Feedback regarding Faith Assembly and Dr. Hobart Freeman
I felt there needed to have a level headed discussion on what happened because I have come across, and continue to get emails from hurting people, who like me, got legalistic in the walk and fell flat on their faces.
Please keep your posting to under five (5) short paragraphs, don't preach, point fingers, make general assumptions, or be vulgar. This is not a public message board or blog. Treat it as part of the healing in acknowledging the GOOD as well as the bad that transpired at Faith Assembly over the years.
Head over to http://www.overcomersonline.com/FUDforum2/ if you wish to debate or vent.
Anonymous postings will be ignored. I reserve the right to edit wording and to be fair I will try to keep the postings as original as possible. I want people to be encouraged and if need be vent, but with the goal of realizing we were not perfect and part of the healing is to realize somewhere we went off track. Remember don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
If you want to contact people, I will try to let them know you are asking for them (if they left me a contact email address) and they can reply if they wish. I also don't want to publish full names for privacy reasons, hence first name and last letter, but let me know yours! In other words don't just give me your last letter please.
If anyone wants to get Carl Seitz's music on CD, contact Gene Cornell at rccci@netzero.com.
Suggest a donation of $25 paid to him in order to cover shipping costs and CD's.Children of Faith Assembly on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/posted.php?id=846995857&share_id=38103856074#s38103856074
Deeper Life Women Discussion: http://deeperlifewomen.com - a private message board where they can talk about those issues that affect their lives.Comments:
Jan 10 - I was a member of Faith Assembly from 1976 to 1983. I did not "quit" the Assembly in 1983, just stopped attending the local services. I believe now God was moving me in a different direction, for the good. I treasure every day I spent at the Glory Barn and Faith Assembly. I remember thinking as I would walk through the doors, "I was glad when they said let us go into the House of the Lord." Most of all, and I have spoken of this with others who attended, I praise God for the FOUNDATION I received in His Word during that time.
There is no comparison today to that place. I remember driving through the night to get to North Webster and stand in line at 4:30 in the morning, just to get a 'good' (and warm) seat! (Otherwise, you might end up in the basement and in the winter it was very cold.) We were hungry for the Word and God was blessing. God sought a people whose hearts were perfect toward Him. It was an awesome time! One I will never forget. I did experience the good and the bad. But folks, I have to say it was mostly ALL GOOD!! Yes, there was some bad, but that is what you get when you put a bunch of people together. We are not perfect.
I too, like many of you, reverence the teachings of Dr. Freeman. Not the man, but the Holy Spirit through a vessel. He was a good man and definitely had a knowledge of the Word of God like none other. He studied to show himself approved unto God. I am forever thankful for the experience and know that today I stand stronger and am firm in my walk with Jesus because of those beginnings!!
I believe we were scattered to the wind for the sole purpose of spreading the Word of God. I remember Dr. Freeman use to say, "You won't always have this word." Not to glorify himself, but to say, get it now, plant it in good soil, and in time, you will be sent out to be a sower as well. Do you remember those words? Those are just some of the words that stick in my head today, some 34 years later.
P.S. As I scanned through some of the stuff on this site, I noted that some were questioning whether any 'supernatural' or miracles ever occurred and questioning the 'anointing'. Wow, were you there? Really there? I can't say I ever personally saw a leg grow out, cancer removed, or eyes restored to perfect 20/20 vision, but I did see the supernatural, if you want to word it that way, but I prefer to say 'The Hand of God' in my life everyday. Just as I have seen the Hand of God moving in my behalf every day of my life since I gave my life to Him!!!
- Rhona B
Dec 09 - It's been a couple of years now since I have know about this site. I have pondered what to add in my own words what happened back in the days. Several additions to this site have come from Ontario Canada where Jerry E came every week to share Dr. F's message. I must point out that some of the best quality people in life I have met though Faith Assembly and the opposite is true as well.
Sad Sara K (april 08), I read your "sadness" posting here I understand exactly what you mean in your statement. Our families had a lot in common, we struggled and we all were searching for a better life, spiritually and finacially. Important to point out our parents are still needing help and in my mind are just barely making it. Is there a God or heaven, can't say for sure. I have curtanly become a realist, only believing in stuff I can touch and feel. We all thought that you make things right with God, live a good and honest life he'll bless you or reward you, ya, we are still waiting for this to happen. To this day after everthing has settled I still hold value in all the teachings, the 10 commandments are the only rules I follow, simple.
I remember thinking that things were kind of "off the wall", a cult, well I wouldn't go that far but loss of life in the church over idiology, come on what the heck was going on. To finally here Dr. F died of something treatable, well that was the icing on the cake, no way was I going to follow anything like this again. I felt like our family was lost and now found what a crock. We lost my sister, we never recovered finacially or even emotionally. We sort of white washed our true feelings, we all hoped of living a perfect life so we would end up in heaven to spend the rest of eturnity in peace. I hope so.
To this day I have kept Bruce Kinsey's testomony (on tape) in my dresser, an awesome memory of the good times. I remember listening to Stan Hill's songs and breaking into tears. I also remember at the age of 15 going up to Dr F and asking for God to heal my birth defects (synpolydactyly). I told everyone at school I was going down to Faith Assembly and when I came back I would look different. I was crushed, felt stupid and nieve.
Peace and love to all, I really enjoy reading everyones inputs. PS: I am peacful inside and i don't want people to read into this to much, no hurt feelings, no regrets just a little wiser these days.
- Darin S
Dec 09 - Hello, HF's message was a well needed one. One that changed if not saved my life both physically and spiritually.
Bottom line is , how one interpreted this message based on where one was with their walk of Faith in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
It was sad to see the Glory Barn go down. Happy to see the new building go up. Sad to see the new building sold.
- Doug S.
Dec 09 - I was part of the body in grand rapids, traveled a little to FA, and sometimes took part in trips to Burlington VT with Jim Mansfield and Jerry Reeder. What a great town with some serious skiing being done on Sugarbush and Stowe with the friends I made there in the mid 80's. Would like to hear from song leader Chic W and friend Cheri B and others to see what has happened to them.
With that my heart goes out to all who experienced vast negativity from the peer pressure and legalism that was produced from the teaching, seems that at the time it was part of the walk that we should overcome. The GR body seems like it had 2 camps, super hyper spiritual totally nailed to the cross and some that remained committed to the word but retained some part of their original personality and didn't become cloned, to me these hyperons are the ones that caused most of the problems waiting for the rest of us to catch up.
But as I look back if it wasn't for the teaching, a very strong word I would have been in serious trouble from striving to be a cool person in the worlds eyes, drug and alcohol addiction, and being reckless for that I am thankful.
I believe we close to the end, but have a real hard time finding a pure strong word so that is my struggle, just looking for sincere truth, joy and anointing. Thanks
- Tom Z
Nov 09 - Sometimes The answers we seek is at our feet! Was our faith in faith assembly or was our faith to him we seek For my Lord and master Jesus said to me let it be according to YOUR faith so should it be
So lets start anew and overcome these thing and get through Its up to you......love you saints.
- Ron y
Nov 09 - I am so humbled by the posts of absolute horror that took place in the name of Faith Assembly. I was there but not present because I was busy trying to keep my own home in order, raise my own children, and contend with an unfaithful husband. I owe an apology for being self-righteous. My husband divorced me, we lost our home, our little daughter was killed by a drunk driver.
Today I have balanced my life. I have joy and contentment. It is possible to forgive those who have hurt us. Seek God's mercy to heal the wounds. He was there with you going through everything you went through.You my contact me through the forum.
-ilene N.
Oct 09 - I wouldn't like to say I am a casualty of FA ...I believe to have risen above all the vile circumstances of my childhood. My mother got saved in the early 70's and attended the glory barn. She met and married my father there. I never realized untile going to school that things were "different". My father was a rapist and was convicted of attempted rape and served time after attacking a girl at Wawasee High School. She got away thankfully but my mother was unable to leave him due to the churches rules. He got "church discipline" and continued with his ways...eventually abusing me. My mother was so wrapped up in their beliefs that she wasn't even going to report him to the authorities. It was my aunt in the end who did. He went to jail and my mother was left with 4 kids under 7. Fast forward 3 years and she remarried a man who was physically abusive to herself and us. She passed away from breast cancer in 91 after seeking medical treatment too late.
