Wiles Answers Critics But Questions Remain

In his August Newsletter, Trunews founder Rick Wiles provided four pages of questions and answers regarding his tent church project and the tax exempt status of his ministry. Questions had been raised about the project after former associate Dr. Igor Shafhid accused Wiles of raising money under false pretenses.

Since we first reported Dr. Shafhid's allegations, Mr. Wiles has threatened legal action against us and has labeled those who question his intentions as enemies of the gospel. Wiles has stated that his critics are attempting to stop him from completing the tent project and do not want to see it go forward. Speaking for myself, nothing could be further from the truth. We at Apostasywatch.com stand firmly with all who preach the true gospel. Our concerns have centered around Mr. Wiles fund raising efforts and our belief that he has little real interest in completing this project.
 

Here are the questions and answers reproduced from Wiles newsletter, a hard copy of which is on file with Apostasywatch. Our comments are in red


Q: What is America's Hope Project?

A: America's Hope was the original name of our radio program in 1999. Our message was - and still is today - that Jesus Christ is America's only hope. Trunews will hold outdoor meetings in a massive revival tent. The meetings will be called  America's Hope. The events will include praise and worship, uplifting music, and dynamic speakers. The message at each event will be that America must repent and return to the ways of God. As America's troubles increase and deepen, we will remind the nation that Jesus Christ is America's only hope.

AW - We certainly agree that the people of America need to repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our argument has never been with the proposed content of the message but we do question the effectiveness and reach of a 1950's style revival tent when Mr. Wiles already has a worldwide platform via the internet and radio to preach repentance. If the message of repentance is so near and dear to his heart, perhaps he should have a little less political content and a little more gospel preaching on his existing radio show.

Q: Where will the America's Hope meeting be held?

A: The meetings will be held in Ft. Pierce, Fl. - approximately 50 miles north of West Palm Beach. A local businessman has donated the use of a 67-acre site along the Indian River and near the Atlantic Ocean.

The site is a great location. It is several blocks form the Atlantic coastal U.S. Hwy 1, a major road in Florida. The tent will be erected next to the Indian River. The Atlantic Ocean is on the other side of the inlet. A gentle ocean breeze will cool the tent, thus eliminating the need for portable air conditioning units. There is plenty of room for parking, refreshment vendors, and sanitation facilities.

The America's hope tent meetings will remain on site as long as the Lord directs us, and the City of Ft. Pierce and the landowner allow. It is possible that the tent may, at a later date, be relocated to different locations in various parts of the USA.

AW - Our sources in Florida tell us that Mr. Wiles has not spoken to the landowner in months and that his offer for the use of the land may have been withdrawn. It is also our understanding that permits for this type of event are issued for a maximum of 30 days thus necessitating frequent relocation of the tent to other sites. We will report more on this aspect of the story as it develops.

Q: How big is the tent?

A: Trunews has purchased a massive 80 ft. X 110 ft. revival tent. It is a beautiful high-peak pole tent. It has cathedral style windows. The tent will comfortably seat over 1,000 people.

Q: When will the meetings start?

A: The tent is currently in production by Del Tents in Kentucky. The company is backlogged with orders. The current estimated date of completion is August 30. After the tent is finished and shipped to Florida, Trunews must move into the next phase of preparation: Applying for appropriate permits, preparing and leveling the site, securing utilities and sanitation facilities, building a stage, purchasing and installing professional lighting and sound equipment, purchasing TV production equipment, recruiting and training volunteers, and advertising the upcoming events. Our projected goal is to start the meeting by mid-October or early November 2009. The fall will be an excellent time for the meetings. The tent will be erected along the Indian River. there will be a comfortable sea breeze. The weather in Florida during the fall and winter is wonderful. This will eliminate the necessity of installing expensive portable air conditioning units. Also the hurricane season will be coming to an end. The tent can withstand winds of up to 80 miles per hour.

AW - We have already mentioned that the site for this project may not be available. Now we wonder why Mr. Wiles would wait until the tent has been delivered to begin site prep and the permit process. Back on March 12 Wiles told listeners the tent would be ready 30 days from that date. He implied that the project would begin sometime in the summer of 2009. On his August 3rd broadcast, the owner of Del Tents assured the audience that the tent would be completed by August 30 and after delivery could be set up in three days. Wiles then stated that he was looking at an early October start date. Now he says he's shooting for mid October or early November. This is a huge project and it seems Mr. Wiles has put very little advance effort into ensuring that it will come off in the time frame he suggests. We believe this lack of advance preparation will bring additional delays and it is highly unlikely that there will be any tent services in 2009.  

Q: What is the budget

A: The projected budget is $250,000. Trunews must purchase professional lighting equipment, audio equipment, television production equipment, build a professional stage, arrange for security, provide utilities and sanitation facilities, hire and train staff members, recruit and train volunteers, purchase liability and fire insurance, purchase airtime on local TV stations and national cable television networks, secure a satellite uplink and much more. Presently Trunews is operating with a three-person staff. We will have to enlarge the staff to cope with the added demands and responsibilities.

AW - Again, Mr. Wiles is admitting that since he first mentioned this fund raising gimmick on March 12, 2009 he has done virtually nothing to bring it about except to order the tent. Frankly we do not believe that $250,000 would begin to cover the expenses for a project the size and scope that Mr. Wiles is proposing. Originally Mr. Wiles told listeners that the gospel would be preached from this tent 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We are willing to chalk that statement up to hyperbole but at this point Wiles doesn't even seem to have a commitment from any legitimate preachers who are willing to be involved in this project. Six weeks away from his proposed start date and Wiles has no staff, no equipment, no preachers, no TV airtime, no permits, and possibly no land on which to erect the tent.

