U.K. Charity Commission Considering Probe of Gospel for Asia

The Gospel for Asia rumbles have reached across the pond.
Earlier today, the Civil Society News reported that a Charity Commission spokesperson told them that “The Charity Commission is assessing the information provided to see what role there is for the Commission.”
The article referred to reports from this blog and Christianity Today as playing a role in the assessment.
The UK board is much like other boards. K.P. Yohannan and his son sit on the board with two others. The independent members could easily be stalled by K.P. and his son’s contrary votes.
GFA UK
 
 

Canadian Church Pulls Support for Gospel for Asia

Faith Mennonite Church yesterday alerted the congregation that Gospel for Asia will be removed from their offering schedule for at least two years.

As a leadership team, we have been watching the situation with GFA (Gospel for Asia) as significant concerns unfold about their financial management over the past number of months.  Given the most recent updates that we have seen, along with a lack of response to our query to GFA Canada for clarity on the situation, we have decided that it is appropriate to remove GFA from our offering schedule for the two years remaining in this offering cycle. While this situation is unfortunate, we feel that this is the path of most diligence at this time, given the information that we have been provided.

For an outline of the situation, please read this article from Christianity Today :http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/december-web-only/report-details-why-gospel-for-asia-lost-ecfa-membership.html

For some background reading, please review:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/october-web-only/why-gospel-for-asia-kicked-out-of-ecfa-yohannan.html

For GFA USA’s initial response, please read here:

http://www.gfa.org/ecfa/

For a response from a Canadian pastor, please read here:

/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/A-Pastors-Appeals-to-Gospel-For-Asia-final-draft.pdf

On Tuesday, I disclosed that K.P. Yohannan fired two board members without due process and possibly in violation of Canadian law. Last year, I reported that Canadian contributions to GFA India were not reported in India.

Letter From a Former Gospel for Asia Donor Asking GFA Leaders to Repent

A reader who wishes to remain anonymous gave nearly $90,000 to Gospel for Asia over the last four years (click to view redacted giving history). Recently, he evaluated his decision and stopped giving to GFA. Feeling burdened for the work GFA claims to do, the individual wrote this letter to GFA. I have the person’s permission to publish it and hope it will stimulate reflection at GFA and among remaining GFA supporters.

