Mate Scriptures

The premise behind the method of study employed by the "Assembly of the Body of Christ" is that one must find the Greek and Hebrew "mate scriptures" in order to truly understand the will of God and His truth. Here is an excerpt from their website (click picture for link to site)

The scripture used is Isaiah 34:16-17. The ABC's non-contextual interpretation of this scripture alleges that this scripture proves their theory that one must find "mate scriptures." I declare this is not necessarily true.

The ABC strictly adheres to a method of bible study in which one examines an entire context in order to properly understand the text. That is truly not a bad idea. Any thought taken out of context can be twisted and distorted to have it say something it does not say. Again referring to their website it states you must own

"A Panin's translation of the New Testament to determine the full context (complete thought) where any N.T. Bible verse is found - so we can see the full puzzle piece."

The bible translated numerically by Ivan Panin works only for the New Testament but I would assume the same principle; examining the entire context; would also carry over to the Old Testament as well. It rightfully should if we are to have a good understanding of what is written.

So, looking at Isaiah 34:16-17 in its entire context let's examine this "scriptural mate" theory and see if it holds up to scrutiny. Here is the entire text surrounding Isaiah 34:16-17 (the whole chapter). I have highlighted verses 16-17.

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing. And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein. Isaiah 34:1-17

As you read through this context above ask yourself this one question. Is this context referring to proper bible study or is it referring to the permanent destruction of a set of nations? I have underlined the beginning of the context to show that it is indeed referring to a set of nations.

One of the biggest bugaboos of our language is the use of pronouns. They make reading more pleasant but if one does not properly refer the pronoun to its subject, the meaning of a sentence can become grossly distorted. To understand who or what verses 16-17 refer to I have replaced all of the pronouns below (in parentheses) with the intended subject.

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of (the world). For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all (the nations) armies: he hath utterly destroyed (the nations), he hath delivered (the nations) to the slaughter. (The nations) slain also shall be cast out, and (the nations) stink shall come up out of (the nations) carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with (the nations) blood. And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all (the nations) host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, (my sword) shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, (the sword) is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorns shall come down with (the lambs, goats and rams), and the bullocks with the bulls; and (the nations) land shall be soaked with blood, and (the nations) dust made fat with fatness. For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. (Edom) shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through (Edom) for ever and ever. But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess (Edom); the owl also and the raven shall dwell in (Edom): and he shall stretch out upon (Edom) the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be (in the kingdom), and all (Edom's) princes shall be nothing. And thorns shall come up in (Edom's) palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and (Edom) shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to (the satyr's) fellow; the screech owl also shall rest (in Edom), and find for (the screech owl) a place of rest. (In the kingdom) shall the great owl make (the great owl's own) nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under (the great owl's own) shadow: (in the kingdom) shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with (the vulture's own) mate. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of (the dragons, owls, wild beasts, satyr's screech owls, great owls, etc. ) shall fail, none [of these ](wild creatures ) shall want for a mate: for (God's) mouth (yes God's mouth) hath commanded, and (God's) spirit hath gathered (the wild creatures). And God hath cast the lot for (the  owls, wild beasts, etc. ), and God's hand hath divided (Edom) unto (the wild creatures) by line: (the wild creatures) shall possess (Edom) for ever, from generation to generation shall (the wild creatures) dwell therein. Isaiah 34:1-17

So pulling out verses 16-17 with the pronouns replaced with the subject of the pronoun:

Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of (the dragons, owls, wild beasts, satyr's screech owls, great owls, etc. ) shall fail, none [of these ](wild creatures ) shall want for a mate: for (God's) mouth (yes God's mouth) hath commanded, and (God's) spirit hath gathered (the wild creatures). And God hath cast the lot for (the  owls, wild beasts, etc. ), and God's hand hath divided (Edom) unto (the wild creatures) by line: (the wild creatures) shall possess (Edom) for ever, from generation to generation shall (the wild creatures) dwell therein.

So, you see, this scripture has nothing to do with finding "mate scriptures" when we look at the entire context. It has to do with the complete destruction of a set of nations (Edom, Bozrah, Idumaea) which would become no longer suited for habitation by mankind and would instead be forever a habitation of birds and wild creatures of various sorts. Here is a quotation from "Easton's Bible Dictionary"  regarding the Edom of Isaiah 34.

