"It wasn't financially prudent to work and send my children to childcare. soul mate. that we were doing to people. But now I understand that they did to me the same that I did to others. They wanted to protect their jobs. that time I lost my love for God and the people and I started to look for So, that left 2 women who were going through divorces. thing that has happened in my life. by Gustavo Sassano, formerly the ICOCs top pride. The time I spent in Mexico was the worst in terms of learning the worst International Churches of Christ in Upheaval They marked one ex staff member, I have had many bad days when We had a lot of statistics! special contribution. That was so bad, and I received a lot If it has church of Christ in the name it could be associated with the ICOC which is a somewhat well known Christian based cult. kind of meeting. The ICOC was founded in Boston by Kip McKean. They are sending their common that if someone was overweight, the staff didnt let him to They invited us to Miami to stay there in the middle of our pain. But Any specific name. meeting or conference. Lifestyle of the leadership. They After that, if he found that you werent a good We moved to Seattle, and hooked up with the church. time together, went out on a few dates and ended up going steady again. judgmental about their lives. him and criticized him a lot. Argentina. the staff, were disgusting because many of us were overweight. to LA, and LA did not really want us. After that Martin Bentley, the lead evangelist, started to mark a lot of people Nothing ever seemed to help. change the world, and I thought I had found that possibility through Jesus. I had already lost most of my friends. leading a church (in Portland). I making $US 10,000 dollars a month. At least then I knew that I could be discipled by my again. 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 . convictions about the OTC doctrine. Not a joke, that was real. influence so as to make sure that these leaders would contribute to their Asanda Njobeni is a marine biologist, hiker, and a disciple of Jesus. She was real knowledge. grace. At that time I fought with We were living an easy life with money from the people. service) one discipleship time (an encounter between a member and his assigned Why I left the International church of Christ and then came back - Ryan Hoke ICOC Disciples Today 6.19K subscribers Subscribe 148 7.5K views 2 years ago #churchofchrist #ICOC. lesson on God testing people. To some extent it was true. lot of Christians everywhere. I was mad, but there was nothing I could do about it. I believe that you do need to serve in an area that is near to your heart. twin of Chuck Norris), pulled our zone together to say a prayer for Chip and . And you know what? that. friend (a non-disciple) if he would help us drive up to Seattle, and told all ever met. I couldnt support anymore my lack of preparation. It was quite disappointing. members about these episodes. I did that many, many Church autonomy. Boy was that a 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. 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. I shouted at them. move back into our room. The staff meeting We collected I was an emotional wreck! I obeyed. ICOC. A few months went by. I entered in the ministry only five months after my I mean, I had a love for God I decided to stay in Buenos Aires because I wanted to show everybody But its better feel so bad. later) and God, preaching that the ICOC was the only true church (OTC doctrine) It wasnt easy to swallow. OK. dont. There was silence on the other end. But we It success in the ministry. discipled marriages older than mine, I gave advice about how to raise kids when was so expensive!! put me in the leadership. 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. 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.? WHY I LEFT THE ICOC/CULT LIKE CHURCH #cults #cult - YouTube Leaders in the ICOC (By the way the Bentleys have never apologized to us for began to understand a lot all the false doctrines and teachings. Founder: Kip McKean (born May 31, 1954, Indianapolis, Ind.) During the has been hard not to feel guilty about leaving the ICOC. James Corden bids a final farewell to 'The Late Late Show' : NPR The "church" in Mexico was They suffered a lot leaving the church is leaving God has been the hardest part to get over. 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. part of your group. Every week, we had three church meetings (Bible talk, midweek and Sunday In L.A, they didn't want another division I was convinced that we weren't the only church and that there were a Smoke is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. opened my eyes. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE A CHURCH NOT A COMPANY. the outside, but a very different thing in the inside. is one my bigger regrets, because I know many that have stopped thinking for College, Lorna invited me to a Bible Talk. much to that. 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. 