Correspondence with Robert Ricciardelli

In the summer of 2006 we began receiving the newsletter of one of “The Issues of Life” recipients, Robert Ricciardelli. Here is what we saw on his website at the time – “Visionary Advancement Strategies” (click here to skip to our correspondence with Robert):

We are Robert and Joyce Ricciardelli. We are Marketplace servants of Jesus Christ. Although we are part of a local church, we identify ourselves with all expressions of ONE body of Christ, regardless of denomination, race, creed or pedigree. We work with leaders from every context of life who desire to bring the Kingdom of God into the arenas the Lord has called them to. We are connectors in the kingdom as we come alongside many ministries in many nations. We are bringing forth a message of kingdom living for today by restoring a biblical worldview and helping believers understand their marketplace role in all jurisdictions. We are involved in community transformation projects by bringing the spiritual leaders and gatekeepers of a community together. In unity we believe for the Lord of the harvest to heal their land and their people and birth relevant service that brings glory to the Lord. We continue to live and move and have our being in Him, and seek to always have and teach an unoffendable heart towards others which gives us the freedom to be about our Father’s business.

Visionary Advancement Strategies Mission Statement 

“To expand the kingdom of God through the exhortation, counsel, and training of business and ministry leaders. To impart and equip them towards Christlikeness, bringing impact and effectiveness to their lives and personal ministries.” 

• Connecting Kingdom Ministries & Businesses to transform individuals, families, & nations for Christ.
• Communicate His message through the diverse expressions of His people.
• Build up and encourage the Body of Christ to live in the full revelation and authority of Christ.

Our Purpose

• To become more and more conformed into the image of Christ in every area of our life!
• To advance the kingdom of God ON EARTH as it is in heaven
• To expose and expound a biblical worldview in every jurisdiction.
• To facilitate discipleship and the priest and kingly ministries of every believer
• To diminish dualism as we promote the revelation of the ministry of each believer and abolish the gap of the perceived idea of clergy and laity in a godly order.
• To restore the foundations of the early church in power, simplicity, and relationship, in application through the leading of the Holy Spirit beginning in the family and extending outward.

Our Vision

To be a part of winning as many people as we can to eternal life through Jesus and believe they will be trained towards the most Christlike lives as possible. To live such an empowered life led by the Spirit of God, that it would make people desire to have what we have. To live passionately in love, character and boldness as we fulfill our purposes in Christ. To practically live out each day to influence and bring God’s presence into every phase and jurisdictions in life.

Our Methods

We are now in direct communication with 150 countries on a weekly basis; we are sending resources to leaders and imparting relevant and practical kingdom concepts to advance the kingdom in their nations. We are working with marketplace leaders in multiple jurisdictions. These are some of our desires and goals.

• We desire to encourage and activate into kingdom mobility all that the Lord would send us. 
• We continue to present to others that anything and everything we do is in and through Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit guides us.
• We want to continue to present the king and priestly functions of all believers and the ministry of every believer.
• We will be working with marketplace leaders to teach them to be aware of their ministry to the Lord, their family and the marketplace.
• We want to be an encouragement to the ecclesiastically called ministries. With the emerging apostolic church in formation, they need prayer and support as the Lord brings forth His church into kingdom reality.
• We are always in the prayerful process of uniting churches, ministries, home fellowships and prayer networks to further the Fathers desire for the body of Christ to be as one within our cultural, denominational and multiple differences.
• We are witnessing and in communication of many communities across the globe that are in the transformation process by the presence of almighty God in many jurisdictions of their society.
• We are praying for our land as well, and how God’s people in our home communities can usher in His presence. We want His presence to encompass every individual and family, and into many sectors of our society. We need His daily sustenance, strategy and authority to break the strongholds on the land and set His people free.
• We are believing God through His courageous servants, to infiltrate and lead others in these areas of society:

1. Churches
2. Government
3. Education
4. Media/Entertainment,
5. Legal
6. HealthCare
7. Business/Finance
8. Environment

• We need to continue to bring the church to every area in our community, beyond the four walls of our churches. We will then begin to see pockets of fellowship and prayer in each of these sectors and even in our public schools, all by the grace of God as we are obedient to advance His kingdom.
• We desire to see many come to Jesus Christ because of prophetic evangelism and relationships that go beyond churchianity. We will seek to love every one where they are at, and lead them through relationships towards where they need to be which is in Christ  Jesus.
• Develop and utilize available curriculum for training centers in many communities and many nations.
• Help bring strategic resources and implementation processes to resource rich countries to enable them to steward the resources for economic growth.
• Develop and work with those that desire to raise up and teach the next generation go even further then where we are able to go.

