The Blog of Death

Mr Armstong will be missed and it feels like a part of me@my family are missing so much at this time.
I can't see anyone filling his shoes.

I AM SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH...APPARENTLY MR ARMSTRONG FOUND IT IN YOUNG WOMEN AND EVEN IN YOUNG MEN...SHAME ON HIM AND YOU. I AM STILL SEARCHING FOR GODS TRUTH.

I started listening to Garner Ted Armstrong in the late 50's. He is the greatest Teacher that this world has known in this modern age. He brought more people to the truth than anyone
in our lifetime. I owe him great gratitude for the understanding that he gave me about God's plan and what real Christanity is all about.
Thank you Ted, and thnk everyone that is keepping his work alive. Thank you Mark.

The Armstongs wreaked spectacular damage on thousands of individuals and families, chasing their mutated the American Dream. I remember Ted, the latter-day Joseph Goebbels, speaking so forcefully at all those services, spinning his web and blocking the exits. At a tender age, I was one of those who recognized his ringing insenserity. Gee Ted, to bad you died before I show you how you inspired me to play the game.

Garner Ted Armstrong I don't if it true or not but if what is say about him is truth it is sickening. Who would want to follow him.

the man was great and surely none should judge only God the almighty.I never met this man but I grew up in church, and I never any body who told the truth so well and I know this man was annointed by God him self.I can just imagine how great his dad was . IT would been like meeting the old prophets elijah.But any ways I've been listing to tga for years,and I like the he stirs up the hornet nest.hopfully I'm half the christian he was.or even man .

I am so shocked to learn of G.T. Armstrong's death.Hear it is 2005 and I just can't believe that there was no news media about this. When the local brodcasting quit having his programs,I pulled up his website and saw his death notice. I have never lisented to a better bible teacher. I will surely miss him.

Thank you G. Ted,
Mary McCall

I met GTA long ago,very impressive! SO he was human, he made bad judgements, I know God is the judge, not us! Any one wishing to follow his bible teachings can contact me. The message was and is more important than the man. King David was a murderer and yet God said he was to be in the Kingdom, so we can all be forgiven! May God Bless the family left behind. Send me an email for more info on church sites and I will respond.

Every great man is crucified after his death if the message he sent was TRUTH. This man was just a man, but the MOST important message he sent to the world for the FIRST TIME in many generations was that mainstream, government run churches are the ones who are fooling the masses! The True Sabbath is on Saturday, not Sunday. This is consistent with the entire message of the Bible. Want more TRUTH??? Infowars.com sedm.org gcnlive.com prisonplanet.com These are NOT cults, either. Just Christians spilling out the Truth.

As a kid I grew up listening to the two
hyposcrites because when my mother was
through listening to them I'd get the radio
and listen to the Cardinals with Harry Caray.

Too bad my mother wasn't a Cardinal fan instead.

I grew up in the World Wide Church of God and could see even as a child it was all wrong. I am glad the church finally got its act together after Herbert W. died. Its to bad Ted never saw the light.....

I personally knew a young lady in Pasadena (church HQ) who was raped by Ted Armstrong in 1971. He had a commanding demeanor with no sense of right or wrong, she said. He told her that "it was OK" because God had called him for a "special" ministry and God knew his weaknesses when he was called. Sick, very sick.

No one should attempt to gloss over the GTA lifestyle sleaziness.

However, I have a decided contempt for the hypocrites in this country who "entrap" and profit from the failings of others. I cannot believe that a member of the "masseusse" profession is any more innocent of sexual and financial opportunism than a slutty street prostitute, except that she plies her trade in a discreet setting to a weathier clientele. This looks like some lawyer salivating when she consulted him about a shot at a big bucks shake-down here. That is all this is, legalized EXTORTION on top of a man's basic need for a little sexual frivolity.

Are all accusations to Garner Ted true?
It seems that more people will believe whatever he sees or reads in the media. Now, what happened to the Bible's admonition to "PROVE ALL THINGS?" It is just somebody says that Garner Ted did this and did that, those with itchy ears will focus their attention to. If Garner Ted says, "Don't believe me, believe what the Bible says", "Repent and turn aways from your sins", then these same people will not listen, they will continue to live whatever they want to. Garner Ted didn't have to prove his innocence to people. There is absolutely no need to answer all accusers. If the accusations were true, then why is it that he didn't land in jail? The truth is, these false accusations were all fabricated. It can't be proven in court and court demands proof. Accusations are not proof, it is a sign of cowardness. Whatever happened to the Worldwide Church of God during the 70's. Well, it is a sad result of individuals who are envious to the Armstrongs at that time. The people who are near to Herbert at that time made a successful wedge between him and his father resulting in his excommunication. In the case of Church of God International, after announcing his comeback after retirement, immediately the board panicked and find ways of kicking Garner Ted out of the Church. Garner Ted is just a human being just like all of us who are struggling from sin. Repenting is a life long process. Let us focus on the message of the man and not the man itself. I just hope that people will really prove what they believe before they speak. You don't have to believe the Armstrongs or any other individual, the events predicted in the Bible will come true. God will not hold back prophesied events to come just because millions don't believe or follow God instructions. In the end, God will judge all, the Worldwide Church of God and Church of God International will not escape. Garner Ted Armstrong, the end time God's watchman will be greatly be missed. The same is happening just like in Noah's day, when Noah didn't stop proclaiming man's sins that all people hated, ridiculed and accused him, but in the end, it was God who prevailed and not man.

Garner was the most influential man on tv. His direction every morning renewed my faith. I found god inside again and he will be missed by all.

Garner....oh Garner, Creflo has nothing on you!

I have watched Garner Ted & Herbert for years & they knew more about the bible & what is going on in the world than all the preachers combined. Oh & they never tried to sell you anything to make money so they could live in luxury like, lets say 98% of the rest do

One word can sum up Garner Ted Armstrong....

HYPOCRITE......

Lemmings. what proof do you have that Garner Ted went to trial for any of these accusations? What does any of that have to do with what he preached? His message was TRUE. People had far less to say about their evil presidents. Lemmings.

I grew up listening to GTA. From about the age of 12 and got a ton of lit. from WWCG and the Plain Truth Mag. for years. They never asked for money or tried to get me to join the church. I aggreeded with most of their beliefs and even joined the church. They were alittle too conservitive for me but I thought they were closer than anyone eles. Being human they were not perfect. HWA and GTA, were probally right more than wrong so I give them props for that. I stopped attending WWCG when I saw Joe Jr. on The 700 club I knew then they were falling away then for sure. I was sad to here today the GTA had pass away. I didn't know it was that long ago. He was just a man and had great faults. Who doesn't. If you don't cast that stone. I learned alot about the bible from the WWCG, but I will never be a big fan of organized religon

Iam so happy both HWA and garner ted armstrong are now very very dead...same can be said of that sidekick of HWA, Stanley Rader. All dead now. The WCG property has been sold, members have quit and fallen away. The plain truth has folded. Kaput. Iam so happy they are dead...so happy...so happy...good riddence garner ted, you sorry bastard....I shouted for joy on the day I heard that you were dead.

TODAY IS MARCH 11, 2006 AND I AWAKEN THIS MORING WATCHING EVAN. GARNER TED ON ABC, AND THOUGHT, I HAVEN SEEN HIM IN A WHILE IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HIM, THEN AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM IT SAID HIS WORK CONTINUAL, I SAID I WOULD CHECK THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT WHATS WITH HIM, AND I FIND OUT HE HAS PAST ON SO LONG AGO IN 2003...I CAN'T BELEIVE I DID'T HEAR ANY THING ABOUT THIS ALL THIS TIME. I RESPECTED AND AMARED HIM SO MUCH, I REMEMBER LISTING TOO HIM ON RADIO 1010, WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD 6,7 AND WHEN HE ANOUNCED HE WAS COMMING TO THE KEIL OPERA HOUSE TO SPEAK I WAS SO HAPPY MY MOTHER TAKEN ME TO SEE HIM SPEAK, HE HAD A WONDERFUL VOICE INDEED. WE DID NOT AGREE WITH EVERY THING HE TAUGHT, BUT SOME STUFF WAS RIGHT ON TARGET. I CANT BELEIVE THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE IS SAYING ABOUT HIM, BUT IF IT IS TRUE I'M SURE HE REPENTED AND GOT IT RIGHT WITH GOD BEFORE HE LEFT THIS EARTH, MAY GOD BLESS AND WATCH OVER HIS FAMILY, IN JESUS' NAME

Garner Ted was one of the greatest Bible teachers of all times. He taught the truth no matter who said anything about him. He has been sorely missed. I glad his son Mark has carried on with his dad's work. This way the TRUE TEACHINGS of the BIBLE will be carried on.

A thief and con man who used religion as a tool.

gardner ted, whatever,sins he commited, did not change the truth he taught millions. i don't understand this mans vices {the ladies} but it does not change the truth he taught. you might think of the lies taught every sunday and see which is the greater sin. "It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues."
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)


"Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices."Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790 gardner will be missed by millions and remembered by them for their lifetimes. the Bible say's put not your faith in man ,but rather in GOD. this is a good thing to remember. all men will fail you, because they are men. or human if you like. and i ask everyone to search yourselves before you judge others. if gardner was perfect he would not be a man but ? no man should be worshiped. God bless and forgive GTA. as i am sure he has done.

I remember Garner Ted Armstrong. I met him only once at a preaching campaign. Seem to be very nice, but just like my mother always use to tell my brother and me. He is just a man. He sins just like the rest of us. If he repented is between him and the Lord Jesus Christ. All I have to say to the negative comment is let him who is without sin cast the first stone!!!!!

I heard GTA speak on many occasions. Yes, he was only a man, and like any man (or woman) he was not perfect. But he did preach an end time message from the pages of the Bible. That message is still there for anyone to see. This world will not find an answer to its problems until Jesus Christ returns. If you think that is a big lie then you are entitled to call GTA a false prophet. And yes, concerning his personal life...How does yours stack up?

GTA was a human being, just like the rest of us. We are all sinners. I don't know if the accusations against him are true or not, but it doesn't matter. The teachings that were passed on down from his dad and that he has passed to his son remain true and I believe to be profoundly correct. Time will tell, and all shall be revealed in death. I pray for those who do not know God.

I knew the man. I liked him.

J.

I did not know either Herbert or Garner, but both my deceased parents listened and supported them. His magazine the Plain Truth was interesting reading, although at the time I did not believe. I am hopeful that through these people my parents were saved, as they did seem to have some meaning in my parents lives, for this reason alone, I know that they did some good. I am surprised by the hateful comments listed here, as no one forced any of these people to deal with either of these people. I can only believe that Satan is speaking through these people, as I am sure that their words are not from God, as Jesus would never condemn these people for their actions, and would have forgiven them if they were repentant of their sins. God rest their souls in heaven.

Garner Ted is proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Herbert was a pervert and Garner Ted liked to chase skirt...maybe that's because Herbert the pervert chased skirt...and taught his son likewise.

The day GTA died I jumped and clicked my heels. After all, my father, whom GTA and HWA persecuted, lived longer than Teddy boy.

Oh, by the way, the new testament is also a fraud and Jesus is just a different name for Zues.

Wake up, don't worship perverts.

