[tgsanford]

Go to www.campofhope.org and get a look at the new Jim Bakker Television Show site from Branson.

[phough]

Thanks.
Paul

Originally posted by tgsanford
Go to www.campofhope.org and get a look at the new Jim Bakker Television Show site from Branson.

[BRILEY]

PTL TAPES AND BOOKS

HI ALL,
I really am new to this and how it works and feel real stupid.
to the point Do any of you remember the horrible story that
has been told of how the FOULWELL had huge holes and all
of the items that were to do wih the Bakkers placed into the
holes deeply dug and filled and then covered.
Well where on th property and if o why do some of us not go
and research this as It has always puzled Me as to why this was not investigated an the persons who did this were not charged with detruction of PTL property...Jim Bakker said on Ted Kopple
nightline that no lawsuite would not come from His camp at that
time in 1997 but if it were buried and covred in cement I am sure
it is on the property and still ???? in condition of some kind of a
wayof description...So sad but charges should be considered if
Foulwell was for sure behind this .....It was more of a crime to
be put to a court of JUDGE POTTER who went so far south in the
TRIAL of the 1980's that It should be brought up.
Anyone thought of where he talked about hole and contients may be located at Heritage.
God Bless, Briley

[phough]

Hi Briley:

I watched Tammy Faye being interviewed on Larry King's Live TV broadcast. She was talking about the last days of PTL. She said that when Jimmy told her about contacting Rev. Falwell, she told him not to do it. She mentioned about the deep philosophical divide between some Baptist groups, of which Falwell is a member, and The Assemblies of God, who the Bakkers are affilitated with, over the "Gifts of the Spirit." She could not understand Falwell's interest in running PTL because of it. In Billy Graham's book "Just as I Am" which is basically his life's story, he describes conversations he had with prominent church leaders and others, who warned him in his early days, that if he affiliated himself with A of G people he would lose their support. The only prominent A of G person whom he had sit on the platform was Oral Roverts. (These are not my words, but Billy Graham's. When Gerry Falwell and his associates took over the operation of PTL she said it was apparent they were not interested in running PTL as it was, and they seemed to be only interested in the Satelllite.
During the call in portion of the show, a woman called wanting to know where she could obtain some of the books, tapes and records of the Bakkers. She told the woman that all of their material had been destroyed. Larry King asked her how, and she said that Gerry Falwell had a bulldozer brought in and it dug a hole and all the material that had been for sale at PTL, was thrown in the hole and buried. Then it was covered with cement. Larry asked her why this was done and she said she did not know. He asked her how she felt about it and she said she had forgiven Gerry.
As for the unfair treatment (and bias) of the presiding judge at Jimmy Bakker's trial, Jimmy mentions the unfairness of it and the unusally harsh sentence he received on his conviction in his book "I was Wrong."
It is not my intention to knock one religion or build up another but divisions have separated the "church" from the time of the disciples up to this day.
Paul.

Originally posted by BRILEY
PTL TAPES AND BOOKS

HI ALL,
I really am new to this and how it works and feel real stupid.
to the point Do any of you remember the horrible story that
has been told of how the FOULWELL had huge holes and all
of the items that were to do wih the Bakkers placed into the
holes deeply dug and filled and then covered.
Well where on th property and if o why do some of us not go
and research this as It has always puzled Me as to why this was not investigated an the persons who did this were not charged with detruction of PTL property...Jim Bakker said on Ted Kopple
nightline that no lawsuite would not come from His camp at that
time in 1997 but if it were buried and covred in cement I am sure
it is on the property and still ???? in condition of some kind of a
wayof description...So sad but charges should be considered if
Foulwell was for sure behind this .....It was more of a crime to
be put to a court of JUDGE POTTER who went so far south in the
TRIAL of the 1980's that It should be brought up.
Anyone thought of where he talked about hole and contients may be located at Heritage.
God Bless, Briley

[ericka]

Hi all,

Was looking over this forum today and found that there is a mistake about Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman.

She is not married to the gospel singer Gary Chapman (he is married to Jennifer Pitman Chapman, July 1, 2000) her husband is Doug and she married himat the age of 18. Doug was a lifeguard at Heritage USA's waterpark.

I really loved going to Heritage USA, I went for 3 years straight with my parents and 1 year my mom's mom, the next dad's mom and the last was with one of my friends. I was so sad to hear that the whole place closed down and was falling apart.

I loved getting to see the water parade on the lake near the water park. The little angels that were behind the water park were just so cute. Getting to be one of the first people to enter the waterpark on it's very first opening day was so awesome. My parents never felt that the $1000 was not well spent. We always got our first choice for reservations and what can I say the accommodations were great. The Passion Play was so neat to see. Although the Moose is gone, I will never forget it covered in lights. It's ashame that the Wendy's Castle was never opened for that purpose. It's cool to see the pictures of the Castle finished though. My mom still has a set of 4 mugs that she bought at the top of the waterpark on opening day. They said Jesus Loves Me and were sort of a patchwork type mug. I also have the April figurine that she got there as well.

