Dennis Leap is a Dangerous Man:

March 4, 2004

I was saddened to read of the family put out on a whim by Dennis Leap. He is a truly dangerous man who will mess up people's lives for no other reason than to prove that he has the power to do it. He has a long history of doing exactly the sort of things the person described--putting people out with no reason, listening to gossip, not letting people defend themselves. He does these things to feed his ego and instill fear of him into remaining members. He wants people to approach him "with fear and trembling." He is the one who put Flurry into the position he is in now. Without Dennis Leap's guidance, Flurry would just be a minor player. Dennis Leap was the one who instilled the idea of absolute power in the ministry into Flurry. Leap is the one who stressed that the ministry is not to mingle with the peasant congregants. Leap has been the driving force behind the PCG. He is as dangerous in his own way as Hitler was. I hope the people who were put out will find their way into an improved fear-free way of life. --Former PCG member

Flurry's Past Arrest for Drunken Driving Confirmed:

March 18, 2004

I took the time this morning to call the University of Oklahoma Police Dept. to confirm the arrest of Gerald Flurry (9-18-93). The officer that answered the phone actually
remembered the arrest himself and gave me the number of the Court Clerk who looked it up in public records and verified it. I taped my phone calls this morning, so that should answer my husband's doubts about the authenticity of the arrest. This shows that he has some pretty serious character flaws. --Former PCG member

Comment: The website for the University of Oklahoma Police Department is here.

I am Leaving PCG:

March 20, 2004

I am a former member of the WCG and am now a member of the PCG, but I am leaving the PCG. I haven't attended for a number of weeks now.

Thanks to you and all the information on the Internet I am really starting to learn the truth about mind controlling "Churches" and I am so very thankful that I found you, quite by accident (or did someone lead me there?).

I have printed out and studied about 500 pages of fantastic info now and I am not finished yet. There is so much out there and much to learn. I can hardly wait each day to get on my computer and continue on being educated on cults and how they get you hooked and then can destroy peoples lives.

Warm Regards, --Leaving PCG

Marvin Campbell One of PCG's Cruelest Enforcers of "Government":

March 22, 2004

PCG's latest sermon was by Marvin Campbell and was about "love" and "forgiveness" that the brethren should have for each other. Fine and dandy, except that he is one of the cruelest enforcers of the "government." He has tossed members out and told them they have no hope of returning. He (and others) require years of reading and rereading
their books before a person can be considered for baptism. They must bring forth "fruits of repentance" before then. That basically means they must be sending in huge amounts of money. He and the ministers under him require large salaries from new members. That is some kind of proof of righteousness. --Just left PCG

Feels Good to Know the Real Truth:

April 5, 2004

I want to thank you and your staff for all of the information available on your web site. We too have many stories of abusive ministers for all of our experiences in these groups. My husband started seeing that the doctrines did not line up with Scripture about five years ago. I did not want to believe it at first since I was so terrified we would die forever if we left. We stopped attending a little over a month ago. It feels good to know the real truth about Scripture and about the deception we were under for so many years. We have children and do not want them to grow up and feel the way we do. Sincerely, --Former GCG, LCG, UCG, PCG members

Flurry Might Try to Change Mystery of the Ages' Chapter:

April 7, 2004

Keep an eye on the posted MOA especially in the chapter about the church. It is possible that it will be changed from what was written by HWA to allow for the appearance of a new "prophet" in the end time. It would be a major offence to members if Gerald Flurry dared to change the books of HWA now that he can. I read that he disfellowshipped a member who dared to post the works for free on line a while back and put out a CD of HWA's unabridged works. Flurry has felt free to change so much of what HWA taught with the excuse that "he could not understand" what was going to happen after he died. That is, after all, one of the charges he made against Tkach.

I just looked in the original copy of MOA in the chapter "Mystery of the Church." Under the subhead "One Church with One Government" is the following paragraph:
"The prophets set in the foundation of the Church are those of the Old Testament, whose writings were used to form a considerable part of New Testament and gospel teaching and functioning. No prophets are mentioned as having either administrative, executive or preaching functions in the New Testament Church." I believe that the entire books are available on-line at the PCG website. At least that is what we were told. I would not be surprised if Flurry doesn't change that paragraph very soon, if not already. There are a few places where HWA stated that the revelation was complete in the Bible, and that there was no further need for prophets. It might be worth looking into. --Former PCG member

Flurry Has Already Changed Mystery of the Ages!

April 13, 2004

I wrote to you before [see previous letter] and just wanted to let you know that Gerald Flurry has already changed Mystery of the Ages! I knew he was going to make at least one change as soon as he got the copyrights. So, I ordered the PCG version, around December 2003, as soon as they were available and the remaining stocks of previously printed copies were gone.  
 
In chapter 6 – Mystery of the Church; Section – One Church with One Government, page 244-245 of the WCG version:  

"No prophets are mentioned as having either administrative, executive or preaching functions in the New Testament Church"  

This was deleted from the Philadelphia Church of God copyrighted version on page 245.  

Gerald Flurry is not very thorough though!
 
In chapter 7 – Mystery of the Kingdom of God; Section – Education in the World Tomorrow, page 350 of the WCG version states:  

"All teaching came from Christ through the apostles—and a few times Christ communicated to apostles via the prophets (of which there are none in God's Church today since the Bible for our time is complete). God's Church today, as in the first century, receives its teachings from the living Christ, through an Apostle, just as in A.D. 31."

Gerald Flurry, for whatever reason (probably ignorance), failed to remove this from the PCG copyright.  

Here's a quote from a sermon given by Gerald Flurry called "Amos 9:1" given on 11-11-00. He is referring to HWA & MOA:  

"Look how he praised that book brethren! He said it was the second most important book on this earth, next to the Bible. And 95% of his own people don’t even want it…..Because, it doesn’t mesh and square with what they're teaching. That’s why they don’t want it. They're heathen or worse!!"

Well, at least we know what Gerald Flurry thinks of himself!!  

I have scanned the changes onto my computer in .PDF format. If you would like a copy, just let me know!

--Tony Perrigan (Former PCG member (Disfellowshipped by Wilson Magruder and Marvin Campbell for asking questions like these!!) 

Comment: If anyone needs us to email a copy of the .pdf file which will show the scanned pages from the 1985 book, email ESN and refer to this letter by date. You will need Adobe Reader in order to open and read the file. ESN has the 1985 hardback version of the book. See: Mystery of the Ages (2 critical reviews by ESN).

Gerald Flurry's Changes in Mystery of the Ages:

April 17, 2004

I wanted to obtain a copy of Mystery of the Ages under the new PCG copyright to see if my hunch would come to pass....and it did!

I was expecting Gerald Flurry's most paramount changes to be the deletion of Herbert Armstrong's sentence on the top of page 245 that refers to the non-function of a prophet in the New Testament Church. Here is a quote of the deleted sentence from the 1985 (HWA) printing of Mystery of the Ages:

"No prophets are mentioned as having either administrative, executive or preaching functions in the New Testament Church."

This quote was still in the reprint that was first offered by the PCG. But now that Gerald Flurry has the copyright he has the legal ability to finally get rid of this very condemning sentence once and for all. Funny thing is--he left a similar statement on page 350. I guess Flurry doesn't know MOA very well.

I provided the first two scans from the PCG reprint before they obtained the copyright and the last two scans of the copy with the PCG copyright.

I haven't found anything else yet--my main interest was this quote because I knew he was going to cover his tracks at every opportunity, especially on this one.

I'm sure you remember how Gerald Flurry would blast the WCG for altering Herbert Armstrong's books and it now appears he is doing the very same thing. Flurry can condemn all the other COG leaders all he wants, but he is the only one that is guilty of doing the same thing as Mr. Tkach....tampering and changing "revelation from God" and casting truth to the ground! 

