America’s 50 Most Influential Churches

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5 responses to “America’s 50 Most Influential Churches”

1. 

   Lloyd Reece

   July 17, 2007

   Comment Deleted

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2. 

   Michael Kruse

   July 18, 2007

   The comment above made accusations about Cristy Media. It was not from Lloyd Reece but is in fact from Gary McCullough of ChristianNewswire.com a competitor organization. The e-mail address used is identified with McCullough all over the internet.
   I’ll entertain criticism and competing ideas but I will not tolerate misrepresenting identities.

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3. 

   Michael W. Kruse

   July 18, 2007

   Update: Mr. McCullough acknowledges that Reece is a pen name and he should have used his actual name. I have no way of evaluating claims from either side so I simply chose to stay out of this conflict and offer that age old advice: Buyer beware!

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4. 

   Gary McCullough

   August 24, 2007

   Michael — you could let others read for themselves:
   Rising Evangelical Star Jason Christy Leaves Trail of Fraud, Associates Say
   By Hannah Elliott
   SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Aug. 1 /ABP/ — When young, charismatic Christian publisher Jason Christy was tapped two years ago to lead the powerful Christian Coalition, the group’s leaders praised him for his ability “to inspire and encourage people of faith to action.” But Christy’s business dealings — both before and after his one-month affiliation with the Coalition — instead have inspired former customers and co-workers to file lawsuits charging Christy with defrauding their Christian businesses.
   Christy, 36, who apparently had no previous public-policy experience, persuaded the Christian Coalition in 2005 to place him in one of the most visible and powerful positions in evangelical life. But before the coalition’s leaders officially turned over the reins of their 1.2 million-member national lobbying group, they learned of a trail of legal and financial problems that has followed Christy from coast to coast.
   Former associates and customers of Christy’s many business ventures — mostly Christian magazines — say he cheated them out of money and threatened them. At least 10 of them have filed lawsuits, Associated Baptist Press has learned, and others have gotten court-issued restraining or protection orders against the Scottsdale, Ariz., businessman.
   Christy says all the allegations are false. He and his supporters say “enemies” are spreading lies about him because of soured business relationships. But critics say Christy is a scam artist preying on trusting Christians.
   Christy now publishes The Church Report, supposedly a conservative, national print magazine and web site. He has appeared as an analyst on CNN and spoken at megachurches like Robert Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral. He hob-nobs with some of the evangelical elite and still has relationships with leaders in highly respected positions, like the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
   This article is continued at Associated Baptist Press News: http://www.abpnews.com/2685.article
   Also at The Baptist Standard: http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=6646 and
   Christianity Today: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/augustweb-only/131-35.0.html and
   The Christian Century: http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=3584

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5. 

   Michael W. Kruse

   August 25, 2007

   Here are the hyperlinks Gary mentions. I have seen all of these pop up as well. I know nothing of what is going on here and I’m just watching to see what happens.
   American Baptist Press – Rising evangelical star Jason Christy leaves trail of fraud, associates say
   The Baptist Standard: Rising evangelical star Jason Christy
   leaves trail of fraud, associates say
   Christianty Today: Church Report Publisher Jason Christy Leaves Trail of Fraud, Associates Say
   Christian Century: Evangelical figure leaves trail of fraud, critics say
   I think they are all the same basic story reprinted.

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