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[Johann]

The following has just been posted on BSDA:

shadowdancer

   
post Today, 04:25 AM
Post #1


Group: Members
Posts: 3
Joined: 12-January 08
Member No.: 4,600
Gender: f


   
Some of you may know that in late 2006, Bob Pickle and Gailon Joy spoke out against Danny Shelton's cover up of the child molestation allegations that had been leveled against his brother, Tommy. In the months that followed they spoke to seven of Tommy's alleged victims as well as their family members, and even an eye witness. Danny Shelton and 3ABN retaliated with a lawsuit in April 2007. The case is slated to go to trial no earlier than March 2009.

Gailon Joy is an Adventist Reporter. Bob Pickle has served the church as a conference pastor and is a respected apologist. The effect of the law suit is to restrict the constitutional freedoms of speech, religion, and press that Adventists hold dear. There has been a constant attempt by Danny Shelton and 3ABN to keep the church and all their viewers in the dark regarding serious allegations of financial and moral improprieties, abuse of power, and corruption.

Danny Shelton and 3ABN are not cooperating with the discovery phase of the lawsuit which requires the handing over of requested documents. Gailon Joy and Bob Pickle have turned over voluminous amounts of material and have yet to receive one single document from Danny Shelton or 3ABN.

Danny Shelton and 3ABN have millions of dollars behind them and have hired very expensive lawyers from as many as six different law firms in three different states to handle their current legal troubles. In all of this Bob and Gailon are trying to be wise stewards of God's funds. They currently have no attorney expenses because they are representing themselves.

Yet there are some non-negotiable costs involved in defending themselves against this frivolous and unconstitutional lawsuit. For example, when they do depositions they must hire a court reporter at a cost of over $1200 per day (appearance fee + hourly fee + per page fee). They estimate that their defense discovery costs will amount to $25,000 to $30,000 before it's over.

But Gailon and Bob simply do not have the millions of dollars behind them that Danny Shelton and 3ABN have. Where are they going to find the few thousands they so desperately need to defend themselves?

Do you appreciate the freedoms we have in America? Do you want pastors, reporters, and laity to be able to continue to stand up against corruption and for conservative family values without fear of a lawsuit aimed at ruining them financially or blackening their reputation? Will you join the battle against those who want to intimidate and retaliate against anyone who expresses genuine concerns?

This is a plea for prayer and donations to help cover the discovery expenses. You can help in this cause by praying, forwarding this e-mail to all of your contacts, and sending a check to:

Bob Pickle - Defense Fund
1354 County Road 21
Halstad, MN 56548-9417

Phone: (218) 456-2568

You also can use your credit card by going to the defense fund link at:

www.pickle-publishing.com/defensefund.htm

A full accounting of all money donated and how it is spent will be made. Any excess funds will be used for evangelism.

You can read the whole story that has been published so far at one of several sites available – www.save-3abn.com

You can also go to www.pickle-publishing.com/papers/ to find out more about Bob Pickle and the apologetic work he has done.

Thank you and may God bless you.

This post has been edited by shadowdancer: Today, 04:26 AM

[Bob Pickle]

Anyone who wishes can put the following code in any email or on any web page they wish:

<a href="http://www.pickle-publishing.com/defensefund.htm">
  <img src="http://www.pickle-publishing.com/images/defense-fund-1.gif">
</a>

If you want a different speed in the animated GIF, try either of the following. I think they are a little different.

<a href="http://www.pickle-publishing.com/defensefund.htm">
  <img src="http://www.pickle-publishing.com/images/defense-fund-1-half.gif">
</a>

<a href="http://www.pickle-publishing.com/defensefund.htm">
  <img src="http://www.pickle-publishing.com/images/defense-fund-2.gif">
</a>

[Bob Pickle]

We have an immediate need of around $3700.

We have $600 in hand and $1275 on the way.

Thus we still need to raise $1825.

[childoftheking]

Is there still a paypal account? I believe there was one to send donations to Mr Heal when he was acting as your lawyer. Would this still work or can you and/or Mr Joy set up one where they go directly to a new account? If so, could you please post a link?

[Bob Pickle]

Hi childoftheking.

