I am looking for former members of the Order of Christ Sophia and/or the Ruach Center. My daughter has been involved with this organization for a long period of time.
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Order of Christ Sophia (no replies)
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masters in transformational training. (8 replies)
I have a friend who is deeply involved in this group and is encouraging me to take its classess. However, he is rather secretive about his experiences, justifying his response with "if I tell you to much, it will spoil your experience." From what I have learned from the MITT site, some reviews and some other sources, it appears to have many hallmarks of a non-violent cult. I would like to hear from other people with first hand knowledge of this group before making a commitment.
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Data lost now restored (no replies)
Data lost through a backup failure some months ago has now been restored to this message board.
This board is also now open for indexing by search engines such as Google.
Information posted on the board should soon be appearing in searches as this is a public resource.
This board is also now open for indexing by search engines such as Google.
Information posted on the board should soon be appearing in searches as this is a public resource.
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Ministry manipulated my life (no replies)
I recently had a local 'deliverance' ministry really go to town and re-arrange my life. I think I posted my experience in the wrong forum. Please check the link below, any comments or advice would be appreaciated
[forum.culteducation.com]
[forum.culteducation.com]
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Liquid Church - Discussion (no replies)
A discussion of "Liquid Church" began on another thread.
As it is a church, I thought it might help to post references here.
[forum.culteducation.com]
As it is a church, I thought it might help to post references here.
[forum.culteducation.com]
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The Secret Place Ministry Center / Vision Life Ministries / NAR (8 replies)
I had some problems with this group that I documented here as they happened. As time passed, more and more people came forward to reveal what was behind it all.
The Secret Place Ministry Center is run by Roni Stripling (an advocate of Henry Malone)
Vision Life Ministries is run by Henry Malone (who functions under the 'apostolic authority' of Chuck Pierce)
Glory of Zion International is run by Chuck Pierce (the heir of Peter Wagner)
C. Peter Wagner is the apostolic ambassador of the NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION!
They keep moving around and changing names of their organizations. Absorbing and infiltrating everything they can. This is the most corrupt group of people I have ever dealt with. Building a kingdom out of taking money from people. Demonizing anyone that resists. Helping the poor with the goal to overthrow others that do the same.
Its very very messed up and corrupt.
The Secret Place Ministry Center is run by Roni Stripling (an advocate of Henry Malone)
Vision Life Ministries is run by Henry Malone (who functions under the 'apostolic authority' of Chuck Pierce)
Glory of Zion International is run by Chuck Pierce (the heir of Peter Wagner)
C. Peter Wagner is the apostolic ambassador of the NEW APOSTOLIC REFORMATION!
They keep moving around and changing names of their organizations. Absorbing and infiltrating everything they can. This is the most corrupt group of people I have ever dealt with. Building a kingdom out of taking money from people. Demonizing anyone that resists. Helping the poor with the goal to overthrow others that do the same.
Its very very messed up and corrupt.
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New book by Rick Ross "Cults Inside Out" (no replies)
There is a new comprehensive book out about cults titled "Cults Inside Out: How People Get In and Can Get Out."
See [www.amazon.com]
The book includes a history of cults, cult intervention work and how people can be "deprogrammed" out of the cult mind-set.
There are chapters on Scientology, Falun Gong, LGATs (large group awareness training e.g. Landmark Education the Forum), abusive-controlling cultic relationships, family cults, "cult brainwashing" and how to define a destructive cult. The book includes more than 1,200 footnotes an 18-page bibliography and extensive index. The book also includes case vignettes demonstrating how people break free from cults through family interventions.
See [www.amazon.com]
The book includes a history of cults, cult intervention work and how people can be "deprogrammed" out of the cult mind-set.
There are chapters on Scientology, Falun Gong, LGATs (large group awareness training e.g. Landmark Education the Forum), abusive-controlling cultic relationships, family cults, "cult brainwashing" and how to define a destructive cult. The book includes more than 1,200 footnotes an 18-page bibliography and extensive index. The book also includes case vignettes demonstrating how people break free from cults through family interventions.
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Upgraded Message Board is now Responsive (no replies)
Upgrade to the message board to Responsive now makes it easy to use on any electronic device, smart phone, notebook, etc.
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The Quiverfull Movement possible pedophile/sex abuser haven (6 replies)
I am doing an investigation of The Quiverfull Movement and am finding ALOT of pedophila/sexual abuse as pretty much standard in wake of the Duggar scandal. This is what I have so far.
[www.ifyouonlynews.com]
[gawker.com]
[www.rawstory.com]
[www.rawstory.com]
[www.recoveringgrace.org]
[www.patheos.com]
I find that this "movement" seems to be specficly talored for pedophiles... unquestionable absolute control given to father, wife completely submits to husband and should not use birth control and cannot say no to sex, thus producing babies like crazy and any sex abuse that does happen is the fault of the victim. All family members must unfailingly submit to father. Is it any surprise that pedophiles and sex offenders are being found by the hordes in the Duggar Scandal?
This has lead me to believe that the only kind of man who would be drawn to this lifestyle of a steady stream of young children and complete submission by all other members is a pedophile/sexual predator and lead me to believe that the religious aspect is a front for a pedophile haven.
I am looking for more, any information, on this and any survivors who is able to discuss this with me.
Knotty
[www.ifyouonlynews.com]
[gawker.com]
[www.rawstory.com]
[www.rawstory.com]
[www.recoveringgrace.org]
[www.patheos.com]
I find that this "movement" seems to be specficly talored for pedophiles... unquestionable absolute control given to father, wife completely submits to husband and should not use birth control and cannot say no to sex, thus producing babies like crazy and any sex abuse that does happen is the fault of the victim. All family members must unfailingly submit to father. Is it any surprise that pedophiles and sex offenders are being found by the hordes in the Duggar Scandal?
This has lead me to believe that the only kind of man who would be drawn to this lifestyle of a steady stream of young children and complete submission by all other members is a pedophile/sexual predator and lead me to believe that the religious aspect is a front for a pedophile haven.