I’ve seen this coming from the beginning months ago, but I’m now more prayerfully convinced than ever that the Lord will continue to slowly, methodically, and systematically dismantle GFA *unless* there is full and complete repentance from KP and top leadership. What does this mean exactly? What *specific* actions does KP have to take to stop God’s increasing righteous wrath? It means KP will have to A) sell ALL the ‘for profit business’ stuff which was so deceptively and fraudulently acquired with donor funds, and start using this money from the sales and all other donated funds specifically for its donor-intended purposes precisely as advertised on the GFA websites, and B) no more hoarding massive cash reserves in banks for accumulating interest but send the vast majority of it to the mission field. It’s hundreds of millions of dollars which was donated for and belongs to the Lord’s work!
Also, no more false advertising, including, for example, $35/mo BOH child support when it’s really more like $10 or less being spent per child. So many more kids could have been impacted through the program. With dynamic financial growth in recent years, GFA has also had enough money to support at least 50,000 missionaries, but sadly, KP chose to support only 14,000 instead. The main focus is not on supporting missions but his denomination Believer’s Church of which he is the head, archbishop, titled the Metropolitan, “His Grace or His Eminence the Most Reverend” Dr. KP Yohannan. In fact, KP has a B.A. and the doctorate is only honorary and the religious title of archbishop has been ruled “invalid” because the two bishops from the Church of North India (CNI) who conducted KP’s ordination without Church consent were dismissed from the Church for doing so.
The Lord’s patience and mercy are being tried to the maximum. This unrepentance mocks the Lord. If KP and his wife and son as well as top leadership just continue to try to wait it out and “weather the storm” and tinker a little here and there with a few more relatively minor changes without dealing with the heart of the problem outlined above, then the bleeding will continue and the damage will not cease. KP cannot continue to mock and try God by keeping the massive palatial state-of-the-art hospitals, posh private schools, agricultural plantation, etc., all bought with donor money rather than having that money sent to save lost perishing souls and help the needy. I believe it will be very much like Moses and the Pharoah, and the “plagues” will not stop for KP but the Lord will continue to increase the pressure and it will just get worse and worse unless and until KP truly repents which means DRASTIC action as outlined above. If KP will just do these TWO things (above), then it will make the biggest difference in the world in God’s eyes and GFA may be saved rather than steadily and eventually become just a shadow, a skeleton of what it once was. Precious time has been lost. Time is of the essence now. Action must be taken quickly and decisively, and not to save face or personal reputation, but for the sake of the lost.
There is one more secondary but also important thing that must be changed both in the GFA offices and in Believer’s Church in Asia. The Lord did not appoint KP to a position of higher authority and power or to establish a denomination under his own name sustained by donor funds, nor to bribe others to appoint him to the title. Nor was this done with donor knowledge or consent. God appoints his shepherds to be godly, lowly and meek, yet wise spiritual protectors and guides. Not corrupt, lying, hypocritical, glory-seeking, and foolish. There are many who would now argue that even if KP once had an anointing, he has disqualified himself from the ministry through his many serious immoral and potentially criminal actions, becoming a wolf among the sheep. What’s more, God does not acknowledge so-called “spiritual leaders” seeking Pharisee-like admiration & reverence and power & authority for themselves, these so-called “right reverend fathers in God,” archbishops, or “venerable archdeacons”, whether they imitate Eastern Orthodox or any other man-made ordinances, including Hindu-like pagan practices like praying around a metal symbol or icon as BC members do. Truly, truly no. No, indeed, Apostle Paul knew nothing of these mere inventions of man. They are an abomination to the Lord. Such idolatry must not be practiced, and such a position of superiority is not to be given even to pastors and teachers, or to the wealthy and esteemed among believers, NO, but to servants, ay, and to slaves. “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.'” (Matthew 20:26-27).
But KP Yohannan has clearly and blatantly shown he wants to bypass all this and be venerated here on earth rather than wait for reward in heaven. He usurps the honour and authority that belongs only to Christ by having people bow to him and kiss his ring. Apostle Peter did not allow himself to be bowed to (Acts 10:25-26). Not even the angels allow themselves to be bowed to (Revelation 22:8-10).
But for those of us who wish to be servants of the gospel of Jesus Christ and not masters of special position and power or protestant popes of church denominations to receive the veneration of man which only Jesus the Head of the Church Himself has a right to: “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
This is my third and final warning. I hope it will be heeded for the sake of GFA staff and for the sake of the lost in Asia — the good GFA work that some of the donor money is used for. Otherwise, if the Lord’s warnings continue to be ignored, then GFA will continue to go down. Our Lord will not tolerate being tried or mocked by disobedience and will reveal His power in even more awesome and frightening ways as He did with Israelites who warning after warning simply refused to repent. Our Lord loves KP and GFA workers too much to want to let this evil destroy GFA. Please KP, in the name of the Living God, for your own blessed sake and everyone else involved, I humbly desperately beg you, repent! genuinely REPENT!!

Interested readers, what do you think of these conditions? I suspect former staff might weigh in as well.
Discuss…

 

Gospel for Asia CEO K.P. Yohannan Dismisses Canadian Board Members; Former Director Seeks Government Investigation

GFA LOGO
Logo from GFA website

A former board member of Gospel for Asia Canada is alleging that he was illegally dismissed by board president and GFA International Director K.P. Yohannan. Garry Cluley asked the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) to investigate the recent dismissal of two Gospel for Asia Canada board members. In an alleged violation of GFA’s bylaws and Canadian law regarding charities, former Board member Garry Cluley was dismissed by Yohannan via letter dated December 8, 2015. In the letter (see below), Yohannan stated that Cluley’s term of service was up and he was being dismissed because “The Board needs to welcome the fresh perspective and ideas that new members can offer.” GFA’s bylaws nor Canadian law regarding charities provide for dismissal of a director without due process of board action. Cluley alleges that his dismissal was not allowed by law and occurred as he was asking for financial statements and GFA’s joint ministry agreement.
A time line of events was recorded in Cluley’s letter to the CRA:

I, Garry Cluley, became a board member in 2013.
Due to allegations of wrong-doing against our organization, in a board meeting held on July 17, 2015, I requested a copy of our joint-ministry agreement along with financial statements and   audits related to it.  I was assured that these would be given to me. (I had only recently become aware of their existence.  I was not informed of them when I became a board member and they were never mentioned at board meetings.)
Over three months went by without these documents being sent to me. On November 25th, December 2nd, and December 8th, I requested them again from the person in charge of the Canadian office, Pat Emerick.  On December 8th I phoned Pat and spoke again of the importance of me having the aforesaid documents. He agreed to send them.  To be sure, I followed the call with an email in which I said, in part:

I understand that you will be sending the joint ministry agreement and the audits and that you will be sending them by registered mail.  Again, thank you for your time, and for your work for God.

The next day, December 9th, I received a letter via email from KP Yohannan, the chairman of our board and president, informing me that I had been dismissed from the board.  A copy of the letter is attached.
KP Yohannan stated:
The board needs to welcome the fresh perspective and ideas that new members can offer
I have only been on the board for two years therefore the claim of a need for a “fresh perspective” seems disingenuous.  I believe that the true reason for his action is that he does not want me to see the joint-ministry agreement or their associated financial statements and audits.

The same day Cluley was told he would get the GFA documents, a letter dismissing Cluley was written by K.P. Yohannan.
That letter is below (see a pdf of it here).
Dismissal letter Cluley red
 
As Cluley noted, he had only been on the board since late 2013. Furthermore, the GFA Canada bylaws do not define a board member’s term. Cluley was not informed of any board action or meeting for the purpose of deciding his fate as a board member.
Although the CRA has not responded at this writing about the possibility of an investigation, the basis for a government inquiry appears sound. Based on the documents I have seen (more documents are available at the end of the post), it appears that Cluley attempted to fulfill his fiduciary responsibility as a board member by looking into allegations against GFA. He was stonewalled by his own organization and then when he refused to stand down, he was dismissed in apparent violation of GFA’s bylaws and Canadian law. I spoke with Cluley yesterday and he informed me that the remaining board member not named Yohannan told him there was no board meeting to dismiss the Cluley. It seems highly unlikely that a board meeting to dismiss Cluley took place. On December 8, Cluley was promised documents by Canadian director Pat Emerick and then also on December 8, a letter was prepared by K.P. Yohannan dismissing Cluley from the board.
Cluley has also contacted GFA’s U.S. board of directors regarding his dismissal with no reply from them.
I call on GFA to explain why Garry Cluley and Rob Thiessen were dismissed and to provide a legal basis for the action.
More information:
Gospel for Asia Canada Bylaws, formative documents and Canadian regulations. — As Cluley noted in his letter to the CRA, there is no bylaw 4.02 in the bylaws. Nothing in the Canadian law nor in the bylaws allow the removal of a board member the way K.P. Yohannan did it.
Memo from Garry Cluley to the US Board – The US board is sitting on their hands without comment or response to Cluley about this allegedly illegal action.

Office of Personnel Management Sanctions Gospel for Asia, Bans GFA from Combined Federal Campaign

cfclogo
Used by permission, OPM, CFC website

Gospel for Asia, the second largest mission organization in the U.S., has been sanctioned by the Office of Personnel Management for lack of compliance with charity guidelines and banned from participation in the 2016 federal charity campaign.
In October 2015, the Office of Personnel Management received complaints from former donors and other observers regarding Gospel for Asia’s compliance with OPM guidelines for participation in the Combined Federal Campaign. The CFC involving federal workers is one of the largest workplace fund raising campaigns on the planet. At that point, OPM began an investigation that led to a December 2015 warning of possible sanctions on GFA’s ability to participate in the campaign.
Late yesterday, I learned that the OPM decided to sanction GFA for lack of compliance with OPM guidelines. According to a spokesperson from the OPM’s Office of Communications, “the Gospel of Asia charity has been sanctioned and will no longer be affiliated with the Combined Federal Campaign for the 2014 and 2015 campaigns.” 
Furthermore, according to the OPM spokesperson, “GFA is banned from the CFC for one year, then they will need to reapply.”
The sanctions appear to be the strongest allowed by law.
Not only will GFA not be allowed to participate in the 2016 campaign, they will not receive funds currently deducted from employee paychecks still outstanding from the 2015 and 2014 campaigns. Federal workers who pledged to GFA in 2015 will be contacted and allowed to redirect their pledges to other approved charities.
According to an OPM spokesperson, allotments to GFA were still coming out of employees pay checks in 2015 for pledges made at the end of 2014. Those funds have not yet been delivered to GFA. The OPM spokesperson said, “OPM directed campaigns and the federation to cease making further payments to them and discontinue processing pledges made to them at the end of 2015 that would have started being withheld from employees checks staring this pay period for the 2015 period that just closed.”
OPM told local and regional groups like Christian Charities USA to “cease making further payments” to GFA and to stop processing any employee pledges. Independent Charities of America and the related group Christian Charities USA had already denied membership to GFA for 2016 because GFA failed to provide an audited statement.
According to the most recent 990 form filed by Christian Charities USA, GFA received just over $150,000 from federal workers through CCUSA in 2013.
OPM guidelines require an independent board of directors, clean financial audit, and truthful communications about the use of donations. Upon scrutiny by the OPM, GFA did not comply.
In early October, GFA was terminated from membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability for similar violations of standards. The report issued by ECFA was made public by former board member Gayle Erwin in early December and contains numerous concerns and indications of financial mismanagement.