How many times have I heard, referring to anyone who changes MOA, Flurry say things like, "You can't do things like that and retain your birthright!" or "What kind of twisted mind can do something like that? They're heathen or worse!"

Gerald Flurry is such a hypocrite and condemns himself with his own words. I have the sermons with these quotes if anyone wants to verify them. They were from Flurry's sermon, "Amos 9:1" given on November 11, 2001. I have listened to almost every sermon Gerald Flurry has given since 1994 and I am amazed at how many times he contradicts himself or HWA, flip-flops and even worse....stretches the truth!

Bottom line is, Gerald Flurry doesn't have a government leg to stand on!! --Tony Perrigan (Former PCG member)

Comment: In some 1985 copies of MOA this sentence may start at the bottom of page 244. Here is the original sentence (and which Flurry changed):

"The prophets set in the foundation of the Church are those of the Old Testament, whose writings were used to form a considerable part of New Testament and gospel teachings and functioning."

Read: Herbert W. Armstrong stating that there is "no prophet today."

Read: Flurry also changed and removed certain words from Herbert Armstrong's booklet, The Proof of the Bible.

Estates Being Left to PCG:

April 18, 2004

When I was working with J. Tim Thompson, sometimes he would kind of boast about estates being left to the church, and his job of doing the probate. He often had to travel to settle estates. Sometimes family members [those outside PCG] caused difficulty for him. He also boasted of his efforts to get people to do what I think is called a Living Trust, making his job much easier, because they essentially sign over ownership of cars, houses etc while alive so that as soon as they die, the church would become sole owner without going through any probate process. I feel this was abusive, because he distributed instructions on how to do it at the same time as preaching that using doctors was like worshiping Satan, and you had to have the faith to face death. ("Oh by the way since you are going to die, here is how to sign over all of your possessions.") 

This process was part of a scare tactic--if you didn't obey, you might loose your eternal salvation and go to the lake of fire. This is the main issue in my mind. That sermon was
instrumental in convincing me to make a stand and take the risk of being disfellowshipped, which is what happened. I was in Edmond when he spoke of that sermon before giving it. I wrote him a letter asking him to include certain balancing comments. He ignored the letter. After I overheard the Ministerial conference sermon, I again wrote and urged him not to distribute it. He again ignored it. After I returned to [the eastern coast], the tape was played and the instructions on creating the Living Will or trust were distributed to the members. I was very pissed. I appealed to the deacon there to withdraw the tape and he ignored me too. --Former PCG member

Very Impressed with Your Reviews of Mystery of the Ages:

May 19, 2004

I have just finished reading both of the new reviews of MOA. I am very impressed by both of them. I am glad to have two of such different styles. They really belong together and build on each other. Each author brings his/her own experience and personality to bear on this project. I dearly wish I had had such a review of HWA over thirty years
ago. I really believe that HWA mainly took advantage of honest, albeit naïve, people who could not believe that someone would purposely lie in order to take control of their lives. I certainly put myself in that category for over thirty years. Unfortunately, his tradition lives on in all of his "offspring." I keep reminding myself that God does not want what is "mine," but that God wants "me," (2 Cor 12: 14). Now I instantly put up a red flag whenever someone tries to make me feel obligated to send in money. I will never again allow anyone to come between me and Christ, and no man will ever be able to claim to "speak for Christ," as I heard Dennis Leap claim. I find that Christ, in the Bible, is completely able to speak for Himself, and my communication to God is directly through the Holy Spirit within me. Thanks again for all you are doing to help those, like me, who need direction to the truth. --Former PCG member

More Info on Imperial College: 

