Does Selma’s Freedom Foundation still have ties to the Parker, Colo.-based House of God (now Parker Community Church), which has been labeled a cult by some?
The foundation’s founder and president Mark Duke says no.
Although Duke admits that The House of God (THOG) “sent” some of its members to Selma, he contends he and his group are no longer affiliated with the Colorado church and the foundation is not a religious organization. “A few members in that church started this nonprofit entity. It is totally separate from the church. (We are) no longer with The House of God church,” he told The Alabama Baptist.
And as far as his own church membership is concerned, Duke said, “Currently I am not a member of a church because I’m usually out speaking and preaching.” He later told The Alabama Baptist, “I am not a pastor of a church.”
As for the foundation, Duke said, “The Freedom Foundation does not have a doctrine. It’s a community of volunteers that work for a nonprofit company.”
But other evidence suggests there is still a connection.
Duke’s acknowledgement that House of God members were part of starting the foundation is one such connection. This took place in 2005 while Duke was still pastor of THOG, which he served from 2001 until 2007. The foundation’s papers for incorporation can be viewed on the Colorado secretary of state’s Web site, www.sos.state.co.us.
In the Amended Articles of Incorporation document, the 10 trustees listed also are listed as House of God members in the 2005 church directory. Duke; his wife, Becky; and Shawn Samuelson, operations director and chairwoman of the board of directors for Freedom Foundation, are three people listed.
Reports indicate two trustees, Cheryl Isherwood and Fontells Pappas, still live in Parker and are actively involved in THOG and the foundation. Isherwood, who sometimes goes by her maiden name Preheim, is a weekend news anchor for NBC 9 News in Denver. A family member and friend verified that Isherwood is currently involved with THOG. Pappas is a real estate agent for Keller-Williams in Parker and is still active in THOG and the foundation.
Not only is there evidence that active House of God members in Parker are still connected to Freedom Foundation in Selma but there is also evidence that the people in Selma and those in Parker still consider themselves to be part of the same group.
When asked if the group in Selma was part of the group in Parker, a former member of THOG, who left in 2007, said, “That (the Selma group) is the House of God. It’s their teaching, doctrine and belief system.”
Another person with knowledge of THOG said, “They are part of the same belief system in Selma [as] The House of God. The group is called the ‘beloved community.’ The group that moved from Parker to Selma [said] they needed a way to distinguish the group (from the one in Parker).”
According to Allan McConnell, president of Radar13 Ministries in Birmingham, Freedom Foundation volunteers who moved to Selma from THOG in Parker attend Selma Community Church.
In June 2008, Ronald Smith, Selma Community Church pastor, filed incorporation papers for the church to the Dallas County Courthouse under the name The Beloved Community Church.
In Feb. 2009, Smith filed an amendment and the name of the church was changed to Selma Community Church.
At least two people from Parker confirmed that House of God members from across the country, including those in Selma, came together during the July fourth weekend for a meeting. One person saw people actively involved in Freedom Foundation in Selma, including Duke, at the House of God gathering in Parker.
A source close to THOG said Duke has frequently returned to the church in Parker to preach and has said he will be coming back even more in the months to come. Even though Duke has insisted he is not a pastor, this person still referred to him as “my pastor.”
When Duke left Colorado, Dan Vaughn became pastor of THOG. Vaughn and his family recently moved to Wisconsin. Several sources within THOG have said Tommy Morris, who came to Selma with Freedom Foundation from THOG, is going back to Parker to take Vaughn’s place in the church.
The former member spoke about the time Vaughn was pastor. “He (Duke) is still the leader of The House of God, not Dan. Mark is the last word.”
Patricia Morin, whose daughter lives in Selma and is part of Freedom Foundation, does not make a distinction between THOG and the foundation. She described her daughter as “a Freedom Foundation, House of God member.”
Some of Duke’s sermons also suggest there was at least intent of establishing a church like THOG in Selma.
In a sermon given in Parker on April 22, 2007, Duke talked about what THOG was going to do through the foundation. “We are going to build a church, too, and bring a pastor down. Tommy (Morris) is going to be the pastor and we’re gonna do that. … I am going to preach. I am already campaigning.”
Duke also talked about the way House of God members would go to Selma during this sermon. “If you’re one of the ones that are called to Selma, take your time. This is an orderly troop movement,” he said. “We’re going to move one or two families at a time. … The fish aren’t going anywhere. They can’t get out of that pond down there. We’re going to do little movement, and we’re going to build and keep going.”
Also in this sermon, Duke talked to the church about continuing the work after he and others left for Selma and keeping the relationship open between the two groups. “You keep this family together. I’m expecting y’all to do this,” he said. “And I know I can depend on Dan (Vaughn) and Laura. You keep these home fires going and y’all come (to Selma) when we need you. Then we’ll come home when we need y’all, too.”
In an earlier sermon from Jan. 28, 2007, Duke spoke frequently about the strategy of Freedom Foundation and its relationship to THOG and even mentioned the foundation’s radio show “Real Talk Selma.”
Duke said, “And so, as God sets up a safe place, carved out a safe place, which Colorado is, and The House of God. And you’ll see it’s like headquarters. It’s a training center. It’s like producing disciples.” He continued speaking, explaining the difference in the church’s and the foundation’s purpose.
“The movement is the Freedom Foundation. It’s the freedom movement. The church is the center of equipping and training those soldiers to fight in God’s cause.”
“We (THOG) can’t do it all. You can only do so much, and we’ll only gain so much. But strategically now we can do some things that we’ve never been able to do (through Freedom Foundation). That’s where the church has to get to,” Duke said.
He also responded to some questions raised by a woman in the church — “What is everything we’re needing to support and give towards? I know the Freedom Foundation, but salaries?”
Duke responded, “There’s some financial needs that the Freedom Foundation has and … we’re gonna need the support of the church, too.”
Duke also said in this sermon that part of the strategy in Selma was to get on the radio and connect with the youth.
McConnell said the radio show reveals Duke’s true intent.
“They say they are not a religious organization, but on their radio show, ‘Real Talk Selma,’ a large part of what they do is spout religious doctrine,” he said of Freedom Foundation.
Former House of God members and family members of those involved in Freedom Foundation have no doubts that the foundation is a branch of THOG, though it may not use the name.
McConnell said, “These organizations are one and the same because they are both about promoting ‘the cause.’”
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