The Family Children of God by insidersChildren of God Family International
Home Chat Boards Articles COG History COG Publications People Resources Search site map
exFamily.org > chatboards > genX > archives > post #5986

VisionVideo

Posted by Sam Ajemian on December 04, 2002 at 15:35:27

This is an e-mail I got from VisionVideo. It contains a reply by Robert Fernandez. He is claiming he is not part of the Family, was bofore but not know. Another former member contacted VisionVideo and gave info along the same lines with what I sent them. If you would like to contact VisionVideo and contribute some info it would be very appreciated. Thanks. Sam Ajemian
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dear Dr. Ajemain,
Thank you for your call. Here is the reply I received from Robert Fernandez.
Any additional response you have to this letter would be welcome.

Bill Curtis



Dear Bill and Ken

May the Lord bless you. Once again I extend my sincere and deep apologies
for the trouble this is causing you and no doubt the concern and worry. I
have been praying constantly that all this will be resolved quickly and
effectively.

As I mentioned earlier, "Cherub Wings" is not a product of any organization
- religious or otherwise or in this case "The Family" as these people are
claiming. "Cherub" is something I have had a desire to do for a long time.
You may recall I sent you the script to look over and for your input. I did
the same with EWTN and other established organizations to make sure that the
content was correct Biblically and in every other aspect. It hurts to see
something that has gotten so many great results being put in such a bad
light and I am praying that the Lord will not allow this to go on, for the
sake of the many kids that have and can be benefited by it.

There is nothing in "Cherub" which is contrary to Gospel- my only intention
has been and continues to be that it will be strengthening to children and
families that already have religious backgrounds and that for those
households that do not attend church or for kids that get little or no
religious input, that it will result in them knowing Jesus and having a
personal relationship with Him as Savior.

That we are funneling finances to a "group" or supporting any group
whatsoever is so unreal. Number one, as if the finances were just rolling
in, which I can guarantee you, they are not and what does come in I use to
fund more projects and secondly the only people that it funds are the
distribution companies or churches or stores etc. that sell them themselves.

My intention as far as my work goes is and has been to be a blessing in
whatever way possible to get the Gospel preached. Because of this I have
gotten involved on a personal level with other ministries and projects in
which I have given input or helped them get their project produced such as
the recent case here with my involvement with United Bible Society for an
animated show that helps Asian kids get to understand the salvation message.
Or input and contacts etc that I have passed on to other companies or
helping produce new things like the new Bible Interactive CD that I have
helped Pluribus Media with.

For what it's worth, I am attaching a file of a little "contract" that I
drew up when praying about my ministry in the audio visual field several
years back. It will give you an idea of what is on my heart. I have not
shared this with anyone and it may be unnecessary but do so to help you see
what my desire and work is.

To give you a brief history of my time in "The Family" - (Forgive me if
this gets too long - I want you to get the picture.) As I might have told
you I got saved through a radio program in LA when I was 14. I went to
Catholic schools and church all my life and it wasn't until I heard the
verse Rev. 3:20 that I knew Jesus could live in my heart. I received the
Lord alone in my room at about midnight and the next day started witnessing
though I had no idea that, that was what I was doing. That God could love me
as much as He did- and knowing what a sinner I was- floored me and I prayed
in those very early days that God would never allow me to forget how empty
and lonely I was inside before I received Him as Savior. All my work since
then has focused a lot on telling people about Jesus in any way I possibly
can. For 6 months I witnessed by myself. Though it was the time of the Jesus
Movement, I did not meet another born again Christian for 6 months though I
was out witnessing pretty much every day. I did not know where to go find
one. I had no experience in "Protestantism"- what church etc.

6 months later through a series of events I met a group in an Assemblies of
God Church basement in Alhambra - Bethany Church of Alhambra. During my time
attending their youth group I became more focused on witnessing and
basically my spiritual foundation came from these sessions and what I was
able to get through Dwayne Peterson's Hollywood Free Press. During a year
and a half I attended the Church and witnessed in school.

It was a year or so later that when I moved to Costa Rica I met the
"Family"- at that time all they did was witness and have Bible classes and
to be honest their extreme dedication to that was what attracted me to them.
I don;t know why the Lord led me to them considering later there were things
that were definitely incorrect but that the Lord led me to them in the first
place I can't deny and that I learned to witness more boldly, to reach out
to other cultures and to have greater faith. I was in and out of the group
for a while but my focus was always in witnessing and after a while I
started working independently.

In or out of the group, there have been things in my past that I regret- I
have made many mistakes - some from being just young and careless, others
because I didn't really know better and others immaturity and perhaps at
times too much trust in people. There are things that I regret about my life
which have to do both with religious things as well as just life issues
which I wish I could undo. I have learned through them, I have worked things
out with the Lord and gone on and by God's grace have tried to be as careful
as possible as to what I do, what I believe and what I practice.

I was always pretty active in witnessing ministries and hence people may
know about me in the group but I don't know everyone and have as I said
acted independently for years. I am perturbed by some of the things that
some people are saying and writing about me- people that I don't know i,e.
Mr Ajamian- I have never met him nor he me- I find it difficult to be judged
by someone that I do not know myself and who does not know me. He does not
know my life or my day to day routine which is basically prayer and work and
prayer. This is what I do.

This person is making some pretty strong statements that I am praying about
taking legal action on. My big discomfort about this is that I dislike going
to a court which I feel is a horrible example to the unbelievers. I think it
turns the Lord into a spectacle and stumbles people. Nevertheless I am
praying about it.

My prayer is: Psalm 26
Judge me, O Lord for I have walked in mine integrity. I have trusted also in
the Lord, therefore I shall not slide.
Examine me O Lord and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
For thy loving-kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in Thy
truth...
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all thy
wondrous works.

I am putting myself in the Lord's hands and am trusting Him to fulfill His
will. I know the Lord gets mileage out of things and do pray that He will
further purge me from anything that is not right.

I have been working with people of all Christian backgrounds and
congregations. The Lord has laid it on my heart not to say no to anyone that
could use my help or to participate in anything that would glorify Him.

I will do all I can to stop this and if nec. and you need to drop us, I will
do all I can to repay you and restore any damage done to your ministry. You
should not need to carry this.

At the same time I pray that "Cherub" will be vindicated- I would hate to
think that people start to look at Cherub as some sort of evil character.
May Jesus not allow this for the sake of kids.

I know that this also brings up involvement in "Torchbearers" - may I
suggest not involving Sunny-Side Up? If you feel okay- I can continue to do
the scripts and get the project animated and recorded etc as usual but not
under any company name- it can be yours. I am also more than willing to drop
any mention of my name in the product and would help you just get it done
even coordinating the animation with Asia and the people that we work with
in other countries. I would be happy to get them in direct communication
with you.

I apologize for all this- never my intention and as I said earlier I did
not mention it because I have been independent for so long.

Trusting in the Lord and in constant prayer,

Robert