More of what others are saying...

I am a former member of COGOP. I no longer go there because I was hurt so painfully by insensitive people at headquarters sending cruel and hateful letters to me, that I withdrew my membership. I had been made a lay minister and almost immediately was drafted into the army. Headquarters sent my a series of nasty, cruel letters demanding that I send in monthly reports as to how many people I had gotten saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, and added to the church. I tried to explain I was unable to carry on a ministerial work as a member of the armed forces, but they refused to listen. People in authority in this church were so cruel and demanding, and put so much pressure on their members, it's no wonder they lose most of their members. My stance on divorce is-any pressing reason is enough to get one. Shouldn't abused women be allowed to get a divorce? What about a man being sent to prison for many years-What about my own case-my wife deserted me, divorced me and married another man! I have no intention to re-marry, but if I changed my mind, it would certainly be okay with God, I believe. I believe, along with the Bible, we also need a good dose of common sense! What if it happened to YOU? Think about it...
-Marco

One of your "pastors" raped me violently and premeditatively when I was a 16 year old virgin. He was 24 at the time, but "called" to preach in the COGOP.

He blamed his sin on me because I caused him to lust. However, those in the church agreed if we would marry then it wouldn't be a sin any longer according to Deuteronomy...where the man rapes a virgin who is not betrothed and he must marry her.

I was young, naive, and traumatized. I didn't tell anyone what happened...it was "no one's business". I married him the week after I graduated high school...just turning 18.

He was a traveling evangelist spreading the word and I stayed back working to pay the bills.
He would rape me so often that I had to go to a doctor...if I refused for any reason I was not in submission.

He locked me in a house with a deadbolt lock and took the phone with him when he caught me "putting on mascara".

I finally escaped, only to be told by the preacher and others in leadership that if I divorced and ever dated or remarried (at age 19 after a year of torment) I would go to hell.

I lived my life in fear of hell, not going to church, not praying, because I had committed the unpardonable sin.

Only 30 years later...30 YEARS...I broke down and cried out to the LORD in my darkest hours and what do you think happened?

The Holy Spirit fell on me as never before and yes, I spoke in tongues and I have never loved the LORD more in my life. Yes, I am remarried and have two grown children.

The Pastor that raped me went on to later get a young girl pregnant and the COGOP finally stopped him from "traveling".

I have forgiven him and the COGOP for such ignorance of the scriptures. This was in 1977 when they still thought they were the only people going to heaven.

GOD was not asleep that day that I was a scared young girl who had tried to adhere to church teachings, yet I had become "defiled".

He is Sovereign over all and he knew he would use it for good. I speak and write to women everywhere about the abuses that churchs are guilty of. Thank GOD he has given me a ministry. It is not GOD who hurts them. HIS SON'S blood paid for their sins. It is men who are either ignorant of the Hebrew and Greek that the Bible was written in originally or GOD help them, just arogant and prideful.

I do forgive and I have grateful love in my heart for the church teaching me about the Holy Spirit...however...it is the grace of GOD that keeps you different from me. Nothing in ourselves keeps us "good". HE is in control.

GOD sees two kinds of people...those covered with HIS Son's precious blood of grace...and those who are not.

DO NOT keep condemning people to "hell", please.
I beg you.

Blessings and love in the name of OUR Father,
-Teri