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22 November 2007
u.s.s. dreck
Yet another article in the U.S. press about pentecostal shysters in the poo. This time Rick Godwin.
Who's Rick Godwin? Well a matey mate of our own Hillsong - a regular speaker at Hillsong churches and conferences around the globe for years. Google god told me all about him last year, when he was invited to Hillsong 2006. Read about his devotion to the poor - his poor old self that is.
This particular paragraph is rather precious:
Another time, when the daughter accompanied her father to a speaking engagement in Australia last year, her flight was $15,567, a journal entry shows. It's unknown whether Godwin reimbursed the church or what role, if any, his daughter had at the event.
What bet that was Hillsong 2006? Any journo want to check with Hillsong just what the daughter did, if anything at all?
And here's an interesting thought. Hillsong raises lots of money to hold its conferences and staffs them with unpaid volunteers. Where does that money go apart from venue hire? Do they pay fares and fees for speakers and entourages? Did they pay for Godwin and entourage? Just a little love offering for his sacrifice?
Is there a bit of global double dipping in this transnational lake of swill?
(H/T: reader)
Posted by saint at 12:49 PM in fools, frauds, nympholepts | Permalink
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Rick Godwin has become even more arrogant than ever. He's getting ready to open a new mega $36 million church in San Antonio! He's begging for money!
Here are the heartbreaking, unbelievable stories from mysanantonio.com
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/religion/stories/MYSA112207.01A.eaglesnest.2934494.html
A heartbreaking letter from Shannon Godwin, Rick Godwins first born child from his ex wife who he put in an orphanage:
” As you are learning, I am Rick Godwin’s oldest daughter by his first marriage. Before I go on any farther… let me go on the record as saying “I love my father with all of my heart”. He did not abuse me or treat me badly. My father was stolen from me by his second wife Cynthia Ann Wright Godwin. Why am I doing this now you may say… I’m doing this because all these years, letter after letter, card after card, I thought one day my Dad
would be restored to me in some small way. I thought Cindy was doing God’s will and had changed…. but through a few close friends of my Dad… my father never got most of the letters, birthday cards, and requests for pictures of my baby sisters. At one point in the mid 80’s… I got to form a relationship with my dad and I have never had conflict with him by my own hand. I begged to be included just on the fringes of their lives.
My mother was killed in an automobile wreck July 14, 1973 in Panama city Florida. I was awarded to my Dad automatically. I was with him in Columbia, South Carolina when the accident occurred. He was a wonderful Dad and he took care of me with love and care… as good as any mother could. I have always admired and respected Dad… (still do). I am sure he doesn’t know all the facts… and what he does with the truth is his affair.
When He married Cindy.. then 17 years old… I was honestly happy. Her mom was great, too. We spent a lot of time at her mom’s cloth shop they owned. Her mom was pregnant with Penny. What I didn’t know is that after she found out her half-sister was on the way.. Cindy tried to kill herself.
About 3 months into the marriage… dad was gone a lot and slowly she began to change. She would tell me God wanted me to kill myself so I could be with my mother. She would tell me before they went away on the weekends, (I stayed with church members) who had girls my age… to have it done when they returned. I was eight. She tried herself by giving me handfuls of prescription drugs, Bayer aspirin, Iodine, methyalaid, mushrooms in the yard, weed-killer, etc.. She beat me, pulled my hair out… I had bald spots and when dad or church people asked them… Shannon tried to kill herself, Shannon got in a fight at school, etc… She told me if I told she’d really hurt me. I believed her. I never told. She told me to tell my father I hated him and wanted to go to Florida with my mother’s people (I did not), she told me not to speak or have anything to do with him or when he was gone… I’d get it. I’m sure my dad was hurt and confused. We’d be in the car riding, and dad driving in front of us, and she’d tell me to get in the back seat, then the front, then the back and on and on..
I didn’t realize why my dad stopped the car and tore my behind up. She put me on the interstate twice after church and told me to go call my grandma in Florida. She told me to say a women her child picked me up and let me off at a gas station… I guess in 1976 someone would believe a mother would drop an 8 year old off on I-26 AND LEAVE THEM THERE. She’d call my dad frantic and say Shannon ran away. My father made me apologize for scaring her and then gave me the belt in front of her. I don’t have time or page space for everything..but it was horrific. She coached me well on how to act and finally I was put in the South Carolina State Hospital July 10, 1976. I have all these records, too.
