Messianic apologist Michael Brown is facing criticism for calling the release of his autobiography in the midst of sexual misconduct allegations “divine timing.”
“(I)t is interesting that news of Living in the Line of Fire release occurs in the midst of the most challenging season of my life,” wrote Michael Brown in a recent letter. “This is divine timing, for as you’ll read, some of the most intense trials of my life in the past were God’s method of preparation for greater service and greater outpouring in the days to come.”
Brown doesn’t mention the specifics of his trial in his letter. And he’s been coy with podcast listeners, saying he’s on a “sabbatical” and indicating he needed a break from ministry without mentioning any allegations against him.
However, independent investigator Firefly has been investigating Brown after The Roys Report (TRR) reported accusations that Brown crossed physical boundaries in the early 2000s with his former secretary Sarah Monk.
Brown has denied any sexual behavior but said he lacked judgment.
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Brown also has been accused of engaging in an “inappropriate” relationship with a married congregant from a church he pastored during the Brownsville revival. Brown said he had an “emotional, not a physical, tie” with her.
The board for Line of Fire, Brown’s speaking ministry, posted an update today, saying Firefly has given them a copy of the report. The board stated they are reviewing it and soon will release a summary.
In early March, Brown and his publisher, Destiny Image Books, released Brown’s autobiography, “Living in the Line of Fire,” drawing criticism. Days later, the publisher reversed course and postponed publication.
But on April 1, Line of Fire sent a package with the book and a letter from Brown to a supporter of his ministry.
Monk, Brown’s alleged victim, told TRR she thinks Brown’s letter is “disgusting.”
“I find it very odd that the publisher pulled the release of his book or postponed it really, and Mike is still sending the book to people,” Monk told TRR. “Not to mention his disgusting letter that states the release of his book is released in the most challenging time of his life. Does he mean, during an investigation of sexual misconduct of two women?”
Brown didn’t respond to TRR’s request for comment.
Ron Cantor, president of Shelanu TV and long-time friend to Brown, told TRR said he thinks Brown is wrong to send the books as free gifts to supporters during an investigation.
“To release your autobiography in the middle of being investigated for abusing your sacred position in ministry to take advantage of someone reveals a level of self-importance that is stunning,” Cantor said. “But what is worse, even after the publisher realized their mistake, Dr. Brown is sending these as free gifts to his supporters as if they are not aware of the situation.”
The Line of Fire board has previously stated that Brown would be stepping back from public ministry during the investigation.
But whistleblowers have been frustrated at the board’s lack of accountability toward Brown. Earlier this year, Brown was still posting new material on podcasts. And in February, Brown attended a church conference where he received a standing ovation.
“He is still doing what he wants, and his board has absolutely no control over him and his actions, even though he has said he is submitting to his board,” Monk told TRR.
Jonathan Bernis, board spokesperson, didn’t immediately respond to TRR’s request for comment. Board member Cindy Panepinto, who has also done work for the Line of Fire, also didn’t immediately respond regarding whether she knew of Brown’s recent letter.
The 2023 990 tax form for AskDrBrown Ministries, the Line of Fire’s previous name, shows Panepinto worked 40 hours a week for the ministry and received $73,000 in compensation. The ministry’s 990s from 2022 and 2021 show Panepinto’s similar weekly work hours and compensation.
Cantor also called Brown’s letter “unbiblical.”
“Referring to what he has admittedly done to these two women as the pattern in which God has developed his character in the past is quite frankly unbiblical,” Cantor said. “When the Bible speaks of trials making us stronger, it is not referring to our sin, but to difficulties that we go through in life.”
Cantor said Brown should be stepping back from the limelight during this time.
“This is a time for humility, not autobiographies and staged, manipulated standing ovations,” Cantor said. “Mike always talks about getting low. This is a time to get low.”
Monk also told TRR she’s worried that Brown’s statement in the letter that his past trials have led to “greater service and greater outpouring” means he’s planning a big comeback.
“(It) shows he has no plan on stepping down,” Monk said.
Monk is instead calling Brown to true repentance.
“It is a divine time, a divine time that God is calling him to repentance for his sinful ways over the last 23 yrs,” she said.
Rebecca Hopkins is a journalist based in Colorado.
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15 Responses
If you think that any timing is “divine timing,” then maybe this is, too. The additional attention drawn to Mr. Brown may mean that more people realize there’s a contradiction between what he says and what he does.
Thankful for the exposing of non light. The whole order of things are being examined. God sets the solitaire in the family unit.
Again! Cantor was right: Stepping back from the limelight during investigation. Why? Because you want to avoid putting God’s name in the mud. NO, these leaders are in the ME, MYSELF and I Hero worship; ministry is about them. Like Absalom ”Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a memorial stone, which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to continue my name.” So he named the memorial stone after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.” (2 Samuel 18:18). Josiah was right when he broke into pieces the altar from Jeroboam and burned the idolatrous place (2 Kings 23:15-16). My point is the same: In a narcissistic society, driven by man centered ministry, the first question to ask yourself: Is this guy (Leader) in Love with God/Christ? and his motto: ”He must increase and I must decrease”. Whatever the truth about this man (Brown) and the investigation, he should keep a low profile, stay away from limelight until it is showed that he has a place in front of an altar or a camera. Gosh! Sometimes it would be so good to see God ,who knows and sees everything chastise publicly an hypocritical preacher, so that superficial leaders flee from ministry.
