Correspondence Between Former Focus on the Family Employee and Focus on the Family
 

The following letter was sent to Dr. James Dobson on 3-7-01. I was told on 3-19-01, by Focus on the Family VP, Tom Minnery, that Dr. Dobson will never see the letter. It is "too long" and "too preachy." In order to be true to the Word of God, and my own conscience and convictions I must send this letter to you. I was fired 3-22-01 (from Focus on the Family) for writing this letter, so YOU must carry the torch! Tom Minnery is heading the alliance with Mormons, Muslims, etc. Do what you can to keep Focus from making this gigantic mistake! Call me at home if you have any questions or comments:

The phone # for Focus is 1-800-232-6459, or 1-719-531-3400. Ask for Tom Minnery. Ask him if they are still planning to hold a global alliance conference (with the enemies of the Cross) at the Focus Campus in Colorado Springs.

God bless you!!!!!

Brian V. Cooper

Jesus is Lord!


Brian's 1st Letter to Focus:

3-7-01

Dr. James Dobson
Focus On The Family
Colorado Springs, CO 80995

Brian Cooper


Dear Dr. Dobson,

I trust that this letter finds you walking in the fullness of God’s calling on your life, and I wish you nothing but His Grace and Peace, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I write you this letter, for it is not a letter of praise, but instead, a letter of warning. I say these things as a child of God, not as an employee. I love this ministry, and I look up to you as a Father figure (even though you don’t know me personally). I still believe in what we are doing here at Focus on the Family, but I fear that we have left our first love. To read the beautiful epistle to the Ephesians, one might find it difficult to grasp, that they, too, left their first love (Revelation 2:4). Please do not dismiss this charge, off hand. Jim Bakker and the PTL staff also did not heed the many warnings and thousands of innocent people were wounded… some still bear the scars. Do you think that PTL thought that they would fall from within? Of course not. Doctor Dobson, you even predicted that if we do fall… it will be from within. Let’s hope that is not a self-fulfilling prophecy!


Evidence of our compromise (and Judgement) abounds. In the last few weeks, Focus on the Family has had two cultic groups come in and lead worship (Oneness Pentecostal and Seventh Day Adventist). Two key people have fallen into sin (John Paulk {already "restored"} and Mike Trout). And the treatment of Ryan’s divorce1 has gone to the extreme to where I was told by Andrea (Internal Services) that she was fired in January for simply discussing the issue. Further proof of our faltering perspective was announced in a DMG meeting in February. It was revealed that Focus on the Family will officially be working with the LDS/Mormon Church in the future, on political issues. We are even scheduled to host an event where the LDS/Muslims/Catholics are invited guests! The Muslims are the leading murderers of Christians in Sudan, India, and around the world! This alliance is so blatantly unwise and unscriptural that I scarce can take it in. As you may know, I have dedicated my life to reaching the LDS with the TRUE Jesus Christ and the TRUE Gospel. I know them… I know how they think and how they operate. Their leaders are deceived and are deceivers. Focus is out of its league when it comes to dealing with the deceptive practices of the LDS. They are like the scheming Gibeonites in chapter nine of Joshua. Focus is making an alliance against God’s will. God has warned us, over and over, to not fellowship with darkness! Focus has no clue as to why the LDS church is fighting homosexuals. It is because if homosexuality is ever legalized, then polygamy will follow closely in its footsteps. This would be the biggest PR disaster in LDS history! The official position of the LDS church is that they do not practice polygamy for one reason, and one reason only: IT IS ILLEGAL! If it became legal, they would then have to practice it again (or have another embarrassing "revelation")! The LDS church will chew you up, and spit you out. They will use you as long as they can get something out of it. Initially, they will use you to not only fight homosexuals, but also to lend them credibility. They want to be seen as "just another Christian denomination." This will empower them to proselytize weak and ignorant sheep… and knowingly or not, Focus seems willing to help them in their ravenous plot.

The LDS teach some of the most bizarre and blasphemous doctrines that one could ever imagine. These are some of their official pillars:

A) God is just an exalted man!

B) God had sex with the Virgin Mary, to SIRE his one and only son in the flesh!

C) There are many Gods!

D) Jesus killed people by the thousands!

E) Black skin is a curse from God! (Ralph Kelly/Alex Person?) (See enclosed "Dirty Little Secret")

F) Salvation by works!

G) Baptism for the dead!

H) All other churches are of the Devil! (including yours and mine)

I) All other churches beliefs are an abomination to God!

Focus is acting like politics are more important than Truth. The Campaign for Righteousness says that our #1 mission is to introduce people to Christ. In the past, the ministry has refused to reach out to the cults for "fear of offending them." Now we are going to endorse them? If we can do a broadcast on Messianic Judaism, we can do a program designed to reach those trapped in the snare of the cults. Jesus said to leave the 99 safe sheep, and go after the one that has fallen into the pit. If the temporal (politics) has become more important that the eternal (Truth) then why not change the name of our mission statement to the "Campaign for Republicans," it would be more accurate. I understand that we are also working with Catholic groups. As a Protestant, I "protest" some of their doctrines, but the LDS and Catholics are apples and oranges! The LDS have NO ORTHODOX THEOLOGY! NONE!

What good is it if we gain the whole world but lose our soul? What good is it if we save a marriage, but the family goes to hell? Are we here to win souls… or win elections?

God’s Word is clear:

II John 1:8-11, says, "Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

9 Anyone that goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting.

11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."

Romans 12:9, says, "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good."


I Corinthians 15:33, says, "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals.''

I Thessalonians 5:22, says, "…abstain from every form of evil."

II Timothy 3:13, says, "But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."


I Corinthians 10:20, says, "… but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons."

II Corinthians 6:14-17, says, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,'' says the Lord. "and do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you."

Ephesians 5:11, says, "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them."


To our face the LDS say that they are our brothers, but behind closed doors, they say that we are of the Devil! James 3:10-15, says, "…from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?

12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, and "demonic."

Jesus said in Matthew 12:33-36, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.

34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment."

The Apostle Paul warned us about the LDS in Galatians 1:6, "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we, or an angel (Moroni?) from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have already preached to you, he is to be accursed!"

Hebrews 5:11-14, says, "Concerning Jesus, we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

PLEASE DON’T SKIP THROUGH THESE VERSES. GOD’S WORD IS THE LIGHT UNTO OUR PATH, NOT EARTHLY WISDOM OR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY.

I have heard a lot of people giving their opinion as to why this alliance is OK, but I haven’t heard anyone give any scriptural basis for the alliance. There is a reason for that… there is no scriptural basis! The analogy being used is: If a person was drowning and a Muslim and an atheist were trying to pull him out of the water with a rope, would you help. Well, the answer is no! If the person is drowning is sin, their rope won’t save him! The only rope that will save… is Jesus! I know you do not deny this.

The Apostle Paul explicitly stated in I Corinthians 5:11, "But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone that calls himself a brother, if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler, not even to eat with such a one."


Can you imagine Peter, James, and John putting together a conference with the Nicolaitane, or the Gnostics… to fight the social scourge of idol worship? Dr. Dobson, I come not as Jonah, wishing that Focus does not repent. I want Focus to continue it’s good work. Although I don’t know you personally, I care about you as a brother in Christ! I also agree with the old saying that if you don’t stand for something… you will fall for anything, and we all appreciate the fact that Focus is willing to take a stand on political and moral issues. But I also believe the words of our Savior when He warned us not to build on sinking sand. The storm is coming, Dr. Dobson… but I believe that it is not too late to repent, and rebuild this house on The Rock!

On today’s broadcast, you and the Focus board kept emphasizing the first half of Jabez’ prayer. "Expand my borders." What about the second half? "Keep me from evil that I may do no harm." If Focus forms an alliance with the LDS, that would be like a compulsive gambler praying, "Lord keep me from evil," as he walks into a casino. That would be like John Paulk praying, "Lord keep me from evil," as he walked into that gay bar. Many have said, "What a colossal lapse in judgement!" "Look how he hurt our credibility!" But the alliance with the LDS church, will make Paulk’s "mistake" look like the proverbial molehill, compared to Pikes Peak!

Dr. Dobson, my brother, read the second half of that verse. Have no fellowship with the ENEMIES OF JESUS CHRIST, and you will "do no harm." Disregard the second half of that verse, and the spiritual carnage will be as Armageddon.

Be not deceived. God will not be mocked… we will reap what we sow. If Focus forms this alliance with the enemies of the Cross, we will reap the whirlwind. Did God tell you to align with the LDS? If He did not… why did you do it? If God is in this political agenda, you don't need to align yourself with His enemies. He doesn't need or want their help. If God is not in this... why are you? The world says there is strength in numbers… Believers say there is strength in GOD. Ask Gideon! We condemn liberal Republicans for welcoming homosexuals into the "Big Tent"… but this is far worse! They are compromising politics, but we are compromising the Gospel!

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

…I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves (LDS?) apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;

3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.

4 "But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

5 "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent… He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Shall we continue in sin… that Grace may abound? God forbid! You do NOT want to hear, "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN." (Daniel 5:25)

In Jesus,

Brian V. Cooper

P.S. Dr. Dobson, even if you disagree with this letter, please acknowledge it somehow that I may know that you actually received it. Thank you.

Footnote by ESN:

1 Refers to Ryan Dobson, son of Dr. Dobson. Ryan is a member of the Council for National Policy (CNP) Youth Council. He is also an employee of the Family Research Council. The Council for National Policy is mentioned several times in Let's Focus in on "Focus on the Family". Also read 10-18-03 letter to ESN, Ryan Dobson is More Than Meets the Eye and 1-8-04 letter, Did James Dobson Try to Cover Up Who Ryan Dobson Married?

Brian's 2nd Letter to Focus: 

7-16-01

Dr. James Dobson
Focus On TheFamily
Colorado Springs, CO 80995

Dear Tom Minnery,

I received a copy of your position statement as to why Focus on the Family has formed an Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus, and felt that I should respond. Even though I am convinced that you are sincere in your belief that you are doing what is right, I also believe that you are sincerely wrong. Sincerity is not the standard of righteousness... God’s Word is. The Apostle Paul was very sincere in his efforts to persecute the Church before his conversion to Christianity, but his sincerity did not make his actions right before God. One of man’s greatest propensities for failure is in the arena of "doing what is right in his own eyes," rather than obeying God’s clearly revealed written Word.

I found six major errors or inconsistencies in your position statement. Please do not take this as a personal attack. I am aware that, although you authored the position statement, each and every word was approved by Dr. Dobson and the entire cabinet.

