Baptist Cult in Butler Pennsylvania

[formercalvarymember]

There is a Baptist cult in Butler, Pennsylvania, that I attended pretty much my whole childhood. The Preacher, or cult leader, has left me and many others with emotional scars and depression disorders. we were brainwashed for many years, We were taught from a very young age that if we would leave this church (cult), we would die of cancer. We were told that this church was the only church that God was in. I suffered beatings, humiliation, along with mental and spiritual abuse. The Preacher was just recently caught, drinking whiskey, reading pornography( which he says he does so the Holy Ghost will pierce his heart), abusing perscription drugs,& using the tithes and offerings for his personal and sinful uses. He ran the church for 20 yrs and when this happend the members were only allowed one person to vote in as the new Pastor, it was his son in law. Some voted him in, others were forced to leave, even though they invested 20 yrs of the lives to this ministry. Not only has this Preacher(cult leader) abused his church members he has also abused the IRS by cheating them out of taxes for over twenty years. He had a cult in the late 70's in Madison, Wisconsin in which many still suffer from their tramatic experiences with him as their leader. We were all taught to "Be prepared to take a bullet" for our Preacher. This man adds and takes away from the Bible every chance that he gets. Although he is no longer the Pastor there, he still plays a key role in how they run the church and their members. His son in law(the new Preacher there) listens to everything he says. People are afraid of this man, and his "body guards". I now suffer from PTSD, anxiety depression disorder,& Bi-polar2, all of which were brought on by this cult leader. I just wish more people could hear my story. I don't want anymore children suffering like I did.

[Anonymous]

My son is in a cult. What you experienced is similar to all cults. Do you know about Wellspring, the rehab place for ex-cult members? It could be helpful to you.

[formercalvarymember]

I'm sorry to hear about your son. Do you think he will ever get out of the cult ? I never heard of Wellspring, what state is it in ? I have been out of the cult for 8 yrs now but, as i said, I still suffer emotional scars. I go to therapy for it now, it helps but, theres alot of anger that I have built up for the cult leader and his family, I take it day by day. I hope someday, your son will realize that he's better than that, and escape from the cult that he's in. Thanks for responding to my letter.

[carmen]

formercalvarymember

it is very important that you forgive and get some deliverance. God has to heal your heart so that you can be made whole, unless you forgive - only then will you be forgiven. it was terrible what happened to you but God can heal years of abuse. don't rule out christian counseling.

[formercalvarymember]

Carmen, ok...so, who said I haven't forgiven this cult leader (Preacher) yet ? The reason I am posting this story is to warn others. This cult is still alive and growing, there are children that are in danger there. I feel bad for the cult leader, I don't hate him, I have forgiven but, I will not forget.

[carmen]

just a word or wisdom. whether you have forgiven or not is between you and God, never said you didn't forgive, so please don't be defensive. email me if you like.

[formercalvarymember]

Carmen, I'm just saying, should I let this man continue what he is doing ? There are children that are in danger. I should just not worry about them ? I've learned to be defensive by growing up in this cult-like enviroment. The problem here isn't about forgiving, it's about stopping the cult. These people are brainwashed and are in serious danger. I'm just letting people know so, they don't fall into the trap as well. This man took my childhood away from me, but he can not take my dignity. I do forgive, but will not forget., and will never quit telling my story.....it may save a life.

[Little Sister]

I am from Pennsylvania and I believe you! I knew people that went to this church and I could tell it wasn't a normal baptist church. Last name was Cribbs. Were family friends and used to attend same church as my family but then got involved with this cult/like church and got some pretty weird ideas after that. I feel for anyone that get sucked into a church that uses religion and the "fear" of God to control people. One day that will face God and be held accountable. God Bless you and try to move forward and be happy.

[formercalvarymember]

Little Sister...thanks for your response. I didn't know anyone by that name but,my parents may know of them. The cult-like church is still up and running. It's a shame, I thought after the ppl that had been there for 20 yrs, found out their Preacher was reading porn , doing drugs, and binging on whiskey thay would leave. I guess they are to brainwashed to realize that he used them for their money. This Preacher (aka Cult Leader) made 1 million a yr, and paid no taxes whatsoever.I am happy now. I try daily to move on. I pray every night that God will help me get past this. I had a rough childhood because of this man and that takes alot of healing power. Well, just wanted to say thanks and I hope you never end up in a church like that. God Bless !

[Anonymous]

Keep telling your story formercalvarymember. These charlatins must be exposed.
I am writting a book about my experience.

[formercalvarymember]

Thanks for the support! I will keep telling my story, and I would love to write a book about my past cult experience, how do you go about doing that? I hope your experience has made you a stronger person, I feel like I am stronger from mine. God Bless !

[lead7 foot71]

Hey formercalvarymember - According to the time frames in your postings, we know each other. I was a member there for 12 years, and was there during the time you specify. I did not believe the church was a cult until six months after I left - then I was convinced. There are still some good people there who just haven't seen it yet. Keep praying for them. There's a lot of bleeding going on there, and many are leaving to start over. Praise God. I'm hesitant to reveal too much publicly, as I am convinced there are Kool-Aid drinkers there who would kill for Wayne and Joel, and do it with a smile. The hardest part for me after leaving was sorting out what was Biblical, and what was cultic. God has been very good to me and my family. I'm still an independent, fundamental, Bible-believing Christian who attends and serves in an independent, fundamental, Baptist church. The standards I retained are God's standards that I made my own. What I threw away was garbage to begin with.

