OUTSIDER'S
INSIDE UPDATE™
VOLUME ONE contents: (partial index)
The past six months have been anything but quiet. The WCG Exit & Support Network has been feverishly committed to aiding the victims of the WCG on a full-time basis. Many readers were direct recipients of the help and support the Network provided. What's keeping us so busy?
Space will not allow a full
report on the above; however, readers who wish to be more informed with
the current events are invited to contact the Network. Upcoming issues of the OIU will detail some of the debilitating effects of cult involvement. As many well know, the healing process can take years. Others may be haunted by cult after-effects throughout their lives. [See Articles] It is naive to think that the "cults" are going to "go away." They are here to stay and are growing by leaps and bounds while they employ the most sophisticated techniques and maneuvers available to further their agenda. Education is the only key to surviving this wicked phenomenon. Those who have been victimized and psychologically tortured by cults, such as the WCG, stand as the most credible witnesses. Awareness and warning the public is the only hope of rerouting the next likely candidates from buying into the FREE LITERATURE, which in turn, for many, cost their entire lives. As the Network strives to help those questioning or exiting while it maintains an awareness outreach, it is hoped that all who are able, participate in the endeavor of making the Network... work. As many will attest, the most therapeutic thing one can do is to help the next victim. The Network is for the WCG victim! At present, the Network has two affiliates, one in Canada, the other in Australia--and many are needed in the U.S. alone. All victims learn lessons. The
lessons learned from the negative WCG involvement can be turned into
positive experiences. Everyone has strengths! Our individual strengths,
pulled together, can make a great difference in combating the corruption
and fraud played out in the name of Jesus Christ. As The Whirlwide
Turns...
Compiling the necessary research in the above areas is no easy task; the reason for this will be revealed throughout this series. As many exit the WCG, confused and dazed and groping for the true light, it is their hope to find peace and understanding about their involvement with the WCG. For most, that is an impossible task unless the shattered pieces of the past are revealed, reviewed and accepted. The thousands of God-searching people, who paid dearly with their entire lives to a government throughout the past sixty years, deserve to know, what in the Worldwide is going on? Knowing tidbits about what is currently going on is limited knowledge when not accompanied with answers to why it is happening. The WCG/Armstrong/Tkach organization (hence forth noted as the WAT) is a big story. It's tentacles encircled many lives in various degrees. The total picture can only be understood by close evaluation of all the components. Part One of this series will summarize the past few years. Christian Research Institute (CRI) in Irvine, CA previously held a pristine reputation under the direction of Walter Martin. Following the sudden death of Mr. Martin on June 26, 1989, CRI management was assumed by Hank Hanegraaff. CRI sponsors a radio show, called the Bible Answer Man. On their international broadcast in early May the CRI stated that the "WCG has repented and has come around to affirming the Trinity." They go on to say, "This is cause for rejoicing of all of God's people, and we are thoroughly persuaded, that contrary to the speculations of some, this is not some public relations maneuver, not some sort of window dressing or attempt to deceive people or dissuade their detractors. This is TRUE repentance, true submission to the word of God." Anyone who has been affiliated with the WAT in the past ten years would term the CRI statement as bizarre and totally ungrounded. As members were oblivious to changes that were being reported to the Christian community (previously known as Satan's deceivers) in 1990, select leaders of the WAT were secretly meeting with several publishers and writers in the counter-cult arena. The purpose of these visits was to demonstrate to the "Christian heavyweights" that the WCG was changing its ways. The propaganda maneuver worked in some arenas and it wasn't long before Ruth Tucker, author of Another Gospel, was snugly positioned on the WAT Doctrinal committee along with a featured article in the Plain Truth magazine. Several others, such as CRI, joined Ruth Tucker as the authorities for setting up the parameters for the WAT doctrinal changes. As the strategic maneuvers continued with those outside of the WAT walls, the members were unaware of the magnitude of doctrinal changes being reported. As members exit the WAT, they find themselves astonished that publications such as Christian Research