The People Speak
 |
| Rev. Brant Baker |
I know that there are others who are
waiting to see what comes of my efforts to tell the Shekinah story
before they step up to the plate.
Well it has been ten years, don't you think it is time to end your silence and share your story with us?
Well it has been ten years, don't you think it is time to end your silence and share your story with us?
I have left out some of what was told
to me because it serves no point in our Christian progress together.
It is the
parts from all of you who were there that tells the story and helps us
to assemble the big picture that I have typed here.
***
***
"I have on my bookshelf, by David Edwin Harrell Jr., a book entitled "All ThingsAre Possible, The Healing and Charismatic Revivals in Modern American".
It's an excellent
book on the healing revivals in America, going back to the 1950s,
but
it's greatest deficiency is that it entirely overlooks the story of
Skekihah Fellowship.
If Harrell were ever made aware of it, I am sure he
would have recognized immediately how it connects with, and continues,
the ministry of Katherine Kuhlman, and also that it shows a important
connection with the "Jesus Movement."
Furthermore, some people have
endeavored to chronicle the history of
the "Jesus Movement".
Again,
Shekinah Fellowship is curiously absent from such accounts, albeit during
the early 1970s it had an important role in Southern California area."
***
It's incredible to hear Brant's voice again, takes me back 30 years I just received an email from an old Shekinah person telling me about your video on the Google search engine.
It is really nice David and you did an excellent job on the photos and information about Brant.
He would have been glad that you did it."
"Thank you David.
It's incredible to hear Brant's voice again, takes me back 30 years I just received an email from an old Shekinah person telling me about your video on the Google search engine.
It is really nice David and you did an excellent job on the photos and information about Brant.
He would have been glad that you did it."
***
Brant's parents were generally always there together or at least one or the other were there.
"There were times that we all got together but mainly it was to pray for people and to discuss things about the ministry.
Brant's parents were generally always there together or at least one or the other were there.
If Brant partied at all it was
completely away from the ministry.
He generally got together with
friends during the week for dinner.
Weekends he was completely spent
because of the services.
It took a great deal of energy to travel to so
many places as well as the Saturday night services at Shekinah.
We
traveled all over the place: Oxnard, San Diego, Riverside, Phoenix,
Rubidoux, etc.
And he always had to prepare sermons even though people
though he didn't prepare with text in hand at the services, he did read
ALOT, generally the bible but he always listened to Chuck Smith on the
radio and a few other ministers whose names have left my memory.
I don't
think he ever had a problem at all until TBN dropped him from the
network and people in the ministry started to leave.
He couldn't cope
with everything.
It escalated from there and sometimes he would come to
the services where he could not minister so Kevin would take over.
As
time went on, it became more and more frequent.
We went down to Laguna
Beach several times as he was staying down there to really gather his
thoughts away from everything.
We would go down and take down notes or
pay his bills or generally just give support. We went down once
together and stayed over for the weekend to see if we could help at all.
This was at the beginning of the end when almost the entire ministry
had left and he had to really reevaluate what was going on.
He was
estranged from his family and needed those who remained to stay close to
him. Since all of us were working at the time, we went down on the
weekends and take him to the services on Saturday night. "
***
"JoEllen was very protective of Brant and many times he felt suffocated by her.
She and Bob knew exactly what shortcomings both Brant and Kevin had, but
kept believing God would bring them through their struggles (Kevin was
also gay and died of complications from aids).
As far as the inner
circle was concerned, we were part of it for a brief time only because I
volunteered for Brant in helping him with his bills (I did the
accounting for him and kept his checkbook straight) and sometimes took
him to the doctor or picked up his cleaning.
I never asked a penny from
him for what I did as I didn't think it was right. And because we lived
so far away, there was only once that we were asked to attend a get
together with Brant and his family and the Shekinah Singers ( that was
the smaller group of singers) and we met at JoEllen's home in Brentwood.
Not very many people know this, but JoEllen came from a very wealthy
family and her mother, Muddy, left a large inheritance for both Brant
and Kevin - there was a trust that gave them money each month.
Bob was
in charge of that and that way they did not have to take anything from
the ministry. Many people thought that Brant and Kevin were paid by the
ministry but that wasn't correct, they put all the money into the
ministry for the associate pastors and the running expenses (rental,
utilities, supplies, etc).
Many in the choir were very shy, young
teenagers and needed a lot of guidance. They weren't included in the
meetings because they were basically financial or strategy meetings with
regard to the services.
They had numerous afterglow meetings that
everyone attended and worshipped which were incredible."
"So many wonderful memories of that time and so many that are very painful.
"So many wonderful memories of that time and so many that are very painful.
The
emails with you have brought back both, but it's okay.
Some day I will
tell my story of all or most of what went on during that time, I have
many journals of the wonderful healing services and how God used all of
us then and the incredible Word of Knowledge and prophecies that flowed
through us, it was a wonderful growing time for both of us."
***
"... thus the beginning of Brant's downfall.
Pastor Tom (Changed name) went to
TBN and they removed Brant from the network.
They didn't even confront
him or talk to him.
Brant was devastated and did not even have an
opportunity to talk with Paul and Jan Crouch about it.
That's when Brant
started on prescription drugs through his doctor (the doctor was on
Sunset Blvd - Samson's).
You see Brant had been seeing "Pastor Tom" for
counseling and until the associate pastor spoke up, it was kept in the
strictest of confidences because Pastor Tom was trying to help Brant.
But once that man started talking, I think Pastor Tom figured he should
lay out the entire problem to Paul and Jan so it wouldn't escalate into a
larger problem.
What he should have done was to bring them all together
including Brant and talk and pray about it together.
I have always
wondered what happened to that associate pastor - why was he at that
bar? I kind of doubt if it was to witness to the gay community, but you
never know."
***
"As far as being supportive of Brant, it was not easy at times as our friends left and many in the congregation left also.
Also during that time JoEllen and Kevin took over a lot of the
functions while Brant was so ill after they were taken off of TBN.
We
lost a lot of our friendships during that time and some we have never
gotten back, but there were a few that we still keep in contact with and
that's been wonderful.
Even some who left the ministry before us have
seen our faithfulness, although they don't understand it, respect us for
our beliefs in standing with Brant during the difficult times.
So many
Christians forget that we are like dust and nothing good comes from us,
but the Lord.
We are like filthy rags. Knowing that and acknowledging
our short comings, made us realize without hesitation, that we had to
help Brant during those months after everyone left.
It was the only
thing we could do, we couldn't abandon him, no matter what he had done.
You just can't do that to a friend!
We still carry those beliefs with us
to this day."
***
"I don't know where Brant died as we did not hear about it until much later.
We did not go to the memorial, but we went to
Kevin's.
It's so many years ago and Kevin died in August of 1987 which
was right after my dad died, so I have lost about a year in my memory
because of the trauma of my dad dying.
I'll see if I have any archival
information in my old computer and let you know. As I recall, Brant's
name is not on the headstone and is buried with Kevin in the same grave
or near it."
***
If I can find some of the sermon tapes, I can send you copies if you're interested."
"We all have frailties and shortcomings and it's good that you put in the brief part about his lifestyle and that you focus mainly on the wonderful healings.
If I can find some of the sermon tapes, I can send you copies if you're interested."
***
"I'm so glad that you wrote to us.
I've kept so much inside for so many years that I
know I've rambled a lot about Brant the past week that I thought maybe
it was a little too much.
So thank you.
We were very active in a church
after we left Shekinah but have been wandering alot over the past
decade.
There is just nothing like Shekinah and the manifestation of
those days.
But I know that God is doing a mighty work as there are more
and more people contacting me about Brant and Shekinah that went to
those meetings 30 years ago.
So many of us are hungry for that kind of
closeness to the Lord and the purity that was there in the spirit.
I
know that God will raise all of us who were so blessed to be in that
ministry again, I'm just not sure when. But I'm open to what the Lord
wants from me."
***
Some of the photos are remarkable!
"Thank you.
Some of the photos are remarkable!
Where did Jim get all of these?
He must have received them from choir
members or staff as they are from the choir loft.
Amazing. Thank you."
***
"Thank you so much!
I've forwarded your websites to several people and
although it's been difficult for us to hear Brant's voice again, I'm
getting encouraging notes from them and they want updates!
That's really
surprising for me as I had a LOT of negative emails when I first posted
the webpage on the internet.
Some very threatening also.
This is a good
turn and I feel it's God's perfect timing.
I also think Brant would be
happy that his story is getting out there as well as all of us who
participated in the ministry."
***
"My wife and I were a part of that group from about 1973 to 1975.
It may have been longer than that...that
is a long time back.
We married in 74 and we slowly left that ministry.
Things were going on behind the scenes by that time which were
unsettling to many.
We were mostly involved during Brants ministry at
the Foursquare Church...and we helped with his outreach at the old
Municiple Auditorium.
Of interest to you, if I can find them, and if
they still play, is a series of audio tapes I bought that were made at
Shekinah Camp....which I think was the summer of 74 in Idyllwild.
As I
recall at that time Brant was anticipating a split within the group and
there was a message about people falling away.
Well, we left not too
many months after that.
When Shekinah moved on from the Foursquare
Church...we stayed there with Pastor Adams and a chunk of the Shekinah
members.
We never were part of the Westcoast theater ministry.
It was an
interesting time that did send us on a Christian path.
For many years I
was a church soloist and youth leader at Long Beach First Methodist
Church (I am officially a Methodist) and am currently a section leader
at a Catholic Church (I'm not Catholic).
Anyway, I don't know if anyone
else has given you copies of those tapes....if I can find them, would
you be interested?
There is some of Brant teaching, and tapes of other
leaders of Shekinah at that time.
Most of them left that ministry near
or after the time we moved on.
It was interesting to see the pictures and
hear Brant again on your site, and Susan's site."
***
" I'll keep an eye out for those tapes, I'm not sure of their exact location, but I run into them when looking for other things.
I have moved on from the type of ministry that Shekinah offered.
It had
it's time and place in my life and left good and bad memories that
shaped who I am today.
I appreciate the thoughts you sent, though it was
obviously a form letter after your initial response, but my path goes
ever forward and not back.
It will be interesting to see if Shekinah
Fellowship and Brant Baker's influence are felt again in cyber space.
I
will try and follow it, but I will not be a part.
Evaluate the Lords
will carefully.
I watched too many people over the years take what was a
spiritual flame and instead of providing God's warmth, ended up burning
down the building.
God be with you."
***
"...this is awesome.
I passed it on to some friends... and downloaded some."
***
"...that is so much fun...thanks.
"...that is so much fun...thanks.
I had such a complex how I looked back then
and I see myself so differently....thanks...I have no pics of myself
whatsoever from that time, so this is precious."
***
"I've been watching your video on google.
I was wondering if I could have some of the photos that you used for the video?"
***
" I used to go to Brant services and was active in it.
I started going to
them when there where only a handful of people in a strip mall church ( 7th street Long Beach CA).
We used to sit on the floor and listen to him.
He had maybe 50 people
which all became his helpers.
I used to hold the microphone when people
where healed up on stage.
What a blessing that was. I was good friends
with Lesa Green and Meg and Teddy etc.
I still have a few pictures of
everyone.
I finally moved to N Cal when Kevin Brant's brother took over
the ministry.I was not there at the end, but was there right from day
one.
I had heard of Brant while I was going to Calvary Chapel in the old
days when Chuck was still in a house church and then in the tent."
***
..."thank you for your reply.
I know I have audio tapes from Brant that I would
buy , after the services.
I have them in storage in N. Cal.
I am looking
for all the pictures I have, also have 2 from the retreats of everyone
including JoEllen.
Also 2 records of the coir and others.
One of Lily
Green.
Jo Ellen I feel caused Brant to fall away.
Do I know you from the
meetings? "
***
"Thank you for your reply.
I know and feel that you
are doing a great service to keep Brant's memory alive.
I have treasured
the few pictures I have and all the memories.
I will make and send ail
to you as soon as I can, probably by next week.
I work in a psych Hospas a
nurse the next 3 days and have 3 days of and will do this.
I called my
aunt to see if she will let me come up to N cal and find those tapes
that have been in her storage for the last 25 yrs.
I also have contacted
David Koerner the orchastra director [ do you remember him ] and he has
nothing left from those days."
***
"I used to live in Huntington Beach, right next to Newport Beach and remember the baptisms on the beach.
I
will post on the web site what I remember from Brant.
I wonder what ever
happened to Kevin his brother.
I remember him trying to preach.
There
at the end of the time when we where in the Fox west coast theater.."
***
"I find it also a blessing that I can write you and share the memories.
I
cant imagine Kevin dying also of aids.
But I am not surprised.
Did you
know that Brant was engaged for a short time to Lesa Green?
She is in
some of the pictures I think.
I will point her out next time.
But he
could not go through with it, she was devistated and went into a deep
depression for a while, but thank God came out of it.
I remember when I
was on stage at times holding the Microphone to let the healed people
speak on stage, that at times the power of God was so strong around
Brant that it was hard to stay standing up."
***
"I know after I moved away from Shekinah I fell away for many years.
I thought God did not
want to use me anymore and could not understand why.
I was young when I
left about 20 yrs old.
I lived in San Jose at that time and had a church
bring Brant up there for a service."
***
"GOOD STORY.....I PASSED IT ON.......TOO BAD IT HAD A TRAGIC ENDING.....I WANNA GO LIKE ENOCH....!"
***
"Thanks for the good words.
I definitely feel the anointing of God in these
projects.
You see God do something awesome everyday.
God bless your
efforts.
Keep in touch."
***
"The wooden cross Brant always wore was not carved by his brother...
He got it at the beach in a vending machine
for 50 cents around 1971 or so and put it on a very expensive gold
chain."
***
"Brant was the real article, while B H_ _n is a Word-Faith false teacher, and not one of the "miracles" in any of his meetings has been found to be genuine, so I hate to hear or see his name next to Brant's, in terms of genuine Spiritual gifting.
I was there in the 70's
for a number of Brant's meetings, as I'm sure you were, and the presence
of God in those meetings was absolutely phenomenal- beyond
description.
I also went to one of ( Mr Bleep's) meetings, expecting the
same Glorious Anointing, and I left disappointed and angry at the empty
shirt named (Mr. Bleep), and in his pitiful attempts to whip up the
crowd into a frenzy.
Brant never needed to whip up anybody- God's
presence was simply "there", and, like Miss Kuhlman, he never allowed
any fanaticism in his services...
Maybe others are fooled, or maybe they
simply miss Kathryn Kuhlman and Brant so much that they're willing to
put up with a second-rate look alike.
As for myself, I miss Brant Baker
and his ministry very much- Forgive me for going on about this, David.
When I saw your site on the web, I caught the first real glimpse of
something I hadn't known in over 30 years, and it was a real blessing!
Many thanks for doing that."
***
"The pity is that at one time there were over 400 of these messages available on audio tape, and I really have only a select few by comparison...
Right after Brant's death, I
called the ministry phone number and talked with Linda (don't remember
her last name) for about 45 minutes, lamenting Brant's death and
reminiscing about the glorious meetings he'd held.
He did come up to the
Seattle area a number of times, and I returned to the L.A. area to
visit and attend some of the services there, too.
She ended up saying
"At least we still have the tapes", and said the ministry phone number
would remain open for a while, but when I tried to call back just a few
days later, the number had been disconnected- ending my attempt to ever
get into contact with those who were involved with the ministry...
Until I
found Susan Dixon's website, and , finally, after another 5 years- Your
site.
Susan had told me that someone named Anne Hume had the remaining
Shekinah material, and gave me her e-mail address, but after Anne had
said she'd try to dig these things up, I never heard from her again,
despite repeated e-mails to her...
I began to wonder if people were
hiding something from me, as if I hadn't known about the problems Brant
was having at the time- problems which eventually ended his ministry, as
well as his life......
Which brings me to you- As I mentioned in a
previous e-mail, You and Susan Dixon are the ONLY people I've been able
to contact from the ministry since Brant's death, and that after many
years-
I hope more will come forward in the very near future, but for
now, you're it.
One of the saddest of my experiences came about 5 years
ago when I made the trip To North Hollywood First Assembly to find
someone- ANYONE who remembered Brant Baker and Shekinah Fellowship.
Of
all the people I spoke with- including the Pastor- Only ONE elderly man
from the congregation had the slightest recollection of who Brant
was..."Didn't he hang out with Kathryn Kuhlman."
***
"...I can see that you got some of the existing photos on your website from the little booklet, "The Anointing" by Brant- Great book!
I could e-mail your
friend, Pastor Tilson, but I don't know what I'd say to him that I
haven't said to you already.
Nobody but Susan Dixon has been willing to
really talk about the Shekinah Fellowship days with me after all this
time.
It's sad that some of the old choir members are having a hard time
accepting you- Maybe they want to just let the old memories lie or
something, but I simply can't."
***
"Wow, what a touching website you put together....
Funny, I had been told years ago of several of the
things that the site mentioned, which confirmed to me that they were
indeed true...
Through the years, God had periodically put people in my
path who had either been involved in that ministry, or knew someone who
was involved, so I was getting, through different sources, a pretty
accurate picture of the ministry, from the height of it to it's
downfall-
One man in particular, who was VERY involved in the ministry,
responded to my inquiry about Brant and Shekinah by saying "My take on
Shekinah was that it was a great move of God, and that Brant in
particular was an unusually gifted man..."
Someday maybe we can talk
about it in detail, but it's as if God had prepared me for all of it,
the good and the bad, over a very long period of time, so that I could
have a complete picture of it in my mind.
In the end, God had blessed Brant and Shekinah Fellowship almost beyond measure, and that's what
matters when looking back at it all these years later........"
***
"YOU WONT BELIEVE ME BUT i JUST LOST ALL THE ATTACHMENTS, COMPUTER WAS AUTO DISCNNECTING, TRIED TO SAVE THIS EMAIL AND LOST IT. iT TOOK ME 2 HRS TO UPLOAD THEM. i am trying not to get upset. will send and try again."
***
"You're absolutely right about God's anointing on Shekinah Fellowship and I have believed through all of these years, that even though Brant is with the Lord now, that that anointing- in all of its Glory and all of its power- has not disappeared forever.
Maybe that's why I've kept all those
magazines and tapes for so many years.
You're right also, as I said
before, that I MUST share this stuff with others, and you've made it
possible by your website...
I don't want to keep repeating myself, but
it's as if God had me keeping all of those things safe and sound,
through many moves, just for the purpose of bringing all of them out at
this particular time in history, just as you had told me...
I know the
real from the counterfeit, and that is how I know that some ministries
that have come to prominence since the Shekinah Fellowship days are
simply "smoke and mirrors"...
I'm not going to bad-mouth anyone or any
ministry, but since you know from experience just how powerful that
anointing was, I'm guessing that you know what I mean...
Shekinah
Fellowship is not finished and that wonderful anointing and God's
Presence are not merely a thing of the past..."
***
***
"God is going to once again perform a Mighty Move of His Spirit in the same way as before, and when it begins to happen, all counterfeits and false teachings will pale by comparison-simply because people will once again see the real thing-
Once you've experienced the genuine, as you told me,
then it's impossible to be satisfied with any cheap imitation!
David, I
want you to know that I'm not some fanatic who gets easily blown around
by wild shows of emotional excitement or anything like that, and even
though I miss Brant and the ministry so much, I will not settle for
anything less than the reality of that anointing- no matter how long it
takes to find and be a part of it, and I believe that your website may
be the beginning of it- sure seems like it, huh?
Thanks for the
encouragement."
***
"The first time I saw Brant was in March of 1975.
I
had gotten saved two months before and some of my family and I decided
to visit the L.A. area and witness to other family members and
friends...
We were at North Hollywood First Assembly of God and Pastor
Sanders asked Brant to come up and tell everybody what God had been
doing in the meetings.
When he spoke, I thought he looked kind of silly,
the big wooden cross and all.
That night we saw him on TBN and we
decided to go to the Angelus Temple to see him the next day.
It was the
day before we saw Kathryn Kuhlman at the Shrine Auditorium.
I was really
taken back by Brant, just as much as when I saw Miss Kuhlman the next
day.
To make a long story short, Brant came up to Westminster Assembly
Church in Seattle a year later and when I saw him and the ministry that
night, I was never the same- To this very day!
He came up several times
during the year, as well as to Tacoma, 45 minutes drive from Seattle.
I
can't tell you just yet why his ministry had such a lasting affect on
me (someday we'll talk about it, I'm sure).
All I can say for now is
that I was changed from that day forward.
The Holy Spirit did quite a
work in me and nothing since has affected me as much...
It was through
friends who were there when things went bad that I got a picture of the
bad stuff that was happening...
Funny, but I would run into someone who
knew somebody connected with the ministry, or a friend of mine knew
someone from the ministry....all at different times- but as I said
before, I got a pretty accurate picture of what was going on.
I could
give you names and you'd instantly recognize them.
Someday we'll talk
about it all.
The main thing is that I never lost faith in that ministry
because I knew that God's Hand was upon it, even when friends told me I
was a fool for not walking away from it all...
I was constantly praying
for Brant and his struggles at the time and there was actually a moment-
several months before he died- that I knew that God was going to take
him home.
It broke my heart when I heard the news, yet I knew it was
going to happen ( I'm not crazy-honestly).
Let's talk sometime when you
have an opportunity, OK? There's so much more to say about all of this."
***
"I'll tell you, I can really relate to the sadness about the demise of Shekinah- and I was one of those who knew the Glory that came from that ministry and the memory has never left me!
On more than one occasion, I
would uncontrollably weep, even sob, minutes before Brant would come from
behind the curtain and onto the stage, so great was the Presence of
God, and every time he came up to the podium, I could see the Glory of
God on him- it was as if I'd been put into a different dimension.
I'm
not surprised though, that some didn't like him.
I took a couple of my
friends from my dorm while attending Northwest College to see Shekinah,
and one of them didn't like Brant one bit.
I wondered how he wasn't
immersed in the Glory of God as I was, but I know that I was never the
same after these services, regardless of how anyone else may have
felt.....
That Shekinah Magazine with Miss Kuhlman on the cover has a
photo of Susan Dixon on page 21, with her accompanyi ng testimony. SHE
has no doubt as to the Power of God to heal!
By the way- as a side note, I'll tell you that the first time Brant prayed for me, I was standing in line for prayer at North Hollywood First Assembly of God and when Brant turned to me, I could feel waves of Glory coming from him.
I can't explain it, but I was there and I remember it."
***
***
He was unique and he really got the point home, you could sense the Holy Spirit's anointing when he spoke.
I'm excited to be a part of bringing this all together, I certainly couldn't do what you do with the tapes and photos, but it's cool to even have a bit in the process.
All these years I thought I was saving the tapes and magazines for me, but God had other ideas, and I'd rather go with His plans than mine! \
I am missing ONE issue of Shekinah Fellowship Magazine (Winter 1975- I've never seen it), I have all the others that were printed.
Maybe an old Shekinah member has one that I can copy, you never know.
I AM expecting many more people to come forward with more tapes and other memorabilia, it's just a matter of time.
And God dealing with hearts!
As I said, there were originally more than 500 tapes available, so I may be just scratching the surface with the ones I have. You'll soon have them in your hands- God Bless you!"
***
Very powerful and life-changing!
I'm praying for the tapes' influence on many people, both who've never heard Brant before, and those who remember him and knew that anointing that God placed upon him.
God bless you and all your efforts"
***
I know without a doubt that God will bless this endeavor, and your untiring efforts!
Some- maybe many- people will be hesitant to get into detail about Shekinah, but others will come forward, I know it.
I must tell you that I spoke with Joe over the phone about three years ago and he did give me his perspective on the ministry, which I shared with you in a previous e-mail, but I left out his name.
He wrote a number of the articles in Shekinah Fellowship Magazine and as you well know, was a huge part of that ministry."
***
I hadn't seen Brant in so many years, and it only confirmed what I'd told you before.
Nothing today, and I mean NOTHING even comes close!
Anybody with the slightest bit of Spiritual discernment could see that.
What a blessing that was to me.
I still don't know what to say, I haven't been the same since viewing it."
***
It sure looks better on the TV than it does on the computer.
I tell you, I'm still coming down from watching it.
It made me so sad to realize that Brant's gone, and that so many people will never know of him, but then that's what your website is all about.
My 12 year old son came into the room while I was watching the video and asked, "Why are those people fainting when that guy touches them?"
I told him that I would explain it to him later on.
I was really involved in it and didn't have time to explain.
I did tell him that "that guy" had prayed for me like that many years ago.
He then asked, "Did you fall down too?"
I've got lots to explain to him.
Your website is so important.
Just keep on doing all you can, David!
Many thanks again for the DVD,I really appreciate it!"
***
That's great!
This is just the beginning.
I prepped a long e-mail to Pastor Tilson (took me almost an hour, slow as I am), but looks like his e-mail has been changed and it didn't go through- Good thing too, because after that, I looked at your (Mr.Bleep) photos and saw that Pastor Tilson had his picture taken with him, and if my e-mail had gone through, he probably wouldn't have appreciated some of what I'd expressed about (Mr.Bleep) and his ministry."
***
I don't have time now, because I have to work early tomorrow (Friday), and as I've already said, I'm a pitifully s-l-o-w typist, but I will e-mail you fully tomorrow evening in response.
Suffice it to say that any apprehension I may have had in terms of who you are or what you're about- has been completely laid to rest.
As I read your e-mail, I was hit with the fact that you are genuine, that you know what you're talking about (anointing, etc. and you were there), and that we are one in the Spirit.
My mind kept saying AMEN to the topics that you addressed, and I'll go into that more fully tomorrow evening.
God bless you!"
***
I remember the ministry very well and wondered if we could talk about Brant and the ministry..."
***
***
I guess I not only saw too much but then there was what the Lord was showing me.
What I can say is that God is Always teaching, exhorting, and blessing his people no matter what.
I had some incredible times in the Holy Spirit but Shekinah reminded me of elementary school, which, if you were unpopular, was like Nightmare from Elm Street.
In other words there was a giant pecking order at Shekinah.
The gay insecurity was the root of it I am sure, but there was this 'inner circle,' that no one could penetrate and everyone wanted to be 'part of them.'
It was made up of Brant, his brother, Claudia, Joe Dallas (the pianist who last time I heard had a ministry for recovery from that lifestyle), and when they were part of the ministry in the early days, Randy Smith, and Greg Laurie.
Randy was the worship leader when we met underneath the big church and that was the only time I remember it being really sweet and the Holy Spirit being the true focus and not Brant.
When 'Brant's Bible Study' moved up into the big church it turned into this monstrosity.
I was told, nearly ordered, to be 'part' of the choir.
There was this assigning of people to things.
I did not feel led to be part of that choir for a second, although I certainly loved worshipping.
