I left the same church about a year ago and understand everything that Whitney was talking about. I'm still having difficulties but things have gotten better with time
Thank you. I live in Indiana and is very timely. There is a church right down the road from us that never had a sign. There were always cars in the parking lot on Sunday but no sign. I used to tell my wife they were snake handlers as a joke because I found it so strange that a church would not have a sign. A couple weeks ago they put up a sign, “General Assembly and Church of the First Born.”
Thank you for sharing your testimony, Whitney! I appreciate you been so open about your journey towards freedom in Christ! We will be praying for you and your family.
This is amazing! Im not crazy and im not the only one that has been through these changes. I was a part of a pentecostal church that would impliments and force so many man made mandates that were not real. And just when u thought u reached everythi g on the list the leader would come on sunday and preach a sermon and a new mandate. It was so overwhelming. I was at a point where i felt i was just gna go to hell but deep down in my heart i felt there was more to the walk with Christ. I thank God he has helped me to know His grace by His word. It has been hard with the changes because truly God is so immense and our brain cannot grasp it❤️❤️
This makes me sad that someone would want to talk bad about this good church and put this on RUclips. If you don't want to attend there then leave, no one forces you to stay. This is a wonderful church. They follow what the bible tells us. If any of you read the Holy Bible then you would know that this is a good church and wonderful people trying to do what the bible tells us to do. Yes the Bible tells us to greet your brothern with a holy kiss. So sad that so many people would jump on board and even think about speaking evil of these good people and their religion. Open your bible and read.
Only thing online is through Wikipedia, cited by a book that is believed to be the origin of these assemblies. And it did not start in Oklahoma. It started in Texas, then took off in Kansas, around the 1870s and spread to Oklahoma later. And continued to spread after as well to Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Oregon. Eventually to Indiana, New Mexico, and Cali as well. Im sure there are others, those are what I have knowledge of.
I noticed there was no explanation behind the doctoring explaining why they don't, their belief and reasoning for this, what they do instead... I'm guessing they choose more of a holistic approach to health care as well as prayer?
I have a few ppl I have met from this church and the assembly you went to seems a bit extreme to the norm. They definitely all study their Bibles and say they believe it's important to read and study and form your own beliefs, growing your faith, prayer daily, as opposed to just depending on what the preacher tells you on Sunday morning. That it's foundational to how they believe. They are definitely big on doing what is right and frown upon things we know we shouldn't do but from understanding they believe in earned grace. As in like confess, repent, and change your ways, then you will be forgiven. But actively choosing to live a sinful life, like choosing to go out and party over and over and not feeling guilty and no intention to stop, then you can't just be like well I'm baptized or I said a specific prayer so I'm good. Grace when you truly seek to change and start making changes and earnestly seek forgiveness. Girls can work, they just stop either when they get married or start having children. Varies person to person. Some homeschool, some public schools, and 3 of them have siblings that went to college. I went to school with a few and worked with a few. I have more questions after watching this for sure. Maybe being across states and no formally written regulations caused some major differences over time. Especially if some of them have very strict leaders.
Texas has a couple, California has a few, Colorado has several I was born and raised in this church Left my abusive husband and shortly after left the church My family was considered liberal because we came from California lol My mom cut her hair and was in a second marriage so she wasnt excepted every where
So, I never sat in a meeting for six hours Greeting someone is not required or forced There was a few churches that had some issues with pedos But most of the churches do not I’ve been to many churches There are many good people just trying to live for god You have your extremists but it’s all they know It was very hard for me to leave the church If I’d stayed I’d have had to live alone the rest of my life because they don’t believe in divorce But nobody has ever been mean to me and when I have went for a funeral they all were kind and said they missed me Do I believe that way now no Not on most things I was taught In the end, she should let them be, they aren’t hurting anyone
I was in this group as well years ago. It was a really dark time in my life as far as religion. I had to walk away for my sanity. I am very interested in cults after this experience.
Well technically she could have the gift of healing……. Teaching others about leaving a bad church group into a healthy church is “healing” others. I mean hey, they were blind and she has opened up their eyes 😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤
I used to attend the Church of God of the Firstborn. It was not labeled The General Assemby Church of God of the Firstborn but was very similar in everything Whitney was describing excluding the snake handling and prophecy. The Pastors that led our Church were of Hispanic ethnicity . They were anointed from the Founder a man of German descent who spoke English but many of the Pastors he would ordain were of Caucasian ethnicity and Hispanic ethnicity who had large families.I believe the founder of the Church I went to started with the Pentecostal movement in the 1920s from what my husband and I have been able to research..since honestly there is not much you can find from this group of Churches and they all end up branching out in small churches and mostly family led. I believe Hispanic families were targeted because of lack of education and lack of biblical theology . I love howWhitney mentioned that God was put in a small box at churches/groups like this. When he is so good and omnipresent that through the Holy Spirit he was able to open our eyes. I remember being afraid of God and as a child because we were told when it thunders God is telling us we need to repent and get ready. I was afraid of making mistakes , and afraid if I do I would get sick because I disobeyed him. Now I know how much grace and mercy and love that he has for us❤ thank you for sharing your story Whitney. I pray for the church members I went to church with and friends and family that I am now distant from. I know if God was able to bring me out , He can do the same if we seek him he will reveal himself to us if we just don’t try to please men and do works to be able to get into heaven. Reading the Bible will reveal Gods character and the plans he has for us and we can find our identity in that.
Whitney.....its sad to see you speak avout the faith that way....your not quite telling rhe truth avout it..and your laughing at it...VERY SAD... YOU KNOW YOU WENT TO FAR WIRH THIS....IN WHAT TOU SAID.....Tell the truth about th2 faith Whitney.....what your saying isn't the whole truth....to the lady who is interviewing you if you want to hear the TRUTH about OUR FAITH reach out to me and ill tell you the TRUTH about it......
@@robbiecrowley8234 she definitely stretching it for views Sad I left the church But I knew when I left they were good people who were only trying to live for god in the only way they knew how They are not evil I still have friends in the church. A very small handful believe it in the way she describes And many of them have left the church
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2 v 8
I left the same church about a year ago and understand everything that Whitney was talking about. I'm still having difficulties but things have gotten better with time
Thank you. I live in Indiana and is very timely. There is a church right down the road from us that never had a sign. There were always cars in the parking lot on Sunday but no sign. I used to tell my wife they were snake handlers as a joke because I found it so strange that a church would not have a sign. A couple weeks ago they put up a sign, “General Assembly and Church of the First Born.”
Thank you for sharing your testimony, Whitney! I appreciate you been so open about your journey towards freedom in Christ! We will be praying for you and your family.
EVERYTHING was a primary issue. Every thought, action, decision, breath could impact your salvation eternally.
This is amazing! Im not crazy and im not the only one that has been through these changes. I was a part of a pentecostal church that would impliments and force so many man made mandates that were not real. And just when u thought u reached everythi g on the list the leader would come on sunday and preach a sermon and a new mandate. It was so overwhelming. I was at a point where i felt i was just gna go to hell but deep down in my heart i felt there was more to the walk with Christ. I thank God he has helped me to know His grace by His word. It has been hard with the changes because truly God is so immense and our brain cannot grasp it❤️❤️
I grew up in the Old Order Stauffer Mennonite Church and they greeted each other with the holy kiss as well.
This makes me sad that someone would want to talk bad about this good church and put this on RUclips. If you don't want to attend there then leave, no one forces you to stay.
This is a wonderful church. They follow what the bible tells us. If any of you read the Holy Bible then you would know that this is a good church and wonderful people trying to do what the bible tells us to do. Yes the Bible tells us to greet your brothern with a holy kiss. So sad that so many people would jump on board and even think about speaking evil of these good people and their religion. Open your bible and read.
Only thing online is through Wikipedia, cited by a book that is believed to be the origin of these assemblies. And it did not start in Oklahoma. It started in Texas, then took off in Kansas, around the 1870s and spread to Oklahoma later. And continued to spread after as well to Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Oregon. Eventually to Indiana, New Mexico, and Cali as well. Im sure there are others, those are what I have knowledge of.
I noticed there was no explanation behind the doctoring explaining why they don't, their belief and reasoning for this, what they do instead... I'm guessing they choose more of a holistic approach to health care as well as prayer?
I have a few ppl I have met from this church and the assembly you went to seems a bit extreme to the norm.
They definitely all study their Bibles and say they believe it's important to read and study and form your own beliefs, growing your faith, prayer daily, as opposed to just depending on what the preacher tells you on Sunday morning. That it's foundational to how they believe.
