Monday, February 27, 2012

Bible Missionary Church Experiences

I was 5 years old in 1958 when my Mother joined the Bible Missionary Church.  We stayed in the church until I was around 15 years old, and those 10 years were a nightmare!!  My older sister was the most affected, as we had had a "normal" life before BMC.  My younger sister was so young that she was able to be "molded" easier.  My older sister and I were affected psychologically from the experiences we had as a result of being a part of what I can only call a "cult".  It was not unusual for a service to turn into a revival that lasted for hours or days. Numerous altar calls, with approaches by the "elders" to ask if we had any sins to confess, were very scary. A result of this experience was that I could not go into a church without feeling panic attacks upon hearing certain phrasing, or being approached in a certain way. The Bible Missionary Church did a number on me and my family, and I am glad to see there is someone else out there who can understand the damage done.

111 comments:

  1. This comment is taken from another Blog, which has apparently been abandoned. The responder says "My Parents joined the Bible Missionary Church in 1955 and I was born in 1956. For the next eighteen years I was in church twice on Sunday and on Wednesdays. However my parents had a problem because we were a military family and whenever we moved to a new place we had to start a new church. We started a church in El Paso, and The Phillipines, and then I guess they got tired. When we moved to Vista Califormnia they started going to the Wesleyen Church and later back to The Nazarenes. I have a great deal of respect for the love and devotion of these people but they definitely have the wrong idea about Grace and Works."

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    2. My church is a wonderful church the BMC is a great place to worship god.

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    3. I'm not saying everyone in the church are bad people but the church definitely tries to indoctrinate people. The church in Arlington, TX that Jack Howard preached at was a cult in the BMC. He did not want his congregation comparing what he said to Bible because it would prove him wrong. He was not leading anyone down the straight and narrow path.

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  2. I was 5 years old in 1958 when my Mother joined the Bible Missionary Church. I had 2 sisters, one older and one younger. My older sister and I were most affected by the ultra strict doctrines of the BMC. It was a nightmare for 10 years. My younger sister was young enough to be "molded" by the church and was not harassed by the elders to always confess any sins or faults at the alter. It's been more than 50 years since we began the 10-year nightmare, and my older sister & I are still discussing the after-effects.

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    1. I've been to BMC a few times. I am a mature Christian and I've seen just about everything. I notice the sadness and fear on people's faces when they don't know I'm looking. Of course they really smile when they face you(since I'm new). I noticed right away that the children(even little ones) sit like statues facing the preacher The preacher finally preached on sanctification (the idea that anyone can attain sinless perfection is ridiculous. That's totally unbiblical. Jesus Christ is sinless. Not man. The preacher talked about his BMC father disciplining him severely for telling a lie and how that lie could have damned him to hell. No one has to tell me that the children are controlled. Children need to know that they have an advocate(Jesus) who forgives and loves and is merciful. Even if a paddle is needed now and then. No child sits stiff as a board unless they're extremely fearful. I know there is abuse going on in this group with adults and children alike. When you're told what to wear, don't wear your wedding ring, wear your hair in buns, be perfect at all times, you have basically a cult that calls itself Christian. I saw what happened in Prescott, Az. at the Potter's House. I know Wayman Mitchell very very well. He left the Foursquare denomination and started his own "church". While he was still part of the Foursquare church, he started evangelizing young people. I was there when the church began. Miracles of salvation took place. Many, many teens were delivered from all kinds of false religions. People were set free immediately from drugs and alcohol. As soon as the church was full, Wayman left Foursquare church and started Potter's House. He began changing. He was like a father to the kids(many were Moonies, Hare Krishna's etc. They listened to everything he said and did whatever he wanted them to. They became little Wayman Mitchell's. The kids would evangelize and tell people they were going to hell instead of preaching that Jesus died for them and loved them and could deliver and change them and give them a new and wonderful life. The teens and young men and women in the church became mean and anyone who left was never spoken to again. Wayman got to the point where he would tell men to divorce their wives if the wives recognized something was amiss in the church. Thousands have divorced, and thousands of lives have been devastated. Many will never darken a church again and that is the greatest tragedy to come out of all this. Wayman's wife Nelda just passed away and Wayman isn't long for this world. How will he explain this when he meets the Lord. He never fed the poor. He never visited the sick. Never visited those in prison. He caused marriages to break up. People to turn on Christianity for the harm caused by this man. From what I have read of the BMC denomination that they will be in for a big surprise one day when they face the Lord also. Jesus knows who are truly His and many of these preachers who controlled and terrorized their flocks are going to hear these words," I never knew you. Depart from me".

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    2. I was a student at Trevecca Nazarene College (now University) in the 1950's when the Bible Missionary Church was organized. I was a Methodist, who joined the Church of the Nazarene while in college. I seriously considered going with the BMC, but decided it was not God's will for me at the time. However, I disagree with all the negative evaluations found in this column. These "testimonies" about the cult-like organization and the abuse allegedly prevalent in the Bible Missionary Church makes me wonder about the spirituality of those making these accusations. I am prone to believe that these individuals simply do not want to hear the truth and follow the Lord in a life of holiness. My own experience across the years makes me see the BMC as simply a very conservative church with the same doctrine as the Church of the Nazarene, the Wesleyan Church, and very much akin to the Methodist Church. The difference is that in the BMC, there is a deeper desire and intention of following the guidelines literally. Now, I understand that the BMC is not for everyone. I love God with all my heart; I am saved and sanctified, I fully hold to the doctrine of heart holiness (and holy living). But I don't personally measure up to the strict standards held by the BMC. But I see those dear people as siblings in the family of God. I myself am an ordained Nazarene preacher who presently pastors in the United Methodist Church. When not attending a service in my own denomination, I worship often with the BMCers. The BMC pastor and wife and three children are the epitome of holiness. Good Bible preaching, clean-cut decent dressers, exemplifying the Spirit of Christ among themselves and to the community. I feel deeply appreciative of my BMC friends, and denounce all these negative comments. If you don't want to be a conservative Bible believer, then the BMC is not for you. If you can be happy and right with God in another denomination, then go for it - but PLEASE don't condemn those who are trying to live as close to God as possible.