Journal and Christianity Today have written articles over the past couple of years indicating that the church was moving toward orthodoxy and the Trinity, when in fact, the membership was being taught the direct opposite at that time! Since the WACO occurrence, a mixed bag of changes have been expedited; however, any "changes" that have occurred were doctrinally accompanied by confusing explanations, duplicity, contradictions, cover-ups, misrepresentations denial of facts and, of course, disfellowshipments due to questioning the ministry. Meanwhile, the old teachings and legalism, which outsiders consider to be Armstrongism, continued to be the mainstay of the WAT diet. As a small handful of WAT leaders diligently worked the Christian Counter-cult crowd with reports of doctrinal changes, the Tkach team vehemently esteemed [and still do] Herbert Armstrong as God's true instrument and an author of change to the membership. So why did the WAT leaders tell
the outside a different story than what was truly taking place inside
the church? And what was the reason for these "changes"
anyway? Shortly after the WAT leaders started the de-culting campaign by fostering relationship building with the enemies of the past, including "Church of God, Seventh Day," negative publicity came to a halt and was replaced with positive affirmations regarding orthodox changes in Worldwide. Some have termed this propaganda as ingenious. All the WAT had to do was face their enemies of yesteryear, convince them that WCG was making changes, and shake hands. In turn, the enemies of the past start their own PR campaign selling the new WCG in a positive light. [A no lose situation for the wealthy leadership.] The easy strategy consists of cashing in on the negative PR that cost the church financially and replace it with all the FREE PR that the Christian cult watcher will offer. Meanwhile, the coalition of cult watchers who are defending the WCG, are left feeling great about themselves because they think the leadership is changing the doctrinal plan due to their personal efforts. No one would deny that the WAT organization was/is quite skilled in appealing to vanity. Sadly, the WAT targets (like CRI and Ruth Tucker) are not mentally, intellectually or emotionally prepared to take on the deceptive tactics that the well-trained present day leadership represents. In turn, due to ignorance, many well-meaning cult educators are guilty of printing positive remarks about the WAT without having done an investigation or thorough research other then taking the hearsay from organizations like CRI. Much damage has been done to the victims of the WCG; even more importantly, it would appear that the WCG propaganda program is working, so therefore the damage to new possible recruits is even more significant. Why? In the past many seekers were able to learn about the WCG's position in the religion market prior to making a commitment, due to the reporting in the Christian media. Why did the WAT organization play the "we've changed" game to begin with? Many theories have been posed:
Whatever the precipitating reason for the de-culting maneuver and propaganda campaign is, rest assured the goal is power and money. While the "select coalition" fights on the WCG's behalf by nit-picking doctrines, the leaders capitalize on the distraction while moving fast and steadily implementing growth and recruiting campaigns throughout the world. There have been no respectable training programs for doctrinal changes other than contradicting statements. But many dollars have been poured into in-depth training programs involving Personal Evangelism and Open Houses. As Joseph Tkach stated in his major speech of the year, at the `94 Feast of Tabernacles, "The HOMOSEXUALS have now come out of the closet, it's time we Christians come out of the closet too." That is exactly what the WAT plan is all about. Out of the closet and onto the street, it's recruiting time. The membership has been inundated with literature and sermons on evangelizing. They have been introduced to videos and training programs geared toward learning how to "talk it up," (love-bomb). Joseph Tkach states that Jesus "wants us to do our part." "Our part" means to serve God by bringing new people into the church. The last two years have demonstrated heavy devotion toward the evangelism training program. The so-called, "changes" offer an evangelism package. It is highly doubtful that the
WAT could pull off a massive recruiting campaign through evangelism/Open
Houses with a belief system consisting of the old beliefs: Identity
Movement, You're going to be a God someday and own your own planet, You
won't see physical death, but be changed in a twinkling of an eye,
Salvation by works and legalism to boot, just to name a few things. The strategy is well organized. The "mixed bag" of doctrinal confusion (change), has opened new doors for the old WCG.
All these new recruiting
adventures required strategic implementation of programs, which involved
much training of members for the purposes of evangelism, plus
manipulation of the previous doctrinal package to something more
appealing and believable. Other recruiting strategies include: removing
The World Tomorrow television program and replacing it with concentrated
ads molded after the "Mormon strategy," having the Plain Truth
magazine's artwork emulate the Jehovah Witness style while the written
text format targets to the despondent, searching audience; Reader's
Digest major ad campaigns restarting with the high draw lure of the
"Spirit World," beefing up community services and fund-raising
events in local churches--even Canadian members are going door to door
passing out Plain Truth advertising flyers. Also, the management of the
membership has taken an about face with its new approach for getting
results through people. In the past the "go-getters or
mavericks" in the church were squelched; however, now they are
picked for special mover and shaker committees to get the job done. The
new target markets and recruiting methods offers a list too extensive
for this OIU; however, readers should note that the WAT's strategic
maneuvers include a heavy push toward the youth. The YOUTH magazine is
filled with recruiting lures and pamphlet requests. It is also the
magazine of choice being shipped to Doctors' offices and libraries,
colleges, and public schools throughout the country. The YOUTH magazine
format has fooled many who refused the Plain Truth in the recent past.
Even the magazine artwork is geared toward recruiting. Professionals in
the field of hypnosis and mind control state that the magazine appears
to use colors, which are considered to be the luring hues (orange, red,
green, yellow, on dark background), and when these colors are meshed
into a "grid type" of art, it is almost impossible to resist. So What's It All About? The WAT had to change if it was to survive this rapidly changing world. That in itself is OK. The issue is, what is the truth and real agenda behind this organization? Many cults have restructured their strategies in the past ten years including the Mormons, Unification Church (Moonies), and The Family. Even the Jehovah's Witnesses pursued moderate changes. Cults periodically attempt to mainstream or clean up their image in effort to gain respectability for new recruiting purposes. Throughout the years the WCG used the "commanded tithes" to grow toward a multi-million dollar annual revenue organization, in addition to its assets in real-estate, aircraft, investments, and other businesses such as travel agencies, insurance, Ambassador Foundation, and the newly accredited Ambassador University. Unfortunately, while the "church" was expanding in opulence and the leaders were living like kings, the impoverished membership was highly exploited by an authoritarian and totalitarian government that demanded complete control on its people. Lives were lost, families were destroyed and individuals were spiritually, psychologically and financially abused! Thousands were manipulated through deception, coercion and fear into believing that they had better be obedient to the "one true church" or their end would be the "Lake of Fire." Many spent over thirty years devoted to an addictive system of beliefs and behaviors as instructed by the leaders with the understanding that, "If you break the Law, the Law will break you." As the WAT reconstructs its sales package and places new recruiting demands on its members, it continues to esteem Herbert Armstrong as a true servant of God who brought great truth through the foundation of the Bible. It is a fact that billions of dollars have been paid into the WCG's false gospel while an "empire" was built. The main WCG attraction was "British-Israelism" (which is part of the same Aryan belief system shared by many of the Right-wing Christian racist organizations such as the Skin Heads and Ku Klux Klan). As the message to the Christian public takes on a mainstream orthodox appeal laced with a verbalization about Jesus, the membership remains in a state of confusion and cognitive dissonance. Many are experiencing a "trancing out" due to the double speak, dialectics, and combined agendas of the past and present. Also, not only is there a lack of education toward spiritual understanding of any supposed doctrinal changes, Joseph Tkach has not denounced most of the previous church teachings to the membership. While he has stated the church was wrong on a few matters and is updating booklets, he has also positioned the blame for misinterpretation of beliefs onto the membership. The current message is: It is not a matter of understanding doctrine that will earn salvation, if you don't "get it" that's OK as long as you stay in God's Church! Members have been told specifically that they are still under the Law. As Joseph Tkach stated to the membership in a worldwide satellite transmission on Sept. 19, 1994: "You see Christ gave
Matthew 5 to magnify the LAW--to make it more binding. No one is saying
or accusing, or as I have been accused of, that I am doing away with the
LAW, that we are no longer required to keep the LAW. But, I want
everyone to know worldwide that I do not keep the LAW to be saved. I
keep the LAW because I am saved. I serve God because I am saved. I
conduct myself in a certain manner or way because I am saved. I do all
the things that are pleasing to God because I am saved and I do have the
Spirit of God." (Tkach goes on to say) "But if you trace it
back from Acts 5 vs. 32, 'God gives his spirit to those who obey,' that
means we have earned it! We have the right to receive the spirit of God
because we obey God. We worked for it!" This ought to keep the cult watchers busy! This brings us back to the question, what is the real agenda here? Those who research, scrutinize, and investigate the total picture, know that the de-culting strategy is just part of the long-range plan. The "changes" employed will meet the criteria for obtaining the goal. Power and money is the objective. The objective cannot be met without a major recruiting campaign, which will add members, who in turn, will pay the "commanded tithes" and offerings. The income will be enhanced by fund-raising efforts and evangelistic recruiting. So, has the church changed?
