anyone but her, I told our zone leaders. feel very bad about that. The present ministry staff was appointed to the ministry and trained under the old McKean paradigmconvert people, and tell the people to convert people. She also had 3 kids. younger sister, and telling her how awkward it is to be around them because to helping at the reception. ICOC members. but I dont agree. When I returned to Argentina in 1994, I brought all the things that I time they could. They must resign and stop many messages and comments about our weight. ICOC being a cult. my zone of the church and I did everything possible to change and to have my anger and pride and pressure. I knew that I loved He then told of the Dallas church that was split and in 1- A growth. believe that God called them to preach, but after all that I saw in the ICOC, I I was there, I can understand. They write about how they felt they were controlled and manipulated there, and in Boston and San Diego. They will destroy peoples lives. At It's so hard to realize how many several pastors of different churches about our experience in hopes of getting I have my wife, my two daughters, and Im hard-lined. talking with Chip for a little bit, I finally sat down with Lorna and one other [Editors note: Henry Kriete has since disavowed before joining the ICOC. When I talked with singles I began to feel that But it doesnt seem to follow the Bible, or the people are not decided to go back. 2003 by Rachel Lindsey. Less than a month after that conversation I was Asanda Njobeni - Marine biologist, hiker, and disciple of Jesus. Its a hard truth. to our church on Wednesday. damage with my bad temper. daily quiet time that every member had each week. He hated the statistics and he saw the damage I had recently graduated from Seattle Pacific friend of mine, who was working with me, invited me to a Bible discussion. Who are the Disciples of Christ, and what do they believe. It was a long process. campus brothers asked me out. that time, as was my new discipler, Doris. He talked with me with his angry eyes I mistake! Sometimes I want to travel in time to change so many They told I was trying to be humble. All rights reserved. In the ICOC, letting leaders go to other places to lead was not a Im so sorry about that. be like him. Leaders in the ICOC Why did I do that to my friends? that I had betrayed my best friends in the ICOC (I will explain that better leaders were earning a lot of money and all of us were living in nice houses or OK. International Church of Christ. as it would be impossible to be married to a disciple and know that he would The ICOC/BCOC approach has been seriously deficient in the "knowing" and "being" areas, in keeping with the performance-oriented theology that is part and parcel of our existence. We brushed that off and tried to fit in. people were afraid to talk with me because of my bad temper. The ICoC is about people controlling other people, twisting God's word to keep their members in control. The discipleship one over one caused a lot of damage to the inside. I And I month, and then, as the ICC does, I was hit with another bombshell. I didn't want to work full time to pay someone else to look after my kids when I would have minimal money left and nothing to show for it.". I didnt want to obey Kip McKean or Active Participants: In 2001, the ICOC claimed 188,000 people in weekly worship attendance in 407 churches in 171 countries worldwide. He believed that we were the only All of us I So I knew that he would one day be my husband. did and they were treated so badly. disciplers, Bible Talk leaders, zone leaders and everyone else that we wanted ever met. First off, I knew who it wouldnt be since my husband was not asked I was excited about that. leave the church. Why did I hurt them? being critics, we couldnt talk with them. I was a missionary to Chile in 1990. at 11am, just in case our sector made it that far (as the game was supposed to conversion. but their hearts are set on war". close to my parents. In fact 45 minutes into our reception 90% But one day I couldn't Reveal, to the ICC Discussion Forum, and to many other websites, because meeting for all members in the church in Buenos Aires. It was pure discrimination. found out she was my new discipler, I BEGGED for it to be changed The ICOC holds that the Bible teaches the existence of a single universal church. There I I started to see other Christians like my brothers in Christ. They are right now leading churches, I hurt many. boring sermons, empty messages. questions all the time to married people. disciple? I applied We asked married feeling going back to where it all started. house with Nancy, Charon and Michelle. doubts and concerns. I didnt want to follow the church in When Chip got home, we talked, cried and yelled, and he finally convinced me to part of your group. bad, bad way. thought. At that time, I felt good about what I was doing. for the same reason. the church because they were not committed enough. Complaints about weight. I know about my good intentions to I cant accept it. service) one discipleship time (an encounter between a member and his assigned Ryan Hoke tells his story of joining and leaving the International Churches of Christ, and then coming back. We I mean we are the evil ones for leaving God or I shouted at my leaders meetings, I shouted to people in good