n the secular business world, it is extremely common for marketing and sales people to slip into a mode where lying or distorting the facts is an everyday occurrence. In the "ministry," sometimes the same things happen - except the lies routinely carry a religious spin.

     As a case in point, some months back, another The Prophecy Club^® coordinator, named Kevin Sarazen, suggested to Stan Johnson that the PC might consider booking a speaker who could provide some tangible advice on how to survive catastrophies: such as earthquakes, floods, or tornadoes. Stan asked the coordinator if he knew of any speakers who had specific expertise like that. Sarazen gave him the name of Ted Wright - a speaker he had recently heard in his own church.

     Some weeks later, the PC coordinator had resigned from The Prophecy Club^®, but heard that Ted Wright was speaking at an event in his area. Realizing Stan had taken his advice, he decided to go and hear Mr. Wright speak. At the event, Wright told the audience how Johnson had called him and said "God told me to call and get you on The Prophecy Club^® tour." The now amused former PC rep turned to his friend and said Stan apparently has him confused with the Lord.

     All of these issues add up to a disproportionate focus on marketing and finances. While the mission of The Prophecy Club^® is still quite valid, as the need for teaching and prophetically significant education has not ceased, a little leaven leavens the whole loaf. Paul tells us that the believers have "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty."

     In the cut-throat world of sales and distribution, the practice of distorting facts and slanting information to suit an agenda are so commonplace that knowledgeable consumers have come to expect to be lied to on a regular basis. For instance, how many of us uncritically believe any statement made by, say, a used car salesman?

     The Prophecy Club^® sales practices have now deteriorated to a commercially manipulative level, which many believers find completely offensive. Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters. When we attempt to do that, we invariably will "hate the one" and migrate towards allegiance to the other. This is clearly the problem, for theological purity has taken a back seat to economics at The Prophecy Club^®.

     The perception of what constitutes spiritual integrity is now colored by the greater concern for the financial stability of the organization. Justification and rationalization becomes the order of the day in such an environment, and it becomes impossible for the Lord to bless such an enterprise.

SHEARING THE SHEEP

     A close look behind the scenes at the various internal policies related to The Prophecy Club^® practices indicates who the real master is in this organization. In two restricted internal training tape recordings entitled How To Run A The Prophecy Club^®, Stan Johnson details a series of manipulations that are clearly calculated to generate as much revenue as possible.

     Apparently, when a new emcee is brought into the organization, they are taught that every detail of the various meetings is to be choreographed, in order to maximize the financial viability of the meeting. For instance, in one training session, Stan even tells the emcees the PC way to set up the chairs because, in his view, "it affects the money."

     Later, when Stan instructs the novice coordinators in the finer points of sales, he jokingly tells them to announce to the audience "we do accept VISA, MasterCard, check, and cash with 2 credit references."

     The product tables are of the utmost importance at a typical The Prophecy Club^® meeting. Stan Johnson tells the emcees that while the speaker is on one of the two breaks, they need to "watch the table" at the same time they "watch the watch." They are told not to break up any sales activity - even if it means the speaker resumes his presentation somewhat late. In fact, the majority of material on these training tapes focuses on the financial aspects of The Prophecy Club^®.

EVALUATING THE OFFERING

     In addition to teaching "how to take an offering," Stan Johnson actually tells the emcees how to tell if they are "any good" at taking an offering at a typical The Prophecy Club^® event. In a candid moment, Stan says "You might say you're taking an offering that helps The Prophecy Club^® not to have to pay the speaker as much, so we're very interested in Big Offerings."

     In what sounds like a typical sales meeting run by a sales manager with an override, Stan rates the various amounts taken in during a PC offering:

"If you get $2 a person . . . if there's 100 people there, and $200 comes in that offering, you are barely average (laughs) . . . a beginner."

"If you're getting $3 a person . . . that's OK, that's acceptable."

"If you get $4...100 people there, and a $4 offering, that's getting . . . pretty good."

"If you can get $5 or anything above that you did real good."

"The per person average, about the best that I have ever done . . . in Kansas City, we took up an offering, and we specifically told them we were taking it up for Gene Bacon, he was in the hospital. Marvin Byers said give him my portion of the offering too . . . there was about 125 people that night and it was a $2,000 offering. HELLO! (laughs) That's pretty good!"

     On these tapes, Stan Johnson spends a considerable amount of time in training The Prophecy Club^® emcees on how to manipulate the crowd into contributing more money. He actually states that the amount received is "definitely a reflection on how professional the (emcee) is . . . how good they can take that offering up." So much for trusting the Lord to place the financial needs on the hearts of the believers.