Other Applications of our Mission: 

1. Reconciliation in the Body of Christ. In John 17 Jesus prayed that those whom God had given to be His own would enjoy the same unity as the Father, Son and Spirit, and that from this position of binding love and fellowship we can fully expect that the world will believe. Oneness in the Body of Christ is being wonderfully attained as denominational leaders throughout the world come together, racial barriers of prejudice and suspicion fall, city leaders pray together, churches humble themselves and families find healing in the loving lordship of Jesus.
2. The practical revelation of the power and love of Jesus. Luke 4 promises that the revelation of Jesus will bring anointing for preaching the gospel to the poor, freedom for the oppressed, physical healing and encouragement for the troubled. As ambassadors of Christ, we are vessels from which His love and power can freely flow to a church and world in desperate need.
3. CHURCH BEYOND THE WALLS! Truly fulfilling Matthew 28:18-20, the commission of our Lord, to make DISCIPLES of all people. We fulfill this as we raise up leaders around us who go out beyond the walls of the Church and WIN the lost, ESTABLISH them in the faith, DISCIPLE them in THE WAY and RELEASE them to do likewise!
4. Marketplace ministry abounding as the anointed of the Lord go into the market place in their jobs and be ready to impart to those the Lord reveals. Encourage the brethren towards living as kings and priests in every phase of their life. We want to infuse business, law, and finance with kingdom principles. We want to influence many cultures that are open towards doing business God’s way and watching what God will do as they function in kingdom dynamics to glorify the Father.
5. Purposeful global missions according to Christ‘s final admonition (Matt 28:19). We seek to advance God’s Kingdom throughout the world through prayer, finance and practical involvement. Our goal is attention to His direction, both to go personally and to liberally support established ministries and indigenous works. To support practically in the area’s of healthcare, education and economics.
6. We desire to support and build key relationships with the Native Americans, First Nation people by applicable efforts to promote health and true economic gain for the people and their land and for them to see the Jesus Christ in those that are called to serve them.
7. We are working alongside the Liberty Health Group to expose the false scale in healthcare. To provide solutions that will set the captives free in healthcare for consumers, healthcare practitioners and for businesses to provide affordable health benefits for their employees. God has opened many doors with many more to open and we give Him all the glory as we seek to transform healthcare in America
8. We will reveal Christ‘s authority in intercessory prayer, spiritual warfare, and obedience to His Word. Opportunities for the practical application of submission to the Father and the principles of His Kingdom in response to life situations are provided through corporate teaching and ministry, House2House leadership training, Marketplace evangelization and strategic partnering to advance the kingdom of our God.

Our Mission is seeking to attain the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:14). Our aim is to develop fully devoted followers of Christ by helping people move into Christ-likeness in every area of their lives.

Ten Statements of Faith and Understanding Concerning Human Freedom

Issues of Human Freedom

(The separation of church and state) 1)We believe in the explicit separation of church government and civil government, but that it is impossible to actually separate spiritual and moral-ethical precepts from public law, since all law is “religious” in that it seeks to reward “good” behavior and punish “wrong” behavior.

(Personal freedom) 2) We believe that the conscience of an individual should be shaped by God’s Word under the ministry of the Holy Spirit but that in matters of faith, no person can be “converted” by human force or social coercion.

(The separation of powers) 3) We believe in the biblical origin of separated spheres of government for mankind and that self government; family government; ecclesiastical government; commercial government; and civil government all carry specific responsibilities and limitations designed to prevent the tyranny of one sphere of government usurping authority over the other.

(The place of God’s Law in Society) 4) We believe God’s Old Testament laws are fulfilled in Christ, yet we also recognize that within those laws as they apply to social life and culture, are principles and values which carry God’s heart for justice and mercy in a fallen world.

(Generational Transfer) 5) We believe that it is the privilege and responsibility of parents to shape the values and education of their children, with the voluntary

aide of tutors of the parent’s choice, and that each generation should learn from the wisdom and vision of the past generation as it creatively builds upon their foundations.

