On July 25th, 2026, there was a ribbon cutting at The Reese Booker Center at 103 Reese Booker Avenue in Washington, Georgia. It was to celebrate a new program for youth called The Identity Center, in the city of Washington. It was quite a celebration with many in attendance, excited at the idea of more programs for kids in the small, rural town of Washington, Georgia.
For some others, there were many questions. A primary one being why did one non-profit for youth, just recently established, seem to get so much support from the city, while others from the community with established 501c3 entities, did not receive the same support.
Armor of God Boxing
The executive director of the Identity Center is Robert “Josh” Owen. In January of 2023, Owen approached the Washington-Wilkes parks and Recreation Department board at their monthly meeting about a boxing program he and his wife Dana (Reese) Owen wanted to start with the support of the city.
The meeting minutes for January 17, 2023, refer to the Owens’ describing it as a “non-profit program for the kids.” They said it would be for all ages. Members of the Park and Rec board were “interested” and wanted more information from the Owens. In February Owen returned to the board again and said he wanted to meet with board members for lunch to discuss a partnership. He said he would raise money himself through donations and sponsors. By March the program had been approved and the Owens were granted use of a building at no charge. A building owned by the city, by taxpayers.
In February 2024, Matt Denard, Former Washington city council member and member of the Parks and Recreation board, made a motion at the Parks and Recreation Board Meeting, to give the boxing program, now called Armor of God Boxing, $10,000. He said this money was specifically allocated from the city of Washington, for Armor of God. Board member Ed Geddings motioned for approval, member Edwin “(Andy) Anderson (Former city council member) seconded the motion, Esper Lee, Josh Stokes and Troy Anderson all voted in approval. Larry Hill did not approve of the motion, still, it passed.
In an email on March 28, 2024, Owen sent to Rodney Welborn, the director of the Parks and Recreation Program and forwarded to Edwin (Andy) Anderson, Owen wrote:
Psalm 68:5 I am a father to the fatherless.
“Armor of God Boxing is not just about boxing” he went on to say, “My goal, and my greatest accomplishment, is leading kids to salvation.” He said he wants to “biblically mentor kids to be good stuards sic (stewards).” He described a program that opens with prayer and involves pastors, police officers, community leaders and career speakers as well as discussions on healthy eating.
Owen made very clear his motivation and purpose being Christian in nature.
On March 29, 2024, a check was made out to Armor of God Boxing from the Parks and Recreation Department in the amount of $1,666.66.
Eight additional payments were made monthly that year. Each for $833.33 in 2024 totaling $6,666.44.
In 2025 twelve payments of $833.33 were made to Armor of God Boxing totaling $9,999.66.
In 2026 the Parks and Recreation Budget reflect a reduction for Armor of God Boxing to $5,500.00 but there have already been eight payments of $833.33 made totaling $6,666.44.
There are many photographs and videos on the Armor of God Facebook page of Owens performing baptisms with youth who attend Armor of God. Some of them appear to be at lakes and some in galvanized cattle troughs in the building provided by the city. There are photos of attendees of the program committing their lives to Jesus and being praised for doing so. There would be nothing wrong with this if taxpayer funds were not being given to Armor of God.
Payments made by the city and parks and recreation
On July 27, 2026, I requested all contracts and agreements made between the city of Washington and Armor of God or Robert or Dana Owen as well as any payments made to or from the Owens. I was provided only utility bill payments Owen made for the city building he was using free of charge and was told by the city clerk, no contracts or agreements existed. There was no receipt of payments made by Owen for the building he was utilizing at 304 Gordon Street in Washington.
Armor of God is not a registered non-profit or any registered business entity as stated by Owen himself.
Owen has also stated that there was an agreement with the city when he first got use of the building in 2023 but that contract has been lost by the city and he didn’t get a copy of it after signing it.
On July 31, 2026, I was sent a lease agreement by the city clerk, between the city of Washington and Owen, for two city buildings. One the Identity Center was being given use of and the other, the building Armor of God had been using for three years.
The start date of the lease was July 30, 2026. The monthly rent for use of both buildings is $1. On July 25th when the Identity Center had its ribbon cutting and celebration, there was no lease agreement in place. It is clear that access to the building had occurred prior as there was extensive painting that had been done inside the building as visible in the photographs of the event. The lease was signed by City of Washington City Administrator Donald "Will" Long and by Robert "Josh" Owen.
