BREAKING: 3ABN and Amazing Facts to join forces

By Alexander Carpenter

3:37 PM

According to Bonnie Ensminger, secretary to Doug Batchelor, Amazing Facts and Three Angels Broadcasting Network will be "uniting."

Doug Batchelor, the president of Amazing Facts and senior minister at the Sacramento Central Seventh-day Adventist Church has flown to the studios of 3ABN, Inc of Thompsonville, Illinois and will join with current 3ABN president/speaker Danny Shelton in a live announcement at 8:00 PM CDT today.

Sources, including Save3ABN.com, suggest that organizational change will include Doug Batchelor assuming the presidency of 3ABN although questions remain about the continued role of Danny Shelton in the TV ministry he started in 1986.

UPDATE: Here's the official press release.

6:00 PM PDT: Watch the announcement on 3ABN LIVE.

Comments

[friendly transcriber]

Live transcript edited for shortness.
By Anonymous.

Last days old men dreaming dreams, making alliances and amalgamations. Casualistically conversations??

Spirit of prophesy manifested and tested- proven 'round the rectangular table.

Year of victory. School of evangelism visions of union percolating signs.

A thumb drive miracle. Hallelujah, graphics!

Unanimously voted. 1+1= whatever God wants. ASI making it a three way. Tool of dissemination 24/7/365 around the world 'ye.

Head hurts. Sorry, that would be my (transcriber) head hurting.

Regarding Danny on 3ABN- "Good for the soul bad for the reputation." - Danny Shelton on Danny Shelton. Doug Batchelor is President. Danny is riding into the sunset. Nice mustache and Southwestern jacket by the way... Danny asks someone to comment so he'll stop talking so much. Someone help the man!

If you don't stabilize you fossilize so open up and enjoy. Enhancements of stewardship doing more.

Wedding.

Whats that? Divorce? Molestation? Has nothing to do with it.

[Russell in Aus]

inevitable...
do we all now pull up our tents and move a few kilometres to the right?

[friendly transcriber]

Part Two

Oprah?

Musical chairs. Doug is now on Dannys right hand. Dwight is there. No, the other Dwight. Airborne Ranger Dwight of Remnant Publications.

3ABN on Dish/ DirectTV via Sky Angel- the shady Christian broadcasting cartel.

Friendly transcriber can't take it anymore and is signing off.

[Alexander]

Main point - amidst some weird talk of different people having dreams about tables and testing one guy about where people were sitting around the table - is that Danny Shelton will be some kind of director of world evangelism and Doug will be the president of 3ABN. Lots of unknowns, but plenty of talk.

[Johnny A. Ramirez]

Just watched part of it. I think it is a good move all around. Thanks for linking us to this Alex!

[Dick Larsen]

"Friendly Transcriber", you've heard the voice and seen the muzzle flash. Best to stand on the bank... in the shadows.

"What hath God wrought!" speaks of doom as much as wonder.

Pressing together, pressing those bills into the plate, the divine instructor speaks, disunion is weakness... dynamic... spirit filled... undiluted truth... mobilize an army... forge an impressive team... one Power...

..."opportunity to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ".

It may be my imagination but I keep hearing the faint sound of dying sheep, just off the path of the marching armies.

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

Why is it that those who have so little to offer have so much to say? Just try to imagine Doug 24/7!

Even the Gospel of John runs only 33 2/3 pages in the KJV and the Epistle to the Ephesians runs 5 pages. Is there a difference between assurance and gotcha! signed Tom

[Alexander]

Tom, I think that you are onto something there.

I was recently explaining a metaphysical concept - very poorly - to a friend of mine who travels around the world evaluating new technology ideas for a Silicon Valley VC firm.

He stopped me mid-sentence and said, "I see hand waving." He said that when the hands come out and wave during a presentation, he knows that the numbers, reasoning, etc. is getting mushy.

In other words, the person is lacking confidence in the logic.

I shut up. He was right about me.

Then I've started watching politicians, pastors and other students and noticing when the hands come out. Of course it doesn't apply all the time, but it's interesting to pay attention when and to think why especially when explanations go long. . .

[DONNA BURKETT]

I THINK DANNY SHELTON ...JUST HUNG HIMSELF....AS USUAL THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT IN THE END....NO MATTER WHAT NO CHRISTIAN WOULD TALK ABOUT LINDA AS DANNY HAS...

[Cliff Goldstein]

Cynical, cynical, cynical. Whatever the problems of 3ABN, at least they're trying to reach souls. And Doug . . . he's above moral reproach. Sounds as if 3ABN is making a very smart move, linking now to a reputable, firm and loyal SDA ministry.

Well, I know many will cringe at the analogy but bear with me, it's just an analogy. Steve Jobs was great when he first founded Apple; then, the same visionary stuff that got the company started got him thrown out later. I know he's back with the iPod and all that but the point's still the same.

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

What point? Reach souls with What? An Investigation? Coming up on every point? Great News! Tom

[Nic Samojluk]

As far as I understand, the General Conference did approve this merger of Amazing Facts and 3-ABN. Does this mean that 3-ABN will cease to be an independent ministry?

I imagine that upon learning of this move, Linda Shelton must have experienced a sense of relief. A drastic change was needed, and reaching out to a man like Doug Batchelor was a smart move.

Let's hope that this marriage between these two ministries lasts longer than the marriage of Linda and Danny!

[Dr.Joseph S. Uniat]

Both of these were independant Ministries. Why was the approval of the GC. required?