WONDER WHERE THE MONEY WENT

     When The Prophecy Club^® takes an offering, they have the audience make their offering checks payable to the name of the speaker, or his particular ministry name. When this is coupled with statements the emcee is instructed to make, such as "This is our opportunity to bless the speaker," it should be obvious that these practices give the crowd the impression that the offering actually goes to the speaker. It doesn't.

     Elsewhere on one of the training tapes, Johnson tells the emcee that when he is taking an offering, he is to "encourage them to be generous to the speaker." The reality is, the speakers are working on a flat fee, usually $200 per city, and the offering funds are charged back against his $200 honorarium. This appears to be a cleverly calculated method with which to deceive the audience.

     Stan Johnson actually states that the financial arrangements do vary on occasion, and he always seeks to make The Prophecy Club^® out to be magnanimous in their fiscal dealings with the speakers. For instance, in one spot he tells a new emcee that even though The Prophecy Club^® sometimes "splits the offering" with the speaker, Stan says "I want to switch it. I like to give all the offering to the speaker." Even when the funds end up in The Prophecy Club^® accounts, Stan says "I'll still take it (the offering) in the name of the speaker."

     Indeed, on the two training tapes which we reviewed, numerous contradictory statements are made concerning finances. For example, on one training tape, the novice emcee is told about the ticket charge: "The $7 at the door covers airfare, meeting room, sleeping room, meals and expenses" for the speaker. However, on another training tape, Stan says the offering is to pay for the speaker's airfare, sleeping room, meals, and various expenses.

     When Stan instructs the emcees concerning the speaker's compensation on the tour, he tells them to keep it confidential: "Typically, what we do with the speaker, so that you know, and you obviously don't mention this to the group....it's none of their business."

     The financial inconsistencies are actually all over the place. On one tape, Stan tells the emcees The Prophecy Club^® is a for-profit corporation. Yet on another tape, he says "if they want to make a donation and they want it deductible, they need to make their check to The Prophecy Foundation, and that goes directly to airtime."

     Actually there is a huge amount of emphasis placed on the many "expenses" incurred by The Prophecy Club^®. For instance, Stan Johnson says "Unfortunately, what we do has a lot of expenses involved, so we kind of have to be highly sales motivated. It's not like a typical Christian meeting." In one place in their instruction, referring to the book and video sales during the speaker's breaks, he tells the coordinators "the table back there hopefully will go to cover the cost of the radio airtime in this area. Typically in the average city we're probably paying $1,800 to $2,200 a month to stay on the radio - meaning that what we'd like to do is clear $1,800 to $2,200 at the table tonight."

THE TWO WITNESSES

     In the last year, a man named Dr. Bill Deagle has toured extensively with The Prophecy Club^®. Deagle has a powerful grasp on last days events, and is apparently quite knowledgeable on New World Order political chicanery as well as the scriptural texts themselves. His teachings have covered a wide array of subjects, and he is an excellent communicator.

     However, Dr. Deagle has proclaimed himself to be one of the two witnesses. Furthermore, Stan Johnson has also repeatedly stated that Dr. Deagle is one of the two witnesses. This is an extraordinary claim, and one which gambles the entire credibility of The Prophecy Club^® on one individual. Because the focus of the present work is on The Prophecy Club^® itself, the scope of this work precludes a thorough look at the teachings, theology, and credibility of Dr. Bill Deagle. (See the Christian Media book on Dr. Deagle, who is not only not one of the Two Witnesses, he is the ultimate in false prophets).

     A few things, however, should be mentioned in the present context. It may be said, for example, that Dr. Deagle is precisely what Stan Johnson claims to have asked the Lord to deliver to The Prophecy Club^®: a prophetic figure, locked into the commercial structure of the PC, that will generate large crowds at the various events. While Dr. Deagle claims to have daily visitations from the angel Gabriel, it seems that each statement directed to Deagle is concluded with the admonition that the angelic instruction is to be channeled through the structure of The Prophecy Club^®.

     For example, in the June 1999 issue of The Prophecy Club^® periodical, there are 6 different essays that claim to be transcriptions of Gabriel's various statements. In one of these "visions," the angel concludes his predictions by saying "tell Stan Johnson and The Prophecy Club^®."