I hope someone does get it opened back up as a Christian Resort, I would definately take my kids there.

[Abdullahq8]

I wanted to reply to 2 posts by "Rick". One post mentions that Tammy Sue Bakker married singer Gary Chapman. Tammy Sue married (and divorced) a Douglas Chapman. Also Jim Bakker's current wife, Lori Graham is NOT related to Billy Graham.

Thanks

[tgsanford]

Just wanted to let folks know that I have uploaded some 30 photos from the Coffee Table Book of Heritage USA in the PTLHERITAGEUSA yahoo group....if your not a member, come join and take a look.

Tim

[DaddyBear]

I went there in the first few months...as a newsman... did a full spread on it (PRO)... it was a place of great faith and power and spirit... loved it all... met and sat and talked with Jim and Tammy Faye... they were so kind and good... I am 62 now and, while FAR from wealthy, gave probably a few thousand over the years -- and I never have regretted ONE penny...not one. They and it were great -- human, yes... and with greatness within called Christ. There IS a payday coming for the Charlotte editors and news people.... maybe not here... but mark my words....

DaddyBear

Originally posted by mickifromnc@web
Thanks to you for an accurate account of the PTL and it's reputation to all those who were in the "know". There is no way that a person could drive through that theme park, walk those grounds, etc. and not feel a good spirit around them. The same holds true to the feeling as you are leaving....that umbrella of the spirit of goodness was no longer there.
I think it was a shame that the jury was not allowed to go and look at what Heritage USA had to offer. Everything there was the best....nothing chintzy or cheap. How could the Bakkers have spent as much money on themselves as they were accused of doing when as anyone could see what had been done there for the pleasure of anyone who wanted to come to enjoy? I will never forget that scarey feeling that swept over myself and others as we watched what I compared to another crucifiction. WE all know now, that God was in that place....especially when noone has ever been able to make it grow again in any way....I wonder how deep the remorse is inside those who destroyed such sacred ground?? I will never forget!!! MICKI ORR~

[DaddyBear]

Where is the site? I want to join in... I have their first such book (I guess, it is a yearbook)...

Originally posted by tgsanford
Just wanted to let folks know that I have uploaded some 30 photos from the Coffee Table Book of Heritage USA in the PTLHERITAGEUSA yahoo group....if your not a member, come join and take a look.

Tim

[Rick4404]

Originally posted by Abdullahq8
I wanted to reply to 2 posts by "Rick". One post mentions that Tammy Sue Bakker married singer Gary Chapman. Tammy Sue married (and divorced) a Douglas Chapman. Also Jim Bakker's current wife, Lori Graham is NOT related to Billy Graham.

Thanks

Thank you for pointing these matters out. I haven't visited this thread in some time. My apologies.

[morriscerullo]

Originally posted by Rick4404
Thank you for the compliment. I forgot to mention about Richard Dortch. Dortch became the executive vice president of PTL. He served approximately two years at the minimum security federal prison camp at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with his role in the overselling of so-called "Lifetime Partnerships" at PTL. Today, Dortch is once again an active minister in the Assemblies of God. Today, he runs a ministry in the Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida area called "Life Challenge." He spoke at a men's retreat which I attended a few years ago. His book, "Integrity...How I Lost It And My Journey Back," is well worth reading. Jim Bakker's book "I Was Wrong" is definitely worth reading as well. James Watt, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, wrote a forward in Dortch's book and declared what Dortch wrote was "chillingly accurate." Watt was on the board of directors that was installed when the esteemed Dr. Jerry Falwell took over the PTL ministry/Heritage USA. In part of the book, Dortch talks about the downfall and how Falwell offered to assume leadership of the PTL ministry for six months and then give it back to Jim and Tammy. Not only did he not give PTL back to Jim and Tammy, but he also fired Dortch and then led PTL/Heritage USA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which it never emerged from. The INSP Network that is currently available on cable television and satellite was The Inspirational Network/PTL. A Christian ministry headed by evangelist Morris Cerullo and his son David Cerullo, located in Charlotte, N.C., broadcasts Christian programming on the INSP network.

Morris Cerullo raised millions to buy ptl....did you ever wonder what he did whith all that money? He is now under an investigation by the IRS.

[FormerPTLer]

How I wish this post was true. As a former security officer at Heritage I can tell you we stayed pretty busy. We had the same type problems everyone else had. We even had a lifeguard arrested for sexually assaulting a young girl. I made many arrests for child abuse, assault, shoplifting, trespassing, disturbing a church service, speeding, DUI any many others. It would have been great if it was a perfect place but it wasn't.

Tammy Sue was married to Doug Chapman not Gary Chapman. You may be well versed, but most of your stuff is wrong.