Yes, but it is the same church, different pew--or better-said, same
candy, different wrapper.
CULT: A group or movement exhibiting great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing and employing unethical manipulative or coercive techniques of persuasion and control (e.g., isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it), designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual detriment of members, their families, or the community. Three characteristics that help distinguish a cult from other groups are: 1. Members are
expected to be excessively zealous and unquestioning in their commitment
to the identity of the leadership of the group. They must replace their
own beliefs and values with those of the group. The following are other characteristics provided by clinical psychologist who has been researching cults and thought-reform programs since the 1950's. CULTS: 1. are
authoritarian in their power structure. The select coalition of Christian-counter cult publishers and writers have done a great disservice toward the well being of searching Christians by giving approval to "a church" that has carried the reputation as destructive, without having done their homework. CRI (Christian Research Institute) has ignored the pleas for help by exiting members, and fostered the de-culting propaganda by positioning itself as the authority on cult vs. non-cult. The WAT leaders diligently strive to get removed from the hundreds of cult references and use every sales/propaganda tactic available to them. Meanwhile, the word Trinity becomes a vogue term as its definition joins the category of abused and distorted terminology increasingly employed by cults to get the job done. Those who have made judgments about the WCG based on the leaders' words have positioned themselves as participating parties towards any deception and personal destruction of its members. As the Christian Research Institute continues to extend its ministry by capitalizing on the reputation of the late Walter Martin, President Hank Hanegraaff apparently does not have the credentials to fill Mr. Martin's shoes. CRI's positive stand on the new Worldwide became increasingly noted by newly exited members. Many reached out to the leadership of CRI countering the claims they were making and voiced their accounts of the personal abuse they experienced within the church. Frustrations multiplied as their calls for help were ignored. Some exiting members reported that CRI directed them to return to the church for counseling and that the church had changed. Paul Carden, CRI International Outreach, met with Mike Feazell and Joe Tkach Jr. late in April of this year. The morning of his visit, Paul Carden contacted the Network requesting questions to relay to the WAT leaders. The Network was shocked that there was no preparation done by CRI for such an important issue and complied with their request. Paul Carden admitted that he had not reviewed any Worldwide News publications, listened to any sermon tapes, visited any areas as a guest, interviewed any recent ex-members or current members, reviewed any Pastor General reports or Pastor General letters, or completed a study on the history of the WAT in regards to the documented corruption of the past. He stated he had a few booklets that the church had sent to him. Only a few days later, on May 5, 1994, Paul Carden broadcast on the Radio Answer Man that the WCG was a true Trinitarian, fully repented church, and certainly not window-dressing their doctrines to gain respectability. Many remain shocked that noted counter-cult ministries would align with an organization that has been responsible for the ruin of thousands of lives in the past sixty years and flip their opinions following a few meetings with the same organizational leaders who were part of that destruction. The answer to this phenomenon may lie in the pages of the "CRI Accountability Report" compiled by twenty-four past employees of CRI. President Hank Hanegraaff and several others on the executive board are being sued in court for the following: 1. Civil R.I.C.O.
ACT violations (Soliciting and misappropriating charitable
contributions-mail fraud and wire fraud.) Full details are
disclosed in the Group for CRI Accountability ($5.00), and the Court
Report ($1.00). Order by contacting Mr. Robert Bowman, 1452 Ridge Court,
Lithonia, GA 30058. This thick report will provide much insight into the
deceptions of leaders thriving under the guise of religion. Many will
find the documented experiences enlightening. Particularly interesting,
is this excerpt from Mr. Perry Robinson's letter. Mr. Robinson had
witnessed the unjustified lifting of the cult label from other noted
destructive cults as was recently done with the Worldwide Church of God.
