[UPDATE January 19, 2025: News articles and statements added to the timeline.]

For decades the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) have been using the Pentecostal and Charismatic ‘sheep skin’ to take over churches and suppress Christians or Christian groups/churches that have opposed them. Dr. Brown is one of the best examples of being one of its enablers  who has used his ‘influential position’ and ‘Pentecostal/Charismatic’ sheepskin to further the cause of the NAR.

(Please archive relevant documents for the timeline at www.archive.org before
emailing us important information in case they are removed.)

This article is a repository of relevant documents, videos, PDFs, reports, tweets and posts that are relevant to the controversial life and ministry of Dr. Michael Brown. Its timeline and resources are available for everyone to use for their content creator needs.

Dr Michael Brown, his FIRE Church and Line of Fire (LOF) program is a practical example as to why the New Apostolic Reformation cult is quite prepared to lie for its cause to further spread its tentacles across the USA and other parts of the world.

Because of this, the following repository exists to demonstrate the history of Dr Michael Brown and his evolution into an influential NAR Apostle and Apologist of his LOF program. In another timeline (Timeline 2) we will capture when he was first exposed, how he ‘shapeshifted’ from an apostle of the NAR to someone who has an “apostolic function” – a function that has nothing to with NAR.

We break down this article into a few sections:

1. 1. Summary.
   2. Timeline.
   3. Why we do not engage Dr Michael Brown.

1. SUMMARY.

DR BROWN’S WEBSITE LINKS AND SM PLATFORMS:

1. Website: Your voice for Moral Sanity and Spiritual Clarity | The Line of Fire
2. YouTube: Welcome to the Line of Fire YouTube Channel (@LFTV)
3. Facebook: Facebook – ASKDrBrown

Dr. Michael Brown: from Latter Rain to NAR Apostle

Dr. Brown has, at times, been recognised as the “Ergun Caner” of Christianity. Caner is a man known for notoriously hiding or embellishing his testimony so people do not investigate or scrutinise his life and ministry. Like Ergun Caner, Dr. Brown likes to be in control of the narrative. This is so people do not see his scandalous history in churches and movements he was involved in – hiding his association or involvement with NAR leaders and their organisations, revivals or movements. Therefore it is important to establish the fact that Dr Michael Brown is a very recognized and controversial minister within the NAR. His beliefs are anchored in the globalist New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) cult. It is disingenuous to call himself a Pentecostal Charismatic when his beliefs go against Pentecostal and Charismatic theology.

Dr. Brown’s journey from a troubled youth in New York to a prominent leader within the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is both compelling and controversial. Born to a banker father within a Jewish household in New York, Dr. Brown’s early years were marked by drug use and rebellion. However, Dr. Brown claims he had a dramatic spiritual transformation occur on December 17, 1971, when, as a young man, gave his life to Christ at a Full Gospel Church in Queens, New York. Experiencing this profound conversion, it was soon followed by spiritual baptism on January 24, 1972. This pivotal moment in his life within the Latter Rain cult would set him on a path that would eventually lead him to embrace the NAR movement and become a key figure in its agenda.

Early in his Christian walk, he became immersed in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, which played a significant role in shaping his beliefs and ministry. In the 1980s, he attended various churches, each one further influencing his growing ‘theological’ perspectives. It was in one church in particular that he caused a church split when attempting to push Latter Rain / NAR spiritual theology and practices.

One of the most influential movements in the 80s was Tikkun International, a network of Messianic Jewish congregations that combines Latter Rain practices with Jewish traditions. Tikkun International’s teachings on the restoration of apostles and prophets appeared to contribute to Dr. Brown’s evolving understanding of the prophetic and apostolic roles within the church, setting the stage for his future leadership within the NAR.

The NAR-driven Tikkun Global cult today, currently helping ‘investigate’ IHOPKC.

Throughout the 1990s, his ministry became increasingly intertwined with the NAR revival movements. One of the defining moments of his career was his involvement in the Pensacola Revival, (also known as the Brownsville Revival), supposedly a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit that made headlines worldwide. While there, he founded the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry (BRSM). His connection to this revival not only propelled his ministry forward but also solidified his reputation as a significant figure in New Apostolic Reformation networks and circles due to the prominent NAR figures speaking at this revival. Furthermore, his early involvement in The Call rallies also bolstered his reputation as a NAR leader, often seen prophesying and getting divine apostolic strategy.

After a controversial split with the Brownsville Revival and the American Assemblies of God (AOG) in late 2000, Brown (who regarded himself as a “spiritual father” to his “children), took many of his students with him to launch FIRE Church and FIRE Church.

As Brown’s influence grew, so did his relationship with key leaders of the NAR, particularly C. Peter Wagner, the movement’s spiritual architect. Brown taught at the Wagner Leadership Institute, which further expanded his influence and relationships with other recognised NAR Apostles and Prophets, wanting to further the NAR across the church landscape (emphasis added):

“Dr. C. Peter Wagner is the Vice President and Ambassadorial Apostle of Global Spheres, Inc. (GSI) and Chancellor Emeritus of the Wagner Leadership Institute (WLI). Established in 1998, the Institute equips men and women for leadership positions in churches and translocal ministries. It is designed especially, but not exclusively, to meet the needs of leaders who have become a part of the New Apostolic reformation.”

Source: About C. Peter Wagner, WagnerLeadership.Org, http://old.wagnerleadership.org/Peter.htm, Accessed Nov 27, 2017. [Archive]

Around this period of association with C. Peter Wagner, Wagner, Che Ahn, Cindy Jacobs and other NAR leaders, recognised Dr. Brown’s role as an apostolic figure, further advancing his stature within the movement.

In spite of his very successful radio show ‘Line of Fire’ (formerly known as Ask Dr Brown), Dr. Brown’s involvement with the United States Coalition of Apostolic Leaders (USCAL) further reinforced his role as a leading apostolic figure in the NAR, an organization that seeks to establish apostolic authority and prophetic leadership in the church and infiltrate political groups to push ‘Christian’ values. As a result, his ministry continued to grow, and his influence expanded both nationally and internationally.

However, Dr. Brown’s rise to prominence has not been without controversy. Over the years, he has faced allegations of sexual misconduct, prompting an external investigation into the claims. These allegations, which have gained widespread attention, have cast a shadow over his leadership, the integrity of his ministry, his ‘Coalition of Conscience’ and how he has positioned himself as the voice of ‘moral sanity’ and ‘spiritual clarity’. Critics have questioned the ethics and accountability within the NAR, especially in light of these accusations against one of its leading apostles.

This timeline will explore Dr. Brown’s life and ministry, from his early days in New York to his ascension as a leading figure in the NAR, while also addressing the recent allegations of ‘inappropriate misconduct’ that have since marred his legacy. Through this examination, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of Dr. Brown’s influence within the church and the broader theological implications of his teachings.

EDIT: Dr Brow was the Director of Coalition of Conscience. For more information on it’s existence and fall, please see the below documents:

1. Coalition Of Conscience – AOI
2. Notice Of Revenue Suspension

2. TIMELINE 

February 28, 2025.

Wake Up & Win weigh in to the exchange between Joel Richardson and Dr Michael Brown.

As Michael Brown comes into the Line of Fire of the Firefly Investigation, many whistleblowers and witnesses are gaining courage to speak out about the inappropriate behavior they witnessed during their time in Brownsville and Fire School of Ministry. Today’s episode we do some following up points from Kat Marialke and Londa Parker’s interviews as well as sharing a striking conversation between Joel Richardson and Michael Brown.

Source: Wake Up and Win Podcast (@WakeUpandWinPodcast), Michael Brown *LEAKED AUDIO* from Joel Richardson: “I am dedicated to calling you out!”, YouTube, https://youtu.be/QK4yrILdMqY, Uploaded February 28, 2025. (Accessed February 28, 2025.)

February 27, 2025.

Joel Richardson publicly calls out the hypocrisy of Dr Brown at the recent Presence Driven Church Conference, put on by Mercy Culture Church.

Richardson posted,

This is absolutely sick. If you listen to the audio clip I posted yesterday (and will repost below), Dr. Michael Brown promised me that he is truly repentant, that he is going to truly “go low.” Yet here he is, during the investigation, being lauded as a friggin’ apostle, welcoming the praise as the whole room cheers for him. The reality is that he is an unrepentant sexual predator, a liar, a manipulator, and a bully. He is not an apostle. He is forever disqualified from public ministry. Damn this whole corrupt system straight to the ash pit where it belongs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lu1drSv4A0

Source: Joel Richardson (@Joel7Richardson), X, https://x.com/Joel7Richardson/status/1894761124454670811, Posted 1:47 AM · February 27, 2025. (Accessed February 28, 2025.)

Joel Richardson reposts pulled tweet from X with audio.

Richardson posted,

Reposted Feb 27,

[Video coming]

Source: Joel Richardson (@Joel7Richardson), X, https://x.com/Joel7Richardson/status/1895121838797169016, 1:40 AM · Posted February 28, 2025. (Accessed February 28, 2025.)

Pastor Landon Schott calls the Roys Report the Jezebel Report, calls Dr Brown an ‘apostolic elder’, pushes hate propaganda against Christian leaders and churches.

The Roys Report uploaded the following snippet of Ps. Landon Schott.

On Feb. 23, 2025, Pastor Landon Schott of Mercy Culture spoke a warning about “the accuser of the brethren” and leads a standing ovation for Michael Brown. Read the full story: https://julieroys.com/embattled-apolo… #landonschott #mercyculturechurch #mercyculture #michaelbrown

Source: Julie Roys, (@JulieRoysReport), Landon Schott Warns of ‘Accuser of the Brethren,’ Leads Ovation for Michael Brown – Feb. 23, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lu1drSv4A0, February 27, 2025. (Accessed February 27, 2025.)

February 25, 2025.

Joel Richardson posts a private audio exchange he has with Dr Brown to X.

Richardson posted,

I share this not only to show the manipulative nature of Dr Brown’s dealings, but also as sort of confession for my own immaturity. I understand right now that chewing out a leader like Dr Brown is going to be received with favor by some, I am not proud of my behavior. One can rebuke and correct, but should be able to do so gently. I lost my temper here and this is not good Christian leadership. (I updated this and reposted, as the clips were initially out of order)

Source: Joel Richardson (@Joel7Richardson), X, https://x.com/joel7richardson/status/1894423484756799795, Posted 11:25 AM · February 25, 2025. Accessed February 25, 2025.)

(This post is now removed)

February 18, 2024.

Wake Up & Win interview Kate Marialke on her experience and insights into FIRE School and Michael Brown.

WU&W uploaded the following,

As Michael Brown comes into the Line of Fire of the Firefly Investigation, many whistleblowers and witnesses are gaining courage to speak out about the inappropriate behavior they witnessed during their time in Brownsville and Fire School of Ministry.

Source: Wake Up and Win Podcast (@WakeUpandWinPodcast), Michael Brown FAMILY FRIEND and Brownsville Student: “I SAW HER SITTING ON HIS LAP!”, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt9rz70USsc, Premiered February 23, 2025. (Accessed February 23, 2025.)

WU&W uploaded the following earlier, interviewing Londa Parker,

As Michael Brown comes into the Line of Fire of the Firefly Investigation, many whistleblowers and witnesses are gaining courage to speak out about the inappropriate behavior they witnessed during their time in Brownsville and Fire School of Ministry.

Source: Wake Up and Win Podcast (@WakeUpandWinPodcast), Michael Brown WHISTLEBLOWER, Londa Parker, SPEAKS OUT, YouTube, https://youtu.be/6JQZG-JSLRI, Premiered February 23, 2025. (Accessed February 23, 2025.)

January 18, 2024.

A collective of Former students, staff, faculty, and Family Members from BRSM/FIRE speak formulate official statement to ‘Line of Fire’ Board.

Kris Bennett posted the following on Facebook with the below images,

The group published the following,

Images to text,

RE: Dr. Michael Brown-A Message from Former Students, Staff, raculty, and Family Members from BRSM/FIRE
JANUARY 18TH, 2025

To: Line of Fire, Board of Directors

We, the undersigned, are former students, congregants, staff, and faculty who served under Dr. Michael Brown at the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry and/or FIRE School of Ministry/FIRE Church. Some of us are victims and witnesses regarding the serious allegations against Dr. Brown of spiritual abuse and clergy sexual abuse.

Contrary to what some have said, we are neither bitter, vindictive, or living in unforgiveness—we simply want to see true accountability-as we were taught in Bible school. We were extremely disheartened and disappointed this week when Dr. Brown released new podcasts. We believe it is right and proper for the Line of Fire (LOF) Board to require that Dr. Brown take a complete leave of absence from the ministry while these serious allegations are being investigated. This includes podcasts, narrative videos, and public preaching. It was announced that this board strongly encouraged him to cease from all public ministry. Are you able to enforce that?

Because 1) we do not want anyone to lose their job, and 2) we want to ensure this investigation is funded, if the LOF wants to air archived sermons and broadcasts from before Dr. Brown knew he was being investigated, we will not protest that. However, that would be on the condition that Dr. Brown does not introduce the sermons with his own commentary. Another staff member can take on that role.

We urge this for three reasons: First, the allegations against Dr. Brown include sexual misconduct, and they are credible-he has confessed to some of the allegations. If they are true, not only do we believe he is doing further harm to his alleged victims and Christ’s body by continuing to minister publicly, but, by extension, we feel you are as well. He has claimed full submission to you. Allowing Dr. Brown to continue using Line of Fire branding means that his present actions and statements are your actions and statements. Second, if these credible accusations are true, then continued ministry of any kind gives Dr. Brown a platform to impact the public narrative and mitigate the seriousness of the situation. As we will describe below, he is, in fact, already doing this. Third, we believe a leave of absence is common sense under the circumstances; it gives you time to breathe and do your job without the pressure of responding to legitimate concerns like these. In our view, Dr. Brown is already saying and doing things (photo-ops in Singapore) that are making your job harder. We are genuinely concerned about you, as well as Dr. Brown, and we are sincerely trying to help you.

We feel strongly that Dr. Brown’s full leave of absence will be a much better example to the body of Christ than the mixed message his continued posts send, especially if his comments implicitly contradict facts.

In this podcast (shorturl.at/KAOS6), Dr. Brown says he is taking a sabbatical. But he does not explain what we believe to be the real reason for the sabbatical. He implies it is simply a time to get refreshed with the Lord. Listeners who know what’s happening can see this as dishonest; we feel that listeners who do not know are being misled. Dr. Brown sounds as if he decided it was healthy and wise to take some time off and seek the Lord. But the truth is, he has been accused of at least two counts of having inappropriate relationships with women under his spiritual authority. In addition, there are others who claim that they were spiritually abused under his care. In our understanding, this is the only reason for his sabbatical. Do you understand Dr. Brown’s sabbatical differently?

It seems inappropriate and tone-deaf for Dr. Brown to talk about his forthcoming autobiography in this new podcast (shorturl.at/Hqtzq), which likely will not include this present situation that he is facing. Someone who is being investigated for sexual sin (and the covering up of that sexual sin) should not be peddling a book they wrote about their spiritual exploits as the investigation is going on. His seeming inability to empathize with victims is astonishing.

Dr. Brown’s recent “confession” video appeared like another act of manipulation and damage control. While claiming he was prepared to be “transparent,” the video was not transparent. It was more emotional than factual. For instance, he spoke vaguely of an “emotional tie” with Ray’s wife while completely refusing to address the actions surrounding his physical relationship with Sarah Monk. Further, his version of the story with Ray’s wife conflicts with Ray’s own testimony. This selective disclosure- carefully choosing which sins to acknowledge and which to hide-reveals, in our opinion, a confession that is calculated rather than transparent.

There is a stark contrast between the seemingly broken man in the confession video and the upbeat man raising funds, sharing old sermons, and speaking about a “wonderful” sabbatical just weeks later, not to mention the smiling world traveler in Singapore. People who see or hear both may well ask, Was the confession merely performative? Was the brokenness for his sins or for being caught? His swift return to public life suggests the latter.

We do not believe a truly repentant leader would be seeking to maintain his platform while serious allegations remain uninvestigated. A genuinely broken man would not be sharing weight loss tips (shorturl.at/MIoLe) while his victims continue to suffer. We do not say this sarcastically but rather as an illustration of the public reflection we sense coming from Dr. Brown and, by extension, you, his board. Most people who have just confessed to an emotionally adulterous relationship (Matt 5:27-30) would not even want to be seen in public because of the shame and embarrassment, much less actively seeking to engage with the public.

For a period of 23 years, it seems to us that Dr. Brown has not been willing to face these allegations with transparency or biblical repentance and restoration. Regarding Sarah Monk, he was confronted in 2002 (Keith Collins and Niels Prip), 2003 (Londa Parker), 2017 (Katherine Barry Marialke), 2020 (Kris Bennett and Keith Collins), 2022 (Mike Lubanovic), 2023 (again, Londa Parker), September 2024 (Bob Gladstone), and in October 2024 (Ron Cantor) – eight times! Each time, he deflected and downplayed concerns while continuing in public ministry without genuine biblical accountability, as we understand it. This represents, in our view, 23 years of evading full responsibility while maintaining positions of spiritual authority over vulnerable people- even lecturing the masses on the proper way to act when a leader falls into sexual sin (https://youtu.be/4R1NvYR621c?t=1089). Even while leaders in 2002 sought to obtain clarity regarding his physical actions toward Sarah Monk, Dr. Brown did not disclose the other secret—a manipulated erotic phone relationship with a married woman (according to her husband).

Only now, because of the public exposure, is it finally being dealt with. In other words, if not for the investigation carried out by The Roys Report, there would be no third-party investigation.

While Dr. Brown speaks of an “emotional tie” with a married woman and refuses to address certain relationships directly, the victims of his abuse carry the weight of what really happened. They have endured the horror of having their abuser continue in public ministry, watching him being celebrated as a spiritual leader while knowing the truth of his actions.

The impact ripples beyond individual victims to affect families, marriages, and entire faith communities. When Dr. Brown releases upbeat podcasts and speaks about his love of preaching while these matters remain under investigation, we feel he demonstrates a chilling disregard for the ongoing suffering of those who carry the scars of both his spiritual and sexual abuse.

It is our opinion that Dr. Brown’s behavior is not just disappointing but represents a complete betrayal of the principles he has claimed to stand for. While leading a movement that he called a “revolution,” he was betraying the high standards that he demanded others-us, his former staff and students-to follow.

His current attempts to maintain a public platform while under investigation for clergy sexual abuse are not just inappropriate in our view, but they are morally reprehensible and reveal an incredible lack of compassion for his victims. It has been reported by pastors that Dr. Brown has been contacting them, sharing his narrative on the scandal. In this voice text (https://jmp.sh/ofTntg7C), his main concern is that this has caused a “distraction to the body.” There appears to be no concern for victims.

And again, one of our burdens is that this situation reflects on you, not just Dr. Brown. In our opinion, he is sending a message for all of you that, despite the need for humility and respect for Christ’s body during a very necessary process, the ministry must continue.

Once again, we call on the LOF Board to require that Dr. Brown stays out of the public eye until the independent third-party investigation is completed and the results are made public and discontinue uploading new content created after September 13, the day Dr. Brown became aware The Roy’s Report and others were “gunning for me,”[1]-that is, that they were investigating him for clergy sexual abuse and spiritual abuse. We do not expect him to introduce sermons with his own commentary; another staff member can do that. It simply sends the wrong message, as if he, and by extension, you, are not taking this present situation seriously. We contacted you first privately. Now, we are contacting you publicly. We look forward to hearing from you very soon. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sarah Monk St. Pierre
“Ray”
Darcy Dove Brelsford
Kris Bennett
Tim Austin
Jiska van Hees
Elizabeth Nervegna
Katherine Barry Marialke
Nate Marialke
Rebecca Weisenbarger
Bethany Jeppsen
Londa Sue Parker
Fonda McLain
Maureen Brauer
Steve Bremner
Anonymous Former student and Fire missionary
Jessica VanderPlate Gorog
Kristen Rottkamp Boehm
Jennifer Glen
Miriam Engelman
Krista Sellars
Phil Barry
Angie McKinley
Ron Cantor
Keri Schmitt
Mollie Westbrook Fisher
Richard Cohen
Caleb Rappaport
Shannon Perez-Tennyson
Tom Barry
Carolyn Barry
Amber Denae Collins
Cheryl Dianne Smith
Bobby Fowley
Katie George
Angela Sherrill Merriott
Jennifer Hobson
Paul Engelman
Andrea Phroper Ragan
Missy Smith Barry
Niels Prip
Marissa Heiks Melton
Shelley Soldinie Davis
Brandon Holland
David Travis Hankins
Cameron Hankins
Mary Dale Nye
Christina Plantz Linn
Trinity Terry
Judith Wichmann
Kathryn Hughey
Katie Burchfield
Michael Pentecost
Karma Armfield
Chris McCorkle
David W Covic, Jr.
Sarah Cipriano
Jill Rodko
Kristi Bowlin
Daniel Bowlin
Victoria Ray Demianenko
Amy Latchaw
Jose M Rodriguez
Bob Gladstone
Keith Collins
Tammy Vore
John Lambert
Jacqueline Lambert
Grace Collins
Gregg Montella
Mike Lubanovic
Aaron Timberlake
Rose Timberlake
Kathy Saggese
Jen Theo
Shadia Kulla
David Daniel
Stephen Beauchamp
Sage Beauchamp
Jessica Karr-Oram
Melissa Allen Garcia
Anna Prescott Hale
Carlyne Mullis
Seth Mullis
Peter Vandever
Nicole Frisbee
Benjamin Monroe
Mary Mayo
Brandon Wickham
Sand Conley
Brandon Ebert
Mike Dougherty
Stephanie Dougherty
Dan Boehm
Jennifer Coley
Scott Coley
Jill Folkerts
Donavan Wood
Christina Wood
Sarah Schmitz Cohen

– – – – – –

[1] Text to a pastor

January 13, 2024.

Christian Post reports on the ‘Line of Fire’ firing a firm to investigate Dr. Brown allegations.

Christian Post writes,

Line of Fire hires firm to investigate Michael Brown misconduct allegations

A firm has been hired to investigate the recently unveiled sexual misconduct allegations against popular Christian author, radio personality and social commentator Michael Brown.

The board for The Line of Fire, the syndicated radio broadcast program headed by Brown, announced last week that they had chosen Firefly to oversee the investigation.

“Because of their stellar reputation, coupled with the respect that they’ve received from the advocacy community, we are thankful that they have adjusted their schedule to jump into this case immediately,” stated The Line of Fire board.

“Unless Firefly needs us to communicate in any way with the public, we will not be making any further statements until the investigation is complete. Their report will be made public upon completion.”

The Line of Fire board said it had “assembled an outside team of elders and leaders who will be in regular communication with Dr. Brown and to whom he will be accountable during this process.”

“This team will include at least one trauma informed counselor. The ones who have already agreed to serve on this team desire to keep their names anonymous at this time so that they can carry out their responsibilities without external distractions,” they continued.

“In light of the steps we have taken in keeping with their counsel, we believe we are on the right path by putting into place both a credible investigation as well as a credible accountability team of leaders.”

Last month, The Roys Report published allegations that Brown engaged in inappropriate behavior with a woman identified as “Erin,” who had worked for Brown several years ago at his FIRE School of Ministry from when she was 18 to 21 years old.

She considered Brown to be a father figure, while Brown considered her comparable to a daughter, with her even calling him “dad” from time to time.

Erin accused Brown of engaging in inappropriate behavior with her, including him slapping her buttocks and kissing her on the lips on multiple occasions. She reportedly quit working at the FIRE School because of the interactions.

In a statement given to The Christian Post, Brown denied any adulterous behavior but also acknowledged a “lack of judgment” regarding his relationship with Erin.

“Nancy and I did have a relationship with the woman in question and considered her to be like a family member, and she conducted herself as one who viewed our relationship the same way. But she was not a family member, and aspects of my interaction with her, although totally non-sexual in every way, reflected a definite lack of judgment on my part,” Brown added.

TRR published a follow-up story on Dec. 18 about a man identified as “Ray,” who alleged that his late wife and Brown pursued an inappropriate relationship in the early 2000s. She died in 2021.

In response to the allegations, Brown said in a video posted on YouTube that he developed an “emotional, not a physical, tie with” the late wife. He maintains that while he wanted to confess the matter publicly to his church community, the parties involved in the situation decided at the time that it would be best not to disclose the situation, having concluded that it was not adultery.

Regarding the allegations from Erin, Brown apologized for his past actions, stating that while he apologized to Erin in front of his wife in 2002, it was now clear that he didn’t understand the “depth of what she was experiencing as a result of my actions.”

“Please forgive me for my actions, which caused you so much pain,” he said, directly addressing the former staffer. “Had I more clearly understood the result of those actions in 2002, I would have responded very differently. Again, from the heart, I ask you to forgive me. I am truly and deeply sorry.”

The Line of Fire initially hired attorneys Mitchell, Stein, Carey, and Chapman to lead the investigation into Brown but changed course after abuse advocates expressed concern with the firm’s history of defending Fortune 500 companies and students accused of sexual assault.

The board admitted to a “misstep” in its initial hiring.

“Although we had no idea of that, we totally understand that the optics of that decision could appear that we hired a firm that would exonerate Michael,” the board said in a Dec. 17 statement. “And it’s important for you to know that Michael had zero to do with that decision as he has recused himself entirely from the board during this process — this was all on us, and we take total responsibility for that decision.”

Source: By Michael Gryboski, Line of Fire hires firm to investigate Michael Brown misconduct, Church & Ministries, Christian Post, https://www.christianpost.com/news/line-of-fire-hires-firm-to-investigate-michael-brown-misconduct.html, Published January 13, 2025. (January 15, 2025.)

January 06, 2024.

Dr. Michael Brown launches another show on his ‘Line of Fire’ program.

Note: this series of Line of Fire episodes appear to be scheduled in December through to January with a two week Christmas break.  

Source: The Line of Fire (@LFTV), The School of Prayer Part 16: Keys to Answered Prayer, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRjbOdEzNws, Uploaded January 07, 2025. (Accessed January 07, 2025.)

December 18, 2024.

‘Wake Up and Win’ interviews Kris Bennett confronting Dr. Michael Brown.

Wake Up and Win Podcast uploaded the following:

Kris Bennett was Michael Brown’s assistant and called him out TWICE in the last 20 years about these allegations. He tells his story here on this exclusive interview. Also, the husband of an another woman who allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with Michael Brown in 2002 SPEAKS OUT and breaks his silence.

Source: Wake Up and Win Podcast (@WakeUpandWinPodcast), This man CONFRONTED Michael Brown in 2020, Husband of 2nd Woman in Relationship w/ Brown SPEAKS OUT, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcWOT6s2c64, Uploaded December 18, 2024. (December 18, 2024.)

Ron Cantor releases dead wife’s husband statement:

The Husband of the Other Woman Speaks

I would not be sharing this, but for the video that #DrMichaelBrown made yesterday regarding his relationship with a married woman. The married woman’s husband, Ray, contacted me last week and told me a very different story. I don’t believe this should be played out on social media, but Dr. Brown chose to use his social media to make a video addressing this issue. Ray deserves due process. I posted last night in a private Facebook group.

———-

I’ve been holding on to this information for days. I thought about sharing it here but didn’t have peace. It’s very easy to get into a mode of responding to everything. That is not a peaceful place. However, in light of Dr. Brown’s video, in which he was less than forthright IMO, again, regarding his relationship with Sarah and a married woman (Kim), I felt it was proper to share her husband’s (Ray) testimony. I’m sure she would share, but Kim passed away. Ray has not discussed this in 23 years and planned to take this sad chapter of his life to his grave. He intended to keep silent even as whispers about this story began to spread.

Last week, Ray reached out to me and asked if we could meet. He told me that he would not share this with anyone but me and a mutual friend. He methodically upacked his and Kim’s complicated relationship with Mike Brown and his wife. Ray said, “The last straw for me in deciding to speak up, was Mike’s comments regarding the infamous nightstand notes (as reported in The Roys Report [TRR]). “When asked about the legal pad notes, Mike reportedly answered that ‘she said something inappropriate that surprised him, and he wrote it down.’”

He was unsure why it would’ve surprised him since Kim claimed that Mike had already lured her into a sensual phone relationship—something she confessed to Ray in early 2002.

CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE—NOT A SOUL-TIE
So, let’s be clear: Ray is not describing an “emotional tie,” as Dr. Brown called it in his video. Ray describes Clergy Sexual Abuse. The power differential between Dr. Brown, the leader of a church and missions movement, driven by his message and personality, and Kim, a housewife under his spiritual authority, is massive.

Ray’s words seem very fitting in light of Dr. Brown’s less-than-forthright video: “It is better to humble oneself when God grants the opportunity than to refuse time and again only to eventually suffer humiliation. It did not have to be this way.”

Ray and Kim were already close to Mike and Nancy Brown, but Mike began to embed himself into their family. This was so invasive and over the top that their family began to refer to Dr. Brown as “Bob,” from the title character in the movie “What About Bob,” where a patient lodges himself into the family of his psychologist. They thought it was bizarre but harmless, confused about how a man so busy had time to be with them.

Ray says, “Emails remained open on the screen pretty much all day with my wife and I having easy access. Mike constantly sent out emails. But Kim was generally the one who would pause and read something while walking through the house. The messages or notes at that time were all ministry themes, scripture comments, and visionary ideas about what God wanted Christians to do about this or that. My wife would sometimes fire back a quick reply and then return to her day. I found it exhausting and wanted my own space in my own head.

“I was getting really tired of so much of Mike’s imposing on a daily basis. I began expressing my uneasiness to my wife.” Mike would call on the phone and talk to the Ray, sharing some good news about a breakthrough in ministry, and then he would say, “Put Kim on; let me tell her.” It seemed harmless, but eventually, he began to call Kim directly. Ray said, “There was too much of Mike in our lives.”

When Ray expressed this concern to Kim, “She was not very responsive and seemed to shrug it off. I finally told her either something was wrong or I was just going crazy. Soon after that point, she came to me and said, ‘You’re not crazy.’ Then she began unburdening on me.

“She said that she wasn’t sure how it happened. She just wanted to be friends with everyone and did not desire anything else. She tried to explain how he crossed the line in their phone conversations, and somehow, she followed. She wasn’t sure why or how. Then, she wanted to quietly try to fix the situation by herself and put things back the way they should be. She knew the truth would bring down a minister, and she did not want to be known as the woman who had a part in that.

“There was no fixing it though. I do not know how Mike did it or when he became obsessed with her, nor how long he worked on her. I don’t understand the mechanism of his control. But I absolutely believe that he had the ability and the will to do it.

“It seems that once he led her to cross the line with their phone conversations, he thought it was time to push for another level. Kim told me that Mike repeatedly demanded she meet him alone someplace and she refused. Not only that, but he also demanded that she stop being intimate with me.” Kim rejected this. “She also shared that once while we were riding with him and his wife to a dinner, Mike reached back behind his driver’s seat and tried to feel her leg.”

Ray had no way of knowing this because it was not in the article in TRR. But when I initially interviewed Sarah over a month ago, she shared a similar story. They were in New York City, and Nancy was driving the car. Mike was in the passenger seat, and she was cramped in the back against the right side door. “He put his right hand back behind the seat and grabbed my leg and tugged on my leg … and I reached out and grabbed his hand,” said Sarah. She claims they held hands for some time while driving around New York City sightseeing. To be clear, neither Sarah nor Ray knew the other’s story—which means each story lends legitimacy to the other.

In addition, in the way that Ray says Dr. Brown forbade Kim from being intimate with him, he was very upset when Sarah began to sit with a male friend in services and eat lunch together. Even though there was nothing romantic, Dr Brown told her to stop sitting with him because it was giving people the wrong impression, she told me. She obeyed. That is, until she found the note in the nightstand and began to sit with him again. Dr Brown was not happy about this and confronted her at which she confronted him with the nightstand note.

Ray continues, “That was probably late January to early February 2002. After speaking with Kim, I drove alone to Mike’s office and confronted him, with his wife present, about what my wife had told me.” Ray says that Mike deflected, but Ray pressed in. Finally, “He fully admitted to it.” Ray says he admitted to everything—the erotic speech on the phone, asking her not to sleep with her husband, asking her to meet him privately somewhere, and touching her leg while driving.

I asked Dr Brown about this relationship nearly two months ago, and, as he said in the video today, he told me that he was the one who repented first. And that it was because of his repentance that Kim repented. Yes, it is possible that before Ray arrived, Dr. Brown repented. But if so, why not then just admit to Ray? Why did it take so long? But the idea that the four of them getting together and deciding to keep the matter silent is something that Ray knows nothing about.

Ray says that in that meeting, Dr Brown was not at all contrite but on the offense. “I was up to my ears in his word salad. And I’m no match for that, really.”

At the end of the meeting, Ray said that Nancy finally spoke. She looked at him and asked, “What are you going to do?” In other words, are you going to go public—at least, that is how Ray took the words. This is very different than Dr. Brown’s wanting to tell his leadership and the student body about manipulating a married woman into an inappropriate relationship, and the spouses talking him out of it. And quite honestly, based on the standards that we were taught, you do not have the option of keeping such a relationship silent. You have to disclose to eldership.

I feel horrible sharing this story. And I’m only doing it because Dr. Brown made that video that most will see as more about redeeming his image than dealing with these sins. Either Ray is lying, or Dr Brown was not forthright. Ray has nothing to gain here. He’s not looking for money or notoriety. He didn’t even want to come forward and did so quite reluctantly.

In Dr Brown’s video, he claimed he wanted to share with complete transparency, but he did not. Yesterday, Sarah posted her account of what happened between them on Twitter. But for some reason, Dr. Brown refused to acknowledge her claims. In this “transparent” video that was made “in the interest of full disclosure,“ he says,”it is not my purpose here to confirm or deny specific allegations.” he said he wanted to wait for the investigation. But he knows what happened! He was there. Why not just say “I did x, y and z,” or “I didn’t”? That would save his donors tens of thousands of dollars in fees to an investigator.

Matthew 5:23-24 is absolutely the right verse. He should leave his gift at the altar and make things right with Sarah. But he has known for years about her pain. It is disingenuous to act like this is new. Kris Bennett confronted him after talking to Sarah in 2020. Kris says, “I read her messages to him, which stated she felt betrayed and shameful.” That was four years ago and Dr. Brown did not contact her.

It is hard to believe he is genuine today when he had four years before this became a public issue to make things right. Furthermore, Niels Prip says he was fired because he did not fully believe Dr. Brown’s explanation back in 2002. There is much more that needs to be discussed than what we just watched in those seven minutes. While Dr. Brown and Dr. Josh Peters say this was dealt with 23 years ago, Prip, part of the five main leadership team at the time, has an email from Dr. Brown where he refused to refer to his actions with Sarah as “inappropriate.”

Furthermore, Mike did not share one detail about his relationship with Kim other than that it was “an emotional tie.” He says nothing about seeking to meet with her alone, using erotic language, or any of the other things that he admitted to Ray in 2002. This is not “full disclosure,” and he did not speak “plainly and directly.”

You cannot deal with this level of inappropriateness alone—it must be with other elders. Had he done so 23 years ago, he would’ve been restored, and it would’ve been part of his testimony. But now it’s a scandal.

Please hear me; I would not have made the public statement I made last week nor this statement if not for his less-than-forthright public declarations in the video. My hope and prayer for Dr. Brown is that he comes completely clean it goes through a true process of repentance with help from leadership. Love and forgiveness await anyone who turns from their sin to God. I wish him no harm. I want him to be restored to God and to the body of Christ.
____
FInal Word from Ray:

I want you to hear the heart of a man whose deceased wife’s name is being dragged through the mud, because she was allegedly groomed and lured into a relationship she never wanted by a powerful, charismatic leader:

“I want to take a moment to add something else about my wife,” says Ray. “For those who may wonder if they really knew her or if she was for real, she was as real as it gets. She was everything that people thought her to be. She was the most sincere, unpretentious, intentional person I’ve ever known. She was fiercely dedicated to her home, children, and grandchildren.

“My wife was a woman always after God’s own heart. She was a remarkable woman. In short, she was the victim of a very cunning and capable self-professing spiritual leader…a predator.”

Source: Ron Cantor (@RonSCantor), Twitter (X), https://x.com/RonSCantor/status/1869495230489317402, December 18, 2024. (Accessed December 18, 2025.)

December 17, 2024.

‘Erin’ comes out with her real name, sharing her personal testimony and experiences with Dr. Michael Brown over the last 23 years.

Ron Cantor on Twitter posts a statement from ‘Erin’:

Sarah Monk is “Erin” … And she is telling her story in her own voice. This is being posted with her encouragement and permission. This would not be necessary if this was dealt with 23 years ago, or the other many times people tried to address it…

I am ‘Erin’…

This may be lengthy, and I apologize from the start. I have been trying to process everything that is going on lately. I keep thinking about why Michael Brown won’t just admit to what he has done or publicly repent and bring healing to SO many who have been hurt by his actions and words. Why is he hiding? Why such a vague statement? Why did he lie in his statement?

I know they are lies because I am ‘Erin’.

My name back then was Sarah ERIN Monk. I held this secret for two decades. I was ashamed and guilty, and I felt I was the one who should have stopped it long before anything more physical happened after HE held my hand in a car with three other students watching. That was the ONLY time we held hands PUBLICLY. There were many times when the hand-holding took place privately. Yes, he lied about making a point about doing it publicly because I was like a daughter. I should have stopped it; I should have spoken out. I did not, so then the next physical touch was him touching my backside. Yes, Dr. MICHAEL L. BROWN put his hand on my butt!!

The one who condemned so many for a lustful eye, who screamed from the pulpit, REPENT OF YOUR SINFUL WAYS. The one who taught us to live holier than the day before. The one who preached REVOLUTION. The one who said being alone with the opposite sex was a sin and would get you kicked out of school. Yes, THAT Dr. Michael L. Brown was alone in HIS office with someone from the opposite sex touching MY butt as I would exit his office.

This didn’t happen just once, and NEVER happened publicly or in front of his wife, Nancy!! NOT ONCE. But it did happen privately. Still, I did nothing; I allowed it to happen. I kept the secret because I felt I had to because it was Michael Brown. Surely, he wouldn’t be doing anything against his preaching or the Lord, I thought. I was not okay with what was happening, but I didn’t stop it. I allowed it to happen. Many have told me that he groomed me and I was a victim. But still, I have felt guilty.

Then the kiss, not just one kiss or two, but many! Once again, he had someone of the opposite sex in his office ALONE! As I told him goodbye, he sat in his chair and leaned up for a kiss. On the lips, not the head as he has told others. Yes, stupid me gave him one. I felt something was off when it happened. Why didn’t I stop it? I do not know.

Once again, this NEVER happened in front of Nancy or the public eye. Everything happened in secret. Everything happened when no one could see (except the first-hand holding). So yes, he lied about merely having ‘poor judgment’ in public because they happened in private. Doing it in public seems like it was meant to pave the way for him to do it in private. He was testing the boundaries. I was too young to understand that.

The meeting he claimed happened between me, him and Nancy, … this one:

“And so Nancy and I met with her immediately in the spirit of Matthew 18, I apologized to her from the heart, we talked things through together, after which, to our knowledge, everything was good between us.”

Well, it NEVER happened. The idea that he apologized to me in this meeting is a complete fabrication. The only meeting the three of us had about any inappropriate behavior was when I found the ‘confession’ he wrote about another woman! I confronted him about this and that is when he asked me to meet with him and Nancy. It had nothing to do with his “foolish and irresponsible” behavior toward me but with his sensual relationship with another woman, who I assumed was groomed as well.

Note: what I read was written in his handwriting. There is no reason for me to believe that the things he attributed to the other woman were actually said by her. I believe that she was a victim.

That is the only meeting ever to take place between us three!!!

He has lied, and I lied for him for two decades, protecting him and his ministry. For that, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. For allowing a physical relationship to happen, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. For not speaking up before I moved, PLEASE FORGIVE ME. PLEASE FORGIVE ME, for all my wrong and sinful ways in this situation. I truly want healing to come from this—not just for me, but for EVERYONE involved, all who have been hurt.

Michael Brown wrote in his official statement:

“If it’s true that for 23 years she has carried this pain and I am responsible for it, I am beyond mortified and would plead forgiveness and the opportunity to bring healing and restoration. Her wellbeing remains our priority.”

If my well-being had been your priority 23 years ago, you would’ve never laid a hand on me. You were thinking about yourself. Instead of hiding behind your creative wordsmithing, simply tell the truth.

I am so thankful for Amber, Londa, Rachel, Katherine, Gregg, Kris, and Ron for standing by me through this. Without their support and guidance, I would not have said a word to The Roys Report. I learned to just ignore it, not think about it, and pretend it didn’t happen. It was easy to do back then because when I moved home, no one reached out to me, and I didn’t reach out to anyone. I wanted to forget everything from Pensacola. I did just that!

But there is a time for everything (Eccl. 3:1-8). Now is the time to speak out and help those who are hurting find the healing they need. I have read the heartbreaking stories that many of you posted (this was originally posted in a private Facebook group for graduates and former faculty of BRSM/FIRE, were many or sharing their own stories). I am genuinely sorry for all the hurt and shame you all have felt for years. No one should be hurt the way you all were by ANYONE, especially a nationally known spiritual leader, holiness preacher, and revivalist. Your compassionate responses to “Erin” have been life to me.

