RaymondNeece – Doug was at one time one of the executives of KCM. He was married to Mary Delaine Bonds Neece on August 4 1966, both of them at the tender age of 19. However, he divorced Delaine (under rather questionable circumstances, according to ministry insiders) and soon thereafter married his current wife, Linda
Delaine is still working at KCM, however, and is now Kenneth and Gloria’s personal secretary.
Doug now owns a media company called “Integrity Media” which purchases the air time for KCM’s Believer’s Voice of Victory broadcast. In an AP Newswire story about his media company entitled Relatives of Televangelist Prosper they explained:
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Located in an office complex in a north Dallas suburb, Integrity Media is the kind of company that plays a little-known but important role in the world of televangelism: negotiating the purchase of television time for Christian ministries.
Douglas Neece, the company’s president, said Kenneth Copeland Ministries is Integrity Media’s biggest client, accounting for just over 50 percent of its business. Neece is Kenneth Copeland’s brother-in-law. Neece’s son, Joel, also works for the company….
Their television time is bought at market rates and the ministry gets a discount from Integrity Media…Douglas Neece said his company charges a “deeply discounted” commission below the industry standard of 15 percent. “We earn our money,” Neece said. “That’s just the way it is. We have nothing to hide.”
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KCM's own 2007 "Pie Chart" of ministry expenditures. (Click to enlarge.)
According to Kenneth Copeland at the 2008 KCM Minister’s Conference, KCM took in just over $100 million in revenue in 2007. It is indicated with KCM’s 2007 “pie chart” of ministry expenditures (which conveniently omits any and all salary and compensation details), that they spent 34%, or about $34 million, for television and media. Assuming a generous reduction of 1/3 to account for KCM salaries and equipment depreciation, we can safely assume that about $22 million was spent for actual airtime purchases from Doug’s company. This would have netted his firm roughly $3 million in fees from KCM (without the unspecified discount). That was about half of his company’s total revenue, according to Doug.
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Richard Warren Neece– Richard is also Gloria’s brother, and is known to have worked for KCM. He married his first wife, Janell Luann Pye Neece, on July 18, 1970 in Tipton County, Tennessee. He was a young 19, and she was a very tender 15. Richard divorced her, however, (under questionable circumstances) circa 1986 (but we cannot confirm the date).
He was married to his second wife of about two years, Rebecca L. Neece, on October 10, 1986 and then they divorced on August 9, 1988. Richard then remarried a year later on August 18, 1989 to Maria E. Neece, but was again divorced less than a year later on June 25, 1990.
Interestingly, the Texas marriage records indicate that Richard and Rebecca L. Neece were remarried asecond time on January 7, 1991, but were also divorced once again October 28, 1993. His present marital status is unknown.
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Thomas “Tommy” David Neece– He is pictured with his siblings in the photograph on this page, but is not known to have worked at KCM. His marriage history is also unknown.
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Jan Elizabeth Neece Harbour – Gloria’s eldest younger sister, and currently the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of KCM. She is divorced from Michael Harbour.
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Stanley Alan Neece – Stanley was the youngest brother of Gloria. He was married once to Gail E. Neece in 1979, and then divorced in 1984. He died in 1997 in a car wreck in Arkansas.
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Mary “Missy” Carole Neece Camp Johnson– Missy is Gloria’s youngest sister; and was also formerly employed at KCM for about twenty years, beginning at age 13 (according to her). Her last position was as the Marketing and Publications Director, “overseeing the production of the monthly magazines, new product development and purchasing all airtime for the Believer’s Voice of Victory international television broadcast” (i.e. from her older brother Doug’s media company).
Missy’s original marriage to Floyd E. Camp was dissolved in 1984 under VERY questionable circumstances, and she immediately remarried to long time KCM employee, Leslie Scott Johnson, who simultaneously divorced his wife under VERY questionable circumstances as well. Scott had worked at KCM from 1979 to 1999, and was the Director of Television for KCM from 1993-1999.
Jesus stated that for a person to simply divorce his or her spouse to marry someone else, it was adultery (see Matthew 5:31-32; 19:8-9; Mark 10:11-12; and Luke 16:18). If they each divorced their spouses to marry one another, then that would certainly qualify biblically as a double adultery (just on the marriage issue alone.) However, according to ministry insiders, it was widely known within KCM that their adultery had begun before the divorces were obtained. The marriage and divorce records of Missy and Scott certainly seem to support that generally held belief. Nevertheless, the rumors were suppressed by KCM, and the two continued to work there for another fifteen years.
They finally left KCM to ‘pastor’ in Amarillo, Texas in 1999, by founding the “Believer’s Way Church“ (www.believersway.com).
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(Note: To see the actual marriage data that we were able to obtain from Texas state records for some of the information above, and some of the Copeland family information that will soon follow, click here.)
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So among Gloria’s six siblings, there are known to have been at least eight divorces (some under rather questionable circumstances). One has to wonder about the causes of such a widespread plague of divorces among Gloria’s brothers and sisters. One clue might be her parents…
It would also seem that Gloria’s parents were divorced at some point. In The First 30 Years book published by KCM, Mary Neece explained on page 124:
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I had never imagined my life outside of Center Point, Arkansas. But I packed up and moved to Fort Worth to help Kenneth and Gloria. I still had three of my own children at home, and now I was going to help keep Kellie and John. It was a decision I’ve never regretted.
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She then began working at Kenneth Copeland Evangelistic Association in the 1970s (as it was called back then). The offices were then located on University Drive at the time, and she said their entire staff was about six people. The picture of her “packing up and moving” with three kids, and with no mention of Wallace, suggests there had been a divorce.
Moreover, Gloria’s dad’s obituary, published in the Nevada County Picayune on June 9, 1999, did not list Mary at as surviving him (as of 2006, she was still alive and living in Argyle, Texas):
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Wallace Raymond Neece, 78, of Nashville died Thursday, June 3, 1999, in Nashville.
Mr. Neece was born May 25, 1921, in Center Point to the late Alger and Clara Tinsley Neece. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Nashville. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Mr. Neece was a graduate of Arkansas State Teachers College (now the University of Central Arkansas), where he received his master’s degree. He was school administrator at several different schools, including a teacher at Center Point; a teacher in Springhill as well as a basketball coach. He was also assistant principal in Jacksonville, superintendent at Blevins and principal at Prescott. He was preceded in death by a grandfather, Nikki Turner, in 1993 and a son, Stanley Neece, in 1997.
Survivors include six children, Gloria Copeland, Richard Neece, Jan Harbour and Missy Johnson all of Fort Worth, Texas, Doug Neece of Argyle, Texas, and Tommy Neece of Destin, Fla.; 15 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services were Saturday, June 5, at Nashville Funeral Home with Dr. David Blase and Rev. Kenneth Copeland officiating. Interment was in Center Point Cemetery under the direction of Nashville Funeral Home.
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So it would seem that the Neece side of the family has had some real challenges within their marriages. Some of them are also believed by ministry insiders to have experienced infidelity issues through the years. Much of this has happened even when such family members were working for Kenneth Copeland Ministries.
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Conversion Testimony:
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According to their testimony, in 1962 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland were born again. Gloria’s conversion was reportedly first. She recalls praying a private prayer after reading a Bible that Vinita Copeland had given Kenneth.
Kenneth’s testimony of conversion was that several weeks later he heard the voice of God tell him, “If you and your family don’t get in line with the Word of God, you’ll go to the devil’s hell.” He reports that he then cried out, “I know it, Lord! I know it! I’ll do whatever I have to do. Now, what do I do?” Remembering some instruction that an old Sunday School teacher had spoken when he was a child, he then reportedly asked Jesus to “move in” to his heart.
Both conversions, according to their testimonies, were in private. Therefore, there are no known witnesses thereto.
Moreover, given Gloria’s domineering personality (something that is well-hidden from the public, but well-known to many staff of KCM), and the MANY Kenneth’s lies and frauds documented here on KennethCopelandBlog.com to date (and the many more we plan to document in the future), there is sufficient reason to question the soundness of their conversion experiences. The Bible DOES discuss such things as false converts, and in particular “false brethren, false ministers, false prophets, and false apostles.” (Note, for example: Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 13:5; and 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.) This should give all Christians great cause to pause and reflect.
Before moving on to discuss additional Copeland family issues, is also important to point out that Kenneth and Gloria have gone to great lengths (with the cooperation of their family and KCM) to hide these details from the public view. If Kenneth and Gloria’s improprieties were simply “pre-Christ” sins that have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb, then why has there been such an effort to hide these facts (especially the facts about Kenneth’s first two marriages)?
Should he not have rather said, “I was an old dog of a person before I got saved, and I made a real mess of my life before I found Jesus. But at least I got a great daughter from my first marriage, and I am remorseful for the hurt I caused my previous wives.” However, he has never done so to date. Why? Is it because of Gloria? (Ministry insiders say that it is.)
And what can be said about the many other family divorce and probable adultery issues by family members who professed to be Christians—and even worked for the ministry?
Lastly, consider the fact also that the children and grandchildren of both Kenneth and Gloria have experienced major marriage issues through the years also. This fact would seem to suggest that there are some unidentified or uncorrected spiritual and moral issues within the Copeland and Neece families that are affecting additional generations.
To explore this last point just a bit farther, let’s examine briefly a few more issues.
