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Local Member Makes Appeal
Below is an email exchange, between Bob Burney, Shell City local
church member, and Jerry Gentry, webmaster of churchofisrael.com. The emails
are posted from last to first, top to bottom, in an effort to inform all
concerning both sides of a controversial issue. Interested parties can email
either party and email addresses appear in the clear below. Bob Burney has the last
word, posted at top, immediately below:
Hi Jerry,
Thank you once again for your response. Again, I will try
to confine my response to the churchofisrael.com domain
which is my sole purpose here.
Your assumption is correct; I am requesting the domain transfer
to me alone. There will be no control by Dan Gayman, Ministers or
Church Board over the website. An again, my contact with you and this
discussion is between us alone and I have not conferred with anyone about
it. My sole purpose is to help the congregation at large and the youth
in particular.
Jerry, please allow me to correct two points you raise
below. You state that all your work regarding the person of Dan Gayman
Òwould go up as vaporÓ if you transfer the COI domain, when in fact the site
is portrays the Big Sandy Church and has not been updated since
12/06/03. The bulk of your work lies in the gaymangate.com website
which appears in just below the COI domain in a Google search I have just
conducted. Again, I am not requesting that you change or remove your
existing work at all, that is not my purpose here.
Secondly, you mention 4 youth that have departed. These are
actually adults who are pursuing their own lives Jerry. We are not a cult
raising robots. As adults, we all must walk our own paths, learning and
hopefully growing in the Grace of Christ. These young adults actually
communicate with the congregation regularly, even daily, and come home for
holidays and vacations. I have personally been with every one of these good
Christian men and women right here in Schell City during the past
month. They all love Jesus Christ and choose to serve and obey
Him. I have personally witnessed this. Once again, I praise our
Mighty God for their lives, faith and devotion!
Jerry, I sense that you are perhaps unmovable in the issue of the
churchofisrael.com domain. I apologize if I have offended you with the
request to transfer it. Thank you for considering it. Thank you
the time you have taken to communicate with me. I will not trouble you
further with it. May the God of Israel care for your every step in this
life.
Bob Burney
From: Jerry
[mailto:jerry@4spectrum.us]
Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009
6:51 AM
To: reply@bobburney.com
Subject: Re: Church Of Israel
Hello Bob,
If I am understanding correctly, you want me to
transfer to you personally churchofisrael.com, without involvement at all of
Dan Gayman, the church ministers, board, etc. there. You want control of this
domain, because young people who search the internet for Church of Israel
discover an ugly picture of things there. You would like to change that
image, because the "unlearned" your young people are trying to
bring to Christ are having difficulty. You have not made the connection as to
just how this website prevents the Lord's work in people's hearts, only that
your young people are having difficulty explaining the bad image.
What you might put up instead you have not stated, and of course under your
terms as I understand them, you not the church leaders would determine
content of that site.
If I am understanding, you want this to be a simple
transfer, without consideration, to be effected between you and me
personally. Your proposal poses a number of problems for me, including:
1) All the work I have done to
expose to the world the unsavory truth about Dan Gayman as well as the Church
of Israel in Schell City, Missouri, as an entity, would go up as vapor, and
presumably the evidence and court rulings against the Church of Israel (not
against Dan Gyaman personally, though he was severely scolded by the judge)
would disappear. Dan Gayman/Church of Israel spent tens of thousands of
dollars of tithe money on that case and lost. It does not set well with me to
sweep the facts of that case under the rug.
2) I question releasing churchofisrael.com into the hands
of a private individual, without official church involvement. Contracts,
promises and intentions were broken before, and without accountability, could
no doubt be broken again. The rosy picture you paint of the NEW Church of
Israel seems to me something of your imagination. I would like to see
evidence. Perhaps you could develop this into a domain/website of your own
making? You already have the beginnings at churchofisrael.info. A little SEO
work could increase your visibility, the same way churchofisrael.com has
achieved it's visibility.
