My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
First, I would ask each of you to cease the criticisim of each other and demonstrate a more Christ-like attutide toward each other. The only one who benefits from such dialogue is Satan himself.
As someone who has stood close enough to the fire to feel the heat let me share a few observations on this topic.
The first thing that should be noted is what we know what has been made public by the principals involved. We know from public discloser that Danny made repeated attempts to get Doug to agree to becoming involved at 3ABN. Doug repeatedly turned him down.
On April 17, 2007, 3ABN held a board of director's meeting where the decision to ask Amazing Facts to merge with 3ABN was approved by a unanimous vote. The following day, April 18, 2007, Danny flew to Sacramento, California to convey that information to AF. Also on that date AF convened a meeting of its board of directors to consider the proposed merger. The merger was approved by the board with the clear understanding that there were logicstics to be worked out.
The following day, April 19, 2007, Danny and Doug flew back to 3ABN to participate in a live broadcast and publicly anounce the proposed merger.
There are some things about that broadcast that should be noted. The broadcast was done in two one hour segements. During the first hour Danny acted as host and Doug was priamerily a guest. Also present during the first hour was the Chairman of the Board for 3ABN as well as other current members of leadership at 3ABN. Danny repeatedly made comment that he was willing to relinquish the presidency of 3ABN in favor of the merger. Doug made no comment to confirm or to deney Danny's remarks. He did however affirm the desire for the merger to take place.
At the begining of the second hour there was a noticable shift in the group dynamics. Doug was placed in the host chair and Danny was in the guest chair. The Chairman of the 3ABN board, as well some of the other 3ABN staff, had been replaced by new faces in the group. During the second hour the general tenor of the broadcast changed also. As someone that has participated in many boards over my liftime I have learned the importance of reading group dynamics.
There are two other things that may not be so well known. On Wedensday evening, after the AF board meeting, the Sacramento Centeral SDA Church where Doug is Senior Pastor, held a church board meeting. During that meeting Doug anounced the planned merger and as a result, that there would be a shift in his responsibilities at Sac. Centeral. On Sabbath April 21, 2007, Doug personaly made the anouncement of the merger to the Sac. Centeral congregation. He also assured them that he was not leaving the pastorate at Sac. Centeral, nor was he or AF moving to IL.
In addition to the foregoing there are, two very important phrases or terms that have been used in all of this as noted in previous post. They are "a new board will be formed," and "a new constituency." This clearly indicates a new direction with different support.
It is this writer's belief that there will be other anouncements about things that have taken place behind the scenes to facilitate this merger as well other personel changes at 3ABN.
We would all do well to spend much time in prayer for the sucessuful outcome of this merger so that we may indeed "...preach the gospel unto all the world" as quickly as possible.
Respectfully, your brother in Christ,
Doc
