Attn: Deborah Dombrowski

 Dear Deborah,

This week, as I returned from a few days of vacation, I was presented with several emails that were the result of statements you have made on your radio broadcast and have put on your website.  My first thought was, “How strange that someone would be concerned about the integrity of the gospel and then go about expressing that concern in a clearly unbiblical manner.”  Did you ever think about making a phone call or sending an email to me personally before you publicized your concerns?

My relationship with Ken Blanchard is very recent.  My son, David Michael, just received his Master’s degree in leadership at USD in San Diego.  One of his courses was taught by Ken Blanchard.  Ken had heard of the work we do at Shadow Mountain and Turning Point and suggested to David Michael that he would enjoy having lunch with me.

During our time together over lunch, I asked Ken about his relationship with the Lord.  He told me his story.  It is a thrilling story of his having been "around Christianity" for years without understanding the importance of a personal relationship, and then through a series of remarkable events, realized that knowing about Jesus Christ was not enough.  So he made the decision to invite Christ into his life.  His words to me were, "I finally closed the deal."  There is not one doubt in my mind about the genuineness of Ken Blanchard's faith. He is a humble man who is seeking to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

After our conversation about his relationship with the Lord, Ken began to tell me about his discovery of the leadership principles that are found in the Gospels.  He said that he had been teaching leadership most of his adult life, but as he began to read the Gospels as a Christian, he discovered that the greatest leader of all time was Jesus Christ.  I have long been a student of leadership, and I have given several messages on "The Servant-Leadership of Our Lord."  I try to model that kind of leadership, and I encourage my staff to do the same.  When Ken asked me if I would be willing to give my message on the Servant-Leadership of Jesus in one of his conferences, I agreed.  He told me that his next conference would be held in the church of one of my friends, Max Lucado, and I was honored to be included as one of the speakers.

Ken Blanchard is not a New-Age Guru.  I just talked to him again on the phone, and he is hurt that he is being described in such a way.  He is a new Christian who admits that he has made mistakes in the past.  Before becoming a believer, and even as a new believer, he endorsed books based upon his friendship with the authors and not on the content of the book itself.  Ken is not a seminary graduate; he is a businessman and author.  I know that he is saddened that his name has been used in the past to endorse things that he does not now believe.

But Ken has a tremendous heart to honor the Lord, and he has asked several Christian leaders, including Henry Blackaby, to help him and give him counsel so that he does not make these mistakes again.  While I cannot promise you that Ken will not make another mistake in judgment going forward, I know that he is growing in his understanding of his faith, and it is his desire to honor the Lord and not be a stumbling block to anyone...

I hope my comments have helped you to understand our relationship with Ken Blanchard.

I am rejoicing in the Lord,

David Jeremiah

Sent by Diane Sutherland
Personal Secretary to
Dr. David Jeremiah
(619) 258-3600
dsutherland@turningpointonline.org