At 16 I was saved from the Catholic Church; at 45, after 20 years, I was delivered from bondage (The Assembly). Here are some similarities to consider: Catholicism / The Assembly 1) The Pope / Guess who? 2) The Priests Interpretation / The ministry 3) Confession
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Greetings: I am appreciating the insights gotten from the regular contributors (Mark, Brent, Joe, David), and now from Eric, too. It helps fill in the blanks for me, and more importantly, it is helping those folks out there who prefer for the moment to remain anonymous. Since the format here does allow for anonymity, I am asking those who have insight- but prefer to remain so- to please share th
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Everybody, << When an outreach is a total bomb, as most are, and everyone has done a ton of leg work (not the leaders, just the "saints") then they say: "We had a great time! The gospel went out clearly." When an outreach results in some "contacts" they say this: "Pray for so and so and so. The Lord really spoke to them. Pray they would
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Mark and everyone else: I didn't know that about Kenya. Also, if anyone might know more details about Africa, it wd. be great. From a different angle, cd. Geo be throwing money around there to buy influence? Terry
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello Mark and the many others....1100 page views? Wow, this is the most read thread in the whole sight. Who are these people! I remember very well George's exploits with the president of Kenya. I wonder why he doesn't speak of him any more? He had the one audience, which I believe was set up thru the school that Katy Gloeckler worked at, and that was it. Did you know that my mot
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

<<Does anyone know any specific details re. his past and present role, if any, that he really played in Africa,etc? Anyone know about the "awakening brethren?" >> funny you should ask. I have several contacts who are well connected with Christianity in Kenya. One of them, a Brethren pastor, who also happens to have a large computer concern in Kenya, is V
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi All, In light of outreach I do remember a humorous story from a Sunday afternoon in a park in Fullerton. I went out with another Brother and we tried to strike up a conversation with individuals who were in the park and noticed Bob Anderson (presently Assembly lawyer in Fullerton) standing at the end of a long series of tables where a family reunion was having a picnic. Bob was open air p
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Greetings to everyone: I have a question. George used to speak of his journeys to Africa and gave the impression that all the people that gathered were there because of him. I have heard-and can easily believe-that he greatly exaggerated his importance in terms of Christian work there. Does anyone know any specific details re. his past and present role, if any, that he really played in Africa,e
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello everyone: To quote one of my wife's favorite sayings, 'How many millions of times do I have to tell you not to exagerate?" It works like this: When an outreach is a total bomb, as most are, and everyone has done a ton of leg work (not the leaders, just the "saints") then they say: "We had a great time! The gospel went out clearly." When an o
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Now I know that this is probably the nature of the beast to look at an outreach in the mosy positive light possible but where do you draw the line betweenreality and deception. I suspect that this kind of thing is rampant in the assembly.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I would like to bring up yet another issue that is very, very serious. While on the MTT in Washington State 94, We were outreaching (Remember Eric?) During one saturday afternoon we set up a volleyball net at a local park and started up a Barbaque. The park was pretty crowded. A group of about (No more than) 50 muslims (They wore tradional clothing) Some were taking time to even pray on their
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Everybody, <<You know, the Assembly follows the "New Testament Pattern," correct? When I read the chapters in Acts that show this pattern in practice there is something that stands out to me even more clearly than setting up chairs in a semi-circle and having pre-prayer and head coverings. It's explosive growth! Part of the New Testament Pattern is growth! &
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

David--- Actually, My father was a P-38 pilot in the Phillipines during world war 2. I think it was Terry who said his father was a marine. --Joe
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

In reguards to the "New Testement Pattern" a doctrine developed by J. N. Darby, a book by Gene Edwards points out that during the early church we see a continuous dynamic of self discovery and expression. In the first few chapters of acts we see "Drawing lots" as a method of determining the will of God, yet this seems to have been used only once. What happened to the "
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hey Joe " (I'm having a hard time keeping up with reposes) You mentioned your Dad was at Iwo Jima? My Grandpa was there. He was in the first division to hit the beach. It took 24 hours for these guys to move 100 yards! (So much for Private Ryan)I talked to a guys who Knew George from Biola He said that George said He was a marine but never saw action and that George was in an accide
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