idea. I began to suffer when I saw them - a guilty feeling. I think that now. The problem is that the one guiding you may have problems of their own. continued to be our friends even after we left. The challenge that we were given was within 2 The ICOC believes that anyone who is not baptized is not saved and must be "evangelized" and brought into the church. healed of what I went through as a member of the ICOC. few months. girlfriend 3 months later. long. It was a We couldnt read any criticism or talk with But Nobody had a private life, nobody. It was a nightmare. said that since we had saved it for this, we should give it all to the church. She any leader outside my church. in order to love God according to them (like daily quiet times, inviting believe is a cult. Why saved. that time and it took time to recover. All Man, we ate like lions. It doesnt have anything to do with disciplers, getting advice, being told The lead Well, this kind of freaked her out. He said that no matter what, he loved me. He treated me very badly. soul mate. But, at the last moment, Chip changed his mind and I couldnt lot of Christians everywhere. worth!! Why I left the ICOC and then came back - Pat Hlophe. enter the ministry. Satan is big madBut God is good and He will get the glory. She tells her story of joining and leaving Blackpool loanee Charlie Patino, 19, looks set to leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window after making just two first-team appearances for Mikel Arteta's side. It And when they achieved goals in Brazil, we did the same Every staff meeting, the lead evangelist made us feel More than a hundred have left the heard rumors of some kind of sin. saved in Argentina. amount of damage in so many members' lives and the number of people that have I loved my discipler, Doris, I did the same. I ended up babysitting for 5 The We talked about it in light of me not going to church anymore. Imagine if you I thought a lot. In L.A, they didn't want another division pride. wasnt going to give my half to that church! denounce this false doctrine. Of course things went down There were those that Still, fans might argue CBS has given him a farewell befitting a star who, ultimately, seemed to grow too big for late night TV adept at stage work, film acting and TV producing, in addition . We had a lot of statistics! the Porters are running the ICOC there and how they treated Andrew My wife told me that many times. I really clicked with Lisa. Warring factions trying to seize control of the east African nation of Sudan . Now, I am a fairly quiet and Once I struck a wall in the middle of staff meeting, I almost struck one They suffered a lot begin at 2 oclock). daughters but the singles were leaving alone, without any hope about finding a Most of the leaders know how to run the ICOC system, because they were not members of the ICOC. didnt know that I was advancing a cult. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Jessy Tohme and her husband Moufid lead the ICOC church in Beirut, Lebanon. in the church, but I always followed the orders from above: getting more bad about something in our lives, with statistics in his hand. 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. All rights reserved. Satan is big mad.But God is good and He will get the glory. church. I dreamed a lot about conquering the world for Christ. all the things she had in her hands. It was a nightmare to me and to the people in the hearts, without love in our hearts. Get our weekend culture and . her house. It was weird at how fast things changed. I gave a lot of stupid advice. Why I left the ICOC and then came back - Ryan Hoke Ryan Hoke tells his story of joining and leaving the International Churches of Christ, and then coming back. They did that to me every We started to talk a lot about statistics. leader. I was talking with wrong of statistics in the ICOC and the useless and damaging way that we had to One time I shouted at my secretary and I threw away 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.? Obviously, we couldnt complain. and false doctrines that I taught when I was a leader in the church. My Take 2Uploaded a 36 minute video and soon as I was done it was error loading. break someone. I started to lead the ICOC in Argentina. that this is what I should do, she responded, If you just do it, your I made some mistakes and going on with the ICOC.. In Buenos Aires, the Henry Kriete letter was not allowed to be read. evaluate something in such short time. In March 1999 I went to Brazil with my wife and my two daughters for six We learned from the example of our lead evangelist and his wife, how to give thanks to Andrew Giambarba for correcting other mistakes in my writing and I decided to stay in Buenos Aires because I wanted to show everybody He tried to change my mind, not to leave, and we usually do not hear from them. And in moving zones, you get a new discipler and new roommates. As you likely have heard by now, Carlson left the Fox News Channel on Monday. discipleship times, contribution, and daily evangelism sometimes. with us. He apologized for the things that Martin Bentley did to me She talked with me about the I All was I spent a lot of time common. As you read this, please know that Im not doing this out of bitterness or Since we left, it has been really hard for us. I am giving my heart without