An Unauthorized History of 3ABN, Chapter 7 (the dollar store and the Lengend) Options

[Panama_Pete]

She may technically be clean, but realistically she is tarnished; damaged goods. I have spoken with media organizations in the church who say they believe her, and say they would like to use her, but it would split their base.

They may have said that about the "damaged goods," but I don't believe those sentiments for one New York second. They are wrong. Pure and simple. If they truly believe what they said, then they are unworthy. They are chaff in the wind.

Beartrap, you are hearing political, "Cultural Adventism" in practice. The truth is this: Every market is segmented.

If you go to any Wal-Mart music department, one person heads for the Spanish-language "musica," others head for Country." Some go for Jazz. Some buy Southern Gospel.

Do we expect media organizations to be any different? The only way they can avoid "splitting a base" is if they have no base in the first place.

Linda will continue her ministry and establish her own base. Her base may end up being larger than the ones who are worried about "splitting" theirs.

Don't make the mistake of internalizing those negative comments. You have nothing to fear but fear itself.

[beartrap]

They may have said that about the "damaged goods," but I don't believe those sentiments for one New York second. They are wrong. Pure and simple. If they truly believe what they said, then they are unworthy. They are chaff in the wind.

Beartrap, you are hearing political, "Cultural Adventism" in practice. The truth is this: Every market is segmented.

If you go to any Wal-Mart music department, one person heads for the Spanish-language "musica," others head for Country." Some go for Jazz. Some buy Southern Gospel.

Do we expect media organizations to be any different? The only way they can avoid "splitting a base" is if they have no base in the first place.

Linda will continue her ministry and establish her own base. Her base may end up being larger than the ones who are worried about "splitting" theirs.

Don't make the mistake of internalizing those negative comments. You have nothing to fear but fear itself.

Good point, Pete, and I don't disagree. Just saying that this is what the Adventist media .orgs I have spoken with have to say.

[Clay]

Good point, Pete, and I don't disagree. Just saying that this is what the Adventist media .orgs I have spoken with have to say.

we give them too much power over our lives...

[gracetoyou]

She may technically be clean, but realistically she is tarnished; damaged goods. I have spoken with media organizations in the church who say they believe her, and say they would like to use her, but it would split their base.

This reminds me of something that was predicted about Jesus Christ and could also be applied to Him as He is treated in His disciples (Linda) - "to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." Luke 2: 34, 35

The reactions of people to the Linda Shelton situation - supporting and defending her; not wanting to get involved for expediency, politics, financial support, etc.; or attacking her to further their own ambitions - reveal the caliber of Christianity of Christ's professed followers.

What specific media organizations are too wimpy to use her? The Hope Channel? I donate $100 per month to them, but if they are refusing to use Linda out of fear than they have received my last dollar. Are there any at all who are interested in using her? They would have my financial support.

This post has been edited by gracetoyou: May 26 2006, 01:57 PM

[sonshineonme]

This reminds me of something that was predicted about Jesus Christ and could also be applied to Him as He is treated in His disciples (Linda) - "to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." Luke 2: 34, 35

The reactions of people to the Linda Shelton situation - supporting and defending her; not wanting to get involved for expediency, politics, financial support, etc.; or attacking her to further their own ambitions - reveal the caliber of Christianity of Christ's professed followers.

What specific media organizations are too wimpy to use her? The Hope Channel? I donate $100 per month to them, but if they are refusing to use Linda out of fear than they have received my last dollar. Are there any at all who are interested in using her? They would have my financial support.

I am with you 100%. Maybe we need to know these things, the dollar can speak when they won't listen to your voice.

[Guest_statrei_*]

What specific media organizations are too wimpy to use her? The Hope Channel? I donate $100 per month to them, but if they are refusing to use Linda out of fear than they have received my last dollar. Are there any at all who are interested in using her? They would have my financial support.

Is Linda a new Messiah of some sort? I don't get this new twist.

[seeshell]

Oops, posted in the wrong thread...sorry...carry on.

This post has been edited by seeshell: May 26 2006, 03:45 PM

[beartrap]

Is Linda a new Messiah of some sort? I don't get this new twist.

Messiah!!! Come from Springfield to save us from the Romans No, that would be Kenny Shelton come to save us from all the Roman Catholics who have insidiously been infiltrating our church and taking all the high positions. Didn't you know that they are all Jesuits? Yes, we should certainly make him our new messiah... oh and the co-messiah could be his brother who will save us from all that spare change accumulating in our miserly pockets.

No, she is nobody's messiah (LOL)

This post has been edited by beartrap: May 26 2006, 05:05 PM

[gracetoyou]

Is Linda a new Messiah of some sort? I don't get this new twist.

Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40. "In all who suffer for My name, said Jesus, you are to recognize Me. As you would minister to Me, so you are to minister to them. This is the evidence that you are My disciples." Desire of Ages, p. 638.


The point of using the verse from Luke is to show that people's treatment of Linda reveals what is in their hearts in terms of whether or not they are genuine Christians. Will they stand for what is just and right even though it may be unpopular and may cost them financially/socially or will they, like the priest and Levite in the Good Samaritan story, just look the other way and walk on because they don't want to risk getting involved.