One last post and then I'll keep quiet for a while. After I left the Assembly it took a while before I attended any churches at all. But when I moved to Orange County I began to attend Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. Because of all I had heard in the Assembly I expected the people to be very shallow Christians, because Calvary chapel had 5000 members at that time. How untrue this was!! It had
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello Everyone <<It's also sad how the leadership is not concerned with numbers. If God's people are discouraged, it's o.k. because they are not a threat to the image of the assembly. The thinking goes like this, Discouraged and missing the meeting? That's o.k. But if you come to the meetings, be an encouragement by putting on joy. One individual was told mor
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Everyone, I remember when I first came out to the meetings in the Valley in 1984, there were 40 people in fellowship. In 1985 we became an official assembly breaking bread on Sunday morning. After that, every few years we would see a mass exodus of people, ending with Mark when he left. During those times, the assembly would grow to ~60 people, only to be beaten down to 35-40 people. Af
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

<<Eric remember me David Mauldin MTT 94? I am courious to know whats been happening in your life? I always felt you wold leave someday. How is your wife? Any kids? What happened in the Valley assembly these past 8 years? I remember it was pretty small? Is it still? Any one I know still around?>> David & Others, The greatest thing that has happened since b
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Greetings; I can't resist sharing this after reading David, Joe, and Mark. One day I was in the living room of the bros. house listening to music. I had an album on (yes, its been awhile) by Phil Keaggy. For the unfamiliar Phil is a Christian musician going back to about 68-69. He is one of the best guitarists I have ever seen or heard. His albums often are a mix of acoustic and electric. W
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I apologize for so many postings but it's amazing what floods back to you when you look back at your years in the Assembly. The absurdity of things that happened makes me wonder how I could possibly have stayed there as long as I did. I remember how in Al's house he instituted a "morning time" that all must attend. He did this because some brothers were missing there morning t
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Terry, Joe, Others & the lurking masses-- Just before leaving the Assembly I had a remarkable situation that I talked about to Enroth and is in his 2nd book, "Recovering from Churhces That Abuse." I relate the story of how an old man poured out his heart to me at a lunch counter and how was keeping me from working on my chapter summary. He had a very sad story and God o
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Greetings Joe and others: Joe, your post about the guest that came to a tape meeting brought the following to mind. George, and therefore the rest of the leaders here in the Midwest, had a real problem with charismatic Christians. The charismatic movement was frequently hammered, and individual charismatics were made fun of even to the point of scorn. Woe to the guest if they were found out to b
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Mark--- That's really funny!! I remember Marc Arambula and his secret television--he loved Star Trek. Imagine having to sneak around so you can watch Captain Kirk!! I remember in the Valley in the time period I was there the illnesses that befell many. Do you remember that Mark? Even Dan Ryan after visiting this mysterious doctor was told he had a "heart murmur". Al had one,
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Everyone, Well, my vacation is over and (unlike some Assembly leadership) I have to go back to work. This is why I haven't been posting so much lately. That, and working on the article for the new website (check it out I really would like to hear everyone's feedback. Joe-- Parts of it come right out of the Valley situation and I'm sure you'll remember). Re. the Val
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

David--- That's hilarious!! I can just see you both scurrying to hide the glass of wine and bottle!! I saw much hypocrisy like that while in the Assembly too. One brother used to talk about the scourges of Rock music, yet one day as I walked past the room he lived in with open door, I heard the refrains of "Dazed and Confused". He had headphones on but had the volume turned up
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

The pressure I recieved made me "repent" for seeing a rated "R" movie and from that time on I didn't dare attend one. To me it was sin not because of personal deciscion but because it was not acceptable to the assembly. Yet during the 1994 MTT I learned from a leader that He T.G. allows himsel to go to rated "R" movies based on his own judgment. But he would
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi I would like to submit the following experience, During 1983 I moved into a brothers house. After I moved in I discovered that I was in for much more then I bargained. I also dicovered a practice of hypocracy that I believe is prevelent amongst the "Saints" It happened like this. I was sitting at the dinner table one evening when we (The brothers I lived with) Began discussing Jap
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

David---I was interested when you were asking if the Valley Assembly was still small. I attended the Valley Assembly a long time ago(1975-1980). It wasn't called an "Assembly" yet-- we would drive to Fullerton for worship, but did have our own Bible studies, etc. during the week. But I remember leaving for about a year, and then returning one night to a Bible study. I was amazed
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hey whats up with all the unknowns? Isn't this "Walking in darkness" Come out into the light!
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups