Tuesday, December 3, 2019

The Blurred Lines of Vic Kubik/LifeNets and His Office As President of United Church of God Are Causing Issues With People Today Due To His Fundraising Activities On Facebook




November 1999 we begin our 21st year as a charity.
LifeNets last annual report is posted on line at www.lifenets.org. SOON we will be finishing year 2019 and with that we are entering our 21st year as a charity. Our mission is to help those in need with college scholarships, fresh water, cattle and many other projects. Our mission is to promote self-sufficiency. Please help us celebrate and take advantage of this opportunity to DOUBLE YOUR DONATION at the same time.
Please donate $10, $20 or MORE for TWENTY years as a charity. Help us celebrate our goal of helping others. Beginning 8 AM Eastern standard time and 5 AM Pacific time, WHATEVER you donate on that day, December 3rd will be matched by FACEBOOK.  
CLARIFICATION ON GIVING TUESDAY FACEBOOK MATCHES:
The matching funds from Facebook only apply to donations given on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 after 8 am Eastern Standard Time. .Please donate early as the match will close when Facebook has reached its $7-million-dollar mark.
Thank you for making LifeNets your charity of choice.
Beverly Kubik
President LifeNets

The convoluted messy boundaries of the leader of the United Church of God and his personal charity, LifeNets, are causing a lot of questions on Facebook and elsewhere.

In July of 2016 we had an article about this blurring of the lines between UCG and Kubik's charity, especially when he is the president fo the organization.



Vic Kubik's LifeNets Church of God 
Many in UCG have always felt large discomfort with the blurring of the lines of UCG with LifeNets, the pet "ministry" of Vic Kubik.  Many question the man running two organizations that are suppose to be separate, but are they really?  LifeNets presents itself as a "humanitarian organization" to woo in the public while failing to disclose it is a Church of God related tool to encourage people to come over to the dark side.  Is Kubik and UCG too embarrassed to to say UCG is behind it and that it is a recruitment tool for  its "god", much like HWA started Ambassador Foundation because he was too embarrassed to say he represented the Worldwide Church of God?  While it has undeniably done some good, its motives are questionable.  
The article contained this: 
Those in Australia need to know (as do those in South Africa and most international locations) that their ‘church’ is not really an extension of the UCG in the USA — instead they are what Cincinnati calls the “LifeNets” churches –they are not funded by UCG any longer, have to be self-sufficient, and Kubik travels to them on LifeNets funds, not UCG money. This is why the moment the “airy” sermon is over, Kubik launches into a 45-minute LifeNets presentation to the congregation. Legally he has to do this because he is on LifeNets money which is being audited. The members are not in a Church, they are just laborers in a commercial LifeNets exercise, even thought they don’t know it. Council members who did not want Kubik as president (took the most re-balloting ever ) finally acquiesced over the information that it would save UCG money since Kubik was the only only one who could travel internationally on another budget (namely his private Corporation Sole LifeNets, which has made him the wealthiest Council member, and which he built in competition with the Good Works program, since that one wasn’t going to earn him anything personally).  
And yes, we are all supposed to give up our various ‘cultural backgrounds’ to put on the culture of Christ, but this man Kubik still can’t disconnect himself from a Ukrainian village he has never really lived in, now bending the truth to accommodate a small Pentecostal and trinitarian group there that clearly for over 20 years has shown no interest in joining with UCG. But,like the populism of Brexit and Trump, it’s beginning to all blow up: we have what we call the “parking lot church” in our congregation — it’s about what is said when everyone goes to their cars so the minister can’t hear them, and it’s about 50% of the congregation now that meets this way — outside. The moment someone stands up with some integrity and calls UCG out on all of this, the following is in place and ready to move.

26 comments:

Byker Bob said...

Great news. Anything that further deteriorates or takes down a part of Armstrongism is good.
Kubes has a way to go before he matches the successes of theTkaches, but he's probably got some more good years left in which to do his work.

BB

Anonymous said...

Typical UCG behaviour, someone else from somewhere is sought to be the fall guy. Not them. Some other fool.
Their busy having parking lot meetings to stir the pot, i've been there, seen all that. They call it having integrity to stand up, i call it cowards seeking a scapegoat.

Anonymous said...

well, when he finishes preaching from the bible and starts talking about an enterprise that he owns, charity or otherwise, people should get up and leave.....services are over so let's go out front and have refreshments.

Tonto said...

Having an organization separate from the UCG (which has its own in house program called "Good Works") , allows for some contributors to have matching given by the corporation they work for, in some cases one to one.

Sounds like good business to me. The operation "en toto" is not that large, only about $390k a year in contributions. According to its official form 990 filed with the government 97% of the donated funds are flowing directly in aid to the third world. This is about the highest pass thru rate for any charity one can find. Even the stellar, Salvation Army only has about 87% pass thru rates.

