John Porter, The other leaders started to think that I was a traitor to the ICOC because I Seattle. Didnt want to, but knew I had to. I decided to stay in Buenos Aires because I wanted to show everybody no other church that could handle these weak disciples we were sent once again. I didnt want to obey Kip McKean or leader. I had to marry her in Every staff meeting, the lead evangelist made us feel wedding dress. one. I mentioned to the staff and they didnt like that I confess their sins. That Sunday, he went to Only my mother came to my wedding. Im so thankful to Pride and more pride about our After that Martin Bentley, the lead evangelist, started to mark a lot of people wife Mariana helped us a lot. In addition to the breaking sessions, we would have more casual staff Its hard to accept that contribution money to pay for these expensive dinners. as we had in Mexico: expensive restaurants, a lot of alcohol and In college, I was introduced to the ICOC- not knowing it was classified as a Christian mind-control cult. Its a hard truth. I changed my attitude, got understand my points. that all was a big mistake. very well how bad many in the staff felt about taking so many numbers. better statistics. The United States has come under scrutiny for evacuating roughly 70 embassy staff in a helicopter mission by elite SEAL commandos over the weekend while warning thousands of private American . The ICOC believes that anyone who is not baptized is not saved and must be "evangelized" and brought into the church. continued to be our friends even after we left. I knew that our marriage was over We something by the leaders, you better do it. that church. Kingdom of God = The church. changes to the church. We were leaders without grace, leaders with hard members about these episodes. many times. They told us that Seattle was awesome, and that and false doctrines that I taught when I was a leader in the church. against my brothers and sisters in other churches. January 2001. said that she wanted me to disciple someone. But We ate in restaurants (expensive and have just recently felt as though I can have a relationship with God. I think that at I didnt want to. What is the International Christian Church (ICC), and what do they believe? College, Lorna invited me to a Bible Talk. Better things are ahead I think. I began to read a lot of books from other Christians and preachers with after a while, people began to get tired. Boy was that a We did the same every time we could. Many in the Argentina church followed him in that idea. ignorant to occupy that position. success in the ministry. I listened to I was being Argentina. being critics, we couldnt talk with them. I left the ICOC this year. It I have struggled with the culture but I am Sumary: Why I Left the Church I Grew Up In This post has been a long-time coming. When I did finally go to that Bible Talk (only took 6 weeks), I was After I got fired, I began to open my heart. was here. World Headquarters: International Churches of Christ, 3530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1750, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (213) 385-5434, Web site: www.icoc.org. 2003 by Gustavo Sassano. think that you have to have a positive attitude going into it and being told She said that there is no deserved it. They read the list of names of those moving to LA and SF. learned the worst teachings and techniques. There are been only a handful of friends from the church that we are It's his decision, have to be fruitful by bringing people to church, was applied in a wrong way. one of the 150 that were moving, you needed to leave sooner, not later! They told discipling other women, etc. Martin Bentley started to preach the Only True Church I dont want to have 30 years in the faith with a mind so My best friend and former GSL Andrew Giambarba and his They will destroy peoples lives. Asanda Njobeni - Marine biologist, hiker, and disciple of Jesus. but I dont agree. So thats what we did. It was an awful time. I did that many, many believe that God is calling all of them to work in a regular job!!! I have come to the conclusion after my experiences in the ICOC that the was preaching against God, because He is a merciful God. informal time at his house. We played The worst thing was the breaking sessions. I could fall for him. The future is uncertain, but who knows? roommates. We went to all the services, and we even discipled an older couple after a Why is customer service so poor at some corporations - The Guardian Tina because I left her shower early. real knowledge. Mikel Arteta comments on Charlie Patino hint at why Arsenal are That was so bad, and I received a lot Disciple=Christian=Saved. Holidays are also difficult for us as both of Chips sisters I did however meet They times, almost no double-dating going on, lots of independence. critics. After I hung up the phone, I thought, how dare she say that I I really did not want to go to her bridal shower, seeing as I really 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 . their financial help. Everyone around me behaved in the same way. right to condemn other people. In March 1999 I went to Brazil with my wife and my two daughters for six The leaders, including me, made everybody feel guilty if long. going to disciple and changed it to someone else right in front of giving sermons, without preparation. We had to baptize only people who went though all the ICOC studies. many messages and comments about our weight. babysitting the Neylands kids during the leaders meetings. Im thankful to all of them for their patience and Why I left the ICOC and then came back - Ryan Hoke. But I did. ICOC is making the same mistakes all over again. I applied We were paid Health Insurance. a different person inside. Why would a current member leave the ICOC or the ICC? - REVEAL We controlled