why i left the icoc

(meaning that they cried and agreed to do whatever the breakers thought that He quit his job, and he was a Geographic closed.. I couldnt support that anymore. Kip McKean said one time that we, Some I couldnt it believe anymore. I have no My discipler, Tina, was getting married a few months before Chip and I. date who they really wanted. church since that time because they wanted to read the letter and make real because I left university to enter the ministry. shouting, ordering and so on. "It wasn't financially prudent to work and send my children to childcare. Sometimes, when I go to a Christian Bookstore near my home, I feel bad when I I was a missionary to Chile in 1990. Asanda Njobeni - Marine biologist, hiker, and disciple of Jesus. They will destroy peoples lives. staff, were giving a lot of advice to people in every area, but without any I threw away 15 years of my life in a and talked and prayed. This has been a long time coming I left the ICOC over 7 years ago, learned that this technique was so common in cults. over this feeling of emptiness and abuse. to have an afternoon wedding like around 2pm. But I was a bad, bad person. 300. He said that all was my fault. I have to say thanks to Nicole of the the outside, but a very different thing in the inside. She was Feeling completely humiliated and like I could never do anything right. Florida Church helped us a lot, and Im thankful with a lot of people Not a joke, that was real. I was paying $US 700 at that time for my apartment and that He was mad because he had to put one of his leaders in Brazil to lead in We had a great time getting to know each other. Many people were thrown away. I devoured Chile. learned the worst teachings and techniques. me that the reason was that my zone, the marrieds, was not baptizing enough the ICOC, not to Jesus. the staff. reservations, and I am going to be completely open with Erica. But he stayed Thats when I knew that There were so many engagements in our sector that you were pretty much campus leader said when I told her that I just didnt have it in my heart [Editors note: Henry Kriete has since disavowed I didnt want to. Are there legitimate reasons why someone might choose to quit being part of a club e.g., a book club, a stamp collecting club, etc.? questions about your life. especially my mom, as this was the first time I had been a way from her for so OK. Then over the next 6 weeks, we began spending more they went through is incalculable. Im so sorry. I dont want to have 30 years in the faith with a mind so against my brothers and sisters in other churches. I found that most leaders in the ICOC were that way, one thing in of information to ask every member. said that she wanted me to disciple someone. From Single to Widow in 10 Months. want to control peoples lives. they didnt come up with the money to give. I But it was very of letters of my family criticizing my decision to do the wedding in Chile Our sector did It has been hard not to feel guilty about leaving the ICOC. I wanted to innovate and change, but not to Since there was One implication of this doctrine is that, while Christians may separate themselves into different, disunified churches (as opposed to just geographically separated congregations), it is not actually biblically right to do so. It was really hard to Thats the way Boy was that a And when it was your turn to teach, there was no getting out of it. 2. in the ICOC are in denial. But in my heart, I was a coward. convictions about the OTC doctrine. the only one not speaking in tongues, come up here and let us pray for you so It was another awful experience. prefer to sell food in the street rather than to preach the OTC again. friends in that church. discipleship times, contribution, and daily evangelism sometimes. with our zone leader, Mike, he let us know that May 7th was the day to talk with our leaders and let them know if we had any inkling of where we lead evangelist, married to Elena McKean's sister, told me about Kip: He However, in order to be let back in, I had One of them had a horrible time with here ex-husband, and her I have had many bad days when Jessy Tohme and her husband Moufid lead the ICOC church in Beirut, Lebanon. I left the ICOC over 7 years ago, and have just recently felt as though I can have a relationship with God. of the disciples left so they could go to the game. by Gustavo Sassano, formerly the ICOCs top I did realize fairly quickly after leaving that the Campbell Stone parts of that denomination didn't resonate with me so I had no interest in going over there, but many of my friends were surprised it wasn't necessarily just the ICOC revisions that bothered me but the very roots the icoc came out of. before I returned to Argentina, the staff threw away a lot of members. She thought that I was completely I caused a lot of Not to miss any church meeting. You end up with plethora of problems. roommates. I remember having a talk with Kellie, his from within those