Issues of The Church’s Social Responsibility

(The Centrality of God’s Kingdom) 6) We believe that the gospel of the Kingdom of God is the centering point of Christ’s message to the world and that all doctrine relates back into this central message of reconciling all of creation to God’s original intent.

(Christ’s return to fulfill God’s Kingdom reign) 7) We believe God’s Kingdom has always been, now is, and is yet to be fulfilled in its entirety by Christ when He returns.

(Man’s partnership with God) 8) We believe Christ’s Holy Spirit works through man to achieve God’s plans for His creation, and that man apart from God, can do nothing of eternal significance.

(The church and culture) 9) We believe that Christ came to both determine the future of mankind in eternity and to boldly influence all dimensions of human culture in every generation prior to eternity. We also believe that the quest for social justice and creativity is inseparable from “faith demonstrated with works” in our quest for spiritual obedience and growth personally.

(“Dominion” and voluntary submission) 10) We believe that in the New Testament age in which we now live, God’s “cultural mandate” of Genesis 1:26-28 requires a voluntary submission of mankind to Christ’s Lordship, which the church is called to both model and preach in the “discipling the nations.”

Our Standards

Doctrinally, we adhere to the inerrancy of the Scriptures in their totality. The following three standards are those we believe God has set as pillars for this particular body — pillars that have proven themselves a firm foundation for our vision and lives:

1. Devotion to the words of Christ. We believe God is calling the church to be disciples of Jesus Christ and that our level of commitment should at least equal that to which He called His first century disciples (Matt 28:20). With the Old Testament eagerly looking forward to Messiah‘s coming and the New Testament reflecting from His coming, we esteem the literal words of Christ as the clearest revelation of Himself.
2. Humility. We believe the only way we can be conformed to Christ is by receiving the grace that leads to repentance and lavish transformation in all areas of life that are not Christ-like. We need His grace to change and acknowledge that God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Considering the selfish nature of our human hearts, embracing the meekness of Christ is the only safeguard against our souls‘ innate tendency to self-promotion, ambition and pride.
3. Faithfulness in prayer. There is power in a life sustained by and built upon a foundation of prayer. We encourage one another to be faithful in personal and corporate prayer, and offer daily prayer meetings at River of Life throughout the week, to which all are welcome. Our 24-hour prayer room is always open. (Ask for the combination. Women are asked to pray in pairs after dark for reasons of safety.) All who hold ministry positions are committed to at least one corporate prayer meeting per week, apart from their personal life of devotion.

Paul wrote to Robert and his wife:

Hi Robert and Joyce,

You have been sending us your “Visionary Advancement” letters. That which you are talking about having or creating, we, by the grace of God, have. The Lord Jesus Christ has brought us through the cross to enter life with Him, and He, being faithful to His Word, has raised us up to sit in Heavenly places where there is true unity. We do not, and need not, try to create it. We are it, as part of His body with the saints that are also in Heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23).

Knowing the difference between men’s works and God’s works, we see your works, and must tell you that they are the former, of which David said:

“Concerning the works of men, by the Words of Your lips, I am kept from the paths of the destroyer” (Psalms 17:4 MKJV).

There is much on our site that confirms what I am telling you, but two writings that in particular would be helpful regarding this matter, are:

The True Marks of a Cult
The False Promise of Man’s Unity

Another that you should read is:

The Vashti-Esther Transmutation

I say that these would be helpful, and they would be, if you were willing to humble yourselves to hear and obey the truth. I do not expect that at all, because we know, and the Lord has told us, that those who are rich in themselves are in no way disposed to listen to anyone or anything contrary to their vested interests, including God Himself. Such is the mystery of iniquity.

Nevertheless, the Word of God is more powerful. He does consume all ungodliness with the Spirit of His mouth. We can be, and are, very thankful for that.

Paul
www.thepathoftruth.com

We sent another email after receiving more newsletters from Robert without a reply:

Robert, did you receive the enclosed letter? Please do not send us any more of your mass e-mails unless and until you have red my letter, the linked materials, and have replied to us so that we can, Lord willing, tell you more. This would be for your benefit. Otherwise, if you are not willing to do this, take us off your list altogether.

