The Cult Vault (47) - #47 Philadelphia Church of God - PCG

In this week's episode, I chat with an ex-member of the Philadelphia Church of God - a denomination of the Worldwide Church of God. During this episode, Hannah shares her experiences throughout childhood to finally being free of the church.

Get In Touch

[heatherhealy]

THIS IS INSANE I’ve been telling people about this for years ever since I left at 14. I’m so glad she came forward and this is being recognized. I still have ptsd from the whole experience.

[sarah_noodle]

My cousin committed suicide because of his family's involvement in this church. He was disfellowshipped for having a girlfriend and cast out of his parents' home. He was schizophrenic and they knew it. He went from relative to relative just trying to live a normal life, tormenting himself for needing his medication because he had been trained to believe that outside medicine was against god. He eventually came to my parents' house (I was in college at the time) and he did terrible, terrible things to my brother due to his unmedicated illness. He then went to live with his grandparents (he hadn't spoken to or seen his parents for a couple of years at this point). He then got a hold of a gun and killed shot himself in the head. He apparently didn't have a face when his grandparents found him. I will never ever forgive his parents (his mother, an RN!!!!) for forsaking him when he needed it. Thank you for exposing them.

[Andrew-nqin]

I remember waking up on Saturday's and being so bummed out that I'd have to wear a damn sweaty ass suit all day and sit through hours of sermons. I'm so glad I left that organization when I did.

[julielong]

Listening to your story is like listening to my own story growing up in the CULT. It separates families. 🥺😢

[KatieeBug]

Thank you so much for covering this. I was in a different branch of the Worldwide spinoffs when I was little, but my grandparents were and still are members of the PCG. That cult has almost ruined mine and my family's relationship with them because of how devoted my grandmother is to following along with those teachings. You're the first person I've seen cover PCG itself and not Worldwide, so I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to speak to Hannah and get it out there how dangerous this place is on its own. You both have my gratitude for shedding light on it.

[natethegreat]

I also grew up in the PCG- was 11 months old when my parents started “studying” what mr flurry was talking about. It was quite the ride through life and isolation and I was even put out for a couple years when I was 13-16 but finally got out when I was 18 but sure got quite the wrath from my dad when I finally told our local minister I was done.

[allisondow]

My father is with the PCG. I confronted him about this and he just laughs in my face 😔 I don't know what to do now, I feel like I lost my dad.

[johannapacheco]

My family and I were in this Cult for 12 years (parents were baptized). 12 years of my life wasted, traumatized, abused, belittled and, manipulated. Now looking back, it makes sense why I always felt there was something that wasn’t sitting well with me. It’s time to Expose the real Demons!

[harantish]

a few things to clarify: they have headquarters both in Edmond, Oklahoma and Edstone, England. the latter is staffed by people from Edmond, Oklahoma of their own choosing. there are two main families being served in the Edstone estate: Brad MacDonald's family and Stephen Flurry's family. the latter, last year, moved back to Edmond and was replaced by Wayne Turgeon and family. not sure if that's still the case. Wayne Turgeon is married to Gerald Flurry's daughter, so that makes him third in command after Stephen Flurry, the only son, who is married to Amy Hilliker. she is the sister of Joel Hilliker who is one of the editors on their magazines: The Philadelphia Trumpet & Royal Vision.

the membership figure of 7, 000 is incorrect assumption. they are more close to 3 to 4, 000 worldwide, and slowly losing members due to the recent proof that Gerald Flurry being a false prophet in his failed Trump being the Jeroboam who will save America, who will REMAIN in power. Flurry's prophecy also says that Jeroboam/Trump will kick the PCG out of America so they can go to their Place of Safety (POS they usually call it). It is a place where they are supposedly to be protected from the Great Tribulation that's about to come to the world.

they bought the Edstone estate on the prophecy/premise by Gerald Flurry that they will come to the possession of the Stone of Scone when the Great Tribulation comes and this will serve as the receiving place for it. three years after, realizing this is an idiot suggestion by Wik Heerma and that they will never acquire the stone, Flurry then devised a vision supposedly from God, but more of a delusion, that they now have a New Stone of Scone (also Stone of Destiny) and it's in the form of a prayer rock that Herbert Armstrong used. they obtained this prayer rock from Oregon and now is enshrined in their Edmond headquarters and worshipped as such. this new Stone of Scone also makes Gerald Flurry the new Royal King of British-Israel that includes America.