Mr. Robinson documents the following: "Other incidents include dealings with different groups like YWAM, where evidence was ignored just because Hank was assured by leaders of YWAM that they were not teaching heresy any longer. So, Hank pulled all negative info on them..." (Emphases in bold is ours) It will be interesting to learn what inspired Hank Hanegraaff to make such critical, intentional decisions! [UPDATE 2003: CRI in the News Again] An informative tape, "Deceptive Groups Claiming to be Christian," may be ordered from Texe Marrs: Power of Prophecy, 1708 Patterson Rd., Austin, Texas 78733, phone 1-800-234-9673 Individuals interested in voicing their opinion or thoughts about the duplicity and deceptions personally experienced or witnessed and would like to write letters to the counter-cult organizations, may contact the Network for the COP-AID information package and address listing. [Note: This is no longer available. ESN material is now posted on the website.] Included will be additional interesting facts and documentation regarding the select coalition working with the WAT leaders. Part Two of this series will define the "changes" and clarify differences stated to the Christian public/media and the membership. Also, what is the story behind the WCG and British-Israelism/Identity Movement? Stay tuned! NETWORK Affiliates from Afar Hello from Canada: [The Network is not surprised to hear that the plans for the first North American church building fell through. This same idea was put forth in the seventies in effort to gather new enthusiasm from the members. This more recent proposal was issued simultaneously to announcing the removal of World Tomorrow telecasts from the big screen. The prospect of building new church facilities appears to be a little carrot on a big stick and many have become discouraged over what they term, "another deception." As the WCG maneuvers recruiting and ad strategies, the new church buildings promise offers great distraction. Recently, members have told the Network that ministers are pushing the members to sign up for the new discount rate phone fund-raiser with UniDial Long Distance Service. The church now claims these proceeds will go toward "new church buildings." Exiters from the 1970's say...Don't hold your breath!"] Aye from
Australia: Dear Neil, Another topic for research is "dialectical materialism" (double-speak; i.e. the combining of opposites. Whenever a person or people can be seduced into simultaneously accepting, two opposing beliefs as true, they are, by that, rendered docile, passive and indifferent to the advances of their enemy. The goal is to neutralize the people. This concept is known as Psychological Warfare or brainwashing. Totalitarian governments of all sizes use these techniques to gain control of their people. Karl Marx was very fond of this technique!
Therapeutically
Speaking... In addition to having to deal with pre-cult problems, cult victims must first work through the posttraumatic stress and emotional disabilities caused directly from the cult. The healing process consists of several stages: 1. Evaluating your
involvement. Why were you recruited? What attracted you to the group?
What was going on in your life at that time? Recovery Issues After Exiting a Deceptive, Abusive Group Many have stated that exiting a cult was the most difficult task they have had to endure throughout their life. Confronting the obstacles of exiting takes great courage and real faith. However, exiting is only part of the process toward freedom. Healing from the victimization completes the process. As one so aptly stated, "I left the Worldwide, but the Worldwide didn't leave me!" Unless the healing process is challenged, one can find that five years later, they are still enduring confusion, anger outbursts, anxiety or cult related phobias among many other things. Getting
the Group Out of Us Post-cult: dependencies, de-doctrinating self, mental and spiritual healing, disassociation, dealing with phobias induced by the cults, kids in the cults and leaving loved ones behind. Cult tactics:
Propaganda, hypnosis, degrading of self, programming recruits/members,
control/coercion, manipulative factors such as denigration of critical
thinking, group pressure, isolation, dissociative exercises, guilt
induction, deception, triggers, thought stopping techniques, etc. Releasing the Bonds (Hassan's latest and updated book. The Strategic Interaction Approach" is a goal-oriented, therapeutic course of action that can be initiated and implemented by motivated relatives, friends, and anyone who wants to help others become free from destructive mind control. Also a chapter on "Unlocking Phobias.") The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse: Recognizing & Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church by David Johnson & Jeff VanVonderen
"Ambassador College is now fully accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools!" says Joseph Tkach. "We
are grateful for the members' prayers, and support..." [We are told
thirty percent of college costs are actually being funded by members'
dollars.] As of July 1, Ambassador College changed it name to Ambassador
