Extremism in Conejo Valley and Thousand Oaks:
Godspeak Calvary Chapel Pastor Rob McCoy
Who is Rob McCoy?
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Rob McCoy is the pastor of Godspeak Calvary Church in Dos Vientos, California. The Godpeak Calvary Chapel Thousand Oaks location in Dos Vientos was made possible after Texas fracking billionaires bought the former Y and transformed it into a church venue for Rob McCoy. Heavenly Father’s Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Texas fracking billionaire Dan Wilks, was used to make the purchase. More on that later.
Rob McCoy is vocal about his agenda to “legislate morality,” does not believe in the separation of church and state, and quit his term as city council member in 2020 in order to host mass gatherings at Godspeak Calvary in defiance of state and county health regulations during a national health pandemic. In 2022, Rob McCoy went on Charlie Kirk's show and had this to say about me: "They call her Anonymous Mommy. She is Antifa. She’s a nightmare. She’s just awful,” and I've never been prouder. |
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Godspeak Calvary has also been the venue used for anti-public school forums, Free Ventura Action PAC meetings and the assemblage and delivery of the far-right propaganda publication, The Conejo Guardian. (VC Star The unmasked rise of Pastor Rob McCoy: Culture war propels evangelical to larger stage, Oct. 5, 2022)
In short, Rob McCoy is a grifter who has created a cult following under the guise of “religion” while having a behind-the-scenes heavy hand in multiple far-right political PACs and local political propaganda papers. He boasts friendships with extremists and hosts a podcast that features his version of “constitutionalism.” This is not surprising considering he used his position as then-mayor to have flyers distributed in children’s school cubbies that promoted a paid “constitutionalism” class ("AMERICAN LEGACY LECTURES" by Rob) hosted at Godspeak Calvary, that would then come with a signed certificate by him, the pastor/mayor. That is a thing that actually happened. He abused his position as mayor to promote a paid class at his church … in our public schools, to young children, under the promise of getting a signed certificate from the Mayor. (If this isn’t grooming, I don’t know what is.) Speaking of grooming, read on for Rob McCoy’s support of convicted child molester, Thomas Cimino, who he put in a leadership position at a Godspeak Calvary Chapel Home Group. McCoy’s goal is clear: Use Godspeak Calvary Chapel Thousand Oaks and his constituency to engage in far-right extremist political action to influence local elections and to take control of local school boards and city councils. At one point, Rob McCoy was tapped to work at Liberty University, but when they wouldn't allow him to commute back to Thousand Oaks for his church sermons, the deal fell through. To save face, he pretended, in a speech during his state of the city address, that he turned down the opportunity because Thousand Oaks was his home and he wasn't going anywhere. A few months later, he would bail on the city and put thousands of people in danger during the pandemic. In the following sections, you'll read about his ties to extremist organizations and his support of convicted child molesters. |
Rob McCoy’s Extremist Ties
Heavenly Father’s Foundation
As mentioned above, Rob McCoy’s friendship with fracking billionaire Dan Wilks led to the purchase of Godspeak Calvary. “Wilk’s foundation funneled more than $1.2 million to the American Family Association between 2014 and 2016. The AFA is one of today’s most powerful Religious Right organizations, with its radio arm, American Family Radio, broadcasting from stations in at least 40 states, and affiliated activists groups promoting its message through various fronts.” (Source.) “The Foundation has funded a number of organizations known for their strong anti-abortion and anti-gay stances.” (Source.)
The Wilks brothers’ agenda: “The Wilks brothers worked in their father’s masonry business and founded Wilks Masonry in 1995. However, they “really hit the big time when they got in on the ground floor with fracking.” After selling Frac Tec to the Singapore government for $3.5 billion in 2011, the brothers became major funders of groups part of the religious right. Farris Wilks runs The Thirteen Foundation, known for extensively funding vehement anti-abortion and anti-LGBT groups as well as groups within the conservative political network of petrochemical billionaires Charles and David Koch.
“The Wilks brothers worry that America’s declining morals will especially hurt the younger generation, so they’re using the riches that the Lord has blessed them with to back specific goals,” the Christian Broadcasting Networks’ David Brody reported from an event run by “Christian-Nation extremist“ David Lane in 2013. Farris Wilks has said they want to “bring the Bible back into the school and start teaching our kids at a younger age and focus on the younger generation.” (Source.)
As mentioned above, Rob McCoy’s friendship with fracking billionaire Dan Wilks led to the purchase of Godspeak Calvary. “Wilk’s foundation funneled more than $1.2 million to the American Family Association between 2014 and 2016. The AFA is one of today’s most powerful Religious Right organizations, with its radio arm, American Family Radio, broadcasting from stations in at least 40 states, and affiliated activists groups promoting its message through various fronts.” (Source.) “The Foundation has funded a number of organizations known for their strong anti-abortion and anti-gay stances.” (Source.)
The Wilks brothers’ agenda: “The Wilks brothers worked in their father’s masonry business and founded Wilks Masonry in 1995. However, they “really hit the big time when they got in on the ground floor with fracking.” After selling Frac Tec to the Singapore government for $3.5 billion in 2011, the brothers became major funders of groups part of the religious right. Farris Wilks runs The Thirteen Foundation, known for extensively funding vehement anti-abortion and anti-LGBT groups as well as groups within the conservative political network of petrochemical billionaires Charles and David Koch.
