Thank you! I’ll keep sharing until I see a change. My children still attend the UPC church when they are with their dad and I want better for them! The goal isn’t to try to get them to leave the religion, the goal is to spread awareness and be loud enough to demand change. I’ve taught my daughter to love unconditionally and she is able to see people for who they are and not what they wear and she’s only 12. I’m hoping one day my son will be able to have that same understanding.
Alicia thank you for your story it brought me to tears. Just know there are many Ex UPC out here who understand you and we also know what it feels like to be gaslit from the church.
Thank you ❤ Hearing other peoples opinions and shared experiences of abuse was extremely validating and definitely confirmation that there needs to be a change. The more we speak the more people we can help. I’m extremely thankful for Deanna and others like her providing a platform and helping others feel validated.
Secrets are a big thing in that denomination. When scandalous things happen, it's all about saving face. Years after I left, a youth pastor came on board with them who was a registered sex offender. The church knew about his record and made him a youth pastor anyway, and the congregation was none the wiser. One of the girls had a baby by him. There was other sexual sin within some of the leadership as well. We're human, we sin, and thank God for His grace. But to allow these things to go on within a church and failing to protect innocent people, and allowing the offending parties to continue in leadership roles is un-biblical and unethical.
It's not just upc. This is an issue in many, many churches in the Western world. God is exposing this. It's all about protecting the organization vs. appropriately following the Bible with sin and how to handle leadership transgressions.
Thank you for all of your love and support Cathy! I’m so thankful that Erica and all of us girls have such a strong encourager and supporter throughout this entire ordeal! God bless you!
Thank you for sharing, It's been encouraging,but heartbreaking I pray we all get through our bad experiences about the UPC ,these videos are so important to hear others what they went through .thank you Deanna Jo God bless your ministry
Thank you Katie ❤ Love you girl and I’m anxiously awaiting your story to be heard. I think it’ll just reiterate and drive home the whole point of speaking out. There needs to be a change!!!
Honey 😢😢😢Alecia you are beautiful ❤iam soo sorry you went through hell. Dianna thank you you are amazing to, you fought for those that couldn't speak. You are an advocate, big hug Alecia Jess xx
@@AliciaHall-e9xyour beautiful Alicia, I cried hearing you cry, I could feel it 😢😢😢Please know your so very special ❤❤your loved, thank you for sharing your story ❤❤Jess
So thankful for the space that Deanna Jo has created to hear these voices and people’s stories. Thank you, Alicia for sharing your story ❤ I’m so glad you found peace and happiness.
7:37 Amen and amen. Religion tries to project issues on other vs. the issue within their own heart! That was a time for that man to fervently seek Jesus for a new heart on how to see women. Especially younger children!
Alicia - Thank you for sharing your experience... I was a victim of abuse within the church and hearing someone else put words to some of the thought processes from that culture is validating. Having the pastor not protect me and other girls after he'd been told was so traumatic on top of a whole pile of trauma. Deanna Jo - thank you for bringing these things to light and for talking about the real side effects and offering resources for those in distress.
I'm so sorry you experienced both primary and secondary abuse when you were abused and then weren't protected by your pastor. You and the other girls deserved better. I hope you have been able to find some healing.
Your comment was a direct hit to the chest. I’m so so sorry that you also were a victim within the church. It’s an entire new level of traumatic when abuse happens within the church because of the way it’s handled. It does so much damage since we’re taught to just forgive and never ever ever feel validation. I think validation is a necessary step in the healing process. Without feeling validated you are stuck in a limbo with how you should feel never really being able to believe that what happened was indeed wrong and that you were never ever the problem. The church needs to first and foremost protect but their knee jerk reaction every time is “YOU need to forgive.”
I have witnessed it so many times that a pastor would overlook someone's sin or inappropriate behavior simply because of that individuals talent or if their tithes were large. It is sad and so wrong. Makes me sick
Thank you for sharing your story, Alicia. I know it can't be easy, and it will help so many others. It came across very honest and open, and there was no malice or bitterness apparent in this entire interview. Excellent video once again, Deanna!
Deanna Jo, Thank you for your channel and for bringing these horrible situations to light. I am in a UPC church where our Pastor is wonderful and has treated victims with care and love and also properly notified authorities for those cases. I do know, obviously through your channel, as well as cases I personally have found out about that there are Pastors and leadership who arecan absolute disgrace! To think that there wasn't 1 single representative to be there for those victims is absolutely disgusting, horrendous, and NOT CHRIST LIKE! I would so much like to write a letter to Jim Booker/David Bernard to express the deep disappointment in there not being someone there for those victims. Any thoughts? I also understood that a couple of years ago (2022) from a minister's wife that there was voting in reference to how an accused minister is handled. I am for investigation both internally and externally. However, the ministers wife was so upset, because the way it seemed to read was giving much more latitude to the district boards and seemed to favor the possible perpetrator. Have you heard anything about that? Thank you for all you have done and are doing. ❤❤
Thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing your story. I believe you are helping more people than you will ever know. I know you helped me today ❤ I will be praying for you and your family.
I had a small slit on the side of my skirt, the slit did not even pass my knee but apparently this caused another brother to stumble and I was confronted about it an given a bobby pin to hem it up lol. Looking back I cant believe just how brainwashed I was.
That's insane. I can't imagine being a grown man, and basically publicly admitting I had no self control and even pointing out the person who is my weakness. It's a messed up environment in which a man could do that, not feel humiliated, and the expectation of responsibility and shame would rest on the other party.
Wow!! Really Dumb!! Of Course the Girl is always at fault and not the Man. The Girl is a sex object and should be ashamed of her body and has to wear a potato sack to cover up. The Man has no responsibilities or consequences in results of his sin. Such Disgusting Nonsense!! So Glad you have come to know the Truth!! God Bless you!!!
Thank you! I hope the strength God gave me to share will spread and inspire others to seek help and escape their abusive or toxic relationships/environments!
Thank you Deanna Jo and Alicia for doing this!! Keep up the Fantastic Job Deanna Jo!! Thank you Alicia for being Brave for telling your Story!! You are Beautiful!! God Bless you Both!!! 🥰🥰🥰
I am so proud of you for sharing. It's sad to hear another story about the abuse in WI. I feel like many others in WI are afraid to step up and speak out. I hope more people find their voice. You are not alone. 🫶
I'm so proud of you for being so brave and telling your story. These things should never be allowed! It makes me so upset. I was told to forgive my abuser and I was expected to keep quiet. He passed away with cancer in his 70s when I was only 17 after a lifetime of abusing so many girls and women and was never brought to justice.
I soo relate to you and these other stories. It's soo unbelievable how they are okay with women being abused by these "leaders" and "pastors". Just makes me soo upset how they're okay with ruining our lives. 😭
Thank you for sharing your story, Alicia. You're a beautiful, strong, amazing person.🙏🏻❤️ And thank you, DeannaJo; for giving her a safe place to share and helping Alicia get her voice back. God Bless You Both! ❤🙏🏻
I left the the Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship and was in it at it’s inception. I was born into the IAFCJ, switched to UPC due to services in English and then morphed into the WPF. It took 2 years to be brave enough to leave.
I told the pastor of my UPC Church , that my husband had a problem with pornography and abused me and my children. And the next Sunday he put him on the platform to preach! And when we separated, and my husband tried to rip my three year-old child out of my arms the pastor looked at us and I pleaded with him to help and he just looked the other way. Needless to say I’m not part of that church or married anymore.
Oh my! That absolutely breaks my heart for you and your kids! You deserved better! He did more than just fail you, that sounds extremely traumatizing 😢 So glad you got out of both situations! I had a similar situation with my pastor and (ex) father-in-law. It was my father-in-law that tried ripping my daughter out of my hands. Then called the police to say I had kidnapped her and when we got to the police station (where I worked) the pastor was there to support my father-in-law who was also on the church board. That day haunts me.
Kevin, wow it’s been a bit. Thank you so much for commenting. Life definitely had a few crazy turns but I’m doing well now. I hope you are doing well and are happy. Gateway seems like another lifetime ago!
I was excommunicated from a UPC church I used to go to recently. My pastor and church "family" would constantly monitor my social media and they tried to tell me what to think and feel...real cult like vibes.
I hate to hear about toxic behavior in the church but I will say I never had any bad experience growing up in church. My church isn’t UPC but it’s quite similar as we are independent Pentecostal. I recall a friend got told to change as her skirt was too tight. It was tight though so I don’t blame the pastor’s wife for saying something. Edited after listening further- I have heard of this happening before to others. A preacher even had a family member have awful actions perpetrated against him. He couldn’t get past the bitterness and hatred even though he knew God had called him to preach. The family member had since died after the incident(s) happened. God ended up healing his heart from those awful experiences. There is healing in the midst of awful circumstances. You’d think the church is the safest place for children but you can’t trust any one it seems.
This happened in every church I know up growing up upc in the midwest. It's sick. Luckily I think the upc is on life support at this point. And their sphere of influence is dwindling weekly
Agreed...UPCI is constantly loosing members or even an entire church assembly. Growing up within UPC, we attended general conferences back in the 80s and easily see 65-75K plus attendance. This year in California at General Conference they had about 15K.... So many friends from JCM, CLC, And IBC are now independent or nondenominal.... But not just UPC, but several other denominational churches like AOG, SB, and Methodist are loosing members as well. Great video
The couple I know of didn't have his last name and were a little too close to his age for me to suspect that they were his parents, but I could be wrong. ***Edit*** I rechecked my source. The couple I am referring to are not family members of his. They pastor a church in Maine.
What a heartbreaking experience. My heart just hurts for you. You are not alone. Keep telling your story! Louder!
Thank you! I’ll keep sharing until I see a change. My children still attend the UPC church when they are with their dad and I want better for them! The goal isn’t to try to get them to leave the religion, the goal is to spread awareness and be loud enough to demand change. I’ve taught my daughter to love unconditionally and she is able to see people for who they are and not what they wear and she’s only 12. I’m hoping one day my son will be able to have that same understanding.
Thank you Deanna for creating a safe space for people to share their story!!!
Alicia thank you for your story it brought me to tears. Just know there are many Ex UPC out here who understand you and we also know what it feels like to be gaslit from the church.
Thank you ❤
Hearing other peoples opinions and shared experiences of abuse was extremely validating and definitely confirmation that there needs to be a change. The more we speak the more people we can help. I’m extremely thankful for Deanna and others like her providing a platform and helping others feel validated.
Secrets are a big thing in that denomination. When scandalous things happen, it's all about saving face. Years after I left, a youth pastor came on board with them who was a registered sex offender. The church knew about his record and made him a youth pastor anyway, and the congregation was none the wiser. One of the girls had a baby by him. There was other sexual sin within some of the leadership as well. We're human, we sin, and thank God for His grace. But to allow these things to go on within a church and failing to protect innocent people, and allowing the offending parties to continue in leadership roles is un-biblical and unethical.
Yikes!!! Hiring a registered sex offender to work with minors? smh It's insane!!!
It's not just upc. This is an issue in many, many churches in the Western world. God is exposing this. It's all about protecting the organization vs. appropriately following the Bible with sin and how to handle leadership transgressions.
Oh Alicia. You are such an inspiration. Keep telling your story. Keep pressing on. You got this beautiful young lady.
Thank you for all of your love and support Cathy! I’m so thankful that Erica and all of us girls have such a strong encourager and supporter throughout this entire ordeal! God bless you!
Thank you for sharing, It's been encouraging,but heartbreaking I pray we all get through our bad experiences about the UPC ,these videos are so important to hear others what they went through .thank you Deanna Jo God bless your ministry
Alicia - thank you for sharing your story!! You’re so brave and so strong!! You are a warrior, lady!!
Thank you Katie ❤ Love you girl and I’m anxiously awaiting your story to be heard. I think it’ll just reiterate and drive home the whole point of speaking out. There needs to be a change!!!
Honey 😢😢😢Alecia you are beautiful ❤iam soo sorry you went through hell. Dianna thank you you are amazing to, you fought for those that couldn't speak. You are an advocate, big hug Alecia Jess xx
@@AliciaHall-e9xyour beautiful Alicia, I cried hearing you cry, I could feel it 😢😢😢Please know your so very special ❤❤your loved, thank you for sharing your story ❤❤Jess
So thankful for the space that Deanna Jo has created to hear these voices and people’s stories. Thank you, Alicia for sharing your story ❤ I’m so glad you found peace and happiness.
Yes! A huge shout out to Deanna. And thank you, I definitely have found peace and a lot more strength as well.
7:37 Amen and amen. Religion tries to project issues on other vs. the issue within their own heart! That was a time for that man to fervently seek Jesus for a new heart on how to see women. Especially younger children!
Alicia - Thank you for sharing your experience... I was a victim of abuse within the church and hearing someone else put words to some of the thought processes from that culture is validating.
Having the pastor not protect me and other girls after he'd been told was so traumatic on top of a whole pile of trauma.
Deanna Jo - thank you for bringing these things to light and for talking about the real side effects and offering resources for those in distress.
I'm so sorry you experienced both primary and secondary abuse when you were abused and then weren't protected by your pastor. You and the other girls deserved better. I hope you have been able to find some healing.
Your comment was a direct hit to the chest. I’m so so sorry that you also were a victim within the church. It’s an entire new level of traumatic when abuse happens within the church because of the way it’s handled. It does so much damage since we’re taught to just forgive and never ever ever feel validation. I think validation is a necessary step in the healing process. Without feeling validated you are stuck in a limbo with how you should feel never really being able to believe that what happened was indeed wrong and that you were never ever the problem. The church needs to first and foremost protect but their knee jerk reaction every time is “YOU need to forgive.”
This happens more often than people know. Thank you for your courage and strength in sharing your story.
It does unfortunately. Praying Deanna’s channel just continues to shed a light on this and reach those who are needing to know they are not alone ❤
I have witnessed it so many times that a pastor would overlook someone's sin or inappropriate behavior simply because of that individuals talent or if their tithes were large. It is sad and so wrong.
Makes me sick
Yes, it's especially upsetting when it puts vulnerable people in the congregation in danger. I'll never understand it!
Upc is judgemental also.
Thank you for sharing your story, Alicia. I know it can't be easy, and it will help so many others. It came across very honest and open, and there was no malice or bitterness apparent in this entire interview.
Excellent video once again, Deanna!
Deanna Jo,
Thank you for your channel and for bringing these horrible situations to light. I am in a UPC church where our Pastor is wonderful and has treated victims with care and love and also properly notified authorities for those cases. I do know, obviously through your channel, as well as cases I personally have found out about that there are Pastors and leadership who arecan absolute disgrace! To think that there wasn't 1 single representative to be there for those victims is absolutely disgusting, horrendous, and NOT CHRIST LIKE! I would so much like to write a letter to Jim Booker/David Bernard to express the deep disappointment in there not being someone there for those victims. Any thoughts? I also understood that a couple of years ago (2022) from a minister's wife that there was voting in reference to how an accused minister is handled. I am for investigation both internally and externally. However, the ministers wife was so upset, because the way it seemed to read was giving much more latitude to the district boards and seemed to favor the possible perpetrator. Have you heard anything about that? Thank you for all you have done and are doing. ❤❤
Alicia - My heart goes out to you! You are so Loved! Not only by God, but by so many people that have heard your story. ❤❤
Thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing your story. I believe you are helping more people than you will ever know. I know you helped me today ❤
I will be praying for you and your family.
I had a small slit on the side of my skirt, the slit did not even pass my knee but apparently this caused another brother to stumble and I was confronted about it an given a bobby pin to hem it up lol. Looking back I cant believe just how brainwashed I was.
That's insane. I can't imagine being a grown man, and basically publicly admitting I had no self control and even pointing out the person who is my weakness. It's a messed up environment in which a man could do that, not feel humiliated, and the expectation of responsibility and shame would rest on the other party.
Wow!! Really Dumb!! Of Course the Girl is always at fault and not the Man. The Girl is a sex object and should be ashamed of her body and has to wear a potato sack to cover up. The Man has no responsibilities or consequences in results of his sin. Such Disgusting Nonsense!!
So Glad you have come to know the Truth!! God Bless you!!!
How do these men survive in public, when the majority of people do not follow their rules? It's disgusting.
Alicia you are a survivor, and a wonderful example of strength and resilience.
Thank you! I hope the strength God gave me to share will spread and inspire others to seek help and escape their abusive or toxic relationships/environments!
Thank You for sharing your powerful story, Alicia
I feel so blessed to have been able to share it. It’s a very therapeutic experience and I’m praying it helps others. Thank you ❤
Alicia thank you for sharing your story. You will undoubtedly cause other women /girls to speak up. You are loved ❤
Thank you Deanna Jo and Alicia for doing this!! Keep up the Fantastic Job Deanna Jo!!
Thank you Alicia for being Brave for telling your Story!! You are Beautiful!!
God Bless you Both!!! 🥰🥰🥰
Alicia,
You are a very strong woman! A real inspiration to me and my family!
Thank you. That means a lot to me and I hope whatever you and your families situation is that you are now in a safe and happy place ❤
Thank you for sharing your story ♥️♥️ you are an inspiration!
I am so proud of you for sharing. It's sad to hear another story about the abuse in WI. I feel like many others in WI are afraid to step up and speak out. I hope more people find their voice. You are not alone. 🫶
I'm so proud of you for being so brave and telling your story. These things should never be allowed! It makes me so upset.
I was told to forgive my abuser and I was expected to keep quiet. He passed away with cancer in his 70s when I was only 17 after a lifetime of abusing so many girls and women and was never brought to justice.
I'm so sorry for the abuse you and the others suffered and that you never received justice before he passed away.
😢This is just heart breaking 💔 I hope more victims continue to share their stories, so this pattern of behavior stops.