University, "a term that is a more appropriate description of the
range and diversity of programs and opportunities that are provided by
Ambassador," (Joseph Tkach in his June 30, 1994 letter to
"Fellow Laborers with Christ.") The famous South African born well traveled evangelist of the past several decades, was apparently retrieved from retirement in 1993 and has been doing a tour of local churches in the U.S. and Philippines. A more recent sermon called, "What is Jesus Doing At This Time?" has been circulated to churches and has caused quite a reaction from several circles. Among the ninety minutes of awesome Gerald Waterhouse "insight," he tells the members that God has stripped away the things that enable Satan to identify the church and bring on persecution. Waterhouse elaborates that God has put the church in the mainstream of religion for a reason and that is the way Christ has always worked--by hiding. "God had Joseph take Jesus and hide him in Egypt from King Herod," He's weaving His people in and out of Satan's tactics [orthodox Christianity] to get us where we ought to be." "So, God used the method of hiding Jesus until it was time. Now the WCG is his [Christ's] body. So, it's up to Christ to hide his body, until it is ready to do the job for which it has been raised up. To get us where we ought to be. So God has trimmed off a lot of those things that make us look like a cult or sect." Many members and a few counter-cult watchers were shocked by this tape, which was approved and mailed by headquarters (HQ) to churches. Several contacted HQ and voiced their concern. As expected, they were told that Gerald Waterhouse is no longer employed by the WCG and that HQ had nothing to do with the circulation of this very revealing tape. So, as HQ passes the buck with denial, the Waterhouse message remains ingrained in the minds of WCG members. The damage is done! Why, others wonder, hasn't Waterhouse been publicly disfellowshipped and his sermon openly denounced if it was, in fact, true that Waterhouse was acting independently? [UPDATE
2002: Gerald Waterhouse
later left WCG and joined United Church of God,
AIA, in 1995. He died September
4, 2002 after a long illness.] [UPDATE 2003: David Hulme left UCG-AIA in 1998 and formed "Church of God," Pasadena, California; a group which "traces its antecedents to Sabbatarian roots in 17th-century Europe" and publishes a quarterly titled, "Vision--Journal for a New World." He proclaims most of Herbert Armstrong's teachings in his literature.] [UPDATE 2004: Carl McNair died April 14, 2004 of bone cancer. He was a minister in Living Church of God. Raymond McNair is with Church of God - 21st Century, which claims to "serve the affiliated churches of God." He continues to preach Herbert Armstrong's doctrines] Do You Know Where Your Children Are? If you don't, the WCG probably does. In conjunction with the evangelistic/Open House-recruiting strategy, the WCG has targeted the youth of the country. Other cults, such as the Moonies, International Church of Christ and Jehovah's Witnesses do a big business with the younger population and WCG has made it very clear to the membership that they intend to keep the youth in the church. Some youth target tactics include: · Youth Educational Services (YES) is
now called, "Pre-teens." Many new programs have been implemented in
local churches along with an increase in youth participation in services. Opening New Markets. As the WCG
incorporates and receives registrations in the Philippines, Mexico, Portugal,
Italy (and other Trinitarian countries), it also expands its membership into the
U.S. Spanish speaking territories. It seems two new Spanish-speaking churches
have just been started in the heart of Florida these past few months. The new to
the U.S. brethren are very delighted with all the WCG promises and show great
enthusiasm with new fund-raising for WCG ventures. Many are very thankful God
landed them safely on the U.S. shore to specifically respond to God's calling
into His church! As new country registrations continue to increase, the WCG reminds its readers
that, "registration brings benefits at banks and post offices, and allows
purchases in Church's name." (WWN, March `94) It is still unclear whether
registrations are in the name of the WCG, or under the Ambassador University, or
Ambassador Foundation. 1. Who are the 77 individuals who
formerly were longtime employees that currently receive discretionary
assistance? (third-tithe assistance) And why are they receiving it? What does this mean exactly? This statement is disturbing to many because there is great concern about high-level ministers who leave the WCG being offered a written contract with on-going sums of money to insure silence. It certainly answers the question, "Why don't more former ministers go public about the years of deceit and reported corruption and abuses?" Do the new open door policies mean the secrecy will end? Will the membership start to get the real facts about the money allocations? Anyone interested in their own copy of the Financial Report prepared by Coopers & Lybrand may write to the church Financial Affairs office headed by Steven Andrews CFO. One more thing: The 1993 report also
