Post by StationAdministration on Apr 8, 2006 9:12:37 GMT
Maranatha/Morning Star International/Every Nation Timeline
Primary and secondary sources include:
• Corporate filings with various Secretaries of State
• US Patent and Trademark records (www.uspto.gov)
• Active web pages as well as web page archives accessible through www.archive.org
• Publicly available deed and mortgage records
• News articles, newsletters, etc.
• The Forerunner (www.forerunner.com)
___________________________________________________________________
This is a timeline of the history of Maranatha and its many affiliates, spin-off/splinter groups, or sub-organizations such as:
• Morning Star International (MSI; now Every Nation Churches)
• Maranatha Campus Ministries (MCM)
• Maranatha Christian Church(es) (MCC)
• Maranatha Christian Fellowship
• Campus Harvest Ministries
• (Maranatha) Campus Ministries International
• Campus Missions International (CMI)
• Champions For Christ (CFC)
• Victory Campus Ministries (now Every Nation Ministries)
• Victory Leadership Institute (now Every Nation Leadership Institute)
• Every Nation Churches/Ministries (ENC)
etc.
Questions or suggestions regarding specific sources, additions or corrections should be directed to ulyankee@yahoo.com.
Other links:
Shepherding Discipleship Movement Survivor’s Blog
Maranatha/Morning Star International/Every Nation discussion on FACTNet
__________________________________________________________________
Part 1: Early Maranatha
1972—Maranatha starts on Murray State University (KY) campus
1975—Maranatha incorporated in KY on 2/28/75 as:
• Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. – based in KY with a KY address. This is the corporation that is filed under certificates of authority in multiple states (including Florida).
• Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.—based in KY with a FL address. No other certificates of authority under this name were filed in any other state. This is presumably the corporation founded to house the corporate headquarters.
Part 2: 1980s – Maranatha comes under increased scrutiny for high-pressure, cult-like tactics and teachings
1979-1987—Certificates of authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. are filed in multiple states.
May, 1981—The Forerunner, Maranatha’s magazine, is first published
December, 1981—Zipser articles critical specifically of Maranatha, as well as other campus cults, are published in the Phoenix Gazette.
February, 1982—Kansas deprogramming bill passed by state House, as a result of Dee Dee Tillman’s involvement with and deprogramming from Maranatha. (The bill was ultimately defeated, however.)
1983—Maranatha leaves K-State campus under allegations of mind control/high-pressure, cult-like activities.
1982-1984—Ad-hoc Christian committee investigation of “Maranatha Campus Ministries;” Maranatha invited the investigation. Note that this was not yet the legal or even legally assumed name of this organization.
1983—Myatt articles are published, criticizing Maranatha’s unscriptural theology, over emphasis on spiritual authority, and mind control/psychospiritual coercion tactics.
1984-1985—A series of critical articles are published in the Christian and national press after the ad-hoc committee’s report was released.
1985—Champions for Christ established as a ministry of Maranatha (was not separately incorporated)
July 15, 1985—Foreign Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. in Kansas is forfeited due to failure to file a timely annual report with the Kansas Secretary of State. However, the separately incorporated Maranatha church in Kansas (Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas) remains active.
Dec. 9, 1985—Reel to Real Ministries incorporated in Virginia—is a Maranatha-related ministry. Maintains Gainesville, FL mailing address.
October, 1986—“Champions for Christ” is used in commerce for the first time, according to records filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office. “Champions for Christ” logo is registered as a trademark of Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.
Part 3: “Break up” of Maranatha
1986-1987—Local Maranatha Christian Churches (linked to the KY-address organization) are separately incorporated in multiple states.
May 1, 1987—“Maranatha Campus Ministries International” is filed as the legally assumed name of both Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. and Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.
May 27, 1987—Maranatha Christian Church of Lexington, KY is incorporated.
1987-88—A number of now-separately incorporated Maranatha churches amend their articles of incorporation. These include Maranatha churches in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota and Michigan.
May 1, 1988—Bob and Rose Weiner close on a property for a new house in Gainesville, Florida. The 5 BR, 6 BA home is built in 1989, as Maranatha prepares to “disband.” The home is currently valued (2004) at approximately $400,000.
1988-89—Maranatha under increasing scrutiny for cult-like practices from the press, evangelical Christian groups (including CRI), counter-cult researchers, and higher education.
February 2, 1989—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. is incorporated in Gainesville, Florida. The board of directors are Brady Clark (Maranatha pastor in Austin, TX), David Houston (Maranatha pastor in Encino, CA; now currently w/MSI), and Mark Kyle (Kennesaw/Athens, GA).
June 1989 —Maranatha (Maranatha Christian Church(es), Inc.) holds a board meeting in which it decides to disband. This story is what is announced to its membership in November 1989, and to the Christian press in March, 1990.
November 1989—Maranatha announces the break up to its membership during its world conference.
November 1989—Table Talk newsletter by Walter Walker (published by Maranatha) announces that the international office would be closed and that the central organizational structure of Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. would be dismantled.
November 15, 1989—Chronicle of Higher Education article, “Some Colleges warn Students that Cult-like Methods are Being Used by Christian Fundamentalist Groups” is published; article primarily focuses on Maranatha.
December, 1989—News of breakup has been announced to membership. Last Forerunner published by “old” Maranatha Campus Ministries is published.
1990 (n.d.)—Victory Campus Ministries is established on two campuses (unspecified on its website) with ten campus ministers (see http://www.vcm.org). These were probably University of Southern California (under Maranatha pastor Phil Bonasso) and University of the Philippines in Manila (under Maranatha pastor Steve Murrell). VCM was administered out of Phil Bonasso’s church in Los Angeles but wasn’t formally incorporated as a separate entity until 1996 (see below). Campus Harvest, the “official student conference of Victory Campus Ministries,” also started this year (see http://www.campusharvest.org) . This was not itself incorporated until December, 1993 (see below). Campus Harvest was run by Ron Lewis’ church in North Carolina, and annual conferences are held there.
February 26, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Lexington, KY changes its name to Cornerstone Church of Lexington, KY. Kim Carroll (pastor), registered agent.
March, 1990—Self-published Forerunner is printed; same Gainesville FL address. Jay Rogers is the new editor, taking over from Lee Grady. Jay Rogers had formerly been a writer for the Forerunner.
March, 1990—Bob Weiner announces Brady Clark as the new executive director of Maranatha Campus Ministries in his personal letter to “partners.”
March 19, 1990—Christianity Today article on Maranatha’s break up is published.
March, 1990—Charisma and Christian Life’s article on Maranatha’s break up is published.
Spring, 1990—Maranatha newsletter announces name change from “Maranatha Campus Ministries” to “Campus Ministries International.” The justification is that Maranatha was a popular name used by many ministries. Also Brady Clark’s naming as executive director is announced, as approved by “Maranatha Campus Ministries’ board” and also personally endorsed by Bob Weiner.
April 15, 1990—Georgia Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. is withdrawn.
April 23, 1990—Georgia Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc.
April 24, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of the South Bay (Phil Bonasso, pastor and president) changes its name to Los Angeles—Victory Christian Church, Inc. in California. The Filipino church changes its name to Victory Church as well at around the same time [n.d.; Filipino business records are not publicly available to us in the US beyond basic name and address listings].
April 27, 1990—Iowa Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc.
May 2, 1990—North Carolina Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. Ron Lewis (pastor and president of Maranatha Christian Church of the Triangle), registered agent. Note: this is still an active legal name today in North Carolina.
May 9, 1990—Missouri Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. David Hawes (pastor of MO Maranatha church), registered agent.
May 9, 1990—Kansas Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. John McDermott (who is currently the pastor of what is now Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, KS), registered agent. 3/4/2006 note: Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, KS left what is today Every Nation Churches in late 2005.
1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas changes its name to New Hope Christian Fellowship of Lawrence, Kansas.
May 17, 1990—Kentucky Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. Kim Carroll (pastor of what is now Cornerstone Christian Church of Lexington, KY), registered agent.
May 23, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of the Triangle (North Carolina) changes its name to Triangle Christian Fellowship. Ron Lewis (pastor), registered agent.
June 1, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Houston, Inc. (Texas) changes its name to Grace Covenant Church.
June 1, 1990—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. assumes PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL 32602 (previously the mailing address for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc.)
June 11, 1990—Maranatha Publications, Inc. incorporated by Bob and Rose Weiner as a for-profit organization in Gainesville, FL.
June 14, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Iowa City (Iowa) changes its name to Solid Rock Church.
June 27, 1990—Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries incorporated in Gainesville, FL.
June 29, 1990—Ohio Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. The mailing address listed on the receipt is PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL.
July 20, 1990—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. files a name change to Campus Ministries International, Inc. in Florida. Note: this is the only state where the name change was made active.
July 27, 1990—Champions for Christ, International is incorporated in Austin, TX. Board members listed were former Maranatha evangelist Rice Broocks, former Maranatha evangelist Greg Ball, Maranatha campus minister (Rice University, Houston) Ben Broocks, and athlete/former Maranatha—CFC leader AC Green. At this time, Rice Broocks is listed as being based in Midland, TX (where Word of Life/Mid-Cities Community Church is located).
August 2, 1990—Texas Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. The local address was in Austin, TX. Corporate officers listed are David Houston (President), Ron Lewis (VP) and Brady Clark (secretary). While the papers were not filed until August 2, they were notarized on March 20, 1990. Note that the certificate of authority was filed under the old name, not the new (Florida) name of the corporation. Also, note that this is still an active legal name today in Texas.
September 1990—Dawson Lewis becomes the full-time administrator for the South African Maranatha church. The South African Maranatha church was established by Bill Bennot in 1987. This church would later merge into His People Christian Ministries.
October 5, 1990—Both Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. and Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. are filed as dissolved with the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office.
October 30, 1990—Phil Bonasso files himself as the new registered agent for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (KY based corporation) in California, even though the organization was legally dissolved earlier that month.
November, 1990—The Forerunner is now published by Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries.
November 28, 1990—The now defunct Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. transfers the entire interest and goodwill of the Champions for Christ name and logo to Word of Life Church, Midland, TX (later renamed Mid Cities Christian Church). This is the church where Rice Broocks was then based. Note that the interest was not transferred to Champions for Christ at this time, even though CFC was already a separately incorporated entity.
Part 4: Post-Maranatha ministries reconverge as Morning Star International
April 23, 1991—Reel to Real Ministries files a Certificate of Authority in Florida; moves to Contonement, FL where the president, Eric Holmberg is located. Brady Clark is the registered agent in Florida and is on the Board of Directors.
September 3, 1991—California Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (Phil Bonasso, registered agent) is allowed to lapse due to “franchise tax board” forfeiture.
August 31, 1992—Defunct Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. transfers the entire interest and goodwill for Champions for Christ’s name and logo to Champions for Christ International, Inc. This is despite the fact that (1) Maranatha had not been a legally viable entity for nearly two years and (2) it had already transferred the name and logo once to Word of Life/Mid Cities Community Church of Midland, TX in November 1990.
September 15, 1992—New Hope Christian Fellowship of Lawrence, Kansas (previously Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, KS) dissolves.
December 7, 1992—Los Angeles—Victory Christian Church, Inc. changes its name to Morning Star Christian Church, Inc. in California. Phil Bonasso remains the president, and Robert Atkinson remains the registered agent..
December 12, 1992—Executives for Christ, Inc. is incorporated in Texas as a subsidiary of Champions for Christ. Board members include Greg Ball, Greg Feste, Ben Broocks, and John-Paul Morgante.
March 27, 1993—Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas incorporates in Kansas. This is the current legal name today. However, according to its own website, the church was established in 1992 as a Morning Star International church. This places its founding at roughly the same time that New Hope Christian Fellowship/Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, KS formally dissolves with the Kansas Secretary of State.
April 26, 1993—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc./Campus Ministries International officially files a physical address change to Austin TX with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
June, 1993—Victory Leadership Institute (VLI) begins in Manila, Philippines.
June 11, 1993—Rice Broocks purchases a home in Nashville, TN.
September, 1993—The Forerunner begins a new South African publication for the South African Maranatha church (Bill Bennot), which had recently merged with His People Ministries under Paul Daniel (this church network is today part of Every Nation Churches)
December 9, 1993—Campus Harvest Ministries, Inc. is incorporated in Durham, North Carolina. Ron Lewis, registered agent. Jim Laffoon is one of the leading ministers in this organization. However, according to its own website, it had been in existence as the “conference arm” of Victory Campus Ministries since 1990.
December 16, 1993—Media House International, Inc. is incorporated in Florida by Jay Rogers. Media House International assumes publication of the Forerunner from Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries.
March, 1994—According to MSI leaders, Morning Star International is established, merging Rice Broocks’, Phil Bonasso’s, and Steve Murrell’s ministries—Champions for Christ, Victory Churches and associated former-Maranatha ministries in the Philippines, and Los Angeles-based Morning Star Christian Church, Inc. (which includes Victory Campus Ministries). However, the paper trail indicates that Morning Star (under that name) was established as early as late 92-93, based on cooperative/covenantal relationships that did not cease when Maranatha “disbanded” in 1990. Ministries incorporated into what would become MSI, including Victory Campus Ministries and Champions for Christ, trace their histories all the way back to Maranatha’s break up in 1990.
May 1, 1994—Campus Ministries International’s mailing address is changed from PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL to Austin TX, in papers filed with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
May 1, 1994—Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries’ mailing address is changed to PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL, in papers filed with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
August 15, 1994—Registered trademarks of Maranatha Christian Church(es), “Champions for Christ” and “Maranatha Christian Center” are filed as withdrawn with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
August 24, 1994—Rice Broocks appears as a newly named director on Bethel Chapel’s Board of Directors, according to the annual report filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State. This is what would eventually become MSI’s headquarters in Nashville.
November 4, 1994—Massachusetts Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (Maranatha’s original Kentucky corporation) is allowed to lapse. This is four years after it dissolves in Kentucky.
December 2, 1994—Morning Star Christian Church incorporates in Dallas, Texas. Joe Martin (pastor of Dallas church), registered agent.
1994—Rice Broocks is listed both as having a Midland, TX address and a Gainesville, FL address in respective white pages listings for that year.
Primary and secondary sources include:
• Corporate filings with various Secretaries of State
• US Patent and Trademark records (www.uspto.gov)
• Active web pages as well as web page archives accessible through www.archive.org
• Publicly available deed and mortgage records
• News articles, newsletters, etc.
• The Forerunner (www.forerunner.com)
___________________________________________________________________
This is a timeline of the history of Maranatha and its many affiliates, spin-off/splinter groups, or sub-organizations such as:
• Morning Star International (MSI; now Every Nation Churches)
• Maranatha Campus Ministries (MCM)
• Maranatha Christian Church(es) (MCC)
• Maranatha Christian Fellowship
• Campus Harvest Ministries
• (Maranatha) Campus Ministries International
• Campus Missions International (CMI)
• Champions For Christ (CFC)
• Victory Campus Ministries (now Every Nation Ministries)
• Victory Leadership Institute (now Every Nation Leadership Institute)
• Every Nation Churches/Ministries (ENC)
etc.
Questions or suggestions regarding specific sources, additions or corrections should be directed to ulyankee@yahoo.com.
Other links:
Shepherding Discipleship Movement Survivor’s Blog
Maranatha/Morning Star International/Every Nation discussion on FACTNet
__________________________________________________________________
Part 1: Early Maranatha
1972—Maranatha starts on Murray State University (KY) campus
1975—Maranatha incorporated in KY on 2/28/75 as:
• Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. – based in KY with a KY address. This is the corporation that is filed under certificates of authority in multiple states (including Florida).
• Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.—based in KY with a FL address. No other certificates of authority under this name were filed in any other state. This is presumably the corporation founded to house the corporate headquarters.
Part 2: 1980s – Maranatha comes under increased scrutiny for high-pressure, cult-like tactics and teachings
1979-1987—Certificates of authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. are filed in multiple states.
May, 1981—The Forerunner, Maranatha’s magazine, is first published
December, 1981—Zipser articles critical specifically of Maranatha, as well as other campus cults, are published in the Phoenix Gazette.
February, 1982—Kansas deprogramming bill passed by state House, as a result of Dee Dee Tillman’s involvement with and deprogramming from Maranatha. (The bill was ultimately defeated, however.)
1983—Maranatha leaves K-State campus under allegations of mind control/high-pressure, cult-like activities.
1982-1984—Ad-hoc Christian committee investigation of “Maranatha Campus Ministries;” Maranatha invited the investigation. Note that this was not yet the legal or even legally assumed name of this organization.
1983—Myatt articles are published, criticizing Maranatha’s unscriptural theology, over emphasis on spiritual authority, and mind control/psychospiritual coercion tactics.
1984-1985—A series of critical articles are published in the Christian and national press after the ad-hoc committee’s report was released.
1985—Champions for Christ established as a ministry of Maranatha (was not separately incorporated)
July 15, 1985—Foreign Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. in Kansas is forfeited due to failure to file a timely annual report with the Kansas Secretary of State. However, the separately incorporated Maranatha church in Kansas (Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas) remains active.
Dec. 9, 1985—Reel to Real Ministries incorporated in Virginia—is a Maranatha-related ministry. Maintains Gainesville, FL mailing address.
October, 1986—“Champions for Christ” is used in commerce for the first time, according to records filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office. “Champions for Christ” logo is registered as a trademark of Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.
Part 3: “Break up” of Maranatha
1986-1987—Local Maranatha Christian Churches (linked to the KY-address organization) are separately incorporated in multiple states.
May 1, 1987—“Maranatha Campus Ministries International” is filed as the legally assumed name of both Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. and Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc.
May 27, 1987—Maranatha Christian Church of Lexington, KY is incorporated.
1987-88—A number of now-separately incorporated Maranatha churches amend their articles of incorporation. These include Maranatha churches in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota and Michigan.
May 1, 1988—Bob and Rose Weiner close on a property for a new house in Gainesville, Florida. The 5 BR, 6 BA home is built in 1989, as Maranatha prepares to “disband.” The home is currently valued (2004) at approximately $400,000.
1988-89—Maranatha under increasing scrutiny for cult-like practices from the press, evangelical Christian groups (including CRI), counter-cult researchers, and higher education.
February 2, 1989—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. is incorporated in Gainesville, Florida. The board of directors are Brady Clark (Maranatha pastor in Austin, TX), David Houston (Maranatha pastor in Encino, CA; now currently w/MSI), and Mark Kyle (Kennesaw/Athens, GA).
June 1989 —Maranatha (Maranatha Christian Church(es), Inc.) holds a board meeting in which it decides to disband. This story is what is announced to its membership in November 1989, and to the Christian press in March, 1990.
November 1989—Maranatha announces the break up to its membership during its world conference.
November 1989—Table Talk newsletter by Walter Walker (published by Maranatha) announces that the international office would be closed and that the central organizational structure of Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. would be dismantled.
November 15, 1989—Chronicle of Higher Education article, “Some Colleges warn Students that Cult-like Methods are Being Used by Christian Fundamentalist Groups” is published; article primarily focuses on Maranatha.
December, 1989—News of breakup has been announced to membership. Last Forerunner published by “old” Maranatha Campus Ministries is published.
1990 (n.d.)—Victory Campus Ministries is established on two campuses (unspecified on its website) with ten campus ministers (see http://www.vcm.org). These were probably University of Southern California (under Maranatha pastor Phil Bonasso) and University of the Philippines in Manila (under Maranatha pastor Steve Murrell). VCM was administered out of Phil Bonasso’s church in Los Angeles but wasn’t formally incorporated as a separate entity until 1996 (see below). Campus Harvest, the “official student conference of Victory Campus Ministries,” also started this year (see http://www.campusharvest.org) . This was not itself incorporated until December, 1993 (see below). Campus Harvest was run by Ron Lewis’ church in North Carolina, and annual conferences are held there.
February 26, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Lexington, KY changes its name to Cornerstone Church of Lexington, KY. Kim Carroll (pastor), registered agent.
March, 1990—Self-published Forerunner is printed; same Gainesville FL address. Jay Rogers is the new editor, taking over from Lee Grady. Jay Rogers had formerly been a writer for the Forerunner.
March, 1990—Bob Weiner announces Brady Clark as the new executive director of Maranatha Campus Ministries in his personal letter to “partners.”
March 19, 1990—Christianity Today article on Maranatha’s break up is published.
March, 1990—Charisma and Christian Life’s article on Maranatha’s break up is published.
Spring, 1990—Maranatha newsletter announces name change from “Maranatha Campus Ministries” to “Campus Ministries International.” The justification is that Maranatha was a popular name used by many ministries. Also Brady Clark’s naming as executive director is announced, as approved by “Maranatha Campus Ministries’ board” and also personally endorsed by Bob Weiner.
April 15, 1990—Georgia Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. is withdrawn.
April 23, 1990—Georgia Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc.
April 24, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of the South Bay (Phil Bonasso, pastor and president) changes its name to Los Angeles—Victory Christian Church, Inc. in California. The Filipino church changes its name to Victory Church as well at around the same time [n.d.; Filipino business records are not publicly available to us in the US beyond basic name and address listings].
April 27, 1990—Iowa Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc.
May 2, 1990—North Carolina Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. Ron Lewis (pastor and president of Maranatha Christian Church of the Triangle), registered agent. Note: this is still an active legal name today in North Carolina.
May 9, 1990—Missouri Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. David Hawes (pastor of MO Maranatha church), registered agent.
May 9, 1990—Kansas Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. John McDermott (who is currently the pastor of what is now Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, KS), registered agent. 3/4/2006 note: Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, KS left what is today Every Nation Churches in late 2005.
1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas changes its name to New Hope Christian Fellowship of Lawrence, Kansas.
May 17, 1990—Kentucky Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. Kim Carroll (pastor of what is now Cornerstone Christian Church of Lexington, KY), registered agent.
May 23, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of the Triangle (North Carolina) changes its name to Triangle Christian Fellowship. Ron Lewis (pastor), registered agent.
June 1, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Houston, Inc. (Texas) changes its name to Grace Covenant Church.
June 1, 1990—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. assumes PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL 32602 (previously the mailing address for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc.)
June 11, 1990—Maranatha Publications, Inc. incorporated by Bob and Rose Weiner as a for-profit organization in Gainesville, FL.
June 14, 1990—Maranatha Christian Church of Iowa City (Iowa) changes its name to Solid Rock Church.
June 27, 1990—Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries incorporated in Gainesville, FL.
June 29, 1990—Ohio Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. The mailing address listed on the receipt is PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL.
July 20, 1990—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. files a name change to Campus Ministries International, Inc. in Florida. Note: this is the only state where the name change was made active.
July 27, 1990—Champions for Christ, International is incorporated in Austin, TX. Board members listed were former Maranatha evangelist Rice Broocks, former Maranatha evangelist Greg Ball, Maranatha campus minister (Rice University, Houston) Ben Broocks, and athlete/former Maranatha—CFC leader AC Green. At this time, Rice Broocks is listed as being based in Midland, TX (where Word of Life/Mid-Cities Community Church is located).
August 2, 1990—Texas Certificate of Authority filed for FL-incorporated Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc. The local address was in Austin, TX. Corporate officers listed are David Houston (President), Ron Lewis (VP) and Brady Clark (secretary). While the papers were not filed until August 2, they were notarized on March 20, 1990. Note that the certificate of authority was filed under the old name, not the new (Florida) name of the corporation. Also, note that this is still an active legal name today in Texas.
September 1990—Dawson Lewis becomes the full-time administrator for the South African Maranatha church. The South African Maranatha church was established by Bill Bennot in 1987. This church would later merge into His People Christian Ministries.
October 5, 1990—Both Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. and Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. are filed as dissolved with the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office.
October 30, 1990—Phil Bonasso files himself as the new registered agent for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (KY based corporation) in California, even though the organization was legally dissolved earlier that month.
November, 1990—The Forerunner is now published by Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries.
November 28, 1990—The now defunct Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. transfers the entire interest and goodwill of the Champions for Christ name and logo to Word of Life Church, Midland, TX (later renamed Mid Cities Christian Church). This is the church where Rice Broocks was then based. Note that the interest was not transferred to Champions for Christ at this time, even though CFC was already a separately incorporated entity.
Part 4: Post-Maranatha ministries reconverge as Morning Star International
April 23, 1991—Reel to Real Ministries files a Certificate of Authority in Florida; moves to Contonement, FL where the president, Eric Holmberg is located. Brady Clark is the registered agent in Florida and is on the Board of Directors.