I am looking for more, any information, on this and any survivors who is able to discuss this with me.
Knotty
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New server data migration -- some posts may been lost made yesterday (no replies)
To whom it may concern:
The Cult Education Institute moved to a new much improved, managed server at the current ISP. The new server has daily external backup and 24-hour access to a system administration team. It is by far the strongest most secure server the institute has ever used to date.
In the transition some posts may have been lost.
These lost posts would be posts made between about 3:00 PM EST yesterday and this morning.
There is nothing that can be done to restore these lost posts.
This was the one and only problem in the transition of migrating data to the new server.
My apologies if you lost a post through this process.
Rick Ross
The Cult Education Institute moved to a new much improved, managed server at the current ISP. The new server has daily external backup and 24-hour access to a system administration team. It is by far the strongest most secure server the institute has ever used to date.
In the transition some posts may have been lost.
These lost posts would be posts made between about 3:00 PM EST yesterday and this morning.
There is nothing that can be done to restore these lost posts.
This was the one and only problem in the transition of migrating data to the new server.
My apologies if you lost a post through this process.
Rick Ross
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European study shows faith and church attendance key to happiness (no replies)
There are so many threads to read on this site so I hate to start a new one but I'm looking for some feed back on this study.
This is a study that many talk shows, on the radio, discussed last month.
The manipulation that happens in some of the churches is frightening. Enough emotional abuse to ruin good people and their families.
Maybe it boils down to knowing the difference between a healthy church and a cult.
If that it so, then why do so many smart people get caught up in cults?
How do you know the difference?
This is a study that many talk shows, on the radio, discussed last month.
The manipulation that happens in some of the churches is frightening. Enough emotional abuse to ruin good people and their families.
Maybe it boils down to knowing the difference between a healthy church and a cult.
If that it so, then why do so many smart people get caught up in cults?
How do you know the difference?
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Palmerian "Catholic" Sect - its own Popes & Bling (1 reply)
The "Palmerian" pseudo - Catholic sect.
[www.google.com]
Going by the photographs, they have enough money for fancy buildings,
luxurious robes and one hell of a lot of bling for the "Pope".
A lot of Catholics who were disgusted by the tawdry liturgical changes after Vatican II prefer to attend "traditionalist" tridentine rite masses.
Some very exploitative types recruit in this manner. Decades ago, in the US,
Corboy attended a meeting of one such group -- turned out to be a front for
a US based group later ID'd as an abusive and exploitative cult.
So, possibly the Palmerians use old style masses, novenas, and rosary devotions as a vehicle for identifying and recruiting.
One can see that so far as the Palmerian prelates are concerned, they do
like to pile up treasure on earth rather than in heaven.
[www.google.com]
[www.google.com]
According to this article, there is a practice of members willing their
property.
Nasty. Scaring people into shunning their families, all to isolate them
and route them to will their property to make a bunch of rich men even richer than they already are.
All in the name of Jesus who died poor, no lawyer to speak for him, deserted by his buddies, betrayed by his own accountant.
[www.independent.ie]
[www.google.com]
Going by the photographs, they have enough money for fancy buildings,
luxurious robes and one hell of a lot of bling for the "Pope".
A lot of Catholics who were disgusted by the tawdry liturgical changes after Vatican II prefer to attend "traditionalist" tridentine rite masses.
Some very exploitative types recruit in this manner. Decades ago, in the US,
Corboy attended a meeting of one such group -- turned out to be a front for
a US based group later ID'd as an abusive and exploitative cult.
So, possibly the Palmerians use old style masses, novenas, and rosary devotions as a vehicle for identifying and recruiting.
One can see that so far as the Palmerian prelates are concerned, they do
like to pile up treasure on earth rather than in heaven.
[www.google.com]
[www.google.com]
According to this article, there is a practice of members willing their
property.
Nasty. Scaring people into shunning their families, all to isolate them
and route them to will their property to make a bunch of rich men even richer than they already are.
All in the name of Jesus who died poor, no lawyer to speak for him, deserted by his buddies, betrayed by his own accountant.
[www.independent.ie]
Quote
Bridget Crosbie (84) died of natural causes at her home in the Faythe area of Wexford town in September, but her death was only discovered when gardaí entered her home on November 20 and found her remains in a downstairs bedroom.
One of seven siblings, and originally from Foulksmills outside New Ross, Ms Crosbie was unmarried. A member of a group known as the 'Palmarian Catholic Church' - a highly secretive Spanish sect that broke away from the Catholic Church and has declared a series of its own 'Popes' - Bridget effectively was forced to cut herself off from her family when she became involved with the sect in the late 1970s, around the same time she returned to Ireland to look aft er her parents.
"Growing up, Bridget was just a typical Irish girl. She was great fun. She worked in hotels in England during the late sixties, was very popular, and then became a midwife. But somewhere along the line she became involved with this Palmarian crowd and everything changed," said a family member.
She added: "She told us she couldn't speak to us anymore because we weren't Palmarians. If we met her on the street she wouldn't even talk to us. It was heart-breaking. She had to wear a long dark dress all the time and a habit. She became isolated and no matter how many times we'd try to help her she wouldn't open her door or engage with us or her neighbours, who also tried to help. On numerous occasions we travelled to Clontarf to speak with the Palmarian leaders there but couldn't get inside the gates."
One neighbour, Sean O'Leary, said: "If you'd meet her on the street she might say hello, but when you tried to engage her in conversation she'd walk away."
It's estimated there are approximately 300 members of the Palmarian sect in Ireland with only around 2,000 members worldwide.
The group had its Irish headquarters in a house at number 38 Haddon Road, in the leafy Dublin suburb of Clontarf, but the property was put up for sale for €1.4m during the summer months.
Attempts to contact the Palmarian leaders in Ireland this week were unsuccessful.
Included in the group's long list of strict rules is the insistence that females must wear skirts no shorter than five fingers width below the knee, that attending non-Palmarian religious services such as weddings, funerals and christenings is banned, and that there is to be no social contact with any persons not dressed to the Palmarian dress code.
