Since 2013, Families Against Cult Teachings (F.A.C.T.) has been helping victims and families of cults, undue influence, group exploitation and abuse to heal and recover while exposing the guilty parties. Our mission is to support a more informed public where prevention is achieved through education and to see justice brought to light in cases of cultic abuse and trafficking.
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Shambhala Sexual Abuse Discussed on CBC Radio
"This is what I will tell any students or friends interested in the organization for now – that while much of the teaching there seems excellent and there are clearly amazing people there at many levels, there is also an organizational culture that seems problematic at best, dysfunctional at worst. The number of stories of frustrated members who have attempted to resolve abuse issues and persons raising allegations of abuse are simply too numerous to ignore."
Read the full article and listen to the interview here:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/americanbuddhist/2018/05/the-secret-is-in-the-open-shambhala-sexual-abuse-discussed-on-cbc-radio.html#tEe4dFQhhjXALArU.03
Sexual abuse in religious communities is at epidemic proportions. Joe Navarro former FBI Counter Intelligence Agent gives some perspective on why that is. We've included some of his extremely important writings in one of our FACT Sheets, which is available to download on our website under the Education section.
https://www.familiesagainstcultteachings.org/Cult-Education/Fact-sheets/
The FACT Team
Monday, June 4, 2018
A "Sex Cult" That Preached Empowerment
Excellent article about NXIVM and Keith Raniere.
"Barbara Bouchey, Raniere’s girlfriend of nine years who left Nxivm in 2009 and was a party to 14 lawsuits involving the group and its related entities, said Raniere kept his other relationships with women, some of whom she calls his “spiritual wives,” secret from her at first. When he didn’t see Bouchey for a few days and she wondered where he had gone, first Raniere and then high-ranked women in the group pointed to her abandonment issues as the daughter of an alcoholic father. Her issues were the problem, not Raniere. Perhaps he was absent because he was trying to teach her a great lesson about one’s expectations of another being.
The two views of Raniere — the world’s most ethical man running an extraordinary self-help organization; a con man who empowered women but retained ultimate power for himself — came up often in my conversation with Bouchey. She said she is not sure if Raniere is a version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but he might be."
Read Full article here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/magazine/sex-cult-empowerment-nxivm-keith-raniere.html
The FACT Team
"Barbara Bouchey, Raniere’s girlfriend of nine years who left Nxivm in 2009 and was a party to 14 lawsuits involving the group and its related entities, said Raniere kept his other relationships with women, some of whom she calls his “spiritual wives,” secret from her at first. When he didn’t see Bouchey for a few days and she wondered where he had gone, first Raniere and then high-ranked women in the group pointed to her abandonment issues as the daughter of an alcoholic father. Her issues were the problem, not Raniere. Perhaps he was absent because he was trying to teach her a great lesson about one’s expectations of another being.
The two views of Raniere — the world’s most ethical man running an extraordinary self-help organization; a con man who empowered women but retained ultimate power for himself — came up often in my conversation with Bouchey. She said she is not sure if Raniere is a version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but he might be."
Read Full article here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/30/magazine/sex-cult-empowerment-nxivm-keith-raniere.html
The FACT Team
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Conclusion to the Uma Inder Follow-up Expose
Part 2 and conclusion of the Follow-up Expose on Uma Inder.
We have also contacted Yoga Alliance, of which Uma is a member
and below is our email correspondence with them.
“Dear
Yoga Alliance ,
It
has come to our attention that a yoga instructor named Uma Inder is a
member of your program.
Uma
is being accused for abusing her power as a teacher to manipulate,
exploit and damage her students. Please find enclosed a link to an
expose on Uma Inder, which will provide some of the exploitations,
manipulations and events of her past abuse on students. We ask that
you prevent any future students from her abuse by reading the
allegations presented in this expose and terminate your work
relationship with her as it is a tremendous liability if a
complaint comes from any of Umas students.
This
was Yoga alliance’s response back to us.
“namaste,
Thank
you for coming forward to share your thoughts in your email dated
Wednesday, April 25 to Yoga Alliance.
I
honor your request for understanding regarding Yoga Alliance’s
policy for responding to and handling allegations of misconduct by a
credential holder.
While
Yoga Alliance does not criminally investigate reports of criminal
behavior or sexual assault, we do take these reports seriously.
If you have directly experienced sexual misconduct by a
credential holder and are interested in pursuing a grievance within
the scope of the Yoga Alliance credential, you can contact me, Leigh
Evans, at levans@yogaalliance.org or
via phone 571.319.0824. My general office hours are Monday – Friday
8am – 4pm (ET). If you are interested in reading more about the
next steps, I invite you to review our Policies
page for further information.
