Focus on the Family got hustled big time. After some regional and national news agencies reported the lies and inconsistencies of Tom Papania's "testimony" the ministry discontinued the tape and no longer offers it as part of their catalog. That makes sense. So what else did they do to resolve the problem? Did the ministry release a public apology on any of their radio programs or in their magazines for the role they played in promoting a liar? No, they did not. They keep quiet about the issue and refuse to take the pro-active position needed to correct the problem. If you contact the ministry asking for the tape you will be informed that because of concerns with the accuracy of Tom Papania's testimony they have decided to no longer endorse the man. But what about the many thousands of people who bought the tape and think they possess a legitimate story of Christian conversion? Unless they discover the truth about this man they will continue to believe a lie. The Focus leadership has no interest in correcting the problem because to admit the problem publicly would present a public relations disaster that would hurt their reputation. By "sweeping" the issue "under the mat" they demonstrate that they have no real interest in the truth and prefer that people remain in the dark if it means avoiding embarrassment on their part. The ministry could set the record straight on this issue using a variety of different media outlets if they so desired. Focus has a very comprehensive website listing all kinds of information about the various ministries they are involved in and the products they offer (access the Focus on the Family website to see). Yet if you do a search on their site using the name "Tom+Papania" you will come up with nothing. They don't provide any statements whatsoever for anyone who visits their site looking for information about the man. That's by design. You can find all kinds of information about other Focus broadcasts . . . yet what was once advertised as the #1 broadcast in Focus history has completely disappeared from the database with no explanation. How's that for integrity?

There's another troubling aspect to this issue. Even worse than knowing that Focus on the Family is working to keep this issue from the public's attention is knowing that the ministry was aware years back that there was a problem with Tom Papania's credibility and yet still continued to promote the man. I can personally testify that Focus knew as far back as 1997 that there was some doubt about Papania's testimony. In the late summer of '97 I had a conversation with another Focus employee in the Administration building at the Focus headquarters here in Colorado Springs. The man (who worked in a technical department) told me that the ministry would not rebroadcast the Papania tape through its radio outlets because another person was offering testimony in a court of law that directly conflicted with Papania's story. I wasn't given any specific detail but what I heard from this person (who said he wasn't supposed to give me this info) troubled me greatly because at the time we at the ministry were still selling Papania's tape. If the Focus leadership had enough concern to not rebroadcast the tape then why were we still offering it to the public through magazine advertisments? I believe there is only one reason. It was a great money-maker (but ultimately it will cost Focus everything). I don't know for certain when the ministry finally dropped the Papania tape from its product list (I'm still looking into this) but it may not have been until sometime shortly before a settlement was reached in the year 2000 with Focus on the Family by way of a confidential church based resolution initiated by one Rocky Scarfone (the man who had parts of his story stolen by Tom Papania). Because this is a public matter I find this confidentiality unacceptable. Scarfone has publicly admitted to the agreement but Focus on the Family has not.

What really makes me angry is realizing that along with the general public I too was deceived by the Focus leadership. During my tenure with Focus the management there had told me and the other employees that the Tom Papania broadcast would not be reaired on the daily Focus radio program because it created too much of a response through the phone lines which our staff was not prepared to handle. That's what I was led to believe until I had the impromtu conversation with that other Focus employee. After hearing what this other person said to me I became troubled and walked back to my department in the Operations building uttering to myself the phrases "Uh oh..." and "Oh no...". I assumed that there would be forthcoming announcements from management when new details were learned about the issue. However, shortly after that eye-opening private conversation other problems relating to the ministry caused me great stress and disgust and because of personal sickness I self-terminated myself from employment with Focus on the Family.