Beverly Kubik, who is the actual President, received $6600 for about 780 hours of work, a paltry $8.46 an hour. The treasurer , received $7,100 for 260 hours of work, a rate that is about 2/3rds below a "market rate" for performing such work and accounting in the general marketplace.

Those are the only two receiving any kind of monetary compensation from Lifenets.

See the entire IRS form here:

http://lifenets.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/LifeNets-990-Public-Disclosure-Copy.pdf

Hey, I can pick on much COG nonsense, including the UCG corporate for sure, However, Im having a tough time picking on Lifenets , and applaud an organization that is getting fresh water to people, and wheel chairs to folks that have no other means of getting these, and are living in desperate situations.

As I understand it, things like fresh water bore holes and wells, for instance, are used for the greater communities as a whole, not just local UCG members. It is also my understanding that much of the aid to the Ukraine came from designated donations from individuals, which , by law, must be used for the earmarked designated purpose, not just any general purpose.

LIfenets is one of the few bright spots in the COG world, IMHO.

Anonymous said...


Since its beginning in 1995 with some former WCG people, the UCG has just split and splintered and headed back into the world. Now under the former Tkach goon Victor Kubik, the UCG is a slower moving apostasy than the WCG under the Tkaches.

The WCG under the apostate Tkaches did their big official Great Apostasy announcement in January 1995 in the Worldwide News newspaper. The WCG then blew up into many little splinters and slivers.

The UCG appears to have learned something from this past experience, and is letting its members quietly go godless in their personal lives without any big official announcement about it.

Anonymous said...

Tonto,

Your figures are mistaken, based on the form you linked.

You mention that LifeNets gave $13,700 in annual monetary compensation in 2018. But you are overlooking a major factor. How is it not also "monetary compensation" when LifeNets buys Mr. Kubik a business class airplane ticket, or pays for meals, hotels, and transportation overseas? Several trips per year, possibly with the organization's President and Treasurer coming along, and you very quickly reach an annual compensation amount much larger than the $13,700 "monetary" compensation. That's probably a large part of the $50,161 in "other expenses" declared on that form. Added to the fund-raising expenses, this means that $71,189 of LifeNets expenses in 2018 went to administrative overhead and didn't reach needy people overseas. Out of the declared $390,081, this means that 18.25% of each donated dollar went to overhead, and 81.75% reached the needy. Where did you get your 97% figure?

LifeNets obviously isn't a pocket-lining scam like the United Way or other charities that keep most of their money for administrative purposes, but it is not quite the stellar performer you say it is.

NO2HWA said...

There is no question that LifeNets does good for those who need assistance. The problem that several UCG members have related to me is that Kubik uses his position as church president to urge UCG members to give money to his charity. Laying guilt trips on members has irritated many in UCG.

Tonto said...

ANON AT 9:36

According to Consumer Reports, any charity using more than 75% of its funds for direct aid , is an "A RATED" organization. My 97% figure was based on salary/revenue ratio. Even at 81.75% direct aid after overhead is still a GREAT number, better than almost any charity out there.

https://www.consumerreports.org/charities/best-charities-for-your-donations/

No2HWA-- It is my understanding that UCG members can donate to a fund called "Good Works" if they prefer, rather than Lifenets. Fund Raising for virtually any activity usually involves "guilt trips" ranging from homeless guys begging at the offramp with a cute dog in tow, all the way up the ladder to Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of the grocery store , PBS stations or "Feed the Children" infomercials. Such is the way of the world and mature individuals must learn how to say NO, and manage mercy and giving in a balanced , sensible way.

Anonymous said...

Tonto at 8:19 AM:
Even the stellar, Salvation Army only has about 87% pass thru rates.

Tonto at 10:55 AM:
Even at 81.75% direct aid after overhead is still a GREAT number, better than almost any charity out there.

Tonto, actually, at least in Canada, the Salvation Army is just about on par with LifeNets at 81%: . That doesn't come close to CanadaHelps, with its 96% efficiency, but LifeNets is solidly in the "we're a minor bureaucracy that helps people majorly" level of reputable organizations. I'm surprised to see how you seem defensive, even a bit wounded, at the idea that old Vic's scheme isn't really truly outstanding, but that's good to know for evaluating your other comments here. Many organizations do a much more efficient job of charitable giving than LifeNets, but LifeNets need not be embarrassed or ashamed unless it wants to hold itself to a higher standard. LifeNets is pretty weak when compared to Canada's Mormons at 95%, or the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship at 97%, but its 82 percent is completely standard and acceptable, and much better than shady outfits like the Canadian Bible Society at 60%.

Anonymous said...

And of course Tontos nothing to do with UCG at all...

Tonto said...

To whom it may concern:

I know people I count as very good friends , on a very personal and direct level, who have been greatly helped by Lifenets.

That is the reason for my interest in this thread. I claim no membership in any COG organization, however , I do live by and believe the doctrines of the Church of God Seventh Day, and will fellowship with them.

Anonymous said...

and will fellowship with them.

Will Tonto? Don't you already seeing as your absolutely nothing to do with UCG? Nope nothing whatsoever.
It's all a terrible coincidence when UCG bloggers have gone out of their way repeatedly to support your comments on here.

Your never biased towards UCG and totally against COGWA and LCG. Nope not you. Your absolutely nothing to do with UCG.

Odd word to use.

Anonymous said...

"guilt trips" ranging from homeless guys begging at the offramp with a cute dog in tow

Why does Tonto hate dogs? Maybe he will reconsider when he sees that his friend Vic isn't shy about showing a cute dog in tow, when appropriate, in Lifenets publicity efforts.

Anonymous said...

"I'm surprised to see how you seem defensive, even a bit wounded, at the idea that old Vic's scheme isn't really truly outstanding, but that's good to know for evaluating your other comments here."


It looks to me like you are the one in the defensive mode. All Tonto did was give his opinion in his 8:19 post and you took issue with it.

Anonymous said...

You're right. Your is an odd word to use when the proper word is you're.

Anonymous said...

Three posts in a row anonymously supporting tonto and Vic Kubik. It is almost as though Vic Kubrick himself was posting here...

Anonymous said...

Vic Kubrick

Very appropriate, as Tonto seems to have his eyes wide shut about UCG.

Anonymous said...

Will was the word. Sliw day in UCG office ?

nck said...

"Vic Kubrick

Very appropriate, as Tonto seems to have his eyes wide shut about UCG."


hahah. people are still producing gems on here.

nck

Anonymous said...

I would guess Tonto is a female. Remember UCG stopped their female writers from publishing articles. See how picky picky they are about grammar.

the Ocelot said...

Just their answer to the AICF

nck said...

As I recall from the early nineties Vic started making contact with sabatarians in the Ukraine, just as wcg initiated discussions with cog7 and other sabatarians.

At one time I had hopes these worldwide sabbatarians could establish at least a, working relation and profit from each others strong point. WCG's strong point would obviously be its dynamic media experience.

Then the entire edifice collapsed and sabbatarians are just what they have always been. Small local groups in an increasingly Islamic and Buddhist world as Christianity itself will disappear in small pockets unless the USA turns into a Iranian type fundamentalist conspiracy believing flat earthers nation.

My Adventist uncle who believes that the pope will talk about climate change in spring conference and then spearhead world leadership is wrong. Europe doesn't like catholicism either because of the child abuse. They will never again be arbiters of justice. (unless of course Armstrong economic chaos turns up.) But that is impossible with our current saviors in political office who have been chosen through myth and (financial) sorcery and wizardry called QE or Repo.

Nck

Nck

Anonymous said...

Nck said... “Europe doesn't like catholicism either because of the child abuse. They will never again be arbiters of justice.”

Never say never. I remember 20 years ago now correcting Steven Collins who asserted Germany would never again become hostile to the UK or US. I told him just because they weren’t hostile now doesn’t mean they won’t ever be in the future! In light of Brexit and Trump’s presidential victory and the anti-Americanism that has increased since it highlights how short-sighted he was—and how we all can be if we lack enlightened imagination.

nck said...

10:14

I know. My mom told me to NEVER say "never" or "always". True wisdom. So I made an exception in my posting, the "unless" thing.

At present the Germans go out of their way to accommodate the British gone mad. They are very scientific on their weak spots and who made sacrifices because of them.

Nck

Anonymous said...

nck wrote:

My mom told me to NEVER say "never"

Mom wasn't very self-aware, was she? Or did she have an unusually developed sense of irony, lost on her son?

nck said...

8:06

If "never" or "always" work for you then that is fine and my only hope remains that you got a chuckle out of my remark.

To me it is a (scientific) life principle. Just as I live by the creed that "if you think things/circumstances/anything are bad I know far worse examples". Or in short, "things can get worse". To me that is not sarcasm or the expression of how things ought to be, it is just the observance of facts and acknowledgement of randomness.

One of the concertmaisters who toured the auditorium escaped the Germans as a kid through sheer random luck not by wit or sense. I was triggered to read his story when he wrote unfavorably about the auditorium's opulence in a newspaper, which at the time to me could not have been other than an impeccable experience.

One my early experiences with subjective thought which ultimately led me to abandon "never", "always" or any absolutes for that matter.

It turned out to be very modern as business nowadays works according to the inclusive, lean, agile and flexibility principles that come naturally to me.

Nck