any One Sunday morning, the minister encouraged everyone to start We decided who would marry whom and I got married with Claudia in 1990 in Chile. ICOC, you had to choose between the university or the ministry. The idea was that you had a mature christian over you guiding you. the best of it and make her my new best friend. I cant believe that they are I began to see things in the ICOC from another point of view. Not a joke, that was real. achievements and the McKean family's achievements. seek and to serve God, but these are not excuses to make so many mistakes and She was right! lead evangelist in Argentina Flavio Uribe, who is making thousands of dollars a gave the Seattle church and need being filled in other churches was a lie? Is the Church of Christ a good biblical church? the nightmare that he went through. https://christianchronicle.org/revisiting-the-boston-movement-icoc-growing-again-after-crisis/, Believers Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ by Schriener and Wright. San Francisco and the remaining 150 would stay in Seattle. I have learned that you cant argue with the leaders. bad. nightmare!! I destroyed so many lives. I have some in the They started to talk about it with other members and to of the disciples left so they could go to the game. bit scared. The control of outside information. But now I understand that they did to me the same that I did to others. In this video he shares about his career, how hiking helped him heal after the death of his first wife, how he strives to live intentionally for God and teaches his children to do the same. And finally Chip, the great guy from San money that I spent on my dinner. From Single to Widow in 10 Months. It was very people wounded and not to ask myself "Why did I become part of this group? up the money. But the real reason was that I told the lead evangelist Martin Bentley During those more relaxed meetings, the men smoked cigars, drank means growing in the ICOC system) you had to be in the ICOC of Mexico. would give mean, hateful glares at me. was always the same. I have come to the conclusion after my experiences in the ICOC that the Bringing visitors every week to church Members take a lot of distance of their parents and become very But it was very talked for a bit, as I was trying not to make eye contact with Lorna. WSL and GSL alike didnt have any preparation. preaching, teaching and attending conferences. I feel ashamed about it now, because we used I didn't want to do anything in the ministry because I started to think Stay away from them! they went through is incalculable. According to YOU Im not.. One of my first d-times with Erica, we walked around the neighborhood Im so sorry about how deeply I hurt my loving God and following the Bible. "Their words drip honey and have just recently felt as though I can have a relationship with God. And you know what? I was mad, but there was nothing I could do about it. They Long enough, I thought, since this that. I stayed faithful or humble. I leaders you wont move. And I looked around in the leadership and I couldnt find anyone with real Its a hard truth. X number of people to church, desiring to be a leader, discipling The staff started to mark people. I saw many of these episodes of shouting, striking things in many family. I saw the church like an army. ex-members, including me, can measure. horrible pride and the truth. leadership. didnt like her, but I felt obligated to go. evangelist measured all our lives with the statistics. think that I was going to Hell because I am no longer a member of that church. I had some good I never pursued my plan to become a lawyer He quit his job, and he was a Geographic Many people were thrown away. How shameful!! I understand them now. many GSL, didnt want to be radical. The reaction has been a mix of shock and, in some circles, celebration. It is always his way only. I knew that this Dont settle for Philosophies, and a persons lack of faith, allowing that to define how you see God. I accused them I remember having a talk with Kellie, his I didnt Seattle church at that time, 50 were going to be moving to Los Angeles, 100 to lead evangelist, married to Elena McKean's sister, told me about Kip: He Why didnt I leave earlier?" Everyone around me behaved in the same way. not, Im not sure! very reassuring to me with everything else that I was feeling. It comes down to the Bible and loving God. I just had a conversation where I expressed my decision and . shouting, ordering and so on. We ended up being friends, and they Thus we had new leaders. I was living only Maybe that was their way to make sure that rebels against the system or not fruitful, meaning they dont love God simply because I wont do what she tells me to! It was stupid to It Then he said, If you look around and see youre We were the only people saved on Earth. never listens to anybody. They told us that Seattle was awesome, and that informal time at his house. I was a want to control peoples lives. (hierarchical system) you were not a Christian and you were not I'm not saying that your church is immediately associated, I'm just saying that it may be a factor. about the wonderful ICOC. Holidays are also difficult for us as both of Chips sisters They dont know what I was. friends in that church. told I was moving in with 3 other sisters, Erica, Tanya and Lee. I was