Skip to main content.
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
A Random Image
First Family Church (Overland Park), Jerry Johnston:

Rev. Jerry Johnston’s radio show dropped

The Kansas City Star, USA
Mar. 13, 2007
Judy L. Thomas
www.kansascity.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 17734 • Posted: Friday March 16, 2007  

A leading Christian radio network on Monday dropped the Rev. Jerry Johnston’s daily program from its lineup, saying it had concerns about financial accountability.

Bott Radio Network, which aired Johnston’s 30-minute program Monday through Friday on KCCV-AM 760, pulled the program in response to articles published Sunday in The Kansas City Star.

Dick Bott, founder and president of the network, said he was surprised to learn that Johnston’s First Family Church is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, an organization that sets standards for charities and religious groups.

Bott said it is the network’s policy to air only programs of ministries that are members of the financial accountability organization. Johnston’s former organization, Jerry Johnston Ministries, was a member from 1994 to 1996.

“The program is being discontinued until he re-establishes his membership with ECFA, complies with their requirements and satisfies our questions of financial accountability,” Bott said. “We make no claim as to whether he was right or wrong about anything, but it’s just our own policy of major program ministries. We want people to be able to trust what they hear.”

Bott Radio Network, with headquarters in Overland Park, broadcasts over 50 radio stations in nine states and is considered a national leader in Christian broadcasting.

First Family Church spokesman Lawrence Swicegood said: “That’s obviously Bott’s decision. I really don’t have further comment about it or any decision on that front.”

The Star reported that hundreds of members have left Johnston’s First Family Church in Overland Park in the past few years because of concerns about financial accountability.

The newspaper also found that the church at 7700 W. 143rd St. is structured in a way that provides little financial oversight.

In an earlier interview Johnston said the church is accountable, run by a board of trustees that oversees all of its finances. The church also undergoes an annual audit.

But Bott said the stories raised some “very, very serious questions, which would be easily handled if they were a member (of ECFA).

“ECFA membership was to give the public the assurance that books were open, finances were disclosed, and when you donate, you can have assurance that where they have said the money goes is where it’s going to go,” he added.


What You Can Do From Here

Read More Articles On These Topics
more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about
Share, Blog, or Email This Article
Subscribe
Read Another Article
Find Related Information
cult research search enginecountercult information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults
Find Related Books


Most Popular Today


Share This Article

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:





Counter Cult Search

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.


Apologetics Search

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.


Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine