Stanton Affiliated Churches
I completely respect the privacy of members and will not publish any directories with names. I have no interest in doxxing anyone, since my sincere hope is that people who are currently trapped in Stanton’s grip will break free. However, I think it’s important for readers to have a factual record of where congregations of the sect exist. If you have updates or corrections, please leave them in the comments.
Des Moines Church of Christ
Biographical Info
Do you have information about the Des Moines Church of Christ? Please leave comments on this page to fill in details so our database is complete as possible.
NOTE: This directory is only for churches of Christ affiliated with the Stanton and Spring Valley, California congregations. The articles and comments on this blog do not typically apply to other mainline churches of Christ.
- Address: Unknown
Des Moines, IA Unknown - Google Reviews: Unknown
Folded Congregations
This is probably nowhere close to a complete list of congregations that have folded, but it’s a start:
- Alameda, CA
- Albany, GA
- Albuquerque, NM
- Billings, MT
- Birmingham, AL
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Eugene, OR
- Lakeland (Tampa), FL
- Midland, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Odessa, TX
- Oxnard, CA
- Pensacola, FL
- Pueblo, CO
- Rolla, MO
- San Jose, CA
If you have further information on more congregations or folded congregations, please feel free to leave it in the comment section or email me. Also, addresses of meeting places and photos of flyers passed out while knocking on doors would be helpful.
Additional Folded Congregation:
Oxnard, CA
Odessa, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
Birmingham, AL
Odessa was Midland first…Midland folded and they moved to Odessa, TX
Think they used to have a congregation in San Francisco but it folded
Iam a pastor in Kenya seeking your prayers and any possible fellowship for the gospel cause.Let me hear from you.
waiyajames@gmail.com
I am a member of the Tacoma, WA congregation.
Are you still a member Lynn?
I am a member of the Church of Christ. I was so very thankful that someone finally taught me the true gospel. Baptized in Tacoma, Washington on December 17, 1982. This experience has taught me many things. Very hard lessons. The foundation is good but how those members built upon it is destructive.
Hi Annette. Are you still a member in Tacoma? I am now going to a non-Merie Weiss church of Christ. I am really enjoying it and learning past the foundations I learned in Merie's sect. I got some good basics there but it was too oppressive and I felt like other's consciences were imposed on my own.
Welcome to the blog!
Welcome Annette!
Hello Annette, I came in in 1983 and I knew an Annette there. Might you be her?
hello
I am still a member of the Church of Christ, but I don't worship with that congregation.
@Lynn, I'm sure I'm not the only one unsure whether you mean you're still a member of one of the Stanton-affiliated churches or if you're now meeting with a mainline congregation.
I am a member of the Church of Christ. I believe in the premise of the Church of Christ, but I disagree with what the congregation here is teaching. I was brought up in the off Church of Christ since youth until I left there. There is no known other congregations that I know that are not off or wrong.
Lynn, with all the teachings of men documented here, and the lack of love understood, felt, and expressed in the Stanton churches, what Biblical benchmark do you use to decide that they are "less wrong" than the other churches of Christ you say are "off or wrong?"
Your primary criticism has been lack of love…yet isn't this the Greatest Command?
Just trying to understand where you're coming from.
I agree Kevin, I'm not sure either. I am "marked and avoided" from the Stanton Church of Christ. I am a member of a Church of Christ in my town. It's a wonderful Church.
I just wanted to find out when the Albany, GA and Pensacola, FL congregations folded? When I left in 2006 they were still in existence! Thanks!
My father was a preacher in this Church of Christ. I'm sure you've heard of him. He preached in the Pensacola church,also Eugene Oregon, and Stanton, Cali. My name is Jude Brooks. If possible, I would like the originator of this thread to email me if possible. brokenfeatherartgallery@gmail.com
Merie mentioned in the Gospel Guardian – http://www.wordsfitlyspoken.org/gospel_guardian/v3/v3n45p15a.html
Here is a page for San Antonio. More to come, but I'm pretty busy right now, so it might take awhile before I can get more pages like this created.