“The Wilks brothers worry that America’s declining morals will especially hurt the younger generation, so they’re using the riches that the Lord has blessed them with to back specific goals,” the Christian Broadcasting Networks’ David Brody reported from an event run by “Christian-Nation extremist“ David Lane in 2013. Farris Wilks has said they want to “bring the Bible back into the school and start teaching our kids at a younger age and focus on the younger generation.” (Source.)
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American Family Association
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, “Initially founded as the National Federation for Decency, the American Family Association (AFA) originally focused on what it considered indecent television programming and pornography. The AFA says it promotes “traditional moral values” in media. A large part of that work involves “combating the homosexual agenda” through various means, including publicizing companies that have pro-gay policies and organizing boycotts against them. The AFA has a variety of outlets to disseminate its message, including the American Family Radio Network, its online OneNewsNow and the monthly AFA Journal. The AFA has been extremely vocal over the years in its opposition to LGBT rights, marriage equality and allowing gay men and lesbians to serve in the military. The group’s arguments are filled with claims that equate homosexuality with pedophilia and argue that there’s a “homosexual agenda” afoot that is set to bring about the downfall of American (and ultimately, Western) civilization.” |
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David Lane and the American Renewal Project
You can learn a bit about Rob McCoy's mission via this article: Let the 2020 Race Begin: Evangelicals, Pastors Set To Mobilize, Change America. The article highlights Rob McCoy's affiliation to Westlake-based resident David Lane, founder of the American Renewal Project (which is on the Southern Poverty Law Center's hate watch list.) David Lane's name may ring a bell if you were following our local elections here in 2016, when it was reported he donated $5,000 to former school board candidate, Angie Simpson, who lost both in 2016 and 2018. Mike Huckabee is also mentioned in the linked article above. Dave Lane donated a similar amount to VCCCD Trustee Lou Lichtl, a Godspeak Calvary member who attempted to hide the donation during his campaign season. To be clear, here is the goal of ARP: “What we’re doing is the mobilization of pastors and pews to restore America to her Judeo-Christian heritage. That’s our goal.” – American Prospect, 1/23/2008." The ARP is designed specifically to drive evangelical pastors into politics in an attempt to establish a Christian theocracy in America. And if not pastors, those who will do their bidding. |
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Charlie Kirk and Turning Point Foundation
Rob McCoy is the Chair of Turning Point Faith (a division of radical Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA). From the website: “DISCOVER FOUR PRINCIPLES YOU MUST EMBRACE TO HAVE A GOD-HONORING HOME: Young people are leaving the church in greater numbers than ever before… and many aren’t coming back. As a parent, you’re the first and best line of defense against this trend. God has called you to disciple your children, as Proverbs 22:6 says… Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. (If that isn’t grooming, I don’t know what is!) McCoy has a course promoted on the website that reads: “As a Christian in America, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to stand for your Faith and God-given Freedoms in the face of our society’s progressive, woke agenda. But our great nation was founded on biblical, Christian principles, and despite what historical revisionists will tell you, the founding fathers strongly believed that religion and morality were essential to the enduring success of America. This powerful series taught by Pastor Rob McCoy, Co-Chair of TPUSA Faith, covers a variety of topics including the historical context for the framing of the Constitution and how Scripture speaks into current political hot-button issues – along with practical strategies for applying your Faith in the public square.” January 6, 2021 Insurrection During the insurrection (literally while it was unfolding), McCoy was a guest on Kirk’s podcast. Two days prior, Kirk was on McCoy’s Fireside Chat. Did you know that Kirk funded buses for hundreds of insurrection participants? During the holidays, McCoy hosted a premiere at Godspeak Calvary of “Capitol Punishment” a pro-insurrection film, along with a panel that included far-right activists Simone Gold and John Strand. Per CNN June 22: “ Dr. Simone Gold, a Beverly Hills woman known for spreading debunked claims about Covid-19 was sentenced on Thursday to 60 days in prison for illegally entering and remaining in the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection.” |
Public School Exit
Rob McCoy sits on the Advisory Council for Public School Exit’s Advisory Council.
The mission of Public School Exit is to facilitate an exodus of American children and families from government-controlled education by educating the public and helping families. We are more than an organization, we are a movement.
"Alex Newman, co-founder of Public School Exit, discusses why the shutdown gives Christians a historic opportunity to save children from government schooling.” - Janet Mefferd Today
Alex Newman’s bio includes: "In 2019, Alex and a coalition of amazing high-profile Christian leaders formed “Public School Exit,” the nation’s premier ministry working to rescue American children from the horrors of government “education.” The organization exists to facilitate a massive exodus from public schools by raising awareness and knocking down barriers for parents, pastors, and children."
Promotion for Public School Exit, appears to be most heavily driven from an organization called Salt and Light Council, whose president is also CEO and President of PSE. Salt and Light Council lists on its website that its mission:
... "is to see America’s biblical and moral foundations restored by training and equipping churches to establish Salt & Light Biblical Citizenship Ministries that will defend and promote life, natural marriage, our constitutional and religious liberties."
They further describe themselves:
"We are a non-political, non-partisan 501c3, dedicated to promoting biblical moral values in the public sector. Further, we are a coalition of cross-denominational churches with active Salt & Light Biblical Citizenship Ministries working to rebuild our Judeo-Christian heritage in America. (Note from AM: Let me tell you what they mean when they refer to “Judeo-Christian heritage.” It is used as a means of exclusion — exclusion of those whom don’t hold the same belief system, and it has nothing to do with “heritage” or tradition.)
