...Primary and secondary sources include:
--Corporate filings with various Secretaries of State
--US Patent and Trademark records (
www.uspto.gov)
--Active web pages as well as web page archives accessible through
www.archive.org
--Publicly available deed and mortgage records
--News articles, newsletters, etc.
--The Forerunner (
www.forerunner.com)
----------------------------------
This is a timeline of the history of Maranatha and its many front organizations such as:
Morning Star International (MSI; now Every Nation Churches)
Maranatha Campus Ministries (MCM)
Maranatha Christian Church(es) (MCC)
Maranatha Christian Fellowship
Campus Harvest Ministries
(Maranatha) Campus Ministries International
Campus Missions International (CMI)
Champions For Christ (CFC)
Victory Campus Ministries (now Every Nation Ministries)
Victory Leadership Institute (now Every Nation Leadership Institute)
Every Nation Churches/Ministries (ENC)
etc.
Part 1: Early Maranatha
1972—Maranatha starts on Murray State University (KY) campus
1975—Maranatha incorporated in KY on 2/28/75 as:
Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. – based in KY with a KY address. This is the corporation that is filed under certificates of authority in multiple states (including Florida).
Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.—based in KY with a FL address. No other certificates of authority under this name were filed in any other state. This is presumably the corporation founded to house the corporate headquarters.
Part 2: 1980s – Maranatha comes under increased scrutiny for high-pressure, cult-like tactics and teachings
1979-1987—Certificates of authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. are filed in multiple states.
May, 1981—The Forerunner, Maranatha’s magazine, is first published
December, 1981—Zipser articles critical specifically of Maranatha, as well as other campus cults, are published in the Phoenix Gazette.
February, 1982—Kansas deprogramming bill passed by state House, as a result of Dee Dee Tillman’s involvement with and deprogramming from Maranatha. (The bill was ultimately defeated, however.)
1983—Maranatha leaves K-State campus under allegations of mind control/high-pressure, cult-like activities.
1982-1984—Ad-hoc Christian committee investigation of “Maranatha Campus Ministries;†Maranatha invited the investigation. Note that this was not yet the legal or even legally assumed name of this organization.
1983—Myatt articles are published, criticizing Maranatha’s unscriptural theology, over emphasis on spiritual authority, and mind control/psychospiritual coercion tactics.
1984-1985—A series of critical articles are published in the Christian and national press after the ad-hoc committee’s report was released.
1985—Champions for Christ established as a ministry of Maranatha (was not separately incorporated)
July 15, 1985—Foreign Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. in Kansas is forfeited due to failure to file a timely annual report with the Kansas Secretary of State. However, the separately incorporated Maranatha church in Kansas (Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas) remains active.
Dec. 9, 1985—Reel to Real Ministries incorporated in Virginia—is a Maranatha-related ministry. Maintains Gainesville, FL mailing address.
October, 1986—“Champions for Christ†is used in commerce for the first time, according to records filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office. “Champions for Christ†logo is registered as a trademark of Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.
Part 3: “Break up†of Maranatha
1986-1987—Local Maranatha Christian Churches (linked to the KY-address organization) are separately incorporated in multiple states.
May 1, 1987—“Maranatha Campus Ministries International†is filed as the legally assumed name of both Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. and Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.
May 27, 1987—Maranatha Christian Church of Lexington, KY is incorporated.
1987-88—A number of now-separately incorporated Maranatha churches amend their articles of incorporation to account for the possible future dissolution of Maranatha. These include Maranatha churches in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota and Michigan.
May 1, 1988—Bob and Rose Weiner close on a property for a new house in Gainesville, Florida. The 5 BR, 6 BA home is built in 1989, as Maranatha prepares to “disband.†The home is currently valued (2004) at approximately $400,000.
1988-89—Maranatha under increasing scrutiny for cult-like practices from the press, evangelical Christian groups (including CRI), counter-cult researchers, and higher education.
February 2, 1989—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. is incorporated in Gainesville, Florida. The board of directors are Brady Clark (Maranatha pastor in Austin, TX), David Houston (Maranatha pastor in Encino, CA; now currently w/MSI), and Mark Kyle (Kennesaw/Athens, GA).
June 1989 —Maranatha (Maranatha Christian Church(es), Inc.) holds a board meeting in which it decides to disband. This story is what is announced to its membership in November 1989, and to the Christian press in March, 1990.
November 1989—Maranatha announces the break up to its membership during its world conference.
November 1989—Table Talk newsletter by Walter Walker (published by Maranatha) announces that the international office would be closed and that the central organizational structure of Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. would be dismantled.
November 15, 1989—Chronicle of Higher Education article, “Some Colleges warn Students that Cult-like Methods are Being Used by Christian Fundamentalist Groups†is published; article primarily focuses on Maranatha.
December, 1989—News of breakup has been announced to membership. Last Forerunner published by “old†Maranatha Campus Ministries is published.
1990 (n.d.)—Victory Campus Ministries is established on two campuses (unspecified on its website) with ten campus ministers (see
www.vcm.org). These were probably University of Southern California (under Maranatha pastor Phil Bonasso) and University of the Philippines in Manila (under Maranatha pastor Steve Murrell). VCM was administered out of Phil Bonasso’s church in Los Angeles but wasn’t formally incorporated as a separate entity until 1996 (see below). Campus Harvest, the “official student conference of Victory Campus Ministries,†also started this year (see
www.campusharvest.org) . This was not itself incorporated until December, 1993 (see below). Campus Harvest was run by Ron Lewis’ church in North Carolina, and annual conferences are held there.
February 26, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Lexington, KY changes its name to Cornerstone Church of Lexington, KY. Kim Carroll (pastor), registered agent.
March, 1990—Self-published Forerunner is printed; same Gainesville FL address. Jay Rogers is the new editor, taking over from Lee Grady. Jay Rogers had formerly been a writer for the Forerunner.
March, 1990—Bob Weiner announces Brady Clark as the new executive director of Maranatha Campus Ministries in his personal letter to “partners.â€
March 19, 1990—Christianity Today article on Maranatha’s break up is published.
March, 1990—Charisma and Christian Life’s article on Maranatha’s break up is published.
Spring, 1990—Maranatha newsletter announces name change from “Maranatha Campus Ministries†to “Campus Ministries International.†The justification is that Maranatha was a popular name used by many ministries. Also Brady Clark’s naming as executive director is announced, as approved by “Maranatha Campus Ministries’ board†and also personally endorsed by Bob Weiner.
April 15, 1990—Georgia Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. is withdrawn.
April 23, 1990—Georgia Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc.
April 24, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of the South Bay (Phil Bonasso, pastor and president) changes its name to Los Angeles—Victory Christian Church, Inc. in California. The Filipino church changes its name to Victory Church as well at around the same time [n.d.; Filipino business records are not publicly available to us in the US beyond basic name and address listings].
April 27, 1990—Iowa Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc.
May 2, 1990—North Carolina Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. Ron Lewis (pastor and president of Maranatha Christian Church of the Triangle), registered agent. Note: this is still an active legal name today in North Carolina.
May 9, 1990—Missouri Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. David Hawes (pastor of MO Maranatha church), registered agent.
May 9, 1990—Kansas Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. John McDermott (who is currently the pastor of what is now Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, KS), registered agent.
1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas changes its name to New Hope Christian Fellowship of Lawrence, Kansas.
May 17, 1990—Kentucky Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. Kim Carroll (pastor of what is now Cornerstone Christian Church of Lexington, KY), registered agent.
May 23, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of the Triangle (North Carolina) changes its name to Triangle Christian Fellowship. Ron Lewis (pastor), registered agent.
June 1, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Houston, Inc. (Texas) changes its name to Grace Covenant Church.
June 1, 1990—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. assumes PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL 32602 (previously the mailing address for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc.)
June 11, 1990—Maranatha Publications, Inc. incorporated by Bob and Rose Weiner as a for-profit organization in Gainesville, FL.
June 14, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Iowa City (Iowa) changes its name to Solid Rock Church.
June 27, 1990—Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries incorporated in Gainesville, FL.
June 29, 1990—Ohio Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. The mailing address listed on the receipt is PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL.
July 20, 1990—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. files a name change to Campus Ministries International, Inc. in Florida. Note: this is the only state where the name change was made active.
July 27, 1990—Champions for Christ, International is incorporated in Austin, TX. Board members listed were former Maranatha evangelist Rice Broocks, former Maranatha evangelist Greg Ball, Maranatha campus minister (Rice University, Houston) Ben Broocks, and athlete/former Maranatha—CFC leader AC Green. At this time, Rice Broocks is listed as being based in Midland, TX, where there is a former Maranatha church.
August 2, 1990—Texas Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. The local address was in Austin, TX. Corporate officers listed are David Houston (President), Ron Lewis (VP) and Brady Clark (secretary). While the papers were not filed until August 2, they were notarized on March 20, 1990. Note that the certificate of authority was filed under the old name, not the new (Florida) name of the corporation. Also, note that this is still an active legal name today in Texas.
October 5, 1990—Both Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. and Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. are filed as dissolved with the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office.
October 30, 1990—Phil Bonasso files himself as the new registered agent for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (KY based corporation) in California, even though the organization was legally dissolved earlier that month.
November, 1990—The Forerunner is now published by Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries.
November 28, 1990—The now defunct Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. transfers the entire interest and goodwill of the Champions for Christ name and logo to Word of Life Church, Midland, TX (later renamed Mid Cities Christian Church). This is the church where Rice Broocks was then based. Note that the interest was not transferred to Champions for Christ at this time, even though CFC was already a separately incorporated entity.
September 1990—Dawson Lewis becomes the full-time administrator for the South African Maranatha church. The South African Maranatha church was established by Bill Bennot in 1987. This church would later merge into His People Christian Ministries.
Part 4: Post-Maranatha ministries reconverge as Morning Star International
April 23, 1991—Reel to Real Ministries files a Certificate of Authority in Florida; moves to Contonement, FL where the president, Eric Holmberg is located. Brady Clark is the registered agent in Florida and is on the Board of Directors.
September 3, 1991—California Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (Phil Bonasso, registered agent) is allowed to lapse due to “franchise tax board†forfeiture.
August 31, 1992—Defunct Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. transfers the entire interest and goodwill for Champions for Christ’s name and logo to Champions for Christ International, Inc. This is despite the fact that (1) Maranatha had not been a legally viable entity for nearly two years and (2) it had already transferred the name and logo once to Word of Life/Mid Cities Christian Church of Midland, TX in November 1990.
September 15, 1992—New Hope Christian Fellowship of Lawrence, Kansas (previously Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, KS) dissolves.
December 7, 1992—Los Angeles—Victory Christian Church, Inc. changes its name to Morning Star Christian Church, Inc. in California. Phil Bonasso remains the president, and Robert Atkinson (currently in charge of MSI’s finances) remains the registered agent. This is still its legal name and status today.
December 12, 1992—Executives for Christ, Inc. is incorporated in Texas as a subsidiary of Champions for Christ. Board members include Greg Ball, Greg Feste, Ben Broocks, and John-Paul Morgante.
March 27, 1993—Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas incorporates in Kansas. This is the current legal name today. However, according to its own website, the church was established in 1992 as a Morning Star International church. This places its founding at roughly the same time that New Hope Christian Fellowship/Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, KS formally dissolves with the Kansas Secretary of State.
April 26, 1993—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc./Campus Ministries International officially files a physical address change to Austin TX with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
June, 1993—Victory Leadership Institute (VLI) begins in Manila, Philippines.
June 11, 1993—Rice Broocks purchases a home in Nashville, TN.
September, 1993—The Forerunner begins a new South African publication for the South African Maranatha church (Bill Bennot), which had recently merged with His People Ministries under Paul Daniel (this church network is today part of Morning Star International)
December 9, 1993—Campus Harvest Ministries, Inc. is incorporated in Durham, North Carolina. Ron Lewis, registered agent. Jim Laffoon is one of the leading ministers in this organization. However, according to its own website, it had been in existence as the “conference arm†of Victory Campus Ministries since 1990.
December 16, 1993—Media House International, Inc. is incorporated in Florida by Jay Rogers. Media House International assumes publication of the Forerunner from Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries.
March, 1994—According to MSI leaders, Morning Star International is established, merging Rice Broocks’, Phil Bonasso’s, and Steve Murrell’s ministries—Champions for Christ, Victory Churches and associated former-Maranatha ministries in the Philippines, and Los Angeles-based Morning Star Christian Church, Inc. (which includes Victory Campus Ministries). However, the paper trail indicates that Morning Star (under that name) was established as early as late 92-93, based on cooperative/covenantal relationships that did not cease when Maranatha “disbanded†in 1990.
May 1, 1994—Campus Ministries International’s mailing address is changed from PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL to Austin TX, in papers filed with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
May 1, 1994—Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries’ mailing address is changed to PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL, in papers filed with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
August 15, 1994—Registered trademarks of Maranatha Christian Church(es), “Champions for Christ†and “Maranatha Christian Center†are filed as withdrawn with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
August 24, 1994—Rice Broocks appears as a newly named director on Bethel Chapel’s Board of Directors, according to the annual report filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State. This is what would eventually become MSI’s headquarters in Nashville.
November 4, 1994—Massachusetts Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (Maranatha’s original Kentucky corporation) is allowed to lapse. This is four years after it dissolves in Kentucky.
December 2, 1994—Morning Star Christian Church incorporates in Dallas, Texas. Joe Martin (pastor of Dallas church), registered agent.
1994—Rice Broocks is listed both as having a Midland, TX address and a Gainesville, FL address in respective white pages listings for that year.
May 25, 1995—Campus Harvest Ministries, Inc. legally changes name to Triangle Christian Fellowship Campus Ministries, Inc. Ron Lewis remains the registered agent. However, it still operates under the name “Campus Harvest†to the present day.
July, 1995—Media House International and Champions for Christ co-publish El Campione, Champions for Christ’s Spanish language equivalent to the Forerunner. Franco Gennarro, who is still a Latin American leader in Champions for Christ today (he is now based in Nashville and is also pastor of the MTSU church), is listed as the managing editor, sharing editing duties with Jay Rogers.
November, 1995—Mail to Rice Broocks in Midland, TX from the Texas Secretary of State’s office re: Champions for Christ’s non-filing of a required report is returned to sender.
1996 (n.d.)—Champions for Christ is an active U of M ministry operating out of the Minneapolis Maranatha Christian Fellowship church pastored by Bruce Harpel. While Bruce Harpel’s church did not officially become part of the Morning Star “family†of churches, the local CFC chapter still operates even today out of his church.
February 29, 1996—Victory Campus Ministries formally incorporates in Los Angeles, California.
March 15, 1996—Champions for Christ is deactivated by the Texas Secretary of State office for failure to submit an annual report. Note that CFC was not a legally viable corporation from this date until August 11, 1998—so more than two years. However, they remained in operation during this time period.
June 26, 1996—Victory Campus Ministries amends its incorporation papers as an official subsidiary of Morning Star Christian Church, Inc.
November 22, 1996—Champions for Christ refiles the old Maranatha-owned CFC logo and the typed name, “Champions for Christ†with the US Patent and Trademark Office, claiming 10/1986 as the first use in commerce, thus claiming CFC’s Maranatha history. Note that CFC was not a legally viable corporation at this time. These filings were not initially approved for registration by the USPTO.