May 26, 2004

GF mentioned in his latest sermon that next year the student body of IC [Imperial College] will be a grand total of 23. I think it is a shame that he gives the impression on TV that there are considerably more than that. When he shows scenes of the college, it seems that there are many students. But then, can we really expect him to be sincere? The students themselves are kept in near isolation. He has said that they are not allowed movies, TV, wrong music, or Internet access. They can only get together with the opposite sex under strictly structured and approved conditions. They are used to "beautify" the campus. That is slave labor. They work for their tuition at the headquarters. That has put out of work many qualified people who left all to go work there. Other young people, who do not want to be ministers or their wives, are looked down on as somehow "not with it." On the other hand, the young people are told to expect that they will not be accepted due to lack of space. That puts them in a very awkward position. If they do not apply, they are not with the program, and if they do and are rejected, they are not worthy. No wonder so many young people are leaving. --Anonymous

Update: In December 2005  PCG changed the name of Imperial College to Herbert W. Armstrong College.

Malachi's Message in its Fifth Revision:

June 2, 2004

It is strange that GF encouraged members of the WCG to read his book Malachi's Message and to test their leaders, but once he snags them, he forbids the members of the PCG from reading any other material in order to test him. He has said many times that supporting the work of the PCG is "your ticket to the place of safety." However, a year or two ago, we were informed in a sermon that just being found "worthy" to go the Place of Safety is not good enough. Once there, we were told, we would be under constant scrutiny by the ministers. Anyone exhibiting a bad or "non childlike" attitude would be put out of the Place of Safety, presumably to die in the Tribulation. To have a childlike attitude turns out to mean that the members must swallow without question every new "revelation" from GF. They certainly must not point out glaring errors in the light of Scripture. Many of the true "elders" have been put out recently. Most of them wind up marked. I suppose that they will be replaced as soon as possible by the new "elders" just graduating from Imperial College. We had ministers like that in the WCG, and none of them had a clue about life in the real world. No matter what problems the members were having the answer was to be more "righteous." That usually translated into giving even more money to prove where your heart is.

I think it would be a good idea to apply the same method that is being used to review MOA (Mystery of the Ages) to reviewing MM. There are many contradictions and outright errors in it. GF even starts his campaign to "correct" HWA's misunderstandings in it while blasting the WCG for changing their beliefs. I have the 1992 edition, and it is the fifth revision of the original "revelation" that supposedly was given by the "hand of a mighty angel." I wonder how many revisions it will take to get it "right"? That mighty angel did not do a very good job, did he? --Former PCG member

Comment: It is common for false teachers to revise their literature every few years. Most members fail to see that if it was a true revelation from God, it wouldn't need to be revised, or changed, in the first place.

Death of Tim Thompson in PCG:

June 9, 2004

The death of J. Tim Thompson was hard to explain to PCG members since he was not an old man like Mr. Wil Malone [Note: Philadelphia Church of God minister Wilbur Malone died January 27, 2004]. He even had a letter that was written by Mrs. Thompson to be read trying to make sense of it.

Tim Thompson was a very high profile minister. Gerald Flurry hired him to take care of the church's financial affairs. He and his wife also directed the Feast preparations including using tithe of a tithe to prepare the sites, etc. Mrs. Melody Thompson married him in the PCG. He had been married several times before being "converted" and had spent some serious jail time. His widow is still in charge of the Feast preparations, which is strange since no woman is supposed to "rule over" any man in the organization.

Tim Thompson spearheaded the movement to get people to leave their estates to the PCG. He wrote numerous articles and gave many sermons about how the whole economy was on the verge of collapse. He helped many members write their wills so that their families could not inherit what was left to the church.

Thompson developed a tumor on his neck sometime around 2000, maybe earlier. The whole church witnessed his slow decline. All the while he gave several desperate sermons on healing. It was almost like he was trying to get God to do it by saying it enough.

When GF went to Canada to fight for the estate of a demented old man, he could not go because the man was nearing death. The judge was only told that he was ill. He died a horrible death, strangling on his own cancer. His wife wrote a letter which was read to the whole church in which she stated that he may have died because God knew that if he had lived longer, he might have left the true faith, though she could not imagine that happening. (By the way, the judge in Canada awarded the estate to the family.) [Note: The court case (2002 BCSC 1703 Flurry v Fuller et al) has since been removed from the web, but we have posted a mirror of the original.] I remember GF talking about this court case in a sermon. He even almost joked about how they kept Mr. Thompson's condition a deep dark secret from the court.