It is unknown why the Identity Center, a 501c3 organization and Armor of God Boxing are on the same lease agreement (see below) even though they are separate entities. The Identity Center website also has information about Armor of God Boxing events.
The Identity Center is also clear about being a Christian organization with education for children and youth. This wouldn’t be a problem if they weren’t getting use of a city building.
Neither of these organizations have a contract aside from a lease agreement that was only drafted after I requested a copy of one. There is no evidence of a vetting or application process. There was no public notification these buildings would be made available for use by community programs or an opportunity for others to apply to use them.
Other non-profits supporting youth in Washington, Georgia
This is a very different situation than when Roxeann Cobb, resident of Washington and founder of 4E Youth Organization, came to the city asking for financial support to take the youth who attended her program on trips in the summer of 2023. A detailed, formal contract was drafted with strict stipulations Cobb had to follow. Insurance policies she had to obtain including workman’s compensation when she wasn’t getting paid herself and had no employees, were required. The city would not give Cobb money, rather she had to pay for the trips and submit receipts for reimbursement, making it impossible to receive the kind of help the city was offering.
The contract also stated Cobb could not pay herself and she had to make all of her financial and bank statements available to the city administrator for review. She agreed to the stipulations but her program had no funding so she couldn’t pay for trips for the children up front. Cobb’s non-profit and program have been active since 2019. She has a proven track record, parent testimonials and an actual registered non-profit. At one point Cobb was given use of a city building but had to pay the utility bills. One month the electric bill was over $900 and Cobb knew she couldn’t pay it. The city would disconnect the utilities so she had to move out. The city then took the balance owed on the building and put it on her residential bill and said her home utilities would be disconnected if she didn’t pay it. You can read more about Cobb’s experience with the city here.
Tiare Tatum, another long-time resident of Washington with a registered non- profit, called Books and Basketball, has been trying to get use of city tennis courts for her youth non-profit but to no avail. Both Cobb and Tatum are black women serving primarily black children in the town they grew up in and have not gotten the level of support and lack of scrutiny, Owen has enjoyed.
Yet the city, elected officials and the Sheriff gave money to Armor of God, money that is not tax deductible, rather than legitimate nonprofits where the money would be given lawfully and come with a tax advantage.
Other donations to Armor of God
In addition to Owen receiving funding from the city, the Wilkes County Sheriff, Darrell Powers wrote out a check to Armor of God Boxing from the Wilkes County Sheriff Condemnation Money Account on August 15, 2025, for $500. In the memo is written “VIP Table.” Armor of God held a boxing event at Parks and Recreation Center and sold VIP tables and advertising. Taxpayer dollars were spent for a religious organization and so some individuals, apparently from the Sheriff’s department, had the best seats in the house. The Parks and Recreation Department also paid Armor of God for a VIP table. It is unknown who got the benefit of those seats, paid for by taxpayers.
Former city council and Parks and Recreation Board members Matt Denard and Edwin (Andy) Anderson wrote checks out to Armor of God via their business entities MTD Holdings and Precision Solutions Group LLC. Having a personal interest in and organization and voting to give it taxpayer dollars indicates a conflict of interest. According to Armor of God’s Facebook page, Denard won a trip that was raffled off at an Armor of God event. It is unknown if that trip was donated or purchased by Armor of God and if purchased, where the funds came from.
At the April 15, 2024, meeting, board member and current city councilman Larry Hill suggested the money budgeted to go to Armor of God, should be spread out more evenly among others serving the youth in the community and not all to Owen. Andy Anderson said the $10,000 was decided by city council to be given to Armor of God.
Anderson made a motion that the additional $10,000 the city gave Parks and Recreation ($20,000 total) could be awarded to others with the stipulation that other entities would be required to make a proposal for funds and the requesting entity would have to match funds it received from Parks and Recreation. Hill seconded the motion and all voted in favor. In the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 proposed budgets, there is no additional program or service receiving funds.
Again, Owens was given money with no questions, no stipulations, no contract but others wouldn’t get the same opportunity. They would need to make a proposal and have matching funds.
In June of 2024 Armor of God reported to the Parks and Recreation board that there were 16 participants in the Armor of God program, only 9 were from Wilkes County.
Requests for program funding from other entities
In the minutes for the October 2024 Parks and Recreation board meeting, James Hilton, a retired paramedic and Karate/Jujitsu instructor approached the board about starting a program for youth. He said he only needed a building and possibly a banner. He said the program was non combative with a focus on self awareness. There was no mention of any discussion or interest by the board.
At the December 2024 Parks and Recreation Board meeting, Crystal Martin, an employee of the city of Washington, asked if Parks and Recreation could run a temporary after school program from January to May for 50 participants. She made the pitch that it would be important for children to have stability and at risk youth to have a place to go. She asked only for a space at Parks and Recreation and the city would fund the program. Board member Andy Anderson said he understood the need but that it “does not fall under the criteria” of Parks and Recreation and there would be liability issues.
The Identity Center now has a building they got from the city with no stipulations, not even a contract or lease and they are not an athletic program.
This begs the question, what is the criteria? If the city and Parks and Recreation give free use of a building to a person with no legal business entity, no contract with the city and no required proof of an insurance policy to protect the city, what exactly is the criteria?
Armor of God ‘s own reports made to the Parks and Recreation Board indicated they had between 10-25 participants. It is not known how many were living in Wilkes County and what their ages were. There have been adult men training for competitions at Armor of God that don’t live in Wilkes County and who are competing professionally.
The other programs at Parks and Recreation like basketball, little league, football, cheerleading and summer camp serve hundreds of kids and they each got less funding than a boxing program that serves a fraction of the children.
During the September 2025 Parks and Recreation proposed 2025-2026 budget meeting, the proposed budget allowed $4000 for the Armor of God boxing program. This is the same amount of funding as the soccer program. Ed Gettings made a motion to increase it to $8000 and take the extra $4000 from the Major Repairs line item in the budget. Larry Hill seconded the motion. Matt Denard made a motion to keep the budgeted amount for the boxing program at $10,000. Andy Anderson seconded the motion with 4 others (not named) voted for it and 2 against. The motion passed.
What the law says about taxpayer dollars funding religious organizations
Whether you like the Owens’ and Armor of God Boxing isn’t the issue. The law is very clear.
No taxpayer funds can be given to an organization that teaches and encourages practice of a particular religion. This is a federal and state law. There is ample public evidence Armor of God is a religious organization.
Ga. Const. Art. I, Sec. II, Para. VII — Separation of Church and State
"No money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect, cult, or religious denomination or of any sectarian institution."
It is concerning not one member of city council, parks and recreation board, the county commissioners and the Sheriff knew this and participated in and continue to participate in, violating a basic cornerstone of our constitution in funding Armor of God.
The act of public officials who are trusted to make decisions on behalf of the taxpayers, violating the law by voting to give funds to Armor of God is serious. It is their responsibility to know the law or consult with the city attorney on matters they aren’t certain about.
O.C.G.A. § 45-11-4 — Unprofessional Conduct (Malpractice, Misfeasance, or Malfeasance in Office)Subsection (b)(1) allows a public officer to be charged for "malpractice, misfeasance, or malfeasance in office."Classification: Misdemeanor. Conviction requires automatic removal from office.Applies to: county officers, municipal officers, and state officials as defined by O.C.G.A. § 45-15-11.
Members of council and the board who gave personal funds and voted to give taxpayer dollars is problematic. O.C.G.A. § 36-30-6 — "It is improper and illegal for a member of a municipal council to vote upon any question brought before the council in which he is personally interested."
There was no 1099 provided to Owens. This is required for any contractor who is paid more than $600. Owen should have received a 1099 from the city in 2023, 2024 and 2025. I requested copies and since none were provided, it is safe to say, this wasn’t done. This is a problem for the city, therefore the taxpayers.
O.C.G.A. § 36-81-7 — Local Government Budget and Financial Reporting RequirementsGoverns required accounting and reporting of local government fund disbursements. 26 U.S.C. § 6041 / §§ 6721–6722 — Information Return (1099) Requirements and Penalties
Requires payers to report payments of $600 or more to non-employees. Failure to file correct information returns carries civil penalties.
Because Armor of God is not a legal entity, the fact that checks were written to Armor of God is perplexing. To open a bank account, one must provide an EIN number obtained from the IRS, for a bank account. Checks written to Armor of God cannot be deposited into a personal account. The name on the check must match the name on the account it is being deposited into. There is real risk of violating financial fraud laws.
Because Owen received taxpayer dollars. He is subject to open records law and must provide, when asked, evidence of where all the funds were spent. He is also responsible for reporting the income on personal tax returns. If he had been required, as Cobb was, to first purchase equipment and submit receipts for reimbursement, that would be different but the records show he was given monthly checks for $833.33 beginning in March 2024 and continuing to the present.
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