There are many prophecies concerning Edom (Isa 34:5-6; Jer 49:7-18; Eze 25:13; 35:1-15; Joe 3:19; Am 1:11; Obadiah; Mal 1:3-4) which have been remarkably fulfilled. The present desolate condition of that land is a standing testimony to the inspiration of these prophecies. After an existence as a people for above seventeen hundred years, they have utterly disappeared, and their language even is forgotten for ever. In Petra, "where kings kept their court, and where nobles assembled, there no man dwells; it is given by lot to birds, and beasts, and reptiles."

Or this from the Jamieson-Faussett-Brown Commentary

16. book of the Lord-the volume in which the various prophecies and other parts of Scripture began henceforward to be collected together (Isa 30:8; Da 9:2).

Seek-(so Isa 8:16, 20; Joh 5:39; 7:52).

no one . fail-of these prophecies (Mt 5:18).

none shall want . mate-image from pairing of animals mentioned, Isa 34:15 ("mate"); no prediction shall want a fulfillment as its companion. Or rather, "none of these wild animals (just spoken of) shall be wanting: none shall be without its mate" to pair and breed with, in desolate Idumea.

my . his-Such changes of person are frequent in Hebrew poetry.

them-the wild beasts.

So, you see, this scripture used to prove the "scriptural mate" theory has nothing to do with "scripture mates" whatsoever; it has to do with the mates of  birds and other wild animals who reside where Edom once stood. Edom, representative of those nations who were not serving God, was destroyed by God and left desolate forever and became the breeding ground of wild animals only and not fit for the dwelling of man.  

I wholeheartedly agree we should look at ALL scripture in a contextual way and it is by applying that principle to this scripture it is proven that it does not refer to the seeking of  "mate scriptures" through Greek and Hebrew word studies as the ABC alleges.

25-The end of the matter

After I was ex-communicated, the second time, it seemed as though a great flood had gone through my life washing away everything I thought I knew.  After  I surveyed the wreckage I vainly tried to pick up the pieces and reconstruct something that looked like what I had before. It didn't work.  I looked for another person that would come and help me reconstruct the debris but  no one was willing to help. Eventually I cleared away the rubble  myself and took stock of what I had left.  There was not much usable material  and I ended up discarding almost everything.  Then I started again from scratch.  If you look about my spiritual house now you might find a piece or two  of the old dwelling here and there but really very little. 

When the flood of man swept through my life, there was immense devastation and emotionally I looked like a total loss. However the relationship I have with God inwardly remained absolutely solid.  That relationship with God is the only hope I have in this world and one I truly value.  

I may post again someday, after I have taken a break , but here, as promised, is a Psalm that sums up the end of the matter.  I hope you enjoy it.

 

My soul rests in God alone. My salvation is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress-- I will never be greatly shaken. How long will you assault a man, Would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

My soul, wait in silence for God alone, For my expectation is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken. With God is my salvation and my honor. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Surely men of low degree are just a breath, And men of high degree are a lie. In the balances they will go up. They are together lighter than a breath. Don't trust in oppression. Don't become vain in robbery. If riches increase, Don't set your heart on them. God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this, That power belongs to God. Also to you, Lord, belongs loving kindness, For you reward every man according to his work.

                                                                          Psalms 62:1-12

24-A few anomalies

I list here just a very few of the anomalies that developed during the "Mexican Ministry" period.  I do so only because these are examples of the things that caused me to be pushed out of the  ABC the first time for being "rebellious".   One of the most prominent changes that occurred was that my dad decided, since we were dealing with Mexican citizens who were predominantly Catholic, we should assume their customs and begin to wear clerical collars whenever we went into  Mexico.  He also began wearing one in the U.S. as well. Prior to this, I had always considered we, the ABC,  were different than the other churches and we were the exception to "Mystery Babylon"  (which was considered by the ABC to be the Catholic church and all her denominational daughters). We all knew or thought we knew anyhow that we were different than the rest because we met in homes, "had no name" (even though we really did have a name), did not "ride on the back of the government" (even though we had incorporated and shared in the same tax breaks all the other denominational churches did) and it was for certain we did not do things like the Catholics. Or, at least we thought we didn't.   This sudden abandonment of that position, to such a large degree, was very disillusioning for me and caused me to take  a closer look at what we were actually building.  It made me realize then we were really not that much different from any of  the other denominational churches. This did not sit well with me since it ended the illusion I had of the ABC as being "different" and not a denomination.  True, we met in homes instead of church buildings but everything else was mostly the same as any other denominational church. 