I understand better now why I felt a great sense of peace come upon me after I left that place. What I was told privately about Papania shortly before I left the ministry may not have been a breaking story as I once thought. It wasn't until the mid-summer of 2002 that I learned a great deal more about this wanna-be mafia man using the Internet. I learned that there is a minister who has testified that he warned Focus on the Family as far back as early 1997 about Tom Papania and who he really is. I'm still looking into this matter, but if Focus knew the truth about Papania back in early 1997 then it is clear that I was being lied to and for several months unknowingly worked to promote a man who upper-managment knew was a fraud. (I recently became aware of two employees who have been kept in the dark for almost 6 years now.) As a front-line man for Focus who communicated directly with the ministry's constituents as part of my job I helped distribute the Papania tape and on occasion referred people to the man's ministry (called "God's Saving Grace" which was listed in the Focus rolodex). I plan to enter my name into a class-action lawsuit which is now being assembled against Tom Papania. What I'd really like to do is enter into a suit against Focus on the Family and force them to publicly admit their sin. I have no interest in receiving a monetary settlement over this issue and desire only that the truth be released. But for Focus at this point to state their guilt would mean an admission of culpability which would create some major legal problems for them. That's why the Focus leaders (who's primary goal is preservation of their organization) will continue to keep quiet about this issue and hope that it will soon fade away. It is their plan to deceive people until those of us who have knowledge on this matter can find a way to prove in a court of law that the Focus board of directors are a bunch of worthless liars.

If you want to read some interesting material do a search for Tom Papania on the Internet (try Google or MSN and see what you find). A good search will turn up audio and video files that you can listen to and view (providing you have the necessary equipment). Focus on the Family was not the only organization to be fooled by this Tom Papania fellow. The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), Charisma magazine, Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) program The 700 Club -- all of these organizations and their viewers/subscribers were fooled by the man's phony testimony not to mention the countless churches throughout the world that were also deceived. In my research I also discovered that the Calvary Chapel bookstore I shopped in some 20 years ago as a youngster (located in Santa Ana/Costa Mesa, California) was at one time selling Papania's story. This has been a real mess. These organizations need to thoroughly check the backgrounds of people before they decide to promote them! (For more info on this issue: Karjala vs. Papania.)

[ALERT! New developments on the Papania issue are explained at the bottom of this page.]

The state of affairs within Christendom is far worse than what most people are aware. The lack of good judgement shown by Focus on the Family founder and president James Dobson is not an isolated example of how a popular "Christian" leader has miserably failed to serve the public. The problem is systematic to almost all of the leaders in the land. The best way for me to prove this point is to direct your attention to a do*****ent revealing the deception and acceptance of compromise by the men and women who lead and command America's largest "Christian" audiences and congregations. The do*****ent I am referring to is a letter sent to the White House by the Center For Religious Freedom and the Institute on Religion and Democracy in November of 2001 and signed by over 100 prominent religious leaders:

E*****enical Letter to the President of the United States

The purpose of the letter is to plead with President Bush to make an effective stand against the oppressive government of Sudan, a regime responsible for killing and forcing into captivity African Christians numbering in the millions. The ending of this persecution is a just and noble cause with which to contend for. However, the misunderstanding of key issues by the authors of the letter and by those who have stated their support for the letter should not be ignored. The letter begins by applauding President Bush for repeatedly affirming that the attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon "reflect an ultimate perversion of religious faith". It is grossly ironic that what the letter refers to as "the great traditions of Islam" is a sentiment endorsed by professing Christians who fail to see that it is those same "great traditions" responsible for the chaotic hell that has befallen the people living in the Sudan. There is yet another horrendous irony about the letter.

Consider who the letter is addressed to. George W. Bush is a man believed by many to be a born-again Christian. Yet even after making a public profession of Christian faith the man remains loyal to Yale's occultic Skull & Bones Society (creepy, huh?). Think I'm spreading a bad rumor? My source for this info is none other than George W. Bush himself! In his 1999 autobiography, "A Charge to Keep", Mr. Bush wrote: "My senior year [at Yale], I joined Skull and Bones, a secret society, so secret I can't say anything more." One might get the impression that the man is bound by some kind of gag order imposed by this elusive society. So who is more powerful, the President of the United States or the "Bonesmen"? Who controls who? What other secrets is the President keeping from us? These are the kind of questions we need to ask ourselves. Many of you reading this may be wondering, "Why is it that I have never heard this before?" That's another question you need to have answered. The national media has remained silent about Bush's devotion to the society. The mainstream Christian community leadership certainly didn't warn any of us about Bush's involvement. Yet the information was right in front of our faces! Our visible "Christian" leaders have neglected to warn us about the problem of a man who professes to serve two very different masters at the very same time. Is it because they don't know?