If
you choose to report an experience with a credential holder,
please indicate in your email response:
·
The best time to reach you;
·
The best number to reach you; and
·
Whether or not we can leave a voicemail if we miss you.
You
are more than welcome to have a support person – friend, family,
spiritual advisor – or other trusted individual, with you during
the call.
Again,
thank you for taking the time to write to Yoga Alliance.
In
service,
Leigh
Evans, RYT
200
Accountability
Manager
We
are coordinating with the alleged victims of Uma Inder’s abuses to
directly give their individual complaints to Yoga Alliance.
The
notion that there are only a couple of alleged victims who have come
forward with allegations against Uma’s abusive misconduct couldn't
be further from the truth. Here is the most recent complaint.
“I
support the claim she is a narcissist maybe even delusional and I do
know she spat on someone’s face during an intense fight in one of
her retreat after this person supposedly asking questions she didn’t
like and then spat on his face claiming to the rest of the
participants “And that’s how you deal with that...””
“The
woman is mentally ill. I have no doubt about that.”
As
we stated earlier some of the institutions have discontinued their
relationship with Uma.
For
example, the School of Sacred Arts, Yoga Barn and the latest is the
No Mind Festival in Angsbacka.
Unfortunately,
we are still in the processes of getting the Nordic festival in
Sweden to discontinue Uma’s employment. Here is our latest comment
on the Nordic Satya’s Facebook post regarding Uma’s participation
at the upcoming festival.
In
addition to our expose and information on Uma there has been another
expose written by Be Scofield regarding her alleged abuses. We have
provided a link here for you to read.
https://medium.com/@bescofield/the-yoga-barn-guru-inside-uma-inders-bali-cult-6ac69cdc678b
It has also been brought to our
attention that Uma has been selling her “health products” without
proper government certification.
According
to the allegations found within the complaints received against Uma
Inder, it is our opinion and belief that Uma may be acting as a cult
leader that seems to severely damage her followers in many ways. We
believe Uma Inder’s recruitment, indoctrination, and control
techniques are typical to that of destructive high-control/demand
groups (as per our analysis using the B.I.T.E. model). According to
the complaints, in our opinion it seems Uma Inder has no regard for
the physical, mental, emotional and financial well-being of her
followers. We believe her goal is to psychologically break down
students in the name of “transparency” and “enlightenment”
for control and exploitation purposes. In our estimation, we believe
Uma Inder may be very dangerous and advise potential students to
think twice before becoming a student of this yogi guru.
A final quote from an alleged victim:
“…it is due to these systematic threats and intimidation that Uma Inder has been able to operate for so long without being exposed. These threats require that we protect our identities for the time being. However, we are so concerned about the well-being of current, inactive, former, and possible future cult members that we choose to begin exposing the abuses carried out by Uma Inder.”
We commend all of the brave ex-students of Uma for finding the courage to come together and speak out in an effort to warn potential students and stop the alleged manipulation and abuse. If you have any information about Uma Inder and/or her group that you would like to share, please contact us immediately. Please note: This expose was conducted upon receiving allegations and evidence against Uma Inder by ex-students. The purpose of this expose is to warn, educate, save lives and to protect any potential victims. It is absolutely not intended to slander, libel or harm anyone mentioned in the expose.
A final quote from an alleged victim:
“…it is due to these systematic threats and intimidation that Uma Inder has been able to operate for so long without being exposed. These threats require that we protect our identities for the time being. However, we are so concerned about the well-being of current, inactive, former, and possible future cult members that we choose to begin exposing the abuses carried out by Uma Inder.”
We commend all of the brave ex-students of Uma for finding the courage to come together and speak out in an effort to warn potential students and stop the alleged manipulation and abuse. If you have any information about Uma Inder and/or her group that you would like to share, please contact us immediately. Please note: This expose was conducted upon receiving allegations and evidence against Uma Inder by ex-students. The purpose of this expose is to warn, educate, save lives and to protect any potential victims. It is absolutely not intended to slander, libel or harm anyone mentioned in the expose.
In
Conclusion we at F.A.C.T. have an obligation to our followers and the
alleged victims to expose the truth. As such we will continue to
inform and educate all future institutions and possible students of
Uma.
There
will always be some opposing views from Uma’s believers and
followers. That is the power of undue influence!
Those
who don’t fight EVIL empower EVIL!
-F.A.C.T
Team
Families
Against Cult Teachings and Abuses
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Uma Inder Follow-up Expose
Dear
FACT Followers,
This
is a follow up to our last expose on Uma Inder. Since our last expose
a few of Uma’s employers have terminated their working relationship
with Uma, which we believe is commendable.
Unfortunately,
some institutions have continued to work with Uma. We have received
complaints from students who are worried about her potential harm to
future students in the upcoming workshops and events. We have
included one of the warnings we received from a former student.
“Subject
: : Urgent - Please stop Uma Teaching
Your
Message : : Uma Inder will be teaching at Kirana Yoga School,
Indonesia 4-6 May. August in Toronto collaborated with Donny
Day, and Ahalia Ayurveda Medical College in Kerala in
November/December”
One
of the past events was held at Kirana Yoga School. This event was
from May 4th-6th
2018. Prior to this
date we contacted said institution, to inform and warn them about the
allegations against Uma Inder and we have not received a response
from them as of yet. In our opinion this shows negligence and it is
unacceptable from an educational institution.
We
will continue to follow up to warn students who attend this school.
Uma
will have a workshop in Toronto collaborated with Donny Day – Upon
contacting Donny Day here is what he had to say in response:
“Hi
Janet,
I
read everything.
These
are claims with no evidence at all - can you imagine if I were to
listen to you? This is clearly fear-mongering and is not
acceptable.
I'm
afraid you've become victim of your own fear - this email and site
you've created seems very cultish & carries an energy of the like
I've not experienced with such a creepy vibe.
When
your approach is more sensitive to the nature of what you're doing,
lets have a conversation. From what I've seen from your email &
the link you sent (no evidence whatsoever), you seem to be the group
that's quite cult-like and does not have to capability of another
point of view (so there will be no effective conversation).
Plus
I can think of a dozen more dangerous folks in the world that are
clearly negative forces in the world you could be addressing which
brings up the next point - this must be personal somehow for your
group - or perhaps there's $$ involved from another pissed off group
or individual (?)
I'm
certain Uma is available to speak directly to you (umainder.com).
Perhaps speak with her instead of sending out such transparently
insecure fear-mongering messages with no evidence but just claims (?)
If
you wish to speak person to person, call me: 905 824 6595
I'm
available to speak June 2nd and after (travelling). be aware
that first impressions are key - check out what yours is.
namaste,
donny
p.s.
after reading my reply, perhaps you feel 'he's on HER side' or
something like that - TAKE THIS IN - THAT'S CULT LIKE THINKING!
it seems you've become victim of your own 'thing' and have become the
cult itself. i'm open to fact-based conversation (times, dates,
events, names etc.) with evidence June 2nd or after.”
And
this was the last follow up e-mail to Donny from FACT.
“Hello
Donny,
This
comes as a response to your email correspondence with Janette. It is
clear to me that you don't want to hear the truth. It is also
obvious that you will perform with Uma and you don't have the
backbone or the decency to see the truth. Uma Inder has hurt hundreds
of people and we are representing those victims. I believe if you
would be a witness to any of Uma Inder’s crimes or misbehaviors you
would still be in denial and continue to support her. And that is why
we believe that Uma Inder and this behavior is a cult.
And
as I say those who don't confront evil, will empower evil. I believe
this is what you are participating in.
Enclosed
please find a couple of the alleged victims input.
Tibor
Stern
President
of Families Against Cult Teachings and Abuses, Inc “
Updated to this post - Here is the second part and conclusion to our follow-up expose on Uma Inder.
http://familiesagainstcultteachings.blogspot.com/2018/05/conclusion-to-uma-inder-follow-up-expose.html
http://familiesagainstcultteachings.blogspot.com/2018/05/conclusion-to-uma-inder-follow-up-expose.html
Sincerely,
The FACT Team
Please note: Our intention at FACT is never to libel or damage anyone’s reputation. The purpose of our work is primarily to educate the public. Moreover, please know that all statements made in this expose are according to our opinion at FACT based upon signed affidavits, complaints and evidence we received from alleged victims and through our analysis of this information according to the B.I.T.E. model (developed by cult expert Steven Hassan).
Please note: Our intention at FACT is never to libel or damage anyone’s reputation. The purpose of our work is primarily to educate the public. Moreover, please know that all statements made in this expose are according to our opinion at FACT based upon signed affidavits, complaints and evidence we received from alleged victims and through our analysis of this information according to the B.I.T.E. model (developed by cult expert Steven Hassan).
