Monday, February 18, 2008

The Whole Living Waters Publishing Company Situation

So, I'm being drug, kicking and screaming, hollering and crying, into the middle of this mess. People have been trying to contact me all day long. I've purposely ignored a particular few of them. Others are persistently badgering me.

I don't have a really close inside track when it comes to money in LWPC's accounts. I don't do that kind of work. To answer everyone's question, I got my pay fine. I've not had a problem for five weeks, and hope never to have a problem. However, Lacresha did contact Jennifer, Holly, Marie and I sometime last week or so. She said they'd had a major problem with money missing and two expensive phone bills, plus a rather large IRS payment. So, she said she would be slowing down the pace for a month or so. We didn't ask for the information.

Because we have become friends, and because I have a legal background and am married to an attorney, she's been forwarding me everything: IM converstions, meetings, receipts, a few other things. I volunteered my husband's services. So, over the past three days, we've received enough for us to know that the company is not in any immediate financial jeopardy. However, though I can comment further about Robert and Marisa Gary, I won't. But, I'm staying with LWPC and Lacresha because everything a person swears is true isn't always. She is very honest, and very straight-forward.

I know that someone has broken into her personal and business emails, locking her out. Circumstantial, maybe? Maybe. Then, we took the bait to look over what is being spread as truth, and let's just say that my husband is fired up and ready to go on several points. Some of you know my husband and he is one of the best. When he says there is a case, there is a case. Lacresha is our only hold up. So, I deal with character first, and she's honest, even when it hurts her. I deal with skill next. She is talented, full of vision and Christian zeal to help. She knows this business. I know a little myself and an amateur couldn't fool me. Finally, I deal with motives. She's not getting rich in this business, so it has to be the people.

Please stop bothering me with this. I'm with the company I trust and believe in. Anyone can say anything about people today and ruin a reputation it took years to build. But, I deal with facts. Neither I, Jennifer, Holly, Marie, nor has Jessica or Christine ever had problems cashing our checks, nor getting our Paypal money within a week's time. So, draw your own conclusions.

14 comments:

elysabeth said...

Hi Erica,

I'm one of the new authors with LW and Lacresha and it saddens me to read stuff like people hurting good folks like this. I only know a small part of what is going on but from what I'm reading is that there are always going to be troublemakers in every crowd. It is sad that it is happening to someone as good as Lacresha. I hope things quiet down rather quickly and that Lacresha can put this behind her and move on and be better for it. - see you in the postings - E :)

Anonymous said...

You know this won't help, right? These people are going to stay on it until this business is over. A particular trusted person told her that on im; that he wants the business to close; and she won't go public. So, if she isnt going to fight, there's no need in us doing it either. Let it be! She needs to show people the stuff she has, the stuff we have. I bet Absolute doesnt know about the bigotry Rob wrote to the lesbian employee, that he sad she was going to hell and that it was nasty. Dont waste time with this; it is stupid.

Anonymous said...

Terrible, terrible stuff; after reading at a few websites, I was reluctant to speak up, but then someone on the AW list mentioned this site. I don't believe Lacresha told Marisa that. She does give us a quota to fill. I missed mine by nearly all of it. She said it makes it easier to get shelf space. Marisa knows thats not true because she was at online stores. She only sold 50 books, from what I was told.

Why would anyone believe such outrageous lies? I was told that her first check did bounce because of the IRS/phone bill issues. I can't say who told me because I am not an employee. Also, why are the others who supposed had these checks bounce not posting too? Also, if she was trying to beat them out of money, would she had given a refund? I was told she volunteered the money back to them. I just have a lot of questions. Either way, this wouldn't be the first business to go through a quick crunch and won't be the last. I'm not going anywhere. I'm happy with Living Waters. I got a good contract and a nice, quality book out of the deal.

Anonymous said...

I'm mad and confused. My email inbox has been bombarded with speculation too, Erica. How are they getting our contact information? I hope Lacresha isn't giving it out without so much as a warning. She's never done that before. Otherwise, they are proving that someone is going into her account.

At first, I was a bit nervous that LW would go out of business; listening to dummies try to tell us about a company they don't work for or with. After going back and reading the AW thread, I realized that Shamus contradicted himself. From what I remember when I was a legal secretary, any loss he causes or caused the company can be countered if indeed she owes them anything. John would know more about that than me.

Oh, tell him that Chris wants to go fishing this weekend. He still hasn't called, and you cannot cancel on me this weekend again. I'll call you shortly... justta waitin' on the bus, madam! ROTFL

Anonymous said...

Has anyone seen Lacresha online lately? She seems to be missing in action. I hope she doesn't let it drag her down to everyone else's level. As someone who knows her personally, who was around when she first got her minister's license, when she was ordained, someone who has preached alongside her and visited her and her husband, it is ridiculous to accuse either of them of fraud. That's how I know that whoever started this mess doesn't know either of them.
When the company first started, I volunteered to do various things to help, to do some legwork (plus I needed the exercise, but we'll keep that quiet). I think this was just a case of the devil dividing away the weaker links. I told her not to hire people she'd never seen face to face because they could be con-artists or liars or anything. She was so impressed because they set up a Katrina site. She bragged about them all over the place. She was so proud. I'm not saying she deserved this, but this is the perfect example of trusting people you don't know. Anyway, I'm writing and not getting any response. Thought I'd leave a message with you on this blog.