indicates "Members of the Church practice tithing (which is the donation of
ten percent of one's [gross] income for the Church's unrestricted use). The
majority of the Church's revenue consists of such unrestricted donations." Exiting members state that ministers
are increasing the pressure on the tithing issues. Apparently the tithing talk
on the local levels is much harsher than the way Glen Nice (member assistance
coordinator in church administration) states it in his article, "Sensible
Ways to Secure Your Money and Your Future." "The first law of success in any
endeavor is pleasing God. In the case of finances, honor to God is shown by
tithing. God tells us the whole world is His (Psalm 50:10-12) and Jesus
sanctioned the practice of tithing (Matt 23:23). If you have question about
tithing or are a little confused as to what is expected of you, you should
discuss it with you minister." (WWN, Aug. `94) [Good Luck!!!] The May PGR stated the following answer to the question, "What does the Church mean when it says it 'cannot afford" a 30-minute telecast anymore?" Reply, "Compared to the cost of television commercials, a broadcast is far more expensive. Also, a church with hundreds of congregations and thousands of members must set priorities on expenditures. When we say we cannot afford a 30-minute telecast, we mean that we do not want to spend a large amount of money on a 30-minute telecast while we ignore other basic needs, like local buildings for our church congregations, or financial considerations for ministers and employees, including such things as a retirement plan. Moreover, ads are a much less expensive way of bringing people into contact with the Church." As the WCG removes The World Tomorrow
telecast, it increases its spot ads. The ads frequently air in key time slots
throughout the US and Canada. So while much disinformation spouts out from the
WCG - HQ regarding money woes, the facts remain that there is plenty of money to
implement the new recruiting/evangelistic training programs and Open Houses.
--The church IBM 370 mainframe was decommissioned on March 11th, only to be replaced by a new AS/400 computer. The new computer system effectively allows sharing of information with their offices around the world. For a more thorough understanding on the way the WCG uses its computers to track its members, order the Mike Hollman (former head of Data Processing) tape ($5.00) from Watchman Fellowship, P.O. Box 13340, Arlington, TX 76094-0340. --As the WCG enhances recruiting strategy through its PR campaign with community services, evangelism, Open Houses, newspaper photo op, fairs (distributes the YOUTH `94 magazine), it also modifies some of the inside church behavior that has not been so appealing to newcomers--members can now clap during special music and women are allowed to wear pants! --A new Let's Talk video program is being used by Church pastors in efforts to improve marital skills within the church. It has been reported that a church survey indicated that seventy percent of Ambassador College graduates' marriages end in divorce. These shattering statistics certainly show "God's way of life and government from the top down, as stated by the WCG," doesn't work! From Our Mailbag
I found the information to be very
helpful and enlightening! However, I would like to suggest including information
about how WCG lacked the Godly love it purported to have and especially how
racist WCG is. After all, it wasn't over doctrinal issues that I left the WCG-
it was over the lack of love and the racism. After leaving, I found out how
flaky the doctrines were in the WCG. I am an African American and I would dare
say that most African Americans leave the WCG because of the racism, not because
of some change in doctrine. During my time in the WCG, virtually no one wanted
to talk about the racial problems. I believe if gathered testimonies from
African American, Hispanic, and Asian ex-WCG members as to their experiences as
far as race is concerned, they would make credible testimonies to illustrate
another destructive facet of the WCG. Please keep trying to set up support
groups and hopefully with a leader trained in WCG mind control.
I was in the WCG from 1969 until 1981. I was one who waited for the church to
flee in 1972 and for Jesus to return in 1975. I listened very intently to
Raymond Cole, Rod Meredith, Brice Clark, Wayne Cole, Herb,
Ted and Ron Dart.
Now, what does one do? Quite a number of people left the church when I did. Not
one is attending any church. No one knows what to do. If you have any
information on cults, please send me some. I will pass it on to the other former
WCG members in my area. The deacons that came out when we did don't seem to know
anymore then the rest of us. I will be anxious to hear from you. [Update: Ron
Dart later founded Christian Educational Ministries and is airing on a number of
Christian radio with his program "Born to Win." He continues to teach
Herbert Armstrong's doctrines. - 2004]
My family and I have left the WCG. Please forward any information that might
help us recover from the experience.
It is very refreshing to read about people like yourself and your husband who
are involved in helping those who have exited and are exiting the WCG. My wife
was in for 25 years and I for six years. It's been a great challenge to come out
of this "faith" and control. It's been much more difficult for my wife
than me, but difficult nevertheless. It does shake a person's stability. It's
caused us to do some homework in comparative religion study and watch, with a
critical eye, everything said by people preaching the gospel. We both would like
to hear about your group and what you do to assist people regaining confidence
in themselves and God. We have a need to learn how others handle this particular
problem.
Thank you once again for all the information you sent me. I enjoyed talking to
you over the phone. You were a lot of help to me. If I never meet you and your
family in this life, I'm sure we'll meet in the Kingdom of Heaven.
I am going through a lot of confusion and pain right now, trying to understand
if WCG is really a cult. Mr. Tkach and his son certainly seem to be setting out
to change its image lately. But do I still want to stay with this group? How
wrong is it? I know I will have a lot of problems to cope with in leaving my
friends behind and being shunned by them and having nowhere to go. I can't
begin to tell you how messed up this has made my mind. I am almost afraid to
think what will happen if others in the WCG here find out how I am thinking. If
you can help me with any other information, I will really appreciate it.
My husband and I recently left WCG after being members for seven years. I hope
to never get involved with organized religion again. I also hope to never be so
foolish as to put an organization or a man between me and God again. It's a
funny feeling, though, to think you had all the answers and then to find out you
don't have any of them. I have to wonder at the gall of people who mislead
others in the name of God. Don't they fear the Day of Judgment when they will
have to give account? Well my prayers are with all the ex-members of the WCG. I
hope we can all finally begin to have a real relationship with God.
I left the WCG last year. I have gone through so many emotions of disbelief,
denial, confusion, anger, sadness, etc. I had been in WCG for twenty years. I
was a "spiritual widow." Neither my husband nor children were in the
WCG and they do not understand what I am going through. They don't want to talk
about it, but I need to talk about it. For twenty years, the WCG was my life. It
controlled how I thought and reacted to everything around me. I never, ever
thought that I would someday be leaving it. I never really made friends outside
of the WCG and now that I have left, all of my friends in the WCG have shunned
me. I am at a point now where I am not certain what I should believe
spiritually. I feel that I can't trust anyone, nor my own gut feelings. I
certainly have been wrong before! I also have the feeling that I no longer
belong anywhere that my foundations have crumbled. Where do we go from here?
The sound of your service is probably much needed. I think it is fairly well
established by many (though not enough) that the WCG and many of its clones are
cults. Perhaps, not a David Koresh or a Jim Jones cult, but nevertheless,
psychologically and certainly financially destructive and abusive. Cults are
dangerous in very subtle ways - their radioactive fallout too often has a very
dangerous life span. "Toxic faith" is what one source calls it. While
I feel I owe absolutely nothing to the WCG, I still feel I owe something to the
brethren, despite the fact many either have or would condemn us - "you've
lost God's Spirit;" "you're going into the 'Lake of Fire,'" etc. I'm
sure you've heard them all. It hurts to care for such people who we once thought
of as friends and brethren and to be condemned and shunned by them. I've only
tried to help them. But does God really want me to try to help others who want
to be deceived and abused doctrinally and financially? Can anyone truly help
those who want to remain brainwashed? Do I really owe them anything, other than
prayers for their eventual deliverance?
I dropped out of WCG after being unable to live up to their high standards. I
alienated all my relatives and friends since being in the church. I can't seem
to make friends outside, as no one wants to listen to things related to the WCG.
I am very lonely and don't fit in anywhere. Please send information.
I was kicked out of WCG several years ago. I was shunned. A man in the church
had molested my son. I was scolded for calling the police. My husband divorced
me (WCG member). I have not been able to get over the 22 years of the WCG. I
need help and I need help from others.
The WCG is quite an obnoxious cult, but the external appearance remains
attractive and intoxicating. God save us from the cult! To Our Readers With Sincerity,
|