Paul Cohen – paul@thepathoftruth.com
Victor Hafichuk – victor@thepathoftruth.com

This time Robert replied:

There is some truth mixed with deception that you are seeing. May the Lord open up your eyes of understanding and your heart of love rather than judgment to those you engage with…

Advancing His Kingdom,
Robert Ricciardelli – Visionary Advancement Strategies <>< Serving the Market Place www.vision2advance.com
Address: 9921-171^st Ave SE Renton, WA 98059 Office Phone: (425) 793-3569  Home Phone: (425) 793-9250 Cell: (425) 891-5057
In Essentials, UNITY  In Non-essentials, LIBERTY  In All Things, LOVE

Victor wrote back:

Hi Robert, Victor here,

You have just declared that we are deceived, that our eyes are closed to understanding and our hearts to love. You have also declared that we are judgmental. Have you not just judged us according to your understanding, beliefs and doctrines?

Yet, contrary to the counsel of the Scriptures, you do not tell us specifically how we err:

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15 MKJV)

“Brothers, if anyone among you errs from the truth, and if anyone turns him back, know that he who turns back the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20 MKJV)

Tell us specifically, how we err, Robert. Don’t contradict yourself and judge us as you think and say that we are judgmental. Would Jesus have done that? We see no evidence of such conduct in the Gospels, no, not even with the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes. He was harsh with them, telling it like it was, but He didn’t make general statements without backing them up with the facts.

We are fully prepared to hear you out, to change where and when we see our error, and of course, to declare our position, if and however necessary. We are not afraid of the truth.

Victor Hafichuk

Robert replied:

Brethren,

I do not have the time or the leading to exhaust all that you are in error in. But you sent me the initial email below claiming my works is of the flesh and did not specifically explain why. I removed you from our list as you requested and sorry that it was not a valuable resource for you. Over 60,000 people believe it has been valuable to them each week. The Lord has done many things through this ministry and we rarely are told we are doing mans work rather then God’s. Typically it comes from those that believe that they are the only ones hearing from God and they are the ones that have all truth. If you think we are doing works of the flesh, then you can specifically say why. Otherwise we can just bless one another and ask the Lord to continue to reveal His truth and remove any hindrance from seeing it.

Advancing His Kingdom,
Robert Ricciardelli – Visionary Advancement Strategies <>< Serving the Market Place www.vision2advance.com
Address: 9921-171^st Ave SE Renton, WA 98059 Office Phone: (425) 793-3569  Home Phone: (425) 793-9250 Cell: (425) 891-5057
In Essentials, UNITY  In Non-essentials, LIBERTY  In All Things, LOVE 

Victor replied:

Robert, you are not an honest or just man, by any standard viable in God’s sight. You have falsely accused us and continue to do so. We did indeed specify why your works are of the flesh. We directed you to The True Marks of a Cult, The False Promise of Man’s Unity, and The Vashti-Esther Transmutation.

The True Marks of a Cult amply specifies much concerning you, based in Scripture and example of the Lord Jesus and His disciples of His day and throughout history since.

You refer to over 60,000 that find your ministry of value. Again, you expose your falsehood and shortfall before God. Millions find the LDS Church of value to them. Nearly one and a half billion people find the Catholic Church of value to them. The Pharisees had many more supportive of them than of the Lord, though the Lord performed many and great miracles, even raising the dead. So what is your boast but an empty one? Are we being specific enough?

You judge us not by fruits but by doctrines. We see your fruits, your doings, which is the only valid criteria, according to the Lord Himself. You think to know our fruits, condemning our being direct and uncompromising, unlike your ways, which are employed to please man. The Pharisees had many true doctrines, and for none of them did the Lord Jesus give credit. He saw their fruits and named them. We name yours in the mentioned writings, and you have ignored them, and then accuse us of not being specific.

Even if we had not specified your errors and sins, do “two wrongs make a right”? Is this a “tit for tat”? Why can you not lead with a good example to those you presume to be in darkness, seeing you presume to be a righteous spiritual leader? (I have already asked you to do so in my last letter.) But you arrogantly brush us off, hypocritically so, in that you try to do it in your “loving” way, addressing us as “brethren,” proposing blessing, while in essence, you curse and condemn us. You are of the accuser, Robert, one without substance; neither are we deceived, as are your adherents. We tell you your sins for righteousness sake, with substance, which you ignore, too busy doing the works of men…

“Concerning the works of men, by the Words of Your lips, I am kept from the paths of the destroyer” (Psalms 17:4 MKJV)].

