Originally Posted by missourimary (Post 1299644)

I will say this. I was a member of that church for nine years. I was told at one point before leaving that Edwin Young had told people not to fellowship me. When Iaasked him, he said he didn't mean it 'that way'. I joined AFF because I desperately needed fellowship and wasn't getting it at church. I was rebuked soundly for being online when Edwin Young found out, but he couldn't stop my fellowship here.

I am thankful to those who offered friendship and conversation. Conversations with a few on this board gave me courage to question things I knew were happening... and led eventually to me leaving before things got really bad. Thank you, especially ILG, Margie, Prax, Sam, and Hoovie.

Originally Posted by missourimary (Post 1299644)

I will say this. I was a member of that church for nine years. I was told at one point before leaving that Edwin Young had told people not to fellowship me. When Iaasked him, he said he didn't mean it 'that way'. I joined AFF because I desperately needed fellowship and wasn't getting it at church. I was rebuked soundly for being online when Edwin Young found out, but he couldn't stop my fellowship here.

I am thankful to those who offered friendship and conversation. Conversations with a few on this board gave me courage to question things I knew were happening... and led eventually to me leaving before things got really bad. Thank you, especially ILG, Margie, Prax, Sam, and Hoovie.

Originally Posted by missourimary (Post 1299644)

I will say this. I was a member of that church for nine years. I was told at one point before leaving that Edwin Young had told people not to fellowship me. When Iaasked him, he said he didn't mean it 'that way'. I joined AFF because I desperately needed fellowship and wasn't getting it at church. I was rebuked soundly for being online when Edwin Young found out, but he couldn't stop my fellowship here.

I am thankful to those who offered friendship and conversation. Conversations with a few on this board gave me courage to question things I knew were happening... and led eventually to me leaving before things got really bad. Thank you, especially ILG, Margie, Prax, Sam, and Hoovie.

Originally Posted by missourimary (Post 1299643)

In a church like his, there is little restriction on offenders.

Last time I attended, the boys were still being encouraged to forgive and forget it ever happened, and told that God would heal them if they just trusted Him... without counseling.

I was a member there until 2009. There are probably still those who don't think he did anything, and there are definitely still many who are dealing with things that his dad did to them.

For those who've said this thread isn't edifying. perhaps we should ask the question: what should be done differently to prevent these things from happening? In that area, if you left Faith Tabernacle you'd have to drive an hour or more to attend an Apostolic church-and churches people left Faith Tabernacle to attend were refered to as trash cans... inferring those who left and went to them were aarbage. Closer churches would refuse to accept those who wanted out-a prime example of why move-ins shouldn't be refused or stigmatized. Westberg himself used to say there were hundreds of 'backsliders' in the area, and counted anyone who left without permission (for any reason other than marriage or ministry with his blessing) as backsliders. There are many more now. What should be done for them? What could prevent these things from happening in the future?