Re: Struthers Memorial Independent Pentecostal Church
Date: April 12, 2024 02:28AM
I remember the night I got ‘deliverance’. I don’t know why, but I opened up to some of my current friends about this story. They were horrified. They think I’m a good person. And yet I causally opened up about ‘that time I was possessed by demons’. I see now how weird and ridiculous it is. Everyone was gobsmacked wondering what it was I needed deliverance from. It was the most terrifying, horrific experience of my life.
This is truth and please know that while posting here I do want to be very genuine and honest. I’m not bitter as I have some good memories (just not many) but I do want to assure everyone that that I am being very real about what happened. I will give a very true honest story.
It was an evening meeting in Greenock. I was under 18 and taken into the back room (vestry?) with 3 adults - Grace Gault, Diana Rutherford and Andrew Jewell. I believe it became a manic, hyped up situation based on a desire on their part for what should happen. I did hear afterwards that there was some gossip about me that had lead to these leaders believing I was unclean and had been mixing with non Christians. It was actually untrue. I was quite a dull, boring student that tried to obey the rules.
I remember being heavily pushed to the floor by firm hands on my back and lying on my front. Screaming and crying. Wailing. Just 17 year old. I remember people shouting that they rebuke the demons, be free. Get out of her demons, leave her clean. Evil will leave the room. Everyone was shouting and shouting. All hands were heavily on me. I was flat out on the floor wailing, sobbing and screaming. Again I say….just 17 years old.
And then suddenly. Just suddenly it went silent. Like they'd had enough. I remember thinking ‘oh. What have I done’. So I sat up quietly and no one spoke. And no one did speak after that. They just left. 17 years old. In a room. Experiencing this terrifying ordeal and the 3 adults with a duty of care just walked away. No one spoke to me, no after care, no explanation. Nothing. The blood vessels all burst in my face as a result of the screaming. I don’t think I have ever been so traumatised in my whole life. If I needed deliverance before that horrific experience, goodness only knows what I needed afterwards. A hug would have been nice but hugs were banned from struthers. I received several warnings about that.
I do believe that this experience caused serious trauma. Thankfully I have had help and I’m in a better place. But what if this kind of behaviour is still happening?
On a side I notice above the comment about them being racist. Yes, sadly I sat through a meeting where Mary Black and Andrew Jewell and possibly some others (Alison speirs?) repeated some jokes that they thought were funny about ‘Jews’. Everyone was in stitches. It was awful, absolutely shameful and cringeworthy.
Sadly that it was they are like. The CU at the university would get slated. We had our own meetings as we were better than them.
I did try and speak to 2 leaders on separate occasions about my concerns. One of them scoffed at me in the corridor of the Greenock church. She said ‘what is your problem, you’re not right in the head’. No one was about - very telling in my opinion. She was one of the favourites, up and coming. Think she’s married to Andrew Jewell now, Rhian? Sweetness and light in public.
The following time I asked questions I was asked not to return. I was distraught as I had given up everything in my desperate desire to be accepted and be part of the church.