BREAKING: Investigation concludes evangelist’s story is false
by Gavin Drake
Earlier this month, CrossWire published a report based on an investigation into the story of evangelist Tony Anthony, author of Taming the Tiger.
The report indicated that a formal investigation was underway. Tonight, the Evangelical Alliance and Avanti Ministries have issued a joint statement, which is produced here in full:
In October 2012, the Evangelical Alliance received a detailed complaint about the validity of the testimony of an Avanti Ministries’ evangelist, Tony Anthony, and his book Taming the Tiger.
Following discussions between Evangelical Alliance and Avanti Ministries, Avanti agreed to set up an independent panel nominated by the Alliance to investigate in a confidential manner the allegations against Tony Anthony.
The independent inquiry panel was made up of three respected members of the UK council of the Evangelical Alliance: John Langlois (chair of panel), Keith Civval and Robert Amess.
The panel produced its report on 26 June 2013 and concluded, based on the evidence submitted to it, that large sections of the book Taming the Tiger, and associated materials, which claim to tell the true story of Tony Anthony’s life, do not do so.
Both the Evangelical Alliance and Avanti Ministries take serious note of the findings of the report and as a result Avanti has concluded that it is not appropriate to continue to support Taming the Tiger.
The board of Avanti Ministries are now considering the ramifications for Avanti Ministries’ future.
The Alliance and Avanti Ministries would like to thank the independent inquiry panel for their diligence in producing its report.
The Alliance and Avanti Ministries are deeply saddened by the findings of the panel. However, they recognise the good work that Avanti and Tony Anthony have done over the years around the world and the impact this will have on the charity, and specifically Tony and his family.
What’s Tony’s reaction?
I am waiting to hear.
I did ask for a response from Tony Anthony to the inquiry yesterday, before the joint EA/Avanti statement arrived.
It arrived very late last night: too late to chase a response. As soon as I hear from Tony Anthony I will post his response here.
Is this “public statement” new: http://www.tonyanthony.co.uk/ ?
http://www.avantiministries.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/avanti_response.pdf
Thanks Steve,
That is a statement released by Avanti in February.
It is worth noting that despite the acknowledgement in that statement that he was not taken to China by his grandfather; Tony Anthony continued to say that he had been, while he was speaking in Guatemala and Northern Ireland (and possibly elsewhere).
Aside from your site is there an ‘official’ confirmation online?
It appears that neither the Evangelical Alliance or Avanti Ministries have put their joint statement on their respective websites yet.
If you doubt my reports (if only people doubted, asked questions and made checks when Taming the Tiger came out) perhaps you could ask the EA and Avanti to send you a copy of their statement directly; and ask why they haven’t put it online.
No doubt at all. Thanks for the update.
Doubts are good! We should all be prepared to check out what we’re told, seek confirmation, and not take things at face value.
http://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/media/press-releases/joint-evangelical-alliance-and-avanti-ministries-statement.cfm
The joint Avanti Ministries / Evangelical Alliance statement is now available on EA’s website.
The Tony Anthony interview live on premierradio at 1.40pm today was, shall we say, rather interesting, amid much scripture quoting.
Any way we can listen to that? I can’t find a link on their site?
Yes. Just found this now: http://www.premier.org.uk/news/current/Evangelist%20author%20Tony%20Anthonys%20Taming%20the%20Tiger%20not%20true.aspx
Original statement from EA is now available online:
http://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/media/press-releases/joint-evangelical-alliance-and-avanti-ministries-statement.cfm
Gavin Drake, I must say, you are doing a masterful job.
I was the person who set up a tour of NZ for TA in 2006.
During the tour, as a team, we began to have serious doubts about not only his story but his personal integrity and honesty.
Tony thanked us at the end of the tour by plagiarise all the resources from our ministry.
This confirmed all our worst fears about who, in fact, we’d invited to NZ.
We’d unwittingly brushed with a monster.
When challenged, Tony blustered, bob and weaved, and bullied his way out.
For years we’ve waited patiently for the truth to come out. Thank God it now has.
What’s most disturbing is that there are little old ladies all over the world who are supporting Tony on automatic bank payment and who have no idea about anything of what is now breaking.
Personally, I think the join statement from Avanti and the Evangelical Alliance was way to watery and insipid, bordering on sham.
It’s crucial that the name “Tony Anthony Evangelist” is put into the title of any release but so many ‘little old ladies’ are not aware his ministry is called Avanti.
I also went onto the Premiere radio web site to hear your interview and Tony’s. Can I comment on your interview? The question was asked of you “What would you say to the fact that many people have been saved through Tony’s ministry?” I liked what you said, and I couldn’t have said it better. But can I add this? The word of God does not return void, whether it’s sown by the hand of a farmer who is corrupt, or one who is righteous. It does it’s own work. It’s the same with seed in the natural realm.
God has allowed Tony to go on for so long neck deep in his self deceit and fraud, corruption and lies, patiently waiting for him to repent.
He hasn’t so the axe has fallen. Obviously, God’s patience with Tony has been exhausted.
God will not be mocked forever, and Tony is now testimony to this. Jesus spoke about this clearly in the parable of the man who built his house on the sand.
What I can’t believe is that in his interview with Victoria on Premier radio, he is still bobbing and weaving and deceiving in his answers, weaving more lies into an existing web to cover up previous lies. Sadly, I think Victoria let Tony off too lightly.
I also think Authentic media has a lot to answer for. It appears to me that in it’s lust for money, it turned a blind eye to investigating all the doubts about Tony and his story which have been swirling around for years. The company will be hugely embarrassed now, and no doubt will be in damage control mode.
Clearly, if his interview with Victoria on Premiere radio is anything to go by, the penny has not dropped for Tony that God’s judgement has arrived, and it’s time to fess up, pack up, and go home.
In my opinion, just how long it takes for Tony to “get it” will depend on where the media, and you, go from here.
Every blessing Gavin, and thank you once again for your incredible efforts. I am most grateful.
Amen
The Avanti Ministries main page has been down since late Friday, apparently. There is currently only a placeholder page with no further links, although via search engines some pages of the site are still available.
He shouldnt just pack up and go home he should apologise and refund the supporters and be fined / tried in court. I have said this before and ill say it again, we need Religious regulation in this country – too many dodgy wannabe “Leaders” who seem to do more harm than good! Hate to sound negative but we must face this and deal wioth it in a real way that promotes integrity and transparency and fairness.
But Facebook link is working… haven’t tried twitter
I agree with all the comments here. Some more observations:
– Why did Authentic not check his story before publishing, especially knowing he had served time for lying to police about a hit and run death?
– Why does the joint statement not condemn the mixing of an untrue testimony with the gospel, not just in the book but also in nearly every public appearance over the past decade?
– Why did Authentic not realise so many pages had been plagiarised?
– The book was also published in a format for children, deliberately presenting a false testimony to them also – and still Authentic did not investigate the many concerns raised since the initial book was published but went ahead with the book for children!!!
– As of today, TA’s personal website still only shows a letter of support from Avanti’s board (written in february) and his video on his home page describes himself with Avanti as their founding director
– Whilst the statement by EA and Avanti is kind to express it’s concern for TA’s family, it seems bizarre to acknowledge TA’s own years of ‘good work’ which they now know was only mixing the gospels with extensive misinformation about his own testimony. How can that possibly be ‘good’?! Especially when it is clear he has done everything he can to suppress and avoid any questions about his past. TA needs to be challenged and not pacified!
