Recent Complaint Filed with F.A.C.T. - Set Free Ministries

CULT GROUP INFORMATION:
"Name of Cult Group or Church: Set Free Ministries

 

Where: All over Southern California but I started at their ranch in Phelan, CA then went to a home in Riverside CA and now am at a home in Colton CA.

Leader(s): #Name_of_Leader(s)#

Please describe the cult activity: Are their specific complaints you'd like to tell us about?
Please excuse me but my mental health has deteriorated severely since I have been trapped in this cult. It is very hard for me to focus or keep my mind together to explain things that clearly anymore. I need serious psychiatric help at this point, but they will not allow me to see a doctor or even a dentist because they are always making me slave for them with no pay. I don't even know where to begin, I have so much to say about this horrible cult. At the moment I have no where else to live and I am deathly afraid of ending up homeless.

Are you aware of any human rights violations, emotional/physical abuse, illegal activity?
My life was threatened numerous times already. I have been threatened to be beat up many times, and threatened to be killed other times. The director and overseer of the Riverside house abused me pretty badly for 9 months. The director of the Riverside home XXXX even once brought a gun to the house saying he was going to shoot another guy. That is when I decided to leave that home out of great fear of my own safety. XXXX choked a 22 year old autstic kid and attacked him with a hammer. His name is XXXX. XXXX also left the home and is now in another Set Free house in Redlands CA. XXXX an overseer of the Riverside home threatened to beat me up and said he was going to kill me on several different occasions. I told the Pastor XXXX several times about it, and the Pastor did nothing about it. The Pastor protects those two very evil men for some odd reason. They are both gang members and I am afraid they may retaliate against me and really have me murdered like they threatened to do. XXXX and XXXX also commonly smoke marijuana together which is against the rules, but they are allowed to get away with it too. They also take the money we make from working to buy marijuana and other drugs with. I was forced to ride in the trunk of a van many times from Riverside to LA and back with absolutely no kind of protection. If we would have been rear ended I would be seriously injured or most likely dead. I was always cussed out and belittled there. I am now at this house in Colton which isn't as abusive as Riverside, only the Pastor XXXX is very strange. We slave for him all the time, but we are forced to eat very expired food when he buys groceries for the house from our food stamp money and we don't know where the food goes. We are literally force fed the Bible all day long if we are not working.

A lot of the work they make us do is inhumane and illegal on all kinds of levels. They lie to you and say you will be able to find your own job after 6 months of being at a home but they really just want you to remain their legal slave. I need medical attention but they won't let me go see a doctor because they keep scheduling these work assignments where we are traveling every where. They do not care about our health or safety in the slightest. They only care that we keep making money so the Pastors and Directors can sit around and do nothing. Most of the time the Pastors just stay in their rooms and sleep or watch TV. Then they spend all kind of money on cigarettes, cigars, lottery tickets, fast food and personal food, and personal trips and vacations. There's a car wash we are forced to do every Thursday night all night for twelve hours or more wiping down cars. Sometimes it is so cold we are wiping ice on cars. We even have to go if it's raining. We are supplied with no protection from the elements. We can never leave the house. If we go anywhere we have to take someone with along, but usually we can never go anywhere at all. We are forced to memorize all kind of verses from the Bible, and we also have to write 12 pages of homework about the Bible on top of working even though we are exhausted. If we don't we are punished and potentially kicked out. They do not give anyone a 30 day notice to leave either. They either send you back to their horrible disgusting ranches infested with bed bugs and diseases, or they just kick you out on the street. At the ranches, they won't let you see a doctor or will even take you out the hospital sometimes even if it is an emergency. They take people's phones away on whim. They make you sign a waiver saying they are not responsible for any death or injury, when they make us sometimes do some pretty hazardous activities and put us in dangerous situations, like when I was forced to ride in the trunk of a van.

