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semaphore
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Date Posted:30/06/2005 3:50 AMCopy HTML

Hello,

I have just stumbled upon this site and was pleased there is such a forum. I have a similar story to the many I have read. Primarily a Melbourne girl so many of the reflections I have read here represents my past.

I have read many postings this evening. It was mentioned "I wonder what life would have been like if I had never known about RCI." I don't regret my years growing up hearing many teachings of humanitarian/family/christian values. Learning about what unconditional love is, patience, integrity, honesty and having a greater awareness of my spiritual/personal reltionship with God.

I deal with many families and people through my work and have many friends outside of church circles. So often I see family units and relationships break down through lack of understanding about values, wisdom, patience, selfishness etc.. I always remember a Pastor saying "At the end of the day there is you, God and your bible."

I realised that ultimately my relationship with God was what I decided it to be and I saw the church more as an organisation. Nevertheless when policies were changed with no scriptural foundation and clearly a hidden agenda. I was devastated as were my close friends. After the major split in the mid 90's it was well over a year before I had the courage to leave. To this day I know there is a church within the RCI church of people who are there to keep their families together they have become detached from the dictatorship and have put their families first.

I miss so many of my friends and am disappointed that my brother and his family that still attend have created a barrier of judgment. The 'hard knocks' I encountered being at RCI in hindsight have taught me so much about life and to become solution focused. I look for ways to create opportunities to learn and improve myself. Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome the courage and wisdom I gained throughout that experience enabled me to feel I could take any challenge in life.

Since then I took the leap and am now working overseas and have had many more opportunities to learn and share many things.I have been to a couple of churches, I lost so much trust in the RCI organisation I cannot get passed the visitor status. I am unable to commit to another church organisation. So at the end of the day it is God, myself, the bible and now you!

I may not write a lot of responses but I love to read and will visit this site and the related sites.

Thank you for taking the time to read an excerpt of my history, a history we share.

Cheers!
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:01/07/2005 12:05 AMCopy HTML

Ex-Melbourne RCI and in China (though not the mainland).  We share at least two things in common.  Ok, so how old are you and when did you attend (from when to when)?  Let's see who MIGHT know you.

I was in the Canberra RCI (now RF) from 1984-1985 and then Melbourne RCI until 1988.  I am 35 this year.  I was a regular youngies attendee and hung out a lot with the Forum going young people even though I occassionally attended Croydon.

groo Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #2
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:09/02/2007 3:20 AMCopy HTML

hearing many teachings of humanitarian/family/christian values. Learning about what unconditional love is, patience, integrity, honesty

There was very little of any of that in my experience of RCI. Just the opposite, in fact.
franks ghost Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #3
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:09/02/2007 5:11 AMCopy HTML

Reply to : groo

hearing many teachings of humanitarian/family/christian values. Learning about what unconditional love is, patience, integrity, honestyThere was very little of any of that in my experience of RCI. Just the opposite, in fact.
so reading what you experieced in the RCI, are sure you were in a church you know you can learn those values in a counciling courses or new age retreats, in fact most book shops have a great new age section. So what about POWER (did you see any?) How about release from SIN & HEART FELT REPENTANCE (did you have any?) Did you learn about Brokeness? Did you ever get taught about the BLOOD and how it works for you? How about , did you get shown how to go to the secret place with your savior and whorship in the SPIRIT & TRUTH for hours before you realised you were in your closet and you had a deep understanding of relationship with your GOD. Did you get Born Again was it transforming did it sustain you? does it sustain you now? Do you really have a relationship with JESUS or a knowledge of STUFF and warm memories of good people and nice things. Singing, Volleyball, scits,3 -3minute testimonies, activities.
it is the glory of God to conceal a matter but the honour of kings to search it out.
groo Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #4
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:09/02/2007 8:38 PMCopy HTML

Replying to franklin:-

Yes, I saw lots of power and brokenness, from those with power to those without. No, I didn't repent as I was born into the church.

