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Dec 31, 2009, 9:20pm

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Topic: Hi (Read 130 times)

0815
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Hi
« Thread Started on Dec 12, 2007, 5:27pm »

Hi to all.

I just found this board via the link on Wikipedia's PoP page... it's nice to know I'm not alone. I was a child of the PoP, graduated from Trinity, and it's been 10 years since I graduated college. I've got my own family now, and the more I examine myself, I find faith issues so deep I'm not sure how far down they reach. :-/

My parents are still very active in the PoP; my mom was just promoted to Handmaid last year. When she told me, I was thinking "I'm sorry to hear that", while giving the obligatory "Congratulations!" My dad is active as a head and in other functions, and my parents' conduct (all based on community-think) was a major source of strife early in our marriage. We've gotten past it being a dividing force, but it has become cause for concern in the last few years. We're worried about my parents. From our perspective, the PoP is changing, and not for the better.

I've been aware of the PoP's regard as a cult by some circles and of Dr. Reimers' archives at UND for a number of years, but never knew anyone whom I felt I could talk to, other than my wife. Over Thanksgiving, I found out that almost all of my parent's long-time friends had left the PoP, and my mom's old best friend approached my wife at a decidedly awkward party and said she and I really need to come talk to her about why she and her husband left. I'm going back for XMas and intend to do just that.

I suppose you could say I'm doing my research, wondering what new info has sprouted online since a year or two ago.

I'll check in from time to time. Nice to see you all are here.

Cheers,

08-15

edited to add content

« Last Edit: Dec 13, 2007, 10:42am by 0815 »

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RecoveringPOPer
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Re: Hi
« Reply #1 on Dec 12, 2007, 7:44pm »

Welcome! Thanks for introducing yourself and congrats on your freedom!

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louisthecat
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Re: Hi
« Reply #2 on Dec 25, 2007, 4:04am »

Hi again, 0815 and Recovering POPer, I would just like to brainstorm (perhaps only with myself) about some things I've been thinking about recently.
Have either of you read the POP's Vine and Branches lately?? http://www.peopleofpraise.org/thevine/
Because they appear to be getting scarier and scarier by the day. They continue to talk about this prophecy they supposedly received about building 200 cities in 40 years.
Now that's not just cultish, that's freaking delusional. I was involved in the POP during their revival phase and then shortly thereafter, and at that point I had heard rumblings about how they were changing A LOT, and people were leaving because things were getting weird (falling down tent-revivals? yeah. . . ). Now, I think that things are getting even more ridiculously more unrealistically deranged. So these people ACTUALLY believe that they're so interesting and important that people will want them to invade their realities with weird christian extremism? ? ?
I haven't heard any POPer give a decent explanation for this "prophecy," and until I do, I'm going to act as though this so-called movement is also a reason for the rest of the world to shut them the hell down.
Seems like some leader is losing his mind, and brainwashing his appointees and trusting followers into an unrealistic future.

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RecoveringPOPer
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Re: Hi
« Reply #3 on Dec 29, 2007, 1:28am »

Hey Louisthecat,

The explanations for the "prophecy" are typically diluted and lack any kind of biblical foundation. They go something like this: "It doesn't matter if it actually occurs or not, it is just something the Lord is calling us to do, whether it happens or not does not influence its authenticity. It's just a call or goal that God has given us."

This is the POP response, which, like I said is unbiblical and diluted. If 2043 comes and the POP does not have 200,000 members and 200 cities, we can all be assured that false prophets are at work within the POP. I have said elsewhere on this forum that if the POP does reach this, that I will repent and rejoin the POP. But I'm confident that 40 years from now I'll still be free!

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outgo
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Re: Hi
« Reply #4 on Apr 18, 2008, 8:19pm »

I just found out about this Forum and I joined. I am a former member of Alleluia in Augusta, GA. I was glad to read the posts here because my kids go to college in places where they meet kids of current Alleluia members. I know not everyone stays in, even if they have attended the community school, but I have been trying to alert my kids on what to look out for, so they don't get sucked back into the cult by their classmates. It is encouraging to see that you left even though your folks stayed in. I said a prayer for you all!-Outgo

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RecoveringPOPer
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Re: Hi
« Reply #5 on Apr 26, 2008, 3:11pm »

Outgo,

Hello and welcome to the forum. I've never heard of Alleluia before. If you get a chance tell us a little more about them; what their beliefs are, location, size, etc.

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RecoveringPOPer
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Re: Hi
« Reply #6 on May 19, 2008, 5:57am »

outgo,

Ok, I just came across some posts on Dr. Reimers blog concerning Alleluia. Thanks for your courage in speaking out.

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