Testimony Time: Why I Left NTCC, by Casey Hayes (circa 2009)

My desire was to continue my own personal testimony in tonight's post, but the other day I was reading various blogs and websites and reviews where New Testament Christian Church is mentioned and I came across the testimony of Casey Hayes.   Our family was friends with the Hayes while we were in.   They were at the school when we arrived in '92 and they left the same year we did...2006.   

My daughters and their kids were close, so close at one point that we lived about 25 steps away from their back sliding door to our front door in Puyallup.  We babysat each others kids and I have nothing but fond and wonderful memories of them. To me, they were always two of the coolest and nicest and most giving people I knew.   Both Iris and Casey are what I like to call "creatives" or "artists".   She baked cakes for my girl's birthdays and made them beautiful dresses. Casey was involved with playing in the band in Graham and I don't recall, but I think at the campground in Missouri too.  They were, and I think they still are, sophisticated in a down-to-earth way.  Very giving.  Very humble.   

I never knew their whole story.  They went as missionaries to scratch out a work.   But they had it worse than most because they went to Puerto Rico.   I grew up in New Jersey and had many Puerto Rican friends.  The reason many of them  came to the U.S. with their families was because life there was economically depressed, as I believe it still is today.

Whenever someone leaves NTCC, the leadership puts it out there that we were all disgruntled or were jealous or were any number of a bunch of the same adjectives used over and over and over again.   Isn't there a point where those who knew us in the organization would question what they were being told?   I get why they didn't because I was once brainwashed too.  But during the timeframe that we left this group, MANY left.  (2004-2009 most especially)  Many good, nice, awesome, loving and giving individuals and families of good reputation.  NTCC being fearful to say why we all left, or to share with you our many phone calls and letters and emails......threw us on the trash heap instead.   

So, if you ever wondered why Casey and his family bolted.......here it is in his own words.

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Why I left NTCC

 By Casey Hayes

4/01/2009

I want to explain to everyone why I left ntcc and why I am speaking out against them now. I was in ntcc from 1982 – 2006. Most of those years were as an ordained minister in good standing. When I first left ntcc in 2006, I just wanted to go away quietly, and not say anything negative. But after exhaustively reading all the complaints against ntcc, studying the issues, and talking to people firsthand—I am absolutely convinced that ntcc is a seriously messed up church organization; that it uses cult tactics to manipulate and control it’s preachers and their families; and that their main purpose is to make Davis and the Kekels incredibly rich.

I left ntcc, because I was completely disillusioned with the whole organization, especially the leaders. It became very evident to me that 24 years of loyal service didn’t amount to a hill of beans, and that I would always be broke and in poverty if I remained in ntcc any longer.

Me, my wife and my two kids had just come back from 3 years of intense hardship in Puerto Rico. Although, the church eventually gave us some support there, it was lukewarm support, and Rev. Olson made it very clear that the church could not “afford” to help us more. I won’t go into the details here, but I will say that I sold my house and cars to go to PR, and spent $8000 of my OWN money. In the 3 years we lived there, we had NO furniture—and were broke most of the time. I even got very sick down there (so sick I couldn’t work), but the leadership of ntcc acted like they didn’t care. All they cared about was—church reports and offerings. We were the Fourth couple to go to Puerto Rico (Medina, Casanova & Ramirez went before us), and that ALL the previous couples had also gone through intense financial problems down there, with lukewarm support, if any. It also became very apparent that Rev. Olson (who I have always looked up to), could not make ONE decision, no matter how minor, without getting permission from Davis. I thought he was CEO?

When I got back from PR I was physically, emotionally and spiritually drained. The church gave us a cold welcome. Some of you know what I am talking about. Now, friends of mine were happy to see me, but the leadership’s reception was a lot cooler. I had no possessions, no car, no nothing. But, what shocked me the most was how incredibly wealthy the Kekels and Davis were. Here we were basically starving (as are the missionaries in Panama and elsewhere), but the leaders are living in plush luxury. Olson said the church didn’t have the money to help us properly, but it is because the majority of the money is siphoned off to support the lifestyles of Davis and his family. Is this really what God had in mind? Is this really supported by the Bible? No way! As far as I’m concerned, ntcc is nothing but a big sham, and Davis is just a spiritual conman, who has duped a lot of people into giving all their money and time to make him and his daughter rich. Don’t tell me it’s God blessing, because it’s not. Anyone can guilt trip thousands of people into giving them 10% of their money and then live like kings. God has nothing to do with it.

Let me tell you the thing that pushed me to leave ntcc. Tanya and her mother were constantly coming up to me before and after church to tell me how much they were praying for me. At first I appreciated it, but after a couple of weeks it started getting annoying. I thought, “Why don’t your husbands come up to me?” Why the wives? But, it was basically, “Be ye warmed and filled…” while they went back to their mansions. Well, Tanya felt sorry for me so she gave me a bag full of old towels and sheets. They were wore out and had a hole in them, but I had nothing, so I gratefully took them. The next day I get in my $800 car and am driving down the street, when Tanya drives by in a brand new BMW 745!! That’s like a $100,000 car! It was then that I knew I had absolutely no value to ntcc. After 24 years of faithful service, I was worth a bag of old towels. You or me would have flipped someone $20 and said, go buy yourself some towels and sheets, but not the leadership of ntcc. They weren’t going to part with a penny of their wealth to help anyone, even though their sole income is from the tithes and offerings that you an I give. I calculated that I have given ntcc about $85,000 in tithe over the years. Doesn’t that count for anything? No way. Soon after that I see Mike Kekel tooling around in a brand new convertible Mercedes sports car ($65,000). Their son’s private schooling cost $18,000+ a year. You really get the impression that the Kekels have more money than they know what to do with—but don’t expect them to help you when you’re down and out. What does Tanya and her mother spend most of their time doing? Shopping (and everyone knows it).

Now, for those of you who think I jealous or envious, you’re wrong. I have no problem with a pastor living in a nice house and driving a new car. But, when almost all the church ministers are at the poverty level (and you know they are), while the leadership is living a life of intense luxury—something is seriously wrong. Why don’t you loyal ntccers open your eyes and see the obvious—that Davis has set up ntcc to make his family, and his only, incredibly rich. And he uses cult tactics to guilt trip everybody into giving their hard earned money to make them richer. (Even when I had no money to buy food for my family, or buy my kids clothes, I STILL paid my tithe). Are you aware that Davis’ house is valued at 1.1 million, and that Kekels’ is valued at $650,000. And both houses are decked out with the most expensive drapes, rugs, and furniture money can buy. Yet, if YOU want to buy a house, they will make you feel like you’re selling out God and putting the world first. How come they can have it, but you can’t?

So I left ntcc and it has been great. Yes, it was tramatic at first, because I felt like I had wasted 24 years of my life in a messed-up organization. But, God has blessed and I have made more money and been happier than anytime I was in ntcc. And I know it is God that has blessed me. They want you to think that those who leave ntcc are miserable, but it is ALL A LIE!!. Everyone I know who has left is doing great, and most find another church that appreciates them and lets them do what God wants them to do. There IS life after ntcc, and it is a whole lot better than what you have now.

Lastly, the reason I am speaking out against ntcc is because I am sick of the hypocrisy, the double standards, the fake holiness (where they dress holiness, but act without God’s love and mercy), the abusive pastors who never get punished, and the manipulation through fear and guilt of a lot of good men and women. NTCC has hurt a LOT of people. They have broken up families. They have destroyed good, godly men and women. They have caused much emotional and spiritual damage—sometimes permanently. Why does Tanya and her mother intentionally break up a marriage if one of the couples decides not to attend ntcc anymore? Where is that in the Bible? I thought Jesus said that what God has joined together, man should not separate? What hurt the most for me, was hearing that Davis and Kekel were going around lying about me, and saying I “misappropriated” money sent to us in PR. God and the angels in Heaven know that is a complete lie. They also say I left the church, because I wanted “money”. Sure I do—I was always living in poverty in ntcc, so why not want some money now that I’m out? I’m just trying to take care of my family like the Bible teaches. Davis and Kekel sure love money, and nobody seems to have a problem with that. At least I get my money honestly, without manipulating poor families into giving what they cannot, or jacking people up.

I honestly don’t know why some of you are still in ntcc. I guess, because they are so secretive of everything, and don’t let you talk to others in different works, you don’t see how bad things really are. When you do finally leave and look back with 20/20 vision, you’ll be shocked by what you see. And you’ll wonder why you didn’t leave years ago.

POSTED BY CASEY HAYES AT 4/01/2009 06:56:00 PM 

Sidenote:

I want to add to this:  Here is the link to the page where Casey's testimony was posted.   I get reluctant to post links because I do not always agree with comments on those pages or the spirit in which they are presented. Having said that, I feel that the comment section buttresses Casey's post.   He adds to what he wrote in the comments and I feel it's very relevant.   

If you can relate to any of this, then I have to ask you what you will do with this information?   

"The Institute of Higher Learning"

Second Article in a Series:

"The Institute of Higher Learning"

New Testament Christian Church places great emphasis on the preaching ministry. We discussed the attitude toward the “Foolishness of Preaching”, and its effect upon the group’s outlook. But the full weight of this dogma cannot be felt until the church member begins to earnestly seek God’s will for their life. Many faithful Christians are drawn to a deeper commitment to Christ without always knowing what they “can do to help.” The natural urge of the new Christian is to tell others about salvation through Jesus, yet the endless variety of methods by which the message may be conveyed is drastically constricted by NTCC. Receiving as a concrete restriction the fact that God chose preaching (simple declaration) as his method, they miss Paul’s point that man’s philosophy, man’s wisdom, man’s “so-called” science, are unequal to the task, and that salvation depends upon the dual activity of the Spirit and the Word. Unable to see this, they subject to mockery all unconventional ministries, relegating the abilites and personalities of a majority of people to the trash heap.

  

  If you seek a means to be a mere Christian, to find a vehicle by which to serve the lost and impart to them the gospel in your own way through the abilities and opportunities that God has given you, you will be totally on your own if you attend NTCC. They are not concerned with your desire to win souls unless those souls get involved in “The Last Hope On Earth”. They do not care about your one-on-one personal efforts to help people spiritually. They do not ultimately care about your next door neighbor who has cancer until that person is in the pew and paying tithe. What good are all your efforts, all your prayers, if that person you are helping goes to some other church? They only want you to GET THEM IN CHURCH. And that means THIS CHURCH. They want their full participation. They want their tithes and offerings. They want their attendance and their two legs going door-to-door dragging others to church. They want their names in the database. They want 1,000 people on Sunday Morning. They want to grow the church and expand the facilities. They want the prestige of a fine building in which to carry on their program. And they want you to finally get it into your thick skull that nobody has a chance of being saved who does not submit to that program.

  

  Part of that program includes the higher purpose of recruiting candidates for advancement within the organization. If you should continue to relinquish your freedom more and more to this church, the time will come when your zeal and participation will be channeled toward the professional ministry. You may be encouraged to attend the Bible Seminary in Graham, Washington. If you find this a fascinating and compelling proposition, we would like you to be aware of a few things in advance.

  First of all, the New Testament Christian Seminary is not a fully accredited school. Should you decide to attend there, you will not have the option of leaving the organization with your education intact. One of the methods by which effective control is exerted over the ministers of NTCC is the fact that ministerial credentials are non-transferable, as are academic credits. If you enter any other career field, or attend any other Bible College, or if you should simply desire to fulfill your ministry independently or through some other organzation, you will have to start at zero as far as your qualifications are concerned. This fact is never dropped on your head until you have spent the time, money and effort to get yourself and perhaps your family all the way to the Northwest and are seated in a room full of students, teachers, “the leadership”, their wives, and various luminaries, poised to enroll. So I am telling you now.

  

    Secondly, you will probably be primed for the essential frame of mind that upholds NTCC, in that your esteem of the Seminary will be built up in advance. You will be led to believe that it is exclusive. This is true only in the sense that your pastor must recommend you to the school, and you must be a “faithful” (full participation) tithe-paying member for at least one year. The exclusivity of the school only refers to its purpose as a training center for NTCC alone. Do not think that the school is renown for its quality or its academic excellence. Many pastors in the organization will tell you that the NTCC Seminary takes “only the best”, and that “only the most dedicated can make the grade”. This should be seen for what it is: an attempt to excite your admiration for the person telling you these lies.

  

  Thirdly, this seminary is not devoted to teaching the Bible, nor is it especially well-suited for this purpose. The purpose of the school is to serve as a kind of “boot camp” for preachers and their wives (or prospective wives), a basic training for the ministry. Before you think, “Well that’s good, because I need to learn the basics”, be aware: you are not there to learn anything other than just what they want you to know. In other words, your Christian life until now, your experiences thus far, count for nothing. Everything you think you know needs to be unlearned. You are to despise any bond, any influence, any loyalty outside this church organization. Your parents, brothers, and sisters are not saved, because if they were they would be in this church living as you live. Your grandmother is not saved because if she was, she would be “just like us”. Your “knowledge” of the Bible is just so much vain conceit. Your understanding of God’s will in your life is empty and void of meaning until the picture becomes more clear through the agency of the Bible School and its Leader. Your individuality, your personality, your experiences and your opinions will be broken down and reformed. You are not an adult; you are a child, a “raw recruit”, unpolished and unusable. You’ve never done anything for God, and you never will unless you subject yourself to a life of tedium, in which you are subjected to public embarrassment and humiliation at the whim of R.W. Davis. “You are here to become a leader.”