– I absolutely agree he should be taken to court. Authentic say he signed a sworn legal statement before the book was published that it was true. Justice needs to be done and needs to be seen to be done.
Just a thought…. If everyone who had bought his book contacted Authentic or the retailers requesting a refund as it was not what it was clearly advertised to be (i.e. a true life story)……? Would this help publishers to take this sort of issue seriously and prevent them from being so loose with the truth in the future?
Just Noticed this on the Avanti website.
http://www.avantiministries.com/avanti_statement.pdf
This sort of thing has happened before: Mike Warnke. And, in a different way, Todd Bentley. We never learn!
Julian – why didn’t you raise your concerns at the time? You will be no doubt familiar with names like Neville Johnson, Frank Houston, and Ian Bilby: where too much of what later emerged about them was actually “there in plain sight” in front of us. No wonder my (Christian) generation have got so cynical.
Noticed this comment on Christian Bookshops Blog following the news about the book.
One thought on “Taming the Tiger withdrawn from sale after EA investigation”
thecraftywriter says:
July 16, 2013 at 12:03 pm
HI Phil, thanks for keeping us up to date with this. I see so much of what happened with me and the evangelist I was hired to write about. Exactly the same evasive style. I see the original book was co-authored, surely the writer should have done what I did and checked the facts. I have been chatting to this with Monarch who hired me and we all agree that this is what could have happened to us if our story had gone ahead. It’s absolutely shocking the bullshit people buy into in ‘the name of God’. Methinks He’s cleaning up his church. I’m involved with another evangelist bullshit story in the US through a screenwriting contract and that’s also coming to light.
God bless Fiona
Interesting that the statement that was put on Avanti’s website yesterday afternoon is no longer mentioned on their home page. Clicking the link pasted here by “I” still takes you to it, but going to http://www.avantiministries.com/ this morning no longer mentions that statement at all.
I found the Bible reference included in it very puzzling.
And why write a statement of such significance and then replace it within hours?
Let’s be frank here – whilst clearly others in Avanti itself did achieve ‘good things’ over the years (as it says on its homepage): where is the repentance and acknowledgement of the massive deceits of TA who was after all their figurehead????
There will be so many people across the world hurt and reeling not just from being told a life testimony that was not true weaved in with gospel presentations (so the ‘not even true let alone not good news’).
Yes TA is centrally responsible but so are all those in Authentic and in Avanti who ignored and hushed up and looked away from all of the concerns that were raised with them over the past decade. From what I have read, at least two directors of Avanti left because the rest of the board would not listen to their concerns about the story’s reliability.
Let’s not lose sight either of how it tarnishes the ministry of those who linked with him either – such as George Verwer who TA referred to as his mentor and whose name was quoted in Avanti’s web pages. For me, Authentic have a lot to answer to – they published his story and endorsed it as ‘true’ inferring they had checked and proved it to be so. A publisher’s power is great and they have not used it responsibly and are answerable to their Christian readership for this.
Checked the avanti and tonyanthony websites this morning – both effectively ‘shuttered’. My guess is that anyone left in Avanti is so embarrassed at all that is emerging, that they are running for cover. We saw this with Todd Bentley. I saw this years ago in a church I belonged to when the pastor was fired for conduct unbecoming.
This is like these financial scams: if something is too good to be true, it probably is. Generally, there is never a sole cause of a disaster like this;
What I think we will find is that Tony was a small-town crook in Cyprus with previous in the UK, who did come to faith … actually, I’m not sure I can say that last statement. :-
Actually, strike that last remark from the record, a little unfair in the circumstances.
I agree – shuttered is a good term here. From all accounts, Avanti and Authentic should both have seen this coming for a long time, the concerns have been raised time and again with them both over this last decade. They both could have dealt with it a long time ago and limited the damage done to listeners and readers..
I think Dan summed it up well earlier in the thread; “Hate to sound negative but we must face this and deal wioth it in a real way that promotes integrity and transparency and fairness.” I don’t think that is a negative statement at all though – but sound and and wise. Let’s hope the Evangelical Alliance makes this a reality.
Fresh response from Tony Anthony focusing again solely on Taming the Tiger.
http://www.tonyanthony.co.uk
Hmmm. It seems to me the most truthful thing in that statement is that he never expected what he put in his book to be scrutinised.
For a man who spent years 4-12 in china, and summers until aged 17 also, to now be unable to read, write or speak chinese – or show any kung fu skill when he claims to have learnt all that as a child under intense pressure to do so: it is simply untrue.
To claim the need to hide identifiable details because of fear of death for himself and his family from betraying his kung fu chinese heritage is implausible when he has published his book in multiple languages worldwide, and writes online about worldwide trips including where he is and what he is doing, and his location is easily found from company details about Avanti – it is blatantly untrue that this is a man in fear of a death sentence from his chinese ‘family’.
I guess that noone will be surprised at his continuing defence. A man who has made such bold claims about his past to duck and dive from so many interactions with people who meet him with real knowledge of kung fu and china for so long will be well practised.
What is surprising is the silence from Authentic and EA and Avanti – if Tony is given airtime on Premier then so should those organisations about their findings of large parts of his book being untrue. Hopefully their silence means that legal action by them is not far off.
The EA has now added this online.
http://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/news/qa-with-steve-clifford-re-joint-evangelical-alliance-and-avanti-ministries-statement.cfm
It seems to me their statement of ‘It was alleged that Tony had never lived in China as a child, had never been involved in Kung Fu as a world champion and had never worked in close protection. ‘ followed by the repeat later on that large sections of the book ‘which claim to tell the true story of Tony Anthony’s life, do not do so’ sends a very careful yet clear message.
Always knew he was lying
As he’s provided a live email address, I thought I would write directly:
============
Dear Tony,
If you are going to see your credibility restored, you will need to:
* Explain why you can’t speak or even read Chinese, which is unbelievable for the number of years you would have lived there.
* Explain your conviction in 2001 for attempting to pervert the course of justice.
* Explain your plagiarisation of Julian Batchelor’s work – he’s been online telling people that this is what you did. You are welcome to challenge him at julian@esisite.com
* Explain why you hid your actual background when you should have known people could dig this out: “But Tony Anthony’s story really came apart when the investigators discovered his true identity: he was born Andonis Andreou Athanasiou on 30 July 1971 in London’s University College Hospital. Tony Anthony has now confirmed that this is his true identity” (from Crosswire).
===================
Why, once you came to Christ, did you not stick to being an evangelist, without the fancy story? You’d have done well enough at that, I’m sure. However, if you continue like this, trying to justify yourself, the Evangelical Alliance will no doubt release their detailed investigation of your claims. If a lawyer has brought it together, it will be thorough; and it will be your ruination.
Christians are prepared to give people the benefit of the doubt – sometimes to the point of being quite gullible. They – we – will react like, well, an angry tiger if they come to the view that they have been systematically lied to. That is the charge which you are now facing; it is up to you to prove that you haven’t been lying, not for us, now, to prove that you have. You probably don’t know who Mike Warnke is, but I suggest you dig up his story via Google. It should be instructive. And have a look at Todd Bentley’s while you’re about it.
On the other hand, a Christian community which likes to hear sensational testimonies, the more shocking the better, is perhaps almost at fault.
In Christ [signed]
Excellent – well done.
Let us know if you get any answers from him!