…to do the works of God:

“Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him Whom He has sent” (John 6:29 MKJV).

You are nothing more than a religious phony, Robert. Is that not so? Now you have been confronted in a way unknown to you before. Of the “rare” times of correction, to which you refer, you are contemptuous, preferring the acclamations of the multitudes. Accuse us of thinking to be the only ones who hear from God. They accused Noah and Moses of the same, as well as the prophets. They accused Jesus of the same. You fill up your fathers’ sins and do the work of your father, Robert:

“Jesus said to them, If God were your father, you would love Me, for I went forth and came from God; for I did not come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not know My speech? Because you cannot hear My Word. You are of the Devil as father, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s Words. Therefore you do not hear them because you are not of God” (John 8:42-47 MKJV).

You are a “nice,” “Christian” liar, Robert:

“For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 MKJV).

We are sent of God to tell you so. You are without excuse.

Contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, rebuking the ungodly, who claim godliness, even as Enoch prophesied,

Victor

Robert, Paul here. Our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Creator and Sovereign Ruler over all realms, contrary to your opinion and false religious ways, loves judgment and the righteousness that comes as a result of it:

“But let judgment roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24 MKJV).

His saints execute His judgment as prophesied:

“Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all His saints. Praise ye the LORD” (Psalms 149:5-9 KJV).

Imposters and idolaters like you, have nothing:

“‘You call on the name of your gods, but I will call on the Name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire is the real God.’ All the people answered, ‘That’s fine’” (1 Kings 18:24 GW).

So it is.

Robert continued to wax spiritual, refusing to answer or reason with us:

Brethren, you are blinded much like Israel from the face and heart of the Father. You continue to blaspheme the Holy Spirit of God. I only boast of one thing and that is the risen Christ in me. You ask someone to read a generic article to explain a specific judgment you have placed on a brother. God is not a generic God and there is no truth to the judgment you have made against me. Your own writings condemn you. I pray that the Lord will give you ministry, first to Him and then to those who would hear His voice. Based on what you have written, I do not see any ministry within you to Him, or to His beloved Church. I ask the Lord for His love and mercy to envelop you and transform you to His image in the name of Jesus Christ. I do forgive you and release you to Him the Supreme Judge of all.

Advancing His Kingdom,
Robert Ricciardelli – Visionary Advancement Strategies <>< Serving the Market Place www.vision2advance.com
Address: 9921-171^st Ave SE Renton, WA 98059 Office Phone: (425) 793-3569  Home Phone: (425) 793-9250 Cell: (425) 891-5057
In Essentials, UNITY  In Non-essentials, LIBERTY  In All Things, LOVE

The Lord’s verdict:

Robert, by your reckoning and foolishness, you would classify the Bible as generic, seeing it does not specify your name or personal and secret sins, which you practise and conceal. You are not our brother. Your Christ is also a generic one.

We will mark our calendars and you mark this day, the eighth of the eighth of 2006. We will soon see who is of God and who is not. You are finished. You have been warned by the Supreme Judge, through us, and now fall into His hands.

Victor

Robert’s last words:

All I have to say is WOW. I recommend for you to read John1 and 1John and get to know Jesus Christ. You have developed a cult and the Word of God is not in you. I pray the Word to come upon your life. Humble your hearts and He will reveal Himself to you. Repent and you will receive salvation from Him. Your doctrine will not save you, it is the doctrine of demons. Your bible will not save you, only receiving Jesus Christ can do that. He is not in your writings or your belief and yet I ask Him to reveal Himself to you.

As of July 2017, “Visionary Advancement Strategies” is no more. It has been replaced by a new site called “Converging Zone,” which has dropped references to the Lord Jesus Christ and offers generalized statements about “loving ourselves more” and building “strategic and transformational business and personal relationships.”

Also:

“This website is under development. Robert is open for speaking or training engagements, but because of other business responsibilities, he cannot take on individual coaching clients on a regular basis. He will take on clients during off hours or weekends on a case by case basis. For those who are interested in becoming coaches, Robert has online training and is taking registrants for when that training opens up again.”

So much for expanding “the kingdom of God through the exhortation, counsel, and training of business and ministry leaders.”