  

  Fourthly, the Seminary introduces you to the unbiblical doctrines and prohibitions of the organization, and causes you to believe the following line of logic:  

A. I cannot make it to heaven without fulfilling God’s will in my life. 

B. I cannot fulfill God’s will unless I enter the ministry.

C. I cannot be in the ministry unless I make it through this school.

D. I must obey everything I am told whether it is found in the Bible or not.

E. I must obey my leaders, and if I think they are wrong, I have a bad attitude.

F. To fail at this means that hell will be my home.  

  This is very subtly absorbed over time, so that you do not think you are being intimidated as such. Once you have bought into this manipulation-through-fear tactic, you will be asked to sign a student pledge that binds you officially to obedience to all rules and regulations of the school. Do not think for one minute that these regulations are relaxed except at the whim of the Head of the School, R.W. Davis. Do not think that they will be lifted after you graduate—they are the “preparation”, the training ground and the laboratory for a life of blind obedience to the Leadership of NTCC. In the same manner that police officers are trained during marksmanship exercises to react to the good-guy/bad-guy pop-ups, you are being conditioned to respond like a puppy, without critical thinking, to every dictate of the organization. You only think you are an adult. Once you have signed the pledge, once you have bought in fully to the Leadership, once you get some years behind you, you will convince yourself that “Nobody is forcing me to do anything—I do this because I want to.”

  

  Fifthly, you will be introduced to “The Rules”. The Rules ebb and flow, wax and wane throughout time, and may be enforced with severity at one time and with wider latitude at other times. The essence of The Rules is Information Control. You cannot call one another on the telephone without permission from M.C. Kekel, the President of the Organization. You cannot invite one another to your respective homes without permission from this same source. You are not to speak with one another outside of church activities without permission. You are to honor this in principle as well as in practice whether you are a student, a minister, living in Graham, living in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., standing in line at the Post Office, or walking down the aisle at the grocery store. This is a tactic of socio-psychological manipulation commonly found in cults of this type.  Horizontal (peer) relationships are weakened and limited in order to restrict the flow of information, while you are taught to rely upon vertical (leadership) relationships, so that devotion to and dependency upon the Leadership is constantly reinforced.

  

  You are not to attend organized sporting events, nor are you to miss a single class, church service, or any other school-related activity for any reason. You may not take time to see your family except in the most extreme emergency circumstances. Many other such regulations could be listed, and all are justified by the excuse that they are put in place to “avoid problems.” Yet they accomplish nothing of the kind, and only result in long lines of people standing and waiting for the attention of M.C. Kekel in order to receive the coveted permission. When at times these rules are relaxed, it is never because they are so clearly unjustified and wrong, but because they have become temporarily problematic and just are not working well; and this relaxation, though fleeting, will be characterized as an act of Grace and Mercy extended beneficently by the hand of R.W. Davis. In this manner, many people within NTCC, having been controlled and intimidated for many years, have succumbed to the belief that “Pastor” is a man of mercy and gentle kindness. Every time someone is “forgiven” for something that is not a sinful act to begin with, every time “mercy” is extended for something never prohibited by Christ, this attitude of gratefulness toward Davis accumulates into a thick layer that shields the mind from all objectivity about the group.

  You are being taught that you are a child in the presence of such men as your leaders. Instead of making you into a purposeful individual with a mind of his or her own, you are being trained to look to your leaders for all guidance and truth. You thought you were an adult when you arrived, but you are becoming more of a child with each passing day. 

Jump to First Article in the Series:

"GETTING IN"

An Article From 2006 After Our Family Left NTCC Entitled: "GETTING IN"

 After our family left New Testament Christian Church (and I'll be sharing stories and excerpts from the 17-page letter that was sent to Davis and the Kekels when we left this cult - and explain how we came to the realization it was time to go. After seeing Davis' & the Kekel's behavior after revealing to them how many in their organization were authoritarian abusers & lords over their little kingdoms (many still are), they did nothing. That's because they are the top abusers and lords.   As long as the money keeps flowing to Graham, they don't care how it is siphoned from church members. 

For now, I wanted to give you more reading which I know that anyone "in" can relate to. 

Back in 2006, we joined up with several who had left the group before us and together we did our part to write about our many shared experiences.  We fielded phone calls, not just from folks we knew personally, but others who were parents or family members or friends of people entangled with this bunch. Many were service members who had left the barracks to pay to live in one of the NTCC communal homes.   

Leaving a cult is not something you just wake up one day and decide to do, but it is a while in coming.  It is bits of information added to other bits until finally a person just can't do it any longer and they finally give their brain permission to turn back on and to think independently and when that happens, there is no going back. 

Some had success after pointing their loved ones to some of the many articles which were written and posted online and those folks got out.  I'd like to add that body of work from 2006/2007 here too, one article at a time. 

I want to mention two other things first : 

1- We did not associate ourselves with everyone who threw up a blog or wrote articles at that time and there were many.  Some seemed to be all about sharing things they couldn't possibly have had knowledge of. There are many real victims of this group who have made serous accusations, but it seems to me one has to be careful when presenting their stories.  If not done the correct way, it could put them through horrific ordeals all over again just for the sake of drawing in visitors to an online platform.  I don't know.  I just personally found some of the ways experiences were presented as distasteful.  

There was a mass exodus from New Testament Christian Church between 2004 and 2008 and the group has never regained their numbers and for that I am so grateful, but it does cause a group like this to be more aggressive in bringing in new members to make up for the loss.   There is a real push now to get on bases and I'll be sharing that in my next video.   As a result of the massive numbers who left, many took to writing online about their lives behind the fence.  Writing can be a part of a healing process and can also facilitate others leaving.   

Leaving isn't easy because the group uses anything said about them in a negative way as something to point to:  "Look, we are being persecuted!"   "Look, the devil hates us and is fighting!"   

To that I say, don't flatter yourselves NTCC.  To say there is any persecution going on is a slap in the face to those in life who have ever been truly persecuted for their beliefs - whether religious or otherwise.  

NTCC is made up of Leaders who like money and power and who seemingly get a real thrill out of making grown adults ask permission for things the rest of us can do all on our own like invite people over for dinner (more than 2 at a time) or out to lunch or who to court or get to know in a romantic way outside of the watchful eye of the Fellowship Hall Cult Leaders (which is creepy)  or how many kids to have over for a child's birthday party and such like.  

For me, it's all about about putting information out there that can absolutely be corroborated. I like to write about things I have personal knowledge of or have done my research into and am sure that it is squarely based in truth and/or has been seen or heard or experienced by MANY others.   

2- If you've taken the time to visit this space and to read these things, I thank you.  Please don't keep it to yourself.  Share it with others.  Not necessarily this page or blog, but just whatever you've taken away as relevant and relatable.  It's my hearts desire to keep others from getting caught up in this cult and I want to put out there as much information as I can.

When a person or family or battalion or First Sergeant or base chaplain is looking into this organization, they will have to stop and think that there's more to New Testament Christian Churches of America than meets the eye based on all of the similar stories and experiences of those who have been harmed by them on so many levels. 

The First Article I'd like to share is called :

GETTING IN

Click the link and I will leave these topical articles in the sidebar so as to locate them easily.  

Thank you! 

