Questions and concerns surrounding Maple Valley Deputy Mayor Glenn Smith’s involvement with religious gatherings and gemstones came to light over the past few weeks.

The critical issue centers on a January 2008 incident in Phoenix, Ariz. where Smith admitted he planted or “seeded” gemstones.

According to Smith, he was to speak at a series of five meetings organized by Don Pirozok from Crossfire Ministries. The gemstones were alleged to be coming from God. According to a document on a Web site discussing the incident, admission was charged to attend the meeting, “$30 per person and $50 per couple or $10 nightly.”

After the second meeting on a Sunday morning, Smith was caught planting the gemstones. Smith said he was asked to leave.

“The accusations are true,” Smith said Friday. “I seeded. I brought it to my pastor (Mike DeLorenzo) and repented and I was told to sit out of the ministry for one year, which I did.”

Smith said DeLorenzo is the “pastor of My Father’s House in Des Moines.” DeLorenzo could not be reached prior to the posting of this article.

According to Smith during an interview Friday, the gemstones began appearing to him from God or an angel from God. On one of his Web sites he stated the gemstones began appearing in October of 2006.

Smith stated he is an ordained minister and is the minister or president of the Bellevue Chapter of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International. Smith said he received his ordination from Shem Ministries International, a “loose knit organization of believers.” He said he is also ordained from the Angel Perez Ministry in California.

Smith said he, “did not go to school to become ordained.” He said he did attend Portland Bible College for two years and Sterling Academy in Alaska , “living stone ministries is located there.”

The deputy mayor has referred to himself as Dr. Glenn T. Smith. He stated Saturday by phone he has an honorary doctoral in theology from “St. John’s Church in Israel.”

During the Friday interview concerning the incident in Phoenix Smith stated. “none of this involved money. I paid for my own tickets. Phoenix is the only time it happened (seeding gemstones.)”

Smith stated Saturday, “I heard they did give the (admission) money back. I took nothing at all from it.”

Smith said Sunday he did not know if admission money was collected at the Phoenix meeting.

According to Smith on Friday he sent $150 to Pirozok, in three $50 payments, “because I hurt his ministry.” Pirozok could not be reached by phone and has not returned a message left on his service.

Smith has been involved in gatherings involving gemstones appearing since the January 2008 Phoenix incident.

When asked if he ever took money he stated, “I never charged anything, but there have been love offerings. There have been times when gemstones have been found and there were love offerings.”

In a Sunday phone interview, Smith said there have been four meetings since January (2009) where gemstones were found and he received “love offerings.”

Smith said he led a gathering in Maple Valley about two years ago where gemstones appeared.

Smith is running for a second term on the City Council Position No. 2.

This information was first brought to the attention of The Reporter by state Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, who represents the 5th District, which includes Maple Valley.

Anderson said Sunday by phone, “it is deeply concerning. Exploitation of people’s religious convictions is very concerning.”

Smith said the Republicans and Anderson were unhappy with him because, “I sent a letter out one year ago supporting David Spring (Democratic challenger of Anderson during the 2008 general election). I‘m still not sorry I did it.”

Anderson said he was not bringing the information forward because of Smith’s actions during the election. The state representative said he believes there are larger issues involved concerning Smith’s actions and whether he should hold a public office.

“This involves the public trust,” Anderson said by phone Sunday.

Smith said concerning the gemstones appearing and the questions concerning his behavior, “This is a very deeply personal issue and people have the right to choose what they believe in. I see a lot of miracles in the Bible. I believe miracles happen, but they are personal. The important thing is sharing God’s love.”