Thank you. Again, please FORGIVE me for my role in the situation and the lies I told to cover it up.

Sarah

Source: Ron Cantor (@RonSCantor), Twitter (X), https://x.com/RonSCantor/status/1869060631195799997, Posted December 17, 2024. (Accessed December 17, 2024.)

Dr. Michael Brown releases statement on his ‘Line of Fire’ program.

Source: The Line of Fire, Dr. Brown’s Statement – December 17, 2024, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP0HoVVkwzY, Uploaded December 17, 2024. (Accessed December 17, 2024.)

TRANSCRIPT

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch this statement. Since a third-party investigation can drag on for months, I want to speak to you today with transparency about recent stories and allegations in the news. I would have done this days ago, but I’ve been out of the country with my grandson.

I want to be transparent, take full ownership of any wrongs done on my part, and ask forgiveness for incidents that took place 23 years ago. These incidents occurred in late 2001 and the very beginning of 2002 during a very difficult season of life and ministry.

I have lived for decades with the sobering reality that many people follow my teaching and look to my example. As Jesus taught in Luke 12:48: “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.” I am accountable to a holy God for the ministry entrusted to me.

As a result of these allegations, many are deeply confused and troubled. In the interest of full disclosure and in the sight of the God who knows all, I will speak to you as plainly and directly as I can.

While I have never committed adultery in all our years of marriage, in late 2001 and the beginning of 2002, I developed an emotional, not a physical, tie with another individual. She and her husband were very close friends of ours. Because of the weight of my conscience, I went and confessed everything to a close friend during the first week of 2002. I then went to Nancy and, with agonizing repentance, confessed to her with a broken heart, asked her forgiveness, and she forgave me deeply and totally.

Looking back today, as we approach 49 years of marriage, I remain amazed at the depth of her love. At that time, in January 2002, I was eager to share all this with my leadership team as well as with our entire school and church community. However, that was not my decision alone to make, and both offended spouses agreed that since we had not committed adultery, the matter would end there, sparing them further shame and dishonor. That’s the reason I’ve never discussed it with anyone else until recently. It was not to hide things but to honor my spouse, whom I had hurt so deeply.

In the months that followed, in 2002, I made radical changes to my schedule and lifestyle, received intensive counseling, and experienced the holy discipline of the Lord. I am profoundly grateful that our Lord is a forgiving Lord, that He responds to deep, heartfelt repentance, and that He does not discard or cast off His children because of their failings when they turn back to Him with all their heart.

As Micah said: “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”

As to the incident with the individual referred to in the allegations as Erinn, it is not my purpose here to deny or confirm specific allegations. I will leave it to the investigation to uncover the truth. The fact is that an offense remains, and that is what I must address, taking full ownership of my actions and the pain I caused.

Jesus gave us a clear directive when it came to matters like this: “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

In the case at hand, Erin has something very serious against me, and it is imperative that I make this right to the best of my ability. Nancy and I understood the matter to have been settled in August 2002, when Erin expressed to me for the first time how our interaction months earlier had made her uncomfortable. I apologized to her in Nancy’s presence that same day, but it is clear now that I failed to understand the depth of what she was experiencing as a result of my actions. I never dreamed that she would suffer the effects of that pain in subsequent years.

So today, in the most public way possible, I want to speak directly to her: Please forgive me for my actions, which caused you so much pain. Had I more clearly understood the result of those actions in 2002, I would have responded very differently. Again, from the heart, I ask you to forgive me. I am truly and deeply sorry.

Now, if I can speak to all those who were part of the FIRE community at that time—to the rest of the leaders, virtually all of whom I’ve already spoken with privately; to our students and grads; to our church community; and to every FIRE missionary on the field worldwide—please forgive me for my failings, poor judgment, and any mishandling of these situations during that time.

Twenty-three years ago, I fell short of the high standards we set. I disappointed you and hurt you. Please forgive me. You were the most important people in my life, and I was committed to serving you at any cost. I literally shed tears of love for all of you and desperately desired to walk worthy of your honor and love as well, setting a godly example in every way. Again, I can only ask you to forgive me today.

To the larger body of Christ, I deeply regret my behavior from 23 years ago to the extent that it has caused pain, been a distraction, or caused you to question God or wonder who the real Dr. Brown is. I ask you as well to forgive me. I know I failed you during that period and will continue to work to regain your trust.

I truly believe that Peter, restored by God’s grace after denying the Lord three times and weeping bitterly, became a far better man through his experiences. If dredging up this painful time in my life—a time when I also wept bitterly for many days—deepens my humility and dependence on the Lord, then all the more do I embrace what He has called me to walk through today.

Regardless of the findings of the third-party investigation, I do not minimize the wrongness of my past actions. In the days ahead, I remain fully submitted to the Line of Fire board, as I have entrusted the process into their hands and agreed to walk through it however they see fit.

May His healing grace flow to everyone who is hurting, and may God’s light outshine the darkness.

Anthony Wade of 828Ministries covers the latest developments of Dr Brown’s language and behavior.

Visit the article by copy and pasting the link in to the urk,

Three Devastating Lies from Dr. Michael Brown as Per One of His Alleged Victims

Source: Anthony Wade, Three Devastating Lies from Dr. Michael Brown as Per One of His Alleged Victims, 828 Ministries, https://www.828ministries.com/articles/Three-Devastating-Lies-fro-Christianity-241217-325.html, Published December 17, 2024. (Accessed December 17, 2024.)

Ex-FIRE student talks about his confusing ‘puritannical’ FIRE School experience.

Jared shares his personal experience at FIRE School,

Source: Heliocentric (@HeliocentricOfficial), Dr. Michael Brown, FIRE School of Ministry, and my Screwed Up Sexuality, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnjvAW5JqnE, Uploaded December 17, 2024. (Accessed December 17, 2024.)

The end-times and ‘New Apostolic Reformation’ Tikkun Global cult publishes statement regarding Michael Brown.

Tikkun Global write,

Tikkun Global Statement on Allegations against Dr. Michael Brown

Dear Friends and Partners:

We as Tikkun have a long history of friendship and cooperation with Dr. Michael Brown. His passion, teaching, preaching, and books have been a great blessing to the Messianic Jewish community and the wider Christian world.

We were grieved by the recent allegations published by The Roys Report. This is a sobering season in the Body, wherein many skeletons–both real and perceived– seem to be coming out of the closets of prominent leaders. We should all take note of this in humility and the fear of the Lord.

The Importance of Due Process

As we have maintained in our role in the investigation of IHOPKC, the goal is not only to find out exactly what happened, but to implement proper, biblical processes (1 Cor 6:1-6, 1 Tim 5:19). The question of “how was this handled/adjudicated” can be just as important as the question of “what actually happened.” If there was sin or any kind of abuse on the side of Dr. Brown, was it brought before a legitimate board of elders who have the authority to discipline—including removing him from his leadership roles, at least for a season? Did the church or ministry organization have processes in place that give a voice to those who may have been wounded by leadership?

We are encouraged by Dr. Brown’s board who have shifted towards hiring an investigative team with experience in this field, rather than choosing a law firm—which can tend to err on the side of protecting the name and assets of those who hired it. We encourage the board to continue on this road and ensure that the results of the investigation are handled by mature, impartial leaders.

We can also heartily agree with Dr. Brown’s concluding words in his recent statement: “… if it’s true that for 23 years she (Erin, his “accuser”) has carried this pain and I am responsible for it, I am beyond mortified and would plead forgiveness and the opportunity to bring healing and restoration. Her wellbeing remains our priority.” Amen! May this be true both for Erin and any others who may carry wounding from their time under Dr. Brown’s ministry.

On Due Process and Social Media

We appreciate the many benefits of social media—especially in giving a voice to those who may have been silenced or shamed by abusive leadership. But we don’t agree with “cancelling” or “trial by social media” as a substitute for biblical process whereby witnesses are heard and the accused are allowed to respond.

May the Lord help us all to be totally and systematically committed to the full counsel of His Word. By grace, by faith, by transparency, and by having the right structures in place, may He help us to strike the delicate balance between verses like Exodus 23:6, “You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute;” and 1 Timothy 5:19, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.”

Ron Cantor’s Involvement

As most of you know, Ron has been the main communicator over the last 6 months on behalf of Tikkun as we facilitate an independent investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse at IHOPKC. On December 6, Ron made a public statement about his involvement in the situation concerning Dr. Michael Brown. Ron has a long history with Dr. Brown: they were together during the Brownsville Revival and have ministered together in many venues. Ron also has a personal history with many Brownsville Revival School of Ministry students and FIRE students from that time.

Ron prefaced his post by noting that, “This is a personal statement, not an official statement from Tikkun Global.” Indeed, Tikkun Global has had no official position or involvement in this case, other than what we have just now posted above. Ron then details his communication with Dr. Brown, the Line of Fire board, and his personal interaction and advocacy for Erin (Dr. Brown’s main accuser) and others who are coming forth to “share their stories.” Ron’s statement contains much of his own discernment about the details of what happened 23 years ago, the various testimonies, and how it has been handled since then.

Clarifications

1. While Ron is serving as the main Tikkun spokesperson for the IHOP-KC investigation, he has no such role in speaking for us concerning anything to do with Dr. Brown.

2. In the coming months, as the investigation into IHOP-KC concludes, the main work will shift to a board of trusted elders, under Dan Juster’s leadership, to sift through the results of the investigation and make recommendations to the IHOP-KC leadership.

3. We cannot be involved in every controversy in the Body. We were invited into the IHOP-KC situation by the advocacy group and many others. We have not been similarly invited by Dr. Brown, his board or the alleged victim(s). As stated above, we encourage the Line of Fire board (and any other board or group of leaders in these situations) to follow biblical protocols.

4. Messiah’s Mandate (Ron’s personal ministry) and Shelanu TV (Ron serves as president) are Tikkun affiliated ministries. Tikkun is not a hierarchical denomination, but a network/family of related ministers and ministries. Outside of clearly sinful behavior, or egregious doctrinal error, Tikkun ministers are free to follow God’s leading and their consciences as they serve this broken world, bringing to it the message, life, and values of the Kingdom of God.

5. If you have any praise, criticism, comments or questions about Ron’s involvement in the Dr. Brown situation, please direct those to him.

Asher Intrater

Dan Juster

Eitan Shishkoff

Paul Wilbur

Ariel Blumenthal

Source: Tikkun Global Statement on Allegations against Dr. Michael Brown, Tikkun Global,https://www.tikkunglobal.org/post/tikkun-global-statement-on-allegations-against-dr-michael-brown, Accessed December 17, 2024.

December 08, 2024.

Amber Rhodes shares with permission victim’s message and her message of support to victim.

Amber Rhodes posted the following on Twitter (X).

I am sharing these private messages between ‘Erin’ and myself with her permission because I believe it holds so much weight and shows the importance of advocacy for victims of all forms of sexual and spiritual abuse in the church. #drmichaelbrown #churchtoo #timetodobetter

Source: Amber Rhodes (@ambedenae), X (Twitter), https://x.com/ambedenae/status/1865932321146159136, December 08, 2024. (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

‘Erin’ writes,

I wish I had the words to speak out 100% publicly. But all I can say is what happened, why I didn’t speak, why I left, and what I found. I am not a writer or one to put words on paper. I want to speak, but I physically cannot. I want to answer all the questions but have no idea what to even say when trying to think of a response.

You all are my voice and I am so greatful

Former Dean of FIRE School of Ministry and BRSM, Robert (Bob) Gladstone, releases statement to student group on Facebook. (Emphasis in red.)

John Lambert posted the following on Twitter (X) (10:44am),

Robert “Bob” Gladstone, former Dean of FIRE School of Ministry and BRSM, and close colleague of Dr. Michael Brown for over thirty years, recently addressed a student group on Facebook. Here are a few excerpts from his statement that stood out to me.

Source: John Lambert (@johnlambert), X (Twitter), https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865542974467137678, December 08, 2024. (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:45am),

“To this day, Mike himself has never told me anything of his behavior. I learned everything through others. To me, this is an inexcusable, deceitful, sinful omission that speaks for itself. These issues were never dealt with. The lack of biblical resolution continues to pose a serious problem for the church. Mike has involved himself in other church controversies, including here in our city, using the same judgment he used for himself. As a result, many more people have been hurt by other manipulative leaders.”

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865543131606716862 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:56am),

“the Roys Report, as well as other posts on social media, have declared a tragic but necessary public testimony. Personally, I do not think using these outside media mechanisms is ideal. However, the current church systems that revere the powerful, elevate celebrities, build insulated country clubs, and protect abusers are broken. Someone has to speak up.”

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865545961021329908 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:57am),

“I confronted him for intentionally hiding these most important details from his local leadership team—or at least from me. Our whole team should have been told everything, and we should have been responsible to make sure Erin got the care she needed, the church got the care it needed, and Mike got the restoration he needed. If nothing else, we had the right to know the whole story so we could make decisions for our families if Mike did not submit to godly counsel. But as it is, speaking for myself, I was totally ignorant of details I needed to know as the husband and father of my own family. That was a pill very hard to swallow.”

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865546148205006934 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (11:48am),

“I want to make clear that I believe their testimonies. I trust their honesty and their memories. I am certain they are two, true witnesses, among others, with sufficient testimony to establish fact. Third, therefore, I believe that what Erin and (redacted) have described is a pattern of sin by Mike Brown which is particularly incongruous with the role of a spiritual leader. As of this writing, he has yet to confess publicly to anything like this, and he has never been properly restored according to a “biblical process.” I do not stand with Mike Brown nor his recent public statements. I believe both are compromised and misleading.”

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865921533551481159 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Former student and teacher of Brownsville Revival School of Ministry and FIRE, Keith Collins, releases statement to Facebook group of former students. John Lambert releases main portion of statement.

John Lambert posted the following on Twitter (X) (10:50pm),

Below is the main portion of a statement released by Keith Collins, former student and teacher at Brownsville Revival School of Ministry and FIRE, to a Facebook group of former students regarding Dr. Michael Brown.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725590428328140, (Accessed December 08, 2024.) 

Lambert continues (10:50pm),

Since my name was mentioned in the recent article about Dr. Brown I felt that I needed to share some thoughts. Here they are:

1.I confronted Dr. Brown 23 years ago due to the fact that it was brought to my attention that he was seen holding “Erin’s” hand in a vehicle as well as the fact that he was with her at Walmart alone which was witnessed by Darla and I.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725592584204606 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:50pm),

2.I along with another FIRE staff member went to Dr. Brown about these matters and he emphatically told us that the relationship with “Erin” was only of a paternal nature. He let us know that there was nothing sexual in nature about their relationship and was thankful that we confronted him and let us know that he used poor judgement.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725594408751133 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:50pm),

3.After that meeting with Dr. Brown I never personally witnessed anything off between he and “Erin” again.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725596405563534 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:50pm),

4.It was only when my former assistant Kris Bennet approached me not too long ago that he and I confronted Dr. Brown at Kris’s request. Again, to my knowledge the only things I was aware of was what I conveyed in my first point above.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725599266066813 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:50pm),

5.In this recent confrontation Kris questioned Dr. Brown about patting or touching “Erin’s” butt and about the communication that “Erin” discovered regarding him and a married woman. This obviously shocked me and Dr. Brown did not deny either matter.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725602927353920 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:50pm),

6.Dr. Brown apologized for letting Kris down as a leader and even began to cry at one point. He also let us know that this was clearly not appropriate and that nothing more took place between “Erin” or the married woman.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725604781289971 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:50pm),

7.I want to say that had I had known 23 years ago that there were other things happening in Dr. Brown’s life like touching a young ladies butt and improper communication between he and a married woman, I would have immediately called for him to step down from leadership and to enter a season of restoration.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725606840668412 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

Lambert continues (10:50pm),

In light of these matters and as other things are being shared on this page and on other platforms, I have asked Dr. Brown to be completely transparent. I am praying that this will happen and that true healing can begin. I am also praying for the pain that “Erin” and others are experiencing and acknowledge their bravery in coming forward with these matters.

Link: https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1865725608958816397 (Accessed December 08, 2024.)

December 07, 2024.

The Roys Report provide an update on FIRE staff and Dr. Brown’s behaviour, shares leaked emails.

TRR published the following,

Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Michael Brown to Take Time Off From Public Ministry

Dr. Michael L. Brown is the founder and president of The Line of Fire. (Photo: The Line of Fire)

Following allegations of sexual misconduct, Messianic Jewish scholar Michael Brown is taking time off from his public ministry, according to Brown’s ministry, The Line of Fire.

“We have strongly encouraged Mike that he does no public ministry,” said Scott Volk, board member for The Line of Fire in a statement to The Roys Report (TRR). “He’s cancelled speaking engagements for the months of November and December. And from my understanding, he normally writes numerous articles a week. He’s not doing that.”

Brown’s board said it did not know if Brown would also take a break from his radio and podcast ministry.

TRR reported Monday that a woman, using the pseudonym “Erin,” said in 2002, when she was 21 and Brown was in his 40s, Brown crossed several physical boundaries with her.

On multiple occasions, Brown held her hand, smacked her bottom with his hand, and kissed her on the lips, she said. The woman was working as a secretary at the time, and Brown was leading and building FIRE School of Ministry, a ministry birthed from the Brownsville revival of the 1990s.

Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Donate $75 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you can elect to receive the “Reimagine Church” 2-Book Bundle including ‘Invisible Jesus’ by Scot McKnight & Tommy Phillips and ‘Need to Know’ edited by Danielle Strickland. To donate, click here.

Students at FIRE School of Ministry pray over a guest speaker, in April 2014. (Photo: Facebook)

In a previous statement to TRR, Brown said he used a “lack of judgment” in his relationship with Erin but did nothing sexual.

Last month, The Line of Fire’s board hired attorneys Mitchell, Stein, Carey, and Chapman (MSCC) to conduct a third-party investigation.

But according to its website, MSCC has worked as defense attorneys for Fortune 500 companies and for college students accused of sexual misconduct. Advocates raised concerns online about MSCC’s ability to investigate allegations of abuse. And Erin told TRR she would not participate.

In response, the board is considering hiring a different entity because it wants an impartial investigator with whom Erin will engage, said Jonathan Bernis, spokesperson for The Line of Fire board.

“Our desire from the beginning was to find the truth, and the hiring of the law firm was not in any way to vindicate Michael Brown,” said Bernis.

At the suggestion of Ron Cantor, president of Shelanu TV, The Line of Fire board considered hiring Firefly, but the organization isn’t available until February, Bernis said. Firefly is the third-party that is investigating alleged sexual misconduct by Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer-Kansas City (IHOPKC).

On Nov. 5, 2023, Michael Brown preaches at IHOPKC’s Forerunner Church in Grandview, Mo. (Video screengrab)

“We want to do something as quick as we can and not wait until February,” Bernis said.

Cantor also released a public statement today critical of Brown and in support for Erin. In his statement, Cantor said he reached out to Brown about the allegations six weeks ago.

At the end of a “multi-day conversation, which included many pages of emails, I found (Brown’s) answers lacking and inconsistent with the idea of an innocent father/daughter relationship,” Cantor wrote. “I was also troubled by the lack of candor regarding the second incident with a married mother.”

Cantor said he also spoke with Erin and “found her narrative disturbing and heartbreaking.”

Ron Cantor of Tikkun Ministries (Source: Courtesy photo)

Cantor wrote that he urged Brown to step back from ministry weeks ago, but Brown never got back to him after saying he’d pray about it. So Cantor contacted Brown’s board, who said they’d initiate a third-party investigation.

Despite these actions by The Line of Fire board, a leaked internal email from its sister organization, FIRE International, blamed TRR for spreading “division, anger, and hurt and ruined reputations.”

“Their desire is not healing nor reconciliation nor restoration but to destroy and humiliate,” the FIRE International internal email stated. “They are in agreement with the Accuser of the brethren.”

Similarly, FIRE Church, another sister organization, sent out an email yesterday that was similarly worded, accusing TRR of spreading division, and urging people not to gossip.

“Let me encourage you not to engage in premature judgments, gossip of any kind, or join in vain conversations,” wrote FIRE Church Pastor Chris Williams. “And ask Jesus how you should respond to anything on social media or even if you should respond at all.”

‘We stand with Dr. Brown’

The FIRE International email, which included three attachments, was sent to FIRE International missionaries and was signed by FIRE International President Josh Peters, Josh’s wife Tobi Peters, FIRE International Chief Operating Officer Dion Light, and Andy and Karyn Pricer, deputy directors of FIRE International’s field operations.

“We stand with Dr. Brown and his statement,” the FIRE International leaders wrote.

Peters also urged FIRE International’s missionaries not to quickly judge Brown or other FIRE International leaders’ handling of the allegations.

Josh Peters (Photo: FIRE School of Ministry)

“Please don’t jump to conclusions that are based on opinion,” Peters wrote in an email. “Please know that we were not hiding anything from you.”

The joint letter stated several reasons why FIRE International did not share details of the allegations concerning Brown with its missionaries earlier. For one, they said that the matter was “dealt with” 23 years ago.

However, Erin told TRR that no FIRE School of Ministry staff or leaders invited her to any meetings about the allegations in the early 2000s.  They also did not ask her to be interviewed for any official investigations at that time into Brown’s alleged misconduct towards her, Erin said.

TRR reached out to Peters, requesting documentation of FIRE’s handling of the allegations 23 years ago. We also asked what disciplinary or restoration process Brown underwent, but Peters did not reply.

In the letter, the FIRE International leaders also claimed that TRR asked Peters only about Ryan Bruss, not Michael Brown. (Bruss is Brown’s son-in-law whom The Line of Fire hired after Bruss was fired for sexual misconduct.) The letter added, “. . . and (Peters’) response, like all the other responses, are slanted to make Brown appear guilty.”

What the FIRE International letter omitted, however, is that Peters was the one who reached out to TRR, stating that Brown had asked him to speak to TRR about Bruss. TRR reached out to Peters yesterday asking how he believes TRR “slanted” his response, but Peters did not immediately respond.

In one of the attachments to the letter to FIRE International missionaries, Peters likened Brown’s sin to sin of biblical figures like David, Paul, Sampson, and Gideon that God still used.

“He forgave all of them and used them for HIS glory,” Peters wrote. “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”

The leaders also wrote that while they are sorry that Erin has been in pain about this for years, they believe her healing can come only through forgiveness.

“We pray for her healing,” they wrote. “However, healing must be found through forgiveness and emotional healing that only comes from the Lord.”

Erin told TRR she came forward only after other members of the FIRE community had asked her to speak.

“I would like it to be known I did not seek anyone about the situation,” she said. “I was sought out.”

Michael L. Brown, circa 2005 (Photo: The Line of Fire)

Former FIRE School of Ministry staffer* Amber Rhodes told TRR she invited Erin to share her story because Rhodes wanted Erin to have a chance to tell what happened in her own words.

“I encouraged her to share her story herself, so it wasn’t from someone else’s limited perspective,” Rhodes said.

Erin said, “Forgiveness has come from speaking the truth.”

Also this week, Brown sent out a donor appeal letter for his The Line of Fire ministry saying his ministry was under unspecified “demonic attacks.”

“(W)e’ve faced the fiercest, most intense, demonic attacks in our ministry’s history (and perhaps in the half-century that Nancy and I have been together),” Brown wrote in his letter. “It has been insidious and ugly, an effort of Satan designed to weaken us, deplete our energy, drain our funds, and stop the work.”

In Cantor’s statement today, he wrote that the Line of Fire board told him they plan “to apologize for the fundraising email that went out the day after The Roys Report article dropped.”

Board Spokesperson Jonathan Bernis told TRR that Brown’s letter was not intentionally a response to our report Monday. Brown wrote and scheduled the sending of the letter weeks ago.

“(Brown) was also very disappointed it went out,” Bernis said.

Brown also spoke on Heather Schott’s Mercy Culture’s podcast on the topic of women in ministry leadership, which Schott released Wednesday.

Bernis said he was unaware of the podcast.

TRR also reached out to Brown for comment. He responded that The Line of Fire board had asked him to decline comment until their investigation is finished.

*This copy has been changed to show Amber Rhodes was a staffer at FIRE School of Ministry, not a student.

Source: Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Michael Brown to Take Time Off From Public Ministry, The Roys Report, https://julieroys.com/following-sexual-misconduct-allegations-michael-brown-take-time-off-public-ministry/, Published December 07, 2024. (Published December 07, 2024.)

Ron Cantor of the Jewish sect of the New Apostolic Reformation, Tikkun Global, distances himself from Dr. Michael Brown. Provides scathing behind-the-scenes revelations of Dr. Brown’s behavior.

Ron Cantor of Tikkun Global speaks out against Dr. Brown.

More recently Ron Cantor posted the following in connection to his earlier post,

Source: Ron Cantor (@RonSCantor), Twitter (X), https://x.com/RonSCantor/status/1865175513951572345, Posted December 07, 2024. (Posted Dec 07, 2024.) 

Ron Cantor published the following on Facebook and Twitter (X) (emphasis in red),

You can access the Twitter (X) version here,

PDF: 2024-12-06_Twitter-Ron-Cantor-Calls-Out-Dr-Brown
Source: Ron Cantor (@RonSCantor), Twitter (X), https://x.com/RonSCantor/status/1865153216142545212, Posted December 07, 2024. (Posted Dec 07, 2024.) (This is the older version.)

Ron Cantor exposes Fire International staff abusive behaviour toward victim. Leaks private text messages to ‘Erin’. 

Ron Cantor published the following on X,

Below are texts that Tobi Peters from Fire International (FI) sent to Erin. Tobi’s husband, Josh, is the president of FI, and they have actively sought to bully Erin. She sent the texts to me, and I told Tobi and Josh it was highly inappropriate. They never responded back, but did share my responses with #DrMichaelBrown. But now they are putting out more disturbing statements, so I felt it right to let people see how they tried to silence an alleged victim of abuse.

The text tells Erin that if she continues, she will be harmed, her family will be harmed, her name will get out there, and her real enemy is not her abuser, but Satan. It seems like Tobi is saying that we should not hold ministers to 1 Tim 3 standards because Satan is the real problem. Honestly, I think Satan loves this type of ideology.

To be clear, there is no lawsuit and Erin knows I am sharing this. There seems to be an assumption in these texts, as well as in the document released by FI earlier this week, that Erin is unhealed and living in unforgiveness. How would they know this? They have not called her. They have not checked on her. The only communications in 23 years are these texts that seem to be an attempt to muzzle her, not minister to her—to silence her, not support her

First of all, confronting your abuse and your abuser is part of the healing process, not a result of being unhealed. Secondly, seeking justice is not the same thing as unforgiveness. If so, then we should shut down our entire justice system. From my conversations with Erin, I would say she is more healed than those seeking to undermine her testimony. I don’t detect any bitterness or unforgiveness. Certainly, we are all experiencing anger over the process or lack thereof. But if Josh and Tobi are really concerned about healing for Erin, they should be rejoicing that she is finally telling her story. She is more healed today than she has been in 23 years!

Maybe FI can help us understand this. According to the letter, Josh and Tobi were intimately involved in dealing with these issues surrounding Erin and Dr. Brown: “It was dealt with 23 years ago. Tobi and I were at the meeting!” However, in the texts, Tobi seems unaware of Erin’s ordeal with Dr. Brown.

Again, I did not plan to post this. I’m posting it today only because of their dismissive letter.

Source: Ron Cantor (@RonSCantor), Twitter (X), https://x.com/RonSCantor/status/1865507986111881501, Posted December 07, 2024. (Accessed December 10, 2024.)

Ron Cantor added,

I also would not have posted this if they had simply responded to my emails and apologized to Erin several weeks ago when they sent the texts.

Source: Ron Cantor (@RonSCantor), Twitter (X), https://x.com/RonSCantor/status/1865509395297136920, Posted December 07, 2024. (Accessed December 10, 2024.)

SometimesPDX responded,

Korynne Feliú responded,

Rachel Elizabeth responded,

Anne Schneider responded,

Anthony Wade of 828 Ministries offers his insights to the latest from the Roys Report.

Mr Wade published the following,

Dr. Brown Scandal Update – The Machine Tries to Silence and Smear Victim

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV)

Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Michael Brown to Take Time Off From Public Ministry

It is being reported today that Dr. Michael Brown is taking some time off from public ministry after the allegations of misconduct from his past were made public. The board of The Line of Fire strongly encouraged Brown to do no public ministry. He has cancelled all speaking engagements through the rest of the year and will not be writing his usually spate of articles. It is unclear if he will be taking a break from his radio and podcast ministry efforts. The Roys Report, which does excellent reporting on ministerial abuse, revealed that a former secretary from the Revival Ministry School that was birthed out of the Brownsville Revival has accused Brown of crossing several lines in their relationship 23 years ago. Brown, who “Erin” considered a father figure, was fond of handholding, kisses on the lips and playful smacks on her bottom. Brown denies anything sexual in nature but admits to a “lack of judgment.” The above link is the latest reporting on this recent decision to step back that contains so much wrong within the cover-up culture of the church today. So, let us reason once more together beloved as we review some of the reporting linked above.

“Last month, The Line of Fire’s board hired attorneys Mitchell, Stein, Carey, and Chapman (MSCC) to conduct a third-party investigation. But according to its website, MSCC has worked as defense attorneys for Fortune 500 companies and for college students accused of sexual misconduct. Advocates raised concerns online about MSCC’s ability to investigate allegations of abuse. And Erin told TRR she would not participate. In response, the board is considering hiring a different entity because it wants an impartial investigator with whom Erin will engage, said Jonathan Bernis, spokesperson for The Line of Fire board. “Our desire from the beginning was to find the truth, and the hiring of the law firm was not in any way to vindicate Michael Brown,” said Bernis. At the suggestion of Ron Cantor, president of Shelanu TV, The Line of Fire board considered hiring Firefly, but the organization isn’t available until February, Bernis said. Firefly is the third-party that is investigating alleged sexual misconduct by Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer-Kansas City (IHOPKC). “We want to do something as quick as we can and not wait until February,” Bernis said.” – Roys Report

We noted when the story first broke that it appeared as if they were trying to pretend a criminal defense firm was the best choice for an investigation. We saw IHOPKC try similar shenanigans with the Bicklegate scandal. It is encouraging here that this transparent choice was called out for what it was and that Erin refused to be roped into participating in something that appeared designed to protect Brown instead of conduct an impartial investigation. The board can pretend all they like that this was an oopsie but I do not think anyone who is clear thinking would buy that. These board members are not amateurs. They knew exactly who this Arizona based law firm was and what they specialized in. This is the first indication of what is so wrong in all of these church scandals. It is what leads so many people to jump to conclusions of guilt because if the accused was not so guilty, why would you need to hire a defense law firm that specializes in defending such accusations? Hopefully now that this initial attempt to control the investigation and ensuing information was thwarted, perhaps they can find a compromise that Erin and the board are equally comfortable with. Keep an eye out however because it was at this point that IHOPKC went rogue and started smearing the victims and employing a congregant to do a sham investigation.

‘Cantor also released a public statement today critical of Brown and in support for Erin. In his statement, Cantor said he reached out to Brown about the allegations six weeks ago. At the end of a “multi-day conversation, which included many pages of emails, I found (Brown’s) answers lacking and inconsistent with the idea of an innocent father/daughter relationship,” Cantor wrote. “I was also troubled by the lack of candor regarding the second incident with a married mother.” Cantor said he also spoke with Erin and “found her narrative disturbing and heartbreaking.” Cantor wrote that he urged Brown to step back from ministry weeks ago, but Brown never got back to him after saying he’d pray about it. So Cantor contacted Brown’s board, who said they’d initiate a third-party investigation.

Wait, what? I do not recall seeing any reporting on a second woman. That aside, I urge you to read the statement from Ron Cantor, who considers Brown a friend for decades. Of particular note is that he felt Brown’s answers were lacking and that the behavior did not align with the excuse that this was just a father-daughter relationship. Cantor also spoke to Erin for 80 minutes and her allegations exceed what Brown admits to. Cantor found Erin’s story heartbreaking and disturbing. There were two other very concerning revelations from the Cantor statement. The first is that some associate of Dr. Brown has already contacted Erin in an effort to silence her. Just consider that for a moment. Someone associated with Dr. Brown tried to silence the victim in this case. Once again, why would someone be doing that if Brown was totally innocent here? The second disturbing revelation is that Brown sent out a fundraising letter right after this story broke referring to it as an attack from Satan to stop him. This is another tactic of the accused leader in the middle of falling from grace. We heard this nonsense during the IHOPKC scandal too. Steven Strang, Dr. Brown’s boss, referred to the victims of Mike Bickle as being used by Satan as well. It is just a disgusting smear of the people the church should be concerned about. Cantor revealed that The Line of Fire Board planned to apologize for this letter but once again, these are big boys and girls. They knew full well what they were insinuating when they decided to send this fundraising out. It is how the church views the victims of their leaders. With sheer contempt but they show even more contempt for their followers to try and fleece them one more time before the wheels fall off.

Despite these actions by The Line of Fire board, a leaked internal email from its sister organization, FIRE International, blamed TRR for spreading “division, anger, and hurt and ruined reputations.” “Their desire is not healing nor reconciliation nor restoration but to destroy and humiliate,” the FIRE International internal email stated. “They are in agreement with the Accuser of the brethren.” Similarly, FIRE Church, another sister organization, sent out an email yesterday that was similarly worded, accusing TRR of spreading division, and urging people not to gossip. “Let me encourage you not to engage in premature judgments, gossip of any kind, or join in vain conversations,” wrote FIRE Church Pastor Chris Williams. “And ask Jesus how you should respond to anything on social media or even if you should respond at all.”‘ – Roys Report

Even more disgusting. The Roys Report is reporting the truth. This is the Charismatic Industrial Complex attacking those that threaten their brand; that’s all. If reputations are ruined, that would be the fault of the perpetrators, not the victims or those that provide a platform for the truth. The division is wrought by those who propagate falseness within the body of Christ, whether it be in doctrine or in deed. FIRE International obviously does not understand scripture either by misusing the “accuser of the brethren” verse, as we also heard in Bicklegate and the Robert Morris scandal. Do not trivialize what they are trying to do here. By bringing that verse in, they seek to turn the hearts and minds of the sheep who might read these stories. Think about the sheer audacity of this statement. Assuming this story is true and with each passing day it sure seems like it, Dr. Brown abused his ministerial stature to take common grooming steps with a sheep and employee, half his age, when he was married and building his “holiness” ministry. He tried to sweep it under the rug by misusing Matthew 18 but forcing the victim to meet with he and his wife. Now, years later the truth comes out and Brown’s supporters accuse the Roys Report of working with the devil, which means by default the victim must be as well. Simply vile. The FIRE International folks are right that the goal of Roys and the function of the truth is not this false reconciliation and restoration notion. That is straight up evil. If the story is true Dr. Brown is done, period full stop. What the goal should be is the truth and then healing for the victim (s). The truth is only divisive to those who do not want the truth to be known. Speaking openly about the truth is NEVER gossip. Realize all they are trying to do is control the flow of information. The smearing of social media is very common too. This is not ten years ago. The majority of reporting and news is now on social media. Let me be abundantly clear. We should not pre judge what happened 23 years ago but we certainly can comment on what is happening right now. When someone you have been close with for decades comes out to say that your answers are lacking and, in another case, not forthcoming – that is not a good sign. When your organization tries to silence the victim, tries to hire a criminal defense firm specializing in defending people accused of sexual misconduct, and sends out fund raising letters accusing the victim of work with Satan? Yeah, not a good look. Also, not a good look to then try and blame and smear the reporting source while boldly declaring you “stand with Dr. Brown.”

“The FIRE International email, which included three attachments, was sent to FIRE International missionaries and was signed by FIRE International President Josh Peters, Josh’s wife Tobi Peters, FIRE International Chief Operating Officer Dion Light, and Andy and Karyn Pricer, deputy directors of FIRE International’s field operations. “We stand with Dr. Brown and his statement,” the FIRE International leaders wrote. Peters also urged FIRE International’s missionaries not to quickly judge Brown or other FIRE International leaders’ handling of the allegations. “Please don’t jump to conclusions that are based on opinion,” Peters wrote in an email. “Please know that we were not hiding anything from you.” The joint letter stated several reasons why FIRE International did not share details of the allegations concerning Brown with its missionaries earlier. For one, they said that the matter was “dealt with” 23 years ago.

However, Erin told TRR that no FIRE School of Ministry staff or leaders invited her to any meetings about the allegations in the early 2000s. They also did not ask her to be interviewed for any official investigations at that time into Brown’s alleged misconduct towards her, Erin said. TRR reached out to Peters, requesting documentation of FIRE’s handling of the allegations 23 years ago. We also asked what disciplinary or restoration process Brown underwent, but Peters did not reply.” – Roys Report

So, according to FIRE International there were four reasons why they were not forthcoming about these allegations. Let me go over a couple of of them. The first was this dismissive, “oh well it was 23 years ago.” As if that matters at all. We saw the exact same defense in Bicklegate and Robert Morris. It was obviously not “dealt with” to the satisfaction of the alleged victim. This notion that they all thought it was dealt with I addressed yesterday by examining how scoundrel fallen leaders first refuge is Matthew 18. This paradigm however, was not given by Jesus to address ministerial abuse. Dr. Brown was not peers with Erin at the time of this scandal. He was in a position of workplace and spiritual authority. That is the trust that would have been broken. There was probably no discipline or restoration. Brown said that he and his wife met with Erin in the “spirit of Matthew 18.” He assumed that because he was contrite and apologized that this issue was resolved. No harm no foul and he went back to building his ministry empire. The second reason FIRE International provided was that they believe this is all hearsay and a witch hunt. What? This is what happens when people who are not lawyers, try to make legal claims. Roys properly reporting what Erin says happened is NOT hearsay. It is direct testimony. Erin was actually there. While we are at it, how exactly is this a witch hunt? Just another attempt to smear the victims.

The FIRE International email then goes into a litany of scriptures that they use to try and defend Brown. Most of them are predicated on their belief that Dr. Brown has repented and sought forgiveness but that is yet to actually be determined. What was galling was their citing Matthew 7:1-5, which are the key verses above. I say galling because these apply the opposite way of how they intend. Dr. Brown built his ministry on biblical concepts of holiness. This was why he liked false teachers like Bickle and Ravi Zacharias so much. Yet to lecture about holiness when you are building your career on slapping the bottom of your secretary reeks of taking out the plank in your own eye. Before anyone starts to dismiss this victim because the actions were seemingly so minor compared to let’s say Bickle, this is only because she stopped the behavior. You start with holding hands. You move into kissing on the lips. Then you start smacking her bottom. THEN she said stop. THEN he realized what he was in the middle of and ran into the refuge of Matthew 18. We do not know what might have transpired next if she had not said no more. The email then concludes with this ridiculousness:

“God used sinners such as Saul, David, Gideon, Sampson, Rachel, many others and Paul being the worst in his own opinion. He forgave all of them and used them for HIS Glory.” – FIRE International

Another favorite bible twisting used by those that have fallen from grace. God can use anyone but that does not mean He is or He must. I also do not recall any of these folks burying their sins and not publicly repenting. I do not recall friends of King David calling Bathsheba and telling her to keep quiet. This is simply scriptural abuse to try and provide some cover for their boy at the expense of a wounded sheep. Their email started with the usual platitudes about caring about the victim but they claim that her healing “must be found through forgiveness and emotional healing that only comes from the Lord.” Huh? Healing cannot be found also in accountability? Is FIRE International’s position that she can only find healing by forgiving Brown? While his surrogates are trying to pressure her to shut up? Please, you’re embarrassing yourself. Lastly of note from this Roy Report is that Erin did not seek this out but was approached by other members of the FIRE community who urged her to speak. Erin is quoted as saying, “Forgiveness has come from speaking the truth.”

As I said when this story first broke, we should always be cautious but there were eerily similar warnings like we saw when the Bickle story first emerged. This report from Julie Roys is just the second article. We have gone from Brown simply saying that this was all addressed and that he was lacking judgment to full blown efforts from his organizations to blame the victim, try to silence her, smear the reporting, raise money off of it, claim everyone else is working with the devil, and trying to hire a defense law firm to protect Brown. This is yet another reason why 40 million people have left the church in the past 25 years. Look, this story could have been dealt with in a fair fashion. Find an organization that deals with clergy abuse and hunker down until the dust settles. Instead, the machine went into motion to try and destroy the story, the reporting and the victims. Beware beloved that effort is probably just starting. If past is prologue, I would expect Steven Strang to soon try and claim how concerned he is for the victim while providing as much cover to Brown as possible and try and shift this into a discussion about restoration. Dr. Brown is a huge earner, respected voice within Charismania and his role as gatekeeper of all the falseness is vital to the machine. There are very few that carry his gravitas to defend the indefensible. Who will deflect for the Jennifer LeClaire sneaky squid spirits and leg lengtheners like Todd White? I do not root for stories like this and no one should. Brown however needs to call the dogs off and let the process play out without any more abuse. Let the chips fall where they may. Let the abused heal. In Jesus name.

Source 1: Anthony Wade, Article: Dr. Brown Scandal Update – The Machine Tries to Silence and Smear Victim, 828 Ministries, YouTube, https://www.828ministries.com/articles/Dr-Brown-Scandal-Update–Christianity-241207-618.html, Published 07, 2016. (Accessed Published 07, 2016.)

December 06, 2024.

More information is public on Dr Brown’s cult-like FIRE School.