We mobilize Christians at the grassroots level, helping them to live out their responsibility to influence government and civic affairs for good. History has clearly shown that without a strong, godly influence to overcome the natural tendency toward evil, governmental authority will destroy God-given rights, including the right to hear and speak His truth."
I wrote a lot about this in 2020, and you can go into further depth on his attack against our public schools by revisiting that blog:
Recently, he has strongly influenced Joelle Mancuso, who founded the Conejo Valley Mama Bears, an anti-trans activist group (not to be confused with the REAL pro-LGBTQ+ Mama Bears) hellbent on taking down our public schools. All three of the candidates Rob McCoy endorsed in 2022 (including Joelle) lost, thanks to a community effort to inform people of McCoy's agenda and chosen candidates. But he won't stop, and that's why it's important we stay informed.
The mission of Public School Exit is to facilitate an exodus of American children and families from government-controlled education by educating the public and helping families. We are more than an organization, we are a movement.
"Alex Newman, co-founder of Public School Exit, discusses why the shutdown gives Christians a historic opportunity to save children from government schooling.” - Janet Mefferd Today
Alex Newman’s bio includes: "In 2019, Alex and a coalition of amazing high-profile Christian leaders formed “Public School Exit,” the nation’s premier ministry working to rescue American children from the horrors of government “education.” The organization exists to facilitate a massive exodus from public schools by raising awareness and knocking down barriers for parents, pastors, and children."
Promotion for Public School Exit, appears to be most heavily driven from an organization called Salt and Light Council, whose president is also CEO and President of PSE. Salt and Light Council lists on its website that its mission:
... "is to see America’s biblical and moral foundations restored by training and equipping churches to establish Salt & Light Biblical Citizenship Ministries that will defend and promote life, natural marriage, our constitutional and religious liberties."
They further describe themselves:
"We are a non-political, non-partisan 501c3, dedicated to promoting biblical moral values in the public sector. Further, we are a coalition of cross-denominational churches with active Salt & Light Biblical Citizenship Ministries working to rebuild our Judeo-Christian heritage in America. (Note from AM: Let me tell you what they mean when they refer to “Judeo-Christian heritage.” It is used as a means of exclusion — exclusion of those whom don’t hold the same belief system, and it has nothing to do with “heritage” or tradition.)
We mobilize Christians at the grassroots level, helping them to live out their responsibility to influence government and civic affairs for good. History has clearly shown that without a strong, godly influence to overcome the natural tendency toward evil, governmental authority will destroy God-given rights, including the right to hear and speak His truth."
I wrote a lot about this in 2020, and you can go into further depth on his attack against our public schools by revisiting that blog:
- Anonymous Mommy The Rob McCoy and Sandee Everett Playbook, and Why It Matters, Aug. 2, 2020
Recently, he has strongly influenced Joelle Mancuso, who founded the Conejo Valley Mama Bears, an anti-trans activist group (not to be confused with the REAL pro-LGBTQ+ Mama Bears) hellbent on taking down our public schools. All three of the candidates Rob McCoy endorsed in 2022 (including Joelle) lost, thanks to a community effort to inform people of McCoy's agenda and chosen candidates. But he won't stop, and that's why it's important we stay informed.
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Free Ventura Action PAC
Free Ventura Action PAC was created by Rob McCoy’s Liberty Station Podcast Co-host Bryce Eddy and Rick Brown, co-pastor of Godspeak Church. The PAC’s meetings are hosted at Godspeak Calvary Church. From their website: “It is our desire to join this network of freedom fighters to create synergy in our efforts to identify, recruit, train, and support candidates.” Featured videos on the site include: “What is a woman?” and “Whose children are they?” |
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Move The Needle
Rob McCoy was a large public supporter of Tim McCarthy, founder of the far-right Move the Needle organization, that is responsible for the weekly freeway overpass protests denying the 2020 election, supporting the insurrection, and protesting against health mandates, among other grievances. A taste of their position on public schools: “Our public school systems are in a downward spiral at all levels. Kids are not reading at grade level, “equity” is being pushed instead of independent thinking, and “feelings” are more important than your education.” |
Rob McCoy’s Public Support of Convicted Child Predators
In 2022, a group that fights fascism in our community, investigated a Santa Paula-based home group for families with children 8+ run by Godspeak Calvary Chapel, under the supervision of a man named Thom Cimino.
Thom Cimino was convicted of molestation, indecent exposure and 10 counts of child annoyance in 1995 and is currently registered on California Megan's Law Website. Thom's primary victim was an 8-year-old girl. The LA Times archived articles detail the case: “Cimino terrorized a Dana Point neighborhood for more than four months last year. Prosecutors said he approached young girls and lured them into secluded spots, such as a riverbed and the basement of a house, by asking them to help find his cat. He was convicted of molestation, indecent exposure and 10 counts of child annoyance. In the molestation case, Cimino grabbed the girl’s hand and forced her to touch his penis.”
The group posted they confirmed this Thom is the same Thom on the sex offender list through matching photos on Thom's wife's FB page with his SO registry picture and also confirmed the couple attends Godspeak Calvary Chapel Thousand Oaks. Research on this tip began months ago when concerned members of the community reached out to the group worried that the congregation was not being informed of Thom's status as a registered sex offender.