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    3. Thank you so much for that comment it was deeply appericated! I lnow folks from the Bible Missionary and they live very Godly lives ...I greatly appericate them!.

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  3. This posting was taken from a Blog I found while trying to get answers to the cult-like church I attended with my family from the late 1950-s to the late 1960-s. I hope wasabiblemissionary won't be offended. I just want to start a conversation "Hello -
    Have you ever been a member of the Bible Missionary Church? I was. I was thrown into that denomination as a 13 year old. I never knew what my father was getting me in to - but he had already been involved in that church since I was about 7 years old and I had lived with my mother.

    He gained custody of me and my siblings - oh my. My life was forever changed! I was afraid! There were some wonderful people in that church - but my father was someone to be feared! We were to NEVER make a mistake! I guess if I had grown up in that denomination, it wouldn't have been such a big deal, but NO! I was born and almost completely raised in the WORLD (as dad would put it!).

    I FEARED God - literally! I thought that if I did not go down to the altar and ask God to forgive me EVERY time there was an altar call - that God would cast me off as he did Satan and I would burn forever in hell! Wow! I was brainwashed that once I asked God for forgiveness, I had to live a "perfect" christian life or I would backslide and go to hell! Then I would have to be sanctified and I would never sin again! Can you belive it!

    I wore long dresses with long sleeves and high collars - Little House on the Prairie! Showing an elbow was a "sin". My sister and I used to laugh at that!

    After looking back on the past, I realize that the church was a cult. They judge everyone - if you don't look like them you are a sinner. It is so sad! It took me a while - but I know I didn't have to go through all of that to gain God's love. He loves me unconditionally! I don't have to beg God to save my soul! All I had to do was ask, believe and confess! So simple!

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    1. dear whoever u are. THe Bible Missionay Church is a wnder ful chuch. so clearly u dny know what yr talking about.

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    2. I'm confused "Unknown" when did the Bible Missionary Church start allowing the people that goes to the BMC to use the Internet? Just curious.

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    3. People that attend BMC have always been able to use internet. Why are you commenting on the church if you clearly don't know anything about it? Just curious.

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    5. I am not BMC but have went to their camp meetings and I have always been welcomed and loved on by those people. Always so kind and I cant say one bad thing about them. I cant blame them for what they do I guess. Id rather make heaven by a mile than miss it by an inch.

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  4. I'm not a victim. My mother & father were founding members and for some "unknown reason" my family name was well known throughout that denomination. I left home at 18 and joined the US Navy and always felt somewhat invisible most of my life. I and my young family moved back to Idaho in 1985 and my wife & I did our best to raise our three children in a united home. I did get reacquainted with my Mother and Father as an adult-adult relationship and while I never adopted their ways, I honored and respected them in the best way I knew.

    My troubled marriage finally ended in July 2010 when I moved out and proceeded to obtain a divorce. I do not have an adult-adult relationship with our three children, they have always had a relationship with me through their mother and that too was one of my reasons for letting go of a dysfunctional marriage.

    I choose to stay in the marriage, it was part of my dance too, it was just time to end, let go, be at peace. My relationship with the creator is wonderful and full on. The judgment and rules of a church world that is nothing more than a control system was one that I experienced fully. Some experiences were good, most in my opinion were not.

    I am happy to be alive, fully aware, for the end of the age that is foretold in the Bible. I would say that I am uniquely Christian in my perspective.... I would not be judged to be Christian by anyone in the "BMC".

    Check out my blog post at http://aneaglessight.blogspot.com/

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  5. I to was affected and to this day I resent what happened to me and others at that time. I was thrown out of the Church at age 15 and asked to never come back as I asked way to many questions. I also was thrown out for going to see a Movie with a friend. I left home also at age 15 to never return. I remember the Old Midway Church (Barn) with sawdust floors. Then my Mom and Dad Donated most of the money to Build the new church near Caldwell. My dad also worked every working day he could to help build the new church.
    I also am betting I know each and everyone on here also.

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    1. Your name sounds familiar, but I don't think we've met. Franklin Bacon from Michigan here. Richard Chaffee was my pastor in Six Lakes.

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    2. Hi,
      We're new to the area & happened to go by the church on a drive today. We've been searching for a healthy, balanced, non-denominational Christian church & checked the web. Thnx for sharing your experience here B4 we wasted our time. We were raised Catholic when kids & had unhealthy experiences as well. We (husband & I) both backed off from "church" for a number of yrs, yet still had a hunger for God. Thankfully, we found churches that gave the simplicity of the Bible, Jesus Grace, Love & forgivenes-not works, but the message of the Cross-& JESUS laying his life down for us. So we've been in great, fun, joy filled churches. We are older now & see the wisdom of having lived thru false religion as we can see the signs a mile away. True faith & our Love for Jesus is so different from dysfunctional, manipulative, sick groups. We've also learned to forgive the unbiblical things in Catholicism...knowing that true faith is simple and sweet-not coersive, co-depedent and legalistic. WE do like a few churches in south sound but not ready yet to make a decision. We hope you can heal as we did then soar in the arms of our Loving God, set free from those who would desire to shipwreck our Freedom & Love for Christ. Blessings to you & thnx for the info.

