Best of the Letters From 2024
Former Members Can Say Some Crazy Things:
January 20, 2024
I was reading the letter, How I Was Gaslighted by a Former WCG Member and all the insane and mean words that former member said. I personally know how former WCG members can say some crazy things.
I was acquainted with a woman when I was attending WCG (she stayed with GCI after the split). At the time when we were both in WCG I didn’t realize how big a problem she had with another member who was formerly close with her but later really ticked her off. Well, this woman who stayed with GCI, later told me, “There are some people I am not looking forward to seeing in Heaven.” I was like, “what the??” Later on she ended up getting mad at me and I’m sure I am now another one she “doesn’t want to see in Heaven.” –Former WCG member
Didn’t Have a Childhood Growing Up:
January 23, 2024
I didn’t have a childhood growing up. I missed out on everything. Plus, I had a mother who beat me every day. However, the only thing I learned is that I should act as if Jesus Christ were standing by my side at all times. I am 71 years now, and I still have problems about that cult. –L. D.
Interested in Finding Other Survivors to Contact:
February 9, 2024
Hi! There used to be a page here where we could contact other former members. Is that still available? I was born into WCG and then was in PCG up until 2013. My family is still in it.
I was just wondering if there’s people that are able to find other survivors.
Thank you! –Former child survivor [name withheld]
Comment: Here is a direct link to it: If You Would Like to Email Other Exiters
I Relate to Everyone’s Feedback:
February 13, 2024
I was born and raised in the WCG. Transitioned to PCG in the nineties. Left a few years ago. It has been a hard road. I am in my forties now. Cut off from all my family; friends are my only source of community. The single beautiful blessing to come out of it has been reuniting with my daughter who left when she was a teen. I hadn’t seen her for almost 10 years. Your site has been helpful. Gives me peace of mind that everything I was experiencing and feeling was not in my head! They [the cult] say they are the monopoly on the way of love and give. It truly is not so! I relate to everyone’s feedback on your site. –Child survivor of WCG
WCG Ministry Got Tired of My Constant Questions:
March 7, 2024
For several years I have frequented your website trying to keep abreast of information and/or further travesties committed by the various latter-day “Churches of God.”
I am an [elderly] man who was disfellowshipped from the Worldwide Church of God in 1974. My problem with the WCG ministry (or their problem with me) was that I refused to simply accept what they taught as if their words came directly from God’s lips. They tired (and were often seriously offended) by my constant questions, to the point where one day they simply asked (forced) me to leave the WCG.
Since then (except for a hiatus of some twenty years), I have tried to keep abreast of the many changes and upheavals of the WCG and its many offshoots. Although I have had no affiliation with any of these groups, I have over the past fifty years tried to engage several of the ministry (about 12-14) in a discussion of their more egregious teachings. Not one of these men would honestly consider my concerns, let alone discuss them with me. They have collectively, for many years now, simply chosen to ignore my queries so that I no longer even try to reach out to them.
The anger and contempt I once had for the ministry has been replaced by feelings of disappointment and sorrow. And yet, no matter how wrong-headed I consider many of these men to be, I have chosen to believe that somewhere in their hearts and minds, some (perhaps even most) of them truly believe they are doing God and their members a service.
Anyway, many thanks for the service and support you have made available. And by the way, I agree wholeheartedly with your decision not to offer a forum for open discussion. [Read: Why We Don’t Have a Forum] There is altogether too much confusion in the world as it is, without your site adding to it. Well done! –[name withheld]
Started Questioning Things While in RCG:
March 24 , 2024
I want to thank you so much for all the articles and testimonials I have read. I had been trapped in the organization of RCG for just over 3 years. They teach that if I leave I’m committing the unpardonable sin. They also teach God does not listen to our prayers if we are sinners and that we cannot pray for anyone outside the “church.” I’m tired.
I started questioning when people had to pay 3rd tithes which is something you did for a year and then Dave Pack decided the dates for tithes where wrong and made people pay again and they fell in line without questioning and then we had to observe New Moons. Ministers are leaving and more. It was just too much. The people there, they are so nice. I hope they wake up. –[name withheld]
Comment: This person has received a personal reply. Anyone so affected should keep away from RCG’s literature and teachings (which are lies) and try to rest in Christ as He is there for them. Read: Can I commit the unpardonable sin? (from our Q&A).
Any Ideas Since I Would Like to Be Baptized?
March 30, 2024
I was born into WWCG almost 60 years ago. I study my Bible at home presently. Although my dad was an elder, my parents did not discuss baptism with us kids. None of us have been baptized. I would like to be. Any ideas for me, considering I do not belong to a congregation? –[name withheld]
Reply: We do not need to be baptized if we have placed our faith in Christ Jesus and believe the true gospel as stated in I Corinthians 15:1-4. That is when we receive the Holy Spirit. However, you can be baptized if you so desire. I have known ones that have had someone baptize them in their bathtub, or even in a creek; anywhere where there is enough water to be immersed. It doesn’t matter where you do it and it doesn’t have to be in a church. Perhaps you have a friend who is a believer in Christ who could help you. If you are interested, our section on Grace & Law section has articles on baptism.