 

"GETTING IN"

An Article Written in 2006 When the NTCC Founder, RW Davis, Was Still Alive

"GETTING IN" 

(it's not a fast read, but it is thorough)

Since this group believes that their franchise on holiness is exclusive, it is no surprise that the claim to be based entirely on Jesus Christ, and to depend upon His grace alone for salvation, begins to ring hollow at some point. It stands to reason that they place all other groups outside the pail, insisting ironically that “there are other people who are saved”, knowing fully that only those who are “just like us” can possibly qualify, and that “we don’t know of any who are”. Semantics 101. Keep this in mind if you have any intention of becoming involved with NTCC, because you can claim to be a Christian, live a Christian life, and still not be fully accepted into the fellowship of the brethren.

In the running subtext of New Testament Christian Church, there are three strata that contain all known believers. The outer stratum is that of the “so-called” Christian. This group includes all of the denominations of the world who “claim to be saved” but obviously are not, because if they were, they would be “just like us”. The second layer consists of all who have “a heart for God” [this is the jargon they use], but live in temporary ignorance of the NTCC outward standard. Also part of this group are those who have attended NTCC only briefly and recently, who have “prayed for salvation” [remember there is a difference between those who have prayed and those who are saved, since evidence of salvation based on their outward standard is what they are waiting to see] yet have not been fully exposed to “the teaching”. The inner stratum, the core group, are those NTCC faithful who are “saved and filled with the Holy Ghost” and who have subsequently surrendered themselves to the NTCC mentality. There is a comical term for this core group of heroic “holiness” Christians. They are referred to as “in”. Those who are IN have a goal. Their goal is to Get You In.

  

  Tearing from their context all references to Jesus and his disciples’ sailing upon the Lake of Galilee, NTCC preachers call upon their hearers to “get in the boat”. Ripping unmercifully from its context the seafaring adventure of Paul in the midst of a storm, they absurdly exhort current attendees to “stay in the boat”. Most normal people find NTCC to be somewhat alarming at first blush. When these otherwise normal folks begin to show signs of tacit acceptance or conformity, they are reported to be “getting in”. Why a separate standard should divide those who are “in Christ” from those who are “in” is a mystery, unless we are willing to accept the only explanation that is possible: They think they are the pinnacle, the only ones who are really saved; and that God has brought their organization to the forefront of a modern movement to save a few more before the End. The following behaviors are taken as signs that you are “getting in”…

  

  Tithing–One of many things that NTCC maintains as evidence of salvation, this will be required of you at some point in time. Once you begin to “pay tithe”, the pastor will look at you differently and consider this one aspect of your service unto the Lord every time your name comes up. “How’s Bill doing?” “Oh, I’d say he’s doing pretty good–he’s paying tithe!”

  

  Hair–When a man gets a hair cut that is somewhat military, tapered, faded or “ivy league” in style, it is looked upon as an act of “letting God do something in his life”. He is on his way to Getting In. Ladies are not to cut their hair if they ever want to be considered IN.

  

  Pants–When a man starts wearing only long trousers in order to conform to others in the church, or because somebody in the church laid this requirement of modesty upon him, he is Getting In. When a woman comes to church in a dress for the first time, she is “Tender to God” and will be praised abundantly and lavished with attention, which is not a sincere appraisal of how good she looks, but a callow attempt at positive reinforcement of approved behavior. Try it ladies. Wear pants to church the first several visits and then show up in a dress one day. Actually–don’t try it. The fun isn’t worth enduring the “several visits”.

  

  Earrings–Pluck off “them dinglebobs” and you’re IN!

  

  Makeup–”Wipe that junk off your face” and you will be considered modest and “shame-faced” (a term your pastor cannot fully explain). Looks like you’re IN.

  

  Dressing up–As previously mentioned, NTCC believes that the church building is the House of God, and your Sunday Best is appropriate. Nothing wrong with this habit, which in fact used to be quite common, but with this group, it is a signal that the Spirit of God is doing the work of sanctification. It couldn’t have anything to do with simple conformity or “fitting in”. No, it must mean you’re GETTING in.

  

  Copying the Wife–Ladies who are eager to please the pastor’s wife are a gem, and will be used for all they’re worth. Play your cards right and you’ll soon be cleaning her house and ironing the pastor’s white shirts. If you go to the extent of copying her, dressing like her, and following all of her unsolicited advice about hair, shopping, and courtship…sweetheart, you are IN!

  

  Wearing a Suit–When men who would never think of putting on a “monkey suit” begin to show up for church in a white shirt and tie, they are definitely getting IN. Bonus points for the jacket, especially if everything matches.

  

  Attending All Events–”Forsaking the assembling of yourselves together” takes on special repulsiveness with groups like NTCC who thrive on growing attendance, and exist seemingly for the sole purpose of growing and feeding themselves and growing some more. The pastor can be expected to make overtures to you from time to time, encouraging you to attend one extra activity per week, followed by one more, and then one more. They do not believe that a person who is truly saved would want to miss out on even one church service. Make sure you’re there all the time if you want to be IN.

  

  Thinking About Bible School–Want to fill your pastor’s heart with joy? Tell him God has called you to preach. Of course, in a small church, where your tithe is necessary to make ends meet, he might infer that you are not quite ready.

  

  Soul-Winning–Show up every Saturday morning to knock on doors if you really want to be IN. If your kid has a baseball game, you need to realize that ‘holiness’ includes the eschewing of organized sports events. You were not told that at first, but I’m telling you now, so now you know.

  

  Saying “Gobleschia”–This mangled version of ‘God bless you’ is the result of years of thoughtlessly copying the greeting that is so thoughtlessly repeated by those who thoughtlessly say everything they say out of sheer habit.

  

  Saying ‘Brother’ & ‘Sister’–Referring to one another by these titles is a perfectly biblical and appropriate habit. The NTCC virus, however, has infected even this harmless practice. First of all, when you begin to address others in this manner, it is taken as a sign that you are “getting in.” However, this habit gets easily twisted, because only those who are IN can be referred to as a true brother or sister. So if you do not attend with regularity, or if you have not yet conformed to their standards, or if you have not begun to pay tithe, they simply do not accept your salvation as genuine; and you will notice that others are called “Brother Steve”, while you are just “Steve”. Complications arise when this title becomes so prevalent that offense is taken when the tag is left off. It is easily perceived as an insult or lack of respect. Call Sister Smith by her first name one time and it’s alright. But do it too often and “Violet” could get nasty. It might be taken as a

suggestion that she is not IN.

  

  Calling the Pastor ‘Sir’–The aristocratic ministerial structure of New Testament Christian Church gives rise to a love of personal respect and the observance of a high degree of ecclesiastical protocol that really has no place among Christians. Call your pastor ‘Sir’, and you will make his day. Call him by his first name and…well, I guess you’re just not IN.

  

  Using His Title–The pastor loves to be called ‘Reverend’ and ‘Pastor’ and so forth. The use of these and other titles is simply part of the NTCC package, as is his obnoxious interference in every aspect of your life.