March 31, 1997—Morning Star International, Inc. formally incorporates in Los Angeles, California. VCM, CFC, and the Filipino church are included in the MSI organization.
April 22, 1997—Triangle Christian Fellowship changes its name to Kings Park International Church, Inc.
Part 5: Morning Star International becomes fully established, but not without controversy
February 13, 1998—Bethel Chapel changes its name to Bethel World Outreach Center.
Spring 1998—Victory Leadership Institute begins its first Nashville class in Bethel World Outreach Center.
late July—early August 1998—A series of articles critical of CFC are published first in the Chicago Tribune, then the Jacksonville Times-Union.
August 11, 1998—Just as the national press starts taking notice of CFC, it files the necessary reports needed to reestablish itself as a legal corporation, after a lapse of over two years. Board members now also include Ron Lewis, pastor of the former Maranatha church in North Carolina.
Week of August 23, 1998—national news articles (incl. New York Times, Sports Illustrated, etc.) critical of CFC are published.
October 27, 1998—Morning Star Christian Church, Inc. is incorporated as a domestic corporation in Tallahassee, Florida. Directors include Greg Ball, Jim Laffoon, Charles Buhler (pastor) and Robert Owens. Registered agents also include Phil Bonasso, Ron Lewis, and Ronald Miller, Jr.
1998—The (Darrell Green) Youth Life Foundation is incorporated in Washington, DC. Brett Fuller, pastor of Grace Covenant Church/Metro Morning Star Church, is the chairman of the board of directors.
July, 1999—Champions for Christ files a new logo and refiles the typed name “Champions for Christ†with the USPTO. CFC again claims 10/1996 as the date when “Champions for Christ†was first used in commerce. These were accepted as registered trademarks with the USPTO.
Oct 28, 1999—The Youth Life and Community Foundation is incorporated in North Carolina. Ron Lewis, registered agent.
November 9, 1999—Longtime Bethel board members, Elizabeth McCollum (Ray McCollum’s wife) and Jerry Postell are replaced on Bethel World Outreach Center’s board with John Rohrer (former Maranatha), Ronald Caldwell and Deborah Caldwell.
1999—Rice Broocks becomes senior pastor of Bethel World Outreach Center, Nashville, TN, taking over from Ray McCollum, the founding senior pastor. Ray McCollum becomes the senior teaching pastor and begins traveling to teach in MSI churches worldwide.
February 1, 2000—Bethel World Outreach Center approves an amended and restated charter. The charter brings Bethel under the complete legal control and oversight of Morning Star International. Note that the amended charter was not filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State until March 29, 2001.
March 17, 2000—Reel to Real Ministries moves from Florida to Bethel World Outreach Center/MSI. Maintains existing working relationship with Jay Rogers (and Media House International, which still publishes the Forerunner), is listed on staff as a script writer, and also sells Reel to Real produced materials through the Media House International/Forerunner web site. Begins receiving more contributions, including large individual donations (identities of donors are not listed on Form 990). Officers include Eric Holmberg, David Litwin, Franco Genarro, Eric Krodel, Ronda Holmberg, Brady Clark, and Robert Fitzgerald. Both Holmbergs and Franco Genarro list their business address as being in Brentwood TN. Reel to Real’s mailing address is now the same as MSI Nashville’s – PO Box 1787, Brentwood, TN 37024. The Virginia Division of Corporations also lists Reel to Real as having a Brentwood physical address.
March-April 2000—His People Christian Churches of South Africa completes its merger with Morning Star International, which had been in the works since 1997. His People closes on a property that would by August 2000 house its new 5,000 seat, state of the art facility. The His People merger essentially doubles Morning Star International, according to figures available from the World Christian Database.
April 27, 2000—According to the annual report filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Bethel World Outreach Center’s board is now comprised of all former Maranatha leaders/pastors, with the exception of Ray McCollum. Rice Broocks is named President/CEO, replacing Ray McCollum. Other board members now include Bert Thomson (secretary/treasurer), Brett Fuller (VP), John Rohrer, and Ron Lewis. Note that the already amended charter did not accompany this annual report, but was not filed with the SOS until nearly a year later.
April 30, 2000—Rice Broocks receives a $182,000 loan (12/27/2019 maturity date, 6.2% interest rate) from the Malachi Foundation, a “charity†run by Austin-based financier and CFC board member Greg Feste that makes “grants†almost exclusively to Morning Star International pastors, ministers, and ministries. Payments on the loan are to be made annually at the end of each calendar year. Source: Malachi Foundation Form 990
May, 2000—Both Rice Broocks (5/2) and Phil Bonasso (5/12) close on their new residential properties. Rice Broocks begins building what would become a $1.67 million home. Phil Bonasso purchases his home for just under $1.2 million.