3) Church of Israel at Schell City, Missouri is not Dan
Gayman, as you rightly point out. However, everyone knows that Dan Gayman
personally is the driving force of that church. Nothing happens officially
without his personal initiative, and his input would most certainly influence
if not dictate content of churchofisrael.com, were it released to you
personally. In effect, you ask me to give the site to him, without him having
to ask for it or pay for it. You know this to be true, and you know how
sneaky he is in his manipulation and control of all aspects of the church
there. The church board there has always been a rubber stamp. His only
accountability before was Deloris, who kept him on a tight leash. Now that
she is gone, what he says is the final word. And we all know that his word
can change like the weather! Tell me who in the history of his ecclesiastical
control of that church has ever brought Dan Gayman into public
accountability?
4) You speak many positive words concerning the wonderful
youth there, and I hope what you say gives a true picture. You deny that the
youth are leaving. But you know the facts concerning recent departures of at
least 4 youth. . . .Jonathan Gayman, Noah Finnigan,
Jimmy Skelton and Elizabeth Skelton. Does the chruch there now promote
joining the military? If the youth there are truly on fire for Christ, as you
say, then how is it that these leading youth, once they came of age, have
moved away, one even marrying a Mormon? Seems like you are trying to promote
a new image without dealing with serious underlying issues. Down here in
Texas we call that whitewashing.
5) There are many ways to effect the change of an image.
The internet is one way. When I search the internet I find no prominent
websites sponsored by anyone local there, which give the image you write to
me privately. Why? You are well versed in domains and websites and search
engines. You could easily develop another website and post anything you want.
You do not need churchofisrael.com to do that. For the life of me I cannot
see how Christ is losing converts because of the information found at churchofisrael.com.
On the contrary, I CAN see how the church there is less able to draw more
people into its pale. But that is a different issue.
Consequently, as much as I would like to help you, for the above stated
reasons, I am presently unable to comply with your request. If your
conditions change, you can let me know.
Have a good day Bob!
Jerry
PS -- As an alternative, I would consider posting something you would write
as a prominent link at churchofisrael.com.
I would also consider posting an official statement from the church there.
On 12/9/09 2:08 PM, Bob Burney wrote:
Hi Jerry,
Sorry for the division of this email letter. I get so many
interruptions throughout the day it is sometimes hard to keep everything
straight!
Thank you for your speedy reply, but it is still centered on your
issues with Dan Gayman. Again, I am focused solely on the image of the
Church of Israel and its effect on our youth. I will not get mired in
the minutia of the controversy and I will not respond in any way to it.
What you and Dan Gayman work out together is your business and I honestly
pray that you will find a way to make peace between you. But please
understand, I will not be a conduit of messages or a
mediator in any way whatsoever. Again, I am not including anyone else
in this personal mission of mine. It is for the sake of our
congregation and our youth in particular that I have engaged you in
conversation after these many years.
As to our young adults, they are not leaving the church, but love
Christ with a refreshing vigor and singleness of purpose. They are
something to behold! They are the basis of my appeal to you. In
the course of their daily lives, they form associations and friendships with
other people unfamiliar with our church. Our young Christian adults are
active witnesses for Jesus Christ and the faith we all hold dear. They
standup for Christ in college classes, social gatherings, even at other
denominational churches in our area. We are truly blessed to have such
enthusiastic evangelists on the side of Christ!
The problem Jerry, is that sometimes the
"unlearned" they are trying to teach, witness or even convert to
Christ, will Google "Church of Israel" and find the rather ugly
controversy still present on the internet. This causes great hardship
and heartache to our young adults personally and occasionally leads to the
failure to bring others to Christ and the Kingdom message. Jerry, it is
hurting those who are truly innocent and apart from your disagreement with
Dan Gayman and hindering the work of Christ through these young adults.
My appeal is entirely and solely focused on helping our youth in their quest
to live a Christian life and be active witness for Him in the earth. I
really do not care about your truth campaign against the person of Dan
Gayman. I am not asking for you to change, remove or diminish your
continuing web campaign against him, but I do hope and pray for the sake of
the ministry of Christ in the earth that someday you will both be reconciled
at some level.
What I am asking for is control of www.churchofisrael.com in the
prayerful hope that we can defend our faith for the sake of our children,
youth and young adults. Perhaps I am being naive about changing the
search engine priority of the Church of Israel independently of Dan Gayman,
but I would like to try. My concern is directed solely at the image of
the Church of Israel, not Dan Gayman or Watchman Outreach Ministry.
This is my only goal, it is the sole purpose
in communicating with you at this point. If this is not something that
you feel that you can do for us, please, just let me know and I will leave
you in peace. I thank you for your prayerful consideration of this
request.
Kind Regards,
Bob Burney
From: Jerry [mailto:jerry@4spectrum.us]
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 2009
1:42 PM
To: reply@bobburney.com
Subject: Re: Church Of Israel
Hello Bob,
No doubt, the local church there is different today than when I attended 10
years ago. I remains here to be learned how different, and in what manner. I
certainly do hope it is for the good.
I understand your desire to keep this "man-to-man" and not make it
community wide. However the very matter you bring to my attention is by
nature community wide and world wide. You have made
judgments regarding my personal feelings toward Dan Gayman, and that
automatically involves him. You have mentioned the difficulty your young
people are having finding relationships abroad, because of the information
readily available on the internet. That also by nature is a community wide
and world wide issue. You have stated that I was and
am hurt, and that my hurt is my motive regarding information I have posted on
the internet. You stopped short of saying that I am "bitter," but
that is the undertone of your evaluation. You seem to be deaf in hearing my
stated reasons for posting that information. Or maybe you just do not believe
me?
You should already understand that I have no problem today, personal or
otherwise, with Dan Gayman. I feel a little sorry for him, for the results of
the bad decisions he made. Over the last few years, I have looked
occasionally from afar for signs of positive change in Dan, and have seen
none. Perhaps he is hardened in his ways, I hope not. He can no longer
attract more than 5 people for an appearance in Dallas, Texas, because people
now see and understand his disingenuousness. I have identified him
personally as a scoundrel. . . just another scammer
preacher, looking for the most efficient way to part people from their
donations, but very subtly, without the giver knowing! All that is
accomplished under the guise of the Lord's work!
I have known many such preachers. I have identified and published facts about
Dan Gayman that you Bob were only indirectly involved with. You were not in
the meetings I had one on one with Dan Gayman, also with the other ministers.
You did not witness his theft of papers from my briefcase when I briefly left
his office during a one on one meeting made at his request. Perhaps you are
not interested in the facts I have published, but that does not make the
facts go away. This is my duty to all, not a personal vendetta, and I do not
need to repeat myself over and over. You want ME to take an action that you
say would solve a problem that I did not create, that is make it easier for
your young people to find relationships. I am a bit confused. At one time Dan
Gayman demonized the internet. Then later he tried without success to control
it. Now that same internet continues to expose him far and wide! I understand
your loyalty to Dan Gayman, that is understandible.
But ALL must be held accountable, even Dan Gayman. And yes, Jerry Gentry
also.
When have you gone to him and asked him if he is guilty as charged of heinous
crimes, lies, distortions and double speak? Where has he denied or explained
those heinous crimes, lies, distortions,
manipulations and double speak publicly? Point me to where I can read these
please. When I look at the court records, I see a man who desperately tried
to manipulate a court outcome, expending tens of thousands of dollars of
tithe donations, that backfired on him. When you
judge my words ' "heinous crimes, lies and
distortions" is a gross overstatement'
then you have obviously not looked carefully at the facts I have made public.
Perhaps you do not care to do so. Those facts will stack high against Dan
Gayman in the day of judgment, unless he is willing to revisit and make
things right now with many, many people. I have given you a plan where he
could begin. My approach is for redemption and restoration, not condemnation.
Sometimes facts are too painful to consider.
