Duped by prophecy teachings! (This is long, but it will make sense in 5-10 minutes.) Xenos teachers argue that Bible prophecy is irrefutable. Their arguments seem airtight - the only option must be 'fulfilled prophecy.' Thousands of people (myself included) have ultimately changed their ENTIRE LIVES, based at least partly, on how compelling Xenos' prophecy arguments APPEAR to be One example: Xenos claims it's IRREFUTABLE that The Bible predicted the recent return. Let's just look at Ezekiel 37. Xenos makes this passage SEEM irrefutable ONLY by contradicting multiple Bible authors. Historical background (ignored by Xenos): Babylon exiled the Israelites in 586 BC. Around that time, Ezekiel predicted a return. And 40-50 years later, they returned. This SEEMS clear. Ezekiel accurately predicted the Babylonian return But such a fulfillment would actually make Ezekiel a false prophet. See Ezek 37:22ff. These promises were not fulfilled post-Babylon. Xenos does not want that. So, they claim that Ezekiel predicted the RECENT return instead. The following argument is simply recycled, year after year [Teachings: Daniel - 2017 Risley - Dan 11 - 21:40] Is it POSSIBLE Ezekiel predicted the Babylonian return? See v 21. It CAN'T - the Babylonian exile (& return) was ONE direction/ONE country. Ezekiel's return was MANY countries/all over, exactly fitting the RECENT return. [For now, ignore the v.24 'messiah' argument. It's discussed below] DOES THE BIBLE AGREE? Jer 29:10-14 "After BABYLON's 70 years..." [Promises follow. Final promise - v.14:] "I [God] will gather you from ALL the nations/places I've scattered you" Xenos is (unknowingly?) disagreeing with Jeremiah, as well as calling him a false prophet. Isaiah and Ezekiel also predicted a post-Babylon 'many nation return.' Xenos claims they returned from only 1 nation/1 side Also see Dan 9:7 Jer 40:11-12, 43:5 & 44:1 Zech 7:14 & 2:6-7 (4 winds) Joel 3:6-7 (Greece) Isa. 43:4-6,14 (ALL sides, ends of the earth. v. 14 - Babylon) If you're familiar with Xenos' regathering argument, feel free to read the final 4 paragraphs. Teachers know all of this. So why do they make the 1 nation/1 side argument, even if haven't read the passages above? Xenos claims that non-Christians cannot refute these prophecies. However, after simply extracting the 1 nation/1 side argument, a naturalistic explanation is now possible for Ezekiel 37. Ezekiel accurately predicted the Babylonian return, but was mistaken about ALL associated promises in vv. 22ff, including a messianic age. (Recent return = same results.) That's it! Extract ONE false premise. Solved! Following are Xenos' other 'irrefutable' arguments, concerning other regathering prophecies. These are all based on false or speculative premises. I.e., extract false premises, and only speculative arguments remain False: 1) 'Ends/4 corners of the earth' MUST be understood from OUR perspective (Just ASSUMED); 2) 'Coastlands ' (Isaiah 11:11) are very distant ('global,') unknown lands; 3) Zech 10 MUST predict the recent regathering, as it was 'post-Babylon' (see Zech 2:6-7); 4) The Bible predicted that the Israelites would be scattered for TWO THOUSAND years before being regathered. Assume that ANY one of these is true. Try to argue that the recent regathering was NOT predicted Speculative: 1) Luke 21:24 IMPLIES a regathering (cf. Rev 11:2); 2) The 1st IMPLIED 'recovery' in Isaiah 11:11 is the one from Babylon (recover and regather are different words) (cf. v. 11 to v. 16); 3) The Bible predicted that the Israelites would become a 'nation' again, i.e. 1948. (See Jer 31:36, Deut 26:5) The bottom line: Xenos' best regathering arguments are based on false claims. The same is true for all of their prophecy arguments (More concerning the 1 nation/1 side argument) Read Ezek 37:15-20. Teachers ALWAYS skip this CRUCIAL section, while reading nearly every other verse in ch. 37. More historical background: Israel was once ONE kingdom. Israel split and became 2 separate kingdoms. The northern kingdom (confusingly, called 'Israel') was exiled by Assyria c. 735 BC. There was no 'Assyrian return.' If you attend a regathering teaching, you won't hear ANY of this Ezekiel is writing c. 580BC. The southern kingdom Judah had just been exiled. The northern kingdom Israel was STILL scattered - to many nations - just like Ezek 37:21 says. (See 2 Kings 17:6,23 & Josephus 9.14.1 - Assyria, Media, Persia.) 150 years later, northern kingdom Israelites would have been scattered even further. (See Esther 1;1, 3:8, c. 480 BC) Pretend that Ezekiel expected a post-Babylon regathering. Try to disprove this, without just assuming that Ezekiel was 100% accurate in his predictions. That's how crucial the 1 nation/1 side argument is to Xenos All of this explains why Xenos makes these false claims, and why they ignore certain crucial data. Either they're lying to you, or lying to themselves (confirmation bias.) Is either option fair to us? read more

