Best of the Letters from 2017
PCG Income Plummets Drastically–Flurry Calls for Fast:
January 24, 2017
Gerald Flurry recently sent out a Pastor’s General’s report that called for a churchwide fast on January 15 (those who had to work on that day fasted on January 14). The PCG income has plummeted drastically. It seems that over 50% of its core membership are old school WCG senior citizens on Social Security. These people are not now required to tithe on that income but are being told to go out and get work if practicable. Also, the membership is being directed from HQ to increase the local congregational fund raisers in order to send more money to Edmond. With more and more people leaving or being disfellowshipped, coupled with a very low new member growth rate, all are combining to hit Flurry’s grand aspirations very hard. I think the PCG is on the ropes in more ways than one.
The huge expense of maintaining that white elephant that is Armstrong Auditorium is an intense drain on the PCG’s coffers. Also that pig in a poke UK college venture is also proving to be a severe money pit for the PCG. It was supposed to be the catalyst to finding the Stone of Scone and Jeremiah’s tomb. None of these prophecies have come to pass.
The recent concerts series produced/directed by Ryan Malone and performed chiefly by the Riverdancing Flurry grandchildren has not been the commercial success with the local Edmonites what was hoped for. These concerts are also a money consumer and are little more than a chance to show off the talents of the Flurry grandchildren and titillate the local PCG members.
Gerald Flurry has prophesied that President Trump is the “End-Time Jeroboam” that will ally with Joe Tkach, Jr. and the WCG and finally kick the PCG members out of the USA, exiling them to Jordan/Petra. [also read February 13 letter: Flurry Says Trump Will Deport PCG Members from United States] GF made a prophesy that Trump will be the last president of the U.S.A. because the Tribulation is very, very close and could happen at any time.
The recent PCG Feast of Tabernacles held in Lexington, Kentucky was a severe let down compared to years past. The PCG turnout at the designated hotel/conference center was smaller than expected and they were forced into a much smaller meeting hall/venue. Ironically the Living Church of God was meeting in the same hotel and had around the same amount of people attending. Philadelphians and Laodiceans mingling? Shame!
I hope this has been of some help.–Former PCG member [name withheld]
Comments: As of 2017 Ryan Malone was a Preaching Elder in Edmond and PCG music director. As of 2020 Tkach Jr. was no longer called Amaziah. Read: November 24, 2020 letter.
PCG’s Money is Drying Up:
January 24, 2017
I think PCG’s money is drying up and they don’t have disposable cash for advertising; e., g., on Facebook, like they used to. I even noticed the quality of the paper used to print The Trumpet is not as good as it used to be. –Impacted by PCG
Mark Saranga Kicks Daughter Out of House:
January 25, 2017
Mark Saranga took over as head of the PCG Mail Processing Dept. when Mark Nash was unceremoniously fired from that position. His daughter Eleisha was seeing a “worldly” boy at the public school she attended, so Mark Saranga kicked her out of the house never to return (which is in keeping with Gerald Flurry’s disfellowshipping policy). Eleisha was a minor and around 16 years old at the time. She had no place to go as the other PCG members were too afraid of Gerald Flurry putting them out, too, for sheltering someone thrown out of the PCG. People are in fear of the ministry.
Eleisha had to go to the local office of Health and Human Services and tell them she was basically homeless without any means of support. The State put her into foster care and she has been there ever since. Her father Mark Saranga is a deacon. He writes for the Philadelphia Trumpet and Royal Vision magazine and his work is predominantly featured on the PCG website. Ironically, one of his current articles on there is about the Sandy Hook tragedy and how to protect your children. This coming from a man who kicked out his minor aged daughter to the curb for seeing a boy in school.
Not only are Gerald Flurry’s insane policies destroying the PCG financially, but they are also causing a local strain on the taxpayers as the kicked out minor aged children of the PCG members are relying on the State to survive. –[name withheld]
Update: Mark Saranga died September 27, 2022.
Ask the State to Bill Mark Saranga:
January 26, 2017
Parents have a financial responsibility for their underage children. I suggest we ask the state to bill Mark Saranga for Eleisha‘s care at the foster home of Health & Human Services. Maybe that would wake somebody up. –J. G.
PCG Should Be Investigated:
January 28, 2017
The letter concerning Mark Saranga and his daughter Eleisha breaks my heart. What a cruel and ruthless thing to do. I am reminded of what Jesus preached about the prodigal son and how he treated the lady at the well, and many of the other wonderful things He did for sinners. Flurry claims to preach the gospel to the world. What gospel? One of destroying the family? There is certainly no love, grace and truth in what he and his ministers preach. By not preaching the true gospel the PCG is twice cursed according to the Apostle Paul.
Now that Obama and Clinton have been taken care of and the USA has a Christian and Jewish supporting President, we who are suffering under the PCG rules should contact our new president and request him to have this so called “church” investigated for breaking any law on child care and have the IRS do a financial audit on them. I cannot remember when last we saw audited accounts from the PCG or any of their branches around the world.
I remember many years ago that the FBI was very interested in H. Armstrong and the WCG. –W.
Authorities Need to Investigate PCG Child Abuse and Finances:
January 29, 2017
I remember years ago one of the governmental authorities called us regarding investigating PCG and they told us the two areas they could and would investigate was in child abuse and finances.
We hope someone does something quickly. Thousands of families have been horribly ruined and disunited leaving a wake of illness, sadness and destruction of once loving families with their one Scripture of destructing families of “no contact” so-called doctrine.
When did Jesus Christ ever tell children to ignore their parents (against the commandment to honor) and for parents to “throw out” their beloved, darling children.