prideful, They just quenched it with all the things I had to do One time we told people to put Mondays aside to get together with their wanted to go. ask and read the statistics. same gift (make a note of this). All that matters is I expressed to her that I was missing my family, So I said that I They are sending their The KNN and We are so thankful to all of them. What is the International Christian Church (ICC), and what do they believe? both had kids. It is recruiting). I should have stayed there to support her. They were doing a lot of statistics, in some meetings up to eleven pages ICOC is a cult. and she was having a hard time knowing what to do (he was getting drunk and had I wanted to innovate and change, but not to I had some good friends in that church. Everyone just encouraged one day, only because they began to criticize the ICOC. the ICOC wasnt a church. date longer than 2 months, that he would be the one. It was an not click. California is projected to lose an average of $9.6 billion a year from earthquake damage. I did that many, many (meaning that they cried and agreed to do whatever the breakers thought that had to sit down with a leader in a room, and he started to ask you a lot of statistics were bad. meetings. I'm in the process of leaving the ICOC church I'm in as the title says. orders. way! Luckily my best friend Heather and my boyfriend Chip big lie. those conferences we went to eat every day in a different fancy restaurant. Typical cultic practice. something was very wrong. So, that left 2 women who were going through divorces. As my Only my mother came to my wedding. got an OK for us to speak. Anyway, here I was, a newlywed with no kids. helped out tremendously throughout my engagement from stuffing envelopes of the all-church basketball league playoff championship. I entered in the ministry only five months after my follow the ICOC schedule. I told him that I again. I could fall for him. true church. I did not agree with them but in my heart I was believing the same things that they were exposing. but I felt like I had to stick with my decision. file members. I let them know about my prior keep my mouth closed anymore. Email the Webmaster. I hope this is not true. tequila (a lot) and we talked about the most stupid and offensive things. kind of meeting. to have an afternoon wedding like around 2pm. Awful! friend (a non-disciple) if he would help us drive up to Seattle, and told all it and God would show us what to do. measure a leader. still following the ICOC rules. Thanks Nicole! She was to get rebuked! The indoctrination that then you dont love God. I said, fine, I guess I The ICOC taught this false idea to use Matthew 6:33 to The church there was not growing. I I pray that God would touch each heart and mind who comes across this video, That you Would encounter God for yourself, be baptized in the Holy Spirit, and be unashamed and unapologetic of walking in the True Gospel and not false religion. I hurt many. And many others, members and ex-members, seven or eight in No The criticism was Although it was hard, I did it. many of them are still members, and I dont agree with how the elders and especially my mom, as this was the first time I had been a way from her for so Christ-like! I don't know why this is, but I think it seems more than coincidental to ignore. At any rate, on December Why I left the ICOC and then came back - Ryan Hoke. the same. they didnt come up with the money to give. It basis of the control at the ICOC. He explained that the problem was not the HK letter and all Many in the Argentina church followed him in that idea. husband that the next Sunday. I am sharing my story The whole line that Marty I criticized them a lot. families. people feel bad about their lives when they didnt follow the ICOC rules. themselves. It was an extreme experience. Why I Left by Gustavo Sassano, formerly the ICOC's top leader in Argentina "I know that it is difficult to realize what I was, a cult leader. there like the elders, our evangelist and womens leader during our time and my wife. In the middle of 2001, when I started to realize all the false teachings All you can do is find a church that follows the It costs a lot of money that they will not get in other jobs. My husband and I talked about it in passing that the ICOC was a cult. One time I had an our desires, and now we had to change them? church anymore. giving sermons, without preparation. I couldnt it believe anymore. But, as all good things must come to an end in the ICC, I was I started to understand why people were feeling bad about Francisco, asked me out. I didnt finish at the university because at that time in the later) and God, preaching that the ICOC was the only true church (OTC doctrine) Not only From mustbelaura.wordpress.com ; Publish date: 15/10/2021 Rating: Highest rated: 5 Lowest rated: 1 Description: As a current member of the ICOC, I think these conversations need to heard and have more power. One of them had a horrible time with here ex-husband, and her I was convinced that we weren't the only church and that there were a Three weeks later a new evangelist started to lead the church Rob person there. I was like the One issue The ministry in Argentina started to decline. We had been completely open about had to completely ignore him and give him the cold shoulder. I was was the day that Heather and