Kevin, a HUGE "thank you" for taking the time to do this. Wish I had the smarts to help you!
Kevin, the Dothan congregation is in Alabama.
Religion can good and religion can be bad. One of the dysfunctions of bad religion is that it fosters dependency and irresponsibility. Bad religion (cults specifically) makes the followers dependent upon the leader and the followers do not develop in themselves the ability to assume individual responsibility. In my time in the SCOC I was constantly reproved for not seeking council from the teachers in my congregation. In looking at the men who did seek and follow council of the leaders I saw time and time again men who failed to provide financial support for their wives and children (and even themselves) instead choosing to play groupie to the local or national leaders. In the Bible I read time and time again God teaches men to provide the basics for others like food and clothing as seen in the teachings of John the baptist when asked in Luke 3:10-11 what shall we do John the baptist taught them to share the basics. When religious groups teach men to neglect their families is that group following God or a man? I found that my church had stopped following the teaching of the Bible and choose rather to please the national leaders, it was church of Christ in name only.
Hello I am an child from one of tho sects losted above. I am no longer apart of it due to many factors that led me not to join after 18 years of being raised in it. Many include how me and friends and family were treated at the hands of memebers of these churches. I remain anonymous due to the fact that many an outlash may happen due to me commenting or even knowing of the existence of this site. Although I no longer follow these teachings and consider myself an athiest (no offense to anyone's beliefs that is simply the personal conclusion I have reached. I'd like to thank this site, it's owner, and the people who have commented on it for standing up to this extremist sect of the church of Christ. I remember when I was younger at one point this site came up in Bible classes and it was a huge concern. Special measures were taken to keep it's identity from members and their children. I'm glad I no longer have the biased blindfolds on me that I was raised with about this "off church" it's strange to hear the church I was raised in referred to as the off one. We were all blinded by this. I'm glad to see many children from the same congregation leaving to pursue their own paths and to see through the veils placed over us. I wish I had imformation to submit that would inform you to current happenings but I have withdrawn from most interactions considering these people. Feel free to reply with any questions you may have.
Anon 115. Thank you for your story. You have shown the power of truth by following your own sense from your own observations. This blog continues to give brave individuals an opening to escape to a brighter future. The cult destroyed many and continues to create and employ fear in it's mission of greed and ego.
Congratulation. Stay brave and please help this blog in it's good work. One day all these stories will break the back or the bank of the evil cult you were under. Enjoy life no matter what the next person thinks.
"A little philosophy leads to atheism, but depth in philosophy leads to religion"
Francis Bacon
Stanton is not representative of the totality of Christianity. While it has many excellent biblical teachings, it has a totalitarian outlook that stifles growth and innovation and so it sit's stagnant, year after year.
For true Christianity, look to George Whitefield, C.S. Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, etc. I learned a ton about Christianity and God from reading Robinson Crusoe. Excellent book.
The second best selling book of all time is Pilgrims Progress written by John Bunyan from an English prison. The book is profoundly insightful into the good and bad Christians we all encounter.
The book should be required reading in all schools.
Instead of that many of us are forced to read "I know why the Caged Bird sings", which is quite insightful, but it's appalling that a child has to read in explicit detail about a grown man molesting a little girl. Only an idiot would think that's a great idea. Also in our school systems, the movie "Romeo and Juliet" has been turned into a near pornography film. I'm ashamed I was exposed to that in the ninth grade. Even watching Forrest Gump and the "Sandlot" are over the top. Forrest Gump has many explicit scenes and the Sandlot has a very inappropriate scene where a scantily clad lifeguard is depicted. I watched both of those in 1993 in eighth grade. I would have been better off never seeing them. Even though my parents raised us without television, my friends in the church had fathers who weren't Christians and they watched hellivision all the time. I loved it too. I didn't know it was bad for me, a waste of time, and filling my mind with all kinds of garbage.
I'm very happy Stanton raised us without any trips to the beaches, swimming pools, or gyms. This was standard in 1940, but then America got sabotaged by the Kinsey Report in 1948. Anyone who has not read "Sexual Sabotage" has no idea what is going on.
http://www.drjudithreisman.com/archives/2010/07/sexual_sabotage.html
Now, nearly fifty percent of the millennials are brainwashed to think homosexuality is a great idea, and anyone who opposes it is a hopeless bigot.
http://www.massresistance.org/docs/issues/gay_strategies/after_the_ball.html
Additionally, 65% of 8th graders are not proficient in reading and 67% of 8th graders are not proficient in math. We are raising a generation of corrupt dunces. Lord help us when these ignoramuses grow up.
https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/65-public-school-8th-graders-not-proficient-reading-67-not-proficient
But I digress, the Founders of America were very Christian and knew their Bibles a lot better than Stanton. They also knew history a lot better than Stanton.
Stanton proudly teaches to ignore them.
https://wallbuilders.com/founding-fathers-jesus-christianity-bible/
Many in Stanton are still watching hellivision, while they encourage others not to read books or history. Pathetic!!
Hi anonymous 1:15, I was a child in SCOC too. My mom joined in the mid 70s. I left almost 30 years ago. It’s been a long journey that has led me to understanding the commonality of religion. I don’t say much here as it seems my journey has led me to different understandings (very agnostic including other than Christian beliefs). Just wanted to wish you well in your continued healing.
Anon 115 and Dora. Thanks for your respectful comments. I am, however, saddened that you no longer believe in the God of the Bible. This is exactly the legacy Merie has left through her church. Her unkind and militant example left its mark and much of what she taught is still around today.
I earnestly hope one day you do come to Christ. I sincerely wish you both well and continued healing.
If anyone in the Portland, Or/Vancouver Wa happens to be looking at this blog to distinguish which CofC is of Merie’s cult. They meet in an office space for there Sundays, Tuesday’s and Thursday nonmember classes which they hold on the second and forth Thursdays of the month. 12003 NE Ainsworth Circle. Portland, Oregon. 97720 suite 106. A legitimate cult meets at that address.
I did listen to some talks from her and yes she is vocal strong but nevertheless teaches the truth, women can teach according to scriptures but need to keep silent during worship – make sure you look at scriptures always. The church has softened in tone but always teaches truth – if fault was and is found the church is willing to communicate – all fault has been lifted and corrected so far. It appears they have been a lot of people emotionaly affected is it possible because of sin.The scriptures are not to be taken lightly considering truth – heaven and hell.
since so many versions have been slanted by the catholic church when they started around 230AD. are we sure how we use the greek in 1 Tim3:11 is the word woman,wives, etc etc correct since in the foot notes some translations say DEACONESS…that is NEVER talked about…
Tulln640AD you’re not talking about cult founder Merie Weiss teaching the truth now are you? Some truth sure, but not all truth by a long shot. Have you read the articles on this blog? Kevin has easily disproved many of Merie’s errors and those such as TC, KS, PP and king snake GP who have followed in her footsteps. One commenter had said Merie was instructing the father of the child how tight to bound his wrists to his bedposts to prevent him from masturbating. That witch should’ve been jailed along with the father. How many marriages was she involved in splitting up? She taught and went to her grave teaching uncleanness was a withdrawalble sin. Wrong she was even the ding dongs leading the cult now figured out its a private sin. Where do you find public confessions as part of worship? How man deacons and elders does the cult have. Always teaches truth what a joke. Are you a member of the cult? Do you believe that they are the one and only true church? I can go on and on about what I know about them. All fault has been lifted and corrected so far. If you are talking about the SCOC as knownon this blog, or as it is Merie’s cult that is a complete lie. I’d call you a liar to your face. Many many wrongs and sins have not been corrected. Unscriptural withdrawals for one. I’ve only stated truth and facts with my two years of comments to expose this cult. You come on here with lies. As Anon 2:22 are you another Merie sympathizer?