We pray for these people to understand the “grace” message of Christ and repent. –Former member whose loving family has been affected by the destructive cult . . . the PCG (Poor Coercive [“church”] Government)
Making Money Is More Important to Flurry Than Keeping Families Together:
January 30, 2017
The Scripture Flurry uses to separate families is Matthew 10:34-38:
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
What it really means is this; here is the answer Flurry does not want you to know. Christ was talking about people who would believe that He was the prophesied Savior that was to come, and those who would not. It is not talking about a family of Christians who all believe that Christ is Savior, but about believers and unbelievers.
In a lot of homes there are people, meaning son, daughter, husband and wife who would believe Christ is the Savior, and some would not. Sometimes families in the same household would belong to different religions. Because of this simple fact, there will be divisions among them, because of their beliefs. Flurry twisted this Scripture to his benefit. Making money is far more important to him than keeping families together. Flurry twisted this Scripture to mean, if your family is not in his “church,” the members should have nothing to do with them; in other words, cut them off. –Former lost member of PCG
Something is Seriously Wrong With PCG:
January 31, 2017
I was reading the letter about the drastic drop in the income for the PCG. I remember from back in the old WCG days that HWA said the proof of God’s blessing on “The Work of God” was a 30% increase in income and new membership annually. HWA always said that “when we please God then He is pleased with us” and will bless the Work accordingly.
So if Gerald Flurry really thinks that HWA was God’s true End-Time Apostle as Flurry has always preached, then HWA’s teaching on church growth absolutely condemns the PCG. When you have to send your elderly church members out to work to drag in additional income so the Edmond HQ elites can live the life of luxury, then something is seriously wrong somewhere.
I hope that when Gerald Flurry finally dies the new leadership will undo the horrible damage that has been done since the early ’90s when this nightmare began. –M. M.
Drying Up of PCG Information:
February 5, 2017
I am an habitual reader of your site and have been curious about developments with the PCG. Your Letters section of your site always was a source of updated information but lately, it would seem there has been a tightening of security on the part of the PCG where no one is daring to provide you with any information as to what is going on on the inside. Maybe the PCG has been reduced to a core of unshakeable believers who coupled with the fiery sermons coming from the pulpit that all those sites out there on the internet are the tools of the Devil to destroy the “one and only true church” and anyone leaking information to them is destined for the Lake of Fire and this is why the code of silence is being strictly respected.
Or, maybe it is that the PCG phenomenon has lost its luster, is really going nowhere fast and former and current members have simply lost the will to do anything about it. Those that are in it are content to stay there hoping that it is the right place and those that are no longer part of it have moved on and don’t care what happens to it. Of course, other factors may be at work but the end result has been a progressive drying up of information coming out on what’s going on inside the PCG.
Too bad, I, like I’m sure many others, were hoping to see this great hoax of a church fall apart and the leaders having to get real jobs out in the world which some of them would have found it a very difficult thing to do given their poor skills and abilities. But, it seems to be maintaining itself though not at the same level as before; they seem to be building fewer grand structures.
Hope people inside the PCG, at least some of them, get back to sharing with your site what is going on inside the PCG. –[name withheld]
John Macdonald Cuts Off Mel Tupas and His Wife for Trivial Incident:
February 6, 2017
This is just another sad story among the many on your page. Here is one tragedy.
For a background, the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Melchizedek Tupas. They were last seen at the Feast of Tabernacles in 2013.
The couple received the wrath of the former Regional Director of the PCG, John Macdonald due to a trivial incident that happened during the Feast. During one of the services, Mel Tupas forgot to turn-off his mobile phone and, unexpectedly, it sounded an alarm which caught the attention of John Macdonald. That made the man who is well known for his temper and harshness to give the couple the equivalent of capital punishment immediately. They were suspended and not allowed to attend services anymore after that Feast. As called for by the PCG’s unreasonable and much abused NO CONTACT POLICY, all the children of the couple who are in the PCG were automatically prevented from having any contact with their parents. They were to be treated like they don’t exist anymore or like they are dead already. Consequently, the Tupas couple were abandoned, neglected and forsaken by their children to prove their loyalty and faithfulness to their ministers.
The Tupas family are not really from Angeles city. They are from Rizal, Palawan, Philippines and they used to have a good life there. All their children were born and raised as well as educated in Palawan. Then things took a wild turn when John Macdonald started to pursue a dream of turning Angeles City into a little Edmond, Oklahoma.
We still do not know the fate of this couple as they have not been able to contact any friends and family.
I wish to remain anonymous. Maybe someone reading your site could help us. –Anonymous
Comment: In 2017 John Macdonald was Regional director for the United Kingdom and Europe, and Department head of Foreign Language Translations. John replaced Fred Dattolo as Canada regional director in 2018.]
Parent Closed Mouthed in Regard to PCG:
February 7, 2017
I agree with the author of the Feb. 5 letter who stated that less information is getting out regarding the PCG. I too have always checked ESN to see what new atrocities were happening in the PCG. I have a parent who attends, but they are very closed mouth in regards to what the PCG is up to. I will say that my parent is no closer to leaving as I would have hoped. President Trump and a few other global events have made them even more convinced that they are in the “one true church.”
On another note, I read that California is no longer under drought conditions, something I remember the PCG making a big deal over. I wonder what happens when events that they insist are the sign of the end-times either do not occur or stop occurring. I guess they just brush it under the table with all the other dusty prophecies and keep banging the drum. I still have hope that my parent will see the light but I doubt it. –[name withheld]
Flurry Says Trump Will Deport PCG Members from United States:
February 13, 2017
This last Sabbath Gerald Flurry said that President Trump is going to deport the members of the PCG from the United States. This is when they will be going to the place of safety. This is only one more way for GF to squeeze more money from the members. When it doesn’t happen, it will be forgotten.–F. S.