Some Really Bad People in WCG:
April 1, 2024
I used to wonder why we had some really bad people in WCG. Once I understood that it wasn’t the “only true church,” it began to make a lot of sense to me. They simply didn’t have the Spirit of God dwelling within them. –Former WCG member
I Suffered Abuse at the Hands of Jim Reyer:
April 15, 2024
While I’m not a child survivor, I am most definitely an adult survivor of the WCG and Jim Reyer. This morning I found myself thinking about the abuse I suffered at the hands of Jim Reyer while a member of the Denver church, and quite by accident ran across your site. Much of what you have to say to child survivors is most definitely applicable to those of us who suffered as adults. I was a bit surprised by what you had to say regarding Doug Horchak. I always found him to be loving and helpful to me. I realize, of course, that I can’t judge what happened with others. Anyway, thank you for giving many of us an outlet while we struggle to come to forgiveness for those who called themselves Christian, while at the same time abusing us. Best wishes. –Rick (Former WCG member)
Comment: Jim Reyer and Doug Horchak are mentioned in the testimony: Still Working Through the Anger. Jim Reyer died August 3, 2017 at the age of 85. It is true that we can’t go by those who say they had a “good experience” with a certain minister when there are others who would say they had the exact opposite experience. Most of the ministers from these Armstrong groups were abusive and controlling when given the opportunity to do so, and they could be one way one time and another way another time. But it is possible in time to heal from it. See: Is it possible to forgive the abusers? [Taken from our article: “How to Heal From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse”]
I Also Knew Alice Reyer and Her Daughter:
April 15, 2024
(2nd email from person above)
I was aware that Jim Reyer had passed, I just didn’t know when. I was a member of the Denver, CO church when Mrs. Reyer passed. For the life of me I never understood that marriage. Alice Reyer was truly what I considered an example of Christian love and charity. She and I had a number of wonderful encounters and pleasant conversations prior to her death. I was also familiar with the Reyer’s daughter, who even worked for me part-time for a short period. She was just like her mother–sweet and kind. However, talk about marrying a man like “Daddy.” She married a man who was just like her father. Someone told me years ago that she had also passed from the same form of cancer that took her mother (I don’t know if that’s true or not, as I had left the WCG by that point in time).
Once again, thank you for writing. And you’re most certainly welcome to give my e-mail address to anyone who’d like to communicate regarding this issue, particularly adult survivors of WCG/Jim Reyer abuse. Best wishes. –Rick (Former WCG member)
The Church Made Me Stop Believing in God:
May 17, 2024
Hi,
When I was young, I was involved in the “church” [WCG] by way of my dad. He said that he got involved when he was in the Army in Alaska. He told me that he would listen to Herbert Armstrong on the radio. I remember hearing him a lot and he always said, “Goodbye, friends” at the end of each broadcast.
I went to each service and remembered seeing Armstrong in person. Anyway, I have a lot of memories about the “church.” –S.
Reply: Herbert Armstrong never taught about the real God of Love nor the true gospel of grace, but instead abused many people with a legalistic system of law, rules and regulations. Even though he would say, “Goodbye, friends” at the end of his broadcasts, didn’t mean he considered us his friends. He was a charlatan whose main goal was to exploit people financially and control every aspect of their lives. As a result, it is very hard for someone to find their way out of such confusion and abuse after that. This doesn’t mean that the real God of Love isn’t there for you because He is. Just ask Him to make Himself real to you.
July 5, 2024
Richard Ames died the evening of July 4 at age 88. He had suffered a stroke in 2017 and had been ill for quite awhile. He joined Ambassador College/Worldwide Church of God in 1962, later becoming an evangelist. (WCG was originally known as the Radio Church of God.) Ames was one of four presenters on the Tomorrow’s World telecast. Not accepting “new WCG changes,” he transferred his ministry in 1996 to Rod Meredith’s Global Church of God, name later changed to Living Church of God. –[name withheld]
Note: Richard Ames is mentioned in this article: Worldwide Church of God: Completion of Conspiracy.
Death of Dr. K. J. Stavrinides:
September 14, 2024
Dr. K. J. Stavrinides died August 24, 2024. He was born on 12-22-1934. –J. J.
Comment: The following gives more info on Stavrinides:
Kyriacos Stavrinides (also known as Dr. K. J. Stavrinides) rambled a lot when explaining the Trinity [Godhead] to members. (This is mentioned in our OIU 1, Pt. 1 by searching for the words, “Adding to the confusion are Dr. Stavrinides’ tapes explaining his version of the Trinity.”) After leaving WCG, Stavrinides relocated to Greece with what was understood to be a “fat bonus.” (Read OIU 2, pt. 2 about it by searching for the words “There are many more questions on peoples’ minds!”) He later became a Greek professor at Azusa Pacific University, which is considered to be a theologically liberal institution and a member of Willow Creek Association. (Azusa was also where many top leaders in the WCG were quietly attending in the `70s without the members’ awareness. (Read about it in OIU 6, pt. 2 under “Gregory R. Albrecht.”)
Thank You Very Much For What You Do:
November 17, 2024
Thank you very very much for what you do and have done for over 20 years. It [the ESN site] appears to help people recover from the effects of these ugly cults and WCG splinter groups. I’m sure you have helped many, many people and we greatly appreciate that. –Impacted by loved one in LCG
Not Thinking About Joining RCG Now:
December 11, 2024
Dear Friends in Christ: Thank you so much for the information about the Restored Church of God. I was one who was thinking to join RCG but now I am not looking again. Now is the time for true laborers to worship in truth and spirit. I am glad to know that we are under grace not under law. –Kenya
