A Manifesto in Social Media

This week marks 18 years since the New Life / YWAM homicides.

I’ve never published the killer’s dark grievances, posted on various websites (which are all now removed). It is time to share insight into that manifesto of sorts.

The killer was obsessed with Satanism. He often endorsed Aleister Crowley (who wrote “The Book of the Law,” an occult work that became the basis for Thelema). Thelema is a Western occult practice still active.

In addition to Crowley, the killer admired other dark people and ideologies, including Freemasonry, Hermeticism, the Golden Dawn, Kabbalistic Magick, Alice A. Bailey, Lucis Trust, H.P. Blavatsky, Marilyn Manson, Theosophy, and more.

He listed his favorite music as “Vital Remains, Slayer, Cradle of Filth, Danzig, Black Sabbath, Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Emperor, Slipknot, Tool, Dark Funeral, Marduk, Gorgoroth, & more.

The killer posted what looked like a “hit list” in 2003. He named many who contributed to his “Christian Nightmare.” He named Youth With a Mission (YWAM), New Life Church, Kings Kids, Bill Gothard, Peter Wagner, Mike Bickle, Joyce Meyer, Ted Haggard, Cindy Jacobs, & Dutch Sheets. 

In 2006, he wrote specifically about New Life Church.

I went to a charismatic conference at New Life church with my mother and her church. At the conference, I got into a debate with two prayer team staff members. These two staff members watched me throughout the conference to find out who I was with. They found my mother and told her this story that went something along the lines of I "wasn't walking with the lord and could be planning violence."

Then,

My mother [and others] …  destroyed at least $900 worth of property. (He was speaking of his violent video games and music).

Think About it

Unless you have someone actively watching social media for comments about your organization, you’re not going to discover that type of information. Any serious large organization needs someone snooping around in the dark for mentions of the organization.

Don’t ignore those who write dark things about your ministry. Don’t let their parents, teachers, or others say, “Oh, he’s just expressing himself.” Not every kid who says, writes, draws, or plays stupid things is planning violence.

But those who are planning violence often show their intentions in the run-up. Such things cannot be ignored.

Search for mentions of your ministry and develop an effective investigation model.