Amongst its more bizarre rules are a ban on watching boxing, voting, reading horoscopes, using candles on birthday cakes and visiting swimming pools and beaches. Television programmes that show people outside the Palmarian dress code may not be watched. Michael Garde, Director of Dialogue Ireland, an independent trust that works to promote awareness and understanding of new 'religious' movements and cultism in Ireland, told the Irish Independent: "We are regularly contacted by families who have seen a loved one lost to the Palmarian church. We are deeply concerned by the group and how it destroys families and isolates people, especially the elderly. There are also reports that the Palmarians are targeting younger people and students."
Mr Garde said there have been many examples of Irish people adjoined to the Palmarians selling their homes, or leaving their property to the group in their wills, with proceeds going to the 'church' which has its headquarters in the remote Spanish town of Palmar de Troya, where it has a lavish basilica behind high walls.
"Groups like the Palmarians have undue influence on people, they remove the rational capacity for people to deal with things. In Ireland, these groups have left behind a trail of hundreds of people no longer connected to society."
Bridget Crosbie's family want people in Ireland to be vigilant about these groups. A family member told the Irish Independent: "They are dangerous, they ruin lives and in our case they took our beloved sister from us. We don't want to see another family devastated by cults like the Palmarians."
Irish
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The Satanic Temple (no replies)
The Satanic Temple, co-founded by Malcolm Jarry (NYC) and Lucien Greaves (Boston), was officially registered as a religious organization in February 2014 with the State of Massachusetts as United Federation of Churches, LLC d/b/a The Satanic Temple.
Since that time, The Satanic Temple has opened chapters in 3 countries and 21 states with at least 30 domestic chapters most of which have sprung up in the last year. Members change their names when they join. By way of example, Lucien Greaves has several aliases
Proclaiming they do not believe in any gods, including Satan, who they acknowledge as a symbol of rebellion.
At the same time, they follow the Sabbat Cycles, conduct Black Masses and other rituals praising Satan, and engage in carnal activities as an acknowledgement of the carnal nature of man.
Symbolology used in their organization includes pentagrams, statues of serpents and Baphomet.
I began researching this oeganization when they successfully shut down a 65-year tradition of invocation at the City of Phoenix Council meetings.
The organization has challenged other city/state governments/schools. Their activism and expansion is so broad that I decided to create a Facebook page. New posts are added almost daily.
The Facebook page dispenses with personal opinion/dissertation. It is a repository of articles, interviews, videis, chapter information and includes supporting links to the information.
The Facebook page can be found at [www.facebook.com]
Since that time, The Satanic Temple has opened chapters in 3 countries and 21 states with at least 30 domestic chapters most of which have sprung up in the last year. Members change their names when they join. By way of example, Lucien Greaves has several aliases
Proclaiming they do not believe in any gods, including Satan, who they acknowledge as a symbol of rebellion.
At the same time, they follow the Sabbat Cycles, conduct Black Masses and other rituals praising Satan, and engage in carnal activities as an acknowledgement of the carnal nature of man.
Symbolology used in their organization includes pentagrams, statues of serpents and Baphomet.
I began researching this oeganization when they successfully shut down a 65-year tradition of invocation at the City of Phoenix Council meetings.
The organization has challenged other city/state governments/schools. Their activism and expansion is so broad that I decided to create a Facebook page. New posts are added almost daily.
The Facebook page dispenses with personal opinion/dissertation. It is a repository of articles, interviews, videis, chapter information and includes supporting links to the information.
The Facebook page can be found at [www.facebook.com]
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Antioch International Movement of Churches (1 reply)
Does anyone know anything about a fellowship of churches called Antioch International Movement of Churches based out of Waco Texas, founded by a guy named Jimmy Seibert? I think this fellowship should be watched closely and examined, From what I have read from former members blog sites, they are controlling, abusive and it appears the pastoral staff is isolated and controlling. Any info would be appreciated, Thanks,
Jeff Watkins
Jeff Watkins
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The Facade of Praise Chapel , The Testimony of a victim of the fellowship (1 reply)
I was first introduced to Praise Chapel in 1978, A man named Allen Cates had come to Chloride Arizona, (Where I was living with my family) to pioneer a praise chapel church. I wound up falling for his daughter, and being teenagers, we wound up having sex (ha ha, yes the preachers daughter) and she got pregnant. It was decided by her dad (Allen Cates and my dad) that we should get married, So I became the preachers son in law. For the next 18 years, I became what they called a disciple in training to become a pastor, (Disciple by the way, is code for slave of the pastor).
Eventually Allen Cates moved the church from Chloride to Kingman Arizona. I was still "being dicipled" During this time, I learned to do all ministries in the church, from teaching bible studies to being sunday school director, eventually becoming "Door Director" Which is responsible for running a saturday night music scene, and is supposed to make you ready to pastor a church.
During my time in kingman, my now Ex- wife began having affairs with leaders of the church, The fellowship meaning Praise Chapel and The Potters house leaders, meaning Mike Nevelle and Waymon Mitchell, also the leaders of the two fellowships, decided to counsel my ex wife and those leaders she was having sex with, They however made the decision to not tell me about all the affairs and not counsel me, Covering up all their affairs, with the blessings and consent of the founder of praise chapel Mike Nevelle and the founder of Potters House Waymon Mitchell. All of the leadership of kingman praise chapel was also in on the cover up.
Allen Cates also took delight in punishing me by taking away ministry for most of my discipleship, when I asked too many or what he considered the wrong questions.
During the time my now ex wife was having her affairs with leadership and men in the kingman church, naturally my ex wife and I were having marital problems. I did not know about the affairs as leadership covered them up, So I asked for counseling. Our assistant pastor Carl Friedrich, Who is the long running Anaheim Praise Chapel founder and member of Praise Chapel Board, came over to counsel us.. This was His counsel to me, He told me " It was all my fault, and that I needed to change. He knew all about the affairs my now ex wife was having and who she was having them with, One with his best friend, who later became the pastor of several praise chapels in the bay area and texas.
So I did all the changing and my now ex wife continued on with her affairs....
In 1986 Allen Cates was ran out of the kingman church, by his bible study leaders, with a non support vote. And who did praise chapel replace him with, no other than a potters house pastor from Alaska and Chandler Arizona, Howard Pennington, So the ones who lie and say praise chapel is not a carbon copy of potters house are just plain old liars.
In 1986 Allen Cates began to evangelize in Praise Chapel churches in Southern California, and as usual his sermons were about the devil, masterbation and of course giving to the cause.
In 1987, Allen Cates moved on to Orlando Florida to pioneer a new praise chapel. In 1988 I went to Orlando and became the Assistant Pastor. I assisted pastored for Allen Cates, and still my now ex wife was having affairs, that only I did not know about. Everyone else knew but never told me..As is Praise Chapel ways, No one goes against leadership. Our church was growing, because I took over pastoral duties, but as always, Allen Cates was tearing the people down. After two years in Orlando, I could not take the dictatorship of Cates any longer and Called Mike Nevelle and told him I was leaving Orlando to go pastor in West Sacramento California. He moved me to the Huntington Park California church, (His Church) and I evangelized for a year in southern california.
In 1990 I was "sent out" to West Sacramento California, to pioneer a new church. My church did well, and grew quickly, mainly because I had already dropped the cult like, heavy handed pastor tendencies and began to fellowship with Pastors outside of Praise Chapel. Those outside pastors helped me to grow as a christian and as a pastor. Mike Nevelle advised me that I should be hanging with praise chapel pastors only, I advised him, that I would pick and choose my own friends.
I was also helping other new pioneer praise chapels in the Sacramento Valley, by sending outreach teams, evangelizing and preaching, holding conferences and providing services from my church band to their churches.
God had been talking to me, about the secrets my now ex wife was holding and what she was doing. About 1994 God spoke to me, and told me to go ask my wife what was going on, I had asked her a couple times a year for the last 15 years, and she would always say "nothing is happening", But I felt she was not being truthful.
At the time God had again spoken to me about my ex wife, her mother Carol Cates was visiting us in West Sacramento, I walked into the living room and my ex wife and her mother were sitting on the couch, I looked at my now ex wife and told her, "God spoke to me, and once again, He wants me to ask you what is going on", Her mother Carol looked at my now ex wife and said " You better tell him" Well then she began telling me about her affairs in Kingman, (She never meantioned all the other affairs she had also been having for the last 15 years) So I heard only about two affairs in kingman (Again they were still lying and covering up), My now ex wife put a spin on this lie however, and told me she was "raped", I would soon find out, that these sold called rapes went on for a year each, and were not in fact rapes, but consented sex with leaders of the church.
I called my pastor Mike Nevelle and everyone else I knew was involved in the affairs and coverup's. The founder of praise chapel, my pastor Mike Nevelle told me to drive up to Huntington Park California with my now ex wife and get some counseling.
We drove to southern california, Mike Nevelle took us to his favorite resturant and then this was his counsel to me, He said to me, " It was a long time ago, get over it, again covering up, her continuing affairs. He said it was the policy of praise chapel in the early days, to only counsel the people involved in the affairs, and never involve their spouses, to literally cover up the affairs.
This so called counseling, lasted a whole 40 minutes, and then my now ex wife and I were headed back to West Sacramento, I was so damn mad, I threatened to kick her ass out of the car a few time.
When I got back home, I called Mike Nevelle and advised him, I was changing the name of my church to Sacramento Valley Christian Center, thus dropping the moniker of praise chapel, and that I would no longer send my gold sheets or tithes from my Church to the mother church. He told me I could not do this, I told him it was already done, I then began to tell all my pastor friends, inside and outside the fellowship about who was involved in the affairs. What leaders who were now pastoring, I was advised by Mike Neville to not tell anyone...Again the cover was to remain intact, in order to protect those pastors in praise chapel who were involved in the affairs.
Six months after learning some of the truth, I could no longer function in my church, Praise Chapel sent me to Wyoming to pioneer a new church, as it was thought a change of geography might help. The day I arrived in Wyoming, Mike Neville advised me, that I was being cut off, ex communicated and dropped from pastoring. He stranded my family in Wyoming, I worked two jobs, long enough to move my family back to California, where we stayed with an Assembly of God Pastor Friend of mine, until I could find a house, I re-formed my church again in my house, I had left my church to a praise chapel pastor, who promptly upon arriving in west sacramento, shut my church down and took our new sound system with him.
After a year in my house, I was struggling to keep my marriage and family together, I was offered an assistant pastorship with my father in law Allen Cates who was now pioneering in Bullhead City Arizona. I took it, six months into this pastorship, I discovered Allen Cates was inbezzeling church funds, I confronted him and he advised me it was none of my business. I called my friend John Pool who was assistant pastor of Kingman Praise Chapel, (He is now senior pastor of Kingman Praise Chapel since the death of Howard Pennington, Both of these men, were former Potters house pastors. They moved me to Kingman, where, my now ex wife and I got one counseling session. After 6 months in the kingman church and seeing the abuse that always goes on in the fellowship, I left with my family and took a job with the state and never looked back.
My youngest child, my daughter Neshelle, committed suicide in 2002, That was the final breaking point, I advised my now ex wife that I was moving out and wanted a divorce, (I only stayed for my kids).
In 2012 My younger brother took his own life, In 2014 My oldest son, Michael took his own life...I directly blame the fellowship and my now ex wife for these deaths, for the hell they put me and my family thru, it cost me two of my children, my brother and a relationship with my now only and youngest son...
I now pretty much reject all churches, all religions, I pray at home, I talk to God on my own, and am working on my life with my Father in heaven.....So I have a heart knowledge of the fellowship Praise Chapel, and the Cult that it is.....
I mostly posted this to let all of you who are finding your way out of the cults, to continue to escape, to not blame yourselves, and to not listen to the twisted lies those who are still involved in the cults say to you....It is scary to leave all you know, to abandon all you have been indoctrinated in, and to strip away the lies, chains and bondage, but you must do this, if you are ever going to be free, and really know your Father in heaven.