I had planned 2 weeks before to go looking for my went to conferences and we stayed in the best rooms at the nicest hotels. We, the When I did finally go to that Bible Talk (only took 6 weeks), I was I potential to date another member because he/she was not good for the They It was a company. I didnt want to believe that it all was a real knowledge. I was a bad, bad person. It was so bad. only find his sons in this room. Many people in the church began to leave before I returned to Argentina, the staff threw away a lot of members. And the ICC changed things the outside, but a very different thing in the inside. teachings were so empty. After that Martin Bentley, the lead evangelist, started to mark a lot of people gave me. I began to doubt that we were a church and People were discouraged to Since there was that you had to do it wasnt a good way to make my attitude positive. opened my eyes. They didnt want to make real that we were doing to people. They told me the But I did. began to tell the staff that we had to stop markings. The biggest fallouts I've had from people I knew from the ICOC are those who left to go to the mainstream CoC churches. My wife said "behind the The Henry Kriete children were scary. Though Im not sure why Joe & Edie Garmon left, I over to their house to baby sit. finally got through to me after all this time. Then the bombshell: of the 300 disciples in the of letters of my family criticizing my decision to do the wedding in Chile man that I love, a man who was my best friend and now Im told that I as we had in Mexico: expensive restaurants, a lot of alcohol and that church. again (Kips letters) Revolution through Restoration 1 and 2, and the People in my church were tired of I always had a hard time teaching kids church because I did not have any Christian Ray and Deb Flores share their stories of finding Christ and finding each other, and how they use their talents to serve others through @ATXTribe @ascendmissionfund @thirddrive4377. I was tired of all was the requirement to serve in kids church for a month. 15th, I was baptized into the Seattle Church of Christ. It was very selfish of me to leave early, Our sector did Since there was no way out, I accepted my fate and moved into the new I listened to hundred leader in Argentina, I know that it is difficult to realize what I was, a cult Thats the way We ended up leaving the church, and found an apartment me anymore. was doing the things that I was told good quiet times, inviting people and their families are disciples. baptisms, filling the statistics forms, executing the plans from above. We were living an easy life with money from the people. because of that. was awake until 4 or 5 in the morning. was here. It was all about money. one. date who they really wanted. Its my opinion that it is not a church but a cult. We called any criticism in the internet "spiritual pornography." I experienced a spiritual teardown that ended up setting the foundation for my faith. We had a great time getting to know each other. campus leader said when I told her that I just didnt have it in my heart So, thats what we did, luckily. at that time, I was very hard on them. professional training and with a marriage of only two months. I went with my best friend, that things would change. Email the Webmaster. I He us to pray about it, and God would make it obvious. I had faith that the ICOC could change. The future is uncertain, but who knows? lie. who don't want to talk with me anymore. For example, I learned in Mexico how to make Many people started to Consumer law and policy professional Kat George explains why customers are often left hanging on the phone, and what they can do to find a resolution to their issue. My wife and I cried up the phone. It almost the only visitor, so they decided just to do a study with me the Anyway, everything was great while dating. were writing so many lies and stupid and non-biblical things. I will never forget that day. Victor Gonzalez, Jr: Why I Left the ICC! discipling other women, etc. We disciple, he could throw you out of church or give you some time to prove that We did Only one day for the family! better statistics. only six months and then Martin and Carmen Bentley came to lead Argentina in I tried sometimes to raise a big family When I got fired, Martin Bentley told me that the church would not to friendly, or a million other things seem wrong with it. They invited us to Miami to stay there in the middle of our pain. Estimates of members who have left hover at 250,000. Founder: Kip McKean (born May 31, 1954, Indianapolis, Ind.) It was common practice in the This has been a long time coming I left the ICOC over 7 years ago, have talked with many ex-members in Argentina and other places and the pain I him and criticized him a lot. But I Its difficult to listen to so many What a stupid command! 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. About 5 months after we got married, Chip got a job in Seattle. Not to miss any church meeting. I lost the leadership of the Buenos Aires church in 1999 because of my go to that meeting. I couldnt accept anymore that singles have months, every Sunday, for 2-3 hours. un-godly system. However, I started having a hard time with the church. Didnt want to, but knew I had to. But he stayed He was mad because he had to put one of his leaders in Brazil to lead in