There is this one paper they give us that I would like to share that is particularly disturbing. It says something along the lines of we must pronounce ourselves dead for Jesus or something very odd and disturbing. I have a copy of it and a blank waiver that we are forced to sign. One guy started dating a girl in the ministry and they would always fight. He was a driver in Riverside. One night they were fighting bad and he kept swerving the van with about 5 of us in it. I thought for sure we were going to get into an accident. We are not allowed to use the internet here in Colton even though we slave for this guy. He also doesn't allow Obama phones so it kind of cuts out all communication with the outside world. There's a couple people here who have very serious mental health problems and really should see a psychiatrist for help, but psych meds are not allowed and even some pain medication is not allowed even if it's prescribed. Their answer to everything including a toothache is to send people to the emergency room, but then they give us trouble if we try to schedule appointments. They are also committing welfare fraud and other types of fraud on all kind of levels. It is basically exploitation and amounts to legal slavery. They are just taking advantage of people who are desperate and have no where else to turn.

Involvement with group: If yes, please explain.

1) When did you/they get involved & for how long? I know many people involved. I first went to their ranch in Phelan and then to Riverside and now I'm in Colton.

2) How did you/they get involved? How were you/they directly recruited? I was sent from the San Bernardino Community hospital there because I was homeless and attempted suicide. My suicidal ideations are even worse now than before.

3) Are there other family members involved? None of my family no.

4) Has their been a disconnection of relationship(s) with family, old friends? Yes because they make it extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to communicate with the outside world. They confiscate phones and do not allow you to use their internet or computers. How is anyone supposed to get a job?

5) What are the circumstances currently? The circumstances are that I'm worse off than before I got sucked into this cult, and I feel hopeless, helpless, and I often think about suicide again all the time. It feels like there is no way out of this besides the streets, and my life has now reached a final dead end.

Impact from group: Please describe how you believe to have been harmed and/or wronged by this group. Be as detailed as possible, and send any supporting evidence via the email below. Yes I have been very much verbally, mentally, emotionally, and sometimes even physically abused by this group as I have explained above. My mind is very scattered right now and it's difficult to explain all this in one sitting. I may not have a phone it internet access that much longer either. I guess if I just leave and become homeless, the worst thing that could happen is I die, but that might not be so bad because my suffering will finally end.

Is there anything else that we should know or you would like to tell us: Please tell us anything else you think we should know.
It would really help if someone could reach out to me and ask me specific questions I could just give short answers. I wish to God I could meet someone in person for a day or something and explain all this to them if they ask me specific questions. I am so very tired now mentally that it's hard to get in every detail. I seriously need help, but I am afraid I will have no place to live. I was supposed to go to the doctor and I was going to see a social worker who said he might be able to help me on the 23rd but the Pastor said I couldn't go and I had to reschedule because he wants us to go travel somewhere and work. He is planning on making us travel all kinds of places in the US and work extreme hours for no pay, so he can sit at home and watch TV and live the easy life. I am in no mental state to be traveling, and this could turn out to be a very bad and dangerous for me. I am at my wits end, and everyday I feel even more ready to die. I'm not sure what good complaining here will do, but at least someone should know about this horrible cult. They have no intentions of helping you in the long term at all, they just want to keep you as their little puppet slave. I hope someone does something, but on the other hand I do not want to become homeless. In the mental state I'm in I know I would not survive very long on the streets. I most definitely need a precarious type of assistance out of this cult.

If you have additional files, links, etc. that you'd like us to be aware of, please send them to the email address below. I can take pictures of some papers they have here and try to send them that I find pretty disturbing."

If you or someone you know has been victimized by this group or have any information regarding this we encourage you to please come forward and tell your story. You may file a complaint with our office at this link: https://www.familiesagainstcultteachings.org/cult-help/contact.html

Thank you,
The FACT Team 

F.A.C.T.'s End of Year Newsletter 2018 - Happy New Year!

Dear Friends and Supporters of F.A.C.T.,(Families Against Cult Teachings & Abuses),

We would like to thank you for your continued support in our mission. As we reflect on the past years accomplishments & how we’ve made a difference, we are happy knowing we’ve reached thousands of victims and helped them with valuable resources, education, and support in their journey to understand, cope with and overcome the abuses they’ve endured and or are advocating against.

Some of our work this past year includes:

The compilation of an extensive 40 plus page Resource Guide that everyone who emails us receives immediately.

We launched an online support group where people who are struggling with these situations can ask questions, share stories and get peer to peer support in a private support group setting.

We’ve mailed our printed preventative education materials to countless parents and advocates who’ve requested them in their efforts to educate themselves, their families, communities and schools. 

We’ve received hundreds of support calls and emails and listened to victims, their stories and have guided them in a positive direction away from these abusive situations and or advised them in what they can do to help a loved one.

Looking into the New Year and the future we are thrilled to be implementing and sponsoring many new programs that will directly help people of all types of abuse move from victim to survivor. Some of these programs are outlined below.

Art & Books for Therapy: Art is a therapeutic medium that can be an excellent tool to accessing emotions we cannot communicate verbally, moving towards processing and integrating our trauma. Art serves as creative expression which promotes healing and mental well being. In this new program we sponsor children from insulated, unhealthy environments and send them therapeutic art supplies and books to help them heal. This is your opportunity to give hope and healing to young victims of abuse. 

Preventative Education Initiative and Study Guide:

A Study Guide designed for students, parents, educators and advocates, that outlines the basic red flags of abuse and predatory personalities.

First Annual Survivors & Advocates Retreat:

 



Bringing together Abuse Survivors and Advocates of those involved in High-Demand Predatory groups and relations for a weekend of connection and healing.


The launch of our sister organization - EndingAbuse.org where we will be focusing on healing and education. (please note this website is still under development)

We want to Thank all of our readers, supporters and advocates that have helped us get to where we are at. We absolutely could not do this work without your help! On behalf of the FACT team, victims and survivors, we  are so grateful for all of your support.

As we head into the next year we need your support now to continue on with our important life saving work. We know you may be receiving a great deal of emails asking for donations this time of year, and we ask you to please consider the significance of our mission, which is over looked by most people who don't understand this very real and pressing social threat.

Please help us at F.A.C.T. with our victim support programs and preventative education and awareness initiatives. We ask that you consider making a donation, of any amount to support our mission. 

Please Donate Today 

Your generous contributions are what make it possible for us to fulfill our important, life saving work. We are a 501C3 non-profit, your generous donations are entirely tax deductible. 

Thank you so much for making a year-end donation to F.A.C.T.!

We wish you the Happiest and Healthiest New Year!

Sincerely,

The F.A.C.T. Team

Guru Swami Vishwananda in Germany

We were asked to share this blog post and information about Guru Swami Vishwananda.

"First of all it has to be mentioned that this text is not directed against homosexuality whatsoever. The article below is based on facts and experience of a big number of young men who came in contact with a gay guru, who acts as a spiritual father of monks and nuns. It was not written as revenge but to provide information and freedom to choose beforehand whether somebody wants to visit an ashram/ guru or not. We thank this forum for allowing critical information to be voiced, as it is key in our societies to share experiences to show up possible offenses.

Warning - If you are a truth seeker, want to mediate, learn yoga or in search of a spiritual guide and consider to visit the ashram of Swami Vishwananda from Heidenrod-Springen in Germany, which is situated 1 hour west of Frankfurt/ Main, beware of visiting the ashram and please be mindful of the following information. It is then up to you to proceed with your aspirations or to stay away from this ashram and guru."

Read the full blog post / expose here: https://reviewaguru.blogspot.com/?fbclid=IwAR3jrmwy25vMuSTKPH0-duJlIrAG3hbF2v-GiC93dvoWGzyClxhYLNjIul8

Please share this to help raise awareness.

Thank you,

The FACT Team 

Recent Plea for Help Daughter in Gladstone Church Cincinnati, Ohio

"CULT GROUP INFORMATION:

Name of Cult Group or Church: Gladstone

Where: Cincinnati, ohio. My daughter lives on XXXX Ave and they meet near there. They used to meet at Mariemont church in Cincinnati,

Leader(s): #Name_of_Leader(s)#

Please describe the cult activity: Are their specific complaints you'd like to tell us about?

Our daughte's personality changed after she joined. She met a woman at the mall in Cincinnati, who invited her to her church. They have many meetings. She moved into a house near the church with other members. She hands over almost all of her money to them. Everything is communal. She owns nothing. She does not choose her clothes, her food, what time to get up in the morning. She reads the bible constantly. She told me that if I want to go to heaven, I must give away all of my money. She only comes to see us in xxxx Ohio (2-hour drive) when there is a special occasion. She has many meetings. She does not see old friends. She works in a xxxx with only 1 other person. It's very isolating, and these are her only friends now. Now she is going to Israel in January for 2 weeks. She says it's through a group called Hope for Israel. She says that her money goes to overseas churches, but I'm sure she has no idea where it goes.

Are you aware of any human rights violations, emotional/physical abuse, illegal activity? Please be as detailed as you can.

I am not aware of any physical abuse or illegal activity.

Involvement with group: If yes, please explain.

1)when did they get involved? About 2 years ago

2) How did you/they get involved? How were you/they directly recruited? My daughter was working an extra job at a kiosk at a mall in Cincinnati. A woman invited her to her church. I forget the woman's name, unfortunately.

3) Are there other family members involved?no

4) Has their been a disconnection of relationship(s) with family, old friends? Yes. We are still in touch, but she is somewhat unemotional.

5) What are the circumstances currently? We see our daughter, but it's mostly when there is a family wedding or holiday. She has not come just to see us since she met these people. She hurries home to them, limits her time with us.

Impact from group: Please describe how you believe to have been harmed and/or wronged by this group. Be as detailed as possible, and send any supporting evidence via the email below.

Except for emotional isolation from friends and family, I am not aware of abuse. My daughter is very thin, but she was always thin, so I can't say that they control her food. I know that she almost never goes to the grocery store. Someone else does that. She packs her lunch so as not to spend any money. She eats peanut butter sandwiches for lunch, but she used to not even like them. She wears loose baggy clothes since being in the group."

In this particular situation it is a major plus that the daughter is still in touch with her parents and comes home for special occasions. We are working with the parents to advice them on steps to take for an "intervention" of sorts and to delicately educate their daughter on what the process of mind control is and how it happens. We are hopeful these efforts will lead to a successful intervention and the young girl will be saved from a life of Undue Influence and Mind Control.

Your generous donations make our work possible. Please help us to continue our life saving work here at FACT. Make your tax free donation today at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fact 

Sincerely,

The FACT Team

Recent Support Email to FACT - "My Brother May Be Entering a Cult"

Initial Email to our office:

"Subject : : My Brother May Be Entering a Cult
 Your Message : First of all, God bless you guys for creating this amazing organization. I am so saddened to hear about Sharoni... She was indeed innocent and manipulated beyond a doubt.

My younger brother, who himself was in a manipulative relationship with his Karate Master (xxxx) recently left his Karate Master xxxx to move to Japan, where my brother has found new mentors. He is now being taught "secret martial arts" and left his well-paying salary and is jobless to go "help the people of xxxxxx Town" to "bring back jobs" and revive their economy. Mind you, my brother is 26, naive, and not very emotionally intelligent. We are very worried and don't know what to do to coax him back. We are wondering if you have any advice or if we can please even pay for a consultation with someone on your leadership. We is myself and my mom. Thank you so much."

Our office replied back and then received another email below from the concerned family member.

"Dear xxxx,

Thanks for your warm reply earlier.

I’m wondering when would be your next soonest availability to talk.

Out of nowhere, the monks in Japan have invited my brother to stay in complete seclusion in their temple (no contact with the outside world, and they don’t let you out even if you try, once you’ve agreed). They have many abusive practices.

We’re wondering if we can get any of your advice on how to intervene.

My brother already lives in Japan with these “mentors.” 

I’m sorry to bother you with such a time-sensitive request, as I am positive you receive many and have a busy life. Whenever is your best earliest next convenience, I am available. My direct number is xxx-xxx-xxxx (My mom is CCd as she would listen to the call as well)."

We receive dozens of these types of emails on a weekly basis. Your donations and support, help us to help people in desperate situations who need sound advice.

Families need support and guidance in these difficult and delicate situations. Please help us continue our important life saving work. Please make your tax free  contribution today at: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fact

Thank you,

The FACT Team