They are definitely big on doing what is right and frown upon things we know we shouldn't do but from understanding they believe in earned grace. As in like confess, repent, and change your ways, then you will be forgiven. But actively choosing to live a sinful life, like choosing to go out and party over and over and not feeling guilty and no intention to stop, then you can't just be like well I'm baptized or I said a specific prayer so I'm good. Grace when you truly seek to change and start making changes and earnestly seek forgiveness.
Girls can work, they just stop either when they get married or start having children. Varies person to person. Some homeschool, some public schools, and 3 of them have siblings that went to college. I went to school with a few and worked with a few. I have more questions after watching this for sure. Maybe being across states and no formally written regulations caused some major differences over time. Especially if some of them have very strict leaders.
This was such a fascinating story. I'm glad you managed to leave this group and their strange beliefs/practices! Wow.
Texas has a couple, California has a few, Colorado has several
I was born and raised in this church
Left my abusive husband and shortly after left the church
My family was considered liberal because we came from California lol
My mom cut her hair and was in a second marriage so she wasnt excepted every where
So, I never sat in a meeting for six hours
Greeting someone is not required or forced
There was a few churches that had some issues with pedos
But most of the churches do not
I’ve been to many churches
There are many good people just trying to live for god
You have your extremists but it’s all they know
It was very hard for me to leave the church
If I’d stayed I’d have had to live alone the rest of my life because they don’t believe in divorce
But nobody has ever been mean to me and when I have went for a funeral they all were kind and said they missed me
Do I believe that way now no
Not on most things I was taught
In the end, she should let them be, they aren’t hurting anyone
I left as well. You are not alone
I was in this group as well years ago. It was a really dark time in my life as far as religion. I had to walk away for my sanity. I am very interested in cults after this experience.
You should get the perspective of a member that is currently in the church and see what they have to say.
Please keep doing what you are doing! It has helped me so much!
@@TabithaDavis It’s so encouraging to hear our content has been helpful!
Well technically she could have the gift of healing……. Teaching others about leaving a bad church group into a healthy church is “healing” others. I mean hey, they were blind and she has opened up their eyes 😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤
I used to attend the Church of God of the Firstborn. It was not labeled The General Assemby Church of God of the Firstborn but was very similar in everything Whitney was describing excluding the snake handling and prophecy. The Pastors that led our Church were of Hispanic ethnicity . They were anointed from the Founder a man of German descent who spoke English but many of the Pastors he would ordain were of Caucasian ethnicity and Hispanic ethnicity who had large families.I believe the founder of the Church I went to started with the Pentecostal movement in the 1920s from what my husband and I have been able to research..since honestly there is not much you can find from this group of Churches and they all end up branching out in small churches and mostly family led. I believe Hispanic families were targeted because of lack of education and lack of biblical theology . I love howWhitney mentioned that God was put in a small box at churches/groups like this. When he is so good and omnipresent that through the Holy Spirit he was able to open our eyes. I remember being afraid of God and as a child because we were told when it thunders God is telling us we need to repent and get ready. I was afraid of making mistakes , and afraid if I do I would get sick because I disobeyed him. Now I know how much grace and mercy and love that he has for us❤ thank you for sharing your story Whitney. I pray for the church members I went to church with and friends and family that I am now distant from. I know if God was able to bring me out , He can do the same if we seek him he will reveal himself to us if we just don’t try to please men and do works to be able to get into heaven. Reading the Bible will reveal Gods character and the plans he has for us and we can find our identity in that.
I’m fifty and never saw anyone handle a snake
It wasn’t practiced much
It’s in the Bible so they preached it
Yes we read out if the KJV and it teaches us alot of what she said....but she didn't tell the whole truth ....very sad
@ no she fabricated
I grew up in this church
For the most part they are good people
Like any church you have your bad apples
Whitney.....its sad to see you speak avout the faith that way....your not quite telling rhe truth avout it..and your laughing at it...VERY SAD... YOU KNOW YOU WENT TO FAR WIRH THIS....IN WHAT TOU SAID.....Tell the truth about th2 faith Whitney.....what your saying isn't the whole truth....to the lady who is interviewing you if you want to hear the TRUTH about OUR FAITH reach out to me and ill tell you the TRUTH about it......
@@robbiecrowley8234 she definitely stretching it for views
Sad
I left the church
But I knew when I left they were good people who were only trying to live for god in the only way they knew how
They are not evil
I still have friends in the church.
A very small handful believe it in the way she describes
And many of them have left the church
❤❤❤❤
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2 v 8
I’m fifty and never saw anyone handle a snake
It wasn’t practiced much
It’s in the Bible so they preached it