Rob McCoy and his followers have spent significant time (and also made it a part of their political platforms) accusing teachers and members of the LGBTQ+ community of being "groomers" and "sexual predators" because they support an inclusive health and sex ed curriculum. Apparently, the call has been coming from inside the house the entire time. McCoy has since had the Godspeak website scrubbed of Thom's presence (which seems to indicate that this is the same person),but has not made any statement at this time.
After the information was made public, Pastor Rob McCoy did a "special segment" with Thom Cimino on Nov. 15, on his Liberty Station podcast. Rob McCoy attempted to paint this story as a story of redemption story, whereas, Thom Cimino claimed he was set up … in every single incident (dude just has the worst luck, eh?). At one point, per reporting, Thom’s lawyer stated Thom had admitted guilt, only for Thom to later state he was being framed … over multiple years, by multiple young children, all whom were independently coerced he alleged. A lot of 8-year-old girls just out there independently conspiring against a then-31-year-old man!
Then, Rob McCoy continues on, stating that all the families that went to Thom’s home group were notified of his previous history. Thom seemed rather surprised by this. “They were???” Now, if this were truly the case, with Rob McCoy fully aware of Thom’s history, why would he immediately close down Thom’s home group the second this information was publicized? He had already been permitting it, so why shut it down? And, why would he then go on damage control mode with an immediate podcast to follow, attempting to present Thom as a reformed child molester … when even Thom wasn’t on board with that portrayal based on his answers throughout the podcast?
What’s even more alarming is that Thom, who lives in Santa Paula, joined Bryce Eddy (who’s listed as “board of directors” on the legal paperwork for The Conejo Guardian and who co-founded/co-hosts the Liberty Station podcast with Rob McCoy) to attend a CVUSD school board meeting in June 2022. Why was Bryce Eddy, Steve Schneider (former Maple parent who is waging a war against trans children), and Thom there? They were there to, as they have constantly positioned it, protect the innocence of children in classrooms from being exploited to sexual agendas and groomers. I’m being totally serious. Their whole charge was accusing teachers of being child abusers and groomers as the result of respecting trans children.
Rob McCoy (who was on the phone with Bryce Eddy frequently during that meeting), and Bryce Eddy KNOWINGLY brought along with them a convicted child molester to protest what they called “child abuse and grooming” after a teacher provided a safe, inclusive learning environment for one young trans child.
Local news has chosen not to report on this, as there has been “no current crime committed.” So, you won’t see an article in The Acorn or VC Star about Rob McCoy and Godspeak Calvary’s close ties (and ardent defense of) to convicted child molesters, while he continues to get up at that podium every day and preach about protecting the innocence of children.
Since the podcast, Thom Cimino has been spotted at youth training events at Godspeak Calvary Church.
Thom Cimino was convicted of molestation, indecent exposure and 10 counts of child annoyance in 1995 and is currently registered on California Megan's Law Website. Thom's primary victim was an 8-year-old girl. The LA Times archived articles detail the case: “Cimino terrorized a Dana Point neighborhood for more than four months last year. Prosecutors said he approached young girls and lured them into secluded spots, such as a riverbed and the basement of a house, by asking them to help find his cat. He was convicted of molestation, indecent exposure and 10 counts of child annoyance. In the molestation case, Cimino grabbed the girl’s hand and forced her to touch his penis.”
The group posted they confirmed this Thom is the same Thom on the sex offender list through matching photos on Thom's wife's FB page with his SO registry picture and also confirmed the couple attends Godspeak Calvary Chapel Thousand Oaks. Research on this tip began months ago when concerned members of the community reached out to the group worried that the congregation was not being informed of Thom's status as a registered sex offender.
Rob McCoy and his followers have spent significant time (and also made it a part of their political platforms) accusing teachers and members of the LGBTQ+ community of being "groomers" and "sexual predators" because they support an inclusive health and sex ed curriculum. Apparently, the call has been coming from inside the house the entire time. McCoy has since had the Godspeak website scrubbed of Thom's presence (which seems to indicate that this is the same person),but has not made any statement at this time.
After the information was made public, Pastor Rob McCoy did a "special segment" with Thom Cimino on Nov. 15, on his Liberty Station podcast. Rob McCoy attempted to paint this story as a story of redemption story, whereas, Thom Cimino claimed he was set up … in every single incident (dude just has the worst luck, eh?). At one point, per reporting, Thom’s lawyer stated Thom had admitted guilt, only for Thom to later state he was being framed … over multiple years, by multiple young children, all whom were independently coerced he alleged. A lot of 8-year-old girls just out there independently conspiring against a then-31-year-old man!
Then, Rob McCoy continues on, stating that all the families that went to Thom’s home group were notified of his previous history. Thom seemed rather surprised by this. “They were???” Now, if this were truly the case, with Rob McCoy fully aware of Thom’s history, why would he immediately close down Thom’s home group the second this information was publicized? He had already been permitting it, so why shut it down? And, why would he then go on damage control mode with an immediate podcast to follow, attempting to present Thom as a reformed child molester … when even Thom wasn’t on board with that portrayal based on his answers throughout the podcast?
What’s even more alarming is that Thom, who lives in Santa Paula, joined Bryce Eddy (who’s listed as “board of directors” on the legal paperwork for The Conejo Guardian and who co-founded/co-hosts the Liberty Station podcast with Rob McCoy) to attend a CVUSD school board meeting in June 2022. Why was Bryce Eddy, Steve Schneider (former Maple parent who is waging a war against trans children), and Thom there? They were there to, as they have constantly positioned it, protect the innocence of children in classrooms from being exploited to sexual agendas and groomers. I’m being totally serious. Their whole charge was accusing teachers of being child abusers and groomers as the result of respecting trans children.
Rob McCoy (who was on the phone with Bryce Eddy frequently during that meeting), and Bryce Eddy KNOWINGLY brought along with them a convicted child molester to protest what they called “child abuse and grooming” after a teacher provided a safe, inclusive learning environment for one young trans child.
Local news has chosen not to report on this, as there has been “no current crime committed.” So, you won’t see an article in The Acorn or VC Star about Rob McCoy and Godspeak Calvary’s close ties (and ardent defense of) to convicted child molesters, while he continues to get up at that podium every day and preach about protecting the innocence of children.
Since the podcast, Thom Cimino has been spotted at youth training events at Godspeak Calvary Church.
OH, and that’s not all …
In May 2023, Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA Pastors Summit took place. Our buddy, Rob McCoy is the co-chair for TPUSA Faith, remember. Rolling Stone has reported that it has learned that one of the “summit’s corporate sponsors is a Christian fashion company that is led by a registered sex offender, Shawn Bergstrand, who served time in federal prison for attempted “coercion and enticement” after trying to persuade “a minor female” to “engage in sexual activity.”)
The TPUSA spokesperson had this to say: “TPUSA Faith will not toss away a repentant, decent person because of a mistake that happened over a decade before, or because a leftwing outlet wants to write a hit piece on the amazing work our team is doing.” Kolvet included a reference to Colossians 3:13, a Bible verse that reads, in part, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Isn’t it interesting? The Charlie Kirks of the world. The Rob McCoys of the world.
They want you to believe that they care about the safety of children. They don’t. And to distract from their ties with, and excuses for, actual convicted child predators, they’ve found it convenient and profitable to target marginalized communities. They’ll jump in on the latest culture wars because it distracts you from the actual evil within. (As I’ve said before, the call is coming from inside the hou— er—church.)
This is a national pastor’s summit who literally had a registered sex offender sponsoring its event, and they’re defending it! But, by god, it’s Target’s rainbow signs that are “grooming” children!
The TPUSA spokesperson had this to say: “TPUSA Faith will not toss away a repentant, decent person because of a mistake that happened over a decade before, or because a leftwing outlet wants to write a hit piece on the amazing work our team is doing.” Kolvet included a reference to Colossians 3:13, a Bible verse that reads, in part, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Isn’t it interesting? The Charlie Kirks of the world. The Rob McCoys of the world.
They want you to believe that they care about the safety of children. They don’t. And to distract from their ties with, and excuses for, actual convicted child predators, they’ve found it convenient and profitable to target marginalized communities. They’ll jump in on the latest culture wars because it distracts you from the actual evil within. (As I’ve said before, the call is coming from inside the hou— er—church.)
This is a national pastor’s summit who literally had a registered sex offender sponsoring its event, and they’re defending it! But, by god, it’s Target’s rainbow signs that are “grooming” children!
A Scandal at Potters Field Ministry
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Conejo Valley Antifa also did a deep dive on this, so I’ll share their research below.
🧵Rob McCoy @GodSpeakCCTO and the Rozells. In 2014 Rob was hosting the couple and promoting the Ministry right here in Thousand Oaks. In December 2015 Rob McCoy introduced Mike and Pam Rozell to his Thousand Oaks congregation as his and Michelle’s “friends of 20 years.” Then the scandal broke. (Pastor Allegedly Forced Young Women to Detail ‘Sexual Sins,’ Ex-Followers Say) and (Potter's Field Ministries Allegedly Diverted Funds From Kids Food Program) By 2019 Rob was rapidly attempting to liquidate the Ministry without appropriate notifications to donors. (Something’s Rotten in Montana) |
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The Conejo Guardian — Propaganda Paper
The Conejo Guardian is a far-right propaganda paper first launched in 2020 and run by Amy Chen (a Godspeak Calvary member who lost her 2018 bid for the CVUSD school board after it was revealed that she created the paper shell of a non-existent nonprofit for the sole purpose of using “education nonprofit director” as a ballot designation.) While McCoy denies “involvement,” he slipped in a recorded podcast, referring to the paper as “We …”, and provides Godspeak Calvary as the venue for paper assemblage and coordinated deliveries. The paper’s objective is to publish hit pieces against our local public school district, against teachers, and lately, against the LGBTQ+ community. Its advertisers are a mix of local wealth management firms, VC Gun Defense, and a smattering of realtors. The paper doesn’t adhere to journalistic best practices, backing its hit pieces with quotes from “anonymous whistleblowers.” Joel Kilpatrick is listed as the editor of the paper currently. Amy Chen manages the advertising revenue. |
Rob McCoy (as recently as April 2023) continues to pretend he has no affiliation to the paper or its funding sources. At a recent Godspeak Calvary Church Sermon he says: “It’s this little paper that’s not government-funded.” Run by a “fierce board.” (Watch the full video of the exchange below here.)
He talks about how he was asked to speak at a Conejo Guardian AKA the Godspeak Gazette fundraiser.
If you’ll recall, the paper is assembled at Godspeak Calvary, Rob’s church, and then distributed by Godspeak church members. (Don’t take my word for it. Even VC Star reported on it.
This shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point if you’ve been keeping up. Rob McCoy has said that he believes churches should be involved in political activity, has used Godspeak Calvary as a venue for political events and political endorsements, and did an event with Charlie Kirk at Godspeak Calvary in which they talked about how “courageous” Rob McCoy is for using his church for political activism.
Rob’s church members comprise the board of this propaganda paper.
He says: “WE’RE going after the Conejo Unified School District.”
Not “THEY” but “WE’RE.” This isn't the first time he’s used “WE” when talking about the folks behind the Conejo Guardian either. At this point it’s humorous that he continues to attempt to present it as a neutral, independent paper. He then quickly catches himself and has to say, “Look, when I say ‘we,’ I mean I’m blessed by them.” Then goes on to say, “So, WE did a fundraiser last night.” Wait a second, I thought he was just invited to speak at a fundraiser, but now he is saying WE did a fundraiser? Y’all. How does anyone take this person seriously? Then he joked about how it’s like sponsoring kids in Uganda, but you’re sponsoring a “paper that prints truth.”
He is taking credit for saying that it was the “first paper in the country” that went against COVID and used whistleblower accounts. In the country, Rob? You read every single entire paper in the entire country to verify that yours was the only anti-COVID take? Also, maybe if you’re the only paper in the entire country objecting to health mandates during a global health pandemic, reflect?
Then he puts the up the QR code during his church sermon to ask people to give money to The Conejo Guardian. And he forces everyone in the room to hold up their phone and point their cameras at the QR code. “I want to see you do it. Take your camera and your phone like you’re gonna take a picture of it. It’ll take you right to the website where you can donate. Everybody do it. I’ve got plenty of time, I’m in no hurry.”
THE GRIFT. What’s fascinating is how he wraps it up though. He bemoans “if only the Guardian had been around” when he was in court for contempt for defying health mandates. They were. They registered 3/20/2020.
He talks about how he was asked to speak at a Conejo Guardian AKA the Godspeak Gazette fundraiser.
If you’ll recall, the paper is assembled at Godspeak Calvary, Rob’s church, and then distributed by Godspeak church members. (Don’t take my word for it. Even VC Star reported on it.
This shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point if you’ve been keeping up. Rob McCoy has said that he believes churches should be involved in political activity, has used Godspeak Calvary as a venue for political events and political endorsements, and did an event with Charlie Kirk at Godspeak Calvary in which they talked about how “courageous” Rob McCoy is for using his church for political activism.
Rob’s church members comprise the board of this propaganda paper.
He says: “WE’RE going after the Conejo Unified School District.”
Not “THEY” but “WE’RE.” This isn't the first time he’s used “WE” when talking about the folks behind the Conejo Guardian either. At this point it’s humorous that he continues to attempt to present it as a neutral, independent paper. He then quickly catches himself and has to say, “Look, when I say ‘we,’ I mean I’m blessed by them.” Then goes on to say, “So, WE did a fundraiser last night.” Wait a second, I thought he was just invited to speak at a fundraiser, but now he is saying WE did a fundraiser? Y’all. How does anyone take this person seriously? Then he joked about how it’s like sponsoring kids in Uganda, but you’re sponsoring a “paper that prints truth.”
He is taking credit for saying that it was the “first paper in the country” that went against COVID and used whistleblower accounts. In the country, Rob? You read every single entire paper in the entire country to verify that yours was the only anti-COVID take? Also, maybe if you’re the only paper in the entire country objecting to health mandates during a global health pandemic, reflect?
Then he puts the up the QR code during his church sermon to ask people to give money to The Conejo Guardian. And he forces everyone in the room to hold up their phone and point their cameras at the QR code. “I want to see you do it. Take your camera and your phone like you’re gonna take a picture of it. It’ll take you right to the website where you can donate. Everybody do it. I’ve got plenty of time, I’m in no hurry.”
THE GRIFT. What’s fascinating is how he wraps it up though. He bemoans “if only the Guardian had been around” when he was in court for contempt for defying health mandates. They were. They registered 3/20/2020.
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Attacking Children During a Pandemic
I logged this verbatim from a segment of a sermon that Rob McCoy gave at Godspeak Calvary Church. He has since deleted the video from YouTube. This video was originally published in August 2021. There is a small clip that was cut together from Conejo Valley Antifa. Below is my transcription of Rob Mcoy's pre-sermon story. |
“Guess who sits right in front of me: Covid Karen. She’s got her N-95 on, her two boys are sitting directly right across from me. And then her daughters in the one seat and somebody else is over there. And we take off. The flight attendant is looking at me like these masks are so stupid and I’m like I know right.
She goes: you don’t have to wear them and I go (whispers) I love you. And so I’ve got my mask off, and I’m sitting behind Karen and they’re giving snacks and they bring her a drink and the minion of children and give them drinks … and they do this (gesturing) they take mask down, take sip and put mask up. They have the nuts on the table, take the mask off, (mocking them to laughter from the audience). And the peppermint patty attendant comes up and says ma’am you can take your mask off while you’re eating and she says it’s not safe. And children, don’t you do that. (Mocks the children saying “yes mom”)
And the attendant looks me like … and I’m like (does the crazy in the head gesture) and all I’m eating is gone, drink empty, got my mask off, enjoying behind Karen and I look over to my right and her children are staring me down. (Laughter from audience) And you know, I look over at the snuppleluffaguses and I say why are you looking at me. Karen’s asleep. (Laughter from audience) and they’re looking at me and I’m like why are you looking at me. And they won’t talk, they’re paralyzed, I’m just staring them down like an alpha male (he makes some weird barking seal sounds) and I’m staring at them and the daughter and the two boys are looking at me and I go WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME (gesturing with his hands) quit looking at me, and they turn away. And then they’re still looking at me and I look over and I go (starts do the blowing his hair thing in their faces). Then I said, are you going to do anything. And they don’t do anything.
