Image #1. August 24th, 2025. First email in my third attempt at private reconciliation based upon ongoing unrepentant sins (Matt. 18:15).
Image #2. September 6th, 2025. Jeff Kaplan’s response with him deploying DARVO tactics, making demands, and issuing legal threats against me, informing me that I should “Be aware”.
Image #3. Page 3 of resignation letter. I attempted to open the door to reconciliation with Jeff Kaplan, exclusively apart from the Elder Board, due to the sensitive nature of him being a member of our family. I also offered a Christian Mediator as an alternative.
March 29, 2026 (Tehachapi, CA)
Initial Message (3rd reconciliation attempt – 08/24/2025)
On August 24th, 2025, I made one final attempt to Jeff Kaplan for private reconciliation. I did this, in spite of him lying about me to his congregation, attacking my character through 3rd parties on the Internet, gossiping and slandering our family, and having lied about me in court up to this point. He cut off all communication with our family, including his only grandson for almost a year at this point.
Regardless of his retaliation, I felt it was necessary to make at least one final attempt to reconcile. I offered for Pastors Marvin Slifer and Tom Allred from Shepherd of the Hills to be neutral mediators.
This was my third attempt personally, with the December 18th, 2024 letter being the first. The second attempt was at the small claims courthouse in June 2025, where I pulled Jeff Kaplan aside and quoted Matthew 5:23-26 to him.
When I showed Jeff Kaplan the words of Jesus, he said “I am not available for this conversation”, and he walked away from the Bible.
That is when he proceeded to slander me and gossip even further.
Jeff Kaplan’s Response (09/06/2025)
On September 6th, 2025, in response to my third attempt at reconciliation, Jeff Kaplan responds. In his response, he refuses to acknowledge anything stated (even though a conversation has never been had), refuses to meet with myself, Tom, and Marvin. He states that Elders of Shepherd of the Hills deny his own personal sins. (?)
He then goes on by threatening legal action against me if I go public, by telling me that I should “Be aware”.
Finally, he finishes by employing DARVO tactics (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender) and making a list of demands, many of which I don’t even have.
All I wanted was for Jeff Kaplan to meet with me. Marvin and Tom would have been great mediators, I am certain we could have calmly both expressed our issues and come to a Christ-like resolution.
Instead, I received further threats and more gaslighting.
My final response (09/06/2025)
Dated on September 6th, 2025. My final message to Jeff Kaplan at Shepherd of the Hills Church. I was saddened by Jeff Kaplan’s abandonment of his family and absolute commitment to refusing to sit down and have a conversation. I had no choice at this stage than to share with Jeff Kaplan, what I believed, Biblically, I was mandated to share.
It is my strong belief that at this stage Jeff Kaplan was no longer Biblically qualified to be a Pastor. This is in accordance with the plethora of Scripture I shared in the email, which I encourage everyone to study on their own, as well as in alignment with Shepherd of the Hills’ own By-Laws and Doctrinal Statements.
I attempted reconciliation three times, members of Jeff’s own family encouraged him at least 3-4 times, multiple other Pastors also encouraged him to do so several times. He has refused to sit down with me privately regardless of the amount of times or people God has used to encourage him to do so. Instead, the unrepentant sins, lies, and attacks behind-the-scenes continued.
I waited, prayed fervently (as did other local Leaders), and hoped there would be a turnaround over the past 6+ months. Once the fake Federal lawsuit in Tennessee against me was tossed out of Court based on meritless claims, which Jeff Kaplan and his network assisted with, and after much counsel from other local Pastors in Tehachapi and Godly Christian Men and Women, including my own experiences, and the Word of God, I believed I was led to now being the time for the truth of God’s light, Word, and Justice to shine bright through this darkness.
“[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;” 1 Corinthians 13:6