Articles about the International Churches of Christ

Articles about the International Churches of Christ – including testimonies from former members.

Contents


HOT TOPICS!

Birmingham Church of Christ (UK)

Indianapolis Church of Christ (USA)

London Church of Christ

  • Seven Years in the Boston Movement
      The testimony of Jane Akshar, a former member of the London Church of Christ. Jane was 31, owned her own house, had a car and had a well-paid career in computing when she was recruited by the ICC.
  • Saved
      Karl Williams tells of his experiences in the London Church of Christ. He describes how difficult he found it to leave the group.
  • Angels of Light
      The story of one young man’s involvement with the London Church of Christ. The story describes his recruitment, baptism and eventual exit.
  • While Shepherds Watch…
      An in-depth story of Tony and Julie Yorke – a young, professional couple who became involved in the London Church of Christ. This story goes into considerable detail as to the activities of the ICC, and the history of the London Church of Christ in particular.
  • ICC: Saints or Sinners?
      Robert Brown writes about his experiences as a member of the London Church of Christ. Robert also became involved with the group in Leeds and Edinburgh.
  • Why I left the London Church of Christ
      Former member Mary tells her story, and writes an open letter to current members of the ICC.
  • Broadcasting Complaints Commission Report
      The London Church of Christ complained about a BBC Newsnight investigation into the church’s activities and finances (broadcast in July 1993). This was the Broadcasting Complaints Commission’s judgement.
  • Conversion Course
      Damian Thompson, a reporter with the Daily Telegraph, spends a week with the London Church of Christ.
  • Twisted Scriptures
      A current member of the ICC writes about what he believes to be deceptions in their Bible study lessons.
  • The Story of Andrew and Amanda Hart
      Andrew and Amanda Hart write about their experiences of the London Church of Christ, and how they rejoined the group to examine it more closely.
  • A letter from Cardiff Christian Chaplaincies to Higher Education regarding the International Churches of Christ
      The Methodist, Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, URC, and Presbyterian Chaplains of Cardiff joined forces to write this letter advising students to be aware of the activities of the ICC.

Los Angeles Church of Christ

Madrid Church of Christ

  • The letter of departure from the ICC
      David Medrano and Natercia Alves, former evangelist and women’s ministry leader in the Madrid Church of Christ, explain why they chose to leave the ICC.
  • Kyle Degge’s Response to the ICC Leaders
      Kyle Degge, a former evangelist in the Boston Movement, who was an eyewitness to the events at the Madrid Church of Christ, responds to a letter written to ICC members by Randy McKean, ICC World Sector Leader, and other ICC leaders.

Nairobi Christian Church (Kenya)

San Francisco Church of Christ (USA)

  • The Hard Way
      Anonymous left the San Francisco Church of Christ in 1994. Here she describes her life before, during and after the ICC. She has requested her anonymity for this story.
  • Without Grace
      Michelle Campbell was was recruited into the ICC during her junior year in college, and remained a member for over five years. She describes how she was recruited and the difficulties she experienced in leaving. Today Michelle helps people through REVEAL.

Singapore Central Christian Church (ICC)

Other/General articles (worldwide)

  • International Church of Christ statistics
      Documents from inside the ICOC, presenting the statistics they record on membership amongst their churches worldwide, and how much money they are making.
  • Kip McKean announces his “sabbatical” from being leader of the ICC
  • Kip McKean resigns as leader of the ICC
  • Sue Condon’s Diary “The Emperor’s New Clothes”
  • The Do’s and the Don’ts
      This paper offers invaluable advice if you have a friend or a loved one in a religious cult. We strongly recommend you read it before doing anything else. You should also check out the “Crisis? Don’t panic!” page.
  • How does it feel to leave a cult?
  • Down from Kingdom Mountain: A story from the early days of the Discipling/”Crossroads” Movement
      Catherine Hampton writes at length about her experiences. Today Catherine is helping people through REVEAL.
  • The Writing on the Wall: The Story of Athena Higgins
      Athena Higgins was a member of the ICC for ten years from 1998 to 1998. Athena was recruited into the Paris Church of Christ (L’Eglise du Christ de Paris) shortly after graduating from university, and was later a member of ICC congregations in New York, San Diego and Seattle. During her ten years as a member, she went through three reconstructions, was discipled by prominent leaders in the movement, worked in campus ministry, worked in the fledgling media and arts ministry in New York, and dated and got married in the movement. Today Athena is helping people through REVEAL. Recommended!
  • My experience in the Manchester Christian Church
      Tony Hoyle was recruited into the Manchester (UK) branch of the ICC in 1991. He writes about the pressure he was placed under, how he suffered from depression, and how a friend was driven to attempt suicide. Tony says he is still deeply affected by his time in the group.
  • Transcript: The Marking of Isaiah Pickett
      Isaiah Pickett, an elder with the Chicago Church of Christ, was publicly “marked” by the church. Read the transcript of his marking and the reaction from the members of the Chicago Church of Christ.
  • Why I decided to leave..
      Dutch Dasanaike was a member of the Triangle Church of Christ in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. Dutch has written an open letter to current members of the ICC and describes the issues which helped him make the painful decision to leave.
  • The Second Truth
      Lois and Gordon Estabrook describe how their daughter Linda was recruited by the New York Church of Christ’s campus ministry at Purchase College. They tell the story of her recruitment and eventual extrication from her parent’s point of view.
  • A Search for Truth on a Path of Lies
      Linda Estabrook was a member of the New York Church of Christ’s campus ministry at Purchase College. This is an account of her encounter with the International Church of Christ; the months preceding her baptism into the church, and the months following, through her departure from the church.
  • The truth has set me free: The Story of Jennifer Porter
      Jennifer Porter was a member of the San Diego Church of Christ. She wrote this letter to current members of the ICC explaining her reasons for leaving.
  • A Slavish Fear: The Story of Susan Berry
      Susan Berry was a member of the San Diego Church of Christ. She describes the pressure she was put under, and how she began to question the group.
  • The Story of Jodi Llacera: My Marriage and the Boston Church of Christ
      Jodi Llacera writes about her experiences of the Boston Church of Christ and the influence she believes it had on the end of her marriage.
  • The Story of Gintas Jazbutis
      After graduating from college in 1985, Gintas Jazbutis visited the Boston Church of Christ, and then moved to San Diego and joined the Poway/Mission Church of Christ, where he remained until he was kicked out during the reconstruction of the Mission Church in 1987.
  • The Story of Marci Hooten Parker
      Marci Hooten was a member of the Phoenix Valley Church of Christ. She describes how she joined the group, how her doubts developed and how she eventually left. She also describes her life since leaving the ICC, including her marriage to another ex-ICC member – David Parker.
  • The Story of Kathi Browne
      Kathi Browne and her husband had a close enounter with the ICC in Dayton, Ohio. She describes how the group attempted to recruit her, and how after researching the group on the internet they were able to avoid becoming members.
  • The Story of Tom Khoury
      Tom Khoury was a member of the Washington DC Church of Christ. This testimony describes how he joined and eventually came to leave the group.
  • The Verdict Is In
      An open letter from Tom Khoury, a former member of the Washington DC Church of Christ.
  • It was five years ago today…
      Tim Neely, a former member of the Greater Philadelphia Church of Christ, reflects on the fifth anniversary of his decision to leave the group.
  • Quest for Truth
      Yun Kim was a member of the Greater Philadelphia Church of Christ. Yun was a member of the ICC from 1994-1996.
  • A letter from Yun Kim
      Yun Kim, a former member of the Greater Philadelphia Church of Christ, wrote an open letter to the leaders and members of the ICC describing her reasons for leaving.
  • The Story of Matt Cramer
