It was dear Russell Hinter who first phoned and informed me that I had been "demonized" by the entire Repairer of the Breach Congregation in Winfield BC (near Kelowna) Canada.  This is an Ephraimite, Two House congregation lead by Brian and Lucie Anderson, (who claim to be Torah Observant) followers of Y'shua.  I said "Russell I dodn't want to hear it."  He insisted I be brought up to speed on the latest gossip at their congregation.  Russ Hinter couldn't decide whether the slander against me was true or false, he wanted to make a judgment and so he was also on somewhat of a "fact finding mission."  I explained to Russell that Elaine Dueck has been launching a life long slander campaign against me for a variety of theological reasons and third party offenses (on behalf of their mentor Eli Nessim another "Messianic gossiper" as themselves) and that I saw it coming from the first day I arrived at his congregation when I met Mr. Alfred Dueck at a Passover seder.

Imagine going to a Seder which teaches us about deliverance, salvation, redemption etc. among Messianic Christian people knowing that there is very high probability that you will be pulling daggers out of your back because you attended.  As a child my father insisted that we wash one another's feet as part of the Passover Seder, as Y'shua washed his disciples feet.  In some years we discontinued this ritual, but my father these last few years has become more insistent that wash one another's feet in our family.  Yes we all know that this would be a meaningless ritual without the exchange of forgiveness in one's heart for the other person.  But for me it's not whether I forgive the person who has washed my feet, or whose feet I've washed, the point is do I have a desire to forgive all those who trespass against me.

Being raised in family that holds ideas dear that are hated by most Christians gives one the opportunity to consider the greater cause of love and forgiveness far beyond the ritual or theology that made us different.  It was always a very special and blessed occasion to meet someone who didn't ram all sorts of curses at me and my family because were were different.  We were "Sacred Namers" or "Torah Observant" or a bunch of other things that made us different and therefore targets for gossip.

Russell Hinter of course couldn't possibly understand myself and my families background and even know why Mrs. Elaine Dueck has a legacy of gossip  and slander mongering, but he was "concerned," so I agreed with Russ that we work together to bring about a meeting for reconciliation (between myself his pastor Brian Anderson and Elaine and Alfred Dueck).  Unfortunately, I'll probably never forget that phone conversation for as long as I live, I was sitting on the piano bench at my parents place in Vernon when Russell began explaining to me about Messiah's forgiveness of all our sins, how love works, how I need to be the bigger man, how this is an opportunity to show the very elements of Faith that are needed at the Repairer of the Breach congregation.  As I sat there about as broken as I've ever been, crying, I couldn't see why or how these people would show any remorse.  In my heart I tried to resist the thought that there was no point, don't bother with them, but Russell spoke as if he was walking in deep spiritual insight.  And after Russell Hinter and I prayed for everyone in the congregation I hang up the phone and Russell did nothing thereafter, no meetings, no letters, no appeals regarding the gossip that was levied against me and my family.

Talk is cheap.  I never posted anything on the internet for several months after the event as I was hoping that Russ would make some progress, months went by and nothing was done except more talk about the matter.  I spent hours writing out a statement for Russ, but to no avail, whatever I said was used against me.  It all eventually evolved into Russell Hinter suggesting that I was the problem, if I wasn't there it wouldn't have happened.  I first posted the information that transpired between myself and the Pastor Brian Anderson, because he absolutely refused to meet with me along with witnesses, I noticed that a small number of people hit the website.  And I set the cookies on the site so I would know where the visitors were coming from.  A few weeks later posting the first pages about Mr. Anderson I posted stuff about Elaine's gossip against me and my family, then I posted Russ Hinter's "ministry" ideas hoping to spawn some reconciliation.  Nothing happened except now Russel became very angry that I would go on record and make public statements about things within the church.

Russel Hinter made demands that I take down disparaging comments about him, and it is true that I did in fact make lower level comments that resounded around the theme of lack of courage.  Russ brought himself to my house in August 2007 unannounced to demand that I take down statements about him which he saw were slanderous and untrue about his character, he insisted that I remove all other material about what happened at the Repairer of the Breach fellowship, but I refused.  I couldn't see the point of removing everything I said because I had lived in the Okanagan Valley most of my life and did business there and I know of plenty of people who don't go anywhere for fellowship because they reject the idea of a social club gossip-fest on Shabbat.