The only way GF can preach healing in the face of deaths like this is to say that God will heal him in the resurrection, thereby keeping His word to heal every time. I don't know how many times we were told, "If you don't have the faith to be healed, you don't have the faith to be saved." Therefore, members who go to doctors are showing they do not have the faith to be saved. I personally knew five members, including Mr. Thompson, who died terrible deaths in fear of eternal death. I nearly did myself.

So many of us look to your website for help and support. --Former PCG member

Comforting to Know I'm not Alone:

July 27, 2004

I find it so comforting to realize that I'm not the only one that has had this experience. Thank you for putting this ESN website together. I was a little surprised to read stories and feelings that are the same as what I'm going through and have lived through. I don't 
feel so crazy and alone now. --Former PCG member

Your Site is Effective in Helping People:

July 30, 2004

Thanks for keeping up the web-site. I believe it's effective in helping people exit the Armstrong groups, as well as helping people avoid getting into it. I appreciate it that you include help for those not in these groups, but are affected by them. I pray for the Network daily, that God will continue to bless what you're doing, as well as for you.
Flurry's message on The Key of David Sunday morning was loosely about the "evils" of the internet. I thought of the Exit Support Network when I was watching it. Obviously, you are doing a good thing. Keep up the good work. --Impacted by loved one in PCG

There is Life Beyond PCG:

August 9, 2004

Exiters need to know that not only is there life beyond PCG, but God wants them to be happy and not depressed and deceived. God can do anything and He can heal all of their wounds and give them a new life, free from all of the lies and deceit and abuse they endured. I feel more safe now knowing that regardless of where, or if, we attend a church, that we do have a relationship with the true Jesus. I know God has not brought us this far to make us fearful now. Once God opens our eyes and we know the real truth who would ever want to go back to any of that hearsay? --Exiter of PCG

I Was Naïve of What Was Happening Around Me:

August 19, 2004

I am so completely shocked that so much evil and sexual perversion was going on all around me. When I was going to PCG, I knew the ministers were control freaks, but I thought they had morals. I've had former members tell me that there was a lot of sexual misconduct among the ministers. To just mention one thing that was totally inappropriate one Sabbath the minister was correcting me for something when suddenly he looked me up and down and said, "I was going to be real mad at you, but I really like the dress you are wearing." Plenty of men have made a passing comment of "that outfit looks nice" and I never once thought anything of it, but the way this minister said it made me feel dirty. My dress looked like something Lucille Ball would wear and not at all revealing or skimpy.

I was so trusting and naïve of what was happening all around me. I believed that everyone just wanted to please God and make it into His Kingdom, like it was something we had to qualify for. Before I knew about grace, I thought we were always one step away from losing our salvation if we did not do just as they said.

The whole Armstrong Empire, including all of the split offs, is based on a very evil system.

I noticed on the video taped sermons of GF's "new revelation" of Daniel that his eyes would shift back and forth rapidly. I have never seen anyone that could do that. It did not even look human. It makes you wonder if these "ministers of God" even believe there is a God. They sure don't act like it.

Day by day I feel so thankful to God for loving us and taking us out of there out of all of those beliefs. I can see and have faith that He is faithful to never leave us or forsake us. It feels so good to be able to look back and see that even though what we went through was beyond evil, Jesus never left our side. In fact I know He is the only reason I made it through all I did. Jesus truly does seek the lost to save them. The victory I have is in Him that He is faithful and loved all of us so much that he died for us. Flurry claiming to be "Christ in the flesh" is outright blasphemy! What Armstrongism has done to us all is literally spiritual war crimes! I am sure they will all be held responsible for their crimes against innocent people in the Supreme Court in Heaven.