Jayson Szymaszek publicly shared the following on Facebook, December 06, 2024 (emphasis added in red),

Jayson Szymaszek

Once during the 3rd year missions track with Dr. Peters a student asked him what they do in the event someone is “in sin” or leaves the organization due to lack of submitting to leadership – or if they need to be put out or excommunicated

I kid you not – his answer is textbook how they handled many of us who ever had concerns or questioned or dissented

He answered the question as follows:

When someone is not in submission or put out or leaves – they would contact every church and ministry within a 200 mile radius (I thought that was a very odd number) and he said especially with ministries that they know – to let them know that “so & so” was no longer a part of their ministry or the ministry to let them know why they are no longer in relationship

December 05, 2024.

More information is revealed about “other woman” Dr Brown was in contact with.

Nito Sanfran and Gregg Montella had the following public exchange on Facebook, December 05, 2024 (emphasis added in red),

December 04, 2024.

Wake up and Win podcast examine the Michael Brown sexual abuse claims, analyse his statement and offer their concerns of his behaviour of his past.

Dr. Michael Brown, trusted advisor and preacher to ministers and ministry’s all over the USA, has now been accused of sexual misconduct and the story has been corroborated by many students from FIRE school of ministry.

Follow us through the Roy’s Report as we read through the allegations and seek to bring accountability and a plumb line to the Body of Christ in regards to this issue!

Roy’s Report: https://julieroys.com/michael-brown-f…

Source: Wake Up and Win Podcast (@WakeUpandWinPodcast), IHOPKC Spokesperson, Trusted Charismatic Leader, Michael Brown Faces S*xual Misconduct Allegations, Uploaded December 04, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

Dr Brown sends out donor appeal letter claiming his ministry is experiencing “demonic attacks.”

Dr Michael Brown emailed out the following,

This is, without a doubt, one of the most unique and significant letters I’ve ever written to you. I’m reaching out because we are standing at a critical moment in history—a time when your partnership could not be more vital.

The year 2024 has been a landmark year of both extraordinary progress and unprecedented challenge for our ministry. By God’s grace, and with your help, we’ve seen incredible breakthroughs:

• The new Courage in the Line of Fire podcast is now airing on 200 stations nationwide and across all major online platforms, reaching lives with truth and hope in this chaotic world.

• Our FRONTLINE monthly newsletter is inspiring more people than ever, equipping them to stand courageously with faith and truth on the frontlines of today’s cultural battles.

• God has moved powerfully in meetings across America and overseas, and this month we’ve launched the first classes of the Jerusalem Bible Institute in Israel, a one-of-a-kind school that, by God’s grace, will make a generational impact
Yet there is also some urgent, serious news. As we’ve pushed forward, we’ve faced the fiercest, most intense, demonic attacks in our ministry’s history (and perhaps in the half-century that Nancy and I have been together).

It has been insidious and ugly, an effort of Satan designed to weaken us, deplete our energy, drain our funds, and stop the work.

Without exaggeration, these trials have been intense.

But what Satan meant for harm, God is already turning for good.
The Lord has drawn us into His presence in a deeper and more wonderful way! His Spirit has strengthened us, and our resolve to bring grace, truth, and courage to faithful believers on the frontlines is stronger than ever.

Thus we find ourselves at a sacred crossroads where to finish this year strong and launch into 2025 with full momentum we need your help.
Your generosity today will enable us…

• To replenish critical resources depleted during this season of intense spiritual resistance;

• To fully prepare for the monumental opportunities ahead in 2025, including releasing my new autobiographical book, Living in the Line of
Fire, AND completing a massive project that will change the face of Jewish ministry forever;

• To expand our reach and impact, in both our nation and around the world-taking the gospel to more lives in the days ahead.

We have gone through the fire, and God has preserved us, but we have taken some serious hits.

This is where you come in. Your partnership at this sacred time will make a difference in eternity. Your gift today is not a mere tax-deductible donation—it’s your way of standing with us as we press forward, refusing to allow the enemy to gain even an inch! It’s your declaration that together, we will see God’s purposes fulfilled in our generation!

Will you prayerfully consider giving your most generous gift right now to help us finish 2024 strong?

Every dollar counts. Every prayer matters.

Every act of faith makes a difference.

YES! I’M STANDING WITH YOU AT THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TIME

Friend, I believe that God has positioned us for something extraordinary in 2025-something that will transform lives and change history. But we cannot do this alone. We need you with us, just as you’ve so faithfully been before.

Let’s finish this chapter strong together, and move boldly into the new year, running with perseverance for His glory.

I am deeply grateful for your prayers, your love, and your generosity in this critical moment. Together, let’s make history for the Kingdom.

With heartfelt gratitude and anticipation,
__________ thank you.

Michael L. B

PDF: 2024-12-04_FIRE Donor – Dr. Brown Devil-Blasting

Boz Tchividjian weighs in on the Dr Brown scandal.

Boz Tchividjian posted the following on X,

Apostle Steve Strang of Charisma Mag runs poor interference (this statement was first published by TRR, allowing Dr. Brown to respond to their article) for Dr. Michael Brown at expense of victims… again.

Source: CharismaMag (@charismamag), Twitter (X), https://x.com/charismamag/status/1863969719038206171, Posted December 04, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

Source: Michael Brown Responds to Inappropriate Relationship Allegations, Charisma News, https://charismanews.com/news/michael-brown-responds-to-inappropriate-relationship-allegations/, Published December 3, 2024. (Accessed December 3, 2024.)

Greg Montella publicly answers more questions and clarifies further details of his involvement at Dr. Brown’s FIRE School.

David Lyons, Gregg Montella and others had the following public exchange on Facebook, December 04-5, 2024 (emphasis added in red),

David Lyons
Gregg, this is sad news to read about. Since I read the Roys Report Monday night a flurry of thoughts have gone through my mind. Some of these questions are regarding your leadership and I’d like to ask publicly since you have been so vocal and public. 1. When did you see things you saw? According to the article she left in 2002 if I remember correctly. If that be the case of your witnessing these things in 2002 or prior, why did you invite Dr. Brown to come to the summer school of ministry in Holland? I can’t remember the year, but it would have been 2003, 2004, or 2005. Why did you pay for our team to go to Chester, England during that same time to minister with Dr. Brown at the Women’s Aglow conference if you knew he was doing something wrong and spiritually abusing people? I can’t wrap my head around these things. 2. Another set of questions come to my mind. I traveled and worked with you all across Europe and lived with you for years in the Netherlands. Why did you preach the same legalism (to use your words) that Dr. Brown did? Why did you preach against sexual sin so much? For that matter, why did you preach 100% abstinence from alcohol (as you do to this day) when even the Bible doesn’t go that far? Is that not legalism? Why did we have such strict rules in the house that far exceeded the rules of the school, which you called cult-like? 3. You say you were nearly expelled for kissing a girl when you were in school. Is this the same girl that you were dating while we were in Holland together, the one that you brought with you on trips alone all over Europe, the US, and the world ? The same one that you bought a ring for so you could jokingly propose to and not actually propose to? Or are we talking someone else? 4. The Dr. Brown thing saddens me. However, I would like answers to these questions as well. It seems if he was abusing a person or persons, and you willing put your co-workers and missionaries as well as Dutch disciples at risk, I have a hard time accepting that. Can you answer these please?

Gregg Montella
David Lyons that’s a great question David, and one of many, many failures I made as a leader back then.

Yes, I saw the handholding and lap sitting, and other behavior that seemed amorous from Mike Brown towards the student… way back before we were in Netherlands.

When I saw it, I was confused and felt like I saw something I shouldn’t have. Of the countless hours I spent with Mike Brown, I’d never seen him hold hands with his own actual daughters or seen them on his lap.

So it bothered me, and, at the time, confused me more than anything.

I felt ashamed of myself for even thinking it was odd or inappropriate. I reasoned with myself that what I saw wasn’t exactly what I saw.

He was Dr Brown! My hero in the faith, head of our school, I was in his mentor group, had the honor of joining up with him at ministry events and enjoyed his company and friendship.

Everything was so intense in those days — hectic even. With the split from Brownsville, helping him find a new venue for our meetings, then helping with logos and brochures, and The Call Events, and Holland was happening and growing right alongside all of that.

So I didn’t give it much thought, other than I wasn’t comfortable with a some of the physicality going on.

Fast forward to 2017-2018, when Erin’s story began to leak, and witnesses were connecting, putting the story together.

I personally reached out to Dr Brown at that point, on the phone and in the Grads group.

I BEGGED him to do an Ask Me Anything live in that private group, and he refused. Absolutely refused. Became obstinate.

I begged him to do so, and said that even with our differences through the years, I wanted what’s best for him and the students, because we were all connected and on the same team.

The more I asked, the more he pushed back. Brown insisted on only receiving questions ahead of time, in writing, and he would do a solo video for us, answering questions of his choosing.

We pressed further, and that’s when he began name calling me, threatening to bring up my failures as a young man. I told him to please go ahead and do that.

The admins of the BRSM/FIRE group warned Brown twice to tone it down in his rhetoric against me or he’d be removed from the page.

He continued, was expelled from the group, and therefore was no longer capable to field any questions from grads on that forum.

So it was only 6 or 7 years ago that many of us were made aware of his predatory behavior, and that is when the things I remembered seeing kind of “clicked” into place.

He deflected our questions then. Then I learned he had denied and lied and deflected many questions from others at the time it was going on — and while his relationship was happening with the other woman as well.

He has not been forthcoming about any of it. And I honestly couldn’t care less — except that he’s exhibited atrocious behavior not just towards myself but also countless others.

He continues to lie, threaten, curse, lowkey blackmail those who could come forward with more damning information about these two incidents and others.

But as far as back in the day, I saw it and didn’t know what to do with it, so I didn’t think much more of it at all for a very long time.

David Lyons
Gregg Montella Thank you, Gregg. That answers number 1 and number 4 potentially. However, I don’t find them satisfactory. You were the leader. You were the shepherd of the team and the disciples. You were responsible. If this is true, I find your response wanting and lacking. I think you need to repent for failure to lead us in that case. You can’t just say, in essence, “I was young, and he was my hero,” so I brushed it aside. You are responsible.You also did not answer 2 and 3. Would you like to comment on those? Furthermore, would you still hold to your story if some of the moderators give rebuttal that Dr. Brown wasn’t expelled (whether they will publicly or not is another story).

Steve Bremner
Gregg Montella I don’t want to get nit picky, and you know I love you (agape, not the touchy feely way 😛), but I am reasonably certain you’re “misrembering” things a little bit here about that group: the admins didn’t kick him out of the group but he left on his own, after writing a post saying it would be his last post in there…

Gregg Montella
David Lyons I read your post while walking through Walmart and didn’t expand it down farther. Yes, happy to answer all of the questions!

1. See above

2. Yes, I preached impossible standards and extreme legalism. I was repeating as best I could the same standards I absorbed from Brownsville, from Leonard Ravenhill, from David Wilkerson, and the like. I believed it, I preached it, I TRIED to live by it, and in some ways i did, and in many ways I found myself constantly falling short.

It took me a while to see the fruit of that message in Holland was either people giving up and losing faith, or attaining an even more radical, impossible standard. It didn’t work for lasting fruit and that confused me deeply. I needed a real grace awakening.

What we were able to do with our message was bring people to a place of desperation at the altar. It wasn’t my conscious choice, but I see now how the methods, content, psychology all worked together for dramatic altar calls, powerful prayer times, and intense fellowship often for months or sometimes a bit longer.

But ultimately my style of preaching then didn’t leave people feeling more secure in Jesus or better about His love or grace when they walked out the doors. It was more angst and hoping and determining to be different and do it right next time. That kind of zeal doesn’t last 5-10-20 years later, typically, without a repositioning of faith and theology into something more unshakable.

Why did I preach in sexual sin so much? It was the core of what we were hearing back home, AND we were in Holland where prostitution was legal, AND NOW I see and understand that the MAIN REASON was that I was a healthy young man in his 20s who didn’t know what to do with hormones, desires, and libido.

I felt my desire for the opposite sex was fleshly, sinful, wrong, and hated it. I preached against it because it was me in some ways preaching to myself, condemning myself, trying to lift myself or deliver myself from those desires.

Instead of getting married, I put ministry first and thought I had to have all my ducks in a row, be perfect as He is perfect, before entering into such a sacred covenant.

I preached 100% abstinence from alcohol because I saw it not as a sin issue but as a wisdom issue. I still don’t drink but I don’t impose that on anyone else. All the men in my family are or had been alcoholics at certain points, so the classic American Pentecostal standard seemed to fit well back then. I no longer hold to it for others at all.

Yep — we were indeed stricter than BRSM. I was a true believer and disciple of the school and revival. I falsely assumed that external rules would ensure inner holiness and it’s just not like that in real life.

Instead of learning to control ourselves and gracefully deal with growing up in adult situations, I tried to keep us all in a perpetual youth group with so many rules we couldn’t remember them.

It was wrong and I was wrong. Terribly wrong.

We all, myself included, would have grown so much better together and in God if instead of all those rules, we learned and gracefully walked with each other into adulthood. Through allowing dating, through encouraging fellowship and life beyond just preaching and Bible studies.

We could have been involved in sports, the gym, hobbies, heck — even pursuing further education and jobs over there.

But it was so intense and my eyes were on: souls and standards. We did a pretty good job at first glance, and doors opened to us because of the spectacle and the power, but man I wish with all my heart I could go back and put team first, family first, calm it all down a little, and go for it with some serious grace.

3. No, the girl I got in trouble for kissing while a student wasn’t the one I dated for later who joined us in Europe. Brother, I was such a fool and the biggest regret I have in life was not getting a real ring and marrying her. She’s fine and doing great now, and I’m happy for her. She deserved so much better than what I gave her, though I gave her the best I knew to give and be. Ministry was my idol, my Lord, and I was at the bot of my priority list. She was higher than me, I thought, but I put her through a lot. My idolization about ministry, my insecurities and assumptions about marriage stopped me every time I let my mind drift into manning up and putting a real ring on it. My brain was single minded focused and every single one of my relationships with people suffered, many irreparably, because of that. “Only eternity matters,” but that wasn’t right. There’s a lot of caveats to that.

So I learned slow, the hard way. Probably way too slow and way too hard. Learned and am still learning.

Gregg Montella
Steve Bremner Steve, thanks for the correction. I remember it incorrectly and believe you!

Andrea Ragan
And all of this is the beauty of Gods grace. We were all babies in Holland/Ukraine. I cringe a little/a lot when I think of who I used to be. We’ve all grown and have had to learn as well as unlearn a lot things. It’s a natural progression though.

I never saw anything (except for maybe too much pride in self accomplishments) as far as Dr. Brown is concerned. And I struggle with why and how this is all coming out now (ex: Nathan and King David- none of that was public). But it’s easy for me to say this as I wasn’t directly affected.

However, I don’t struggle with blame shifting. There were clear and strict rules we abided by at BRSM/FIRE. And honestly I can understand to some degree why they were put in place. So it’s not lost on me that if it was good for me it should have been good for everyone…including leadership. There’s more than a couple corroborating witnesses. For Dr. Brown to say she misunderstood his intentions is what’s most concerning to me. He knew what he was doing. It’s not her fault. I’d knock my husband out (and kick him out) if he did the same.

Life at that time was so different though. It was intense. I’m glad for it. I wouldn’t go back to it though. Organized church has made life so much harder than it is supposed to be. Love Jesus. Love others. We have placed people on pedestals and that never ends well.

I’m heartbroken over the fact that the name of Jesus has been tarnished.

It hurts to see all the former BRSM/FIRE grads who’ve walked away from Jesus because of their experience there.

I could live in a place of hurt and bitterness that not a single person from BRSM/FIRE (staff or friends I was on the mission field with) reached out to me when my life got ugly. When l was a single mom living in so much shame with so many regrets. Everyone has scars, but Jesus sees them and that’s all that matters.

I’m well aware that a single accusation (whether true or false) can change someone’s life forever.

“Church” people are typically the first to cast stones.

Personal responsibility goes a long way. It feels to me that Dr. Brown has admitted just enough without actually taking responsibility for it.

Again, I struggle with why it’s all coming out now. Perhaps if he’d stayed silent on the Mike Bickle situation, and not made himself the voice of holiness and purity given this past, we wouldn’t be seeing his past.

I 100% believe Dr. Brown knew what he was doing. Emotional adultery is just as bad as physical adultery.

But sometimes the past is ok to stay in the past IF truly put under the blood of Jesus. We’ve all made mistakes.

Hopefully we were all different people 20 years ago.

Hopefully we’ve all grown and changed.

But even in the midst of this mess, God is more than able to turn ashes into something more beautiful than we can imagine. He can turn our biggest battles into our greatest victories…Not only for “Erin” but for Dr. Brown as well…and for everyone who has felt the need to heal from their past experiences.

And so I pray for healing. For light to shine in the darkness. For beauty from these ashes. And for Jesus to be exalted.

And I’ll never have anything but the fondest memories of Holland!!!

Amber Sykes
Gregg Montella wow. It’s not often you see someone willing to explain their shortcomings so vulnerably especially publicly. I just wanted to say thank you for that. Seriously a breath of fresh air.

Amber Sykes
I think this is a great example of what I hear generation crying for in their leaders. So that not only wounds can heal but the can see what not to do and what to also model moving forward. Thank you for modeling that well in your response to those questions. Gregg Montella

David Lyons
Gregg, I am both blessed and bothered by your answers. For the first time in a long time, I am hearing you communicate in a way that provides grace for those who hear. But it still doesn’t answer the questions if we hold the standard the same across the board. If you saw Dr Brown sin in various ways, and still subjected us to that, then you put people at risk. I would call that spiritual abuse. I also struggle with your answer to the legalism question. When we all went to school or Holland, we all knew what the rules were and voluntarily agreed to them. No one put a gun to my head to abide by any of them. It can’t be cult-like if I have freedom to choose. And your answer to the legalism question is that you were a product of your environment and a healthy young male with a lot of testosterone and libido is not a good answer to me. You subjected HUNDREDS of European disciples to that legalism because of your environment and testosterone? Plenty of folks out there who victimize others could say the same. So am I a victim or your legalism and libido as leader, preacher, and rule maker? I would say, “no,” but your standard says, “yes.” You didn’t address the emotional and financial manipulation (among other things not mentioned here) concerning the young woman, who I would define as someone who was victimized by you. You said not marrying her was the biggest regret of your life and that you idolized ministry, but didn’t address that victimization or other things. I truly hope the same microscope doesn’t come down on you. I didn’t even mention (until now) the mishandling of finances and breech of contract that led to the ministry being sued and having our accounts frozen. You also say you don’t remember how Dr. Brown left a group or a decision was made by moderators. I don’t think that is the case. Either way, I love what Jesus has done through you. I love your ministry that has given a voice to the marginalized and forgotten. I believe you have every right to have your own voice as well and should continue to be that voice But I do beg you, brother, to do it in such a way as to bring honor to Christ. We all have sin that needs to be covered and cleansed by the blood of Jesus “that saved a wretch like me.” But God hates unequal weights and measures. By your own standards expressed so dogmatically lately, you shouldn’t be in ministry either. Please be consistent and filled with grace and truth. I won’t comment any further.

Gregg Montella
Amber Sykes it’s the least I can do. I loved our team and missions with all my heart, and I wish I could go back and do quite a few things very very differently. I wish all ministers would be so transparent so we could learn from their mistakes. Hopefully, some younger people will hear of mine and choose wiser and bolder paths.

Gregg Montella
Kristi Bowlin Kristi, I appreciate your heart and sentiment. Please also know I respect David a lot and have only fond memories of him during our time in Netherlands. Whether in private or on this page, doesn’t matter to me. We were close enough and David gave up many prime young years to serve God along with me and was a vital part of our team in Holland. I’m only a year or two older I think, yet I was a leader and wish I would have been stronger and more stable. For his sake, because he deserved the best, and for the sake of the people we were sent to reach. Our ministry there fizzled after a bunch of crap with FI Missions, where I refused to allow a moneymaking deliverance scheme to be instituted through our ministry, and they gave ultimatums to everyone on my team and all the other missionaries to never speak to or be in touch with me again.

For the sake of the call and our amazing team, if I could go back instead of resigning, I would have fired FI’s plants who were sent to undermine and root me out, and I would have walked our team through, with outside pastoral support, why the best option would have been to get the heck out of that sending org as fast as we could.

But we were all torn between being respectful of these men who’d helped us so much by teaching us (for money) and were our “covering” (for money) and yet were almost entirely ruining us along the way.

Anyway, I’m okay with David asking me anything in any format, as he’s earned the right by the years he spent with me and the amazing job he did the entire time.

Now, if it were just about anyone else… 100% 🙂

Kristi Bowlin
Gregg Montella understood. But since he made it public, I offered my outside perspective. 🙂

Gregg Montella
Kristi Bowlin I know, and I appreciate it. You’re awesome!!