  

  Giving Him Gifts–Your pastor will not always solicit gifts and cash from you directly, but he will gladly allow others to encourage you to “be a blessing to the man of God”.

  

  Going to ‘Fellowship Meeting’–Since NTCC alone is right with God as an organization, they feel the need to separate from all of the “so-called Christians” around them. Because of this, the need for brotherhood outside of the Four Walls cannot be met locally. In order to stretch their legs and prove that they have other churches in other parts of the same state or region, NTCC conducts what are known as “Fellowship Meetings” on the first Saturday of the month. As if you do not suffer through enough church already, you are now asked to drive three hours on a Saturday afternoon, sit and listen to someone preach so as to get the crowd excited and happy, and sit down at a restaurant to “fellowship”. If you as a “mere church member” think for one minute that you are good enough to sit and eat with the preachers and their wives, forget it. You’re not even allowed to go to the same restaurant. This separation is accompanied by a variety of excuses, but the fact remains that this class system is found throughout NTCC, and is maintained specifically for the purpose of enforcing pastoral respect, authority and control. If this was a Christian Church, the ministers would be waiting on tables while the church members ate, and cleaning up after they had finished. But it’s not a Christian Church–it is one man’s feudal empire, administered by his underlords, who tax his serfs and enforce his many laws. Simply obey without question and you’ll be IN.

  

  Going to Conference–In the Methodist/Holiness/Pentecostal “Camp-meeting” tradition, NTCC gathers twice annually in Central Missouri for one week of worship, teaching, and fellowship. The first time is fun. After ten or twelve, it tends to be somewhat repetitious, except for the chance to see old friends. Go to conference and you are IN BIG-TIME.

  

  Listening to Only Christian Music–Many Christians consider secular music to be unconditionally contemptible because it sometimes gives legitimacy and/or exaltation to things that are antithetical to the Spirit of God. But what they consider to be the Holy Spirit’s voice is often nothing more than their own conscience, and any discussion of the subject ought to remain within that realm known as “Liberty in non-essential things and Charity in all things”. NTCC refuses to budge. Even classical and other types of orchestral arrangements fall under the evil eye. All music that is not Ultra-conservative Pentecostal Country with a touch of Gospel (for spice) is subjected to severe scrutiny. Bust up your John Denver CD’s, toss them all on the Bonfire of the Vanities, and you’re IN.

  

  Getting Rid of Your Television–Devil-vision…the One-Eyed Monster!

  

  Putting Church Before Family–Your kids are not important.

  

  ‘Clearing’ Everything With The Pastor–You will be encouraged to seek frequent advice concerning the smallest matters from the “Man of God”. You will be taught that God has placed this man in your life to “perfect the saints”, and you are therefore obligated to obey this man every bit as though he were God himself. Once you develop the habit of seeking him out in every decision-making opportunity, the value placed upon this practice will constantly reinforce itself, until it becomes tantamount to a requirement. Essentially, there is no stark philisophical difference between this type of “counsel” and outright permission, and you will soon begin to feel as though you have displeased God when you act without the pastor’s clearance. This is a psychologically elegant but abusive tactic that has been the bread & butter of NTCC for many years. It has essentially backfired, since those who tire of control normally part ways with the group, while those who submit to it remain

spiritual babies, growing old with a child-like mind.

   Doing Whatever The Pastor Says, Even When He is Obviously Wrong–”Do what I tell you to do, and even if I am wrong, God will bless you for it.” This is clearly unscriptural and cannot be supported by even the most agile twister of the text. It is a control mechanism, plain & simple, and gives the pastor a special feeling of prophetic spiritual weight.

  

  Sunday Night Budget Offering–The equivalent of one hour of your weekly pay, to cover the church’s budgetary needs. You’re not supposed to ask where the rest is going, if not for that very thing(!?) No matter–just pay up, and you’re IN.

  

  Shouting–NTCC preachers enjoy having their words confirmed by the congregation through ’spontaneous’ expressions of forceful agreement, such as “Amen”, “That’s right”, “Preach it”, “Go ahead”, “Come on now”, and the soulfull “My my my…” Stick around long enough and you will begin to see that these behaviors are more apt to be habitual attention-getters than spontaneous affirmations of manifest truth. Churches like NTCC like to criticize more sedate churches for their liturgical methods, while maintaining a kind of “liturgy” all their own, and this is part of it. Start shouting and you’ll be IN in no time.

  

  Dancing–Nothing wrong with all-out worship, but at NTCC, this behavior is highly prized, and peope are often pressured into it. Do a little jig during “song service” and you’ll be IN for sure!

  

    

  Getting Out

  

  Once you have determined that New Testament Christian Church is not a healthy spiritual environment, you will have to make a decision. You will be torn between the friendly people at the church, the friends you have made while attending there, and the need for absolute truth and sanity in your life. You are better off to simply make a clean break. Do not attend any more services. You will find that for a short while there will be various overtures made and questions asked. The pastor and his wife will pay extra attention to you and you will be treated just like you were when you first walked through the doors. This attitude of “concern” arises out of the fact that nobody can ever leave New Testament Christian Church on truly good terms. The pastor will never get up in front of a congregation and honestly say, without any hidden purpose, “Mary Anne is leaving us as of today. This will be her last service here. She has decided that God wants her to worship elsewhere in a place where her abilites can be of better use, and where her spiritual needs will be met more fully and completely. Let’s all pray for our sister that the transition to her new church environment will be a smooth one.” It cannot possibly happen. Those who leave this group are viewed in every case as having left God, all lip service to the contrary notwithstanding.

  

  You will probably lose your friends in any case, but if you say anything negative about your experiences in the church, they will view this as persecution arising out of ‘bitterness’, promoting the notion that you have suddenly become the very devil himself. Generally in such cases, the pastor will, once he has determined that you really are not coming back, begin at certain opportune times to pontificate as to your spiritual condition. He will make an impression on his followers by using amateur psychology, marshalling intuition and observation (combined with information from the gossip machine) to pronounce all manner of revelations about how you were “never really IN” and the fact that you simply have “a sin problem” and are probably committing adultery even now. You didn’t want to pay your tithes, and you weren’t really saved; you were only pretending to love God, because if you did you would stay. The pastor will pass off his armchair psychology as spiritual  insight and probably fool some people into believing that you are a sinner and on your way to hell, and it must be true because God told the pastor by the Holy Ghost that it was true. All manner of fairy tales have circulated for decades concerning the grisly fate that awaits all those who leave NTCC. This brings us to Part Three of the NTCC philosophy and basic mode of operation. The three parts are as follows:

  

  1) Push, and people will move.

  

  2) Those who do not move, we do not need.

  

  3) Those who push back will be dealt with.

  

  They will say with their lips that it is possible to leave NTCC and be saved, but they are so convinced of their rightness that they cannot refrain from the qualifier, “But who would want to leave, and what good reason could there be?” Always keep in mind; with NTCC, it’s “The Organization” first, last and always. The cohesion of the group is more important than anything else, including the truth. 

