This ministry was originally registered with Washington State, as an outreach prison teaching ministry. After the McNeil Island Prison closed, we chose to focus our efforts on a website as a teaching tool.
We are Not a Tax Exempt 501© 3 Organization.
We are NOT a Tax exempt 501(c) 3 organization, as we never applied for that status from the Internal Revenue Service. Most churches in America have organized as “501(c)3 tax-exempt religious organizations.” Churches were always tax exempt but only added to section 501(c)3 of the tax code in 1954, thanks to Sen. L.B. Johnson.
L.B. Johnson had it in mind to silence the church and end the significant influence the church had always had on shaping “public policy.” The 501(c)3 acceptance has placed many restrictions upon any 501(c)3 church. The intent was to limit 501(c)3 churches from addressing, the vital issues of the day. For a 501(c)3 church to openly speak out, or organize in opposition to, anything that the government declares “legal,” even if it is immoral, (e.g. abortion, homosexuality, pornography) that church will jeopardize its tax exempt status.
Rather than have to answer to the I.R.S. regarding the content of our speech and/or literature, we chose not to register with them as for “tax exempt status.”
We are subject to State and Federal Agencies, always being subject to the governments that God has appointed over us. Rom 13 v 1 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
The government policy of suppressing expressions of Christian faith, the legal recognition and protections provided same-sex marriages and the I.R.S. targeting of conservative groups, is a foreshadowing of things to come. We see risk in subjecting our theology to the approval of the god of this world. A favorable tax status that the government can and will withdraw (with penalties to the giver and the receiver of tax exempt funds) is not a partnership we choose.
It is understood that our books are always open to any scrutiny, as we hope they show God’s principles of stewardship. We are admonished to seek counsel. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Prov 11:14
Paul told his two young associates to look at those who lead and serve. He required that such candidates pass the test of character. Titus 1 v 6-9 and 1 Timothy 3 v 2-12., Our test is always….”Do our lives and actions reflect the Holy Spirit indwelling?” These are the principles we operate under, and would gladly give an account for our decisions and our stewardship to anyone who asks.