My granddad Luke Godwin (who lives now in San Antonio) found out I was in there and asked me to come live with him and I was so happy and said Oh yes! The very next day Cindy came and told me I was to refuse to see him and I heard he was banned from the intuition. She was the only person that I was supposed to say could see me.
The Blanding house said I couldn’t stay any longer because I wasn’t crazy and Cindy told me to say I’d kill myself before I’d go back to my father. They finally put me in the Carolina Children’s Home September 4, 1976. Under director Phillip Ross. Meanwhile… church members were inquiring about me and were told I was in Florida, my mom’s people were being told I was grounded, asleep, in the bath-tub, etc…. One day a church member’s daughter saw me on the playground at Lyon Street Elementary school and told her mom. Her mom called my mom’s oldest sister Sue White in Florida. They hired a private investigator to find out. They got all the details and when inquired about my mom’s life insurance policy that my dad was guardian over laid in trust for me it was gone. A judge who was a deacon in our church was over it and he allowed my dad to use it at his pleasure. He took Cindy to Hawaii, etc…
In the end he re-imbursed half and had to turn me over to my grandma to avoid prosecution. I have all the court records, transcripts, etc…. this is not fabricated. I only wanted my dad to know that I never wanted to leave him. I love my father but Cindy is still keeping him from me and intercepting communications by not giving him letters, messages, or telling him I want money or need help. All lies. This is why I’m doing this now…. she would never stop…. but God will.
Dad… I still love you..
Shannon”
-------------------------------------------------
HERE’S THE COLD AND UNCARING REBUTTAL LETTER FROM GODWIN’S PERSONAL ASSISTANT “JUDY ORR” AT EAGLE’S NEST:
—————————————————————----------------------------
“Dear Staff,
I am writing to you in regard to the email from Shannon Godwin Ramsey
that was sent out to everyone. I hope by now all of you can recognize
the battle for what it really is. This is nothing short of the
putrefied work of a few enemies of Rick and Cindy and ENCF to continue
to harass and try to destroy. It amazes me of their lack of the fear
of the Lord, but it is evident with the lowest level of exploiting
Shannon for the purpose to furthering their work of destruction.
(Shannon did not have any email addresses for ENCF staff or members,
but they were obviously supplied to her.)
As some of you may know I have served the Godwins for approximately 22
years. First of all Pastor Rick has spoken openly from the pulpit on
numerous occasions over the years about his first wife and his
daughter. He has never tried to keep it secret nor did he need to, but
has been very open about the facts that he once played in a rock and
roll band, that he gave his life to the Lord and shortly after that
knew that he had been called into the ministry. His first wife did not
want any part of serving the Lord and refused to follow him in that
call. Soon afterward she was killed in a car accident leaving a small
child for him to care for.
I can only tell you that over the years the contacts that I have
received from Shannon have always had to do with wanting money or
assistance from the Godwins with her practical needs, never about
wanting relationship. Rick and Cindy never denied her contact with
them. I remember on one particular occasion that Shannon had called me
three or four times at the office to give me messages about her needs
and request for assistance. Rick and Cindy both asked me to let her
know that she was welcome to call their home directly anytime and they
would help her. The calls that I received from Shannon over the years
have always had to do with what she needed and after her need was met,
I did not hear from her again until the next need arose. She also sent
a couple of letters to Rick here at the office which I gave to him
directly, so communication with her dad was never hindered.
I know that Rick and Cindy have sent her money numerous times,
purchased a car for her, paid for her to go to school and then she
dropped out, and I’m sure they have helped her on numerous other
occasions. The accusations in the email are bizarre, outlandish and
untrue.
I am writing simply to encourage you not be distracted by her email.
Let us hold fast to our faith. Let us also walk in His light and love
and forgiveness. Keep our eyes on the Lord, not on the battle.
We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us and gave Himself
for us!
Love you all,
Judy Orr, Executive Assistant to Pastor Rick Godwin”
------------------------------------------------
I found these three posts at
http://www.hicktownpress.com/pastor-rick-godwin-flying-high-on-his-churchs-money/#comment-4007
AND, HERE IS SHANNON’S STUNNING HEARTFELT CRY:
————————————————————–
“I received this letter (below) anonymously from a staff member at
Eagle’s Nest and I wanted the opportunity to address this first hand.
I am not being exploited…I want answers. My mother loved my dad and
also came to know the Lord. The pastor dad was serving under was a 450
pound racist preacher who used the N word from the pulpit of his
fundamentalist Baptist Church. Mom was tired of the “no pants” and
legalism and tired of dad being gone all the time preaching so it was
either, he stop this and they seek another church or else she was going
to have to make a major decision. Dad believed in this guy and wasn’t
leaving so mom left and then she got involved in a terrible car
accident. The letter reads as if mom left dad and God judged mom.