I want to close up by stating some signs from someone who has been a victim of a cult...
1. If they separate and encourage you to not associate with friends and family outside the fellowship.
2. If they keep you broke, and slaving for the cause, and always pushing for you to give more, ( By the way,,,Tithing is not New Testament teaching, and is not Godly, It is just another tool for the cult to control your life.
3. If they think for you, and the only opinion you can have is theirs.
4. If everyone but them is wrong, and only they are right.
5. If you have to ask your pastor or leadership permission to have a life and run your own life.
6. if they promote the wealthy into leadership, keep the sheep under the thumb, and demand respect and obedience to only them.
7. If there is no accoutability, either financial or spiritual, either one or both.
8. If there is no platform to question leaders or pastorship
9. If they threaten punishment for you having your own belief's, opinions and voice
Get out, run like hell, and never look back, you cannot fix a broken one sided relationship, You are not wrong, shut out the voices of the cults, and stand up for yourselves.
God bless you, thanks for listening, and carry on my wayward friends,
Jeff Watkins
Former Praise Chapel pastor West Sacramento California
Eventually Allen Cates moved the church from Chloride to Kingman Arizona. I was still "being dicipled" During this time, I learned to do all ministries in the church, from teaching bible studies to being sunday school director, eventually becoming "Door Director" Which is responsible for running a saturday night music scene, and is supposed to make you ready to pastor a church.
During my time in kingman, my now Ex- wife began having affairs with leaders of the church, The fellowship meaning Praise Chapel and The Potters house leaders, meaning Mike Nevelle and Waymon Mitchell, also the leaders of the two fellowships, decided to counsel my ex wife and those leaders she was having sex with, They however made the decision to not tell me about all the affairs and not counsel me, Covering up all their affairs, with the blessings and consent of the founder of praise chapel Mike Nevelle and the founder of Potters House Waymon Mitchell. All of the leadership of kingman praise chapel was also in on the cover up.
Allen Cates also took delight in punishing me by taking away ministry for most of my discipleship, when I asked too many or what he considered the wrong questions.
During the time my now ex wife was having her affairs with leadership and men in the kingman church, naturally my ex wife and I were having marital problems. I did not know about the affairs as leadership covered them up, So I asked for counseling. Our assistant pastor Carl Friedrich, Who is the long running Anaheim Praise Chapel founder and member of Praise Chapel Board, came over to counsel us.. This was His counsel to me, He told me " It was all my fault, and that I needed to change. He knew all about the affairs my now ex wife was having and who she was having them with, One with his best friend, who later became the pastor of several praise chapels in the bay area and texas.
So I did all the changing and my now ex wife continued on with her affairs....
In 1986 Allen Cates was ran out of the kingman church, by his bible study leaders, with a non support vote. And who did praise chapel replace him with, no other than a potters house pastor from Alaska and Chandler Arizona, Howard Pennington, So the ones who lie and say praise chapel is not a carbon copy of potters house are just plain old liars.
In 1986 Allen Cates began to evangelize in Praise Chapel churches in Southern California, and as usual his sermons were about the devil, masterbation and of course giving to the cause.
In 1987, Allen Cates moved on to Orlando Florida to pioneer a new praise chapel. In 1988 I went to Orlando and became the Assistant Pastor. I assisted pastored for Allen Cates, and still my now ex wife was having affairs, that only I did not know about. Everyone else knew but never told me..As is Praise Chapel ways, No one goes against leadership. Our church was growing, because I took over pastoral duties, but as always, Allen Cates was tearing the people down. After two years in Orlando, I could not take the dictatorship of Cates any longer and Called Mike Nevelle and told him I was leaving Orlando to go pastor in West Sacramento California. He moved me to the Huntington Park California church, (His Church) and I evangelized for a year in southern california.
In 1990 I was "sent out" to West Sacramento California, to pioneer a new church. My church did well, and grew quickly, mainly because I had already dropped the cult like, heavy handed pastor tendencies and began to fellowship with Pastors outside of Praise Chapel. Those outside pastors helped me to grow as a christian and as a pastor. Mike Nevelle advised me that I should be hanging with praise chapel pastors only, I advised him, that I would pick and choose my own friends.
I was also helping other new pioneer praise chapels in the Sacramento Valley, by sending outreach teams, evangelizing and preaching, holding conferences and providing services from my church band to their churches.
God had been talking to me, about the secrets my now ex wife was holding and what she was doing. About 1994 God spoke to me, and told me to go ask my wife what was going on, I had asked her a couple times a year for the last 15 years, and she would always say "nothing is happening", But I felt she was not being truthful.
At the time God had again spoken to me about my ex wife, her mother Carol Cates was visiting us in West Sacramento, I walked into the living room and my ex wife and her mother were sitting on the couch, I looked at my now ex wife and told her, "God spoke to me, and once again, He wants me to ask you what is going on", Her mother Carol looked at my now ex wife and said " You better tell him" Well then she began telling me about her affairs in Kingman, (She never meantioned all the other affairs she had also been having for the last 15 years) So I heard only about two affairs in kingman (Again they were still lying and covering up), My now ex wife put a spin on this lie however, and told me she was "raped", I would soon find out, that these sold called rapes went on for a year each, and were not in fact rapes, but consented sex with leaders of the church.
I called my pastor Mike Nevelle and everyone else I knew was involved in the affairs and coverup's. The founder of praise chapel, my pastor Mike Nevelle told me to drive up to Huntington Park California with my now ex wife and get some counseling.
We drove to southern california, Mike Nevelle took us to his favorite resturant and then this was his counsel to me, He said to me, " It was a long time ago, get over it, again covering up, her continuing affairs. He said it was the policy of praise chapel in the early days, to only counsel the people involved in the affairs, and never involve their spouses, to literally cover up the affairs.
