I think it's time to post some big news that hasn't appeared here yet. And please sit down for this: A few months ago, it was acknowledged that Charles Meade sexually abused his own grandchildren. This has been verified multiple ways. Everyone in the group knows this, and many have stopped attending the meetings. Some are having get-togethers in their houses. Charlie Sparks is t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

As for who walked out, by now it is many people. My last info is that the Sunday meetings are a fraction of their previous size. I really don't want to toss names around. These people are dealing with a lot of heavy stuff right now and I don't want to add to it. If there are specific people you're curious about, please send me their names privately. I don't have much i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

When she came to the group, Marlene was married to Bob Maltheson, the father of her daughters: Sandy, who married Charlie Sparks, and Robbin, who married Jack Burbach.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A few things I can pass along: 1. They have relaxed in at least some ways. Youg Burbach made a show one day of "throwing the rulebook away." Not sure how far it goes, but it's something. 2. I don't think most are reaching out to families yet... perhaps out of habit and refusing to admit they were wrong all those years. (Wild guesses on my part.) 3. The ruling famil
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

rrmoderator: I have seldom, if ever, seen a forum moderator do as fine a job as you have done. Thank you very much. Ref
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yes, I hear of changes like that too. Funny thing: Originally, people didn't have TVs because they thought is was a bad idea. (Not irrationally, I think.) To say "were not allowed" would have been a slander then, but, sadly, it is not a slander now. They do indeed need permissions. Pathetic.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Here ya go:
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yeah, queen it is.... I have little info, but it seems pretty clear that Jack and Robin Burbach's oldest son is now the big minister. That, to me, means that Marlene is still reigning above all and continues to abuse them all. I still have a hard time imagining my old friends laying down their lives to a woman they knew to be abusive and grasping. (And, yes, many of the original people
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I am surprised that I have not heard more following Meade's death... and having this young man appointed as the new Grand Poobah is stunning. The meaning I take from this is two-fold: 1. Marlene is firmly in control. The new boss is her grandkid, so this is raw, monarchical ambition. What a vile being she is. 2. That my old friends are more degraded than I wanted to imagine. I pr
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

FWIW, I hear that the new anointed Big Dog is Jack & Robin Burbach's oldest son. (He must be 20-some.) Being Marlene's grandson, this makes sense, but ALL the original ministers being passed-over creates yet another bizarre chapter in this drama. Ref
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

justintime: As one of the old-timers, I am sorrowed (rather sickened) to hear about you being mis-treated for not donating or being "rich enough." The tragic part to me is that these people all knew better in the old days and would have condemned such behavior. Money is useful, but it is no measure of spirituality. S. Dakota is right on the records. I have verified the facts separat
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks, SwampHoss. Much appreciated.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I've confirmed that Meade died Saturday at the VA Hospital. Also that there was no announcement of his death at the Sunday meeting. Neither Meade nor Marlene had been attending meetings for months, with no public explanation of their absence. Looks like the caste system is being maintained above all. Ref
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks, SwampHoss, I appreciate the info. Best regards, Ref
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi DS, I understand your feelings. Weird stuff, huh? I had some odd moments early-on, realizing that among all my old companions - with whom we all swore allegiance to the truth, no matter where it led or how high the cost - that I was the only one who remained devoted to truth. The rest had bowed to authority and to pressure. They became members of a hierarchy - a collective. I was back o
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Just a few comments, FWTW: Conrad: You made a comment on Meade saying that he'd live till Jesus came. That's definitely true, but I think it has been erased from the acceptable record, kind of like the USSR used to do when someone was demoted. They haven't really circulated tapes in a long time, as best I know... maybe since the late 80s. It seems that truth became fungible to
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi South Dakota, Here are my best replies: I was reading back through the thread and the articles on the website and it brought about a few questions. How are they getting away with all of this without the IRS taking notice? I realize that "churches" have tax exempt status but the volumes of money going around and what seems to be multiple moving of said money sounds like it woul
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

No one has news on anything? Not sure if that's good or bad. Best regards, Ref
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi BD, I'm not sure who you are (and I'm not expecting you to reveal anything), but I probably knew your folks. Glad to hear you and they are out. Hopefully your brothers make it out soon. My primary interests are new developments and news of old friends. (Have been saddened to hear of many losses and of many ugly developments.) Would appreciate whatever you can post or send in a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

People leaving the group deal with things in their own ways, and usually very slowly. After being manipulated for so long, they generally don't want someone else asking questions... even if that person is behaving perfectly. Ah well. Ref
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Patches, Ok, you've got some good info. I'll just make a couple of comments below: > Charlie's father was not "much" older; he was 5 years older than Julia. His name was Leck Meade. Leck had 3 uncles who were Baptist ministers. Julia's father was a Baptist minister, as were several of his brothers and uncles. Leck and Julia were not extremely devout, no
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Grace, Nice to hear from you, though I'm not sure we've ever met. I certainly knew Pete and Linda quite well, as well as Scott and Valerie. I am very sorry to tell you that Linda passed away a few years ago. She did have a daughter, born in about 1990. That girl now has a child of her own. Pete left the group some years ago and is living in central Florida. Last I knew, Sc
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Hi Ron, I'm pleased you're doing well. And, yes, the early days had some wonderful, wonderful moments. I knew WH too. I hadn't spoken with her in some time before she checked-out, but, yes, she was a sensitive woman and was always kind and gracious to me. A real loss. Am VERY pleased your son wasn't one of the tragedies. God bless.
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Hi OLI. More answers: > How long have you been out? A long time. Decades. > I just thought the situation with the one husband was awkward, how he seemed so cool and removed from the whole thing. Yep, I know what you mean. I’m not sure I really understand it. Creeps me out too. > From a source, many ET women are now going to doctors and midwifes for childbirth....
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Hi OLI, comments: > of my questions, you helped a lot. The whole thing just puzzles me still but what you said made a lot of sense. I’m pleased. > So, according to what you are saying the whole situation with the man whose wife died during childbirth, he never really loved her but married her because that was what he was supposed to do, and when she died he just needed to "r
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Hi OLI, I’ll do my best for you: > I have been interested in ET since I met them years ago. Over the years I have met some really nice ones and others have been the most snobby people I have ever known. One older couple in there 50's or older are soooo sweet and nice. They just seem like really awesome people. I’m really pleased that some have retained their kindness. I’d love
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PART TWO As these small groups formed, the new attendees tended to be young people of exceptional talent, who were drawn to the idea of actually being good, as opposed to being “suffering, weak Christians.” Of course, there was variety and exception, but a list of the early people and their talents would be impressive to review. An early crisis was the decision to follow either Freeman or
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A brief history of Charles Meade and his followers: PART ONE I’m in the mood, and I may be the only one who knows some of these facts, so I’m going to write them. Some parts of this are rather obviously my interpretation and judgment, and I’ll rely on the intelligence of the reader to divide properly. Charles Meade born on December 24, 1916 near Paintsville Kentucky, at a place called
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

> The aspirin comment is from a direct quote from Meade himself. You can hear him say it on the 20/20 feature from 1992. Wow, okay. "Never" would include a lot of years in Muncie, IN, when he was not some paragon of religious ethics. > I am not gloating in his difficulties so much as I am pointing out the inherent hypocracy of the movement. No prob, I'm probably a
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> I have heard that Charles Meade is in a fancy nursing home now. Is this true? I have no idea, but he is approaching his 92nd birthday. > does that mean that the man who has never been sick or taken an Aspirin a day in his life is now losing his faith? First of all, never an aspirin is an over-statement. Secondly, I wouldn't recommend taking pleasure in another's diffi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families