Nobody Just Wakes Up One Day and Says ...

...I think I'll join a cult today!  It just happens.

J.D. Fouirie says ... I have been following your blog for some time and every article has been hitting closer to home.  Our family is involved in a Victory Church in South Africa and it is becoming more and more demonic each week.  Our children have no time for anything or anyone but the church and the people there.  Keep putting out the word of what can happen when Christians sleep.

Pierre & Mairie Tremblay say ... We as Christians are given "free-will" and it is unfortunate that Satan can use this "free-will" to blind us and lead us down the garden path into these non-Scriptural churches.  We were fortunate to have had some discernment when this phenomena started coming into our youth group.  Our Board took action and disciplined the Youth Pastor who promptly quit and disappeared only to resurface in a very charismatic church in another town.  We are in communication with them about the phenomenon and are waiting to see their next steps.

Norman Whitehead says ... You certainly find interesting people to quote in your blog.  The fact that you are taking so much time to research is really quite amazing and the teachings are invaluable for us.  We are now fully aware that our church is one of these non-biblical teaching ones and we will be moving out of their influence in the New Year.

Frank Davis says ... We should be running from these churches as fast as we can.  It is easy to be taken in by the emotional high every week until it is not enough.  By the time you realize that you are involved it is too late.

Lynda LeFountaine says... How true!  Experiences should never be taken over doctrine and Biblical truths.

Amelia Thornton-Smythe says... Great parable on how God views "free will" and what happens when we make the wrong choices.  We have left a Victory Church in California for exactly the reasons that you have been extolling on your blog.  Thank you.

Cindy Browning says... Well-said!  I am sending your blog link to members of my family who think that they are in a Bible-believing church while in fact they are involved in a splinter Pentecostal group.  Keep up the good words.

T. Smith says ... Allowing free will is part of God's plan. When we don't choose the correct one, consequences follow.  These questions are all valid and the well-thought-out responses give food for thought to all those who are involved in a Pentecostal/Charismatic church that is leading them astray.


Douglas O'Bryan says ... I have enjoyed reading the perspectives voiced in the last few posts.  It is very interesting to figure out how some people get so off-track with their Christian experience.  Let's hope that somehow God will use this information to help those who are struggling with being in these churches.

Christine Follwell says ... Terrific information.  I am sending this to our son who is in a Victory Church in Southhampton, UK.

Walter & Carin Crosbie say ... How true, how true.  Our children have been drawn into one of these charismatic churches believing that they are all being spoken to by the Lord.  They had a brief time of prosperity but in the last year, the church has taken everything from them.  If only we had been aware earlier, we might have been able to prevent it.  They are now living with their "spiritual" parents and we feel that it is more of a commune than something that will help them get back on their feet.  We cannot get them to listen to us.  If only, if only we had found your blog earlier.

Auriel & Davis Roebothom say ... We are absolutely dumbfounded by what we are reading about Pentecostal/Charismatics here in your blog.  It is obvious that there has been a lot research into the articles; however, nonetheless, it is still appalling that this can be going on in what some people view as main-stream Christian churches.  After spending several hours reviewing your blog, we have come to realize that we are in a fringe-church -- not all the way down the road but we do have the speaking in tongues and slain in the spirit actions going on.  We thank you for taking the time to do all this research.  We will be looking for a new church.

Ryan Schneider says ... What a relevant topic today!  We spent Christmas Eve with our family at their church (which I am now sure is demon-possessed) and both my wife and I were afraid at the heaviness and despair that seemed to ooze from everyone in attendance at the service.  We've never been involved with "speaking in tongues" and certainly not on Christmas Eve.  We hadn't seen our children for over a year as they had moved out of state with my son-in-law's job and our conversations with them had not indicated to us what they were involved in.  We are praying that their eyes will be opened before it is too late.  We did try to talk to them but who wants to ruin Christmas with religious disagreements.  We will continue to research some of the books and authors that you have mentioned so that we can be prepared when they come home for my wife's birthday in February.  Thank you.

Paul & Annie Potter say ...It is really obvious that you have taken a lot of time to research about the Pentecostal/charismatic movements.  I believe that your concerns are genuine and it is really too bad that these influences are sneaking into the main stream churches each and every week.  All we can do is pray for God to intervene sooner rather than let all of these Christians continue to be deceived.  Your blog is a good starting point for discussion in our small group and we have permission from our pastor to use it starting this month.

Bryan Ingersoll says ... This is absolutely insane.  I cannot believe that so many people (including some of our family) have been suckered into this.  We cannot get any of them to listen to reason about what is really going on in their churches ... and they are mixed up in a number of different ones.  Thank you for sharing.  We will be continuing to follow your blog for more information that may help us get our family out of these churches.  By the way, these churches are spread throughout Canada from coast to coast. [We know.  This problem is huge and needs to be confronted at every turn until it is eliminated.]

Caroline Whyte says ... Thank you for publishing these recent articles.  It has opened our eyes to what is going on in our church.  I am appalled that we were part of those who were deceived by the leaders.  We need to get out but it will be hard for our children to leave their friends.

Y & C Caron say ... We have been following your blog since the beginning and have really been most upset by what is going on.  Some of the comments are so heart wrenching and we really didn't think that we could possibly have been drawn into a church such as these.  Well, on New Year's Eve, in our service, our new pastor started "gobbledegooking" all over the place.  Over half of our congregation was in shock, some left, some started shouting at the pastor ... it was AWFUL!!!  We vetted this pastor ... had no idea that he believed in such a thing ... and now the Board is trying to figure out what to do next!  All of our Board are now researching and we have started with your blog, library and comments.  Thank you, thank you, thank you .. and all because we originally looked up Joel Osteen and your blog came up!

Jay Jurgens says ... We were absolutely astounded by this information.  We know now that some of our family are involved in one of these demon-possessed churches.  Now, how do we get them out? [Getting them out will be no easy task as I have found out myself.  The whole purpose of this blog from the beginning has been to provide information and make my family aware of what is going on and that's about all you can do.  You have to pray and leave the rest to God.  He's the only One who can ultimately achieve anything in the situation.  When Satan gets his claws into your family, it is not easy to get them out.  Pray, pray, pray.]

Ira Grahame says ... Thank you, thank you, thank you.  God has opened our children's eyes and they have left their church ... it only took a whole year of sending them your blog information!

Ann, Joe & Michayla Goodman say ... We were so fortunate to have found your blog when we were researching Kenneth Copeland.  We have several friends who have gotten involved with splinter churches and did not realize how wide-spread this issue is.  We have sent your link to our friends and we are hopefully praying that this will cause them to see some reason.  Do you have any literature on how to help them extricate themselves from this?  [This blog contains an extensive library of books that can help you with this problem.  The first book appeared on January 10, 2010's blog.]

Sandy & Alex Rizer say ... How sad to read the comments from the people who have been  drawn into these fringe churches.  We were so appalled when we read the list of false teachers here and realized that even though we aren't actually involved in one of these churches, we were watching some of these T.V. charlatans for years.  Thank you for opening our eyes.

Terry Kincaid says ... We have been watching your blog for some time and are extremely interested in the perspectives that you put out.  We have always known that some of our family are involved but had no idea of what could possibly happen to them if they stay in these fringe churches.  Thank you so much for posting and we have sent the link to your blog to the ones who we believe are in these churches.  We pray that their eyes will be opened. 

Doreen Crossen says ... I have now realized that I am part of the problem because I attend one of the Victory churches and part of my "job" is to recruit unhappy Christians from other churches.  I have brought over 20 families into our church over the last three years.  Another part of my job was to follow your blog and see what was being put out about us.  What your blog has done is made me realize that we are wrong.  I don't know how to make it right but I am going to try.  Don't let anyone strop you from continuing...this is a valuable service and I know that I would not be aware without it.

Winston Campbell says ... How sad to read some of these comments.  We are just finishing up bankruptcy proceedings after tithing over 50% of our income to the church.  We were fortunate that we did not lose our home but everything else we worked so hard for is gone.  We wish that we had found your blog earlier but all we can say is that if people are in one of these churches .. Get OUT .. do not TITHE 50% of your income .. do not LOSE your family because the church takes over your lives.  We are starting over .. and will be very careful about what church we attend in the future.

L. Tidemann says ... Incredible.  These churches keep growing because they are the "feel good" churches .. and draw people deeper and deeper into their mysticism until they cannot get out.  Keep writing, Brother Poo-Bah!

Kale McDonnell says ... I wish that I had found your blog before I signed up to become a pastor in a Rhema church.  Turns out I was totally deceived until I had signed away my entire life..literally to this corrupt organization.  I am now totally against anything related to these churches and would strongly warn everyone to research, research, research before getting involved. [Shun anything to do with Rhema.  If you have a Rhema Bible, burn it.  If you possess any literature out of Oral Roberts University, burn it.  That way nobody else will fall prey to their false teachings.]

Sonya Irish says ... I have read the comments and I am so sorry for all of these people who were taken in.  I, myself, spent a number of years in one of these churches.  When my eyes were opened (thankfully by the true Lord), it took all of my strength to pull away.  I was ostracised, ridiculed and harassed for a number of years.  Fortunately, I found a good Christian counsellor who helped me get my life back on track.  I am now better off emotionally, physically and financially than I ever was.  For anyone trying to get it .. it is not easy .. but there is help for you.

Edward Martin says ... Some of these stories are just incredible; however, having just been released from the bondage of a Victory church in Alberta after over 10 years of being blinded, we are very grateful that the Lord opened our eyes to what was really going on there.  It took the death of our diabetic daughter to make us realize that faith is part of the healing process but we are not to be so naive as to ignore modern medicine that could have prevented such a tragedy.  We are so sorry that it took such a beautiful girl's death to make us see!

Thomas Joeren says ... Bah!  These people really have no idea what they are bringing into their lives and it is NOT from God.  They have opened themselves up to demons and ultimately Satan.  My sister-in-law and family were part of a "church" that insisted that all members do some unmentionable things with the end result being she became so despondent over it that she committed suicide.  We cannot yet get over her loss.

The Grand Poo-Bah says ... Dr. Phil's Life Law #1 says:  You either get it, or you don't.  Become one of those who gets it.  Sometimes God will hit us over the head with a 2 x 4 to get our attention as He did in some of these stories.  These comments run the gamut from financial ruin to suicide and unnecessary death.  Life Law #4 says: You cannot change what you do not acknowledge. Get real with yourself about life and everybody in it.  There is no time like the present to leave Satan and his cohorts behind.  Stop speaking in tongues (gibberish).  I am reminded of a billboard sign that I saw on the way to Florida which said  "Always remember, when you find yourself going in the wrong direction, Christ accepts U-turns."  If you are currently involved with anything that resembles any of the comments made in this blog, you need to make it a part of your past.  Life Law #5 says: "Life rewards action."  Take action to pull your life out of the ditch and  put it back on the rails.  It is time to secure your eternity which is in jeopardy as long as you remain under the influence of Satan at Victory churches.