The purpose of this document is to address false charges widely disseminated throughout the home school movement by Jennifer and Mark Epstein about the relationship between Vision Forum and Mantle Ministries.

April 25, 2007

I. The Epsteins Launch Smear Letter to Home School Leaders

This week, Mark and Jennifer Epstein of San Antonio, Texas, launched a smear campaign by disseminating a letter filled with falsehoods to state home school leaders across America. We believe the letter was designed to divide the home school community, to harm Vision Forum and Doug and Beall Phillips, and to bring vengeance against the local church body which poured out their collective hearts to help this couple. For ongoing and unrepentant sins including public revilings, habitual lying, and cruelty, the Epsteins were excommunicated from the Boerne Christian Assembly church body with the unanimous assent of the congregation. The discipline of the local church occurred only after years of patient intervention and loving care (read the formal BCA statement). This discipline has been affirmed by the leaders of other San Antonio-vicinity congregations where the church leaders have labored to shepherd this couple to repentance in Christ, but have also been met with lies, subterfuge, and vicious attempts by the Epsteins to divide the body of Christ. (Read the Faith PCA response to Epsteins.) The leadership of Living Water Fellowship, where “Little Bear” serves as one of the pastors, has offered this response to the Epsteins’ smear letter. Moreover, longtime leaders of the San Antonio home school community have explained the reputation for bad behavior exhibited by Mrs. Epstein in a warning to home school leaders not to be deceived by those who appear to be acting as wolves.

II. Relationship Between Doug Phillips and ‘Little Bear’ Wheeler Misrepresented

Jennifer Epstein and her husband Mark have presented a picture of themselves, of Doug Phillips, and of Richard “Little Bear” Wheeler which can only be described as an outrageous and self-serving lie. We believe that the evidence is overwhelming that these are only the most recent lies presented by a couple who have relentlessly devoted more than a year to a campaign of public frauds, lies, deceptions, and unlawful behavior which appears geared at self-justification and vengeance.

Concerning the relationship of Doug and Little Bear: Visitors to the VisionForum.com Web site will notice a picture of “Little Bear” Wheeler and the Phillips children on the home page, where it has been for nearly seven years. Mantle Ministries products are currently available for sale on Vision Forum’s Web site, as they have been for many years.

“Little Bear” and Doug attend two different church congregations. It should be of no surprise that while these two congregations share a broad body of agreement, naturally there are some differences. Having said this, the leaders of both congregations recognized that the Epsteins were an unruly couple dealing with significant sin issues.

We believe it is shameful of Mrs. Epstein to fabricate lie after lie for her own personal gain and to attempt to pit one friend against another in order to confuse the home school community. The idea that Doug ever refused to meet with “Little Bear” or has shunned him is false. The claim that Vision Forum has driven “Little Bear” off the Vision Forum Web site is equally absurd. It should be noted that the same woman who is currently making these outrageous claims had previously published defamatory information on “Little Bear” Wheeler, calling him a coward.

At present, the Vision Forum staff enjoys a close relationship with the staff of Mantle Ministries. Our staffs regularly communicate with each other on matters pertaining to business and ministry. Finally, Doug has great appreciation for more than a decade of friendship he has experienced with “Little Bear.” Those who are familiar with the history of these two home school leaders know that Doug has, on more than one occasion, vigorously fought on behalf of “Little Bear” and the Wheeler family, including his extensive efforts to raise capital and defend the life of baby William Goforth. Doug remains committed to protecting the reputation of this family who has done so much for the home school community.

It is a terrible thing when wolves attempt to devour the flock of God through division, gossip, and lies. We believe that this is precisely what Jennifer Epstein is, and what Jennifer Epstein has done. Her husband has joined her in this wrongful behavior. It should be remembered that Mrs. Epstein was excommunicated as a habitual liar and an individual with a lengthy track record for dividing the people of God through subterfuge, gossip and malicious behavior. The Bible reminds us to be forewarned of such individuals:

• Romans 16:17-18: Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

• I Corinthians 5:11-13: But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person

• II Thessalonians 3:6-7: Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

• II Thessalonians 3:14: And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

• Psalms 101:5: Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

• Proverbs 22:10: Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.