Author Troy Lawrence, who attracted the interest of Christian readers with the anticult message of recent books such as New Age Messiah Identified and The Secret Message of the Zodiac, has himself become the subject of an exposé. Lawrence’s books have been released by several well-known Christian publishers and endorsed by several evangelists. But Lawrence recently admitted that his real name is Darrick Evenson, whom cult watchers allege has been an ardent supporter of Mormonism, and author of a book refuting Christian ministries to Mormons.
Huntington House Publishers of Lafayette, Louisiana, has stopped publication of New Age Messiah Identified, which sold approximately 10,000 copies. Mark Trosclair, a Huntington House executive, says his company ceased publication after Evenson admitted he was operating under an alias and had concealed his Mormon background.
CT could not reach Evenson for comment. But in a statement sent by telefax last May to Huntington House, Evenson said he actually wrote The Gainsayers as a “Trojan horse” to reveal Mormon secrets that “rank and file Mormons never see.” He also insisted that “rumors of me being a Mormon have been greatly exaggerated!”
However, Cornerstone magazine reports that in March of this year, the day after “Troy Lawrence” had lectured on the threat of the New Age movement at a Baptist church in Phoenix, Evenson spoke in front of the Mormons’ Arizona temple in Mesa, promoting Mormon doctrine. In addition, the Missionary Department of the Mormon church confirms that Evenson was a full-time Mormon missionary from July 21, 1983, to January 19, 1985, stationed in San Jose, California.
In New Age Messiah Identified, Evenson describes his upbringing and eventual disillusionment with the New Age, leading to his becoming a Christian in 1984. In the book, Evenson claims that while digging through the files at the Tara Center, a New Age group, he unearthed the probable identity of the coming Antichrist.
Evenson’s story of the coming Antichrist played well in some church circles. The Southwest Radio Church featured Evenson on its nationwide broadcast and asked him to speak at its annual prophecy conference. And in May of this year, New Age Messiah Identified was offered by evangelist Jack Van Impe to his donors.
An earlier book by “Lawrence,” The Secret Message of the Zodiac, was released by Here’s Life Publishers, the publishing arm of Campus Crusade for Christ. Here’s Life broke off its relationship with Evenson soon after publication of the book because of repeated trouble with him, says Here’s Life president Les Stobbe.
Reports of Evenson’s true identity appeared first in the newsletter Saints Alive, from cult researcher Ed Decker. More comprehensive coverage followed in the August 1991 issue of the Salt Lake City Messenger magazine, run by ex-Mormons Jerald and Sandra Tanner.
By Bill Alnor and Eric Pement.