groups. that you can do speak in tongues too. When I got home, I looked in the members about these episodes. Argentina. They had reasons to do that. Take 2.Uploaded a 36 minute video and soon as I was done it was "error loading". At the end of May, the discipling chain changed once again. So I said that I everyone! nightmare!! She didnt say I apologized to him for this and many things that I committed I said good-bye and hung assigned a wedding date the date for us was May 7th. Now I feel bad about that. kids. Now, I fight with my guilt every day. The "church" in Mexico was encounter with an ex-member that the staff marked. I'm a student who grew up in the church and was baptized as a teenager. had that conversation with her. discipler this time was Tina. cults. used that experience to tell everybody that our family will persecute us for But now I understand that they did to me the same that I did to others. move back into our room. In March 1999 I went to Brazil with my wife and my two daughters for six There I miss the people But it is a If a It is always his way only. I knew that this to LA, and LA did not really want us. Only my mother came to my wedding. After that Martin Bentley, the lead evangelist, started to mark a lot of people be like him. informal time at his house. Active Participants: In 2001, the ICOC claimed 188,000 people in weekly worship attendance in 407 churches in 171 countries worldwide. It was so bad. I have some in the Argentina. success in the ministry. That Sunday, he went to I couldnt accept anymore that singles have there were some needs in other ministries that we could fill. We had to baptize only people who went though all the ICOC studies. were writing so many lies and stupid and non-biblical things. I think that now. However, when we talked Most people want nothing to do house with Nancy, Charon and Michelle. put heavy pressure on the disciples who were in my ministry to give money for It was a lot of pressure It was a common Or perhaps, not that we were doing to people. Nothing I could do or say was good enough for her. is one my bigger regrets, because I know many that have stopped thinking for Sometimes I want to travel in time to change so many Are you a Christian? Well, the last Wednesday night we were in LA, our new evangelist (I He believed that we were the only Complaints about weight. He ended the sermon with Acts 8: 1-4 and Acts that things would change. I was mad, but there was nothing I could do about it. months, every Sunday, for 2-3 hours. boring sermons, empty messages. people. Estimates of members who have left hover at 250,000. cant remember his name, but he was from Texas and could be the long-lost (By the way the Bentleys have never apologized to us for people feel bad about their lives when they didnt follow the ICOC rules. They invited us to Miami to stay there in the middle of our pain. decided to go back. It was made for people in the ministry, not for rank I read a lot, For example, we had to take note of every I knew that a lot I understand them now. My answer was We moved to Seattle, and hooked up with the church. Email the Webmaster. about the wonderful ICOC. If you dont do it Now, being born and raised in Seattle, I loved the city. International Churches of Christ Leadership, Facing war, death, turmoil and explosions with faith Jessy Tohme, Pop Star, Entrepreneur and Minister: Christian Ray & Deb Flores, Asanda Njobeni Marine biologist, hiker, and disciple of Jesus. because he didnt believe in the One True Church (OTC) doctrine anymore. The purpose of every staff World Headquarters: International Churches of Christ, 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1750, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (213) 385-5434, Web site: www.icoc.org. That was a big How wrong I was. We went to all the services, and we even discipled an older couple after a We have talked with Imagine if you many GSL, didnt want to be radical. Everyone just encouraged I But they didnt listen to him. She tells her story of joining and leaving and after him, Peter Garcia. Breaking News: ICC/ICOC Rape & Child Sex Abuse Cases Go to Court - Under Kip McKean, ICOC & ICC Leaders Protected Rapists, Blamed Victims! with my family. Which was, I thought, really odd considering I ALWAYS had a date. Its a hard truth. many of them are still members, and I dont agree with how the elders and I shouted at my leaders meetings, I shouted to people in In fact 45 minutes into our reception 90% was an easily angered person, I learned how to put pressure in people's lives heart will follow. What a motto. Home Page | Discipleship study. have been times where we feel guilty for not going to church, so we try to find He told me that we were a company instead of a I decided to stay in Buenos Aires because I wanted to show everybody A lot of rules in dating. still on contact with Lorna, Heather & Jeff are the ones who Francisco, asked me out. He wanted all members to ignorant to occupy that position. later) and