September 14, 2000—Phil Bonasso receives a $150,000 loan (12/27/2019 maturity date, 6.2% interest rate) from the Malachi Foundation, a “charity†run by Austin-based financier and CFC board member Greg Feste that makes “grants†almost exclusively to Morning Star International pastors, ministers, and ministries. Payments on the loan are to be made annually at the end of each calendar year. Source: Malachi Foundation Form 990
September 21, 2000—Morning Star International, Inc. files a Certificate of Authority in Nashville, TN. Morning Star International headquarters are officially located in Nashville. However the administrative headquarters remain in Southern California. MSI now has essentially four official headquarters: Nashville (apostolic world headquarters), Los Angeles (administrative world headquarters), Manila, and Austin (home of Champions for Christ and Executives for Christ).
Part 6: Morning Star International continues to expand and begins process of changing its name to Every Nation
2001—Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries lists grants to Morning Star Christian Church (MSI-Los Angeles), Victory Campus Ministries, and Reel to Real Ministries on its IRS Form 990.
February 1, 2001—Morning Star International adds
www.everynation.org redirect to its website; actual URL remains
www.morningstar2010.com.
February, 26, 2001—Victory Productions logo is replaced with Every Nation Productions name and logo on the Filipino Morning Star International/Victory Church website (
www.victory.org.ph). Note that Victory Productions (aka Every Nation Productions) is a separate legal entity in the Philippines only, NOT in the US.
Spring 2001—Victory Campus Ministries is established on Kansas State University’s campus, nearly 20 years after Maranatha initially left K-State, promising to be “back.†Both K-State’s and University of Kansas’s VCM plants are run out of Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas, pastored by former Maranatha John McDermott.
September 13, 2001—After driving with a team of Bethel World Outreach Center pastors and leaders to minister in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, Rice Broocks calls in on speaker phone to a prayer meeting assembled at BWOC. He talks about the distraught people searching for loved ones and says that besides the Scientologists, they are the only people ministering at Ground Zero. He apparently did not see the tent that had been set up at Ground Zero by David Wilkerson’s Times Square church. Soon after his return to Nashville, Rice Broocks announces that Bethel World Outreach Center would take this opportunity, while New Yorkers’ hearts were spiritually opened, to plant a new church in New York City.
September 21, 2001—Reel to Real Ministries’ Florida Certificate of Authority lapses due to failure to submit an annual report. To date it has not been reinstated. However, Reel to Real Ministries remains an active corporate entity in Virginia, where it was originally incorporated.
October 2001—Bethel World Outreach Center starts a church plant at the Lamb’s Theatre in Times Square, NYC, in the wake of 9/11. Pastoral staff (including Rice Broocks and worship leader Kevin Singleton) fly from Nashville to NYC every week after late morning service in order to hold evening service in the new church plant. Kings Park International Church is also involved in the church plant. This church meets within seven blocks of David Wilkerson’s Times Square church.
October 7, 2001—Morning Star International reports to its membership that a “new†Morning Star International “planted†in Boston by King’s Park International Church will start meeting on this date. This is to be the home base for the Victory Campus Ministries chapters in the Boston area. However, corporate records filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State show that this is not a new church at all but is instead a renamed Maranatha church that has been continually incorporated since 1986 (see below for change of name date). A certificate of authority for the “old†Maranatha (Maranatha Christian Church, Inc.) had been filed in 1981 and didn’t lapse until 1994. Also the VCM chapter based at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reports on its website that it has been in continuous operation since the 1980s… as a Maranatha Campus Ministries chapter:
http://web.archive.org/web/20040322161454/http://web.mit.edu/vcm/www/about.html
November 16, 2001—Force Ministries, Inc. is incorporated in Austin, TX as a subsidiary of Champions for Christ. Registered agents include Greg Ball, Jim Laffoon, and Greg Wark (pastor of the San Diego Morning Star church).
November 18, 2001—Tree of Life City Church (formerly Maranatha Christian Church of Boston) legally changes its name to Morning Star International Church of Boston. Despite the fact that this was characterized as a new church plant, this church was originally incorporated on May 13, 1986, and is currently operating under the same corporate charter plus amendments.
November 29, 2001—The Youth Life Foundation of Tennessee is incorporated in Nashville, TN.
2002—Reel to Real Ministries lists a small cash donation from Weiner Ministries on its IRS Form 990.
2002—Frontline Strategic Resources (aka Frontline Partners), a fund raising arm of Morning Star Christian Church of Dallas, lists a $5,000 grant to Campus Missions International. Campus Missions International is an expired (2000) assumed name of Maranatha Christian Church of Minneapolis, and appears to have been operating under the aegis of Purpose Ministries, which includes board members and former Maranathas Bruce Harpel, Nick Pappis, Tom May, and Rusty Russell. Most of these board members in turn have direct ties with Bob and Rose Weiner through joint membership on the boards of Miracle Life Ministries (Rusty Russell’s prophetic ministry) and Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries.
2002—Morning Star International launches VLI online:
www.vlionline.com
February 15, 2002—Victory Campus Ministries amends its incorporation papers as an official subsidiary of Morning Star International, Inc.
April, 2002—Brett Fuller announces to his approximately 200 member congregation that the MSI International Apostolic Team (of which he is a member) have advised Grace Community Church to stop with its plans to build on its existing property in Fairfax County, VA and instead think bigger. They begin looking at another property but never purchase it. At this point, the church had raised $2.7 million toward its building fund.
