Posted on 05/21/2019 7:27:56 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Police in Illinois are currently investigating allegations that Harvest Bible Chapel founder James MacDonald sought to find a hitman to commit murder.
“A subject came in and filed a report and we are doing an investigation based on that report,” Wilmette Deputy Police Chief Pat Collins confirmed with The Christian Post Monday.
The allegations regarding MacDonald’s efforts to commit murder were first reported by independent journalist Julie Roys, who cited Chicago radio personality Mancow Muller and Emmanuel “Manny” Bucur, a deacon at HBC and former confidant and volunteer bodyguard of MacDonald’s, as the individuals making the claims.
Muller alleges that MacDonald asked him at least twice in 2018 if he knew a hitman he could hire. Initially, he thought that the HBC founder was joking but it became clear to him during a conversation in December that MacDonald was “really serious,” Roys reported.
Bucur alleged that about three years before that, in 2015, MacDonald asked him to kill his former son-in-law, Tony Groves, and offered to help dispose of the body. He argued that he did not report MacDonald because he was angry about his daughter allegedly being hurt, and chalked up the proposal as a momentary lapse in judgment.
Bucur alleges that MacDonald asked him to kill Groves while they were on a motorcycle trip to the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, from July 31, 2015, to August 2, 2015. Others who were on the trip are: former HBC Assistant Senior Pastor Rick Donald, former Elder and Executive Director of Harvest Bible Fellowship Kent Shaw, former Elder Marcel Olar, and church members Tom Moore and Steve Lupella.
During breakfast while at a restaurant in Indiana on the last day of the trip, Bucur said, MacDonald asked him to kill Groves while searching pornography websites for damaging material he feared Groves may have posted of his daughter Abby.
MacDonald reportedly asked Bucur if he would be willing to “take Tony out.” Bucur reportedly responded, “Are you asking me what I think you’re asking me?”
It was then that MacDonald confirmed his request and told him that with his background as a combat Marine veteran, it shouldn’t be too hard to kill Groves and get away with it.
Bucur said he replied, “Absolutely not! We’re not having this conversation and we’re not talking about this ever again.”
Muller confirmed that he filed a report with police where he lives in Wilmette, Illinois on Thursday and said he’s terrified of MacDonald, who he believes is “dangerous” and may be targeting him. Since filing the report, Muller says police have increased patrols around his house while he has also hired private security.
Bucur also reportedly filed a separate report with police in Bartlett, Illinois, who said they would allow the Wilmette investigation to continue rather than open up a second investigation.
Under Illinois law, a person who requests or encourages someone to murder another person is guilty of solicitation of murder which is a Class X felony which comes with a 15-30 years prison sentence.
None of the failings of the mega churches would happen if those who led them really believed in the teachings of the Bible.
There would also be no mega churches.
Murder, or just working to have someone meet Jesus?
Remember Sonny Corleone’s famous quote in the Godfather. “There is a lot of money in that white powder,Pop” Substitute “white powder” with “flashy preaching” and Sonny’s wisdom of how much money can be made exploiting people’s various needs and desires is apparent.
This guy should’ve been smart; invite Bill and Hillary to speak at his church, then axe THEM to arrange the hit.. all for a ‘love’ offering.
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Bkmrk.
Problem could be he has to prove it. Unless it’s audio, text or a witness to verify it’s just heresay and denial. If this is true it’s pretty sinister and especially for a ministerial leader.
It seems the larger any Christian organization becomes the more worldly it becomes. That’s not always true in every instance but it is a general trend. I think some of it results from taking on more and more debt or financial obligations which then requires an ever increasing and sustained cash flow to “feed the beast.”
Without recordings, video or docs of some sort, this would not get to prelim hearings in court. It’s just hearsay.
This has Lifetime Movie of the Week written all over it.
As I mature, I sense that all associations of mankind are intrinsically evil. The Bible supports this premise rather solidly.
Churches/nonprofits all are instituted around a balance sheet- and the use of money, while utilized to provide services/ministry, often becomes an end to itself- I get it, feeding millions of poverty stricken etc costs money, how many do you want to help? Problem is most Principals wind up being CEOs and not Jesus to the world... Of course, the Ox is worthy of its fodder, but hey, the ox treading out the grain eats only to satiation, not so much that it cannot tread the grain anymore....
The 501(c)3 law ruined much, no taxes in exchange for political silence...
Anyway.
He cares that people know and glorify Him with their lives. He wants us to truly be with Him.
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People most often get caught in these murder due to two scenarios: First, when the don’t have the courage or skills to do it themselves, and they try to get someone else to do their dirty-work. Second, when they do it themselves. ;-)
I have a sneaking suspicion the pastor of this church is not a good fit for his chosen profession. Of course there is also the possibility that the one making these accusations is a disgruntled ex-employee. Either way, wish I could say I am shocked. But the depravity of man is not limited by religious affiliation.
That could take up a lot of time.
Yes, and yes.
Thank you.
30 Pieces of Silver.
And it was evil Lyndon Johnson, a proxy for Satan, who successfully seduced the hirelings with his Amendment.
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