That old PayPal link would likely still work, but since Attorney Heal is not my attorney anymore, I do not know when the money would actually arrive at my office.

http://www.pickle-publishing.com/defensefund.htm is a link one can use to make a secure credit card transaction.

Any questions?

[Bob Pickle]

Someone suggested that we ask the General Conference to audit the fund, and I think that sounds like a good idea.

[Ozzie]

Someone suggested that we ask the General Conference to audit the fund, and I think that sounds like a good idea.

Would they do that? It's an excellent idea if they would cooperate, in more ways than one. That would make the situation more 'real' to them.

[Bob Pickle]

We have an immediate need of around $3700.

We have $600 in hand and $1275 on the way.

Thus we still need to raise $1825.

$675 in hand and $1575 on the way.

Still need to raise $1450.

[Bob Pickle]

$2600 in hand and $1575 on the way. That means that if everything comes in that is supposed to, we have met our immediate need of $3700, and are now on our way toward our ultimate goal of $30,000.

As a recap, while we don't have attorney expenses, we do have discovery costs. We have to hire a court reporter when we do depositions, and there is no way around that. There will be various costs involved in procuring documents which simply are non-negotiable.

While we obviously are doing and will do all we can to keep expenses down, there are costs that we simply cannot afford without assistance. And at present we anticipate those costs reaching $30,000.

Why should you care? I was telling a pastor yesterday that his right and privilege to deal with sin in the local congregation is at stake. No Adventist preacher should fear a retaliatory, frivolous lawsuit if they have a sticky situation in their congregation that must be appropriately addressed. Especially if it's child molestation allegations.

We know from Bible prophecy that one day our civil and religious freedoms will be curtailed in America. But who would have expected that an attack on these freedoms would have come from a supporting ministry that is supposedly pledged to defend those freedoms?

Thanks to all who have rendered their support by prayers and/or by gifts.

[Bob Pickle]

By the way, based on current deadlines set by the court, I think we have to spend that $30,000 by the end of July. I'll have to check.

In other words, the court says we have to have depositions done by such and such a date. That means we have to pay the court reporters by then, and thus have to have the money raised by then. And we have to raise it early enough to plan ahead. I think we might have to give something like 30 days notice before doing a deposition.

[inga]

Bob, can you please set up a PayPal link as well? It doesn't cost you anything, and it may bring in a few more dollars.

One of the really helpful features of PayPal is that it's possible to set up monthly contributions for a stated period of time. The money may come from a credit card or a bank account. The monthly contributions are particularly helpful for those of us on a limited income.

Inge

[Bob Pickle]

I'd like to stay away from PayPal if I can. If folks let me know, I can do a monthly contribution as well.

When I started out with my online store, I first used PayPal. But eventually I went with my own merchant account.

[Bob Pickle]

Okay, after several suggestions about offering PayPal, I've resurrected my old PayPal account and have added a button for it under the other form at http://www.pickle-publishing.com/defensefund.htm.

If anyone wants to send someone an email link to the PayPal page, you can use https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=.... (Copy the link, not the text.) Or send them to http://www.pickle-publishing.com/defensefund.htm where they will now have the option of donating using PayPal.

$4,475 on hand, and $700 on the way. Another $900 was pledged earlier, but I don't know when that is coming.

We are well on our way to reaching $30,000 for our discovery costs, but still have quite a bit to go.

Thanks to everyone for your help and support.

[Daryl Fawcett]

Well, wonders never cease!

[Bob Pickle]

$85 has come in through PayPal. We now have a total of $6,110 on hand, with another $400 on the way, and another $900 pledged. Praise the Lord! If we hit $7,500, that will be 25% of the goal we have set for our discovery costs.

One gentleman wrote that he thought if we were innocent that the other side will cover all the costs, so he wasn't real sympathetic. But that's not how it works. You've got to come up with the money to pay the discovery costs in order to prove your case, and then when you win you can get your costs reimbursed.

I would like to ask special prayer for one of the individuals who donated a sizable amount. They need to find some employment, perhaps some jobs for their trade. Could you ask the Lord to bless them with work in return for their kindness?

The influence of the widow who gave her two mites is still at work!