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Kellie Dee Copeland WardKutz Swisher:
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Kellie Dee Copeland WardKutz Swisher was born February 9, 1964.
Kellie’s first marriage was to Doyle Blaine Ward on September 18 1982, according to Texas state records. The two had two daughters, Rachel and Lindsay. They were divorced, but the date and conditions thereof are not clear.
Kellie’s second marriage was to Alan Win Kutz, Jr. on November 7, 1985 (pictured). They had two children together, Jenny and Max (who was named after Kellie’s dad’s middle name).
Win and Kellie Kutz with their children, circa 1996 (from left to right): Max, Lyndsey (Ward), Rachel (Ward), and Jenny. (Click to enlarge.)
Win and Kellie were separated sometime in late 2004 or early 2005, with rumors of Win’s infidelity being widely spread around EMIC church. These rumors obviously cannot be confirmed; and they could ALSO possibly be an excuse spread by the family to discredit Win and/or to cover the real reasons of his departure. Without some clarification from Win, or someone else privy to the events, nobody really knows.
My wife and I were attending EMIC at the time and did hear the above rumors from members of the current staff of EMIC. Regardless of what the truth might be, however, Win and Kellie were later divorced February 10, 2005.
Kellie was remarried for the third time to Stephen L. Swisher on July 18, 2008 at Eagle Mountain International Church.
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John and Marty Copeland:
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John David Copeland was born June 30, 1966; only a few months before his parents moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend ORU in December of 1966. He was married to his wife Martha J. “Marty” Mercer on May 2, 1987 according to Texas state records. They have had three children in total, Courtney, Jonathan, and Alexandria.
According to her testimony, Marty came from a family of ten. However, she shares very little about her family. One possible reason for this is that her father was known to have served BOTH on the board of Kenneth Copeland Ministries and the boards of several beer breweries.
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Jeremy D. Pearsons
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Jeremy D. Pearsons is the son George Davis Pearsons and Terri Copeland Pearsons, Kenneth’s daughter from his first marriage to Ivy Sandra Copeland. So Jeremy is Kenneth’s grandson, but Gloria is not related to him except by marriage.
According to widely spread Internet accounts, his divorce from Amy C. Cranmer Pearsons was final in May of 2006. Jeremy then married Sarah Hart Pearsons on September 1, 2007.
Jeremy is the only Copeland family member to date who has publicly discussed his divorce. He did so in a very open manner before Eagle Mountain International Church (EMIC).
Details were limited; and of course, Amy’s side of the story was not given.
It is probable that the high awareness among the congregation at EMIC of his first marriage and subsequent quick divorce may have been the cause of Jeremy (and his family) taking the unusual step of addressing the issue somewhat publicly. Regardless, it is a remarkable and rare occurrence, as the Copeland-Neece clan is very secretive about their marital and moral failures.
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The Copelands’ Elite “No See Ex” Team:
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As is mentioned above, ex-spouses of the Copeland-Pearsons-Neece clan abound. Counting only the ex-spouses that we know about, there are at least 13 (thirteen) casualties, out of 14 (fourteen) divorces.
Another very concerning fact is that the ex-spouses tend to just “disappear” and are rarely ever heard from again at KCM or EMIC (with the notable exception of Doug’s ex-wife, Delaine Neece). This is a very troubling aspect, as there were children involved in many of those marriages (more than one in several). This mysterious way in which the Copelands handle their ex-family members is very disturbing. One person commented about this on a related online discussion thread, “What ever happened to Win Kutz? Is he dead?” The answer is “no,” but the Copelands sure did apply every effort to make him “disappear.”
The famous illusionist, David Copperfield, would probably be amazed.
Nevertheless, there is a trail of devastated lives in the wake of some of the Copeland-Pearsons-Neece family members. Statistically speaking, it is an improbability that such a large number of marriage failures could be the primary fault of the ex-spouses. Given the multiple marriages/divorces of some within the Copeland-Pearsons-Neece clans, it is highly probable that the key issues were on the part of the family members themselves — and the overall family in general — and not as much on the part of the ex-spouses.
We do not know the details, of course. However, again, we are checking the “fruit” of the Copeland-Pearsons-Neece families, and using the biblical “family test” to see if they are qualified for active ministry.So their ‘marital wasteland’ is a ‘fruit’ that needs to be addressed — and the sheer size of it needs to be considered soberly.
Regardless, divorces are not pleasant experiences; and all parties tend to suffer to some degree. Let’s pray that these wounds might heal — but especially for the wounds among the ex-spouses cast aside by the Copeland-Pearsons-Neece family. There are just too many of them for there NOT to be some extremely hurt and wounded souls among their number.
(A personal note to all the ex-spouses of the Copeland-Pearsons-Neece family: Please accept our sincere regrets that our efforts to expose the real nature this family necessitated airing these matters publicly. We truly detest having to include any of you at all. We can only imagine what you all have seen and suffered, so please understand our sincere regrets for having to press forward publicly with such matters.)
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Things NOT Said…
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Of course, we left many improprieties unaddressed in this brief outline. With the exception of the Scott and Missy Johnson episode, we did not address issues related to current and former KCM/EMIC staff members in order to focus on the combined Copeland-Pearsons-Neece family.
We did not even address all the issues within the family itself, for various reasons.
Part of the reason we have refrained is the obvious difficulty there is in firmly confirming accusations of adultery, spousal abuse, and pornography use, comitted by Copeland family members and KCM/EMIC staff (both present and past).
However, the fact that such rumors are so prolific among current and former insiders at KCM/EMIC gives one much reason to believe that at least some of these stories may be quite true. Therefore, we are only mentioning them here in vague reference until such time as additional “whistle blowers” come forth to substantiate anything that we might choose to publish at a future date (if we deem such things both biblical and appropriate to disclose).
Hopefully, the Copeland and Neece families will repent beforehand, and spare us such an unsavory task.
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The Big Question:
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Now that we have examined the Copelands, the Pearsons, and the Neeces, in some detail, the question is whether they pass the biblical ‘Family Test’ and qualify for continuing ministry. Do they fit the descriptions given by Paul of godly men and women fit for the pulpit, such as when he wrote:
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Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
(1 Timothy 3:3-5 , NIV)
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The "Building Relationships that Last" ad found inside the front cover in the July, 2010 issue of the BVOV Magazine. (Click to enlarge.)
Given the evidence at hand (and much more that will be posted on KennethCopelandBlog.com in due time) I have regrettably concluded a firm “no.”
We have already covered elsewhere on this website the many documentable lies and probable frauds of the Copelands. However, when one just considers The ‘Family Test’ point, this family has shown itself in great need of repentance. And when we look at the great lengths they have gone through to HIDE these issues rather than removing them, it would seem this family could use a nice long sabbatical coupled with some good biblical family and marriage counseling.
And can anybody look at the above family history and conclude that the Copelands are qualified to be teaching others about Building Relationships that Last? Most people that I know who have reviewed the information herein have soundly concluded that the Copelands are NOT qualified for the pulpit at present at all, much less to minister to others on these topics.
Nevertheless, they are now offering a Relationships LifeLine Kit by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland (for only $19.99) as the image from their July 2010 issue of the Believer’s Voice of Victory Magazine reveals.
Okay……right.
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More to Come…
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We will be posting some more detailed accounts of select members of the Copeland family in separate posts very soon. We may also be updating this particular web page from time to time as new information and documents come to light. Check back to this page regularly to obtain the most accurate and up to date information.
Once again, we and our growing number of advocates are still calling on Kenneth Copeland, his family, and his ministry, to simply repent.
Grace and blessings to all of you who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity (Ephesians 6:24)..
It is our responsibility as believers to check out ministers in accordance with God’s Word. And one of the primary qualifications given in Scripture for prospective and active ministers is regarding their family and marital stability.
Paul wrote within his “pastoral letters” of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus that prospective deacons, elders, and overseers, needed to be tested and verified before entrusting them with such positions of responsibility:
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Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
(1 Timothy 3:2-13, NIV)
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An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
(Titus 1: 6-9, NIV)
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And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
(2 Timothy 2:2, NIV)
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These qualifications Paul listed were prerequisites for ministry, which means they are foundations upon which a true ministry should be built. Being foundational, these qualifications remain ongoing requisites for continued ministry as well.
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Marriage and The Family:
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Two of the key foundational requisites for ministry listed above are a sound marriage, and a stable family. If the marriage of a minister (or their family) were discovered to be falling apart, God’s Word would necessarily disqualify them from active ministry until such time as these issues were repaired and/or resolved.
When I served as an instructor in a bible institute to prepare Christian men and women for ministry, it happened to be that the two courses I taught were Christian Doctrines and Marriage and the Family. Over the years, I have come to believe that these two topics are critical for any Christian minister to be established within their calling. Most ministers fall due to either bad doctrine, or marriage/family failures (and often for both reasons).
God’s Word reveals that He is into family; and that He requires stable marriages and orderly households of His chosen vessels. Too often, a minister “sacrifices” his or her spouse and/or family on the “alter” of personal ambition because their priorities are out of line with God’s Word. Such spiritual and psychological deficiencies need to be repented of and corrected, or alternately, exposed as a warning to others. The only OTHER alternative is to have many wounded lives and disillusioned parishioners.
Given the number of broken marriages and families that litter the field of ministry today, it would seem the facts bear witness that such important aspects of the lives of preachers are severely neglected and need to be addressed publicly.