Kristi Bowlin
I appreciate being able to dialogue regarding Dr. Brown. It is healing to me and to others. I think it’s because protecting a non-repentant abuser further abuses the victims. I don’t see exposing it as slander, but rather as allowing the truth to set people free. And ultimately, hopefully even for Dr. Brown to one day be able to have the opportunity to redirect.

Gregg Montella
Kristi Bowlin thanks and exactly. People need to know this report didn’t come out of the blue and it shouldn’t have been a shock to him. He’s been confronted privately for two decades over and over, and his statements and ESPECIALLY FIRE’s statement to their missionaries that was just leaked are full of lies, inuendo, and distractions, and other DARVO techniques

I hope all of them grow up and get their act together finally.

Kristi Bowlin
My point was that Dr. Brown was given every opportunity to address concerns appropriately through private pleads, and cannot take responsibility for his actions, so he is unrepentant. This places those whom he influences at great risk and further victimizes those whom he has abused.

Social media storm start calling out Dr Brown’s outrageous hypocrisy.

David C. McGuire posted the following X,

Tim Meshginpoosh posted the following on X,

The actions of which Dr. Michael Brown stands accused of committing, would be immediate firing offenses at almost every secular workplace in America. A company that tolerates that conduct would be forced to fork up $$millions in fines and civil penalties. Let that sink in.

Source: Tim Meshginpoosh (@oldreepicheep), Twitter (X), https://x.com/oldreepicheep/status/1864250183082549312, Posted December 04, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

Source: Dee Parsons (@wartwatch), Twitter (X), https://x.com/wartwatch/status/1863968399098798408, Posted December 04, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

Source: Li’l Fred (@csa7777), X (Twitter), https://x.com/csa7777/status/1864321212882547002, December 04, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

Cindy Rushton Degrie posted the following on X,

Either Michael Brown is intentionally denying what he knows to be sin or he is so perverse he isn’t convicted by inappropriate behavior. Either way—he is disqualified from public ministry AND totally disqualified as an unbiased 3rd party for other predators in ministry scandals.

Source: Cindy Rushton Degrie (@cindyrushton), X (Twitter), https://x.com/cindyrushton/status/1864368377914970317, December 04, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

End Time Evangelist posted the following on X,

That such behavior should or could be considered non-sexual is a total joke.

@DrMichaelLBrown, do you deny any of these claims? If so, which ones do you deny?

Source: End Time Evangelist (@ET_Evangelist), X (Twitter), https://x.com/ET_Evangelist/status/1864282721515618729, December 04, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

December 03, 2024.

The Michael Lofton Show examines current developments of the Michael Brown sexual abuse claims and Brown’s statement. Accuses Dr. Brown of gaslighting. 

Dr. Michael Brown Accused: Here’s What We Know

Michael Lofton examines the claims made about Dr. Michael Brown and his alleged inappropriate interactions with two different women

00:00 Introduction
02:23 The Roy’s Report
39:34 Dr. Michael Brown’s statement
53:46 Text messages with the victim
1:11:03 Text messages confronting Brown #1
1:21:41 Text messages confronting Brown # 2
1:51:14 Concluding thoughts

Source: The Michael Lofton Show (@reasonandtheology), Dr. Michael Brown Accused: Here’s What We Know, YouTube, https://youtu.be/ezbpqtbhW0A, December 03, 2024. (Accessed December 03, 2024.)

Long-term Dr. Brown ‘supporter ‘ believes victim “Erin”, the testimony of Kris Bennet, other voices in The Roys Report and supports the work of Julie Roys.

John Lambert posted the following (12:22pm),

I’ve known Dr. Michael Brown since 1996. At twenty years old I attended the Brownsville revival, attended the Brownsville school of ministry, graduated from Brown’s FIRE School of Ministry, moved with Brown and other students to Charlotte in 03, became a missionary, and now living and working in Charlotte again with many other alumni who are our closest friends. We believe “Erin”, Kris Bennet, and others quoted in the article. Most of all, we support the work of @reachjulieroys in holding leaders accountable.

Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator

Source: John Lambert (@johnlambert), X (Twitter), https://x.com/johnlambert/status/1863755699068522988, December 03, 2024. (Accessed December 03, 2024.)

John Lambert shares their experience (11:18pm),

Many of us, myself included, chose to leave everything to follow Brown from Florida to North Carolina in 03. If we would have known, what decisions would have been made differently? Many staff and members struggled for years with little to no income in pursuit of Brown’s dream of a moral revolution in America, a “Jesus Revolution”. Yet the vision never materialized and many were left disillusioned, with a large chunk of their best earning years behind them and children suffering from their parents decisions to hold out when they should have moved on to other more spiritually healthy pastures.

Former student speaks of abusive practices at FIRE School.

Silver Surfer shares their experience,

Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator https://julieroys.com/michael-brown-faces-sexual-misconduct-allegations-ministry-hires-third-party-investigator/…

I was a student at FIRE during this time. Most of this is news to me. I remember well the hamburger choking incident and Dr. Brown saying he was under heavy discipline.

I didn’t know that Dr. Brown was FIRED by Pastor Kilpatrick. I don’t know that I would have followed FIRE to a new school had I known. Like Gladstone I was definitely on the periphery.

I can tell you that I left FIRE because of verbal abuse by a senior staff member, that went uncorrected.

Also the behavior of another ministry leader on a missions trip with no resolution.

I also left abruptly though no one ever asked why. Something was just off with some of the staff. I had red flags I couldn’t interpret.

It seems to me that way too much was hidden from us students.

I treasure my continuing relationships to some of the people I was mentored by at FIRE.

I genuinely hope all involved get the help and healing they need.

Source: Silver Surfer (@burkhartmojo), Twitter (X), https://x.com/burkhartmojo/status/1863906010890490111, Posted December 03, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

Jayson Szymaszek publicly shared the following on Facebook, December 03, 2024 (emphasis added in red),

Source: Gregg Montella, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/greggmontella/posts/pfbid0uUcUdvc8Pq6HW7AwcvgmJ1v7a4dWTErNrksPDTK3HuB6MP2BALHswgFnU5gNUNeHl, Posted December 02/03, 2024. (Accessed December 02/03, 2024.)

The Roys Report (TRR) article on Dr Brown spreads like wildfire on social media platforms.

Amy Abele posted the following,

And just like that – we understand why Dr. Michael Brown chose to tread on eggshells concerning Mike Bickle’s alleged pedophilia/adulteries – IMO

Source: Amy Abele (@abele_amy95291), Twitter (X), https://x.com/abele_amy95291/status/1863735654783295771, Posted December 03, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

Truth Wins Out posted the following,

Source: Truth Wins Out (@truthwinsout), X (Twitter), https://x.com/truthwinsout/status/1863791209279369499, Posted December 03, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

Torn Curtain posted the following,

Source: Torn Curtain I Joshua Simone (@Torncurtainorg), X (Twitter), https://x.com/Torncurtainorg/status/1863830526236201270, Posted December 03, 2024. (Accessed December 04, 2024.)

December 02, 2024.

The Roys Report publishes report on Michael Brown.

Rebecca Hopkins of The Roys Report wrote the following:

Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator

Michael L. Brown speaks at St. Paul’s Hammersmith in London, England, during a conference in 2018. (Video screengrab)

“Erin” was one of millions of believers whose faith in God was so transformed by the Brownsville Revival of the mid-1990s that she accepted a secretarial job at the revival’s ministry school in Pensacola, Florida. But in 2002, the 21-year-old suddenly cleared her desk, quietly left the state, and has struggled with her faith ever since.

Erin told The Roys Report (TRR) she left because she felt trapped when revival leader and FIRE School of Ministry founder Michael Brown—a man she called “Dad”—would frequently cross physical boundaries. He’d hold her hand, kiss her on the lips, and slap her bottom, she said.

“He was supposed to be a spiritual father,” Erin said. “He was supposed to look after me.”

TRR keeps alleged victims of sexual harassment and clergy sexual abuse anonymous, so Erin is a pseudonym. However, we confirmed her identity with former FIRE staff Kris Bennett and former FIRE missionary Katherine Marialke.

Michael Brown, 69, is founder of the Concord, North Carolina-based ministry, The Line of Fire (formerly AskDrBrown). He’s also a prolific author, radio host, revivalist, and Messianic Jewish leader.

On October 5, 2023, Michael Brown preaches at Forerunner Church in Grandview, Mo. (Video screengrab)

In recent years, he’s sought reforms in the prophetic movement, following abuses committed by so-called “Trump prophets.” He also has provided accountability for high-profile Christian leaders, like Todd Bentley and Mike Bickle, who’ve been accused of sexual misconduct.

In 2017, at the beginning of the MeToo movement, Brown publicly called abusers to repent.

Last month, as TRR began reaching out to Brown for comment on this story, Brown told board members for The Line of Fire about Erin’s allegations, board member Cindy Panepinto told TRR.

Cindy Panepinto (Photo: Upward Calling Ministry)

Panepinto said Brown also revealed an emotional connection he had with a second woman more than 20 years ago,

“There was no physical aspect of that, but it was a soul tie,” Panepinto said of the second woman. “It was something he repented of to his wife and they both took care of it with their spouses.”

Two weeks ago, The Line of Fire Board hired the law firm Mitchell, Stein, Carey, and Chapman to conduct a third-party investigation. Lee Stein is a former U.S. attorney and former Arizona assistant attorney general.

Line of Fire board member Jonathan Bernis said the ministry will make the firm’s final report public when the investigation is complete.

In a written statement to TRR, Brown said he’s in agreement with the investigation because he’s “shocked and horrified” by the accusations, some of which he said are “false statements” and “mischaracterizations.” Brown denied ever committing adultery and said all interactions with Erin were “nonsexual” but lacked judgment.

“(A)spects of my interaction with her, although totally non-sexual in every way, reflected a lack of judgment on my part,” Brown wrote. “(I)f it’s true that for 23 years she has carried this pain and I am responsible for it, I am beyond mortified and would plead forgiveness and the opportunity to bring healing and restoration.”

‘I couldn’t understand what I saw’

In 1999, at age 18, Erin attended the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry.

Then in 2000, John Kilpatrick, former pastor of Brownsville Assembly of God where the revival originated, clashed with Brown over the direction of the ministry and fired Brown from his position as president of the Brownsville school.

Michael Brown (left) and Pastor John Kilpatrick lead prayer at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida, circa 1997. (Photo via social media)

In response, Brown started the FIRE School of Ministry. It would remain in Pensacola until 2003, when Brown relocated it to North Carolina.

Erin followed Brown to FIRE, which is about the time when she says Brown asked her to call him, “Dad.” Since her home life was difficult, she initially enjoyed his attention and the notes they’d write to each other.

(Courtesy Photo)

Erin’s sister told TRR Erin had special access to Brown.

“I looked at it as a blessing because of the respect that we all have for him,” the sister said.

Erin said she hadn’t been at FIRE even a year before Brown initiated physical touching. Once, she said Brown made a big deal of the handholding to other people while together in a vehicle.

“He lifted it up in the truck . . . and he’s like, ‘You all know that I think of (Erin) as my daughter,’ and said, ‘That’s why we’re holding hands because she’s like a daughter to me,’” Erin said.

Then one day when they were alone in his office, she said he asked for a kiss on the lips. She didn’t want to do it, so she gave him a chaste peck. But she said kisses on the lips became a pattern of their goodbyes when they’d been alone.

“It was no longer (Brown) was asking for a kiss,” she said. “It was (Brown) leaning down to get a kiss. . . . I knew I couldn’t stop it or I felt I couldn’t stop it.”

Erin said Brown also began smacking her rear end with his hand, which made her uncomfortable.

Others noticed the intimate dynamic and physical interactions:

• • Former FIRE staff Londa Parker says she saw a note that Erin wrote to Brown. “It had his name on it,” Parker said. “It had hearts drawn all over it. . . . I got this sick feeling.”
  • Gregg Montella, who assisted Brown on ministry trips, once walked in on Erin and Brown in his office. Montella said Erin was sitting on Brown’s lap. “I couldn’t understand what I saw,” he said. “I spun around really fast and just walked right out. . . . I thought, that’s odd. That’s gross. But this was in a time where people were talking so much about sonship and family and fatherhood of God.”
  • Katherine Marialke, a former FIRE missionary, told TRR she saw Erin snuggling with Brown and sitting on Brown’s lap. She said she didn’t see Brown’s own daughters doing the same.
  • Kris Bennett, Brown’s former assistant, told TRR he saw Brown holding Erin’s hand in a van late at night on a ministry trip.
  • Keith Collins, former FIRE school director, told TRR that he saw Brown driving alone with Erin in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Meanwhile, Brown’s school had strict modesty dress codes and rules about dancing, even at weddings, and restrictions on unchaperoned dating, with “very little grace” for those who didn’t meet standards, said Amber Rhodes, a former student of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry.

“It was just like, ‘Purify, purify, revival fire, be holy as God is, live this perfect, blameless, stainless life,’” said Rhodes.

School leaders asked students to confess sexual sins at services in front of the student body, for offenses as small as swimming in a pool with someone of the opposite sex, said Carolyn Barry, another former FIRE staffer and long-time former friend of the Browns. (They are no longer speaking due to a separate matter.)

Michael Brown interviews a young woman about her testimony at Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida, circa 1998. (Photo via social media)

The confrontations

In 2002, Bennett said he told former FIRE Director Keith Collins, who was his boss, about the handholding.

So, Collins told TRR he and another leader confronted Brown. Collins said Brown admitted to poor judgment but explained it away as a father-daughter relationship with Erin. Collins said Brown also denied any sexual relationship and didn’t disclose the butt-smacking and kisses.

Bennett said Brown then rebuked Bennett for telling leaders rather than coming directly to Brown.

“Basically, it wasn’t a big deal. He hadn’t done anything wrong. And Kris had done the wrong thing,” Bennett recalled.

In Brown’s statement to TRR, he said that if he chastised anyone, it was because they accused him of having an affair.

However, Bennett told TRR he never accused Brown of having an affair.

Robert Gladstone, one of the former FIRE leaders, told TRR he also learned about the handholding. So, he confronted Brown in a series of emails, which Gladstone said were on an old computer and no longer accessible. But Gladstone said he wasn’t included in any meetings and Brown didn’t mention the butt-smacking and kissing.

“I trusted what I was told that they were non-romantic incidents, though unwise,” Gladstone said. “Now looking back, I realize I was really left on the periphery.”

Students at FIRE School of Ministry pray over a guest speaker, in April 2014. (Photo: Facebook)

A disturbing incident happened when Erin was housesitting for the Browns while they were away, she told TRR. The Browns told her she could sleep in their bedroom in their newly-built house, since the other bedrooms weren’t finished.

Erin said she would often leave short encouraging notes in Brown’s Bible, desk drawers, or coat pocket, and sometimes he’d write a note for her in return. So, she opened the drawer of his nightstand to hide a note for him when his handwriting on a yellow legal pad caught her eye. But she said Brown’s words described an inappropriate situation Brown had with a married woman associated with the Brownsville school.

“The letter basically stated that they were having a talking relationship and how they would dream about having sexual relations with each other and what they wanted to do with each other, how she wanted to wrap her legs around him, how he played into it,” Erin said.

Previously, she said she assumed the interactions she’d had with Brown, which sometimes felt off, were what a healthy father-daughter relationship should be. But reading that note made her see the interactions in a new light.

“It was the realization that what was happening between us was wrong, even though, when it would happen, I would know it was wrong, I didn’t know it was wrong,” Erin said. “When I found the note, I was like, ‘This is wrong. Everything’s wrong.’”

In 13 states, plus the District of Columbia, adult clergy sexual abuse (ACSA), in which clergy engage in sexual interactions with people in their care, is against the law and is not considered consensual. ACSA expert David Pooler says offenders will often create a culture where physical touching is accepted and break down physical boundaries gradually during a “grooming” period. He said they’ll also exploit human needs for connection so that victims will try to protect the offender out of love.

Florida does not criminalize ACSA. However, the federal Civil Rights Act protects workers against sexual harassment in the workplace.

Erin was conflicted about what to do. She said she thought about reporting this to someone at FIRE, but she didn’t think others would believe her word against Brown’s. Also, she said she didn’t want to leave her job, and she still cared for Brown as a father figure.

In Dec. 2013, Michael Brown speaks at a graduation ceremony for the FIRE School of Ministry in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo: Facebook)

Soon after, Erin said Brown chastised her for frequently sitting at church with a young man and going to lunch with him, telling her the one-on-one time didn’t look good.  She assumed Brown was trying to keep the school’s strict expectations about unchaperoned time spent with someone from the opposite sex, but the young man was just a friend.

In response, Erin said she confronted Brown about the letter. She said Brown told her that his wife was aware of the letter, and the matter between him and the other woman was over. Erin said he then apologized to her and said she could represent the student body by receiving the apology for everyone.

“(He) and (Brown’s wife) Nancy basically told me that I represented the student body of FIRE. And they asked for my forgiveness and that was good enough—that they didn’t have to go public,” Erin said.

Soon after, Erin, while at work, said she saw the woman referenced in the note she found, who didn’t work at FIRE, accompanying Brown into an empty room nearby. Brown had previously told Erin his friendship with the woman was over, Erin said.

TRR could not contact the woman, and her family declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Erin’s sister overheard Erin telling Brown over the phone that the butt-smacking made her uncomfortable. The sister told the women’s parents. Their parents then confronted Brown but never talked about Brown again , both Erin and her sister said.

The week that Erin was scheduled to attend the wedding of one of Brown’s daughters, she suddenly quit her job to escape the situation with Brown. Brown later told her that people were speculating about their relationship and her departure and that John Cava, FIRE’s director of missions, was going to call her, Erin said.

“The gist of what I remember getting from our conversation was, ‘Hey, I’m just calling to warn you, so make sure you say it right,’” Erin said. “And then Mr. Cava called me, and of course, I was like, ‘Oh, no, nothing ever happened.’”

TRR reached out to Cava multiple times, but he didn’t respond.

In Brown’s written statement, he wrote that he believed he’d properly resolved and apologized to Erin in 2002.

Michael Brown with his wife, Nancy. (Photo: Facebook)

“Before she relocated to another state in August 2002, she informed me that our interaction months earlier had made her uncomfortable,” Brown wrote. “And so Nancy and I met with her immediately in the spirit of Matthew 18, I apologized to her from the heart, we talked things through together, after which, to our knowledge, everything was good between us.”

Former FIRE staff Londa Parker said she knew some friends had confronted Brown for the handholding and lap-sitting. After Erin’s departure, Parker said Brown left for several weeks, a break that Gladstone also said he remembers. When Brown returned, Parker said Brown told the church Brown had been under “heavy discipline” from God.

Parker said Brown didn’t say anything about sexual misconduct. Instead, he told the church that he’d choked on a hamburger, which was his wake-up call from God for his poor eating habits.

Parker and her husband left FIRE that year.

Soon after, Parker said Brown met with Parker and told her the accusations of handholding and lap-sitting were an attack from Satan. She said Brown rebuked Parker for gossiping and trying to harm his ministry.

Erin said she initially kept in touch with Brown by email because she struggled to let go of their father-daughter attachment. She eventually got married, had children, and tried to move on with life and from Brown. Yet, she continued to struggle to trust God and faith leaders after that.

More confrontations, calls for repentance

Fifteen years passed. As Brown became more public about calling out abuse, former FIRE staff and missionaries redoubled their efforts to confront Brown.

In 2017, Katherine Marialke, a former missionary, wrote to Brown to confront the lap-sitting and “inappropriate” relationship with Erin.

She also questioned FIRE’s hiring of Brown’s son-in-law, Ryan Bruss, to work at FIRE shortly after Bruss was removed from Heartland Family Church in Dallas.

Bruss was fired from Heartland for misconduct with a young adult student while Bruss was president of Heartland’s school of ministry, according to Jeff Baldwin, former Heartland college pastor.

Brown texted Marialke to say that Bruss went through a “full and thorough restoration” for “many months” before FIRE hired him.

Ryan Bruss (Video screengrab)

Josh Peters, president of FIRE international, told TRR in an email that FIRE leaders decided to hire Bruss—not at Brown’s “behest”— to work in administration a year later after Bruss’s departure from Heartland. Peters added that FIRE leaders didn’t tell staff or students about Bruss’s past, saying such disclosure isn’t biblical.

“We would not use the term sexual misconduct but rather marital unfaithfulness,” Peters wrote. “He came with his family to make a new start in a new state, fully repentant and going through carefully supervised restoration. It would not be our policy with anyone in that situation to inform all the staff about a pastor marital failure, nor do we see that as biblical.”

Bruss also sometimes filled in for Brown as a teacher at FIRE, Brown wrote in the foreword of Bruss’s book, “Carrying the Presence.”

Meanwhile, Baldwin said the effect of Bruss’s misconduct on the Heartland ministry school was devastating.

