i was in a cult... 😅 // ICOC STORYTIME

hi besties! welcome to day twelve of the 13 NIGHTS OF SARAWEEN. this is the long awaited cult storytime. hopefully it's interesting 😅

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📬 Sara I.
PO Box 620032
Atlanta, GA 30362

[sarawithoutanH]

Hi! Welcome to the comment section of this video. If you are a practicing Christian and you are here to tell me about how God loves me and how to actually interpret the bible, please don't. The purpose of this video is to discuss religious trauma and warn against a dangerous group. I understand the desire to try to help me, but I'm asking you to resist the urge. Your comment WILL be deleted if it falls under those parameters. I would love for this comment section to remain a safe space for people to share their experiences with ICOC and/or other religious trauma. I hope that you all can respect my wishes, thank you.

[hellotheredara]

Gotta love the hypocrisy of “we’ve all been talking and we think you gossip too much.” 💀 Glad you have found happiness, fellow speck!

[HUeducator]

My campus banned them from stepping foot on our campus (I went to a private institution). They also published a warning in our school newspaper. I’m so glad our interfaith campus office looked out for us. My ex was a member and he dealt with so much emotional abuse.

[gwenmajette]

There is no exaggeration here. All of this is 100% accurate. I was a part of the church for 12 years. Left in 2009.

[alexis]

girl THANK YOU for this video. i was approached by the ICC (offspring of the ICOC), and had been doing some bible studies with them at my college for a few weeks. I would’ve never known without this. I blocked all of their phone numbers, I am NOT getting involved in a cult. thank you thank you thank you

[emmmabooks]

Sara, I feel like I’ve learned all of this story over the last 7 years, but it’s so powerful to hear you talk about it all at once. I’m so sorry for the trauma and adversity you faced for those years, but I am so proud of the woman you’ve become being authentically you and not restricted by what was forced upon you. This is video is going to bring so much comfort and validation to those like us who have experienced these things. I love you so dearly ❤

[aic]

I will just say, as an ex-member, that they actually *did* explicitly say that they were “The One True Church” and the only ones going to heaven. I was part of this church from a teenager to my mid-thirties, for over 20 years. Those “one true church” philosophies were endorsed all the way until 2003. People walked it back verbally but they still silently cling to it, as evidenced by the dating culture and the children’s ministry. Sadly, based on what I’ve heard from recent ex-members, the same things are still happening. I held several leadership positions and did my very best to hold to its teachings - and even disseminated them myself, until the chasm between my core values and beliefs, and the overt and covert teachings of the church, became too great for me to overcome. I left in 2018. 4 years later, I’m still working through the indelible mark the impact of the ICOC on virtually every aspect of my life. The only thing I regret is not leaving sooner.

[Lichtenbergresearch]

I am a male and was in ICOC in Los Angeles from 1997 to 2001. We were told who we should ask out for dates, who we should "encourage" and who to avoid. In my experience i had no control over my dating life. On time a sister called me because her car broke down really close to my house. I went and got her car running and I got in trouble from my discipler for not having others with us. I was then told to avoid her, I found out later from her when she left ICOC she was told the same from her discipler. It was ridiculous.

[Kenzer]

Sara, thank you for sharing your story publicly. The ICOC is totally a destructive cult and you did a good job explaining some of its odd practices. I am thankful that you got out. I totally belive seeing your videos were helpful in my own deconstruction process. Your videos gave me some hope, knowing that there was the possibility of having a life outside of the church.

[angelisewill]

I dedicated 17 years of my life to this cult before I left. Thank you for sharing your story.

[jordanshea]

Sara- we haven’t spoke in years but from my high school time going to church with you and Emily, I always had bad vibes. I’m glad you were able to find yourself through all the brainwashing! Proud to know you!

[Airboysteel]

As a Ex-ICOC member this is 100% accurate

[missmoxiemaesmith]

I’ve been married for 35 yrs to a ICOC member. I converted and attended for 13 years. I literally had to be schooled with their propaganda lesson- “Sharpening the Sword”. I finally left the church and got my children out of it. There’s no grace, no mercy in ICOC. Thankfully my kids now know that salvation isn’t found in baptism and being the member of “the one true church”. My husband still gets tempted to send his church members over to “minister” to me. I politely let him know that I do not believe that way and I have an intimate relationship with Christ. My husband still sends my kids propaganda on baptism and they don’t respond. It’s been an uphill battle. Vacations have to be cut short so he doesn’t miss “worship”, but I stand my ground. We will have months of peace and then he starts getting antsy and here comes the sermons on baptism. Baptism is the ICOC’s god. Thank you for this video. ❤

[thebookwitch]

I'm so sorry they made you feel worthless and lonely. Nobody deserves it. Thank you for sharing your story; I've never been in a situation like yours but I know videos like these are so important for so many people to feel less alone.

[madisonvasko]

💀 I was born into a cult and left when I was 16. The feeling of being able to dress the way I want to and choose whatever I wanted to read is so healing, but 10 years later I still feel like I’m growing past guilt!

[julialkk]

i'm currently halfway through the video and had to stop to write this comment because you're a GREAT storyteller. the 20+ mins that passed flew by.

[judiwaters]

💀 I was in the Chicago church for 12 years first as a high school graduate in the teens ministry, then as a college student, single and then the married ministry. You summed up so much of my experience so well and I appreciate you putting into words what I have so much trouble communicating. For 10 years I couldn't go into a church without bursting into tears. Finally found my way back to God and have been a deacon for a few years. I still struggle with prayer and personal Bible study (qt's) but give myself grace knowing that trauma leaves an indelible mark. I left 'the church' and my abusive husband in one day and never looked back.

[KaiOHara]

It must take so much courage to leave this kind of environment, I cant even imagine. You are so brave 🔥

[rennemalfoy]

💀 felt so seen as someone who also grew up with deep religious trauma in the church. Thank you for sharing your story💕

[Pastor_Chief]

Im a missionary at Kutztown University and I was approached by this group today claiming that they were launching a college ministry at our campus. It was super frustrating talking to them because they took every passage in the Bible and completely twisted it into something else