July 30, 2002—The Global Café, Inc. is incorporated in Brentwood, TN. This is the former Planet Hollywood located in downtown Nashville that has been purchased by MSI Nashville, and is used for youth ministries and other church-related meetings. It is not yet open to the public.
Summer 2002—Victory Campus Ministries is established as a registered student group at Southeast Missouri State University. This was once the site of a very active MCM chapter that had spawned present day MSI leader Paul Barker.
August, 2002—Ron Lewis replaces Rice Broocks as pastor of the Morning Star NYC church. He remains the president and registered agent of KPIC as well as the other ministries based out of KPIC.
August, 2002—Beth Shalom Center (a charismatic Russian messianic Christian church first incorporated in 1996) of Brooklyn, NY joins with MSI.
August 27, 2002—Youth Life Foundation of the Triangle is incorporated in North Carolina. The incorporation papers note its relationship with the (Darrell Green) Youth Life Foundation. Ron Lewis, registered agent.
September 16, 2002—Morning Star International (TN) files “Every Nation Productions†with the US Patent and Trademarks Office; first use in commerce 10/2000. This is now a registered trademark of Morning Star International. Note that ENP is not a separately incorporated entity in the US, and that this US trademark is owned by MSI Nashville, NOT Victory Productions/Every Nation Productions in the Philippines.
September 16, 2002—Morning Star International (TN) files “Every Nation in Our Generation†with the US Patent and Trademarks Office; first use in commerce 7/1999.
November, 2002—Charisma Magazine publishes a series of articles supporting Champions for Christ; CFC is Charisma’s cover story that month.
December, 2002—Life Christian Church of St. Louis, MO joins with Morning Star International. Rick Shelton continues as the senior pastor and Joyce Meyer continues on the church board of directors.
December 31, 2002—Media House International lists Cuban distribution of the Champion, its Spanish language newspaper co-published with Champions for Christ, as one of its accomplishments for that year on its annual report. Note that Media House International/Forerunner (as well as Reel to Real Ministries, with which it has a close working relationship) is unapologetically Christian Reconstructionist/Dominion Now upon reviewing its website at
www.forerunner.com . Its theology, focus, etc. did not change from the early pre-Maranatha “breakup†writings posted to present.
2003—Reel to Real Ministries lists a $500 donation to the Bethel World Outreach Center Building Fund on its Form 990 of this year. It also claims “no relationship†with Bethel World Outreach which is a patently false statement, since both Reel to Real and Bethel World Outreach Center are Morning Star International ministries (according to the pastor’s agreement/covenant, as Morning Star ministries they are both required to have an article to that effect in their bylaws), and Reel to Real is currently based in Bethel World Outreach Center.
January 2003—Paul Daniel is removed as head of the South African-based His People Ministries. His People—Cape Town (where Paul Daniel was senior pastor) comes under the direct authority/“covering†of the Nashville-based Morning Star leadership rather than under African-based leadership.
January 27, 2003—Morning Star New York (MSNY, Inc.) formally incorporates in Nassau County, New York State.
March, 2003—Paul Daniel purchases a home in Franklin, Tennessee, just a few doors down from Jim Laffoon and in the same subdivision as several other MSI Nashville pastors/leaders.
June, 2003—Ray McCollum is no longer listed as a pastor with Bethel World Outreach Center, the church he founded and built. According to its next annual report filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State on 3/8/2004, he had also been removed from the board of directors effective July 1, 2003.
August, 2003—Morning Star International files Every Nation, Every Nation Publishing, Every Nation Churches, and Every Nation Ministries with the US Patent and Trademarks office.
September, 2003—Articles critical of (Darrell Green) Youth Life Foundation are published in the Washington Post and Youth Today.
July 25, 2003—Morning Star International files a Certificate of Authority in St. Louis, MO.
November 18, 2003—Brett Fuller’s Grace Covenant Church changes its name to Metro Morning Star of Sterling, VA.
2004—Morning Star International now has 70+ churches internationally; approximately the same size as Maranatha Christian Church, Inc/Maranatha Campus Ministries in 1989.
Spring, 2004—Morning Star International requires that all local churches offer VLI as a condition of remaining in Morning Star International. All local members are highly encouraged to attend VLI, both by local pastors and visiting Morning Star International leaders. Videos produced in MSI Nashville are shipped to local churches. These videos are also available through VLI Online. Note: all campus ministers had already been required to attend VLI’s Graduate School for Campus Ministry, based in Los Angeles under Leo Lawson.
March 24, 2004—Brett Fuller’s church changes its name to Metro Morning Star, Inc.
Summer, 2004—Metro Morning Star in Northern Virginia is meeting in a local high school. The building fund appears to have been dropped, despite having raised $2.7 million by April 2002 (there is no data showing how much was raised since then) and also making an additional $575,000 on the sale of its property.
March, 2004—Newsboys, Inc. places the “Have You Done the Purple Book Yet†logo on its home page. Both Newsboys’ lead singer (Peter Furler) and long time manager (Wes Campbell) are active members of Bethel World Outreach Center.
May 19, 2004—Greg Ball is removed from his board/leadership positions with the Morning Star Church in Austin, Champions for Christ, and Executives for Christ.