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An Absurdity:
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Can anyone rightly say that marital and familial stability are not important? How many “unexpected” divorces have shocked church congregations and/or Christian television viewers? I know of many.
How many “revelations” of adultery (or worse) have emerged from “celebrity” minister families, and crushed the faith of shocked believers? Again, I am aware of numerous.
How many “preacher kids” have come into the public limelight for criminal activity, failed marriages, drug abuse, or worse? I could name more than a few.
So it would be an absolute absurdity for anyone to suggest that the marriages and families of ministers are unimportant subjects to be examined when evaluating a ministry.
In truth, if the Body of Christ were more diligent to identify problems before they exploded into the public light on their own (in all their ugly character), we could probably prevent much of the pain and suffering that has occurred among Christian leadership—and especially among their wounded followers.
This principle applies to the Copeland family as much as to any other group of ministers throughout history.
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A Touchy Subject:
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As soon as one begins examining the familial and marital qualifications of an active preacher, however, there are some people who become rather angry that a minister’s “privacy” was invaded. I am certainly sympathetic to such concern. After all, who really wants to have their personal problems aired publicly? And what honest God-fearing believer really wants to hear about these things?
Nevertheless, the Bible is very clear in the above precepts that we must examine such issues.
In fact, can anyone say that the Scriptures themselves are not loaded with marital and family details? How do we know about Bathsheba? Or Jacob’s two wives? Or where die we find out about the strife among their twelve sons? Moses’ marital problems with Zipporah, and his several subsequent marriages are all there to see “in full color” also. Within the New Testament, we learn about Peter traveling with his Christian wife and about Ananias and Sapphira dropping dead during a church service.
So, the examples found within the Bible give us plenty of confirmation that God has intended for us to know such things about the people who have leadership roles in our lives. We do not have to know all the “gory details” so to speak, but we should certainly know whether there are sufficient problems to question a minister’s current qualification for leadership and ministry.
Consequently, and regrettably, we must press forward in disclosing such information…
This section of KennethCopelandBlog.com is the one we regret having to do the most. However, family and marriage issues are certainly one category that should be examined, so we will be examining the Copeland and Neece families to see if Kenneth Copeland Ministries is all that it is has reported itself to be.
Here at KennethCopelandBlog.com we are now expanding the scope of this website to bring out the full spectrum of the Copeland family’s errors, frauds, deceptions, and sins. Despite about three and a half years of effort, we have not yet seen any signs of true biblical repentance with the Copelands (though we have seen a lot of panic at KCM).
Consequently, we are expanding our redemption project considerably. We have also added two specialized contact pages: One for the media, and another for “whistle blowers” who may want to join us in this effort (some already have).
Stay tuned, because considerably more new content will be posted over the next few days, and in the weeks to come.
In an effort to provide the advocates of KennethCopelandBlog.com (and the general Christian public) with an update regarding the status of the Angel Flight 44 fiasco, we have some interesting new news to report.
Kenneth Copeland has confirmed (inadvertently) part of our last press release on this subject, Did Kenneth Copeland Just Commit Another Aid Fraud? For someone with a history of teaching on the power of words, one cannot help but notice how this careless written “confession” might be deemed by Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM) to be somewhat unhelpful to their nefarious agenda (especially since we are drawing attention to it).
However, before I get into that, let me give a quick overview of what has occurred to date:
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A Quick Overview:
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As those familiar with this website already know, KCM had not lifted a finger to fulfill any of their promises regarding the formation of the Angel Flight 44 ministry (AF44) — that is, until we began issuing press releases concerning this matter in 2010. However, for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the AF44 fiasco (and as a reminder for our long-time advocates) here is a quick historical recap. Please pay special attention to the dates and time frames as you read:
Throughout the latter half of 2006 and into the first half of 2007, Kenneth Copeland publicly and repeatedly promised this new aviation ministry with the very noticeable context of “God told me to do this” included. These statements were augmented by KCM literature as well. See our post The AF44 Miracle and Kenneth Copeland’s Promises for the details, including video footage of Copeland making the promises (with much fanfare).
In April, 2007, KCM sent a “partner letter” offering of the book I wrote, Angel Flight 44, to their entire partner base. I estimate that this event alone added a minimum of $1.24 million into their GENERAL FUND (i.e. not into the defunct “AF44 fund” or their subsequent “relief fund”). See our posts Angel Flight 44: The Book and Angel Flight 44: The Money for all the details.
During May and June of 2007, I began to become very concerned regarding whether Copeland, Glen Hyde, and KCM, were going to carry through on their promises due to their obvious inactivity regarding the formation of the new “Angel Flight 44 ministry.”
By July, 2007, I was very alarmed and sent Glen Hyde this email on July 19, 2007 about the matter. When the inactivity continued, I then sent Glen Hydethis stronger email a month later on August 16, 2007. (Note:I have never made these emails available to the public before, so these documents are brand new downloads for your review. They have also been partially redacted in order to keep especially private information — such as email addresses and the personal financial information about Glen Hyde — hidden from view for obvious privacy considerations.)
Things escalated into hostilities between me and Glen Hyde over my constantly increasing insistence that he and Kenneth Copeland perform their promises. This eventually resulted in my directly confronting these matters with KCM (and everyone involved) through a 31-page document hand-delivered by KCM security to everyone in January, 2008. This was followed up seven weeks later with a fax to KCM’s executive offices in March, 2008. To date, the only contact I have received from KCM regarding these matters directly is the voicemail left for me by Eileen Lawton, personal assistant at that time to John Copeland. That voicemail can be heard on our FAQ page here.
Subsequently, all NEW editions of the Angel Flight 44 book were removed from the market in April, 2008(though used copies still circulate on Amazon.com even today).
Seven months after our last correspondence to KCM, we launched KennethCopelandBlog.com in October, 2008 in order to emphasize to them that these issues were not going away. However, since we were reluctant to divulge the information we had (as our purpose was their repentance and not their harm) we did NOT initially populate the blog with the details of this apparent fraud. Only the introductory posts on the Table of Contents page, along with the posts about Senator Grassley’s televangelist investigation and Kenneth E. Hagin’s previous Rebuke of Copeland were included at that time. Our sources have indicated that serious “damage control” measures were subsequently implemented at Kenneth Copeland Ministries and Eagle Mountain International Church (EMIC). Nevertheless, nobody from KCM ever bothered to contact us to address or resolve these issues.
Fourteen months after launching the website we began fully populating the Mysterious Disappearance of Angel Flight 44 section of this blog (in January, 2010 )with text, downloads, videos, and details; and we began issuing press releases about this apparent public fraud. As a result, KCM no longer ignores us or these issues. However, they have never tried to contact us, nor have they shown ANY signs of remorse or biblical repentance for their apparent fraud and deceit.
In March of 2010, KCM finally threw together a quasi Angel Flight 44 “ministry” as part of a major effort to quell the negative media exposure these issues had brought them. You can read about their belated efforts within our posts The Miraculous ‘Reappearance’ Of AF44 and Copeland’s Haitian Deception, as well as on Christian Today Reports on AF44 Controversy (where you can click over and see what an independent reporter discovered about these matters).
We have even waited four months since our last post on this topic (in March, 2010) before filing this newest update (which is based in-part upon an event that occurred last April).
Lastly, at the time this update was posted (July 22, 2010), there had been NO new announcements from KCM regarding Angel Flight 44 or KCM’s Haitian relief efforts posted on their website. This confirms to us that their efforts were merely “damage control” and a publicity stunt rather than a true commitment to that mission (though we do not doubt they will add something soon, now that we have posted this observation here on KennethCopelandBlog.com).
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Very Patient, Indeed:
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This entire journey of confrontation began over three years ago this month (July, 2010). We have prayed intensely over each and every step that we have taken; and we have always ensured that we are following biblical protocols with our every action.
Moreover, we have obviously shown great restraint to date as we have been very slow (and even reluctant) to publicize the evidence indicating Kenneth Copeland and KCM’s frauds in these matters. Again, our objective has always been their repentance and NOT their harm. With so much time having elapsed, however, we can surely say as Isaiah did:
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All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations… (Isaiah 65:2 NIV, but see also Romans 10:2)
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On their part, Kenneth Copeland and his family, along with KCM in general, have surely been models of hypocrisy and contradiction. For example, Kenneth Copeland repeatedly said that “God” instructed him to form the new AF44 ministry. However, in their first press release in response to our own regarding these matters, KCM spokesperson, James Tito, wrote:
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The ministry decided that the best use of resources would be to start a disaster relief fund, and to determine the best course of action on a case by case basis. (KCM Press Release dated January 26, 2010)
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There is a VERY significant contradiction between what Kenneth Copeland said in 2006-2007 (which you can view yourself in the videos, as mentioned above) and what KCM said after we called them out into the public spotlight in this matter in 2010. These two contradictory assertions can ONLY be reconciled logically by adding one or more of the following three explanations:
Kenneth Copeland’s “god” is not the omnipotent and omniscient God revealed in the Bible. (In other words, Copeland’s “god” seems to be confused and incompetent.) Or…
Kenneth Copeland does worship the God of the Bible, but he and KCM were in complete disobedience to God’s instructions because they thought they had a “better” plan than He did. (That is, until recently. Now they are in partial disobedience in that they have not yet publicly confessed their guilt and repented of their previous disobedient inaction). Or…
Kenneth Copeland simply lied when he said, “God” told him to do this.(So when Copeland changed his mind about the matter, he had to cover it up lest someone think that he might not be a true prophet after all.)