Tulln640AD, to add to my comment above you ask if people could be emotionally affected, is it possible because of sin? Yes the sin of Merie’s cult and how it has affected many. The wrong they have done myself by withdrawing from me a nonmember because I began reading and commenting on this blog and telling my member wife about what I was reading has only stirred me up to expose them the more so. Commenting on this blog is only a portion of what I have instore to expose Merie’s cult.
Can you help? In an effort to create more transparency about the Stanton churches, I’d like to crowdsource this directory of public meeting places. The information I’m looking for is:
1) Address of Sunday meeting place.
2) URL of the Google Maps location.
3) If no Google Maps listing exists for a congregation, it can be created.
4) Once a Google Maps listing does exist, you can add photos of the building.
5) Those familiar with the congregation can leave a review on the Google Maps listing.
Note: I have zero desire to dox any members, so please only provide info about public meeting places, not private residences. I was originally going to gather the names of the teachers in each congregation, but I have decided against that. I don’t want to even give the appearance of this blog being about personal attacks.
If you have a piece of info, you can post it in this thread. If you have information on many congregations, feel free to email it to me: kevinmharper@gmail.com.
Thank you for everyone’s help!
Portland’s meeting address. 12003 NE Ainsworth Circle. Portland, Oregon 97220. Suite 106
Hi, Im from the memphis TN Congragation my family joined in 04 and i grew up in the church pretty much. I’m having a difficult time. I have lost my family and i wont say to this sect just because we all make our own decisions and my family has made theirs. but i am hoping for some guidance. What happened to me in this church has scarred me and I am so thankful I was blessed with the mind to think for myself and to have the emotional intelligence to know that this staton church is only a control tatic. I have a mom and grandmother there and they have been through in this place. There are so many terrible stories but he one that is the most revealing is how they cover up sex offenders. My mom married a man that molested me and continued to do the lords supper. I was told by one woman there that it happened because i look like my mom and i was also told by a main preacher that that man is the HEAD OF THE HOUSE and asked me at 17/18 if i knew where i could go… reason he asked is because after my mom made the decision to put this man out the house to protect her girls they tried to push him back in despite my moms decision. he was withdrawn from for about a year but it always bothered me because this man is filthy and needs mental help. not being ugly just out of concern of the kids and youngs women that are still there and out tof the families that host this man in their homes at meetings. Throughout my whole story here growing up the mental toll this palce has put on me is sick 🙁 and i just want to save my family. Please give me the words to say to my mom who is in denial and literally going to stress herself out into a heart attack. i need to save my family. I love them so much.
Where do I start? The evangelist says that “there are certain things that the human spirit cannot stand” and in studying work place bullying I see what he means. The screaming mad person is the easiest bully to identify and next is the constant critic bully which fits with the current management style of “if they don’t stand up right away and confess” then you know what to do (and that is to criticize the individual both directly and indirectly until they submit or fall away.) How to deal with such subtle tactics of bullying is when your at your breaking point and ready to fall away say to yourself “I need stronger teachers” Christ is the strongest teacher of them all as seen in Matthew 8:19-20 when a scribe proclaimed that he would follow Christ wherever he would go and Christ said that the foxes have holes ( dens where they and their offspring live) and birds have nests (homes where they and their offspring live) but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head (meaning he was homeless) implying the question you will follow a homeless man? Pretty strong teaching if you ask me. Did you realize that you were following the teaching of a homeless man? I was molested as a child as also my son was molested as a child by a church of Christ preacher who is still in fellowship in the Suprise Arizona congregation, it happens and it happens more than the church is willing to admit. You are not alone in your suffering but you must desexualize yourself and learn the proper boundaries of adult sexual relationships. If leadership admitted that a pedophile has been actively raping children in the Phoenix church of Christ for years then they would have to do something about it which is unlikely; my advice: do not fellowship with the Arizona congregation. Stress can kill but group therapy can help when you realize that others have suffered the same thing and overcome it and are now stronger in spite of being defiled as a child. I use the trials of my life to encourage my son to fight and overcome the fear of rejection and learn from Christ how to behave oneself as an adult. So in using Christ as an example make the man homeless with a restraining order and see how long he continues to follow Christ. Another type of bully is the withholder of needed support. I told the teaching preacher from Albuquerque of my spouses impending adultry and he withheld any teaching against adultery then would laugh at me after the fact, truly an evil man. The church of Christ is a battle ground where you will be pushed beyond all limits by false brethern and your only hope is in Christ himself and not in any man that walks the earth to survive the Spiritual war and gain the victory over evil.