God bless you for what you are doing to help these innocent victims find freedom and healing through our Lord Jesus Christ.--K. S. (Raised in WCG; former member PCG)

In the Process of Leaving PCG:

August 30, 2004

Gerald Flurry didn't tell the truth about the auction. I was present when he gave this sermon. He said $52,500.00 and $55,000.00 but he didn't tell us about the 15% auction fee of $16,125.00 + shipping + expense for eight or nine people, so we see more like $123,000.00 +.

I am a PCG member in the process of leaving this Satan's den and the false prophet and all his so called ministers. I would love to help expose this false prophet. I have ordered the new MOA, MM and That Prophet. I wanted to compare them with the old ones I have to see all the changes. I have already stopped tithes. I have read all your letters and that helped me prove a lot of things. Thank you. --Going to leave PCG

Mrs. Gerald Flurry Dies:

[The following was forwarded to us:]

September 5, 2004

-----Original Message----- 
From: Stephen Flurry 
Sent: Sun 9/5/2004 6:34 AM 
To: ALL HQ EMPLOYEES; ALL IC STUDENTS; AUSTRALASIA USERS; 
Subject: Sealed 

Dear brethren,  
My mother's last gasp of breath happened earlier this morning. She died peacefully at 2:16 a.m., September 5, 2004. About a half hour before she died, she started to moan somewhat - just enough to awaken us - giving us one final chance to encircle her bed, touch her, and tell her how much we loved her. She was a special woman. Our family is rejoicing with God, as yet another saint has been sealed (Psalm 116:15). At the same time, with all that lies ahead for this end-time Work, we will also miss her dearly. Thank you so much for your prayers and kindness. The memorial service is set for Wednesday night, September 8, at 7:00 p.m., at the John Amos Field House.

Mrs. Barbara Flurry Suffered For Years With Health Problems:

September 8, 2004

Mrs. Flurry was a very sweet woman, and I have had several talks with her. She was always willing to listen to anybody. However, she did not use any judgment of her own when it came to religion. She always let her husband tell her what to believe. She suffered for many years from rapid heart beat and high blood pressure. She could have gotten treatment and had a long and healthy life, but she believed her husband. Of course he "prophesied" about her untimely death. That kind of illness, untreated, is fatal.

My questions to Gerald Flurry are these: Whose faith was not strong enough that your wife died? Was there a "sin" she refused to repent of? How can her death in any wise show that God is behind you and what you are doing? How can you expect the members to believe that it is always God's will to heal? Wouldn't their faith be strengthened more if God had healed her? Could God be showing His displeasure at your profligate spending?

Finally, how many ministers have now sacrificed their wives on the altar of ego and false doctrines? No one deserves to die like that! No one is happy that she is dead. HWA is ultimately responsible for all these unnecessary deaths. --An ex-member

I Wasn't Just Having a "Government Problem":

September 11, 2004

I just wanted to thank you for the work you do here. So many of us are in need of help like this after exiting the Armstrong groups. Reading the testimonials helped me see that I wasn't just having a "government problem" and helped me come to fully realize I wasn't in "God's true church." --Recent exiter of PCG

Greatly Concerned About the Abuse Those in PCG Are Receiving:

September 30, 2004

A friend, a former member to the original WCG, told me about your web site. I just finished reading the letters from former and current PCG members. As a former member and local church elder, I thought WCG was bad, but I am greatly concerned about the abuse PCG members are receiving. My wife and I were in the WCG cult for over 25 years. I cannot find adequate words to express my thanks to God for delivering us out of that fearful existence and leading us to a healthy, well balanced church. It was all His doing, praise to Him, and yet it was not an easy trip. It took time to get over the withdrawal and transform into a healthy spiritual condition, about 8 years. It would have been good to have had a support group to help during that time, so I do feel compassion for those who expressed their pain in the letters I just read.  