*I did not buy one of the clerical shirts, even though I had been commanded to do so by my  "father in the Lord" but eventually a shirt was purchased for me  anyhow. I came home from work to find it hanging on my front door with a note ordering me to wear it.  There was a teaching in the ABC that we were to be "experimental believers"  so I wore it one time to Mexico; to experiment; but when the people there began to kiss my ring, as if I were a priest, I was not comfortable  with this.  I was told later  it is just the way they show respect for our position but  it still bothered me immensely. I decided I would just stay away from Mexico rather than wear it again.

The " Mexican Ministry" was growing to the point that it was consuming more money than was currently coming in through tithe and offering.  Any alms that came in were secret so no one had any idea how much money came in earmarked as “alms”.  The tithe money was paying for the "Casa Grande" (a huge house in Chula Vista California),  a trailer in the mountains, a condo at the beach, a fleet of vehicles, lots and lots of new furniture and lots and lots of  other stuff. This was all very very expensive and very little was actually making its way to helping Mexican families in their poverty.  The theory was, as my dad explained on the Luis tape, tithes and offerings could not be  used to help someone in need...only alms, so, the tithes and offerings just ended up paying for lots of  things that supported bringing teachings to Mexico. Very very little was used to feed the poor or help them in their poverty. If an alm came in, that money was usually used to buy bibles.  This did not sit well with many people and began to create quite a rift . Not just in San Diego but among people everywhere.  It eventually caused two more major splits in the church.

In an effort  to raise the additional money needed to keep "the corporation" afloat bake sales were initiated in front of various supermarkets. We, the members of the ABC in San Diego, were expected to bake goodies for these sales and then help staff the tables on weekends. Knowing that the money was not flowing to Mexico I participated in none of them.  Another method was to have members of the ABC sit during the middle of the night at highway rest stops to give out "free" coffee and ask for donations  from travelers. Many in the ABC did  not participate in these endeavors since they were not comfortable giving others the impression the  money raised was  being  used to feed or clothe Mexicans. It was not.

One of the more unusual ways the Mexican Ministry "ministered" to the shopkeepers was by hauling  goods for them across the border in the trunks of cars; as if the goods were souvenirs. They would then package the merchandise on the U.S. side for shipment to stores in Los Angeles.   By doing this,  the shopkeepers avoided paying duty on their goods as they passed across the border and could undercut their  competitor's price and make more sales.  This allowed them to grow their businesses more quickly. It was also very illegal.   If the shopkeeper was discovered participating they would lose their merchandise and be fined. However, if a U.S. citizen was discovered assisting in this type of plan they would have their car seized at the border for smuggling and could possibly be arrested and charged.  Many, including me, chose not to participate for this reason.

Another unusual thing that happened was that I arrived at the Casa Grande one weekday morning and was told by my dad I was being made the new treasurer.  About an hour later everyone left to go to Mexico to visit the shopkeepers as  I remained behind. During my day at the Casa Grande I received a phone call from the Internal Revenue Service.  Since I had been made treasurer that very morning I knew nothing about what was going on and could not answer their questions knowledgeably.  When everyone returned from Mexico that afternoon I inquired, as "the new treasurer", what was going on with the IRS.  The only reply I got was "maybe it's not a good idea to have you as treasurer."  And that was that. I was treasurer for just that one day.  I never did discover what the IRS trouble was about.

Many in the San Diego group who chose not to participate in these and other  things were  label as "rebellious" as result. I was among those who chose not to participate since many of the things seemed not quite right to me. I have sprinkled just a few things here to illustrate life in San Diego during the Mexican Ministry days but there were many  other incidents, and some that were much much worse.  I have decided many things  should  not  be put into print.  The general theme at this time was that if you did not do what you were told you were  labeled "rebellious" and would be put out.  There was a great absence of free will that developed.

There was a group of three families that were eventually  put out in one day at a  "body counsel" due to these "rebellions".  All of us men who were put out were  considered  as "elders" at that time. One of these  families moved away to Washington, another remained in San Diego for a short period and then moved away to Arizona and I stayed behind for about  a year before  moving away to the northwest. One of these men eventually divorced, returned to the ABC and married again. When I got away from the  hustle-bustle of the "Mexican Ministry" and the constant commands from my dad it would be a time of peace mostly.  It would last for a number of years before I would return to the ABC and soon after be made an "elder" again. Only to be ousted once again but this time not for “rebellion” but for "blasphemy".