Many people thought I was an angel, for real, as the HS was upon me when I sang to Jesus, but I will never forget that someone in the ministry 'rebuked me,' telling me that I was calling attention to myself when I worshipped.
I have to say, they were lucky to have us all doing that for free and backing up Brant.
Of course that would have been the farthest thing from my mind at the time.
How we grow up!
But I was horrified to think that I was 'sinnning' in that way.
I also didn't actually believe it underneath, but you know, when someone tells you something like that it can be jarring or traumatic.
That was not the only time I as rebuked.
There was a girl name Martha who I lived with and she was 'higher up,' in the ministry, and she was continually telling me something was wrong."
***
Yes He was given an opportunity to move there, but it was also so sick and clothed in deceit that I think there was just a sourness underneath everything.
I know what it is to be in the ministry and not be 'quite right' with the Lord.
It is such an easy place to hide, Oh man, no one ever suspects that you might be in sin, and those that you minister with never ask...,at least it was like that at Chuck Jr.'s church.
It was more like going to a job in some ways, and the competition was what finally did me in there.
All that to say, I later understood to a point what Brant meant when he said that he had gotten to the point where he could 'sin right in front of Jesus and not feel guilt.'
I wasn't in outright sin but my heart wasn't in the place I felt it should have been.
That was another reason I got out of the ministry.
I always thought it was so strange that I ended up in the ministry when I wasn't as on fire and when I was, people thought I was unstable or whatever..."
***
God Told me to leave and gave me a scripture in Proverbs.
I came back one more time.
I told Brant to look at Ezekiel 44 as that was a sermon I had just heard Frank O'Neil give in Santa Cruz.
Brant ministered on it the next service.
That kind of blew me away.
There was such an 'awe' of Brant and that secrecy added to that.
When I came back to visit, the awe was gone for me and I think that Brant realized that.
At that time he told me I would be back and part of the ministry again, and of course I knew that was the farthest thing from the truth, he got a phone call at that moment and said, "No, not Lonnie! and for some strange reason I just intuitively knew he was talking about Lonnie being gay, although at that point no one, not even I knew that Brant was gay, or Lonnie.
I had taken my friend Kevin Laubach to a service at the Vineyard and he got really angry.
It was the night that Lonnie called all the young people to come down.
Kevin's emotion was so strong and it was because he could tell Lonnie was gay, and told me so.
He thought it was a sham.
Again, at that time I didn't think that was true, but between that phone call and Kevin, I was beginning to wonder."
***
People from Calvary were praying for me the whole time I was there I found out after I left.
I decided on Shekinah over Calvary because of the moving of the Spirit.
Too bad I had to make a choice and end up in that situation.
It's just sad that the Holy Spirit couldn't have been given a equal footing at Calvary. At least very sad to and for me."
***
The Bible is brutally honest about its heroes; their triumphs and failures lay side by side in its pages.
If the truth is what sets us free, then we can never suggest anything other than its bald recitation, regardless of where those truths may lead us."
***
You seem to know something about it.
Could you explain more?
My wife and I were much involved with it for several years back in the1970s, and we knew quite a few of the principal players at that time.
We still have some contacts with various people who were formally apart of the ministry."
***
It is unconscionable that this has happened.
It has always been, for many years, my wish that someone could tell this story adequately.
After all these years, a small beginning has been made."
***
It is very unfortunately the case that many of the principle people involved with Shekinah Fellowship are still very reluctant to talk about their time there.
And many of them are now scattered across the country."
***
(The college has since changed its name to Calif. BaptistUniversity.)
I just recently was introduced to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit(at Calvary Chapel in Riverside of all places, but that is a story of its own).
It came to pass that someone invited me to go to the Riverside YMCA.
This was sometime in late 1972 or early 1973, as I recall.
At that time, Shekinah was holding healing ministry services at that location.
I was entirely blown away by the experience. Having known nothing but a staid Southern Baptist upbringing, to encounter the power of God working in people's lives was unlike anything I had ever seen or heard before.
After that, my involvement would last for several years, from 1973 to around 1977."
***
I call it that for lack of a better term.
During most of that time, the Riverside group would be headed up by some Shekinah elder who would make the trip from Long Beach to Riverside to conduct a home Bible study.
At its largest, this Riverside group had around 30 or more fairly regular attenders.
For a time, Brant would, on a weekly basis, hold services in Riverside, at various venues.
I attended nearly every one.
The first one was the Riverside YMCA.
Another location would be Arlington Foursquare Church.
Another was another smaller Foursquare church on 11th Avenue in Riverside.
And another was, as I recall, a old Presbyterian church somewhere on Magnolia Avenue."
***
Many were involved in the music ministry or ushering.
My wife sometimes would be one of the "word of knowledge" ladies during the services.
At other times, she served in the choir (which was top notch in my opinion).
Naturally, she got to know several of the primary music ministry people, such as Kelly and Lilly Green, Meg Rafferty, Randy West, and several others.
My wife was also fairly acquainted with Brant's brother Kevin.
On on occasion, New Year's1977, Kevin had invited us to his home in Belmont Shores, with several other friends from Shekinah. Kevin was a fairly nice fellow, a little vain perhaps,who had some role in the ministry."
***
Thus even though many in the "Riverside group" lived in Riverside, and not in Long Beach, they were nearly as heavily involved in Shekinah as anyone else.
On several occasions, many of the Riverside group would be invited to attend various social functions with the ministers in Long Beach.
One of these occasions was the summer camp held at the Calvary Chapel Conference center up in the San Bernardino mountains.
It lasted for at least two days. I also attended.There I had a very brief meeting with Brant on a balcony and was struck with how shy and frail he seemed."
"By 1977, it was increasingly becoming obvious that the Shekinah ministry was inserious trouble. Sometime during that year, around the summer, my wife and I began to drift away.
We started attending Calvary Chapel (now Harvest) in Riverside."
***
As I said earlier, there may be many understandable reasons for this, his difficult family life, etc.
But what is interesting is her memory of Brant back when he first started appearing in Riverside.
My wife was still in high school at the time, and Brant was holding services at the Riverside YMCA.
Adjacent to that location was a large vacant lot.
On one occasion, Iola found Brant walking around there by himself.
She approached him and started up a long conversation with him, as they walked around together in that vacant lot that evening.
She found him very amicable and "warm", to use her word, very much a friendly and open person who cared about others and was interested in them.
She told me that, in her opinion, only someone like Brant, who wants to reach out and touch people, can be in a healing type ministry.
She pointed out to me this contrast between how she remembered the young Greg as compared to Brant Baker."
***
When you think about it, it was an odd event, mostly a nuisance at the time.
During the middle of a Saturday service at the Neighborhood Foursquare Church someone exploded a firecracker or cherrybomb up near the stage, off to one side.
You can imagine the commotion it would have caused, especially considering the services were always very crowded.
Although I later heard mention of this event, I was not at this particular service, but my wife was there.
She recounted to me how, from the point forwards, it seemed to her that Brant started to drift, to become increaslingly nervous and less accessible to people.
Soon after that incident, Brant adopted the unfortunate practice of having "bodyguards", thus becoming more isolated from ordinary people.
For her, the explosion was a turning point for Brant."
***
In fact, you could say I was mostly ignored.
But because I was around often enough, the Long Beach people knew who I was, but that was about the extent of it.
There was never any serious move to enlist me for any long term purpose, even though I wanted very much to play some sort of useful part.
On one occasion, I ushered at the series of services held at the erstwhile LongBeach Municiple Auditorium.
I was way up in the balcony, passing out flyers and then collecting the offering.
On another occasion, I was allowed to usher, but once, at the Neighborhood Foursquare Church, but was later deemed unsuitable.
On the other hand, my wife was on rather friendly terms with many of the key players, and she was often involved in the music end of things, mostly in the choir.
On many occasions, she was one of "word of knowledge" ladies who percolated through the auditorium praying for people.
And for a short time, she was even close to Kevin Baker. She pointed out to me that Kevin, for a time, worked in his Dad's business and was pretty well off."
***
It was a sort of semi-communal arrangement.
They shared a kitchen and many of the expenses.
This made it easier for them to function on limited incomes.
After all these many years, my wife is unclear on exactly who was there and when, except that it varied over time.
At one time, Randy and Marla West were there, along with Bill and Stacey Jensen, and Kelly and Lilly Green.
She doesn't recall whether Joe and Linda Dallas, or Eric and Claudia were there.
(Eric and Claudia were for a longtime Brant's "personal assistants". Unfortunately, we no longer can recollect their last name, and we have no idea what became of them.)"
***
I came there that evening when many of the people involved in Shekinah were working late into the night cleaning up the interior,which had accumulated many years of dust.
Some of the seating needed repair.
It was a huge effort to get the theater in usable shape.
Why this move to theFox-Mann was made is not entirely clear to us now.
My wife thinks that the Saturday services had simply outgrown the Neighborhood Foursquare Church.
I vaguely recollect some mention of a disagreement having happened between pastor BillyAdams and Brant.
But we are not sure on this point, as memories begin to fade after so many years.
