For those who want to know...RULES at my church!

[Theresa]

exposure could cause more damage to those in that church and those who've gotten away from it...

what needs to happen is prayer - sincere, desperate, cry out to God on these folks behalf, and let GOD expose it in HIS time and in the best possible fashion.

A lot of damage can be done to the effected parties and the unchurched who might witness the exposure...especially if it's a church that supposedly preaches the "true doctrine" of Jesus...

you know?

[Thad]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

But, Thad you don't understand - - they are blinded by that leadership to what's right and what's wrong.

I'm just thankful, she's away from that mess now.

Yea, i can see how this all transpires and also how you can look back and say " i would have done this or that" but that the moment be in such shock especially a single mom up against 5 preachers. I guess i am coming from a males view. NO ONE would come in my house and take any family member of mine and beat them!

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Thad

I THINK SO TOO!!!! Nevermind Renda!!!!!!!

Lol.....he does need to be exposed, but the right way.

The ***newsflash*** will end up here with you reporting it and nothing is being done because after he finishes with "his side of the story" there will need to be a police report of the beating, etc.

MAYBE this is an eye-opener for someone that might be going through something like this and can realize it's not NORMAL and they DO need to report it.

[DividedThigh]

Originally Posted by Thad

I THINK SO TOO!!!! Nevermind Renda!!!!!!!

tell him to come and visit me i will expose him, lol,dt

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Theresa

exposure could cause more damage to those in that church and those who've gotten away from it...

what needs to happen is prayer - sincere, desperate, cry out to God on these folks behalf, and let GOD expose it in HIS time and in the best possible fashion.

A lot of damage can be done to the effected parties and the unchurched who might witness the exposure...especially if it's a church that supposedly preaches the "true doctrine" of Jesus...

you know?

I understand what you are saying, BUT-a crime was committed here and if it was anyone else would have did this grievous act more than likely they would be charged.


I mean does that really make sense? (Please dont think I am attacking you) but not to do anything because some one else might pay the price because she "told on them"?

That is abuse in the highest regard! Dont speak or else we will hurt other people.

IDK I guess I hate injustice and innocent people being hurt by a religious controll freak.

Of course we can do nothing and it would be totally up to this sister what she wants to do, I am merely expressing what I desire to see happen-but I dont live there.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Lol.....he does need to be exposed, but the right way.
The ***newsflash*** will end up here with you reporting it and nothing is being done because after he finishes with "his side of the story" there will need to be a police report of the beating, etc.

MAYBE this is an eye-opener for someone that might be going through something like this and can realize it's not NORMAL and they DO need to report it.

That is what I mean, the right type of exposure like that of which would involves the local police!

[Theresa]

Originally Posted by Jeanie

I understand what you are saying, BUT-a crime was committed here and if it was anyone else would have did this grievous act more than likely they would be charged.


I mean does that really make sense? (Please dont think I am attacking you) but not to do anything because some one else might pay the price because she "told on them"?

That is abuse in the highest regard! Dont speak or else we will hurt other people.

IDK I guess I hate injustice and innocent people being hurt by a religious controll freak.

Of course we can do nothing and it would be totally up to this sister what she wants to do, I am merely expressing what I desire to see happen-but I dont live there.

if too much time hasnt passed, I'd certianly insist she press charges, but we dont have that point of reference....

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by He's My Friend

I am fourth generation Apostolic/Pentecostal, and Lord knows we have experienced some very bad things.

Some of the things we went through (when I was younger) I will not discuss, because I just do not wish to "go there" in my mind.

Events (less painful, yet still not right) came to mind as I read this thread.

I recall going to a church with my mom, sister, and my toddler son.

The pastor was well educated, worked in the corporate world, but something was not right.

When we started attending the church, attendance ran around 10 members.

The pastor shared with us, that in about a 2-3 yr period they had about 300-400 people come through the doors, and he had baptized most of them.

We attended the church for sometime, and even took part in the singing and playing the piano, and I was a SS teacher.

The pastor, his mom, and sister talked to us about a few of the members, and referred to them as the, "Village Idiots".

Then attitudes began to show from the platform, little snide remarks were being uttered...etc.

We still hung in there, and kept attending. (although we were troubled)

The pastors mom, began getting up, and yelling things over the microphone that were not appropriate, (ex: the N word)

We still hung in there, and kept attending.

Then they started acting funny toward us.

They had a friend that did not attend their church, (actually she did not attend any church) and she called people up and would speak in tongues, and interpret, (I know because I was one of the people she called)...
....well anyway one Sunday morning we were running late for church, and we walked in about 15 min's late, and the sister friend of theirs was there.

Due to being late, my family and I "slid" into our pew, and sang along with everyone.

I taught my SS class as usual, and after SS their sister friend left.