My wife and I want to offer our help. If anyone just wants to call and talk, we would be happy to be of help. I leave you my e-mail, phone number, and mailing address. You can use my name any time you feel it would be appropriate. I have no need to hide from these creatures anymore. We are free. --Charles Rightmeier, Topeka, KS

Comment: If any survivors would like to talk to, write, or email Charles, please email ESN and refer to this letter by title and date and we will put you in touch with him. We have met Charles and his wife in person and can vouch for their integrity.

Updates: Read the following by Charles: We are Free at Last! (October 2004) and PCG Shatters Close Family Relationship! (August 2, 2005 testimony)

PCG Services Disturbed the Cows!

October 3, 2004

I went to quite a few services in totally unsuitable surroundings, but the all-time worst would have to be holy day services in the basement of a grange hall. It was a cramped dark damp airless little room, and we had all brought food to eat between services. Services started normally, but a few minutes after we began, we heard a huge commotion upstairs in the main hall. The hall started to fill up with COWS; they were holding a cattle show at the same time as our church services! They clomped directly overhead! The stench was unbelievable! And the funniest thing that happened, the management of the hall came down and interrupted services and told us we couldn't sing any more hymns because it disturbed the cows! A lot of people left the minute the first service ended because they couldn't take it anymore, and nobody ate much with the aroma of cattle in the air. --Former PCG member

Your Website Has Been So Informative:

October 6, 2004

I just want to take a moment and thank you for personally taking the time to help people that find themselves or their loved ones in this sort of position and to educate others on cults. Thank you for answering my email. Your website has been so informative. I printed tons of stuff off. --Impacted by loved one in PCG

Gerald Flurry a False Prophet:

November 30, 2004

Just a week and a half ago, I put it all together and now know that Gerald Flurry is a false prophet. A personal Bible study aided by an article on another site helped me to wake up. There were a lot of things just "not clicking" that prompted me along. One is being prohibited from reading "dissident literature" as a sign of mind control. If a church has the truth, then how can "dissident literature" hurt it? It can't. It's only when the church is built on lies that church leaders don't want to be exposed by the truth and thus need to make the "thou shall read no words that may disagree with our way of seeing things" command.

I am grateful for your site and can now begin looking at HWA's teachings in a new light. After this Sabbath, I'm going to take a huge break from attending any church. I'll put my faith in Jesus, not in a man, and it will be all right.

Thank you again. --Arizona

PCG Believes it is "Gideon's Army":

December 27, 2004

Flurry and his whole ministry is deeply concerned about the financial bottom line. But there is more to their mindset than just that. Flurry used to often say that he expected the PCG to be like Gideon's Army, a very small but effective force in "delivering the warning message to the world." Gideon's army started out with 30,000 and ended up being only 300. I can remember a lot of sermons from various ministers on this example of how "God only works with a very few to show the world that He is the one doing the Work." So ministers were not afraid to put people out of the church. I remember ministers even bragging about the number of people they suspended or disfellowshipped. I remember them saying "Christ is measuring the temple and is finding many of you lacking."

So, essentially the PCG believes that it is "an army" with a direct mission from God. They don't believe that they have the time, or the mission, of helping people with their problems and such. They want "an effective fighting force" who won't weigh the ministry down with hours of counseling. They want the "best of the best," sort of a COG Marine Corps or Special Forces. That is why this group is more of a cult than any of the other splinters. They are "specially chosen" to be "Gideon's Army" in the end time. (But the only casualties are the members, and their families and friends).

I am sure that Flurry is troubled because he always felt that the money would flow in no matter what the membership numbers were. He's not getting the large offerings from co-workers that the WCG used to get back in it's hey day. That's why he has resorted to getting the elderly to sign their estates over to the PCG, and is now wanting them to tithe on their gross Social Security checks. But all of this is justified in their thinking because this is "war" and you can't get all sentimental and nice during a war. I have heard him say basically just that. He also used to thunder, "You should all put your own needs and wants on the back burner. The Work gets high priority!" I do think that he believed that as "Christ pruned the vine" new growth would occur, especially after the court case "victory" over HWA's books. That hasn't happened. --Former PCG member

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