Ex-Members of Unhealthy Churches Share Their Experiences


Please note that the following experiences are the personal accounts of each person and reflect the views of the authors. Because an experience is included here, it is not meant as an endorsement from me, nor is it necessarily indicative of my views. Many different experiences are shared on this page to show the extent and aftermath of spiritual abuse and/or unbiblical teachings. Due to the various stages of healing in those writing, some experiences may reflect anger or bitterness. Some may even mention sinful actions on their part and this site certainly does not endorse or condone such. Contributors, regardless of their current beliefs, are encouraged to share what they have experienced in their former churches. Please try to keep your focus on the issue of spiritual abuse or unbiblical teachings. I have received numerous experiences that have not been posted, some due to content and some due to time constraints.

If anyone believes an experience posted directly to this site is not truthful, you are free to submit an article in rebuttal to be posted here.

Also, allow me to clear up a misconception about the sharing on this page. It has never been claimed by me that all the experiences shared are examples of spiritual abuse. Some are simply the author's recollections of their experience with a particular church, group or individual. They are events seen through the eyes of the individual writers, written from their perspective. It should be obvious that these may not cover every aspect of what happened. In addition, the lawsuit experiences are usually a gathering together of legal documents and/or news reports and have not been written or submitted by those involved.


Leaving Experiences
Journey of a Former UPC Church Duane's Journey
A Journey Out of the UPC- Lawrence "Buddy" Martin A Lifelong UPC Woman's Experience II
Why I Left Legalistic Pentecostalism- Mary Combs Jason Pound's Standards Experience
My Journey Guy Malone's UPC Experience

UPC Lawsuit & News Media Experiences
Jordan Young, Faith Tabernacle Preacher & Singer Faces Sodomy Charges Edwin Young, Faith Tabernacle Pastor Resigns Amidst Scandal
Videos From A Former Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church Member Nathan Dudley & Faith Tabernacle Apostolic Church
Angela Driver's Slander Lawsuit Against UPC Pastor Mark Fogarty Sexual Abuse in United Pentecostal Churches
Rhonda Morrison's Slander Lawsuit Against UPC Pastor Ernest Bass Debra Worman & The Good-Life Pentecostal Church in York, Nebraska
Jason Scott's Deprogramming Lawsuit Robert Peterson Wins Custody of Children

Websites & Blogs of Former UPC/Oneness Pentecostal Members

(The inclusion of other websites does not necessarily mean endorsement.)

Multi-author blog for this website Jonah McElhaney, former United Pentecostal
Jonah McElhaney, former United Pentecostal Boisy Pitre, former UPC PK- molested by a UPC minister
Why I Left- Joshua Spiers, former UPC member A female former UPC member
Jason Pound- former UPC minister In Christ Alone- Bernie L. & Cheryl Gillespie, former UPC minister
Mary- former UPC and Apostolic member Nancy- former UPC member & PK
Lynne Johnson-Yohnk- former UPC minister's wife Recovering Pentecostal- Jenni, former UPC and Charismatic church member
Female former UPC member John LePage- former UPC member
Mark McNeil: Former UPC Minister Steps Taken: A Journey Out of the Wilderness- Female former UPC minister's wife
Confessional's Bytes: Jim Pierce, former UPC minister Jennifer Brewer, former UPCI
It's About A Conversion Into Grace: One Woman's Blog Pastor Buddy's Journal- Blog of Buddy Martin, former UPC minister
Aaron Terrazas, former UPC member Near Emmaus: Blog of former UPC member, Brian LePort (& others)
Denise Snodgrass, former UPC member Joel Riley & Glen McGee, former UPC members
Robyn, former UPC member Ronna Russell, former UPC PK, daughter of Don Fisher
Daniel Lewis, Joseph Howell & Robin Wentworth, former UPC ministers/members Jon Eckenrod, former UPC minister
Bernie L. Gillespie, former UPC minister Paula Marlene Ryan, former UPC- raped in a UPC Bible college
Alex Frazier, former UPC The late Ren Rutledge- molested by an evangelist
Ralph Brickley, former Oneness Pentecostal & Texas Bible College graduate Emily Camera, former UPC- She said she's writing a book.
Debbie McNulty- child sexual abuse in a Madison, WI UPCI Mike, former UPCI member
John, former UPC Monica, former UPCI/ALJC & now atheist
Skylar McManus, former Oneness Pentecostal Trekking Peaks and Valleys: Heather Hammett, former UPC

YouTube Channels, Podcasts and TikToks of Former UPC/Oneness Pentecostal Members

(Inclusion does not necessarily mean endorsement. However, we fully support the Responsible Faith channel operated by Deanna Jo Norton.)