June, 2004—Morning Star International changes its website to a more closed, restricted access format. The church directory is no longer listed for text download, and searches by pastor name are no longer possible. The website is also moved to a Missouri hosting location—the same ISP hosting the local Morning Star church’s (Life Christian Church) web site.
Part 7: Morning Star International becomes Every Nation
July, 2004—Morning Star International announces at its annual conference that it is changing its name to Every Nation, because of confusion with other ministries bearing the Morning Star name, and because God led them to change it just as God renamed Abram, Abraham. The rationales presented were essentially the same as those published in the 1990 Maranatha newsletter announcing the name change from Maranatha Campus Ministries to Campus Ministries International.
July – August 2004—Victory Leadership Institute is renamed Every Nation Leadership institute in some of the top churches, including Bethel World Outreach Center in Nashville and Kings Park International Church in Durham, NC.
August 2004—beyond—MSI Nashville begins videotaping revised VLI (now named Every Nation Leadership Institute) classes at Bethel World Outreach Center.
Fall 2004—Paul Barker, a former Maranatha pastor, is made an associate pastor of Life Christian Church in St. Louis. This native Missourian was previously based in MSI’s Nashville headquarters. There are no indications that he had also stepped down as dean of VLI/ENLI when he was relocated. There are now two loyal MSI/EN pastors on staff at this church (Barker and Morgan Bates, out of Kings Park International Church); one a former Maranatha pastor.
September 2004—“Bethel Community Church†(actually Bethel World Outreach Center/MSI Nashville) files plans to build a new church on a historic property in Franklin TN owned by Wes Campbell, Newsboys’ manager. These plans are initially rejected due to the feared impact the construction might have on the historic building located on the property. Note that the land has not yet been formally transferred or sold to Bethel or to MSI.
October 2004—His People Church in London, England is officially renamed Every Nation Church. It announces on its website that it is possibly the first church in Morning Star International/Every Nation to officially change its name in response to the organization’s name change:
http://www.hispeoplelondon.org
October 3, 2004—MSI/Every Nation takes over Chapel of Glory International Ministries/Triumphant Faith Ministries, a G-12, apostolic/prophetic charismatic ministry organization based in Lagos, Nigeria:
http://www.realmofglory.org/the word.htm
October 11, 2004—This Day Sunday online newspaper (based in Nigeria) states that Wes Campbell, Newsboys’ manager/producer and president of CCM label InPop Records, is also Every Nation Productions president. However, Every Nation Productions is not a separately incorporated entity in the US but is rather operating wholly out of Every Nation’s headquarters at Bethel World Outreach Center (
www.thisdayonline.com/news/sunday/20041010rel01.html).
October 28, 2004—Greg Ball incorporates a new ministry, named Bridge International Ministries, in Austin, TX. This does not appear to be a Morning Star International/Every Nation ministry and possibly signals his final break with the organization.
November 2, 2004—Newsboys, Inc. begins selling Biblical Foundations (the “Purple Bookâ€) through its website. They are also giving free copies away at concerts and are encouraging concert goers, particularly the unchurched, to go to Every Nation churches.
November 4, 2004—Greg Ball’s former church, Morning Star Christian Church of Austin, Inc. (TX), now pastored by Ray McCollum, files a new assumed (fictitious) DBA name with the Texas Secretary of State: Community Christian Church. However, Ray McCollum is not made the legal registered agent or president of this church at this time, unlike most other MSI/EN churches in the US where the senior pastor is also the president and/or registered agent.
November 2004—“Every Nation†is posted as the official logo on this Morning Star corporate website:
http://64.47.91.38/scouting/. In addition, Morning Star International more broadly uses the “Every Nation†name rather than “Morning Star International.â€
November 15, 2004—InPop Records, Inc., a CCM label owned by Peter Furler and Wes Campbell, change its corporate charter, bylaws, and common stock filings with the Tennessee Secretary of State. It had previously been a subsidiary of 1-2-3 Entertainment, which administratively dissolved in September, 2004. While Furler and Campbell remain majority stockholders, the revised charter allowed for Rice Broocks, Tony Boselli and Mark Brunell to purchase significant amounts of stock in the company through a private stock offering (see 12-9-2004 EDGAR filings). In addition. Broocks, Boselli, and Brunell are named to InPop's Board of Directors. Since the revised charter allows a quorum (simple majority) of the Board to vote on and conduct business for the company, it is technically possible for Broocks, Boselli, and Brunell to meet as the Board without Campbell and Furler if they so choose... and as a unified voting bloc, they also have the power to remove or replace them as officers of the corporation if they so choose.
November 18, 2004: “Bethel Community Church†(actually Bethel World Outreach Center/MSI Nashville) files revised plans to build a new church on a historic property in Franklin, TN owned by Wes Campbell, Newsboys’ manager. Note that the land has not yet been formally transferred or sold to Bethel or to MSI.
November 22, 2004: The VCM chapter based at MIT removes the reference to its Maranatha history from its website:
http://web.mit.edu/vcm/www/about.html.
November 29, 2004: Global Café LA incorporates in California. David Polus, pastor of Morning Star of the Valley (Studio City), registered agent.