One cannot reconcile these two contradictory positions of Copeland and KCM apart from applying one (or more) of the above logical propositions as well. Obviously, number two would be the least damning; but regardless of which of the three one might apply, it is obvious from them all that the Copelands have significant need to repent.
(Note: I will refrain from giving you my opinion as to which of the the three might apply to this situation, but you are certainly welcome to form your own conclusions in this matter.)
Regardless of how we reconcile such contradictions as the one example given above: Since the Copeland family (and KCM in general) seem determined NOT to “come clean” publicly and to truly repent of the AF44 fiasco that we have addressed (and the many sins committed therein), it seems that we might have to ONCE AGAIN expand KennethCopelandBlog.com’s public confrontation beyond what we have to date (and very soon).
However, let’s just keep our discussion limited to this particular AF44 update for the time being…
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Most Recent Events:
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Returning to discuss Kenneth Copeland’s (inadvertent) written confession of guilt…
In a very ironic twist to this ongoing AF44 saga, KCM sent out ANOTHER partner letter regarding their alleged “Angel Flight 44 Ministry” this past April, 2010 — exactly THREE YEARS after their first AF44 “partner” mailing wherein they took in a minimum of $1.24 million into their general fund!!!
Never being ones to let a good opportunity for raising cash slip them by, KCM’s NEW Angel Flight 44-related mailer has once again all the key ingredients to raise funds from their mailing-list base through yet-another AF44 “promise.” You can download scanned full-copies of both the original April, 2007 mailer and this latest April, 2010 mailer below for your full review and comparison:
(Right-click “save as” to download these directly to your computer.Adobe PDF downloads on this page may be freely distributed for non-commercial purposes by email, on a website, or by any other means. Adobe PDF Reader 8.0 or higher is required for viewing, which is free):
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His ‘Bad Confession’:
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The key citation (pun intended) containing Copeland’s admission of guilt was the following statement in this latest “AF44″ promise partner mailing, as a part of his “Haitian AF44 mission” explanation:
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…Oh, thank God! Did I take the assignment? Absolutely! We immediately doubled our efforts. Angel Flight’s Super DC3 with which we partnered during Hurricane Katrina, was in for inspection, so we chartered a DC3 from Miami. At the same time we put extra people on Brother Glen Hyde’s Super 3 at Angel Flight to get Angel 44 back in the air. We also have a great mission-flying husband-and-wife team who came on board with their Cessna 206 to haul medical supplies, and in some cases medical personnel, into small, unimproved airstrips and roads that are within a few minutes’ flight from our Partners’ orphanages, clinics, churches, compounds, etc., that are taking care of thousands of people. Not one of our orphans was killed. There were only a few minor injuries. Thank God for the Word of His power, and knowing how to use it.
We are building up our resources, such as the rest of our air fleet the Lord Jesus instructed us to build. This includes the final work to be done on the Super 3, the purchase of a Quest Kodiak, a special missionary-built medium-size cargo and people hauler, and additional operational gear. All this is not only for Haiti, but for future operations in the perilous times of these last days.
…After that, according to my information, Glen Hyde’s airplane sat on the tarmac of Denton Airport in Texas gathering bird poop from August of 2006 until February 2010 — it was not helping anyone (as Copeland had pledged). Once we openly documented Copeland’s broken promises, however, Copeland apparently found new “motivation” to get that airplane flying again; and the required FAA C-check and maintenance was recently performed to permit this Haitian flight….
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Copeland (inadvertently) confirmed in his “partner” letter the following very clearly:
The Super DC3 was not operational, as the FAA required “C-check” inspection had never been performed since 2005 (i.e. just after Hurricane Katrina). I have official copies of the FAA records for this aircraft (obtainable here) plus other corroborative information. Consequently, I personally know that there was NEVER a C-check performed before the one just performed by KCM’s aviation department (along with Glen Hyde) this past Spring; as was also indicated by Copeland himself above.
Thus, Copeland has once again provided further evidence that NOBODY was being helped by this airplane until the KennethCopelandBlog.com articles and press releases forced them to get this aircraft operational. Since they had not built the ministry that they had promised, we can add here that nobody was being helped by ANY plane from KCM’s fleet following the many natural disasters that had occurred since Copeland’s commitments to the partners of KCM.
As a surprise to me, Copeland indicated that their rush to get some sort of AF44 mission accomplished as quickly as possible required them to charter another Douglas DC3 for the flight operation. (This was apparently a “regular” DC3, and not a “Super” version like Glen’s.) I had assumed they were able to get Glen Hyde’s Super-DC operational in time for the Haitian flight, but Copeland has proved me wrong on that one assumption — but he also revealed how truly desperate he was to get a mission airborne sooner rather than later(i.e. before Glen’s Super DC3 was ready for flight).
So in short, Kenneth Copeland has once again provided KennethCopelandBlog.com with additional corroborating evidence of KCM’s documentable fraud and deceptions. (Though we would have preferred that he simply confess his sins publicly, repented, and changed his ways.)
Also, did you notice that Copeland also stated in the citation above, “We are building up our resources, such as the rest of our air fleet the Lord Jesus instructed us to build?” He just said again that “God” instructed him to do this; which again does NOT agree with KCM’s official statements to the contrary. So can we believe Copeland any more this time than we could the last time he promised these same things?
Well, that is the latest update on the AF44 fiasco for our website’s advocates and anybody else interested herein.
More to come later…not only on THIS topic (as events might occur) but also on some OTHER documentable KCM frauds as well. Consequently, we and our advocates are still calling on Kenneth Copeland, his family, and his ministry, to simply repent.
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Grace and blessings to all of you who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity (Ephesians 6:24)..
An advocate of our KennethCopelandBlog.com redemptive project emailed me the other day to ask if we consider Copeland’s latest Haitian aid effort to be a sign of true biblical repentance. Our answer is an unequivocal, but regrettable, “NO,” though we yet remain hopeful that repentance will eventually occur. To further explain our view of these issues, let’s begin by reviewing the text of our latest press release:
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Did Kenneth Copeland Just Commit Another Aid Fraud?
(February 18, 2010)
NEWARK, TEXAS: KennethCopelandBlog.com recently exposed televangelist Kenneth Copeland’s probable fraud regarding the formation of the Angel Flight 44 ministry. Christian Today later reported on the controversy, quoting Copeland’s newest son-in-law saying that a freshly organized Haitian aid flight was “imminent.” The ministry’s subsequent February 4th mission detail, however, raises MORE questions about KCM’s integrity:
“…Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM) announced today that it has partnered with several ministries to send a flight to Haiti with $2.7 million of medical supplies, and 7,000 pounds of much-needed antibiotics.”
The only thing KCM actually stated above that they were doing was “sending a flight to Haiti.” They did NOT explicitly state WHO supplied these medical supplies, or even WHO paid for them. These missing elements seem to actually be tacit admissions of yet another probable humanitarian aid fraud.
I wrote the book about KCM’s Hurricane Katrina disaster missions: “Angel Flight 44” (which is now off the market, except for used copies). It details how Glen Hyde’s Douglas Super-DC3 airplane was often loaded with medical supplies furnished by McKesson Pharmaceutical. While it is true that the original “AF44” aid missions flew tens of millions of dollars worth of medical supplies to Louisiana, it is also true that NEITHER Kenneth Copeland NOR his ministry paid for ANY of those supplies.
After that, according to my information, Glen Hyde’s airplane sat on the tarmac of Denton Airport in Texas gathering bird poop from August of 2006 until February 2010—it was not helping anyone (as Copeland had pledged). Once we openly documented Copeland’s broken promises, however, Copeland apparently found new “motivation” to get that airplane flying again; and the required FAA C-check and maintenance was recently performed to permit this Haitian flight.
Actual costs? Mr. Hyde indicated back in 2007 that it would take about $20,000 to get the airplane legal and mechanically able to fly; we can add to that another $20-30k for fuel and flight expenses. Thus, we can safely estimate that KCM’s share of this Haitian flight’s costs was likely NO MORE than what they typically spend on jet fuel for the Copeland family vacations (using one of the jets from KCM’s fleet.)
Nevertheless, we now see KCM issuing a press release that is worded in such a way as to IMPLY that they (along with the five partners named) funded a multi-million dollar aid mission, when in fact the omitted details seem to reveal otherwise. In short, it would appear that KCM is merely trying to get $2.7 million worth of “humanitarian aid credit” through a publicity stunt, while actually spending a minuscule fraction of that amount to merely send the aid to the desperate Haitians.
Of course, Kenneth Copeland could PROVE what they actually spent on this mission by ordering his staff to publicly release copies of verifiable receipts, bank statements, (and etc)…but don’t hold your breath. MinistryWatch.com, a Christian financial integrity ministry, has been trying to encourage KCM to demonstrate biblical transparency in their finances FOR YEARS without any success. If the Copelands start providing financials to the public now, it might create a precedent for transparency…and they cannot have that!