(Due to arriving late, we did not shake hands with folks before service began).

During the Sunday night service, we could tell something was going on.

The pastors mom got up and was stomping and yelling.....then when he got up to preach, his message was..............

"Some of you need to hit the altar."

"Today we had a dear sister here, and you did not shake her hand, and if you don't come up here and repent and pray, don't bother to come back to this church."

Well....we had nothing to repent over, so we did not go up front to pray.
(Although we were crying out for help from God inwardly).

His sermon continued, "I said pray up here, NOW, or leave".

We very quietly got up and exited the building, and never returned.

Months later, one of the folks he referred to as the "Village Idiot" (one of my cousins that was one of his first converts from the time the doors opened), told me they finally had to leave.

She always made the comment, "I will not leave unless he tells me too."

The time finally came...she said that during another service, he was preaching, and appeared to be angry.

He thought she had been talking about him, and saying that he was dating a sinner girl, and she said he told her and her family, "I want you to leave, get out of here, never come back, and those kids of yours might as well commit suicide, cause they will never be anything."

She had taken her son and nephew to church that night, and the boys were so upset, that she said she drove them around after church, praying with them, for God to give them peace, (due to what he said to them).



After running everyone off, they closed the door, sold the beautiful buiilding ,along with the contents...yet many folks (around 400) came through the doors and were affected in some way.

I am really sorry you went through this, but to yell the "n" word over the pulpit-or what have you, was a good indication of something being a miss. imo

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Theresa

if too much time hasnt passed, I'd certianly insist she press charges, but we dont have that point of reference....

We are just merely standing on the sidelines-I guess.

I didnt REALIZE it gets that bad in churches, that is sooo wrong!

Originally Posted by He's My Friend

I am fourth generation Apostolic/Pentecostal, and Lord knows we have experienced some very bad things.

Some of the things we went through (when I was younger) I will not discuss, because I just do not wish to "go there" in my mind.

Events (less painful, yet still not right) came to mind as I read this thread.

I recall going to a church with my mom, sister, and my toddler son.

The pastor was well educated, worked in the corporate world, but something was not right.

When we started attending the church, attendance ran around 10 members.

The pastor shared with us, that in about a 2-3 yr period they had about 300-400 people come through the doors, and he had baptized most of them.

We attended the church for sometime, and even took part in the singing and playing the piano, and I was a SS teacher.

The pastor, his mom, and sister talked to us about a few of the members, and referred to them as the, "Village Idiots".

Then attitudes began to show from the platform, little snide remarks were being uttered...etc.

We still hung in there, and kept attending. (although we were troubled)

The pastors mom, began getting up, and yelling things over the microphone that were not appropriate, (ex: the N word)

We still hung in there, and kept attending.

Then they started acting funny toward us.

They had a friend that did not attend their church, (actually she did not attend any church) and she called people up and would speak in tongues, and interpret, (I know because I was one of the people she called)...
....well anyway one Sunday morning we were running late for church, and we walked in about 15 min's late, and the sister friend of theirs was there.

Due to being late, my family and I "slid" into our pew, and sang along with everyone.

I taught my SS class as usual, and after SS their sister friend left.

(Due to arriving late, we did not shake hands with folks before service began).

During the Sunday night service, we could tell something was going on.

The pastors mom got up and was stomping and yelling.....then when he got up to preach, his message was..............

"Some of you need to hit the altar."

"Today we had a dear sister here, and you did not shake her hand, and if you don't come up here and repent and pray, don't bother to come back to this church."

Well....we had nothing to repent over, so we did not go up front to pray.
(Although we were crying out for help from God inwardly).

His sermon continued, "I said pray up here, NOW, or leave".

We very quietly got up and exited the building, and never returned.

Months later, one of the folks he referred to as the "Village Idiot" (one of my cousins that was one of his first converts from the time the doors opened), told me they finally had to leave.

She always made the comment, "I will not leave unless he tells me too."

The time finally came...she said that during another service, he was preaching, and appeared to be angry.

He thought she had been talking about him, and saying that he was dating a sinner girl, and she said he told her and her family, "I want you to leave, get out of here, never come back, and those kids of yours might as well commit suicide, cause they will never be anything."

She had taken her son and nephew to church that night, and the boys were so upset, that she said she drove them around after church, praying with them, for God to give them peace, (due to what he said to them).



After running everyone off, they closed the door, sold the beautiful buiilding ,along with the contents...yet many folks (around 400) came through the doors and were affected in some way.

It was a sermon that gave us our final push out the door...we had been struggling to submit and obey blindly, but we had also been praying for God to lead us, to help us to see what is the right way to go. I believe with my whole heart He put us in that church and He brought us out...I thank him everyday, and I ask him to help others get out....