Stay Tuned: Next Video on Friday, August 11th Will Be About the NTCC Servicemen's Home Model

 I'll be sharing more of my personal New Testament Christian Church Servicemen's Homes experiences and hopefully leave you with some things to consider. 

Are there any benefits to the military members who get entangled with this group and their communal/intentional living homes and communities? Otherwise known as Servicemen's Homes?

And what, if any, are the disdvantages of living this way as a Soldier, Airmen, Marine or Sailor?

Please check back on Thursday evening, August 10th.  

As always, if you have any questions or if you'd like to reach out, please fill out the contact form on the right sidebar and I'll be more than happy to help in any way I can.  

I'm surprised the building is still here, though it looks uninhabited.

This was the first NTCC Servicemen's Home I attended back in 1989 just outside of the main gate of Clark Air Base 

Can't wait to tell you about it. 

Remember When Watching TV Was the Sign of a Heart Crossed Up with God?

I'm really not sure how the leadership of NTCC can remain so void of self-awareness and so full of hypocrisy. 

Back in 2004, many of us in Graham were personally asked by the Kekels to post our positive testimonies on a Cult Awareness Forum called FACT.net. 

There was a young couple who had left the group and the wife answered a question that someone posed on this forum.  Their daughter had become involved with NTCC and the lady was concerned due to changes in her behavior and distancing herself from her family....just the normal routine stuff for followers of this group.

Though I didn't want to hear anything negative about NTCC at the time, I didn't think the young lady who was once a "sister" said anything in a cruel way as she was portrayed by the leaders.

At one point, Kekel swooped in as The Whirlwind.  He didn't use his real name.  I knew who it was because I was privy to that information, but no one else was supposed to...though most, of course, did....mostly due to his snarky way and personality which caused him to judge harshly without getting enough information first.  He was knee-jerk judgmental and even had to dole out several apologies because of the cruel things he said. 

This is just a snippet of a much longer post from Kekel and it is one that many of us who left found offensive and was one of the many straws which eventually broke the camels back and opened our minds to the truth of this group.

So, this snippet is from 2004.   Kekel is openly and publicly calling out this young man because a "brother" saw him come out of a video rental store....possibly something akin to the now defunct Blockbuster Video.  

In hindsight, I find this so deeply awful because the Kekel's own son was watching movies on his computer as were others.    Kekel assumes it was a TV the young man was going to watch his movie on and we see what his viewpoint was about TV watching in 2004.  Did it matter whether someone watched a movie on a TV screen or a computer screen ?

Let's go back to a time 12 years before this FACT.net post from Kekel as the Whirlwind: 

When I went to my first conference in Missouri in 1992, I was shocked to learn that several of my fellow brothers and sisters were so afraid of the TVs on the dressers in their motel rooms at the Country Inn in Center, MO, that they would do one of two things...turn it to face the wall or throw a towel over it.  I was like.....What?   But, I thought maybe they were really addicted to the TV in their unsaved days and didn't want to backslide.  

Either that, or they thought the TV could turn itself on.

Either that or they thought their standing with god would be compromised by just being in a room with a TV.

Davis used to refer to the Internet as the Sinnernet and TV was not only not allowed, but folks were mocked if they were found to be sitting anywhere there was one...like a hospital ER waiting room and the like.   

In the service Mike Kekel preached on 7/30/23 in Graham, he admitted that back in 1992 while in the hospital with Tanya during her labor, that he watched the TV in the room.  He watched a Benny Hinn service. (Google him).   

Interesting the timeframe that he placed himself in.  That was definitely during a time when TV was so evil that it exposed the desires of your heart if you didn't turn it off if it was within your power to do so. Like asking a nurse to turn it off.   

People were judged as having evil desires if they went home to visit family....who very likely would have a TV and they didn't leave the room.    

No wonder families were concerned for their loved ones in New Testament Christian Church....because  they rarely visited and when they did, they would go out of their way to not be around the Evil Eye.  

It's OK to judge everyone else without context and by outward appearances only as seen here by Kekel as he calls out this young man. 

I truly wonder how those who were in when I was and even longer than I was, can soothe their minds when they see all the changes in the group. Are they just happy the rules have softened?  Did they go right out and buy a TV ?   

It's really OK to ask questions.   

Allow yourself to wonder and explore what you are 

really involved in . 

Fair warning though:  once you do that, there is no turning back.  

 

The Doctrine of Holiness Hair in New Testament Christian Church - Part Four - Viewpoint From a Child Who Grew Up in NTCC

 This fourth installment is another of my daughter's writings from when we left NTCC in 2006

This one is about wigs.

Now, I will say that I told her I wasn't sure about some of the information in there.  She was writing from recall.  Though I know someone was with me when I bought the wig, I can't say it was Verna and Tanya or even one of them, but someone was there to show me which hair piece to choose and how to blend it in with my hair and I'm not sure who else that would've been since they were the ones who talked me into it in the first place.   It did not originate in my mind.   No sir 

That was something I didn't want to do.  I didn't want to buy a wig.   I didn't want to spend the money on it. I didn't want to wear it.  My hair was so fine and thin and I was losing it from all of the teasing and spraying and combing and brushing and hair drying and hot rollers.  Oy.  Makes me exhausted just thinking of it. 

So, I wanted to make that disclaimer before you read what she wrote, but otherwise, I wasn't going to change anything.  This was her point of view at the time as a girl who grew up entirely, from the womb, under the requirements of New Testament Christian Church. 

My daughter and I were discussing these hair posts earlier today.  She said that everyone always wondered how Tanya's hair always looked the same and the only way anyone else achieved that was with hair pieces and wigs.  

Regarding wigs:  she also made the comment that if your hair is how you bring glory to god, then why cover it up ?  Why cover up the authentic you?   Isn't that the same as covering your authentic face with makeup to cover whatever isn't right or blemished?

I was thinking just now as I'm posting this:  Are they trying to fool someone by wearing a wig?  I mean, is god fooled?  Does he look down and see the thinning, straggly hair and think:  "Cover that junk up--that doesn't bring me glory"  and then you don a head full of fake hair and he sighs with relief:  "ah, that's better" ? 

Or is it the opposite:  is he asking:  "What are you doing?   You know I can see you, right?

Everyone in church knows you have a wig on.  

It's creepy and weird.   It reminds me of the Jewish women who wear a sheitel.  

It felt so humiliating.  It just wasn't me.   It was like I had a heavy hat on and when my face moved to the right, my hair didn't move with me.  I was looking at the inside of my wig.  I had to learn to move my head in a totally unnatural way.  And that brought glory to god, how?  

I love that last part:   "....on the wig"   Funny, but not funny too.

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Remember:  If you'd like to comment, you can do it Anonymously or you can contact me through the contact form and again, you don't have to say who you are.   

Thank you.

The Doctrine of Holiness Hair in New Testament Christian Church - Part Three - Viewpoint From a Child Who Grew Up in NTCC

 My daughter recently showed me some writings she authored after our family left this group in 2006.

She has always kept journals and the like and here she wrote two pieces about hair:

One on Hair

One on Wigs 

I'm not going to elaborate.  I'll let her perspective speak for itself.  

Clearly the child wrote this for her eyes only - as a sort of record and it wasn't meant to be submitted to be graded or criticized for bad spelling and grammar. 

  Remember:  If you'd like to comment, you can do it Anonymously or you can contact me through the contact form and again, you don't have to say who you are.   

Thank you.

The Doctrine of Holiness Hair in New Testament Christian Church - Is It Really A Bible Thing? - Part Two

 After we left NTCC , we called and apologized to those we invited out to church and/or had any kind of part in their lives where this group was concerned. We also called those who got out before us and who tried to call and let us know, only to have us hang up on them and not hear them out.  Shunning was and is the order of the day. 

New Testament Christian Church does not want you hearing what anyone who is out has to say.  And for good reason.  

I am so thrilled to report that after we got out, we were fortunate to hook up with a great group of people who were writing online in order to persuade people who to leave. We also participated in the FACT.net discussion forums.   In 2004, we posted our positive testimonies (as asked to do by the Kekels) and when we got out, we, along with others, told our stories of how NTCC was/is a church cult. 

I have to thank so many, but off the top of my head are Mick, Leah, Vic, Linda, Sarah, Ryan and Kevin.  They were relentless in speaking the truth even when Kekel and others showed up online to deride and mock them and their families. 

When people write of shared experiences, no one can say, "That never happened" All they can do is either agree or ignore and repress what they know is absolutely true and absolutely happened.

There was a site called ntccXposed.com  

Many of us contributed, but my ex-husband broke much of the writing he did down by topic. 

Here is the one on Hair in its entirety.

Hair

Most of what is written in the second half of Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians is given in direct answer to questions raised by the believers at Corinth. Had they never raised these questions, Paul may never have seen fit to open the various topics for discussion (and before anyone protests that the Holy Spirit is the true Author, bear in mind that He also would not have addressed these topics except in response to these questions, seeing as they are generally ignored elsewhere in the text). In the eleventh chapter we encounter a passage that reveals something about the Corinthian church. It appears that they were wrangling with one another over the subject of head coverings (or veils) for women.

  

  Among the Jews and Greeks it was customary for women to wear veils in public. Those who were seen outside their homes without a covering of some sort were supposed to be prostitutes or pagan priestesses. It is doubtful that normal people would rigidly adhere to such uniform customs without exception, but this is what the historical record points to as a stereotypical custom. 

The practice of wearing veils was intended to depict the woman’s social station as beneath that of the man. Due to this very common impression of propriety, many at Corinth believed it was unwise to set aside the good example of women everywhere, and therefore expedient as Christians to continue to enforce this standard of dress, so as not to identify with the unrighteous. 

But there was another party at Corinth who deplored such needless outward signs, who insisted that women ought to be free to appear in the church unveiled, since there is no difference in Christ. Their protest was evidently strong enough to merit attention and precipitate inclusion of the matter in the list of questions they sent to the Apostle Paul.

  Paul deals with the issue in wisdom, attempting to ameliorate the dispute between the two factions, and never even hints at the creation of a new doctrine for The Church. Indeed, it would be senseless to assume that the Apostle would resort to inventing doctrines as a reaction to localized behavior. He addresses the topic by beginning with a recapitulation of the various tenets involved and their overall meaning with regards to social station. 

He addresses the Anti-veil party with this reminder in order to provide balance to his reasoning, knowing that he will come down on their side in the end. He then turns to the Pro-veil party and appeals to their sense of proportion, hoping they will appreciate the Liberty they have in Christ when they read his conclusions. He assures them of the merits of their arguments, and gives them an easy out by certifying a woman’s hair as a natural, God-given covering. 

Having covered this ground very delicately he then summarizes, stating flatly that in the Church there is no custom concerning the covering of the head. This is the goal toward which Paul is working, and which he most skillfully attains. He then quickly and abruptly changes the subject.

  The fact that Paul’s argument is from Nature (does not even nature teach you…?) gives legitimacy to those who would argue that a woman’s hair should be long. Nevertheless, his entire point in stating this was to sell the Pro-veil party on the idea that no other covering was necessary. Ultimately he pushes the entire custom aside with his final words on the subject, saying “we [meaning the Church] have no such custom.” This entire passage was intended to put an argument to rest, not to start millions of new arguments over the length of hair. Least of all did Paul intend to institute a new doctrine for the Church which neither Christ nor any of the twelve saw the need to address.

  To take this several steps further and claim that a woman who cuts her hair AT ALL, for any reason, is a rebel “against God” and subject to all the hellfire reserved for those who practice witchcraft, is nothing less than criminal neglect of appropriate spiritual guidance. 

New Testament Christian Church is guilty of this crime, having insisted as one of its primary underpinnings that women must never cut their hair. To do so is interpreted as rebellion, and the verse is then cited concerning rebellion being “as the sin of witchcraft”. No exceptions are allowed for any reason, and no guilty person escapes the judgment of those who wax bold to assess her spiritual state by eye-balling her hair length in conjunction with any and all evidence of a recent trim.

  We have called this teaching an “underpinning” of NTCC, and it is. R.W. Davis felt indignation on behalf of Almighty God because many churches were “compromised”, having relaxed enforcement of the hair doctrine, allowing women to get away with cutting their hair, which evidently meant that they were rebellious, hated God, despised righteousness, made fools of their husbands and wanted “to run the church”. 

The truth is that he, like many Ultra-conservatives of his era, did not make the effort to understand what the scripture was saying. As is often the case with self-appointed “leaders”, he interpreted his ignorant bias as a sign, thinking that he stood alone and was therefore “called of God” to set things straight and point out to the world the meaning of sin. It was dangerous thinking like this that set him on a course to start yet another organization of churches that would teach and enforce a man’s opinions as though they were the commandments of God.

  

  One might ask: Does not Nature also teach you that a woman’s fingernails should be longer than those of a man? Should she then be forbidden from cutting them?

  NTCC promotes themselves as an elite Corp of Bible believers who refuse to “compromise” God’s Word as others have done. 

The entire atmosphere of the group is pregnant with vicious implications that arise from such a belief, and the average member or minister believes deep down that, all lip service to the contrary notwithstanding, the words of one of their current leaders are true: 

“If you think you can leave this organization and still serve God, you’d better think again.” 

Part of their claim to exclusivity is their rigid stance on what they refer to as “the hair question.” What makes this such a deceptive dogma is the fact that there IS NO hair question. It is something that is invented for the purpose of exclusive claims to salvation.

  In summary: some theologians are very concerned about applying the Bible principle of the necessity of two or three witnesses. Therefore they say that every doctrine (this is admittedly a stretch) must be confirmed by a plurality of scriptural passages before it should be applied dogmatically. 