Latest from the Evangelical Alliance:
http://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/news/qa-with-steve-clifford-re-joint-evangelical-alliance-and-avanti-ministries-statement.cfm
All very measured, which is what happens when lawyers get involved, but what is left of Avanti need to authorise the release of the full report
… That is, before it is accidently-on-purpose leaked. It might be that the EA is keeping the threat of releasing the whole report, as an attempt to keep Tony in line.
Front page on the local (Southend) paper the Evening Echo… and two page spread inside.
Can’t find it. Is there a link?
Not online yet but…
http://t.co/wo32o9fGJ2 and http://www.echo-news.co.uk/ if gets published online…
not up there yet…
I have to say I wonder what Christian witness is actually happening when Christian journalists publicise this story widely within the secular press, sending information to the Daily Mirror and local press. I understand circulating detail in Christian circles and not hiding anything but taking the initiative in dangling this story in front of tabloid papers says nothing of our concern for Tony’s family and children. Lets please practice our faith – Dont hide things but also have some common decency
I see no difference between secular press and Christian press.
But I addressed your question on my blog: http://drakene.ws/15cQXP9.
I have offered this story to a number of newspapers. The Mirror isn’t one of them.
Well said! I agree there is no difference. I think you have done the right thing, as many christians do not read or listen to christian media reporting and so remain unaware of the events and so remain hoodwinked by the book. It is important that people are aware of the trust issues that there are so they are not taken in by TA in the future.
There is No Blame At All that should be attached to all those who have worked so hard to uncover what can only be a deliberate ongoing deception by TA, facilitated by those around him. In fact we should be thanking and supporting all those who were persistent in wanting to know the truth.
Sadly there are and will be consequences from recent events that are and will be painful and difficult for TA’s family, but he alone is responsible for that, and certainly not those who uncovered his deception.
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends11%5C0001104111_ac_20111231_e_c.pdf
I have just been having a squizz through the Avanti Ministries accounts, which Tony was kind enough to allude to; and they raise more questions than they answer. I’m not an accountant, but this is the sort of thing which came to mind, and people might want to run these past someone who is an accountant.
The ministry seems to have been a way of managing the cash which came in (and then went out) for the ministry. Tony wasn’t paid by the ministry, that is clear, but that begs the question as to how he was making a living; presumably, from the book sales? Another oddity was having his wife (Sara Anthony) as a trustee.
The situation at the end of 2011 was of a ministry which owed to current creditors far more than it had in the bank (pp9, 10) – and the trustees’ statement acknowledge this. There’s no real explanation of why giving had fallen so much from the previous year; note also point 9 to the accounts (p14) – they were spending a lot of money on travel, in fact it was around 40 percent of the ministry’s running costs. Half of this went on the travel of three of the trustees – and the year before, that had been £10,112 spent (presumably) on Tony Anthony’s travel.
To give you an idea of the scale of the operation, a smallish church I used to worship at, had a turnover of about £110,000 per year; somewhat smaller than Avanti. That paid for a fulltime pastor, a couple of part-timers, and then the rest of the costs of running a church which has to pay to rent premises. There’s nothing in the Avanti accounts that would point to deliberate misappropriation of funds, but there’s a lot that points to trustees’ poor management. Looking at p9, losing over £50K out the door (money in less money out) in one year, is a fatal error. This has been covered, in the short term, by a huge rise in trade creditors (£28K, from zero as-at the year before).
The accounts for the previous year can be found here:
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends11%5C0001104111_ac_20101231_e_c.pdf
This isn’t the major issue in the scheme of things but it might provide more background as to why Avanti Ministries have decided to throw in the towel at this time.
Another layer eh…. I wonder what the creditors think now?
Tony’s wife’s father was also on the board of avanti according to a video interview of them on you tube. It seems part of the reason why avanti have been so un-cooperative is because of this types of relationships in the board.
Excellent work on the whole matter done by the Hub can be found here:-
http://thehubwalsall.tumblr.com/post/56231895533/a-statement-about-taming-the-tiger-and-tony-anthony
Apart from Tony Anthony it shows the determined obstructiveness of Avanti which will undoubtedly tar all associated with that name in the future.
That is brilliant – they are clearly working very hard and getting to the heart of the matter – the Hub should be commended for such forthright and honest thinking and writing.
Thank you for the kind words.
We can take very little credit really, the true hard work was done by the people on the Bullshido forums, Carl Chambers, Mike Hancock and Gavin Drake.
We can only make a statement like this because of their hard work. We have collated the information, with their help, but this is all we have done.
We appreciate the support, was a difficult decision to publish this, and not one met with universal agreement from within our industry, but it is one we couldn’t avoid. The gospel is truth, and doesn’t need to be dressed up in falsehood to make it interesting or palatable to people.
I would finally end by saying, this is not a statement we feel we should have to make. We believe that Avanti should have made the findings public, and we continue to encourage you to contact them directly to ask for this.
We believe that this is the correct biblical response to persistent, unrepentant sin, and in the absence of the strongest kinds of evidence to support his claims, and given the strength of the claims against him, the sin of lying must be what Mr. Anthony is considered to have committed.
We remain hopeful that Tony Anthony can be restored to full communion with the body of christ, but this has to start with repentance and honestly admitting his mistakes, and in the absence of that, those who have been responsible for him must take a strong stand, which has unfortunately been lacking thus far.
I should add, those named as involved in the research are just the tip of the iceberg.
There are so many others who gave up so much to bring this to light. I wish I could thank them all. These are just those who have publicly commented, but they are by no means alone. We all owe them all a debt of gratitude for their hard and diligent work.
Luke, there are so many things that could be commented on with this whole saga aren’t there.
I do commend you at the Hub for taking this stand, and it also does not surprise me that it was a difficult step – and that some would disapprove.
You have done far more than others to take a step to put things right for the Christian audience and customers. The truth surely is that if Authentic had done their job properly, none of this would have happened as his fraud would have been uncovered prior to publication. The reason that his deceptions have continued for a decade across the world is because those in authoritative positions in Avanti and Authentic did not listen to the numerous questions they received, and did all they could to hush them up.
I absolutely agree that we owe the researchers you name and those you are unable to name a Huge debt of gratitude for their persistence. The irony is of course that it was never their job nor their responsibility to do so, but they chose not to look the other way.
Which I guess is where I am coming from too. As Christians, we have become sucked into a culture which elevates our leaders and figureheads to ridiculous heights and does not keep them accountable – and the results of misusing that power have done immense damage in so many areas of the church. The Christian celebrity culture has gone too far. We need to look in ourselves as to why we need stunning testimonies when the vast majority of Christian lives are – let’s be real – ordinary.
It is our collective responsibility to test what we hear, from preachers or in any form of Christian material. If we keep silent when we know that an ‘evangelist’ has been deliberately mixing lies for a decade in writing and personal appearances then surely we are helping him in this? It is vital that he be held accountable for his actions.
It seems to be that Authentic have been sadly lacking in corporate confession and restoration, and without their help, TA would never have had the platform that he did.
Has anyone yet referred him and his book to trading standards or reported the deceptions to the charity commission?
Anyway, I say very very well done to the Hub. It was a brave, courageous but thoughtful and measured response that is exactly what was needed – let us hope Avanti do the right thing and release the report. By hiding it they only add to their guilt and prolong the deception.
