Now that Gregory Setser (former professing minister and owner of IPIC) has been convicted of 22 counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering, he could be facing life in prison.  As for the Canadian connection, the men involved - Wesley Campbell, John and David Devries (father and son) Ralph Bromley and Ernest Reed Graphke - are scheduled for a hearing on June 29, 2006 to set a date for the hearings with the B.C. Securities Exchange Commission. It is an absolute must for everyone to check out the B.C.S.C. website here to find out what these good Christian men have allegedly been up to! This is some serious stuff.         

 http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/enforcement/Docket.asp?txtFileID=171

Says Deborah Bortner (Director of Securities for Washington State and past President of the North American Securities Administrators) regarding affinity fraud, “ I’ve been a securities regulator for 20 years, and I’ve seen more money stolen in the name of God than in any other way.”

The difficulty in bringing these impostors to justice is that within their “Christian” organization, there is no official investment firm or business whose sole purpose is wealth building for its clients. When companies such as IPIC and Amber Investments are perceived to be a fraudulent sham, they are investigated and if the investigation reveals convincing evidence, they are then brought to trial. But when Christian ministries such as the Miracle Channel or Storehouse Ministries (Clive Pick) make promises of wealth transfer, divine healing, favor, etc., in exchange for donations (an “investment” into the “kingdom” or the “releasing of a seed”) and the promised return does not transpire, the religious huckster gets the money AND gets off scott-free. The victims are left worse off than before, blaming themselves (because they have been conditioned by these same ministries to believe it’s their fault) for not receiving their promised return from God. Many have been swindled into giving their last dollar out of desperation upon hearing some preacher/apostle/prophet tell them that God will bless to overflowing if they only take a leap of faith and sow their “seed” money! Lives have been devastated. Hope lost and faith in God has been destroyed in many hearts when the great illusion is unveiled.  The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but he doesn’t come looking like the grim reaper. He can make himself fit right in behind a pulpit or in front of a television camera and gain sanctuary inside the church when the watchmen are silenced.

"It is usually difficult to catch perpetrators of affinity fraud scams because victims are embarrassed to admit they were conned and reluctant to turn in “one of their own.” Even when victims realize they have been deceived, rather than notifying the authorities, they often keep quiet or try to work things out within the group. Con artists understand and exploit this reluctance to report the fraud. As a result, good people lose their hard-earned savings and sense of trust, the authorities cannot act without the cooperation of victims — and the fraudsters keep the money, while moving on to repeat the scam with other groups in new places. (From the B.C.S.E. website, “Affinity Fraud – Fraud Among Friends”)

If it is hard enough to catch perps of affinity fraud when investment firms and brokerages are involved, imagine how difficult it is to catch the ones who say that if you give your money to them to do the work of God, God will give back to you all that and then some!

Benny Hinn, the millionaire who achieved his life of luxury by selling the Spirit, was one scammed by Setser. In a cruel twist of irony, Hinn has been quoted saying, “I am outraged that Gregory Setser would use the church for his own benefit.” How’s that for the pot calling the kettle black? Yes, Benny. Imagine! How could anyone who calls themselves a Christian, honestly take someone else’s hard earned money in exchange for a false promise, just so they can live like the ‘legitimately’ rich and famous? Oh the humanity!

It is amazing to me how deluded the Hinn devotees are in that alarm bells don’t go off in their heads when this stuff happens to a man they practically worship. Don’t they question how a guy with a direct connection to the Almighty, 24-7, gets caught up in such a scam? God told him this, God told him that. But God neglected to tell him IPIC is a sham?  Perhaps people do not want to look closely at who they are following for fear that they may uncover the truth and find, as in Shakespeare’s writings, all that glitters is not gold.

It’s not only Hinn. No, no, no. There are more of the big names in Christian superstardom, that we’ve all come to trust to hear and know the voice of God, who were also not able to discern the wolf in sheep’s clothing, while looking for their own gain. There is Reinhardt Bonnke, who by the way, according to SEC analysis managed to personally make $999,134 from his IPIC investments, while his Christ for All Nations ministry recorded a gain of $984,315 before the ship went down. Then there is Kenneth Copeland, Marilyn Hickey and other celebs whose investments went sour. These are the ones who teach that God will bless believers with wealth when they step out in faith and sow “seed” money into good soil. I guess this one backfired on THEM for a change. According to the doctrine they preach to others, the obvious question is, “Why did they go and invest in a worldly business plan to get more wealth?” Why didn’t these faith preachers take their own medicine and just stick to investing in “kingdom ministry” and let God give them the power to acquire more money through that? I think that answer is obvious too.