I can honestly say that there is very little in RCI that resembles christian humanitarianism - the only humanitarian acts in which the church was involved during my time there was building churches - forget that the people don't have clean drinking water or their health needs aren't being met, let's build them a church! I wasn't allowed to do the 40-hour famine as a kid because people in Ethiopia were starving because they didn't believe in salvation through the holy spirit - direct from the mouth of Pastor John Kirwood. Yah, right. Real christian. There was no charity given to members of the church, just the relentless sucking of 10% of your gross income into the belly of the oversight (and their nice cars and houses). And the endless judgement, and gossiping, and spite - there was absolutely no unconditional love, or honesty, or integrity there.
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:24/02/2007 7:01 PMCopy HTML

REPLY TO GROO-There was no charity given to members of the church, just the relentless sucking of 10% of your gross income into the belly of the oversight (and their nice cars and houses). And the endless judgement, and gossiping, and spite - there was absolutely no unconditional love, or honesty, or integrity there.

A Family in a QLD RCI has been put into extreme diifficulty through foolishly helping a Pastor financially in his business, the family has left the church and to cover the fact that these people have been shafted, theRC's are saying it was a business deal that went wrong.  Discredit the leavers- standard RCI procedure.Even though ASIC and the ATO have been involved  forcing him to pay people,who have contracts or be prosicuted ,yet he has been sheltered in the church...why?? A large% his clientel are Pastors!! 3 Pastors have been Directors in the company.This Family were left exposed for a proven debt of over 3 Million with no protection and no contracts, he has abused and manipulated the position of a Pastor for his own belly. Speaking of nice cars and homes-Victor S in his attempt to silence these people said  You havnt suffered go to Malawii then you will know what suffering is. He also is one of the % that has a financial interest in the company.

I support this family , they have been though hell and  are determined to expose the deception that is fed to the innocent followers.

Speak the truth not for vengence but righteousness and truth.

light and dark Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #6
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:25/02/2007 10:04 AMCopy HTML

Reply to : Anonymous

I am sorry to hear how many hearts have been poisend with bitterness through Revival Centres. I was brought up in the church (RC/RF Perth & Brisbane) and left when I was 17. It has taken me nearly eleven years to get my walk with God back on track and am only now beginning to be healthy in all areas of my life - spiritually, emotionally, physically (no more drugs for me!!) etc. One thing I am sure of is that holding on to the past and hating those who caused you pain is not good for the soul. I hope everyone on this sight can find peace with their past and the abuse they suffered. Sadly with cult churches like the RC/RF they are based partly in truth and partly in faulse doctrine or we wouldn't all be sucked in. There were a number of biblical truths within the RC / RF that I have had to come to terms with in order to attend any church at all - it is very easy to only think of the bad and classify everything they preached as faulse and misleading. Going back to church is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but it was important to me and important to my journey of healing. It is very sad how many lives the RC / RF touched and tore away from really knowing God and having a relationship with him. I will pray for you all. Gosh that hurts me to write because part of me thinks that I sound like them (RC/RF), but I know that God loves me and loves each of you and that can't be taken away by a cruel and misleading church system.





REPLY TO GROO-There was no charity given to members of the church, just the relentless sucking of 10% of your gross income into the belly of the oversight (and their nice cars and houses). And the endless judgement, and gossiping, and spite - there was absolutely no unconditional love, or honesty, or integrity there.A Family in a QLD RCI has been put into extreme diifficulty through foolishly helping a Pastor financially in his business, the family has left the church and to cover the fact that these people have been shafted, theRC's are saying it was a business deal that went wrong. Discredit the leavers- standard RCI procedure.Even though ASIC and the ATO have been involved forcing him to pay people,who have contracts or be prosicuted ,yet he has been sheltered in the church...why?? A large% his clientel are Pastors!! 3 Pastors have beenDire




