var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999); If caught, then these predatory men may only face calls for repentance within a doctrinal atmosphere that sees young, abused women as a seductive temptress rather than groomed, manipulated, and exploited targets., (Kyle Kaminski contributed to this report.). Its a place where everyone knows your name. ALANSON, Mich. Tucked off a poorly paved, unplowed road across Burt Lake from the sleepy Up North vacation town of Indian River, the Northern Michigan Baptist Bible Church would struggle to fit in a congregation of 100 people. A big teaching by the IBLP and independent fundamental Baptists alike is the Umbrella of Protection. God is above all, then pastors, then fathers, then mothers, then children. If sexual abuse or any harm ever occurs, its because a victim did not stay in the role God had commanded they be in. Gothards homeschool curriculum and philosophies gained wide distribution after being featured on 19 Kids and Counting.. Retrieved December 10, 2021, from https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b6fbfe77/files/uploaded/RyderJoyComplaint02172020.pdf. We had lived in this town previously and so went back to the same church. My husband and I hit a rough patch in our marriage and we separated, my daughter and I moved out and I even sent him divorce papers. That means you must be, willing and able to accept the consequences of your informing them that, while you love them and always. The environment that I and other independent fundamental Baptist children were brought up in, I believe, played a part in making boys into monsters. The co-founder, Paul Kingsbury, recently was forced to leave his position at North Love Baptist Church in Rockford, Ill., for his role in helping a sex offender avoid prosecution by supporting him overseas as a missionary. BTW why do so many extimonies of women have the theme of an abusive Christian husband or boyfriend? }else{ It makes no sense now. It was also a place where women, I feel, didnt really have a choice to listen to the rules. No charges were filed against Josh for molesting children. Courting between young couples also requires them to have another person in the room. This radical shift in thinking opened the doors for more research on other things and over the past year and a half I have started realizing many things I was taught growing up are completely wrong. Counseling has helped that a lot. United States District Court Northern District of Illinois (n.d.). If such physical relationships were discovered as was the case with Chatfield and her husband, Aaron marriage in the church is required in order to satisfy Gods commandments. They are presented as extensions of the father. I was miserable, scared, alone, and hungry. David Gibbs Jr, like Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, has been a regular speaker at IBLPs conferences. And breaking a childs rebellious spirit is a philosophical construct throughout the IFB faith. Former IFB Missionary. From what I read in your extimony, they will challenge you and probably abandon you (though hopefully your husband will not). (517) 999-5065. "Again after more reading, connecting with a counselor that has been showing me a different path, and finally acknowledging that I was happier without god and Christianity in my life, a few weeks back I stopped going to church and the past week and a half have declared myself an atheist. if (document.context) document.write ("&context=" + escape(document.context)); The Christian Post. After several months, we started counseling and worked through our issues and I started realizing just how much my family had screwed me up and I started individual counseling on my own. It was difficult. Privacy Policy. Im sure if I ever come out to them about being an atheist they will immediately freak out and cut me off forever. earthmama514: I think the first duty of a mother and father is to their minor children, not to their, The behavior of your parents is not uncommon in fundamentalists families, as I 'm sure you know. Shortly thereafter, my dad decided to leave college and answer the call of God, to become a minister, so he packed us up and we traipsed halfway across the country to bible college. They were also distanced themselves further from the Independent Baptists because the latter were increasingly tempted by the King James Only view of the Bible and riven with debates over how much separation was required to be faithful. David Gibbs Jr. has been listed as a defendant in a federal lawsuit brought by a victim of one of the most prominent independent fundamental Baptist churches and colleges located in Hammond, Ind. Aaron Chatfield has hired East Lansing attorney Mike Nichols to represent him. However, Gothard did resign from his leadership role of the organization he founded, stating that he did participate in inappropriate behavior against females. 292 likes. My point, though, is for you to use your timing. This is the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church movement. By his point I was beyond disillusioned and told my mom I was thinking of moving to a more liberal church because at least those people helped each other. Marlene Winell, Ph.D., psychologist and author, has been working in religious recovery for over 25 years. The girls in our family were also encouraged to go to college so that god forbid anything happen to our husbands one day we could support the families temporarily with our skills. And I have never thought more clearly and rationally in my life. The same applies to children. Talking Points Memo. OPINION: Views expressed in Baptist News Global columns and commentaries are solely those of the authors. Recovering fundamentalist ?" because this probably sounds more like something you'd . My dad is still preaching and my sister is married to a guy very similar to my dad and attending a crazy IFB church.