Q: What is Trunews goal?

A: Our goal is to reach millions of Americans with a message of warning, repentance, restoration, and hope. We desire to fill the tent to capacity every night and broadcast the event on local television channels in Florida and nationally on select cable and satellite networks. The meetings will also be broadcast on the radio and the internet. We are earnestly praying that many souls will be led to Jesus Christ during the meetings.

AW - So you want to preach revival from a tent in Florida? Wonderful! Get the permits. Get the site prepared. Get the tent set up. Advertise the event locally. Start preaching. Broadcast the services on your existing internet and radio platforms and if God blesses your efforts, expand to local and then national TV. Many missionaries and preachers have begun with much less than what Mr. Wiles is claiming to need.

Q: How is Trunews going to pay for the America's Hope project?

A: We are trusting the Lord to speak to Christians to donate generously to this evangelistic, soul-winning project. We have no sophisticated fund raising operations. We simply have our faith in God. It is for His glory and honor.

AW - Mr. Wiles is hardly trusting in God. He is trusting in his own efforts to convince listeners to send him the money he says he needs. At the same time he will not disclose to his listeners how much has been raised for the project nor has he been willing to disclose the specific costs for the items he insists he must have before he can start.

Phil 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Apparently Mr. Wiles version of the bible tells him to let his requests be made known unto his listeners

Q: Has Trunews received noncash (Gifts-in-Kind) items?

A: Yes. Supporters have donated gold and silver coins, silver bars, platinum, gems, and jewelry to be sold and the money used for the project. Trunews acknowledges each noncash donation with a Gift-in-Kind receipt.

Q: What has Trunews done with these noncash (Gifts-in-Kind) items?

A: Each item was inventoried, photographed, and locked in a secure location. All of the items are safely stored in a bank deposit box in West Palm Beach.

Q: What will Trunews do with these noncash (Gifts-in-Kind) items?

A: When the tent is completed, Trunews will sell the items and use all cash proceeds to help finance the $250,000 budget

AW - Again he is waiting until the tent arrives before doing anything with the noncash items. So at this point Mr. Wiles doesn't really know how much he's raised or how much he still needs to go forward with the project. Perhaps he's already raised $250,000 and doesn't need anymore listener money. Maybe once these items are sold Wiles will announce that enough has been raised and he will ask his listeners to stop sending in money. OK I know that's pretty unlikely so don't be surprised if Mr. Wiles announces soon that the project cannot proceed until more funds are forthcoming from his listeners.

Q: Does Trunews owe any money on the tent?

A: No. The cost of the tent is $24,000. Trunews sent a $12,100 cashiers check to the tent manufacturer on March 24, 2009. The remaining balance of $12,100 was paid on June 15,2009

AW - That's an interesting admission right there because on his March 12 broadcast Wiles repeatedly told listeners that the tent was fully paid for. Now he tells us the first payment wasn't made until 12 days after that broadcast and the final payment was sent in June. Some people might suggest that Rick Wiles was lying when he told his listeners in March that the tent was paid for and would be ready in 30 days

Q: Did Trunews purchase the chairs?

A: Yes. Trunews purchased 1,000 folding chairs from a Christian Ministry in Gadsden Al. The very comfortable chairs came out of the sky boxes of a major sports arena. In addition to the chairs, Trunews purchased 20 sturdy metal storage carts on wheels.

Q: Does Trunews owe any money on the chairs?

A: No. The total cost, which included freight to Florida was $20,000. Trunews sent a $10,000 cashiers check on March 27, 2009. The remaining balance of $10,000 was paid on April 16,2009

Q: Where are the chairs?

A: The chairs were shipped to Ft. Pierce Fl. The chairs are stored in the warehouse of a major moving and storage company

AW - Hurrah!!! We've finally found something for this project that didn't have to wait until the arrival of the tent. So we have the chairs.......sitting in a warehouse racking up storage charges. I'm sure these are nice chairs but it should be noted that new cushioned stackable chairs for this sort of event can be found for as little as $13.99 per chair (as opposed to the $20 per chair paid by Trunews) and often can be ordered and shipped within days of the event eliminating the need for storage charges.

Note to self: Never hire Rick Wiles to do advance planning for a ministry event.

Q: How can I be kept informed about the upcoming meetings?

A: You may listen to Trunews radio, visit www.trunews.com, or email us at info@Trunews.com Our mailing address is Trunews. P.O. Box 212937 West Palm Beach Fl. 33421

AW - We hope you have better luck getting answers from Mr. Wiles than we've had.

In conclusion we believe Mr. Wiles has given little real thought or advance planning to this event. It is our further view that without Dr. Shafhid's allegations, Wiles would have long ago set this project aside but these public reports have forced him to at least appear to be doing something to follow through on his promises to his donors. We believe that there are so many loose ends to this project that there is little chance any tent service will be held in the foreseeable future. If we are wrong about this we will gladly admit it and report the news of the great Florida tent revival.

Q: Have there ever been projects that were not completed?

A: Sadly, sometimes not enough funds are donated to successfully start or complete a project

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Steve Lumbley 2009 www.apostasywatch.com
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