|
-------- Original Message --------
| From: |
Scott Clem |
| Subject: |
In Response To Your Message.... |
| Date: |
Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:15:17 -0600 |
|
Hi, Bob!
I am contacting you in response to your telephone message of
Wed., Jan. 3. My apologies for being so long in getting back
with you.
...
First of all, I want to make you aware that I know a little about
who you are, having read your posts at Maritime SDA Online.
I want you to know that I fully support your efforts to clean
up the mess at 3ABN, and that my prayer is for successful results
for the good of 3ABN and it's viewers, and most importantly,
for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I wish to make it clear that, though I am Southern Baptist, I
hold nothing against the Seventh Day Adventist Church, any of
it's members, or 3ABN personally. My problem, as I am sure is
the same with you, is the un-Christian conduct so rampant at
3ABN. Such conduct serves no purpose but to undermine the original
intended objective of 3ABN and to embarrass the SDA Church.
Those responsible for this misconduct must be exposed and dealt
with, and I applaud your efforts to do just that.
As you now know, both of my brothers are victims of past molestation
by 3ABN vice president Tommy Shelton, who served as our pastor
at Ezra Church of God at the time that the molestations took
place. There is also evidence that my brothers are not the only
victims. While I have never been a victim of any type of sexual
abuse, I am greatly enraged by such actions, particularly as
such a despicable act has been perpetrated on my brothers by
someone in whom our entire family had placed so much trust and
confidence for so many years. Few things in life have cut me
so deeply as this situation, and the human side of me wants to
see Tommy Shelton fall to the most harsh and swift justice known
to man in response to his devilish actions. It is my feeling
that the Lord, though he still loves Tommy, also desires that
he pay for his actions. Tommy's conduct is clearly not of God.
I am equally pained by the fact that our late mother, who died
of cancer on Dec. 1, 2001, left this world never having known
that two of her children were victimized by Tommy in this way.
She remained steadfast in her support of Tommy due to this lack
of knowledge. At the same time, I consider everyone involved
in this ordeal, with the obvious exception of Tommy, to be completely
blameless. Mom never knew the truth, and I can guarantee you
that if she had, she would have turned on Tommy in the blink
of an eye. As well, while I cannot say that I truly understand
what my brothers went through, I can somehow understand why they
waited so long to come forward. Feelings of guilt and embarrassment
are commonplace with victims of sexual abuse for many years after
the abuse has taken place. I also know that my brothers were
fearful of hurting Mom or other family members by coming forward
with this information, and/or of what might happen in the aftermath.
Our family is hurt and angered by this, but this pain and anger
is not directed at, nor is it the fault of, my brothers. I am
just glad that they have both realized the importance of coming
forward, as it will be a major step on their road to recovery
and toward bringing Tommy to justice for what he has done. Simply
put, it is my observation that, of all the numerous people involved
in this terrible situation, the blame for it's entirety rests
solely on one person, and that would be one Tommy Shelton. May
God, in this situation, forego His endless mercy and leave Tommy
to face the consequences that he really deserves!
As for the other information that I may provide for your continuing
investigation, .... [What follows is a legal matter that needs verifying.]
Again, I state that I have nothing against 3ABN personally, but
I support and applaud your efforts to get a stranglehold on the
situation as it stands now. I wish to see 3ABN become a great
powersource for the furtherance of God's Kingdom, but I can no
longer believe that this will happen under the leadership of
Danny and Tommy Shelton. It appears to me that, in order for
3ABN to move forward as a ministry, Danny and Tommy must be ousted.
While we should continue to pray for them, it is clear that
the situations in which they have placed 3ABN will necessitate
their removal. Otherwise, 3ABN will surely fall, and I really
do not believe that it has to come to that.
On an added note, some of these situations, if placed for investigation
by the federal government, could result in the revocation of
3ABN's licenses. Perhaps the best course of action would be
to recommend to Dr. Walt Thompson that steps be taken in the
very near future to remove Danny and Tommy so that 3ABN will
have a fighting chance to save it's authority to broadcast.
At this point, it could be in serious jeopardy.
To tell you the honest truth, I would very much welcome an opportunity
to work with 3ABN in whichever ways ..., but I will not even
make an attempt at such an arrangement as long as 3ABN is under
the facist thumb of Danny Shelton and his child molester brother
Tommy. God does not honor such things, and I refuse to do so
as well. As a past volunteer at 3ABN, I would love to re-establish
a friendship with the network, and my hope is that, in the foreseeable
future, I will be able to do so. As things stand right now,
this just cannot happen.
Again, my best to you and those working with you to bring back
some order to 3ABN. It is my hope and prayer that your investigations
will bring Danny and Tommy and all other guilty parties to justice
and restore 3ABN to her former self for the glory of God. If
you need anything else from me, please do not hesitate to contact
me.
In Christ,
Scott Clem
|