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    3. I didn't expound s lot on my life growing up, but it was shear terror all the time. They never preached God was love they always preached hell, fire and damnation. I was led to believe that anything I did such as watching TV, Reading Comic books, Funny paper, swimming with girls, I was going to go to hell. Mom dragged us kids to every service, 3 times a week and also Friday Bible study. any prayer meeting at others house, etc. It did a number on me and my siblings. We all grew up hating each other and to this day we have no relationship with each other. My oldest Sister hates me so much she blamed anything and everything that happened in my young life on me saying it was all my fault. Funny thing is I was the last of 9 and she was gone and married by the time I came along. Yet she knew it was all my fault. I have come to peace with myself and I accept that if I go to hell, then I go to hell, if there is one. I rather believe that Mother Nature is the only God, but that is another story. BMC is a cult and always will be.

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    8. dogon I knew Bro. Chafee and his wife. Wonderful people. Very sweet and I don't remember any scary preaching from him. My babysitter used to take us to their house after church for a meal. Bro. Bullock took over after Bro. Chafee. He used to pray for a Sister Bacon.

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    9. dogon I knew Bro. Chafee and his wife. Wonderful people. Very sweet and I don't remember any scary preaching from him. My babysitter used to take us to their house after church for a meal. Bro. Bullock took over after Bro. Chafee. He used to pray for a Sister Bacon.

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    10. I felt that I needed to remove some of my comments. I am trying to forgive and come to peace with my past and everyone who hurt me.
      People are people. Human and full of errors, no matter what denomination they belong to. Yes the BMC is rigid and judgemental. Trying to "scare" people into following Jesus with their sermons on hell, isn't the way to lead someone to Christ. I probably went to the alter 50 times as a child and teen, and now 35+ years later, I've turned my life completely over to Jesus. I'd love to go back to a camp meeting service, just for memory sake, but with my 20 tattoos, I'd probably be told to leave. Very sad.
      God bless you all.

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    11. I felt that I needed to remove some of my comments. I am trying to forgive and come to peace with my past and everyone who hurt me.
      People are people. Human and full of errors, no matter what denomination they belong to. Yes the BMC is rigid and judgemental. Trying to "scare" people into following Jesus with their sermons on hell, isn't the way to lead someone to Christ. I probably went to the alter 50 times as a child and teen, and now 35+ years later, I've turned my life completely over to Jesus. I'd love to go back to a camp meeting service, just for memory sake, but with my 20 tattoos, I'd probably be told to leave. Very sad.
      God bless you all.

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    12. All you could do is go to the camp ground and see what happens, you never know

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  6. Sounds to me like some folks full of carnality, who need to die out to their carnal nature, get their eyes off people, and call on God to save them first, and then go on and get sanctified wholly. The Bible Missionary Church is not a cult. It has faults as ALL human organizations do. Its standards are scriptural.

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    2. Amen. This is truth. There are a lot more churches besides BMC that teach the same true holiness doctrines that are completely scriptural. The reason so many feel freedom when leaving a conservative holiness church is the devil stops fihhting them so they feel a peace that is straght from the pit of evil. If you are not free from your sins you are not God's child. Read 1Jn 3.4-10 and Jn 8:34-36. Real victory in Christ brings a life delivered from sin. You won't have panic attacks if you filly mind God and stop resisting God and the Holy Word! Glad to see someone posted a correct view of the BMC. And by the way I am not BMC.

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    3. My own seven year old daughter was sodomized by a Protestant minister for the Bible Missionary Church, as he admitted to police he had done so twelve times in Fountain Valley, California some 28 years ago. State law was much more lax then as he only received three years and nine months for his crime. His name is Daniel Joseph Lamar, Senior. This is a cult stay away from them. All Christian churches are cults. There is a website by university Professor Kenneth Humphreys, PHD in Religious Studies that will open your eyes: www.jesusneverexisted.com as all religions of the world are cult. Do not get involved with any religion or political group as even they are types of cults being gangs.

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    6. Dennis Durkop, you are evil! How dare you!!!? Surely there is a place extra hit in hell for you.

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  7. I was raised in the BMC. and i believe they followed the bible more than any other church. I guess to someone that is a sinner it would be scary. Just like when Jesus returns to a sinner that will be so scary they will want mountains to fall on them. The BMC is not a cult! It is a church that does what the bible wants them to do. They do not believe in unknown tongues. They believe the devil comes out in people that say they talk in tongues. He is speaking through them. God makes it so no one can understand him by making what ever they are saying not understandable. The church is very strict,but if you follow the bible you would be too!

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    1. God bless you Nanna for saying the truth, i am a memeber and will continue to be, BMC IS NOT A CULT AND WILL NEVER BE.

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    3. Who made you judge and jury?

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  8. My family joined the BMC when I was 12. My father pastored a church for quite awhile. I do not believe they are a cult, not at all. Though I do not believe all that they teach, I do believe they are on the right track. There are some really nasty ppl there that are bitter and will do anything to destroy someones walk with God. I do not attend a BMC anymore, my parents and some siblings do. I am still friends with many BMC ppl and enjoy their company. I attend a little country community church and don't have any "problems". I just figured I don't believe everything they teach, they don't believe everything I teach, so its all good. I don't let other ppl problems and issues affect my walk with God.

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    1. What do you consider a cult? We all dressed alike, and just socialized with each other. All "worldly" amusements were forbidden.

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    2. BMC would fit the criteria of a controlling religious group. http://changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/lifton_thought_reform.htm Unfortunately there are MANY religious sects in the US who are. :( Criteria such as
      -THEIR group is the only *true church*, their pastor/s are the only ones who understand and teach the truth of the bible
      -Information from anyone other than what comes from the group is false and not to be trusted (hence the leader/s can have absolute information control and therefore easily manipulate & influence their members)
      -Those who disagree w/ the pastors are "evil" & to be avoided, and often the members of said sect are pressured to "shun" those who have a difference of opinion.
      -Anyone who dares to leave is considered anathema.
      -Leaders teach members to avoid those who aren't members (this is done because the leaders/controllers do not want their members getting different opinions because then people may actually begin to THINK FOR THEMSELVES & get the courage to LEAVE.