Over the months Russ Hinter decided that he would have me remove his name from the website.  Russ insisted that I was making slanderous statements about his person and also stated that he had left the Repairer of the Breach Congregation permanently because of the issue of the pastor demanding solitary veto authority over all the men in the congregation.  Simply put, Mr. Brian Anderson (the pastor) believes that he has sole authority over other men with regards to all decisions within the congregation, all the time.  Russ found that to be unacceptable and that the one-man-show grand standing of the pastor was the main reason he left.  It's ironic that this was one of the things used to slander, it was said that I was trying to infiltrate their congregation and take over the leadership.

My reason for posting Russ Hinter's name was because he became the liaison between myself and others at the Repairer of the Breach congregation.  I had obviously been un-invited.  But, I let him speak for me and I answered all of his questions about myself and my family and what transpired between myself and individuals at the Repairer of the Breach congregation Lake Country (Winfield BC).  My elderly parents were initially very delighted to meet Repairer of the Breach congregation, as I, Russell and his family where very highly regarded by my father and mother, the slander campaign against us began as we were building what we believed were meaningful and long term relationships.

Unfortunately, it wasn't only Elaine and Alfred Dueck who mounted their long term slander campaign against me and my family they recruited John Aaron and  Brian and Lucie Anderson (the "Ephraimite" pastor and his wife) and just about the whole congregation.  Russel Hinter was right, we were thoroughly demonized by the whole clan because after that instance pretty much all contact was cut off, but yet there were a few brothers from our own area that tried to maintain certain friendships they had made with others in the congregation, but these relationships were all being stressed and failing as well.

I have no doubt that YHWH brought me to that "Repairer" Congregation for His purposes for mutual benefit, but in many ways it has also brought a conclusion of the matter between myself and a slanderous group of Christians (Elaine and her friends) that I have known for many years.  Many became upset with me for posting things on the internet, they would rather I sweep transgressions under the mat and they've suggested I take all the stuff down, for my own benefit, so that I don't fall from grace, their "grace."  But the problem is that if I don't resist the evil conduct within the body of Mashiyach who will, if I don't do it now then when should I do it?

The fact of the matter is that I have not heard about anyone in that camp who has resisted the gossip and slander and called it wrong, this group of people gossip about others as a way of life, it is very much part of their religious experience, they do it sitting around in a circle on Shabbat!

Slander and gossip for many "believers" is an essential part of their "ministry".  One believer at Repairer was very upset by the slander against me, he wrote an account of the matter of that fateful day in May, which I have here right in front of me as I write this,  but the others did nothing (the fellow who wrote the matter was a visitor who has since moved out of province). 

I submitted a detailed paper to Russell listing with Torah standards and a bit of legalese to help him approach the head slanderer Elaine Dueck to help find her way out of the gossiping lifestyle that her mother and she enjoy.  But even still, Russ did and said nothing about my detailed letter. 

Many times after leaving the congregation I had a heavy heart because of the low levels of conversation, lack of fellowship versus social club mentality, lack of vision and disciplines, and this is not my problem alone, what is normal and acceptable for some is a vexation for others.  We obviously have different perspectives of the Kingdom of Elohim.  But I was very saddened and disappointed that rather than sitting together or making charges or complaints against me for what I said or did, they just gossiped and slandered about my supposed failings.  If they wanted to know about my failings I could write plenty for them, I also have failings which are common to mankind and this perhaps would help them see that maybe I hold some differing ideas about YHWH than they, but I'm not disparaging their own personal viewpoints either.

There aren't many souls in the Okanagan Valley who are interested in what YHWH has to say in Torah, so for me the Repairer fellowship offered some hope for local fellowship.  Throughout most of my life I've been in small home fellowships that are more intimate and personal and meaningful than a large group who show up once a week for fellowship, but this lifestyle in itself is cause for mainstream type Christians to gossip about and criticise because it doesn't fall within their acceptable "church-going" criteria for a "believer."

My Bible says that those who confess Y'shua are the temple of the Living Elohim, not vessels of gossip and slander.

FIRST, let's remember the Torah principles, Scriptures tell us that lies, slander, gossip and carnal living is evil.  It is easy to point out the things that were said and done that are objectionable to YHWH.

THEN, it's obvious to see the evil effects of slander.

"And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies:

but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth;

for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, says YHWH." 

Jeremiah 9:3

Unrepentant slander, gossip and lies are not "under the blood", until a person has the change of heart to goes to a brother, confesses, and make restitution.  The theology of cheap grace and no restitution is evil.  Nothing has been done with the matter of the slander against me.  Russ and the Repairer crowd can pretend to forget all about it and go on to slander others, but I won't forget.  Yes of course I can forgive and pray for those who persecute me, but I don't forget when I know full well that nothing has changed.

A whole congregation sits as slanderers over my soul and are justified because their pastor and his wife sat with them on the Shabbat and endorsed it.  Do you think YHWH forgets this kind of stuff either?  NO.  Only a fool thinks that cumulative transgression just goes away by itself.

In over a dozen years Elaine Dueck had plenty of opportunity to levy charges against me.  One would think so, no? NOPE, nada, nothing.  There has been an ongoing effect of Elaine's slander, she makes up stories, tells them around, the lies return to her like boomerangs and she likely believes her own lies, at this point she wouldn't likely be able to tell the truth if her life depended on it.  Elaine is in the company of others like Mr. Eli Nessim, who use gossip as full time ministry, who "plant" spies in the congregation to pick up the news and report it back to the leader.

Witches are known for using their "magic" to get what they want, they use sorcery, lies, gossip, steal peoples good name, murder them with their deceit, that's the ministry of witches, but this doesn't mean there's no hope for them.  I know an ex-Jezebel who repented and asked for forgiveness, she was also under the spell of "the Pastor" and the Messianic Jewish gossip crowd in Vancouver, it took deliverance, truth and purity to go from wretched Jezebel to wise woman in Y'shua, but each person has to make their own choices.

Talk isn't cheap, we are all being judged according to words that come out of our mouths, and every thought.  Talk isn't cheap, especially when it's condemned by YHWH.  Russell has not repented for listening to the slander.  Anyone with any decency, would try to stop a gossip session or walk out of the congregation there and then, rather than take notes and try to reason with it and then use it to promote their own interests.

Gossip sessions are fertile soil to pick up unclean spirits, if we don't speak against evil we come into agreement with it.  It is easy to invite demons in and then you have to "cope" with stuff rather than getting the victory.  All the prayers and talk and sermons on earth aren't going to help get over it, unless you repent and seek reconciliation.

YHWH says that if you forget Him, He will forget your children.  I never attended the Repairer of the Breach congregation looking for a following, as Mrs. Elaine Dueck suggests.  I was looking for fellowship in Mashiyach with souls who walk in Torah as equals, but I realize this was impossible, because Mr. Briand Anderson and others are not equal, he and they are high up, they can get away with slander, gossip and lies because they believe themselves to be on the cutting edge of truth, and the rest of the congregation are happy to oblige.  It's a very sad commentary at the "Repairer of the Breach."

Hopefully my going on public record will help others gird up their strength and oppose the source of the gossip in their congregations, it is evil, it is from the enemy.  If we accept low level, carnal attitudes to prevail in our congregations then we are also culpable.  Yes we can try to avoid people like Alfred and Elaine Dueck who have made slander their full-time "ministry", but the best thing is to minister through righteous conversation, equality, common good and purpose, honesty and blessings for everyone.  If the pastor does not have this vision within himself and gives gossipers an audience with others then the house needs Repair and it starts with me.

Shalom U'Vrachot,

Baruch Ben Daniel

ps Russ, please pardon all the revisions to this paper, I found myself in plenty of hurt and anger when I found out that you and the "Repairer" people, who I thought to be my friends, were in fact more interested in using me for a target of their gossip.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

August 14, 2007:

Russ Hinter made an impromptu personal visit followed by a written statement with charges that Baruch Ben Daniel sinned (and continues to sin) against his person by writing for public view, slanderous and/or libellous statements as follows:  1) That Russ has no balls and 2) is a butt kisser

In his defence Russ stated that he and his wife left the fellowship for three weeks (after nine years of continuous fellowship) and that it has been unanimously decided among "the Repairer" leadership and registered board members that the 'plurality of eldership with equal authority must be thoroughly researched' and that "we have been studying eldership, and continue to study it and positive changes are happening."

Furthermore Russ stated, "this proves that this action is not the action of someone who could rightly be labelled as Baruch has done." (Russ felt he was making headway)

MY RESPONSE: (updated Feb 10, 2008)

Russ emphasized that the gossip levied against me "could be true" and that by me putting up the story on the internet "proves that it might be true," and therefore my motives for visiting the congregation might have been for evil. 

Russ didn't know for sure and couldn't comment or provide and assessment on what level of culpability.  He demanded I immediately pull down all pages concerning Repairer of the Breach and all souls who I've indicted in the gossip mongering. Russell has also elected to find witnesses to prove that I've made inappropriate statements online.   However, none of the charges that I made for his un-Messiah-like conduct were addressed, he was concerned about protecting his own name and reputation in lieu of my writing about my most undesirable experience with he and his congregation.  Russell expended the energy to meet with me over this matter (one on one) but he drove to my house unannounced and began ranting that I was not returning his phone calls and emails and was very difficult to contact.  Even though my name and businesses are all over the internet and my family has lived in one location for 40 years.  But during our private conversation it became abundantly apparent that Mr. Russell Hinter  was completely unwilling to address any of the issues I wrote about, he was only concerned that his own personal name was being put on public record.

February 9th, 2008:

Again Russell Hinter showed up unannounced, he booked a room at a coffee shop and had three witnesses to listen and judge the matter between us.  Russ demanded that I remove "slanderous statements" about him.  To back up his claim that my statements were slanderous and untrue Russ left the congregation in December with no plans to return.  For this I congratulated him and shook his hand, after 10 years of being a Repairer groupie this was obviously a big move.  I have removed two charges that I made about his person and also mentioned to him that I was sorry that I felt I had to make them to get his attention so something might be done about the gossip against me.

During the meeting Russ had one agenda and that was to be on his terms and for his mutual benefit.  He did say that he would "think about" whether any of his actions were negative or condescending towards my person, but he wasn't clear about any of that, it seems as a heavy fog rolled in the room every time someone asked him about that matter, a very, very heavy fog.  Quite frankly every indication is that he really doesn't give a damn, as long as he gets what he wants.

Sorry Russ. 

But if someone slandered you or anyone else while I was sitting at a round table discussion on Shabbat, believe me, if they didn't apologize right there and then the crap would hit the fan right there and then.  That's where you and I are really, really different.

In fact Russell one time I was in a congregation in northern Alberta and a person just like Elaine Dueck stood up and started slandering the speaker while he was teaching.  I realize this was a very unorthodox thing to have happen, but I asked the man to stand down and he refused.  So I bunched him up into a package, hauled him out of the meeting and gave him a "grass landing" (that was when I was about 28 with big muscles).  Additionally, a little while later (before the sun had set) the fellow and I had a nice chat about life and love and truth and how to properly address his concerns.  As it turned out the fellow was in love with the Pastors daughter and felt that the Pastor was not being fair by refusing to give her hand in marriage, she wasn't interested in marrying him either so he was in quite a predicament.  This fellow needed some "support" but YHWH made good things come from a very difficult situation; if, and it's a big IF, we are determined to "do the right thing."

Shame on you Russell Hinter for trying to exonerate yourself by using a loophole and bringing witnesses against me who were not witnesses at all, they were men and brethren who asked you repeatedly what you were trying to accomplish.  I asked you repeatedly about addressing the matter at hand but no, the matter has become that Baruch would be so brazen to go on public record and actually expose anything bad that happened among "the Believers".

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