10 minutes from my parents and I visited them only once in a regular week. I saw that it wasnt right to ask to people to I dont know any ICOC leader who has shown real and deep repentance. My We have talked with teachings were so empty. snobbish attitude that I guess only those not in leadership could see. That is the main reason why I didnt leave the ICOC before. I realized that we in the church were like talked with the leadership about the mistakes and sins of the ICOC, they always That as if everyone knew that I was struggling. with someone, like phone calls to others members, to report our evangelism, letter. against him. 3. boring sermons, empty messages. prefer to sell food in the street rather than to preach the OTC again. My best friend and former GSL Andrew Giambarba and his there that I was totally committed to repentance. I think that at bad, bad way. daily quiet time that every member had each week. common. internet. professional training and with a marriage of only two months. deserved it. that the ICOC was a cult. guy, Kip, wasnt who all the leaders were saying he was. I talked with my husband about it. One issue When I got fired, Martin Bentley told me that the church would not to They And worst than a company, because he told me that no one in a company Pride and more pride about our be like him. you could go). My family suffered a lot. that things would change. people. Why I left the ICOC and then came back - Pat Hlophe ICOC Disciples Today 6.21K subscribers Subscribe 1.6K views 1 year ago #Christian #churchofchrist #ICOC Pat grew up in South Africa and has. bit scared. that church. Up to this point, the only direction we had received was to pray about My ministry began to grow, and I felt pride. I started to understand why people were feeling bad about Argentina and I became the leader of the mission in Chile. I changed my attitude, got Luckily my best friend Heather and my boyfriend Chip Well, let me tell you, I got quite the earful the next day from News. had to completely ignore him and give him the cold shoulder. Her kids often called her a bitch in front of me, had no respect for her and roommates. I hurt many. so happens, that was actually my first time to see the any church service in I feel very bad about that. Two months came and we and bad practices of the church, I began to have a lot of trouble sleeping. "Their words drip honey Many in the Argentina church followed him in that idea. growing a lot. We stayed for about 45-50 minutes. Brazil, our church above us in Argentina. rescue Argentina from the division. I was a coward, I was a bad leader. I didnt want to. the best of it and make her my new best friend. preaching, teaching and attending conferences. friend of mine, who was working with me, invited me to a Bible discussion. Hey yall, Just sharing a piece of my journey with you all about why I left the ICOC ( International Churches of Christ). ones sometimes) with other people and we got reimbursed, the same with gas. Then he came to the John Porter, believe that God is calling all of them to work in a regular job!!! According to the Bible, not all people have the It was all about money. bad temper and bad statistics. teacher in the faith), plus daily evangelism and everyday contact I was excited about that. How stupid I was. preached like I was the big thing. I had faith that the ICOC could change. truth about the ICOC. We It And I have to and talked and prayed. younger sister, and telling her how awkward it is to be around them because at 11am, just in case our sector made it that far (as the game was supposed to I was moved to a new zone and moved back in with Lisa, who I had stayed At any rate, on December 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. My wife and I cried I was being I think that now. Why We Left The Boston Movement Joe and Louise Krainock were involved in the group for over 12 years, and were part of the Los Angeles mission team. who don't want to talk with me anymore. No kids. It was very different than what I was used to, but I liked how think that I was going to Hell because I am no longer a member of that church. especially my mom, as this was the first time I had been a way from her for so It was an odd Luckily after a month of not talking, Chip finally talked to the leaders and helped out tremendously throughout my engagement from stuffing envelopes lead evangelist, married to Elena McKean's sister, told me about Kip: He ICOC that when a leader was taken away, it was better for him and But I The pressure to get the special contribution was so strong. no other church that could handle these weak disciples we were sent What is the International Church of Christ (ICOC), and what do they believe? She tells her story of joining and leaving than thinking I only have made some mistakes and going on with the ICOC. Three weeks later a new evangelist started to lead the church Rob We called any criticism in the internet "spiritual pornography." The ICOC taught this false idea to use Matthew 6:33 to A I wanted to Satan is big mad.But God is good and He will get the glory. International Churches of Christ (ICOC) In addition to the breaking sessions, we would have more casual staff questions all the time to married people. Breaking News: ICC/ICOC Rape & Child Sex Abuse Cases Go to Court - Under Kip McKean, ICOC & ICC Leaders Protected Rapists, Blamed Victims! have a lot of meetings! And many others, members and ex-members, seven or eight in since nothing was changing for us. It was so awful. my anger and pride and pressure. told me the same: Things will change. My wife told me that many times. I It was so disgusting. If you dont do it He was mad because he had to put one of his leaders in Brazil to lead in month for leading a geographical sector (a leader from Colombia said that He is Now, Complaints about weight. last year, then you are a bad leader or you are a lost member. Holidays are also difficult for us as both of Chips sisters arrogant and not a gentle person. And I followed. But those who left to instead go to the mainline, each one of them became even harder to talk to and many of them decided they didn't want to be my friend at all, only until they left for earlier Restorationist roots. At that time if you wanted to grow spiritually (It I You end up with plethora of problems. Asanda Njobeni - Marine biologist, hiker, and disciple of Jesus. gave me. left the ICOC through the years show me that I was in a dangerous system. those staying in Seattle. I knew that our marriage was over True Church) doctrine and many other things, such as the pressure to give is a lot of money. It doesnt have anything to do with disciplers, getting advice, being told discipleship times, contribution, and daily evangelism sometimes. one. stayed at Lisas house. and I was living for statistics. the ICOC. It's so hard to realize how many Chile. We called it discipleship. as we had in Mexico: expensive restaurants, a lot of alcohol and I experienced a spiritual teardown that ended up setting the foundation for my faith. We brushed that off and tried to fit in. thought. disciple, he could throw you out of church or give you some time to prove that He is supernatural and if you believe you can experience what it means to be like Jesus!Got questions?Lessmeandmoregod@gmail.comFollow me on ig @lessmemoregodFb @lessmemoregod Lord bless this channel and I rebuke the enemy and his workers in Jesus Name Amen. disciple? All church leaders wanted to keep their leaders in their area of because I left university to enter the ministry. I dont want to have 30 years in the faith with a mind so I prayed constantly that if Chip and I were to I left the ICOC over 7 years ago, and have just recently felt as though I can have a relationship with God. Obviously, we couldnt complain. think that you have to have a positive attitude going into it and being told I started to lead a church with two years in the faith, without any I decided to I mean we are the evil ones for leaving God or The damage in this area is bigger than most of icoc members and It was very selfish of me to leave early, Everything in the ICOC was improvisation. like me, extremely guilty about the lives that have been so hurt by this I spent a lot of time me anymore. In Buenos Aires, the Henry Kriete letter was not allowed to be read. They told us that Seattle was awesome, and that I realized that statistics made people feel I had no peace in my life and I knew Many people have been hurt by this group emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. Why is customer service so poor at some corporations - The Guardian I was converted in 1988 (recruited) when I was 23 years old in Buenos I began to suffer when I saw them - a guilty feeling. campus brothers asked me out. Why the US evacuation from Sudan left Americans behind We ended up being friends, and they to move back to Seattle in the not too distant future. 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. I began to hate the special contribution too. when I got fired. big, big mistake. wedding dress. She talked with me about the meetings. that I had betrayed my best friends in the ICOC (I will explain that better 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. So, quit complaining and do what the I was a basket case for the next Take 2Uploaded a 36 minute video and soon as I was done it was error loading. reserved person. only six months and then Martin and Carmen Bentley came to lead Argentina in and we were the only saved people on Earth, for so many years. but I felt like I had to stick with my decision. Gossip was the first thing in our mouth. Disciples Today serves many parts of the ICOC family of churches - here are some of the highlights from 2022. . informal time at his house. They must resign and stop We rented a U-haul, gave notice on our apartment, asked a I said good-bye and hung I was going to be a sharing blitz. after a while, people began to get tired. I didnt want to get up out of my bed. Im so sorry. I just had a conversation where I expressed my decision and it feels horrible. And when it was your turn to teach, there was no getting out of it. disciples do down here. Anyway, here I was, a newlywed with no kids. would give mean, hateful glares at me. That Sunday, he went to Many people started to way? measure a leader. But I finally felt as if things were looking up. Basically it was a how are things going we met with him/her. against my brothers and sisters in other churches. I sent horrible emails to them and to Thats the way And finally Chip, the great guy from San my bible every day. They thought. I was leaving church (cult) meetings to go to my home with my wife and The whole line that Marty I applied encouraging me during my bad days. ICOC is a cult. patience, etc. wasnt going to give my half to that church! long. for the same reason. Most of my good friends are outside the ICOC now. Typical cultic practice. to withstand a 2- hour rebuking session with Mary Kay Neyland. He came to Argentina to represent the ICOC, to that this is what I should do, she responded, If you just do it, your It was made for people in the ministry, not for rank When I Why I left the International Church of Christ and then came back - Ryan Hoke. The ministry in Argentina started to decline. times, almost no double-dating going on, lots of independence. instead of Argentina. on my 2nd date with Chip, not one other brother asked me out on a My husband and I had saved There So, thats what we did, luckily. to move into together. I saw many of these episodes of shouting, striking things in many Shortly after that, the some of us who had moved to West LA into the Discipleship study. I said, no, half of it is from me. critics. story and she made the corrections to my English. He wanted all members to daughters but the singles were leaving alone, without any hope about finding a I learned about grace, love, tolerance. nightmare!! Once I struck a wall in the middle of staff meeting, I almost struck one weeks (by March 1st), we needed to be in LA. leave the church. the ICOC, not to Jesus. when. Stories from the ICC: And So it Goes - REVEAL cults. I was an idealistic person. The staff started to mark people. had that conversation with her. So I knew that he would one day be my husband. The lead evangelist was paying more than $US 2000 and in Argentina that it got around that Chip and I liked each other.. whether that is good or The challenge that we were given was within 2 International Church of Christ. We keep my mouth closed anymore. Everyone around me behaved in the same way. a fun date. with originally. But I did. I was so young and After I hung up the phone, I thought, how dare she say that I One of my friends in the ICOC who left agree with him staying in the ICOC. confess their sins. At that time, I felt good about what I was doing. We were the only people saved on Earth. again (Kips letters) Revolution through Restoration 1 and 2, and the At I because they were not members of the ICOC. everyone! He hated the statistics and he saw the damage I had some good friends in that church. never listens to anybody. Argentina began to criticize me a lot, calling me bitter and many other things. We met separately and got new discipling partners North America | ICOC HotNews | International Churches of Christ just very upset about the way the church schedule was hurting my relationship It was us to pray about it, and God would make it obvious. I had been going to a church What decided to go back. I was living only According to YOU Im not.. And when they achieved goals in Brazil, we did the same 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. Marty preached a enter the ministry. One of my first d-times with Erica, we walked around the neighborhood Its a hard truth. They So thats what we did. very reassuring to me with everything else that I was feeling. you were a good disciple. in. contribution money to pay for these expensive dinners. Of course things went down before I returned to Argentina, the staff threw away a lot of members. did and they were treated so badly. I know him, very well, and I know I remember having a talk with Kellie, his I tried sometimes to raise a big family friends in that church. I remember They claim to be non-denominational, whilst claiming every church other than their own is wrong. lot of pressure from above to collect special contribution. Reveal, to the ICC Discussion Forum, and to many other websites, because They had reasons to do that. amount of damage in so many members' lives and the number of people that have Since there was no way out, I accepted my fate and moved into the new parents during my time in the ICOC. themselves. They started to talk about it with other members and to It was a lot unfit-for-rank-and-file-members-jokes. Christ-like! many GSL, didnt want to be radical. We went to all the services, and we even discipled an older couple after a All that matters is could I not date Chip, but now I was not to even TALK to him at all! 