      I have experienced a sect similar to the BMC & thankfully got out. We were shunned, etc. I was raised Catholic & a prominent BMC family lived in my neighborhood when I was growing up. I always felt so bad for them..the dad was so stern...everything was so damn serious. No smiles, no laughs...women having to wear the long dresses, hair up, submissive. It is very sad. These are one of many reasons I left religion for good. If there is a god or gods, he/she/it is certainly nothing like the nasty, harsh & horrible god of the christian bible.

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    3. Hahahahahahahahaha, you are so wrong. What a mess, Come on

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  9. I go to another Weslyan holiness church called Christ's Sanctified Holy Church. I was exposed to BMC through a brother who gave me a CD of Bro. Rick Yancey. I called him with questions. After several months of texting and phone calls, I went to his church in Pleasant Grove, Al. I live in middle Georgia. When I went to a revival there, I fell under conviction and went to the alter where the Holy Ghost gloriously sanctified me. If I didn't belong to our church, I would be at BMC. The negative review I read convey to me that those people were trapped into legalism where they are more concerned what they couldn't do versus having a sanctified heart where they could have been set free carnality to experience freedom from worldliness and experience a life lived in the beauty of holiness resulting in true love, joy, and peace.

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    1. I've met Bro. Yancey. If I remember correctly, he preached a revival at my church. He's very kind and pretty funny too.

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  11. The Bible Missionary Church came to Barbados in 1961 as "missionaries" who came to "Christianize" the native heathen black population.I was just 13. They are still there on the same rented land after 54 years with no permanent church or congregation.From the outset, the locals noted that the adults exhibited racial prejudice. They would wipe hands after shaking yours- little things like that. They rented a wooden church in the countryside; but lived, not in the community that had come to "save" but in a big old plantation house in the city of Bridgetown. From 13 until about age 21, I was involved with this cult like church, which preached "holiness";but were obviously prejudiced. The son of the pastor told me on one occasion that the people of Barbados were " no better than the people of Africa". Successive "missionaries" have come and gone. The current ones, a young couple are there just for the sun, sand and beaches. You should see the Christmas cards they create= ones with their family on the beach. The Bible Missionary Church destroyed my faith in ever becoming a member of any evangelical church again. Their cult like policies prevent young people from coming to the church. I can write volumes about my negative experiences with this church. I am currently trying to petition the Barbados Government to take a closer look at allowing these so called "missionaries" into the country.

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    2. Calvin, the current missionaries I believe you are talking about were actually my pastoring family in Louisiana before they left for Barbados, the Hallbauers. They have four children, correct?

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    3. I am glad you got away & out from that religious nonsense. It's all about control...$$$, power. I too would never ever join or darken the door of any evangelical or Bible church. Because of what their holy (more like UNHOLY book) teaches, the hatred, the prejudice..oh HELL NO. NEVER AGAIN. I am happy to say that I am no longer a bible believer or Christian. It is a system created to dominate, control & get $$$ from people. It has nothing to do with LOVE or goodness. I do hope that people begin to wake up as you and I and many others have. We see it's all bullshit. I am sorry you have had to go thru what you have, but now you see the truth. It's not pretty. :( I also wish you the best in getting your govt. to look at the missionary sects closely. After all I've been thru, and what i have seen religion do to the people, i am very happy to say that I denounce religion & hope it dies a cruel death. Peace

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    4. you dont know what your talking about

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  12. The Bible Missionary Church came to Barbados in 1961 as "missionaries" who came to "Christianize" the native heathen black population.I was just 13. They are still there on the same rented land after 54 years with no permanent church or congregation.From the outset, the locals noted that the adults exhibited racial prejudice. They would wipe hands after shaking yours- little things like that. They rented a wooden church in the countryside; but lived, not in the community that had come to "save" but in a big old plantation house in the city of Bridgetown. From 13 until about age 21, I was involved with this cult like church, which preached "holiness";but were obviously prejudiced. The son of the pastor told me on one occasion that the people of Barbados were " no better than the people of Africa". Successive "missionaries" have come and gone. The current ones, a young couple are there just for the sun, sand and beaches. You should see the Christmas cards they create= ones with their family on the beach. The Bible Missionary Church destroyed my faith in ever becoming a member of any evangelical church again. Their cult like policies prevent young people from coming to the church. I can write volumes about my negative experiences with this church. I am currently trying to petition the Barbados Government to take a closer look at allowing these so called "missionaries" into the country.

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    1. My own seven year old daughter was sodomized by a Protestant minister for the Bible Missionary Church, as he admitted to police he had done so twelve times in Fountain Valley, California some 28 years ago. State law was much more lax then as he only received three years and nine months for his crime. His name is Daniel Joseph Lamar, Senior. This is a cult stay away from them. All Christian churches are cults. There is a website by university Professor Kenneth Humphreys, PHD in Religious Studies that will open your eyes: www.jesusneverexisted.com as all religions of the world are cult. Do not get involved with any religion or political group as even they are types of cults being gangs.

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    3. Dennis -AGREED! I was raised Catholic, got sucked into a strict sect because I saw so much hypocrisies with the Catholics. Little did I know that Bible religion could be so horrible. The sect I joined in my 20s was similar to the BMC. In time I realize it was all about the pastor's ego, control, power & of course plenty of avarice! I researched and read & over time realized i was completely DONE with bible religion. Realizing it is all a control game created by some pretty cruel MEN. It is interesting because I did see the cult church as being just like a gang!!! you are threatened with death if you LEAVE, your family too..manipulated that you are NOTHING without them... oh it's way too much to put here. I just wanted to let you know that I too, got FREE from the shackles of religion. When i was young I was Catholic & a prominent family of the BMC moved into our neighborhood. I knew, even then as a young child that something was very wrong with those people. The kids just wanted to be kids...but of course they couldn't. :( That is not allowed. :( It's really sad and I wish that more people would get free of abusive religion. Take care

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    4. I have a sinking feeling that I know who those missionaries were in 1961. They should not have been sent to a place like Barbados. They probably should have stayed in the US, preferably in the South, where they were successful in their churches.
      My Uncle and his wife and their kids were in Barbados and then in Guyana, but later than that, and my Dad and my family were in St Vincent, but also later than that. I heard stories, but didn't entirely believe them until much later... as an adult.
      Dad confided in me that he battled his prejudice all his life. The way he was raised was at odds with what he wanted to believe: That all people are equal and loved by God, and not one race more than another. He wasn't perfect at it, by any means, but he really tried.
      To the anonymous person who posted from Barbados: If you are still on here, I am so sorry for the way my Grandparents were. I saw it as an adult, and it broke my heart.

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    5. I'm close friends with one of your relatives Sylvia... I'm not sure how y'all are related but she was born in Guyana. Her father passed away there when she was super young. She's the pastor's wife at the local BMC where I live.

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  13. I first became to know about the Bible Missionary Church through a CD of one of their preachers preaching about being saved and sanctified. I google searched his name and found his pone number and address. That was about 2 years ago. I go to a holiness church, but became intrigued by BMI folks. I went as far as to go to meet this people for the first time at a revival in one of their southeast churchs. About a year ago, I went to their campmeetings for a weekend. Even though I am in another holiness denomination, I can say that there is something different and special about these folks. They are holy people. Their modest standard of dress and conduct is a life style that I wish I could follow. Most holiness denominations move one step to the left everytime the world moves further to the left. I know God looks on the intent of the heart, but there should be no shame in the BMI folk who choose their standards as their convictions. For those who have resentments against this church, I ask you to read the Beatitudes in the Bible preached by Jesus. I felt welcomed in their church. It was refreshing to see the ladies dress modestly with long hair. The Spirit was strong in their services. I feel that they have more compassion and love for those outside their church than the folk outside their church have towards the BMI church, The same would be for any holiness church that practices the same standards as the BMI church.

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    1. Mr. Stan, I am Glenn Myers. I went to the Bible Missionary Church In the Quad Cities (Rock Island, Moline Illinois )in the late 60's early 70's. Reverend James Todd was my neighbor. They moved to Rock Island from Barbados via West Virginia I believe. Mrs. Todd worked at the Bible Missionary College for many years. Their son, David became a Rev. I am looking for either one of the sons, David or Steven (Steve) Todd or their sister Nina Beth. I grew up with Steve but lost track of him after I joined the Army. Last I heard Steve was in Florida, Nina was in Virginia and Davis was preaching in Alaska. If you know anyone who might know where they are could you help me? I really would like to speak to Steve one last time. Thank you sir. Glenn Myers email at gharrisonmyers@gmail.Com. phone 406.698.2774

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    2. Mr. Stan, I am Glenn Myers. I went to the Bible Missionary Church In the Quad Cities (Rock Island, Moline Illinois )in the late 60's early 70's. Reverend James Todd was my neighbor. They moved to Rock Island from Barbados via West Virginia I believe. Mrs. Todd worked at the Bible Missionary College for many years. Their son, David became a Rev. I am looking for either one of the sons, David or Steven (Steve) Todd or their sister Nina Beth. I grew up with Steve but lost track of him after I joined the Army. Last I heard Steve was in Florida, Nina was in Virginia and Davis was preaching in Alaska. If you know anyone who might know where they are could you help me? I really would like to speak to Steve one last time. Thank you sir. Glenn Myers email at gharrisonmyers@gmail.Com. phone 406.698.2774

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    3. Mr. Jones, I'm sorry I cannot agree with you that people in the BMI has more compassion and love than those outside of the church. My sister belongs to BMI and I was forced to attend for a year when I lived with her. I always thought she practiced her beliefs but recently regarding care for our mother and an event with our brother, I can no longer say that. She lives 1 1/2 hours from our mother yet visits only once, maybe twice, a year. And she will never stay overnight so visits are about 5 hours. She calls on her way home from church where she will have less than 5 minutes coverage. And with recent health events with our mother, her solution was to move mother into her garage although she has three empty bedrooms in her house. I can provide many more examples. I admit our mother has made poor choices in her life but Jesus taught us forgiveness. Through this discussion regarding our mother I found that my sister feels she has no free will. That the choices that she has made in her life regarding our mother are not her choices. Sounds like a cult to me. :(

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    4. It's a cult. and it just shows the shallowness of humans that someone thinks because people dress like they are Amish or don't have televisions, that somehow that makes them holy. That is quite superficial because many times abusive and manipulation hide under a cover of piety. When someone tries to push their religion on me or wears it on their sleeve that they and their sect are *different* or more holy..that's when I turn and run! These religious leaders use pressure, coercion & manipulation to control people and their lives & their $$$. I am hoping that more people will wake up and see it for what it really is. They all pretty much have the same MO, whether it's the Jehovah's Witnesses or Scientology or the BMC, it's the same abuse & toxicity. It is really sad.