On the other hand, compare KCM’s lack of financial accountability with biblical examples (e.g. Ezra and Nehemiah’s handling of funds donated to rebuild Jerusalem, and Paul’s financial transparency with the offering being sent by the churches to the poor saints in Jerusalem). Why does KCM not follow the Bible’s clear protocol? Simple. Jesus said it is because, “their deeds are evil” (note John 3:19-21). Consider for example…
In 2006 KCM paid $13.3 million to its executive staff (who are mostly family members), out of a $100 million budget. This was reported by CBS based upon Tarrant County documents filed by KCM. In short, KCM paid about a dozen executives OVER 13% of their ministry budget. This is considerably MORE than the highly publicized 10% that KCM claims is being divided up among the MANY ministries they support.
Since Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” can we safely assume the Copeland family’s “heart” is in their own compensation MORE than in giving to those truly in need? It certainly seems so…fraudulent publicity stunts, notwithstanding.
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A Few Additional Thoughts:
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Again, the KCM release above describes things in such a way that it gives one the impression that KCM and the listed partners provided millions of dollars for the people of Haiti.
The only thing their quote really claims is that KCM (in partnership with the others they listed) sent the airplane to Haiti, loaded with the supplies. Again, it does NOT say:
Who actually paid for the medical supplies themselves (KCM makes no direct claim that it was them).
Where the supplies came from (McKesson Pharmesueticals?)…
What the actual cost for the supplies were. (The figure given is probably merely the retail value and not the much smaller wholesale price…or if a manufacturer supplied them, the even smaller manufacturer’s cost.)
What KCM’s actual financial contribution to the mission was.
Now, the KCM release mentioned FOUR partners in the mission, plus Glen Hyde as coordinator and pilot for the mission. How much did each contribute to the estimated flight expenses we listed in the press release above? We are not told.
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Am I Wrong?:
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Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Copeland Ministries are probably going to get real upset when they learn about our analysis and press release above. However, we would like to respectfully remind them that we have already documented several of THEIR lies and probable frauds here on KennethCopelandBlog.com (and we still have more to reveal and document). Thus, we would like to politely request the following items to accompany any public claims that the Copelands may attempt to make—should they decide to dispute our figures above:
Actual copies of receipts and/or bank records, which can be verified directly with the other parties.
Specific designations of contribution amounts by EACH party of the Haiti relief effort, and not just in aggregate.
Third-party independent audited financials of KCM, along with documents which detail and certify KCM’s contributions toward the Haitian relief missions specifically, and especially their Angel Flight 44 ministry efforts since 2006.
In other words, we are VERY tired of “smoke and mirrors” and would like to see hard documents and verifiable facts. If KCM cannot (or will not) provide them, then the information we have above is likely sufficient to establish the probability that Kenneth Copeland and his ministry are trying to perpetuate another humanitarian aid fraud, coupled with a publicity stunt.
Again, it seems KCM is trying to play with the numbers and facts in such a way as to make themselves looks like (belated) heroes in the Haitian earthquake crisis, while in fact they are throwing “pennies” of what their total resources could provide:
It is commonly known and reportedthat KCM receives millions of dollars quarterly from natural gas wells dotting their Eagle Mountain property (and I heard this personally from KCM staff).
The website, WittenburgDoor.com, has video of Kenneth Copeland claiming to be a “billionaire” in front of his minister buddies (entitled, “Copeland – I’m a Billionaire” and about 11 videos down from the top).
So can we safely assume that Kenneth Copeland and KCM is fully able to provide MUCH MORE to help Haitian victims? We, along with our growing army of advocates, certainly believe that is the case. We also believe a major cover-up has been perpetrated by the Copelands and their nefarious organization regarding their past humanitarian aid failures and other probable frauds.
Remember that it was about a MONTH after the earthquake before KCM’s new “aid” mission occurred, and then only after KennethCopelandBlog.com issued TWO international press releases exposing them.
Consequently, we and our advocates are still calling on Kenneth Copeland, his family, and his ministry, to simply repent.
Advocates of our KennethCopelandBlog.com redemptive project will be thrilled to read this latest update regarding the “Angel Flight 44 ministry” fiasco (AF44):
So Kenneth and his (third) wife, Gloria, hosted the program, which featured primarily their own family as guests, including:
Their daughter, Kellie Copeland Swisher, along with her (third) husband, Stephen.
Kenneth’s grandson, Jeremy Pearsons, son of George and Terry Copeland Pearsons (Kenneth’s eldest daughter by his first wife) along with Jeremy’s (second) wife, Sarah.
ApostasyWatch.com’s own Steve Lumbley attended the live taping, and published his own report about KCM’s public relations countermeasures in his article, Kenneth Copeland Thinks You’re Stupid.
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The Once Forbidden “Name”:
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Moreover, now KCM has taken the extra step of openly using the name “Angel Flight 44″ and its abbreviation “AF44″ once again in its public relations efforts.On this update page about their recent Haitian flight, we see these two names pasted under nearly every photograph in their gallery, and elsewhere. Moreover, viewers to that web page are warmly greeted by Kenneth Copeland himself when that page is opened, right next to his latest commitment for humanitarian aid.
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Points to Remember:
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We here at KennethCopelandBlog.com are very happy about these developments. Nevertheless, we encourage our viewers to keep in mind several things as you review all of these issues yourself:
KCM’s first Haitian flight was about a month after the disaster. However, it would have likely been within 24-96 hours after the quake hit, had they maintained their disaster preparedness as promised. (Note: The main airport in Haiti was severely damaged, but they were receiving humanitarian flights so long as they had the capability of leaving again without requiring fuel. The Douglas Super-DC3 is a transoceanic aircraft, and would have qualified.)
Neither Kenneth Copeland nor KCM has EVER fully come forward with an honest explanation why they previously failed in their AF44 promise performance, NOR why they ignored Rich Vermillion (the writer of the book, Angel Flight 44) for nearly three years before his two press releases suddenly “motivated” them to help disaster victims as they had pledged. In short, they have NEVER apologized for their obvious failures.
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Nevertheless, we here at KennethCopelandBlog.com, along with our growing multitude of advocates, are thrilled that KCM finally found “compassion” somewhere within their hearts and decided to at least provide a good “window dressing” for public consumption. We are pleased that we have their attention; we are especially pleased that some needy Haitians are at least getting a little aid from them (although it comes about a month late and falls way short of Copeland’s original promises).
Of course, we are not in the least bit fooled by their sudden acts of “humanitarian aid” because it is nothing more than a public relations countermeasure...and not signs of true biblical repentance.One could even say that their current efforts are actually a sign of cowardice, given their continued deceptive practices and obvious self-serving motives.
So in short,though he claims to be a “billionaire” himself, it would seem that Kenneth Copeland is still “a day late, and a dollar short” in fulfilling his promises to help disaster victims.
Consequently, we and our advocates are still calling on Kenneth Copeland, his family, and his ministry, to simply repent.
Advocates of our KennethCopelandBlog.com redemptive project have been wondering with us why Kenneth Copeland has not yet appeared publicly to comment regarding this entire “Angel Flight 44 ministry” fiasco (AF44). Furthermore, we have all noticed that Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM) seems to be going to great lengths to avoid even using the name “Angel Flight 44″ within their public statements. In this short post, I want to analyze these two facts briefly to bring these to everyone’s attention.
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Where’s Copeland?
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It would appear at this time that Kenneth Copeland is avoiding making any further public statements regarding these matters. He is ONLY “talking publicly” about Angel Flight 44 here on KennethCopelandBlog.com within the abundant videos, BVOV magazine articles, and other citations we have provided for public scrutiny. MOREOVER: Within KCM’s public behavior and statements, KCM seems to be trying to distance Kenneth Copelandpersonally from these issues.
In KCM’s January, 26, 2010 public statement, James Tito, the Executive Director of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, did all the “talking” on behalf of both KCM and the Copeland family. I have never personally met James Tito (to my knowledge). I am also fairly certain that he had little to nothing to do with the original AF44 missions, or the Angel Flight 44 book project, or the public promises Kenneth Copeland made repeatedly concerning the new AF44 ministry that he proclaimed “is born” and “is here to stay.” Thus, Mr. Tito would seem to be a strange choice for making KCM’s public statements in any effort to “correct” the “misleading” information they claimed was being “spread in the media.” (Of course, we dissect their public statement, including KCM’s notable errors and glaring omissions, in the above linked article.)
In Christian Today’s article Televangelist Kenneth Copeland blasted for ‘unfulfilled promises’ posted February 2, 2010 on their website, reporter Lillian Kwon of the Christian Post quotes Stephen Swisher as KCM’s spokesman. Again, Mr. Swisher was not even around KCM during the events I mentioned above; he is a rather new addition to the Copeland family and ministry staff. Since he has no firsthand knowledge of these things, it seems similarly strange to pick him as a spokesperson. (We examine this excellent Christian Today article and dissect KCM’s public statements therein here in this previous KennethCopelandBlog.com post.)
So we have two different spokespersons, neither of which seem to have had any firsthand knowledge of these events and issues. However, there has been NO public comment—or any attempt at a rebuttal of our allegations—by Kenneth Copeland himself.
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Where’s Mention of AF44?
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Then there is this interesting fact than within none of KCM’s statements to date do they EVER mention the name “Angel Flight 44″ specifically. In fact, they seem to go out of their way to avoid using that name entirely. As I also elaborated further within our newly-updated post AF44′s Status in 2010 and the aforementioned two articles above, KCM’s omission of any specific reference to AF44 by name is VERY revealing:
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It reveals that KCM and the Copeland family all seem to know that the AF44 issue is one in which they are extremely culpable for their previous lack of performance regarding Copeland’s AF44 promises.
It reveals that KCM is very wary of drawing attention to the writer of the book, Angel Flight 44 (i.e. Rich Vermillion) and what I might have to say about these issues (and others concerning them).
It reveals that KCM is very wary of drawing any further attention to KennethCopelandBlog.com as well, and the many issues that we are clearly documenting here.
It reveals that KCM’s sudden public reversal on some issues is NOT sign of true repentance, as their behavior to date in the light of the following Scripture makes clear:
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The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved. But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are–wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon Him]. (Jesus speaking, as recorded in John 3:19-21, AMP, emphasis added)
First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. (The apostle Paul speaking, as recorded in Acts 26:20, NIV, emphasis added)
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It would appear by the facts at hand—and in the light of Scripture—that we can ONLY conclude that KCM’s actions and statements to date are evidence of vehement “damage control.” They are backpedaling on various issues and dancing around our allegations as they try to form some sort of public relations countermeasure against the well-documented allegations here on KennethCopelandBlog.com.
Nevertheless, from the very launch of this website, we have clearly stated and demonstrated that we are calling on Kenneth Copeland, his family, and his ministry…to simply repent. So unless they ALL come to a place of “godly sorrow that leads to repentance” as I mentioned in our previous post, then KennethCopelandBlog.com will have to remain an ongoing redemptive project.
In closing, my family and I would like to express once again our heartfelt gratitude to the growing multitude of our advocates: You all share our concerns for the Copelands and for those they influence…as well as our biblical vision for calling the Copeland family and KCM to repentance. Thank you for your Christian friendship and encouragement. You are all such a blessing to us.
Advocates of our KennethCopelandBlog.com redemptive project will be thrilled to know (as we are) that we are making tremendous progress in holding the Copeland family and ministry to a biblical standard of conduct and financial integrity. Here is the latest…
KCM’s public statement did NOT address the issues we raised within our post Angel Flight 44, The Money, regarding the FACT that their many AF44-ministry announcements were tied to offerings and donor (“partner”) recruitment, and that their Angel Flight 44 book give away project netted them a financial return several times larger than their “gift” expenditures. Thus, they do NOT in any way address the KCM’s general fund financial windfalls that resulted from Copeland’s AF44 promises (which could be upwards of $1.24 million, and probably much more).
KCM finally gave an answer as to what they did with the designated money. Two more notes:
KCM did NOT specify “which” plane those funds were directed towards for repairs. Was it an Angel Flight 44 designated aircraft, or one of KCM’s own fleet, or some other airplane? If the money was NOT applied to repairs for an AF44-designated aircraft, then that would qualify as a misappropriation of donor funds.
Again, KCM’s explanation is not only very questionable but also cannot be independently verified. Nevertheless, KCM’s public statement is very significant considering their nearly four-year silence regarding those funds since the 2006 SWBC AF44 announcements.
Stephen Swisher, KCM’s spokesperson, spoke a “quarter-truth” in the article (at best) when he is quoted as saying, “This was not a specific promise with a time line attached.” That is very misleading.
There was no “time line attached” because Kenneth Copeland said in both 2006 and 2007 that the ministry had already been “birthed” and was “growing.” Swisher’s comment seems to imply that nobody said “when” they would START the ministry, as if to say, “So we’re a bit late…Hey, nobody promised anything specific!” Swisher’s statement is either a deliberate deception, a misquote, or evidence that Swisher (who is new to KCM) is not qualified to address these issues.
Further, there really WERE very specific promises given by Kenneth Copeland (and which are also documented on this website by multiple videos, BVOV magazine downloads, & etc.) that included very specific characteristics: A new aviation hangar, acquisition of new airplanes and helicopters (including even amphibious aircraft), an expanded mechanics team, stored water and foodstuffs, (& etc). Apart from the remote possibility of a misquote, for this excellent article to quote Mr. Swisher as even suggesting that no “specific promise” was given is for the reporter to also document for our benefit one or more of the following:
A deliberate KCM deception,
or again, that Mr. Swisher is not qualified to address these issues due to his demonstrable ignorance of the facts involved.
An additional fact: KCM did NOT even maintain the original capabilities of Angel Flight 44. They allowed Glen Hyde’s Douglas Super-DC3 to become inoperable once gain (due to inadequate maintenance and resulting FAA regulatory disqualifications); and they allowed the previously airworthy Beechcraft-18 (mentioned below) to also become inoperable due to unrepaired “structural issues” (which Swisher’s own statement in the article admits). Thus, after numerous hurricanes and natural disasters struck, wreaking havoc upon their victims—there were NO Angel Flight 44 airplanes flyingas Copeland had promised to relieve their misery.
KCM seemed to mention the Beechcraft-18 aircraft they accidentally ended up with, after an effort to give it to an African missionary went sour. Note their statement, “KCM has purchased an aircraft but it ‘currently has structural issues’ and is still ‘not in airworthy condition.’” They give the impression, however, that this aircraft was purchased specifically for AF44 which—if it is the Beech-18 I show below—would not really be the case. Note pilot Glen Hyde standing on the right side of the men posing for the picture, which I took prior to its delivery to KCM:
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(Click to enlarge within a new browser window)
KCM’s Beechcraft-18 airplane, with pilot Glen Hyde standing on the far right.
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KCM now says that they are once again wanting to get back into the humanitarian aviation ministry. Note Swisher’s comment, “…it is our desire to have an aircraft to fly assistance during disaster relief efforts… We are believing God for the finances to have a fleet of aircraft to use during such instances.” Compare that stated position with KCM’s from January 26th when they seemed to imply a complete abandonment of the project: “[KCM] investigated the possibility of providing such assistance for future disasters. The ministry decided that the best use of resources would be to start a disaster relief fund, and to determine the best course of action on a case by case basis.” (i.e. Were they lying then…or now…or both?)
KCM suddenly announces that Glen Hyde is gearing up for Haiti flight missions—about a month AFTER the earthquake hit. The article states that KCM informed the reporter that “Glenn [sic] Hyde, who is preparing an ‘imminent flight to Haiti.’ They also have plans to help fly medical supplies and food into Haiti, but ‘it is difficult with the current backlog of flights at this time.’ Let me make four additional notes:
If the AF44 ministry had been at least maintained at the level of readiness it possessed at the end of the hurricanes Katrina and Rita missions, they would have likely been able to have AF44 relief flights in process in as little as 24-hours after the earthquake struck (and certainly within a few days).
If the AF44 ministry had been developed as Kenneth Copeland had promised, there would have also been an amphibious aircraft capable of providing humanitarian aid along the ocean front, and they would not have been restricted to the limitations of Haiti’s heavily damaged airport.
There was absolutely NO MENTION of any aviation relief efforts to be made by Glen Hyde or KCM until after our KennethCopelandBlog.com project brought this issue out so strongly into the public forum.
KCM seems to be trying to avoid mentioning the name “Angel Flight 44″ in all their public statements to date, showing obvious preference for simply generic terms only. A very interesting behavior, which I discuss more fully in my new post, Analysis: Where is Kenneth Copeland?, here on this website.
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Thus, unfortunately, we cannot say with confidence that these statements and reversals by KCM are yet evidence of true biblical repentance on their part. Given the errors and omissions within their January 26 statement, and their seemingly reluctant public reversals on several key points, it would seem that their efforts are geared mainly toward counteracting their public embarrassment regarding these issues. Until today’s Christian Today article, the overwhelming evidence presented here on KennethCopelandBlog.com—and even that which was coming out of KCM—indicated that they had done NOTHING regarding Copeland’s promised Angel Flight 44 ministry.
Nevertheless, we are excited that we are having an effect on KCM’s behavior.If nothing else, they seem to be taking these issues seriously now rather than simply ignoring our many pleas, as we have made to them over nearly three years.
Keep in mind also:If Kenneth Copeland and Glen Hyde—or at least a representative of KCM’s executive team—had taken the time to work with us to clear these matters up back years ago, we would NOT have had to launch this public “loving rebuke” effort with regard to these particular allegations. Even today, they have never made any attempt to contact us, though we have stated many times on this site and elsewhere that we would alter this site’s content to reflect any verifiable information that they could provide that showed KCM in a better light.
Thus, we and our advocates have concluded what the evidence here on KennethCopelandBlog.com already clearly indicates…that Copeland, his family, and KCM, actually WERE being fraudulent in some way. If they were not, would they not have tried to quickly clear this matter up with us before now? (As you can probably tell from this website, we would have insisted on receiving documentable explanations, and not mere appeasement. It would seem that our previous 31-page document that they received in early 2008 gave them that impression of us already…)
However, the AF44 issue is certainly one of the most clear examples of the Copeland family’s and ministry’s blatant arrogance and dearth of biblical integrity that can be easily documented before the public (though certainly not the most glaring example of their doctrinal errors). Thus, we are thrilled that our redemptive project has already caused the Copelands to re-evaluate their conduct on at least a few issues; we yet remain hopeful that this biblical shame and public embarrassment will eventually result in the godly sorrow that “leads to repentance”:
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Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. (2 Corinthians 7:9-11, NKJV)
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If it eventually does (and KCM’s willingness to talk with us about our concerns would certainly help toward that objective) then we will be able to alter KennethCopelandBlog.com to become a testimony of God’s grace as manifested through their proven repentance. Thus, my family and I, and our growing numbers of advocates in this redemptive cause, are still calling on Kenneth Copeland, his family, and his ministry…to simply repent.
