Growing Up In A Doomsday Cult (Born Into The World Wide Church Of God)

In this one I go into details about my upbringing in an end of days cult.

[vln]

It took my husband and I 25 years after leaving the church to be attend a Christian church. We both grow up and were baptized in WCG. It's still an ongoing struggle to trust and to feel apart. I've now change my focus to be what Jesus has done for us verses what WCG did to us. Forgiveness was a huge part of the healing.

[lms]

One correction: WCG never taught that anyone would burn in hell for eternity. They believed in annihilation by way of the “lake of fire.”

[misscanada]

Hearing his voice again is chilling. I grew up in the Philadelphia Church of God that basically worshipped him.

[robinhood]

A lot of people that had been apart of WCG have a considerable amount of emotional baggage that over time has brought them misery. For me, I was able to rid myself of the trauma after I accepted Christ as my saviour.

[claudiaschneider]

Christianity its self is just a big old doomsday cult - its a big relief to me to deconstruct of all that religious bs out there. Thank you for you sharing this with us, Travis.

[wendyreis]

I was there from age 21 to age 46. It has taken me decades to free myself fully.

[gilbertomarin]

I was a teenager when I got involved with the WWCG while living in Mexico. My experience was a lot different than yours in many ways and exactly the same in others. What I can tell you is that I appreciate your courage in sharing your views and experience. My hope is that many may value your candid talk to live a better life.

[giosolly]

I grew up in the church, i was actually born into it from 1972 to 1996. My dad stayed throughout the various changes and was going to the Tkatch Jr. church, Grace Communion. I have not attended any church regularly since WWCG. I’m oddly thankful for my experience because it has helped think far more critically than I otherwise would have.

[earthalchemyholisticllc]

No wonder we were broke. My grandmother and my mom had us in this church.

[cmarrero]

This still chills me to the core. So many of us suffered monochrome and sad childhoods. I will be better to my kids

[barendkamperman]

As a naive, religious teen I got sucked in by Garner Ted Armstrong over the radio. (Later it came out he was a drunk and a serial adulterer.) Herbert W Armstrong then took over (again.) I was fooled by his speaking skill and grandfatherly pretense. I foolishly let him "explain" the bible to me. The nice WWCG people made me feel I belonged. We were urged to naively trust Armstrong and his ministers. (Childlike and dependent.) I knew God had made me gay but knew better than to say so.My cult friends were sweet but brainwashed. Losing my job and feeling 100% out of place wore me out. The 3rd Tithe Law bankrupted me.I was always frustrated. Blew up easily. Cried.' Felt worthless.Had no money. In ' 83 I left cold turkey. ' Lost 98 % of my friends. But life got better and better. In Japan in the 90s I returned to Christ not some church. Slowly I deprogrammed myself. I didn't even realize how much I'd hated and sabotaged myself.

[rebeccabeasley]

Born (1971) and raised in WWCG in Metro Atlanta, Georgia. Hearing HWA'S voice made my BP start to rise. Still dealing with emotional baggage at 52.

[bubbasouth]

I wasted 10 years of my life in this cult! I even married the “church girl” I met at a singles dance at the FOT who I so foolishly believed was the mate God had selected for me! It’s been almost 30 years since the divorce and getting out of that horrible cult but the pain still lingers!

[TheGav]

I was fortunate enough to have been 8 years old before our parents dragged us off to the WCG, & got thoroughly indoctrinated.
I REMEMBER what Life could be like, before WCG came into it. Those first 8 years of my life were like a tiny window 🪟 of hope & reassurance… which probably saved my life & enabled me to eventually walk away.
Scarred, isolated & ghosted by family… but not feeling guilty for walking away.

[denisekay]

Wow, I attended in the 80's. My Father in Law was a part time minister. It was very judgmental, extremely damaging (I had a really hard time believing God was love and we are under grace) but in the year 2022, I really appreciate all the knowledge about prophecy. 🙏📖☁️👰

[Slastukin]

I grew up in the WWCG in the 80s. I wasn't allowed to have any social life outside the cult. Never bought into any of the doctrines. Miserable teenage years. So sorry that we all had to endure this.

[Queen_of_Hearts-Sharnell]

I am super interested in reading all these comments. I have been looking for a group of survivors. Thank you for doing this.

[donnanelson]

I was born in 1963. My mom and dad went to wwcg and we listened to Garner Ted Armstrong. Saturday church, no celebrations Christmas, birthdays, no dressing up Halloween. I hated it! My parents didn’t stay in it long thank God! Just a few years. My dad was atheist, then turned agnostic then a few years before his death he became a believer in Jesus.

[stinestorm]

Thank you for this. My parents joined “the church” in the mid 80’s. This cult shattered my childhood

[schoolgirlsuzuki]

I was a member in the early 80s. You weren't allowed to go to doctors, or celebrate holidays or birthdays. LOTS OF RULES, and control by leadership. When I left, I immediately took all my kids for their immunizations. I had been petrified of medical issues because I knew I didn't have enough faith to heal my kids if sick.