This so called counseling, lasted a whole 40 minutes, and then my now ex wife and I were headed back to West Sacramento, I was so damn mad, I threatened to kick her ass out of the car a few time.
When I got back home, I called Mike Nevelle and advised him, I was changing the name of my church to Sacramento Valley Christian Center, thus dropping the moniker of praise chapel, and that I would no longer send my gold sheets or tithes from my Church to the mother church. He told me I could not do this, I told him it was already done, I then began to tell all my pastor friends, inside and outside the fellowship about who was involved in the affairs. What leaders who were now pastoring, I was advised by Mike Neville to not tell anyone...Again the cover was to remain intact, in order to protect those pastors in praise chapel who were involved in the affairs.
Six months after learning some of the truth, I could no longer function in my church, Praise Chapel sent me to Wyoming to pioneer a new church, as it was thought a change of geography might help. The day I arrived in Wyoming, Mike Neville advised me, that I was being cut off, ex communicated and dropped from pastoring. He stranded my family in Wyoming, I worked two jobs, long enough to move my family back to California, where we stayed with an Assembly of God Pastor Friend of mine, until I could find a house, I re-formed my church again in my house, I had left my church to a praise chapel pastor, who promptly upon arriving in west sacramento, shut my church down and took our new sound system with him.
After a year in my house, I was struggling to keep my marriage and family together, I was offered an assistant pastorship with my father in law Allen Cates who was now pioneering in Bullhead City Arizona. I took it, six months into this pastorship, I discovered Allen Cates was inbezzeling church funds, I confronted him and he advised me it was none of my business. I called my friend John Pool who was assistant pastor of Kingman Praise Chapel, (He is now senior pastor of Kingman Praise Chapel since the death of Howard Pennington, Both of these men, were former Potters house pastors. They moved me to Kingman, where, my now ex wife and I got one counseling session. After 6 months in the kingman church and seeing the abuse that always goes on in the fellowship, I left with my family and took a job with the state and never looked back.
My youngest child, my daughter Neshelle, committed suicide in 2002, That was the final breaking point, I advised my now ex wife that I was moving out and wanted a divorce, (I only stayed for my kids).
In 2012 My younger brother took his own life, In 2014 My oldest son, Michael took his own life...I directly blame the fellowship and my now ex wife for these deaths, for the hell they put me and my family thru, it cost me two of my children, my brother and a relationship with my now only and youngest son...
I now pretty much reject all churches, all religions, I pray at home, I talk to God on my own, and am working on my life with my Father in heaven.....So I have a heart knowledge of the fellowship Praise Chapel, and the Cult that it is.....
I mostly posted this to let all of you who are finding your way out of the cults, to continue to escape, to not blame yourselves, and to not listen to the twisted lies those who are still involved in the cults say to you....It is scary to leave all you know, to abandon all you have been indoctrinated in, and to strip away the lies, chains and bondage, but you must do this, if you are ever going to be free, and really know your Father in heaven.
I want to close up by stating some signs from someone who has been a victim of a cult...
1. If they separate and encourage you to not associate with friends and family outside the fellowship.
2. If they keep you broke, and slaving for the cause, and always pushing for you to give more, ( By the way,,,Tithing is not New Testament teaching, and is not Godly, It is just another tool for the cult to control your life.
3. If they think for you, and the only opinion you can have is theirs.
4. If everyone but them is wrong, and only they are right.
5. If you have to ask your pastor or leadership permission to have a life and run your own life.
6. if they promote the wealthy into leadership, keep the sheep under the thumb, and demand respect and obedience to only them.
7. If there is no accoutability, either financial or spiritual, either one or both.
8. If there is no platform to question leaders or pastorship
9. If they threaten punishment for you having your own belief's, opinions and voice
Get out, run like hell, and never look back, you cannot fix a broken one sided relationship, You are not wrong, shut out the voices of the cults, and stand up for yourselves.
God bless you, thanks for listening, and carry on my wayward friends,
Jeff Watkins
Former Praise Chapel pastor West Sacramento California
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What happens if your pastor has anger problem? maybe this? (no replies)
I just wanted to share my story, theres also a video at the end that you may find helpful for identifying pastors (or anyone for that matter) that are in my opinion, not spiritually mature enough to be in that position, and thats putting it lightly, but anyway, here it goes. (This is a standard explanation I made so its a little impersonal but I'm ill and don't feel good enough to write it all out again)
I attended Waipio Grace Brethren Church (hawaii) for 3 years or so and had much respect for Pastor Frank Figueroa Jr. but unfortunately I have seen changes in the way the church is run for the worse. Pastor Frank has a self admitted anger problem, an anger problem that I remember him talking about over the pulpit a number of times. I did not understand the severity of it, at least until I believe me and a member of my family got to experience it.
This situation all started when I got extremely ill (still am) and was to sick to leave the house or continue to go to church. My dad was also going to WGB, and so he asked Frank Figueroa Jr. on my request to call me because I could use some kind words and prayer.
I never received a call. My dad continued to ask Frank Figueroa Jr. to call a number of times over the next several months but I still never received a call (Frank later on said that he had called). After months of feeling ignored, I was quite confused as to why this was happening and so my Dad and Frank exchanged some emails and decided it would be good to meet and talk about it.
Eventually my Dad ended up leaving a note for him (because he could not reach him) at his residence asking Frank Figueroa Jr. to call him as soon as he could (so they could set up the meeting date). Well Frank called, and my Dad started talking about setting up the meeting, after my dad was done speaking, Frank Figueroa Jr. started yelling and accusing my dad of not ministering to his wife from years before when she was sick . My dad tried to get Frank to calm down, but he would not stop yelling and my Dad got frustrated and and got loud and hung up the phone.
Because of this, we decided to get some other elders involved to help work this out. My dad had numerous phone call conversations with the elders about the situation with Frank Figueroa Jr. on the phone and me not being ministered too. My Dad had to do this because I was too sick to talk most of the time, (I was only able to talk to Frank once).
