Chapter 16: Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

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Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

One item that I gave to Solid Rock was 545,000 shares of common

stock in the small technology company I started. I wanted to help rebuild this church. As a member, I felt that I could help move the church forward from the devastation caused by Hoogenboom’s scandal. I was very excited by what I perceived as a righteous and honest minister who seemed sincere

in trying to right the wrongs that had been committed. I joined the ushers and was one of the leaders. It was my job to recruit and schedule ushers. As time progressed I nestled into worshipping God in a deeper way.

I had no clue as to what was transpiring behind the scenes. I didn’t know that as I was joining the church, Matthews was preparing false Article of Incorporation changes to file with the Minnesota Secretary of State. It would be the first of several perjuries he was prepared to make as part of his church swindle. Matthews had been the senior pastor of this church for less

than eight months and was now prepared to commit fraud to steal the church from its denomination first and then from its members second.

The filing Matthews made with the Secretary of State implemented

wholesale changes to the Articles that were not authorized by the members. Matthews was testing the waters with a proverbial sucker punch at an early point in his ministry. Who would find out? Who would object? When the board asked to see the entire document they were signing, he intimidated

them into signing a signature page without presenting the entire filing to them. The board failed in its duty to catch the start of Matthews’ swindle. For the time being, everything was unfolding as Matthews had planned.

I sat in the sanctuary and read my Bible even while Matthews spoke. I read front and back of what he taught. I was on the lookout for any type of apostasy. There were some quirky teachings, but nothing out in the open from an apostasy perspective. I stepped into deep worship many times for

that is what God told me to do. Many times I would go out in the spirit and get lost with God. I experienced healing at the altar in prayer. I also became a worshipper who would unabashedly worship God in praise and worship. I told God that if no other person went to that altar to raise his or her hands in

dance, praise and worship — that I would. Many times I would write in my diary — Wow! The level of my worship experience reached new heights.