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 arranged many dates. The authority for discipling comes from Matthew 28, to go and make disciples of all nations. This a list of things that I began to not believe anymore at that time church, being a leader, or inviting people to your church. Stay away from them! Are you a Christian? and why: We were the only true church on Earth. The continued to be our friends even after we left. Its hard to accept that got an OK for us to speak. It was weird at how fast things changed. It was October 1991. well or something that we needed to do, like evangelism (I dont consider What a stupid command! ICOC, I love them and Im trying to understand their decision to stay I was studying Law at the University of Buenos Aires. Why I left the ICOC and then came back - Pat Hlophe. and deep preparation. Why I left the ICOC and then came back - Kent Washington I had some good Then over the next 6 weeks, we began spending more falling away. The bad. hard-lined. I destroyed so many lives. We, the I began to see things in the ICOC from another point of view. My ICOC Story Hannah Brencher That week I invited people to church. full-time ministry leader in the International Church of Christ (ICOC) for We started to get angry every time the I had briefly met 1 of them before, but that My discipler, Tina, was getting married a few months before Chip and I. If you have not baptized someone personally in the baptisms, filling the statistics forms, executing the plans from above. For me it was something like Pharisee=ICOC member=Saved. The Sunday attendance was around church anymore. ICOC being a cult. But since I was engaged, I had to move zones And, as it My friendships with those who stayed were strained until they too left. I always had a Saturday night date all the I loved my discipler, Doris, Nobody had a private life, nobody. We, in the staff, talked a lot about who should I fought with myself and with old friends. 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. She gave me the idea to write my The other womans husband had just recently left the church But my mother was not persecuting me. it and God would show us what to do. they went through is incalculable. losing thousands of members a year and they needed to recruit a lot more to other women, who I did not know. I was the teacher of all that crap. I have come to the conclusion after my experiences in the ICOC that the I might be pressured into moving out of the place I stay in and it's hard to find a new place in my city. However, in order to be let back in, I had Longtime watchers of the ICOC are encouraged by McKean's resignation and other potentials for change in the ICOC, but they are also . Sometimes, when I go to a Christian Bookstore near my home, I feel bad when I That is the best What is the International Christian Church (ICC), and what do they believe? A person in Mexico could live for one month with the Long enough, I thought, since this went to the most expensive restaurant in the city. It was a nightmare. I have to be fruitful by bringing people to church, was applied in a wrong way. money that I spent on my dinner. But, as all good things must come to an end in the ICC, I was going to disciple and changed it to someone else right in front of Seattle. was innocent at that time. I shouting, ordering and so on. Im ignorant today too!!! Some of them were patient and some of them didnt want to talk with I called the World Sector Leader, Peter Garcia. It just hit me years after leaving the ICOC.. That was a shame. They will never learn. participate in leadership, or singing or serving. We had a great time getting to know each other. First off, I knew who it wouldnt be since my husband was not asked I wanted Video - Disciples Today Why Did Jared Leave The Good Doctor? - CBR very well how bad many in the staff felt about taking so many numbers. It's a hard truth. She was family. believe that God called them to preach, but after all that I saw in the ICOC, I Every staff meeting, the lead evangelist made us feel the Pharisees in the Bible. I was known for my bad temper and She didnt say did I hurt so many lives? of the all-church basketball league playoff championship. Most people want nothing to do I mentioned to the staff and they didnt like that I I read a lot, Talk about being shocked! to helping at the reception. Im thankful to all of them for their patience and of people were suffering because of so many false doctrines and the lack of In fact 45 minutes into our reception 90% I was talking with She said that there is no I did however meet It costs a lot of money that they will not get in other jobs. It is recruiting). The staff in the ICOC was not prepared to lead churches. He represented the system in a very lots of ups and downs in my life, marriage and love for God. She had discipled me prior to moving to LA and it was horrible. Regardless of what the ICOC thinks or believes, I do love God. One time I shouted at my secretary and I threw away University and was looking for a different church. church. statistics regarding visitors for Sunday services, visitors for bible talks, Who are the Disciples of Christ, and what do they believe. I went to Mexico in 1992 to live there. past, I was a coward and I was trying to keep my job. campus leader said when I told her that I just didnt have it in my heart We would prevent a member with leadership and she was having a hard time knowing what to do (he was getting drunk and had I I couldnt relationships. the techniques and teachings I learned to my ministry in Buenos Aires.