[formercalvarymember]

HI lead7foot71, it is good to hear from you and yes, I agree there are alot of good people there that are just brainwashed. I hope someday they see the truth. As far as the "Koolaid drinkers" go, I know what you mean and who you mean! I ran into Dillabaugh in the store a while ago and was able to tell him off for the first time ever, it felt great.Please, tell others (that you can trust) to post their stories about Calvary.....the cult. The only reason it's a cult is because THEY made it one.

[asdsharks]

Well, it looks like I found some more former Calvary members. Well, I too am one of those former members. I attended Calvary for 20+ years. I graduated from Calvary Academy. While I know that the former Pastor has made some very serious mistakes and no not all of the problems were dealt with in a proper manner, I would hardly call Calvary a cult. There have been hundreds of people who have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as a result of that ministry. Yes, the pastor was in the wrong throughout his entire ministry, however, that does not mean that here weren't dozens of people who wanted to and did serve the Lord with all their hearts. While I too was very upset to see the pastor fall, I don't suffer from any Post blah blah blah injuries. I simply forgave him and moved on with my life. I have seen the pastor and his family several times since this has all played out and while things will never be the same as they use to be, I can still talk to them. In other words, move on and get over your bitterness. Telling the pastor off is going to accomplish nothing and it certainly means you have not forgiven. If you do not forgive, you are the one in the wrong. God is a forgiving God and God can and will forgive the sins of the church leaders if they confess. I am not justifying anything that the pastor has done nor am I defending the way the new pastor was put into place. What I am saying is forgive, love them and move on.

[formercalvarymember (199.239.212.99)]

Well, Im sorry but, I think child abuse is a crime nad a sin and these ppl need stopped. Dillabaugh has not changed, he was just seen in a bar the other day,near the Church. The Church is still in his name, and his wife is still the Treasurer not to metion he is driving Sunday School busses for the Church. Making young bhoys and teenage boys massage yopur feet is abuse, beating boys up is abuse, spanking kids w/ a board as young as 1 is abuse and making sexual comments to a young teenage girl , while in his office alone, is abuse ! Who are you, I would know you if you said your name. You should get your oney off of Dillabaugh, unless you allowed him to spend your tithes and offerings on porn, hookers, drugs, and whiskey.

[tornasunder (152.163.252.129)]

i have read each posting onthis page and there a various emotions and much pain. i to was a member at calvary for years-the place was all about power i dont know who asdsharks is, but your thinking is way out there. yes, you can move on it was all in the past, but there are still people at that church who under a hypnotic trance and it doesnt come from God. i have run into many people who have left and people who have also stayed. the ones who have left, leteraly have faces that look 10-20 years younger then they did when they belonged to calvary. the ones that stayed still have hard faces and hard hearts, none of their actions are Godly-noses get put up in the air, they run the other way, they snear at you like you were the one that made the church fall apart. the church fell because it was never planted on God. yes, people did get saved and lives were changed for the good-that was not the pastors doing, that was Gods doing and He did it for the members who loved Him and didnt know they were being lied to from the begining. the pastor was thrown out of every other state he ever preached in, why was he allowed to pastor Calvary- at the time it was a weak church, satan isnt stupid, thaTS who brought him to calvary,not God. the children that are there now put up with ridicule, abuse(mental/physical), and have a very unethical up bringing not based on the bible but on one mans word . that pastor has been milking money from people for years even before he came to butler. he even was introuble with the government one time because he got people to buy fake bonds. the man and his family are trouble-they have no love for anyone but themselves. if you have moved on then good for you. but you better be earnestly praying for the ones that are still there to have them see the light.

[Anonymous (67.193.44.98)]

To the person who started this thread last year, I just found it. What you have to say is pretty serious, and necessary to say I wil add.
This thread should be listed under The Religious Organizations Topic on Factnet where it will get much more of the attention it deserves.

[former (199.239.212.192)]

It is listed there and other places on the net. Believe me, I posted it everywhere I could http://www.factnet.org/discus/clipart/happy.gif Are YOU a former member ?

[guitars4christ]

I to am a former member of both the church and the school. I was abused both physically and mentally. I am just now (3 years later), figuring out what the Bible says and and just what that church was saying. I would appreciate everyone that reads this would pray for me as I sort through all of this. That church has scarred me for life. I dread going back there to visit friends or family. I am scared about what will happen to the kids in the school. I am praying for them everyday. That is all I think that I can do.

[arron]

i was a former member of an independent missionary baptist church. i am now in the holiness church. the church i went to was not a cult they taught the bible and lived right. they were however very dogmatic on some issues.

[measinner]

"The" holiness church? Is there one among all the many holiness churches that is "the" holiness church?

I'm not making fun of you, here; just curious.

[formercalvarymember]

guitars4christ........Perhaps we know eachother, I was there from 80-81 to 94, and my parents were there much later than I ~ I left as soon as I could (age 18) and they called Police after me, telling them I was 17 and ran away from Home, of course Police checked ID and I was released.
I am trying to Contact T. Davies, if you are out there PLEASE contact me on this Board......We are on YOUR Side and we believe that it was either not your fault, or you were manipulated into doing it, we would love to hear your side (The Truth) behind the story!