Pastor of mega church says wife has gone away for 1 year...

[SwampMama]

My ex-husband is addicted to and that's what cost us our marriage. I watched it progress. He would deny it and hide things. His behavior was just like any other addict. He was well aware of my opinion of what he did, but he would make up excuses and of course try and justify his behavior, telling me I was the one that had the problem and it was normal. Sex was never anything more than just sex. He had no feelings or emotion. It was always like he was recreating what he watched. I did feel like he was cheating on me with . Plus, he would dress up to go out, not come home after work or call and many other suspicious things throughout the marriage.

During the divorce he quit drinking, thinking that would solve things, but he wasn't that big of a drinker anyway. He still denied the issue. The divorce was rough at first but we managed to remain friends and even tried to have a relationship again. The big kicker was one of the few times he was hanging out at the house, I was doing something in the other room and he got on my computer and was looking at .

The computer was a big deal for me and he knew this. When I bought my first computer we were married. I was using it for my business and nothing else. After repeatedly finding history of him looking at , he was told on many occasions to get his own computer, but he never did and would repeatedly use mine even after our divorce when he couldn't help himself and he was briefly at the house.

Throughout our marriage I felt like I wasn't good enough for him and all those feelings a person feels when they are cheated on. Towards the very end, I started going out with friends and trying to create my own life. I enjoyed the attention I got. I felt ugly and undesirable. I was tremendously insecure!!!

Anyway that's my brief rundown of what I felt like being married to a addict.

It makes me sick that Ron basically laughed off his addiction to his congregation and now he is throwing her under to bus to all these people. I was thrown under the bus to all our friends and family, as the crazy one during my divorce.

I can't relate to the fact that Ron is a nasty "big shot". It makes it such a grander scale for what Hope is going through compared to what I went through. Ron has so much power and money to do any nasty deed to Hope. Divorces are nasty most of the time.

I wonder if she started distancing herself from him along time ago, trying to have a life of her own, because her life with him didn't exist. He is a control and power freak and I'm sure he thinks he is "gods" gift to women and can have any woman he desires. She is so much better off without him and maybe it was ultimately her decision to leave him, but he can't have that known to the church.

Outstanding post. Thank you for the input from someone who has had their marriage and their world greatly affected by a addiction. That is an amazing contribution to the discussion here because it tells us how a wife of a addict feels and what she deals. It shows the emotional toll that it takes on a woman.

I would imagine that a woman who cannot get the validation she needs from her husband, will be vulnerable to the attention from other men who DO think she is an attractive woman and who do have the time to pay attention to her. Priscilla Presley did, and Ron is nowhere near as good looking or talented as Elvis, though I am sure Ron fancies himself to be quite the heartthrob and "king".

 

[SwampMama]

Oh and I wanted to add this link. It has nothing to do with Hope and Ron personally but is yet another story of a dangerous/deadly belief system, and in this one, science is clearly able to disprove it. It just goes to show how gullible people are and how greedy and callous some so-called "spiritual leaders" can be.

Introducing a "spiritual leader" who has made incredulous claims about his beliefs since the 1960's and still has people following him. Even though what he claims they should do is completely deadly if you stick to it. People have died from it, he has been shown to be a total scam artist and LIAR but still he continues.

Everyone, meet the "Breatharian" movement and those who lead them and believe in them. They believe that you can exist on AIR. You don't need food or water to live, you just need AIR and LIGHT!

They even had Michelle Pfeiffer believing them in the early 80's. They had her "convinced that their regime of hardcore fasting and mysticism would keep her slim and expand her spiritual horizons, she would visit them three times a week — as they gradually emptied her bank account with their incessant demands for fees."

In the 80's he had his believers believing his claim that he hadn't eaten in 19 years. Yet he was BUSTED by a TV crew who caught him coming from a store with a large bag of junk food. (I'm sure he was just holding for a friend though)

The Breatharian " spiritual father is now hiding out in a New Mexico motel, claiming that he is under watch by the "Illuminati" , and insists he will exist eternally on "sulphur and nitrogen in the air and the gold in his blood".

When pressed, he will confess to eating/drinking a small bit occasionally , only Diet Cokes and McDonald’s quarter pounders with cheese and that is only because if their miraculous ability to "perfectly balance out the toxins in the air".

"Today, there are at least a dozen self-proclaimed Breatharian gurus around the world, connecting with followers and each other through expensive workshops and retreats, books, videos and — of course — the internet."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-seduced-deadly-cult-says-live-air-alone.html

This just goes to show how people can be manipulated and how Ron can make such sketchy claims and get away with it.

Yeah, I think I am gonna go pollute my body with some homemade peanut brittle, divinity and brownies, lol.