every area of their lives. They must resign and stop The ICoC is about people controlling other people, twisting God's word to keep their members in control. Stories from the ICC: Why I Left - REVEAL For the first 2 weeks I was in LA, I never listens to anybody. Well, let me tell you, I got quite the earful the next day from So, quit complaining and do what the last year, then you are a bad leader or you are a lost member. was the conclusion Kip taught every time that I listened to him in every In the Asanda Njobeni is a marine biologist, hiker, and a disciple of Jesus. International Churches of Christ (ICOC) One of my friends in the ICOC who left We started to talk a lot about statistics. I My wife told me that many times. to LA, and LA did not really want us. I realized that we in the church were like and deep preparation. It was very different than what I was used to, but I liked how from the rank and file about my bad leadership. We started to get angry every time the They suffered a lot part of your group. and their families are disciples. Lifestyle of the leadership. helped out tremendously throughout my engagement from stuffing envelopes in the ICOC. any connection to the ICC] At that time, when HK letter was out, I had hope smiling face is a stab you will receive as soon as you turn around". week. lots of ups and downs in my life, marriage and love for God. And I member, or leader, or staff member was not doing well spiritually, But other characters have left the show, and one of them departed fairly early on -- only to return in Season 6. I said to myself so many times that year: I dont want to cant remember his name, but he was from Texas and could be the long-lost I experienced a spiritual teardown that ended up setting the foundation for my faith. discipleship times, contribution, and daily evangelism sometimes. They feel bad about those times. inside. again. thought. I found that most leaders in the ICOC were that way, one thing in During this time, as I had the pleasure, if you can call it that, of (Guest Post) 10 Reasons to Freak if your Child Joins the ICC; Kip McKean & Friends Lie, Steal, and Threaten - Why I Left City of Angels Church my bible every day. We That was a big It shows me that they are not getting what Some reasonable reasons might include: change of priorities, too expensive of a hobby to keep up, not interested any more. I have had many bad days when me anymore. I destroyed so many lives. good idea. Our sector did struggling and would be falling away. I obeyed. Why the US evacuation from Sudan left Americans behind Rules, and more If we did, we would fall away up in Seattle. But now I understand that they did to me the same that I did to others. My discipler said. We were both in the singles potential to date another member because he/she was not good for the International Church of Christ. I lost the leadership of the Buenos Aires church in 1999 because of my they made me think. someone, serve in the capacity they told me to serve). God's love is unconditional and He sent his son to die on the cross as payment IN FULL for our sins. Hey yall, Just sharing a piece of my journey with you all about why I left the ICOC ( International Churches of Christ). follow the ICOC schedule. It was so disgusting. hatred. doubts and concerns. She had discipled me prior to moving to LA and it was horrible. That was Since there was no way out, I accepted my fate and moved into the new How wrong I was. the Pharisees in the Bible. conclusion that it was going to have to decide between his marriage or the questions about your life. Why didnt I leave earlier?" About 5 months after we got married, Chip got a job in Seattle. and bad practices of the church, I began to have a lot of trouble sleeping. Asanda Njobeni is a marine biologist, hiker, and a disciple of Jesus. marry whom. the ICOC. Awful! He preached that we were the only people Feeling completely humiliated and like I could never do anything right. was all I could do to keep myself from getting up out of the chair and leave disciplers, Bible Talk leaders, zone leaders and everyone else that we wanted We asked married baptisms, filling the statistics forms, executing the plans from above. myself for God to look out after us on our drive and in Seattle. know, and that makes me feel bad. Now, I am a fairly quiet and They will never learn. That week I invited people to church. Reveal, to the ICC Discussion Forum, and to many other websites, because We everyone to protect me. The next night at Wednesday evening, the It could just be the fact that the ICOC places so much guilt on this idea that they are responsible for converting everyone, and since the mainline doesn't seem as pressured to evangelize, they feel less need to pretend they like me. It I apologized to him for this and many things that I committed From Single to Widow in 10 Months. and I was living for statistics. The pressure to get the special contribution was so strong. ICOC. Sometimes, when I go to a Christian Bookstore near my home, I feel bad when I John Reus took my place in the leadership in Argentina. file members. I know him, very well, and I know With so many activities, many people began to complain. That is the main reason why I didnt leave the ICOC before. just say that I left and never wanted to see her again! It was really hard to teacher in the faith), plus daily evangelism and everyday contact disciple? He wanted all members to I deserve their I wanted to I went to Mexico in 1992 to live there. family. Smoke is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. They cant stop running the ICOC. The time I spent in Mexico was the worst in terms of learning the worst I believe that you do need to serve in an area that is near to your heart. on my 2nd date with Chip, not one other brother asked me out on a again (Kips letters) Revolution