Well, the regional director Dennis Leap (whose reputation is well known in the PCG) was not a builder, but a "clean-out man"--he says so), was visiting our group 1-2 times every month from Oklahoma, and giving the most heavy-handed, negative sermons, bearing down on the brethren, and demanding that we give more respect to the ministers, as they have more of God's Spirit and more discernment, that we weren't honoring them enough, etc. After several months of this, plus other abuse, I finally decided to write a very humble letter to Gerald Flurry. Immediately, he turned it over to who else? Dennis Leap, who promptly suspended me with very cruel words.

One month later, he said he would meet me with Cal Culpepper in a motel room an hour away to discuss my situation. In the meantime, I continued to pay 1st and 3rd tithes faithfully, even though I was struggling to survive. In the motel room, both of them attacked me for an hour with harsh and untrue words and had me crying so hard as I left. Again, I was trying to be so humble and beg them to accept my apologies and let me come back, but there was no compassion, only hatred from them. I called many times, but they avoided me and told me I couldn't go to the Feast, even though I had paid my air ticket, etc. to Prince Edward Island, and lost over $600 dollars, plus the pain of being alone. (Remember--this is just because of a humble letter.)

I tried so hard to do everything I could to come back, including fasting 5 times in 5 weeks, paying tithes, calling. Finally, in November, I wrote another letter to Gerald Flurry begging him to answer. Again, he gave the letter to Leap who told our local elder that I was disfellowshipped, but not to tell me. I continued paying tithes for almost a whole year, with no fellowship or contact. Finally, Dennis Leap called in January to formally disfellowship me. He then preached to the brethren lies about me that 3 people who knew me recognized, and then they quit going too. He also disfellowshipped 10 more people on the morning before Passover, for no reason, except he didn't feel they were cooperative enough.

I feel so foolish as I look back, but they always used the analogy of the frog in the pot of water. I am so grateful to our Great God that He forced me out, or I would still be there. I sent my story to those that I considered dear friends, and even though they know personally how Dennis Leap is, they still put their faith in FLURRY. I feel so bad for them and for their future, which is a frightening thought. The biggest blessing out of this is that I have started trusting in my personal relationship with God and I hope I will never allow a person to come between God and me. What a blessing that is!!! Yet they don't see that they are trusting in a man--and what a man!! He is able to actually convince them that God wants the church to revolve around him!!! He states it so many times in his booklet, That Prophet-- his writing is so full of blasphemy, I don't see how he can go on except he has supernatural power, and it isn't from above!!

The little "band-aid group" of 14 we ended up in for awhile still had the PCG baggage, and four of us had to break away again. The elder still expected us to consult him on every decision, and was vicious with me when I told him I was going to another Feast site. (This was on Day of Atonement when we were meeting in my home!!) So again, I trusted in my relationship with God and He led me!! It has been so fantastic!!! I will continue my faith and trust in God to lead me from here on. I am just so sorry for the persecution and abuse of the brethren and wish I could help them in some way before something so much worse happens.

I have mentioned specific names in this because I have read your letters and hope that if you see the names and then see similar behaviors, you will believe that what I have said is true, and you might get out fast!!  

By Caroline
October 10, 2002

Note from ESN: As of August 2006, Dennis Leap is no longer regional director or minister.