To: Changed again, Reepicheep, Prettyboy, Onion and other long time posters, Thank you for your courage and fighting for us all these years, the ones of us that thought the leadership had the same heart as us worker bees. The leadership taught us to believe that by disciplining us, and we were told being disciplined was reassurance of God's love. I now know that is not true. When God show
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

After John Stevens died, when I would get ready for services in the Valley on Sunday morning (1984), I really tried to be prepared (worship, wait on God, etc.) I hated going, because as hard as I entered in, after the service was over I went into deep depressions; even hard to get ready for work on Monday morning. We felt we let God down by not seeing John get resurrection life, and then not rais
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

My first son was the same age as Donna Hargrave's daughter. My wife made her baby a quilt, which she loved to do for newborns. We prayed the baby would always feel wrapped in God's love. We never understood how anyone could walk away from a newborn baby girl like Gary did or leave his wife. We went to a baby class with Donna, can't remember the name of it. We believe they both have
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you Pretty Boy. My wife loved Carol Pipkin. They played the flute together. Carol invited my wife swimming at her house once and she said Carol's husband was wonderful to her and very gracious. I didn't meet him, but they must have been a wonderful, loving couple. I am very thankful for our Police Officers and the hard work they have to do. I think Richard M has had some very hard
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yes. No more fear of man and man-control. Since listening to new sources (i.e.: Bill Johnson, Smith Wigglesworth, and others, but mostly the Bible directly), life has become simpler. My wife and I and three grown sons are all falling in love anew. And lightning has not struck us down. We still don't climb the 14,000 ft. mountains during lightning storms though. God never shames us.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I thought of something funny. I'm getting ready for some of my friends to start calling me a "Nephilim". I've never been this bold before. I am no longer afraid of "Excommunication." If they do, I will feel I belong on this forum even more.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hope I'm not typing too much, but I wanted to share feelings on "designated relationships." A little worried on revealing the person's name since he was related to my wife and still deeply involved in LA church. When we moved to Palmer Lake I was "assigned" a designated relationship which seemed OK at first. Then I wanted to share my heart on some concerns and things
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you for your kindness. Many tears in visiting things buried for a long time, except in dreams (nightmares). It is overwhelming that in all your hurts, you and others here express such genuine care.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

My wife (and I) say thank you. I (we) really feel your love. My wife worked in the master tape room with you in 1976 and she was then transferred to work at TLW on the AB Dick printer for books, this weeks and tape catalogs. She worked with Andy Anderson, very fond memories of him. Her mom (who lives with us) was good friends of Meredith and Dave in Iowa.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

When my wife and I both worked at Fine Line, she got pregnant with our first child in 1978. The authorities were not happy. She miscarried. The brothers told us to get ministry at the LA valley church on Sunday night. It was a horrible experience in the back room. My grieving wife was told it was great that she miscarried so we could both keep giving our lives to the word work at Fine Line. Well
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I worked at Shiloh and sawmill for a year 1976-77 and met my wife there. She worked at Blix in LA. When engaged, John Stevens sent me to LA to work at Fine Line Graphix. There was a day in the bindery when a young man from Seattle (sent to work in word work) with anger problems attacked my wife while she was working in the Bindery. I stepped in to protect her but didn't know how to box. He d
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

New to the site. Been reading since Oct. 2018 when my wife and I went to a Palmer Lake church meeting and found out in one fell swoop about Rick's predator nature. Haven't had a church service since. I read pages 668-present and 1-423. Shalom is very courageous. I came into the group in 1972 in Campbell, CA under Howard Kline. I remember whenever there were what is called "sifti
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families