Other people might know, but most of them are not talking, unfortunately, as they dis-relish the whole subject."
***
When I look at the pictures now of Brant, which you've posted, I am astonished at how young he seemed.
Advice from an elderly pastor would have been invaluable to Brant, especially being in such a stressful ministry.
Therefore, I suspect that the loss of Billy Adams' influence constituted another unfortunate turning point."
***
It is extremely stressful and the pressures are very great.
It can bring a great deal of attention and celebrity, and consequently the temptations are very great.
There are so many people in the world with incurable and hopeless situations that they will come in droves, desperately looking for help.
For such a young man like Brant to be thrust so quickly into such a stressful and high-profile situation produced huge pressures on him, I amsure.
He was a frail young man, a recovering homosexual, who came from an unhappy family situation, who needed sources of seasoned guidance, truthful support, and wise counsel.
For him to become increasingly isolated as he did was a recipe for disaster.
It also didn't help that many of the other Shekinah ministers begin to hold him in too much awe, thus becoming increasingly disinclined to correct him when he was wrong.
His being turned into a celebrity came upon him before he was spiritually ready to handle it--and it destroyed him."
"This is one of the valuable lessons that I think can be learned from Shekinah.
All the members of the Body need each other.
Brant needed everybody else, because it was dangerous, to begin with, for such a young xtian to be thrust so quickly into such a stressful, high-profile ministry.
Brant had a heart for this ministry, but he also had great weaknesses.
In some ways, he was let down by all of us who unduely idolized him.
I don't say this to excuse his sin, by no means,but I say these things because the Church needs to stop forgetting its mistakes,to stop sweeping them under the rug.
It needs to remember its mistakes, totruthfully enter them into the historical record, so that perhaps it will begin to learn from those mistakes. It has to stop covering things up."
***
***
For a recovering homosexual to surround himself with young, male body guards was probably one of those contributing factors.
My wife speculates that the Metropolitan Church may have deliberately planted, forlack of a better term, "agent provocateurs" in the church.
If there is the one thing that bothers the "gay agenda" and its proponents, it's when someone"leaves the plantation", so to speak.
There would certainly be a motive to try to conduct a campaign of sabotage.
But this is all speculation on our part."
***
It was very sad.
There is nothing "gay" (as in gayety) about homosexuality; it's a form of slavery that keeps men trapped in bondage.
Another aspect of the situation, is the fact that we also had other homosexuals who frequented the Riveside services, but later it became apparent to me that they were completely and repentantly determined to pursue their own rebellious course.
I some times wonder what roles they were playing behind the scenes."
***
Naturally, this led to romance and matrimony.
Indeed, Shekinah was where I met and married my wife.
For a time, there was a flurry of marriages at Shekinah.
One of the unfortunate after maths of the ruination of ShekinahFellowship was that a large number of these marriages later ended up in divorce.
Stephen and Teddi Boyd divorced, as did Joe and Linda Dallas, and many others.
Mark Turney, the young deacon who oversaw the Riverside group, eventually divorced from Darlees. Ron and Sue Schloss were divorced not too long after losing a baby to crib death, an event which happened at a dinner my wife and I attended with several of the Riverside Shekinah people.
That was especially sad for us.
Out of all the many marriages, it seemed as if the only ones that survived were mine, Randy and Marla West's, Kelly and Lilly Green's, and Randall and Debbie Slack's."
***
This is difficult to do as they are scattered all over the country now.
The only place where I could start was by looking on the Internet.
My first break was when I stumbled across a web site for a church in Oklahoma.
It turned out that Randall Slack (who was once a drummer for the music ministry)was now pastoring a church in the town of Harrah.
He and Debbie live in Croctaw,Oklahoma.
I got a hold of his email address and contacted him.
He turned out to be exceptional in the sense of not being too reluctant to talk about Shekinah,and that he had maintained contacts with several of the people he knew there.
He explained that Stephan Boyd was now pastoring a Calvary Chapel in Oregon (in the town of Newport, it turns out).
Bill Jensen was working for a book publisher in Oregon. (I have reason to believe this was Multnomah Publishers, located in Sisters, Oregon.)
After that, I was able to locate Randy and Marla West, who are now living near Temecula.
Later, my wife would have a long phone conversation with Marla, and she was quite talkative and friendly.
And Randy is the same mellow person I knew before.
Finally, I was able to locate Kelly and LillyGreen.
We rejoiced to find out they were still married, are living some where near Lancaster, California, and they were still involved in the music ministry in a Vineyard church.
They are currently employed together at a large xtian school.
Although Lilly would answer our email, I got the feeling that they were not inclined to discuss Shekinah Fellowship.
They do have several wonderful children, who are grown up now.
One of their sons has a interest in the Mongolian culture and language.
In fact, he's married a young lady fromMongolia.
On the other hand, my email to Stephan Boyd was never answered.
It's entirely possible that he doesn't want to be reminded about Shekinah, especially considering that he is pastoring a CC church."
***
***
It's a strange twist of history that, after all these many years,I would be exchanging email with someone ordained by Shekinah Fellowship.
And I also got a kick out of hearing about your street evangelism ministry, with the power outlet, a PA system, and a spotlight.
Well, I can't think of much more to say.
Until next time..."
***
We attended for 3 – 4 years is my guess, althought it's so long ago I can't quite remember how long. A long time anyway.
Long after we left Shekinah I continued to go to the Four Square Church under pastor Adams, with Danny and Susie as youth Pastors.
Pastor Adams led a long life serving the Lord to the fullest.
He was an amazing man, who I believe truly loved the young people at Shekinah, and Brant, long after the ministry had moved on.
While I attended Shekinah I was friends with Terry Brown's kids (he was the choir director for some time).
It was from them that I first began to hear the rumblings of the problems.
They said that Brant had been asked to leave the church.
In my heart I already sensed the problems, but I was reluctat to accept it as fact.
We would go to Shekinah on Saturdays and I'd go to church at the Four Square on Sunday nights.
One leg on each side of the fence so to speak.
Shekinah is where I found the Lord.
It is were I began my own Christian routes.
Although I believe Brant fell away from the Lord in his last days I am not 100 percent sure it is how people suspected.
Yes, it is widely accepted that he died of complications related to Aids, yes we know he struggled in the area of homosexuality, but it is likely he was HIV positive for many years, possibly decades before his death from the complications.
He often mentioned the wild ways of his youth with “love=ins” and such, and from a medical time line it is likely became HIV positive during that era.
I don’t really know, perhaps Brant never actually knew.
Perhaps the HIV positive thing is what broke up his engagement to Lesa.
Perhaps the diagnosis was the beginning for the spiral.
Perhaps.. he felt he had failed so badly what was the point of remaining with the Lord - he couldn't love him anyway.
Maybe he was mad at God for the diagnosis in the prime of this ministry.
We can all only speculate.
But I do know that there was a season when God’s hand was so obviously on the ministry and then it was notable when the hand of God had lifted.
It could be seen and felt by all involved.
Many of us stayed long after we should have, out of love for Brant and for what the ministry had meant to us.
When we finally left, most of us left with a great sadness.
Knowing it was what God would have us do, but sad for the hurt it caused.
The thing is people, that leaders of God at all ages are prime targets of the devil .
Young leaders of God are often easy targets as well.
I loved Brant and his family.
I used to sit with Daddy Baker almost every week.
He cared for me and fed me mints throughout the services.
I loved the work of the Lord at Shekinah, and refuse to refute all the good/ God that was evidenced there.
I think many of the really involved have scattered in silence because from the outside it looks so contradictory.
How could God have moved in such a powerful way when sin was so rampant in the ministry.
Is that any different than all ministries.. are we not all sinners in need of a savior?
But the movement was so controversial, and honestly hard to grasp even being involved in it, so how much harder it is to explain to those who weren't there.
Because Brant fell, that does not negate the work of God.
The ministry afer all was God's ministry .. and when it became more about Brant then I believe that is when he lifted his hand off of the ministry.
I sill love Brant, and all the other leaders there.. their love for God inspired me!
I was so thankful to hear the updates from the other blogger who shared the news of Randy and Marla and Kelly and Lilly.
They were powerful forces in my life as well.
I hope they know that people know it was just a Brant thing for them.
I do.
I have passed on the blog and video sights to my sister.. who too was glad to take the walk down memory lane.
To open a part of her heart and life that has been closed for so long.
Shekinah will ALWAYs have a fond and respected place in my life/heart.
It was a huge molding influence in my life.
The love of Jesus was there, and for many (despite what happened in the end) it took root in our lives.
The work of God started there continues on in my life. I appreciate this blog for the opportunity to share things that we've all only carried for many years.
By the way- as a side note, I'll tell you that the first time Brant prayed for me, I was standing in line for prayer at North Hollywood First Assembly of God and when Brant turned to me, I could feel waves of Glory coming from him.
I can't explain it, but I was there and I remember it."
***
"I just viewed "Fear Not" and I'm impressed with the job you did with it!"
***
"David- I certainly agree with you about Brant's teachings.
He was unique and he really got the point home, you could sense the Holy Spirit's anointing when he spoke.
I'm excited to be a part of bringing this all together, I certainly couldn't do what you do with the tapes and photos, but it's cool to even have a bit in the process.
All these years I thought I was saving the tapes and magazines for me, but God had other ideas, and I'd rather go with His plans than mine! \
I am missing ONE issue of Shekinah Fellowship Magazine (Winter 1975- I've never seen it), I have all the others that were printed.
Maybe an old Shekinah member has one that I can copy, you never know.
I AM expecting many more people to come forward with more tapes and other memorabilia, it's just a matter of time.
And God dealing with hearts!
As I said, there were originally more than 500 tapes available, so I may be just scratching the surface with the ones I have. You'll soon have them in your hands- God Bless you!"
***
"His teachings, as you said, are really unique, and after you're finished listening to a tape, you walk away wanting that intament relationship with Jesus that he always talked about, not trying to follow a bunch of rules, but just abiding in Christ.
Very powerful and life-changing!
I'm praying for the tapes' influence on many people, both who've never heard Brant before, and those who remember him and knew that anointing that God placed upon him.
God bless you and all your efforts"
***
"Thank you, David, for the kind words.
I know without a doubt that God will bless this endeavor, and your untiring efforts!
Some- maybe many- people will be hesitant to get into detail about Shekinah, but others will come forward, I know it.
I must tell you that I spoke with Joe over the phone about three years ago and he did give me his perspective on the ministry, which I shared with you in a previous e-mail, but I left out his name.
He wrote a number of the articles in Shekinah Fellowship Magazine and as you well know, was a huge part of that ministry."
***
"I was absolutely speechless during my viewing of your video.
I hadn't seen Brant in so many years, and it only confirmed what I'd told you before.
Nothing today, and I mean NOTHING even comes close!
Anybody with the slightest bit of Spiritual discernment could see that.
What a blessing that was to me.
I still don't know what to say, I haven't been the same since viewing it."
***
"David, I got the DVD today and watched it.
It sure looks better on the TV than it does on the computer.
I tell you, I'm still coming down from watching it.
It made me so sad to realize that Brant's gone, and that so many people will never know of him, but then that's what your website is all about.
My 12 year old son came into the room while I was watching the video and asked, "Why are those people fainting when that guy touches them?"
I told him that I would explain it to him later on.
I was really involved in it and didn't have time to explain.
I did tell him that "that guy" had prayed for me like that many years ago.
He then asked, "Did you fall down too?"
I've got lots to explain to him.
Your website is so important.
Just keep on doing all you can, David!
Many thanks again for the DVD,I really appreciate it!"
***
"The last time I checked, your first video/audio had almost 900 hits.
That's great!
This is just the beginning.
I prepped a long e-mail to Pastor Tilson (took me almost an hour, slow as I am), but looks like his e-mail has been changed and it didn't go through- Good thing too, because after that, I looked at your (Mr.Bleep) photos and saw that Pastor Tilson had his picture taken with him, and if my e-mail had gone through, he probably wouldn't have appreciated some of what I'd expressed about (Mr.Bleep) and his ministry."
***
"David, I'm really taken back by your last e-mail.
I don't have time now, because I have to work early tomorrow (Friday), and as I've already said, I'm a pitifully s-l-o-w typist, but I will e-mail you fully tomorrow evening in response.
Suffice it to say that any apprehension I may have had in terms of who you are or what you're about- has been completely laid to rest.
As I read your e-mail, I was hit with the fact that you are genuine, that you know what you're talking about (anointing, etc. and you were there), and that we are one in the Spirit.
My mind kept saying AMEN to the topics that you addressed, and I'll go into that more fully tomorrow evening.
God bless you!"
***
"Hi, David, I’m an acquaintance of Susan Dixon and recently saw your feature on Brant Baker on the web- I e-mailed Susan to see if she’d seen it and she said that she had, and that she’d given you permission to use some of her photos.
I remember the ministry very well and wondered if we could talk about Brant and the ministry..."
***
"Thanks david"
***
"I honestly don't have anything good to say about that ministry.
I guess I not only saw too much but then there was what the Lord was showing me.
What I can say is that God is Always teaching, exhorting, and blessing his people no matter what.
I had some incredible times in the Holy Spirit but Shekinah reminded me of elementary school, which, if you were unpopular, was like Nightmare from Elm Street.
In other words there was a giant pecking order at Shekinah.
The gay insecurity was the root of it I am sure, but there was this 'inner circle,' that no one could penetrate and everyone wanted to be 'part of them.'
It was made up of Brant, his brother, Claudia, Joe Dallas (the pianist who last time I heard had a ministry for recovery from that lifestyle), and when they were part of the ministry in the early days, Randy Smith, and Greg Laurie.
Randy was the worship leader when we met underneath the big church and that was the only time I remember it being really sweet and the Holy Spirit being the true focus and not Brant.
When 'Brant's Bible Study' moved up into the big church it turned into this monstrosity.
I was told, nearly ordered, to be 'part' of the choir.
There was this assigning of people to things.
I did not feel led to be part of that choir for a second, although I certainly loved worshipping.
Many people thought I was an angel, for real, as the HS was upon me when I sang to Jesus, but I will never forget that someone in the ministry 'rebuked me,' telling me that I was calling attention to myself when I worshipped.
I have to say, they were lucky to have us all doing that for free and backing up Brant.
Of course that would have been the farthest thing from my mind at the time.
How we grow up!
But I was horrified to think that I was 'sinnning' in that way.
I also didn't actually believe it underneath, but you know, when someone tells you something like that it can be jarring or traumatic.
That was not the only time I as rebuked.
There was a girl name Martha who I lived with and she was 'higher up,' in the ministry, and she was continually telling me something was wrong."
***
"What I want to emphasize is that it was OUR walks in the Lord and not the 'ministry' that caused the Spirit of God to move.
Yes He was given an opportunity to move there, but it was also so sick and clothed in deceit that I think there was just a sourness underneath everything.
I know what it is to be in the ministry and not be 'quite right' with the Lord.
It is such an easy place to hide, Oh man, no one ever suspects that you might be in sin, and those that you minister with never ask...,at least it was like that at Chuck Jr.'s church.
It was more like going to a job in some ways, and the competition was what finally did me in there.
All that to say, I later understood to a point what Brant meant when he said that he had gotten to the point where he could 'sin right in front of Jesus and not feel guilt.'
I wasn't in outright sin but my heart wasn't in the place I felt it should have been.
That was another reason I got out of the ministry.
I always thought it was so strange that I ended up in the ministry when I wasn't as on fire and when I was, people thought I was unstable or whatever..."
***
"There were many awesome people, but the ministry was tweaked in a Big way.
God Told me to leave and gave me a scripture in Proverbs.
I came back one more time.
I told Brant to look at Ezekiel 44 as that was a sermon I had just heard Frank O'Neil give in Santa Cruz.
Brant ministered on it the next service.
That kind of blew me away.
There was such an 'awe' of Brant and that secrecy added to that.
When I came back to visit, the awe was gone for me and I think that Brant realized that.
At that time he told me I would be back and part of the ministry again, and of course I knew that was the farthest thing from the truth, he got a phone call at that moment and said, "No, not Lonnie! and for some strange reason I just intuitively knew he was talking about Lonnie being gay, although at that point no one, not even I knew that Brant was gay, or Lonnie.
I had taken my friend Kevin Laubach to a service at the Vineyard and he got really angry.
It was the night that Lonnie called all the young people to come down.
Kevin's emotion was so strong and it was because he could tell Lonnie was gay, and told me so.
He thought it was a sham.
Again, at that time I didn't think that was true, but between that phone call and Kevin, I was beginning to wonder."
***
"... it is a strange story.
People from Calvary were praying for me the whole time I was there I found out after I left.
I decided on Shekinah over Calvary because of the moving of the Spirit.
Too bad I had to make a choice and end up in that situation.
It's just sad that the Holy Spirit couldn't have been given a equal footing at Calvary. At least very sad to and for me."
***
"I would suggest to those who raise the question that some aspect of truth should be hidden—whether it be a leader who does not want his ministry to be tarred with the guilty by association label or a friend who thinks it best to leave some things unsaid—I would simply point both to the Bible and the manner it deals frankly with these issues.
The Bible is brutally honest about its heroes; their triumphs and failures lay side by side in its pages.
If the truth is what sets us free, then we can never suggest anything other than its bald recitation, regardless of where those truths may lead us."
***
"I am very curious about your connection with Shekinah Fellowship ofthe 1970s and Brant Baker, especially since I have noticed that you have posted regarding this subject on the Internet at various places.
You seem to know something about it.
Could you explain more?
My wife and I were much involved with it for several years back in the1970s, and we knew quite a few of the principal players at that time.
We still have some contacts with various people who were formally apart of the ministry."
***
"First of all, besides the great personal tragedy of Brant Baker himself, theother great tragedy is that Shekinah Fellowship has been elided from church history.
It is unconscionable that this has happened.
It has always been, for many years, my wish that someone could tell this story adequately.
After all these years, a small beginning has been made."
***
"The biggest problem with telling the story of Shekinah is doing the research and conducting the necessary interviews.
It is very unfortunately the case that many of the principle people involved with Shekinah Fellowship are still very reluctant to talk about their time there.
And many of them are now scattered across the country."
***
"Early in the 1970s, I was a senior at California Baptist College in Riverside,California.
(The college has since changed its name to Calif. BaptistUniversity.)
I just recently was introduced to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit(at Calvary Chapel in Riverside of all places, but that is a story of its own).
It came to pass that someone invited me to go to the Riverside YMCA.
This was sometime in late 1972 or early 1973, as I recall.
At that time, Shekinah was holding healing ministry services at that location.
I was entirely blown away by the experience. Having known nothing but a staid Southern Baptist upbringing, to encounter the power of God working in people's lives was unlike anything I had ever seen or heard before.
After that, my involvement would last for several years, from 1973 to around 1977."
***
"All during those years, Shekinah steadily ran a "Riverside group".
I call it that for lack of a better term.
During most of that time, the Riverside group would be headed up by some Shekinah elder who would make the trip from Long Beach to Riverside to conduct a home Bible study.
At its largest, this Riverside group had around 30 or more fairly regular attenders.
For a time, Brant would, on a weekly basis, hold services in Riverside, at various venues.
I attended nearly every one.
The first one was the Riverside YMCA.
Another location would be Arlington Foursquare Church.
Another was another smaller Foursquare church on 11th Avenue in Riverside.
And another was, as I recall, a old Presbyterian church somewhere on Magnolia Avenue."
***
"Many of the people in the Riverside group would make the trip out to Long Beach to attend the services at the Neighborhood Foursquare Church, or even the smaller "afterglows" held at the old "strip mall" location, before it was shutdown.
Many were involved in the music ministry or ushering.
My wife sometimes would be one of the "word of knowledge" ladies during the services.
At other times, she served in the choir (which was top notch in my opinion).
Naturally, she got to know several of the primary music ministry people, such as Kelly and Lilly Green, Meg Rafferty, Randy West, and several others.
My wife was also fairly acquainted with Brant's brother Kevin.
On on occasion, New Year's1977, Kevin had invited us to his home in Belmont Shores, with several other friends from Shekinah. Kevin was a fairly nice fellow, a little vain perhaps,who had some role in the ministry."
***
"Besides, attending the services, many in the Riverside group would take the time to attend the other services held in other locations in Southern California.
Thus even though many in the "Riverside group" lived in Riverside, and not in Long Beach, they were nearly as heavily involved in Shekinah as anyone else.
On several occasions, many of the Riverside group would be invited to attend various social functions with the ministers in Long Beach.
One of these occasions was the summer camp held at the Calvary Chapel Conference center up in the San Bernardino mountains.
It lasted for at least two days. I also attended.There I had a very brief meeting with Brant on a balcony and was struck with how shy and frail he seemed."
"By 1977, it was increasingly becoming obvious that the Shekinah ministry was inserious trouble. Sometime during that year, around the summer, my wife and I began to drift away.
We started attending Calvary Chapel (now Harvest) in Riverside."
***
"...also pointed out that when she first met him, Greg struck her, even then, as a rather shy person, someone not possessing a sociable personality.
As I said earlier, there may be many understandable reasons for this, his difficult family life, etc.
But what is interesting is her memory of Brant back when he first started appearing in Riverside.
My wife was still in high school at the time, and Brant was holding services at the Riverside YMCA.
Adjacent to that location was a large vacant lot.
On one occasion, Iola found Brant walking around there by himself.
She approached him and started up a long conversation with him, as they walked around together in that vacant lot that evening.
She found him very amicable and "warm", to use her word, very much a friendly and open person who cared about others and was interested in them.
She told me that, in her opinion, only someone like Brant, who wants to reach out and touch people, can be in a healing type ministry.
She pointed out to me this contrast between how she remembered the young Greg as compared to Brant Baker."
***
"She also pointed out to me what she considers a turning point in the Shekinah ministry.
When you think about it, it was an odd event, mostly a nuisance at the time.
During the middle of a Saturday service at the Neighborhood Foursquare Church someone exploded a firecracker or cherrybomb up near the stage, off to one side.
You can imagine the commotion it would have caused, especially considering the services were always very crowded.
Although I later heard mention of this event, I was not at this particular service, but my wife was there.
She recounted to me how, from the point forwards, it seemed to her that Brant started to drift, to become increaslingly nervous and less accessible to people.
Soon after that incident, Brant adopted the unfortunate practice of having "bodyguards", thus becoming more isolated from ordinary people.
For her, the explosion was a turning point for Brant."
***
"I myself never played in Shekinah Fellowship anything that could be called a"big role".
In fact, you could say I was mostly ignored.
But because I was around often enough, the Long Beach people knew who I was, but that was about the extent of it.
There was never any serious move to enlist me for any long term purpose, even though I wanted very much to play some sort of useful part.
On one occasion, I ushered at the series of services held at the erstwhile LongBeach Municiple Auditorium.
I was way up in the balcony, passing out flyers and then collecting the offering.
On another occasion, I was allowed to usher, but once, at the Neighborhood Foursquare Church, but was later deemed unsuitable.
On the other hand, my wife was on rather friendly terms with many of the key players, and she was often involved in the music end of things, mostly in the choir.
On many occasions, she was one of "word of knowledge" ladies who percolated through the auditorium praying for people.
And for a short time, she was even close to Kevin Baker. She pointed out to me that Kevin, for a time, worked in his Dad's business and was pretty well off."
***
"For a time, various members of the inner circle surrounding Brant shared residence together with him in a large house in Long Beach.
It was a sort of semi-communal arrangement.
They shared a kitchen and many of the expenses.
This made it easier for them to function on limited incomes.
After all these many years, my wife is unclear on exactly who was there and when, except that it varied over time.
At one time, Randy and Marla West were there, along with Bill and Stacey Jensen, and Kelly and Lilly Green.
She doesn't recall whether Joe and Linda Dallas, or Eric and Claudia were there.
(Eric and Claudia were for a longtime Brant's "personal assistants". Unfortunately, we no longer can recollect their last name, and we have no idea what became of them.)"
***
"There came the time when Shekinah Fellowship made a transition when it rented the old Fox-Mann theater.
I came there that evening when many of the people involved in Shekinah were working late into the night cleaning up the interior,which had accumulated many years of dust.
Some of the seating needed repair.
It was a huge effort to get the theater in usable shape.
Why this move to theFox-Mann was made is not entirely clear to us now.
My wife thinks that the Saturday services had simply outgrown the Neighborhood Foursquare Church.
I vaguely recollect some mention of a disagreement having happened between pastor BillyAdams and Brant.
But we are not sure on this point, as memories begin to fade after so many years.
Other people might know, but most of them are not talking, unfortunately, as they dis-relish the whole subject."
***
"Personally, I suspect that pastor Billy Adams must have exercised some sort of beneficial influence on Brant by providing a source of stability and guidance.
When I look at the pictures now of Brant, which you've posted, I am astonished at how young he seemed.
Advice from an elderly pastor would have been invaluable to Brant, especially being in such a stressful ministry.
Therefore, I suspect that the loss of Billy Adams' influence constituted another unfortunate turning point."
***
"The point I am trying to make is this: a healing ministry is probably the most perilous ministry there is.
It is extremely stressful and the pressures are very great.
It can bring a great deal of attention and celebrity, and consequently the temptations are very great.
There are so many people in the world with incurable and hopeless situations that they will come in droves, desperately looking for help.
For such a young man like Brant to be thrust so quickly into such a stressful and high-profile situation produced huge pressures on him, I amsure.
He was a frail young man, a recovering homosexual, who came from an unhappy family situation, who needed sources of seasoned guidance, truthful support, and wise counsel.
For him to become increasingly isolated as he did was a recipe for disaster.
It also didn't help that many of the other Shekinah ministers begin to hold him in too much awe, thus becoming increasingly disinclined to correct him when he was wrong.
His being turned into a celebrity came upon him before he was spiritually ready to handle it--and it destroyed him."
"This is one of the valuable lessons that I think can be learned from Shekinah.
All the members of the Body need each other.
Brant needed everybody else, because it was dangerous, to begin with, for such a young xtian to be thrust so quickly into such a stressful, high-profile ministry.
Brant had a heart for this ministry, but he also had great weaknesses.
In some ways, he was let down by all of us who unduely idolized him.
I don't say this to excuse his sin, by no means,but I say these things because the Church needs to stop forgetting its mistakes,to stop sweeping them under the rug.
It needs to remember its mistakes, totruthfully enter them into the historical record, so that perhaps it will begin to learn from those mistakes. It has to stop covering things up."
***
"After all these years, I didn't recollect the death threats against Brant, but I am sure at the time someone probably mentioned it. But it does explain plenty."
***
"As I was never part of the inner circle, I can only speculate on what factors contributed to Brant's relapse.
For a recovering homosexual to surround himself with young, male body guards was probably one of those contributing factors.
My wife speculates that the Metropolitan Church may have deliberately planted, forlack of a better term, "agent provocateurs" in the church.
