For several days I have not had access to the Internet. I find it interesting now to find an account of our visit to the 3ABN Camp meeting. It is not surprising that some of the information given is not accurate. Who would expect truthfulness from those quarters?
Dr. Walter Thompson came to us twice and told us we were welcome, and he even added the second time that we were always welcome. So we may come back less than 5 years form now. He also wanted to know if we had any special reason to be there. We told him it was now five years since we had been at a 3ABN Camp Meeting, and that we had returned to "celebrate".
Walt admitted that 3ABN had encountered serious difficulties. We told him that such a ministry will meet difficulties as long as they spread falsehood, because the Lord cannot add His blessings to such untruthfulness. I told Walt that I know the Lord will some day show him what honesty is.
Anyman tries to inform you how many people spoke to Linda. Was he watching us all the time? I can tell you that we were watching Danny Shelton for quite a while, and would you believe it that more than twice as many people came to talk to Linda during that time than those who wanted to talk to Danny.
Linda and I ran into Pastor John Lomacang as well. Soon after his wife joined us. I reminded them I had been at 3ABN when they first arrived, and I had thought of them as such a nice couple, until. . . They remembered our first meeting, and Mrs. Lomacang tried to assure us they still were a nice couöle. John said something about things being very complicated. He seemed so disturbed he wanted to disappear, but his wife insisted on staying and hearing more. It was such a surprise to her that Linda had never been given the opportunity to defend herself against all the false accusations leveled at her, neither by the board nor the church. She wanted to know why? Linda told her how Danny had ordered her to stay away because it would be of no use to her, since they had all the answers anyhow. This was too much for John, and he finally managed to get his wife away so she would not be exposed to more. Truth can hurt when it hits in a sore spot.
Quite enlightening!!!
Linda warned one of those who wanted to talk to her that Mollie was watching intently, so it might endanger her employment. But that did not deter this person from wanting to talk to Linda.
It was encouraging meeeting people right there at the 3ABN Camp Meeting who had watched the whole drama right from the beginning, people who stated that the speed with which Linda was expelled with what looked like vengeance, showed clearly that someone had an agenda against her which was not honorable.
On my way home I was pondering why some of those people in high positions had so long been telling lies. The words of another wife to someone still in a high position at 3ABN were ringing in my ear. In spite of the welcome by Walt she said clearly and loudly that Linda with all of her lies was not welcome. What lies? Has any of them ever been able to point out a single lie that Linda has uttered? Thus far I have never had them point at anything she has said that is not true, nor have they succeeded in proving it.
Is there an excuse? Yes there is, provided you have a greater belief in expediency than in following the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. Those who tell the truth may loose what they like to keep.
John Lomacang might well have lost his job if he had stuck to the truth rather than defending his boss.
Dr. Walter Thompson might not be the chairman of the board now if he had not defended his president.
Millions have lost their lives because the Words of Christ meant more to them than following their church leaders. Scripture refers to the time we are approaching as the time of trouble. It tells us that there might well be trouble in ministries we have loved and admired. Do we worship God or the ministries?
Some might still be hiding. It was dark outside when we went to the car. Suddenly I heard a voice out of the darkness, but did I hear right? Then it was repeated: "Johann!" It was a clear call. I looked into the shadow and as my eyes got used to the dark I saw a whole family standing there. There was one of those men I had not always agreed with while I was working for 3ABN, but I know he was a kind man. I know he has devoted his whole life, his knowledge, his energy, to what he believed was a true ministry, and which is still proclaiming a great deal of the Advent Message for today. There we stood and embraced each other in the dark. The father, the mother, and then also the children.
- You want to see Linda too, don't you? Yes, they sure did, and so they moved in the darkness to the car where Linda was, and each of them embraced Linda whom they had not talked to for more than five years. Just like Nicodemus they came out in the dark. That whole family escaped the count of the reporter cited elsewhere.
Are you still asking if the visit to the 3ABN Camp Meeting five years later was worth the trouble? Thank God, it was!