Moreover, there are some simple, telltale signs that signal to even the most naďve worldly investor when an investment opportunity is bogus. Here’s one: ‘if it’s too good to be true, it probably is’. Yet these supposedly wise Christian guides, imbued with the Holy Spirit, took the luscious bait - hook, line and sinker! Sounds like greed took over their common sense. Maybe these ministers should be praying and asking God for wisdom and contentment, rather than increase!

It seems few people, especially those in high places with the ability to influence many, such as Dick Dewert in Canada, ever question the integrity of these “men and women of God”, rather are always quick to run to their defense. Even though they may be world renowned for their supposed god-given gifts of teaching, prophesy, healing, wisdom, etc., the fact that these esteemed leaders become entangled with such deception and dark motives is never scrutinized; their own lives never examined in light of what Jesus taught.

Maybe the reason our Christian leaders in Canada, like Dewert, flee controversy and don’t want to come down too hard on colleagues in the industry, is because the finger will be pointing right back at them. All the so-called “prophetic” leaders in Canada are a tight-knit group and endorse each other’s “ministry”, publicly flattering each other. They mimic one another like parrots and speak words on God’s behalf, which God did not give them, just as they did in Jeremiah’s day. This company of false prophets are all of the same lying spirit and they know what each other is up to, so they dare not rebuke each other publicly even when a scandal surfaces.  But God will see to it that these false guides do not go unpunished even if worldly authorities do not indict them. Just read what happened to Hananiah the false prophet in this classic confrontation by Jeremiah in Jer 28:15-17 (NIV). “Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, "Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: 'I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.'" In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.” I think this is a good indication of how serious it is to speak on behalf of the Lord. The nonchalant, flippant prophets of the day will be in for a rude awakening!

The Miracle Channel loves to take Old Testament Scripture out of context, and interchange “Canada” with “Israel” only where God is speaking of blessings for Israel. Could we not then do the same and just place any one of the Miracle Channel company members such as Len Zoetemen or Pat King in place of Hananiah and also declare that the nation mentioned is “Canada”? For those involved with the Miracle Channel, you can’t pick and choose! It works both ways. Every one of you should have been taught this basic principle of hermeneutics (interpreting scripture); after all, your leader “is” a “Doctor”!

Speaking of Dick Dewert, on an In Sight program a while back, Dick was a guest and the topic was the Miracle Channel’s involvement in the spiritual direction of Canada. One caller phoned in and questioned Dewert on the Wes Campbell/New Life Church/Amber Investment/IPIC scandal. Dewert knew this caller personally as he addressed him on a first name basis in an authoritative and abrupt tone, while referring to an email he received from the caller earlier that week. Dewert also appeared to be insulted and angry that this particular person would confront him during a live phone-in show which was most likely intended to be “singing the praises” and advertising the “great exploits” of the Miracle Channel. It appears Dewert was caught completely off guard. (Click here to view the actual clip from the show) (On a side note, I wonder if Dewert ever did respond to the caller's email. I know he's never appriproately resonded to any of ours!)

The gist of the caller’s question was something to the effect of  “In light of the charges brought against Wesley Campbell and the Miracle Channels close and well-known affiliations with Wes and Stacey Campbell, how will this scandal affect the station’s credibility to provide God’s spiritual direction to Canada?” And, “How is it possible for one who claims to be a prophet in prophetic ministry to be duped by a Ponzi scheme?” Dewert immediately responded in defense of the Campbells, claiming he knew nothing of the allegations until they were recently reported in the news. The caller tried to cut in, but was not given a chance to finish making his point. (So much for the Miracle Channel providing balance and opposing viewpoints.) Dewert went on for a while making some lame excuses for the Campbells, about how they were probably more the victims, how they shouldn’t have been so trusting of this man, how this doesn’t mean they are not prophetic, how even Jesus was duped by Judas, and how Paul said that we only prophecy in part and see in part.

Sorry Dick. Judas didn’t DUPE Jesus! Jesus knew well ahead the identity of His betrayer! It was all part of the plan! And as for you providing an out for the false prophets, Mr. Dewert, if the prophets of today only prophesy in part and only see in part, which part is the part we are supposed to follow?!  If a prophet gives a prophecy that is partially true and partially not true because he can only “see” part of the prophecy, how do we know which part is true and which part is false? By what method is anyone to discern what part of a prophecy is actually of God and which part is the prophet’s imagination? Do we just follow ALL the prophet’s instructions and wait for time to tell what was truth and what was not, and like the people scammed by Wes Campbell and company, just suck it up when the part that was not true yields it’s fruit? The test of a prophet has been and always will be TRUTH! There are no trial runs, no prophecy practice sessions to get it right. Forget “prophetic conferences”! It is a demonic concept that was conceived in hell and distributed by the children whose father is a liar. 

Furthermore, Jesus said, "a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit". We do not see any of the disciples of Jesus in the New Testament getting caught in moneymaking scams, doing unscrupulous endeavors in God’s Name, breaking the law or even just making sure they have a nice little nest egg put aside from the “fruits” of their "ministry". As honorable and praiseworthy in the eyes of man that it may be, Peter did not sell his gift of healing to feed the poor orphaned children somewhere! What we see happening today doesn’t line up with what the book says. Everywhere you turn, the church is involved in scandal when it is supposed to be a beacon of light and truth to the lost! The early followers of Christ were real men and women of God and they “got it”.  They couldn’t be bought for a dollar; they didn’t minister for the dollar. Instead, they purchased the Kingdom with their lives and demonstrated, scandal-free, how to live in this world as a follower of Christ.

Dick Dewert reveals his own heart and motive for ministry by saying things like, “I’m going to make my grandchildren millionaires” (Moose Jaw Victory Church, June 2005). WHEN HIS MOUTH SPEAKS FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS HEART, YOU MUST CONSIDER THIS - His millions of dollars are going to come from either the sincere benevolent kindness of others who respond to the appeal for money OR from the greedy who want to acquire the same wealth by investing into the prosperity gospel of greed! Either way, his money comes from PEOPLE buying into his sales pitch. IT DOES NOT COME FROM GOD! What kind of servant is Dewert anyway, when he intends to have a higher lifestyle than those he claims to serve? Is every Miracle Channel partner a millionaire? No. Nor will they be. This kind of servant’s true motive is to serve HIMSELF! Dewert will acquire his MILLIONS like every other big name “Christian” Super Star with a tax-exempt “ministry” has - from the slick salesmanship of a different gospel!  Woe to the self-serving shepherds!

FRAUD: 1 a : DECEIT, TRICKERY; specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b : an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : TRICK
2 a : a person who is not what he or she pretends to be : IMPOSTOR; also : one who defrauds : CHEAT b : one that is not what it seems or is represented to be.

DEFRAUD: to deprive of something by deception or fraud
synonym see CHEAT  (Merriam-Webster)

Fraud is fraud whether it is committed through an investment brokerage, Ponzi scheme or by the man of God in church or on television who makes a false promise on behalf of God. Fraud in the Name of God is committed every day in the televangelism industry (business). But what is stolen from many has a value far greater than money or any earthly thing. Just spend some time with the victims of these charlatan televangelists and you will know what I mean.

The Love Of Money

"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, {4} he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions {5} and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. {6} But godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. {8} But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. {9} People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. {10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

                                                                                                    -  1 Timothy 6:3-10 NIV

The final question to ask is this: "If any leader, claiming to be continually hearing from and speaking on behalf of God, not only becomes involved in a "Ponzi scheme" but uses their position of authority to assists in perpetrating it, are they really a victim or are they felon?" They can't be both in the Kingdom of God!

With today being the day when the B.C. Securities Commission sets the date for Wesley Campbell's hearing, the answer is apparently forthcoming. It's just a shame that the world has to make that decision on behalf of the church.