My family and I, and the growing multitude of like-minded concerned Christians, have to say that it is somewhat gratifying that after nearly four years of broken promises made by Kenneth Copeland—and nearly three years of our private and public efforts to get an answer out of him regarding those broken promises—to finally have some sort of response out of Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM). In a way, this is a small victoryon behalf of truth in our eyes…though it took two recent press releases to get them to finally cough up some sort of answer.
Of course, their response was not exactly ideal. It is FULL of significant errors and glaring omissions. Nevertheless, they finally gave us a response…and even publicly! We rejoice that our many, many, hours of labor and prayer have not been completely in vain.
Let me first give you the entire text of their Christian Newswire press release, and then I will begin to point out the aforementioned problems with their FIRST EVER comment on these topics. I have also bolded a few things within their text for emphasis which we will discuss further below:
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Kenneth Copeland Ministries Aids in Relief Efforts
Contact: James Tito, Executive Director, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 817-252-2807, media@kcm.org
NEWARK, Tx., Jan. 26 /Christian Newswire/ — Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM) announced today that it has become aware of misleading and potentially damaging misinformation that has been circulated through various media outlets. The misinformation falsely suggests that Kenneth Copeland, and the leadership at Kenneth Copeland Ministries, have broken a promise to provide humanitarian aircraft services for all natural disasters on a worldwide basis, and therefore were instrumental in causing people of Haiti additional harm by not having aircraft immediately available. Furthermore, the claim suggests that there has been a misuse of donated funds related to developing humanitarian aircraft services.
Because KCM cares deeply for its Partners and Friends, the ministry and its leadership would like to clarify any confusion that may result from these allegations. In 2006 KCM did, in fact, make one of its aircraft available to provide support during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, and also investigated the possibility of providing such assistance for future disasters. The ministry decided that the best use of resources would be to start a disaster relief fund, and to determine the best course of action on a case by case basis. All monies that are donated to this fund are used for appropriate disaster relief efforts, and not used for any of the day to day operations at KCM. Specifically, with regard to Haiti, because of the magnitude of the disaster, the geographic location, the poor conditions for flights in and out, and the vast involvement of the US military and other government agencies, KCM believed that the best course of action was to send targeted funds to disaster relief ministries and organizations that had better access to Haiti on the ground than did KCM. In addition, KCM also sent relief aid to a Haitian orphanage that the ministry has supported for many years. KCM continues to financially support ongoing relief efforts.
Although KCM is primarily a media based teaching ministry, it invests millions of dollars every year into helping people throughout the world. KCM pours resources into more than 100 ministries in more than 120 countries. The ministry gives to churches, evangelistic outreaches, orphanages, youth programs, and rehabilitation centers. KCM is feeding the hungry, meeting needs of men, women, and children, setting captive hearts free, and ministering faith, hope, and love across the globe. KCM helps supply over 50,000 inmates with devotional and other products to encourage them every month, answers almost 1,000,000 prayer calls per year, and answers over 1,000,000 pieces of mail. Furthermore, KCM mails over 500,000 magazines at no cost to the recipients and reaches a potential TV audience of 965 million people worldwide with the life changing message of Jesus Christ. These are just a few of the outreaches and ministries of KCM. For a complete list, please go to www.kcm.org. KCM’s general counsel David Middlebrook of Anthony and Middlebrook, P.C. states: “Kenneth Copeland Ministries is one of the premier Christian Ministries in the world today and is run with the utmost integrity. The Church has an annual independent audit and there are no funds that have been misused or unaccounted for.”
Now, let’s get into an examination of their public statement:
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Significant Errors:
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Again, while it is gratifying to finally have SOME kind of answer out of KCM, their answer comes quite short of what we had hoped. Let me begin by pointing out some errors included within their text: .
“In 2006…” While some might consider this a minor issue, the fact is that Hurricane Katrina occurred in August of 2005. Moreover, the sentence completely omitted mention of Hurricane Rita that soon followed in September of 2005, after which the Angel Flight 44 (AF44) missions continued for a few flights.
“…one of its aircraft…” To my knowledge, not a single airplane within the Kenneth Copeland Ministries’ actual fleet participated in the disaster relief missions themselves. (If so, then it would be good for them to elaborate which one they are referring to, and what its alleged role was in those missions.) The primary aircraft of the AF44 missions was Glen Hyde’s corporately-owned Douglas Super DC3 (tail number, N44GH), which is actually owned by one of his Nevada corporations. One other small private aircraft also flew during the Katrina mission, but again, it was not a part of KCM’s actual fleet. The way this KCM press release is worded, it gives the impression that they are saying that it was one of their own aircraft that provided humanitarian support.This would NOT be true. However, if they meant something else they should clarify their statement.
“…and also investigated the possibility of providing such assistance for future disasters…”This is a bold-faced lie, as the three videos, three KCM BVOV magazines, and quotes from the book,Angel Flight 44, here on KennethCopelandBlog.com clearly document (though Mr. James Tito might not be aware of the deception, Kenneth Copeland surely knows better). Kenneth Copeland said publicly that the new humanitarian aviation support ministry of Angel Flight 44 already existed. To suggest within their release that they were merely kicking the idea around is to misrepresent the facts in a most devious manner. Here are ONLY A FEW examples of what Kenneth Copeland said publicly, which are provided here on KennethCopelandBlog.com:
From video 1in our post, The AF44 Miracle and Kenneth Copeland’s Promises, “Um…a major ministry…MAJOR ministry…has been born out of Hurricane Katrina. It is literally born out of the heart of the Spirit of God. But it took that hurricane to wake a lot of us up that should have been awake to this a long time before.” (Watch the footage in that video between time codes 06:21 and 06:39 to hear Copeland say these things himself.)
From the March, 2007 “Special Partner Edition” of KCM’s Believer’s Voice of Victory magazine (posted within that same article above), on page 9 Kenneth Copeland himself wrote, “You need several million dollars to build an airplane hangar and buy helicopters, airplanes, food and supplies for Angel Flight 44, your international aviation outreach that helps the needy in times of disaster… Those aren’t just outreaches of Kenneth Copeland Ministries. If you’re a Partner, they’re your outreaches too.” (Emphasis added. You can download the entire magazine off the above linked KennethCopelandBlog.com article.)
On our post,Angel Flight 44, The Book, we have excerpted Copeland where he had said during my interview of him (and he approved his quotes before the book was published): “And out of this, a new and different form of ministry has been born: Angel Flight 44. It is growing right now. It is still a baby, but it is growing. Right now, it is in its infancy, but we will never again get caught partially prepared for such a disaster. Angel Flight 44 is a ministry that is here to stay, and I will tell you why…Katrina is not the last catastrophe that will occur. We are going to see more of those kinds of things.” (Emphasis added)
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Another very obvious error within their rebuttal was their statement in reference to our allegations here on KennethCopelandBlog.com. Therein they said: .
“…The misinformation falsely suggests that Kenneth Copeland, and the leadership at Kenneth Copeland Ministries, have broken a promise to provide humanitarian aircraft services for all natural disasters on a worldwide basis, and therefore were instrumental in causing people of Haiti additional harm by not having aircraft immediately available. Furthermore, the claim suggests that there has been a misuse of donated funds related to developing humanitarian aircraft services.”
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KennethCopelandBlog.comhas not merely SUGGESTED that Kenneth Copeland and KCM have broken their promises, we have DOCUMENTED it.Further, our belief that the earthquake victims of Haiti are suffering additional harm due to the LACK of promised aviation disaster relief from KCM is founded upon Kenneth Copeland’s own statements regarding how important such disaster relief is, such as:
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That is our mission in the future: we will help churches help people. And from this time on, we are still building, we are still gathering, and we are still preparing as if there is a storm on the way—because there is. We just do not know where it is going to hit, but the storm is coming. Jesus said so in His Word.
So, we are preparing for it. We are preparing equipment. We have plans for more airplanes as the Lord provides funds for them—and He will. Great big things that fly into places, and little bitty things that fly into other places. We need airplanes that haul a lot of stuff, and airplanes that haul a little stuff. We need airplanes that land on the ground, and airplanes that land on the water. We are also believing for helicopters. Now, I have not seen any use for a balloon yet, but I am not ruling that out!
We have plans for acquiring other types of equipment. We have hangars on the drawing board right now in order to be equipped in all areas of flight.
So, that is where we are now. A ministry has been born, and we are going to nurse it and build it and grow it and do our part.
Yes, there is a new baby in town, and her name is Angel Flight 44. And she is coming on strong because…the storm is coming. I do not know whether it is a hurricane or a bunch more tornadoes, or what. But we are going to be ready next time. (see the full quote on our page Angel Flight 44, The Book)
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Consider also these statements made within the book about the effect of the original Angel Flight 44 disaster relief missions in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (which statements were also reviewed and approved by Kenneth Copeland too…for I still have his review copy of that book in my possession, with his original notes inside): .
In this case, one such man is simply obeying his personal “word” from the Savior…and is repairing an airplane; a seemingly trivial act that will soon spare the lives of thousands. It seems quite fitting that the Savior would direct one of His men to do something that will ultimately save a multitude. After all,…is that not what His love is all about? (page 13, emphasis added)
Consequently, if God had not connected McKesson Pharmaceutical with Glen, Denny, and that Super DC-3 just a few days before—thousands would have died in hospitals all over that area from lack of treatment. (page 53, emphasis added)
Over time, Kenneth Copeland Ministries ships massive quantities of food and bottled water, baby supplies, hygiene products, clothes, hundreds of generators, four to five hundred chainsaws—you name it, they ship it. And not to leave the vast spiritual needs of the devastated community unmet, KCM ships cases upon cases of Bibles and other Christian reading materials for Pastor Larry’s church, Joy Fellowship Church, to dispense to the thousands of people they feed. (page 77, emphasis added)
Glen explains, “They won’t give them to them because they say that the Marines are not the hospital’s responsibility. But you ask the head nurse there this, ‘Is it Glen Hyde’s responsibility to furnish free air transportation to keep that hospital open without receiving compensation for all those thousands of people that are being served there?’ We’re furnishing our own airplane, our own fuel—so the Church is essentially furnishing all these medical supplies. Furthermore, we’re loading and unloading this stuff through these Marines over here. They wouldn’t have anything at that hospital if it wasn’t for my DC-3 and these Marines.” (page 150, emphasis added)
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The quotes above (again, ALL reviewed and approved by Kenneth Copeland) ALL reinforce the idea that the promised Angel Flight 44 ministry was capable of affecting thousands of lives—even within just its “infancy” stage as Copeland claimed already existed. How many MORE lives could be helped today in Haiti if they had actually developed that pledged ministry as Copeland had promised?
In short, it is very evident that Kenneth Copeland Ministries does NOT have a problem taking credit for saving thousands of lives back when they were actively providing aviation services for relief…but they REFUSE to shoulder ANY blame when their lack of action may be costing thousands of lives.
And remember, as we detailed on the page AF44′s Status in 2010, (which we just updated 02/02/2010) there were MANY natural disasters that preceded the earthquake in Haiti and yet those disaster victims were likewise without the aviation support that Copeland repeatedly promised to provide.
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Glaring Omissions:
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There were also some VERY noticeable omissions from KCM’s response to the allegations here on KennethCopelandBlog.com. Information that is missing, can often be information that is very revealing due to its very absence:
KCM’s response did NOT even mention the NAME of the ministry in question, Angel Flight 44. It would seem that they considered even the acknowledgment of AF44′s name to be a possible acknowledgment of Copeland’s promises.
KCM’s response did NOT mention “who” was spreading the alleged “misinformation” in the media. It would seem that by referencing KennethCopelandBlog.com they would be creating additional burdens of proof for themselves, since our website actually documents our allegations. Which brings us to…
KCM’s response did NOT provide any verifiable documentation to support their claims against our allegations, NOR did it provide ANY verifiable documentation/information that would refute what we have alleged. In short, they simply said, “No we did not promise all of that…and please do NOT ask us to prove our honesty in this matter.”
KCM never explained “why” after “GOD” supposedly told Kenneth Copeland to form the Angel Flight 44 ministry, that now they have abandoned it. (Was he disobeying God then, or is he disobeying God now…or just lying about all of it?)
If Kenneth Copeland publicly admits he changed his mind or made a mistake, it would undermine his “prophet” reputation that he has spent so many years to propagate (and thus, probably his partner base as well). After all, what kind of prophet promotes new projects so earnestly, raises funds by telling people the “vision God gave” him, and then changes his mind AFTER the money is donated? (Good question, indeed.)
If Copeland publicly admits he changed his mind or that KCM abandoned the project after raising funds, it creates potential problems for them with the donors who gave (e.g. possibly wanting their money back, or perhaps wanting to designate where the funds might then go, i.e. rather than leaving it to KCM’s discretion).
It would appear that, in the Copelands’ minds, it might be better to just quietly drop such matters and hope people forget about them—rather than stir up potential problems by being “honest” or living by some other inconvenient biblical virtue.
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KCM’s Good, Bad, and Ugly:
. KCM’s response in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti is wonderful (insofar as they have actually been good stewards of the Disaster Relief Funds entrusted to them by donors). WE HAVE NOT questioned whether they sent money to Haiti or relief groups working in Haiti. In fact, we are absolutely sure they DID because we know their track record with sending disaster relief money to Operation Blessing International.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE is draw attention to the fact that they did NOT promise money for disaster victims back in 2006-2007; KCM promised AIRCRAFT flying in humanitarian aid. There is a huge difference.
Additionally, we have drawn attention to the fact that the AF44-designated contributions have not been accounted for either. With all due respect to any attorneys reading this, let me point out that U.S. lawyers do NOT have a good reputation for honesty around the world. They are known for semantic plays on words such as “it depends on what the definition of ‘is’ is” (e.g. as former U.S. president and former lawyer, Bill Clinton, once said in the wake of his Monica Lewinsky scandal). In short, I am NOT comforted by KCM’s general counsel “David Middlebrook of Anthony and Middlebrook, P.C.” when he states: “Kenneth Copeland Ministries is one of the premier Christian Ministries in the world today and is run with the utmost integrity. The Church has an annual independent audit and there are no funds that have been misused or unaccounted for.”
and, of course, explain what REALLY happened with the abandonment of their promised AF44 ministry.
Then and ONLY THEN we might all begin to consider them a ministry of financial integrity (though errant and heretical doctrine and the Copelands’ other personal sins would still remain issues in need of repentance).
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Concluding Remarks:
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So, again, while we consider it a small victory that Kenneth Copeland Ministries finally made a public statement, it falls way short of what they should have done. Furthermore, their errors and omissions within their public statement actually serve to REINFORCE our allegations here at KennethCopelandBlog.com. Though we appreciate their help in that regard, we would have preferred repentance since it seems they are now confirming their guilt inadvertently. Jesus put it this way:
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:19-21, NKJV, emphasis added)
Jesus said that those practicing evil LOVE the darkness, and do everything they can to avoid any light that might expose their nefarious deeds. On the other hand, Jesus said that those who practice truth (i.e. are operating by biblical standards of integrity) will readily come to the light so that everyone will see that their deeds are done in God.
Copeland and his representatives do a wonderful job of “proclaiming” that they practice good deeds, while working hard to hide many things about Kenneth Copeland Ministries. For example:
Executive salaries and other compensations (which might show how little “faith” the Copelands actually live by, since high salaries reveal trust in paychecks not God…and an abuse of donor funds when done within a ministry).
Actual audited financial statements (which should go to third-party groups like ECFI and Ministrywatch.com for verification…which would prove transparency and integrity).
Reasons behind the abandonment of publicized projects (which Copeland generally says “God” told him to do…but he has had somewhat of a habit of abandoning quietly after the funds are raised).
And more…
Considering all the evidence that we have shared here on the KennethCopelandBlog.com—including over 1 and a quarter hours of video of Kenneth Copeland, three KCM BVOV magazines, quotes from the Angel Flight 44 book, and many other links and documents—it seems to me that KCM could have come up with a more transparent and honest response than what is indicated within their erroneous and weak public statement above.
Thus, in the light of their failure to “come into the light” on this and many other issues, we at KennethCopelandBlog.com have to conclude that they “refuse to come to the light because their deeds are evil” as Jesus said. Consequently, my family and I, along with the growing multitude of like-minded and concerned brethren in the Lord, are calling on Kenneth Copeland, his family, and his ministry, to simply repent.
Again, because of the enormity of the information being presented here on KennethCopelandBlog.com, it is not surprising that some people may be missing some key points of information regarding my own integrity in bringing these things out publicly.
Here is another common question, which is now relevant at this point within the AF44 discussion to address:
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You keep mentioning that Copeland broke his promises, but was there something you were supposed to do but did not?(Or some question similar.)
Nope. Mysoleresponsibilities were to research and write the book, Angel Flight 44: The True Story of Two Dedicated Pilots, a 60-Year-Old Airplane, and the Amazing Hurricane Katrina Mission That Birthed a New Aviation Ministry, and in conjunction with the publisher, to see that the book was published and marketed.
This was certainly done, as nearly 80,000 copies of all edition being in-print does clearly attest.
The responsibility (and pledge) of Kenneth Copeland and his aviation friend, Glen Hyde, was to start the ministry that the book said already existed and was being developed.
The fact that these two did NOT fulfill their obligations DID hinder the publisher and me in our ability to fulfill our marketing objectives, however:
It is extremely difficult to market a book that says “a ministry has been born” when there is actually NO tangible ministry…because that would be marketing a lie.
I could not, with a clear conscience, market a lie.
These facts above are verified by the mere fact that Kenneth Copeland and KCM would NOT address these issues with me privately during my private efforts to address them.
i.e. If I was negligent on some point, would not Kenneth Copeland or somebody from KCM have at leastinformed me when I brought my complaints to them about their failure to form the AF44 ministry?
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Thank you for taking the time to review this website. Moreover, I hope this little post serves to clarify at least the above issues “at a glance.” Please continue reading the details of The Mysterious Disappearance of Angel Flight 44 section for more information.
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To comprehend the size of that amount of money in today’s dollars, it would be about $8,000 if we can believe government inflation statistics. It would be more accurate to say that amount is about $26,000 in today’s comparable purchasing power (see the Shadowstats.com chart to the right)