Anonymous said...

Erica,

What bothers me is that Robert and his wife are supposed to be Christians, yet they are tearing down the things Lensey and Lacresha has built at church. We have new converts who are online all the time and are now seeing this mess. One of them now wants to know if he's really saved. These people are painting a picture, whether true of not, that is destroying our outreach program, mostly because Lensey and Lacresha are always there when no one else is. Most of the new converts came in because of them. I think it would be a travesty for this to be a lie. Christians are not supposed to do what they have done, and so they lost my sympathy just with the way they've done this. If they had a legitimate complaint, they should have handled it in a legitimate way. They will have to answer to God for this though. And if they were late getting their pay, or if what he originally said about working with Lacresha is true, then they should have waited and seen what the end would be. I honestly don't see anything in his case that says they are scam artists, or amateurs.

Anonymous said...

Renee, I don't think this is something that the world cares to hear, the 'god' stuff and all. This is a simple case of 'christians' doing what they do best which is lying, fighting and being hypocrites. Personally, I don't think the garys are any better than the hayes. All of them are deceived into believing in some strange 'god' that mysteriously fixes everything. That is why the business is in trouble. No one wants to hear about this god stuff anymore. We'd rather party and go to hell as free people than to die as a slave to his methods.

Anonymous said...

My mother and I were appalled at the comments made about Lensey. This is a wonderful man and he doesn't deserve to be mistreated by strangers. He lives an upstanding life. Seems the only person on AW with some sense was Terri. She is right. People do change and you have to give them the room to do it. He never got in trouble for what he did, only who he was with and bad company does ruin good morals or whatever. I'm trying to organize some people with some signatures and get his name off that list altogether. I don't know his wife, but if he married her, she must be something. So, I agree with Elysabeth. It is wrong and it has to stop. If you want to organize with us, leave your comments here. If enough people are interested, we'll get this done now!

Anonymous said...

Erica and John,

I know how you must feel for all this to be going on after you took so many precautions. If she trusts you two enough to send you her info and to ask your opinions, legal and otherwise, then I'd say stand with the business. Someone has to. This will turn around. Stuff like this happens all the time in business. Soon, Living Waters will be yesterday's story. In the meantime, be happy that there are people out there who think enough of the business to build forums and websites about them. It's free publicity. Everyone is hearing about your publisher now. Six months down the road, when this has blown over, some of those same authors will see more of the books in stores and remember Living Waters. They will come. Don't worry! I don't think any of you should give it a moment of your time, particularly not for court. What does Pastor Norman always say? It's a speeeeeeeeed-bump, bump, bump. LOL! There's only three small bumps. It'll be over soon.

Anonymous said...

Living Waters will make it through this. It's only a test. Tell Lacresha not to give up. We've been through it when we first began to publish 17 years ago. The race isn't given to the strong nor the swift, but those that endure until the end.

Anonymous said...

Living Waters Publishing Company will live and not die and declare the works of the Lord, in Jesus name. God will make it the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath. We stand in faith. We'll also gladly sign any petition that anyone has to restore Living Waters name back to prior condition.

Anonymous said...

Removing AW posts is not the best route, though some of the stuff should be removed. However, I think maybe Victoria should do an interview with a representative from Living Waters. Maybe even review some of the paperwork you have and then she write up one final thought on it and close those forums if they are untrue, even remove all untrue posts. That would be a fair way.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely adore Lacresha. From day one, she has done everything she said she would do. She was often a bit late doing it, but she did it. So, I ask all of you to pray for her strength, that it does not fail her now and God fights all her battles. We ARE a family so let's act like one.

Anonymous said...

The one thing the devil doesn't want is unity. If one of these families would be smart and get together and pray the devil would be sick. But, its bad when you cant get unity between two saved families. They better WAKE UP and GET A CLUE! Honey, this is devil work. And honestly, if neither of them can see that, they are certainly not mature enough for ministry. They need to get back on the pew and learn. This is a time when the second coming of Christ is drawing near. Why should they burn in hell with anger hatred and resentment in their heart toward their brother whom they are COMMANDED to walk in love with. I was personally shocked at Lensey's name being in this. He is one of the most patient men I've ever known. As a minister, I thought someone needed to sound off with the truth. How are they going to run a Christian company and not forgive? I mean both families. What made Robert think he could sign on with other Christians and the devil not get busy? Or Marisa? Or Lacresha? With all this arguing, who is praying? With all this posting, who is believing God for peace? This is not something either one party can be blamed for. They are all responsible because of their negligence. Now, they need to repent to God for shaming His holy name, and profaning it in front of heathens. Then, they need to apologize to each other and settle this thing how Christ would see fit for it to be settled. One thing, Lacresha needs to hire them back and they need to accept; even if not, they need to figure out why they were put together in the first place. Now, blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God! Amen!