Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 31

Minneapolis Tribune Oct. 16, 1983 5B Sic Etc: Controversial preacher called 'brilliant' 3- You'll love the way we do windows! SAVE 50 and more by ordering factory direct. We have the largest selection of vertical blind fabrics (over 1,000 colors patterns to choose from) in the Twin Cities. call 541-9987 of 10 occupations, yet he lives moderately. I didn't see an extravagance." "For some whose lives were on the brink of wrack or ruin," Davis wrote in the newspaper, "Hobart Freeman and Faith Assembly worship have provided a haven of rest.

But to many, the Christian life has become a spiritual nightmare fraught with fear, insecurity, doubt about reality, and deep sorrow as loved ones agonize on the road to death. "For these, it has been and continues to be a house of fear." is a faith with no compromises and that seclusion coupled with very dogmatic demands have resulted in personal tragedy for several people." Davis noted that Freeman's followers go to great lengths to maintain their faith. He said he saw people remove their eyeglasses before entering the church and squint at their Bibles rather than be labeled faithless for wearing corrective lenses. Davis said he saw men driven to services by their wives because they'd lost their driver's licenses for refusing to wear glasses. 3502-AmLLSBORO AVE.

GOLDEN VALLEY 1 fe-i 0 I Dr. Hobart Freeman Mir les. Other demands Davis outlined included giving up insurance policies, refusing immunizations and medication of any kind, removing seat belts from cars, destroying credit cards and never borrowing money. The idea is that God will protect. Despite his radical beliefs, Freeman is not a charlatan, Davis said.

"I have no reason to doubt his integrity," he said. "The man is brilliant. He could have made a fortune in any reeman started out as a Baptist, earning divinity and theology degrees at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He later broke with the church, charging, among other things, that Christmas and Easter were pagan celebrations. By John M.

Doyle Associated Press Warsaw, Ind. What kind of a clergyman so dominates his congregation members that they willingly surrender driver's licenses, credit cards and eyeglasses, even allow wives, husbands and children to die, rather than defy his teachings? The clergyman in question, Dr. Ho-bart Freeman, 63, is the founder and leader of the Faith Assembly, which has been under public scrutiny in recent months because dozens of followers have died from untreated illnesses. Freeman teaches his followers that medicine is evil and that doctors are little better than magicians. Yet John Davis, himself an ordained minister and seminary professor, describes Freeman as "brilliant" and "a good theologian." Freeman does not grant interviews and has not spoken to reporters since the Faith Assembly deaths the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel has counted at least 57 became known.

His telephone is unlisted. But Davis, a former student of Freeman's at Grace Theological Seminary at Winona Lake, persuaded Freeman to talk with him. He shared his insights into Freeman in an interview with the Associated Press. Freeman teaches church members that medicine is Satanic, but Davis said he "did not want to make them out as blood-and-guts cultists. I focused on issues, not on Besides several interviews with-Freeruan, Davis read all of his books; attended 10 services and listened to 61 of his taped sermons, which are broadcast over 10 radio stations in the South and Midwest.

The of Freeman that emerged through Davis is one of a man who, over time, has grown more withdrawn; in his personality and more narrow in his beliefs. "He's Reached the point in his life now where his beliefs are non-nego joHsl took a durabilt MADE IT HAPPEN Throgh no fault of our own, prices on selected products have taken an unexpected downturn. Believe it or not, people have actually been -i. milling around our stores picking up every thing from vitamins to cosmetics at 4 auraouz 5 ASSOCIATES, INC. people would stoop to such measures )P just to save 20-25.

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Vitamin 400 I.U.s 2Sb off Mesa Bio 25 off By 1959, he had switched to the Brethren Church and earned his doctorate degree at Grace. Again, however, he began to criticize his church. Four years later, he was excommunicated and dismissed from his teaching post at Grace for his extremist views. "He's a good theologian," said Davis, 47, who holds a doctorate in Old Testament and Hebrew. "No one in his right mind would question his knowledge of scripture." It is in the nature of faith and healing that Freeman departs from other churches and evangelists, Davis said.

Freeman teaches that supernatural healing based on faith is the only acceptable treatment for illness and injury. Freeman, who had polio as a child and walks with a limp, has had several heart attacks and underwent kidney surgery before founding the Faith "You only have to consult standard encyclopedias and dictionaries to discover the historic connection between witchcraft and medicine," Freeman told Davis. "There's an incredible intensity of dedication," Davis said of the Faith Assembly "and it's quite remarkable. There are no variable or options. It 50s regulars 5.95 saleS 4.45 100s 10.50 7.85 regulars 5.95 saleS 4.45 10.50 7.85 22.95 17.20 Naturade Power Shake, 18 -20 off Vitamin 500 mg.

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