Beware: My wife and I were members of this for well over 12 years. I would not recommend this church for anyone, particularly if you are married, single; have children; and are vulnerable or impressionable.
If you attended the church occasionally, it would appear that the church loves God and the Holy Spirit is present. However, over time, subtly, strategically, and with plausible deniability, their corrupt theology slowly sets in. The church uses a "Gospel plus" doctrine which creates an environment of unrelenting spiritual performance, with their own form of legalism needed to obtain and maintain God's love.
The church often presents itself as the last bastion where the Holy Spirit exists. Considering attending any other church is to question your salvation. In order to maintain your salvation you must be fully committed to all the church offers, including separating yourself from relationships, particularly ones that exist outside of the church, including your family.
This church has a proclivity for breaking apart families. The Pastor, through a variety of means creates a wedge between the husband and the wife. The Pastor and/or his wife, become the substitute authority in the marriage, usurping the relationship ordained by God. Historically, it is the wife that is the target, who "sits at the feet of the pastor's wife". It is here where the relationship between the husband and wife is broken down. They enlarge any of the issues that might exist in the relationship to gain further control. In doing so, they also emotionally distance any of the children from the parent that may not be seen as heeding the church's demands for compliance. In most cases, the husband is forced out of the church and/or his home, and the church facilitates the couples divorce.
Even more concerning is what the children are exposed to. Over the years, there have been a number of excessive, brutal, public disciplinings. On occasion, this has even included public shaming of the older (15-18 year old children) to submit to the control and manipulation of the Pastor. Behind the scenes, these same children, and even younger, are being led in such a way as to reinforce their obedience to the church. They are prompted to forsake anything that does not come directly from the church, including relationships.
This church is relatively young, however, there is growing evidence that the impact of this spiritual control and manipulation is not healthy. One has to question what the outcome of this demented theological teaching will look like or play out in their lives of the children as they mature. Many of the older-younger adults have either left the church and have distanced themselves from the church and their families who remain. A few others appear to have bought into it and are pursuing their goals of becoming part of the core, even though their parents have left the church.
The church body is conditioned to reject those who have left, even if they did so amicably, through shunning. Those that leave are seen as being toxic and on the road to perdition, even if they may be pursuing Jesus, but just at a different house of worship. The church body is sheltered from the truth of what actually occurred when they left and only received the contrived information presented by the Pastor.
If you do plan to attend this church, you should consider evaluating Watchman Nee's book on spiritual authority; this seems to be part of the basis of this church's corrupted doctrine. In addition, you may want to acquaint yourself with the principles of spiritual abuse, the Shepherding Movement, and evangelical cults. There is a variety of good videos available on YouTube. read more