I can't believe the hatred I've read concerning these two men, HWA & GTA. I'll bet that those that spew this venom would be the very same ones that would condem the patriarchs of old for the sins of their flesh, disregarding the message (that) our Father in heaven sent with them. Calling them "hypocites" they see only the man. Our bible is laced with such stories and worse about the men God chose to preach the Word and I believe it was written that way for a very profound reason! We are continually admonished to look passed the messenger and FOCUS on the MESSAGE! The failing of the messenger simply proves the world's desparate need for THAT message! It took me a long time to get passed the dynamism of the Armstrongs. It was almost hypnotic! But once I began to understand that they were just human beings, like me, I began to understand what God was trying to tell me, us, all of us! "ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD!" I no longer had to continue to hate myself for my imperfections! I no longer had to continue to judge myself unworthy of God Grace! And with this allowance to forgive myself I accepted the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made ONCE for all of us! We cannot continue to place demands upon our Lord over and over again. He gave of Himself ONCE and that was enough! I pray that all of you at least think about it. How can we forgive others if we can't first forgive ourselves? And how can we possibly accept God's precious gift if we can't get past that? To all of the Armstrong haters out there, GET OVER IT! IT WAS NEVER ABOUT THE ARMSTRONGS! YOUR idolitry of them MADE it about them. YOU set them up as "gods" and then felt betrayed when they didn't live up to your expectations of how your "gods" should act!

As a lay member of World Wide Church of God in 1970's we were taught that ministers were men of God, and that God would make right their decisions even if they might be wrong. Unless you were a member you would not understand the incredible power these individuals held over the church. Everything from what you wore, who you married, to what race you were, was dictated by the church. They might have said don't believe me believe your bible, but many were put out of the church for having questioned anything taught. As long as you remained docile, and malleable you were allowed to stay. When Garner Ted's discretions surfaced, many members were devastated, having had their own marriages dissolved by the church, adultery was not taken lightly. The public wasn't solicited for money because the members were giving two and three tithes, homes and property were being requested and donated to the church, because they believed the ministers, that constantly sent out letter after letter warning that the end was going to happen any day, and we were the only ones that were called by God to get the message out, incrediable amounts of money flowed through the church. Ted's and his fathers irreverence for all that they had taught left many people lost and wondering what to believe, many just gave up all together. For those that have come later, and heard God's message via Ted and Herbert, I can only say, read your bibles, make sure what you believe is really what the bible teaches and nothing else.

To Vic and all that of you that are bound and determined to be "victims" and NOT responsible for their OWN actions, I suggest you read my previous entry. It pretty much says it all and you have CONFIRMED it!
I am sick and tired of all of you belly-achers! If these MEN (yes, men)said it once they said it a million times, "don't believe me, pick up your bible, blow the dust off of it and read it! Prove it yourselves!" And yet, you didn't. You all were totally satisfied relying on the PERCIEVED righteousness of others for your own salvation! And now you blame them for YOUR failings. Now, they are dead and gone and the "church" has all but vanished as anything one would recognize, don't you think it's high time you start living in the NOW? Our salvation is between us and God, it's a very personal thing. Only God can know what's in a man's heart. Only God can know our motives. Only God can understand us. In the past you let GTA and HWA stand between you and God and you moaned and groaned about that and yet, TODAY, you continue to allow men (dead men at that) stand between you and God! People often wonder about some of the stories in the bible and they lament, "how could people who walked and talked with Jesus turn their back on him after seeing what he had done?" Or, "How could people who, witnessed the parting of the Red Sea or the manna falling from heaven or the water gushing from the stone that Moses smote, turn their backs on Moses once he was out of their sight for a little while and turn back to worshipping golden calves?" Then they go on to say, "Why would people fight against Christ and His Angels at His return? Don't they realize that This is the real Jesus?" You tell me, without GTA and HWA how would you know? They simply pointed you to the verse. IT WAS ALREADY WRITTEN! They wrote NOTHING! They didn't make the treasure, they didn't create the journey, they didn't draw the map! They didn't even teach you how to read it! All they did was show you (that)it was there! God did the rest. Sure, these men could speak well, they could write elouquently and for that God used them but they were only mortal men. God NEVER forces anyone to do anything. We are free moral agents. I'm sure you've heard the term before. People are always so quick to blame God for man's shortcomings when God has always only wanted what was best for us. Some times he allows us to make terrible mistakes but they are our mistakes, not God's! Tell me, how would any of us act if we were put in the same position as these men? I'm sure MOST of us wouldn't have been nearly as successful and I'm sure that most of us would have let the power go to our heads much worse than either of these men. LOOK AT HISTORY, for God's sake! The history books are riddled with stories of " great" men of much greater intellect, talent and luck than any of us, letting the draw of "power" get the best of them, most of them to their very death! The "(w.w.cofG)church" thought it was so great. They thought they had it all and needed nothing. Does that sound familiar? But once they lost their "leaders" they began to feed on themselves and tore the church apart! They forgot where all of the real power came from! They placed their faith in men! They sold their birthright for a bowl of cold soup!

In the early 70's, my brothers(6 of us) and I subscribed to The Plain Truth and learned a lot from GTA. His articles were not limited to religion. There was one about budgeting your income and staying away from the evils of using credit cards. So much more from this sensous man stayed so vividly 'til now. Thank you very much GTA.

You've got to be kidding!!!!! God only judges???

We know certain trees by their fruit. A bramble or horrible tree with little spikes all over isn't giving good food. Hey, it isn't even a tree a kid could climb.
A man or for woman living like the devil, acting like the devil, mean as the devil their father is a devil.
If a person hasn't learned to turn away from their sins, and just won't honor God by doing right they're wrong.
No, we can't be foolish like children. Something inside that's evil is evil on the outside too. Jesus said so to the Pharisees. Neither Garners went to heaven with their false doctrines and evil ways. They twisted the bible, and justafied their awful sins.
WAKE UP TO THE TRUTH PEOPLE

attn: "wake up to the truth people". Didn't you JUST say "God only judges"? and then you go ahead and pronounce Mr. Armstrong as evil and the "devil" and NOT going to heaven! You obviously know nothing about GTA , HWA or the church teachings, per se' and yet you have the nerve to JUDGE these men. You've no doubt been reading too many Armstrong hate publications from people caught in the traditions of men and not the words of the bible. The bible is not about these men. The church is not about these men. Our faith is not about these men. But even if an idiot, that cannot even speak conveys to me a "truth" it is well for me to listen and not be preoccupied with his shortcomings. You, my friend, are the one who is passing judgements. Remember, a "judgement" is NOT forming an opinion. It is actually saying what is to become of someone and this is exactly what you have done!

So long "GAGNER TED HAMSTRONG"

Enough already. Garner Ted Armstrong was a MAN. He had faults, strengths, weeknesses, atributes and many sins like the rest of us. Any person and do-gooders under the microscope of the media looks bad. We are all bad. It's by the grace of God any of us have a chance for salvation. Even if we are baptized we still do and think things that are not favorable to God. Baptizim doesn't make us sinless. Who are we to judge GTA or HWA? Just like you and me, people with a concious, they knew when they did something wrong. God will judge them. Use your common sense with the word of God. Read the Bible. Ask God to open the truth to you. Don't follow any Minister, follow Jesus' word. You will know in your heart if it's right. Something tells you so. I just looked up on the internet GTA's name and found out he died 3 years ago to my amazement. I read some of the other tributes and one stuck out to me. Someone said they knew a girl that was raped by GTA in the 70's. Did she come forward? I doubt it. She should have. She didn't I suppose because he was powerful and she and her family didn't want to sturr up anything. Was she paid-off? My point is how can anything be changed if people don't expose the problem. This girl and her family knew they should have alerted the church/police/media/etc. and they didn't. Just let him get away with doing it again, right? Don't critize anyone if you are not willing to stand up for the truth. Make people aware of their short-commings and let them deal with it. If they hit rock-bottom so-be-it. I'm not for or against this man. Let God be the judge. And as far as people who did care for him, let them be. It's their choice. Just as it is anyone's choice to believe any religion even when the truth is staring you right in the face. God will come back to correct everything. God loves all of us and grants all of us salvation if we choose it. No one has become perfect yet. Worry about yourself and how you can become a better person, daily.

I want to share the results,of,following the teachings,GTA & HWA gleemed from the bible. May 1961 I dreamed Jesus returned ,The dream was so real I woke up and was amazed to realize it was a dream.I borrowed my Grandmother's bible.I began to read the bible.I smoked cigaretts at the time.I was 18 yrs.old. I learned about the sabbath the Ten commandments.But I said,"I won't quit smoking,unless I find in the bible,thy shalt not smoke.On August 1961 on a Saturday night,I walked to the window toward the east , suddenly a green shinney cloud begain coming toward me.The cloud got brighter and brighter.It got as bright as daylight..Suddenly I saw a giant lighting bolts go out of it .I felt the presents of Jesus.I cried out,'Please don't let the world end now.Please forgive me, I'll quit smoking,I won't curse,I'll go to church.I was crying and truely sorry.I could not find a church matching the bible,til I heard GTA on radio.I joined. I learned,to budget,Owned a home at 23,two rent houses at 28.4 beautiful children ,never did drugs.Healthy at 64yrs.my 17yr.old son was hit by a truck on a motor cyle.His head hit the curb,cracked the helmet,uncouncious.I was called to the scene.I kneeled over him.Out loud I said GOD Please heal Kelly.I told, Kelly,"Wake up Kelly,He opened his eyes.The ambulance tood him to the hospital.He had no broken bones,only his skin was scraped on aspalt.went home two hours later.My daughter at 17yrs was shot in the back of the head,on the way to her brothers house, with her boy friend,in his car.The Dr. said ,'the hand of GOD must have been behind her head.The bullet hit her head, and turned upward,parted her scalp.Mostly she had only concusion.She is grown now.I love GTA & HWA Thank you,For the knowledge you blessed us with.

I am very sorry to hear of his passing, he along with his father shaped my life.

Let's quit trying to sugarcoat his misdeeds. They are all well known. He was a huckster, just like his dad, and they were very good at what they did. They were also notoriously prolifigate with the money many supporters were hard-pressed to give.

They squandered money. Ted was known as a womanizer extraordinaire, claiming to have had hundreds of women. He almost split from his wife because he wanted to leave her for a stewardess on his private plane with whom he had been having an affair. It was almost the end for him and he had to end it, especially in light of the fact contributions were drying up during his absence from the air.

The father, Herbert W., was alleged to have molested his youngest daughter, Dorothy, and when confronted by Ted in around 1978, admitted it. This was one key factor in Ted being kicked out of the WCG for good.

There is NO doubt at ALL Ted was involved in misconduct with a masseuse; it was VIDEOTAPED, for crying out loud, and it was clear what he was doing was improper.

Yeah, Ted had the gift of gab, but he had numerous character flaws, and besides, his and his father's interpretation of the Bible wasn't shared by theologians.

Having only recently learned what the WCG stood for in the days of H Armstrong and later his son GT, I'm quite surprised their message had such appeal. My brother is a disciple of these men and continues to follow their heresy to this day. From what I can gather it would appear to me the system of indoctrination of the WCG is little different from say that of a modern day gang. Promising status one can find no where else so long as one bends to the will of the organization without question. Unfortunately, those who have been hoodwinked stand little chance of successfully buying a used car let alone finding God's will for their lives. As soon as they suggest opening the hood to examine the engine the salesmen says "either buy it as you see it or leave the lot". Its sad to know that so many people could read the Gospel of John and doubt the divinity of Jesus. Its sad to know so many could read the gospels in the context of the time in which Jesus ministered and some how come away thinking they through their human effort, could add anything substanative to His message of salvation. If I could save my soul by observing the Law of Moses then I have no need of the Christ. Think about that.

Well, I am not suprised at some of the hate I am reading. I have to say thanks to GTA. I was one of those who tried to find things and proove him wrong in reading the bible. I had my eyes opened and have to say that I think he ruined my faith in organized religion, (and by the way, that is not a bad thing). I see many false teachings now that I otherwise would have just taken for granted. I have not found one that is perfect, and don't expect too. He did make me think though and if that is the only thing that God had planned to use him for, then he did his job well. All men are sinners, Bottom line... and I'm sure there were a lot of people standing at Christ's moment of death saying terrible things about him and how he hung around prostitues so he must have done this and that... you can't stop people from gossiping. We all know that GTA had character flaws, we all do. I still love to hear his message though. Yes, I think God used him well......

The TRUTH...I was raised in the WWCG. The main stay of the church sadly was NOT the word of God - it was POWER over the people. Herbert W and Garner Ted were both power hungry and the church was a cash cow. The members paid 1st., 2 nd. & 3 rd. Tithes. Herbert W. Armstrong stood up in front of the congragation and admitted his son had commited adultry and told us he FORCED his son out of the church. That was when the power struggle got nesty. Members of the church were rocked hard by this. Some left right after the service was over, others left within a year after that. What rocked the church was not only Garner Ted's actions of adultry - but also the power struggle that followed in it's wake. As a teenager the power struggle combined with H. W. Armstrong standing at the pulpet and ORDERING all women to go in the restrooms and wash off all their makeup RIGHT THEN AND THERE - WAS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMMELS BACK. Women in the church were not treated well at all. Children were treated even worse. This is not something I decided to post just to get a jab in...this is the truth. The way it was...in the 1970's. I grew up in this church, I know how it was. No christmas, no easter, no birthdays...no nothing. Our parents were ordered not to get children vacinations based on Religious beliefs. No friday night or saturday school functions - it was the Sabath. No football games no pep ralleys, nothing. IF you did not make it to church - you got a "phone call" wanting to know WHY. They demanded to know how much money came in to the house so we could tithe properly, the minester would come visit monthly to the house - and I had to be the perfect well behaved child. I had to sit in one place until I was excused so the minester and my mother could talk privately. I did not dare upset the minester. GTA & HWA did not treat people like human beings. They treated us like we were robots and we better NOT get out of line. I see people on this blog talk about them as they were great men of God - nothing could have been further from the TRUTH. I know this as I stated earlier - I WAS RAISED IN THE WWCG. From the age of 5 years old until I was 16 I saw everything and NONE of it was Godly or great. You did what they TOLD you to do, you paid what they told you to pay, and IF YOU DID NOT DO what THEY said - GTA & HWA told us we were going to BE CUT OFF FROM GOD! Yes, it WAS a freak show, no doubt, I WAS THERE! The unending horror stories and damage Garner Ted Amstrong and his Father inflicked on people are TRUE. Because of those two men - I seriously doubt I will EVER trust ANY organised religion again. After I left the church I recieved a letter that stated that 60% of the Youth in the church had LEFT. They wanted us all to return from our lives of sin and start TITHING again. Now, you have been told the truth by an eye witness...the truth is now out in the open.

regarding 14 dec2006 blog from tgb I have been involved with wwcg and other similar sabbath keeping Chuches of God since pasadena, ca. 1975 ..I NEVER ONCE got the idea we could earn with "works" our way to salvation.. Jesus said He and the Father are ONE .. the WORD was with God and the WORD was God.. we read in Jn 1:1 the WORD of God became flesh and dwelt with us..ALL things were created by Him.. so the One who wrote the WHOLE Bible then died for His creation..this was OFTEN prophesied or foretold in the only Holy Scriptures [Bible] of God's only begotten Son Jesus'crucifiction time!! .. today some call that the first testament, some call it the old testament .. the Creator allowed Himself to be killed to DEMONSTRATE His AMAZING love for us and show us THE WAY ! ..hwa and gta taught me Jesus wrote the Ten Commandments for us to be with Him and the others who want to obey God ..it is only then we receive the GIFT of eternal life.... MUCH thnx to God our heavenly Father for GTA and his earth Dad HWA..regardless of their sins they were the only ones I knew with the Truth that made the Bible make sense to me .. john gettler

My brother, now 52, was and probably is totally ensconsed in this false religion. As a kid, I vividly remember how it destroyed our family. Now, my brother is just plain wierd. He spanks his wife and carries firearms. He is a danger. He is an utter racist, though his children are biracial. He is xenophobic and paranoid. He has allienated everyone in our small family because of his disjointed view of God and ridiculous dietary laws and headship garbage. He cheated me out of an inheritance of $150,000.00 because I am female and because my kids are adopted. This is a product of The Worldwide Church of God. This boy needs prayer. This boy needs to understand the grace that Jesus came preaching. This boy needs to go to church and stop ridiculing the pastor...a trait he must've also learned from the WCG and HWA and GTA and their cronies. Jane

I don't know what to make of all I am reading. I grew up in the WWCG and I am currently attending with LCG. I don't remember Garner Ted or Mr.Armstrong very well, I was too young at the time. I have heard the rumors about Garner Ted's misconduct and women trouble. I have been very confused for a long time, I am a baptized member of the Church and I agree with the doctrines a 100% as I have validated them in the Bible but I have a major problem with the the Church government. Their ego is horrible, they think that we are the only group that preaches the truth, that we are the elected and I don't think that's the right attitude to have. I think God is very disgusted with our attitude. We don't do anything good for anyone that is not in our Church, we are not allowed to get involved with the world and judgment in our organization is like a sport. I can totally understand why Terry Ratzmann was so bitter and can totally see that type of situation happening over and over again. It's really sad. I don't know what to do.

Wow...Isn't this amazing. Our faith should not be so complicated. I don't believe that God intended our walk of faith to be so fraught with such difficulty. I'd rather comuunicate with God while walking in the woods than to be governed by a body of people with questionable motives. And I'd rather not allign myself with this kind of troubling corruption mentioned in these posts. Especially to the last post: Please find a way out and preserve who you are. God bless you.

The Greatest Heresy of HWA and GTA of the WCG still is followed my their splinter groups. God is only Two in the Godhead. No , God has always been three - Father, Son and Ruah the Holy SPIRIT. Matthew 28:19, John 3:3-8,16; John chapters 14,15,16.

Amen

i feel i have the truth in the bible, iff it wasent for h armstronmg i would not have any religen

Garner Ted Armstrong and his father, Herbert, were very gifted, but misguided, persons. Coming from the lineage of Seventh Day Adventists, they built their religion on a foundation of sand. Not as dangerous as David Koresh but every bit as wacky. Beware of false Messiahs. These guys weren't the first and they won't be the last.

ANYONE who reads the Bible can find God. You don't need the WWCG for that. "The church" has done more damage to the children of God than the world has. The people there have the mistaken idea they are better than others are...that is why IF they lend a hand to anyone - it's another church member - not a stranger or even a family member...not even a window or an orphan - if their not in "THE CHURCH". This alone shows that they are NOT of GOD and do not have GOD within them nor do they dwell within GOD's LAWS. They are going against God and they will be made to see the serious problems of their ways...I just hope that when it happens - the congration is not DEPENDING on the WWCG to get them out of the way of God's rath. This is a sad and mistaken group of ppl that are being led down the path - in the wrong direction. God help the souls of the ppl in the WWCG. They are lambs being led to the sloughter - and yes because of this - it is as bad as Jim Jones, Heaven's Gate and David Keresh and even Charles Manson. The ppl in the WWCG are blind and can not see that it is wrong to live the way they do. Jesus Christ NEVER turned his back on his people - or anyone looking for salvation...but the WWCG has many thousands of times over. God forgive them for they know NOT what they do...(sound familiar?) I am THANKFUL I LEFT THEM ALL THOSE YEARS AGO...as I sure don't want to be them now...or when Christ returns. I don't want to have to answer for ALL of God's ppl that THEY have offended.
It's a blessing to be free of them and it's a burden lifted... to be free of them.
Thank GOD so many found their way to freedom.

My brother has been hijacked by the Armstrong Cult. He was an Army pilot and a good man until he came under the spell of Ted Armstrong. Now he writes heresies for Armstrong and claims they don't pay him a dime for his work. He has no other work except for the Armstrongs. He actually believes that people do not go to Heaven or Hell when they die, claims we "sleep" until the second coming. Right!

I was raised in the WWCG from age 14 and stayed til I was 44 years old. Everything Paul, Richard, Vic, and especially Julie Voshell say in the comments above is true 100%. My mother pulled our family into that church kicking and screaming. Once they got us in the door the brainwashing and controling began. Then we were hooked. Out of fear, mostly. It's much easier for a person who enters on their own free will to turn around and leave. It's very hard for children who are raised no other way to see what's really going on. Fortunately, for some, their heart takes over and they open their eyes. That church was a horrible place for kids and women. It seemed to attract perverts, alcoholics, women and child abusers, biggots, racists, and so many with 'martyr syndrome'. Many just wanted to be told what to do rather than think for themselves. And so many joined because they wanted to be specail and better than the rest of the world. Both the Armstongs were well trained in advertising, control tactics, and brainwashing. So many lives were scarred by that church. I remember a happy family who came into that church only to be told that the husband and wife would have to split because the husband had been married before. The wife was left husbandless with children and expected to find a new husband in the church. The husband could still attend, but could never remarry. This happened to many families, only to be told years down the line that the ruling had been changed, which meant it was never right in the first place. One family like this was a devoted young couple with five little children. After they were told the bad news, they still attended the same congregation, only sat on opposite sides of the hall and cried all though services. It was pitiful.
There really were three tithes that were demanded, so at times you were having to give up a third of your income. Many families lived in poverty while the Armstrongs and the other high ranking ministers lived in luxury and drove fancy cars. They controlled every aspect of your life in such a way that you were completly pulled away from non-church family or friends. I, like those who wrote above, know the damage it did to myself, my siblings, and my children, and I also have no use for organized religion. It's just between me and God, now. Those two men will have to answer for what they've done, someday.

To Rick who writes several times above...Telling these people to "Get over it", and that they let it happen, is like telling a rape victim to "get over it, you let it happen" Horrible crimes were committed by Garner Ted and Herbert W. People are still suffering the affects of their actions. God calls what they did a horrible sin that he will punish severely for. Crimes leave victims. We are those victims and we ARE getting over it by venting here and elsewhere and finding that we are justified in our feelings and our anger. God does not consider people who are deceived and lied to, fools, as you do. He has a bit more compassion than that. However, he's not too happy with those who lie and deceive, especailly those who pretend to be his messangers and lie and deceive his flock. You have no idea what went on, obviously, nor do you understand the tactics they used to pull it all off, so you really can't judge any of us. We weren't all the foolish, gullable, whimpy, stooges you think we were. You have no idea.

I remember the first time I heard Garner Ted Armstrong preach on television, I was mesmerized by how this man got his message across.

