1. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145864 by rogerthat on March 18, 2008 at 8:43 am

Every time something like this comes up, I wonder why companies still support any group that claims to help people by applying religion.

And the unfortunate thing about this particular case is that (I'm beginning to get the impression) Gloria Jeans doesn't just sponsor Mercy Ministries, Gloria Jeans was brought to Australia by Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine exclusively to fund Hillsong and it's operations. The name of the company they formed together that is now the parent company of Gloria Jeans? Jireh International Pty Ltd. Who'd like to guess what that means? http://tinyurl.com/2f9jhh

By the way, Jireh International now owns the rights to all Gloria Jeans' franchises worldwide, except in the USA and Puerto Rico.

2. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145788 by rogerthat on March 18, 2008 at 6:29 am

The reply I received from Dianne Baise states "We have no relationship with the Hillsong Church."

The founders of Gloria Jeans are Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine. Nabi Saleh is an "elder" at Hillsong and is on it's board of directors. Peter Irvine, previously Managing Director of successful advertising agency DDB Needham(!), was, until recently, Managing Director of Gloria Jeans and is now Director of Corporate Sponsorship at Mercy Ministries.
http://tinyurl.com/34q5ew (see "Gloria be") & http://tinyurl.com/2s37ng

Peter Irvine also seems to be quite the shrewd businessman.
http://www.prirvine.com/

Finally, check out how close the Hillsong Church at Baulkham Hills and the Gloria Jeans address supplied to me by Dianne Baise are: http://tinyurl.com/26xx7w

Apparently there is also a Gloria Jeans training centre right next door to the Hillsong Church at Baulkham Hills.

3. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145786 by rogerthat on March 18, 2008 at 6:27 am

Latest:

I received the same form reply. It seems to be very carefully worded, and seems to dodge many of the issues without explicitly stating that it hasn't happened. Quite a piece of... word-smithery.

However, I'm happy to report that Rebel Sport (sporting goods chain), Bunnings Warehouse (hardware chain) and LG Electronics have all removed, or are considering removing, their sponsorship from Mercy Ministries.
http://tinyurl.com/yq7w67

The Australian Medical Association has also condemned them, and the Federal Minister for Human Services, Joe Ludwig, has asked Centrelink (Australian social security agency) to investigate the allegations and report on its pay arrangements with Mercy Ministries.
http://tinyurl.com/29cfoh

4. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145718 by rogerthat on March 18, 2008 at 3:28 am

@vijikumar: No.

@antitheist: thanks for the spelling to cheer me up. Oh, and it's rogerthat, not rogerout. Damn! I did it again...

5. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145651 by rogerthat on March 17, 2008 at 10:24 pm

Ok I've sent GJ's an email letting them know. I used your text as a basis if that's ok, antitheist. However, I corrected some spelling (no offence intended at all, I guess I'm just a stickler for it). I think it is worded very well, by the way. Thanks for your efforts.

Here is what I submitted (in case anyone lazy like me wants to copy/paste it:

--
Further to the recent articles in the Sydney Morning Herald regarding the Mercy Ministries and your support of them I have started boycotting your store, please be aware that I am not alone in my boycott.

I believe that your support of a religious organisation that promotes psychological healing and help without any proper credentials is highly irresponsible and unacceptable. Your intentions may have been good, however lending your name and support to an organisation that you have not vetted allows you to be implicated and also share in it's responsibilities to the people it purports to help and in reality damages.

You may actually be aware of the situation and if you were then your organisation can be called accountable, if not then i suggest you use this opportunity to assess the situation and distance yourself publicly from this organisation.
--

6. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145605 by rogerthat on March 17, 2008 at 7:19 pm

@secondsoprano:

I'm also, just as you say, 'incandescent with rage'. I know just what that feels like to be so debilitated with rage that you can't think or act.

But act we surely must. I know of a few Hillsong apologists. They are my friends (or, at least, acquaintances). I know of RD's argument to religious moderates, but some of these are young people who probably won't understand.

What do I do? Anyone? I feel so helpless in the face of it all sometimes. Actually, often.

7. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145001 by rogerthat on March 17, 2008 at 6:54 am

I've also had similar experiences to these poor girls. There's just too much to go into, but I know exactly where they are coming from - especially the way I still feel, on some level, that I'm disappointing someone.

One difference though is that my experience contributed to drug abuse and chronic depression and anxiety which I'm only now (16 years later) finally recovering from. How do I go about getting all those wasted years back? I cannot.

For all Australians reading this article, please, at the very least, boycott Gloria Jeans coffee shops. I'm currently thinking about what else we can do.

8. If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out

Comment #104563 by rogerthat on December 28, 2007 at 6:57 pm

Nah, it was funny. You would've laughed if he'd said 'husband'.