I have very strong feelings about the teachings and things we were taught and the ridiculous things that ministers came out with and its taken me years and years to deal with the bitterness and unforgiveness I held for the church as a whole.
God has given me grace in many areas of my life and I have survived cancer myself and had a baby who was "incompatible with life" as I was told before giving birth and he is a strapping young man who is well clever.I believe that all of the awful experiences at FA should make us aware and hopefully not fall into those traps again.
-Michelle Y.
Sept 09 - To Mark and Debbie. Please don't feel alienated. I went through the same thing. Whats amazing is how many defend FA to this day. Its a real bizarre thing. What Mark went through was tramautic, there is nothing sacred or good about it. There should be a book written about these experiences. I think I came out of it all with PSTD. People know there is something different about me. I had to find out the hard way. I still aint comfortable around people and I like jobs where I work alone. What was I supposed to do? Join the world and it all goes away? What a mess it was. What a mess my mother is in. Thanks for nothing FA. We must unite, those of us who went through all this.
-Mark
Aug 09 - I still thank God for the Word we received from HF, some things became legalistic but haven't we matured to see that? No one made us do it and if we did, it was just stupidity on our part. I got over it and went on, so can you. He was a man, if you made him more than that shame on you, men make mistakes.
That said, not everything taught was wrong. Throwing everything away is just going to result in a loss of rewards. We will all answer for what we have done with our life, he also.
I'm trying to hold on to the truth given, resist unscriptural opinions and pray for the Holy Spirits Wisdom to discern the difference.
-Mike G.
Aug 09 - i too went to FA. my family was really into this teaching. my mother died from the the beleifs she had in God and these teachings. as a 7 year old child i fell into these teachings as well and beleived totally in God as well. until that day that mother passed away. i lost that faith in God at 15 and never went back to it all. at mothers funral the preach in charge told me that she was just clay and to bury it. this tore me up inside and ever one looked up to this man. i to this day have no trust in people or churches. i spent most of the time in the church as a child of being molested by someone my family thought of as a freind. yet i was his victom. he was very well know at FA. i truely hate this person. and to this day do not understand why if God loved me as they all said he did. why then did God turn his back on me? i was only 15 years old. why take my mother away ? these were the things that turned me away from God. and church thanks to FA
- Mark N.
Aug 09 - I am yet another casualty of FA. I attended a branch of FA in eastern Illinois and occasionally travelled to a meeting in Lafayette, IN and seminars in Indy. I started attending with my mother and my two brothers when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. I remember having services at my grandma and grandpa's house in the beginning and then at various other homes over the years. The FA teachings encompassed my entire childhood and teenage years. My only solace was that my dad did not hold the same beliefs.
I remember being pulled from class during holiday parties, nor was I allowed to participate in any holiday programs. I was not supposed to (even though I did not always comply) listen to secular music, watch TV, movies, dance, date, wear pants, makeup, wear certain brands of clothing and shoes, belong to certain organizations (she pulled my youngest brother from little league baseball and me from dance class), and the list goes on and on and on. She sucked the life out of our childhood.
I quit attending the FA meetings when I was probably a sophomore or junior in high school and did not attend church again for approx. 23 years. My husband suggested many times over the years that we should go to church. However, I was not going to be controlled like that ever again. A few years ago we started attending a local church and it has been a wonderful experience finding my way back to God. (Of course, He never went anywhere. He was right there waiting on me). My biggest regret is that my three older daughters have very little church background. My son attends with us.
As a result of my mother's involvement with FA, she never encouraged my to pursue an education even though I had tremendous academic potential. At one point, she even suggested that I could drop out of school since there was no need for a worldly education. Thankfully, I did graduate and at 42 years old I am still taking classes to complete my bachelor's degree. She basically told me that the Lord would bring me a husband and we would live happily ever after. Well, we all know that doesn't always happen in the real world. I got married, had four children, but never pursued a career. My husband has always thought that I should work, but my mom never programmed me that way. All I saw were women having babies every other year and that was fine when I was younger. Now, I am 42 years old wondering what I am going to do with myself now that my children are older.
It is quite obvious that I still struggle with my FA background on a daily basis. I have still not been totally healed and have probably not forgiven my mother completely either which I know I will have to do in order to be free. I have learned in the last three years that our God is an awesome, merciful, and loving God who does not want to see any of his children perish and as His children we are to spread the hope that Jesus gave for all mankind. (This was totally against the FA teaching as we were not to even associate with anyone who did not share the same faith). One day, by the grace of God, I will overcome the oppression that I endured.Thank you for allowing me to vent.
-Debbie M.
May 09 - As a young Christian, disillusioned with mainstream churches because of their support for the Viet Nam War, I naturally gravitated to informal guitar churches and Christian coffeehouses. While attending a coffeehouse ministry in Fort Wayne Indiana, I met Mel Grieder who had just began a coffeehouse in his barn at North Webster, later known as the Glory Barn. Here I met Steve Hill who introduced me to Hobart Freeman in Claypool Indiana at his house church known as Faith Assembly.
I became involved regularly at the Barn and later, when they merged with the house church, as they began meeting at the Barn. They renovated the second story of the Barn to make room for the overflowing crowds. Soon after the renovation I left the area for a year or so and backslided into an old drinking problem.
Seeking help, I returned to the Barn since Mel had a program in place to help alcoholics. After about two weeks of hard physical work and no pay, I left seeking other solutions. Through casual attendance in a Faith Assembly satellite church in another state, I started attending college level theology classes at the Barn. During this time, I heard of some people dying though few.
After taking theology courses for a few months, Hobart began teaching on the Five Points of Calvinism. He was what they call a four-point Calvinist. While teaching on the one point he didn’t agree with, Limited Atonement, I knew something was amiss with his teaching. That night during the ride home, I told the others that Limited Atonement is a fork in the road leading to two different outcomes. If Limited Atonement is true, then everything they teach about faith is false.
I and my pregnant wife immediately stopped attending, that and any other church that fell short on the doctrine of Limited Atonement. Shortly after that, the Faith Assembly deaths began increasing. I look back and shudder. With remnants of that teaching still clouding my thinking, we opted for a home delivery with a doctor for the Amish. Without the doctor, because of a breech birth and difficult delivery, she and the baby no doubt would be part of Glory Barn toll.
-Dave O.
May 09 - I have read quite many of these wonderful tributes to the late Bro. Freeman. Yes he was a very decent man but I guess everyone forgets that he was the one who kicked Bruce out for telling him the truth and after his death this caused a big strife and division with the church. I can truly say to all who were there in the early 80's as we were knows that the church did not show love to everyone only if you were important. We went through hell from the news media hounding us and when in church we were shunned as lepers and even the 5 fold minister avoids us, so I say people take off the rose colored glasses and see the truth.
It was not picnic for us who struggled to make it daily and then give half to the minister who flaunted their wealth in our faces. All of the teachings were stick dogma with no margins. I must say that I still mourn the lost of my daughter who would have been 26 this year
- David B.
May 09 - First of all I want to say that we are now celebrating our 28th anniversary and that we were married in this church. I can say that we have outlasted many who were in that church. I can say without a doubt that there was no love in that church if you were not in the click. When my wife and I were going through the mill with the court system we were shunned by many in the body, there were 2 families that were helpful to us and would talk to us in church.
I truly do not have anything good to say about that church and am very happy that it closed that was the worst place of my life
-David/Kathleen
May 09 - I no longer take lightly the bruising and hurting of another individual in the spiritual realm through teaching. Teachers might not start out legalistic but if it ends up that way and it produces a legalistic flock of people who became too frightened to challenge things or question a man or teaching, then we must tell it like it is: that they fear what man might do to them should they separate or question. We are not talking about whether someone is saved or not but the fruit one’s teaching ministry is having in people’s lives.
Many hurting people post on this site and it's understandable. I was once one of those hurting and I live in Australia and have never visited faith assembly but listened to teaching coming from there. I was too frightened to listen to anything else for fear of being deceived. I no longer feel that way but it has taken over 20 years to even want to step back into the Christian world and fellowship again with Christians.
I pray that every life that comes to this site searching for answers has their bruised and broken heart mended by God. I know from experience this site is healing because I am one of those healed. I first came here about 3 years ago.
God never worries if we question Him. John the Baptist questioned Jesus about whether He was the Messiah. Today people would say John was a doubter, an unbeliever but Jesus answered him and he didn’t scold him either for questioning if he was the Messiah.