Christian Koinonia: YouTube channel of this website Responsible Faith: Deanna Jo Norton, former UPCI
Aurelio Lessey, former UPCI minister Amateur Faith Night Podcast: Jennifer & Jereme Brewer, former UPCI & here on YouTube
UPCI/Oneness Sermon Clips & UPCI/Oneness Sermon Clips Justin & Tiffany, former UPCI
Cheryl, former UPCI Debbie McNulty, former UPCI
H.C., former UPCI Abby Burch, former UPCI
Trekking Peaks and Valleys: Heather Hammett, former UPCI - CPTSD I Escaped A Cult: A Former UPC woman, now atheist
Divide The Word: Ralph Brickley, former Oneness Pentecostal & Texas Bible College graduate Scot Loyd, former UPCI minister and Podcasts here.
My Life as a Pentecostal- Stephanie, a former UPC member Journey to Atheism: Stephanie, a former UPC member
Life After Legalism: Lori, former UPCI Think Biblically: Luke Pixler, former Oneness Pentecostal
Nicole & Dan Pyle, former UPCI Derek Miller & Justin Johnson, former UPC members
Baily Gladfelter, former UPCI- childhood sexual abuse Jasmine, former UPCI/Apostolic
Tom Xenos, former UPC member

Interviews With Former UPC/Oneness Pentecostal Members

(Inclusion of these does not necessarily mean endorsement.)

Deanna Jo Norton with Mary, former UPCI & Oneness Pentecostal member Part 1 Deanna Jo Norton with Mary, former UPCI & Oneness Pentecostal member Part 2
Deanna Jo with Brian & Esther Henry, former UPCI Missionaries Deanna Jo Norton with Jennifer Brewer, former UPCI
Deanna Jo Norton with Jonah McElhaney, former UPCI member Deanna Jo Norton with Alicia Dwivedi, former UPCI member
Deanna Jo Norton with Jasmine Smith, former UPCI Deanna Jo Norton with Aurelio Lessey, former UPCI
Deanna Jo Norton with Justin & Tiffany, former UPCI Deanna Jo with Ralph Brickley, former Oneness Pentecostal
Deanna Jo Norton with Rebecca Martin Byrd & Debbie McNulty, former UPCI & survivors of child sexual abuse Deanna Jo Norton with Jeff Mayo, former UPCI
Deanna Jo with Amy, raised in the UPCI Deanna Jo with Jeremy & Carolyne Moseley, former UPCI
Deanna Jo with Scot Loyd, former UPCI minister Deanna Jo with Debbie McNulty Part 1, A.C.E., Submission, Racism & Sexual Abuse in the UPCI
Deanna Jo with Debbie McNulty Part 2, Confronting Abuse, Blogging & Being An Advocate Deanna Jo with Heather and Sterling Hammett, former UPCI
Deanna Jo with Joey Francis, former UPCI Joey Francis interview with Deanna Jo Norton, former UPCI
Lori with Brian & Esther Henry, former UPCI missionaries Kelly Powers with Aurelio Lessey, former UPC minister
Scot Loyd with Jennifer Brewer, former UPCI & author of Free: From Legalism to Grace Breaking Out of the United Pentecostal Church Scot Loyd with Heather Hammett, former UPCI
Cultish with Jennifer Brewer, former UPCI & author of Free: From Legalism to Grace Breaking Out of the United Pentecostal Church Part 1 Cultish with Jennifer Brewer, former UPCI & author of Free: From Legalism to Grace Breaking Out of the United Pentecostal Church Part 2
Scot Loyd with Deanna Jo Norton, former UPCI Cultish with Jeff Sully & Andrew Levesque, former UPCI Part 1 & also here.
Cultish with Jeff Sully & Andrew Levesque, former UPCI Part 2 Cultish with Jeff Sully & Andrew Levesque, former UPCI Part 3
Cultish with Michelle Owens, former UPCI & Mormon Part 1 Cultish with Michelle Owens, former UPCI & Mormon Part 2
Voices of Deconversion with Debbie McNulty, UPCI sexual abuse survivor Also available here. Channel 3000 with Debbie McNulty & Rebecca Martin Byrd, UPCI sexual abuse survivors
Former female member of Faith Tabernacle in Junction City, KS shares their experiences EWTN with April Bright, former UPCI
Recovering From Religion with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid Writer's Corner with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid
Mindshift with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid Cami Ostman with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid
Suzette Mullen with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid The Life After with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid
Voices of Deconversion with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid Scot Loyd with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid
Scot Loyd with Ronna Russell, former UPCI PK and author of The Uncomfortable Confessions of a Preacher's Kid EWTN with Mark McNeil, former UPCI Bible College graduate
EWTN with Barry Carey, former UPCI & ABI graduate Transfigured with Skylar McManus, former Oneness Pentecostal
People of the Free Gift with Pamela Adolph, former UPCI Part 1 People of the Free Gift with Pamela Adolph, former UPCI Part 2
Cult Vault with Amelia, former UPCI Kelly Powers interview with Jennifer Brown, former Catholic & UPCI
Kelly Powers interview with Jennifer & Jereme Brewer, former UPCI Kelly Powers interview with Lloyd Tucker, former UPCI
Kelly Powers interview with Jennifer Rivas, former UPCI Kelly Powers 2nd interview with Jennifer Rivas, former UPC member
Kelly Powers interview with Scot Loyd, former UPC member Lauren Hereford with Alexis Beach, former UPCI
Lauren Hereford with Alexis Beach, former UPCI Part 2 Kelly Powers interview with Benjamin Sharkey, former Mennonite & UPCI
Kelly Powers interview with Tom Xenos, former UPC member The Physics of Faith Podcast interview with Ethan Gottfredsen, former UPC member