Although TA decided to make up his life story, it is Authentic who published it as ‘true’. Angela Little confirmed in a link given by the Hub above that she had not checked ANY of his claims as she ‘believed him’!!!! Malcolm knew this. They both knew they had seen no evidence whatsoever for his claims yet fobbed off and hushed up and sent away a multitude of people who came to Authentic questioning TA’s story. Authentic have so much to answer for, Especially even printing a version aimed at children, knowing there were years of questions from so many different people. Without his books as a platform. it is doubtful Avanti or his worldwide tours where he repeated the lies in every personal appearance and in all publicity material would have taken place.
How could they support a book where a man tells of murdering people without ever accepting any consequences for that?
As TA was described as a “devious and manipulative man” by a judge, surely he should also be placed under financial scrutiny? I remember from an Avanti newsletter how he talked about enjoying a foreign holiday he and his family had been given by a christian. It is unlikely this ever showed up in Avanti’s accounts. I wonder what else didn’t as well?
Is there any clarification of what financial income himself and his wife and children have lived on for the past decade?
I think this comment by the Hub is worth repeating here and passing it on:
We are also aware that, like us, many of you would still like to know what information was uncovered by the independent investigation, to allow you to properly evaluate Mr. Anthony’s more recent statements. We therefore encourage you to contact Avanti Ministries directly requesting that clarification about the findings be published as soon as possible, to allow us all to decide upon the best way to proceed.
In reply to S yes, I contacted Trading Standards six months ago and have copied them in to present concerns raised by the joint report and Gavin Drake’s website. I hope they are looking into this. Charities Commission is a bit more complicated
It is good that you have done that Leslie.
I guess that Avanti will have to make some sort of report to the Charities Commission as they close down.
A Trading Standards contact of mine thinks that it is also an issue of fraud for the police as someone is pretending and gaining money as a result, both through his speaking and royalties. Even if he argues the monetary gain was not for himself, it was for the charity he founded and was on the board of.
As Authentic are silent, and Avanti are resisting the EA’s advice re publishing the results, how can we know if any of them – particularly Authentic or the EA – have reported it to the police? As TA has already been convicted for dishonesty, surely the police should be informed of his large-scale ongoing deceptions? My guess is that a police investigation would be most uncomfortable for both Authentic and Avanti as they ignored queries for so long. Perhaps the EA will make this move? Particularly as TA continues to say the book is true? According to the Echo article here he says even his film project will go ahead. Clearly nothing that anyone has said to him so far has sunk in…
Followup article in the Evening Echo today (this one is online)
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10575771.Evangelist_Tony_Anthony_sought___20million_for_film_deal/
Any comment from his church Leigh Road Baptist Church and its minister Steven Hembery… how are they calling him to account, acting out church discipline? apparently Tony still has the support of the church???? unbelievable.
He does not have support of the church or its leadership.One or two members still believe him but the majority do not. When the Ea started the investigation a church meeting was informed by Steven Hembery the minister that the church would not give Avanti support or a platform at Leigh Road Baptist until the findings were announced. Without being able to see the EA report it is difficult to take further action at this time.
Which is why Avanti must not be allowed to withhold it, or at least the executive summary of it. I would hope that the church leadership would be in touch with the EA for their guidance…. TA needs to be confronted by as many people as possible until he stops claiming to be a truthful evangelist who is being persecuted for his faith – which is the essence of his webpage statement.
And if Steven Hembery knew about this years ago why did he not act then? His/The Churches last public statement on the matter would be Stevens endorsement published with the book.
This has not been publicly retracted or apologised for. The Church and Steven are culpable for not putting a stop to this when they first knew about it. They are as responsible (as are the EA and Avanti Board) for the damage being done to the reputation of the broader church in the national press.
That they have not seen the report is inconsequential, do they not trust the EA and the team they put together?
This is starting to turn from a story about one mans lies and failings to one of the poor handling of those with oversight of Tony ministry and those who are burying their heads in the sand.
Please would Avanti, The EA and LRBC demonstrate some leadership and start to deal with this so we can begin to work away from this fiasco not just keep digging the hole even deeper.
If this is Leigh Road Baptist Churches position has changed could you post a link to confirm this?
From everything I have seen, it is not now turning into poor handling of his ‘ministry’, it has been that all along.
This stage in the saga is identical to everything that has preceeded it; Authentic remain silent and apart from withdrawing it from sale have not taken any public act of corporate responsibility for their complete absence of checking any facts or replying to queries; Avanti resisting any requests to state the truth and rectify their part in all of this; his church published support of the book but have not issued a new correct statement; the EA (whilst to be commended for initiating the enquiry) have not condemned a decade of deceit but instead spoke of the ‘good work’ (which was based and melded with lies).
The biggest scandal that has rocked the church worldwide in recent years has not really been all the abuses that took place within it, but the cover ups and failures to listen to the complainants and act decisively to protect people in the future from those individuals and to acknowledge their part in looking the other way which facilitated abuses to occur.
This is no different. As those who bought 1.5 million copies of TA’s book look on, and as the thousands who listened to him say the same lies in public appearances now observe, none of the organisations with responsibilities to sort this out seem to be doing anything legally to prevent TA from continuing to avoid being held to account and to stop repeating his nonsense. Fraud is obtaining money through deception. That is what he did.
Whilst people throughout the world are watching, the church once again refuses to take responsibility for where it has erred, or to challenge a dangerous christian leader who they once acclaimed and affirmed.
Why have Authentic not taken legal action at once to hold him to account for his sworn statement that the book was true that he gave them at the start? If they do not do so it can only be because the truth of how many many times they ignored concerns would come out and shame them.
Maybe Gavin will know and post here?
The danger as I see it is that TA is continuing the same line he has for ten years. A man who can lie so extensively and brazenly about so much of his past, and do so not just in writing but also in personal appearances where he knew he could be challenged: and was, but in many online accounts, he blustered his way through. According to the Echo article, 1.5 MILLION books have been printed: this is deception on a huge scale.
The longer Avanti refuse to publish the results, the longer TA’s deception is not fully confronted. If that is Tony’s church, is it likely that some board members will be there also? Is that church connected to the EA? Shouldn’t they step in and advise the church? I see they have a baptist union logo. Whilst I am sure the key investigators we have thanked in this thread will not allow all this to settle without him being properly challenged, the length of time and the amount of times this has all been brushed away surely leaves no onlookers with any sense of security regarding justice…
Surely, surely he should have been reported to the Police by the EA and Authentic by now.
Looks like it is his church, and they and Avanti are linked, one current trustee of LRBC Martin Eady was a long time as a director of Avanti if you look at the company records/charity commission records.
Also a Sara Anthony (Tonys wife) mentioned here: http://www.lrbc.org.uk/living/small_groups.php as a small group leader in the church.
and more links… http://www.zoominfo.com/p/David-Duell/606315257
I guess that part of what is needed is for all the groups – Authentic, his church, Avanti, other connected ministries – to stand firm on what has been uncovered and to insist it is made public. Of course, had the report confirmed the claims in TAs book, it would have been published in the blink of an eye!!!
Just as a little aside…. In a copy of Malcolm’s (Authentic) email in the martial arts website forum provided in the link by the Hub, he states that TA’s co-author, Angela Little, is a friend of his for 17 years, who is also a close friend still of TA and his family. Perhaps that explains at least some of why Malcolm was so uncooperative in responding to queries about the book over all of these years???
Sorry you don’t feel able to post comments here about Drake’s position in all this. Can he confirm whether he has sent out these comments to all the secular press to glorify his own career. Let him without sin cast the first stone….
I haven’t sent any “comments” to the secular press.
I have sent news reports to some “secular press” as you call them; not to “glorify” my career but to fulfil it.
That’s what I do. I’m a journalist. I report.
Can you please explain why you think this is wrong?
Gavin is a journalist!!! He has (with other church leaders) uncovered a huge decade-long deception by someone claiming to be an evangelist. He was absolutely right to uncover it, and to get it publicised – how could it be right for so many people worldwide to continue to be taken in by an utterly false testimony?! Surely when a preacher is telling lies and that is uncovered, people should be told about it? He and the other investigators have our thanks as a christian community. We need people like them who value and will stand up for truth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/28/tony-anthony-kung-fu-sham
The damage Tony is doing to the reputation of the Church and the Gospel is truly saddening.
It is absolutely – both on a global, and local scale, as Stuart’s comment below demonstrates. Tony bears a huge responsibility for that. As the Guardian article points out, it should never have lasted this long – and the EA and others bear responsilbility for that part of it. I think it is really useful that the Guardian has written this article. So many christians do not use religious media, and so this may be the only way they will know the truth and not be taken in by him in the future. TA has a long history of not telling the truth and people need to know that so that they are not deceived by him – just think how all those who gave money to support his ministry will feel today.
I must say, I feel rather shocked and betrayed, as I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
It’s all very well the Evangelical Alliance “recognise the good work that Avanti and Tony Anthony have done” when it was all predicated on lies and revisionist fabrication.
Gutted.
You are not alone Stuart. Many others feel likewise. Had Authentic etc not endorsed his story as true, people may have read it more objectively. It is very hard to have been lied to though, especially deliberately and for so long.
The more people that contact the EA and Avanti and Authentic to express their disquiet at the poor statement you refer to, as well as the ongoing withholding of the facts from the enquiry from the public, and the seeming total lack of bringing TA to account for his actions, the better. The hit and run trial clearly demonstrated that TA will continue to evade the truth until every other avenue has been closed to him. Forgiveness can only be accepted by an individual until after admission and confession of sin – as the refusal to do so invalidates the forgiveness by their own denial of guilt.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/07/29/christian-author-tony-anthony-gets-caught-lying-about-his-life-story/
It just gets worse…
And this is a prime example of why Christians must be seen to grab the bull by the horns and sort out problems in our own house swiftly and emphatically.
Anyone care to ask the Christians responsible directly:
Avanti:
Mr David John Duell (born 55 years ago)
Director, Bank Manager
Ms Sara Elizabeth Anthony (born 41 years ago)
Director, Teacher
Ms Heather Crosskey (born 51 years ago)
Director, General Practitioner
Mr George Henry Osborn (born 34 years ago)
Director, Evangelist
Mr David Hartley West (born 50 years ago)
Director, Company Director
Mr Paul Adrian Salter (born 57 years ago)
Director, Operation Manager
Authentic Media:
Australian
Mr Paul Andrew Bootes (born 59 years ago)
Director, Director
Mr Robert Murray Bootes (born 44 years ago)
Director, Director
Ms Donna Harris
Company Secretary
28 Apr 2010 — Present (3 years, 3 months, 1 day)
Leigh Road Baptist Church:
REV STEVEN HEMBERY
MR ROBERT HADWEN
MR MARTIN EADY
MR NEIL DUNLOP
MR DANIEL GRACIE
MRS PRISCILLA SCOTT
MR JOHN TURNER
MR PAUL SMITH
MR STEPHEN TINNING
The EA
MR PETER JEFFREY
MR MATT SUMMERFIELD
REV GRAEME CLARK
REV MIKE TALBOT
MR JULIAN RICHARDS
MRS ARLENE SMALL
MR DEREK CROOKES
REV DR KATE COLEMAN
MISS RUTH GILSON
PROF TIM CAWSTON
REV PATRICIA STOREY
MISS RACHEL WESTCOTT
REV JOHN COYNE
MRS RACHEL GARDNER
REV DR STEPHEN RALPH HOLMES
any of there people care to comment?
Anon sounds as if he / she has a big chip on his / her shoulder about LRBC. Do you have the courage to say who you are? Probably not.
It does come across like that…
This whole situation is very sad. I guess it is important not to lose sight of the varying degrees of involvement and responsibility that there are, from actually lying to looking the other way to being taken in. Some people have made wrong decisions, others just did what they were told.
The reassurances that were given by those who appeared to have proof that it was true meant that some people acted within the parameter that it was true because they felt reassured by that.
That there is still confusion because of withheld conclusions and conflicting statements from TA does not help people when they are told they still cannot have answers to their queries, which of course has been the case for years now. That there is frustration is understandable.
So some of what we see here and elsewhere online are responses to the deep hurt and betrayal that people feel from TA. Those who have given much in whatever form to Avanti will feel it more deeply.
I thought the statement from the Hub which offered support to anyone who needed it in this situation was a really valuable offer to make.
Hi Martin, No issue with LRBC specifically just chasing the proverbial rabbit down the hole that is a google search … starting with a link on the Echo site mentioning LRBC and the only hint of a response form anyone was from John Knott, presumably from or associated with LRBC given his comment above. Perhaps unfairly over-focusing attention. Though google would suggests there are undeniable and deep links…
I am speaking as one taken in by the story of Tony and Avanti… and now realising his lies and am deeply hurt by the truth now revealed and sad that I was inadvertently part of supporting his peddling of a Gospel message so intertwined with untruth. Forgiveness is a word that the EA/Avanti has banded around yet this is something that comes after repentance and acceptance of sin/wrongdoing. There seems to be no acknowledgement by any of those who had oversight of this or from Tony himself. To be honest I am upset, frustrated, conflicted, embarrassed, doubting… and was just poking the bear so to speak, hoping to elicit a response… and galvanise some action. With hindsight perhaps not the best course of action and I apologise for that. It would have been great if Avanti or the EA or LRBC or his mentors had stepped up like the Hub have and offered support to those hurting in this situation, from the tone of your response you clearly are hurting and affected by this also…
We should continue to call those with oversight (Primarily the Avanti Board, who have been deafeningly silent on the matter not even publishing the ‘joint’ statement on their own website) but others including LRBC who could and should have acted sooner. They did then, and do now have a responsibility to respond and act.
Its not too late, publish a comment, share some teaching on how the Gospel is the one true way to Christ. Teach on why what Tony has done is wrong. Teach on how to avoid these situation in the future. Teach on discernment. Encourage those disappointed and confused that it is God who redeems, that Jesus paid the price. Admit failures, apologise for them. Warn others from associating with and enabling Tony if he won’t acknowledge his wrongdoing. Pray, pray lots…. and then pray some more and then ACT.
The longer this is ignored the greater the pressure will build and the bigger the story will become and the more the wider Church will be bought into disrepute.
As Stuart said above:
” grab the bull by the horns and sort out problems in our own house swiftly and emphatically.”
I am very sad to receive such a report. While I had some doubts on his past, I never have doubts on his enthusiasm and passion in reaching the lost for the Kingdom of Christ. The two just doesn’t fit and I wish he’ll tell us the whole truth. I have been personally blessed by his ministry and many people have been saved through his preaching. My heart is heavy with great sadness, even depressed with the recent findings which I wish were untrue.
Thanks for sharing that, Anon and Peter.
My first big thought is: The EA could help hugely with this by setting up both an email and telephone support line for all those hurting.
It wouldn’t require them to do anything or say anything they are legally unable to to individuals, but it would provide an outlet and a support system for the lives which are clearly rocked to the core by TA’s actions. With Avanti silent and shut down, and Authentic directly affected and probably mistrusted, the EA can look after those struggling in the wake of these awful revelations. Avanti were one of the ministries under their umbrella, and with them shut down, it is time for the ‘parent’ organisation to support those left floundering. Many people, it seems to me, need an ear, whether it is a cyber one or telephone one! This would help greatly and need not compromise anything else.
Peter; I am sorry to hear of your sadness, which is totally understandable. It is hard to see such duality in a christian leader like TA, someone who at every occasion, mixed news about God’s love with a whole load of personal lies.
Anon; we all do share your feelings of upset, frustration, conflict, embarrassment, and doubt, and we also do understand how that boils over sometime, so please don’t feel bad about that. I absolutely agree that it isn’t over yet, until TA truly faces up to his actions. I guess that may take time, which isn’t what anyone wants as it does just keep growing in its implications, but then it took years to bring him to account thus far. As he often says in his emails – “Keep on keeping on”!!!!
I guess part of the great sadness with all this is for people like yourselves who feel tarnished in some way by helping out with what they thought was God’s work, only for it to turn out to be a massive deception. What is remarkable is that you are both clearly able to distinguish God and His message from the lies and deceptions of TA. It seems to me that any good accomplished through TA’s ‘ministry’ has been because of the efforts and commitment of those serving in honesty like yourselves. God has honoured that; TA cannot take any credit.
It seems to me from his webpage that he is an expert in speaking ‘Christianese’ if not Chinese! He basically claims persecution for being an evangelist – and aligns himself with Nehemiah and Paul (!) – whereas actually he has been brought to account for a decade of deception.
I don’t think the EA would see itself as the parent organisation with responsibility for Avanti; in the same way that the AA, RAC and Green Flag aren’t responsible for my poor driving.
I guess I was hoping that some organisation might step in to be there for all the people that are hurting,and as the EA were behind the launch of the investigation, and the investigators were recommended by them, and they are a big organisation with a lot of contacts who issued the joint statement with Avanti who have since shut down, they seem to be best placed to put something in place….
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed-God is our witness” (1 Thessalonians 2:2-5).
TA quotes this verse on his webpage.
Let’s be clear Tony. Your motives were in error and impure, and you tried to trick millions. You wore a mask of deception and covered up greed – your lies enabled financial gain and status. You mixed the gospel with lies and have brought great pain to many many people – not least your own family.
Perhaps there is something far more serious underlying anything already released or published and in the public domain.
Perhaps this is why the EA and Avanti are so reticent to release the investigations report.
I can appreciate the great hurt felt by so many people (including many of those involved with Avanti) at being duped by TA’s fictional life story and testimony. I can also appreciate the desire of some to scatter around criticism and blame, as Anon does in his/her previous comments.
One of the basis for TA duping people so well has been his efforts over the years to conceal his true identity. Surely that has no place in any Christian context. It is ironic and perhaps a little hypocritical that Anon seems to be following his example. So, Anon, pluck up the courage to say who you are!
Hi Martin,
Clearly the criticisms/blame has hit a little close to home and the attention to the truth is a little uncomfortable…
As the saying goes… ‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
Lets focus on LRBC for a moment as that seems to be who you are defending… I am aware from others more closely involved that at least TWO YEARS before there was any talk of the EA investigation and subsequent findings that the investigation group bought the issues to LRBC and that a meeting occurred between the Church and Tony Antony and the concerned christians… Why was no action taken to either investigate further at this point? This was a serious failure on the churches part. There is also a copy of a presentation given to the LRBC leaders out there… so we know the facts were given.
Lets keep the discussion to facts please. I do not believe that anything I have posted in this thread is not the truth, and much has just been lifted (such as the Trustees) from the charity commission website.
If you are able to refute any of this, please publish the links or refer to sources if online.
Yours,
Anon!
(With Tonys history do really think I am going to reveal my name…) Consider these truths (long overdue for publishing) a gift.
Proverbs 21:
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
I can’t see that anyone here wants to scatter criticism or blame: but clearly some people had the chance to stop TA for years and chose to look away. They are answerable for enabling his lies.
The focus of the discussions here is to understand what went wrong and why, and how to prevent it in the future – as well as seeing those involved brought to account. It is also a way for people to express their hurt, and that is right and helpful. Great wrongs have been done.
There is a huge difference between an international ‘evangelist’ and author lying for years about huge chunks of his past, and someone using a screen name on a forum!!!
Ahh… the resounding silence of heads buried in the sand.
What is the collective noun for a group of people looking the other way?
In other news, seem like Wikipedia now has enough verifiable sources for a Tony Anthony page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Anthony_(evangelist)
This is Mike Hancock.
In making the following comments I am not representing the Research group of which I was a part. Having done what we set out to do, the group has no further purpose, although we remain in touch with one-another.
Because of the absence of information in the public domain, speculation will lead to misinformation, and so I feel I should clarify the following points.
Anon’s list of Avanti Directors is correct, which means that all of those individuals, along with Tony Anthony, have a copy of the Enquiry Report, which is currently being kept secret by them. I have not seen the report, but I can confirm that Gavin Drake’s original article is absolutely accurate.
The EA cannot publish the report because Avanti has invoked legal restraints, preventing them from doing so. That act in itself speaks volumes about Avanti as an organization and Tony Anthony, its founder.
The list of EA representatives contains the name of only one person who was involved. The rest, as far as I am aware, were not in any way associated with the issue. The names of those who were involved are not on Anon’s list. In my view the EA made avoidable mistakes, resulting in the current situation, but they were, eventually, amongst the few who were prepared to take action.
I don’t recognize any of the named individuals in Authentic. I did not come into contact with any of these individuals. The senior staff that I did have contact with were negligently passive.
The LRBC list contains names of leaders who may have held an opinion about the validity of Tony Anthony, but were not in a position to make decisions about him. Others, who were in that position, were, in my view, unsupported in their efforts to take a stand for truth by their leader. Martin Eady is an ex Avanti director who resigned shortly after I did, for much the same reasons. He has since then walked an extremely difficult path to see the truth emerge. He has suffered much over the last two years, has a great concern for Tony’s family, but has not wavered from his course. He ranks amongst the few who retained integrity. He is a man of honour.
The report that two years ago the Research Group met with LRBC and Avanti is inaccurate. There never was a meeting with all three groups together. Most of the Research group have met with Tony individually; some have met with some of the Avanti Directors, all making their position clear with both Tony and Avanti. The Research Group attempted to meet with Avanti Directors and Tony on a number of occasions but ALL attempts were rejected. At least two members of the group presented elements of their individual findings to LRBC, one meeting with Tony present, even before the group was formed. The group presented core elements of its findings to the LRBC leadership at the same time as making contact with the EA. We invited Avanti to a meeting to present to them, but only one director, who didn’t want to listen, but wanted only to take away the documentation, turned up. All the Avanti directors received a copy of these findings and documentation electronically, before the enquiry.
