Quite easily actually. Telling the truth, out loud, in spite of the opposition a person faces from the cult members usually does the job. It isn't fun, and it is costly, but if the cognitive dissonance gets loud enough, the cult will make a concession or two. Once they do, it's all over. Most people don't want to do this however, they would rather walk away and "heal.&
Forum: Destructive Churches

Dear Eclectic I think you are on the wrong track with regard to Calvary Chapel. Over the last 3 years I have had some interesting experiences: I destroyed a real Christian cult, The Assembly of George Geftakys. The Rick Ross website was intrumental in this, as was a website that I ran, Geftakysassembly.com. I also attend a Calvary Chapel. I am extremely sensitive to legalism and &qu
Forum: Destructive Churches

Hello, I am the author of many of the articles on Rick's most excellent website. I also began this website, www.geftakysassembly.com If you search this forum back about 6 months, you will find a huge thread on the Assembly. You may also enjoy a few other bulletin boards that are focused entirely on the Assembly. Email me if you want the URLs, but they are also found on the abov
Forum: Destructive Churches

I was young at the time of the Manson murders, but I have read a couple books about them. The way I remember it, Leslie Van Houten (was she Sadie May Glutz?) was put in prison for MURDER and consipracy to commit murder, and other crimes. As far as I know, being in a cult, and under the influence of Charles Manson, wasn't illegal. It was what they DID while under his control that was wron
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Everyone This is a rather common phenomenon I think. At its root is pride. After leaving the first cult, people think they are so smart for "figuring out the problem." or they think they are so brave and courageous because they left, etc. What many of us don't do is to accurately judge ourselves and realize that it was our own character flaws that made us vulnerable.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Well said Terry. In order to forgive, one must be aware of how they were offended/wronged/violated, etc. This is often the "sifting" process that you described. The other aspect of forgiveness, at least Biblical forgiveness, is that we must go to the person who offended and confront them. As many of you know, Matthew 18 is one place where this idea is developed in the Bible.
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Great Topic! What worked for me is simple. 1. take responsibility for joining. Yes, the leaders are to blame, but they didn't abduct me, I willingly allowed them to control me. Deal with this first. (there can be many facets here, but very importatnt, because you don't want to get "out of the frying pan and into the fire.") 2. Confront the bastards! (sorry for the s
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Joe They are still using it, it is now called the Heavenly Ladder. Same exact thing. There is also a more detailed version of it that is really intricate and demanding...no one I know has tried it, although I'm sure it's real good! ;) When are we going to see you over at GA.com? Brent
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Yeah Joe, what Terry said. Send me a donation, cash only. All of it will be used for a good purpose. Brent
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Joe Joe I will lobby to give you overcomer recognition status..if you just register with the new board! What do you say? Amen. Dave, All of the folks you mention above are still around and are some stalwart workers, etc. with one exception, who is still a "saint." Brent
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello Everyone Lets stick around just so we can get the post-a-thon meter over 2000! should only take a couple days. Of course, we will not really leave, I'll check this board regularly, and post as well! On the GA.com bulletin board: 0 posts-newbie 0-10 posts-junior member 11-100 posts full member 101-500 senoir member 501 and up-Overcoming member! Brent
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello Terry: I am still monitoring this board, but am spending most of my time over at "the other" place;) Look for a history article sometime in the future. I have all the facts together, and have verified them independently, but I must get signed affadavits from my sources before I post the article. The best defense against libel is Truth. I can tell you this: "Ac
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

I would really like to hear what present Assembly members think as I'm sure they must have some opposing arguments. God Bless, Mark I thought the article was excellent, and quite on the mark with regard to the fruit of "Assembly" holiness. Not much to say about it except that it s getting wide readership, more than 100 page views! I guess the only thing I might add
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Joe.....Amen to that last post, brother! :D David, with regard to exclusive websites, there is no need to formulate a doctrine. We all know that this website is the only true website....and that the "other" websites are counterfeits, an amalgamation of the secular and spiritual. God will reject them. Brent
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Joe! We hardly knew ya! What do you want to become a lurker for? Don't fade away into outer darkness, keep on posting, you are one of the stars here! Seriously, I think it is important to use names, as long as we tell the truth, and don't bring up settled issues. Unsettled issues? Now that's another matter, they need to be brought up. The Assembly is into keeping silen
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello Everyone Dan Smith moved to Vancouver, and then moved home, to be with the Lord. I am in contact with a brother in the Midwest who knew him well. He claims that Dan was run out of the Springfield Assembly by George. (Imagine that) My friend from the Midwest may be lurking here as well, and if he is, he may want to say something about Dan...since I didn't know him, I don'
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello Lurker...and everyone else. <<It was through this man that I was put in touch with Obeadun Falaky. He was a brother who George maligned one night at the prayer mtg. "He's a very week brother..." This is far from the truth. >> David, is this the same guy who lived with Keith Walker for a while? I remember him too, a very kind man who seemed l
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello everyone I wrote a book called Navigating the Deeper Life, which is all about mysticism and how it effected me. (I am not trying to plug the book, but you can get it for free on the webiste, ) My problem with mystics is that they are so unlike Jesus. They aren't even like Paul or Peter. It seems that they talk and talk, but never seem to accomplish anything. The opposite of a
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

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

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

Hello Eric <<Thursday, October 10th, I am a disembodied spirit wandering in the universe in the outer darkness. I am going to wander in a non-existent state and suffer for leaving the assembly. >> You know, for a long time I believed this sort of thing, as did most of the people in the Assembly. For everyone out there who is confused about the outer darkness ide
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello everyone <<A side note for Brent: Betty Geftakys was his pseudo-doctor, and she had coffee going into him in both ends. Let's see, an enema bag and a coffee can-is there a such a thing as a visual oxymoron?>> That's some pretty funny prose there Terry! For the record, I never, ever did a coffee enema. I also know that the person who wrote "
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello everyone David, your story is so sad. Even more so because I know it is true. I am assuming that the brother who didn't think your Aunt's death was important was a certain leader who's house you lived in towards the end? Amazing what we are capable of in God's name when we are so full of pride. When I read your posts, it caused me to reflect on what I think is so im
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Mark and everyone else Now I learn from Brent that he read it years later and it was helpful to him when he first left. I didn't even have a copy here as I sent them all out and yet two couples contacted me who remember the letter from 10 years ago and wanted to read it. Mark, your letter is one of the items currently racing through the US postal service, on its way to your home!
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi everyone I am back. I was unable to get on the web for a long time due to trouble with my new DSL, which is now connected. Mark...I love your posts. Please don't get weary, save these thoughts to your hard drive, because I want you to share some of this on the new site. RE the geftakysassembly.com website: It is up and running, in a very rudimentary way at present. You can ge
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi Terry and Joe and everyone else You guys are right on the money with your obervations regarding the mystics like Guyon and Fenelon, and the modern day ones like Solomon. I wrote a book on this topic called, Navigating the Deeper Life , one families journey out of Church Centered Christianisty into a Love relationship with Jesus Christ. Hopefully the title has some meaning for you . I had
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Mark You are an excellent writer and I look forward to your contributions to the website. Look for something to be online in less than a week. I am getting lots of offers for help (free of charge!) from web designers and other geeks , which is really amazing. :) The history you mentioned in your last post is exactly what I have learned, and I briefly wrote about it recently. I also know abou
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hello Everyone I thought I would take the opportunity to try out the file attachment portion of this forum. Below is an article I wrote that has never seen the light of day. I don't consider it one of my better one's, but it addresses in some detail the topic we are on in the last few posts. Brent
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups