Mike Warnke

[stevenson]

I still have some of Warnke's videos and cassettes floating around.

[darylscook]

I remember going to see him live! I loved his tapes and stuff, but really went away from the event disappointed. This was before all the stuff went on. I remember laughing a lot listening to his tapes. He seems to have tried to make things right.

Daryl

[DaJudge]

I remember laughing a lot listening to his tapes. He seems to have tried to make things right.

I really don't think he has. Or at least he hasn't tried enough. I looked on his site for an absolute apology for the outright lies that he told (lies about his testimony, no less) and couldn't find one.

[DeWayneTN]

It is possible he feels downplaying that part of his routine is some kind of atonement but if it is indeed true that he outright lied, the real course of action is to come forward and beg for forgiveness like he did for our money (yes, I did hear him admit to begging).

From what I have read, he apologizes for financial mismanagement and lifestyle choices while he was a Christian comedian but not about his claims. I feel like the writers of the article in that if he could step forward with some type of proof, some sort of vindication, it would be enthusiastically accepted.

[Jennifer Smith]

Why were you disappointed at the event, daryl?

We saw him live too way back in the eighties, I didn't think much one way or the other about the event.. the tape I came home with was very funny though. It is silly that he embellished his story but I don't know that it permanently disqualifies him from ministry.. I just thought he was funny but like all of us he had some growing to do..

[darylscook]

here: http://www.mikewarnke.org/packet.asp?id=22

He says I confess to the existence of some exaggeration and embellishments in my book.....

and later says

I am also guilty of embelishments and exaggeration on my recordings and in my concerts. ... ( little justification here). This does not excuse me from my responsibility as a minister. ... I have stepped over the line between honest ministry and good entertainment. I was not trying to lie. ... I have repented ... Please forgive me..... Please pray for me.

I belive him. I accept that along with all 3 pages of the letter and forgive him and would probably go see him if he came to Jackson, MS. BTW to embellish a story is to add ornamental or ficticious details to a story which IS EXACTLY what he did!

Pastor Daryl

[darylscook]

Why were you disappointed at the event, daryl?

We saw him live too way back in the eighties, I didn't think much one way or the other about the event.. the tape I came home with was very funny though. It is silly that he embellished his story but I don't know that it permanently disqualifies him from ministry.. I just thought he was funny but like all of us he had some growing to do..

I don't really remember; I was just a young teenager. Considering the 80s and our church, it may have been how he looked. I am not sure.

Pastor Daryl

[DeWayneTN]

From his book Friendly Fire: A Survival Guide for Believers Battered by Religion, Warnke describes the time after the article came out. Perhaps it's semantics but I would guess most people consider purposeful exaggeration to be lying.

At times the stress was so bad that I broke out in hives. I couldn't sleep, my hair came out by the fistful, and I was unable to eat anything that didn't upset my stomach. … Within two months, everything I had worked so hard for was gone. From a guy who had his own plane and 50 employees, I was reduced to the point of one day standing in a Kroger grocery store with a coupon for baked beans and a coupon for toilet paper but only enough money for one or the other. … Was I a fake, a charlatan, a deceiver, and a liar? No. I never lied about my testimony and I never ran a fake ministry. That being said, however, let me hasten to add that all was not right in the Warnke world. … My life was out of control. I had no spiritual accountability. Decisions concerning the ministry were based on the bottom line rather than on spiritual priorities. … When the storm of controversy hit, everything I had built for 22 years suddenly collapsed like a house of cards.

[DeWayneTN]

Hey, let me back up a bit and apologize. I sound like I am lighting a torch to lynch Mike and I don't need to do that. God's grace is ulimited and immeasurable. It covers a multitude of sins, even lying if that's what happened. I sincerely pray that God blesses Mike and brings him to a closer relationship with Him every day. I also pray He uses teachable opportunities to help me put my trust in Him and not man.

