| I was born and raised into the
Worldwide Church of God from 1969 until
about 1983-84. My childhood was horrible. I was made fun of in school by
kids and by some teachers but didn't have the nerve to tell my parents
for fear of them going back to the school and making even bigger waves.
I could never be in sports, school functions or anything for that matter
because of "the church." We traveled 45 minutes or longer to 3 different
congregations here in Indiana. It was Terre Haute, Columbus, or Indianapolis,
depending on where the services were going to be held, or if my father
wanted to go visit old friends in Columbus or Indianapolis. I had
friends in all three congregations but couldn't maintain the type of friendship
regular friends have at that age. I couldn't hang out, go watch movies,
etc. I also had a brother; he was my only true friend.
At age 12 my mom
and dad divorced cause she couldn't take anymore of the WCG. This
was probably the roughest time for me because the minister at the
time, along with my dad, tried to convince me to just "forget about my mom"
without coming right out and saying just that. That's when a brave 15 yr old
(me) decided to go live with my mother and break away from the WCG.
Unfortunately, I had lost my closest friend, which was my brother. I
tried to get him to come live with my mom and I, but he didn't want any part of it.
To this day I have no idea what they told my brother. He wouldn't talk to
me at all.
When I did move in with my mom, of course I started doing all the things a
"normal" kid that age did. But I felt like I was behind everyone. I
never made a sports team because I never had any experience like the
other kids did, just because they had started out in 5th grade.
I graduated from High School and started communicating again with my dad because even
though he put me through all those things I still loved him. But my brother
still didn't want much to do with me.
Of course, my dad today is still in one of the splinter "churches of
God."
He split off of WCG when the major splits happened. Which one he's in I don't
know because I don't wanna hear about it. My brother is in there as well. When I
talk to my brother, it's like I am talking to a total stranger and that is
so sad.
By Nathan - Child Survivor of
WCG
December 28,
2005
P.S. Your website has helped me, as well as my wife and children, understand
what exactly happened to me.
Understanding Mind
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