PCG Building Fund Down:
February 16, 2017
A friend who has access to the Philadelphia News said that their building fund income is down. Other things like second and third tithe went up. They want the money from the building fund to continue improving their musical dance building and for other building ventures. They are also encouraging fundraisers in this upcoming year to bring in money. –Anonymous
Flurry Claims New Revelation About Book of Hebrews:
February 21, 2017
In the July-August Royal Vision article, “Hebrews is Mainly For Our Day!” Gerald Flurry has “new revelation” about the book of Hebrews which he says is urgent. Flurry believes Paul wrote the book of Hebrews between A.D. 65 and 67 (i.e., A.D. 66), and since the church fled to Pella just three years later, his conclusion is:
“Since God has given us new revelation to understand this at this time, it could be a signal that we might be about three years from going to the place of safety.” (p. 1)
The most ridiculous and heretical thing he said was:
“if Christ had sinned one time, He would have died forever.” p. 24
How can God die?? Jesus was God in the flesh! [Read PDF booklet: The Deity of Christ]
According to GF, Satan is “growing more and more enraged” (even at this article) and is coming after PCG members “in many ways.” (p. 24) The only way they can “overcome Satan” is to stay close to their High Priest. (Yet John says Christians have already overcome the wicked one. (I John 2:13-14). And this verse: I John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
How many times has Flurry claimed “new revelation” about this and that book of the Bible? How many times has he warned that we only have a few years left? [Read quotes from: Philadelphia Church of God and the Place of Safety]
This article is sick! It is delivered with fear and threats and is filled with so many misapplications of Scripture that it would be a waste of time to quote more of what he said. –Anonymous
Update 2019: Gerald Flurry later wrote a booklet: “The Book of Hebrews” (copyright 2019) and those words from p. 1 of the Royal Vision about “it could be a signal that we might be about three years from going to the place of safety” were completely removed. He did say in Chap. 1 of the booklet: “But the book of Hebrews is primarily for the last era of God’s Church—what Revelation 3:14-22 calls the Laodicean era, the time we are in right now. … The book of Hebrews has some specific warnings for God’s Church in the lukewarm Laodicean era. …This is revelation Mr. Armstrong never understood because it is for the Laodicean era. The Bible is a book of coded messages.”
PCG to Take HWA’s Prayer Rock When They Flee:
February 21, 2017
All the talk this past Sabbath at services was about the PCG’s plan to take HWA’s “prayer rock” with them when they flee. –W. S.
Evil, Deceptive Men Who Have Deliberately Used Innocent People:
February 21, 2017
I can’t have any sympathy for GF or HWA. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are evil, deceptive men who have deliberately used innocent people. They both just used people for what they could get from them–for their money and to control them. They are so full of the devil I can’t even stand to see their faces. They both have such smug looks on their faces on their books, almost as if they are mocking me. All these leaders are messing with people’s minds and they know it; they have absolutely no remorse for what they’ve done. I will not, however, give up trying to convince and warn others of what they and their organizations are. –Impacted by PCG
Gerald Flurry a Master at Using Weasel Words:
February 21, 2017
When I was reading GF’s article in the July/August 2016 Royal Vision, I couldn’t help but notice that he is a master of using what are called “weasel words.” Weasel words and phrases allow someone to say something and yet allow themselves a “back door” or escape in case they need it. GF must not be too sure of his prophecies because he sprinkles these words liberally through his articles.
For example, in the article, “Hebrews is Mainly for Our Day!” he says, “Since God has given us new revelation to understand this at this time, it could be a signal that we might be about three years from going to the place of safety.”
When did any of the prophets in the Scriptures ever use the phrase “it could be…”, or use the word, “might” in their messages? He goes on to say, “This [2016] could be America’s last presidential election–and I’d be rather stunned if it were not, considering what is happening.” Once again, notice his careful insertion of the word, “could.” These are not the words of a prophet, but of a snake-oil salesman.
The article is also full of words and phrases that conjure up anxiety and fear in the mind of the reader. Obviously, this is GF’s latest “push” to try to milk even more money from the already strained and aging members of the PCG to continue supporting his sagging religious empire of lavish buildings, the overseas campus, and the promise of a personal jet. But when President Trump’s term is finished and no one’ s been ousted from the United States, GF can fall back on his “weasel words” and say, “Well, I never said that for sure.” –[name withheld]
Comment: Weasel words that GF often uses are also mentioned in the 11-19-2008 letter: Flurry Says PCG Will Need 10,000 Members Before Fleeing.
Wife of John Amos Dies:
February 24, 2017
I heard last night that the wife of John Amos (Helen) passed away from a stroke. She was in her 70s. John Amos, as you know, was co-founder of the PCG in 1989. –C. W.
Gerald Flurry Has Plans to Buy a Private Plane:
February 24, 2017
Gerald Flurry sent out a letter dated February 3, 2017. He believes it is an “open door from God” to buy a private plane (jet). He believes it will improve the Work. He says there are some members who are capable in managing the aircraft.
He said HWA had this prized asset to “complete an urgent work” and the same reasons apply today.
Comment from ESN: In HWA’s January 12, 1972 co-worker letter, he claimed the gospel had gone to all the world, whereas it had not before that time. (See this part in the Gerringer letter.) Here are HWA’s exact words: “It is significant that by the end of 1971 we were able to say, for the first time, ‘This gospel of the Kingdom has been preached, and published in all the world for a witness unto all nations’ (as in Matthew 24:14). … But, within the meaning of Bible terms, we have definitely now for the first time, proclaimed God’s message into all nations.” “This gospel now has been preached into every nation.” (Mystery of the Ages, p. 158) His January 1986 co-worker letter (no exact date given) stated: “It is now true that this Gospel has been proclaimed within every nation on earth by the Worldwide Church of God.”
