Comments on: How a fellowship turned church became a cult.

By: I am against Cults-whether different group-or ven evangelical! « Critical Time

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:06:06 +0000

[...] http://avehurley.wordpress.com/2007/03/04/how-a-fellowship-turned-church-became-a-cult/ [...]

By: Ed Halferty

Ed Halferty — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:48:13 +0000

As an addition to my previous post, anyone wanting to contact me can at : halfertye@my.wccc.edu or ehalferty@faithforthefamily.com

By: Ed Halferty

Ed Halferty — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:41:30 +0000

I was in the COBU/Forever Family from 1975-1978. When I first left I thought that I was the one who was wrong, and that I was an apostate from Jesus. Over the years I have received Spiritual and emotional healing from the Lord, but it did not all occur at once. It has been a very long haul.
I want to add that we not only worked communally and turned everything over to Stewart, but slept in rat infested lofts (when we did sleep), listened to Stewart’s diatribes late into the night, every night at the Manhattan Training Center, and drove to “Big Meetings” like cattle in the back of dark, cold moving trucks rented from Ryder, Hertz, or another company.
We thought Stewart was suffering for Jesus too, but he was living large on our Money!
I do not think Stewart Traill is a true Christian, he is an agent of Satan. When I was in the cult, and after I left it, I believed he was an apostle like Christian. Later I began to believe he was a deceived Christian. Then I began to think he was a very bad Christian. Now I think he is an evil person who not only was never saved, but is ten times worse than some of the most wicked men alive. I’ll leave that up to the Lord, but I have come a long way from believing that Stewart Traill is Elijah/John the Baptist and that he could only fellowship with the Apostles (as he once said).
Ephesians 2:8&9 is my life scripture, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (I purposely do not use the RSV even though I still like it. It is the FF’s bible!)
I just left a legalistic church, and although it pales by a thousand times to the legalism of the Forever Family, I can’t stand legalism wherever it may be!

By: alease brink davis

alease brink davis — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:39:12 +0000

Do any of you former COBU’ers find that certain things will trigger”flashback”type experiences?I find that certain ministers will send me into total panic and fear.Legalistic ones,who make it sound like its so easy to “lose your salvation.”Even hearing someone say “backslider,can really bother me.

By: alease davis

alease davis — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:36:15 +0000

I joined the COBU in1976,as a 15 year old girl.I left in 1977,but when I quit,my Mother joined it!I suffer to this day from the spiritual terrorism they put me through…I have terrifying religious obsessions,which can be triggered by some frightening preacher on television,for example.Even though I am a Christian,I still struggle with fears of going to Hell.I am scared of this minister on television,because his teachings remind me of the COBU.He teaches that you have to achieve a 100% sin free state(after accepting Christ),or you will still go to Hell.He says that those who speak against his”miracles”(he is a faith healer)have “blasphemed the Holy Spirit!” I really think that the reason I suffer all these weird fears about religion,is because of the brainwashing I experienced in the cult. If anyone from the COBU would like to contact me,they can at Galgonedaft@aol.com My real name is Alease Brink Davis,and I live in Cleveland.I remember Donna Deming,Doreen Bobek,Irene and Nancy Penko,Perry Pennza.Pat Bildstein,Laurie Deveney,Rick Upson,Ivan Aquino,Jimmie Greiner,Ann Lashley,Celeste Mamano,Sheila Willis,Malcolm Ryder…sometimes it seems like it was only yesterday,and not 33 years ago.I hold no grudges against anyone in the COBU,we all did what we thought was God’s will.I would love to hear from former COBU members.Have you been affected as I have,with fears?

By: duke

duke — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:43:48 +0000

my sister has been in this cult for over 30 years. she is married to one the higher ups. he is a bad person to say the least. two of her kids recently left the cult but a third remains. not sure there is any hope for my sister – anyway to help get her daughter out.

By: Blogs I found this week, come on in! « ANDREA’S WORLD

Blogs I found this week, come on in! « ANDREA’S WORLD — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 18:45:42 +0000

[...] AveHurley Blog About Cults…. Many are afraid to come forward or have their names known. Others, like me are no longer afraid for ourselves but for those still in his clutches. [...]