1) No "alliance?" In your cover letter you refer to your involvement with the World Congress of Families as a "supposed alliance." The inference is crystal clear. You are insinuating that you have NOT formed an Alliance, when in actuality, the opposite is true. Please, Tom, the employees and supporters of Focus on the Family deserve to know the TRUTH. Why deny the Alliance? You told me personally that, "Focus has aligned themselves with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus." By definition that is an alliance. The term "congress" means a FORMAL assembly of representatives. For Pete’s sake Tom, YOU ARE ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE of the World Congress of Families (WCOF), and even held a conference on the Focus campus with your fellow WCOF members! Please be more forthright, and call a spade a spade. Why are you ashamed or afraid to admit that you have formed a formal Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus? I believe that you are afraid that it may cost Focus financially. That is probably why you specifically refer to Mormons and Muslims in your cover letter (which went out ONLY to employees), but "Mormons and Muslims" are NOT mentioned anywhere in the position statement (which goes out to supporters). Many people would not support Focus if they knew that Focus had become the FIRST Evangelical organization to form a formal Alliance with the Mormons, in the entire history of the LDS Church. I had the opportunity to speak with some of the members of the WCOF, and they definitely consider it to be a formal Alliance.

2) Non-evangelicals? Your next misleading statement seems a bit more devious. Throughout the position statement, you refer to working with "non-Evangelicals." The statement itself is even titled "FOF Involvement with Non-Evangelicals." Tom, I don’t believe that most people are as concerned about Focus working with "non-Evangelicals" as they are Focus working with NON-CHRISTIANS. Mormons, Muslims and Hindus are NON-CHRISTIANS, Tom... not non-Evangelicals. This comes across as being deliberately misleading. Maybe that was not your intention. A good way to prove that your intentions are righteous would be to rename the position statement: "FOF Involvement with Non-Christians." You also use the term "denominational differences." The Mormons are not just another "denomination," no matter what their TV commercials say to the contrary. You say that it is important to "cooperate with friends who are defending truth wherever we can find them." Mormons, Muslims, and Hindus do not adhere to ANY Biblical truth. Just because you share the same political and moral agenda, does not justify calling them "friends." As you know, the Muslims are the number one killers of Jews and Christians around the world. Muslim officials have killed over two million Christians in the Sudan in the last eight years alone. Friends they are not. The Mormons teach some of the most bizarre and blasphemous doctrines that one could ever imagine. They do not adhere to one single essential Christian doctrine. They desperately want to be perceived as "just another Christian denomination." Now, by aligning yourself with them, you are helping them to achieve this illusive goal. Their 60,000 Missionaries will now be using the name of Focus on the Family to get their unsuspecting prey to drop their guard, by convincing the poor souls that they are orthodox because they "work with Focus on the Family." You even say in your statement that Dr. Dobson will not allow cultic groups (such as the Mormons) into the recording studio because of the "deceit in their message, and in All of their dealings with the orthodox Christian community." If the Mormons are "deceitful in All their dealings with the orthodox Christian community," wouldn’t that "All " include this Alliance? You won’t allow them in the recording studio, but you will form a political Alliance with them? Why be so double minded? James 1:8 says that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Your standards for Truth should always be the same. For your information, these are just some of the official pillars of Mormon theology:

A) God is just an exalted man! ("As man is, God once was... As God is, man may become")

B) God had sex with the Virgin Mary to "sire" His one and only Son in the flesh! (Mormon Doctrine, Pg. 546-547)

C) There are many Gods! (History of the Church, Vol. 6, Pg. 305-306)

D) Jesus killed people by the thousands! (III Nephi 9:1-15)

E) Black skin is a curse from God! (II Nephi 5:21)

F) Salvation by works! (Article of Faith #3)

G) Baptism for the dead! (Doctrine and Covenants, 124:28-36)

H) All other churches are of the Devil! (I Nephi 14:10)

I) God said: All other churches beliefs are an abomination to Him! (Pearl of Great Price / History of Joseph Smith, Pg. 49)

I trust that you understand that these beliefs are a stench in the nostrils of our Creator.

3) No Scriptural basis? One major item that seems to be lacking in the position statement is your Scriptural basis for the Alliance. You only quote God’s Word on two occasions: once to say that we must be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16) and lastly you quote three verses to justify that other religions have some Truth, too. But what you do NOT state is the scriptural basis for the Alliance. Yes, we need to be wise and harmless, but that has NOTHING to do with forming an Alliance with the enemies of God. As a matter of fact, forming an Alliance with God’s enemies is about as UNwise as I can imagine. In your position statement you never seem to get around to the core issue, which is: "Is the Alliance Biblical?" The obvious reason that you do not quote God’s Word to justify the Alliance, is because the Alliance militates against God’s Word.

II John 1:9-11, says, "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds."

Therefore, by welcoming the Mormons, Muslims and Hindus onto the Focus campus and aligning yourself with them in the World Congress of Families, you now "participate in their evil deeds" that they commit outside of the Alliance.

James 4:4, says, "You (spiritual) adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

II Corinthians 6:14-17, says, "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?... 17 "Therefore, Come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord."

Ephesians 5:6-11, says, "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them... 11 Do not participate in their unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them."

4) Unity in the Fundamentals? This is by far, the most confusing and convoluted statement in your letter. You state that we must have "Unity in the Fundamentals." What fundamental doctrines of God’s Word do we share with the Mormons? The Muslims? The Hindus? The two most basic fundamentals are: "The Nature of God" and "What Must I Do To Be Saved." Do you have "unity" with your Alliance on these basic fundamentals? NO! You only have political unity, not unity in the Spirit.

5) Truth is the banner? This is actually a continuation of point four, stated in a different way. You say that, "Truth is the banner around which we will rally any and all who are willing to come to her defense." Is that what this Alliance is all about? Defending the Truth? Whose Truth? Yours or God’s? Mormons, Muslims and Hindus are all working to earn their salvation. Do they believe in salvation by God’s Grace? NO! Is Jesus their Way, their Truth, and their Life? NO! This is a slippery slope, Tom. Where do you draw the line? I guess there is no line, as you said you would rally "any and all" as long as they share your political agenda, because they certainly don’t share a belief in God’s Word. Some Focus employees have also erroneously assumed that maybe you are trying to witness to the members of the World Congress of Families, but as you know, their mission statement says in order to be a member, you must "set your theological beliefs aside." To verify, go to : http://www.worldcongress.org

6) Double Vision? Lastly, you say that you are trying to "keep one eye on the fundamentals of the faith and another on our practical goals." You should be keeping both eyes on the Cross, instead of being cross-eyed! Matthew 6:23-24 says, "If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness... 24 No one can serve two Masters..." We cannot serve the Lord and our own personal political agendas. II Peter 2:20-21 warns, "If after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but then they are again entangled in them and are overcome, their last state has become worse than their first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them." If you have read all of the scriptures quoted in this letter, then I admonish you to not "turn away from the holy commandment delivered to you." Peter warns that if you continue to disobey God at this point... you will be without excuse. Please do not allow yourselves to become entangled again in the defilements of this world. We are to be in the world, but not of the world.

Tom Minnery, Dr. Dobson, Del Tackett, Diane Passno, and Tom Mason, PLEASE listen to those who are warning you of the dangers of this Alliance. This is not a game... there are potentially millions of souls at stake. The Board of Focus on the Family is mainly made up of wealthy supporters, but there is one Biblical scholar, Adrian Rogers. He stated that he believes that this Alliance is unbiblical and WRONG! He is God’s mouthpiece to you at this time. Adrian’s personal opinion is no better than yours or mine, but when he quotes God’s Word... then every ear should be open to hear from the Spirit of God. And God is saying, loud and clear:

"Do not be bound together with unbelievers in the World Congress of Families!"

In Jesus,

Brian V. Cooper

Brian's 3rd Letter to Focus on the Family 

10-2-01

Dr. James Dobson
Focus On TheFamily
Colorado Springs, CO 80995



Dear Dr. Dobson,

Greetings in the Name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I trust that this letter finds you seeking His will for your life and for Focus on the Family. It is with a heavy heart that I write to you again Dr. Dobson. As you know, I wrote you a letter on 3-7-01 asking you to reconsider Focus’ involvement with the Mormon Church (as well as Muslims and Hindus) by joining the World Congress of Families (WCOF). Since then, you have even had these groups (Mormons/Muslims/Hindus) on the Focus campus for several Planning Committee Meetings. I know this to be true, because we picketed Focus during some of these meetings, and actually talked with several members of the WCOF. Then finally, on the last day of the conference (only after we picketed the meetings, passed out several hundred letters and videotaped the WCOF) Focus reluctantly admitted to the employees and to the public, that you had been meeting with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus on the Focus campus, to discuss strategy for lobbying the United Nations.

As you know, I (and many Focus employees) believe that this Alliance is a violation of the Scriptural mandate in

II Corinthians 6:14-17 to "not be unequally yoked with unbelievers," as well as James 4:4, II John 10-11 and many others. But this is not a personal issue to me... it is a doctrinal issue. For some reason, you seem to want to make this personal. I have never attacked you personally. We are fighting the Alliance, not you. Privately, many Focus employees have been bad-mouthing anyone who spoke out against the Alliance, but now you and your employees are taking this attack to a higher (lower?) level by attacking me personally in public. What you say about me behind closed doors is of no concern to me, but when you malign my character to the public, I must draw the line. This is a typical ad-hominem attack (if you can’t deal with the message, attack the messenger). In the attached letter being sent out by Focus (and approved by you) Focus made these comments:

"The picketer you’ve seen is Mr. Brian Cooper, a former Focus staff member who was discharged from employment at Focus on the Family. Mr. Cooper is apparently angry, resentful, and eager to hurt his former employer. In fact, he seems bent on creating controversy for controversy’s sake. There is nothing to his charges - but of course, he is able to generate publicity anyway...

Brian has spent day after sweltering day in the midsummer heat, standing at curbside, sporting accusatory signs, and shouting his anti-Focus message at passing cars and visitors to our campus...

As for Brian’s accusations, there is not and never has been any question of a "merger" between Focus on the Family and the Mormons, Muslims or Roman Catholics for any reason whatsoever."

Firstly, no one, including me, has ever accused Focus of entering in to a "merger" with anyone. That is a strawman argument. We have only called the WCOF what it is... an Alliance. As you know, the Mission Statement of the WCOF says that anyone who participates must "set their theological differences aside" and that all "differences" must "take a back seat." We believe that the only thing we have to offer this world is salvation by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If you are barred from sharing the Gospel with the members of the WCOF, then you really have nothing to contribute.

Secondly, I am not "angry, resentful, and eager to hurt" anyone. In case you have forgotten the chronology of events... I wrote the letter to you while I was still employed at Focus. I did not get fired from Focus for an unrelated issue and then write an "angry and resentful" letter. I wrote you a loving letter of warning (regarding the issue of the WCOF and forming alliances with the enemies of God) and then you fired me. Trust me, because of all of the compromise and deception that I have seen over the years, I am as glad to be gone from Focus as you are to have me gone.

Thirdly, I also am not "seeking controversy for controversy’s sake." There are hundreds of Focus employees that feel the same way I do. There are also thousands outside of the Focus empire that believe the Alliance is Scripturally bankrupt. So to insinuate that the Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus is a non-issue is an outright deception.

Fourthly, to state that "There is nothing to his charges," is simply fallacious. I have never "charged" Focus of anything but joining the WCOF. If I have ever "charged" Focus of doing anything that you did not do, please let me know of the specific errors, rather than whitewashing with a broad brush.

And finally, I did not "shout anti-Focus messages" to anyone. All I said was to pray for Focus then to call Focus and ask them to repent of the Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus. Besides, most of my dialogue was with Focus employees. Regarding the issue of me wearing a Devil costume... that’s D-R-A-M-A (just like in the play, "The Thorn")! The sign I had said, "Focus is Dancing with Me Now." The only days that I wore that costume, were the days that you had Mormons, Muslims and Hindus on the Focus campus. It is my opinion that aligning with these non-Christians is "Dancing with the Devil."

From a Biblical perspective, Matthew 18 says if you have something against a brother to go to him privately, then take a brother along. If he still won’t listen, THEN take it to the Church. I have come to you privately, and then so did several Focus employees. Since you have refused to meet or even discuss the issue, we reluctantly have taken the issue to the church. I even went to your church (Eastborough Nazarene) and wrote your pastor. Finally, we even picketed at your church, because you and your pastor refused to dialogue on the issue. Over the years, I have written you several letters, some while I was still a Focus employee, and several since then, and you have never even bothered to call me or even send me as much as a postit note. I understand that you cannot answer every single letter that you receive at the ministry, but I hand delivered letters to both of your offices and even to your home. Keep in mind, these were not letters of little importance, where I simply shared my opinion... they were letters discussing issues of international importance with eternal consequences based on Scripture. But I never heard one word from you.

As far as the WCOF, my question to you Dr. Dobson is this: When the Mormons and Muslims and Hindus had lunch with you during the meetings that you sponsored on the Focus campus, did you thank the Lord for the food? Who prayed? Did the Muslims and Hindus pray in Jesus name? I was told that a Christian brother attempted to pray outloud for the meal and he was told that there would need to be a moment of silence instead, to avoid "offending our guests." So in other words, right on the Focus campus, the name of Jesus was barred from being spoken in prayer. Sounds more like a Masonic meeting to me. And if Jesus was left out at the Focus meetings, what do you think will happen when your interfaith global Alliance gets to the United Nations? It will only get worse. Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the Lord builds the house, those that labor, labor in vain." Is the Lord building the WCOF? It is full of heretical doctrine and promoters of terrorism. The Mormons say that "all other churches are of the devil." The Muslims say that all other religions are "infidels." Rabbi Lapin has said in the past that Messianic Jews are "apostate." Therefore, since the Lord is not building the WCOF, you are laboring in the WCOF in vain.

Please accept this letter as a formal request to cease and desist sending out the attached letter immediately. It is slanderous, shameful and very un-Christ-like. I don’t know why you feel that you have to stoop to this level. As I said before, I have never attacked you or anyone else at Focus on a personal level. It is a doctrinal issue, not a personal issue. And regarding your fears of me suing Focus for slander... God is my Judge and Jesus is my Advocate. If you do not stop, I will see you in court, but not on this Earth. Please repent of the Alliance and your character assassination, or the price you pay in a loss of rewards in Glory may be more than you can imagine.

In Jesus,

Brian V. Cooper

PS Tom Minnery recently made the accusation on nationwide live radio (10-2-01) that I was being disingenuous by allowing my wife to continue working at Focus if I thought that you had defiled the ministry by joining the Alliance, and having them meet on the Focus campus. First of all, I am the head of my home... not a dictator. If and when she decided to leave, that would be up to her (she quit within minutes of hearing Tom Minnery berate our family on the radio). Secondly, she had made the decision to fight the Alliance from within (Focus), whereas I chose to fight it from the outside. And lastly, since you chose to hire three attorneys to keep me from collecting unemployment (after serving the Lord faithfully at Focus for almost five years), it was an economic necessity.


Since being fired from Focus for fighting this unholy Alliance, Focus has gone out of their way to try to personalize the issue, as if it was them against me. That is another common tactic called an ad hominem attack. If you can’t deal with the issue, attack the messenger. They have also instructed their hired guns to threatened me not to even talk about it “in private,” unless I relay the facts as Focus sees them! When will they see that it is not a personal issue, it is a Biblical issue?

The following is the threatening letter I received from Focus corporate attorney Steve Reed. Our rebuttal immediately follows Reed’s letter. --Brian


Reed & Brown LLP
Lawyers
35 North Lake Avenue, Suite 960
Pasadena, California 91101-1856

Stephen W. Reed

October 8, 2001

Brian Cooper
PO Box 62956
Colorado Springs, Colorado 62956

RE: False Statements about Focus on the Family
Our file No.: Focus on the Family / Cooper, Brian / 00-3269-16

Dear Mr. Cooper:

As you are aware we are attorneys for Focus on the Family. I am in possession of a transcript of your recent interview with Dr. Larry Bates on September 28, 2001 during which you made numerous demonstrably false statements concerning Focus on the Family, several members of its staff, and the manner in which your employment was terminated at Focus on the Family. The purpose of this letter is to demand that you refrain from making such false statements, whether publicly or in private.

During the Bates interview you claimed that “one of the reasons why... I was let go was that I violated company policy by writing this letter to Dr. Dobson.” As you are well aware, that is plainly false. You were terminated for violating a direct instruction prohibiting you from sending company-wide e-mail messages. Focus on the Family employs over 1200 people and only limited, pre-approved e-mail messages are permitted to be sent to all employees. Your termination was for insubordination - not for attempting to communicate your grievances to the president.

In your Bates interview you also claim that Focus on the Family “evidently” believes Mormons are evangelical. You know that Focus holds no such belief.

You have substantially mischaracterized the participation of Focus on the Family in the World Congress of Families. You have claimed that “in this Alliance, one of the foundational tenets of this Alliance is that you cannot share your faith.” Of course, that is an intentional distortion and mischaracterization of the World Congress of Families. Publications of the World Congress of Families makes it clear that the WCF is not a structure seeking to unify the world’s pro-family and pro-life organizations under its guidance and control; it is not an “ecumenical” campaign seeking to advance its agenda by doctrinal compromise; and it is not an effort at crafting a “one world religion.” In contrast, WCF announces that it is a practical effort to build greater understanding and encourage informal networks among family advocates at the national and international levels. Further, WCF announces that it is a coalition of the most orthodox believers within each denomination, church, or faith group, persons who are the least likely to compromise their core beliefs. Your characterization of the World Congress of Families can only be described as disingenuous.

With respect to the letter you wrote to Dr. Dobson, you have claimed during the Bates interview that your vice president, Tom Minnery, told you “Dr. Dobson will never see the letter. It’s too long and it’s too preachy.” This is a further example of your misleading and dishonest statements about Focus on the Family and your former supervisors. Mr. Minnery told you to shorten the letter and remove some of the erroneous material. You chose to ignore his advice.

Your statements concerning your termination which you made to Dr. Bates were not simply false - they were fraudulent. In response to Bate’s question about whether you were trying to get your job back, you stated: “Well, I couldn’t go back cause see, if they didn’t fire me, I was going to quit anyway because I couldn’t stay because of this Alliance being formed.” As you are aware, you told your former supervisor that you didn’t want to quit because if you did you couldn’t get unemployment insurance. You really ought to get your story straight.

You have claimed that “the gentlemen that fired me was actually the head of the Alliance and this Alliance - the World Congress of Families - was his pet project.” You know that Mr. Minnery served only as 1 of 30 members of the planning committee.

Perhaps your most baseless and false statement made during your interview with Bates was the claim you made concerning Rev. Adrian Rogers, a member of the Focus Board of Directors. You have manufactured out of whole cloth the statements that you have attributed to Tom Minnery concerning Rev. Rogers. Your characterization of Rev. Rogers is false, misleading and can only be interpreted as an attempt to justify your own views. While you are certainly entitled to your own personal views, you are not entitled to project those onto others nor to attribute your views to other people.

Focus on the Family is saddened that you have felt compelled to misrepresent in this fashion the facts of your employment at the Ministry. Your misstatements and demonstrable falsehoods disserve our Lord and are quite evidently inconsistent with the theological position you claim to represent. Furthermore, false statements of this nature by you, and by those who know them to be false, can be construed as defamatory or libelous, and as such can be actionable in a court of law.

Sincerely yours,

Reed & Brown LLP

Stephen Reed


Brian's 4th Letter - his rebuttal to FOTF's attorney's latest attack:

11-7-01

Steve Reed
35 N. Lake Ave. Suite 960
Pasadena, CA 91101-1856

Dear Mr. Reed:

I am in receipt of your letter dated 10-8-01. I apologize for taking so long to respond, but I have been out of state looking for a job.

I must say that you have me at a distinct disadvantage in that I do not possess a transcript of the broadcast where I was interviewed by former Tennessee Congressman, Dr. Larry Bates on 9-28-01. So until I receive a copy of the transcript or an audio cassette, I will have to simply respond to your accusations in your letter the best that I can. I can easily document all of my statements, except your accusation that I said, "I believe that Focus must think that Mormons are Evangelical." From my memory of the interview, that statement was made by Dr. Bates, not me. But like I said, I will have to hear the audio cassette before I can respond more definitively on that issue. But please allow me to address the other six accusations you made, in the order that they were raised.

1) I was not fired for sending the letter to Dr. Dobson, instead I was fired for the e-mail? I must refer you to the enclosed "letter of termination" sent to me by Tom Minnery, dated 3-22-01. Tom said that I was terminated because Colorado is an "at will" labor state. Which means, and I quote from the Focus on the Family Employee Handbook, "You may be terminated without notice and without cause." But Tom went on to give the reasons for my termination anyway. He gave the following three reasons:

One: Because I violated Focus policy in October of 1999 when I protest Fred Phelps (off of Focus property and on my own time on a Saturday). You remember that ordeal, don't you, Steve? That was the first time you threatened to sue me for "lying about my employers." They had officially charged me with "treating a guest improperly" and threatened to fire me if I ever did that again. As you may remember, the "guest" was Fred Phelps! He never stepped foot on Focus property that day (and neither did I), but Focus claimed that he was their "guest." I suppose you could say that... as long as you consider the sidewalk counselors to be "guests" of Planned Parenthood. Fred Phelps had signs that said "GOD HATES FAGS" and "FAGS CAN'T REPENT" and "DOBSON SCREWS FAGS." I had a sign that quoted scripture. But because I "put the ministry at risk" of some bad PR, they falsely accused me of "treating a guest improperly."

Two: Because I "attempted to circumvent my chain of command." This is Tom's way of saying that I had no right to send that letter to Dr. Dobson without his prior approval. Hence, my statement that I was fired for writing the letter to Dr. Dobson.

Three: For sending an e-mail (just a copy of the letter to Dr. Dobson) to some of my friends, that Tom claimed "violated published policies at Focus." Firstly, I did not send a ministry wide e-mail. That is another fabrication (like "treating a guest improperly"). But even if I did send a ministry wide e-mail, there are no "published policies" against that. Nowhere in the Employee Handbook does it EVER state that employees cannot send ministry wide e-mails. I have seen MANY employees do just that, and not one of them ever got fired for it. The only reason that I sent the e-mail to a few of my friends was that I figured that after Tom had just thrown me out of his office, that I was already terminated. I figured that if I didn't send it then, I may never have the chance to see them again.

2) WCOF members can share their faith with other members? As you well know, Steve, all we did was quote the WCOF website, where it said "All theological differences must be set aside," and "must take a back seat." Your insinuation that all members were free to share their faith openly is not true, in any sense of the word. Do you honestly think that a Muslim is going to sit still while someone preaches from the Bible, or prays in Jesus name? Come on, Steve. Muslims are the number one killers of Christians around the world. The Hindus come in a close second. And these are the people that Focus had on their campus, along with Mormons and others. The Mormons teach that all other churches are "of the Devil." The Muslims say that all other religions are "Infidels." Rabbi Lapin (who is a member, and was present at Focus for the Planning Committee meeting) has said that Messianic Jews are "apostate." One of the Mormon members of the Alliance, David Dollahite, told me that he remembers having to ask for a "moment of silence" before a meal, to "not offend some of our guests." Steve, that was on the Focus campus! What do you think it will be like when they all get to the U.N.? It will be worse, not better.

3) Tom would have sent the letter on to Dr. Dobson if I would have shortened it? This statement was made many times by Tom in my unemployment hearing. Fortunately, my boss, Jimmy Peck, was present in the original meeting where Tom claims to have made this "offer." Jimmy stated under oath that Tom NEVER made that statement. Ask Jimmy why Tom said he intercepted my private mail to Dr. Dobson. He distinctly said, "It's too long, too preachy, and has too many inaccuracies." As you may know, the letter was about five pages long, and was mostly just me quoting scriptures that testified that forming alliances with unbelievers was wrong. Tom wanted the letter to have been a paragraph at the most! He said, "If you would have come to me first, I would have helped you write the letter." He never said, "If you will shorten it a bit, I'll send it to Dr. Dobson." Tom seems to be having a bout with historic revisionism.

4) I told my employer that I did not want to quit, in order to collect unemployment? This is a new one on me. This is the first time that I have heard this accusation. At no time did I ever make such a statement to anyone. Please feel free to let me know who my accuser is. Thank you.

5) Tom is the head of Alliance? This is just a misunderstanding on your part. As I said before, I don't have a copy of the tape, so I must trust that you are quoting the statement accurately and in context (against my better judgment). My statement was referring to the fact that Tom Minnery was the head of the Alliance for Focus. Not the head of the entire WCOF or even head of the Planning Committee.

6) Adrian Rogers agreed with the Alliance? I doubt that very much. From what I know of Adrian Rogers he would not support such an unbiblical Alliance. A friend of mine is a good friend of Adrian Rogers and he said, "Adrian would NEVER endorse this unholy Alliance." But those are just opinions. I based my remarks on statements made by, none other than Tom Minnery, himself. Tom made the following declarations on 3-19-01, in a meeting with Jimmy Peck and me:

"First of all, I have never sent Dr. Dobson something this long, whenever I send him something I try to say it in one paragraph. And the reason is the guy's got such a stack and he'll never read it if I send something that goes four or five pages with two attachments. Um, and secondly you know most of what this is... preachin'."

Cooper: "Yeah, it's scripture."

Minnery: "And, yeah, I mean, you're not telling him anything he doesn't already believe from the bottom of his heart.

Cooper: "Then how can you believe those scriptures and go ahead and align with the enemies of the cross?

Minnery: "Well, uh, we discussed this thoroughly at our Executive Cabinet and a lot of good points made and then we took it to the board and we discussed it thoroughly at the board and uh, Adrian Rogers whose with the Southern Baptists is uh, one of the strongest separationists there are and he gave some pretty good reasons, and uh, so there's a lot more to this than you know about and had you asked me about it I would have told ya uh, but you didn't. Ya know, you just sent this to Dr. Dobson. And uh, you're focusing entirely on the Mormons here, but you make it sound like we're aligning ourselves with Mormons. It's actually worse than that. I mean, we're aligning ourselves with Mormons, Hindus, Jews, and uh, Muslims, as well as other Christians. This is not a theological battle we're fighting here obviously because we have different theologies. We don't talk about theology. We're trying to preserve the traditional definition of the family within the United Nations. We're trying to pull a lot of people who believe in uh, religious...religious tenets about the family that we can agree with and point them toward uh, the United Nations. It's not, you know... uh... the Mormons have, have been doing this now for quite some time. We're just now beginning to pay attention as Evangelicals and uh, Evangelicals who have been paying attention to these issues are saying, "Great! We're glad you're there. We need an Evangelical voice for the Evangelical church. We're happy you're there." So, um, that's the kind of thing we talked about at the board meeting. So, you, you made it sound like, uh, we're uh, we'll be working with the LDS Mormon Church on political issues...well, officially working, well, I don't know, I wouldn't, I wouldn't call it officially. I mean there's no letterhead that's gonna have their name and our name on it. Uh, we're trying to organize the World Congress on the Family and we may have it in a Muslim country. 'Cause the Muslims are members of the United Nations. And they are tremendous fighters against uh, homosexuals."

Cooper: "And tremendous fighters against the Gospel. And they're the number one murderers of Christians in the world. And to, to fight on a different issue and overlook those kind of issues... you can't have... There is no biblical basis for that kind of a compromise."

Minnery: "Oh, I disagree, and uh, uh"

Cooper: "Based on what though?

Minnery: "Well, I'm not going to get into an argument with you here at this meeting. I just want to explain to you why uh, why this letter didn't go to Dr. Dobson, because that was your question. Uh, you raise good issues. The issues are the same issues have been raised at Executive Cabinet and they've been raised at the Board. (by Adrian Rogers?) But you're not a good, you're not a good vehicle to voice that, because uh, you overwrite and you preach and you don't have facts that are accurate."