What right does Judy Orr have to say something like this! How
malicious but I am sure she was the very one being exploited by Cindy
and Dad!
I have called in the past especially in the 1980’s for some help and
assistance and dad was gracious to send me money and a used car;
however, I have only called and spoken with Judy three times in my
life!
Since then, all I have wanted is relationship with dad. I have not
spoken with dad since the mid 90’s and he never seems to get my cards
and letters so that is why I sent them to the church. Her comment that
“The accusations in the e-mail are bizarre, outlandish and untrue” is
amazing. They are fact just like the records that I have from the
orphanage.
All I want is reconciliation and how hard it is to read a letter like
this to the staff from an assistant and still no call from my dad!
Someone please talk to dad for me!
Shannon Godwin Ramsey”
-------------------------------------------------
from the ex-sister-in-law of Rick Godwin:
I am the ex-sister-in-law of Rick Godwin. My deceased sister, Diane, was married to Rick Godwin and they had a daughter, Shannon.
I have recently read the article "Pastor Rick Godwin Flying High On His Church’s Money" dated Nov.23, 2007 in the HicktownPress.com. Although the article details questionable moral and financial practices regarding Rick Godwin and Eagle's Nest Church which are appalling at best, it is the posts from Rick's executive assistant, Judy Orr, that are disturbing and absolutely deplorable. No legitimate Christian would make such unfounded and slanderous allegations, especially given the fact that Ms. Orr did not even know my sister. Diane was a very kind and loving person who actually worked in the church with Rick in Columbia, S.C. She was a God loving person who would not be a party to this very type of behavior then, that I read about today in the above referenced article. Therefore, Diane and Rick divorced.
The very idea that you self righteous crooks smugly play God demonizing the dead to change the focus on your inappropriate, probably illegal activities. It’s not surprising that Rick Godwin authored a book on Witchcraft in the Church considering the witch he married. Only a witch from hell could do the evil things to eight year old Shannon. Cindy repeatedly told Shannon that God wanted her to kill herself so she could be with her mother, gave her drugs, dumped her off at a gas station along the interstate. Rick put her in an orphanage and stole money from Shannon’s trust fund which was insurance money from Diane’s death. Given the treatment she had endured, it’s no wonder Shannon turned to drugs as she got older. Yet Rick says he just can’t forgive her for the drug use and that’s why he wants nothing to do with her? My God is a gracious and forgiving God that has helped Shannon through these unbearable times of her life. Yet, Mr. God himself cannot forgive his own daughter for things she has done which were brought on by the treatment she received from them as a child???? What a hypocrite! Through the grace of God she has become a kind and loving person overcoming the evils lodged against her as a child. She is currently working on a biography that will soon be in print.
And to the dear Ms.Judy Orr, the naive yet faithful, sacrificial servant of Mr. God, how dare you spew your vile allegations against my dead sister who cannot even defend herself against your outrageous assaults on her personal character. NO, she was not a drug addict. NO, she was not killed because Rick Godwin wanted to become a minister. However, I CAN inform you that if she were alive, she would not have tossed her daughter into an orphanage as your mentor, Rick Godwin did. She would not prey on the kindness and generosity of hard-working, faithful church members to sustain her livelihood as you and your mentor do. She would not have approved of Rick Godwin stealing Shannon's trust fund money (from the settlement of Diane's death) to take his new wife, Cindy, on a Hawaiian honeymoon. And NO madam, she would not participate in the scandalous abuse of church funds for personal and lavish indulgence. I suggest that you are an enabling party to this unthinkable, fraudulent scheme of fleecing the flock in the name of The Lord!!! God help your pitiful soul.
Posted by: ex sister-in-law at March 14, 2008 03:19 PM
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/feedback/archives/2008/01/23252.html
Posted by: BEWILDERED at 20/03/2008 7:44:09 AM
Shannon Ramsey was in jail for Fraud and many other things.
Posted by: The truth at 04/05/2008 11:17:34 AM
Rick Godwin was arrested for felony kidnapping in Colombia, SC.
Rick Godwin threw Shannon into an orphanage and took off to Hawaii with his teenage wife with Shannon's trust fund money from her dead mother.
What a man of "greed."
Posted by: Truth at 10/05/2008 12:57:00 PM
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