Testimonies

TESTIMONIES

The following are some actual cases involving actual people in situations where

"authority gone wild" has been manifested.

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I lost my wife and grown children because they were taught that the leadership superseded the authority of the husband and father. Leadership of the “larger church family” took precedence over the leadership of the nuclear family, completely contrary to God’s Word! Interesting thing is how women so easily fall in line with this type of thinking. And, of course, the children tend to follow their mothers, especially if their mothers receive the complete support and encouragement of the church leadership.

It was a very difficult thing for me to experience the complete alienation of my wife’s and children’s affection. It was even harder when she was spirited away and hid from me and no amount of pleading for her return produced sympathetic results among those who took her from our marriage. They simply did not consider themselves as home-wreckers and marriage-destroyers. Somehow they managed to convince themselves they were doing the will of God by destroying what He had brought together. No matter how hard one tries, you cannot convince them otherwise.

More than my son was lost to this group. By the time the group leadership got through with me, I had lost my wife, six children, and eight grandchildren. I have not seen them one time in the past five years. I cannot get anywhere near them, so convinced are they by group leadership that to love me is to shun me like a dead man until I come to the leadership and take the knee, submitting entirely to them.

This, of course, will never happen. My hope is that one day my family will come to their senses and leave the group. In the mean time, I have gone on with my life and with a new wife who loves God and our Lord Jesus Christ and who is a tremendous help to me in the things I do and in my love for Jesus Christ. Rich

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Let me tell you about my experience at a similar meeting and how the Lord healed from the pain and damage which that meeting inflicted upon me.

Now, one goes to a meeting with their pastors with the expectation that issues will be discussed in a gracious and Biblically-scrupulous manner; that no one would jump to conclusions, but carefully listen to all facets of a matter before deciding how to best deal with a matter. This was not the case with my meeting (at my particular "church") with Al Martin, Frank Barker and the other elders. Without going into details, one of the elders had received some hearsay from a lady at church about me that was simply not true. Al Martin said, (and I quote) "the Bible says that we are supposed to take some one along and talk to you privately but we'll dismiss with that, and just take the matter to the church." I suggested that they talk to my boss at work, since it was a work-related matter. Al Martin refused to go "to the world." Then things which I had privately requested counsel for over the years were brought up by various elders and they threatened to tell the entire church! I was told that I was "not a Christian" and was given the "option" of resigning from the church...which I subsequently, in my naiveté, did. This was, in a nutshell, how the “elders” had decided in advance to handle my increasingly-embarrassing marital situation, rather than expend whatever efforts were necessary to save our marriage.

Fifteen years of respect, loyalty and service to "Trinity Baptist Church" had suddenly flown out the study window. I was devastated...and, without going into detail, that meeting effectively ended our marriage.

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One day in his "office" I was being 'called on the carpet' during the time people were "murmuring" against what was going on in T. Martin wanted me to give names and I first refused to do so. I don't remember how but he managed to get me to give a name. After I did he remarked... "I'm glad you told me the name because if you hadn't I was ready to -Lower the Boom- on you"... ??!!.

What in the name of sanity was that supposed to mean? Was he leveling

some sort of a threat against me?... [which I believe he was]. I can

still hear those words ringing in my ears to this day and it was a most

rude wakeup call to me, for which I am thankful to my God. It was from

that moment on I took my place, "on the other side of the line" so to

speak. From then on I began to watch what was going down more carefully, and of course as I did I saw plainly and clearly what was going down. In terms of Abuse, a major item impelled me to leave T; and that was the day "xxxxxxx" stood up and read a letter he wrote, [prompted by

Martin/elders...] -Against- his own wife! I saw then quite clearly that

what was going down was Rebellion against the Son of God who said...

what God has joined let NO man put asunder. I saw that these men had no clue, or else they just didn't care... what the Bible said. After that

incident I grabbed my wife's hand and hit the eject button. The

doctrinal issue had already convinced me Martin was all wet. Al Martin

is Legalistic law-monger who uses the law to place men under undue

burdens which neither he nor the patriarchs could bear. Jim

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When the issue of authority and submission came up with my husband and I, the elders recommendation was also to separate, as my husband was the one questioning the elders authority. At that point we both knew that advice was terribly wrong and anti-biblical so, in due time, by God’s mercy, we jumped ship. That was a long time ago. By God's grace we have experienced biblical love in many other Christian churches and fellowship groups and quickly learned that Reformed Baptists aren't the only Christians with a handle on the Truth. Now at times we question whether Reformed Baptists have a truncated view of God's love, grace and mercy to sinners.