Complaint Filed - Apostolic Revival Center Peru, Indiana
One of the many recent Complaints Filed with FACT.
CULT, GROUP or CHURCH INFORMATION:
"Name of Cult, Group or Church: Apostolic Revival Center Peru Indiana
Where: Peru, Indiana
Leader(s): XXXX
Please describe the cult activity: They pay people to stay. If you try to leave they threaten you. They completely have strayed away from what they claimed to be at first. Their members are so sure that they’re the “truth” and if you come against what they believe they lash out at you.
Involvement with group: Yes
1) When did you/they get involved & for how long?
Family Member - 5 yrs ago
2) How did you/they get involved? How were you/they directly recruited? They claimed to be a Pentecostal church. My family is Pentecostal. They thought it was an upstanding organization. The pastor has gone to great lengths to recruit people in the last five years.
3) Are there other family members involved?
Only one of my family members
4) Has their been a disconnection of relationship(s) with family, old friends? Yes. They come to family functions, and they spew a bunch of information about their beliefs, and if you come against them they have a freak Out.
5) What are the circumstances currently? They attend regularly.
Impact from group: They have stalked me to try to get me to join, via Facebook. When I refused, my family members who attend basically shunned me.
Is there anything else that we should know or you would like to tell us: Please look deeper into these people. They’re dangerous. They stalk people and threaten people. It’s not good."
If you have any experience with this Center please let us know.
Thank you,
The FACT Team
CULT, GROUP or CHURCH INFORMATION:
"Name of Cult, Group or Church: Apostolic Revival Center Peru Indiana
Where: Peru, Indiana
Leader(s): XXXX
Please describe the cult activity: They pay people to stay. If you try to leave they threaten you. They completely have strayed away from what they claimed to be at first. Their members are so sure that they’re the “truth” and if you come against what they believe they lash out at you.
Involvement with group: Yes
1) When did you/they get involved & for how long?
Family Member - 5 yrs ago
2) How did you/they get involved? How were you/they directly recruited? They claimed to be a Pentecostal church. My family is Pentecostal. They thought it was an upstanding organization. The pastor has gone to great lengths to recruit people in the last five years.
3) Are there other family members involved?
Only one of my family members
4) Has their been a disconnection of relationship(s) with family, old friends? Yes. They come to family functions, and they spew a bunch of information about their beliefs, and if you come against them they have a freak Out.
5) What are the circumstances currently? They attend regularly.
Impact from group: They have stalked me to try to get me to join, via Facebook. When I refused, my family members who attend basically shunned me.
Is there anything else that we should know or you would like to tell us: Please look deeper into these people. They’re dangerous. They stalk people and threaten people. It’s not good."
If you have any experience with this Center please let us know.
Thank you,
The FACT Team
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Leah Remini to Take On Jehovah's Witness and the Watchtower Society
"According to sources, Remini will produce a special for A&E that
focuses on Jehovah's Witnesses, to air during a break following season
three of the Emmy-winning Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath."
Read full article here:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/leah-reminis-next-a-e-project-tackle-jehovahs-witnesses-1114006
We have and continue to receive complaints from former Jehovah's Witnesses as well as many other former members of high control groups and cults.
We are very happy to hear that Leah Remini and her team will use their voice to help expose and raise awareness about the atrocities that are occurring in not only Scientology but in Jehovah's Witness churches as well.
The FACT Team
Read full article here:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/leah-reminis-next-a-e-project-tackle-jehovahs-witnesses-1114006
We have and continue to receive complaints from former Jehovah's Witnesses as well as many other former members of high control groups and cults.
We are very happy to hear that Leah Remini and her team will use their voice to help expose and raise awareness about the atrocities that are occurring in not only Scientology but in Jehovah's Witness churches as well.
