CHURCHES REJECTED, CHAMPIONS APPOINTED

B. Stett and A. Winters

(Investigator 28, 1993 January)


Two young fellows who call themselves "Champions" claim that God no longer acknowledges the Churches and has appointed them to speak for him.

God's commands include that you pay them 10% of your income, don't pray again, don't talk about your former church again, ignore critics on the outside and as a test of loyalty dob in any doubter on the inside.

The strange document, propounding these things was discovered on a computer desk in Adelaide's State Library

Taken at face value the document "Calling All Christians" reveals that God wants Andrew and Darren Johnson, both under 23, to build "Satellite cities … environmentally … sound … for all the world to imitate." If the Johnson brothers refuse then, "all will be lost in your generation."

The document predicts ridicule. This seems a safe prediction!

Preliminary investigation revealed the phone number given in the document disconnected and the two Champions no longer at the given address. "They pissed off," explained a neighbour.

TELECOM has no phone listing for "Futurist Crusade". A letter to the post office address received no reply; neither do Post Offices give enquirers any information. Nor do banks give details about accounts.

An enquiry at Corporate Affairs revealed that the Futurist Crusade was registered as a business on September 9. Registration is for three years and the cost $79. This finding suggested that the document is not simply a joke.

The Electoral Roll revealed 22 Andrew Johnsons in Adelaide and six Darrens. Only one address in Adelaide had both an Andrew Johnson and a Darren Johnson.

A letter to the Salisbury address was sent and the place visited. As yet no success.

Andrew and Darren — as judged from the document — intend to start a new cult. Under subheading "Prostitutes of Industry" they claim priests are traitors and God will "no longer … acknowledge their churches as places of worship."

Furthermore: "From all denominations my champions will come … but talk of their former church must never take place."

The seven-page document finishes with a list of "Fourteen Crusade Commandments", the words "End of God's Message", and then another two pages to sign and commit oneself to being a "Champion of God", and to "contribute at least 10% of my income".





CHAMPIONS VISITED

An Investigator Reporter Visited The Futurist Crusade Whose Members Are Called "Champions".

(Investigator 30, 1993 May)


If you've knocked on the front door and windows and the householder pretends to be out you might try photographing the house!

In Andrew Johnson's case it worked and he charged out appearing, at first, very upset.

Investigator 28 reported on a document "Calling All Christians" published by the "Futurist Crusade". In this document Andrew and Darren Johnson urged people to desert Christianity, pay tithes to them, and help build "environmentally sound" cities.

A law student has since examined "Calling All Christians" noted the Futurist Crusade's registration as a business and has stated: "This could be of interest to the Fraud Squad."

"Refuse all questions" said page 4 of the document. This is what Mr Johnson almost did. He refused giving "personal information" but explained that the document was a hoax and the Futurist Crusade was set up to get publicity: "I was writing a book about cults and was trying to get lots of media attention as a preliminary to publication."

Copies of "Calling All Christians" were, said Mr Johnson, sent to all major magazines and newspapers. The media ignored Andrew and his brother Darren and therefore they dropped the entire scheme.

Mr Johnson appeared to be in his early twenties.

Andrew claimed he doesn't belong to any church, refused to discuss what he believed, but added that he studied psychology (but would not say where).

Further questions revealed that the alleged book had not even been started! Later, a check of student mail boxes at the most likely place Mr Johnson would be studying psychology — Adelaide University — revealed no-one of his name.

Also unexplained are why the "Champions" had arranged a second address about 20km from their home address, obtained a locked-bag at the local post office and registered a business. Total expenses, including rent, probably passed $1,000 — almost enough to do their own advertising of their unwritten book!

And why in late December did these "Champions" after deserting their flat and their postal address write to an inquirer that they were "re-organising"? The complete handwritten note read:

Dear Mr….

Regarding your letter, yes we are the messengers who are mentioned in the Futurist Crusade pamphlet.
At the moment we are re-organising the structure of the Futurist Crusade.
Officially, we will be re-commencing operations later in the new year.
Please do not donate any money at this time.
We will contact you once we begin. Until then, feel free to live according to the commandments God has provided us.

Yours Faithfully,
A. Johnson

Also, the "business" is still registered, but a donation to the Futurist Crusade account revealed it closed.

An inquiry to the Champions received this brief reply: "Re-read the paragraph entitled 'Refuse all Questions.' Yours sincerely, A.J."
(BS)


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