And I said I THOUGHT SO and I just went back to my life, plane lands, going down the escalator and KAREN is in front of me with the three (mocks the kids and makes fun of them like they are robots) and I go excuse me and she turns around and I go YOUR KIDS ARE COWARDS … I provoked them and I intimidated them, I had my mask off the whole time you were sleeping, and they didn’t do anything and I challenged them and I still didn’t do anything, and you know why, you’ve raised them to be scared and they don’t have a spine and they’re not going to go anywhere in life. And she’s confused with the context and she’s looking at the children like wait what, and they’re all looking down, (mocking them “oh god we’re in trouble.”
Bolstering Transphobia and Inciting Violence
So, you've gotten this far.
You know that Rob McCoy is affiliated with Charlie Kirk and his Turning Point Foundation Entities.
You know that Rob McCoy aligns himself with, and receives support from, anti-LGBTQ+ activists.
You know that Rob McCoy has a goal to incite a mass exodus from public schools.
You know that Rob McCoy helps fund and distribute far-right propaganda paper, The Conejo Guardian.
You know that Rob McCoy is affiliated with Charlie Kirk and his Turning Point Foundation Entities.
You know that Rob McCoy aligns himself with, and receives support from, anti-LGBTQ+ activists.
You know that Rob McCoy has a goal to incite a mass exodus from public schools.
You know that Rob McCoy helps fund and distribute far-right propaganda paper, The Conejo Guardian.
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The Conejo Guardian and its funders and staff promote and incite violence, and it’s a problem.
Not all violence is physical.
Writing a hit piece about a local elementary school, teacher and gender-diverse student in a propaganda paper distributed to thousands, is an act of violence.
Spraying an elementary school with hate speech in response to a teacher’s support of a gender-diverse student, is an act of violence.
I know many of you toss the Conejo Guardian right in the trash. I don’t blame you. I usually review to see what the far-right crowd is positioning as its fear-mongering platform talking points, and to make note of the advertisers paying for this violence. And occasionally, I check the filings to see if any updates have been made from a paperwork standpoint.
If you missed it, on page 23 of the June edition, there’s a full-page story about Maple Elementary, with the false slant “Newbury Park School Pushes ‘Trans’ Agenda on Grade-school Kids.” Of course, this is not true, but the Conejo Guardian banks on hoping its readers stay uninformed and/or ignorant to actual school curriculum, policy and state laws. If you have to misrepresent what you’re reporting to stoke your base, maybe reflect.
Now, what really stands out on this article on page 23 of the June addition, is the ¼ page full-color VC DEFENSE gun store ad. This edition started hitting porches last Thursday, to my understanding … just two days after a mass shooting took the lives of 19 10-year-olds and two brave teachers in a classroom in Texas. The images of gun and ammo juxtaposed against an article about an elementary school is quite jarring. The editor of this paper, Joel Kilpatrick, could have placed this ad anywhere in this 24-page edition, and yet, he chose to place a gun ad, days after Uvalde, next to a hit piece about a local elementary school.
Please understand this was intentional. VC Gun Defense promotes vigilante retaliation. Last year, they spent a lot of time idolizing Kyle Rittenhouse for killing two people and injuring a third at a Black Lives Matter rally in Wisconsin.
Not long after this edition was published and distribution began, both to doorsteps and online … our beautiful Maple Elementary was defaced with hate speech in an act of violence … angry retaliation incited from a propaganda paper that promotes violence.
Not to be outdone by VC DEFENSE, earlier this year, the Mama Bears of Conejo Valley Instagram page, run by CVUSD Area 2 Candidate Joelle Mancuso, posted an image depicting the use of guns as a response to her disagreement about school library books. This is violence.
Why are we tolerating this behavior?
The Conejo Guardian “secretary” (she just switched from CEO to secretary per new statement of information filed in February) and head of advertising is Godspeak Calvary congregant Amy Chen, whom you may recall from earlier in this writeup ran a failed school board campaign in 2018, creating a paper shell of an “education nonprofit” in order to deceitfully claim “educational nonprofit director” as her ballot designation.
At a FREE VENTURA Action meeting hosted at Godspeak Calvary in April 2022, Amy Chen addressed the crowd and stated: “The media can control what people believe, with false narratives, repeatedly and consistently, and the masses will start to believe it.” In case you were wondering what her agenda with the Conejo Guardian is … She notes that they have delivered 46,000 papers every single month for over two years. I don’t know about you … but I’m looking forward to the updated tax filings when they’re made available. Their last 990 from 2020 states they took in less than $50,000 in revenue. If they’re printing 46,000 full-color, 24-page monthly editions annually … let’s talk about who’s funding 552,000 printed editions a year. “It’s time to take back our community,” she says. Following that, she says: “I walked through the fires in public schools to protect our children long before it was cool to be a mama bear.” Welp, we know what the Conejo Valley Mama Bears promote as a response to school issues. This is violence. (*Please don’t confuse this deranged local mama bears group with the beautiful LGBTQ+ friendly Real Mama Bears group that was created in 2014).