another area they want to have members from is Israel. that is why there is an office there staffed by Brent Nagtagaal and family and one Christopher Eames who oversees their floundering magazine publication Watch Jerusalem. according to one more of Gerald Flurry's delusion, he is to be a father to the Israelite people. one of the many titles he has ascribed to himself, like THAT PROPHET, Elisha, Amos and End-Time Watchman, etc.

there are more delusions and false prophecy that could fit in this comment section. two resources to go to for these are Banned by HWA and Exit and Support Network. these two websites contain and document most, if not all, of the abuses, wrong teachings from not only this cult but others as well. if you know anybody who has the ill misfortune of being interested in cults like the PCG, direct them to these two above websites.

spread the word about this Bible-based personality and family-separation CULT so that no more people will be deceived by them. they also are party to a number of suicides because of their NON-CONTACT POLICY, their version of the Cancel Culture. their name is a misnomer. they are not Philadelphian. they are more Pharisees.

hence, they should be called tHE PHARISEE CHURCH OF GOD (PCG). they don't even have to change their acronym.

[morganelise]

I grew up in the WWCG (1980-1995). It’s so sad these groups are still around. I’m sorry this sweet girl had similar experiences.

[Sharketteyarnauur]

I’ve been in this church my whole life until about 3 years ago. It still affects my life daily because of the cutoff policy, I’ve lost all my friends

[quietgiant]

I also grew up in this cult, but technically i was a ''favored'' member. I had the option of staying back there and possibly getting a good position but after witnessing firsthand how they mistreated my family i just couldn't take it any more.

Had I stayed back i'd be financially comfortable and set but i simply just cannot lie, fool and manipulate people in God's name and live with myself after that. There is more to life than money, i am now free.

[latebloomersinc.]

I spent a few years in early childhood as a part of this ridiculous cult. I remember even as a 5 year old thinking to myself what in the fuck are we doing all this shit for lol I knew it was fucked up as a little kid and I even remember feeling like all the adults i was forced to meet were weirdo motherfuckers

[LaureenRobichaud]

I remember joining as a teen when my family joined. I remember the small kids 3 or less would need to stay on a blanket all through services and I knew of some personally who gave their kids the whacking cause they did not sit still the whole time. A lot of people have died because their faith is suppose to be in God and not in medicine and worship of the god of medicine. I knew a lot of people in WCG and PCG died way too young because they did not get medical treatment. Also, as a single woman in the church they encouraged me to get married but I never really met anyone that I clicked with and also as a single woman I made more money than a lot of the men in the church and the wife is suppose to give up everything when she gets married and submit to her husband even if he struggles to support her.

[jesusistheway]

Thanks for this great interview. It has helped me to hear your story. I grew up in the WCG and the PCG too which definitely had some life long damaging effects. I'm glad to hear that you are healing over time. Now I understand who God really is a lot better, he is my loving Father in heaven and my creator not a dead religion. I found out that Jesus is real and did not come to bring us a religion but a relationship with him, faith, hope, love, forgiveness and peace.

[courtneyhickman]

Hannah! I spent 5 years of my childhood in the PCG in Edmond OK

[toddmiller]

I work with a woman who is into this. She rarely quotes new testament, she focuses on works and not Grace. The Holy spirit screamed at me that there was something way off from what she was telling me

[Multi]

Yeah I’m so glad my family left the pcg back in 2014. I hated everything about it.

[H.jxsh]

I’ve recently discovered my brother has become quite indoctrinated with in the PCG and I’m really stuck as to what to do, he is arguably very delusional, fixated on the end of the world and I feel like I’m watching his mental undoing anyone got any suggestions as to what I can do to make him realise he’s in a cult! Not following a faith

[lateyshasmith]

Wow I was looking online for a new church and went to their website. I went to the “about” tab andThought it was very weird that I did not see any of this church doctrinal beliefs. Instead in about column it says it is spread out through many different tabs on the website. Like why can’t our church just be out for and give bulletin points of their top things that they stand for or believing? That’s when I knew they got things that they must be some type of weird cultish church lol! And then when I am clicking around the website a lot of doctrinal beliefs you have to buy someone’s book that is connected in this church. It should never be secretive about anything or a doctor believes of a church. If they don’t have the advertise skip it! They’re about to take you doing rabbit holes and make you drink the kool-aid. Hard pass! My thoughts were verified with a simple google search that lead this video.