For instance, if a media organization believes Linda is innocent, but won't put her on their programs due to fear of "splitting their base" and losing financial support, then that shows that they, like Caiaphas in John 11, are doing what is expedient and depending upon man, instead of doing what is right and depending upon God.

This post has been edited by gracetoyou: May 26 2006, 05:32 PM

[inga]

What specific media organizations are too wimpy to use her? The Hope Channel? I donate $100 per month to them, but if they are refusing to use Linda out of fear than they have received my last dollar. Are there any at all who are interested in using her? They would have my financial support.

Now what I see as a really useful activity would be for you to write to the Hope Channel and tell them exactly what you told us here.

To be fair, what Danny heard from the Adventist Media was most likely before Dan's remarriage. Things weren't nearly so clear then as they are now. But those folks are just ordinary humans like the rest of us, and they try to do what is best for the ministry. Sometimes their judgment is wrong.

So by all means, write to Hope Channel. Say you "heard that some of the Adventist media consider Linda Shelton 'damaged goods'" and you hope it isn't them because if it is, you wouldn't feel comfortable sending them their $100.00 a month. Ask them when they'll find a place for Linda.

H'mm ... now who else is sending money to Hope Channel? Who else is going to write a letter?? It would be great if this board could effect some positive change. And even less than a dozen letters like yours, spaced out, can make a real difference. Write directly to the attention of Brad Thorp. (I got the feeling several years ago when I compared HopeTV to 3ABN & said they had some catching up to do that Brad knew something about 3ABN that I didn't. He probably did .... and it wasn't good.)

And, incidentally, a real, snail mail letter would probably have the most impact. People don't get too many real letters nowadays, so they pack a real punch.

[gracetoyou]

I'll write Brad Thorp and Gary Gibbs. I like Gary Gibbs' Winsome Witnessing book and video series and his series of Bible studies. I think he is an honest and sincere Christian.

I'm going to give Hope Channel a call, too. What would Linda want to do if Hope Channel gave her some air time - sing, do an interview, give a devotion, etc.?

[Panama_Pete]

Now what I see as a really useful activity would be for you to write to the Hope Channel and tell them exactly what you told us here.

And, incidentally, a real, snail mail letter would probably have the most impact. People don't get too many real letters nowadays, so they pack a real punch.

For that real snail mail, do we have a correct address for the people in management who run Hope Channel? Are Brad and Kandus Thorp located in Silver Spring, Maryland?

This post has been edited by Panama_Pete: May 26 2006, 07:49 PM

[inga]

For that real snail mail, do we have a correct address for the people in management who run Hope Channel? Are Brad and Kandus Thorp located in Silver Spring, Maryland?

Oh, dear ... maybe snail mail wasn't such a good idea, since the Thorp's are rather hard to pin down. HopeTV seems to have the opposite problem of 3ABN, I do believe. 3ABN is focused on media stars. At HopeTV, there's no mention of who's who, and it's hard to find any names attached to the programs!!

I suspect the first thing to do would be to use the contact form at HopeTV.org. And if you get HopeTV in your home, you'll also see a mailing address displayed now & then -- a place to send your donations. I'd use the same address with "Attention Brad Thorp." Writing to the attention of Kandus Thorp might be just as good. Including a letter with your check would be ideal. ;-)

I believe the Thorps still consider Oliver, British Columbia, their home -- when they can get there. They and their sons, Jonathan, Christopher and Stephen still own the family orchard Brad's parents started. Brad and Kandus attend the Kelowna church where Kandus plays the piano when she's there. They're not "home" much ...

I'll probably watch some HopeTV tomorrow at my mom's place & get the address myself. The North American production seems to be done at Adventist Media Productions in Simi Valley, California. I suspect that Brad spends a lot more time there than he used to do.

This post has been edited by inga: May 26 2006, 10:56 PM

[beartrap]

Brad and Kandus are on the road most of the time. Gary Gibbs is the most stationary of the management and he is based in Silver Spring.

[watchbird]

The reactions of people to the Linda Shelton situation - supporting and defending her; not wanting to get involved for expediency, politics, financial support, etc.; or attacking her to further their own ambitions - reveal the caliber of Christianity of Christ's professed followers.

What specific media organizations are too wimpy to use her? The Hope Channel? I donate $100 per month to them, but if they are refusing to use Linda out of fear than they have received my last dollar. Are there any at all who are interested in using her? They would have my financial support.

I am with you 100%. Maybe we need to know these things, the dollar can speak when they won't listen to your voice.

How is this different in principle than Garwin with his millions seeking to control by the dollar?

Wouldn't it be better to continue to support HOPE realizing that as a beginning endeavor they are needing help just to keep going? With Danny putting all kinds of pressure on them in an attempt to control and destroy them, surely they don't need threats from other directions. If you want to see Linda included in their programing lineup, then put in a request for that. But it will not, in the long run, help her cause to play the "control by dollar" game.

And Linda is not the only ex-3ABN employee who is suffering because of Danny's harassment of prospective employers. If someone wants to help them financially, I'd suggest sending funds to Polly's Place. http://www.pollysplacenetwork.com Mable Dunbar, president of Polly's Place, has been very supportive of both Linda and Derrell and would hire them both if she only had the funds. But since it became known that she is supportive of Linda, her usual ASI yearly grant has been not renewed this year.

Coincidence?