Teachers are meant to be judged by the fruit that their teaching produces in the lives of those who listen to them. We who listen to teachers are the fruit of their ministry. Jesus tells us to judge teacher’s fruit and our own fruit. I'm no longer afraid to judge teaching and the fruit it produces in people's lives. I encourage others to do the same.
- Virginia C.
May 09 - I too do not believe this was a cult. I was very young when my parents went to faith assembly. I don't remember very vividly but still, most of my best friends are ex-faith assembly members. From what I hear from my grandma and mom and dad, it started off as an amazing movement of God. Yes opinions eventually turned into their own law, which was wrong, but the people were neat people. People came from all over the world...Germany, Australia, Canada and I'm sure more. The bond that people formed is unparalleled. The memories I do have of gatherings and get together were amazing.
I am very good friends with Hobart's grand-daughters and love his daughters. I do not believe he was a monster of any sort and have heard many people say he was the most well studied preacher and speaker they have heard.
This should show many people that everyone needs accountability! People should ask questions if they feel something is a miss. I know there are still many different types of people affected by this movement, in a good way and in a bad way. But its a choice how you will walk. Its a choice to lay the past down and allow God to heal you. So I urge people who are still dealing with this to stand up and say enough is enough!!! I choose to walk in Gods light and not in the darkness and oppression of the past!
-Angela A.
April 09 - Years ago I started attending a new church that seemed to have a sustained revival. After 2-3 years the pastor started listening to Hobart Freeman. A noticeable change took place. The sermons became less about the Word of God and more of a rant against other Christian groups or churches. A little over half of the congregation thought that HF was off-based but everyone was trying to be mature and not make an issue over it. I heard that HF had a dress code with specific rules pertaining to style. Since Jesus did not mandate his preferences in clothes for others to wear, I thought it was awfully presumptuous of HF to do so.
Then I heard that HF didn’t think that wives should balance the family checkbook. My mother was a bookkeeper and kept the business books for my dad as well as the household. My mother had a God-given ability to balance accounts quickly and efficiently. It was a benefit to the family. There is no prohibition against this in the Bible. The only reason I could imagine that HF would not want a wife to help out in this capacity would be facilitate a controlling personality in a husband. This is disturbing. Finally, HF seemed to embrace a legalism akin to the legalism of the Pharisees that Jesus so adamantly condemned.
A group from the church got fed up and left. After this group left, we heard that HF had died. The pastor seemed surprised. I think that he thought that HF would be like the righteous men of faith in the Bible who were blessed with a long life. Then Pastor went back to preaching the Word as he had done before and things got better.
When people disagreed with Jesus or just brought up ideas, Jesus was well able to debate/discuss the matter. He was not intimidated, nor did he shun and hide from peoples’ ideas/questions as HF did.
I have noticed something about some fundamentalist leaders. They are good at creating their own reality by expounding and expanding on certain scriptures all the while ignoring other scriptures that are inconvenient to their legalism or theology. I think that preachers should read the gospels more and try to get a better understanding of Jesus.
- Rita S.
Mar 09 - I attended a body of FA down south. Those were some very bad times for me and it has taken many years to deal with this issue. I attended a Baptist church from time to time. Today's sermon was about eternal life. I have a relative that is in bondage to this concept.
What the preacher taught today was in contrast to what Dr. Freeman taught. Our preacher tells us that you don't have to do anything for eternal life, it is already given to you. My relative is in bondage, fearing that if they do anything wrong, they will loose their chance for eternal life. The bondage is extreme and has caused hardships for those around this person.
This bondage drove me away for Christianity for many years, probably a result of the powers of darkness at work. You see, I'm sure my relative will receive their eternal life, but through their selfish bondage, they succeeded in driving away those who also could of been Christians. This is where Dr. Freeman failed many people.
-Carl R.
Mar 09 - Let me start by saying i started going to the glory barn in the 70's and my family continued to go approx. 15 yrs after . i find all of this fascinating and really havent given fa much thought to tell you the truth, however after doing a lot of thinking and praying i can tell you that i believe this was a cult! i honestly dont believe that "good and bad" can transpire from something that God is supposedly a part of. i think people are like i was just saying things that are safe like (there was good and bad, people took things out of context or to literally) when the truth is their afraid to say anything bad because their mind is still under the control of dr. freeman. instead of GOD who should be in control! God is a loving God and i never thought so under these teachings.
if you look at how Jesus lived his life (who we should be modeling)it is nothing like i remember anyone living at fa.
-Alica M.
Feb 09 - I got to this site about a year ago. I can't believe after all these years that I am still feeling the aftermath of FA. Left a perfectly good job and life in San Antonio to be a part of Faith Assembly in 1981. Complete oppression! Except that we interpreted it as deep spirituality. After having this blind faith, let's add up the blessings--2 horribly difficult births at home, having 3 other premature births--dead babies at home, one resulting in visit from the local sheriff, constant fear of the authorities from FA finding out we may have watched a video or donned a pair of shorts or pants. Where was the blessing? I guess I missed it. Oh yeah, Jerry's worship, wow that was great--and how did he end up? Didn't they kick him out eventually.
I think it was made quite clear when Hobart died from a treatable ailment. An end to a miserable ministry, which I believe could have been great--but ended badly and with a fizzle.
I really do feel sorry for the children raised in that strong arm disciplined environment, we used to pummel those babies who dared cry out or couldn't sit still for one of Freeman's 2 hour monologues.
Today, I really struggle to believe anything. If God isn't interested in answering a prayer to save a baby's life, then how could I possibly pray for anything else? It just doesn't make sense. I look at most of it now as just fairy tales and made up stories to entertain.
-Margo M C.
Feb 09 - Greetings, I look back on my very early years at about twelve. I was always "seeking for God", I started listening to Dr. Freemans tapes around that age with an cassette player stuck under my pillow not wanting my parents to catch me for I was already off on the deep end. When I was able to drive I would attend the Body by Celina, Ohio. I had some distant family involved in that group.
A lot of issues were going on which at that time I didn't understand. My sophomore year I started to date a girl from Berne, Indiana. She attended a group called Christ Assembly, which was even more on bondage issues which for some reason I was always attracted to rules. Which some of the ministry was involved with Freeman when they first left the Amish.
Long story kinda short, growing up in very non-Christian home I always felt a love for my well being in that Body. I just can t say anything bad about Dr. Freeman for myself but I am glad for the tapes as a kid. Welcome for conversations at trenthole@gmail.com
- Trent H.
Feb 09 - I have been reading this post for 8 years and have finally decided to contribute my views. I joined a satellite "body" of Faith Assembly in 1980, accepted all the teachings of Hobart Freeman and his underlings as the "Word of God" and ended up in an abusive marriage to a child molester with 15 children and no "scriptural" way out. You cannot separate Hobart Freeman's message and his followers' behavior. He used the Bible as leverage to manipulate many people into actions that were harmful and, at the very least, legalistic. Children were beaten, deprived of medical care and education, all because their parents put his teachings into practice.
At any time, he could have stopped it, but instead condemned to hell anyone who spoke against his teachings. Don't take my word for it. Listen to his tapes...it's all on there. I left the group 9 years ago with the clothes on my back and 14 children under the age of 16. My oldest child still wants nothing to do with me because of the way she was abused during her Faith Assembly childhood.
I have a personal relationship with Jesus now and want nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness that typified Faith Assembly. I love my life now and want everyone to know that it is not by works but by faith that we are saved, and even that faith is a gift from God, not Hobart Freeman!
-Martha M.
Feb 09 - Wow...the Glory Barn or as we all refer to it today, FA. I remember small things from that place but the thing that stands out the most in my mind is the fact that we couldn't go to doctors and because of that "rule", my mother died in a very short time after getting breast cancer. We all sat under the "teachings" or as I like to call them "the f'n ramblings" of a crazed mf that found a way to control people yet at the same time making them think that they wanted to be there.
I really hope that Dr. Freeman is burning in hell right now and every time he gets tortured there it is by a memory of a child dying or of someone that they kicked out because they challenged what he was teaching. It would give me great satisfaction to know that he is forever haunted by the anguish and pain that he caused to so many while thinking he was holier than everyone else.
My only thoughts and hopes is that when he asks for a drop of water while burning, the dead children and people that followed him stand before him.
Everyone "singing his praises" still today needs to wake up and realize what they are doing and snap out of it. I am sitting here reading all this bs about how good he was but all you that write this stuff are still obviously stuck under some jedi mind trick that he placed on all of you and it still has effect to this day.
- Gabriel M. (editor's note - had to hack this down due to verbiage - while I understand his/her bitterness from loosing their mother, this isn't the place to ignore my requests at the top of the page.)
Jan 09 - I don't really remember the barn but my parents say I went there as a little kid. My dad talks of the barn with great fondness. He talks about getting there late and having to listen from you vehicle because it was to full inside. My dad has a whole bunch of 8mm reels, or something like that, [of] Dr. Freeman’s teachings. He wants to find someone who can convert them for him. I've looked around but can't find anyone. I don't really want to listen to them but I think it would be cool gift for my dad. My dad loves Jesus today and has a tremendous story. Crazy party kid touched by some preacher in a chicken coupe….his life changed instantly. I don't remember a whole lot about FA. The things I do remember I can remember and laugh about now. Head coverings, skirts only, no TV, no Dr., no sports, no printed t-shirts, love feast with feet washing, and on and on. They all make me laugh now in a good way. I talk with a few people that attended FA and we can laugh about it.
The bad memories I have are not really of the place or the teachings but that I grew up with this idea that I had to be perfect, an "overcomer" if you will. I have since learned that I can't over come anything but thankfully Jesus over came for me. I have stopped trying to impress people with my spirituality. That includes Jesus. I know Jesus loves me and I live every day trying to love him back. The difference now is that I don't feel this need to be perfect or do something incredible or "miraculous" in order for Jesus to love me. He just does. Not because I am superhuman or I preach well or I read my bible every day (which I don't but wish I did) or prayed the right way. I've learned, through many years of fighting of the lie that I wasn't good enough, that Jesus takes me just as I am.
For those of you looking for lost friends and others there is a Face book group devoted to children of FA. You will have to sign up for a Facebook account and then look for the group. It is what started me on this journey to find others that went through some of the same things I have. My hope now is that I can help former FA people and regular non FA people realize how freeing Jesus is. His very words in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus of Nazareth. I have been given a glimpse of this, "life to the full" and I want more, but part of getting that life was shedding the lies that I came to believe because of FA teachings…..you must be perfect “an overcomer”.
From what my dad has told me about Dr. Freeman he was a good man. My dad feels like a lot of people blew his teachings and words out of proportion and that there was a one upman ship that permeated the church in the end. Like I said before I don't remember Dr. Freeman and I think I was to young to be severely effected by FA. However, I do know one thing. I have a great Father and a great Mother who raised us well, and they wouldn't be where they are today if it hadn't been for FA.Therefore, I wouldn't be who I am today. Yes I have had an uphill spiritual battle but that battle has only strengthened my trust and faith in my Savior.
Thanks for letting me share.
-Jamie Z.
Jan 09 - I was attending a charismatic fellowship in Springfield, Ohio in the mid-70s. Every once in awhile, a young woman would attend. I understood she attended Glory Barn, but didn't know anything about the church or her, for that matter. What I DID know is this woman had the most loving, beautiful aura about her everytime she showed up. She reminded me of how Mary must have been -- and I wasn't the only one who thought that. She was so pure, innocent and so full of the Holy Spirit -- you could just tell there was something very, very special about her just by observing her.
A few years later, I began attending Melodyland School of Theology in Anaheim, Calif. Then, out of the blue, I received a letter from this woman urging me to leave Melodyland and attend Hobart Freeman's school. I wasn't really that interested and didn't feel led, but she did start to send me all kinds of tapes from the Glory Barn. I listened to them and they helped build up my faith quite a bit.
Then she wrote a letter and told me she was going to visit me in California. I was kind of excited about it because I never really sat down and talked with this woman because she seemed so far above me spiritually and now I would have a chance to do it. I had also shared the tapes with a fellow student at Melodyland and he wanted to meet her as well.
She finally did show up, only to inform us that she had been expelled by the church because of some kind of controversy regarding "faith is a substance." I gave her a quick tour of Melodyland's campus and she seemed impressed, but then she left almost immediately. I guess she was a bit embarrassed, seeing that she had built up the church so much and then got expelled.
Anyway, if Glory Barn produced wonderful people like her, it couldn't have been all bad.
- Scott J.
Jan 09 - RE: Steve Hill question. I don't know if Steve's old music albums are available but his old books still are however. Steve has a world wide ministry and has ministered with everyone from David Wilkerson to John Wimber to Mike Bickle to Dr. Michael Brown.
Steve had to change his name to S.J. Hill because of Steve Hill, the evangelist from Pensacola outpouring. So it is no longer Steve Hill, he is now S.J. Hill. http://www.sjhill.com/
Steve's emphasis in ministry is now on the Father's love to us. Although he remains committed to trusting Father to heal him.
He lives near Dr. Michael Browns Fire Church and Fire School where he has ministered for years, since it started at the Pensacola revival and then moved to Concord North Carolina.
- Steve S.
Jan 09 - Tom, your open honesty is to be commended and your perception of the assembly is as I observed. I came to know of Hobart Freeman and Faith Assembly in the early 80's. We (a small gathering in the Pacific Northwest - Vancouver, Washington) followed the tape ministry and had associations with Faith Assembly. Unlike in Indiana, we are a pioneering people in the West and as such we had more time to walk in the practice of the teachings versus the social gatherings as was done quite often in Indiana.
We all have our issues (likes and dislikes). Brother Hobart did too, however, what he taught on the true principles were the true, refreshing, truths of that which the Almighty desired to restore in a generation seeing the culmination of prophesy. Hobart was a door for those locked into institutionalism to get out. You and I both chose to walk out through that door and we are the better for it. I never cease to thank Our LORD for the gift He gave us in Hobart Freeman and the truths HE restored to those who would be HIS People.
Much like Azuza Street, it was the congregation and its subsequent leaders that failed to keep the perspectives of GOD first everything and everyone else second. "I would have mercy and not sacrifice, the LORD said. For the past several decades, I have watched as people place undue expectation on the various offices of the Assembly (that CHRIST established). I see a people running to hear, and clinging to the words that today's (claiming to be) "prophets" speak.
- Robert O.
Jan 09 - I attended the Glory Barn in the mid seventies and was a part of a satellite group up until around 1981 or thereabouts. I can’t say most of my memories are warm and fuzzy like some.
Towards the end we were all frightened into staying for fear that we would lose our salvation. I still hang my head with wonder at all the needless legalism, suffering and deaths that occurred there. All by listening and fearing just one man, not God.
It amazes me that there are websites around (not this one) that lionize this man. Most of these ‘overcomers’ are what I remember from my past experience. Full of their spiritual pride and of no value to the kingdom. Clouds without rain.
I’ve lost track of all my acquaintances from Faith Assembly. I’ve heard and read rumors of what happened to some of them including the so-called Five Fold Ministers. So sad.
Luke 6:43 "For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."Thanks for letting me vent
- Jeff K.
Jan 09 - I remember the teachings of the "GLORY BARN" as a child, although I do believe in the speaking of tongues and that God can and will heal people. I believe that God has a plan for us and everything we ask has to fit into his will and his plan.
I remember not celebrating Christmas, Easter, or Halloween. I also remember not having a television or a radio, since I might listen to music that was unbecoming to God.
I wonder there was a man called Steven Hill who had a Christian album out which I loved as a child. Does anyone know how to get that album again?
- Paul S.
Nov 08 - In the late 70's we used to hold very small home church meetings under the teachings of Michael Green who was affiliated with FA. I lived in Waverly, OH, at that time, and he was from Findlay, OH. As we grew, so did the space for our meetings. We learned the "message of faith" and as we grew "deeper in the faith", the message of legalism, i.e., no tv, no doctors, no public schools, no insurance, no glasses/contacts, no holidays, no physicals at your job, even if it cost you your job...bluntly, the ways of the world are not the Christian way. Every denominational was ridiculed and detested. We, FA, were the 144,000 overcomers.
I was saved years prior and still am saved today, praise God. Never saw before or since God's "sword" turned into a club!
Sorry for all those who lost loved ones and were pressured by their "brothers and sisters" to do those things required to become an "overcomer".
May our God have mercy on us all!!!
- KJ E.
Nov 08- I have come into contact with the faith message in the spring of 1982 in Altenkirchen/Germany and I was impressed by the serious teaching of scripture. I have been visiting FA in 1983+1986. My eyesight was bad but I was told that using my glasses was a sign of doubt. So I drove my car for 1 1/years without them. I just can thank the Lord that nothing serious happened.
Our group viewed going to the doctors as serious offense even when one broke an arm and got a cast. By this we drove away several people even to the point of leaving Jesus Christ. My first conflict came during my visit at FA when HEF preached in a sermon "No balm in Gilead?" that God would do what the prophet prayed despite that he said:"No, I will not hear you!" After the sermon I went into the study and obviously took HEF by surprise when I confronted him with that. I left the room satisfied because he did not seem to object. At the beginning of the next sermon, I was gone by then, he made a remark about me and told just the opposite.
While his teaching about holiness and deeper life certainly were valuable, he was clearly off course in faith at the cost of love and grace. He took things like healing and made a blessing into a burden that every member has to achieve. The fruit of faith without love could be seen in the assembly but were not corrected.
His view on a solid education, especially in the medical field, grew strange fruit. He himself however thought nothing wrong about achieving a doctor of theology and working as a professor. Some people were even tempted to abort their education or shred their professional degrees.Only as things became public in the aftermath I realized that HEF had his black spots too. Besides the orthopedic shoe he seemed to use a big letter edition of the bible to avoid wearing glasses. When I see the record of his last sermon, despite his saying that knowledge may puff up, the bible proved to be correctly and that pride came before the fall. The statement "If you want to go, go, for there are already two waiting for your seat" certainly shows pride and I do not want to know how many left the faith altogether after leaving because HEF said "Don't bother going to another church after leaving here. You will fail."
In the end the gospel wasn't taught in its entirety and it was not so clean either. It was the fear of man that was a big snare too many and prevented an early correction.
- Michael Szs.
Nov 08 - Dear Past Faith Assembly members, I have been reading your comments with great interest, though i myself, did not attend FA. I went to Miracle Valley Bible College, under A A Allen. Much the same scenario, as A A Allen died, leaving many wonder what was up. i happened here, because i was reading a book written by Dr. Freeman, on "Did Jesus die Spiritually," that i had gotten many years ago. It is an excellent work. I have grown up in a similar environment, the no long hair, jewelry, in fact we had no tv! never danced, went to movies ect ect and ect.
However, i had a hard time, from time to time, yet, i rejoice that God has taken me the way He has! And i have seriously been thinking about getting rid of my tv again! there is nothing on it, hardly, worth watching. at any rate, i just thought i would put my 2-cents in, even though i was not a direct part of FA, i was aware of it, and read and listened to much of what was said and done there, experiencing much of what you did, in another place! yes, yours was not just an isolated case. this type of environment is found rather commonly around America. one thing i would like to share, and i appreciate your reading my 2-cents worth, and that is this, when one teaches the Bible, the Word of God, it is always brought forth in a form that is LEGAL. consequently, many tend to legalize it! in their life, making it a form of duty or obligation! we tend to 'try' and live better, or struggle to be a better person, after all the Bible tells us to Love, and have Joy, peace, yet, when we hear the preachers preach it, we realize how short we have come, and so we once again promise, swear, recommit, reconsecrate, ect our selves to accomplishing what has been preached. This is where it becomes Legal! for if we were able to do these things, then Christ need not come and die for us! but we cannot do it-them, we need Him, and Him alone! For He will Live that life in us, for us, and through us.
Well i will not preach, i just know how you all feel, from the ones who still love the DR. to the ones who do not. know this, you are not alone, and whether it be Dr. Freeman, my father, or A A Allen, these men of faith did their best, never having a evil heart or mind, to hurt or lead some one away from God, but to Him. Misguided? maybe, over exhuberant? probably, like one of you said, we are all human. i wonder were i fail, or you fail, what will someone say about us? when we are gone, how can there ever be a true rebuttal? or discussion on what was really the motive. the whole answer is Christ.
May i make a recommendation? get a hold of, or look for some of the latest teaching by Bro. Jim Swaggart. He has been there, as the preacher! and is now, i believe letting us know from that side, what the real problem is, and as many of you have already stated, LEGALISM, ( or works, by mans flesh) after all it is our nature to tend this way, no one has to push us, or force us in this direction, it is our flesh! (pride) it tends this way and loves it, and when it fails, as it will, the devil then comes and lays a guilt trip on us! thats it,
i love you all, i know, i know. but!!! it will be ok! for this is part of the growth process, and you are growing! for you see these things now, whereas you never noticed them before! Christian love--
-J. S.
Nov 08 - 1975 was our first encounter with the "faith movement", raised Methodist, born again in a Baptist revival in 1973. My wife and I had a real passion to know God and the Word of God, and how to live it everyday. I must say that we learned the Word of God listening to Hobart, probably the best biblical teacher I have been influenced by for these 35 years.
I can go on about how we were introduced and how my wife and I sat in Mel Grieder's apartment at the "Glory Barn" and listened to Hobart espouse the Word of God (good times). Listening to the first set of tapes by Hobart (Absolutes of Discipleship) and wondering how to implement those principles into our lives and our three children' lives. Without our parents disowning us. These were probably the most influential times in our lives, it set a path and a belief system that we have walked in for many years.
Now to the point of what I have discerned, about what happened. There were hundreds of people who joined the Word of Faith movement and had a passion to walk in the Faith of God. The problem that my wife and I experienced was the lack of "Spiritual Fathers" to sit down with and spend time with, so we could learn how to implement, into our lives, these tremendous spiritual principles, we were being exposed to.
My wife and I, like a lot of people, belonged to a "Faith Assembly" and were pastored by a man of Faith, the only problem was the man of Faith was only a couple of week ahead of us in maturity and wisdom. I know this is not the case of some people, but there were a lot who fell into this scenario. Most wanted to be teachers not fathers or mothers.
Don't discredit the message of faith because of the time and dispensation that God used to expose us, to the way to His heart. Faith needed to be taught and implemented into His people. Thank God for the Copeland's, the Hagen's, the Osborn's, the Freemans and others that God used to get us the word of Faith. Remember: listen to the messenger, prove the message, but worship and follow the one who sent the message-God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
It is good to know that there are people out there that have learned and gone on to do great deeds in the name of God, that had there start in the Word of Faith. Praise God!
-Rick G.
Oct 08 - I am reading about Faith Assembly and many things are flashing through my mind. I was in the 7th grade when my family started attending the Glory Barn. My parents were having marital problems and this church seemed to bring them together. I loved my family and thought my dad was the closest thing to God (and still do). My mom became pregnant and I was excited...we left the Lutheran Church, stopped celebrating Christmas, wore mostly dresses, stopped any medical help, cancelled any insurance (that would be relying on man). At the time I recall making many wonderful friends: Joe, Natalie, Karla & Kayle, Debbie, Anita, Greg, Todd, and so many others I can't remember.
I loved going to church and feeling the depth of commitment to others and God. It felt right. I so wanted to live the perfect life. We had great youth gatherings: roller skating, sledding, camping, sleepovers, skiing. Until things slowly changed (or I changed). I used to hate it when they said the world was evil. I loved my grandparents so and could not imagine God thinking that. Then my parents continued to have children - a total of 8. Five were born at home. I would become so scared every time fearing death for my mom.
During my high school years I am not sure if others made fun of me. I kept to myself, babysat, and went to church. I was never asked to the Prom, asked for a date, or did anything the church thought as worldly. I started to question many things. I remember when Hobart Freeman later in his teachings said that it was worldly to go to CEDAR POINT! That was it! I had done everything told of me but I was not giving up CEDAR POINT!
I started to slowly rebel. I also remember my family getting scabies. Secretly I found medication and put it on all of us and washed everything in the house when my parents were gone. This might be the first time I have told any one this.
There is so much more I could write about. I often want to write a book. The unfortunate side of my story was when my youngest brother Joel died at two weeks old from something that need antibiotics. My father was taken away from the family and put in jail. Headlines told of my family and I still wanted to protect them even though I was in my final year at Ball State University. I do not feel angry over all of this. I regret that I have difficulty attending church and that many of my other siblings have suffered from this. But I know this is my life and it has made me who I am today and I do like myself today!