The FACT Team
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
What We Deal With Daily Here at the FACT Office
"Name of Cult Group or Church: Fountain of Life International Church
Where: If multiple locations, just tell us about the location you're referring to. 1055 E Hearns St, Phoenix, AZ
Leader(s):xxxx xxxx
Please describe the cult activity: Are their specific complaints you'd like to tell us about? YES
My son is in this so called church. He is a group leader in the young men and women's group. I asked about this group and as he was explaining he was very arrogant, which he wasn't before this church, and he let me know in so many words that he exerts pressure on group members. I stopped him there and said, you are exerting pressure on people in a church group? He answered saying that, well he joined voluntarily. So we had a conversation about that. When I stop him about something I feel is not right, he changes the words he uses to something more accepting to someone; but the actions are still same. They keep him so busy with church business that between work and church, he is always tired. But he still protects the church. He was taught there to take some gray area in scripture and take one extreme view and act as if its fact. Also there, they have women pastors, which is not even close to being biblical. It is a pentecostal church, so you probably know about those. Its under the umbrella of the Assemblies of God churches. He is almost always with someone from that church and has continuous church functions and giving them 10%. There is much I can complain about this apostate church. They got him a new family, he calls this xxxx (who was in jail before) his spiritual father,(new father), the pastor got him a woman to be his wife, they have isolated him while making him reject me, his real father, and reject his friends, other family is not really in his life much, they don't know him like I do. I was the only one who went to his college graduation even. His behavior and personality has changed drastically, shockingly. He is constantly working for the church with not much time for his things he was doing before, his interests changed, he even told me to throw all his stuff away at home.(shocking). He is in a constant grind from work and church. xxxxx recruited him into it little by little. xxxx doesn't respond to logic or common sense, no analytical thinking. He was always so smart, xxxx made straight As all of his life.
Are you aware of any human rights violations, emotional/physical abuse, illegal activity?
Please be as detailed as you can.
Involvement with group: If yes, please explain.
1)
My son, xxxx II was in college in Western Washington University from 2012 to 2016. My son and I had the best father, son relationship ever and I trusted totally. There, he met who I now believe was a cult recruiter for this church. His name is xxxxx who is 12 years older than xxxx. He began to get xxxx interested in learning Bible scripture. Then xxxx began attending a church with him and was baptized. xxxxx, then moved to Phoenix as xxxx stayed 2 more years in Washington. They stayed in touch, but I didn't know that they would be on the phone sometimes for 5 hours, xxxx then girlfriend told me later. She also told me that xxxxx would call often when they were together; first to ask xxxx to do little things on computer or phone that he could have done himself. Then the things he called xxxx for began to be bigger and more time consuming things that, she said began to seriously interrupt their time together. xxxxx was continuously doing his recruiting on my son. After a year out of college, xxxx was planning to come home where I live in xxxx NV. We had made plans to do many things and I was excited that he was coming. Just before coming home, xxxx told me that he was considering going to Phoenix to live for a while, where he could record his music, as he was a song writer and performer, and xxxxx was going to be his manager and get him into a recording studio. Then he had a dream about him and me working in my garage on our project car, an old firebird. I thought, great. When xxxx told Freddy about the dream, xxxxx convinced xxxx that it meant that he was supposed to come to Phoenix to live. I wasn't happy about that, but xxxx was really serious about going there and to record his music. So he went there. xxxx signed a lease for a house there and xxxxx and his family moved in. xxxx babysits and picks up the kid from school sometimes and Freddy uses his car. xxxxx is just using my son and is controlling him. He came to see me often since, but in March, he came with a girl who he said he wanted to marry. I had only seen a picture of her a month earlier, but had not heard much about. He had a girlfriend in Washington, who he tried to keep a long distance relationship with, but that ended a few months after moving to Phoenix. She told me later that one of their problems was that she didn't understand xxxx relationship with xxxxx (he was older than xxxx and had a wife and three kids.) I felt the same way too. So soon after he broke up with the girl in Washington, he was introduced to this other girl by the Pastor and xxxx and she became co-group leaders together and even worked outside of church preparing lesson plans for the group. He brought this new girl to meet me. I was appalled by her behavior, not engaging in conversation with me or asking me anything. She had her hands all over xxxx, but he didn't to her. They seemed awkward together and at one point started to dance when some music played, but they looked completely stupid and they couldn't get together on the song to dance and they stopped trying. I didn't see them as a couple at all. She brought up disgusting things during dinner and she had a philosophy of not going to doctors or taking medicine; which to me is a cult thing. When xxxx and she were sitting on the couch here, she put her leg in between xxxx legs and just sat like that in front of me. I was shocked at that. We were shocked at that. I believe this means that there is something sexual going on, but he says there isn't. I had a lady friend with me who has known xxxx since he was 14, and she thought the same as me about them. They didn't even look right together. Later, on the phone xxxx and I had an argument about her and he said some mean things to me which shocked me, because we had never had argument before, xxxx respected me and loved me so much and always took up for me if anyone said