Hello everyone. I am new to the forum and I suppose that I should start out by introducing myself. I live in the PAC NW and first happened upon this site by way of a video on youtube about a local church that I used to live near called Turning Point. I joined this site not with the intention of trying to create my own personal witchhunt against christianity, but I would like to hear some of your opinions and experiences with unscrupulous churches and dangerous cults.
I have read a little bit of the thread about the ROC church in Richmond VA, (where I also used to live, VA Beach actually) and also briefly made sporadic visits with friends who were trying to get me to attend another church in the Hampton Roads area called "Wave Church". I never felt any sort of divine presence there and actually attended a 'camp getaway' about 5 yrs ago that they sponsored. I'm 23 now and this place never felt right the few times that I had been there when I was 18. I have a lifelong childhood friend that I've known for years that is a devout Christian and about a year or two ago he left the Wave Church. I asked him why he left out of pure curiosity, and he has ignored me since. I plan on apologising to him, but I didn't think that this question would be off limits. I can't even remember what he said because he was so incredibly vague.
The church is very geared towards the counter culture lifestyle ex. hip hop, skateboarding, surfing, the beach, all things that are very popular with kids in VA Beach. Although I don't think that these are technically cult tactics, I do think that they are using a smokescreen to gain supporters and eventually money.
Here is their website.
[
www.wavechurch.com]
as a heads up googling 'wave church' yields the result 'wave church cult'.