For you were once darkness,
Now you are the light in the LORD
Live as Children of Light.
Ephisians 5:8
cultevasion Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #7
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:27/02/2007 9:00 PMCopy HTML

Reply to : light and dark

Reply to : AnonymousI am sorry to hear how many hearts have been poisend with bitterness through Revival Centres. I was brought up in the church (RC/RF Perth & Brisbane) and left when I was 17. It has taken me nearly eleven years to get my walk with God back on track and am only now beginning to be healthy in all areas of my life - spiritually, emotionally, physically (no more drugs for me!!) etc. One thing I am sure of is that holding on to the past and hating those who caused you pain is not good for the soul. I hope everyone on this sight can find peace with their past and the abuse they suffered. Sadly with cult churches like the RC/RF they are based partly in truth and partly in faulse doctrine or we wouldn't all be sucked in. There were a number of biblical truths within the RC / RF that I have had to come to terms with in order to attend any church at all - it is v
Wow, thanks light and dark - so wonderfully put. I too hurt when I read of what so many have gone through and I too can relate to how hard it is to find somewhere else to attend. I agree you have to forgive and let go of what happened in the past. Reading this forum is encouraging because you realise you are not the only one to gave gone through this pain the RCs cause. 
cultivation leads to cultevasion -
don"t reap what they sow!
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:28/02/2007 5:57 AMCopy HTML

Reply to : cultevasion



Wow, thanks light and dark - so wonderfully put. I too hurt when I read of what so many have gone through and I too can relate to how hard it is to find somewhere else to attend. I agree you have to forgive and let go of what happened in the past. Reading this forum is encouraging because you realise you are not the only one to gave gone through this pain the RCs cause.





Hi cultevasion, may I ask how long it took you to find a church you could attend? Does it still hurt?? I hold on to the love of God I felt as a small child and am trying to re-read the bible and discover what I believe. I go to bible study with friends once a fortnight and sometimes I get really freaked out by others biblical knowledge and passion. I have been married since I was 18 (that's what the RC/RF does to you) and my husband would love to have kids - I can't yet and I don't know how long it will take for me not to be terrified of what would happen if I brought them up in or out of a church.

God bless.
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:28/02/2007 9:18 AMCopy HTML

Reply to : Anonymous

Hi cultevasion, may I ask how long it took you to find a church you could attend? Does it still hurt?? I hold on to the love of God I felt as a small child and am trying to re-read the bible and discover what I believe. I go to bible study with friends once a fortnight and sometimes I get really freaked out by others biblical knowledge and passion. I have been married
Simular boat Anon, I married in the church wife wants kids but I cant bring myself to it. I do not want the exposure to the crap that is feed to us in this mind controlling place.  I want to leave the church but my wife of 6 months has said she'll leave me if I do. How do i do whats right for me and leave.
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:28/02/2007 9:29 AMCopy HTML

She actually has no right to kick you out or leave you unless you have knowingly committed adultery. You both made vows to each other and in the bible they are for life.
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:28/02/2007 12:37 PMCopy HTML

Reply to : Anonymous

She actually has no right to kick you out or leave you unless you have knowingly committed adultery. You both made vows to each other and in the bible they are for life.
Yeah i know but her agruement is that she married me in the church and hates my flesh therefore if I leave the lord she will have me leave. I dont know whether to just be straight up about it and tell her that I want out or ....................
prezy Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #12
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:28/02/2007 12:52 PMCopy HTML

I feel sorry for you, when we left my wife followed me as this is her Christian duty, and we are still Christians and we are very happy now. I should point out that she is not under the thumb so to speak and I wouldn't try to stand over her but she does believe in the word of God and the word of God does NOT  say that, to follow him you have to stay were there are no fruits. This is the real evidence of true followers and the greatest is Love. Pastor hollins will try to say that its love of the holy spirit (speaking in tongues) but this is just not true and shows how selective of scripture he is. You dont have to read much of the bible to find this out. If your wife wants to please the Lord she must not forsake you.  She will actually be putting her salvation at risk if she puts you aside. feel free to contact me if you want actual bible ref. or any other support. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both.
¡uıɐƃɐ ʎɐqǝ ɯoɹɟ pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ƃuıʎnq ɹǝʌǝu
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:28/02/2007 1:31 PMCopy HTML