December 9, 2004—Rice Broocks, Tony Boselli, and Mark Brunell purchase $1.4 million in common stock from InPop Records, Inc., according to SEC/EDGAR filings.
December 16, 2004—The Missouri Certificate of Authority for Morning Star International, Inc. lapses for failure to submit an annual report.
January 12, 2005—The Every Nation name change is formally announced on MSI/Every Nation’s website.
January 14, 2005—Morning Star International, Inc. formally changes its name to Every Nation Churches, Inc., and Victory Campus Ministries, Inc. formally changes its name to Every Nation Ministries, Inc. with the California Secretary of State. “Every Nation†is not a legal corporate name in and of itself but is a registered trademark of Every Nation Churches, Inc.
January 19, 2005—Global Café, Inc. opens in downtown Nashville. The restaurant is a for-profit enterprise owned by Bethel World Outreach Center. Rice Broocks is the CEO, and BWOC pastors and officers/board members Bert Thomson and Tim Johnson are also officers/board members of Global Café, Inc.
February 16, 2005—The Middle North Carolina District Court judge tells Alpha Iota Omega and the University of North Carolina to reach an out of court settlement in its religious discrimination case by February 28, 2005. If no agreement is reached, then the court will make a ruling in the case.
February 28, 2005—Alpha Iota Omega and the University of North Carolina fail to reach an out of court settlement. As a result, the court awards AIO a preliminary injunction restoring their registered student group status pending the outcome of the case.
February 28, 2005—The Durham News & Observer publishes an article questioning Alpha Iota Omega’s connections to King’s Park International Church, Victory Campus Ministries and Every Nation; the article reveals that according to its corporate charter, KPIC is a renamed Maranatha church.
March, 2005--Every Nation's website reports that it has "over 400 churches and outreaches in 50 nations."
http://www.everynation.org/default_churches.asp?id=293
March 19, 2005—Newsboys, Inc. joins InPop Records’ roster, which effectively intertwines the band legally with Every Nation.
March 22, 2005—Newsboys changes websites; it is now hosted on the same domain as InPop Records. The new website prominently features Every Nation teachings, publications, and leaders, further entrenching the group as an Every Nation subministry.
Spring 2005--Individual churches begin legally changing their name to "Every Nation," reflecting the new corporate identity/brand of the parent corporation.
Spring 2005—Global Café LA opens in Studio City, California.
Spring 2005--Morning Star International Church of Boston (formerly Maranatha Christian Church of Boston, MA) lists a new name, "Beacon City Church" on its website. However, as of August 26, 2005, the legal corporate name of the entity is still Morning Star International Church of Boston.
May 11, 2005--Two families file suit in US District Court against Victory Clubs of America, Bethel World Outreach Center, and Metro Nashville consolidated government for injuries incurred as a result of two girls' involvement in the Victory Club chapter at Hillsboro High School, Nashville, TN. According to news reports as well as the complaint as filed in US District Court, one girl attempted suicide and the other required mental health hospitalization.
May 31, 2005—Champions for Christ’s website redirects to its 2005 conference website and the old Flash site is no longer active. Champions’ headquarters has also been moved from Austin, TX to Sterling, VA – where Metro Morning Star’s offices are also located. Brett Fuller is listed as the president and Tony Boselli the executive vice president of CFC.
June 1, 2005--Every Nation posts a newly redesigned website on the first anniversary of its last major site redesign; the new site (now hosted by
www.affinity.com) fully incorporates the new Every Nation Churches and Every Nation Ministries brands. Morning Star International is no longer used as an active "brand". In addition, "Victory Clubs" is now called "Every Nation Youth" even though it is still legally "Victory Clubs" as of this date according to the Tennessee Secretary of State.
June, 2005—Victory Campus Ministries announces that it is merging with other affiliate ministries; the parent organization is legally Every Nation Ministries (the renamed VCM). Every Nation’s campus arm is now named Every Nation Campus Ministries but is not a separately incorporated entity as VCM was. The other ministries merging into Every Nation Ministries are “Every Nation Youth†(still legally *Victory Clubs as of 6/05), *Force Ministries, *Champions for Christ, Every Nation Leadership Institute, ENLI Graduate Schools, Every Nation conferences, Every Nation Productions and online store, and Every Nation World Missions. It is unclear at this time whether some of the other affiliate ministries, including *Campus Harvest, Arts, Culture and Entertainment, Center for Cultural Apologetics/*Reel to Real, *African American Resource Ministry, etc. are also being merged into Every Nation Ministries or are instead considered subministries of specific Every Nation churches.
*=denotes separately incorporated entity in the US
July, 2005: Sometime during the first two weeks of July, Victory Clubs'(now known as Every Nation Youth) old URL (
www.victoryclubs.com) redirects to a commercial domain licensing site owned by Network Solutions. There is no redirect to the new URL, which is now
www.everynationyouth.com. This is unlike Every Nation's other URLs which had either been redirected to the correct sites (
www.championsfc.com; www.morningstar2010.com) or were maintained at the old location under the old name with a name change announcement (
www.vcm.com).
http://www.factnet.org/discus/messages/3/10342.html?1119356417