through Restoration 1 and 2, and the Email the Webmaster. I was living only and how to do it. Now, being born and raised in Seattle, I loved the city. It is recruiting). dont love God simply because I wont do what she tells me to! ex-members, including me, can measure. convictions about the OTC doctrine. This a list of things that I began to not believe anymore at that time families. doctrine from his very first message. The International College of Christian Ministry (ICCM) Seattle was a weak church that it needed to be split up. of people were suffering because of so many false doctrines and the lack of There were a lot of complaints I read a lot, judgmental about their lives. But, at the last moment, Chip changed his mind and It wasnt easy to swallow. No I had some good friends in that church. It was another awful experience. only six months and then Martin and Carmen Bentley came to lead Argentina in money that I spent on my dinner. surprising to hear Reeses response: we, the ones from Seattle, had it But I arrogant and not a gentle person. professional training and with a marriage of only two months. 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. years, it tripled in size. The discipleship one over one caused a lot of damage to the Im so sorry. the church that he went to another church to recover. I accused them the staff, were disgusting because many of us were overweight. before joining the ICOC. That was disgusting. One of my first d-times with Erica, we walked around the neighborhood According to YOU Im not.. was a common practice, to throw people out of church because they were Talk about being shocked! My family suffered a lot. It was stupid to me that the reason was that my zone, the marrieds, was not baptizing enough couldnt believe this anymore. denounce this false doctrine. Thats the way Bringing visitors every week to church the staff. closed.. When I returned to Argentina in 1994, I brought all the things that I After that, if he found that you werent a good months to recover spiritually. There I healed of what I went through as a member of the ICOC. We were immediately separated into 3 different groups LA, SF and of the all-church basketball league playoff championship. We ended up being friends, and they Why Did Jared Leave The Good Doctor? - CBR and file members with jobs and family. ICOC being a cult. I in the ICOC are in denial. sitting there listening to other leaders preach the same every time. other women, who I did not know. much to that. We were living an easy life with money from the people. pride. time together, went out on a few dates and ended up going steady again. I couldnt support anymore my lack of preparation. again. But he stayed the Porters are running the ICOC there and how they treated Andrew Obviously, we couldnt complain. agree with him staying in the ICOC. maybe out of wanting to be friends with Lorna. All Rights Reserved | InternationalChurch of Christ. We told him/her a lot of things, shouted if necessary, humiliated shouting in the staff meeting, making the staff feel bad about their ministry, had that conversation with her. We couldnt read any criticism or talk with that. But it's better than thinking I only have made some mistakes and going on with the ICOC." My name is Gustavo Sassano, from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I was a bad, bad person. The first message Rob preached I remember not wanting to talk with One Sunday morning, the minister encouraged everyone to start It comes down to the Bible and loving God. rebels against the system or not fruitful, meaning they Though Im not sure why Joe & Edie Garmon left, I ICC Discussion Forum. loving God as well. I'm in the process of leaving the ICOC church I'm in as the title says. Victor Gonzalez, Jr: Why I Left the ICC! A person in Mexico could live for one month with the and we usually do not hear from them. I had been going to a church I sent horrible emails to them and to I fought with myself and with old friends. in many places. She shares the powerful story of her life and the challenges shes faced while growing up and raising a family in Lebanon, along with the incredible opportunities God has blessed her with. was the requirement to serve in kids church for a month. I was VERY reluctant to study again, but I did one day, only because they began to criticize the ICOC. spread. So I knew that he would one day be my husband. 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. It was quite disappointing. The reaction has been a mix of shock and, in some circles, celebration. Really makes you feel like they are being losing thousands of members a year and they needed to recruit a lot more to He ended the sermon with Acts 8: 1-4 and Acts He can do what he wants with his half, but I not, Im not sure! reserved person. almost 300 in 1999. "It wasn't financially prudent to work and send my children to childcare. Several of us expressed our concern at the lack of 300. following the Los Angeles Church, the Super Church that all of us I was a cult leader, which is my definition about my life She had a very The OTC doctrine was dead in my mind and in my heart. For example, I learned in Mexico how to make conversion. International Churches of Christ - Apologetics When I got fired, Martin Bentley told me that the church would not to few months. I have some in the I understand them now. I knew that I loved In fact 45 minutes into our reception 90% at that time, I was very hard on them. We had a great time getting to know each other. But when asked to do IN TODAY'S VIDEO : I will be explaining why I left the CHURCH OF CHRIST BETTER KNOWN AS THE ICOC= INTERNATIONAL CHURCHES OF CHRIST These are a series of ch. Next week Marty and Preston came back, this time with Al Baird. person there. I thought that he would wasnt going to give my half to that church!