If there is the one thing that bothers the "gay agenda" and its proponents, it's when someone"leaves the plantation", so to speak.
There would certainly be a motive to try to conduct a campaign of sabotage.
But this is all speculation on our part."
***
"We had a unfortunate soul in our Riverside group who struggled terribly with homosexuality, and he confessed to me personally on this subject.
It was very sad.
There is nothing "gay" (as in gayety) about homosexuality; it's a form of slavery that keeps men trapped in bondage.
Another aspect of the situation, is the fact that we also had other homosexuals who frequented the Riveside services, but later it became apparent to me that they were completely and repentantly determined to pursue their own rebellious course.
I some times wonder what roles they were playing behind the scenes."
***
"Shekinah Fellowship brought together a great number of young men and women.
Naturally, this led to romance and matrimony.
Indeed, Shekinah was where I met and married my wife.
For a time, there was a flurry of marriages at Shekinah.
One of the unfortunate after maths of the ruination of ShekinahFellowship was that a large number of these marriages later ended up in divorce.
Stephen and Teddi Boyd divorced, as did Joe and Linda Dallas, and many others.
Mark Turney, the young deacon who oversaw the Riverside group, eventually divorced from Darlees. Ron and Sue Schloss were divorced not too long after losing a baby to crib death, an event which happened at a dinner my wife and I attended with several of the Riverside Shekinah people.
That was especially sad for us.
Out of all the many marriages, it seemed as if the only ones that survived were mine, Randy and Marla West's, Kelly and Lilly Green's, and Randall and Debbie Slack's."
***
"Earlier this year I had a strong desire to try to try to track down some of the Shekinah people.
This is difficult to do as they are scattered all over the country now.
The only place where I could start was by looking on the Internet.
My first break was when I stumbled across a web site for a church in Oklahoma.
It turned out that Randall Slack (who was once a drummer for the music ministry)was now pastoring a church in the town of Harrah.
He and Debbie live in Croctaw,Oklahoma.
I got a hold of his email address and contacted him.
He turned out to be exceptional in the sense of not being too reluctant to talk about Shekinah,and that he had maintained contacts with several of the people he knew there.
He explained that Stephan Boyd was now pastoring a Calvary Chapel in Oregon (in the town of Newport, it turns out).
Bill Jensen was working for a book publisher in Oregon. (I have reason to believe this was Multnomah Publishers, located in Sisters, Oregon.)
After that, I was able to locate Randy and Marla West, who are now living near Temecula.
Later, my wife would have a long phone conversation with Marla, and she was quite talkative and friendly.
And Randy is the same mellow person I knew before.
Finally, I was able to locate Kelly and LillyGreen.
We rejoiced to find out they were still married, are living some where near Lancaster, California, and they were still involved in the music ministry in a Vineyard church.
They are currently employed together at a large xtian school.
Although Lilly would answer our email, I got the feeling that they were not inclined to discuss Shekinah Fellowship.
They do have several wonderful children, who are grown up now.
One of their sons has a interest in the Mongolian culture and language.
In fact, he's married a young lady fromMongolia.
On the other hand, my email to Stephan Boyd was never answered.
It's entirely possible that he doesn't want to be reminded about Shekinah, especially considering that he is pastoring a CC church."
***
"Although Shekinah Fellowship has been mostly forgotten by men, given up and thrown "down the memory hole", still I some times suspect that God hasn't entirely forgotten about it."
***
"It seems curiously ironic to me that Shekinah Fellowship, as a legal incorporated entity, managed to survive and was passed on to Tilson Schumate by Trish Trabuco. (Correction: "The Fire House" not Shekinah.)
It's a strange twist of history that, after all these many years,I would be exchanging email with someone ordained by Shekinah Fellowship.
And I also got a kick out of hearing about your street evangelism ministry, with the power outlet, a PA system, and a spotlight.
Well, I can't think of much more to say.
Until next time..."
***
I was very young during the Shekinah Days and I primarily just tagged along with my sister who was in the choir.
We attended for 3 – 4 years is my guess, althought it's so long ago I can't quite remember how long. A long time anyway.
Long after we left Shekinah I continued to go to the Four Square Church under pastor Adams, with Danny and Susie as youth Pastors.
Pastor Adams led a long life serving the Lord to the fullest.
He was an amazing man, who I believe truly loved the young people at Shekinah, and Brant, long after the ministry had moved on.
While I attended Shekinah I was friends with Terry Brown's kids (he was the choir director for some time).
It was from them that I first began to hear the rumblings of the problems.
They said that Brant had been asked to leave the church.
In my heart I already sensed the problems, but I was reluctat to accept it as fact.
We would go to Shekinah on Saturdays and I'd go to church at the Four Square on Sunday nights.
One leg on each side of the fence so to speak.
Shekinah is where I found the Lord.
It is were I began my own Christian routes.
Although I believe Brant fell away from the Lord in his last days I am not 100 percent sure it is how people suspected.
Yes, it is widely accepted that he died of complications related to Aids, yes we know he struggled in the area of homosexuality, but it is likely he was HIV positive for many years, possibly decades before his death from the complications.
He often mentioned the wild ways of his youth with “love=ins” and such, and from a medical time line it is likely became HIV positive during that era.
I don’t really know, perhaps Brant never actually knew.
Perhaps the HIV positive thing is what broke up his engagement to Lesa.
Perhaps the diagnosis was the beginning for the spiral.
Perhaps.. he felt he had failed so badly what was the point of remaining with the Lord - he couldn't love him anyway.
Maybe he was mad at God for the diagnosis in the prime of this ministry.
We can all only speculate.
But I do know that there was a season when God’s hand was so obviously on the ministry and then it was notable when the hand of God had lifted.
It could be seen and felt by all involved.
Many of us stayed long after we should have, out of love for Brant and for what the ministry had meant to us.
When we finally left, most of us left with a great sadness.
Knowing it was what God would have us do, but sad for the hurt it caused.
The thing is people, that leaders of God at all ages are prime targets of the devil .
Young leaders of God are often easy targets as well.
I loved Brant and his family.
I used to sit with Daddy Baker almost every week.
He cared for me and fed me mints throughout the services.
I loved the work of the Lord at Shekinah, and refuse to refute all the good/ God that was evidenced there.
I think many of the really involved have scattered in silence because from the outside it looks so contradictory.
How could God have moved in such a powerful way when sin was so rampant in the ministry.
Is that any different than all ministries.. are we not all sinners in need of a savior?
But the movement was so controversial, and honestly hard to grasp even being involved in it, so how much harder it is to explain to those who weren't there.
Because Brant fell, that does not negate the work of God.
The ministry afer all was God's ministry .. and when it became more about Brant then I believe that is when he lifted his hand off of the ministry.
I sill love Brant, and all the other leaders there.. their love for God inspired me!
I was so thankful to hear the updates from the other blogger who shared the news of Randy and Marla and Kelly and Lilly.
They were powerful forces in my life as well.
I hope they know that people know it was just a Brant thing for them.
I do.
I have passed on the blog and video sights to my sister.. who too was glad to take the walk down memory lane.
To open a part of her heart and life that has been closed for so long.
Shekinah will ALWAYs have a fond and respected place in my life/heart.
It was a huge molding influence in my life.
The love of Jesus was there, and for many (despite what happened in the end) it took root in our lives.
The work of God started there continues on in my life. I appreciate this blog for the opportunity to share things that we've all only carried for many years.
If you would like to contribute something to this list please use the comments section below to do as such.
***
I used to load the care to the brim with people I had been sharing the gospel with and bring them. The presence of God was so heavy and thick, that it was unmistakable.
Brant used to line people up on the platform and walk passed them waving his hand in front of them as he passed praying.
One skeptical friend fell to the floor and got up with the biggest smile on His face.
The term: Slain in the Spirit is the reaction of the flesh to the Spirit of God.
Those early years were the most exciting times for me.
I heard that Brant had been mentored by Kathryn Kuhlman.
***
***
If you would like to share your memories with us, you can use the comments section below.
Or if you just want to say "Hello" to others and let them know your still around.
Thanks from all of us who still care and cherish the memories of an incredible time in our young lives.
En' Agape
David
***
I remember going to Brant Baker services back in 77.
I used to load the care to the brim with people I had been sharing the gospel with and bring them. The presence of God was so heavy and thick, that it was unmistakable.
Brant used to line people up on the platform and walk passed them waving his hand in front of them as he passed praying.
One skeptical friend fell to the floor and got up with the biggest smile on His face.
The term: Slain in the Spirit is the reaction of the flesh to the Spirit of God.
Those early years were the most exciting times for me.
I heard that Brant had been mentored by Kathryn Kuhlman.
***
"Thank you!"
***
You can add to this historical record of Brant Baker and Shekinah Fellowship to help construct the puzzle so that all of us can see the whole picture clearly.
If you would like to share your memories with us, you can use the comments section below.
Or if you just want to say "Hello" to others and let them know your still around.
Thanks from all of us who still care and cherish the memories of an incredible time in our young lives.
En' Agape
David
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