UPC Experiences
Skipp Paynter's UPC Experience Donna Fisher's UPC Experience
A Preacher's Kid Addresses The UPCI Peggy Lewis' UPC Experience
A Former Faith Tabernacle UPC Woman Shares Elizabeth Smith: Former Faith Tabernacle UPC Woman
Robin Wentworth's UPC Experience Jeffrey Gill's UPC Experience
Mary's UPC & Apostolic Experiences: Part One Mary's UPC & Apostolic Experiences: Part Two
Esther Peden's UPC Experience Jerry Peden's UPC Experience
Sterling Hammett's Experience Melanie and Mark's UPC Experience (former pastor)
Duane's UPC Experience Denise's UPC Experience
Mark Roberts' UPC Experience Mark & Beverly Roberts' UPC Experience
Chris's UPC Experience A Wife Shares Her UPC Experience
James Wilkins' UPC Experience Daniel Scott's UPC Experience
Diana Herrmann's UPC Experience Jason's UPC Experience
Andrew's UPC Experience Linda (Mangeruga) Ireland's UPC Experience
Eloise Herrin's UPC Experience Michelle Fox's UPC Experience
Chip's UPC Experience Mike & Linda Ventura's UPC Experience
Robert Clary's UPC Experience One Woman's UPC Experience
T. Johnson's UPC Experience Maxine's UPC Experience
Marcella Hovatter's UPC Experience Jeff Hughes' UPC Experience
Tracey's UPC Experience Lucy's UPC Experience
Ali's United Pentecostal Church Experience Jeff's UPC and Assembly of God Experiences
Jason Hasty's UPC Experience Brigid Erwin's UPC Experience
Dan Caudill's UPC Experience Jimmy Sanders' UPC Experience
A Lifelong UPC Woman's Experience Anne Wanger's UPC Experience
Ted's UPC Experience Kathleen's UPC Experience
One Oklahoma Woman's UPC Experience Experience In A Church Pastored By A UPCI Minister
UPC Experience Concerning Hair A Man's UPC Experience
Former Member Speaks Out Former Youth Leader's Experience
Another Man's UPC Experience My Cousin's UPC Experience
Alicia Sounier Dwivedi's UPC Experience Jerry Moon's UPC Experience
Constance's UPC Experience
*Mark McNeil's UPC Experience *Gissel's Story
*Joshua Spiers' UPC Experience *Treatise by Ken Jacobsen
*Bernie L. Gillespie's UPC Experience *Cheryl Gillespie's UPC Experience
*Richard Phelps' UPC Experience with Harold Kern *Mike Barden's UPC Experience
*Mixed Emotions *Rae's UPC Experience and Views
*Jeff Jacobsen's UPC Experience *A Woman's UPC Experience
*David Vivas' UPC Experience *Another UPC Experience
*Disfellowshipped After 27 Years *Fear, Fear, Fear
*Ashley's Story *Cynthia Jeub's Story Of Helping Ashley
*Racquel's Experience *More On Racquel's Experience
*17 Years in the UPCI *Johnna Peeter's UPC Experience

* Denotes the experience is a link to another web site not operated by this one.

Other Bible-Based Experiences
Eleanor Skelton's Independent Fundamental Experience *Ernie's Truth Site- Former Apostolic
Dawn's Assemblies of God Experience Phil Wyman's Foursquare Experience
Ben's Apostolic Experience One Woman's Apostolic Experience
Oneness Apostolic Experience Keshia Baldwin's Apostolic Experience
An Apostolic Father Shares About His Son A Non UPC Apostolic Experience
One Woman's Hair and Standards Experience One Man's Apostolic Experience
Ben W.'s Authoritarian Charismatic Experience Sonja Evans' Charismatic Experience
Robin's Charismatic "Deliverance" Story David Thrower's Foursquare Experience
Rhonda's Assembly of God Experience Michael Byers AOG Experience
Helen's Assembly of God Experience Linda's Pentecostal Experience
Two Non-Denominational Church Experiences Mike's Non-Denominational Church Experience
A Woman's Fundamentalist Experience *Steve Born's Community Chapel & Charismatic Experiences
William's "Community Church" Experience Spiritual Abuse Can Happen in Baptist Churches
June Shafhid's Community Chapel Experience Jody's Controlling Church Experience
Rod's Church Experiences Melanie's Experience
Judson's 'Mixed Church' Experience *David Dorozan's Experience with the Hinns
*Robert & Linda Shepherd's 'Deliverance' Pentecostal Experience


Updated January 31, 2024 & Links Checked June 1, 2023


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