Summary by Sis. Tracy:
This brother was "let go" from his job
in Family Christian Stores (FCS)
when he asked if Zondervan (publisher 
of the NIV) is owned by Harper Collins
the publisher of the Satanic Bible.

Note to reader:  To verify that Harper Collins
publishes the "Satanic Bible", do a search 
at www.harpercollins.com.  The following
quote came from their website:
"...Zondervan, HarperCollins' Evangelical Christian 
publishing division, published the top five bestselling
Bibles in the CBA marketplace, including the # 1 
bestseller, The NIV Study Bible. Long considered 
the world's largest Bible publisher, Zondervan 
published 2/3 of the bestselling Bibles worldwide."

Now on to the email...

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 19:27:20 -0800 (PST)
From: John Wiser <john_wiser@yahoo.com>
Subject: How I stood up to Zondervan/FCS
To: webmaster@jesus-is-lord.com

Hello,
   I just want to say that I use to work at a
Christian store called FCS. As of today at about 5
P.M. I was called and told that I was to be paid for
my hours for Friday and all of next week and after
that I was to be 'let go'. I asked if I was fired but
was told that no,I was just being 'let go'. What
happened is what one may ask and this is a short
version of my story that began on 2/27/02.

   I found your site and after checking out the info
on Zondervan (Family Christian Stores was owned by
Zondervan at one time) I wanted to know what this was
all about. I am in charge of the Bible section in the
store where I 'use' to work and thought that this was
another hate group. What I found was something that
will change my life forever and I just have to tell
every Christian I know.

   I went to look up info on that of Harper Collins
Publishing and found that they (being Harper Collins
Pub.) as well printed a satanic bible as well as other
books that we as Christians fight so hard against. I
was hurt,stunned,and could not believe my eyes. I had
to know the truth and with that I went looking for
some answers. As of 2/27/02 I called Family Christian
Stores home office and asked to speak with someone
about the history of our store (that being FCS). I was
put through to a lady that asked me how she could help
and after telling her I wanted to know about the
history of FCS I was transfered to another person.
This person was not in and was told that if I left a
message he would get back with me. I did leave my name
and nunber and told him that I worked for FCS and
wanted to know what our history was. My day ended and
I thought nothing more of it. That is until I got a
call on 2/28/02 about noon. 

It was him returning my
call and I was asked how he could help me. I ask about
if FCS was owned by Harper Collins Pub and was asked
why I wanted to know this. His tone had changed and
now I was really begining to wonder. I told him that I
worked for FCS for two years and that I understand that
we used to be Zondervan (or owned by Zondervan) and
that in turn Zondervan now is owned by Harper Collins
Publishing. I asked if we, FCS, were owned by Harper
Collins Pub. as well and was told that we are no
longer with Zondervan, we are our own company. I was
happy to hear this but I still wanted to know about
that NIV/Zondervan/Harper Collins Pub. deal and asked
if this was the same Harper Collins Pub. that made the
Satanic bible and was told that we (FCS) were no
longer with Zondervan and that Zondervan was and is
still a good Christian group. But what about the
profits for the NIV that Zondervan make which is owned
by Harper Collins which makes satanic bibles? I was
told that I needed to talk with my manager and/or my
district manager. I was as well told that if I was
unhappy with the company that I could stay or I could
go,that was up to me.  I told him that if I find out
that this is true (that Harper Collins Pub. is the one
and same that makes satanic bibles and yet makes the
NIV) I would leave FCS.  He in return asked if what
was true? I told him that if Harper Collins Pub. was
the same as the one who made/makes satanic bibles and
NIV while getting money from both.  I was told that
they are sinners and that even he himself was a
sinner. I was shocked! This man was trying to make
right what was going on. I told him that I was sinner
as well but that we need to try to better ourselves.
He told me that I need to now talk with not my manager
but the district manager the next time he (the
district manager) came to our store. I hung up hurt
and wondering why I could not get a straight answer
out of a Christian store that I believed in.

   I thought my day was done and after returning home
from work I get another call,it was around 5 P.M. It
was my manger at FCS and she was calling to tell me
that she has heard I called home office. She said it
was fine but that after talking with them that they
have decided that I need to take Friday (tomorrow) and
all of next work week off,paid. As well I was informed
that I no longer work for FCS and with that I asked if
I was fired,which I was told no,that I was being 'let
go'. I asked about the Harper Collins Pub. as well and
she said that Zondervan is a Chrisitian company and
that they (Zondervan) still are there to help
Christians everywhere. I asked but what about the
satanic bibles and was told that Zondervan is
Christian. I stated that Zondervan was owned by Harper
Collins Pub. and that meant that Harper Collins Pub. is
getting paid for both NIV bibles and satanic bibles
and was told this would be a correct statement but
that she did not know all of the answer BUT could find
out for me. As well she told me that Christian music
is under the other big names that put out all of this
stuff that we are so against and that is only because
this helps keeps the cost down. I am hurt,I am
shocked,and I am scared. I have looked away and turned
my back and now look at us. We are giving money to
people who put out satanic bibles along with NIV
translations. 

I may have (which I feel I did lose)
lost my job because I stood up for what I believe in
and know what? I would do it again and I plan to make
sure that I tell everyone I know what I have learned
today. I am not perfect but I as well know that God
can work through me and use me to be His hands and
feet. I will serve a God that will protect me and
watch over me. I will serve a God that I know can and
will provide. I may meet people who don`t care to
listen but I will tell people who want to know. 

May God bless you and keep faith; 

John Wiser (Ex Member of
FCS #142)

P.S. I am sorry for my spelling and what have you but
I just need to share with you this news. I may not be
perfect but I am not what I use to be O: )  Hope to
hear from you if you would.