     In another vision, "Gabriel" again instructs Dr. Deagle to relay this information specifically to The Prophecy Club^®: "Send them, as I have instructed you, to Stan Johnson and The Prophecy Club^®, for the Lord has anointed this ministry with the freedom and power in the Spirit to deliver the Truth." That's quite an endorsement - especially for an archangel.

     In yet a third vision, "Gabriel" commanded Deagle to "go and tell as you have been instructed to give this vision to Stan Johnson and The Prophecy Club^®." Interestingly enough, each time the name "The Prophecy Club^®" appears in these angelic statements, the text includes the registered trademark symbol ® next to the name The Prophecy Club^®. Apparently, the angel Gabriel feels it's important to preserve the commercial ownership of his message in The Prophecy Club^®, Inc.

DESIGNING A DENOMINATION

     Evidently sensing the need for a transition, The Prophecy Club^® is now in the process of forming a church. It has already been announced that it is to be called the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY Church. Additionally, in this new CHURCH structure, a current speaker from the circuit, a man named Peter Martinez, is scheduled to be the "Apostle." Whereas Stan Johnson was referred to in the July/August 1999 newsletter as "the Director," in the latest newsletter he is referred to as "the Founder."

     Because Stan and others within the PC have publicly proclaimed Dr. Bill Deagle to be one of the two witnesses, apparently Dr. Bill will be named to a position of authority as well. There's been no word yet if Bill considers himself to be Elijah or Moses, or who will then arrive as the second of the two.

     Logistically speaking, it would be better if Dr. Deagle gets to play Moses, for then The Prophecy Club^® could get the toothless wonder with the Brooklyn accent, who recently toured Israel claiming to be Elijah, to fill out the roster: that is assuming they can get him out of the Turkish jail we've heard he's currently residing in.

     The Two Witnesses and The Prophecy Club^®. Just think of the touring possibilities.

A SHAMEFUL TRANSITION

     In the midst of all the changes and controversy within The Prophecy Club^® national structure, Stan Johnson is currently attempting to redefine the role of the various volunteers around the country. In fact, when the PC ran into some cash flow problems some months back, they even turned to the volunteers as a way of generating some additional income.

     For example, after serving the PC in a volunteer capacity for about 3 years, the Minneapolis based Bill Meinhardt (along with all the other coordinators) received a letter from the PC headquarters which told of financial difficulties at the organization. The letter hinted that if each of the volunteers would contribute just $100, The Prophecy Club^® would be greatly helped through a tight spot.

     Recently, The Prophecy Club^® "invited" all the regional emcees to come to Topeka for a national meeting that would include a "free" Dale Carnegie course on selling and interacting with others. This meeting was called "mandatory" and any volunteer that refused this "training" was no longer allowed to be involved in the PC regional leadership. Mr. Meinhardt, along with others, declined the offer. He explained his decision to me as feeling that the "ministry" component was now gone, and he could no longer muster enthusiasm for what has clearly become simply a commercial marketing program.

     In one of the saddest events in recent Prophecy Club history, Mr. Meinhardt was completely ignored at what was to be his last event. He had informed Stan that he would not be attending the new indoctrination program, and that the next event would be his last. Without notice, Stan sent someone from Topeka to emcee the meeting - abruptly dumping Meinhardt from his last opportunity to speak to the many people he had ministered to for so long.

     Meinhardt, who had faithfully served The Prophecy Club^® for 3 years, wasn't even introduced to the Topeka man who completely ignored him. He felt so uncomfortable that he left the meeting after about 30 minutes.

     There was no pat on the back. There was no 'well done,' or even a public thank you for so many hours of faithful service to the cause. Evidently, when you step back from the PC, you become just another non-person. For a group that is supposedly geared to the Dale Carnegie school of positive interaction, this was shamefully inadequate.

YE CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS

     In many respects, the problems confronting The Prophecy Club^® are simply the fruit of the original structure of the organization. Because the PC was designed as an incorporated booking and production company, the transition to pure ministry is a difficult one.

     For example, in the latest newsletter the emphasis seems to be on becoming a "partaker" of the ministry. In three different places in the issue the reader is urged to come "under the covering of The Prophecy Club^®" by becoming a "partaker," in order to share in the "protection God provides to The Prophecy Club^®." This "protection" is available to any "partaker" who becomes a "Basic Club Member" by sending $10 per month.