      Matt Cramer was recruited by the Greater Cleveland Church of Christ during his freshman year. He describes how he was recruited by the ICC and how he eventually managed to leave.
  • An open letter from Matt Cramer
      Matt Cramer wrote an open letter to members of the Greater Cleveland Church of Christ explaining why he no longer attends their church.
  • The Story of Gloria Astrid Hestle
      Gloria Astrid Hestle was brought up in the traditional Church of Christ (not affiliated with the ICC). She describe her experiences of the New York Church of Christ.
  • Letter from a mom to the ICC leadership
      The daughter of Beverly Adams is a member of the ICC. Beverly has written this open letter to the leaders of the ICC.
  • Two years of freedom
      Uchenna, who had come to study in the USA from Africa, describes how she was recruited into the ICC at College Park Maryland. After two years of freedom she describes how she is still learning to cope with the experience.
  • Free Will
      Steve Lien writes about what happened to him and his girlfriend in the Taipei Christian Church (Taiwan).
  • The Time Warp
      Kim Krecek joined the ICC in 1987 – she writes about her experiences in depth.
  • Pain From A Cult
      Brian Jones tells the story of his experiences in the Boston Church of Christ. He writes of the pain the group brought him.
  • Masters of Seduction
      Karen’s mother was a member of the ICC in Nashville. She writes about her experiences and her concerns for her mother.
  • The Nashville Experience: The Story of Debbie Campbell
      Debbie Campbell was a member of the Nashville Church of Christ for four years. She writes honestly about what she experienced at the hands of the leadership.
  • The Story of Aaron H.
      Aaron H was a member of the Orlando Church of Christ for almost two years, joining when he was still a teenager.
  • The Story of Jill Honeycutt
      Jill N Honeycutt was a member of the Orlando Church of Christ. She describes the financial pressures placed upon her by the ICC, and how she has found happiness since leaving.
  • The Story of Randy Cooper
      Randy Cooper was a member of a Crossroads movement congregation for four years, and had sporadic contact with the movement for seven more years before leaving it entirely. He was recruited from the mainline Church of Christ during college, in 1981, and was actively involved through his graduation in 1985.
  • My ICC Life
      Curtiss Hayes tells of how we was met by a member of the International Churches of Christ in January of 1993 while a hospital patient in Dallas. He writes a moving account of his time in the International Church of Christ, and how he came to realise he had joined a religious cult.
  • Looking for God
      An indepth newspaper article about how Christy Henderson joined and eventually managed to leave the Boston Church of Christ.
  • A Discipler’s Joke?
      Bryan Slatner, a former member of the ICC, describes an experience he had in the group.
  • The Story of Amelia Manteufel
      Amelia Manteufel writes of how she became involved in the Kansas City Church of Christ, and came to realise she had joined a religious cult.
  • The Story of Catherine O’Neill
      Catherine O’Neill writes of how she and her family left the ICC in June 1996.
  • The Story of Sandra
      Sandra describes how she and her husband joined the ICC in 1992 in Conneticut, their transfer to the Greater Norfolk Church of Christ in Virginia, and how she was harrassed when she tried to leave. Sandra goes on to tell how she feels the ICC broke up her marriage.
  • The Story of Gina Palmer
      Gina Palmer describes how she left the Dallas Fortworth branch of the ICC.
  • Salvation isn’t this hard: My story with the Church of Christ in Springfield, MA
      Joel was in his junior year at Springfield College in Massachusetts when the ICC tried to recruit him. He describes the pressures he was put under.
  • The Story of the Milan Mission Team Church Planting
      The story of how the Milan Church of Christ split from the ICC. It also includes an open letter written by the Milan Church of Christ to ICC leader Kip McKean.
  • What Price Success?
      James Bjornstad analyses the Boston Church of Christ.
  • The Boston Church of Christ – Has Mind Control come to Beantown?
      Stephen F Cannon wrote this paper about the ICC.
  • Information about Hope WorldWide
      HOPE WorldWide is the ICC’s charitable wing. You can read their 1997 tax return online, and find out more about them.
  • The Numbers Game
      This article lists quotes from leaders of the ICC, detailing their obsession with competitiveness and recruiting more people.
  • Loading the Language
      An article about some of the jargon used by the ICC.
  • Sinlist Central
      View some of the sinlists compiled by the ICC.
  • Television Reports on the ICC “Sin Lists,” Confidentiality and Other Documentation
      Read the truth about the ICC sinlists.
  • The ICC Bible Studies
      Dave Anderson’s analysis of the ICC’s First Principles Bible Study Series.
  • Die ICC-Bibelstudien: Eine Kritische Analyse
      A German translation of Dave Anderson’s analysis.
  • Sydney Church of Christ’s Provisional Accounts
      Scanned copies of Sydney Church of Christ’s Provisional Accounts (Year Ending 31 December 1997)

  • You’ll find much more material about the activities of the International Churches of Christ on the media reports page.

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