Well, these conversations went on for a month, (and within this time they also had one meeting) and the answers we received kept changing which created other problems and questions, so my Dad tried to set up one last meeting with Frank Figueroa Jr. and the elders to get things cleared up. Frank at first agreed to have a second meeting, then refused because my Dad did not want to go back to Franks Church after all this had transpired. A week or so later he filed a temporary restraining order against me and my Dad that was filled with FALSE accusations.
He claimed my Dad and I threatened people when we did no such thing. He made these false accusations against me while I was extremely ill (still am) and was to sick to even leave the house, (but yet it seems he expected me to drive into town and go to court, luckily I did not have to but my Dad did). Not to mention, the stress he caused me by all the problems this caused me and my family made my illness and the pain worse.
The court day arrived and the TRO was dismissed after many failed attempts by Frank to accuse us in front of the Judge. I have tried to show proof to some of the elders of the church that the things Pastor Frank Figueroa Jr. said were false, and tried to tell them how very serious this situation is because these accusations where made under the penalty of perjury, but they say nothing at all and in my opinion it's very clear they do not seem to care that he was wrong, or why he was wrong.
Because of the way Frank Figueroa Jr. was acting and the way the stories were changing, me and my Dad decided to record the conversations with him and the elders for accuracy (which is legal in our state), because of this we can prove what was said and there were no threats to physically harm anyone. I have sent my recording to them, and none of them have responded nor repented to us of a single thing.
The two elders that were most involved throughout this situation were Scott and Dave . Scott ended up making things worse, which he admitted. He actually said he was no good at doing things like this and said he would stay away from the situation. However he did not keep his word and continued to inject himself into the middle of things and further confuse them.
Dave was actually asked before the TRO was filed if he wanted to hear one of the recordings, this was in regards to something Frank had denied saying which we of course had recorded. Dave said no, which to me shows that this person is not interested in the truth at all.
Frank Figueroa Jr. and the elders of Waipio Grace Brethren church have not personally shown me an ounce of sympathy or regret for the harm they did to me and I don't understand how Frank can teach the Bible honestly from the pulpit when he does things that are the very opposite of what the Bible teaches.
This man made my health worse, caused me extreme stress and pain, and no one at the church seems to want to know how Frank came to these conclusions even though they are wrong and devoid of reality. I personally believe he knew these accusations were false when he made them. I can come to no other conclusion because of there silence, there failure to apologize, and how off base the accusations were in the first place. I implore you to stay far away from this Church and anyone who is taught scripture by this man for your spiritual health.
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So that's my story, here is the video. It amazes me I was able to sit under a pastor that sounded like this, but I was sick and I guess I just wanted some friends. Also, I had not attended church in a while, this was my first one as a semi adult, and I guess I was just really ignorant. So maybe this video can help you be less ignorant (unlike me), so maybe you don't have to go through what I did.
I attended Waipio Grace Brethren Church (hawaii) for 3 years or so and had much respect for Pastor Frank Figueroa Jr. but unfortunately I have seen changes in the way the church is run for the worse. Pastor Frank has a self admitted anger problem, an anger problem that I remember him talking about over the pulpit a number of times. I did not understand the severity of it, at least until I believe me and a member of my family got to experience it.
This situation all started when I got extremely ill (still am) and was to sick to leave the house or continue to go to church. My dad was also going to WGB, and so he asked Frank Figueroa Jr. on my request to call me because I could use some kind words and prayer.
I never received a call. My dad continued to ask Frank Figueroa Jr. to call a number of times over the next several months but I still never received a call (Frank later on said that he had called). After months of feeling ignored, I was quite confused as to why this was happening and so my Dad and Frank exchanged some emails and decided it would be good to meet and talk about it.
Eventually my Dad ended up leaving a note for him (because he could not reach him) at his residence asking Frank Figueroa Jr. to call him as soon as he could (so they could set up the meeting date). Well Frank called, and my Dad started talking about setting up the meeting, after my dad was done speaking, Frank Figueroa Jr. started yelling and accusing my dad of not ministering to his wife from years before when she was sick . My dad tried to get Frank to calm down, but he would not stop yelling and my Dad got frustrated and and got loud and hung up the phone.
Because of this, we decided to get some other elders involved to help work this out. My dad had numerous phone call conversations with the elders about the situation with Frank Figueroa Jr. on the phone and me not being ministered too. My Dad had to do this because I was too sick to talk most of the time, (I was only able to talk to Frank once).
Well, these conversations went on for a month, (and within this time they also had one meeting) and the answers we received kept changing which created other problems and questions, so my Dad tried to set up one last meeting with Frank Figueroa Jr. and the elders to get things cleared up. Frank at first agreed to have a second meeting, then refused because my Dad did not want to go back to Franks Church after all this had transpired. A week or so later he filed a temporary restraining order against me and my Dad that was filled with FALSE accusations.
He claimed my Dad and I threatened people when we did no such thing. He made these false accusations against me while I was extremely ill (still am) and was to sick to even leave the house, (but yet it seems he expected me to drive into town and go to court, luckily I did not have to but my Dad did). Not to mention, the stress he caused me by all the problems this caused me and my family made my illness and the pain worse.
The court day arrived and the TRO was dismissed after many failed attempts by Frank to accuse us in front of the Judge. I have tried to show proof to some of the elders of the church that the things Pastor Frank Figueroa Jr. said were false, and tried to tell them how very serious this situation is because these accusations where made under the penalty of perjury, but they say nothing at all and in my opinion it's very clear they do not seem to care that he was wrong, or why he was wrong.
Because of the way Frank Figueroa Jr. was acting and the way the stories were changing, me and my Dad decided to record the conversations with him and the elders for accuracy (which is legal in our state), because of this we can prove what was said and there were no threats to physically harm anyone. I have sent my recording to them, and none of them have responded nor repented to us of a single thing.
The two elders that were most involved throughout this situation were Scott and Dave . Scott ended up making things worse, which he admitted. He actually said he was no good at doing things like this and said he would stay away from the situation. However he did not keep his word and continued to inject himself into the middle of things and further confuse them.