He believes God is behind this and is asking the members and co-workers to pledge to the aircraft fund as they did for the building of Armstrong Auditorium. He says, “If you can help financially, please complete the enclosed pledge statement.” He also mentioned waiting on estate donations that have not been completed yet but everyone is to pray many more come through to bring down the costs more.
He talks about Herbert Armstrong not being able to do the Work he did without a plane. He quotes Revelation 10:11 about how we are to “go before kings.” He plans to start up the “going to the nations” campaign again.
Comment from ESN: Since HWA said the gospel had already “gone to all the world” (See: Mystery of the Ages, p. 291: “These prophecies have now definitely been fulfilled. The true gospel has been restored and has now gone in power into every nation on the face of the earth” and “So the gospel commission to the world was finished when Mr. Armstrong died” (Malachi’s Message, chap 9, by Gerald Flurry), why does GF think he has to now go before kings?
He said they will have to cut back on some broadcasting networks and some cuts to the musical acts in order to sacrifice. The secondhand plane they are eyeing is between $9 to 11 million and it would cost about $2 million to maintain it per year. –[name withheld]
Update: Read: Gerald Flurry’s Jet Plane is Paid Off and More Money Received (May 2, 2021 letter).
HWA Said the Gospel Had Been Preached in All the World:
February 25, 2017
When we came in the WCG in early 1984. HWA said those words around late `85 (I think it was right before the Feast that year). Our friends knew a member that they had been college buddies with and he invited us “newbies” to join him and his wife at a restaurant. The member was ecstatic that HWA announced that “the gospel has been preached unto all the world.” He said he had never heard HWA say that in all his years as a member. So he was going to go home and “get ready to flee.”
This member had been in the WCG during his 4 years at Ambassador College; he had been in years before us, but not the decades that distinguish true long time members. So this is why he didn’t hear HWA say that “the gospel has gone into all the world” until 1985. I know he made it a point to let us know how very important this announcement was since we were new and rather clueless at the time. So this member had no idea that this had been said before by HWA in January 1972. He was going to go home and get ready to flee and advised we do the same. –K.
Your Site Helped Me:
February 27, 2017
Certain sites on the Internet are just “drive by blogging”; there is no substance to them. Your site, however, has a lot more scholarship [research] with it. Mike’s critical deconstruction of HWA’s works was significant in getting me weaned from the PCG. –Former member of PCG
Gerald Flurry Relied on Helen Amos for Much of His Prophecies:
February 28, 2017
As you know, John Amos‘s wife Helen Amos recently died [of a stroke]. Gerald Flurry relied on her for much of the background and validation of some of his “prophecies.” She has kept notes on everything Flurry has preached about from back in 1989 when John Amos and Flurry started the PCG on a shoestring. She was the one who divinely “revealed” to Flurry that he was in fact “That Prophet.” In the past Flurry always brought up Helen’s notes in his sermons to validate some time or date that he though would fit in with whatever kind of “Truth” he was making up at moment. Remember the foolish obsession Flurry had with Robbers Cave and his son’s Stephen’s baptismal date? Can you remember all this emphasis on Robber’s Cave being the exact time and place where Stephen Flurry read Malachi’s Message for the first time and then he “saw the light” and was baptized in the PCG? Well, that all goes back to Helen Amos. Flurry even used that special date as a cut off period for the validity of baptisms outside of the PCG. I often wondered when I was in the PCG what is all of this obsession with dates and times and who was baptized when, etc. I would like to know what happened to her thousands of pages of notes now that she has died? How will Flurry get his information to validate his “revealed Truth”? –Former member of PCG [name withheld]
Flurry Says PCG’s Scone of Stone (aka Stone of Destiny) is Now HWA’s Old Prayer Rock:
February 28, 2017
Gerald Flurry this Sabbath announced “newly revealed Truth” that the PCGs new “Scone of Stone” [aka the Stone of Destiny] is now HWA’s old “prayer rock” that they found in the back of an old house Armstrong once lived in. God, according to Gerald Flurry, has moved the Throne of David [to the PCG]. Forget the old Lia Fail under the coronation throne. HWA is now, according to Flurry, a “type” of Jacob and his old prayer rock is where the heavenly angels ascended and descended giving HWA (and now by extension Gerald Flurry) divinely revealed truth from God. Flurry has even now supposedly said that HWA’s old prayer rock is a throne on which he (Flurry) now sits and rules the “church” (PCG). Jesus Christ is now going to return and sit on that prayer rock as the New Throne of David. The PCG will be taking HWA’s prayer rock with them when Trump exiles them to Petra, Jordon. [now in Adullam] Can you believe this stuff? Have I been handed bill of goods or has Flurry finally went too far? –Former PCG member
Note: U.S. citizens cannot be legally deported, especially if they were born in the U.S.
Update: See February 27, 2018 letter: King Flurry?
PCG a Destructive Group:
March 3, 2017
I just stumbled on your site in the last day or so. [….] My [family member] became obsessed (and still is) with the “church” [first WCG, then PCG]. Many times they have told us that they are leaving soon to go “somewhere” as they are getting word that end-times are upon us. (This has happened at least two times.) They have begged us to join the PCG before “the end.” I told them that I would not ever join the PCG, but I wouldn’t criticize it if they would promise me that if “the end” hadn’t happened in such and such amount of time, they would leave the PCG. They said they would. (Of course, they didn’t believe that we would see that time pass.) Now we are well passed that milestone and they are more devoted than ever.
I learned yesterday that they are going to be “leaving soon” [if accounted worthy].
I’m sure my [loved ones] have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the PCG. They don’t have much money. They never travel unless the PCG mandates it. They buy their clothes at Goodwill, and give the “church” every available penny.
Where do they think they are going? When? They are [elderly] and have never traveled. I don’t see them jetting off to Petra.
I can’t talk to them without getting upset, and not sure I can talk to them ever again in any meaningful way. I love them so much and hate this “church” more than I can express.
I am thankful that I have a patient and wonderful [mate], and for the folks at our church who are normal, happy, kind, and loving people.
Thank you for allowing me to reach out to you. –Impacted by PCG
Comment: This person has received a personal reply. Also read: Philadelphia Church of God and the Place of Safety.
Non-PCG Members Can Go to Place of Safety??
March 3, 2017
Years ago, [one of the PCG ministers] said something to my mate that was absolutely crazy. He said that non-PCG family that want to go with PCG members to the Place of Safety can flee with them. The reasoning was that only 10,000 people will be fleeing [GF uses Jude 14 and Deuteronomy 32:1-2] and since there aren’t enough PCG members to make up that number, family members that decide to come along will make up the difference.
I guess this was meant to be a “consolation” to members who were worried about what would happen to their non-PCG mate when they flee.
GF claims (according to his Jude book) that the 10,000 saints mentioned in Jude 14 and Deuteronomy 32:1-2 are 10,000 members that will be in the Place of Safety. But since I am not “converted,” how can I be one of those saints?
So, according to this PCG minister, since I am a non-PCG member (and not Laodicean), I can go to the Place of Safety with my PCG mate and then when Christ returns, I will have to make my way back to a country (not the U.S. because they will have been destroyed) and go into the millennium as a human being and live out my life. But if I don’t “wake up and repent” during that time, I will end up in the lake of fire. Some reassurance. Another thing–PCG says President Trump will deport all PCG members out of the U.S., so how am I supposed to tag along when that happens?
The difference between PCG members and everyone else is that they don’t see how ridiculous all this is. I see it and you see it, but PCG members don’t. There’s so much about the PCG that makes no sense whatsoever. It defies common sense and logic. –Impacted by loved one in PCG
Comment: In the years prior to 1972, some of us may remember being told that there would be certain people coming along with us when we fled to Petra on the Night Much To Be Observed. They based this on Exodus 12:28 which says a “mixed multitude” went out with Israel when they left Egypt that night. These weren’t true Israelites and many of them caused much trouble later. I don’t remember hearing about this later and nothing was ever said about what would happen to those people after they got to Petra. However, we must remember that HWA was a false prophet and no member ever went to Petra or ever will go to Petra.
Riding on Coattails to Place of Safety:
March 6, 2017
I remember I was told in the old PCG days that unconverted mates of PCG members would be allowed to go to the Place of Safety. If my memory serves me well, they told us that teenagers below a certain age could “ride on their parents coattails” and “make it to the place of safety.” But Flurry has changed his teachings so much that it would be hard to say what the standing is now. –Former PCG member
Comment: HWA told members that they could not “ride on the coattails” of anyone to get to the place of safety. So GF is completely contradicting HWA if he ever said that. However, the teaching in WCG was that any unbaptized child (or teenager) could go with their parents, until later; i.e., in the 80’s, when older teenagers were told they better be obedient if they were going to go.
Membership Continues to Decline:
March 6, 2017
The Elizabethtown, KY PCG congregation hasn’t existed for about 2 years. It now meets in Frankfort, KY. Some members have moved to Florida so they would see Cal Culpepper as little as possible. I think his home is somewhere in central Ohio. More people are out in Ohio–people whom I thought were staunch Flurryites. –Anonymous
New Photos of GF Look Like Death on a Cracker:
March 6, 2017
Flurry has had some minor strokes and serious health problems. New photos of him make him look like death on a cracker. –Anonymous
Flurry’s Continual Changes Cause Confusion:
March 6, 2017
I remember a few years back at the Feast, Flurry announced that the PCG was like Gideon’s army and that perhaps God was purging out the sinful leaven and the few faithful would be 300. [Read 12-27-04 letter: PCG Believes it is “Gideon’s Army”] It made quite a few of us confused at the time because for quite a while he was saying that the PCG would be 7,000 strong, plus children would come to 10,000 (from Deuteronomy 33:2). Now with the letter above mentioning that the Kentucky congregation is down by a lot and that more people are being put out in Ohio sounds like Culpepper is doing just that–purging the people out so they can prove only the faithful few like Gideon’s army will make it. Also reading about him now saying the stone of destiny is no longer the stone that will be taken to the place of safety must have quite a few scratching their heads. It was repeated over and over again that PCG would get the stone of destiny from the royal family and that was one of the reasons for buying Edstone, to be closer to the stone and the ark in Ireland. –Anonymous
Gerald Flurry Said to “Clean House!”:
March 7, 2017
I personally know a former PCG member who told me about some of his experiences with being disfellowshipped by Cal Culpepper and Aaron Eagle. He recently told he that when he was dis-fellowshipped at the Feast by Cal Culpepper he was told point blank that Culpepper had received orders directly from Gerald Flurry to “clean house!” Culpepper went on to tell him that they want to get down to a hard core of dedicated elite members who are not lukewarm and sinful–“God’s elite army.” This was around 4 years ago. Flurry knows exactly the kind of carnage and suffering he is doling out to PCG members who run afoul of the ministry. Cal Culpepper does nothing without Gerald Flurry’s direct consent.
This man’s daughter, as part of her AC tuition payment, worked as Wayne Turgeon‘s office aide. Often as she did her duties she saw that Turgeon’s desk was full of disfellowshipment/suspension papers as they were sent into HQ by the PCG ministers. These were read by Turgeon before they were sent to “That Prophet” to read. Apparently, when a minister puts a member out he has to fill out a pre-printed form that has very particular and explicit details of the person(s) sinful acts and what they did to get into trouble. His daughter said that she was told by Wayne Turgeon that she was not to discuss the details of what was in those files to anybody. I particularly find it creepy that Wayne Turgeon is sitting in his nice office, sipping coffee and reading form after form (for how many years now) containing in depth detail of troubled PCG members’ sins and faults. Those things should only be between those people and God and is not the business of some guy whose only job qualification is that he married Flurry’s daughter. –Former PCG member
Announced That the Throne of David is Now Inside PCG:
March 12, 2017
I heard from someone who has inside info that it was announced that the throne of David is now inside the PCG. It moved when God got behind HWA, and now Flurry, so that is why HWA’s prayer rock has replaced the Jacob’s pillar, aka the stone of destiny. And since Flurry is descended from David as HWA was, too, per their claims of genealogy, they are the true descendants of the throne and not the current carnal, worldly family of Queen Elizabeth. –Anonymous
Felt Out of Place in PCG:
March 12, 2017
I was born into and raised in the PCG. I got out last year right after the Feast of Tabernacles. I spent the whole FOT (and months before) feeling out of place and like I just didn’t belong there anymore. Even though I was surrounded by people of “like mind,” I couldn’t have felt much more out of place. –Child Survivor of PCG
Members Already Have an Excuse if GF’s Revelations Don’t Come to Pass:
March 13, 2017
The FOT is definitely in England this year instead of Ireland. Probably so the overseas members can have a chance to see Edstone, which is their headquarters over here. I’ve read a few posts regarding what the PCG is telling their members and I can say that far from being stupefied as we all on the outside are, the members are eating it up. My parent refuses to travel anywhere outside of England in fear of missing anything important. They also told me that PCG has been commissioned to give a warning to the Israelites. [Read: British Israelism–True or False?] They are excited for all the new revelations happening but when I asked what will happen if all this doesn’t occur (predicted by Flurry to be in the next four years), they said that “men are fallible.” So they already have an excuse ready if all this doesn’t come to fruition, and we all know it won’t. I’m still waiting for my parent to come to their senses, but I think that’s unlikely to happen. –N.
Comment: What they don’t realize is that God does not give His truth to a false prophet and it only takes one false prophecy to make a false prophet. (Deuteronomy 18:22; I John 4:1) Read October 3, 2010 letter to ESN: If One Writes as a Prophet He Cannot Back Off From That
Family Finally Out of PCG!
March 18, 2017
I have been wanting to write you; it’s been a long time. I have some very exciting news to share with you. Our entire family that was in PCG is out! When I heard the news, I was in shock as you can imagine. I am so happy. … The family is slowly healing from all the damage the PCG has done. And if you think your site has not helped people, you are wrong. Yes, there is a healing happening, and I praise God, and thank Him. Just wanted to share this with you, because we have talked so often. Continue doing your work, because you are helping people. –[name withheld]
My Disfellowshipment Was a Great Blessing in Disguise:
March 20, 2017
I was disfellowshipped from PCG 4 years ago. When I told my wife to leave also, she told me, “Where will I go, what other church shall I go to?” In her mind she had to find another church to go to before she left PCG, or she wouldn’t leave. This is what high demand churches do. They instill in the member’s mind that without their “church”–in this case PCG–the member is doomed, and will not have God’s favor. My wife was willing to end a 23 year marriage, with two children, so she could remain in PCG.
At the time I was disfellowshipped, I thought I was lost forever, but I did not know it was a great blessing in disguise, even though my marriage ended (she is still in PCG). I have never regretted how God pulled me out of that cult, and opened my eyes up to the truth of the Scriptures, that we are saved by Christ alone, by grace, through faith. I guess it is true what people say, you only get rid of poison in your system, when you stop receiving the needles. At first it will be hard to let go, but as time goes on, the truth will come into focus, and you will see all the lies you were led to believe. To those who are thinking about leaving, don’t be afraid, it is God who is guiding you. –S. A., former PCG member
Comment: Read: The Law of Moses and the Grace of God.
You Are Helping People:
March 20, 2017
I still check your site every day. Keep up the good work. You are helping people with this site, a beacon of hope. A voice for the voiceless. –Former PCG member
PCG Counseling Must Be Done by Phone Now:
March 20, 2017
Not sure if you heard this or not, but apparently the ministers do not do any more email counseling. Any counseling, questions, etc., must be done by phone. Not sure why the change but that is how it is now. –Anonymous
PCG Feast Sites for 2017:
April 4, 2017
Here are the 2017 Feast sites taken from their planner:
Edmond, OK
Lexington, KY
Palm Harbor, FL
Lake Arrowhead, CA
Lake George, NY
Bellingham, WA
Huntsville, Ontario, Canada
Invermere, British Columbia, Canada
Henley-in-arden, United Kingdom
St. Lucia, Caribbean
Tweed Heads, Australia
Clark, Philippines
Suva, Fiji
Limpopo, South Africa
–[name withheld]
April 12, 2017
PCG got the plane [a Gulfstream G450 jet plane]. The deal is complete. Guess they got enough pledges. –Anonymous
Ex-Members That Refuse to Hear the Gospel of Grace:
April 15, 2017
It is really amazing to me how so many of the ex members of the PCG and other splinter churches once they are disfellowshipped, or come under the “no contact rule,” or leave of their own accord, immediately begin to search the Internet and ask other ex members for the name of a similar church that follows the teachings of Armstrong, Flurry or Pack for them to start attending. Once they start attending this new “church” they soon find that they are subjected to the self-same spiritual abuse, excessive tithing, man made laws and rules, as they suffered in the PCG.