Matthew 8:19-20 was a strong teaching because it was a test of the candor and loyalty of the man. You will follow me anywhere? I am homeless will you still follow me anywhere? Christ showed him his boasting was perhaps a lie was he really willing to suffer with Christ and endure homelessness? Abraham was called at 75 years old to leave his comfortable home and go and dwell in tents like a homeless man, Paul the apostle was homeless at times, when you make a statement of loyalty be prepared to be tested on it right away and suffer the shame of failure if your not ready. I have suffered homelessness in the Church of Christ when my marriage failed but I had a choice I could be homeless or I could make my estranged wife and children homeless like other christian men have done to their estranged wife and children. My suffering was more noble than women and children suffering.
Consider the recruitment methods of Satan and Christ as laid out in Proverbs 1:10-19 for Satan and 1:20-33 for Christ. In Satans methods he uses enticements to recruit (enticement is defined as attracting by offering pleasure or advantage) people by offering promises of easy riches, and membership in a brotherhood (or sisterhood) and he is able through carnality to recruit. Christ recruits through spirituality, that is, an appeal to the higher calling of wisdom by asking questions of individuals how long will you simple ones loves simplicity is a pattern for asking how long you mechanics will you love being just a mechanic or you homemakers love just being a homemaker, or any other carnal pursuit. Wisdom asks accountability questions. Satan places no limit on his offer but wisdom does limit its offer and states if you reject him he is going to reject you in return. John the baptist was an example of a recruiter who followed the pattern in Pr. 1:20-33 as was Noah, and Christ, and many others. Where did John the Baptist live? In the wilderness ( he was homeless) how easy is it to reject the wisdom of a homeless person? When you do reject the homeless Christian person they are required to reject you in return. Recruitment does not stop once you are baptized; in the one true church both Christ and Satan are actively seeking to recruit individuals to their side. Do you want the advantages of being a member of the ruling elite in the Church of Christ? Here is some Merie tapes and lessons and start saying “Merie said” and leave the bible alone, and you will develop the spirit of a Pharisee and believe in your own supremacy. You want to go to heaven then start questioning the behaviors of the abusers and when they express their discontentment like the Preacher from Albuquerque did after a first Friday of the month class between Phoenix and Prescott where he was reproved for his neglect of many Christian’s by ignoring them for two or three years at a time he angrily asked “Who has been talking about me?” That was a rejection of wisdom by the preacher from Albuquerque and in return it is required that he be rejected. Was he withdrawn from for murmuring? Nope not at all for he knew Merie and with such a high privilege could not be brought up for withdrawal. What can be done about the wicked in the Church of Christ? Not much but if it is to dangerous to be there physical the wisest thing to do is to flee into the wilderness and become one of the Spiritually homeless apostates who speak wisdom and are rejected on a regular basis.
Proverbs 15:13 “but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken ” in the military this is called demoralization of the enemy. How does leadership demoralize their followers? Through constant criticism, through isolation from family and friends, by creating the false belief that if you leave the abusive environment you will die, by ridiculing you publicly, by denying the evidence of wrongdoing, and by making you feel that anything you do is not good enough. To combat these psychological pressures you must maintain a positive attitude, remind yourself that God is good to those who have suffered for him like Christ and Job, your rewards will allow you to forget all the pain and misery you have been made to endure. The oppressors need money to operate so to combat them cut your giving to two pennies a week and when they complain point out that the rich in the church do not give their fair share either. You must also use the local police to arrest the abusers as church discipline does little to stop abusers. Make up your mind to resist Satan and all those who personify him.
