Have you ever heard of identity theft? If you have, the name Michelle Brown probably comes to your mind. Here's a snippet of Michelle Brown, well-known victim of identity theft's, testimony.
That is what led my dad to preach his three-part series on what we are as a church. The past two weeks we learned that we are a light of the Gospel and a pillar of Truth, but this week we learned that we're a community of believers.
The impersonation began with the perpetrator's theft of my rental application from my landlord's property management office in January 1998. Immediately, the perpetrator set up cellular service, followed by residential telephone and other utility services, attempted to obtain timeshare financing and department store credit cards, purchased a $32,000 truck, had nearly $5,000 worth of liposuction performed to her body, and even rented properties in my name including signing a year lease. Not only did this person defraud the Department of Motor Vehicles in obtaining a duplicate drivers' license (with my name and number) in October 1998, but she even presented herself as me with this identification to the DEA and before a federal judge when she was caught trafficking 3,000 pounds of marijuana in May 1999.
Eventually, the identity theft was found out and the real Michelle Brown's identity was once again her own. But what a traumatizing experience! Real people are having their identities stolen, but did you know that real churches are having their identities stolen, too?She remained a fugitive for almost 6 months while still assuming my name-- and was finally turned in by an acquaintance in July 1999.
That is what led my dad to preach his three-part series on what we are as a church. The past two weeks we learned that we are a light of the Gospel and a pillar of Truth, but this week we learned that we're a community of believers.