So as you can see by the statements made by Tom, himself, all of my statements are accurate and documented. But since we are on the subject of slander and libel, please let me inform you of what Focus is saying about me in print (as well as on the radio):

"The picketer you've seen is Mr. Brian Cooper, a former Focus staff member who was discharged from employment at Focus on the Family. Mr. Cooper is apparently angry, resentful, and eager to hurt his former employer. In fact, he seems bent on creating controversy for controversy's sake. There is nothing to his charges - but of course, he is able to generate publicity anyway...

Brian has spent day after sweltering day in the midsummer heat, standing at curbside, sporting accusatory signs, and shouting his anti-Focus message at passing cars and visitors to our campus...

As for Brian's accusations, there is not and never has been any question of a "merger" between Focus on the Family and the Mormons, Muslims or Roman Catholics for any reason whatsoever."

Firstly, no one, including me, has ever accused Focus of entering in to a "merger" with anyone. That is a strawman argument. We have only called the WCOF what it is... an Alliance. As you know, the Mission Statement of the WCOF says that anyone who participates must "set their theological differences aside" and that all "differences" must "take a back seat." We believe that the only thing we have to offer this world is salvation by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If you are barred from sharing the Gospel with the members of the WCOF, then you really have nothing to contribute.

Secondly, I am not "angry, resentful, and eager to hurt" anyone. In case you have forgotten the chronology of events... I wrote the letter to Focus while I was still employed at Focus. I did not get fired from Focus for an unrelated issue and then write an "angry and resentful" letter. I wrote Dr. Dobson a loving letter of warning (regarding the issue of the WCOF and forming alliances with the enemies of God) and then they fired me. Trust me, because of all of the compromise and deception that I have seen over the years, I am as glad to be gone from Focus as they are to have me gone.

Thirdly, I also am not "seeking controversy for controversy's sake." There are hundreds of Focus employees that feel the same way I do. There are also thousands outside of the Focus empire that believe the Alliance is Scripturally bankrupt. So to insinuate that the Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus is a non-issue is an outright deception.

Fourthly, to state that "There is nothing to his charges," is simply fallacious. I have never "charged" Focus of anything but joining the WCOF. If I have ever "charged" Focus of doing anything that they did not do, please let me know of the specific errors, rather than allowing Focus to whitewash with such a broad brush.

And finally, I did not "shout anti-Focus messages" to anyone. All I said was to pray for Focus, then to call Focus and ask them to repent of the Alliance with Mormons, Muslims and Hindus. Besides, most of my dialogue was with Focus employees. Regarding the issue of me wearing a Devil costume... that's D-R-A-M-A! The sign I had said, "Focus is Dancing with Me Now." The only days that I wore that costume, were the days that Focus had Mormons, Muslims and Hindus on the Focus campus. It is my opinion that aligning with these non-Christians is "Dancing with the Devil."

So, Steve, when it comes to slanderous or libelous statements, you better have Focus clean up their own back yard, before you come over to mine. I can document EVERY statement that I have made. They cannot.

In Jesus,

Brian V. Cooper

PS Tom Minnery recently made the accusation on nationwide live radio (10-2-01) that I was being disingenuous by allowing my wife to continue working at Focus (if I thought that they had defiled the ministry by joining the Alliance, and having them meet on the Focus campus). First of all, I am the head of my home... not a dictator. If and when she decided to leave, that would be up to her (she quit within minutes of hearing Tom Minnery berate our family on the radio). Secondly, she had made the decision to fight the Alliance from within (Focus), whereas I chose to fight it from the outside. And lastly, since they chose to hire three attorneys to keep me from collecting unemployment (after serving the Lord faithfully at Focus for almost five years), it was an economic necessity.

Read: Transcription of the 3-19-01 Meeting between Tom Minnery, Brian Cooper and Jimmy Peck

CONCLUSION:

So where do we go from here? What should we do as the Church? First, we must go to our brother in private, as instructed in Matthew 18. If FOF will not listen, then we must go to them with a brother. If they still will not listen, then we must take it to the Church, as a whole. That is what this booklet is all about. We have gone to FOF in private, then with several brothers, and now, we are taking the issue to you, the Church.

When Jesus taught the parable of “The Pearl of Great Price,” He was referring to heaven. Sell all you possess... do whatever it takes... to inherit the “pearl” of eternal life. We cannot assign motives, but it appears that FOF believes that the Pearl of Great Price is “political power.” Psalm 1:1 says, "Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scoffers." The World Congress of Families and the United Nations are both full of ungodly scoffers whose path leads to destruction. If Focus does not repent, they may find themselves in the position of King Saul; still holding a position of authority, but no longer anointed. ... Only God knows who will replace them. Our hope and prayer is that they will repent and disavow the ungodly Alliance and re-submit to the Word of God.

If you are an employee or supporter of FOF and Dr. Dobson, you have a duty and a responsibility to give them/him Godly counsel. Guard your heart against becoming more of a "Dobsonite" than a Christian. Dr. Dobson is a fallible man just like you and me, and he and Focus have made a mistake that is easily corrected. You must be willing to "speak the truth in love," no matter what it may cost you. If you do call FOF, remember to tell them what God told Saul in I Samuel 15:22, "To obey is better than sacrifice." We must do God’s Will, God’s Way!

Brian Cooper
Freedom Quest Ministries
 

Meeting between Tom Minnery, Brian Cooper and Jimmy Peck (Minnery admits to the Alliance with Mormons, Muslims, etc.) 


Is Focus on the Family Going in an Unscriptural, Ecumenical, New Age Direction? (articles)

Let's Focus in on "Focus On The Family" (Transcription of two tapes)

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