Originally posted by Rick4404
The problem with PTL/Heritage USA wasn't so much Jim and Tammy Bakker than it was the people they surrounded themselves with. Money, fame and power are bound to corrupt anyone; and I think they lost touch with reality. Heritage USA was a fine place, a great concept. Remember, Jim and Tammy Bakker didn't run the place alone. There were some 2,000 full and part-time employees who worked at PTL/Heritage USA. All of these folks truly loved their jobs and really cared about their guests; the people who came from all over the world to visit Heritage USA. PTL/Heritage USA was one of the major employers there in the local area of Fort Mill/York County, South Carolina; which is a suburban area directly south of the Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, North Carolina area. What other "theme" park can make claims of the following? At no time in the history of Heritage USA was anyone ever assaulted, robbed, attacked while on the Heritage USA grounds? No one ever had their vehicles broken into, nor their lodging rooms broken into while visiting Heritage USA. There was not one single major incident during the entire run of Heritage USA in which anyone was hurt. Heritage USA had an impeccable safety record. There was not once a homicide or a sexual assault committed on the Heritage USA premesis. I am well versed in what happened at PTL/Heritage USA. I have read several books and looked through many news articles about what happened down there. I am fully convinced that if the esteemed Dr. Jerry Falwell hadn't taken over PTL/Heritage USA under what I would consider less than honest, bordering on fraudulent means and subsequently buried the place; I truly believe Heritage USA would be going as strong as ever today. Right towards the end, when PTL/Heritage USA was placed into bankruptcy by Falwell, a group of Heritage USA employees headed by North Dakota native Rev. Sam Johnson, who was on staff as a pastor at Heritage USA, led a grass-roots effort to buy Heritage USA out of bankruptcy. Their efforts failed when they could not come up with sufficient capital. Johnson became the senior pastor of what was the Heritage Village Church. PTL's parent organization was the Heritage Village Church and Missionary Fellowship, Inc. Heritage Village Church was an Assemblies of God Church. As long as a legally-recognized church was the parent organization, then PTL could avail itself of the various tax exempt statuses.

[Rick4404]

Thank you, Former PTL'er for setting me straight.

The information I based my post upon almost a year ago, I might add, came from Dr. Richard W. Dortch's book "Integrity, How I Lost it and My Journey Back." Dortch, as you may well remember, became Jim Bakker's right hand man at PTL as Executive Vice President.

James Watt wrote a forward in "Integrity, How I Lost it and My Journey Back." Watt, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and PTL Board of Directors member during the leadership of Jerry Falwell and his people, wrote in the forward that what was written by Dortch was to quote Watt, "Chillingly accurate."

Former PTL'er, you were there on the front lines. You know things that I could not possibly ever know, since I had never personally visited Heritage USA. I certainly did error on my part by not quoting Dortch's book as being the source of my information, and for that I do apologize. I must ask you to forgive me, Former PTL'er.

[FormerPTLer]

Hey, no foul on your part. There is a lot of misinformation out there. I thought I was sending you a private message. Would not have posted that like that if I had known it was going to show up on this post. That was my error. Sorry. I had not read the whole lists before I sent that. I saw that you had been corrected several times. Not trying to correct you. Just set some of the facts straight. I knew you were going on what others had said. Sorry!

[Rick4404]

No problem, Former PTL'er. Yes, there seems to be a lot of misinformation about what went on down there. I am encouraged that it appears God isn't through with what was Heritage USA yet.

There appears to be a groundswell of support towards the ultimate goal of restoring and reopening Heritage USA for its original purpose. There are many threads on The Idea Web which talk about that very thing. There's also a group over on Yahoo called "PTLHERITAGEUSA." That bulletin board is interesting reading as well. In fact, your former boss at Heritage USA, Don Hardister has posted a couple of messages on that board.

The NarroWay theatrical productions that are taking place at the old amphitheater and at the old TV studio are a start. Those could very well be the cornerstone to a restored Heritage USA.

In a way, I'm quite surprised that Morris Cerullo's ministry never took the mantle of leadership after Falwell and his organization left. I understood from news reports that Cerullo's organization was one of the bidders for the property when Heritage USA and PTL went under bankruptcy protection. Instead, the Cerullo's bought the satellite network and operate what is now INSP. His son, David Cerullo, is the president of INSP.

I was pulling for the group that was launched by Rev. Sam Johnson, and billed themselves as Heritage Ministries. They launched a grass roots effort to buy back Heritage USA out of bankruptcy. Their efforts failed. I believe Johnson pastored the Heritage Village Church after Dr. Richard Dortch left PTL. Wasn't the late Uncle Henry Harrison involved with the Johnson group as well?

Sam Johnson is well known in the Assemblies of God. He is a native of North Dakota and many people from the North Dakota District of the Assemblies of God still talk about him even today.

But we must keep foremost in mind that God must be first in whatever may eventually happen with what is now the Regent Park property. Will it ever become the "New Heritage USA?" Only God knows.

I know there are lots of men and women of God who would dearly love to see Heritage USA come off the canvass and be reborn and restored.