 

[Tulessa]

ugh. ron's new $$$$$$$$$$$$$ campaign

http://holidayhope.com/

:floorlaugh: Another scam, more money? Got news for you RC! You can't take it with you! Is this under a disguise of helping the needy? If so, give some of your wealth to them, instead of asking the poor!! SMH!

 

[Tulessa]

He literally disgust me!

 

[txsvicki]

The service beyond the holidays sounds like referrals to other agencies where help might be found. Are they calling visitors to the church "guests"? Maybe they don't want the really poor to stay and become part of the family.

 

[i.b.nora]

The HolidayHope campaign is basically a Toys for Tots Drive. Doesn't seem particularly nefarious to me.

 

[SwampMama]

I think the HolidayHope campaign has a rather unfortunate name, especially being associated with a man who is currently " Hopeless".

It does seem " iRONic" that the campaign has such a name. I suspect he would just as soon wipe the word hope from this world as easily as he banished Hope.

Meh, my holiday hope is that he chokes whenever he utters the word hope.

I remember a saying that my lil stuents used to say. It amused me to hear such modern, urban children using such a word and knowing what it meant. When someone did something really bad, they might say " Oohhhh, God is gonna smote you good for that".

Hey Ron, look out, God is gonna smote you and it gonna be good.

 

[prima.facie]

The HolidayHope campaign is basically a Toys for Tots Drive. Doesn't seem particularly nefarious to me.

My point is that in the midst of his wife HOPE missing, he names a campaign in her name. I just found it ironic and sickening. And well, quite frankly, I don't trust this organization taking in funds, etc from people.

 

[SwampMama]

if you google " RWOC holiday hope" you get a link and then it redirects to this link,

http://rwoc.org/pagenotfound.aspx?page=page32210334.aspx
which says:
We're sorry. The page cannot be found. The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

RWOC refers you to holidayhope.com where the following info is found:
"© 2013 Holiday Hope - An Outreach Ministry of Redemption World Outreach Center | 635 Haywood Rd. Greenville, SC 29607"

Contact "Holiday Hope,635 Haywood Road, Greenville, SC 29607, (864) 281-1520 ext 1113. Holiday Hope Toy Application Information Line (864) 281-1520 ext 2252" (I havent looked but I am sure those are RWOC tele #'s)

and "Holiday Hope is a community outreach event sponsored by Redemption World Outreach Center and a coalition of partners"

"Through a partnership with the Marines and the Toys for Tots program we are expecting to receive 15,000 toys this year for distribution to families who pre-register."

Their goals are $40,000, 15,000 toys, 300 community volunteers and 15 community partners.

i think it used the Marines "Toys for Tots" to establish legitimacy, to be associated with a good name and to garner donations form those who would give to Toys for Tots.

The stuff they gather is supposed to stay in Greeneville, SC. which give Ron even more control to direct it to his hand chosen recipients. So he is being generous with other people's money.

If you click to donate, it brinks you to a RWOC site. No others mentioned. you either have to already be a RWOC "giver" or you have to register and give your personal info. Hmm, so that looks like mining for info to me, which can be used for future use by RWOC or even gathered and sold to others.

It says" Welcome to RWOC Online Giving - This wizard gives you the ability to make a secure online contribution to Redemption World Outreach Center via a direct debit from your bank account or credit/debit card. To make a contribution, simply log-in or register as a new user, then follow the easy step-by-step instructions.

That donate site also seems associate with a "Shelby Inc", ShelbyWEBVIEW"

Mixed in, they also throw in "Hope BEYOND the Holidays -
"As an extension of the Holiday Hope event our Hope beyond the holiday program will provide our guests with resources that will empower them, and their families."
(http://holidayhope.com/about-2/)

"Hope BEYOND the Holidays was created to help provide resources and essential services that benefit our community. These services can range from assistance with food and emergency housing to offering counseling services. How terrible to think that some of our guests go without essential services simply because they don’t know where to turn.
Hope BEYOND the Holidays is that special part of our event that provides our guests with the information and connections they need when they are experiencing day-to-day life challenges." (http://holidayhope.com/about-2/)

Umm "guests"? That doesn't make sense. What an odd word.Sounds more like it goes to people Ron has invited to be his "guests" rather than needy parishioners or community members. These mega church pastors are famous for having each other be "guests" at their church and then hosting them lavishly with the finest hotel suites, custom made suits, trips to big ticket sports games as viewed from sky box or other desirable and expensive seating.

To empower the guests? Empower them to what? Ya mean like private planes or first class seats or limos? Cuz honey, that is empowering, i guess.

 

[SwampMama]

Looked up "Shelby Inc" but found nothing. Just another shell for Ron to hide stuff under? (ETA Shelby Inc is "Shelby Systems- Church Management Software
1. Church Management Software; specialized software for the organization & management of churches & non-profit organizations. 2. Church Software includes people and financial management. 3. Saves you time and money." Still wonder who owns it , lol.

Anyway, if you click to donate (after registering and giving name, address, email etc), you are given the chance to donate to these choices by putting a dollar amount in.

Purposes
Charlotte Tithes & Offerings: $
Football Sponsorships: $
Asheville Tithes & Offerings: $
Hunger Wipeout: $
Pastor Appreciation: $
RMFI Offerings: $
Serve Our City Offering: $
Tithes & Offerings: $
TV-Internet Viewer/Partner Gifts: $
Vision Offerings: $
TOTAL: $
Memo:

Hmm, so no space just for HolidayHope? It has to go to one of the above choices.

There is a "memo" to notate something but you cannot donate thru that. You have to put the money amount and attribute it to one of the above funds - NONE of which indicate Holiday Hope.

Here is a video of HolidayHope 2012 posted by RWOC back in May 2013.
[video=youtube;igAgCG650uI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igAgCG650uI[/video]

Wonder why they posted it then? Interesting timing there. But maybe it was an edited version that edited out Hope Carpenter's involvement because i DO believe that this was Hope Hilley C's cause NOT Ron's.

But he won't give it up now because it brings $$$$ to his organization and he gives to who he pleases. he no doubt uses it to gain favor, attract people, get people to sign up as "guest" or "members", to attend, etc.

The video above would also lead me to believe that the "recipients" of such gift, who are in their cars, in a line to get them, are also being pushed to attend the church or to "accept their personal savior".

 

[prima.facie]

good digging swamp mama. I wonder why their 15 community partners are not mentioned either.

like I said....I wouldn't trust these people with a donation if my life depended upon it.

and again...why is NOBODY saying they "miss hope" or "hope god is doing wonders..."

 

[i.b.nora]

So it seems like, based on the video above HolidayHope has been an annual affair since at least 2004.

As recently as 2010 and maybe more recently, they really did partner with The Marines and some other legitimate groups, so maybe there was some sort of falling out?

Here is a promo from 2010: http://www.examiner.com/article/redemption-world-outreach-plans-holiday-hope-for-december-18-2010. Has a list of partners.

And, the website text I viewed earlier today talked about the association with Marines and others. I guess they all went poof with Hope.

 

[i.b.nora]

Here is a press release for their 2007 event.

http://www.pr.com/press-release/63415

 

[SwampMama]

Good digging Nora!! I'm sure the "falling out" was probably that Ron is a shady control freak. Also Toys for Tots probably doesn't advocate using toys to lure people and then trying to convert them to accept Jesus personal savior and get them to come to that church.

Edited to correct and add: My bad, lol. Ron's church is not under the umbrella of UPCI as I previously reported so I removed the link I had about that. Ron is under IPHC. I have read so many acronyms lately that when I close my eyes I see alphabet soup. Here is the IPHC website which I probably already linked previously http://www.iphc.org/ . His dad was bishop in this organization so Ron followed in his footsteps while Hopes dad was a deacon in the organization.

Sorry for the mixup and confusion on that.

So the comment by TXSVicki (post #915) below is in reference to UPCE, not IPHC. I don't know if she will see this and correct hers so I will just say that now that she was going off of my info which I corrected above. But the fault is mine, not hers.

 

[txsvicki]

Wow, I had no idea that Ron is part of UP. One of them was working on my house years ago, and told me I was going to Hell because of not being baptized in the name of Jesus only and for believing in once saved always saved. I figured they were just a small group.

 

[SwampMama]

Interesting blurb from Ministry Today Magazine website. This article talks about the debate about denominations. It states Ron's church has no formal affiliation with IPHC (lol does that mean he doesn't tithe to them or pay fees?? He doesn't want them to oversee his behavior or have power to sanction him? Hmm)

But Ron didnt just stop with building his own church. He reached his needy, greedy tentacles out to reach the rest of the world and wants other churches that are in other part of the world that report to him (and pay tithes to him, yearly fees, "educates" and certifies pastors under Ron's church, etc.)

And what the heck does it mean that "Carpenter rejects the notion that God is through using denominations". Did God post somewhere that he was through with denominations, or that he was in favor of them? Is Ron saying that HE knows what God wants?

Interesting that Ron stripped all titles and dismantled all committees. I'm sure he maintained his position as the Grand Poohbah. Maybe that is when he declared himself an apostle.

Ron Carpenter was not even 30 years old, and he was already frustrated with the size of his church. In the seven years since its founding, Redemption World Outreach Center (RWOC) in Greenville, South Carolina, had grown to 400 members. By 1998, it had reached a plateau, but the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) pastor knew God had bigger things in mind.

