STUNNED BY AN INSIDE JOB
Many churches are vulnerable to sticky fingers near church funds.
Richard L. Bergstrom
January 1, 1987
On May 19, 1986, a former staff member of Euzoa Bible Church in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, went to jail for embezzling almost $42,000 from the church over a six-year period. Below is an account of what happened. The details are actual; the experiences real. Only the staff member's name has been changed to save further embarrassment to the family. The story is offered in the hope that this account might prevent such experiences from happening to others.
At the annual meeting of Euzoa Bible Church on October 8, 1985, our forty-two-year-old youth pastor, who had been with the church eight years, stood before the congregation and read the following confession:
I have sinned against God, my wife, my children, my family, and the body of Christ here at Euzoa.
For almost six years I have been stealing from the general offerings of this church. I have taken cash and checks and deposited them into the youth checking account. I then wrote checks for cash on that account and used the money for personal use. I have lied to many of you and have deceived you. The depth of the deception is so ingrained, I do not know the scope of the amount of my stealing. I am dependent upon the elders and their audit to know the scope of my sin.
Further, I have not filed federal or state income tax for eight years. While my wife knew of my failure to file with the IRS, I hid the extent of the shambles of our personal finances from her. She persisted in praying that I would be responsible, and from time to time attempted to confront me with questions regarding our financial affairs. But I lied to her, and she, because of her trust, accepted my lies.
I have been moved to confess my sin through the fear of God, through fear of the growing pressure and presence ...
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