Culpability and actions
Everyone implicated in this regrettable episode, (apart from Tony Anthony, whose heart I cannot comment on), started out with a genuine heart to serve God, but all those people now have enough factual information to be in no doubt about the truth. There exists no excuse for any of them to continue to be deceived.
This is also true for LRBC and Authentic. They have not seen the report, of course, but have sufficient evidence to stop equivocating.
LRBC needs to act NOW. It does not help Tony to come to repentance and make restitution towards his family and the Church at large, both of which he has so seriously damaged, so long as those in positions of responsibility and accountability continue to prevaricate. It also perpetuates confusion for those who trusted his ministry.
Authentic Media needs to publically accept responsibility for their negligence; then lead the charge to address loophole in the Christian media: voluntary codes of practice, defined procedures for validation of testimonies, Ombudsman facilities complaints etc.
I have no idea whether the EA leadership will now take action to address its wider responsibility to inform the Church worldwide, including its own member organizations, providing unequivocal advice. We can only trust that they will. Will they provide support and counselling advice to pastors and church leaders who have members of their flock hurting and distressed because of the revelations? I do not know. They, like everyone else were deceived, but now they must become responsible for their mistakes. It is good that the EA took the action that they did, but there is much more that needs to be done.
Pen- ultimately, I appeal to any one of the Avanti directors if they are and in anyway remorseful for the disrepute unwittingly brought upon the gospel message, God’s honour, genuine testimonies inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Church and all who are now confused, doubting or distressed, to redress their mistakes by releasing the report. It is the only honourable course of action. They alone have it within their power to do so. I say this as an ex Avanti director. Tony Anthony’s excuses for withholding the report that it will endanger or betray confidentialities is just more of his previous evasion. What it will reveal is the truth about Tony Anthony.
Finally, I regret to say that it is my observation that we face a crisis of leadership in certain sections of the Church in its widest sense. I encountered a distressing absence of Biblical qualities like wisdom, courage, genuine humility, and an undivided heart. We thank God for the three man enquiry panel who displayed all of these characteristics. Tony Anthony should never have got this far. Let’s make every effort to ensure that it does not happen again. Let’s be positive and learn our lessons, however costly that may be to our pride. We all make mistakes, but saying so is not to exonerate. The important thing for us all is to develop an undivided heart for truth and an attitude that will face into our shortcomings with courage, humility and determination.
Mike, thank you for making all of that clear, and for all your hard work with this whole thing.
Yourself, the research team, and people like Martin have been committed and dedicated to uncovering and confronting a huge deception. Those of us on the fringes can only imagine the personal cost in terms of stress and negative reactions and pressures from all those who looked the other way, not wanting to deal with such a can of worms. Thank you for all that you have all done, and for persisting even now to try to see that it is effectively dealt with.
Sadly, the attitudes and behavior patterns and choices that enabled Tony’s deception to be so far-reaching have persisted even during this uncomfortable uncovering stage. It is absolutely clear that many people’s actions have facilitated his lies. There are clearly many basic standards such as checking testimonies or publications for plagarism that were not met. People were clearly negligent in their responses to concerns for years.
For individuals and organisations to continue to allow the deception to be unchallenged and covered up despite every piece of evidence clearly showing how many huge errors there were in his ‘testimony’ is a huge failure, not just to Biblical standards and Godly living, but also shows a complete disregard for those huge numbers of people across the world who have been taken in by the lies (presented, as they were, with endorsements of ‘truth’). The damage to people’s faith and trust and also to the way that Christians are viewed is simply enormous: and it must be recognized that failing to deal properly with the saga at this stage does nothing but confirm the same attitudes and dismissals that the church has displayed historically regarding other abuses within it.
As individual Christians, we all have a responsibility to weigh what we are told from leaders and preachers and to be unafraid to raise concerns, which those in authority MUST take seriously and investigate regardless of any personal embarrassment or financial loss that may follow when wrongs are uncovered.
Hi Gavin!
Tks for the info!
We have had Tony Anthony come in Quebec Canada to do outreach events in many of our churches, through which many people became believers and are growing disciples now.
This is very sad to hear about Tony and his book. It makes me think of that verse in Philippians where the apostle Paul says he rejoices even though some people preach the gospel with selfish ambitions.
Phil 1. 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Anyways, I just want to tell you that by simply reading your report of the events on crosswire.org, there is no reason why I should believe anything you say there, because you have not provided any bibliographic references or links to backup anything you say.
I did search Google to find the joint statement (http://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/media/press-releases/joint-evangelical-alliance-and-avanti-ministries-statement.cfm) and I did visit the Avanti Ministries Website to find it’s shut down (http://www.avantiministries.com/). But, I think a good reporter or journalist backs up his claims properly in his articles.
You should make sure you do that if you want to be taken seriously.
Alex.
Alex,
It is a news report, not an academic report or Wikipedia entry.
Please show me any news report or feature that includes bibliographic references of the type you mention – you will be unable to do so because that is not how news is written.
However, I am more than happy to provide evidence for each and every claim made (if only you were as challenging of Tony Anthony’s claims) and have included some evidence within the two Tony Anthony articles (such as extracts from his birth and marriage certificates and the court’s certificate of conviction).
What is it that you believe hasn’t been proved? I will gladly provide the evidence.
Hello Gavin!
I wonder why you think I’m not as challenging of Tony’s claims than I am of yours. I don’t think you’re in a position to judge of that.
My comment about reference was not about the supposition that I believe some claims you make have not been proved. It’s about the fact that if you can provide me with evidence upon my request of it, why have you not provided them in the first place in your news report?
Surely, considering your report on Tony’s untruthfulness, you know as well as I do that anybody can write anything anywhere. So the fact that someone claims something doesn’t make it true or even probable. You have to have good reasons to accept it as true.
All I’m saying is that you should avoid provoking unnecessary doubt in your reports concerning your claims. Another user asked you if the claims you made could be confirmed elsewhere online than on your site. So I was obviously not the only one asking myself if your claims were true before I did my own search online…
By the way, I went on la presse.ca (a well known Quebec paper) and clicked the first article I saw: http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/politique-canadienne/201308/13/01-4679497-affaire-wallin-un-comite-du-senat-demande-lintervention-de-la-grc.php
The second paragraph after the author’s name has a link to a report to which the news article makes reference to. So it was not too hard to find a news report or feature that includes bibliographic references of the type I mention…
Sorry, it’s in french…
I’m sorry – I interpreted your comment “We have had Tony Anthony come in Quebec Canada to do outreach events” as saying that you had organised these. Apologies if that wasn’t the case.
The link to La Presse that you include does not include a full bibliography as you are demanding from me. It has a link to an external report on which their report is based; that the editors think people may like to see in full.
The two articles on CrossWire about Tony Anthony were the first to be written about the investigation – there was nothing to link to because nobody else had written about this with supporting evidence (although a number of blogs had done a very good job of trying to challenge Tony Anthony).
These two CrossWire articles were (with the gracious help and support of others) the result of extensive investigation by me over several months. I have significant evidence. As I said, these include his birth and marriage certificates. I put extracts of them online to show that I had them and to provide the proof that you say is missing. I could not put links to these on other sites because UK birth and marriage certificates are not an online resource; and it is birth certificate that is the key evidence upon which his entire story breaks down.
I have not provided all of the evidence I have gathered in the report. Some of it is confidential and I have a duty to protect sources. In addition, the file of evidence that I have gathered has a commercial value and as a professional journalist I reserve the right not to give all of my work away for free.
However, I am glad that you ask for verification. It is important that people do so and I hope that one of the lessons that people can learn from this sorry state of affairs is to check when in doubt.
I repeat what I have said in my last comment: if there are aspects of the report that you believe have not been substantiated please let me know what they are and I will gladly provide proof.
Having said that, the result of the EA investigation, the decision by Avanti Ministries Ltd’s directors and trustees to close the charitable company, the decision by Authentic Media to withdraw the brook from sale and the lack of any complaint or objection from Tony Anthony or his solicitors relating to any potential claim for defamation all point to the fact that the articles are true and substantiated.
Alex,
To add to Gavins last comment. If Tony Anthony is telling the truth he would surely release the full report and end the speculation. He will not do this because three extremely well respected UK Christian leaders examined all the available evidence, including and opportunity for Tony himself to provide proof of his story, and concluded unanimously that his story is not true.
May i direct you to the think theology website
http://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/unmasking_the_tiger
This will help any who have been converted through Tony preaching the gospel.
You will also find ( http://thehubwalsall.tumblr.com) helpful
Mike
Alex:
I’m in Canada, and have followed the Wallin situation closely. You know as well as I do that media did not have the Deloitte report before publishing things that were in the report. They used sources, a normal procedure. Many, including La Presse and the CBC linked to the report when it was available. If you watched TV, there was a clip of it being handed out to reporters on the Hill.
And as Gavin noted, no bibliography.
I curious, can you help me out?The email addys for Avanti Canada was: avanti-quebec@avantiministries.com and canada@avantiministries.com.
Was Avanti Ministries Canada operating out of Quebec?
Do you know who ran it?
I can’t find Avanti in the Revenue Canada charity base.
You commented:
“We have had Tony Anthony come in Quebec Canada to do outreach events in many of our churches…”
Who is ‘we’?
When you say ‘our churches’, can you tell me what churches?
And lastly, was the Cdn Avanti office responsible for getting Anthony on 100 Huntley Street?
Thanks.
Quote: Mike Hancock, commented: “Many have received the dramatic elements of
Tony’s testimony in good faith believing that it must have been verified
as true. They have a right to know that it has never been verified. The
evidence that has been uncovered does not verify his story.”What REALLY took place to cause Hancock to leave & to spill the beans? Perhaps the answer is as simple as he says; maybe not.
Since the revelations are likely to harm the faith of a lot of people, I cannot for the world of me understand the relentless pursuit of the investigation and the desire to parade the unsavory facts for all to see! I believe that for the sake of the Name of Jesus and for the sake of the souls saved through Tonys’ ministry, NONE of this should have been made public. A private warning to him surely would have been sufficient. Shame on those who are intent on dragging the Name of Jesus through the mud in public, for the sake of exposing a man with fraudulent claims! Look at the mighty work God has done through this man! Yes, the power is in the preaching of the Gospel, but he must surely have been anointed of God to win so many. I dont believe they were “won” because of his testimony alone-only the preaching of the Gospel saves.
Why the hang cant the church deal with these matters behind closed doors-have their own meeting with him and show him evidence of what he did and warn him not to tell any more lies. Shaming Jesus in public.
This is not about shaming Jesus; or shaming anybody.
The Church is called to preach a gospel of truth. How can it do this if it supports a testimony of lies?
Tony Anthony was presented with the evidence in private. He did not repent but continued with his sinful actions.
Tony Anthony’s trustees were presented with the evidence in private. He did not repent but continued with his sinful actions.
Tony Anthony’s church leadership was presented with the evidence in private. He did not repent but continued with his sinful actions.
Tony Anthony’s Trustees were presented with the EA panel’s results in private. They closed down the ministry but Tony Anthony not repent but continued with his sinful actions.
A summary of the EA panel’s findings were made public. Tony Anthony did not repent but continued with his sinful actions.
The chair of the EA panel put additional information into the public domain. Tony Anthony did not repent but continued with his sinful actions.
The EA Council, having had a private briefing about the panel, expelled Tony Anthony’s trustees (Avanti Ministry) from its membership. Tony Anthony did not repent but continued with his sinful actions.
Tony Anthony’s church issues a public statement distancing them from him and confirming that he is no longer in membership. Tony Anthony did not repent but continued with his sinful actions.
Tony Anthony has been proved to be a fantasist, a liar, a deceiver, a manipulator. Tony Anthony does not repent but continues with his sinful actions and is now in New Zealand to “rebuild his profile”.
If Tony Anthony repents, then I agree with you that to “relentlessly pursue” him would be wrong. But he does not repent and he is continuing in his sin. The church therefore has an obligation to ensure that nobody else is taken in by his lies.
I know for a fact that this was presented to Tony along with his minister in the closed fashion of which you speak. He was given many opportunities to quietly fall away. Instead, he persistently lied, even as he did after these revelations on public radio.
It’s your opinion that this shames Jesus, in my opinion, it shows that Justice is more important than Glossy images – something I believe Jesus would embody.
Sweep it under the carpet? Keep it behind closed doors? Hasn’t the church been doing that for so many years already? All the kids that have been raped by vicars, all the lies and deceit that lives under the rugs in rectories… Jesus came and said I AM THE TRUTH…. so how on earth does your theory of yet another Christian cover-up glorify God?
Dear Evahope,
“What REALLY took
place to cause Hancock to leave & to spill the beans? Perhaps the answer is
as simple as he says; maybe not”
My answer is as simple as I have said – no other agenda
As a new director of Avanti I found myself with a
choice. I could fall in line and provide
the excuses given by Tony to explain the total
absence of any proof of his story, as was Avanti practice, or I could respond
to the request of responsible, concerned Church leaders, to provide the absent
evidence. I chose the latter. I resigned from Avanti because Tony launched
a campaign to dismiss me when I insisted that his story must be checked
out.
‘Spilling the beans’ took 2 years of research by a group of
concerned Christians. It was not an
internet campaign as often reported. Tony’s story could have proven true, but
the formerly concealed evidence revealed the opposite.
I can confirm that the two replies that have already been
made to your letter are accurate accounts of the many direct steps that were
taken to approach Tony privately. So, contrary
to Tony’s public claims, every effort was made to bring him to account
privately, with the hope of minimizing damage. All further actions were as a consequence of
Tony and Avanti’s evasive response to repeated approaches. It was not even an original intention to
involve the EA. A higher authority
became necessary when Tony’s own church leadership also failed to bring Tony or
Avanti directors to account. The story
was released into the public domain because Avanti, against all scriptural
guidelines, placed legal restraints on an unsuspecting EA,
preventing release of the truth.
As you rightly stress, salvation is the work of the Holy
Spirit, but He is holy. He can play no part in deception which is the work of
another spirit.
It could never be of God that the gospel should be
advertised by fraudulence, or used to promote the career of a deluded
Christian, or an imposter. However the
truth of the gospel and the prayers of intercessors cannot be negated, even by
deception. It is true that accepting the
truth can cause pain. It is true that revealing truth can cause much trouble.
It is true that concealing the truth can avoid trouble, temporarily. But it is not true that the damage caused by
deception was created by those who found themselves with the unwelcome task of
exposing it.
The distress that you so accurately describe in your letter
could have been avoided if Tony had come to repentance, despite the pain
inevitably caused by a revelation of the truth.
The deception could never have been kept secret, but all could have been
forgiven through repentance and grace, and the fallout contained, which had
been our hope.