Reply to : prezy

I feel sorry for you, when we left my wife followed me as this is her Christian duty, and we are still Christians and we are very happy now. I should point out that she is not under the thumb so to speak and I wouldn't try to standover her butshe does believe in the word of God and the word of God doesNOT say that, to follow him you have to stay were there are no fruits. This is the real evidence oftrue followers and the greatest is Love. Pastor hollins will tryto say that its love of the holy spirit (speaking in tongues) but this is just not true and showshow selective of scripture he is. You dont have to read much of the bible to find this out. If your wife wants to please the Lord she must not forsake you.She will actually be putting her salvation at risk if she puts you aside. feel free to contact me if you want act
Prezy,  I wish it was that easy I guess my time to make a decision and tell her is near.. Just got to do it. I so wish i didnt get involved with these people to start with........Now im married what a mess
MothandRust Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #14
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:28/02/2007 2:12 PMCopy HTML

Reply to : Anonymous

She actually has no right to kick you out or leave you unless you have knowingly committed adultery. You both made vows to each other and in the bible they are for life.

Has anyone had a selah on this concept?

Wedding vows are for life... except...

for richer for poorer ect, but if one slips up big time, you don't have to fully forgive them? It just seems like a contradiction to me on the whole 70x7 thing. Obviously, if adultery happens, then there's major problems, but not impossible to be forgiven and moved on from. Jesus said if it's done at a heart level it's the same thing... would be pretty hard to judge.

People live in misery because they're stuck to perceived bible laws and church rules. When you know your church is built on a lie, get out. Get out and do what's right, not what's easy, because living a lie is like living without a soul.

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cultevasion Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #15
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:01/03/2007 8:48 PMCopy HTML

Reply to : Anonymous

Hi cultevasion, may I ask how long it took you to find a church you could attend? Does it still hurt?? I hold on to the love of God I felt as a small child and am trying to re-read the bible and discover what I believe. I go to bible study with friends once a fortnight and sometimes I get really freaked out by others biblical knowledge and passion. I have been married

We left nine months ago and decided to go nowhere for almost 6 months to clear our heads but we realised, becuse of the children, that we had to replace the RC with the truth (another loving church and they are out there). The kids were missing their RC friends (not that they really are, as its conditional on compulsary RC attendance!) and we thought that rather than leave a big void we should fill it by eventually finding some new friends in a new church. The younger kids have found it easier to make friends in our new church.

We looked at five churches and came back to the fourth one which we have been attending for about 3 months. (If you PM me I will give you its details) People are witessed to about what Jesus has done for them (not what the HS has done) and told about repentance, baptism and then filled with the Holy Spirit (with the Bible evidence of speaking in tongues) but they are not told you must speak in tongues to be saved, tongues does not save you! Jesus is the Savior and the HS is for empowerment. 

It still hurts but it does subside as the months roll on. Contrary to what the old oversight say we have not had any major disasters befall us nor has our marriage fallen apart! In fact we have had many answers to prayers, seen real miracles and my trust and relationship with the Lord has improved. It still hurts me when I read of others anguish as I can totally relate to it and it is still fresh enough for me to remember it all too well!