After a yearlong study of the New Testament church, Carpenter dismantled every committee and stripped every leader's title, rebuilding the structure of the church from the ground up and exchanging the congregation's democratic system of government for “apostolic protocol.” Within six months, the church's attendance had tripled to 1,200 … and it has not stopped since.

Now, with 5,000 members, RWOC is the largest congregation in the denomination, and Carpenter leads some 600 ministers who call him “apostle” and have no formal affiliation with the IPHC.

Carpenter rejects the notion that God is through using denominations. He encourages other visionary pastors to humble themselves and dialogue with denominational leaders-but ultimately listen to the voice of God. While it's not without its tension, this pattern appears to be slowly bringing reform to some denominational structures.
- See more at: http://ministrytodaymag.com/index.php/features/11688-the-denomination-debate#sthash.vP5PMF9W.dpuf

I'm noticing that every 7-10 years there is a huge shift in his church. He started in 1991, then around 1998 came the big shakeup noted above. Then about 8 years later, the Sheltons left the church, apparently unhappy with things that were happening there. They had been there for 16 years and were responsible for the musical style and innovation of the church which was a BIG draw.

Then in 2004... did anything interesting happen then. Was that when the building was dedicated and Hope supposedly instantly changed that night of the dedication?

And now in 2013, Hope disappears.

Hmmmm

 

[SwampMama]

Oh and this book, I think I linked it before: Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel. http://books.google.com/books?id=V5...=0CGEQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=iphc scandal&f=false

I'm at this website reading a sample from it. Interesting stuff about Ron and the prosperity churches. I can't copy and paste though, just screen shots.

There isn't a page number to refer to. i found the pages I did by searching "iphc scandal". It just gives a summary of Ron joining the prosperity gospel and that gym on the church site is "for profit". (Really? Whose profit? Didn't the church build it? I wonder who runs it or makes the most money "working" there. Hmmm)

Then after that she (the author) visited 25% of the prosperity churches and names names. All in all, interesting info but i am NOT going to pay $15 for an ebook.

 

[BeginnersLuck]

Oh and this book, I think I linked it before: Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel. http://books.google.com/books?id=V5...=0CGEQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=iphc scandal&f=false

I'm at this website reading a sample from it. Interesting stuff about Ron and the prosperity churches. I can't copy and paste though, just screen shots.

There isn't a page number to refer to. i found the pages I did by searching "iphc scandal". It just gives a summary of Ron joining the prosperity gospel and that gym on the church site is "for profit". (Really? Whose profit? Didn't the church build it? I wonder who runs it or makes the most money "working" there. Hmmm)

Then after that she (the author) visited 25% of the prosperity churches and names names. All in all, interesting info but i am NOT going to pay $15 for an ebook.

I did some digging around on the gym a while ago. I should have posted what I found here. I'll have to go back and do it again. I need more coffee right now. I got started looking at the gym, after I read about these preachers using the congregation to make money in other for profit businesses.

From memory, the gym is like most others, where you pay a monthly fee. There are a lot of "commercials" that promote the gym and there of course, was a lot of promotion to the congregation. The monthly membership does appear to be very reasonable and I found groupons out there for membership. The congregation gets a discount. I wondered if the gym is used to promote the church?

As far as for profit/non-profit I have to go back and look. I believe the "church" owns the gym. This is what is stated on the website:

Imagine a place where all profits go back into your community, to support inner city revitalization, job creation and development, and more. Spend some time on our site and learn more about the opportunities to join, work, play, have fun, learn, and connect.

http://imaginecenter.com/

Here is their purpose, from the website:

http://imaginecenter.com/?page_id=75

It's a business that all looks good from the surface. People get healthier, the profits are used for the community, etc.

But, it is also a way to bilk more of the congregation out of money, draw more people to the church and most likely a avenue to juggle funds. I'm sure there are many sermons out there pressuring people to join to get healthy. I know I watched at least one.

 

[SwampMama]

The gym can be useful for many reason. In addition to the ones noted above by BeginnersLuck, I see the gym as a way to repay favors (give chosen people cushy well-paid jobs), to skim money from , a way to wash money, he can buy goods thru it to divert otherwhere. he can offer jobs to people who will no doubt have pressure to join the church, he has the power to take those jobs away, show favoritism, etc.

If the gym is owned by the church, isn't the church owned by Ron? How does that work. I own my cats but if they own a gym, who profits?

I wonder who ultimately has the word on running the gym? let me guess, there is a board of people who are hand-picked by Ron, who have agendas that are closely aligned with his.

Something stinks about this gym and it isn't the smell of dirty socks and sweat.

 

[i.b.nora]

Article on architectural aspects of the Imagine Center:

http://www.athleticbusiness.com/galleries/project.aspx?id=406