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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 2016)
Page 8A FAITH East Oregonian Federal arrests reveal polygamist sect details By JAMES NORD and DIRK LAMMERS Associated Press PIERRE, S.D. — A federal crackdown on an alleged food stamp fraud scheme by a polygamous sect on the Arizona-Utah border is offering details about a secretive compound in far southwestern South Dakota that has served as one of the church’s “lands of refuge.” Top leaders from Warren Jeffs’ Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, including his brothers Lyle Jeffs of Utah and Seth Jeffs of South Dakota, were arrested Tuesday. Prosecutors accuse church leaders of orchestrating a fraud scheme instructing members how WR XVH IRRGVWDPS EHQH¿WV illegally and avoid getting caught, according to an indictment from the U.S. $WWRUQH\¶V2I¿FHLQ8WDK But court documents say sect members living in the South Dakota compound were prohibited from using food stamps while living there, potentially part of the church leadership’s efforts to keep secret their property near Pringle, population 111. Known to the faithful as “R23,” the group started work on the compound there over a decade ago. Warren Jeffs is serving a life sentence in Texas for assaulting two of his child brides. Authorities say his brother Seth is the bishop of the church’s South Dakota congregation. Seth Jeffs, who previously downplayed his church role in dealings with South Dakota water AP ile photo Warren Jeffs sits in the Third District Court in Salt Lake City. regulators, is behind bars in South Dakota pending a Monday hearing in the food stamp case. An attorney for Seth Jeffs didn’t immediately return telephone messages requesting comment. Only about 30 miles from the popular tourist attraction of Mount Rushmore, the church’s 140-acre South Dakota prop- erty sits along a gravel road secluded by tall pine trees and a recently completed privacy fence. A roving security force of two was bolstered by two or three guards stationed inside the compound’s watch tower, a steel-enforced octagonal structure manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, according to an FBI report on a 2014 interview with Sam Steed. He was a compound resident from 2006-2007. Cell phone batteries had to be removed while on the property. The presiding bishop carried a phone but had to leave to use it, Steed told the FBI. Steed didn’t immediately respond to telephone and email messages requesting comment about the informa- BRIEFLY World Day of Prayer coming next week PENDLETON — The World Day of Prayer is celebrated in 170 countries. In recognition of the event, a gathering is planned Friday, March 4 at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 201 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. The World Day of Prayer was founded on the idea that prayer and action are inseparable in the service of God’s UHDOP6HUYLFHVEHJLQDWVXQULVHLQWKH3DFL¿FDQGIROORZWKH sun across the globe on the day of celebration. Each year a different country’s committee serves as writers of the World Day of Prayer worship service. The 2016 event is called into worship by the committee from Cuba, who highlight verses in the gospel of Mark, “Let the little children come to me … ” An offering will be taken to support World Day of Prayer USA and help meet the needs of families in Cuba and around the world who are victims of poverty, violence and injustice. For more information about the local gathering, call 541-276-7681. For more about World Day of Prayer USA, visit www.wdp-usa.org. tion attributed to him in the court documents. “You can’t see a whole lot anymore,” Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler said of the South Dakota compound. After a 2008 federal raid of the sect’s Texas ranch that led to Warren Jeffs’ conviction, the South Dakota property’s population swelled to 100-150, Steed said, according to court documents. Some girls and young women were also moved to the South Dakota compound from the Arizo- na-Utah border to receive “special training,” he said. “There was a selection process for these girls chosen to go to R23,” Steed said. “Lyle (Jeffs) was instrumental in the selection process and told the girls that you had to ‘qualify’ to go.” Only a dozen people were approved to work on Warren Jeffs’ house on the South Dakota property. Construction started in 2008, and it was built with one-foot thick walls, sound barriers DQG GRXEOH SDGGHG ÀRRULQJ according to the documents. Warren Jeffs’ son Roy was sent to live in the South Dakota compound for nearly a year in 2007-2008, where he spent long days building houses with log exteriors. Other men helped raise livestock or stood guard in the tower, Roy Jeffs told The Associated Press. He left the sect in February 2014. Roy Jeffs said only a few dozen people were there at a time. He saw women, but didn’t know what they were there for. People weren’t supposed to leave without approval from leaders. MILTON-FREEWATER — The World Day of Prayer will be observed during the upcoming Milton-Freewater Church Women United gathering. Men and women are invited to attend Friday, March 4 at 1:30 p.m. at Grace Presbyterian Church, 703 S. Main St., Milton- Freewater. The event includes a prayer service and refreshments. For more information, contact Helen Richartz at helen_jack@columbiainet.com or 541-558-3969. Diaper Dash helps families in need HERMISTON — A 5K and 10K run/walk will collect diapers to be given to mothers for their babies in need. Sponsored by the Hermiston Church of the Nazarene, the Diaper Dash is Saturday, March 5 beginning at 8:30 a.m. with a 1-mile dash for kids 5 and under. The event begins and ends at the church, 1520 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston. The 5K/10K starts at 9 a.m. The entry fee is a bag of diapers. Anyone interested in helping others in need are invited to participate. For more information, call 541-567-3677. Dinner & Auction Sunday, March 13th 4:00pm Hermiston High School Commons Coptic teens found guilty of contempt of Islam CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court has convicted four Coptic Christian teenagers for contempt of Islam on Thursday, after they appeared in a video mocking Muslim SUD\HUVVHQWHQFLQJWKUHHWR¿YH\HDUVLQ prison and referring a fourth, who is under 18, to a juvenile detention facility. The harsh ruling — which has followed a surge of blasphemy cases in Egyptian courts — underscores a culture of intolerance within the country’s judicial system at a time when the Egyptian president is seeking to position himself as an advocate for religious reform. Their teenagers’ lawyer, Maher Naguib, said his clients, who are high school students in the southern province of Minya, haven’t been detained and didn’t appear in court for the trial. He described the ruling as “unbelievable” and said the judge should have just punished the teenagers with a ¿QH 7KHYLGHRZDV¿OPHGE\WKHVWXGHQWV¶ teacher, who is also a Christian, and who was sentenced to three years in prison for insulting Islam in a separate trial. The 30-second video showed the students pretending to pray, with one NQHHOLQJRQWKHÀRRUZKLOHUHFLWLQJ Qur’anic verses and two others standing behind him and laughing. One waved his hand under a second’s neck in a sign of beheading. Bill allowing companies to deny services to gays advances in Kentucky FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky businesses could refuse services to gay, lesbian or transgender clients in the name of protecting religious beliefs under a bill advancing in the state Senate. The bill comes after the Lexington- Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission ordered a Christian T-shirt company to get diversity training for refusing to print shirts for a gay pride festival. A state judge overturned the order, but an appeals court is reviewing the case. “All of these business owners want to treat everyone with full dignity and s h i W o r Tickets may be purchased at the Hermiston Chamber, American West Properties and Oasis Vineyard Church. A table for 8 can be purchased for $280. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please call or text Nancy Walchli at 541-571-1723. IS gets millions for abducted Christians BEIRUT (AP) — The Islamic State group has collected millions of dollars in ransom for a group of Assyrian Christians it kidnapped in Syria a year ago. 7KDW¶VDFFRUGLQJWR&KULVWLDQRI¿FLDOV and an opposition group. The last of the 230 hostages are just being freed. The release ended a yearlong saga for the Christians — many of them women and children — during which families had no news from their loved ones. Younan Talia, of the Assyrian Democratic Organization, told The Associated Press that about 40 remaining captives were released early Monday and arrived in the northeastern town of Tal Tamr. He said the release came after mediation led by a top Assyrian priest in northern Syria. The extremists captured the Assyrians, members of an ancient Christian sect, last February after overrunning several communities. BAHA’I FAITH “The Unity of All Mankind” Pendleton Baha’i Center at 1015 SE Court Place Devotions Sundays @ 11:00am; Everyone invited! (541) 276-9360 visit us at www.pendletonbahais.org p w i t h u s ! Sunday Morning Worship 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Worship Noon All Are Welcome P eace L utheran C hurch ELCA Join us Sundays Faith Center Church Worshiping God Loving People 9:30 Sunday Worship 9:30 am am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Fellowship 11:00 am Sunday School & Adult Class 108 S. Main • 276-9569 ~Come and be at Peace~ Sr. Pastor, Ray O’Grady pendletonfaithcenter.org on 1290 KUMA noon each Sunday Sunday Worship 10:30 am NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH Seventh-Day Adventist Church 1350 S. Highway 395, Hermiston Sunday Worship Services English- Pastor Dave Andrus 9:00 & 10:45 am Spanish- Pastor Genaro Loredo 9:00 & 10:15 am Classes for kids during all services For more information call Saturday Services Pendleton 1401 SW Goodwin Place 276-0882 Sabbath School 9:20 am Worship Service 10:45 am 541-567-8441 Community Presbyterian Churc h Grace Baptist Church 555 SW 11th, Hermiston 567-9497 Nursery provided for all services OPEN HEARTS – OPEN DOOR www.graceandmercylutheran.org 14 Martin Drive, Umatilla, OR 922-3250 Worship: 10 AM Sunday School at 11:30 St. Johns Episcopal Church All People Are Welcome Family service 9am Sunday Gladys Ave & 7th Hermiston Fr. Dan Lediard, Priest. PH: 567-6672 585 SW Birch, Pilot Rock, OR 97868 (541) 443-2500 prbconline.blogspot.com Sunday School: 9:30 am Worship Service: 10:45 am Wednesday Services: Kids’ Club: 6:00 pm Youth Group: 7:00 pm Service of Worship - 10:00 am Children’s Sunday School - 10:20 am Fellowship - 11:00 am www.pendletonpresbyterian.com Open Hearted...Open Minded 541-289-4535 Red Lion Hotel ( Oregon Trail Room ) www.faithpendleton.org “Proclaiming God’s word, growing in God’s grace” Come meet Jesus at First United Methodist Church PENDLETON BAPTIST CHURCH 3202 SW Nye Ave Pendleton, OR 541-276-7590 Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM Sunday Bible Classes 9:45 AM Sunday Youth Group 6:00 PM Mon. Community Women’s Study 9:30 AM & 6 PM Awana Kids Club (K-6th grade) Wed Men’s Study 6 PM MOPS meeting the 1st Thur of the Month 6 PM 352 SE 2nd Street Pendleton, OR 541-276-2616 in Mission for Christ LCMC Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 AM Sunday Worship . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 AM Sunday School - 9:30 AM Worship - 10:45 AM 6:00 pm Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM Tom Inch, Pastor Grace and Mercy Lutheran Church, ELCA 164 E. Main St. / P.O. Box 1108 Hermiston, Oregon 97838 FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday Worship 9am Open Hearts, Open Hands, Open Doors Facebook: www.facebook.com/ FUMCPendleton Services are broadcast every Sunday on KUMA-1290 AM @ 11am Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor T HE C OUNTRY C HURCH FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -Presbyterian Church (USA)- 201 SW Dorion Ave. Pendleton Sunday Worship 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Fellowship, Refreshments & Sunday School Check Out our Facebook Page or Website for More Information Pastor James Becker FIRST SERVICE 8:30 AM SECOND SERVICE 10:30 AM 712 SW 27 TH ST. 541-276-1894 www.fcogpendleton.com 32742 Diagonal RD Hermiston OR 97838 Sunday School 10 am Worship 7 am Evening Service 7 pm Bible Study Wednesdays 7 pm Firestarter Youth Ministry (Ages 12-17) Monday @ 6 pm St. Paul Anglican Church, APA Currently Located at 119 SW Quinney Pl., Home Church in Pendleton @ Sunridge Estates 541-303-1261 Holy Communion - 1st & 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer - 2nd, 4th & 5th Sunday All Services - 10:00am Sundays The Rev. Fr. Vincent Varnas facebook.com/stpaulanglicanchurchapa Tim is battling Cancer, so please help support this wonderful couple. Doors open 4pm • Tri Tip dinner buffet 5pm Silent Auction • Tickets $35 respect. But their conscience and religious beliefs prevent them from using their skills to promote a celebration that runs counter to what the Bible teaches about marriage,” said Republican Sen. Albert Robinson of London, the bill’s primary sponsor. The bill is the latest effort of lawmakers in some states to react to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last summer that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. The Georgia legislature is considering similar legislation, and the Missouri legislature is considering amending its state constitution to protect businesses that decline to provide goods or services for same-sex marriage ceremonies or celebrations. The bill, written in part by the Family Foundation of Kentucky, would also ban courts from jailing someone or holding them in contempt of court for refusing to provide services. Last year, a federal judge found Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis in FRQWHPSWRIFRXUWDQGMDLOHGKHUIRU¿YH days for refusing to obey his order that she issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. This bill would not apply in that VLWXDWLRQVLQFH'DYLVLVDQHOHFWHGRI¿FLDO and her case was handled in federal court. 241 SE Second St. Pendleton (541)276-3809 www.pendletonepiscopal.org Scripture, Tradition and Reason Tim & Annette Terraberry’s BRIEFLY Church Directory 210 NW 9th, Pendleton Church Women United set prayer event Friday, February 26, 2016 3HQGOHWRQ )5((0(7+2',67&+85&+ Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. Mid-Week Children & Youth Weekly Adult Life Groups 6:WK6WZZZSHQGIPFRUJ
