The Rev. Jerry Johnston & the tale of hellfire & the funny money

By Diane Silver

I'm taking a brief break from mulling over future life to point your attention to a new Kansas City Star report alleging that the "good" Rev. Jerry Johnston misused donations. This is the second time The Star has raised serious questions about the use of money by the reigning star of fundamentalist Kansas.

As with the first report, this one gives detail and quotes numerous people with firsthand knowledge of the supposed financial shenanigans.

This new report focuses on his first group, Jerry Johnston Ministries. He ran that from 1979 to the birth of his megachurch, First Family Church, in Overland Park in 1996.

For me the most poignant and frightening part of the story are the quotes from Zoe Raymonde, a former accountant for JJM. She talks about how the ministry had just received a $50,000 check from a corporation. The money was supposed to be used for radio and TV shows for the ministry, but Raymonde says that the Johnstons wanted it for their personal use.

The Star reports, but the emphasis is mine:

Raymonde said when she arrived at work the next morning, co-worker (Kim) Barr told her that Christie Johnston (Johnston's wife) had called and said they were to cut her a check for $50,000.

Raymonde said she called Christie Johnston back and told her she wouldn’t do that. Shortly after that, she said, Jerry Johnston called and demanded that she write a check to Christie Johnston.

“I said, ‘You are nuts. Do you think someone’s not going to notice $50,000 coming in, $50,000 going out?’ ” Raymonde said. “I was told I was listening to the devil, to get down on my knees and start confessing. I was told that I was going to sign that check or basically I was going to hell.

For a few moments I'd like to set aside the immorality of a pastor's family allegedly demanding $50,000 of money from the ministry for their own use. Instead, let's say that there was nothing wrong with Christie Johnston's request.

Even if that were true -- and it isn't close to right -- what is moral - ethical - kind - Christian - commonsense right about turning a dispute over writing a check into damnation? What kind of man, let along pastor, would threaten one of his congregation with hellfire for doing nothing more than disagreeing about writing a check?

If Raymonde is telling the truth, then Johnston is not only a cheat with money, he is also a cheat with religion and a poor excuse for a human being.

The Johnstons deny everything and provide an audit, an affadavit and other statements to prove their innocence.The Star report provides a convincing amount of detail and witnesses.

No matter what happened, one thing is clear: Somebody's lying.

Kansas: Jerry Johnston & First Family Church are officially under investigation

By Diane Silver

Since The Kansas City Star's March series on the financial dealings of the Rev. Jerry Johnston and his First Family Church, a few of us have been waiting for something, anything else, to happen. The other shoe has finally dropped.

Today word came that Attorney General Paul Morrison is investigating two complaints about the financial dealings of Johnston and FFC. Several complaints have also been filed with the IRS. The KC Star has the details.

I welcome these investigations. If they have nothing to hide, then I would think that Johnston and his family would welcome a chance to clear their names. If I were a member of the FFC congregation, I would be thrilled to learn about the investigations. I would certainly want to know where my money was going.

Kansas: Another minister talks about Jerry Johnston's betrayal of his people

By Diane Silver

While I was gone, a minister at the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, in St. Joseph, Mo., blogged about a long ago encounter with a twentysomething Jerry Johnston.

At that time, the man who would one day lead the First Family church of Overland Park, Kan., was the evangelist at a Southern Baptist youth camp. The good Rev. Peep was a teenaged camper.

Even then Johnston preached hellfire. He terrified the young camper. In his post, the Rev. Peep argues that Johnston's theology of fear is more of a betrayal of his congregation than the financial shenanigans Johnston has been accused of recently.

The Rev. Peep writes;

I can't help but think about the 13 year-old me. I believed what he said. I trusted him. I agonized over what he preached. I was tender-hearted, vulnerable and doing my best to be a good Christian. I was manipulated. I only lost a bit of innocence. I never recall giving any money to Jerry Johnston, like so many others. Yet, he betrayed me and he betrayed the Gospel by teaching me about a vengeful God and offering nothing of God's grace. Jerry's gospel was about Jerry. Then and now.

When I have time. (Hah! No really...) I want to look more into the Gospel of Jerry. I think it may well be time to talk theology, but first, a little money-inducing work.