Since we started our blog almost three years ago we have heard many horror stories of what it's like to have been part of the ntcc. Many folks regret raising their children in such an environment; and many have shared tragic experiences of how they had to raise their kids in the ntcc. We stumbled across this online review of the ntcc and wanted to share it with our readers.
B. Hawkins says:
September 25, 2012 at 6:34 am
I was raised in NTCC. “I cut my teeth” on the second pew on the right side (women’s side), I played the tamborine every service, I lived on church property until I was 12, and after all these years, I still question this,”religion”. I never knew anything but church. 5 days a week. I watched people being berated over the pulpit under the pretense that they were going to die and go to hell. I watched my family struggle because it was unacceptable for women to work, and we could barely make ends meet. I watched close family members divorce because he was blamed for stealing money from the church for years, but it was really pilfered away by the local pastor and a certain visiting pastor(Denis). I am a witness of the practice of marrying young girls off to older men. My sister and I were both being positioned to men in church. At 15, I was being asked to stay after church for “fellowship” to let the single men know that I was now grown and available. My parents were told to marry my sister and I off to young men at the church, or send us to Bible School, and we would get married there. I bear witness of people being ostracized for “not being right with the Lord”. I know of many instances that pastors were told to “run people away from the church” if questions were ever asked concerning the doctrine and monetary practices of the church. It was not until I went away to college(which was highly discouraged), that I began to distance myself from the church. I learned that there were actually other religions in the world, and that some of them must be going to heaven too! I have no ill will towards the church, although I can no longer accept their doctrine to be true, and I am generally ignored by them when we meet in public.
Do you think the caption is over the top? Well, we know these very things described have happened over and over again in your ntcc. This review confirms many of the blog posts that we have written and adds to the testimonies of others who have experienced similar circumstances. For every one that musters up the courage to share their testimony there are many others that are kept silent by fear. We hope that this testimony is an encouragement to others who have suffered in a similar way. I kept so much pain inside and was never able to share it with anyone. I was a tortured soul for many years, but when I was able to share my own testimony publicly it released me from the inner prison that held me captive for so many years.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 |
People look at the blogs and other public forums as filthy gossip tabloids that are run by a few disgruntled eX-members of the ntcc. But the truth is there are hundreds of testimonies that are archived on the blogs, Factnet and online reviews. We are one voice of many. We are not ashamed of our blog or of speaking publicly about what we went through. We have no reason to be afraid of the ntcc leaders whose MO is to use fear to keep people in their place and to keep the money flowing. If you ntcc-ers really love God and want to see the true nature of your so-called 'godly' leaders, try cutting off their money supply and see what really lies in their hearts. Stop paying tithe and start giving like they did in the early church (Acts 4:32-35), when folks shared what they had with their brethren. They sold their possessions and laid the money at the Apostles' feet and what did they do with the money? Did they buy themselves mansions? Did they spend it on themselves? No, they distributed it to their brethren according as they had need. We know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren.
What do you think Davis or Kekel would do if one of you ministers got enough intestinal fortitude to start doing what's right with the money you collect from your church members? What if you stopped sending it to Washington and it hindered their ability to heap more wealth upon themselves? Do you think that would go over very well? Or, better yet, if you are a single brother in the military walk up to the prettiest single sister in the church and tell her that you would like to take her out to dinner. If your pastor tries to stop you, ask him what biblical grounds he has to stop you. Tell him to mind his own business and pay more attention to his own wife. Perhaps if ntcc ministers were less involved in everyone else's business they would have fewer divorces and would not cheat on their spouses so much! You know this happens and it all gets brushed under the filthy ntcc carpet.
What hypocrites. They are the first ones to jack you up if you try to be normal and have an ordinary relationship. I know what I'm talking about. I love my wife and it is my pleasure to give her anything that I'm able to give her. I honor her and treat her with love and respect. We were cheated out of twenty years of marriage by a couple of lousy second rate sleazy religious hucksters who are now on the revival circuit pedaling their propaganda and victimizing anyone who will allow it. Don't be their next victim. Learn from the truths we share here. Be yourself. Allow God to lead you. Don't be afraid of man. The bible says the fear of man brings a snare. We know. We fell for it and paid in spades. You don't have to. Set yourself free by fearing the Lord, not man.
You can call me bitter if you want, I've got nothing but love for you. You can tell us to "move on' or to "get over it"; but we love you too much to sit back and say nothing while a bunch of hypocrites control your lives. Think what you want about us; but we are here to help those who want to be helped. If you are hell-bent on allowing some hireling to tell you whom you can talk to, which relatives you can have in your lives, which people you can have at your house or in your car, whom you can hang out with, whom you can date, whom you can share your life with, what other churches you cannot visit, what people you can fellowship with, well then, we might not be able to help you, but don't begrudge us the opportunity to try. If you need someone to control your life to this extent then what kind of a Christian are you? Is God not able to keep you? We know He is able. Will you allow HIM to truly be YOUR Lord, YOUR" Absolute Ruler"?
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Prov 29:25