     Apparently, $25 per month provides a greater degree of "protection," because The Prophecy Club^® then calls you a "Covenant Club Member" and throws in one free ticket to a PC event per month - a $7 value. All "Covenant Club Members" qualify to be "Under the covering of The Prophecy Club^® and a partaker in the blessing, anointing, and protection God provides to The Prophecy Club^®."

     Move up to $50 per month and you qualify as a "Silver Club Member." In addition to the "blessing," "anointing," and "protection" all Basic and Covenant Club members receive, they now allow you to be a partaker in the "grace" that "God provides to The Prophecy Club^®." As far as I can see, $50 is a small price to pay for that much "grace."

     The Bible tells us we all will eventually manifest the spirit that is in us. Jesus said where your heart is, there will your treasure be. If we seek to serve two masters, we will undoubtedly end up serving just one - the wrong one.

     The Prophecy Club^® has not only lost their way, but the evidence firmly suggests they are now departing further and further from the scriptural discernment that is required to bring them back onto the straight and narrow path that leads to the truth in Jesus Christ.

      After the initial article concerning The Prophecy Club^® appeared in Christian Media, several processes began that have continued up until this writing. In addition to a number of irate readers who felt that the PC was being unfairly singled out for criticism, Christian Media received quite a few letters from individuals who had their own tale to tell concerning the "Club." Each of these eyewitness testimonies was similar to the various episodes detailed in the body of this work.

     While some of these comments could be considered "sour grapes," in that the party had felt they were unfairly treated even though the facts would indicate otherwise, the sheer number of them showed a consistent pattern of cut-throat competition for the almighty dollar. A good representative of this unflattering characterization of The Prophecy Club^® may be found in the following letter:

"Dear Christian Media,

     I have first hand dealings with Stan. I was in attendance of the very first meeting with Henry Gruver. The first two years I didn't miss a meeting. I helped pick up offerings, even ran the tape deck for questions and answers period following Peter Hammond's speaking engagement.

     In late 1996, the Lord allowed me to become a Live Oak Farms food distributor. Praise God I ended up with Safe Trek and not the other guy. Steve Quayle is a good guy. When Stan learned of this he began to treat me differently. As time went by and speakers began to talk about preparations, I asked him about advertising in his newsletter. The answer was no. Yes you guessed it. God told me to prepare before he told Stan. Eighteen months or so later his people were telling others that my food was no good and I couldn't deliver timely. Two individuals they said this to were my largest orders ever. Isn't it strange Safe Trek put bad food in my cans and good food in Stan's cans. There is a lot more...."

     This particular episode simply shows predatory marketing practices of a deceptive nature. While I don't have first hand knowledge of this particular incident, there are so many people with similar stories that it's inconceivable that every one of them is simply angry at Stan Johnson because he bested them fairly in a business transaction.

     The practice of dealers or distributors degrading a competitive organization's ability to deliver the same product they carry is as old as the automobile industry, however, it should be obvious that "ministry" oriented groups should not be engaged in such underhanded tactics.

Hostilities Run High

     We have learned that whenever we become involved in an investigative journalistic effort of this nature, emotions will surely run high. Believers in the 'sacred cow' that we're currently goring will inevitably revile us. Right after The Prophecy Club^® exposé broke in the newspaper, we received an irate call from a woman that was recording a nasty message on our voice mail.

     I happened to be walking by the machine, and so I picked up the phone. The woman was so angry that she let it slip that she was calling from The Prophecy Club^®. The following is a transcript of that call:

"I was just wondering - you must be a real chicken because you won't take anybody's call concerning your "Christian" whatever you call it... 'cause there's some discrepancies and some lies you've written about The Prophecy Club^® because I know them personally..."

     At this point, I picked up the telephone and asked "who is calling?" The woman identified herself as "Pamela" and stated that we 'we're a bunch of liars' because we had printed the essay on the PC. After probing just a bit, she stated she hadn't even read the entire article, but she was so furious over the early statements in the piece that she called to castigate us. Since she claimed to have knowledge of the PC, I attempted to ask her to document which facts were inaccurate and to send them in so we could evaluate her data. She continued to shout over me and refused to hear anything I could say, or allow me to respond, so I hung up the telephone. "Pamela" then called back more furious than ever, and said the following to our voice mail machine:

"OK, James Lloyd, this is one idiot talking to another idiot.....I went through the back end of your newsletter here where it has your information how you got it. There's nothing on here based how you go that information that's not factual. Just wanted to let you know that's why you're an idiot. And as far as Bill Meinhardt, I know because I was present at that time, and he did not get permission from The Prophecy Club^® to put David Wegener in place of where Al Neal was. Second of all, uh, and as far as David Wegener, no we, you known, here at The Prophecy Club^®, I know that they do not allow flyers and other information going out because that's....why should some other ministry take off the fruits of another man's ministry. So, you known, you are an idiot, I just want you to know....you're the bigger idiot for writing...."

