As far as I know Maurice was not an elder at CiM but I think he operates as one now elsewhere. His full real name I believe is Frank Henderson. Recently he contacted me and we have dialogued.
Actually I tried to contact Maurice several years ago, but never got a response. I believe he was doing an internet search on Randy and found my blog and website and contacted me. He barely remembered me, if at all. I think after we had talked he remembered me more.
Maurice was a leader in the praise and worship team at CiM, known as Judah. We, or those I knew, knew him as Maurice, but I guess that is not his real name. He now is a musician or singer and you can check out his music and website here:
http://www.frankhenderson.org/
I really liked his music ministry at CiM, it was very prophetic and powerful. But I really did not know him personally, and can’t really remember having any conversations with him, thus why he had a hard time remembering me. We weren’t located in the same part of the body.
Maurice has a different stance with CiM and Randy that I do. And he has given me permission to post his statement here as well as his links to his webpages. He has another website where you can find the following statement:
http://urbansuite.wordpress.com/2008/12/20/mr-randy-shankle/
Seldom do I get a chance to talk about my spiritual heritage. So many people have graced my life and poured a strong foundation of who Christ is within me. I remember when I turned 40 I felt that I was half way home and would make the best of the next 40. Part of making all things good is discussing, scrutinizing and writing about my spiritual heritage, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. For the sake of time I will fast forward to the years I spent in Marshall, Texas, the lessons that I learned there and my relationship with Randy Shankle. First of all, let me start by saying that Randy Shankle is a good guy. I personally found him to be charismatic, intelligent and equipped with one of the strongest prophetic gifts I’d ever seen at that time. He’s doing all that he knows to do in ministry, but he’s not without his faults. I honestly have to say that Randy did me more good than harm. It was his ministry that took me from a boy to a man and taught me what accountability for my actions should look like. When I fell into sin, it was Randy and Gloria who cried over me and prayed for my wholeness again. Many of the things that I believe were taught to me in Marshall. I did have to let some of the applications of those truths go. It was during my time in Marshall that I believe I was equipped with the necessary tools needed for me to be successful today in ministry. Leading praise and worship was a great joy in my life. Attending discipleship training helped to fortify me internally. I didn’t know that people in church could be so cruel, but SOP helped me to be able to have a great attitude about it all. One of the greatest times I had in Marshall was a ministry trip with Randy, Bruce Delay, and Craig Sheriff. It was a great time with guys that are impacting cities for the King in real time right now. I met many great people there who have shown by their sacrifice and steadfastness that they truly believe in the vision that has been given by God to Randy. Do I agree with all of Randy’s positions? NO! Do I believe that he’s called? Definitely! Do I think that he’s getting a fair shake from the former members of CiM? No, I don’t! Here’s why:
Randy Shankle is just like you and I. He’s a man that is on a mission to do the Lord’s will. He’s not a perfect guy. No one is. He IS a man of God AND a godly man. He’s never tried or claimed to be spotless. He will admit his mistakes when he’s wrong. I’ve personally witnessed that. Randy is just a guy who loves people with his whole heart and when you’re that type of person it’s easy to get hurt. Can you imagine the people that Randy has met and the people that he’s seen come and go? Once a guy like Randy gets hurt, who is really going to be there for him to make sure that he comes out of it OK? It’s tough being the man! It’s tough when people rely on you for your insight and wisdom. How many of us could really subject ourselves to everybody’s opinion of us without wanting to crack some skulls? It’s tough when men of less stature than yourself want to be over you and gain notoriety through it. I understand his frustration totally. I also understand his pain. It’s my prayer that God grants him total healing. I’d love for him to see some pain free days. In my eyes, whenever Randy begins to display some trust in people and gives them entrance into his life, he gets stepped on. I did it too. I have to admit my own mishandlings of Randy. Don’t get me wrong, he mishandled me as well. We could’ve been a powerful team working together today to impact cities around the world. I wouldn’t have a problem wreaking some “spiritual havoc” with Randy right now like we use to do in Marshall. Spiritual knowledge makes us believe that our “britches” are bigger than they are and we feel that we can talk to our elders on an equal plane. We forget their place in our lives. We all know that God is first and that he will fight for that place himself, but we also haveto be appreciative and understanding of those that he’s given us to help us mature. I’ve been through it myself with young men and women that I’ve discipled and trained in the way of the Kingdom. It happens. They want to havetheir say and for me that‘s not a problem, but I still will expect to be respected. What am I really saying? Randy was called by the Lord, NOT us. He’s the handiwork of God and God can handle him. Let’s allow him to live freely before the Lord without accusation. It took some time, but I haveabsolutely no problems with Randy or what he’s doing in Marshall. He gave me and tons of others a great heritage. Is it his fault that some of his “disciples” are extreme and arrogant? I have to admit that it’s hard to have a conversation with Marshallites. It was hard to have one with me too when I lived there. I thought we were the spiritually elite. What immaturity! They don’t like to listen and feel that they are the only ones right. I would like to see them tone it down. Is Randy as current as he can be? Nope, not by a long shot, but from the bottom of my heart, I lovethe man and wish him the best that God can give. I hope that you can do the same. I did want to add one scripture to this sincere writing from the heart.
Matthew 6: 14-15;
14] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will you Father forgive your trespasses.
It’s a real simple strategy for me. I choose to forgive. Unforgiveness isn’t worth the consequences. Thousands of people even now blame Randy Shanklefor how things are turning out in their lives. Some say he caused our divorce or that he was too controlling and a host of other excuses, but the real deal is that we are where we are based on our ability to respond to the winds and rains of life. Randy has never had a heaven or a hell to place anyone in and I don’t think God would entrust any of us to separate the wheat from the tares. Let’s forgive one another and go back to being the life giving forces God has called us all to be. I love you all.
In HIM,
Frank Henderson
Aka “Maurice”
Maurice had someone email him a few questions about when do we sound the alarm on Randy, when do we hold him accountable. This was part of his response, which he shared with me:
As far as sounding the alarm, IT’S already been done. Bruce Delay and Steve Lanich have done a great job doing that. Thousands have been and are being helped because of those guys. I tried to hit it from the other side.
I think it’s great he is coming forward publicly, more people need to. But we must remember what scripture says about this subject:
Titus 1:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7: For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
I have never called into question Randy’s doma giftings or calling, but his qualification as an elder/bishop. And I have also already discussed the difference between consequence vs condemnation here:
http://kingdomgospel.wordpress.com/consequence-vs-condemnation/
This however does not negate other methods of reaching those who have been hurt by Randy or those who wanna reach Randy himself. Michael Barret does an very good job at this in a different manner. And I wish Maurice the best he can to help others whom gravitate to him and won’t come here.