Michael Brown is just another player in the long line of “pastor, teacher, author” false prophets. But the money’s good. And looks like he intents to keep it that way.
Unfortunately as a manipulative bulling lying narcissist it’s typical behaviour as is victimhood wait for more mask slips from this dangerous man
The repeat pattern of leaders who try to cover their past sin and shame, and protect their current (often large) ministry, is a like listening to a record on repeat. As a pastor myself, it’s so easy to use ministry as a way to cover my own shame and insecurity. It’s never been easier in the history of ministry to build reputations and platforms that garner money and attention. Large platforms aren’t themselves bad, but the desire to protect reputation can be an irresistible force when confronted with one’s personal failure. Bigness in ministry has a gravitational, intoxicating pull on the human soul. I’m reminded that Jesus became nothing (Philippians 2) and didn’t defend himself when accused. That’s the model but it’s hard to emulate if we desire to become liked and successful. I’ve listened to Michael Brown a lot the past 5 years. I hold the tension of appreciating what he’s taught, with the need for transparency about his past failure.
One question for the Roys Report and Dr. Brown’s accusers — How was Matthew 18 applied? Going public certainly brings in support for your organization, and a platform for the victims to speak out. In no way do I condone sexual misconduct. It should be addressed. However, I do not believe social media is the place to expose allegations. In the name of “reporting” there is an assumption of guilt. In smearing the alleged perpetrator, fellow believers weigh in, exposing their bias, further dividing the Body of Messiah. There has got to be a better way for victims to get healed, and perpetrators to be held accountable. I can only wonder what effect your “reports” have on an unbelieving world?
Matt 18 does not apply to this situation. The relevant Scripture would be 1 Tim. 5:19-20. See: https://julieroys.com/3-ways-wrongly-apply-matthew-18/
Hello Ms Roys, where can I find what denomination or type of Christianity you adhere to or perhaps your testimony of conversion? Thank you.
I talked about it on this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq-Z7g3pqQc
Thank you. I watched the video but started skipping through it because you were talking to an atheist and I’ve heard and read enough of that before it doesn’t interest me. Anyway, you said you kind of started out going to a charismatic church (I don’t know what you grew up with in terms of church) but the conversation shifted from that quickly to the atheist stuff. So what kind of Christianity do you adhere to now? I’m thinking Reformed or something. In terms of your experiences with God I have also had a profound experience when I was regenerated, so I’m not against all experience. I’ve also gone through 11 years of absolutely almost nothing spiritual since that moment. I liked how you mentioned Job and the fact Jesus suffered. I have absolutely no idea why I only had one experience of God and have had to go through so many years of almost nothing else in that regard. I stopped looking for experience and praying because of that. It almost destroyed my faith. If my conversion experience wasn’t such a powerful event I would probably have become an atheist by now. I have just wanted the peace I felt so tangibly at that moment to come back and be with me in the same way. There’s always an undercurrent of a kind of stable peace with me all the time but it’s not tangible. If worship is a means to experience God I’d jump at it but I find there is no decent Christian music I could get into. I cannot stand all that charismatic Christian music that is a cheap and corny imitation of secular pop and rock etc.
I grew up in an Anabaptist church. I still hold a lot of Anabaptist convictions, though I’m not a pacifist like most Anabaptists. I’m part of a house church that does not belong to any denomination.
Matthew 18 never applies to a public teacher, especially not one like Brown who is a Charismatic charlatan. Jesus and the Apostles rebuked and exposed false teachers and religious leaders behaving poorly in public. False teachers and abusers operating under the auspices of Christianity are always to be exposed publicly. That is the biblical prototype. Matthew 18 never applies in those situations. Matthew 18 is ALWAYS and ONLY applicable in one-person on one-person sin. People usually cry “Matthew 18!” when a favored false teacher has been exposed and they have no wish for the teachers actions to be examined. And it is a bad tactic every time.
David Ross: Take heart! I don’t have any idea why, but I do know that the woman called Mother Teresa had a similar situation. She had a powerful conversion, and never heard the voice of God again! Yet, she kept the faith. I pray you will, too. I just wanted to tell you (if you didn’t know) that you aren’t alone in that longing. Bear it, friend, because when your race is won, you will run into his arms (Twila Paris’ song Runner)!
Thanks for your encouraging and positive words. I didn’t know that about Mother Teresa. As far as I knew, at the end of her life she said she had no experience of God. She was also Catholic, which raises some questions for me. And she said that all paths or religions lead to God, which I have a hard time with. God does work in mysterious ways. I almost threw my faith away yesterday because God has answered none of my prayers since I was saved. I don’t understand it. I prayed so hard, sometimes sitting down for hours a day, for a very long time. I’ve resigned myself to just reading the Bible alone.