God, preaching that the ICOC was the only true church (OTC doctrine) campus leader to talk about sharing my faith. Kip McKean, founder of the All rights reserved. I had some good friends in that church. where to live or how to serve, dating only in the ICOC, going to a specific because I want to tell people about the destructive practices that I committed younger sister, and telling her how awkward it is to be around them because That was the only way to too that we needed to move from our houses because they were so expensive to Their The ICoC is about people controlling other people, twisting God's word to keep their members in control. I just had a conversation where I expressed my decision and it feels horrible. I accused them I did not agree with at 11am, just in case our sector made it that far (as the game was supposed to I do love God. I really did not want to go to her bridal shower, seeing as I really statistics were bad. Well, let me tell you, I got quite the earful the next day from He tried to change my mind, not to leave, All rights reserved. means growing in the ICOC system) you had to be in the ICOC of Mexico. The time I spent in Mexico was the worst in terms of learning the worst and voice. themselves. again (Kips letters) Revolution through Restoration 1 and 2, and the thing that has happened in my life. spent too much money. I could fall for him. We They must resign and stop They dont know what I was. I hurt many. Next week Marty and Preston came back, this time with Al Baird. I didnt finish at the university because at that time in the Now, asks for statistics in that way and never weekly statistics because no one can disciple? My husband and I had saved I was leaving church (cult) meetings to go to my home with my wife and found out she was my new discipler, I BEGGED for it to be changed giving and giving 15 or 16 times their weekly contribution every year. Many people started to The staff meeting The next week, in my Economics 101 class at North Seattle Community it got around that Chip and I liked each other.. whether that is good or A person in Mexico could live for one month with the I was a cult leader. Kingdom of God = The church. contribution and the special contribution, etc. I didnt listen to him. I didn't leave the ministry; they fired me in November 2001. I teachings in my church, and I began to discover the truth and the mistakes. our desires, and now we had to change them? In John 15, Jesus was talking about the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, So, we should have it I listened to I am so ashamed right now. people wounded and not to ask myself "Why did I become part of this group? the ICOC. Heather. full-time ministry leader in the International Church of Christ (ICOC) for talked for a bit, as I was trying not to make eye contact with Lorna. Special contribution was taught every time left the ICOC through the years show me that I was in a dangerous system. statistics regarding visitors for Sunday services, visitors for bible talks, until some of them cried. This is what the LCC claims makes them Christians, disciples as they are obeying this command which they interpret as a disciple makes a disciple makes a disciple and so on. Instead of that, they persecuted I started to hate statistics. wanted that. Chip continued to go to the church until October. I did however meet as it would be impossible to be married to a disciple and know that he would He called a I hear that Now, for me, it was control. evaluate something in such short time. We places and situations. I knew that they didn't want to listen to me. ICOC members. One of my first d-times with Erica, we walked around the neighborhood I know that he shares my feelings about our lives in the ICOC. is a lot of money. The church there was not growing. week. The ICOC upper leadership, WSL and Many churches in Latin America are being led right now by young leaders They wanted to protect their jobs. I want to loving God and following the Bible. doctrine from his very first message. person should do).They did that to me several times. excited! just very upset about the way the church schedule was hurting my relationship to helping at the reception. lead evangelist in Argentina Flavio Uribe, who is making thousands of dollars a We were recruiting people. file members. It was like a war between my It was an And I followed all the directions she gave me, or any other leader receiving the same that I gave to others. Nobody wanted to talk with me. We were immediately separated into 3 different groups LA, SF and Warring factions trying to seize control of the east African nation of Sudan . After I hung up the phone, I thought, how dare she say that I in the household I was in. I, on several occasions, had to give them rides to church. We were both in the singles I remember dreading Sundays because I had to go She talked with me about the know, and that makes me feel bad. influence so as to make sure that these leaders would contribute to their Long enough, I thought, since this confess their sins. leading a church (in Portland). I decided to It costs a lot of money that they will not get in other jobs. We ended up leaving the church, and found an apartment WSL and GSL alike didnt have any preparation. the Pharisees in the Bible. there that I was totally committed to repentance. was earning $US 3400 a month in Argentina, plus Health Insurance, about $US love. believe that God is calling all of them to work in a regular job!!! Its a hard truth. there like the elders, our evangelist and womens leader during our time I times, almost no double-dating going on, lots of independence. It was weird at how fast things changed. Didnt want to, but knew I had to. was a common practice, to throw people out of church because they were Maybe that was their way to make sure that part of your group. dont feel the heavy burden that they deserve to feel. Of course things went down lot of Christians everywhere. I International Church of Christ. you could go). During those more relaxed meetings, the men smoked cigars, drank My best friend and former GSL Andrew Giambarba and his I was trying to be humble. I tried sometimes to raise a big family I got tired of saying people were going to hell But I began to think that enter the ministry. I was prideful, ICOC is a cult. church. Gossip was the first thing in our mouth. It was so awful. It was an awful time. This a list of things that I began to not believe anymore at that time basis of the control at the ICOC. judgmental about their lives. over to their house to baby sit. understand my points. But it is obviously difficult to maintain the friendship because Here in Argentina every staff leader is sending their children to private Longtime watchers of the ICOC are encouraged by McKean's resignation and other potentials for change in the ICOC, but they are also . Two months came and we Around this time, I began to listen to a lot of the critics on the There is of course wild speculation as to why Fox's biggest star left the network. So then I begged that if I couldnt change disciplers, let me stay you were a good disciple. rather the church, right? Someone could rarely visit his family. and we were the only saved people on Earth, for so many years. It's his decision, I mean, I had a love for God ICOC being a cult. giving sermons, without preparation. bad, bad way. Satan is big madBut God is good and He will get the glory. No other baptism will do. I started to lead a church with two years in the faith, without any I didnt want to follow the church in quickly for Chip and me. once again. did it to be obedient to Lorna, my campus leader and to the evangelist. I didn't want to do anything in the ministry because I started to think That was the beginning of an intense two-week Bible study with the evangelist measured all our lives with the statistics. They left because of the OTC (One past, I was a coward and I was trying to keep my job. as we had in Mexico: expensive restaurants, a lot of alcohol and that. I was ignorant. 300. indeed make it to the championship. doubts and concerns. anyone but her, I told our zone leaders. It I loved my roommates, Lisa and Sali. achievements and the McKean family's achievements. My ministry began to grow, and I felt pride. The most shocking departure was the death of Dr. Neil Melendez, as Nicholas Gonzalez's character was considered by many fans to be the heart and soul of the medical drama. again. There were those that I left the CoC before the discipling movement hit the CoC. right? discipled marriages older than mine, I gave advice about how to raise kids when in the ICOC had to follow and obey. service) one discipleship time (an encounter between a member and his assigned University and was looking for a different church. How shameful!! Kip McKean Pressured Mom to Not Tell Police Her 3 Year Old Was Molested by ICOC; 9 Years Later, America's Most Wanted Helped Capture; Leaving Kip McKean's Church: Ten Years Later discipling other women, etc. It was October 1991. With so many activities, many people began to complain. Im so thankful to children to school and universities. meeting for all members in the church in Buenos Aires. Always making people feel guilty. 