Since our leaving "Trinity", we’ve come to see several areas of Martin's teaching that are not biblical but have caused destruction and grief along with broken family members and husband and wife brutality and separations. My husband and I are thankful we opted out as soon as we did.

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When the Lord was starting to open my eyes concerning spiritual abuse and unbiblical authoritarianism, I started to share some of these things to my wife. Also, I started to have some different doctrinal positions from what the church had and different views of church policy. Well, what do you know, that lo and behold, the name of our family was next on the list for our “pastoral visitation.” The time and date was settled. At the appointed time, the TBC “elder” comes over. We start to chat about different church issues. He wasn’t in the house for more than 10 minutes when he turns and says to my wife, “…WELL BARB, HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT SEPARATION?” I said, “WHAT! How dare you come into my house and plant that evil, diabolical seed into my wife’s head!” I should have thrown him out right then and there, but I didn’t. Could you imagine that! Separation, and then, of necessity, possible divorce? For what? Because one spouse disagrees with the pastor’s sermon or an issue of church policy? Sadly yes. But thankfully, the Lord rescued me and not too soon afterward, I dragged my wife and family out of that wretched, wretched place. But not too many are “fortunate” as myself.

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One incident where the “elders” did have an effect in "controlling" my life in an indirect way. I was like a middle man innocent victim. I kind of caught a backlash of his life-controlling tactics.

I was still single & looking, and was interested in “xxxxxx” who became “xxxxxx” later on.

Anyway I dated her a few times & it was getting obvious I was

getting interested. Not knowing that she was completely controlled by La

Nitram, what she did was go "get counsel" from the elders when I wasn’t

looking. The next time I showed up to pick her up for a date, bearing

flowers no less [you idiot!!] she.. "let me have it" by

telling me.... "Well “xxxxx”, I was speaking to the elders and they advised

me we should just be friends"!! Imagine that! No elder ever even

approached me to find out what my intentions were. I wonder why they

gave such counsel? Was I some kind of monster that should be avoided???

Like... where did that come from anyway? On what basis did they give

her such advice?? In other words... stay away from -that- guy..! Why?

Who knows. Anyway, I just gave her a dumb look and said... "Oh..........

ok". & that was the end of that... as I mentally brushed my hands

together. Too bad they didn’t give the same advice about “xxxxxx,” the fellow she eventually married. Ya know what I mean? eh!!!

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I remember a few years back that there was an issue that I had with a “Pastor” named Greg Nichols. I disagreed with him on a judgment matter that he arrived at in regards to myself and one other person. I wrote him a letter, indicating that he was wrong in his assessment and judgment. A few days later, I receive a phone call from Greg Nichols ordering me to come to the “elders meeting” the following Saturday. I asked him for what purpose. All he said was, “the letter!” Here I am now, all nervous, arriving the following Saturday evening at the “elders meeting”. Present were Greg Nichols, and two other "elders," Frank Barker, and Don Dickson. The main "pastor," Al Martin, was out of town. Frank Barker did most of the talking. He started off lambasting me for writing this letter to Greg Nichols and telling me, “Don’t you know that this is the Lord’s anointed!”

On and on he went about “touching not the Lord’s anointed”. Absolutely nothing of the letter was addressed, only how I “sinned” and needed to repent of my sin of touching the Lord’s anointed was the topic of the meeting. Needless to say, in my immaturity and nervousness, I acknowledged my “sin” and asked for Greg Nichol’s forgiveness and after that, I was dismissed.

When I look back now on that incident, I sometimes scratch my head and say, “how could I have been so foolish and immature to let this happen.”

But I was doing exactly as I was taught: submit to and obey your elders, no matter what. Since that time, I've learned that many of their tactics go against scripture!

In the context where the phrase “touch not the Lord’s anointed” is found, it has absolutely nothing to do with what they said it did. In fact, if you search it through in both the OT and NT, it’s THE PREACHER THAT TROUBLES OR CONFUSES GOD’S SHEEP, WHO IS “TOUCHING THE LORD’S ANOINTED,” not the other way around.

I wonder how many elders/pastors have used David’s words to maintain their own authority even at the expense of the real truth.

It is absurd the lengths to which supposed “learned” men are willing to go to make God's Word fit into their false, blasphemous doctrines.

Thank God that he has opened my eyes to see and gave me the feet to flee from that place and to flee from all of their pompous and demented ideas of what they think Christ’s church is.

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At a business meeting in our church (Trinity), when we were voting for an elder, and at another time for some other “church policy” issue, I remember very vividly how I specifically and deliberately voted “NO” on these issues, just to keep the vote from being “unanimous.” No other reason. At the end of the tally, Al Martin comes up to the podium and announces, “it is unanimous.” I must admit though that at this point, I wasn’t surprised at all. To make the announcement, “it is unanimous,” when there is even one vote to the contrary, is to say the least, downright dishonest. And I subsequently learned that the elders always “try to figure out” who the negative vote was, which again, I was not surprised to hear.

At one business meeting, when we were voting for the confirmation of an elder, before the vote was taken, Al Martin rises up to the podium and starts to browbeat the congregation; frightening them and bullying them into voting a certain way.

Waving his pointed finger to the congregation, he raises his voice and bellows out saying, “IF ANYONE VOTES NO…….IF YOU VOTE NO ON THE ISSUE OF CONFIRMING THIS MAN, YOU ARE VOTING AGAINST THE JUDGMENT OF YOUR ELDERS!!!!!……”

So after that lecture, the vote is taken, and as expected, everyone voted yes, for the tally was unanimous. How could it not be otherwise. Everyone has just been terrified and browbeaten into voting yes. And no one sees a problem with this. And even if they did, they know all too well the consequences that would fall upon them if they would voice a concern. So they keep quiet.

The sad part is this. Once the business meeting concluded, and now comes the time for the closing prayer, Al Martin prays this: “God, we thank you for letting us know Your mind and Your will at this meeting tonight…..and in the final analysis Your voice has been heard and Your will has been done. Not unto us, but unto Thy name be the glory.”

Are the words fake, phony, and fraud too strong in being applied here? Excuse me...........does a cat have a tail?

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I fell into "bible studies" with acquaintances of mine that are hardcore Albert N. Martin devotees. They worship the man. At this point, I had never even heard of Reformed Baptists. Well, these "bible studies" served to fill me with fear and dread that I was unsaved if I didn't agree with them and Trinity and Martin, because disagreeing with them meant disagreeing with the Word of God. I began to fear that if I had questions or thought that some of their distorted biblical concepts were downright wicked, then I must be the one who had the problem. I attended Trinity for the first time when Martin was preaching on a visit to NJ. He is definitely a very charismatic man, I'll give him that. The sermon, I felt, was pure manipulation by fear and guilt. I continued to attend Trinity for months, mostly because I was continuing the "bible studies" and was being introduced to more members. My heart continued to grow heavy. That is was when one morning, convinced that Trinity was a cult, I searched the Internet and found out that there was a plethora of accusations, many very serious, against Trinity. I now would not doubt anything I hear about that place. I continued to attend Trinity, on/off, for a while. I thought that I had to give them the benefit of the doubt. I regret having ever stepped foot in that building, and the trauma from the "studies" that put so many

"twisted ideas" of God in my head! TBC is a dangerous place filled with dangerous people, not because they are not 'nice', but because they are so deluded!

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"...For there are indeed many unruly men, empty talkers and mind-deluders; who overturn whole houses, teaching things which they ought not." Titus 1:10

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