If this principle were in view where “the hair question” is concerned, then the entire doctrine would be considered non-essential at most, questionably vague at least. It is only brought up in one single place, in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Neither Jesus nor any of the twelve ever raised “the hair question”. It simply was not a matter of great importance–was not, in fact, even worth mentioning at all. 

The other churches in other regions (who did not have the benefit of New Testament writings) were unaware of the situation and lived out their lives in blissful ignorance of “the hair question”. 

Had the Corinthian church never involved itself in this useless dispute, this particular teaching of Paul’s would not have been necessary and “the hair question” would be unknown in the church to this day.

  Furthermore, obsession with this false so-called “hair question” genders stupid questions concerning specific length and style, and innumerable hypothetical situations in which someone must take upon themselves to judge “what’s allowed and what’s not allowed”; questions about which normal, functioning adults would never spend time worrying. 

Was Paul simply wasting space in the Bible? No, he was resolving a contentious situation, while providing a highly instructive example of how such matters ought to be handled. 

  Nowhere does the scripture raise the hair question. The ‘question’ that was raised was a question that originated in a rancorous debate within the church at Corinth. As to Nature, and the dictum that long hair is a glory to a woman: it is illogical to assume that the converse would imply unrighteousness; that to cut the hair is a sin. 

By no means does Paul suggest this, yet NTCC is audacious enough to state the case unequivocally. If Paul imagined that he had laid this debate to rest, he must not have banked on the emergence of such careless schismatics as New Testament Christian Church.  

Please remember, as stated in the previous first post about Hair, that these were the thoughts of one person from 2006.   It is not meant as something you should cleave to and employ, but rather, to realize that there are other options.

NTCC is not correct on this.   That is my personal opinion on July 30, 2023.

You can read Part One on Hair here.

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Remember:  If you'd like to comment, you can do it Anonymously or you can contact me through the contact form and again, you don't have to say who you are.   

Thank you.

The Doctrine of Holiness Hair in New Testament Christian Church - Is It Really A Bible Thing? - Part One

  Good Morning!

As promised, here is the post about Holiness Hair

I'll be including four separate writings on the subject, spaced over four posts.

What is my purpose for doing this?

My purpose is two-fold:

1- To make you aware of the NTCC outward holiness doctrine where hair is concerned

2-To encourage you to realize there may be more than the NTCC way to view what is written in the bible.  

I'd love it if you would do your own research and not rely on some guy behind a pulpit to tell you what to think and how to act and how to dress and how to maintain your hair  and if you don't, then you're rebellious and being rebellious is as the sin of witchcraft and clearly witches are not going to heaven.

This group does not invite questions nor do they appreciate them. 

I know this from my years of being entangled with them, but also, all one has to do is watch the many videos of Mike Kekel preaching in Graham, WA where he plainly says that those who ask questions have a heart problem (paraphrase).

Many of the preachers in this group mock those who ask questions. 

Why?

Maybe you already know why, but are afraid to admit it to yourself. 

I truly want to see those who are in this group stop a moment, step back and think about all you've seen and heard through the years. It's not an easy thing to do.  You are thoroughly conditioned not to step back and you're definitely not encouraged to think in any way other than what you're told.  

Truth brings Freedom. 

When you finally allow your brain to think logically and to question the NTCC doctrines, you'll be like...."Why didn't I see this sooner?"  As long as you eventually realize what's going on, that's what counts, even if it has come after decades and decades and decades of devoted service to this group.  

When we first left NTCC on January 1, 2006, my ex-husband wrote a 17-page letter to the Kekels and to Davis. It wasn't the first time they learned of what had been going on in the church we assumed the pastorate of in early 2005, and not just that situation, but we informed them of others as well.  The church members all had similar stories of preachers they'd encountered through the years in NTCC.  

At first, we thought there were a few rogue preachers who were like a cancer to the group, but then it hit us...(after much back and forth with the Kekels and Davis and Olson and their lack of concern)....that it wasn't a few rogue preachers.  This WAS the organization and those demanding, money-loving, power-hungry narcissists were just like Davis.  They emulated him.

Once you come to the realization, your mind makes that sound...like when we used to rewind cassette tapes...that whirring....that fast rewind noise it makes as it goes back to the very beginning.  Playing back the tape....the record of our entire time in NTCC... and that's when it hits you like a ton of bricks.   OMG - how did we get to this place?  Why did we overlook all that didn't make sense and all of the horrible ways Davis and Kekel and so many others treated people....treated us.   

So, we left.  

Hair is a thing I'd like to address because they use it as a way to say they are different.  They claim they are following the old paths and the old ways.  They claim to follow ALL of god's rules and yet, when you look in the book to find it for yourself and when you do your own historical research as to the validity of it all -- it's just not there. 

This first bit is a portion of the 17-page letter that my ex-husband wrote to Davis and the Kekels to explain the myriad of things we had issues with and why we could no longer be a part of the group. Keep in mind, this is from the timeframe Dec '05/Jan '06.   What is written here may not necessarily be the same sentiments either of us might express today, just over 17 years later.  

Here is my challenge to you:  

If you find anything in here that makes you say ..."hmmm, I've wondered about this or I've thought about that myself"...then I would say, let it be something that you further explore on your own.  Come to your own conclusion and not what has been shoved down your throat.  I'm not sharing this to say...hey, believe this way instead.  No, no, no..... not the point at all. 

It's about you allowing your mind to explore.  You have to allow it to open up.  It's been trained to remain shut tight. Please give yourself permission to think on your own.  

If you believe in the bible and Jesus, then would he go through what he did in order to save your soul, only to send you to hell for being a rebellious wretch because you trimmed your dead ends?  Or, being god, who is able to see into the future and having all knowledge of  how twisted the scriptures would become and how they'd be used as weapons in the hands of those who claim to be his ambassadors ...couldn't he have made the hair issue a real clear thing instead of it being so wedged that it requires the crane of a called man of god to pull it out so he could tell you that verses which clearly aren't speaking about new testament believers, are? 

The bible isn't supposed to be some sort of weird escape room where everything is in riddles (is it? or is it?) and only leaders can interpret the true meaning and by agreeing with them, you get to escape, and if not, then you wander around until the day of reckoning finds you in hell---trapped in the room trying to answer the riddles.  If you believe you are called of god to preach.....then look at it for yourself and come to your own conclusion.  Or maybe you might have to admit that you were never called, but were nudged in that direction.  

I'll tell you this--by just going along and not questioning, you are enabling these cultists and harming anyone who comes within your orbit when you pass along the same harmful teachings.  Teachings that will cause men and women to separate themselves from their loved ones and friends in order to be a part of god's exclusive elite special forces...as we heard it called many, many times.   

You may find yourself in a place of progression after you open your mind.  You likely won't know what to believe and if you still do or not.   You will have to figure all of that out for yourself, as the rest of us have had to.  

Here is Part One of The Doctrine of Holiness Hair in NTCC

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Thank you.