“It really did ruin the school,” Baldwin said. “It was never the same after that, because these students put their trust in their leader.”

Bruss now pastors Antioch Community Fellowship in Charlotte, North Carolina. TRR reached out to Bruss for comment, but he didn’t respond.

In 2020, Kris Bennett, Brown’s former assistant, saw a social media post Brown made condemning Todd Bentley’s sexual misconduct. Bennett said his memory of Brown holding Erin’s hand in a van late at night in 2002 had been eating at him for the past couple of years.

So, Bennett contacted Erin to ask for more details about her relationship with Brown. Erin decided to trust Bennett and told Bennett about kisses, butt-slapping, and Brown’s letter to the other woman.

“At that point in time was the first time I went, ‘You know what? . . . I’m done hiding it,’” Erin told TRR.

Keith Collins, former FIRE director, said Bennett told him about the butt-slapping, which Collins said was “shocking.” Collins and Bennett confronted Brown together. Collins said Brown admitted to it, said it was poor judgment, but said nothing sexual happened.

Bennett told TRR Brown explained the note Erin found in his nightstand about the other woman, who was a friend. Brown reportedly claimed that she had said something inappropriate that caught him off guard, so he wrote it down.

Bennett said Brown told him the Browns stopped being friends with the woman and her husband after that, but when he pressed Brown further details, Brown said he couldn’t remember.

Dr. Michael L. Brown, in a photo from Nov. 2019. (Courtesy Photo)

Bennett also urged Brown to publicly confess the physical interactions with Erin, which Brown didn’t do.

Last November as Brown was involved in talks about a third-party investigation of International House of Prayer founder Mike Bickle, Londa Parker texted Brown. She wrote that Brown also should have been subjected to a third-party investigation for the “inappropriate” interactions with Erin.

Brown disagreed, texting back, “(T)he reason for a third-party investigation is because of charges of adultery or criminal behavior, obviously none of which apply to me, thank God.”

Parker wrote back, “I think my point is that isn’t Mike Bickle denying the accusations? The need for an investigation is to find out the truth.”

Brown told Parker the difference is that Erin had told a FIRE leader at the time that nothing sexual happened between them. Brown added: “And of course, I will keep our interaction private, as I know you will.” However, Parker instead shared the texts with TRR.

A couple months ago, Gladstone heard about the butt-smacking and kissing allegations and confronted Brown for the second time.

“I addressed him for never telling us, the four main leaders,” Gladstone told TRR. “He apologized for that, and then he assured me that all was well. He said that he took care of it, whatever it was that was going wrong in him.”

Scott Volk (right) poses with Michael Brown, in April 2019. (Photo: Facebook)

But Gladstone said he’s not satisfied with Brown’s response.

“I would never treat my daughter that way,” Gladstone said. “So, I say that as a dad. I say that as a reader of Scripture and as a leader that would require for me a long way away from ministry and complete transparency and a long road of healing.”

Scott Volk, one of the current board members for Brown’s current personal ministry, The Line of Fire, told TRR Brown told him about the handholding and butt-smacking years ago and previously believed Brown had “taken ownership” for it. But Volk said he didn’t know about the kissing allegation until recently and affirms the board’s third-party investigation.

Erin said she initially decided to speak up now for the sake of the FIRE community, some who recently reached out to her saying they were still struggling with confusion.

“At first, it was to help those who needed healing,” she said. “Then speaking with leaders and those who have been my support, I realize it was for my healing I needed to speak about it.”

Click here to read Brown’s full statement.

Source: By Rebecca Hopkins, Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator,
The Roys Report, Published December 02, 2024. (Accessed December 02, 2024.)

Gregg Montella publicly speaks out of his experiences at FIRE School. Others contributed in this discussion, sharing their personal experiences and knowledge on the scandal.

Greg Montella made the following public comment on his Facebook wall on December 04, 2024,

Gregg Montella

Rod Murrow hi Rod, I’m trying to catch up on all the comments in here and didn’t see the one about someone saying Satan sent Brown to the
revival. I don’t agree with that at all, and I’m NOT happy that this stuff is happening.

I’m VERY happy, though, that after years of what I’ve personally witnessed him doing to myself and COUNTLESS others… including my own family, close friends, other of our beloved teachers & professors, former staff, former FIRE missionaries, and more —- I’m GLAD that he’s finally being put in a position to not hurt people anymore. I understand how it looks to people who are just finding out about all this.  It’s shocking, sickening, almost unbelievable. It’s heartbreaking.

Trust me — I’ve been through all of those emotions myself. It was years of agonizing, years of shock and disbelief, years of being shunned and namecalled, belittled and blacklisted. By Mike Brown.

For nothing. For nothing.

For leaving his organization. For simply choosing to not live in lifelong submission to him and Josh Peters. For asking questions about their $$$ deliverance schemes they were trying to force me to institute in the ministries my teams and I started abroad.

I understand it’s a lot to process for people finding out about it now. And it’s great for those who were sheltered from the abuse and hypocrisy… But there were HUNDREDS of us who’ve been at the receiving end of Brown & company’s spite and vitriol for years. Hundreds of us.

He continues to protect and stand up for perverts, charlatans, cheaters, & whoremongers while almost always shaming & blaming the women, the victims… exactly like he’s doing now by saying all their physical intimacy was initiated by her (lies) and implying he was powerless, he’s the victim that couldn’t resist butt-slapping and embraces and with the other woman engaging in writing his own pornographic fantasies & amorous intentions to her, on paper, in email format, and other ways.

I don’t relish this. My heart is BROKEN. It’s SAD. I’m ANGRY with him for years and a lifetime of such behavior and I wish he would have been self controlled as a married man and leader. I wish he would have stood beside women, beside victims, beside orphans who were abused, instead of by the monsters who hurt them.

More people publicly speak out against Dr. Brown’s treatment of women and themselves in original Montella post.

MJ McGavin-Kleinhans and Gregg Montella had the following public exchange on Facebook, December 03, 2024 (emphasis added in red),

MJ McGavin-Kleinhans
I remember Brown scolding the women in the orange for having a spirit/motive of causing our brothers in Christ to stumble with our clothes— he specifically mentioned hidden motives evidenced by those who wear thong panties. Not kidding.

Gregg Montella
MJ McGavin-Kleinhans I remember him preaching that, too, in front of all of us and thinking, “what? He expects us to think about other students’ underwear — when the thought NEVER even crossed my mind before!” and, “what the heck is a thong panty???”

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Dora Omerica and Gregg Montella had the following public exchange on Facebook, December 05, 2024 (emphasis added in red).

Dora Omerico
Thanks Gregg Montella for sharing this! This is very shocking and sick! His message was always walking in Holiness and he rebuked and punished everyone else . I remember he was telling me that I couldn’t get remarried even though my ex husband left me and went with another woman.

Gregg Montella
Dora Omerico Im so sorry he treated you like that. Biblically, and by way of nature, you had every single right to move on the moment your husband went astray.

There’s a reason WITH COUNTLESS WOMEN who’s husbands were cheaters, visiting prostitutes, or worse — there’s a reason he’s always on the side of men and seeks to force women to stay with abusive, unfaithful, or dangerous men.

You’re not alone, Dora, my dear friend.

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November 18-24, 2024.

The Line of Fire hire law firm to conduct a third-party investigation.

The TRR reports,

“Two weeks ago, The Line of Fire Board hired the law firm Mitchell, Stein, Carey, and Chapman to conduct a third-party investigation. Lee Stein is a former U.S. attorney and former Arizona assistant attorney general.”

Source: By Rebecca Hopkins, Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator,
The Roys Report, Published December 02, 2024. (Accessed December 02, 2024.)

August 30, 2022.

Remnant Radio premiere an interview they have with Dr Michael Brown.

Dr. Michael Brown Responds: Can We Lock Arms With NAR Critiques

As many of you know Remnant Radio has taken a mediated position on the New Apostolic Reformation. Which is odd because we are proud practitioners of spiritual gifts and many In the pentecostal charismatic space have a visceral reaction to NAR language. We did a bit of research on the NAR, with the assumption that we would agree with the vast majority of Charismatics. However, in our research, we came across a book called “A New Apostolic Reformation? A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement” by Doug Geivett and Holly Pivec. Doug and Holly changed our minds on the subject. They identified a group of charismatic doctrines that we also wished to condemn. Though we disagreed with them on a few minor points, we found that their research shed necessary light on Charismatic abuses. So over a year ago, we interviewed both Doug and Holly in order to give them a chance to share their research with us.

Today we are proud to be interviewing one of the world’s foremost apostolic teachers and prominent voice In the New Apostolic Reformation.

I jest, I jest!

For real though, Dr. Michael Brown will be with us today to discuss the NAR. We have the utmost respect for Dr. Brown and his work in the charismatic community. For those who do not know, Dr. Brown has been one of the loudest dissenting voices against the vocabulary of “New Apostolic Reformation” calling It “the boogie man” and “a conspiratorial witch hunt”. Today we are giving Dr. Brown the opportunity to speak about this often hotly contested subject. We hope in our discussion today we can find some middle ground that will help both charismatics and cessationists lock arms in policing the rare, yet frequently publicized charismatic excesses.

🌐📧 Visit our Website & Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.theremnantradio.com

Source: The Remnant Radio (@TheRemnantRadio), Dr. Michael Brown Responds: Can We Lock Arms With NAR Critiques, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD4egOuFNT8, Premiered August 30, 2022. (August 30, 2022.)

August 22, 2022.

Bibledingers have Dr Michael Brown and James White on their show.

Source: Bibledingers (@Bibledingers), James White & Michael Brown LIVE on Church Division, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVHdUsHTcuU, Streamed August 22, 2024. (August 22, 2024.)

August 01, 2024.

August 01, 2024

Dr Michael Brown appears on the American Gospel Roundtable. 

Source: American Gospel, AR: Myth or Movement? – AG Roundtable, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSrPARqidAM, Premiered Aug 1, 2024. (Accessed August 02, 2024.)

NOVEMBER 05, 2023.

Dr. Michael Brown lends his ‘credibility’, runs interference for IHOP – manipulates listeners to shut up, conform, only focus on Jesus & the future in IHOPKC 11am service to YouTube.

They write in the YouTube video description,

“At the 11:00am service today IHOPKC leadership will give an updated statement concerning the allegations against Mike Bickle. We are also being joined by Dr. Michael Brown, who will be sharing a message to our church family.”

Notes from below ‘sermon’:

1. Brown claims he “has not come in as an investigator” but as an ‘advisor’.
2. Brown has effectively positioned the accusers against Mike by emphasizing his status and Bickle’s status as revered figures in the New Apostolic Reformation and Charismatic movement. This strategic move has forced people to take sides, even though Brown tried to convince everyone that he isn’t there to take sides. In other words, Brown is further polarising the church but insisting the higher ground is to support Bickle and IHOP.

Brown:

“I love Mike. I’ve trusted Mike. I have wonderful memories of working together with Mike… I have pointed to Mike as an example. Someone who is a fine leader in the charismatic movement. And I know some of the men who have brought the allegations, and they’re fine and sincere men. And so in that sense we’re all on the same side.”

Source: Uploaded by International House Of Prayer, Forerunner Church Service | Dr. Michael L. Brown, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R1NvYR621c, Uploaded Oct 05, 2023. (Accessed Oct 05, 2023.) 

[VIDEO DOWNLOADED – CONTACT US IF YOU NEED A COPY]

October 17, 2017.

In 2017, “at the beginning of the MeToo movement, Brown publicly called abusers to repent.” (TRR)

“So many women are coming forward and saying “Me Too! I’ve been abused as well.” But where are the abusers coming forth and saying “Me Too! I’m guilty of sin.”? We desperately need the Lord’s intervention in our nation today to heal these wounds and bring massive repentance.”

Source: Dr. Michael Brown, Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ASKDrBrown/videos/2166150850077172, Posted October 17, 2017. (Accessed December 03, 2024.)

2017.

Katherine Marialke writes to Dr Brown about his inappropriate towards Erin.

“In 2017, Katherine Marialke, a former missionary, wrote to Brown to confront the lap-sitting and “inappropriate” relationship with Erin.”

Source: By Rebecca Hopkins, Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator,
The Roys Report, Published December 02, 2024. (Accessed December 02, 2024.)

June 19, 2016.

Dr Brown preaches his life testimony at Jubilee Church.

This video will be referenced throughout the timeline.

[This video has been downloaded in case it is pulled]

Source: JUBILEE CHURCH, SYDNEY (@jubileechurchsydney), Dr. Michael Brown | Burning Hearts to Change the World | 6pm Jubilee Service | 19/06/16, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZH08GNmac, Uploaded Feb 05, 2017. (Accessed January 10, 2019.) (Originally Accessed June 20, 2016 through http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/88506135.)

2016.

The website BeCarefulHowYouHear gets attention online with a former FIRE School student, calling out Dr Brown’s lies, deceit and how Dr. Brown is known as an Apostle and saw what he was doing was part of the greater New Apostolic Reformation movement.

Although charismatic, his observations and testimony provide insight to Dr Brown’s true intentions behind his FIRE School. This is from their page:

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Ministries Exposed

In the videos below, you will find clear examples of ministries that abuse spiritual authority. Basically, these ministries are using witchcraft to manipulate and control those under their authority. The deception that comes forth can be quite supernatural in nature, which further convinces those under it that it is God’s work in their life. Christians should know better, though, because we have an enemy that the Bible clearly shows can do supernatural signs.

You will also find a video relating my personal experience at Fire School of Ministry which notes their cult-like tactics and the false signs and wonders that can come forth through ministries under deception.

What is Witchcraft?

When the apostle Paul heard the Galatian church was embracing false doctrines, he asked them, “Who has bewitched you?” The original Greek word for “bewitched” means to cast a spell, which clearly implies that one can be deceived through occult manipulation.

There are many references in the Old and New Testaments to witchcraft, sorcery, and divination. Without going into great detail, these are basically practices where people work with demons to supernaturally manipulate, abuse, deceive, and gain secret knowledge of others. Scriptures plainly declare these practices are an abomination to God, but there are many ministries that actively participate in such things under the deception that they are working with the Holy Spirit.

Witchcraft in Action

Fire School of Ministry Exposed

The Root and the Fruit of the Brownsville Revival Part 1:

The Root and the Fruit of the Brownsville Revival Part 2:

Is Fire School of Ministry a Cult? Part 1

Just for the record, I make some jokes about these things, but please understand why. When you go through this kind of stuff, you cannot let it destroy your heart and fill you with anger and bitterness. Jesus has set me free from this organization, and I’m like a calf kicking its heels coming out of a stall. It is the joy of the LORD that is my strength, and it is the truth that has set me free. Also, I state that I was raised Catholic. I am no longer a Catholic. I am a born again, blood-bought, Bible-believing follower of Jesus that recommends people stay away from the Catholic Church.

Is Fire School of Ministry a Cult? Part 2

How the New Apostolic Reformation is Organized

Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20160508204117/http://www.becarefulhowyouhear.com/ministries-exposed.html

February 12, 2016.

Shares unique elements of his testimony, gives away 70,000 copies of his book at ‘The Call’ rallies…

This sermon will be referenced throughout parts of the timeline. (If this is pulled, we’ve already downloaded a copy.)

Source: The Line of Fire (@LFTV), You Will Be Tested by the Vision, YouTube, https://youtu.be/PyXUT_bAgsg, Uploaded February 12, 2016. (August 09, 2018.)

May 31, 2005.

MyCharisma surprisingly publishes a reasonable article covering the demise of the Brownsville Revival and why Brown was fired.

Source: Steve Rabey, Fire From Above, MyCharisma, https://mycharisma.com/charisma-archive/fire-from-above/, Published May 31, 2005. (Accessed March 19, 2019.)

2003.

Dr. Brown relocates FIRE School of Ministry to North Carolina.

“In response, Brown started the FIRE School of Ministry. It would remain in Pensacola until 2003, when Brown relocated it to North Carolina.”

Source: By Rebecca Hopkins, Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator
By Rebecca Hopkins, Published December 02, 2024. (Accessed December 02, 2024.)

2002.

Former FIRE Director Keith Collins and another leader confront Dr. Brown about ‘hand-holding’. Dr Brown justifies his “father-daughter relationship” with ‘Erin’.

“In 2002, Kris Bennett said he told former FIRE Director Keith Collins, who was his boss, about the handholding.

So, Collins told TRR he and another leader confronted Brown. Collins said Brown admitted to poor judgment but explained it away as a father-daughter relationship with Erin. Collins said Brown also denied any sexual relationship and didn’t disclose the butt-smacking and kisses.

Bennett said Brown then rebuked Bennett for telling leaders rather than coming directly to Brown.”

Source: By Rebecca Hopkins, Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator
The Roys Report, Published December 02, 2024. (Accessed December 02, 2024.)

December 17, 2000.

Dr Brown is fired from Brownsville Revival School of Ministry. Talks about being a ‘father’ to the student body.

Charisma Mag reports,

“Fired from the post on Dec. 17, 2000, by Brownsville Assembly of God (AG) leaders for what they said were irreconcilable differences in the implementation of the school’s vision, Brown said he had a clear word from God to immediately start another school of ministry.”

Source: Michael Brown, FIRE Ministry Survives After Brownsville Split in Pensacola, Charisma Mag, https://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/134-peopleevents/people-events/572-fire-ministry-survives-after-brownsville-split-in-pensacola, Published Feb 28 2002. (Accessed November 05 2017.)

And,

“We deeply appreciate our time at Brownsville and fully recognize the awesome things that God did during the revival,” Brown said. “But having our own community has enabled us to more fully express some of our ministry convictions–to provide a strong emphasis on church planting and raising up spiritual fathers to this generation.”

Source: Michael Brown, FIRE Ministry Survives After Brownsville Split in Pensacola, Charisma Mag, https://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/134-peopleevents/people-events/572-fire-ministry-survives-after-brownsville-split-in-pensacola, Published Feb 28 2002. (Accessed November 05 2017.)

SermonIndex has a collection of documents around 2008 that captures the dismissal of Dr. Michael Brown:

Questions and Answers

Why are you starting a new school in Pensacola? And have you done it with the approval of the BRSM board?

We are not really starting a new school in Pensacola. Rather, we are honoring the commitment we made to our current students to finish what we started with them and to continue with the vision that was established. We are a family, not just a school, and it was unthinkable to me as a father to the student body, I would simply abandon them. How could I walk away from students who have openly wept in my arms, asking me not to leave? How could I simply say, “Don’t worry. Someone else will take over the school now” – especially when I was not being dismissed because of sin, but rather, in the words expressed to me by the Board of Directors the night of my firing, I was dismissed because of differences in the implementation of school vision? Eight of the ten full-time faculty members felt compelled to stand with me after my firing. All of them were willing to risk their livelihoods to continue on with a new school in Pensacola, rather than abandon the students who made it clear that they wanted to be taught and trained by us. To our student body we say: The best is yet to come!

On December 17th, the school Board offered to release me to begin a new school in Pensacola if I would resign on the spot, rather than be fired. This I could not do, and I was fired. The school staff was then informed by the Board Chairman Monday morning, December 18th, that I had been released to begin a new school. While this language does not appear in the Board’s originally posted official statement, I am pleased to note that they have chosen not to oppose us.

Since the news got out about my firing, we have been flooded with e-mails – literally, hundreds in the first week- from students, parents,  graduates, pastors, and Christian leaders urging us to go on with the work right here and now, and thanking me and the faculty for our loyalty to Jesus and the student body. We could do no other.

Source: BRSM and Brownsville Documents – Sermon Index, https://img.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/article_pdf.php?aid=11041 (https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=11041), Accessed January 01, 2018.

1999.

‘Erin’ starts attending Brownsville Revival School of Ministry.

TRR:

“In 1999, at age 18, Erin attended the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry.”

Source: By Rebecca Hopkins, Michael Brown Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Ministry Hires Third-Party Investigator,
The Roys Report, Published December 02, 2024. (Accessed December 02, 2024.)

1997.

Dr Brown starts Brownsville Revival School of Ministry.

BRSM Facebook page posts the following,

“BRSM was a ministry school birthed out of the fires of the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, FL in 1997.”

Source: BRSM, FaceBook, https://www.facebook.com/pg/BrownsvilleRevivalSchoolOfMinistrybrsm/about/?ref=page_internal, Accessed Nov 20 2017.

An official website of the Brownsville Church has more to say:

“With revival came the fruit of revival, hundreds of thousands of souls committed to a fresh walk with God. Hungry seekers relocated to Pensacola to dwell in the constant atmosphere of God’s presence. The need became clear: A vehicle to disciple and equip the new believers. In January 1997, the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry (BRSM) opened its doors to a 125-member pioneer class.”

Source: HONORING OUR PAST, Brownsville.Church, http://brownsville.church/about-us/history, Accessed Nov 20 2017. [Archived]

1996-2001.

