First published at 20:28 UTC on April 26th, 2018.
"Dr." Jerry Johnston"expert" on Satanism who claimed to have lectured to more high school students than anyone else his age.
"Dr."/Pastor Johnston and his megachurch, the First Family Church of Overland Park , Kansas (…
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"Dr." Jerry Johnston"expert" on Satanism who claimed to have lectured to more high school students than anyone else his age.
"Dr."/Pastor Johnston and his megachurch, the First Family Church of Overland Park , Kansas (Jonston has an honorary "doctorate" from Falwell's Liberty University). In a March 2007 series of articles by Judy L. Thomas, the Kansas City Star brought to light possible financial misdeeds at First Family:
In 2005, Jonston raised millions of dollars for a building that would house a Christian children's academy. The building was completed, but in August 2006 Johnston announced to his church that the academy opening was being postponed indefinitely and that the remaining money would instead be spent on a sanctuary with seating for 5000-7000.
In October 2000, First Family began taking donations for its main sanctuary. Donors would have their names displayed on a monument. However, despite the raising of $750,000 the monument wasn't acquired until 2006 (after the Star began its investigation) - and it was considerably less grand than the 2000 plans.
In 2005, Johnston announced that an anonymous donor had answered the congregation's prayers by giving the church 200 acres of land on which to build a youth camp. Real estate records told a different story: Johnston's son Jeremy signed a $400,000 mortgage on the property in the church's name.
First Family is a Southern Baptist Convention affiliate with approximately 4200 members, a worldwide TV ministry, and an annual budget of $17 million.
Johnston claimed that First Family finances are overseen by a responsible board of trustees. The Star found that one lawyer listed as a longtime board member, Tim Dollar, had never attended the church nor a single board meeting.
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