September 3, 1991—California Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (Phil Bonasso, registered agent) is allowed to lapse due to “franchise tax board” forfeiture.
August 31, 1992—Defunct Maranatha Christian Churches, Inc. transfers the entire interest and goodwill for Champions for Christ’s name and logo to Champions for Christ International, Inc. This is despite the fact that (1) Maranatha had not been a legally viable entity for nearly two years and (2) it had already transferred the name and logo once to Word of Life/Mid Cities Community Church of Midland, TX in November 1990.
September 15, 1992—New Hope Christian Fellowship of Lawrence, Kansas (previously Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, KS) dissolves.
December 7, 1992—Los Angeles—Victory Christian Church, Inc. changes its name to Morning Star Christian Church, Inc. in California. Phil Bonasso remains the president, and Robert Atkinson remains the registered agent..
December 12, 1992—Executives for Christ, Inc. is incorporated in Texas as a subsidiary of Champions for Christ. Board members include Greg Ball, Greg Feste, Ben Broocks, and John-Paul Morgante.
March 27, 1993—Morning Star Christian Church of Lawrence, Kansas incorporates in Kansas. This is the current legal name today. However, according to its own website, the church was established in 1992 as a Morning Star International church. This places its founding at roughly the same time that New Hope Christian Fellowship/Maranatha Christian Church of Lawrence, KS formally dissolves with the Kansas Secretary of State.
April 26, 1993—Maranatha Campus Ministries, International, Inc./Campus Ministries International officially files a physical address change to Austin TX with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
June, 1993—Victory Leadership Institute (VLI) begins in Manila, Philippines.
June 11, 1993—Rice Broocks purchases a home in Nashville, TN.
September, 1993—The Forerunner begins a new South African publication for the South African Maranatha church (Bill Bennot), which had recently merged with His People Ministries under Paul Daniel (this church network is today part of Every Nation Churches)
December 9, 1993—Campus Harvest Ministries, Inc. is incorporated in Durham, North Carolina. Ron Lewis, registered agent. Jim Laffoon is one of the leading ministers in this organization. However, according to its own website, it had been in existence as the “conference arm” of Victory Campus Ministries since 1990.
December 16, 1993—Media House International, Inc. is incorporated in Florida by Jay Rogers. Media House International assumes publication of the Forerunner from Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries.
March, 1994—According to MSI leaders, Morning Star International is established, merging Rice Broocks’, Phil Bonasso’s, and Steve Murrell’s ministries—Champions for Christ, Victory Churches and associated former-Maranatha ministries in the Philippines, and Los Angeles-based Morning Star Christian Church, Inc. (which includes Victory Campus Ministries). However, the paper trail indicates that Morning Star (under that name) was established as early as late 92-93, based on cooperative/covenantal relationships that did not cease when Maranatha “disbanded” in 1990. Ministries incorporated into what would become MSI, including Victory Campus Ministries and Champions for Christ, trace their histories all the way back to Maranatha’s break up in 1990.
May 1, 1994—Campus Ministries International’s mailing address is changed from PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL to Austin TX, in papers filed with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
May 1, 1994—Bob and Rose Weiner Ministries’ mailing address is changed to PO Box 1799, Gainesville, FL, in papers filed with the Florida Secretary of State’s office.
August 15, 1994—Registered trademarks of Maranatha Christian Church(es), “Champions for Christ” and “Maranatha Christian Center” are filed as withdrawn with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
August 24, 1994—Rice Broocks appears as a newly named director on Bethel Chapel’s Board of Directors, according to the annual report filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State. This is what would eventually become MSI’s headquarters in Nashville.
November 4, 1994—Massachusetts Certificate of Authority for Maranatha Christian Church, Inc. (Maranatha’s original Kentucky corporation) is allowed to lapse. This is four years after it dissolves in Kentucky.
December 2, 1994—Morning Star Christian Church incorporates in Dallas, Texas. Joe Martin (pastor of Dallas church), registered agent.
1994—Rice Broocks is listed both as having a Midland, TX address and a Gainesville, FL address in respective white pages listings for that year.