GFA Streaming Prayer Meeting

this is some sort of sick joke right? (bro Arthur, I mean YOU no offense...please know that)

Saints,

We are not actively promoting GFA on the forums here, as many are aware of the current problems and losing of ECFA status. Please be in prayer for the ministry and leadership that they would repent where they would need to and seek the face of the LORD.

I have known of Paul Hattaway for many years and through multiple testimonies he is a dear brother and equips very small groups, house churches and indigenous networks of believers to share the gospel with unreached people groups: http://asiaharvest.org

There are no large central offices for this ministry and everything is run essentially by faith in a very small and frugal way. The philosophy of how we run SermonIndex and how Asia Harvest runs is very similar.

We recommend this ministry. For only $1.80 you can give a bible to an underground Chinese house church brother or sister: http://asiaharvest.org/china-bible-fund/

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED TO HOLD GOSPEL FOR ASIA ACCOUNTABLE FOR FRAUDULENT SOLICITATION AND MISUSE OF CHARITABLE DONATIONS
For Immediate Release
Contact: Marc R. Stanley (469) 831-7575
Monday, February 8, 2016
Dallas-based Stanley Law Group initiated a class action lawsuit today in United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas against Gospel for Asia, Inc. and several affiliates for fraudulently soliciting hundreds of millions of dollars in charitable donations, and then misdirecting the money into the personal empire of Gospel for Asia’s leader, K.P. Yohannan.
The lawsuit alleges that Gospel for Asia, Yohannan, and other GFA officials misrepresented to donors how, when, and where charitable donations would be spent, and funneled vast amounts of the hundreds of millions of dollars GFA has collected into for-profit businesses and an expensive headquarters. Plaintiffs Matthew and Jennifer Dickson charge defendants with violations of RICO and the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, as well as fraud and unjust enrichment.
Gospel for Asia is a global missionary organization that operates in South Asia, primarily within India. GFA tells potential donors that it supplies the "poorest of the poor” with food, provisions, and a Christian message. Lead attorney Marc R. Stanley said, "K.P. Yohannan and his Gospel for Asia inner circle have been exploiting the goodwill and generosity of devout Christians around the country for years. Gospel for Asia should return all the money it’s taken from donors who thought they were contributing to charity.”
Stanley Law Group (SLG) is a Dallas-based law firm that focuses on complex litigation. SLG also has offices in California and Oregon. Stanley is a past president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
------------------------------------------------------------

"Although somewhat foreseeable, this still feels a little shocking, sad and draining. I can't help but think that if KP Yohannan and GFA had chosen to provide answers to questions, compassion to staff and a small amount of contrition over the clear mishandling of funds, none of this would have escalated to this point. The hubris being witnessed here is astounding and somewhat reminiscent of Mars Hill. I am truly so sorry for all of those hurting from this and I pray for ALL involved.

There have been many documented cases of abuse where the victims have steadfastly maintained that all they really wanted was an apology and the bad behavior to stop. They only turned to the courts when they were rebuffed, ignored or further victimized. This is a very real pattern. KP has no one to blame but himself for this. GFA has some of the most dedicated and devout Christian staff and contributors in the world. Grace would have been extended had not pride and arrogance stood stubbornly in the way. One can't help but see the parallels between GFA,Teen Mania and Mars Hill.

Thank you to the people who had the courage to see this through. I do not consider KP to be a shepherd or GFA to be a church. Based on all I have read KP is a predatory entrepreneur and a con artist and GFA was the vehicle in his scheme to obtain staggering wealth, power and control. Thank you to all the people, especially the truly redoubtable Warren Throckmorton, who worked tirelessly on this case. I expect more justice will follow.

This is a terrible situation fraught with much suffering. I pray that the best product borne from all this will be a general deterrent to all would be con artists out there who seek to prey on trusting Christians because they find them an easy mark. I hope this action marks the beginning of a new era and that reform in this industry will be a byproduct of the pain and suffering coming out of all this betrayal and disillusion. God will not be mocked. I pray that people will not be driven away from the one true God and will not be deceived into believing that the actions of KPY and GFA represent Christendom. They do not. They are one step away from a Nigerian 419 scam and should be regarded as such."