-Julie W.
Oct 08 - I was once a member of Faith Assembly and have both fond memories and some unhappy ones in regard to my time there. I miss the people and I have often wondered what happened to them. The worship and music were beautiful and for a time there seemed to be a real anointing of the Holy Spirit. Many people were healed and miracles happened and prayers were answered. When Dr. Freeman died "trusting God for his healing", it had a devastating effect on the congregation. There was a "power struggle" between the remaining pastors and the church split down the middle.
One group began meeting in private homes again, which is how they were in the early years when they had the tent meetings. The rest of the members continued to meet at the building. The teaching became "legalistic" and members were divided against each other. There were even reports that people were "being watched". People became suspicious of each other. left because I realized something was terribly wrong and I knew that this was not my idea of what Christianity should be.
I see by the photo that the building has been sold. I assume that means that the church is meeting elsewhere or is no longer in operation as a group. I left in l989 when I divorced and moved back to my hometown of Appleton, WI.
I am looking for some of the people I used to know - some were my best friends and I miss them.
I am trying to find Scott and Debby Trojan. The last known address would be in North Webster, IN.
- Patsy G.
Oct 08 - My name is Mal Miller. I came across this site while looking for material by Dr. Freeman. I was saved through Dr. Freeman's ministry here in Australia through house meetings where his message and ministry were upheld.
I must say that I will never forget the house meetings I first went to and the overwhelming presence of God that was there through the angelic praise and worship and the messages that were real food for hungry souls.
My walk has since then taken on many dimensions I guess you could say, but in spite of everything God has remained faithful to His word and kept me by His Almighty power.
In hindsight, I honestly believe that those early meetings were like banquets of God's blessings in word and song. The young, middle aged and elderly were all present and there was humility, sincerity and a awesome hunger for God's presence, which I have yet to see or experience since.
God in His all encompassing knowledge and love works in ways and uses whom He wishes to fulfill His purposes and I believe Dr. (brother) Freeman was an instrument in his hands at that moment in time.
Yours Sincerely,
Mal M.
Oct 08 - Thanks for putting this site together, Tom. My own involvement with FA was relatively brief and peripheral - but it influenced me profoundly as a teenager. My family and I started listening to Dr. Freeman's tapes in the late 70's at our home church in Southampton, England. The teaching was much more detailed and anointed than anything else we'd heard up to that point, so we and a group of friends stayed together in a house lent to us by the Fussles in Jul 82 - Mar 83 in order to attend FA. The stay disrupted my formal education, but I've never regretted that - because God gave me a heart eager to learn, and a good theological and spiritual grounding there.
Does this mean what we heard and saw and did was perfect? Far from it. I, too, have had to come to terms with the zealous but deadly legalism I sometimes saw, and eventually learnt and accepted there. May God forgive me - and may you, dear reader, if you were ever on the receiving end of it from me.
For his part, Dr. Freeman evidently assumed and practiced grace at times, but I don't think he taught it nearly enough. How different might things have been if we'd sat under "Grace through Faith Ministries"? I therefore found, and find, his teachings well structured and coherent - but sometimes mechanistic and too selective in its use of Scripture. This can easily give rise, for instance, to the idea that positive thinking and confession should be used to self-censor one's view of reality, rather than prayerfully engaging with it as the Lord leads.
I also had, and have, the impression that Dr. Freeman wasn't spiritually accountable to other people in the church. If so, I think his exalted but dangerously isolated position sat uncomfortably with the Servant-Leadership model of Jesus, and I'm sure his ministry and character eventually suffered as a result. Did anyone take issue with Dr. Freeman after he shouted "If you leave Faith Assembly, then you're not saved!" (Gleanings from Galatians)? Someone should have. If someone did, does anyone know how Dr. Freeman responded? The remark was certainly left on the tape.
Overall, I have many happy and treasured memories of my involvement with FA and its UK and European satellites, but I cannot forget that my spiritual education was offered to me at the price of much legalism, spiritual pride, and immense personal suffering on the part of many others. I salute the presence of the walking wounded, and the memory of those who sometimes died so painfully and needlessly. May the Lord have mercy on us all for our sins, and continue to help us build on that which was (and is) good, noble, pure, true, and praiseworthy. Amen.
- Christopher B.
Sept 08 - I was shocked to read all the stories. I laughed and cried as I had memories of 20 years ago. I am a FA kid. We started at the Glory Barn when I was maybe 3 yrs old (1973)and I left home (ran away) when I was 17(1987).I remember sitting in the basement of the barn in my snowmobile suit and my feet being numb with cold. We were told that we couldn't meet in the barn anymore because the owner kicked us out. I remember hearing he died because God punished him and God burnt the barn down. That scared the Hell right out of me! Church was in my life as far back as I can remember. Can anyone relate to this?
I got saved and baptized at Bruce Kinsey's meeting when I was about 5 years old and I loved his preaching. All my friends were FA kids and my future husband had to be a FA kid. I knew Randy Snyder was too old and I didn't stand a chance with anyone I liked so I was doomed. I was a FA baby holder & babysitter. I would sit in the nursery and wait for the moms to finish nursing so I could hold their babies. Some of you are now probably 20 yrs old (I don't know your names anymore) We lived in Elkhart so we were not in the "church politics" or "preppy gang" we didn't even know when the church was cancelled and we would drive through blinding snow and attend church with the die hard saints who rebuked the weather and pleaded the blood all the way.
I don't know when things changed but this is my theory...those who were a little older like my sister Lynn's age followed the rules with no problem. But we were rebellious and we questioned what we saw like the phony testimonies (like the ones when Jerry had to turn off the microphone) and we wanted to experience the real world so in order to control us the rules they preached got stricter. Lets admit it FA kids we were passing notes and dating, holding hands even kissing before marriage. We went to "back to the future" and "Top Gun" between Sunday services, listened to Amy Grant rock music and wore jeans and skipped church by playing sick and staying home or sneaking past "the guards" out into the dark parking lot. Even the preachers kids were close to my age and they were acting just as bad if not worse. You kids that were younger than us I'm sorry that we brought down the wrath on you. As we got 17 to 18 years old we left, ran and never looked back.
I am 37 and this is the first time I have ever looked back. I think we teenagers are the reason it fell apart. Once HEF passed away we really started to positively think for ourselves. We were the survivors because we ran but our parents and those young couples with babies were the ones who took the hit. They made rules even they couldn't live with but they didn't dare take them back. Of all things I became a nurse! I did learn in nursing that your mind is very powerful and with practice you can block pain and emotions...sound familiar?
After 15 years of practice in church I have control of my mind that other nurses marvel about. I have found that people will walk all over me if they know how naive I am. I realized I am afraid of church and we avoid things we fear. I made every excuse why I don't need a church. Sunday my 16 yr old son begged me to go to a church he felt I would approve of - yeah that's kinda sad I taught him about God but I never took him to church and he only knew I was really picky.
I really loved to be back in Gods presence - you FA kids know what I mean because you all were there at one time. For the first time I broke down and told my son about FA - he was shocked being a teenager he jumped on the internet and looked it up. We were both amazed how the story I told him was almost exactly in the same words right here. We FA kids are survivors and I truly think there are more like me out there. We are the only ones who can help each other because nobody but us knows what it was like.
I don't know you Tom but thanx for giving us a voice...
- Judy S.
Aug 08 - I began ordering tapes from faith ministries in late 1977 while stationed in Germany with the Air Force. I Spent a lot of the money I earned as a serviceman on bibles, resource books with the bulk of it going to faith ministries for the acquisition of Dr. Freemans tapes. While listening to faith message that Dr freeman taught, my roommate, a Mormon, was converted to Jesus and became an even stronger Christian in word and deed than I have ever seen .
Between him and I, we secured about every tape we could get. Most all of the teaching was right on the money, however there was a check in my spirit. Something always bothered me and as time went on I pulled back from the more legalistic faith message. I felt much guilt when the miracles did not happen I always felt that if I could just be more, do more, etc. If the prayer didn't come I looked to see what I did wrong.
I Know God answers all prayer that is done in faith. I know NOW that God's answer isn't always as we expect or want or (demand). I have seen miracles, sight restored, a heart attack completely erased, seizures stop to never re-occur, demons cast out, once during an accident I cried out to Jesus to Help me. the car came to a rest without damage or injury to any car or persons. (physical laws were defied). On the other hand, I have prayed for the salvation of souls, the dead to be raised, and various healings to occur that have never happened.