There is no doubt in my mind that this man was gifted to preach. I'm sorry to hear of his passing and I hope he found peace with the Lord before the end.

Well I wonder if he,s sleeping or roasting?

Hello all.
My name is Garner Ted -- AUKERMAN. Mr. Garner Ted Armstong came to my rescue and dispatched one of his top fellows in his church at the time to help me through one of the most terrible ordeals in my life. He did not know me from Adam, but only heard a young man was enduring a terrible trial at that time. He did not even know my name until after he sent me help. I was not even a member of his church. My dad and mom both grew up listening to him on the World Tommorrow, and had that experience in common when they met before they married. My dad named me after reading Mr. Herbert W. Armstong's autobiography when he was a teen, and liked the name Garner Ted.
As a young boy, almost everyone in the general poputation I came in contact with, upon hearing my first name only (I simply go by Garner) -- immediately KNEW I had been named after Garner Ted Armstong.
Well, I had gotten myself into a bind at the age of 20 while a young guy in college, and needed someone to come to my aid, so I begged my mom to call Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong to see if he could do anything to assist. He sure did. (My ordeal was not of a financial nature) His help then truly showed all the characteristics of how people should be toward one another...........no matter what someone has done in the past....no matter what type of ordeal a person is going through...........all should help one another, show compassion for one another, love one another and Respect their fellow "family" members. It is a big world........we are all "relatives" of the same FAMILY.
Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong and his immediate family helped me -- and it sounds like he helped many others out there as well. He helped me and kept my ordeal a secret, and I learned after his death that he never even told anyone about what I went through...nor did any of his family members. The entire Armstrong family kept it a secret. They did not seek any recognition or acclaim for helping me and my family.
Everyone I have ever worked for in my field, the Hollywood community - and the general population at large, who know me and automatically associate my name with the name Garner Ted Armstong -- have ALWAYS spoken very highly of this MAN. They are not aware of the false rumors, lies and other ancient bad press about him or Herbert Armstong.
The fellows I have directly worked with are among the likes of Matt Damon, Robert Redford, James Woods, Jack Nicholson, Bill Murray, Al Michaels, Ladanian Tomlinson, ect. ect. ect.
That brief list of folks and many other A-listers
have watched or listened to Garner Ted Armstrong, some years before I was ever born.....and they have all ALWAYS spoken very kindly of the man to me.
KUDOS to all of you who learned from him and admired what he taught. The only thing I have to say to those who are attacking the man in their blogs here is this; it sounds like you never really knew what he taught, never actually met him personally and it seems like all of you who are vehemently "attacking" this man are like the same ones who attacked Jesus Christ. Who does hatred, and evil speaking and spreading unproven "gossip" come from anyway? The attackers and "evil" speakers blogs sound pretty "SATAN"ic to me.
My name is Garner. Garner Ted, that is, and I have always been very proud to be named after one of the best men this world has ever know. I have had so many wonderful experiences all my life with regular folks everywhere all over the world who LOVED listening to Garner Ted Armstrong.

Garner Ted Aukerman,
Screen Actor's Guild
21048 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California 90265
garnerted@comcast.net

Mr. Aukerman,
If you weren't in GTA's church, you really knew nothing about him, or his father. He may have helped you, he may have helped a lot of people, but he and his father hurt far more people that they ever helped. There were tens of thousands in that church all over the world. Where are they now? Have you actually proved that all the negative things you've heard are false? Or are you turning a blind eye out of loyalty for what he did for you? Why call all the NE-sayers Satanic? Could it be that there is some truth to what is being said? Why would so many people be crying out against those two men if they were so righteous? Did all those Hollywood people who talked so highly of the Armstrongs ever belong to their church? None of the publications, TV programs or radio broadcasts ever revealed what was going on in the church. Were your Hollywood friends threatened with the loss of eternal life if they didn't beat their children into submission? Were their wives taught to keep their mouths shut, submit and never work out of the home? Were they threatened with being kicked out of "God's" church if they didn't set aside three-tenths of their income no matter how poor they were or many kids they had to support and could hardly put food on the table? (one tenth of that was supposed to go to the widows and orphans, but I cna tell you, few ever say a penny of it) Did any of your Hollywood friends have to leave their wives and children because they had had a previous marriage, and then have to sit by and watch their wife marry another man in the church and then the church say he himself was not allowed to ever remarry? Oh, yes, it happened and not just to a few! Not being allowed to ever get together with your natural family to celebrate holidays or birthdays, not being allowed to socialize with your neighbors, not being able to participate in school sports or any other school activities because of the 'Sabbath', being totally isolated from anyone but the church, not being able to take your children to the doctor if they are sick, dying at home in your bed for fear if you call a doctor you lack faith and will not make it into the "Kingdom of God, watching a poor child who was born with hydrasyfalis (sp) (water on the brain) and not being allowed to receive medical attention. Watching his head get bigger and bigger and hearing him cry. This went on for years with his parents placing him on a blanket in front every Sabbath so all could see how righteous his parents were for not breaking down and taking him to the doctor. He died of course, and thank God for no more suffering. How about not being able to marry anyone outside your race, or for that matter outside of the church, being told all other churches are of the devil and that only the World Wide Church members will make it into Gods Kingdom, which means all your non-church brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, or what-have-you are all going to die in the Great Tribulation? Were your Hollywood friends ever told their wives could never divorce them no matter how badly they abused or neglected them? Did you or your Hollywood friends give all their heart and sole to those men only to find out they didn't really give a darn about the brethren? I was in that God- forsaken church from age 14 to the age of 44, so don't tell me I don't know those two men. I met them over and over again. I listened to them preach hundreds of times, read all their literature, and listened to their ministry several times a week, and participated in every aspect of that church. I married at age 18 in that church to a man of 26 with the church's full approval and blessing. That upstanding member of the church I met and married in the church abused me and my children and the church would do nothing to help us, but rather tried to put the blame on us. We didn't find out until I finally left him and the church that that man I married came into the church after having beat and raped his sister most of her young life! The Armstrongs were cult leaders, plain and simple. The only thing that separates them from other murderous cult leaders is the fact that they actually got away with it. At least here on earth. God will have the last say. If your GTA helped you out at all financially or with any of his clout, you can thank those poor patrons for putting him in that powerful position. I never heard of him ever really working a day in his life. He and his father just sucked off the church members. You can drop as many famous names as you want, and tell us all how successful you are, but don't tell us you really knew either of those men, because you really didn't. Not really.

The Armstrongs were just like all tv preachers,using the bible to bilk people out of their money and live tax free.They live in million dollar houses,fly around in multi million dollar airplanes while the idiots that send them their money struggle to make ends meet.You don`t need these crooks to talk to God.Hes there for you for free.These phony preachers will burn in Hell as they should.

Dear Mrs. Harrison - (and everyone who has or is thinking out posting "trash" talk)

This is a website for posting "tributes" - a tribute is defined as something given or done as an expression of esteem -- for Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong.

Mrs Harrison,
Someone told me you wrote me a letter and since you did not mail it to my address posted above, or bother to send it to my posted email, I chose to reply to you in kind - since I like to answer all my mail.
So, now where to begin? Well you have made many false statements as to fact and false statements and assumptions about myself as well.
First, you assumed I was not in GTA's or HWA's church. If you double check, I stated in my blog I indeed was not a member of GTA's church when he came to my aid. I was a member of the WCG at that time. (I later became a member of Garner Ted Armstrong's church, after he and the membership of his church organization helped me)

I was born in 1967 and my parents were already babtized members of the WCG. I attended the WCG from the time I was born until 1990 when it was the CGI that helped me with the ordeal I spoke of - I left WCG then and joined CGI. I have a brother and 3 sisters. My brother continued with the WCG until 1994 and then attended CGI.

So - I know a lot about GTA and his dad. (And I know the family and some of the extended Armstrong family very well - God bless them. They are some of the hardest working, kindest, warmest, most forgiving and simply best people ANYONE would ever hope to know!)

You stated GTA may have helped me, and a lot of people. (Alice you probably should have finished your blog there.)

You lump Garner Ted Armstrong and his dad all together as one, but fail to mention they had been apart since 1978 when GTA WAS (and it is a fact) falsely accused, and began his own church separte from his father.
(You knew that fact, but failed to mention it to the readership here.)

And the things you lied about simply did not take place in the WCG, and NEVER have occurred within any orginization GTA helmed.

You asked where are all the people of the church now. Well, begin with DAN. 11 -> in your Bible. God has scattered his flock just as He said He would at the time of the end.

Yes, I have proven that all the negative things I have heard about GTA were false. You then asked me if I have turned a blind eye out of "loyalty" for how GTA and his family helped me. ABSOULTELY NOT. I AM LOYAL TO JESUS CHRIST AND GOD THE FATHER ONLY. NOT any man.

Why did I say when someone is speaking evil of someone it is "satan"ic -- because it IS. Evil speaking does not come from GOD, it is of satan the devil.

You asked if there was any truth in what was being said about Garner Ted Armstong. Absoultely not. Not one bit. You ask, "Why are so many speaking out?" Basic human nature and the darker traits that come with it. Jealousy, Envy, strife, loathing, bitterness, (casting blame for ones own problems and poor decision making on a church organization or anyone else, rather than looking at oneself.) No one has said these men were so righteous, as you stated. They themselves never personally claimed to be, and no one else has referred to them that way except you. You asked me "Did any Hollywood people who had nice things to say about GTA ever attend? -- the answer is yes some have been in attendance over the years (remember all the concerts and shows at the Ambassador Auditorium to start) -- and some have made contributions. [Since I had previously mentioned LaDanian Tomlinson -- he is not of Hollywood, but is a star running back of the NFL's San Diego Chargers football team. He and his wife attend with a church on Saturday. The sabbath, and I believe just that little bit of knowledge has blessed him above many of his peers in the league. He was the MVP last season.]

Oprah Winfrey respected GTA well enough to make him a guest on her show (the "stars" don't get any bigger than that) -- and GTA knew, and appeared with "stars", and on many other programs over the years as well. Paul Harvey made a nice personal eulogy to him when he died, on his daily radio program.

Your talk pertains to the Worldwide Church of God, solely. That was his DAD's (Herbert W Armstrong's church)....so really your comments have no place here in a blog of the death announcement of GARNER TED - Armstrong, whatsoever.
You then stated that the WCG publications, tv and radion broadcasts NEVER revealed what was going on in church. Of course they did. The outreach of the church was ALL about the church and church services. It was one of the primary reasons anyone was introduced to the church or came to know about it. That was public knowlege available to anyone, free for the asking.

You then ask if "my Hollywood friends", and then continued this mistake with great disdain -- many times over in your letter to me.
Go back for a moment, simply scroll up to my original post just above yours, Mrs. Harrison, and take another look at what I ACTUALLY SAID. Here is is repeated again: "Everyone I have ever worked for in my field, the Hollywood community "

WORKED for, Mrs Harrison.

I don't count anyone in the industry of Hollywood among my personal friends. So your comment there was "if any of my Hollywood friends were told the would lose out on eternal life if they did not beat their children into submission."

