A Freelton man accused of running a $14-million US Ponzi scheme has had his contempt of court hearing in Los Angeles postponed until July. The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission is asking a California judge to find Gordon Driver in contempt for violating a 2009 court order by refusing
Continue readingAuthor: Bene Diction
Bene Diction Blogs On: PBI Survivor Fund Project/Healing Team communication policy
Recently I wrote The Survivor Fund Project/Healing Team and asked for an updated list of team members. I appreciate the response. The alumni, who operate under the umbrella of PBI now have a communications policy in place. There have been no changes to the members of the Healing Team. The
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: 10 Rules for Social Media Engagement
1. Pray. Bring Christ into the relationship at the very beginning, and let your prayer have more of the ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening’ than ‘Lord, open my lips that I may declare your praise …’ 2. Listen. Engage with others, don’t preach at them. Know when to be
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Ontario school board receives threats for bible distribution ban
Bluewater District School Board trustees are monitoring threats and hate mail which includes racist threats and questions of members patriotism as they prepare to formalize a policy banning the handing out of religious material. Several school boards in Canada have a similar policy in place. Canadian Press: Trustee Fran Morgan called
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Toronto pastor defrauds investors to the tune of 8.2 million
A Scarborough pastor who mixed God and Mammon fleeced investors of $8.2 million, the Ontario Securities Commission has found. But while the investors’ money has disappeared, Marlon Gary Hibbert funneled $673,000 to himself and his wife Verna, and another $483,848 to charities run by himself or family members. That was
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: First Baptist Church of Jacksonville settles with blogger
A few years ago a blogger who had begun to post anonymously about FBC Jacksonville Florida, found himself under seige and under threat for what he wrote. FBJax Watchblog endured a great deal of flack and threats, which continue to this day. Associated Baptist Press: The Watchdog’s criticism of Brunson’s
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: PBI Survivor Fund Project criteria for therapists
I hope this information will put some of the speculation about how PBI has chosen to control the access of abuse survivors to therapy to rest. Over the last while, and particularly as it came to public attention that the independent 3rd party chosen in December by Prairie Bible Institute
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Calgary Centre Street Church, withdraws partnership with Prairie Bible Institute
Centre Street Church has withdrawn it’s support as an independent 3rd party to Prairie Bible Institute. The church was chosen in lieu of requests by PBI abuse survivors requests for G.R.A.C.E., a US based organization which investigates allegations of abuse in church and para church organizations. On December 16th 2011,
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Canadian Christianity article gives sympathetic portrayal of Prairie Bible Institute ‘frustration’ with abuse allegations
No survivor of abuse at PBI was interviewed for this Canadian Christianity article. PBI continues to use media to distance itself from the responsibility to openly change it’s policies regarding abuse on campus, and a right and specific acknowledgement and repentance of past abuses, in the latest article in Canadian Christianity.
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Sound Doctrine Church/WinePress Publishing – Malcolm John Fraser charged – 1st degree rape of a child
In February I blogged about Afshin Javid, a Canadian speaker/author who lost his ministerial credentials when Christians in BC publicly stepped forward to express concerns about his conduct. Javid’s book As Easy As Drinking Water was published in 2010 by a Washington self-publishing company named WinePress Books. WinePress Books is
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Prairie Bible Institute Survivor Fund Project begs for more money – where did funds go and who gave them?
A group of PBI alumni who are working with Prairie Bible Institute are asking alumni for more money, without disclosing where their initial funds came from, where the funds went, or how the funds were spent: Update from the Healing Team: In our previous communication, we have stated the goals
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Invisible Children KONY 2012 director detained after public breakdown
If you spend anytime online, you’re aware of the Kony 2012 video, directed by Jason Russell, co-founder of Invisible Children. The video, which draws attention to Ugandan guerrilla group leader Joseph Kony of The Lord’s Resistance Army has garnered over 80 million hits. The 30 minute video which draws attention to the war
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Parents speak up about Mercy Ministries
Mercy Ministries is in the news again, and coming out swinging.That is to be expected, MM has a formidable pr pitch, slick advertising, has defensive well polished and the organization is well funded. Critics and survivors aren’t addressed, they are ridiculed and attacked. How easy it is to dismiss two fathers
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Salvation Army launches a review of past maternity homes and adoption practices
Retired Calgary judge Herbert Allard has gone public with his concerns about past adoption practises and how unwed mothers were treated in Canada. ‘These people thought they were doing good – they thought these girls were sluts. They thought they were rescuing these children from a life of poverty,” said
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Evangelical organizations, traits of abusers and the environment which breeds and shelters them
Over at Missionary Kids Safety Net, a website set up to help survivors of abuse which occurred in Evangelical organizations and denominations, and a resource site for leaders of organizations who don’t know how to respond when survivors come forward, psychologist Gary Schoener writes about why it is so difficult
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Dr. Robert Schuller Sr and wife Arvella resign from international Crystal Cathedral board
Los Angeles Times: Schuller resignation from Crystal Cathedral board is end of an era Robert H. Schuller and his wife cited the “negative” environment at the church he founded when announcing their resignation from the Crystal Cathedral board. “We cannot continue to serve on the board in what has become an
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Crystal Cathedral fires Schuller family members
Orange County Register Three family members of Crystal Cathedral Founder Robert H. Schuller were fired from their leadership positions in the ministry, officials confirmed Tuesday. Schuller’s daughter, Gretchen Penner, was terminated from her job as one of the producers of the Hour of Power television show, according to a cathedral
Continue readingBene Diction Blogs On: Penguin cam
The penguins at Sea World San Deigo 24/7 for the months of March and April. Enjoy.
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