***************************

Tracy,
Here is the response I received from Zondervan. I
understand why Harper Collins Publishing would let
Zondervan carry on with the NIV,for it is said that
the NIV is the number one selling translation (at
least when I worked at 'the christian store').
God Bless and Keep Faith;
-John- O: )

[Tracy's note: for the love of money is the root of all
evil.]

Dear John,

Thank you for your concern over Zondervan and our relationship with
HarperCollins Publishers. With this correspondence let me try clarify the
nature of the relationship between the two companies and give you some
assurance that the Zondervan you know and trust is the same company we have
been for over 70 years, meeting the needs of people with resources that
glorify Jesus Christ and promote biblical principles.

HarperCollins is part of News America Publishing Group, a division of News
Corporation. While Zondervan has a financial reporting relationship with
HarperCollins and News Corp., we operate autonomously on a day-to-day basis.
In fact, our parent company strongly encourages Zondervan to stay true to
our mission and core Christian values. We have remained true to the
heritage of our founders, and we are committed to building our business
around those virtues.

All our products: books, Bibles, gifts, kids, academic, and new media are
designed around our mission and set of shared values that include integrity,
accountability, and respect. For over 70 years we have not knowingly
wavered from these central commitments, nor have we been asked to at any
time by HarperCollins. In fact, we are fortunate to be part of an
organization that supports our mission and enables us to create
Christ-centered resources that meet people's needs.

Thanks again for your correspondence.

MR
Zondervan

*****************************

-----Original Message-----
From: John Wiser [mailto:john_wiser@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2002 12:25 PM
To: ****@zondervan.com
Subject: Hoping that you can help.


Mark,
I want to thank you for your time and for being so
kind to answer my questions. I have been looking back
after these last few days and while it has changed my
life it as well has me looking for answers and not
just taking what I hear as the gospel truth. So once
more I thank you,thank you : )
I guess I must start out with that I am not in
understanding how Zondervan could or would team up
with Harper Collins Publishing. With them putting out
a 'satanic bible' and other things that we as
christians fight against,I would like to know how
Zondervan feels about this? This being that Zondervan
is teamed with Harper Collins. Is this not going
against the very fabric of christianity? We have
you,Zondervan,putting out a NIV translation and your
parent company,Harper Collins Publishing.,putting out
a 'satanic bible'. I understand that you can not
answer for Harper Collins Publishing. and I am not
asking you for this. I just pray that you can
understand where I am comming from and that we can
work together and bring answers to questions like
these. 
When I worked at the christian store I was in
charge of the bible section. I heard many people with
many veiws on what translation is what they read and
prefer. I tried to do my best and I have always
thought that I have,but now I am in question of what
is true and one of the many roads leads me to
Zondervan and the NIV. How or what part does this play
in my life? It does more than I ever thought. I am a
christian and I have a duty to be a seeker of truth. I
buy bibles for people and give them away so that makes
me in turn wanting the best for them. I as well have
paid a price that many have never had to pay,I lost my
job because I asked about a christian product. That
christian product was one of yours,Zondervan`s,and
that being the NIV. The question was about Zondervan
and their relationship with Harper Collins Publishing.
What I have found is that you,Zondervan,are at least
willing to answer my questions and I must give thanks
for this,thank you Zondervan.
My next question may be one that you have heard a
dozen times over but I must ask for I want to know for
myself and not from someone who remembers parts of it.
I am in understand that the NIV has changed from that
of the King James translations in ways that make me
question. I don`t want to go into battle with either
side as to who is right or who is wrong without first
knowing the story of both. One of the questions is
that of Revelations 1:11 and in the question I was
asked: In the first part of this verse Jesus said,"I
am the A_____ and the O_______,the ________ and the
______:". Now when I look this up in the NIV by
Zondervan that I have I can not answer this
question,may I ask why is this? Here is what the NIV
by Zondervan has Revelation 1:11; which said:"Write on
a scroll what you see and send it to the seven
churches:to
Ephesus,Smyrna,Pergamum,Thyatira,Sardis,Philadephia,and
Laodicea."
Now I have your Today`s Parallel Bible and when I
look over at the King James translation I can answer
the question stated above,BUT using the NIV,NASB,and
the NLT one can not answer this simple question. I
kinda feel hurt by this and wonder what kind of answer
does one give when this is asked in chruch? Do I stand
and say where is this at in my bible or do I sit and
wonder what kinda bible these folks are using? Now I
know that you at Zondervan are not God and have not an
answer to every question but I hope that you can see
my point. I hope that you can help me with these
concerns and want to thank you in advance for taking
the time to read this e-mail and any information that
you can provide.
God Bless and Keep Faith;
-John- O: )


John,

Let me try to address your questions in the order you asked.

1. Zondervan was purchased by HarperCollins in the late 1980's--as I said in
my previous message. Prior to that, Zondervan was a publicly traded
company. Every publicly traded company is subject to being purchased by any
company with the wherewithal to purchase the stock, as HC was able to do.
But having said that, let again say Zondervan has benefited from being owned
by HC. We cannot control what they publish. As our owner, HC could control
what we publish. They do not. In fact, they encourage us to be true to our
mission and values.

2. As to your questions about Bible text and translation I can't help you.
I pose your question about Rev. 1:11 to a local Bible scholar. I can tell
you the NIV is considered the most accurate and dependably clear Bible
translation available today. Endorsed by scholars and denominations across
the country, it is heralded as the best combination of accuracy and clarity.
Is the NIV different or changed from the KJV? Yes, it is. The NIV is a
more accurate and clear translation than the KJV simply because of the
increased scholarship that is now available that wasn't available in the
1600's when the KJV was translated.


[Tracy's note:  is the feminist gender-inclusivity more accurate or more
Satanic?  See http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/niv.htm and
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/niv.txt]