|
Post by Vyckie D. Garrison on Nov 5, 2009 21:29:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by redheadedskeptic on Nov 5, 2009 23:07:46 GMT -5
I get a little confused on the connection between Bill Gothard and ALERT Academy and Joel's Army, but from what I do understand, it's pretty scary stuff. I just want to yell at people, Hello! They're militarizing! They're not armed yet, but does anyone with any familiarity with these organizations whatsoever think that isn't on the agenda for the future?
Excellent post.
|
|
|
Post by kisekileia on Nov 6, 2009 0:09:44 GMT -5
*glomps dogemperor* Thank you so much for writing this! I don't think I've ever read your story expressed as concisely and accessibly as it is here--I've bookmarked it for future reference. Great job, and I love that you and Vyckie have teamed up!
|
|
|
Post by jadehawk on Nov 6, 2009 3:53:07 GMT -5
wow...just...wow
I don't really know what to say, just thanking for that impressive post
|
|
|
Post by ashmeadskernal on Nov 6, 2009 10:42:48 GMT -5
And here I thought I was the only one who had flashbacks when watching Jesus Camp.
I even showed Jesus Camp to my husband. He didn't get it. He's never been in that kind of environment. At least I've come far enough to be able to laugh at the absurdities instead of just being shell-shocked and angry all over again. Because, what else can you do but laugh? It's the only response I've found that seems to break the hold of the past over the present.
|
|
|
Post by journey on Nov 6, 2009 11:00:34 GMT -5
This was a very amazing post. I had a really hard time getting through Jesus Camp. I think part of what was so disturbing about it was that, albeit in a different way, was that there was a time in my life when *I* helped do things like that to kids, and/or looked up to those who did. Having the best of motivations doesn't really help....it still was done (not at all like what they did on the movie, but still, stuff like getting kids really enthusiastic about the twisted version of Christianity that I believed----all riled up gainst evolution, enthusiastically teaching kids that every single world of the Bible in my hand was breathed of God, etc). I had to fight the urge, through the movie, to not just shut it off and try to forget what I'd seen...it honestly just hurt to watch it, but I made myself. Get this: I've even gone to a conference that taught us how to basically DO what the Jesus Camp was doing (I never got into all the charismatic stuff, but other than that)... These conferences were HUGE, with Christians from churches all over the US coming to learn how to have an amazing kids program and get *their* kids all extremely pumped up for God (that was how you knew you were doing it right).
|
|
agk
New Member
Posts: 1
|
Post by agk on Nov 6, 2009 12:24:30 GMT -5
Thank you so much for this post. You and I share many similar life experiences, and your articulation of them is so helpful and healing. It's especially encouraging to hear that you get just as uncomfortable watching Jesus Camp.
|
|
|
Post by ElleePT on Nov 6, 2009 22:34:44 GMT -5
I used to go on mission trips with YWAM in my teenage years and even considered going to DTS. Fortunately, I got out before I was too deeply involved. They were definitely indoctrinating many young children (10 and 11 years olds) who could not make informed decisions. My parents continue to keep in touch with some of the "YWAM kids" many of whom were put into extremely dangerous situations in foreign countries. They literally couldn't tell us where they were or what they were doing. There were rumors of people being killed in closed countries. The focus of the training always seemed to be on converting souls instead of service which is eventually why I left. We would perform dramatic and emotional skits that were choreographed to the nth degree to create. I felt I could do more for through service rather than creating fear and emotional responses in people.
Even so, I hadn't realized how cult YWAM is. Thanks for sharing.
|
|
|
Post by arietty on Nov 7, 2009 5:18:15 GMT -5
I heard some really abusive stories from couples I knew who were in YWAM.. and the freaky thing was each story of 3 took place in different cities with different people but they were all the same kind of abuse. In each story the woman of the couple was told she had a spirit of something.. rebellion, lust, witchcraft. Problems within the group were blamed on the woman and marital problems the couple were having were blamed on the woman. These three couples (who did not know each other) all said it was YWAM that caused their marital problems. One woman had to wear a kind of burka covering (this was years before anyone knew that word) because she had a "spirit of lust". The truth was her husband was a philandering pornographer but no one said a THING to him.
Really I find them very alarming. And also kind of bizarre.. years ago I went to a church service that advertised that a special mission group was coming from overseas to minister to us. It turned out to be about five 18-20 year olds from YWAM who put on a puppet show for the church with some very obvious and inane christian story to it. No one could really wrap their heads around sending a bunch of young people overseas with attendant costs to perform inane puppet shows and call it ministry.
Every single person I've known personally who was involved in YWAM has cult stories to tell about it. Even if they loved it the stuff they talk about is very cultish.
|
|