[Mike Vande]

From his book Friendly Fire: A Survival Guide for Believers Battered by Religion, Warnke describes the time after the article came out. Perhaps it's semantics but I would guess most people consider purposeful exaggeration to be lying.

At times the stress was so bad that I broke out in hives. I couldn't sleep, my hair came out by the fistful, and I was unable to eat anything that didn't upset my stomach. … Within two months, everything I had worked so hard for was gone. From a guy who had his own plane and 50 employees, I was reduced to the point of one day standing in a Kroger grocery store with a coupon for baked beans and a coupon for toilet paper but only enough money for one or the other. … Was I a fake, a charlatan, a deceiver, and a liar? No. I never lied about my testimony and I never ran a fake ministry. That being said, however, let me hasten to add that all was not right in the Warnke world. … My life was out of control. I had no spiritual accountability. Decisions concerning the ministry were based on the bottom line rather than on spiritual priorities. … When the storm of controversy hit, everything I had built for 22 years suddenly collapsed like a house of cards.

Has there been any sort of factual refutation of the Cornerstone article or have they ever printed a retraction? I really would like to see that if it exists.

[DaJudge]

Has there been any sort of factual refutation of the Cornerstone article or have they ever printed a retraction? I really would like to see that if it exists.

If you read the article, there is no way that he could factually refute it. There is no possible way he did all the thing he says he did in the small time frame that the was in college (1 semester). He wants you to believe that in 1 semester he went from normal kid to drug addict and high priest of the Church of Satan, and then got saved and put it all behind him. In 1 semester! He's just a blow hard.

[Pastor Bill]

I loved Mike Warnke, had both videos, a copy of a tape and saw him live. I was very disappointed when I heard about the article.

One thing the article was fairly harsh, questioning things they couldn't prove, but it was apparent there were problems.

I have read the details on his website, and things were bad, he does admit to a lot of exaggeration, but not to everything he was accused of.

Since then an accountability board has been set up, he has continued in a much smaller ministry, and has pulled the incorrect tapes and book from sales. (He stands by his testimony on the live tape, although it may be a little exaggerated, his accountability board has allowed it to remain) You can't find Satan Seller (book) or Do You Hear Me! (Tape/CD/Video) available now due to their inaccuracy, although I had Do You Hear Me! and the only inaccuracy in it is a side comment about his education. It was shown that the "degrees" he held were honorary at best, and from unheard of, non-accredited institutions that no longer exist. The fact is it really doesn't change the message and that could have easily been edited out, but instead they pulled the whole thing.

Not here to defend him, but we need to be careful not to just crucify him either. We've all made mistakes, we just don't all have teams of investigators trying to dig up dirt.

Don't believe everything that has been said about him, and if you question his current intents and repentance, go read through the materials the accountability board has made public, it sheds some light on these things.

[Mike Vande]

Since then an accountability board has been set up, he has continued in a much smaller ministry, and has pulled the incorrect tapes and book from sales. (He stands by his testimony on the live tape, although it may be a little exaggerated, his accountability board has allowed it to remain)

Who's on the accountability board? Does anyone know them or who they are affiliated with?

[Pastor Bill]

Robert V Hale
Richard Morgan
Gary DuPape
Carlton B King

Are listed on the last letter posted on the website. I am not sure if these are the full list of those involved, since this accountability has spanned over 13 years at the time of that letter.

If you are interested, the updates, reviews, and original restrictions are all listed on the website under FAQ. From what I have seen, he has shown more accountability than most.

[DaJudge]

Robert V Hale
Richard Morgan
Gary DuPape
Carlton B King

Are we sure these are real people and Warnke didn't just make them up?

NOTICE TO THE HUMORLESS: THE ABOVE WAS A JOKE. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO REMOVE THE BEAM FROM MY EYE, BECAUSE I AM CURRENTLY UTILIZING MY EYE BEAMS TO CONSTRUCT A VACATION HOME.