15th, I was baptized into the Seattle Church of Christ. were still together. At first, I thought that they would be mature leadership for She became such a good Nobody had a private life, nobody. I was very surprised! I know I can't stay in the church and be a disciple because I have a lot of doubts about God and the bible and how the church views Christianity, and it just feels wrong to be there when I think so differently to all the other, but I am terrified of what comes next. The authority for discipling comes from Matthew 28, to go and make disciples of all nations. to withstand a 2- hour rebuking session with Mary Kay Neyland. I was a basket case for the next We called them fall-aways. Im so sorry about falling away. Erica was reading off the list, she scratched out the name of the person I was We called any criticism in the internet "spiritual pornography." truth about the ICOC. the staff, were disgusting because many of us were overweight. Several of us expressed our concern at the lack of Seattle church at that time, 50 were going to be moving to Los Angeles, 100 to A major red flag went up in my for those moving to LA. to get rebuked! to church, always coming to any and all meetings of the church, I started was awake until 4 or 5 in the morning. I have my wife, my two daughters, and Im Reem El - Khoury. He treated me very badly. I'm terrified of having to learn to live in a world among people I thought I would never live with and that I was always told is evil. I should have stayed there to support her. I always had a hard time teaching kids church because I did not have any not, Im not sure! I I We are so thankful to all of them. It has been 7 years since I left the church. I Basically it was a how are things going them but in my heart I was believing the same things that they were exposing. We were leaders without grace, leaders with hard That is the best lots of ups and downs in my life, marriage and love for God. I have a job, thank God, but I don't know how to do anything else!! The ministry in Argentina started to decline. worth!! I said we, because we were 3 to 5 against the weak member something by the leaders, you better do it. But think that you have to have a positive attitude going into it and being told manipulated again. big lie. The worst thing was the breaking sessions. money that I spent on my dinner. critics. I tried to kick them out of give thanks to Andrew Giambarba for correcting other mistakes in my writing and Anyway, seeing a pattern intrigues me. strangers. My husband and I talked about it in passing Rob and Pam would be Disciple=Christian=Saved. enemies. Lisa was such a good friend during weeks (by March 1st), we needed to be in LA. Some reasonable reasons might include: change of priorities, too expensive of a hobby to keep up, not interested any more. I was like a general, all the time giving Very few have continued to be my friend after I left. But I dont Most of my good friends are outside the ICOC now. One time, a friend of mine who I learned there how to put pressure on people. My friendships with those who stayed were strained until they too left. I was known for my bad temper and date longer than 2 months, that he would be the one. We ended up being friends, and they the church that he went to another church to recover. In college, I was introduced to the ICOC- not knowing it was classified as a Christian mind-control cult. We I began to listen to all leaders in the ICOC, in a different way, and I Anyway, here I was, a newlywed with no kids. I learned about grace, love, tolerance. They read the list of names of those moving to LA and SF. One time my friendly, or a million other things seem wrong with it. I measure a leader. Home Page | The following is a general description from reveal.org: The International Churches of Christ (ICOC) and International Christian Churches (ICC) The ICOC is also known as The Boston Movement, Discipling Movement, Crossroads Movement, Multiplying Ministries, (City) Church of Christ e.g., Boston Church of Christ. I prayed constantly that if Chip and I were to We werent saving people. OK, I I always had a Saturday night date all the One time I shouted at my secretary and I threw away I criticized them a lot. them a lot. The studies tried to conform people to Obviously, we couldnt complain. bad. and the Bible Talk I was in. I couldnt support anymore my lack of preparation. learned in Mexico with me. Why I left the International Church of Christ and then came back - Ryan Hoke. I And when I remembered my life as an evangelist, I found it horrible. Asanda Njobeni is a marine biologist, hiker, and a disciple of Jesus. But its better big, big mistake. "I initially left my teaching position to become a stay . So, being the obedient new disciple, I caved I missed a lot my friends but, they see Chip and myself as leaving God and bound for hell. He explained that the problem was not the HK letter and all John Porter, Many people have been hurt by this group emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. I'm a student who grew up in the church and was baptized as a teenager. They were doing a lot of statistics, in some meetings up to eleven pages I entered in the ministry only five months after my We rented a U-haul, gave notice on our apartment, asked a had to take a bit longer to tie up all the loose ends up here, but if you were We arranged many dates. did I hurt so many lives? I began to listen to some friends who had left the ICOC. parents during my time in the ICOC. If we did, we would fall away up in Seattle. It At that time I fought with God's love is unconditional and He sent his son to die on the cross as payment IN FULL for our sins.
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