No, and NEITHER WERE YOU, OR ANYONE ELSE IN the Worldwide Church of God, EVER TAUGHT THAT EITHER.
Here is a direct quote from Garner Ted Armstrong from an article he wrote in the Good News; April 1960 Vol. IX, Number 4. : "Sometimes parents, realizing they should begin to really WORK at training and teaching their children, have gone to the opposite extreme, and begun to BEAT their children -- showing them anger, harshness, and "lording it over them" rather than teaching them FIRMLY, but paiently, LOVINGLY, and with great understanding and wisdom!" GTA's book on child rearing is still readily available to anyone who would like to look it up.

GTA's sons are among the best men I know. I have called Mark Armstrong on a few occassions when I needed something, and he has always stopped what he was in the middle of to take the time to help me out, going out of his way -- to always lend a hand or give me sound, wise, biblically based advice, and assistance. He is very much like his father when if comes to that type of help.

You go on to ask me "if my Hollywood friends wives were ever taught to keep thier mouths shut, submit, and never work out of the home?"
No, and neither did the WCG -- nor did GTA's groups ever teach that kind of thing either.

As far as your next comment about tithing, it was a policy of the WCG to tithe, but a family is ALWAYS anyones first priority (or at least they should be). It was never taught in the WCG (Herbert W. Armstrong's organization) that one should sacrifice the personal needs of ones family over tithing to the church -- or they would be "kicked out". Tithing was NOT "monitered".

Your next comment said one tenth of members tithes were to be put toward a widows/orphans fund -- and you said you can tell me few if any ever saw it. That remark is laughable at best.

My folks divorced in 1976....my mom raised us working all kinds of odd jobs outside the home as a single mother of five children. As an assistant apartment manager of the 2 bedroom one bath complex we all grew up in, as a housekeeper, caretaker ect. ect. We all delivered papers before AND after school, and our minister placed us on Church assistance that was established by HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG, and the Worldwide Church of God. We received $525.00 per month for TWELVE years, until my little brother finished highschool....(we did not personally know the ARMSTRONG family then -- we only met GTA and his family a few times breifly before then, at public appearance campaigns.) I have never met Herbert W. Armstrong.
But as to the third tithe fund we recieved monies out of......I can tell you my best friend Paul Keener and his family received church assistance as well,(5 kids too single divorced mother whos husband was also a member when they met and married, a very similiar situation to ours). And I can give you names of many many other people in the local WCG church area I grew up in, and many I have met all over, widows/orphans/elderly -- and those with emergency needs -- who were given monies out of that fund form the Worldwide church of God, which you speak of.
Thank God for it too, as a family - I know my mom always says she does not know how we would have made it, otherwise.

Your next comments go towards the old divorce and remarriage doctrine that was short lived and expunged before I was even born. Many people I ever knew growing up in our local WCG church were married to mates who were not even in the church. I do not know of one example of anyone who actually divorced a person in the WCG because they were previously married. (Unless they simply wanted to get a divorce to begin with.....)
We always had birthdays when I grew up, and I have gone to friends and relatives homes on Christmas and Easter (many people in the WCG did) -- the friends or families homes we visited knew our beliefs and there is nothing wrong with getting together with people on those days on the calender--- I just don't exchange gifts and participate in the other "rituals". As far as far your comment on the WCG forbidding you to socialize with your neighbors. Perhaps you need to refresh yourself with the 10 Commandments. How do you think HWA began with the work. Does anyone recall Mrs. Runcorn and Mrs. Loma Armstrong socializing because they were good neighbors?!! God commands us to love OUR NEIGHBORS as ourselves. You would have to be a pretty sociable, loving, friendly neighbor and socialize with the neighbors in order to do that. Love your neighbor as yourself. Your remark there simply holds no water.

I played high school sports (football, basketball, & track)- so did most of my friends in the church. We just did not play in the games which fell on the sabbath (sunset Friday to sunset Saturday) no big deal.....and we we also blessed by being able to participate in the chruches sponsored Y.O.U. (Youth Opprotunities United)programs -- which provided basketball, track, vollyball, cheerleading, camping, ect. for all the kids and teens of the church ALL over the world. It was awesome. No one was ever "totally isolated from anyone but the church", as you stated they were.

You cited an example of a child with water on the brain who died because the parents did not take him to the doctor. (What type of parent wants their child to die and refuses to get them proper medical treatment.) It was never a doctine of the CGI, or ICG - (Garner Ted Armstrong's churches) -- and my heart goes out to those parents of that child, but why didn't you or anyone else who knew of the situation notify the proper authorities of the matter? Surely the school the child attended and those parents friends and family everywhere knew the little boy was sick and was not being treated properly by the parents.......if they did not take their child to the doctor, it was not church policy in the WCG not to see a doctor. All of my friends within the WCG growing up along with my family had the regular run of the mill accidents and normal childhood things like flus, chicken pox, ect. ect. And everyone I knew in the WCG took thier kids to the doctor for a whole variety of things, prescriptions, ect. We would also be annointed, or would be sent an annointed cloth by our minister, and at times I saw that WORK, and I have actually been healed myself of little things from time to time. (So was my sister recently -- of cancer!) She attended the Feast with the ICG for the first time since she quit over the "makeup" issue of the WCG near her senior year of highschool. (A doctine which was never an issue with any of GTA's churches -- EVERY member of the WCG would have been better off if they would have backed GTA in '77-'78 -- a lot of issues which were areas of concern for many members of the WCG simply NEVER TOOK PLACE in Garner Ted Armstrong's CGI and do not occur within the INTERCONTINENTAL CHURCH OF GOD.)

I was babtized within the body of Christ by two Intercontinental Church of God ministers in 1998. No one is babtized into a "church organization". You ARE babtized into the body of individuals Christs calls HIS church. A living breathing spritual 'ORGANISM' -- not an "organization".
My sister is now 42. God blessed her with a complete healing of Hogskins Lymphoma this past year. And while I was a freshman in college my mom was healed of cancer, as well.

The next subject you discuss relates to marrying withing ones own race. Well I happened to know many interracially married couples with kids, all members of the church dating back to the Worldwide Church of God. (My ex -, is of the Jewish race-- and a film and tv producer). But the married couples I was thinking about are black/white couples. (Anyone is free to email me at garnerted@comcast.net and I can provide you contact info. for many folks that come to mind right now who are married outside their own races, or who have mates who did not attend the WCG -- the names that are coming into my mind right now would take years to list....)

Your next comment deals with whether or not a person makes in into God's Kingdom when Christ returns to this earth. Well, the WCG did not teach that only if you were "in the WCG" could you make it into God's Kingdom. Neither did HWA or GTA. Read your Bible folks. We must all work out our own salvation before God with fear and trembling. When we stand before God to give an accounting of our lives, it will not be behind a church organization. Everyone who has ever lived or died will be given the opprotunity to enter God's Kingdom when they are brought up from their graves during the 3 resurrections. That includes everyones immediate family members as you mentioned, Mrs. Harrison. That doctrine was never taught within the WCG, as you have falsely stated it was.

You go one to talk, one is led to believe, of your own divorce. My mom and dad were babtized members of the WCG. My parents divorced as I previously mentioned. (You should talk to my mom, Mrs Harrison. My dad physically & verbally abused her and us kids too. He gambled our home away when I was 4.) The churches ministers (WCG) helped my mom through that terrible time. My mom left him in the middle of winter shortly before they divorced. Mr. Jerry McCracken and his wife Nancy -- of The Wheeling West Virging Worldwide Church of God, took us in with their 5 kids for almost three weeks before mom found that apartment. (Any of you may call Jerry to verify this -- he is a longtime church local elder and is in attendance with the United Church of God in Wheeling, WV.) His number is listed and I see him from time to time and always give him a big hug. Sadly, his longtime wife Nancy died of cancer several years ago. Her place in the first resurrection is secure. Jerry has since remarried to a woman "outside the church" as you called it, Mrs. Harrison. His second wife is Catholic.....they are a very happy couple.

My buddy Paul whom I mentioned earlier, his folks were divorced as well - both babtized members of the WCG at the time of the divorce, when he was young also. (I can cite many other examples.) Paul's family is split currently, membership wise, within David Hulme's Church of God and the United Church of God, respectfully.

Mrs Harrison, I am so deeply sorry your husband turned out to be the lousy jerk that he was and that he treated you and your children that way. (It seems his problems existed long before he ever became involved with the church). Unfortunately, many married couples find out the person they thought they were marrying was not the person they had hoped for after all. That is why the divorce statistics in the United States are 1 in 3. Your ex-husband's immediate family may have known about the horrible thing he did to his sister when the two of them were young -- but to think the ministry, local membership of your WCG group, or Herbert W. Armstrong - or GTA for that matter personally knew about your husband or can be blamed is ludicrois, at best.
At age 18 you must have been still a senior in high school or just recently graduated, and your husband was 8 years your senior....how long had your dating courtship lasted prior to being married and how long was the engagement? Could it have been streched out a year or two in order to get to know one another better? Were there extenuating circumstances? Some spouses start out one way, and end up in another direction, character wise.
I am sorry about the pain you experienced in your marriage and what you and your family had to endure......When I read your letter I immediately got on my knees and prayed for you. (And I will continue to do so.)
I am sorry that you did not find the help with the WCG at the time you were dealing with all of that mess that you should have received. There were many wolves operating in sheeps clothing as history as proven, within the churches leadership -- when one takes a look back over history with the breakup of that organization.

Everyone should have stuck with GTA in '78.......like a marathon runner in a race, I beleive God gave him the torch then and he took off running with it in the other direction away from those wolves. Likewise in '96/'97. I don't doubt you sat and listened to HWA's and GTA's sermons over the years and that you met them over and over again and read all the literature as you stated. (so did many others but take another look at Christs parable of the seed sower)
Did you ever spend any quality time with either man aside from a brief shake of the hand and a hello?
I admit when a man's own personal choices or opinions make their way into doctrinal matters of a church organization it is not Biblical and those personal choices can be viewed as "cultish". Then there are folks who sound a lot like your husband, there are left winged extremists in all walks of life. A few bad apples that spiol the bunch.

But you have painted a skewed and false picture of the facts (which are easily checked and verifiable) to anyone who wished to research your remarks to me in this letter -- regarding the Worldwide Church of God.

To liken Herbert W. Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong as "murderous cult leaders" is false (a lie) and does not deserve comment.