Where was the discernment among the "leaders"?

http://www.worldmag.com/2016/02/gospel_for_asia_sued_for_fraud

good point romanchog

Unfortunately GFA and KP Yohannan are not accountable to anyone in the body
of Christ and therefore not under any ecclesiastical jurisdiction whatsoever, He has no one that he must submit to. He is is own boss so to speak and presides over his vast enterprises both GFA and believers church and all the for profit businesses he owns and operates.
He also is the principal and owner and presiding master of the Believers church in India and therefore also unaccountable to anyone.

How then should he and his underlings be corrected and brought to an accounting for all his misdeeds, fraud and criminal behaviour in a church setting?

VIOLATIONS OF THE RACKETEER INFLUENCED AND CORRUPT
ORGANIZATIONS ACT [RICO] 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968

"57. As described in detail in the factual allegations above, Defendants agreed to and did conduct and participate in the conduct of the enterprise’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity and for the unlawful purpose of intentionally defrauding Plaintiffs and the Class. Defendants intentionally made materially false representations to Plaintiffs and the members of the Class that resulted in their contributions of money for charitable purposes to their detriment."

GFA is involved in organized crime according to the lawsuit. This really no longer
simply an internal church matter. How in the world did he get away with it for so long and to defraud so many without any alarm bells going off is beyond me.

"KPY and GFA are involved in no less than 70 lawsuits, the majority of which they are the plaintiff. KP is using YOUR sacrificial contributions to fund his egotistical lust for conquest in the courtrooms with lawsuits against his own government and Fortune 500 companies like Google and Facebook because he doesn't like what is printed about him. Does that sound like a Christian leader/brother who is following Paul's instructions? Or does it sound like an entrepreneurial schemer and bully who is using every tool at his disposal to keep his racket going? http://indiankanoon.org/search... Please review this list. I think it will really help you."

GFA was promoted heavily and prominently here for many years. No discussion of GFA that dared to question KP and the gang was tolerated whatsoever. Posts were instantly removed when this organization was mentioned in less than a flattering light. The leadership of this forum needs to admit it because you missed it seriously with them.
(hope it was not pride) Otherwise the credibility of sermon index is subject to serious questioning as well.

No discussion of GFA that dared to question KP and the gang was tolerated whatsoever. Posts were instantly removed when this organization was mentioned in less than a flattering light. The leadership of this forum needs to admit it You missed it seriously with them. Otherwise the credibility of this place is subject to serious questioning as well.

Brother,

I would like to clarify things for you and for those reading this.

1. Yes, we have supported Gospel for Asia for many years and have featured KP and his teachings also. There was no wrong in this and we are not apologetic.

2. A few years ago there was one or more indian individuals who were in a very weird, incoherent way slandering KP Yohannan and gospel for asia in anyway they could and it was treated as spam, just similar to a fellow who emails almost every north american ministry about paul washer. You can tell by reading his strange rambling emails there is something of a mental problem and infatuation with proofing ill.

3. Through the revelation of more current things we were at first defending GFA and in the stance of desiring there to be clear evidence before we allow talk to occour which at the time was not charitable.

4. Now since it was proven that ECFA had concerns with GFA and took them off their list and other things have been revealed that we are not hiding any truth of the problems as they are common now and we ourselves understand them and therefore are not promoting giving to GFA actively or overly promoting KP Yohannans teachings etc.

5. Lastly, towards discernment, they were a vibrant work of God, 3+ million came to the LORD in unreached people groups primarily. Almost all Christian groups in India and missions groups respected them and saw the fruit. Sadly choices made in the last 5 years have changed things and therefore everyone simply needs to re-evaluate how much they promote or get behind what GFA is doing now. I do apologize to any saints who have ben hurt by these things and feel their giving was not used properly. I myself have a peace that God will use what I gave in faith to build His eternal kingdom.

For those who were giving do prayerfully consider what the LORD wants you to do. I myself am giving to ASIA HARVEST http://www.asiaharvest.org which is a group that has almost zero office staff and does an excellent work to equip underground house church works all over the world. They have an aim toward unreached peoples.