anything negative. I met his other girlfriend and we got along very well. I think now that they came to offend and she is with him maybe just to watch him; because now I think he only is with people from church. So he is always being watched, and I really began to think , CULT!!! And I began to research cults etc. As the months pass there are still no music recording and every time I ask about it, xxxx says he is writing songs. I told him he should already have them on a CD; they could be saving souls. His music is all worship songs. He told me for the last few months now that the reason he hasn't recorded any songs yet is that , Jesus told the disciples to wait for the holy spirit before going out to preach the word. I keep telling him there is no connection to that and why he is not recording his songs. Now, all his decisions are based on a sign from God, a dream interpretation or confirmation in scripture. Its all too much. He came to visit in March and that's when I talked to him a lot and found that he is a completely different person. He doesn't care about seeing his friends here or his cousin. Doesn't care about anything at the house, like the project car, watching family videos that we always did. So many things were changed about him. Even some mannerisms and his eyes. At one point he did say that he would stay here and live. He called his boss and quit his job, called xxxxx and told him he wouldn't be back. I cried with happiness and he did too. Then he called xxxxx, the girlfriend, to break up with her. Then he was in the bedroom talking to her and he was crying. He couldn't be heard from the living room. I went in to see him; he was crying so hard and his hair all messed up and he waved me away and went into the bathroom and closed the door and kept talking for a while. He looked as if he was in some great torment. not just shedding a tear over breaking up with a girl he knew only a few months. He was with the other girl for over a year but he didn't cry when they broke up. This was like she had some kind of thing over him and was threatening him with it. I kept asking him why was he crying like that so hard. I even asked if she had something on him that she's controlling him with and threatening him with, but he said no. He said he cried just because they were breaking up and then he decided to go back and be with her. I was devastated. Later he said again that he would stay and then changed his mind again. He did that at least 3 maybe 4 times. At one point I took his phone and kept it for a couple of days and he was more dossal and he said he would stay again and asked for his phone back so I gave it to him then he changed his mind again. It became a something sick he was doing and I didn't understand it. I took his phone again but this time he jumped on me to get it back, I went to the ground and he wrestled it out of my hands and pulled it so hard that it injured my thumb and I had to have x rays and physical therapy. But he acted as if nothing happened. I'm sure this xxxx told him to do whatever he has to, to keep his phone so he or they or whoever could keep contact. Then I felt like I was afraid of my own son and I asked myself, what is he capable of doing to me if he would do this? He had never even been in a fight in his entire life, but now he is violent, arrogant , lying, deceiving, not showing a bit of caring or love for me. Its like he is incapable of compassion. His eyes were always big and wide open and now it seems like his eyes are half shut all the time. He was more Christian before he started learning scripture with xxxxx than he is now. Whatever he doing there, it has nothing to do with Christianity. Then he went back. I wish I knew of some group that could help me get him back and put him back the way he was. I know this will take time, but that's what I have. I'm not stopping to save my boy out of this evil that I feel he is in. He has since never asked me how I am or how my thumb is; this is strange, and once I said that to him, and he said, yes I have, I said it many times. No not even once since he went back. He is deeper in it not than ever and I don't know what to do anymore. He is always tired when I call or Skype with him.
Where: If multiple locations, just tell us about the location you're referring to. 1055 E Hearns St, Phoenix, AZ
Leader(s):xxxx xxxx
Please describe the cult activity: Are their specific complaints you'd like to tell us about? YES
My son is in this so called church. He is a group leader in the young men and women's group. I asked about this group and as he was explaining he was very arrogant, which he wasn't before this church, and he let me know in so many words that he exerts pressure on group members. I stopped him there and said, you are exerting pressure on people in a church group? He answered saying that, well he joined voluntarily. So we had a conversation about that. When I stop him about something I feel is not right, he changes the words he uses to something more accepting to someone; but the actions are still same. They keep him so busy with church business that between work and church, he is always tired. But he still protects the church. He was taught there to take some gray area in scripture and take one extreme view and act as if its fact. Also there, they have women pastors, which is not even close to being biblical. It is a pentecostal church, so you probably know about those. Its under the umbrella of the Assemblies of God churches. He is almost always with someone from that church and has continuous church functions and giving them 10%. There is much I can complain about this apostate church. They got him a new family, he calls this xxxx (who was in jail before) his spiritual father,(new father), the pastor got him a woman to be his wife, they have isolated him while making him reject me, his real father, and reject his friends, other family is not really in his life much, they don't know him like I do. I was the only one who went to his college graduation even. His behavior and personality has changed drastically, shockingly. He is constantly working for the church with not much time for his things he was doing before, his interests changed, he even told me to throw all his stuff away at home.(shocking). He is in a constant grind from work and church. xxxxx recruited him into it little by little. xxxx doesn't respond to logic or common sense, no analytical thinking. He was always so smart, xxxx made straight As all of his life.
Are you aware of any human rights violations, emotional/physical abuse, illegal activity?
Please be as detailed as you can.
Involvement with group: If yes, please explain.
1)
My son, xxxx II was in college in Western Washington University from 2012 to 2016. My son and I had the best father, son relationship ever and I trusted totally. There, he met who I now believe was a cult recruiter for this church. His name is xxxxx who is 12 years older than xxxx. He began to get xxxx interested in learning Bible scripture. Then xxxx began attending a church with him and was baptized. xxxxx, then moved to Phoenix as xxxx stayed 2 more years in Washington. They stayed in touch, but I didn't know that they would be on the phone sometimes for 5 hours, xxxx then girlfriend told me later. She also told me that xxxxx would call often when they were together; first to ask xxxx to do little things on computer or phone that he could have done himself. Then the things he called xxxx for began to be bigger and more time consuming things that, she said began to seriously interrupt their time together. xxxxx was continuously doing his recruiting on my son. After a year out of college, xxxx was planning to come home where I live in xxxx NV. We had made plans to do many things and I was excited that he was coming. Just before coming home, xxxx told me that he was considering going to Phoenix to live for a while, where he could record his music, as he was a song writer and performer, and xxxxx was going to be his manager and get him into a recording studio. Then he had a dream about him and me working in my garage on our project car, an old firebird. I thought, great. When xxxx told Freddy about the dream, xxxxx convinced xxxx that it meant that he was supposed to come to Phoenix to live. I wasn't happy about that, but xxxx was really serious about going there and to record his music. So he went there. xxxx signed a lease for a house there and xxxxx and his family moved in. xxxx babysits and picks up the kid from school sometimes and Freddy uses his car. xxxxx is just using my son and is controlling him. He came to see me often since, but in March, he came with a girl who he said he wanted to marry. I had only seen a picture of her a month earlier, but had not heard much about. He had a girlfriend in Washington, who he tried to keep a long distance relationship with, but that ended a few months after moving to Phoenix. She told me later that one of their problems was that she didn't understand xxxx relationship with xxxxx (he was older than xxxx and had a wife and three kids.) I felt the same way too. So soon after he broke up with the girl in Washington, he was introduced to this other girl by the Pastor and xxxx and she became co-group leaders together and even worked outside of church preparing lesson plans for the group. He brought this new girl to meet me. I was appalled by her behavior, not engaging in conversation with me or asking me anything. She had her hands all over xxxx, but he didn't to her. They seemed awkward together and at one point started to dance when some music played, but they looked completely stupid and they couldn't get together on the song to dance and they stopped trying. I didn't see them as a couple at all. She brought up disgusting things during dinner and she had a philosophy of not going to doctors or taking medicine; which to me is a cult thing. When xxxx and she were sitting on the couch here, she put her leg in between xxxx legs and just sat like that in front of me. I was shocked at that. We were shocked at that. I believe this means that there is something sexual going on, but he says there isn't. I had a lady friend with me who has known xxxx since he was 14, and she thought the same as me about them. They didn't even look right together. Later, on the phone xxxx and I had an argument about her and he said some mean things to me which shocked me, because we had never had argument before, xxxx respected me and loved me so much and always took up for me if anyone said anything negative. I met his other girlfriend and we got along very well. I think now that they came to offend and she is with him maybe just to watch him; because now I think he only is with people from church. So he is always being watched, and I really began to think , CULT!!! And I began to research cults etc. As the months pass there are still no music recording and every time I ask about it, xxxx says he is writing songs. I told him he should already have them on a CD; they could be saving souls. His music is all worship songs. He told me for the last few months now that the reason he hasn't recorded any songs yet is that , Jesus told the disciples to wait for the holy spirit before going out to preach the word. I keep telling him there is no connection to that and why he is not recording his songs. Now, all his decisions are based on a sign from God, a dream interpretation or confirmation in scripture. Its all too much. He came to visit in March and that's when I talked to him a lot and found that he is a completely different person. He doesn't care about seeing his friends here or his cousin. Doesn't care about anything at the house, like the project car, watching family videos that we always did. So many things were changed about him. Even some mannerisms and his eyes. At one point he did say that he would stay here and live. He called his boss and quit his job, called xxxxx and told him he wouldn't be back. I cried with happiness and he did too. Then he called xxxxx, the girlfriend, to break up with her. Then he was in the bedroom talking to her and he was crying. He couldn't be heard from the living room. I went in to see him; he was crying so hard and his hair all messed up and he waved me away and went into the bathroom and closed