I soo relate to you and these other stories. It's soo unbelievable how they are okay with women being abused by these "leaders" and "pastors". Just makes me soo upset how they're okay with ruining our lives. 😭
Thank you for sharing your story, Alicia. You're a beautiful, strong, amazing person.🙏🏻❤️
And thank you, DeannaJo; for giving her a safe place to share and helping Alicia get her voice back. God Bless You Both! ❤🙏🏻
God bless you. ❤
Alicia, thank you for sharing your story. ❤
I left the the Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship and was in it at it’s inception. I was born into the IAFCJ, switched to UPC due to services in English and then morphed into the WPF. It took 2 years to be brave enough to leave.
So glad you were able to leave and I hope you’re happy and in a great place ❤
I told the pastor of my UPC Church , that my husband had a problem with pornography and abused me and my children. And the next Sunday he put him on the platform to preach! And when we separated, and my husband tried to rip my three year-old child out of my arms the pastor looked at us and I pleaded with him to help and he just looked the other way. Needless to say I’m not part of that church or married anymore.
Oh my! That absolutely breaks my heart for you and your kids! You deserved better! He did more than just fail you, that sounds extremely traumatizing 😢 So glad you got out of both situations! I had a similar situation with my pastor and (ex) father-in-law. It was my father-in-law that tried ripping my daughter out of my hands. Then called the police to say I had kidnapped her and when we got to the police station (where I worked) the pastor was there to support my father-in-law who was also on the church board. That day haunts me.
Terribly unwise pastors wife. What a horrible experience!! I’m so glad you told though!!
Beautiful note letter from Tammy Moss Roberts ❤❤❤😢😢😢💔💔
Always good seeing your videos. Facebook suspended my account for the 4th time… good seeing others speaking out
Ugh, sorry to hear that! I wondered where you went, I thought maybe you took it down.
@@ResponsibleFaith No just others trying to silence me. I’ll be back when Facebook reviews it.
Thank you Jesus Alecia she's still here, precious daughter of Jesus. ❤❤Jess
Thank you ❤
Alicia, this is kevin. Went to gateway with you. I’m so sorry for everything you went through. 😢
Kevin, wow it’s been a bit. Thank you so much for commenting. Life definitely had a few crazy turns but I’m doing well now. I hope you are doing well and are happy. Gateway seems like another lifetime ago!
I was excommunicated from a UPC church I used to go to recently. My pastor and church "family" would constantly monitor my social media and they tried to tell me what to think and feel...real cult like vibes.
I love the beautiful family picture!!!
This makes me so sad. I’m so sorry
Hold onto life and love ❤❤❤❤
Such an impactful testimony! Thank you for sharing Alicia!
Great ministry.
❤❤❤❤❤❤
I hate to hear about toxic behavior in the church but I will say I never had any bad experience growing up in church. My church isn’t UPC but it’s quite similar as we are independent Pentecostal.
I recall a friend got told to change as her skirt was too tight. It was tight though so I don’t blame the pastor’s wife for saying something.
Edited after listening further- I have heard of this happening before to others. A preacher even had a family member have awful actions perpetrated against him. He couldn’t get past the bitterness and hatred even though he knew God had called him to preach. The family member had since died after the incident(s) happened. God ended up healing his heart from those awful experiences.
There is healing in the midst of awful circumstances.
You’d think the church is the safest place for children but you can’t trust any one it seems.
This happened in every church I know up growing up upc in the midwest. It's sick. Luckily I think the upc is on life support at this point. And their sphere of influence is dwindling weekly
Agreed...UPCI is constantly loosing members or even an entire church assembly. Growing up within UPC, we attended general conferences back in the 80s and easily see 65-75K plus attendance. This year in California at General Conference they had about 15K....
So many friends from JCM, CLC, And IBC are now independent or nondenominal....
But not just UPC, but several other denominational churches like AOG, SB, and Methodist are loosing members as well.
Great video
The people that went from Maine to support Wes were his parents. His whole family is up here. I went to church with a lot of them.
The couple I know of didn't have his last name and were a little too close to his age for me to suspect that they were his parents, but I could be wrong.
***Edit***
I rechecked my source. The couple I am referring to are not family members of his. They pastor a church in Maine.
@@ResponsibleFaith I think I know who. His aunt.....sad
Is there an email or website where I could get in contact with you and your channel?
It was Wesley Henderson’s parents who drove down and they are pastors.
The ones I was referring to were not his parents. I looked into it to jog my memory. It was the pastor of another church in Maine.