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    5. I have been reading all of your comments and I wrote the long reply up at the top(unknown). I have been a follower of Christ since 1969. A neighbor gave me simple book that told why Jesus came, why he died, and that we need to repent of things(sins) sins of omission and commission. I was completely alone. Right after I became a Christian my family moved to AZ. I was involved with a church that ended up being a cult. The Lord told me to leave. I did. I didn't hear a voice and I'm not into all the foolish junk going on in the "Pentecostal" churches today. Nor do I attend any evangelical church. Because I'm a Christian, I stay out of these. I have such a strong desire to be involved with believers, but I will not compromise nor be controlled. Sometimes things aren't cultish at first but because of the sinful leadership they can turn into one. Any church that controls the people is a cult. The Bible clearly talks about Godly leadership and their roll in helping to lead their flocks closer to Jesus. We all sin, but we also have an advocate. We are to follow Jesus, not man. I believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and in the gifts of the spirit like discernment and prophecy, but almost all churches today(no matter the denomination)have strayed from the truth. About 90 % of churches today are backslidden(Pentecostal and evangelical). The Pentecostals are into everything from preaching smooth doctrines to accepting unscriptural manifestations like gold dust falling from the ceiling. The health and wealth doctrine has captivated them because of their lust for money and the evangelicals are dead as don-nuts. They don't even lift their hands in praise to their Lord and since they have shut the moving of the Spirit out of their churches, and believe in the OSAS doctrine which makes them comfortable in their sins, the dead pastors keep preaching to their dead congregations. In Matthew 24, the Bible says the love of many will wax cold and we are seeing this before our eyes. The present day church is barely existing in their lukewarm condition but God loves so much that He's going to send severe weather changes, famine, and many other things to bring us to our knees and drive His church back to a right relationship with Him. I attended the new little BMC in Willow AK. where I live and right away I knew(not just because everyone was the same buns, elbows and knees covered, sitting like stones during the service, etc.) but I felt such fear and sadness in this place. I left. The Holy Spirit convicts individuals of sin, not a denomination. They need the power of God to do the work in a person's heart. Not a denomination with man's rules. Moderation is many things to many people. We aren't to offend anyone in or out of the church, and someone who loves Jesus will want to please Him and desire to live in the light he or she has. I'm so sorry that many of you have had bad experiences in churches. But, that doesn't mean Jesus is like that. He is kind and very patient with those who desire to follow Him. Yes, willful sin has to be dealt with if a person desires to live in it(Eph. Ch. 5), but a believer will continue to grow and the sinful nature will start dropping off when in his heart he hates his sin as God does. It's God who changes man not a denomination. Paul dealt with willful sin when he found out a man was having an sexual relationship with his stepmother. Paul rebuked the church for not dealing with this. Willful sin is so different from the new Christian who hates his sin. BMC is under the law. A denomination cannot legislate holiness. That's the Holy Spirit's business.

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    6. Sadly Mr. Stan I grew up in the holiness movement. I was a member of the Church of God Holiness in Kansas City for many years. Then attended a Bible Missionary Church in Arkansas for a time after that and later a God's Missionary in Pennsylvania. I have worked in Holiness Bible Schools and Churches and have been grateful to have been delivered from this cult.

      Many who attend these churches have expressed such sentiment as you have expressed about being Holy but the issue here is that you are seeing Holy as an appearance. It is not possible for you to see the intention of one's heart or how one lives their personal life. I have watched as members of my family have given their lives to holiness bible schools and Churches across the nation in numerous denominations. I have watched my cousins, siblings, close relatives and friends go thru very difficult painful and everlastingly damaging circumstances at the hands of "powerful" holiness preachers. Yes! I have met people I feel are wonderful people but they are blindly following people who are willfully and woefully destroying young lives as they pick and choose the ones who will continue to blindly follow the flock and despise and persecute those who have questions or might somehow be less desirable for the choosing.

      It is a poverty that a religious sect and cult (I have no malice toward these people but it is a cult) such as the holiness movement has been labelled as Holy when at it's basic core it is a most unholy and destructive sect.

      It is very important to remember that there are two commandments. The first is to love the Lord Your God with all your heart...and the second is like the first...Love thy neighbor as thyself. If this simple assignment is ignored or passed over for something of a more dramatic nature, one has missed the entire point and has created one's own religion thus making it a cult even if they are using parts of the Bible to support their convictions and practices.

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  14. David Todd, if we are speaking of the same person, married Margaret Watson. They were missionaries to Mexico for some time, now he is back in the states living the Idaho/Oregon state border area. His oldest daughter is currently attending BMI in Rock Island...I'm good friends with her. I'll get David's number from her and will post it here in a couple of days.

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    1. My son goes to the one in Rock Island ,i do not agree with any of the things they teach. I eent to the movies and my son told me that all i need to do is to read the bible and worship God. I do that already. I live alone but he still thinks i shouldnt go anywhere. I will not live like that!

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  15. My own seven year old daughter was sodomized by a Protestant minister for the Bible Missionary Church, as he admitted to police he had done so twelve times in Fountain Valley, California some 28 years ago. State law was much more lax then as he only received three years and nine months for his crime. His name is Daniel Joseph Lamar, Senior. This is a cult stay away from them. All Christian churches are cults. There is a website by university Professor Kenneth Humphreys, PHD in Religious Studies that will open your eyes: www.jesusneverexisted.com as all religions of the world are cult. Do not get involved with any religion or political group as even they are types of cults being gangs.

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    1. We heard you all three times Dennis. Whether it's true or not, we don't know. What I know is that it's a human organization. Every human organization is going to have problems like this. Why? Because noone is perfect. Oh my, I heard a little boy got sodomized by a Catholic priest. Let's destroy the Catholic Church! Oh wait. There was a guy in the Marines that raped a little girl. Let's ban all Marines!

      I'm sorry this happened to your daughter and I think what happened to her is terrible. But you can't judge a worldwide human organization by one man!

      Go find something else to whine about. I grew up in the Bmc but I quit going 14 years ago. But I still love the people. The good ones.

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    2. We heard you all three times Dennis. Whether it's true or not, we don't know. What I know is that it's a human organization. Every human organization is going to have problems like this. Why? Because noone is perfect. Oh my, I heard a little boy got sodomized by a Catholic priest. Let's destroy the Catholic Church! Oh wait. There was a guy in the Marines that raped a little girl. Let's ban all Marines!

      I'm sorry this happened to your daughter and I think what happened to her is terrible. But you can't judge a worldwide human organization by one man!

      Go find something else to whine about. I grew up in the Bmc but I quit going 14 years ago. But I still love the people. The good ones.

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  16. I grew up in BMC Nigeria where my dad was not just a Revrend, but also a General board member(only BMC members will understand that lol).
    Anyone that calls BMC a cult frankly has no idea what they are talking about. Yes they may be a lil more fastidious over issues like dressing, company, type of TV programmes(In Nigeria TV was banned outright and called the devils box), yet that was targetted at helping the individuals reduce areas of temptation and live a holier life.
    I met some good missionaries some who stayed in my house a few times like Rev Gary Maxey(started the BMC theological institute in NIgeria), Dr Jesse Knepper, Rev Todd etc.
    BMC may be a little too conservative for the worldly person, but i know in my heart of hearts that most of the folks were genuine candidates for Heaven whose focus is heavenward and not earth bound.

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  17. i knew dan lamar he came to preach in the carpentersville church' a true snake in the grass a fox in the hen house he slept with several of the congregation then lied about it borrowed alot of money from my mom and dad and split the church because of what he did it was never the same. my folks tried to start another church but by that time i learned you cant trust them. they are men and we are not supposed to look on them that way the BMC is not a cult but they act like every breath you take is a sin. i knew lots of them and there appeared to be some Godly folks in among them but because of what happened i learned not to trust them.
    God does not hate you he sent his only son to die for you and all you have to do is believe in him. its not how you dress. its a shame that so many are led wrong by men. took years to learn to trust a preacher again and now i live where there is very few its all about money and control of the masses just like the Catholics

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  18. http://changingminds.org/techniques/conversion/lifton_thought_reform.htm

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  19. i was borned BMC in Papua New Guinea , and i grew up in the church as a Sunday School child and now a full Church Youth Member which located in the capital of PNG port Moresby, I thank God for his blessing / Wisdom to people of PNG to understand the true WORD of GOD and His ways ,,,

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  20. Anybody that believes that Jesus is God and has trusted in Him for salvation has eternal life. I would think that there are many or at least some people in the Bible Missionary Church that are Christian and will be in heaven. Even though I disagree with the denomination's various teachings (women cannot cut their hair, you cannot have internet access at home, if you watch pornography you go to hell, you can attain entire sanctification, etc.), as long as they still preach the forgiveness of sins for Christ's sake and that the Christian is not under the law but under grace, which is preached to a certain extent, it is still a christian church. This church is certainly not for me, but it may be for other christian brothers and sisters.

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  21. Most of you people don't know what you're talking about. Sure the BMC is strict but when most of you are walking around half naked you don't want to hear that right? When a church tells you TV is evil, your self on your own throne stands up and shakes it's carnal fist at the rule. If you disagree with a church, don't go there. Spreading misinformation that a church, recognized and dealt with like all others by your coveted government that many feed off the teets of, is a cult is wrong. It'd be the same if I condemned you for being ignorant and said you were going to hell without knowing anything about you.The BMC follows the Bible, God's word, and that is all. As for standards, sure some of them seem weird and strict, but some require strict to get to Heaven. Jesus says the way is narrow. IN peace and love I will pray for you all and hope Jesus opens your eyes no matter what institution you frequent.

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    2. You clearly don't understand my church mattrice. That church is wonderful, I have great friends and though i wear pants they don't judge me. I don't have my hair up and they don't judge, i only wear a skirt to church or church events. Maybe the BMC you went to may have seemed controlling but it is not. I hope you understand that BMC is a wonderful church.

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  22. Jesus led me to this wonderful church! Are all of them perfect? NO! I am to be perfect in heart and be a boost to my brothers and sisters in CHRIST! Are they a cult? NO! Is the military a cult? NO! They all know and agree on what they believe have experienced it! Your either in bondage to this worlds ways or the living GOD ways. True we are under GRACE, but for the LAW how do you know what is right or wrong??
    JESUS said HE did not come to destroy the LAW but to fulfill
    THANK GOD HE can AND will destroy the works of the devil! PRAISE GOD! BLESSED be the name of JESUS I'm so glad he too me in HE's forgiven my transgressions HE has cleansed my heart from sin!

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  23. I was raised in Scottsbluff NE by normal people who attended the Nazarene Church. Two aunts and one uncle attended Nazarene colleges. My Uncle Robert Miller was the Executive Secretary of Point Loma nazarene College. My grandfather helped build the new church building when I was 5. Also that year the Bible Missionary Church was started by people who thought that divorce was evil. We left the Nazarene Church and became Bible Missionaries. What a horrible life. My beautiful widowed grandmother, Alice Bernice Foster, gave our inheritance (farmland and buildings) to the BMC cult. We were very poor but gave 10% to the church that never thrived and eventually closed. My uncle, Lowell Foster, became a hotshot in the church and cemented my belief that religion is inherently evil and racist as he called the great Dr. King "Martin Lucifer King" from the pulpit. Some of the stuff I got from the BMC has been horrible - other stuff has made me what I am most proud of - a liberal feminist who spends as much money, time, and energy as possible on our causes - I consider it my tithe.

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    1. We lived in Mitchell NE for a number of years and attented the Immanuel Church for awhile. We also visited the BMC im Scottsfluff. Was your father Bruce Foster? We left the chuch and later moved away. Elaine Bump

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    3. I'm Bible Missionary, but I'm really sorry for the insult you heard about Dr. King. That did not at all reflect the spirit of Christ. The holiness movement has a long history of accepting and advocating for the marginalized, and unfortunately for a time we lost our way. In the meantime, hurtful things were said and done that did not reflect a holy attitude or spirit.