Listen to the people saying its a cult, I didn't went on my merry way moving into a ministry house and slowly becoming more and more brainwashed and then realized my mistake and left but not without spiritual,emotional,mental,and relational damage and indirectly financial as well. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay away, Columbus has many churches. I know that the love seems unbelievably amazing and you have all these fantastic new friends, community, your reaching people for Christ, learning so much but all these people vanish as soon as you leave. Teachings are not as sound as everyone says, I was in the college sect and in ministry houses, the whole shebang, I know how things work there. The teachings are fine for the first half but at the end of 80% of teachings like clockwork they will start talking about saying no to God, hardening your heart, believing lies about God and others from Satan and consequently hiding sin, how scary it is when you get to this place, how it distorts you, etc etc, how we need to constantly be vulnerable with our christian friends and community and taking scary steps (aka confess your sin so they can judge you and drill you with questions and condemn you and then watch your every move subsequently). I am still very christian and it is important to be spiritually receptive and be open with your christian friends but what they do not talk about is that oftentimes in the bible God works through hardened hearts. He hardened pharaohs heart to reveal his glory. Israels hearts were hardened against Christ in order that the gentiles maybe saved. Paul was harder in heart than anyone and then Jesus knocked him off his horse and he spread Christianity. Half the bible is God working through his peoples unfaithfulness,sins, screw ups, and denial of him. We are unfaithful but He is, its beautiful but when you are there it is constant stress and pressure to never make mistakes or fail God or others and it kills your mental health.No one is too far from God christian or not or too hard of heart to be brought close to Him, but one mistake there and you are spiritually in the pit. They are not as theologically sound as they masquerade being, I have seen brutal emotional and spiritual manipulation at all levels, the worst being from the so called leaders and "mature christians" in my home church and my ministry house. After I left one of the girls questioned and told others she wasn't convinced I was ever really a believer, even though I have been following the Lord for 5+ years in and out of Xenos and did more "work for the Lord" (a.k.a get people out by any means, this is why they have parties, girls nights, apple picking, etc. so we can love bomb them and get them in no matter whether there spiritually hungry or not) than most people in the group. I do not mean to come across as bitter, I just am passionate about protecting others from this church because I have seen it absolutely wreck peoples mental health and faith and many people will drop out of school and cut out there families and outside friends because of xenos, no exaggeration. I wish the best and have nothing but love and forgiveness for all of the people I used to know there, I pray that one day they can break free and find God and his will for them away from the lies of Xenos Christian Fellowship. The common thing to do there was to finish a 4 year degree over 6+ years in order to have more time for xenos things even if it meant taking on copious amounts of debts and crippling yourself financially and it was suggested to me that I take on loans so I could quit my job and be able to come to meetings. If you're in xenos and have doubts, listen to you're gut, you can follow God outside the church and trust me you will not regret leaving although it is extremely painful there is God, and fellowship and deep relationships and love outside of this church, do not believe the lies. read more

Dwell is formerly known as Xenos. They had to rebrand because of the reputation they have for being controlling and causing lasting damage to members. Here is a website dedicated to ex members personal submitted stories. Xenosisacult.com Watch out for your children. DWELL/XENOS are hyperfocused on recruiting middle schoolers, teens and College students. They have no respect for parents outside of Dwell and consider you "of the world". Please do some due dilligence before attending or allowing a minor to attend what I believe from first hand experience to be a cult. I was recruited as a teen. Watch out as they particularly like to hide their name by using houses for their events and naming that home group to hide from their reputation. Always ask if a Bible study is part of a Dwell/Xenos association. NBC4 investigates did a week long series on them and they are gaining national attention from Spiritwatch and members from the docuseries on HBO called "The Way Down" Please protect your kuds so they dont go through what I did. Especially your daughters. Go read the stories on xenosisacult.com for more details. Oh and Calumet is Dwell heads up. (I am from Columbus OH. IDK why Google has me in CA lol) read more

NOT SAFE FOR KIDS OR THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. NOT GAY FRIENDLY (will try and "cure" you). High school & college group is definitely a "cult", or at least fits the model of a "high control group". Adult group is not as controlling as the college group, but is still compliant with the cultiness of the college group, so no one is blameless. They will victim blame--I've had a couple friends be sexually assaulted only to then be told that they had a "part to play". Great for narcissists and those who love to control. Type A people will love the weird spiritual competition and the "us" vs "them" mentality. If you have lost your sense of self and need someone to make all of your decisions for you, join. It's almost kinky how much they'll want to control you, so if thats your thing, jump right in. They're very predatory of those in need of help, so be ready for love bombing read more

Just saved a sister in law from this terrible cult at Capital Univ. Run away from these people, don't walk. They tried to alienate her from her family, used all sorts of hip music and drinking alcohol to entice young people. Witnessed several people being thrown out for not strictly following their views. Tried to coerce her and others to live in college house for "cheap" rent where more indoctrination takes place. Run away! It's a cult, a modern manipulative cult that will tear you from your family and friends in the name of Jesus if they aren't involved in Xenos. read more

Xenos is a Bible based community of believers that takes seriously biblical scholarship and veracity while communicating it in a relevant, accessible way. Folks can come to just hear compelling teaching at one of the Central Teachings (CT) but are encouraged to get more involved in authentic Christian community as their convictions develop. Classes, home groups, kids classes and camps are some of the opportunities available and all age groups are well served. Been a part of this group for over 40 years. It's the real deal - read more

literally a cult but if you like cults then good for you! crazy insane religious people who will try to loop you into their cult. very uneducated thinking, homophobic and very anti relationship but what religion isn't? Anyways all very mentally ill people who are looped into the cult and will try to get you in by pretending they care about you but they just want you to believe their strict religious beliefs so you can forget about dating and being yourself. read more

5/5 if you want to be spiritually abused. As former member and leader of 20 years, I can confidently say this is a high control authoritarian group that would classify as a cult under the BITE model. Rampant systemic abuse is occurring from the top down and instead of addressing it, leadership will gaslight, deflect, attack or deny clear evidence. Review the multiple stories of people who have left Xenos now named Dwell at Xenos is a cult .com read more

I'm so grateful for this church. Been here since 1978. Appreciate the Bible teaching - the main strength of this church. I enjoy home churches too. Nope, not strong in music - I pursue that on my own. I like that these Christians welcome folks, desire God and are open about struggles. Ain't no perfect church till we're with Jesus - that'll be a 10! read more

If you could give it no stars, I would. This organization hosts a controlling, invasive environment where sexism, homophobia, and racism run rampant. Please please do not bring your faith here because Dwell will break it. Public shaming and gossip among leaders will destroy your trust in God and in people who claim to love you. read more

Approach with extreme caution. Unless Xenos has completely and totally revised their leadership and ethics, they are a dangerous organization. They have a history of ignoring abuse perpetrated by leaders. They are currently being investigated after multiple allegations of emotional and physical abuse. read more

xenos allowed the man who assaulted me as a minor work with and around middle school children... disgusting.

It's a cult. Just don't go!!! It's a negative environment. It's a very broken system. Don't go