"Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away
disciples after them." Acts 20:30
It would be helpful if dangerous leaders understood and declared their own motives
from the beginning, It would be helpful if they made it clear that, unlike Christ, their
intent was not to serve but served, not to give but to receive, not to love but to be loved.
It would be helpful if they would always come from the "outside" rather that from
"within". But the Bible tells us to watch ourselves and those who arise from among
us to draw off followers after themselves (Acts 20:30).
Dangerous religious leaders do not let their groups know that they are slowly
giving old words new meaning, or that they are showing a love that at some point
will turn into rigid, authoritarian control. They may not even realize the extent to
which they are flattering followers, exaggerating stories of God's miracles, and
claiming conversations with the Spirit that are rooted in their own imagination.
Evangel Temple - Evangel Church (ETEC) propagated many exaggerated stories
of God's miracles. Following are a couple such examples:
EXAMPLE 1:
At a church retreat, Bishop Meares announced that since he and his wife Mary lee
were so financially strapped they were going to borrow money by faith, to give
to the building fund. He stated that his mother-in-law had died and left his
wife a small insurance policy from which they will give. The audience was in
awe at this commendable act. I was shocked!
You see, approximately four years earlier he had told the same story, only that time
he suggested that Mary Lee keep the money for herself, while she insisted that she
will use the money to start a book store. Did Mary Lee Meares have two mothers
who died and left her insurance policies?
EXAMPLE 2;
When ETEC was in the process of buying the land on Central Avenue, in a Church
meeting the Bishop announced that with the help of a business friend known as
"Libby" they had found the land which to build. He reported that they searched
thoroughly via helicopter. The church was in an uproar at such an astounding
announcement. Libby Dorris of Pennsylvania.
Approximately nine months later at the church's altar, the Bishop solemnly professed
that as he was randomly driving his car and talking to the Lord, the Holy Spirit fell
on him causing him to pull his car aside. He then stated that the Lord told him the
land on which he was parked was the land to buy. He looked up and behold, the
street was called :Church Road". He knew then that this was a sign from the Lord.
The congregation was again in an uproar. Had everyone conveniently forgotten a
few months earlier he had found the land with the help of "Libby" the business
friend?
It usually takes time before it becomes undeniable that the one they have invested
so much trust in is not the servant of God they thought he was. What a painful
realization! What an embarrassment to admit that this leader has been leading
them in the path of "another Jesus" offering "a different spirit" and teaching "a
different gospel" (2Cor.11:4).
At ETEC they were offering a different spirit another Jesus and a different gospel.
And as in all dangerous religious groups the people believed and accepted. On
most Sundays or whenever the Bishop preached many of the congregation,
including Ministers and deacons, could be observed sleeping strongly, even
snoring! This to me indicated another spirit besides the Holy Spirit at work.
Time will also unveil the fruit of a leader's life. First impressions and words by
themselves will not display motives. Life has a way of writing its journal about
the purposes of our hearts. Inasmuch as Apostle Paul described the "four of the
Spirit" in Galations 5:22-23, we are wise to ask the following questions about
those we are relying on for leadership.
These questions address issues rooted not merely in a leader's words but in his
or her attitudes and actions. They help us to see that the issue is not just
doctrine, but the spirit and fruit of the leader.
Are they marked by reverence and humility, or by brashness and arrogance?
Yes
Are they gentle of (demanding?) (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
Do they show respect for authorities (both friends and enemies), including
the Lord, parents, government? (2 Peter 2:10-12, Jude 8:10) No
Do they show love for other leaders? (1 Corinthians 3:1-9) No they
laugh at them
Do they promote personal discernment, growth, and maturity in their
followers, or do (they foster dependence) and submission? (Acts 17:11),
Ephesians 4:11-16) Yes
Do they exploit their members financially? (1 Peter 5:2,2 Peter 2:3) Yes
Is there evidence of sexual faithfulness, of have they left themselves open
to questions and rumors? (2 Peter 2:14) Yes
Do they lovingly and courageously tell the truth about sin no, or do they
only tell their group what they want to hear? Yes (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
Do they sacrifice their own interest for the well-being of their group no,
or are they carried like kings on the shoulders of their followers? Yes
(Philippians 2:3-4)
Do they draw the attention and allegiance of their followers to Jesus Christ
or do they focus attention on themselves? Yes (Act 20:28-31, 3 John 9:10)
Do they lead by "throwing their weight around", Yes, or by "information,
encouragement and example"? No (1 Peter 5:1-4)
The clergy of Evangel Church is surely marked by arrogance Donnie Meares
once declared that he does not want any "pie in the sky". He shouted, "Give
me my pie now!" while inciting the congregation to chant "pie now!". So
Now" doctrine in operation. It is not our will but God's will be done on
earth as it is heaven. In every Pastor's class he taught he usually made
comments such as "People are problems and we have thousands of them
so we do not want anymore, you are here because God wants to plant you
here". Did Jesus not die for all people? People have problems, they are
not problems! How could Donnie Meares say the he does not want those
for whom Jesus has shred his blood? That is arrogance in its fullness.