Okay well the suggestion to give only two pennies into the collection was not a good idea after all. I spoke to another christian who was in the Phoenix congregation the same time I was and has a son with similar behaviors as my son and the son has admitted to being sexually abused but has yet to name his abuser. As more victims come forth we can united against this child sexual predator and demand both church leadership and law enforcement act simultaneously to put an end to his evil corruption of the children. Psalms 17:13 says the wicked are the sword of the Lord and I fully believe that; why then was evil allowed to defile my family? In talking with the other Christian we as parents had done the same thing and that was to idolize our children before our God and myself often forgetting God for months on end as I exalted my son above my God. In talking with my now adult son he said that the pedophile had brought blueberries to a Sunday fellowship had given him some then took the away. At the end of the Sunday fellowship he offered my estranged wife to give my son a ride back to the AZ blind center where Sunday evening class was being held. Once in the vehicle with the pedophile he produced a second basket of blueberries and offered them to my 7 year old son who ate some then shortly afterwards started hallucinating then the pedophile drove to his house and molested my son and then drove him to the Sunday night bible class. He is an opportunistic predator needing only a short time alone with a child to commit his evil. I did not attend that Sunday and the pedophile saw an opportunity and took it. I realize now that I should have been where my children were and not to trust them alone with the man not even for a few minutes, I accept full responsibility for leaving my children unguarded. I understand God is a jealous God and should be the apple of our eye at all time and our children should be brought up to serve their families and our God first and foremost.
So have you actually contacted the authorities about this man and how many victims have identified him as their abuser ? I don’t know who you are so I don’t know enough to jump on the bandwagon right away so to speak but if this is true then I hope something can be done
With pedophiles to law enforcement they are as common as cockroaches and without hard evidence law enforcement is unwilling to proceed. The statute of limitations is 7 years so my son was molested in 2002 another in 2006 so prosecution is not possible. To name the man publicly without hard evidence allows a countersuit of slander or libel. The man is a serial child molester and is still molesting children but is difficult to catch the only thing I can do is to warn others about him and not allow their children near him and never alone with him like giving your child a ride back to evening bible class after a Sunday fellowship.
How do I view constant criticism today? It is like thorns and thistle used as fire wood under a pot to cook up something good. Trees are a metaphor for people and like trees people never stop growing until they die. Thorns and thistles are also a metaphor for people, but evil people specifically and like thorns and thistles evil people continue to grow until they die as well. You will not find the fruits of the spirit among thorns and thistles, that is among evil people. You can use evil people as motivations for striving to be more obedient to God’s word lest one become like them. I do pray for the constant critcizers that somehow they see the evil of their ways and repent.
For those that think “monte cristo” is evil, and with his anger issues I can understand why a belief against him would develop but he is not that bad when compared to others I have fellowshiped with. Consider this: when my wife was eight months pregnant with her fifth child a woman teacher in the Phoenix congregation told her that I was as bad as her husband who had beat one of their children as his wife, a teacher, watched and did nothing to stop the abuse; until the child ran away.. That was not true as I had never beaten any child but the woman teacher projected her hatred for her abusive husband onto me and sowed her evil discord to my wife which resulted in my wife taking a restraining order out on me and ending our seven year marriage. My estranged wife could not contain, that is she could not be single, and committed adultery. Once she committed the first adultery and little consequence happened she went on to live the life of an adulterous woman. The woman teacher who sowed her discord of hatred is truly evil. If church leadership will not withdraw from evil and abusive men and their discord sowing wife then evil will spread through the entire congregation like yeast in bread dough. A God fearing Christian must get up and leave a dark congregation if they are to have any hope of preserving their marriage and protecting their children from abusers. What qualifications are required to become a spiritual leader in the SCOC? Apparently not much.
If you have not prayed in some time consider this: God has been dealing with human beings for more than 6000 years now and he has great patience with mankind. No matter where your at in life or no what you have or have not done God is still there waiting for you to repent and glorify him. As long as you have the breath of life in you there is still hope for salvation. Try praying today, it may suprise you what God can do.