Dave was actually asked before the TRO was filed if he wanted to hear one of the recordings, this was in regards to something Frank had denied saying which we of course had recorded. Dave said no, which to me shows that this person is not interested in the truth at all.
Frank Figueroa Jr. and the elders of Waipio Grace Brethren church have not personally shown me an ounce of sympathy or regret for the harm they did to me and I don't understand how Frank can teach the Bible honestly from the pulpit when he does things that are the very opposite of what the Bible teaches.
This man made my health worse, caused me extreme stress and pain, and no one at the church seems to want to know how Frank came to these conclusions even though they are wrong and devoid of reality. I personally believe he knew these accusations were false when he made them. I can come to no other conclusion because of there silence, there failure to apologize, and how off base the accusations were in the first place. I implore you to stay far away from this Church and anyone who is taught scripture by this man for your spiritual health.
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So that's my story, here is the video. It amazes me I was able to sit under a pastor that sounded like this, but I was sick and I guess I just wanted some friends. Also, I had not attended church in a while, this was my first one as a semi adult, and I guess I was just really ignorant. So maybe this video can help you be less ignorant (unlike me), so maybe you don't have to go through what I did.
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Telling my kids a relative is in a cult (1 reply)
Any advice about telling my teenage kids that their relative is in a cult? I've read articles about what cults are, warning signs, we did an intervention years ago but we're unsuccessful. They have a good relationship with her and have no idea, I think. It's very emotional for me to tell to finally tell them. Thank you.
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Rickross.com is for sale (4 replies)
In what can be deemed to be a massive betrayal of ex-cult members' trust these websites - culteducation.com, rickross.net, rickross.org, rick-ross.net and rick-ross.org are now for sale to the highest bidder. As one of the most aggressive cults in the world, you can be sure that CO$ will put in a bid.
[www.cultnews.com]
And what will the purchaser(s) get for their bucks?
Quote:
Rickross.com today is the gateway to a vast archive that has been under continuous construction for 17 years. This ever expanding online library includes thousands of individual documents, articles, reports and studies divided into hundreds of subsections by topic such as Scientology, Landmark Education and “brainwashing.”
A wealth of information is contained within the public message board attached to the RI Web site, which has more than 100,000 entries. The posts at this open forum board include comments from former cult members, affected families and others concerned.
Unquote:
This means that the purchaser(s) will get unrestricted access to the identities of all memberships, email addresses, passwords, and other contact details.
This is a massive betrayal of members' trust.
[www.cultnews.com]
And what will the purchaser(s) get for their bucks?
Quote:
Rickross.com today is the gateway to a vast archive that has been under continuous construction for 17 years. This ever expanding online library includes thousands of individual documents, articles, reports and studies divided into hundreds of subsections by topic such as Scientology, Landmark Education and “brainwashing.”
A wealth of information is contained within the public message board attached to the RI Web site, which has more than 100,000 entries. The posts at this open forum board include comments from former cult members, affected families and others concerned.
Unquote:
This means that the purchaser(s) will get unrestricted access to the identities of all memberships, email addresses, passwords, and other contact details.
This is a massive betrayal of members' trust.
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The sale of domain name rickross.com (no replies)
To whom it may concern:
See [www.cultnews.com]
The sale of the domain name culteducation.com is for the domain name only and does not include any portion or part of the Web site archives. Everything within the Web site archives will remain intact and nothing will change. This includes the main archives and message board contents. They buyer of the domain name culteducation.com will only purchase and have access to the domain name and nothing else. What is now known as culteducation.com will become culteducation.com. This will be a domain name change and nothing more. This will of course involve a change in all relevant link addresses within the archives and message board and this will temporarily affect search results as the various search engines note the change in link addresses. Eventually all the contents of the Web site archives and message board entries will once again become evident and appear within searches with the new domain name prefix.
Rick Ross
See [www.cultnews.com]
The sale of the domain name culteducation.com is for the domain name only and does not include any portion or part of the Web site archives. Everything within the Web site archives will remain intact and nothing will change. This includes the main archives and message board contents. They buyer of the domain name culteducation.com will only purchase and have access to the domain name and nothing else. What is now known as culteducation.com will become culteducation.com. This will be a domain name change and nothing more. This will of course involve a change in all relevant link addresses within the archives and message board and this will temporarily affect search results as the various search engines note the change in link addresses. Eventually all the contents of the Web site archives and message board entries will once again become evident and appear within searches with the new domain name prefix.
Rick Ross
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Larry Herlong is a false prophet (no replies)
I posted some information about this man (Larry Herlong) and some of his associates (Matt Swogger and his wife Leah Swogger) under the topic Cults, sects and new religious movements, but it is actually more appropriate under this heading of "Destructive Churches". Destructive being the operative word. Larry is a self-proclaimed prophet and I heard him say numereous times that; "you know if a prophet is the real thing, if the things he says comes to pass". So one can gather that the opposite is also true. If NOTHING he says comes to pass, then he must not be the real thing. In my four years listening to him, none of his prophecies materialized. Then he would blame me (or others) for a bad attitude, or my doubt and unbelief (which he heavily contributed to) or would just say...."Well I never said when", which was often untrue and, not to mention, a total cop-out. These people did unimaginable harm to my family and I, including children, all in the name of Jesus and "biblical truth". Our eyes were eventually opened when we got some counselling from pastors and elders of a REAL church who were genuine men and women of God, without any self-serving ulterior motives. When we told them of some of the things we were told by Larry and the Swoggers, they were totally shocked that people could commit such blatant spiritual and psychological abuse and still call themselves Christians. PLEASE, if anybody out there is involved with any of them, or thinking about becoming involved.....BEWARE! If you hear/feel that little voice inside of you telling you that something just "doesn't seem right"; LISTEN TO IT! If I had, I could have saved myself so much pain, anguish and severe monetary loss. They will tell you that that little voice is just the devil lying to you because you are about to have a major breakthrough or blessing from God. Just pure manipulation and brainwashing! I hope and pray that this post will save even just one family or person from the torment we experienced. Thank you.
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