At this point the phone machine cut the caller off. After carefully listening to the voice mail several times, we could hear telephones ringing with an office environment in the background that distracted her. Once she uttered the phrase "here at The Prophecy Club^®," she seemed to realize she had betrayed the origin of her call. In short, she was calling from The Prophecy Club^®!

     That same evening, on my nightly prophecy broadcast The Apocalypse Chronicles, I played the tape of "Pamela" over the air. Several listeners called in after the show and said they recognized the caller to be none other than Leslie Johnson, Stan Johnson's wife! While we cannot be absolutely certain this was Stan's wife, it is apparent the caller was telephoning from the PC offices.

Many Rallied To Christian Media For Standing Up To Stan

     Other more positive reactions to the criticisms came from former speakers who had toured on The Prophecy Club^® circuit. One former Prophecy Club speaker is writer Dr. Rod Lewis, who has been a respected member of the remnant Christian and Patriot community for many years. The former editor of the Encounter Chronicles told Christian Media that Stan Johnson censored portions of Lewis' video because of a commercial conflict of interest.

     In his video presentation, Dr. Rod Lewis showed something that very few researchers have found. The various European dynastic family's coats-of-arms have certain striking similarities to some rather unexpected organizations. To truly appreciate this aspect of the story, a little background is in order.

     Many people know that the numerous ancient secret societies are deeply implicated in the global conspiracy for control of the New World Order. Many books have been written about the Priory of Sion, The Freemasons, Godfrei de Boullion, the Rosicrucians, and the various royal families that sit on the thrones of Europe.

     More than one writer has seriously proposed a connection between the House of Windsor's coat of arms (the crest of Prince Charles), and certain symbols found in the book of Revelation. While we have already addressed this issue in print (See the Christian Media work on Prince Charles) the Lewis video found a previously unknown link between the Windsor crest and the coat of arms that is used as a logo for the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

     Lewis told Christian Media that Stan Johnson insisted this portion of his video be censored, as he was at that time attempting to get himself booked as a guest on TBN - in the hope of generating more exposure for The Prophecy Club^®!

     While many have wondered about the true allegiances of TBN in the grand scheme of things, the issue is not whether there is any merit to the suggested connection between the British royal family's heraldry symbols and TBN. The issue is the continuing willingness on the part of Stan Johnson to place the commercial operation of The Prophecy Club^® in the front seat, while content and spiritual integrity stay in the back of the tour bus.

     When Christian Media made it's first public examination of  The Prophecy Club^® in the Fall of 1999, the article was entitled The Prophe$y Club - Balaam's Booking Dons A Denomination. That essay, which has been adapted to form the first part of the present work, was only printed after I went directly to Stan Johnson with my grievances against the PC. As previously stated, I first telephoned Stan, and when he did not respond, I contacted my brother in Christ, Steve Quayle for counsel. Acting as a second witness, Steve advised me to write to Stan so there would be a record of the attempt to comply with the scriptural admonition to go to an offending "brother" before moving against him. Thus, when Stan Johnson failed to respond to my voice mail message after several days, I faxed him a request for a "Matthew 18" conference.

     After he received the fax he called back, and in a series of commercial pitches made to me concerning our various budgetary items (radio time, printing costs, etc), Stan simply shrugged off his previous pattern of misrepresenting me as someone who was in the habit of swearing on the air. This first telephone call occurred on July 8th, 1999. The written 2 page letter that was faxed to Mr. Johnson was dated July 12 1999. Stan Johnson called the next day and responded to the fax, so he can't very well state that he never received it. Again, this conversation was unfruitful, for Stan simply claimed he had inadvertently confused me with someone else. He never addressed the main body of my concerns (Tom Van Asperen, the continued practice of lying, financial deception, etc), which were mentioned in my fax of July 12 1999.

     Two days later, Stan called again, and in what appeared to be an effort to deflect any further conflict, offered me a tour on The Prophecy Club^® circuit. Although I did not want to offend him, his high pressure approach placed me in the awkward position of pointedly telling him I desire zero association with The Prophecy Club^® under any circumstances. Again, because these communications (verbal and faxed) were made electronically, there is a record of them.

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