Fundamental Independent Baptists churches will remain separate from unsound churches, as well as other Baptists groups who join in with the unscriptural churches. . OpinionLydia Joy Launderville | December 13, 2021. A police report was released to the media, and Josh had admitted to molesting five underage girls, including some of his very own sisters. One other thing, take your time about coming out to your husband, family and others until YOU are ready. Visible Anyone can find this group. In IFB culture, that means the will must be broken including through corporal punishment. if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ','; My point, though, is for you to use your timing. Inside the duggars deep ties with a once-powerful, now-scorned ministry. if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer)); The way biblegod treats his children (according to the fictional bible) is nothing short of abuse. Independent Fundamental Baptists (IFB) is a loosely-affiliated, cultish denomination of Christian fundamentalists. In repudiation of its devastating Doctrine of Discovery, Vatican masks the history and responsibility of Catholic Church, $2.3B awarded in sex abuse lawsuit that named Mormon church, 60 years on, Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail relevant as ever, say faith leaders. Deva, I'm sorry you suffered the same childhood. Its normal behavior for a child to have, but to them they feel like you need to break a child of that rebellious spirit.. var width = jQuery(window).width(); Enjoy your small, cosey family! '&charset='+document.charset : (document.characterSet ? Yes. I could never under any circumstances I can conceive cut off contact with my child. I am not in the least surprised by the PTSD, because I have it to an extent. Say nothing until you are ready. The duo have published four books and volumes of articles on the topic, starting with their 1994 book, To Train Up a Child. It was updated and republished in 2015. It didnt work. A few years later we moved again to a new state where he once again was a youth/assistant pastor and after a few years there, he resigned, we moved again (this time in the same state), and he started his own church. One other thing, take your time about coming out to your husband, family and others until YOU are ready. What struck me the most was your family's willingness to ostracize you. Former Independent Fundamental Baptist church member Jennifer Waggoner tells her story of being molested at age 4 and how she used to think it was normal. Unfortunately, so is the mishandling of sexual crimes. Welcome, earthmama514. I was too busy living an isolated life in my church in a small farming town in Virginia. [CDATA[ Lol var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999); I'm glad there are resources for you. This organization and its founder created the fundamentalist Christian homeschool curriculum the Duggar family used to teach their large family. Still have any Gods? Later, Gothard adapted his image to a less-violent depiction called The Umbrella of Protection. I definitely understand where you are coming from. Those who were particularly devout and raised in Fundamentalist denominations, however, are more inclined to suffer from what Dr. Marlene Winell, author of Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former. It was all addressed in a way to somehow place her at the center and the cause, Emily said in a phone interview. I'm really out of it when it comes to these Christian trends and subcultures. [CDATA[ Ugh. Courtesy Apparently that type of physical contact was ok) before finding my now husband. 2 people showed up with meals and that was it. Aaron Chatfield has hired East Lansing attorney Mike Nichols to represent him. Challenging the decision of male authority is considered a grave sin and an act of rebellion. When we asked for more help to put the baby things together as my husband had surgery on his wrist and was in a cast and I was on strict restrictions NOT to lift anything, we had zero people show up. Jim Bob and Michelle had been members of the Institute in Basic Life Principles since the early 1990s. So despite feeling like *I* was probably not a Christian by that definition, I struggled to follow the prescribed plan and get joy. It helped start the first Baptist church in Philadelphia the following year. Other accusations by former members and followers speak to the mistreatment and harm they experienced through his teachings, the ATI curriculum, the groups conferences, their facilities, and more. Its a place where everyone knows your name. Details have emerged about the faith-based counseling Josh Duggar received after molesting Five girls. The largest church in America, pastored by the Jack Hyles, a former American Baptist pastor, was First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. The IFB church movement saw rapid numeric growth in the 1960s-1980s. The sheer number of children the women have has got to be bad for their health, for starters. I have never felt so happy and free. This is an independent fundamental Baptist program that has chapters in churches all across the country. If the couple agrees that