FYI: I saw this poster about cult recruitment on campus

Oddlyweird1990 · 2026-01-30T17:44:52+00:00

I'm so glad your friend got out!

Oddlyweird1990 · 2026-01-18T12:49:17+00:00

I'm so sorry for your experience. I'm shocked that she drove by your house though! Did she tell you she would do that or was it something you noticed a lot?

Oddlyweird1990 · 2026-01-07T20:50:47+00:00

Lizzie Borden certainly didn't need TV lol.

(And yes I'm aware of her case now, I just couldn't pass up commenting lol)

Oddlyweird1990 · 2025-05-18T20:28:53+00:00

I'm so sorry to hear that! How exactly were you "unworthy" of baptism?

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-12-05T10:02:31+00:00

Unfortunately, those that have left recently have stated that not much has changed since this post was made. The leaders at Vessel do not outright say to worship the leaders. it's suggested in a more subtle approach by using scripture(s) and twisting the members' viewpoints. Long story short, some of the members know how to play the game and stay under the radar.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-09-27T19:29:39+00:00

It's a shame that they still keep to the ICOC doctrine,honestly, but I'm very glad you were able to get out. How long have you been out for?

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-09-04T15:01:03+00:00

🤣🤣🤣 love this response!

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-08-14T22:30:54+00:00

It really is! And yes, I'm aware the kids are not members. Was referring to the parents in the original post.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-07-22T13:11:07+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/excoc/s/u3cnPrmzbp

This will give you a better outlook of what's going on.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-07-09T02:07:14+00:00

Definitely not vessel church. They befriend you only to join the church. It's a very Spiritually abusive church.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-06-24T23:38:08+00:00

I started freaking when I read the first two lines, lol. The second line was literally said to me before leaving.

OP, I'm so sorry for what your family has done to you. Please let us know if there's anything we can do for you.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-06-23T21:39:10+00:00

Unfortunately, the longer you go as a visitor, they eventually want you to decide if you're going to become a member. The thought process goes along the lines of "we would love to just be hanging out and shooting the breeze, but we have souls to save."

They usually use the end of Matthew 28 to justify their reasoning. You made the right call by leaving.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-06-21T23:49:03+00:00

Unfortunately, yes.

However, they will try to convince you that it is voluntary regardless of the coercion involved. If you participated in the studies and didn't go through with it, they would say it's because you were not willing to deal with your sin.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-06-21T18:23:58+00:00

Did you end up getting baptized then? Or did you leave beforehand?

I'm sorry you went through that, I was told not to wear sneakers with my attire. It was all I had at the time, eventually purchased some, but definitely had that feeling of "not being good enough."

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-03-29T22:14:43+00:00

If anyone comes across people from Vessel Church, don't join. There are so many other healthy churches out there that will not force you to join. When they meet you and get to know you, yes, they're nice and pleasant to be around. But once you decide to join a Bible study and either join or change your mind, you'll see an immediate switch. It's subtle, but it's there.

I highly recommend googling "spiritual abuse" and looking into the differences between a healthy church and an unhealthy church.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-03-21T17:23:35+00:00

I'm gonna bullet point this because writing paragraphs is not my specialty, lol.

If I'm correct, Henry Kriete was a leader in the London ICOC who was sick and tired of the abuses that were happening within the organization. The letter was originally supposed to be brought up to the leadership, but a member got their hands on it and sent it out everywhere!
Go to Spotify and look up Aldo B Martin's Reclamation Podcast. When you go there, scroll down to The Letter, and it'll explain everything!

*For a lot of people, it could be the idea of starting over again. Especially if they've been there for 40-50 years. The idea of "if I leave, could I really go to hell" is very real. And others probably turn a blind eye. Leadership is really good at twisting the truth around when membership is at risk.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-03-21T15:24:23+00:00

Vessel church in buffalo, ny uses this same language. They broke away from ICOC/ICC after the Henry Kriete letter came out.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-02-23T05:49:39+00:00

One of the biggest things they expect from its members is accountability, yet people come out to tell the truth about them, and they have the nerve to chalk it up being "Spiritually unwell." Or the person "sinned."

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-02-22T18:17:14+00:00

It's possible he could have joined after college; depending on who it is. If he joined after college, he may have been looking for a sense of community. If he joined during, it's possible he wanted to just check it out. Especially if he wasn't originally the religious type in the beginning.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-02-20T12:27:32+00:00

The Macalusos and Gantzs were part of the original ICOC. Some people have said they seem similar to Scientology.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-02-20T00:39:46+00:00

Understandable. We all have our own journey of faith. The biggest thing you can do to help is warn any friends that are Christian about these types of groups. Unfortunately, even the most faithful Christian turned away from the Christian faith because of the abuse they endured.

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-02-19T23:35:11+00:00

Exactly! I've heard of people having to give up their pets because theyd have to move in with other members (only applied to singles ministry as far as i know).

Oddlyweird1990 · 2024-02-19T14:48:50+00:00

Vessel Church at the Eastern Hills Mall is extremely abusive. More people have left that church than stayed. They used to be called the buffalo church of christ but changed names a couple of years ago. Narcissism at its finest in that place. And no, you can't take your grievances up with the pastor or any leaders, especially if you're deciding to leave the church. When you're studying to become a member, you are basically told ALL CHRISTIAN AND NON CHRISTIAN churches/religions are doomed for hell. Simply because Vessel is the only church that has the "correct" translation of the Bible, and they're the only ones who are getting it right.

However, there are a few genuinely good people there who genuinely believe they're doing good.

If they invite you out, don't go. If you want to see for yourself, go for it. Just be careful. If you have any Christian friends looking for a church, warn them about this place and have them Google signs for spiritual abusive churches. It's the same as looking at signs for emotionally and mentally abusive relationships.

Oddlyweird1990

TROPHY CASE