James Dobson knows. In that same book, "A Charge to Keep", the man who is now America's Commander in Chief lists Dobson's Focus on the Family as an influence on his life (I think George W. is a fan of the Focus produced "Adventures in Odyssey" children's program). Dobson likes being recognized by the powerful and believes that the Bush empire will support his conservative agenda. That is why Dobson supports Bush and will not publicly oppose him. It is an unholy alliance on the part of Dobson. And don't think for a second that Dr. Dobson has not been made aware of the anti-Christian content in George W.'s book.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
(Matthew 6:24)

ALERT: Before I advance any further with this report I need to explain something. The Tom Papania issue is an explosive issue so let me explain to all of my readers why I believe it needs to be exposed. This is an issue of truth verses error. In recent times my site has been hacked into and I have had numerous e-mail viruses sent to me. Scarfone's sites have also been hit. This is the price one pays for exposing error. Others in past centuries and even today are being killed for their Christian witness.

And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
(2 Timothy 3:12)

But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
(2 Timothy 3:13)

So why do I do it? Why do I expose error? . . .

TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE!

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
(Matthew 8:32)

People are being held in bondage to the lies and deceit that these large "Christian" ministries and churches of our day are willing to tolerate. I've gone to some of them for help but they WILL NOT touch this mess.

If they wont expose it who will?

Do you know what the real meaning of the Tom Papania issue is? Do you know what it is that God is showing us through this man? Papania is being used as a kind of spiritual barometer to reveal to us the condition of our spiritual health. That a thief and a liar is able to mix in so well with the top religious leaders of our day indicates a significant problem. Sadly, through this man and others like him we now know that the meter measuring apostasy in our society is at a dangerously high level.

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
(Jude 3-4)

It is never my intention to willfully harm any individual, I want to make this clear. I desire NO HARM to Tom Papania or anyone else who I expose. I am only trying to get these people to admit their deceit in the interest of having them stop the pain they are causing others. I only expose individuals because it is necessary in order to uncover the lies blocking the advancement of the Gospel. I take NO pleasure in exposing other people and I hope and pray that my enemies would stop trying to silence me. And where are those of you who know the truth about this matter?! Where are you people who I once worked and prayed with?! I need your help! I issue this message to all who love the truth and long for the appearing of the Lord Jesus:

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will ac*****ulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
(2 Timothy 4:1-5)

I am a small-time independent Christian journalist. I was not recruited by any individual or organization to expose what I am now reporting on. I was brought into this story because of my own personal involvement with Focus on the Family and some events that first transpired more than 5 years ago that have taken me to where I am today. How Rocky Scarfone chooses to deal with this problem is for him to decide. That his manuscript was illegally used by another individual is an honest to God shame and tragedy. (And those who failed to back him up in his hour of need will one day give an account of their failure before a Just and Living RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.) But this story is bigger than any one man. I'm working to expose a grande-scale cover-up. My main interest in all of this has to do with the unholy actions of major "Christian" organizations and their unwillingness to publicly reveal what they know about the corruption they have allowed to infest themselves and their constituencies. I'm fighting for the general public.

Awake, sleeper,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.
(Ephesians 5:14)

[Until I can find some time to finish this article I would like to direct your attention to some important issues raised by two other former employees of Focus on the Family. Their names are Randy Shafer and Brian Cooper. Visit the link below and you will be provided with a wealth of some good solid teaching and facts.]

Is Focus on the Family Going in an Unscriptural, E*****enical, New Age Direction?

(NOTE: The above link will take you to the Exit and Support Network which was created to help those who have been abused by the Worldwide Church of God and its various offshoots. Though I believe it to be a helpful site, there is at least one recommendation they offer that I do not support. At the bottom of their page dealing with Focus on the Family there is a link to an article by Cathy Burns about Dr. Dobson and Quest International that will take you to Barbara Aho's "Watch Unto Prayer" site. Because of Aho's sloppy journalism, faulty logic and misunderstanding of current events that has led to her unnecessary and malicious attacks against good and credible Christian discernment ministries I must emphatically state that I do not in any way endorse her ministry.)