Chapter 16: Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

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Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

Here is the context of Matthews’ SWINDLE START: The Elk River

Assembly of God Church was doing some great things in the City of Elk River. Then Pastor Hoogenboom’s sexual sins were made public. The church became decimated and only a few elect people remained in the assembly. A temporary pastor was there when I began to visit and the

church was actively seeking a new pastor. Inside the church, Matthews had family members who were recommending him for the position.

Matthews was a licensed Assembly of God minister and was the

pastor of a church in Chelsea, Michigan. He was raised near Elk River in Buffalo, Minnesota and was interested in moving back. The Elk River church was a congregational church established under Minnesota’s Non- Profit Corporation Act, Chapter 317A. The By-Laws provided that every member had an equal vote in all matters. They also established criteria for

members and directors. The church was incorporated in October 1977 and until July 1993 virtually no changes to the Articles of Incorporation were made. I was attending the church services every week albeit I did not have a clue as to what was happening behind the scenes.

Matthews presented himself as a candidate for senior pastor in September 1992, was voted in and installed in December. I was present from his beginning message until the time I left and I missed very few

services. I was not present for the vote on his candidacy since I was not a member. God was pressing me to join the church. So in May 1993, I attended the eight weeks of required membership classes, which Matthews taught. These meetings occurred just prior to the change of name business

meeting. According to By-Laws, all Article changes had to be posted on the wall of the church for four consecutive weeks and formal notice had to be mailed to all voting members. Both of these were done. The only change that Matthews requested the members make was the Article I name change.

I remember debating whether or not I should go to the meeting and observe. Like I had a choice. I didn’t. God told me to go. I didn’t want to get stuck and since I wasn’t a member, I sat way in the back next to a door

for an easy escape if I got bored. The discussion over the name change was coming to an end. Should I tell the members what God had told me earlier?