God wants a marriage, it is done quickly. It was called Mr. Blue. Male authority is an essential tool in IFB teachings. They most often have come to the aid of offenders and not the victims. You can reach Lawrence at: I honestly feel i am done having children and the comments i have gotten from family are horrid. Gothards teachings are very prominent among the independent fundamental Baptists, with an emphasis on submission by women to men. if( width > 480 ){ An Ex-Independent Fundamental Baptist Testimony. Chatfields church is only one of hundreds of IFB churches scattered across the U.S. Nearly every person interviewed for this report, both on the record and off the record, referred to IFB as a cult. Your story is very well written and I found it moving. Pearl responded: Its supposed to. Pearl also said the physically abusive training for kids should begin as early as 9 months. Scan this QR code to download the app now. It naturally followed from there that I started looking into other ways to raise a child that didn't involve fear, intimidation, hitting, or telling her God was going to come down and strike her dead or send her to hell. When she was born she was perfect. 0:36. They have chosen to pretty much stay away. Not from the point of view of them as people who are moral ends in themselves. If you are a fan of shows where large quiverfull families have strict courting rules for their children and purity culture is promoted, then youre likely familiar with TLCs 19 Kids and Counting. Constantly negative and joyless and somehow I get told that I shouldn't be happy like I am unless I'm attending church regularly and reading my Bible and praying. He added: I would go so far as to say the majority fit the category of cults by definition.. I quoted Blood's quote of Ps. I suppose they would call it "tough love" or some such. Marlene Winell, Ph.D., psychologist and author, has been working in religious recovery for over 25 years. You can't control them any more than they can control you. hahaha. The priesthood of believers. Its hard to find the time to sit and type a huge intro when you have a very busy toddler needing your attention. We were not allowed to date at all. Lawrence@lansingcitypulse.com It is such an annoyance. Women and yes, little girls are said to be temptresses who tempt men to lust after them sexually and are responsible for that sin. April 24, 2023 . They dont do drinking, said Eric Skwarczynsk, the host of the Preacher Boys podcast, which is dedicated to uncovering mental, physical, sexual and emotional abuses in the IFB church movement, often through the direct stories of its survivors. A community for former Christians of all denominations. He said that congregants and leaders simply do not expect such abuses to happen in their midst not under Gods eye. And critics said it was that environment that allowed him to allegedly sexually exploit women, including accusations that he abused a former 15-year-old student who went on to become his sister-in-law. Bible contradictions, all sorts of stuff. I have been free from my former IFB group for two months, two weeks and three days. I just needed a hand and friend desperately. When she brought allegations to church officials, as well as law enforcement, she was encouraged not to discuss it publicly, she said. Men in the church are also bestowed with authority over women and their wives, as well as children. And I have never thought more clearly and rationally in my life. By now Ive written about everything from ants to skyscrapers and met more fascinating and wonderful people than I can count. I was born into a Christian family. My point, though, is for you to use your timing. A lot of people ask how this could have happened. It was also a place where women, I feel, didnt really have a choice to listen to the rules. Your story is so moving and I'm glad you made it out! The New Independent Fundamental Baptist network, most prominently associated with anti-LGBTQ pastor Steven Anderson, appears to be in turmoil as infighting again erupts, this time between Anderson and fellow pastors in the network. The psychologist said that he believes with little doubt that my crazy religious upbringing caused the PTSD and that while I probably had a propensity for bipolar already that my parents unbringing pulled the trigger. ALANSON, Mich. Tucked off a poorly paved, unplowed road across Burt Lake from the sleepy Up North vacation town of Indian River, the Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church would struggle to fit in a congregation of 100 people. The environment that I and other independent fundamental Baptist children were brought up in, I believe, played a part in making boys into monsters. "Again after more reading, connecting with a counselor that has been showing me a different path, and finally acknowledging that I was happier without god and Christianity in my life, a few weeks back I stopped going to church and the past week and a half have declared myself an atheist. From what I read in your extimony, they will challenge you and probably abandon you (though hopefully your husband will not). Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan.