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Enclosed:
1. README.1ST You're read'n it.
2. CRA0001A.TXT "The Gospel and Computer Technology" by Dr.
Walter Martin.
3. CRIMON22.TXT Computer Technology and The Defense Of The
Gospel, by Rich Poll.
4. CRINFO12.TXT Introductory brochure of Christian Research
Institute International.
Christian Research Institute - Toronto Support Group
Box 9, Streetville, Ontario L5M 2B7
(905) 858-2821
July, 1994
1 John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but
test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
(NIV)
Dear Christian Friends,
The kingdom of the cults is growing at an alarming rate. When
I first started to prepare this letter I was going to say that
there are more than 35 million people worldwide involved in cult
groups, and over 60 million involved in the occult. Since then I
have learned that there are over 70 million people just in Brazil
involved in the occult. Because many groups operate underground
and others don't report their numbers, it is impossible to come up
with an exact figure.
What is a cult? Well, there are two ways to define a cult.
From the secular viewpoint, a cult is a religious or semi-religious
sect whose members are controlled almost entirely by a single
individual or organization. This kind of cult is usually
manipulative, demanding total commitment and loyalty from its
members. Converts are usually cut off from all former
associations, including their own families.
The second way to define a cult is from the Christian
perspective. In this case, a cult is any group that deviates from
the orthodox teachings of the historic Christian faith which were
derived from the Bible and confirmed through the ancient creeds.
These groups deny or distort fundamental Christian doctrines such
as the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, and salvation by grace through
faith alone. Most of these cults claim to be Christian, and even
consider the Bible to be authoritative. But they manipulate the
Scriptures to fit their own beliefs. Although they may claim to
serve Jesus Christ, and may even use the same terminology orthodox
Christians use, their definitions are vastly different. These
groups do not lead people to the Christ of the Bible, but to
another Jesus and another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4). Some of
these groups and leaders are easily recognizable to Christians.
Others are not, and have often infiltrated our ranks. Jude
admonishes us to "contend for the faith that was once for all
entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was
written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you." (Jude
3,4)
Founded in 1960 by the late Dr. Walter Martin, The Christian
Research Institute has been in the forefront of cult evangelization
and the defense of the "faith that was once for all entrusted
to the saints." Based in Irvine, California, CRI-International
expanded its ministry to Canada in 1985 with the opening of
Christian Research Institute-Canada in Calgary, Alberta. A branch
office of CRI-Canada was opened two years later in Toronto, with
the encouragement of Dr. Martin, and is now located in
Streetsville.
I was born in New Liskeard, Ontario in 1949, and was raised in
Northern Ontario. I moved to Toronto in 1972 and worked for
Ontario Hydro until October of 1993. In 1984 I committed my life
to Jesus Christ and became concerned about those who were on a
spiritual search for the truth, but who were being lured into cults
instead. In 1988 I joined CRI in Toronto as a volunteer.
My wife, Pat, whom I married in 1991, was born and raised in
Toronto. She became actively involved in the occult in 1985,
dabbling in channelling, visions, and eastern mysticism. After
becoming increasingly dissatisfied with her experiences, she
accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour in 1988.
Over a period of several months Pat and I saw doors opening
and closing in our lives. The Lord seemed to be indicating that it
was time to move on and begin a new career ministering to those
caught in the cults. This would involve stepping out in faith,
because it would mean raising our own financial support as
missionaries. We would have no other means of support. On
November 1, 1993, we began working full-time for CRI-Toronto. I
look after the computer end of CRI. This involves 1) cataloguing
all the books and tapes in our Research Library (well over 3800
books at the moment), 2) printing out articles on various cults and
doctrines for mailing to inquirers, 3) witnessing to those involved
in the cults via Computer Bulletin Boards and the Internet and, 4)
making CRI Journal and newsletter articles on the cults and
aberrant teachings available for computer use. Regarding the
latter work, Walter Martin's successor, Hank Hanegraaff, has said
that one of CRI's priorities is to create "an exhaustive computer
database which churches, educational institutions, and individuals
all over the world can access for accurate, in-depth information on
the cults." This was also one of Dr. Martin's dreams. As a small
part of this goal, Pat and I are working with Rich Poll of
CRI-International, California, in making these articles available.
(Shortly we will be working more directly on the above-mentioned
database.( We have received reports that these articles are now
circulating, via Computer Bulletin Boards, as far away as
Australia, England, Germany, Holland and Poland.
Due to the very nature of this type of work, more than
anything else we covet your prayer support. To deal in the area of
the cults is to encroach directly onto Satan's turf, and all of us
at CRI can assure you that he is not pleased. Secondly, we would
like to ask you to prayerfully consider supporting us financially
as well. Pat and I are the first ones with the CRI-Toronto Support
Group to attempt to raise our own support base. (Rich Poll is
doing this with CRI in California, and several raise their own
support at CRI-Canada in Calgary.) All of us at the CRI-Toronto
Support Group see an urgent need for a ministry such as CRI in
eastern Canada. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other
counter-cult ministries east of Manitoba. In order to make CRI as
successful as possible, this requires full-time workers. In
exchange for your prayer support and/or financial support, we will
keep you updated on a regular basis, by way of newsletters. In
them you will learn what Pat and I are doing, and what the
CRI-Toronto Support Group is doing. We will also try to enclose
some helpful information on witnessing to cult members.
If you would like to support us in prayer and/or financially,
please fill out the form below and mail it to the address given on
the form. All donations are tax-deductible, and you will get a tax
receipt for the full amount from the Christian Research Institute
in Calgary. If you would simply like more information, you may
contact us at the above address, as well. We would be very happy
to personally meet people so they can get to know us and our work
better, or speak on the cults at a church function, Bible study,
etc.
Both Pat and I would like to thank you, in advance, for the
time you have taken to read this letter and the enclosed articles
on Computers and CRI, and for your prayerful consideration of our
request.
Yours, in Christ,
Bob & Pat Hunter.
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Bob and Pat Hunter CRI Support Form
[ ] Yes, I/we will support you in prayer, and would like to receive
your newsletters.
[ ] Yes, I/we will assist you financially at $ ____ [ ] per month,
[ ] quarterly, or [ ] yearly.
[ ] Yes, I/we will assist you financially, as able, but cannot
promise a certain amount.
[ ] No, we cannot assist you at this time.
[ ] I/we would like further information as indicated on the back of
this form.
Please print your name and address below:
Name: ____________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
Please make cheques payable to the "Christian Research Institute",
but indicate on your cheque "For Support of Bob & Pat Hunter." Mail
to Bob & Pat Hunter, c/o Christian Research Institute, Box 9,
Streetsville, Ontario L5M 2B7.
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Internet Address: hunter44@io.org