In the end any pastor can fall into great sin or fall away from the faith so we have to trust the Lord, promote the Words of God even ministered through fallible men and pray for God's mercy on all of us to finish well in the end.

Thank you for your reply

You said

"Lastly, towards discernment, they were a vibrant work of God, 3+ million came to the LORD in unreached people groups primarily. Almost all Christian groups in India and missions groups respected them and saw the fruit. "

where is the evidence of such a statement? Or is this something GFA said about themselves? IF that is the case then why would anyone believe them?

From 2008 (looks like the scam was on a long time ago)

GFA says allegations politically motivated (were they?)

Published 11 June 2008 | Rinu Varghese

Gospel for Asia mission founder and President Dr K. P Yohannan brushed aside all allegations of "swindling" and "fraud", after a team of Kerala police from the intelligence department led an inquiry over how the trust received and spent a massive Rs 900 crore of donations from abroad.

Gospel for Asia's "unprecedented” success in India is being attacked through the media by Hindu fundamentalists, said K.P. Yohannan, who is currently in Dallas, Texas.

Recently, a popular weekly magazine in the country reported of Dr. K P Yohannan being arrested and his office being raided by the police in its investigation.

Commenting on the miswritten report, the Christian leader said, "They said they had no clue how that had gotten into the magazine, which is not true. And they found out there is somebody within the office who deliberately planted that at the last minute. It is totally a misinformation.”

Several Christian organizations, Yohannan says, have been deliberately attacked in this "propaganda war.”

"We learned that this is a whole new, carefully thought”“through strategy to hurt the work of God by propaganda... Many, many ministries are coming under such attack.”

Also under the lens is a land transaction worth Rs 130 crore said to have been undertaken by the trust some months back. The Church, however, denied the charges and claimed that its working was transparent.

Dr. K P Yohannan founded the Gospel for Asia based in Thiruvalla, Kottayam district in 1986 and the Believers Church in 2001. His popularity in India rose after the mission’s radio broadcasting, "Athmiya Yatra" (Spiritual Journey), became widely accepted by the people. Currently GFA Radio airs evangelistic programs in over 103 languages in India.

"Once widely credible ministry" in whom the credibility was predominately
self created is no credibility at all in the eyes of the Lord.

Christianity Today 2016 February
INTERNATIONAL
Lawsuit Claims Gospel for Asia Misused Most Donations to 10/40 Window
(UPDATED) Citing 'innocent until proven guilty,' GFA calls class-action suit a 'blessing' for chance to put allegations to rest.
Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra [ POSTED 2/12/2016 11:44AM ]

Lawsuit Claims Gospel for Asia Misused Most Donations to 10/40 WindowCourtesy of Gospel for Asia
Gospel for Asia is most active in India.

One of the world’s largest missions agencies, Gospel for Asia (GFA), has long promised that it spends 100 percent of donations in the field””specifically, in the 10/40 Window.

More like 13 percent, alleges a lawsuit filed this week by a couple in Arkansas who donated to GFA based on that promise. (and even that is difficult if not impossible to prove)

Their lawyers hope a judge will grant the suit class-action status. Such a request will take months to resolve. But if granted, the lawsuit could encompass hundreds of thousands of people across America who have donated millions of dollars to the massive ministry founded by K. P. Yohannan in 1979.

Despite a robust Christmas catalog and other fundraising materials that advertise how donors can support specific needs among Christians in India and other Asian mission fields,
"GFA spent only $14.9 million of $118.9 million on actual relief efforts, instead spending far more on salaries and overhead for Believers Church and construction of the GFA headquarters,” claims the lawsuit, reviewed by CT. The numbers come from 2013, the latest year for which financial reporting is available and the year plaintiffs Matthew and Jennifer Dickson donated about $1,750 to GFA......

GFA lost its stamp of approval from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) in October, after an ECFA investigation concluded that GFA””one of its charter members””had violated five of the accountability group’s seven core standards. This included misleading donors and board members about the state of the ministry’s finances, delaying sending money to its overseas partners, and hiding transactions from both the Indian government and US officials.......

GFA's most significant presence is in India, where it has four entities: the 2.6 million-member Believers Church, Gospel for Asia”“India, Last Hours Ministries, and Love India Ministries.
Patrick Johnstone, author of the first six editions of the widespread missions handbook Operation World, ranked GFA second among the "world’s largest mission agencies in 2010” in his book The Future of the Global Church. GFA is listed below Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ International) and above Operation Mobilisation, the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Missions Board, Wycliffe Bible Translators, and Youth with a Mission.

Since GFA is registered as a religious organization, it doesn’t need to make its financial statements public in the United States. But it does have to publicly account for all funds it spends in India, according to the lawsuit. In 2013, the most recent year for which data is available, GFA collected $115 million in donations worldwide. About $90 million came from American donors.
GFA’s national offices in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany dispersed about $118.6 million that year, according to the lawsuit.
The money went toward administrative needs ($27.8 million, including $24.3 million for construction of the new headquarters), GFA affiliates in India ($5.3 million), and GFA International ($76.3 million).
But the four India-based GFA affiliates only reported receiving $33.6 million from GFA International, leaving $43 million unaccounted for, the lawsuit claims based on financial filings in India.
GFA India had some funds in the bank, and reported spending $54.5 million in 2013, according to the lawsuit. That included:
$9.2 million on field administrative expenses.
$14.7 million on the purchase and construction of the for-profit Believers Church Hospital.
$15.7 million on Believers Church salaries and overhead.

$14.9 million on relief to the poor and needy, including welfare of children ($6.3 million),religious schools/education of preachers ($5.8 million), digging of bore wells ($1.4 million), relief for victims of natural calamities ($0.5 million), welfare of the aged/widows ($436), and welfare of orphans ($0).
That means that of the $115 million donated in 2013, just under $15 million went to actual relief work, the lawsuit claims. (and even that is difficult if not impossible to prove)
The lawsuit also alleges discrepancies between the amount that GFA collected and the amount it spent for "Jesus Wells” that provide clean water to villages in India. In 2012, GFA collected more than $3.5 million, which should have been enough to dig 2,500 wells. Instead, it spent $500,000, the amount needed for 350 wells. In 2013, GFA collected more than $4 million, enough for 2,800 wells, but spent only $700,000, enough for 500 wells.
Similarly, between 2010 and 2013, GFA gathered more than $4.2 million to support widows and orphans, but only spent about $31,000 for widows and nothing for orphans, the lawsuit claims.( and even that is difficult if not impossible to prove)

Part of the trouble is the close relationship between GFA and Believers Church, two separate entities that are both founded and headed by a single person: Yohannan.

Since it was founded in 2003, Believers Church purchased a rubber plantation, an undergraduate institute, a teaching hospital, at least six primary schools, and sponsorship of a soccer club. All of the endeavors, except the soccer club, are for-profit, according to the lawsuit.

Another sticking point is the funding of a new headquarters in Wills Point, Texas, that cost $45 million. GFA announced that a $20 million anonymous donation was received in 2013, but that money was actually sent over from GFA’s India office.
"Specifically, that $20 million came from the cash reserves of GFA”“India, which consisted of donations to GFA solicited under the promise of GFA’s 100 percent to-the-field guarantee,” states the lawsuit. "Thus, money donated from the United States designated for specific charitable purposes in ‘the field’ in fact was spent in the United States to develop the Wills Point compound.”
The lawsuit, which has yet to be certified as a class action by a judge, is asking that GFA return donations and stop its "unlawful, deceptive, fraudulent, and unfair practices.”
In today's response, GFA attributed the confusion over how it has spent donations to rapid growth while serving in "some of the most complex environments in the world."

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2016/february/lawsuit-gospel-for-asia-misused-donations-gfa-kp-yohannan.html

Dr. K.P. Yohannan said on his Facebook page on November 9, 2013 ·

What is lacking today is godly leaders with genuine discernment, who fear the Lord above all else.

now thats some mighty fine preaching