Garner Ted Armstrong did not help me personally financially, or with his "clout" in 1990. Again if you had read my prior blog correctly before you wrote me, I stated "it was not of a financial matter." I was in attendence in -- and still a member of the WCG -- while in college at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena. I attended sabbath services at the auditorium (a.m.) on a weekly basis and was not babtized. I had a great trial and did not feel the ministers in the WCG were helping me properly and felt those two particular ministers had provided un-sound advice. My mom called GTA's headquarters in Tyler, Texas. He quietly -- and quickly dispacthed Dr. David Antion to help me and turned the matter over to he and his wife Molly. (some of you reading this may recognize those two names). Thank God GTA did that...David and Molly Antion are two of the most wonderful examples of a christian couple I have ever known. With a lot of prayers from both families, my friends and family and the "patrons" you refer to -- the membership of the supporters of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association -- God intervened and I saw my way through that trial. (And I thank God everyday that Our Father is in "that" -- HIS "powerful -- postion"!)
You said you were a member for 30 years, 3 decades , before you realized you were in the wrong place.......but you never knew GTA to do a days work in his life. I guess you did not know him, really.
Garner Ted Armstrong did the WORK for 50 YEARS -- (the work Christ commanded us all to do; preach the Good News of His soon coming Kingdom to this earth --we are not further away from that Kingdom being established and Christ's return -- we are much closer to it that when you were a member.) --GTA did the work his entire life. (I can tell you from personal experience what kind of HARD WORK it takes to put a television program together behind the scenes). GTA was not only putting it all together behind the scenes, he was the voice, the host as well. What kind of work do you think it takes to put a sermon together, or a lifetime of weekly and annual holy day sermons...a radio program, writing books, articles, ect. ect. ect. What about being an enlisted man in the Navy during the Korean WAR? Walk up to any enlisted man in any branch of our armed services and tell them what they are are doing is "not hard work", Mrs. Harrison. I happen to know Garner Ted Armstrong passed up many exciting well paid job opprotunites that came to him throughout his life, (including as a CBS news anchor) to do the work Christ called him and commissioned him to do. He was a jet pilot, a gifted singer, painter, speaker, teacher, writer, ect, ect.......all positions that pay very well in the job marketplace no matter the year or decade you choose. But rather Garner Ted Armstrong chose to take a relatively low paying, long suffering, hardworking, tremendously difficult job -- in the employ and the service of - and for Almighty God.
I did not mention my working with various well known celebrities to name drop, or impress anyone in my prior tribute to GTA -- but rather to IMPRESS UPON anyone who read it that even folks who you would never imagine (what the world considers big time stars), have listened to and remarked to me personally how much they loved GTA and how they learned from him more about the Bible than anyone else. (If I wanted to really name drop -- I would have mentioned some of the great name anyone would find between the pages of their Bibles)
Yes, Mrs. Harrison - I knew Garner Ted Armstong well. I am still getting to know him. As I write you I have also been logged onto the garnertedarmstrong.ws website and I have been listening to a sermon he gave in Atlanta during one of his personal appearance campaigns in 2003, and I am making a copy of it to leave and share with someone else. Don't you think I'd get to know the person I was named after? I sure am glad I did.

I'd sure like to get to know you too. I hope this reply to your letter to me, finds you well. Meanwhile, I will continue to keep you and your entire family in my prayers. You may write me at my email anytime and I'll give you my phone number then.

In the meantime, I will be attending the Feast of Tabernacles again this year as always, with my mom in Destin, Florida. Anyone who wishes may attend, the Intercontinental Church of God and the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association have an open door policy. You may find information on this years Feast at:
garnertedarmstrog.ws
-- along with many more true facts about him, and the THRUTH OF GOD. One wonders why you were up at 2:00 a.m. responding to this blog on the death of GTA, Mrs. Harrison. I mean a person can only find this website by actually typing his name into an internet search engine. If you were still wondering where the church is, what happened to all those people? Well I know where the "trunk of the tree" of all those scattered branches is located and an ARMSTRONG, is at the center as the president of operations. His name is Mark. He will be at the Feast this year as well. We are having a fun family night dance this year. It is a costume party and all will be dressed up as their favorite movie of tv chatacter. If you decide to stop by, I'll be easy to spot -- I've arranged to borrow the baseball uniform worn by Robert Redford in "the Natural", so I'll be dressed as Roy Hobbs. There wonderboy bat and more memoribilia from the film will be on display, as well.

God Bless you and take care.

Respectfully,

Garner Ted Aukerman
garnerted@comcast.net

PS. remember-- God promises us it is "through MUCH TRIBULATION (that we must) enter into the kingdom of God! (Acts. 14:22)

Mr. Aukerman

SHAME ON YOU! Who are you to profess to know that the late wife (Nancy) of Jerry McCracken has a secure place in the first resurrection! ONLY GOD KNOWS IF SHE DOES OR NOT! You pompous, disrespectful, egotistical, name dropping little snipe!! And how dare you say that the charges of adutery against Garner Ted Armstrong were proven false. Back in 1964 during the Feast of Tabernacles in Squaw Valley I used to carry little notes from the college girls that were staying in the Olympic dorms to Garner Ted Armstrong. You know what those little notes said? "So and so (their name) requests annointing by Mr. Garner Ted Armstrong...tee hee hee!" And then I would watch him sneaking into their rooms! Time to take off the rose colored glasses Mr. Aukerman. Everything that Alice Harrison relayed to you about her personal experiences is absolutely true. And Garner Ted Armstrong was right there at the right hand of his father Herbert W. so he was not an innocent bystander to all that was going on in the church at that time. Garner Ted Armstrong never would have split from the Worldwide Church of God if he hadn't been caught red handed one too many times and become a complete embarassment and liability to the church. Mr. Aukerman, you were born into the church when all of the things that Alice Harrison expounded on in her letter to you were taking place. You were either not born or too young at the time to realize what was going on around you. Not your fault! You just didn't live in the same church we grew up in. Loving families were torn apart, children were abused and medically neglected, beautiful little newborn babies died all for the want of simple medical intervention that would have saved their lives at childbirth. We were to rely soley on the laying on of hands at that time. To do otherwise would have meant that we were among the unfaithful and would have led to our excommunication. Our children could not receive immunization. My mother-in-law (in the church for years)at the time died in 1968 of accute paratinitis. One of the most excrutiating things you can endure. ABSOLUTELY AND VERY SIMPLY CURABLE!! She received several laying on of hands but would not go to the doctor or receive any type of medical attention because the minsiters had advised her that her resurrection depended on her complete faith in God to heal her. You see Mr. Aukerman...not the same church you grew up in. The Worldwide Church of God and the church that Garner Ted founded and all of the other off-shoots that came about later had to finally realize that the former teachings and doctrines of the church were getting them in legal, financial and political hot water. The church had to change their ways or perish. And...they had to get rid of Garner Ted Armstrong at all costs! His reputation was ruining them. The personal accounts of the people who lived through the pre-1985 era would most surely make you weep and truly realize why so many people from that era feel the way they do about Herbert W. and Garner Ted Armstrong. I am so glad to hear that your mother and several other people you grew up with actually received financial assistance from the church when you needed it. Our church had go above and beyond the four tithes we were paying - YES FOUR! First, second, third tithe as well as Tithe of the tithe to supply the poor and needy by gathering clothes donating food and helping to pay rent and utilities for these people because our own ministers could not get the Worldwide Church to assist these people! I have NEVER heard of anyone in need getting ANY assistance from the church. NEVER! Suffice it to say Mr. Aukerman...you cannot refute and dismiss the very real trauma that many people that came before you in the earlier years of the Worldwide Church of God experienced. And make no mistake! IT WAS TRAUMA! Many of the people from that era are in therapy and several are still being treated for post traumatic syndrome! Your feelings about and experiences with this church, Herbert W. and Garner Ted Armstrong are directly related to what era of the church you are associated with.

P.S. I feel so sorry for you that your ego, false pride and arrogance won't allow you to see the very real suffering of those that came before you.

Carol, what charges were brought against Garner Ted Armstrong? Is there a court case you can cite, be it criminal, or civil. If that information is available I'd like to look it up, even if the charges were dismissed there would still be a record of them.
You say in 1964 you were passing notes from the college girls to him and you knew before you gave him the notes what they referred too and would give the notes to him anyway. Then, you would witness him go into the girls dorms at night. So this makes you a courier and accomplice to his alleged adultery. You knew the content of the notes before you gave them to him, and then sat by and did nothing; did not try to stop your friends or him, while watching him sneeking into your friends rooms at your dorm. God would then hold you just as responsible as if you committed the adultery yourself, would He not. And, if anyone for that matter is married and looks at another with lust, even for a nanosecond, is that not adultery. Now tell me who isn't guilty of that sin.
You must be a senior citizen if you were in college in 1964, and you are calling others all kinds of childish names like you were in gradeschool. Sin is sin the way God measures it, whether it is adultery or name calling.
It is wrong that other atrocities happened that directly affected peoples lives. I agree there. God will be the judge of those things. But I see a lot of people name calling and slinging mud here at two men who have been buried under six feet of dirt for over 20 years, and 4 years. And that is certainly not Godly behavior. Best thing to do is try to forgive and forget and pray about these issues and for each other.
I read a book Garner Armstrong wrote that detailed his side of the story it was something like the history of the Church of God International. Seemed to say he left the father because he did not agree with him about many of the doctrinal issues he was so staunch about,(marriage, makeup, place of safety and so on) including moving that college of theirs so it and the church would be separate to get accreditation for the college. If I recall the book had documentation to back up all his claims that men who wanted to get close to the father and take control of everything did a smear campaign on him to get the father to give him the boot. The book indicated Garner Ted Armstrong wanted to make all kinds of changes for the better but did not have the authority as long as the father was in charge of it all.
Well, anyway, I believe that Garner Ted and his wife stayed married till he died a few years back. She must have forgiven him if he did anything wrong.

Austin

I was 15 years old in 1964. A very sheltered and naive 15 years old. The first note I delivered to Garner Ted Armstrong without reading it. The next note was not sealed so I read it. And then I delivered it to a deacon in our church to give to GTA. I gave it to this deacon opened up and face up so he would have to read it. He did. He chuckled and shook his head and said he would deliver it to GTA personally. I felt that if there was anything suspect going on that giving that note to a deacon should put an end to it. It didn't. The visits to one of the girls rooms did not stop and by the way...the visits were in the afternoon break between services not at night! At 15 years old I was not going to question the authority of one of the heads of that church. The two college girls that I speak of opened their doors as I was passing in the hallway and asked me to deliver the notes. I didn't know either one of them.

And...I am not mudslinging anyone! I could care less what anyone including Garner Ted Armstrong does in their personal life. I am defending the literally thousands of men, women and children who were deceived, robbed and endured immeasurable physical, mental and financial damage all for the sake of a greedy father and son!

What happened during that pre-1985 period of the Worldwide Church of God was very real and very damaging to thousands of people. You were admonished not to use Dr.'s for healing. Commanded not to marry outside of the church, your race or marry anyone that had been divorced. Any couple wanting to join the church during that era (especially pre 1980) would have to separate if they were married to someone of a different race or someone that had been divorced. The people that came before Mr. Aukerman's era in the church suffered immensely. I pray that we all will continue to find peace, healing and solace in whatever path we have chosen to pursue our relationship with God.

By the way...Garner Ted Armstrong's wife dissolved their marriage before his death. Who could blame her! http://www.ondoctrine.com/10armstg.htm

Brethern, the dissenters like Carol Seholm are making NO EFFORT to spread the Gospel in any way. Their goal and sole purpose in life is to falsely ACCUSE! Satan the Devil is the accuser of the brethern, the body, the church, GOD's WORK. She and other's like her are out to deceive, to harm, or DESTROY, and draw other people out of the body, the flock, the churches of God, AFTER THEM. They are guilty of the very things which they falsely accuse. Notice how quickly her "story" changed with regards to the facts of an alleged incident she claims took place in 1964. 1964? This is 2007! FORTY THREE YEARS LATER. What she is doing is negative, diabolical, satanic. It is Satan himself diabolically deceiving and using HER and sadly others like her. And they may seem sincere, but a sincere person does not know they are being deceived. We are admonished that we can know them by their fruits. Her example clearly shows how in one breath she states she could "care less about what anyone did in their personal life", clearly not the case as she then continues to attack the personal lives of the men. She then convienently gives out a website address directing you to more false "personal information" about the maritial status of the man and his widow. A website run by other dissenters!
God, our Father, tells us clearly how he wants us to worship him. It is not up to us to decide for ourselves how, or wheter or when, as she wrongly suggests. If you are keeping the 7th day sabbath on Saturday, observing God's annual Holy Days on the proper days, have plans to attend the Feast of Tabernacles this year with a church organization, (irregardless of the organizations "title"); if you know and understanding the difference between clean and unclean meats, if you do not keep this worlds pagan holidays, and if you are striving to live by the ten commandments of our Lord to the utmost of your ability, YOU DO WELL. Hold fast to what you know, keeping your eye on the Lord and His promises to us, your nose in the pages of your bible and pray always for His guidance and direction. Pray for these individuals as well.

We need to give it up, Ms Seholm, and all those who have written and are trying to show others what that church and the Armstrongs truly were. It's no use. This bunch is so egotistical and self-righteous, there is no knocking that halo off their heads. They aren't even denying all that happened back then, anymore. This last one is saying, 'that was then and this is now.' Sounds like now is just a repeat of then after reading these blogs. I thought God's law was the same yesterday, today and forever. You see, anyone who disagrees with them is "Satan inspired." Sounds familiar doesn't, Ms Seholm? All of us who have finally broken the bonds, according to them, we are all diabolical liars and Satan worshipers. Same dangerous, destructive poison that was preached back then and kept everyone in check paying their dues. Anyone who speaks badly of their hero, is just a big fat liar, and being led by the devil, no matter what you see on TV, read in the papers, or here first hand. It just can't be true. Why? Why, because theirs is the only true church, and everyone else is going to hell, didn't you know? Oh, or maybe they'll go on to the second resurrection, or will it be the third? Narrow minded hypocrites who won't even consider what anyone outside their cult is saying.
"A sincere person does not know they are being deceived" you say. Right back at ya, folks!
You say, "God, our Father, tells us clearly how he wants us to worship him" Tells who? Just you and your special group? Your little group has the one and only inspired interpretation of the Bible, or God spoke to you all in person, right?? Wow, you guys really are special. NOT
And don't scold us for writing what we think and feel on this memorial blog. A blog is a blog. A place to voice whatever. If it were a Memorial for Charles Manson or Adolf Hitler, you'd get the same, and for the same reasons.

Well, for starters...I guess I'm a little confused about this site. I do see the word "tribute", but even the very first blog doesn't seem like much of a tribute to me. When I read it, I was left with the impression that when it came to the issue of GTA's positive contribution to society...they jury was still out. It seemed to me as though people were encouraged to write about thier experiences - good or bad.

Regardless, if this truly is a "tribute" site only, then I would have to say that I think folks should respect the fact that some people liked and admired this man, even if they didn't, and they should refrain from trying to burst someone's bubble with negative feedback.

However, I think what happens is one person misunderstands the site, as I did, and posts something of their own negative experience. I have to add, that I really don't think they do this out of malice. I think they do this out of concern for others. They've been hurt & they want to warn others. Then, it starts getting nasty because the GTA lovers get offended and have words for the GTA skeptic. Then the GTA skeptic feels they have to defend themselves.

Someone earlier asked Alice Harrison how she even found this site if she didn't respect GTA. I'll tell you - I found this site on accident. I found this site because someone had told me there were actually support groups for those damaged and deceived by the World Wide Church of God (actual site pasted below). Out of curiousity, I looked for these sites, but initially found this one instead.

I hate to see name calling and mud slinging, but there's probably no getting around it when you talk politics and religion. I believe that when it comes to the WWCG, you will ALWAYS have your die hard supporters and you will ALWAYS have your die hard critics. You will always have those folks who had a truly marvelous experience with the church and those that feel completely cheated and abused by the church. I think this is due to their ever changing and evolving doctrines. For instance, I read Mr. Aukerman's blog and wonder "when did this happen"? I feel like he's not only going to a completely different church than what I went to, but he's experienced a completely different lifestyle and upbringing. I mean, I am just shocked that the church is embracing Hollywood like that. Back when I was attending the Church called NY and LA "sess pools of sin". We were commanded to stay far away from the "wordly ways" of these places. I'm also shocked that the actors mentioned respected GTA. Back when I attended, these actors would have been kicked out of the church the minute they were caught wearing make up, smoking, kissing someone other than their wife, swearing, men having long hair, not going to church on saturday, going out on Friday nights, making an R rated film, the list could just grow and grow! Many followers wouldn't even own TVs! Now, I never went to GTA's church, so maybe that has something to do with it. I was born into the WWCG and stayed there until I fled at age 15.

I do recall, year to year, the rules of the religion changing. As a child and as a teenager, depending on what year or era you were invovled in, you could have had a much easier time of it. I can relate to most everything Julie, Alice and others say. As a child, I was brainwashed and beat into submission - so I really didn't know any better and I was convinced that the church was the only way to go. However, as a teenager - I was so misserable, I was suicidal. I won't go into it all, but back then the rules were strict (and absolutely crazy and damaging, if you ask me)! At least they were in Auburn, WA. Now, I also do recall that not only were the rules different depending on what year you attended...but also depending on what location you attended. I remember the church in Seattle getting away with being far more liberal that the churches in other smaller Washington state suburbs.

This is why I think we should ALL try to stay focused on what the bible tells us and not what RELIGIONS dictate. Religion changes, the word of God should not. It's taken a long time for me to even be able to get rid of all the false things I'd been taught and learn about what really matters to God & embrace christianity again. I try to stay focused on the fact that Jesus died for our sins and if we believe in him, love him, have faith in him and ask for repentance of our sins we are promised eternal salvation. END OF STORY. Religion "rules" can not steal this from us. Not attendig the feast of tabernacles, wearing make-up, going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday, eating pork, etc. does not condemn me, or any one else to death.

This was meant to be a positive blog, not a negative one, so hopefully I haven't offended anyone.

~ D

Sorry - forgot to paste the WWCG support site.

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/w01.html

ISN'T IT IRONIC THAT ALL OR MOST OF YOU WAIT UNTIL HIS DEATH TOCRUCIFY HIM? HAVE A LOOK IN YOUR OWN MIRRORS AND TELL ME, "ARE YOU SO PURE AND PERFECT THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME TO CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR THE LAST TIME? IF ANY OF YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO YOU MUST BE PURELY DILLUSIONAL OR YOU ARE TRULY A HYPOCRITE AND YOU WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO GOD AND HE DOES NOT LOOK OR THINK KINDLY OF THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE.
AS JESUS HIMSELF SAID:
"LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE"

Seems to me that you, Liz, and several others, here, are throwing as many stones as anyone. Calling people names like hypocrite, delusional, false accusers, liars, Satan, Satanic, lemmings, evil-speakers and belly-achers, simply because they have a different opinion than you.
Most aren't throwing stones here, but are warning others about the very dangerous effects of CULTS ! You or others here, who may have been exposed to Garner Ted Armstrong and his church or literature during the more recent times, evidently, have no clue what he, his father, and that church stood for in the past. If you saw, and you knew, you would be warning people, too. Garner Ted may have repented before his death, and I hope he did. God can forgive him if he did. But he, nor his father ever apologized to me or to the thousands whose lives they devastated by their false-doctrine, thievery, and manipulation. Just because he liberalized his teachings a bit, doesn't mean it's based on any more truth than the one in the past.
I vote
I celebrate Holidays
I see nothing wrong with joining the armed forces.
I don't beat my three month old baby, "because it was born with carnal human nature and it's spirit needs to be broken." I don't beat my older children either.
I don't think there is anything wrong with adopting a child
I wear make up
My husband and I have equal status in my home.
I'm a woman and I can get a job if I want, and I can even speak in church.
I would let my non-baptized family members and friends come to my church if they wanted to. I would let a stranger off the street come to my church without grilling him and making him commit to anything.
I might give one tenth of my income to my church if my family was fed and clothed, but I would not give three tenths and let them go hungry while my ministers drove around in fancy cars, lived in mansions, and attended fancy restaurants, while they are lying, telling me that it's all going to get the Word out.
I would let my daughter dance with a boy of a different race and be perfectly happy if she married him if he loved her and would take care of her.
I would not forbid my children the help of a doctor if they were sick and I would allow them to take the medications they needed in order to get well and also get them vaccinated against diseases. If they needed an operation or a blood transfusion, they would get it.
I would not get a divorce from the love of my life, father of my little children, simply because he had been divorced in the past or because I had.
If I disagree with my minister, I will discuss the matter with him and if I still don't agree I will stick to my decisions and still be allowed to attend my church.

You see, all of these liberties would have been denied an Armstrong church-goer of the early years, and indulging in any one of them would have led to your being either ousted, or scared into obliging the rules for fear of loosing your eternal life. Thousands gave up these liberties because a very sly man and his son were very good at deceiving, and got bloody rich at it. Thousands are still, today, suffering the side affects. That's why there are so many books, therapists and web sites out there to help the survivors.
http://www.exitsupportnetwork.com/index.htm And that's why you have so many people, here, of all places, venting their frustrations and trying to warn others so it won't happen to them.
M. H.

To those who claim they know GTA and HWA - be ready to answer your claims to God when judgment day comes.

To those who claim they were former members of WCG and were conned by GTA and HWA - hope your accusations were true because what you are saying will be used against you in judgment day.

To those who claim that the sexual harassment made against GTA were true - you don't know anything. Liars! These were perpetuated by CGI knowing that GTA will return again. You will notice that the lawsuit didn't materialize as they know it will be dismissed in court. Guess the irony in that! All are fabricated claims in disguise of money and power hungry people inside CGI.

To those who continue to insult GTA and HWA - be careful of something you don't understand. You will answer to God in judgment day.

To those people who continue to advertise Anti-Armstrongism - good luck to you and may God have mercy on you. You cannot even distinguish right from wrong. You let other people dictate your life. You don't even need to have a super IQ to really see those who work behind these websites.

To those who think they know the Bible from Genesis to Revelation - you need to study more. Don't think that reading from Genesis to Revelation makes you a Bible scholar.

To those people who deny the existence of God and denounce every form of religion - what a pity!

People today are disrespectful, arrogant, haters, backbiters, having a form of Godliness but truly denying it in their lives. What's wrong with the 10 Commandments? Do you think if people today will follow the 10 commandments, we will have so much crime in the world now? Oh, I forgot that they hate the 4th one. So all 9 are wrong because of the 4th one. What hypocrisy here!

Nowadays, religion is a dress code! You put it on when the occasion occurs and REMOVES it when not in need. Check your lives first before you say something that you have NO PROOF!

The internet has brought lives to fools who post without any understanding and qualification. To fools who are disrespectful to parents, elders, liars, claiming to know religion and have ITCHING EARS to lies, mysteries and controversies. This is what we get from watching too much TV. Case closed. Noah enters the ark...

Uhhhh....yeah - WHATEVER! We rest our case!