Amy Chen was heavily backed by Godspeak Pastor Rob McCoy. The Conejo Guardian papers are assembled at and are delivered from Godspeak Calvary Church. Like any of the other controversial events that have happened at Godspeak Calvary Chapel, when asked to be held accountable, Rob will tell ya it was someone else at the church who did it. It’s always “someone else.” Rob is masterful at having others take the public credit for bad deeds.
As a community, we must denounce this violence. We must denounce this propaganda. We must denounce Rob McCoy.
We deserve so much better than this.
Not all violence is physical.
Writing a hit piece about a local elementary school, teacher and gender-diverse student in a propaganda paper distributed to thousands, is an act of violence.
Spraying an elementary school with hate speech in response to a teacher’s support of a gender-diverse student, is an act of violence.
I know many of you toss the Conejo Guardian right in the trash. I don’t blame you. I usually review to see what the far-right crowd is positioning as its fear-mongering platform talking points, and to make note of the advertisers paying for this violence. And occasionally, I check the filings to see if any updates have been made from a paperwork standpoint.
If you missed it, on page 23 of the June edition, there’s a full-page story about Maple Elementary, with the false slant “Newbury Park School Pushes ‘Trans’ Agenda on Grade-school Kids.” Of course, this is not true, but the Conejo Guardian banks on hoping its readers stay uninformed and/or ignorant to actual school curriculum, policy and state laws. If you have to misrepresent what you’re reporting to stoke your base, maybe reflect.
Now, what really stands out on this article on page 23 of the June addition, is the ¼ page full-color VC DEFENSE gun store ad. This edition started hitting porches last Thursday, to my understanding … just two days after a mass shooting took the lives of 19 10-year-olds and two brave teachers in a classroom in Texas. The images of gun and ammo juxtaposed against an article about an elementary school is quite jarring. The editor of this paper, Joel Kilpatrick, could have placed this ad anywhere in this 24-page edition, and yet, he chose to place a gun ad, days after Uvalde, next to a hit piece about a local elementary school.
Please understand this was intentional. VC Gun Defense promotes vigilante retaliation. Last year, they spent a lot of time idolizing Kyle Rittenhouse for killing two people and injuring a third at a Black Lives Matter rally in Wisconsin.
Not long after this edition was published and distribution began, both to doorsteps and online … our beautiful Maple Elementary was defaced with hate speech in an act of violence … angry retaliation incited from a propaganda paper that promotes violence.
Not to be outdone by VC DEFENSE, earlier this year, the Mama Bears of Conejo Valley Instagram page, run by CVUSD Area 2 Candidate Joelle Mancuso, posted an image depicting the use of guns as a response to her disagreement about school library books. This is violence.
Why are we tolerating this behavior?
The Conejo Guardian “secretary” (she just switched from CEO to secretary per new statement of information filed in February) and head of advertising is Godspeak Calvary congregant Amy Chen, whom you may recall from earlier in this writeup ran a failed school board campaign in 2018, creating a paper shell of an “education nonprofit” in order to deceitfully claim “educational nonprofit director” as her ballot designation.
At a FREE VENTURA Action meeting hosted at Godspeak Calvary in April 2022, Amy Chen addressed the crowd and stated: “The media can control what people believe, with false narratives, repeatedly and consistently, and the masses will start to believe it.” In case you were wondering what her agenda with the Conejo Guardian is … She notes that they have delivered 46,000 papers every single month for over two years. I don’t know about you … but I’m looking forward to the updated tax filings when they’re made available. Their last 990 from 2020 states they took in less than $50,000 in revenue. If they’re printing 46,000 full-color, 24-page monthly editions annually … let’s talk about who’s funding 552,000 printed editions a year. “It’s time to take back our community,” she says. Following that, she says: “I walked through the fires in public schools to protect our children long before it was cool to be a mama bear.” Welp, we know what the Conejo Valley Mama Bears promote as a response to school issues. This is violence. (*Please don’t confuse this deranged local mama bears group with the beautiful LGBTQ+ friendly Real Mama Bears group that was created in 2014).
Amy Chen was heavily backed by Godspeak Pastor Rob McCoy. The Conejo Guardian papers are assembled at and are delivered from Godspeak Calvary Church. Like any of the other controversial events that have happened at Godspeak Calvary Chapel, when asked to be held accountable, Rob will tell ya it was someone else at the church who did it. It’s always “someone else.” Rob is masterful at having others take the public credit for bad deeds.
As a community, we must denounce this violence. We must denounce this propaganda. We must denounce Rob McCoy.
We deserve so much better than this.
Some Related Links from past blogs or articles that I pulled from for some of this writeup outside of what I've directly sourced throughout the writeup:
- VC Star The unmasked rise of Pastor Rob McCoy: Culture war propels evangelical to larger stage, Oct. 5, 2022
- Anonymous Mommy It’s not “hate,” they’ll tell you, July 9, 2022
- Anonymous Mommy The Rob McCoy and Sandee Everett Playbook, and Why It Matters, Aug. 2, 2020
- Anonymous Mommy Pastor-er-Mayor Rob McCoy, Jan. 27, 2019
- Anonymous Mommy The McCoy Network, Oct. 26, 2022