I have put this narrative forward as a "history" of the Assembly of the Body of Christ" but in reality it is a history mostly from a singular perspective...mine.  I have relied some on letters, teachings and documents that show the rise of the church out of the "Latter Rain Revival" movement and how it progressed through stages to get to where it is today but much of it is my own observations and things I have been told or shown over the years.  I have tried to avoid the "pointing of the finger" and undoubtedly failed at times in that regard. Some of these  issues still hold pent up emotion for me.  I'm human.  I am perfectly willing to accept   that anytime I have  pointed  the finger I have three fingers pointing back at me.  If someone were to write a history of my life it would also include a good share of pitfalls, foibles, errors and things I would not be proud of.  We all make mistakes.

The majority of my purpose in writing this narrative  is to illuminate that the actual path followed by the ABC is not as has been charted and portrayed to its members and followers.   The true path it follows is quite far from the map shown to newcomers. In other words there are a great many falsehoods that are told to make the ABC look different than it really is.

While it is true my dad was not very good at the family thing  I failed in many ways in that regard too.  I was much too hard on my kids as they grew up, did not give them the space they needed to grow, was very overbearing and as a result am not as close to them as I would like to be.  I parented the best I could, with the information I had at hand, but that information was highly deficient. I had no good model to follow in my life and this more than anything else brings me the most pain.

Some have expressed sympathy that I have been through so many things.  I do not need sympathy because most, if not all of us, go through similar storms in our lives. The storms that passed through my life were just more visible than most because my dad was a bit of a minor celebrity in his own right; having started a new denomination;  and was respected for his position as the founder and leader of that new denomination. Even today, long after his death, his teachings are the "ordained" teachings of the ABC and anything outside of that is suspect.  My dad's teachings stemmed directly from the other men I have written about (Watt, Prince....) and they undoubtedly had those they drew them from as well.  And so it goes  back through history. 

I have been mostly a willing, even if ignorant, participant in my own life  and  have made my own decisions based on the information I had at hand. Many times it was clearly the wrong decision. I think nearly every person looks back on their life and wishes they could go back and do it all over again and make the right decisions.  It is not possible and we are left to live in the life we construct.

I fear that in my ramblings I may have written things that could  be construed as bitterness towards my father.  There was a day I was bitter against him but I have years ago resolved that. It has not ended the sadness I feel though when I see our broken family. 

I believe my dad meant well when he began the ABC, unfortunately  he made the error  of translating his family practices into the building of the denomination he started. This carryover into church doctrine has caused, I believe,  the many episodes of abandonment that have occurred in the church over the years. 

This journey I have taken through a very small part of my own  history has brought me through many ups and downs emotionally; and, like Solomon in Ecclesiastes, I too have thrown up my hands at times and stated it is all just vanity and not worth it. In the end, it has been a worthwhile journey to write this and has made me understand where I sprang from. It has helped me burn a great deal of wood, hay and stubble in my thoughts in the process. The fires have burned large at times and when they died down I had not much left to call my own.  And so now I, like Solomon,  reach the end of my own matter.

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23-A letter

Below is a letter that was sent out about June of 1983. This letter was sent because there were many rumblings about the way money was being used by the “Mexican Ministry”and the rumblings could no longer be ignored. This letter was intended to quiet the agitations but it was not effective.  It was essentially a threat to all in the ABC they must not make waves or question how the money was being used or else there would be consequences. 

Click on picture to read entire text.

 

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22-The Progression of the Mexican Ministry

In a previous post I covered the actual rooting of the Mexican Ministry into the ABC with the story of Luis. Things began to take visible shape though about the time I returned to San Diego. My dad’s visits to, and befriending of, the shopkeepers in Tijuana eventually yielded visits to their homes. This brought about a request for teachings which meant, of course, that homes were needed in Mexico for foundation meetings. Most of the available homes in Tijuana were very small, some had dirt floors  and none would accommodate a meeting. Rather than rent a building or hall, a small apartment was rented in the La Playa area of Tijuana on the western edge of town. This was not far from San Diego but the Tijuana roads were seldom maintained well and made for treacherous driving. It was a long slow commute up the hill--especially when it rained. It was not unusual, in a heavy downpour, to encounter a roadway that had become a raging torrent of flood water. Very often in Tijuana the homes would get washed downhill in these downpours and there were usually a numbers of deaths. Poverty can be deadly. For those who have never visited Tijuana, many of the dwellings are built on steep hillsides with foundations constructed of old tires. The homes on top of these tires are often constructed of bits of wood and plywood salvaged from other buildings and have only dirt for a floor.