Should they be unable to find a church they continue to try and keep the Sabbath and all the Holy days on their own. Even to the extent of keeping the Passover, and Unleavened Bread, searching their houses for every bread crumb that may have escaped their vacuum cleaner. They fail to really study and search the Word of God for the truth that the one and only Passover has come and gone, that Christ has atoned for their sins on the cross, they are forgiven and that they do not need to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
They refuse to hear the Gospel of Grace and to attend any church that meets on a Sunday. They continue to believe that God the Father will punish them with sickness, disease or some other catastrophe if they do not observe all the Holy Days and keep the Saturday Sabbath.
Once they start searching the Bible for the real truth they will find that they have been set free from the Old Covenant and that Gentiles are now permitted to join the Body of Christ. –Ex PCG member with family in PCG
Why Does Flurry Need a Jet Plane?
May 8, 2017
What is Flurry needing a plane for? Certainly not to do what he said HWA has already accomplished:
“Mr. Armstrong restored all things (Matthew 17:10-11)–he finished the Work of the Philadelphia era and then he died. But he didn’t die until he finished God’s Work.” (Malachi’s Message by Gerald Flurry, p. 58-59, 1990, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2008 edition) [bolding ours]
In that book he said that God’s “major work” was “getting the message of Malachi’s Message” to the Laodiceans:
“The major work now is getting the message of Malachi to the Laodicean Church. The gospel has been preached. The Laodiceans must now be warned! (Ibid, p. 129) [emp. ours]
But then he changed all that because, according to his February 3, 2017 co-worker letter: “…we have just a few prophetic moments left before the return of Christ.” –Anonymous
Comment: Refer to February 24, 2017 letter above. Part of mind control (i.e., thought reform) is that members don’t pay any attention to what was said in the past, they just listen to their leaders now. Only those that think critically will pick up on the changes.
Update: The jet was paid off in 2021. Read: Gerald Flurry’s Jet Plane is Paid Off and More Money Received (May 2, 2021 letter).
PCG Trumpet Removing Comment Section:
May 16, 2017
I recently visited the Philadelphia Trumpet website about a couple days ago at the most. If you click on one of their articles, which are also probably printed in the magazine, you’ll notice that they removed the comment section below. When their comment section was still up, you usually saw the same names as before. I think these people were either PCG members or a part of their staff. Anyway, I think it’s because their numbers have dwindled so much they no longer allow familiar names to type in agreement to the typical cult-spun, pessimistic views about world events. None of their prophesies they made ever came true, especially the ones about Germany, Italy or Japan. Thank you for continuing to expose the WCG and their offshoots. –Anonymous
The Claim to Reach the Whole World:
May 18, 2017
Remember on Pentecost, the people heard in at least 18 native languages. (Acts 2:1-11) Today’s world speaks an estimated 6500 languages, where 2000 of the languages have less than 1000 people speaking them; the Chinese language of 1.2 billion being the most spoken, followed by the Spanish at 400 million, and the English-speaking people at 360 million, not counting the Native languages.
Armstrong leaders claim they are God-ordained yet they only speak basically English and use translators.
The UCG holds Feasts in English, then uses translators for a very limited number of non-English speaking members.
I don’t know if Flurry uses translators.
Now! How can anybody who speaks or writes only English expect the whole earth to be rightfully informed? Unless the message is spoken in an understandable language, it means nothing to the hearer despite their claim to reach the whole world. –J. D.
A Devilish Rule on Earth if PCG Governs:
May 30, 2017
I heard about the outcome of a court case with PCG and a former member [details with ESN]. I am sure it was a hot trial and the fact that the PCG settled proves that the ministry is fully aware that they are wrong in what they are doing (extorting money from people) and that their policies are devious and dark. Could you imagine the suffering in the world should they govern it? A devilish rule.
I pray for their destruction.
Your friend, –Former PCG member [name withheld]
Shut-ins Not Allowed to Have CDs of Gerald Flurry:
May 30, 2017
Shut-ins in PCG are not allowed to have CD’s from PCG of Gerald Flurry because they (HQ) are afraid they could fall in the wrong hands like unconverted spouses, Laodiceans, etc., and they could put them on the net. –Anonymous
Flurry’s Plane Purchase Was the Last Straw:
June 26, 2017
I have a friend who has left PCG. This person became skeptical back in November when Flurry spoke about Trump being the Jeroboam and then his mentioning about buying a plane. Then in January he gave the sermon about HWA’s prayer stone [prayer rock] replacing the stone of destiny (a.k.a. Jacob’s pillar stone) and Flurry saying HWA was a type of Jacob or Israel. And how he, Flurry, is the chosen man on this whole earth privileged to bring the prayer stone to the Place of Safety where Christ will meet up with them and take his rightful place on the throne after Flurry, who is representing the house of David for 2 l/2 years, since he says he is a descendant of David through his genealogy. And finally, once this person got the letter about pledging funds to purchase a plane and then finding out they bought it in April during Feast of Unleavened Bread, this was the final straw. I am not sure what this person will do next. They are looking at other offshoots that follow the Sabbath, but feel that all of them try to control peoples’ purse strings to suit their own agenda by using end-time events and the Place of Safety to control them. –[name withheld]
June 29, 2017
I don’t even know where to begin. It’s so difficult to summarize my experience and sort out how I’m feeling about everything that this so called “church” has put me, my family, and countless others through. The abuses that we undergo are covered up, kept hush-hush and resolved through gossip started by who knows. I started becoming very skeptical when my own family began to be ripped apart by the ministry, who were not to be questioned ever! Every problem was pushed back on us not having it all together, or not praying and studying. No biblical proof was offered, just the opinion of a man who thought he spoke with God’s authority–although certainly not with God’s LOVE. It’s so clear to me now why no one was ever allowed to compare stories or talk about counseling sessions. They did not want us comparing notes on our interactions with the ministry.