the door and kept talking for a while. He looked as if he was in some great torment. not just shedding a tear over breaking up with a girl he knew only a few months. He was with the other girl for over a year but he didn't cry when they broke up. This was like she had some kind of thing over him and was threatening him with it. I kept asking him why was he crying like that so hard. I even asked if she had something on him that she's controlling him with and threatening him with, but he said no. He said he cried just because they were breaking up and then he decided to go back and be with her. I was devastated. Later he said again that he would stay and then changed his mind again. He did that at least 3 maybe 4 times. At one point I took his phone and kept it for a couple of days and he was more dossal and he said he would stay again and asked for his phone back so I gave it to him then he changed his mind again. It became a something sick he was doing and I didn't understand it. I took his phone again but this time he jumped on me to get it back, I went to the ground and he wrestled it out of my hands and pulled it so hard that it injured my thumb and I had to have x rays and physical therapy. But he acted as if nothing happened. I'm sure this xxxx told him to do whatever he has to, to keep his phone so he or they or whoever could keep contact. Then I felt like I was afraid of my own son and I asked myself, what is he capable of doing to me if he would do this? He had never even been in a fight in his entire life, but now he is violent, arrogant , lying, deceiving, not showing a bit of caring or love for me. Its like he is incapable of compassion. His eyes were always big and wide open and now it seems like his eyes are half shut all the time. He was more Christian before he started learning scripture with xxxxx than he is now. Whatever he doing there, it has nothing to do with Christianity. Then he went back. I wish I knew of some group that could help me get him back and put him back the way he was. I know this will take time, but that's what I have. I'm not stopping to save my boy out of this evil that I feel he is in. He has since never asked me how I am or how my thumb is; this is strange, and once I said that to him, and he said, yes I have, I said it many times. No not even once since he went back. He is deeper in it not than ever and I don't know what to do anymore. He is always tired when I call or Skype with him.
2) How did you/they get involved? How were you/they directly recruited?
3) Are there other family members involved? Only me and my best friend.
4) Has their been a disconnection of relationship(s) with family, old friends? They are trying to break completely my relationship with my son, and he has really turned on me as if I am nothing. He often says to me when we talk that I cut him off and he can't talk to me; trying to find a reason to stop our conversation.
5) What are the circumstances currently? He wants to marry this xxxxx girl but he knows that I don't want him to. He told me that its up to me if I want to be a part of their lives. I can't stand her. He only wants xxxxx and his family and xxxxx in his life and I feel like I'm losing him. This church is International too and can send him anywhere; he has talked about starting a church.
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.
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. I made a police report of the assault and battery that he committed against me (his father) to get his phone back. My glasses cut my head and broke, I had a carpet burn on one knee, and my thumb was injured, the ligaments were pulled and the joint was spranged. Then he acted as if nothing happened. Now there is a warrant on him. He works in a xxxx in Phoenix, assistant manager, and I'm sure he will get fired if and when they find out. I got a call from the city attorney's office telling me that the warrant is approved by the court and will send xxxx a notification in a couple of days; so I called him and told him that he has a warrant on him now and they will let him know. He didn't believe me. But he said, Whatever happens, it will work out, because I didn't do anything wrong. He didn't panic at all and he didn't even blink when I told him. I asked him if he already knew, because he didn't even react to it. I think he and xxxxx already talked about it. He even said that could get it expunged if he needed to. I didn't know that he knew what that was. I told him if he would quit his job before he gets fired, we can work all this out and it would be nothing to it and in the end and then you can go back to work and with no fired from your job on your record. He said he was not going to quit and he will deal with whatever happens and that God will resolve it all for him. I texted him once and told him I was going to make a complaint against him, and he responded by texting me that if I did, he would be my enemy. I texted that we will never be enemies and that I loved him so much. I said all I do is out of love for him, he knows that I'm so worried for him that I would do about anything to get him out of that church and away from xxxxx. He told me that he knows I'm worried for him but he says not to worry. After I told him that he has a warrant on him now on Skype, we both said I love you; and at bedtime that same evening he texted me, I love dad, goodnight. I texted back the same thing. Today we did not communicate. But its ok.He is has a lot to think about. I just don't know where all this is going or what will be the ending. HELP! I thank God I found your website.
If you have additional files, links, etc. that you'd like us to be aware of, please send them to the email address below."
The FACT Team
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