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  24. Hi Connie, I can relate. Even tho I was not involved in the BMC, I knew members who lived in my neighborhood. I was raised in a somewhat strict Catholic home. I decided to look for something better..as far as religion & unfortunately I had the terrible experience of joining a strict bible cult right out of college. In time, I saw the damage it was doing to people and their relationships & lives. Of course the pastor thinks he speaks for "God"..yeah, so many do, don't they? :/ Thankfully my family & I got out. After all I've been through I say Good Riddance to Religion. The Bible was written by some messed up & perhaps "mental" folks, who apparently had nothing better to do w/ their time but find the best ways to CONTROL people. My opinion. I am just so glad to be OUT of religion. It's man made BS...to form tribes and control people. It HURTS so many. I will never go back. These people can't see that they could possibly be wrong..they have absolutely NO self reflection because they will never even think for a second they could possibly be wrong. Of course their good book sees to that, because it makes QUESTIONING=doubts a SIN..so the followers just shut down their brains to any thinking. So sad.. Anyhow, just wanted to say thanks for sharing. It's good to see people really do escape the mind fuck that is religion. Take Care

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    2. so you are posting negative things about BMC without even going before. you should be ashamed. I also have to say that not all religions are bad. I am proud and happy to say I am a member of the BMC.

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  25. it is also quite important to say here that people responding to this blog and defending the BMC are NOT BMC members or they have gone rogue as the BMC does not allow their members internet access...I just needed to say this as there are folks on here defending this cult who clearly have left it for something they felt was more suitable.

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    2. I am a BMC member and they do let people have acsess to the internet. It is a shame that people are spreading false information about my wonderful church and some are saying the lord is a bad person. It is a shame to see how our world is these days

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  26. My family got sucked into this church in 2011. We were invited to a revival at the Georgetown BMC in Illinois. Bro. Randy Bates was preaching it was a terrifying message about Hell. It scared me into getting saved but I’m not upset about that. I never had a truly bad experience in the church but it has affected me psychologically I started judging my neighbors and friends for not wearing the right thing or acting right or listening to the right music. I never became racially prejudiced but I saw it everywhere. I do consider this church a cult. I wasn’t able to be myself and if I were to go back I would be considered one of the worst sinners just because of my looks. I have short dyed hair 5 piercings a tattoo and I wear pants shorts t shirts high heels I never wear pantyhose I wear makeup and jewelry. I’m the type of person my friend the pastors daughter was scared of. If you’re in the BMC visit another church and see what it’s like with an open mind you might see something you didn’t before

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  27. why does no one use their names on here??? Are you still under the influence of the BMC cult? Signed, Connie Foster Hannah

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    1. BMC is not a cult it is a wonderful church. I am proud and happy to say I am a BMC member. You can say I am part of a cult but I am not and neither are the rest of the members.

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  28. I am a survivor of the BMC, and I am so thankful I am. See, I'm not like all the other people who have posted “horror stories” about the BMC. Yes, the BMC does have flaws, just like any denomination does. But it is not a cult. If anyone ever wanted to make up stories about the BMC, I could, but instead I'm going to testify about the truth of the BMC.
    I was born into a BMC pastor's home. I was raised according to the manual, which is built upon the foundation of God's word. I never had a TV in the home. We never had internet access in our home. I never cut my hair or wore makeup or pants. And I am So Thankful! My home was so happy and loving, that I never wished it was any different I feel sorry for those of you who feel like you were treated wrongly or abused, or that your home was too restrictive.
    I remember the first time I got saved. No one prompted me to confess; it was natural. Even as a young child, I knew what I had done that were sins before God. I attended many revivals, campmeetings, and general gatherings as a child and young person. And though I heard many messages on hell, they never scared me in an unhealthy way. The only reason I was scared at all way because of the sins I knew I had committed, and everyone should have a healthy fear of hell for it is a very real place. The light of heaven always outshined the fear of hell.
    When I was 5 years old, my parents moved my family to Guyana, SA, to be missionaries for the BMC. I saw the love of Christ flowing through my parents, out to those in need.
    I was sanctified in November 2016 during a mighty revival at Bible Missionary Institute. I am so thankful God convicted me and sought me out. If He hadn't, I would have been one of the few hypocrites that some people on this blog have pointed to. He sanctified me wholly, PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!! I love Him so Much.
    I saw someone made a comment that the BMC doesn't allow their members to use the Internet. I'm sorry, but that is 100% false. The BMC does not allow the use of the internet in the church, home, or church-related school, but other than that, members are free to use the internet as long as it is to the glory of God.
    I pray that God will draw on your souls and help you to give Him another chance. Yes, unfortunately the BMC has some hypocrites, but God is not a hypocrite and He has blessed the BMC.
    Yes, I am a survivor, and I am so thankful for God's mercy upon me!

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    1. Thank you Janelle Everhart for the commit. Although my family and I no longer attend the BMC I am thankful for my heritage in the BMC. I am thankful for the stand they take against the evil in world. And I'm still thankful for the BMC manual that is backed by the Bible.

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  29. I agree with what you said. I was raised in the BMC in McKinney TX. You could feel the Holy Spirit when you were in that church. My fondest memories were going to the Duncan Oklahoma camp. When I got married to someone that didn't go to church I got lax and finally just quit going. I regret that I did. Lot of the bad things being said on this forum are sadly not true. Most people in that church were the best that ever walked the face of this earth. Spiritual Godly people.

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    1. If you were raised in the McKinney church did you know Sis. Woodard? I'm married to her grandson Brent. She died on January 8th.

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  30. I have had a good experience at the BMC in Caldwell, ID. I still continue to go to BMC. Even though I wear pants they do not judge me. I don't wear my hair up and I do cut It sometimes but they do not judge. I wear jewlery but they don't judge. It is a wonderful church and our pastor Jason Kinniman is amazing. I will follow Jesus all the way till it is my time to come to his wonderful kingdom where he prepares for me a place.
    - April age:12

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  31. I was raise in the Caldwell Idaho BMC

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