I studied with the World Wide Church of god in the 1970s. They never charged me for a book or any bible study, I thought their bible studies were great. I joined the church, actually you couldn't join at that time, they came to your house and decided if you were ready to be included in their group, and if you were, you were then invited to be baptized, which I was, even though I had already been baptized. There were a lot of different things that I could not bring myself to believe that they taught. So I did not remain a member. But I did think that Herbert and Ted were great preachers and as far as Ted sinning, we all sin in some way. I can see where the devil could have tempted him and the women he was with, because he was A VERY, VERY, HANDSOME MAN. I will miss him and his father and will always remember them as a part of my life. I am sorry to hear that the WCG fell apart. The campus at Pasadena was beautiful. God Bless you both, you did a lot more in Gods work than the average person.

Well, after reading all the squabbles on this site, I felt I needed to add my two cents worth. I, too, grew up in the WWCG and personally met both Herbert W. and Garner Ted Armstrong. I was in the first summer camp program at Big Sandy, Texas. (A really TOUGH camp, by the way!) Yes, I know all the talk and reports about problems within the church. The media just LOVED to find faults and then jump on it with everything they had (and a lot of nonsense they didn't have..). I was there. In actual fact, Mr. Herbert Armstrong believed with all his heart, what he preached. He lived it. Garner Ted did also although, maybe not with the ferver his father did, and as far as his womanizing, well, who among us haven't sinned? No one else has sinned? Well, then, as one other posted comment said, go on and cast the first stone...that's what the bible actually says, isn't it? The Word they preached was sincere and if discovered to be incorrect in places, was corrected as soon as discovered. Both Herbert and Garner Ted stated that if you show them where they are wrong in the Bible, they would accept it. I have respect for the Armstrongs and always will. Just before his death, Mr. Armstong instructed his successor, Mr. Joseph Tkach Sr., to look into things that may have been wrong and get them corrected, which he did. The Church is still making many changes of late and as they discover new truths, changes are immediately put into effect, all based on The Bible. Here's an interesting question for you critics...how many churches that you know of will actually do that?

PEOPLE, Have we forgotton the word of God? It is just like man to complain about all the things they couldnt do while in the church. Does anyone know what god says about all that? If you were truley in the church, and learned anything, you wouldnt even be saying any of the comments I have read here. I read how you couldnt celabrate Christmas and Easter and Birthdays because the church said you couldnt. But what does God say of the pagan traditions? What does God say about the sabbath? The word of God stands regardless of how you feel about these men. If you believed in the word of God at one time, what does your feelings about these two MEN have to do with your belief in Gods word. No man can come to him, unless the father draws him. So maybe you believe in God, but you dont really believe in his promise. We are living in the end times my friends, if you knew or learned anything from the church, you would allready know what is going to happen. If you deny God because you have a complaint against 2 men, do you think he will treat you any different then the 2 men? You should allready know that if you know the truth, and believed it, to deny god now would not be so wise. Im sorry but you dont get gods glorious grace by just asking for it. yes it is free, but there are conditions. And one is obediance to gods laws. Eternal life is, indeed, Gods free gift. its not your right to have it. You cannot demand it of god as your right, while still rebbelling against his law, and refuse to let him rule your life his way. And no matter how you feel about x-mas and easter and birthdays, and the sabbath, God says not to follow the pagan ways, and to keep the sabbath. The bible says nothing about Celebrating X-mas and easter. It does say that the sabbath is holy and to keep it. And if you know anything about this subject, you allready know what day God wants us to keep. So my friends, You can convince yourselves that maybe god wont mind if you go against his word, But I think you know better. I myself was in the church, back in the 80s and I never saw any of the things you all talk about. I am not saying these things did not happen, But some of the things you write are way out of context. But again I say, if you truley understood the word of God, you would not have to say the things you say here on this blog. Yes the church was demanding of alot of things, but no more than god himself on alot of these issues. We all would like to believe that god is up there and we are down here just doin our thing. That he doesnt require anything of us, but to say we accept jesus as our saviour and all is well. If you believe that, then god help you. It takes alot of work and disipline to walk in the truth. One is being able to forgive. Not casting judgments on others. Obeying gods laws, all the time. Not just once a week. studying and praying and fellowshipping with others. People feel the world is bad now, just wait a few more years. Anyone with any knowledge of the holy bible has to admit time is running out on mans world. Man can not solve mans problems, and only god can. There is a better world coming my friends, but we need to get ready. All this hate for one another and anti armstrong will not get you anywhere. Tell God your story, of how you were abused by this church, and let him decide. Then move on, and dont stop your walk with god. Not now, not this close to his return. Some day we all will be togother again under new circumstances. And we will have to explain our comments, true or false to him. Then you will have your day in court. For now they are not here to defend themselves, They are both dead, and now its up to god to decide whos telling the truth. You will not get any points for badmouthing a dead man. I pray for all of you, in a good way. No malice here... BYE

I worked for Mr. Ted Armstrong and his father in 1978. The world wide Church was filled with wonderful people. The doctrine of the church was the closest to the truth of the Bible I have ever read. GTA was a shinning spark in Gods work on this planet. He is missed.

I can relate to what Julie said, I too grew up in the Worldwide Church of God. I am not bitter, although God knows I could be, after what we went through. God is a God of grace and forgiveness. He is the ultimate judge. So who are we to judge HWA, GTA, or any man? I am happy to say I'm a member of a grace based church. I choose to move forward and to let go of the past.

I choose HWA, because GOD called me out to know the real truth, through the teachings and books by HWA. Only 1 Church follow the HWA legary and teaching, that is the PCG (www.thetrumpet.com). Thank GOD show HWA the truth. Last January 17, was HWA's death anniversary.

No tribute here... I grew up in this "religion" and after 18 years of intensive therapy still cannot find it within me to step into a church. All these people who thought they were so wonderful, sure didn't listen to the same sermons I heard - about how infants should be spanked when they cried because they were rebellious. Don't believe it? Get the "Plain Truth About Child Rearing" which dear old Ted wrote. Try on a little dissociative disorder just to help you live through it. Or how about a trip to the "spanking tent" just because at 4 years old you can't sit still through an 8 hour service. If I really wanted to waste my time, I'd sue the sick b**tards. What they preached was bs to get money out of people. 10% of everyone's income. Ever see the homes they lived in? I don't recall anything in the Bible about Jesus' mansion. God did not speak through these people. Money spoke to these people and there is plenty of proof out there - stories of rape and depravity involving BOTH father and son. I'm just sorry there are still people out there believing that anything these sickos said had anything to do with the truth.

10% of everyone's income? It was more than that. After becoming a member of the Radio Church of God which later became the Worldwide Church of God, you were to give 10% of your income to the church, then set aside an additional 10% for the holy days (second tithe) and 10% of that second tithe was to be sent in to headquarters (tithe of a tithe), supposedly to help pay for set up, etc at the many feast sites. Then, when you reached your third year as a member of the church, in addition to the two tithes just mentioned, you were required to send in a third tithe to headquarters every third year (third tithe), which headquarters supposedly used to help the orphans and widows, etc. (Not by a long shot) So every third year, you were having to set aside a third of your income and the other two years it was two tenths you set aside. Every third year, two tenths went to headquarters, and one tenth minus the "tithe of the tithe" was set apart for your celebrating at the feasts. This was required of all households no matter what your income or how many mouths you had to feed. On top of all this, a free will, holy day offering was required, OK, not required, just strongly coaxed out of you, on each of the eight holy days throughout the year. All this broke the backs of many families, including middle class families because the heads of households not only lost their jobs but had a very hard time getting another because the church forbid working on Saturday or Friday night and also required that they take huge absenses from work to travel and attend the many feasts several times a year. What employer would put up with that, especially back then? Children were taken out of school several times during the school year and had to work hard to make up the lessons they missed. They were not allowed to participate in any of the holiday festivities at school, sports and other school activities were out since so many would end up on Friday night or Saturday, so the kids stood out like sore thumbs. All the time these families were having an incredibly hard time financially, the ministry and especially the Armstrongs were getting richer than rich, living high on the hog, traveling around in fancy cars and personal jets, living in fine homes, wearing fine clothes, and eating at the finest restruants.
The typical Armstrong church-going family would show up at church with the husband in a suit,carrying his spiffy black briefcase like some kind of executive. A few paces behind, he's followed by an overworked bedraggled wife with a baby in one arm and a big diaper bag hanging from the other with more little ones walking along, holding on to her skirt. Sticking out of every diaper bag was a ruler or paddle of some kind which made the parents look like staunch believers in the church's eyes.
It doesn't matter how different an Armstrong church is today. It was pure evil back then, and until the leaders admit they were wrong, aplologize to those they've scared, and ask forgiveness, they are the same evil people they always were. You can't build anything "good" on a foundation like that. You don't go from being really rotten to being a fine Christian without admitting that you were very very wrong in the past, or that you are so sorry for all the people you hurt, led astray, or robbed blind. I've never heard a single apology or confession out of either of the Armstong leaders, and I'm sure they were both very well off financially to their dying day.

I was baptized into the WWCG Dec.3rd.,1972. I was not really convered at the time, but joined the church at the urging of my sister. I had to see a minister first to be invited. I felt uncomfortable when Mr. Foster said:"I see you have a little make-up on." I thought how am I ever going to be able to go anywhere without my make-up? But, I did go to services a bit barefaced. The message the Church espoused was worth hearing. I had been an avid listener to both the Armstrongs and had taken the Bible Correspondance Course for five yrs., proving that what they taught was Biblical. The songs were Psalms. Some were writtenby Dwight Armstrong. I assumed the man was HWAs' brother. I saw mothers slapping infants on thier bare bottoms and that bothered me. I thought; what if these babies have colic or something? I knew in my heart that I couldn't slap my own baby. And despite the churchs' dogma not to have our children innoculated against childhood diseases, I just couldn't adhere to that. She got her pre-school shots. We all have a rebellious nature. So, when church was over, I smeared my lips. I had not stopped bleaching my hair. Isensed that the presiding minister did not personally approve of me.I heard my faults called out many times from the pulpit, knowing they were directed at me. I never felt comfortable with myself because I knew that I was not adhering to thier doctrine to the letter as most of the members were. It was the message I went to hear. What the Armsstrongs taught was from the Bible and it really was the truth! I was a widow when I chose to leave the church, but I missed hearing the Word and started going to Garner Teds church. I had heard rumors of mis-conduct, but I wanted to hear the Word and no one else could teach it as the CGI did. I was never one to judge another, though I was critical of the church' mode of conduct, dress and a few other things. I did feel that Garner Ted should have stayed away from the pulpit because he was infested with unclean sex spirits and no one could tell him the truth. H wouldn't listen! Not even when the demons shook his bed and he and his wife went to the floor on their knees in great fear. Of all the things the two churchesdid know, they did not know about demons..they were afraid of demons and never taught about them. As a result, many people were ostricized for thier behaviour and later, there was that shooting in Wisconsin because of thier hardness and inablity to minister to the hurting. When all is said and done, I feel priviliged to have known the Armstrongs, to have heard thier prophetic interpetations(which are coming down now and it seems no one is aware as in the days of Noah.) God is the judge of us all. I will always be grateful for what they taught me and I miss them to this day. Though I was a bit of a misfit, I hung with them for many years. Where is the Plain Truth being preached today? I can't find a church to go to and now it is just me and God. Isn't that the way it really is with all of us?

I hate to see how so many people are judging the dead. I will always love the Armstrongs. I found nothing wrong with their teachings. If one can't stand the heat. one should get out of the Church or the kitchen.

I felt privilidged to meet Garner Ted Armstro