Shame on Fred Jordan Missions #6- For showing awesomely bad judgement in essentially being the principle benefactor of a sex cult.

The Children Of God, now disbanded, was a sex cult, most notably known for its extreme and heretical fundamentalism, accusations by its members of, incest, bigamy and federally prosecuted for soliciting illegal donations. Children of God, founder David Berg had a close relationship with Fred Jordan, often referring to him as, "King Saul" in internal memos. In fact, in an article from November, 29, 1971 published by the New York Times, Fred Jordan was referred to as, the cult's, "principle benefactor." A title that Fred Jordan, did not challenge.
http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/New_York_Times:_Ill_Winds_Buffet_Communal_Sect

According to testimony from past members, Fred Jordan would use Berg to solicit teens and young people to join, Jordan's "Soul Clinic." Jordan would then put these young people on his television show and use them to solicit donations from donors. According to past members of the Children of God, as young people they would go on Jordan's television show and pretend to be drug addicts, former prostitutes, anything to solicit donations.

In a 1972, book entitled, "The Jesus People" authors, Enroth, Ericson, and Peters say this about the relationship between David Berg and Fred Jordan:

"Jordan describes himself as a representative of the establishment who
felt a need to reach radical youth. Since he could not do this
himself, he associated with the Children of God. On his television
show, Jordan often spoke as if the Children of God were his ministry,
but this was not at all the case. He was the benefactor, not the
administrator. His program distorted the Children of God by making
them look more ordinary and unexceptional than they really are. He
camouflaged those eccentric doctrines with which he did not agree. His
appeal to businessmen for funds to support the Children of God was,
"You'd better help us reach these tough kids, or they'll destroy your
businesses. We're the only ones who can reach them." Jordan plays on
the desire of right-wingers to keep America Christian and orderly,
followed by an appeal for funds."

So close was the relationship that Linda Berg, (David Berg's Daughter) in her book, "The Children of God: The Inside Story," writes,

"Dad learned many business tactics from Fred Jordan, not all of them good. Dad developed the philosophy that it is okay to present facts in any way which will produce positive results, because "we are, don't forget, doing a good work for the Lord." Fred Jordan was second only to my grandmother as the major influence on my dad's life and character. My uncle recently said of my dad, "He was a man who would never be under authority. He always resisted authority." Dad had struck a happy medium with Fred, who himself was under no authority."

Now this is where it gets crazy!!!!!!!!!

Eventually, Fred Jordan, riding the David Berg bandwagon created another Children of God, and registered it as a non-profit in California. A sister church so to speak, of Berg's located in Texas. Both Children of God compounds were operated on property owned by Fred Jordan.

In 1971, furious and concerned parents of the members of the Children of God members formed an organization that was called "Free-Children of God," with the intent of showing the world how dangerous the Children of God was. At first, according to Linda Berg, "Fred Jordan had been using the Children of God to promote his TV show in L.A., and felt obligated to align himself with our cause and help us combat Free-COG. For that reason, he hired an attorney for us." By the end of the year however, Jordan, had been forced to terminate his relationship with Berg when "Free-Children of God", threatened to sue him if he did not expel Berg from his Texas property.

In 1975, "Free-Chidren of God," sued both Berg's "Children of God," and Jordan's "Children of God," for $3.8 million in a federal lawsuit filed in New York for, "alienation of their children by a commune chain."

In the 1975 lawsuit, although Fred Jordan was the principle benefactor of the, "Children of God," although both "Children of God," compounds were on his property, although he had promoted, "The Children of God," on his television show as though he ran it, Fred Jordan had the audacity to make the claim that the two organizations had absolutely nothing to do with one another. In an act of sheer insanity Fred Jordan plead, "Mistaken Identity."

Fortunately, a judge saw through the lie and refused to drop Fred Jordan from the lawsuit.

http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Oakland_Tribune:_Covina_Man_Still_Tied_to_Church_Suit
http://www.xfamily.org/index.php/Fred_Jordan

*It should be noted that in all of our research for this post, we at "Fred Jordan Missions-Shame on you," found that it is universally believed that Fred Jordan did not know of Berg's problems with bigamy and incest. However, we believe that this oversight speaks volumes about his character. He was the principle benefactor of the organization, the young people lived on his property, he put them on his show to help him raise money, and for the love of God, he founded another organization in California and used his Downtown Mission as its staging ground and then tried to tell a judge that, the two organizations had no connection. Come on Fred! Really?

In the end, Linda Berg wonders, I've often thought about all the money the public donated to "help the Children"; neither I nor the COG (Children of God) will ever know what it was really used for."
Linda, if it makes you feel any better, we at "Fred Jordan Missions-Shame on you," have no idea what any of the money the organization raises is used for.