I hope you WILL show and discuss these matters personally with Dan Gayman, if
you have not already done so. He knows what he has said and done. He knows
the things I have written to you are true. He knows he faces eternity with a
big burden of unresolved offences against his own congregation and many
others. He knows the compromises he has made. The God of Israel has given him
a little space to repent. Would you like me to make a list for you to show
him? I'm sure he could personally make a longer list than I!
Bottom line Bob is that much as you try and desire good, you will not to be
able to solve Dan Gayman's problems, which he and he alone has made for
himself. The congregation there including your young people
are living with the consequences of past decisions and actions of Dan
Gayman. You are experiencing the fallout of these problems in your youth. You
are not going to make these things better without Dan Gayman's personal
willingness to face the facts, give answer and be accountable. Let the God of
Israel judge these matters as he knows the hearts of
men. My conscience is clear.
You have praised Dan Gayman for his honor and love, and asserted that he
"does ask forgiveness for his failures." I would like to see those
words put into practice, if he would desire restoration of fellowship with
all those whom he has offended. I wish I could help you more.
Jerry
On 12/9/09 11:51 AM, Bob Burney wrote:
Hello Jerry,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my email
appeal. I appreciate and respect the time you have spent to answer in
detail. Firstly, let me assure you that I have not colluded or
discussed my communication with anyone. Any communication you have or
are having with anyone along these lines is totally independent of my
discussion with you. I am not trying to raise a community-wide
issue of this, I am just making an appeal man-to-man
with you.
I do not fully understand your problem with Dan Gayman and quite
frankly, I am not interested in resurrecting or becoming embroiled in this
long-standing controversy. I personally believe that "heinous
crimes, lies and distortions" is a gross overstatement and that your banner
of "truth" is one of your own perspective and design. Jerry,
your feelings were hurt by whatever transpired between you and Dan and you
are obviously still hurting. I honestly hope and pray that you and Dan
will personally work things out between yourselves before it is too late and
either of you are standing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. I do not
know where you stand today, but I can say through personal observation that
Dan Gayman honors, loves and serves the God of Israel to the best of his
ability. Is he perfect, no; does he make mistakes, yes; does he ask
forgiveness for his failures, yes, does he seek to serve our God to the best
of his ability, most certainly, yes. Jerry, you do not and cannot
understand our local church. The tumultuous trials of that long ago
time forged a new Church of Israel and a new spirit here. It is not the
same church that you remember.
That being said, I believe you did not fully understand the basis
of my appeal. Our children, youth and young adults are very much
dedicated to Jesus Christ and the truth that really matters, the eternal
calling of the Israel of God to worship and obey HIM. We have been
truly blessed to have a local church school and a strong pulpit to raise the next generation of Christians.
From: Jerry [mailto:jerry@4spectrum.us]
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
9:51 PM
To: reply@bobburney.com
Subject: Re: Church Of Israel
Bob,
Just today I saw your email below. . . I do consider
your offer and request conditionally, that I repent and remove the negative
facts (from your perspective) from the internet. . .
to that hopeful and eventual end, I offer my suggestions. . .
As Dan Gayman's personal friend, confidant, and largest single financial
supporter over the years, I still owe it to my LORD, to Dan, and to all who
might learn of Dan and the church there, to expose this man's continuing
duplicity and cover up of heinous crimes, lies and distortions. That I have
published negative facts far and wide, and at some expense, is not a personal
vendetta, as you know. Facts are facts. Truth is truth. Your young people are
leaving. They are doing so because the local spin is not great enough to
overcome the negative facts, from your point of view, published on the
internet. They are seeing through the double speak and deep down their hearts
are yearning for something better. I tell you the truth.
This problem is not one I created. Nor can I presently fix it for you. I in
fact personally warned Dan Gayman stoutly of the inevitable consequences to
his ministry, if he failed to make peace with (that scoundrel!) Scott
Stinson. Dan agreed with me originally, and did the right thing at first in
early November, 2000. But he later changed and
turned against the truth and me, and rended me and others
who only wanted to help him. Your young people's response in leaving
is understandable and justifiable. Your young people can no
longer be fooled by clever lies and cover up. All their leader needs
do is give them good reason to stay. He can restore their respect by
repenting publicly and becoming respectable. Dan already knows these things,
but has chosen to lie and cover up. Others might repent too if he did first.
I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Deloris Gayman. Please convey to
Dan my sympathies. The loss of a wife is devastating, I know personally. I
feel for him in that regard. I supported Deloris too over the years, and
could never understand why she perceived me as such a threat. Control was
never my agenda. Support was always my agenda. Now that her influence over
Dan is gone, perhaps he could reread Three Words for Exhorters in a new
light. I sincerely believe that in the eternal scheme of things, the LORD
Yahweh Almighty did in fact give me these three words to convey to Dan
personally. If he is willing to revisit these words, and take them to heart,
I believe this could indeed be the beginning of a conversion, and
revitalization of Dan's worldwide ministry. He is a gifted speaker. He is a
wonderful Exhorter. But his denial of his dark side is destroying him, even
now. Lord knows we have all learned a lot of truth from Dan Gayman, and it is
sad that we no longer enjoy his fellowship. But we have also learned to watch
out! His agenda is not always what it seems at the time.
Until these matters are better resolved, as a suggestion, perhaps you and Dan
will consider developing http://watchmanoutreach.com/
and other domains you control as vehicles you already have, for promoting
your points of view? People can decide for themselves, the truth versus the
falsehood. All links I found there resolve to Earthlink advertisements, and
these do you no good at all.
At some point in the future, I hope that I can honor your request to take
down all the negative facts and truths (from your perspective, and which I
take no personal pleasure in publishing). All you and Dan need do is give me
good reason to do so. For now I must leave everything as is. Dan Gayman
preaches repentance to Israel. But has he personally internalized that
message? Tell him I said he should take to heart his own repentance message,
and make it personal, as we must all do. He has nothing to lose now, and everything
to gain. That is the Elijah message for our time. I'm sure lots of people who
left the church there over the years would be eager to return and restore
fellowship, even some right there living only a stone's throw away.
I see your personal websites, and hope all is well with you and your family.
Life is blessed here. We are part of a wonderful Israelite home church
fellowship group. We keep Sabbaths here and the Feasts in Arkansas, thanks to
the ministry there of a brother there. You may share
this email with Dan. You can also let him know that I am very keen these days
in discerning any efforts to flatter, seduce and manipulate, those three
words which represent the dark side of his exhorter gift. Tell him it will do
him no good at all if he chooses to reject my appeal for personal repentance,
and again try those tricks on me. I am copying this to Al Van Nest, and to a
few other friends here who like Dan, and who have made similar appeals as
yours.
Jerry
On 11/29/09 2:38 PM, Bob Burney wrote:
Dear Jerry,
It has been many years since we have communicated, but I pray
that you will give me a moment of your time to make an appeal. Your
continued vendetta against Dan Gayman and his family has had a painful
consequence to our entire church body, and especially so to the youth and
young adults. As our children mature and seek relationships, even
mates, of those who live around our nation, they suffer from the hateful
image of the websites found through Internet search engines. It is not
possible to convey to you the heartache and suffering they go through, not
because of the Christian Faith they hold dear, but because of the horrible
image presented on the internet. So I make an appeal to you Jerry, to
have compassion and mercy for our children and youth. It is they that
are paying the price of your continued vengeance against Dan Gayman.
I can understand gaymangate and related websites as they attack
the person of Dan Gayman and his family directly, but churchofisrael.com
points to the congregation itself. Dan Gayman is not the Church Of
Israel, the common people of the congregation are. So I beg you Jerry,
please give us control of churchofisrael.com so we can present a fair image
of our church and its doctrines. This will help our young adults to be
effective witnesses for Christ in the world and to form Godly friendships.
The day is upon us to make a stand for Christ and the truth of His
Word. Please give us the vehicle to do so. Thank you for your
prayerful consideration of this appeal.
Bob Burney
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