Dr Brown is called to serve at the Brownsville Revival.

“… After this, I was called to serve on the leadership team of the Brownsville Revival from 1996 to 2000, pioneering the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry, which then became FIRE School of Ministry in 2001. (As an interesting footnote, I should mention that Brownsville Assembly of God was thoroughly dispensational in its theology!)

From 1986 until now, I have also ministered overseas on more than 100 trips in a total of 25 countries, including 20 trips to Italy, 16 trips to India, 12 or so trips each to Germany, Korea, and England, and 8 trips to Israel. In other words, I have been confronted with cultural diversity along with theological diversity and diversity in praxis, and sometimes the differences were quite jarring. On my first trip to India in 1993, as we arrived at the meeting place after more than two days of travel, I was distressed to hear the use of “demonic” sounding worship songs.

What else could you call songs that were sung to the same melodies that were chanted in Hindu temples? I quickly learned that the music was wonderfully anointed, the words were incredibly powerful, and the “demonic” sounds were simply Indian tunes. So much for my discernment!”

Source: Michael Brown, Awakening the One New Man, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2011), pg. 112.

1991-1995.

Dr Brown frequently preaches at Times Square Church in Manhattan from 1991 to 1995.

“Then, from 1987 to 1993 I served in a flagship Messianic Jewish congregation in Maryland, leading the theological institute there while also preaching frequently at Times Square Church in Manhattan from 1991 to 1995…”

Source: Michael Brown, Awakening the One New Man, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2011), pg. 112.

Winter/Spring 1991.

The already disgraced Bob Jones attends the first Israel Mandate Conference with Mike Bickle and Michael Brown. Apostle Daniel Juster wants to get Bob Jones to prophesy but is grieve John Wimber has Jones ‘completely muzzled’. Mike Bickle and Michael Brown anyway.

Apostle Daniel Juster writes (emphasis added),

“In the Winter/Spring of 1991, we had the first Israel Mandate Conference with Mike Bickle. I spoke there, along with other Messianic Jewish speakers Reuven Duron and Mike Brown. The preaching was excellent. Mike Bickle’s word on God’s plan regarding Israel and the Church was amazing. In addition, both Mike Brown and Reuven Doron’s preaching hit a high level. Mike preached a word that we are to intercede for
Israel as though we were interceding for the life of our own child. This led to a significant period of intercession.

That night the baby of Reuven and Mary Lou Duron died of SIDS. It was shocking. Was it a sign? Was it just an attack? A tragedy? The public prophetic ministry was still suspended, and there was no prophetic explanation as to what happened. We needed a word from heaven to make sense of this tragic event.

It became very difficult for me to preach after this, but the anointing still came. I spoke on Israel, the Church, and the Kingdom of God. The moment I said Amen, and thereby ended the message, there was a loud clap of thunder. Hail began falling on the metal roof of the Grandview auditorium. The sound was deafening. Could this be sign, I thought? After all, Kansas City was known for having signs from the heavens. Bob Jones, who was not permitted to prophesy, was sitting in the bleachers. Patty and I went over to him. Does this mean something Bob? “Yep, it is a sign from heaven. It is a confirmation from the Lord. Isaiah says that the hail sweeps away the refuge of lies. The Lord says you have brought His balance and this is confirmation,” he replied. This was amazing. If only Bob could speak. He also was distraught, as he had seen in the Spirit a baby being swept away by a flood. Patty was prompted to look outside and saw a double rainbow which also spoke special confirmation to her.

John Wimber had taken Bob to his conferences to demonstrate prophetic gifting, and now had taken him totally out of ministry. I was grieved to see Bob being used in public demonstration as he had been, and now was grieved to see him completely muzzled. The conference was only a shadow of what it could have been. In many ways the conference was lacking in verve. Would the partnership with Kansas City Fellowship and Tikkun ever really take place?”

Source: THE STORY OF THE JUSTERS, COVENANT FRIENDS AND TIKKUN INTERNATIONAL, https://churchwatchcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/tikkun-international-story-2013.pdf, Published 2013. [PDF]

1987-1993/4.

Michael Brown serves at Apostle Daniel C. Juster’s Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC), now known as Tikkun International.

“… Then, from 1987 to 1993 I served in a flagship Messianic Jewish congregation in Maryland, leading the theological institute…”

Source: Michael Brown, Awakening the One New Man, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2011), pg. 112.

In 1986, Daniel Juster was “designated the apostolic pastor”(UMJC).

Daniel C. Juster reports on Michael Brown’s involvement with the “launching and establishment of what is now called Tikkun International” from 1987-1994. You can read Brown’s involvement in this ministry here – a ministry that has many NAR teachings and has recognized apostles developing this movement:

PDF: Tikkun International Story – 2013

What attracted Michael Brown to this ministry?

Juster records a conversation back in the fall of 1984, claiming Asher Intrater stated that their ministries needed to be “self-governing” and to have their “own apostolic flow.” They wanted to “even have the beginning of [their] own five-fold leadership.” Juster regarded this entire endeavour as a “formation of an apostolic network.” These are NAR buzzwords and ideas. And these ideas among Brown’s leaders, were thrust upon their organizations. This may have been the first group of organizations that mixed Jewish Christian churches with influential N.A.R networks in America. Back in 1984, Juster not only rolled out his apostolic plans through UMJC, he then created a brochure (notice the language):

“After this meeting, I developed a brochure for the UMJC to explain that we accepted dual affiliation and wanted to welcome all Messianic Jews to take part in the UMJC. The brochure noted that some would be members of new apostolic streams, as God would raise up other apostles within our network. My desire was to see the UMJC become more and more apostolic-led. This would happen as leaders were elected who had overseen large congregations and/or the multiplication of congregations. At this point, the UMJC was charismatic in expression. Thus, I was hopeful that the UMJC would come to share my convictions on five-fold ministry and leadership.”

– Pg. 18 (Emphasis added.)

Although Michael Brown had been there since 1987, Juster stated,

“Due to our increasing differences, Mike decided to leave us in 1994. We still cooperate on many projects to this day and believe that Mike is having and will yet have a very significant contribution to Jewish ministry.”

– Pg. 18 (Emphasis added.)

1983-1987.

“… after which I taught at a Long Island branch of Christ for the Nations Institute from 1983 to 1987 while also attending (at times, grudgingly) a Word of Faith church.”

Source: Michael Brown, Awakening the One New Man, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2011), pg. 112.

Of his expulsion from the Reformed Church (where he undermined the leadership to push his controversial doctrine on restorationism and revivalism), Brown recalled his thoughts at the time,

“I read about like John Alexander Dowie, this healing guy. He went off the deep end. And – Branham! Powerful prophet – and he went off the deep end. And you’re going off the deep end. But I couldn’t shake it. The more I’d pray, the more the fire would burn. The more I pray, the more I had this promise for revival.” [Source]

It seems plausible he got these ideas while he attended his ‘Pentecostal’ church. But what’s worse is not the fact that he went to a Word of Faith Church. What is worse is that he was TEACHING at “a Long Island branch of Christ for the Nations Institute.” Those who are not familiar with the NOLR history, William Branham’s right hand man, Gordon Lindsay, founded Christ for the Nations.

It was a major center in promoting and mainstreaming NOLR heresies in Charismaticism… and this is where Michael Brown TAUGHT! The Christ for the Nations website has this to say about their foundations. This is what Christ for the Nations says on their website about their founders:

“Christ For The Nations was originally founded as The Voice of Healing in 1948 by Gordon and Freda Lindsay. The ministry name was changed in 1967 to Christ For The Nations as a reflection of it’s now broader global vision…

[…] J. Gordon Lindsay was born to Thomas A. Lindsay and Effie (Ramsey) Lindsay in Zion City, Illinois, on June 18, 1906. Gordon was raised in an atmosphere of healing and Pentecostal experience, as his parents were followers of John Alexander Dowie, a famous healing evangelist.”

Source: Founders, Christ for the Nations, https://www.cfn.org/founders/, Accessed February 01, 2018. [Archive]

Church for the Nations International (CFNI) has this on their website:

Where We Came From

The late Gordon Lindsay and his wife, Freda Lindsay, founded Christ For The Nations Institute in 1970. This trans-denominational Institute was one of Gordon Lindsay’s last visions before his “home going” on April 1, 1973. Gordon had envisioned thousands of Spirit-filled believers going forth to do exploits for God around the world. After Gordon’s passing, Mrs. Freda Lindsay followed the vision, and the ministry flourished. Today, CFNI graduates are positioned all over the world. Over 40,000 students, both domestic and international, have been trained at CFNI and empowered by the Spirit to touch others with the same Gospel that has transformed their lives.

Source: Where We Came From, Church for the Nations, https://www.cfni.org/explore-about-where-we-came-from/, Accessed January 31, 2018. [Archived]

1977-1983.

“… then from 1977 to 1983, I served in a non-charismatic (or, barely charismatic), Reformed, socially conscious church (which did, however, experience a powerful outpouring the last months I was there), after which I taught at a Long Island branch of Christ for the Nations Institute from 1983 to 1987 while also attending (at times, grudgingly) a Word of Faith church. Then, from 1987 to 1993 I served in a flagship Messianic Jewish congregation in Maryland, leading the theological institute there while also preaching frequently at Times Square Church in Manhattan from 1991 to 1995. After this, I was called to serve on the leadership team of the Brownsville Revival from 1996 to 2000, pioneering the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry, which then became FIRE School of Ministry in 2001. (As an interesting footnote, I should mention that Brownsville Assembly of God was thoroughly dispensational in its theology!)

From 1986 until now, I have also ministered overseas on more than 100 trips in a total of 25 countries, including 20 trips to Italy, 16 trips to India, 12 or so trips each to Germany, Korea, and England, and 8 trips to Israel. In other words, I have been confronted with cultural diversity along with theological diversity and diversity in praxis, and sometimes the differences were quite jarring. On my first trip to India in 1993, as we arrived at the meeting place after more than two days of travel, I was distressed to hear the use of “demonic” sounding worship songs. What else could you call songs that were sung to the same melodies that were chanted in Hindu temples? I quickly learned that the music was wonderfully anointed, the words were incredibly powerful, and the “demonic” sounds were simply Indian tunes. So much for my discernment!”

Source: Michael Brown, Awakening the One New Man, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2011), pg. 112.

November 21, 1982.

Church begins to split after Dr Brown’s controversial ‘put away your theology’ church message and does altar call to receive ‘spiritual baptism’. (1:22:30)

[Text coming]

Source: JUBILEE CHURCH, SYDNEY (@jubileechurchsydney), Dr. Michael Brown | Burning Hearts to Change the World | 6pm Jubilee Service | 19/06/16, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZH08GNmac, Uploaded Feb 05, 2017. (Accessed January 10, 2019.) (Originally Accessed June 20, 2016 through http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/88506135.)

1982.

Dr Brown receives a prophetic word from a ‘prophetic guy’ – receives prophetic encounter following night with that same prophet. Starts subverting his church with Latter Rain and NAR theology.

“And the holy spirit began to deal with me in 1982 and began to show me how hard I’d fallen from that first love. And one night, I was praying with some folks. There was a prophetic guy over… 1:19:24

… I had no respect for him until he started speaking with total accuracy, prophetically over my wife and me. And we both knew that the Holy Spirit was at work. And Nancy had been praying for me also. And he was over another time and we went to prayer. As we started to pray the Holy Spirit fell and we prayed until the early hours of the morning. And as I was praying, I heard myself preaching a message to a congregation I was now a part of another church. And we were much more theologically wide and didn’t really flow in the Spirit at all and had all kinds of different questions about these things. But we were rich in good works, and had a social conscience and were helping people- but there was no power.

And I heard myself preaching a message to my whole congregation. And in that message, I heard me- and this is often how the Lord would  speak to me; I woud hear me preaching the message in advance and I would know what was going to happen and what was going to happen. And I heard myself preaching and it was for people to experience the power of the spirit and be baptised in the spirit, which has never happened in our church. And in the message I said, “There is not going to be enough room in the front. Move the chairs because we have it packed out with all the refugees. Move the chairs!”

And people flooded forward and the Holy Spirit fell. And I knew I was going to preach that message in our church – I was just serving as an elder in training at that point and teaching adult Sunday school. But I heard it clearly. And I prayed with fire and fervor that night.” – 1:19:52

Source: JUBILEE CHURCH, SYDNEY (@jubileechurchsydney), Dr. Michael Brown | Burning Hearts to Change the World | 6pm Jubilee Service | 19/06/16, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZH08GNmac, Uploaded Feb 05, 2017. (Accessed January 10, 2019.) (Originally Accessed June 20, 2016 through http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/88506135.)

December 17, 1971.

Michael Brown claims he became a Christian in 1971 at a little Italian Pentecostal church. ‘Spiritually baptised’ with the evidence of ‘speaking in tongues’ on January 24, 1972. ‘Saved’ through a ‘false gospel’ and ‘false baptism’ at what appears to be a Latter Rain ‘Full Gospel Church’.

Date of salvation and ‘spiritual baptism’:

“The Lord saved me in an Italian Pentecostal church in Queens, New York in 1971. That was my first introduction to the gospel, and those dear believers helped pray me into the kingdom. I was an ungodly rebel, yet the Lord burdened them to pray for me, and their prayers were wonderfully answered. I surrendered to Him on December 17, 1971 and was filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues on January 24, 1972.”

Source: Clearing the Smoke, Fanning the Flames: An Interview with Michael Brown, The Pneuma Review, http://pneumareview.com/clearing-the-smoke-fanning-the-flames-an-interview-with-michael-brown/, Published June 09, 2018. (Accessed September 14, 2024.)

Location:

For more history on the Italian Pentecostal Church movement

Celebrating Women’s History Month: Pioneers of the Faith, Giuseppina Zollo, ca. 1865-1940 – Paul J. Palma (pjpalma.net)

PASTOR JOSH BONVENTRE – The Journey (thejourneyli.net)

Dr. Brown talks about how he got his Latter Rain theology from the church where he was first ‘saved’, the same book he publishes alongside Jewish authors promoting the Latter Rain ‘Manchild Company’ heresy (aka One New Man heresy):

“Over the course of these decades, my own views shifted from believing in diving healing (primarily because it was taught in the church in which I was saved), to questioning it (based on observation and skepticism, to firmly embracing it (based on intensive study of the Word); from Arminianism (having been saved in that theological environment), to Calvinism (largely due to intellectual study) to a rejection of Calvinism (due to fresh encounter with God in a time of personal revival)-not to mention my changing views on Messianic Judaism, congregational leadership, and a host of other issues.”

Source: Michael Brown, Awakening the One New Man, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2011), pg. 112.

“From 1971 to 1977, I was part of the aforementioned Italian Pentecostal church…”

Source: Michael Brown, Awakening the One New Man, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2011), pg. 112.

3.WHY WE DO NOT ENGAGE DR. MICHAEL BROWN.

In the past, Dr Michael Brown has called Church Watch Central out to engage him on his program. However…

“We will not engage in a dialogue with a lying false prophet.”

When we say “false prophet,” we mean a wolf in sheep’s clothing – or in another way of understanding what Jesus is saying, “a predator” actively going out of their way to even try to deceive even God’s elect. We will unpack examples of Brown continually falsely prophesying and being an “Ergun Caner” of Christianity. For now, we would like to present the Dr. Michael Brown who demonstrates he has been involved in NAR networks, ministries and revivals for decades:

“At the same time, I reject “the governing offices of apostle and prophet” (this is how
Doug and Holly described what, in their mind, is the most fundamental pillar of NAR).”

Source: Michael Brown, An Honest Question for the Critics of ‘NAR’ (the New Apostolic Reformation),
The Line of Fire, https://archive.askdrbrown.org/library/how-have-constructive-conversation-about-nar-new-apostolic,
Posted Aug 15, 2022. (Accessed November 29, 2022.) [Link] [Archive]

But we know he believes this:

“the […] offices of apostle and prophet”

That word is important – and he has playing dishonestly with these semantics for a very long time (emphasis added):

“But what, exactly, does this mean?
Do I believe that apostles (or prophets) can govern? Absolutely, just as evangelists, pastors, and teachers can govern.
All of them can potentially lead churches or birth movements or serve as spiritual fathers in a region.
Do I believe in the office of apostle or prophet? No I don’t, just as I don’t believe in the office of evangelist, pastor, or teacher.
But, to ask again, what exactly is the difference between ministry function and office?
For some believers, this is quibbling over words and splitting hairs. To others, these distinctions are important.”

[Link] [Archive]

Now he means this through his tampering:

“the […] [functions] of apostle and prophet”

[Link] [Archive]

Now ‘office’ has been magically reduced to a ‘function’ because Brown suddenly believes this to be the case (and rather conveniently to save his own skin). When did he suddenly believe this?

This is what makes him disingenuous.

He believes in what is called the “Five-fold ministry” (not the five-fold functions). So he is playing semantics to separate himself from this dangerous dominionist movement – typical of many of it’s apostles and prophets since 2005 (‘Kill the Gays’ Bill), 2006 (Jesus Camp) and more-so in 2013 (Rick Perry media blow-up).

Now that people are waking up to it, we’ve observed that a lot of Apostles and Prophets are downplaying their offices (much to Wagner’s disappointment) much like Dr. Michael Brown is.

So when does Michael Brown decide when he ‘functions’ as an apostle?

That is the problem.

More wiggle room.

Dr. Brown had already said too much even before addressing the NAR is 2016 episode. His belief of the NAR extra-biblical revelation of the ‘Five Fold Ministry’ (FFM), is the key and central doctrine that makes someone part of the New Apostolic Reformation. Brown has simply helped evolve the movement with his semantics. Now other NAR apostolic leaders are saying exactly the same thing.

Dr. Brown’s belief in the FFM is what makes him 100% part of the New Apostolic Reformation. In fact, this is the distinguishing extra-biblical revelation that came with the New Apostolic Reformation over the decades, (as observed by C. Peter Wagner).

The book that openly promoted the New Apostolic Paradigm and the New Apostolic Reformation, endorsed by NARpostles… including Dr Michael Brown who claims this is, “A book written from the leaders on the front lines giving firsthand accounts of the battles and victories as well as seasoned theological reflection. Excellent reading for the convinced, the curious, and the sceptical.”

So much for the above article that is not “meant to provoke or insult or demean or antagonize or gaslight” people. Dr. Brown is notorious for lying, demeaning and ‘rebuking’ critics or people who call in to his show with biblical concerns. In fact he is infamous for gaslighting the body of Christ over the decades.

He is the “believe not believe” and “say not say” Dr. Michael Brown.

Below are other smoking gun resources that prove that Dr Michael Brown is the latest “Ergun Caner” of Christianity.
He has been lying to everyone about his involvement for a very long time.

ARE WE CONDEMNING DR. BROWN TO HELL?

Dr. Brown would be very quick to assert that we are “damning him to hell.” No Christian can damn anyone to hell. However, Jesus Christ has already pronounced false prophets and false teachers to hell in Matthew 7. Unfortunately, Michael Brown is damned based on his false prophetic ministry and dangerous false teaching.

If the body of Christ does not call him out, this false prophet is going to keep falsely prophesying – to lie, manipulate and abuse people while blaspheming God in the process. This should not be tolerated in the church. His false witness, false prophecies and extra-biblical teachings are proof that he is not fit to teach or lead at all in the name of Jesus Christ.

THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE

Dr. Brown will often plant the idea in people’s minds that those who critique, speak or expose him are simply hyper-critical, engaging in “unequal weights and measures.” This is a form of lying. This is someone going out of their way to smear the character or integrity of another. It’s also known as slander.

By asserting that Christians are “damning ______ to hell,” is a good example of a man who continues to slander God-fearing Christians. And it appears that Dr. Brown use this method to silence Christians while at the same time platforming false prophets, blasphemers, heretics and abusers. It seems that in doing this Dr. Brown is actually agreeing with a lot of the extrabiblical revelations, heretical teachings and blasphemies of those he defends and associates with.

Given this behaviour, the only thing the body of Christ can do is to ‘excommunicate’ Dr. Michael Brown – so he can come to saving faith and bear fruit in keeping with repentance.  We see this ‘saving faith’ or repentance played out in the parable of the prodigal son. Rather than live with pigs, the lost son comes to a right understanding of repentance, returning to his father, asking for mercy and expecting to be disciplined. The father sees his repentance and bestows upon him fine garments, a ring and rejoices in his son’s return.

Likewise, we should be rejoicing when someone like Dr. Michael Brown, after a time of ‘excommunication’ and discipline, sees his futility, repents – and once again is embraced as a true brother in Christ.

Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com

“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16

Categories: Line of Fire, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)

Tags: adult clergy sexual abuse, Apostle Michael Brown, CSA, Joel Richardson, Julie Roys, Michael Brown, Pensacola Outpouring, scandal