But my last service was when our local minister aired all my family’s dirty laundry in front of the congregation, blaming everything on my father’s inability to lead. Taking no responsibility for his own interference and meddling.
FURIOUS. I left knowing I’d never be back. I told no one and refused to talk to anyone after. A clean cut was the best resolve for me. I was so sick of being dragged into everyone’s drama when I had no part in it. And I was certainly tired of feeling beaten down–not good enough and chastised every week at services. Also, if I missed a week, I felt like a child being scolded. I wish I’d left sooner. No, I wish I never would have attended at all.
Since I’ve been out, I’ve been happier than I thought possible. I’m happy to let God judge me. At least it will be true justice. If anyone is considering leaving, do it now. I waited years and regret it deeply. I will mourn family left in and pray they leave. –Raised in WCG; joined PCG as adult
September 5, 2017
I have been monitoring your site for the longest time, always interested to get a peek into what is going on inside the PCG enclave. This most destructive of spin-off group from the Worldwide Church of God has been quite successful in maintaining a core of die-hard supporters who regardless of the misery they are made to endure continue to provide the organization with enough money to keep its ministry living in luxury even to the point of having their leader fly around in his own private jet which are hugely expensive to operate and maintain. This is not to mention the beautiful homes provided to the ministers loyal to the Pastor General who live in a gated community on property owned by the PCG.
I guess there will always be a supply of people who can be made to believe anything and endure all kind of mistreatment and abuse from men who hold themselves out as the way to salvation and especially, as men who have the inside knowledge on the place of safety. Whoever is left in the PCG must have been sufficiently scared by the ministry to no longer leak any information to your site about what is going on inside the PCG. They must all believe they are at the end of the end of the end before Christ’s 2nd Coming and if they can only hold out just a little longer and continue on giving generously and beyond their means to the PCG that their faith and patience will finally and soon be rewarded. It is sad to see these pitiful individuals being so insensitively exploited by an ex, out-of-work WCG minister who couldn’t find a job in the real world.
Thanks for keeping your website up and running and, hopefully, some new information will come out of the PCG with their coming Fall feast season. –Ex short-timer PCGer who left on his own a very long time ago (17 years ago)
Almost Financially Free After Exiting PCG:
September 22, 2017
Ever since I left PCG I am much better off financially. They would say pay your 1st, 2nd and every 3rd year your 3rd tithe and of course the tithe of the tithe before FOT. I was always struggling for money and the “church” was like, well, if you are struggling you are not obeying the tithing law and need to do more. I was at one point considering bankruptcy until I finally left. Now, I am doing much better financially. I have paid down a substantial amount of debt and actually have money in my bank account, unlike when I had to send my tithe money and barely had 2 cents left in the bank. I am getting financially debt free and if I was still paying all those tithes I would likely still be struggling all the time. I could never afford a to buy a home and always rented in part because the PCG seem to frown upon people buying houses due to the “end of days” and all and money should be put towards God’s Work and not physical things. Now, I actually believe in a few short months I will be able to buy a home. –Former PCG member
Comment: See our article, “Tithing and Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.”
PCG Stagnating
October 26, 2017
Hi, the PCG has gone through its Fall feast season which usually involves some members having comments to make about either the accommodations or some of the messages they heard but the drought of information about what is going on in the PCG continues. The PCG has been around for a long time and doing well financially if their gated compound and “church” buildings are any indication not to mention the recent purchase of an executive jet for the Pastor General [Gerald Flurry].
I get the impression that those that are left in the PCG are die-hard members who have resigned themselves to enduring any hardship to be sure they will be on the bus driven by Gerald Flurry that will take them to the Place of Safety. They have grown weary and no longer have the strength nor the will to question what is happening in the PCG and simply accept it. The PCG has reached a point of stagnation in terms of growth and its message has grown stale; they are out of false revelations about how the Pastor General embodies all the great men of the Bible and they are out of credible predictions as to when end-time events will occur. The PCG is simply maintaining itself in existence through its dictatorial form of government over congregations of mind-numbed individuals who are not really listening to nor believing anything they are saying anymore and are satisfied with just waiting around to go off to the Place of Safety. –Ex PCG, Canada
I Have Gone So Far Past PCG
November 20, 2017
I just wanted to say hello again after having left the PCG about 15 years ago. You guys helped me so much when I was leaving that group and I have always come back to your site every few months to see what the newest letters reveal. I am shocked to say the least that they still have a “church” and haven’t been eaten up by another group. They say when you are ready the teacher will appear. I have gone so far past this group I can’t believe I ever belonged to it. My mother doesn’t attend but still listens to their junk program. She is always trying to give me sermons about what is coming. I have told her many times I don’t have to listen to it anymore because I am not seven years old! I tell her straight up what BS it is and that they have totally cherry picked the Bible and misread it. No use though. Anyway, thank you guys for the great work you do and service you provide. I appreciate that you have never given up. –C.
Some Members Not Staying at Designated Hotels at Feast:
November 30, 2017
PCG had increased costs at a North American feast site because some members did not stay at the designated hotels that the PCG reserved for them and so the PCG had to pay for the unused rooms leaving the PCG to pay for these on top of other costs. Andrew Locher told members to counsel with their ministers if they are planning to not stay in the rooms the PCG reserved.
Fifty or so checks bounced so he chastised members to always make sure they have the funds in their bank accounts for the amounts they are tithing as it ends up costing the PCG more money in labor to sort this out and sometimes the PCG is charged fees from the banks for the bounced checks. –Anonymous
Update: Read: Flurry Uses Guilt and Threats at Feast Time (April 8, 2018 letter)