Consolidations in the SOP is shunned. Consolidation of the Publishing Work (spoken word)

The Lord has presented before me matters that cause me to tremble for the institutions at Battle Creek. He has laid these things before me, and I shall not be consistent if I do not seek to repress the spirit in Battle Creek, which reaches out for more power, when for years there have not been men who were qualified to preside, with Christian truthfulness, over the charge they already have. {SpM 36.1}

The scheme for consolidation is detrimental to the cause of present truth. Battle Creek has all the power she should have. Some in that place have advanced selfish plans, and is any branch of the work promised a measure of success, they have not exercised the spirit which lets well enough alone, but have made an effort to attach these interests to the great whole. They have striven to embrace altogether too much, and yet, they are eager to get more. When they can show that they have made these plans under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then confidence in them may be restored. {SpM 36.2}

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

Yes Joseph,

But the "amazing facts" are: the consolidation of power was a threat to James and Ellen White not the Lord. All the consolidated power of hell couldn't prevail against the Lord. Your point is well taken as it applies to our chain of hospitals and clinics. The pay scale at the top of the organizational tree is obscene. Signed Tom

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

If one were going to build a Christian Theology, or even a Christian ministry, why in the world would one focus on the Book of Daniel and Revelation? Amazing Facts is not based upon the Gospel of John, the Epistle to the Romans, the Epistle to the Galatians, the Epistle to the Ephesians, The Epistle to the Hebrews, or even the Sermon on the Mount or the Epistle of James based upon that sermon. If one is going to feature strange creatures, why not focus on the vision of Peter? Where in all the trappings, electronic, and histrionics does one find the Gospel? Amazing Facts is simply a retread Bible Readings for the Home Circle in "living color". If one were limited to one word to discribe Amazing Facts it would be "slick". signed Tom

[Arlyn]

Dear Tom, please define "obscene" pay scale in your estimation.

(Latin: obscenus- literally "from filth")

[Elaine]

Tom, it's too bad that much of Adventism has been known by the drama and hyperbole given Daniel and Revelation. It's a fear-based message devoid of the Gospel. Yet it has been the overriding theme of SDA evangelism from the first. The Gospel of Love doesn't attract the curious and those looking for secret codes hidden in the Bible. No different than the DaVinci code--it's solely made to excite and induce fear--the same fear of Hell that the Christian church has preached for two millennia.

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

Obscene pay--being paid more than one is worth (meaning education, training, skill, track record), or what one produces, or the risks involved.

Filth--like being in "bed" with the Board. Tom

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

Evangelism means Good News. In the case of man—the Good News is redemption from the consequences of his failures. Therefore: if one were to list the significant events of the formation of Christianity what would be the top ten?

1. Creation? (The Covenant of Redemption)

2. The Fall? (The Promise)

3. The Birth of the Christ Child? (Beginning of the End)

4. Christ’s Baptism? (The Announcement)

5. Christ’s Temptations? (The Test)

6. Christ’s Miracle working Ministry? (The Revelation of Divinity—What God is really like)

7. His Crucifixion? (The Price)

8. His Resurrection? (The Payment)

9. His Ascension? (The Reward)

10. Appearance to Paul? (The End of the Beginning)

Are these not the essential amazing facts? So why the fascination with images, beasts, numbers, and speculations? The litany differs only slightly from the triumphalism of Schofield et al and is not a nickle more redemptive or evangelic. signed Tom

[Arlyn]

Don't want to distract from the theological emphasis of this thread. So sometime and somewhere else, I'd like to pursue the morality of wealth, pay, worth, risk and relative importance of people. Are you game, Tom?

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

Arlyn

The spirit is willing but at 82 the flesh is weak. My point is simply this: Since Medicare and Mediaid etc. The watch dogs have been stealing from the work dogs. I am too far away from data to enter into a debate. But from data I have seen--an inordinate amount is spent on administration to the expense of the care givers. The bottom line keeps getting cut and the cutters remain on the take.
However, I am no longer in the stream to give you current data--so the debate would have to be philosophic which I think would be unsatisfactory to both of us. Let us just say: One man's wind fall is another man's obscenity. Signed Tom

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

Arlyn

My most current data source.
http://www.wherethemoneygoes.com/newSearch.php?SearchString=adventist

"The idea that an executive walked away with $4.7 million was unbelievable to us, particularly for a voluntary termination," said Roger Ashley, human resources director for Adventist Health in Roseville, Calif. And even considering the $686,423 in retirement that Breckenridge funded himself and which was included in the $4.7 million figure, there is still plenty to question in the way AHC compensated its executives.

For starters, the chairmen of the boards at both Adventist Health System and Adventist Health serve without compensation. Sources familiar with board structures point out that a paid chairman is more easily influenced by a CEO, and Wisbey, a lifelong church employee and administrator with little in-depth knowledge of the health care industry, is the only union president to have been hired by a system, at the time when Bryan Breckenridge served as CEO.

Also as part of the $4.7 million package, the document itemizes $648,769 in unused vacation and sick leave Breckenridge accumulated over his 25 year career with AHC, and more than $1.5 million in cash, benefits and deferred retirement benefits because Breckenridge retired with an "evergreen" contract that gave him three years of severance pay and benefits if he didn’t accept a job with a competing organization. An "evergreen" contract is one that automatically renews every day, so at any point three years still remain on the contract.

[Arlyn]

Wow. that link is quite an eye opener, especially in it's references to our well known adventist hospitals and systems.

You just made this topic even more interesting, relevant and morally compelling. It's us.

(SDA organizations- something directly accountable to us, that we can rightfully re-direct, that speaks volumes to the world about how seriously we take our spirituality.)

But I really do need to stop here and be polite. This thread belongs somewhere else.

[Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer]

Arlyn

I agree but frankly, I don't have the strength to do the research necessary. Try Google--you will find a lot more. Tom