The Crown Victoria and other sedans my dad was using to get to this apartment; as well as to pick up some of the Mexican people on the way; were not suited for the journey over the deeply rutted roads. An offering was requested to buy a large van and the money was raised. The van was purchased but within months it was apparent this vehicle  too would not hold up to the strain of the Tijuana roads.  Another call went out for more money to purchase a large Chevy Suburban with four wheel drive and high clearance suspension. This was a more effective vehicle to maneuver the back roads and alleys of Tijuana and became a bus of sorts for picking up people to take to the meetings.

I was at a few of the meetings at the La Playa apartment. There were maybe five or six people from Tijuana and about the same number would travel over from the states. They were typical foundation meeting with singing (one of the Mexican people had translated a few of the songs into Spanish), a teaching in English interpreted into Spanish by a man named Pablo and prayer for any needs. It was not possible to construct a teaching in the same manner since the ABC relies heavily on the Greek to develop teaching points. This then required translating from Greek to English and then from English into Spanish. This was proving extremely difficult and the teachings moved in very slow motion. Most attending just nodded their heads but one never knows if the nodding meant they truly understood or were just being courteous.

Not long after the apartment was rented in La Playa a large storm completely washed away the main road  and it became inaccessible without a long drive through the side roads. A search was made for a new location to hold the meetings and a large house was rented closer to central Tijuana. It was up on a hill overlooking all of Tijuana and was constructed of stucco, stone and brick with lots of wrought iron. The pictures below were taken at this house. The first picture was at a kid's birthday party and the second is the view from this house at night. It had quite a view looking out over Tijuana.

This house was  too big to justify having for just meetings so David North moved his family to the house, enrolled his children in Mexican school. He then commuted to work each day across the border into San Diego. There was not much kept at the La Playa apartment for the meetings; just a whiteboard and some chairs;  but after the move to the big house it still needed to be retrieved. I was enlisted for the long drive to retrieve them and David North rode along with me. Since I had to do this after work it meant driving into Tijuana after dark and one of my headlights burned out while I was still deep into Tijuana. I was stopped by a local police officer who spoke very little English. I spoke very little Spanish, although I understood some, but from what I could understand he wanted to take my car from me because it was not "legal" and then he was going to drop us at the airport. David paid the officer some money and this caused him to "forget" about impounding my car and he let us go. It was a tense moment. We found a headlamp at a little shop in La Playa and changed it before heading back to San Diego to avoid further trouble.

Meetings were held at the large central Tijuana house for a number of months but the massive flooding in La Playa and other areas had forced the Mexican government to address the housing situation. Since flooding problems occurred during every storm season the government built large tenements of solid concrete on the mesa near the Tijuana airport. Flooding was not a problem here since it was on top of a large hill with excellent drainage.  A great many people were relocated from central Tijuana to these new housing projects, including most of the people who were coming to the Tijuana meetings, so this made it necessary to move the meetings again to the plains by the airport. The house was given up and David North and family moved back across the border to the Casa Grande. The idea of having a permanent house in Tijuana was abandoned. Yvonne would later acquire another home in Tijuana, after my father's death, but I will address that separately since it was not an official "sanctioned" part of the ABC.

After the central Tijuana house was given up the meetings were moved to the home of a woman everyone called  "mama" . On meeting days the Suburban would leave San Diego several hours before the start time and make a "bus run" picking up anyone that lived too far to walk. Most of the participants in these meetings were related in some way and all were very poor.

Altogether there was a handful of people that were ever touched by "The Mexican Ministry" and it officially ended not long after my father's death. I do not know exactly when since I was not around at that time but I do know, from what I heard, that San Diego became a battleground for power and control at that time and Yvonne, my stepmother, would leave the ABC and continue the Mexican Ministry on her own. During this time she negotiated a permanent pension from the tithes.  I was not part of the ABC then but I received regular updates on the progress from Yvonne by form letter.

In the next post and the one following I will introduce a threatening letter that was sent to all in the ABC and address some of  the anomalies that developed, mostly due to the forming of the "Mexican Ministry".

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