I have held onto my faith in God and have read the Bible as fervently as I first did when I received the HS 17 years ago. I have learnt a lot more about God's word since leaving and found people with a better depth of understanding than I ever received in my RC time. I have found many scriptures which speak to me about the wrong in the RCs. Many, many scriptures which reveal how wrong RC doctrine really is. (If you PM me I shall send you some)

Young marriages are typical of the RCs. As to having kids, God wll help you find a church, in time, where you wll feel safe to bring them up. Do not rush finding one. I read, prayed and fasted before we went out looking. Actually all of the five churches had good elements in them. We eventually took a family vote as to which one we thought was best. I can say that I felt a clear leading as to which one I preferred and even had a clear answer to a small prayer that helped. But we are not committed to it like we were to the RC. You can come and go, find one you like and if it does not work out look elsewhere. You do not have to feel ownership. Just say to yourself I will try this one this week, another one next fortnight and basically decide to do that for a few months with no guilt if you do not return. It worked for us. We find many thngs that do not fit RC doctrine. You have to stop judging churches by RC standards after all they are screwed up standards anyway! That is hard. We find church practices which grate against our RC indoctrination. You just have to fight it and say to yourself "keep an open mind".

Can I say that we have not had anything terrible, scary or beyond our control happen. The Lord is still with us and we need to claim "that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind".

P.S. Wow this answer is a lot longer than I thought (in fact its the longest comment  have ever made on this site!)

cultivation leads to cultevasion -
don"t reap what they sow!
cultevasion Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #16
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:01/03/2007 9:15 PMCopy HTML

Reply to : Anonymous

Reply to : AnonymousHi cultevasion, may I ask how long it took you to find a church you could attend? Does it still hurt?? I hold on to the love of God I felt as a small child and am trying to re-read the bible and discover what I believe. I go to bible study with friends once a fortnight and sometimes I get really freaked out by others biblical knowledge and passion. I have been marriedSimular boat Anon, I married in the church wife wants kids but I cant bring myself to it. I do not want the exposure to the crap that is feed to us in this mind controlling place. I want to leave the church but my wife of 6months has said she'll leave me if I do. How do i do whats right for me and leave.

You are in a very difficult situation but not impossible. The Lord will help you with sincere prayer and fasting and read your bible a lot. Others out here will also have prayer for your situation. (PM me if you like)

Do not show her agression, not ever, NEVER. Ask the Lord for patience with her. If she is sharp and cutting respond in love. Always respond with love and understanding (as Jesus said the greatest gift is love). This is hard to grasp but you, as the man are the spiritual head, as such these types of decisions are not easy.

Ultimately you need to leave as the RCs are wrong, corrupt and you could end up even worse off by staying. Will she come with you? May be not, probably not intially. This is my guess... say you do not want to divorce/separate but that the Holy Spirit is tellng you that this church is wrong. You need to find somewhere to fellowship that shows great love and can be understanding and uphold you. Pray, with everything you've got, that the Lord reveals to her the hypocrisy of the place and that eventually the joy you have found will rub off on her. No doubt your new found joy will rub her up the wrong way at first. Be sensitive to this and do NOT react back - but a soft word turns away wroth.

cultivation leads to cultevasion -
don"t reap what they sow!
cultevasion Share to: Facebook Twitter MSN linkedin google yahoo #17
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Re:Leaving RCI was a huge obstacle to overcome

Date Posted:01/03/2007 9:25 PMCopy HTML

Reply to : Anonymous

Prezy,  I wish it was that easy I guess my time to make a decision and tell her is near.. Just got to do it. I so wish i didnt get involved with these people to start with........Now im married what a mess

I also agree with

I feel sorry for you, when we left my wife followed me as this is her Christian duty, and we are still Christians and we are very happy now. I should point out that she is not under the thumb so to speak and I wouldn't try to stand over her but she does believe in the word of God and the word of God does NOT  say that, to follow him you have to stay were there are no fruits. This is the real evidence of true followers and the greatest is Love.

and I also agree wth

When you know your church is built on a lie, get out. Get out and do what's right, not what's easy, because living a lie is like living without a soul.

Yes I too wish we never went to RC for 16years of our lives but... we just have to trust in God to pull us through any situation, even ones like yours. The Lord knows all and he will never forsake you.

cultivation leads to cultevasion -
don"t reap what they sow!
RCI prophesies
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