And incidentally, Jesus does not plant people in the Body of Christ,
he sets as it pleases him (Corinthians 12:18).
Virgil Meares was arrogant above them all. He actually told members that
if they did not g along with the "Kingdom First Project' God will kill them
A song, "Follow the Cloud" was written for the specific purpose of
intimidating and threatening the members. But again, as in many dangerous
religious groups the members never caught on to the real message. In the
Bible, if the children of Israel did not follow the cloud they were left behind
in the wilderness to literally die (2 Corinthians 10:18). This was clearly a
case of offering another Jesus, another God! Jesus does not force anyone
to serve him, we are free to choose him and eternal life. Or, we are free to
choose not to serve him and stand the consequences of eternal damnation.
He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, does not kick or break down
the door. The Holy Spirit convicts men, if they resists and pursue their own
way, he leaves (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
ETEC also fostered the submission of the members to themselves. They
created the doctrine of "Lifeline" to suit their purposes. Lifeline implied
that the Bishop was the only one who heard from God. He would then
pass the Word to the Elders who in turn would pass it on the Deacons
and so on, until it finally reached the individual member. This method
is often used in DRGs to maintain control and spread disinformation.
Did Jesus not say "I am the vine, ye are the branches ... for without
me ye can do nothing". (John 15:5)? Jesus is our only Lifeline! When
he died the Veil of the Temple was rent in two. We can now go freely
and boldly into the Holy of Holies for ourselves. Lifeline is a false
doctrine (Ephesians 4:11-16).
At Evangel Church the members were exploited financially on a regular
basis. They people were forced to contribute money for many ghosts
projects. In one such instance, money was collected to purchase a van
for the youths to use for summer trips. The van was used twice and
then sold so that Donnie Meares could buy a car for himself and family.
Another time, approximately six thousand dollars were collected to
repair a Motor Home that was donated solely for the purpose of
feeding the Homeless. The vehicle was never repaired, the Homeless
were not fed and the money was never seen! The Singles Group had
once collected over three thousand dollars in petty cash. Donnie Meares
offered to bank the money for the group. Of course the money was
never given back or accounted for. Thousands of dollars were allegedly
donated for scholarships at Oral Roberts University. No account was
ever given for this money. Like Oral Roberts, ETEC practices Seed
Faith with this type of practice, it seems, they should never need
money. If they do, then they should simply plant a big seed in
someone else's Ministry and God will return the seed. However
it never seemed to work that way, so instead they took money from
the people.
The teaching in ETEC is not to tell the truth about sin but to cover
sin for your brother, for example, after they lied to me and about
me, the Bishop commanded me to cover for him. When I replied
"No compromise", I was promptly ostracized.
It is not the policy of ETEC to sacrifice their own interest for anyone.
Donald Meares once said that if anyone came to him in need, the most
he would lend is twenty dollars. Yet the deacons were told that they
were ordained not to serve the people but to serve the Bishop and the
Elders which included the Bishop's direct family (sons and daughter-
in-laws). For example, they had core Deacons rushing to serve them
by mowing the Bishop's lawn. They took turns in chauffeuring him
in a limousine which, incidentally, he lied about its origin. He (Bishop)
told the members of the church that the Deacons bought the limousine
for him and then turned around and told the Deacons that the Elders
bought. Obviously that was where some of the project funds went.
The members and Deacons were so indoctrinated that whenever it
rained the driver (usually a Deacon) spread a carpet on the ground,
from the limousine to the church's door , so that the Bishop's shoes
did not get wet.
ETEC loved to focus on themselves. They often claimed that they were
a pioneer church, that God raised up ETEC to show other churches the
way. My philosophy on that is how could one be a pioneer church in
Washington, DC, a city with hundreds of churches, one on every corner.
This was no remote city in the wilderness. Were they so superior that
they believed they were the only who knew the way! This is the
Manifested Sons of God Shepherd/Discipling doctrine.
The Bishop and Elders of ETEC led not by "information, encouragement
and example" but by throwing their weight around especially in money
matters. They coerced some members to leave their jobs in the secular
world and work for the church at lower salaries, however, the moment
they did not obey the Meares family they were fired without compensation.
This was done to at least twenty members. One such member was given
$1.63 in severance pay. They often organized functions, put a member
in charge but do not give him/her any money to pay for expenses. The
financial burden was then left on the shoulders of that member. For
example, one summer they organized a youth rally in JFK stadium and
invited some nationally known speakers, offering to host the visitors.
They put a young married couple in charge and promptly left them with
all the bills.
In some cases the Elders would force the senior members to sign over
their properties or forge their signatures in order to confiscate their
money. In one such incident, they visited a woman who was recently
widowed. They began in intimidating and hounding her to sign over
her property. They were not aware that her son was in the bedroom
asleep. He awoke in time to toss them out of the house. In another
incident Don Meares walked into the office of one of the choir
members and informed him that he was there to take over his
window installation business. Through the mercies of God
and some good old common sense the member categorically
denied his request. He still owns this business today!
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