Ever wonder why WCG members were taught that it was best for their children to attend S.E.P. around 12 years of age and then try to put in for another session when they were a little older? Perhaps the reason was because the younger they were, the more influence the camp leaders (who received their program material from headquarters) would have on these adolescents and the more indoctrination into the WCG belief system could hopefully be accomplished in their innocent minds. If your child was 17, it was almost considered too late to attend S.E.P. It was the young mind that needed to be molded and reached with the idea that Herbert W. Armstrong was "God's Apostle," and that they were "the leaders of the World Tomorrow."

If they got with the program and did it right at S.E.P., they were told that they could become the cream of the crop and be able to attend "God's college"--AC. First, though, they would have to hid out with their parents in the caves of Petra for 3 l/2 years, dutifully doing their Y.E.S., lessons and obediently attending services every day with their parents. (Yes, members were told they would be attending church seven days a week in Petra.) Then, and only then, would they would be allowed to be "leaders in the World Tomorrow." What happened after that was never very clear. However, most of us remember that they were promised grapes as big as peaches (along with all other fruit increased five-fold), and their own pet lion.

S.E.P. was kind of like a kid's "feast," except it was geared toward that which would produce cooperation, discipline, courage, tenacity, and leadership. And this was mainly attempted through many different kinds of sports. But like the Feast of Tabernacles they were kept so busy (and exhausted) that they rarely, if ever, had time to just sit and relax, doing absolutely nothing. That would have been "laziness." Even on the Sabbath, no matter how hot it was, or how tired they were, they had to dress up in suits, ties, nylons and dresses and pay attention to their instructors. Few had time to write home to their parents or friends to tell them what a "fun time" they were having. WCG made sure there was a true control of their environment and they structured every last minute of it. 

What were the parents told about these camps? That their child needed to attend because it would be a vital link to his/her staying in "God's church" and growing up in the "World Tomorrow." Just as importantly, it would give their child a "good attitude," and "round out his/her personality." Those families who didn't have the money to send their child were usually given "assistance" from a special fund donated to by the more wealthy members.

While the parents conversed among themselves that "their child" was going to get to go to S.E.P, or had just got back from it, it was usually the minister's children, or the elder's or the deacon's, that made a show about how many times they had went and what all they had learned. How many children really came back from S.E.P. changed for the better? Did they come back more dedicated and determined to go "God's way" (the WCG way)? Were they now closer to their parents, more obedient, more respectful, more communicative? Or just momentarily changed? Was "God's camp" all that it was cracked up to be? Did it produce model students with impeccable manners and a vision of the "World Tomorrow" burning in their hearts? Did it produce children that went on to become full-fledged members in the WCG? In other words, non-thinking, dependent, group-oriented, smiling members that would do anything for the WCG? Or was it just one more WCG mind-experiment² that never delivered the promised goods?¹ 

I'm sure there are parents that remember children like Curtis and Charlie³ whose parents sent them to S.E.P. because they felt it would be the best thing in the world for them. Curtis was almost out of high school, but the minister let him go because he felt it might do him good and remove some of his "rebellious nature." Curtis will never forgot how he feared he was going to drown when he went under the water while being pulled on water skis (he didn't know how to swim, but all had to participate in every sport). All he remembers of a fun time was when he and some of the other boys (on the drive up to S.E.P.) ran and hid in the woods half the night, laughing with flashlights, instead of staying in their tents. I guess the parents missed that adventure.

Charlie went to S.E.P. at a young age. He was kept so busy with activities that he didn't have time--nor energy--to write home. A quiet child, his parents don't remember him having much to say about his experience. They do remember that while they waited breathlessly at the airport for his plane to arrive, wondering what exciting knowledge he gained and what new mood they would encounter, that he exited the plane with a grouchy look on his face and with a splitting headache. He ended up sleeping in every day for a week to make up for all the lack of rest he encountered at S.E.P. 

Both Curtis and Charlie struggled for years with a low self-worth, not knowing it was caused because they couldn't measure up to their parents'/WCG's unrealistic standards.

Is this what kind of camp we would have chosen to send our children to if we had known what it was all about? Would we have chosen exploitation for ourselves and for our children if we had truly known what was behind WCG? Our family should be our most precious treasure. Do they need to be controlled, stifled, manipulated and molded into what we want? (and what WCG wanted?) Or do we want them to grow up to embrace their own interests and be able to identify their own talents, becoming independent, creative, loving and happy people? Thousands of children had their lives taken from them by growing up in WCG. How many thousands more are having the same thing happen by the control of parents/leaders in Armstrong splinter groups, such as Philadelphia Church of God, Living Church of God, and other similar authoritarian organizations with their own "character building youth camps"? 

May we, as parents, develop a loving, lasting relationship with our children, based on unconditional love, communication and proper spiritual guidance, before it is too late.

By Marissa
May 28, 2003
Exit & Support Network™

Footnotes:

¹ One identifying trait of high deceptive, exploitive groups is that they never deliver what they promise; i.e., happiness, success, good health, happy children and marriages.

² It is alleged that many groups known as "cults" are fronts for a hidden agenda and work together to create a passive people. Is it any wonder they have similar methods of deception, manipulation, abuse, and related goals? Author Alex Constantine has stated: "That cults are dangerous has been proven time and again. That they are often fronts for intelligence activity is indisputable (as anyone who has dug into researching CIA mind control experimentation knows full well)." Read more about this and WCG / HWA activities from OIU Newsletter #6.

³ All names have been changed.

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