Ole Anthony
Encyclopedia
Ole Anthony a native of Minnesota
, is the current editor of The Door
, a magazine of Christian
satire. He was the subject of a lengthy profile in the December 6, 2004, issue of The New Yorker
. As head of the Trinity Foundation
, he is also involved in investigating the financial activities and alleged misappropriations of televangelists.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 until December 1959, as a "special weapons maintenance technician" and had top-secret clearance receiving the Good Conduct Medal
and two "outstanding unit" awards.
Anthony's investigative work into the fundraising tactics of big-money televangelists first came to national attention in 1991 following a Primetime Live hidden-camera investigation of televangelists. Anthony portrayed himself—a Dallas minister of a small church trying to learn how big-money ministries work—in the segment on fellow East Dallas minister Robert Tilton
. Anthony and the Trinity Foundation were instrumental in providing evidence for the many state and Federal investigations of Tilton in the years that followed, and he is often interviewed by reporters in preparations for stories on other televangelists.
He is a close friend of writer and comedian Joe Bob Briggs
, who is also a member of the Trinity Foundation.
Former members of the group have been critical of the Foundation and Anthony.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, is the current editor of The Door
The Door (satirical Christian magazine)
The Wittenburg Door, sometimes known as simply The Door, is a Christian satire and humor magazine, published bimonthly by Dallas, Texas USA based, non-profit Trinity Foundation. The publication bills itself as "The World's Pretty Much Only Religious Satire Magazine"....
, a magazine of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
satire. He was the subject of a lengthy profile in the December 6, 2004, issue of The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
. As head of the Trinity Foundation
Trinity Foundation (Dallas)
The Trinity Foundation is a watchdog ministry founded by Ole Anthony in 1972 and based in Dallas, Texas .Trinity has primarily investigated televangelists such as Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Robert Tilton, W.V. Grant, pastor Edwin Barry Young, and the Trinity...
, he is also involved in investigating the financial activities and alleged misappropriations of televangelists.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 until December 1959, as a "special weapons maintenance technician" and had top-secret clearance receiving the Good Conduct Medal
Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States military. The Navy Good Conduct Medal was first issued in 1869, followed by a Marine version in 1896. The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal was issued in 1923 and the Army Good Conduct Medal in 1941. The Air Force was...
and two "outstanding unit" awards.
Anthony's investigative work into the fundraising tactics of big-money televangelists first came to national attention in 1991 following a Primetime Live hidden-camera investigation of televangelists. Anthony portrayed himself—a Dallas minister of a small church trying to learn how big-money ministries work—in the segment on fellow East Dallas minister Robert Tilton
Robert Tilton
Robert Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved notoriety in the 1980s and early 1990s through his infomercial-styled religious television program Success-N-Life, which at its peak in 1991 aired in all 235 American TV markets , brought in nearly $80 million per year, and was described as...
. Anthony and the Trinity Foundation were instrumental in providing evidence for the many state and Federal investigations of Tilton in the years that followed, and he is often interviewed by reporters in preparations for stories on other televangelists.
He is a close friend of writer and comedian Joe Bob Briggs
Joe Bob Briggs
John Irving Bloom , who uses the pseudonym Joe Bob Briggs, is a syndicated American film critic, writer and comic performer.-Early years:...
, who is also a member of the Trinity Foundation.
Former members of the group have been critical of the Foundation and Anthony.