I have never been a perfect man and don't profess to be, Have never truly accomplished every "step of faith" to make things happen (as if we could) But Jesus has given me a mustard seed from time to time and God has delivered. Although I did not personally know Dr Freeman, his teachings along with Gods Holy Spirit as a guide had more good teaching than bad.
The message of faith is valid Faith works God is Glorified All our works are as filthy rags to God
-Spencer S.
Aug 08 - Hi All! I attended F/A in the 70's and was blessed with some wonderful friends, most of whom I've lost touch with over the years. But, I would like to somehow get in touch with them again, I'm just not sure how? One dear sister was Maureen C., her married name at that time, we would love to hear from her! :)
Tom, thank you for this site. I've sat here tonight with my eyes tearing up to read about much loved people from my past so many years ago.
Thank you again,
Gary Snider
(What a surprise to see the old church...I lived near it while it was being built.:)
July 08 - I stumbled on this site while researching Dr. Freeman, while preparing to write my own story. I "sat under" Dr. Freeman's teaching for about eight years, from 1976 to 1984.
I still have to overcome anger when I think about that period of my life.
Freeman's teaching became abusive. Consider that he knew that lives were being lost because misguided followers were denying themselves and their families the medical care they needed, but his ego was too big to acknowledge any error in his teaching. I think God allowed Dr. Freeman to die in the manner he did; the "end-times prophet" succumbing to a condition that could be easily treatable.
His followers (myself included) amplified his arrogance and spiritual pride. I believe we became a cult. I have to live with the fact that I stood by and said nothing while my brothers and sisters in Christ let their children suffer and die of treatable illnesses.- John W.
July 08 - Within weeks of my becoming a Christian, a Christian co-worker of mine who was concerned I was getting caught up in the "faith movement", gave me a book that was supposed to debunk the "faith message". The book presented several "faith teachers", (Hobart Freeman being one mentioned), complete with quotes from books that they had written. The funny thing is that before I was halfway through the book, I was siding with the "faith teachers".
Before I had been a Christian for a month, my wife and I had seen the healing Power of God manifest in a small Bible study in our apartment, and had experienced revelation knowledge that put us in place to minister to a lady who was in distress.
God bless those who will be open to receive all that God would have you to receive to do His works and bring Him glory. If you feel led to do work for God, do it. If things don't turn out the way you thought they would, keep on keeping on. Remember, Jesus could do no miracles in His hometown? Did that stop Him from keeping on? Not hardly.- Bradley D.
May 08 - I don't know all that happen at Faith Assembly. What I do know is that I first heard the faith message by a brother that came on the mission field from Faith Assembly.
I am so glad for the Word that I learned from him and Dr. Freeman.
Today I believe that the Word of God is true and does Work.
Not the legalism but the Word is true.God heals.
Belize, Central America
- Pastor Victor H
May 08 - Greetings Brethren at Large - I have a special request. The other night our pastor closed the meeting in prayer and mentioned being in the hollow of God's hand. Immediately a very old song refrain came to my heart - "I'm in the hollow of your hands...I'm in the hollow of your hands."
I knew it was something that went way, way back. I thought of Jerry Ervin and Steve Hill and meetings at the Indianapolis Adam's Mark Hotel in Decembers. I've sung this song to several in my own assembly, at least what I can remember of it. A couple of said it sounds familiar, but they don't know it.
Does anyone remember this one well enough to fill in the missing blanks?
Above me is the shadow of your wings,
Around me is the hedge of your protection.
Beneath me are your everlasting arms,
Your truth is my shield and buckler.
In your word I will trust with all my heart...
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ _____,
I'm in the hollow of your hands, I'm in the hollow of your hands.
-Karen P.
To Karen P - The missing words are " FOR YOUR BLOOD PREVAILS ON MY BEHALF" - Thanks -Chuck D
May 08- To ami B= I knew your of your mom & dad back in the day. I'm a little younger than they are I was a mid teen when they got married. I remember their wedding :)
Have your parents ever sang the song they wrote about marriage to you?
It still cracks me up-Hold it hold it hold it-I looooove you:)
Tell them: An old fan says hi, I was at the concert in Indiana when you all were recognized by ray and it did my heart so good to hear your mom & dad are still together and you all are ok.
- Anita
Apr 08 - When I think of Faith Assembly, I feel great sadness.
- Sadness for my parents, who were so young and enthusiastic and overjoyed to be part of what they thought was a great movement. Sadness for my mother, who had to wrestle with untreated depression for so many dark, lonely years. Sadness for their heartfelt beliefs that began to crumble when the unthinkable happened, when Brother Freeman, as I always heard him called, died. Sadness for the youth my siblings and I never experienced, as we were taught so young to redeem the time because the days were evil.Sadness for all the family that we never knew and all the friendships my parents nipped in the bud, because we could not associate with even very godly people who did not follow the teachings of Faith Assembly. Sadness for the years of feeling like an immigrant in my own country, of not understanding the cultural references or the casual manner young people use to address their elders or that wearing a bathing suit does not guarantee eternal damnation.
Sadness for all the times we barely had food in the house but my father would still scrape together a few dollars for the locked wooden box at the back of the church, even if it meant he did not eat or had to forego his beloved coffee.
My mother told me recently that, in all those years of counting deprivation all joy, they spoke with Brother Freeman one time. One time, in all those years. They devoted themselves to this man and the message he preached and the God he served. They sat under his teachings, Sunday after Sunday, Wednesday after Wednesday, and borrowed stacks of his tapes in between services.They left family and friends and education and careers and all behind for the sake of the gospel he preached, and he likely did not even know their names.
That is, perhaps, saddest of all.
-Sara K.
Apr 08 - Hello, I am German and sat under the teaching of Dr. Freeman, Jerry Ervin, Bruce Kinsey and so on. I was in one of the few German groups near Frankfurt 1982-1986.
I also visited FA once. My wife stayed in the Füssle Family for half a year 1982. Because of the FA teaching I stopped studying theology at a secular German university, which still was/is a good decision for me.
I think, we got a very good teaching for a long time. I am still positively influenced of the "true word". Sometimes I think that my heart was closer to Jesus at that time.
Thanks Jesus that I never hat problems to get free of the "legalistic" attitude. What happened to Bruce, Jerry and the others. Are the Füssles still living in this area ?
If you would like, please give me a response.
- Martin (Black-Forest Germany).(Editor's note: I remember meeting a fine young German engineer back in '82/83 who came to visit me up at Grand Centre and Cold Lake, Alberta. Dang, I can't remember his name - Jorgen?)
Apr 08 - I also remember, eight live children, one more dead at birth. Yes, I gained, but it cost so, so much and cost all I thouch also. It feels so much to think back over all these old times
God is still blessing me today, and I have "compromised". We paid so much just to fill a seat or even a 'pulpit' in a house church or in Acton or Zion Lake. And all I touch paid but I hope they were paid something also. The pressure that the ministry allowed was really [like] "a demon behind every tree", but, much of the work was Godly.
The hose analogy just did not follow through, it was tainted, human, so, so grave.
- KEITH T.
Mar 08 - I was teenager when my mother started attending FA. My experiences at FA had a very negative impact on my life for along time and then spilled over into my children's lives.
When my children came along FA was a part of my past that I had tucked away but it stilled spilled over in how I raised them...not in church.
The years have went by, my children are now almost grown and most of the healing has taken place by remembering that Hobart Freeman and Bruce Kinsey were human just like me, no better or worse, just human.
I remember that and forgive.
- Kathy L.
Feb 08 - I have read through many of the comments on your site. My Father is a Pastor in Syracuse, New York. The media is just now becoming involved. It is amazing how similar the story is. All the harm, the pain, the suffering. It seems to me that there are simple safe guards that, when identified, can protect good people from harm I've experienced, I've read about.
Consider the common sense of making sure that any organization you attend will encourage you to ask questions, and will be glad and enthusiastic about answering you. Also consider that you should be encouraged to think and make decisions for yourself.
Too often a good thing can go bad when people try to control situations into a direction THEY think is necessary. Also consider that people thinking differently then you, though they may be wrong, also deserves to be treated with kindness and respect.
Don't isolate yourselves to be involved only with those believing as you. Other good people can be encouraged by your beliefs only when you are there to be seen, and when they see some good in it. I have also learned that within many communities are good Churches willing to reach out to those feeling harmed.
Support is out there.
-Daniel
Jan 08 There was some great music back then. Cal Roach and Audie Gates. Carl Seitz. Jerry Ervin. Steve Kinsey.
Good music and worship.
-Swanson
Jan 08 - I was a member of Faith Assembly for 14 years 1970-1984. I just recently moved back into the area. Is there anything documented about the divorces that occurred among FA members? I know that I am one, I just met another gal whose husband divorced her. Can I begin a blog on the topic? Thank you for the recent posts.
There are those who STILL will not speak to me because I left FA! I have since moved on and listen to teachings through the internet. I think that divorce is very wide spread and will probably be the same percentage??
Thank you,
- Ilene N.
(editor's note: well that is a good question and I wouldn't say it is the same percentage, but happened never-the-less. Depending if you are the 'innocent' party affects how things work out I guess. I'll put it here for everyone to see and maybe head over to the Overcomers Forum to discuss this in more depth.)
Jan 08 - I am almost, yes I am in tears as I write this note, knowing that I am touching the friends I knew so many years ago. Ami B I remember your dad, Gary & Ray B singing "lets all go down to ma Black's Jesus Center" "Pictures & Crosses" Captain, Councilor, Rock & Shield".
Glory Barn Mothers singing those sweet harmonious Scripture songs, Carl S. "the sweet Psalmist of Faith Assembly" another song (not ours) Precious Memories, how they linger...
I believe for all the suffering we've gone thru, the Music makes it come out almost even. Countless times led into God's presence with Jerry & his 12-string guitar "Like a Mountain Stream in the Springtime, YOU (Jesus) over-flood my soul" Here I am Lord, in the name of Jesus, fill me with your Spirit to glorify your Name, your Holy Name, YOU ARE LORD, YOU ARE LORD, YOU ARE LORD! HALLELUJAH!
Monday night men's prayer meeting: Parking -lot Charlie, Roy M., Dave & Mike B., Cal R. many good memories. 1 Cor.13,Mid! & just in case you're wondering,
I still love Jesus, my Lord & soon coming King!
- Audie G.
Dec 07 - Shela, I remember you and Bob and your family. Please feel free to contact me. This goes for any friends from Faith Assembly who wish to contact me. betty_ok_lpn@yahoo.com
- Betty J.
Dec 07- I'v e been reading for the last few hours, taking a trip back in time to the Glory Barn and the "new building". My wife of six months and I moved to Chapman Lake, outside of Warsaw, IN, from Ashland OH in September of 1975, to attend Faith Assembly. Our son was born there in December of 1976, and our oldest daughter in August of 1978. Actually, they were born in Goshen General Hospital, because, despite the teaching, we wanted at least some medical supervision for the births. We attended every time the doors were open, and I remember the lines for Sunday morning. I remember the teachings Dr. Freeman did which basically gave us a Seminary education for the price of the books, and our time. I still have many of the books I bought.
My brother also moved there, arriving a year before I did. He recorded sermons, and edited the tapes before they were duplicated and sent out. He eventually even taught a few times, and taught some home meetings. It was his (and my) independent thinking which eventually got him kicked out publicly, and when I went to talk to Bruce Kinsey, I asked for the tape of that service. He said I could not have a copy, but he could tell me what was said. Bruce said that in order to continue to attend Faith assembly, I must believe that Faith Assembly was THE end-time body with THE end-time message of faith, and that Dr. Freeman was THE man of God with THE true end-time message, and that anyone who did not accept these statements 100% could not be a member, and could not attend. Somewhat shocked, I smiled and thanked him for his time, walked out to my car, drove down the street a block or two, and let out a whoop of relief that I had been set free from such bondage.
I wonder what happened to the people I knew then, like John and Debbi Whetstone, Sherwood and Mary Jo Roach, Cal Roach, Andy Roach, and Audie Gates. I had some good memories, though, and I remember the worship services. As some have said, I have never been to a church since that has worship services like Faith Assembly. I even played sometimes in the band at the new building right before I left, and the power that came forth was amazing. I mentioned audio Gates because I did a recording with Audie, Cal Roach, and some others whose names escape me at the moment, and I remember we played out live one time, at the old M&M restaurant in North Webster. I was in the area last year, and stopped at the new M7M, and drove around the area, up Backwater Lake road, past the Glory Barn site. I tried to find the house we lived in in North Webster after we moved there, but couldn't. The house we lived in in Milford is still there though.
After we left, we moved back to Ohio, and a year later, contacted the media in South Bend, IN, to come forward with our story about our time at Faith Assembly. WSBT TV ran a series, and my wife and I appeared in a portion of it, talking about what we had seen and experienced. Toward the end of our stay, it had become so oppressive, legalistic, and I remember the "guards" in the parking lot, who acted more like Gestapo than parking lot attendants. I knew that they sometimes prevented people from entering, after they had been kicked out, or spoken against from the pulpit. There were "prophecies" which exalted Dr. Freeman, and no one spoke up and said "this is wrong", because they would have been shouted down, and run out of the church building.
I remember Stan Hill (Steve's father) and his wonderful preaching. I remember Steve Hill, Dave Freeman, and June Freeman. June was always so sweet to my wife and I.
I have a mixture of memories, some bad, some good. I still find that I did learn some positive things from Faith Assembly and Dr. Freeman. It's too bad that it went off and devolved into a cult. I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers Jim and Liz S., or Bill and Patty S.
- Jim S.
Oct 07 - I am from the UK. A friend let me hear some of his tapes from the Glory Barn. I found them a real encouragement to my walk with God. His teaching on God and the truth has had an affect on me to my benefit over about 10+ years when I started my walk.
I am saddened to hear of the other side of the teaching and the affect on other people. The church I now attend is following Jesus and does cover the full range of teaching and they do stress balance.
I am interested in hearing more from other Christians who follow the faith message. I have read Bevington and many people and my heart is blessed to hear what God is doing. It is good to encourage other people to find the truth and live a blessed life now.
It would be good to hear from you.
- Lionel.
Oct 07 - I was a teen in Bruce Kinsey's church, Steve Hills meetings, Gary Wilson's, a few of Dr. Freeman's, and others. I was caught up in legalism and have found a church that helped me find balance and healing. I do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
I grew up in the best faith message you could ever be under and was delivered from anything that wasn't God later. All of these men have my respect as leaders and we all came through and learned from the past.
I give my best blessings to Bruce and hope he knows we love him and his family. I will keep him in my prayers at this time.
- Sophia A.
Oct 07 - I was shocked to hear about Bruce Kinsey while on a service call yesterday and wanted to see if any one has Bruce Kinsey email site address. Send it to me if you have it. We herd about faith assembly and drove 4 hr each night some one came up from the states to teach [Jerry Eccles] was the one who was committed I don't know if I could do it my self.
At the end of the church as I think back my wife and I came into knowledge as the bible said we should know spiritual warfare. What a rush in singing and listing to preaching in them there days. I was totally at the bottom of my life losing my business and home full of demons! I am convinced a saved person can have them as Paul did in after 20 years into his ministry Rom 7:11 to 25.
My first day to the meetings on the way home I turned to friend and said we are going to hell in a hand basket if we don't get the hang of this walk. We are from Chatham Ont. and went to Kitchener once a week what a ball - eight of us had believing God for money we [were poor] it always came.
We made up our minds we were going all the way with God no matter what. Our side wins I us this at work and know God will ways show me when I don't know what to do.
Today call me free of condemnation and enjoy our walk. We do not have a problem with [flesh and blood] our brothers] it's the devil that is our adversary
GOD BLESS
- Tom S.
Oct 07 - I was a part of the Lafayette meeting under Bruce Kinsey, and also attended FA a few times. I also knew that we were responsible for rightly dividing the word on our own. Bruce use to stress this aspect often. I can remember more than once, a well meaning person would indicate that I was not following Dr. Freeman's teachings, but I would only respond with the Word of God.
Yes people were forced into "believing" for something, usually healing, but we were taught from the beginning that it is OUR FAITH that matters. If a person is not up to the fight, then let them get the word into them until it IS FAITH.
To this day, that has been what our family has lived by, and we have seen the Lord faithful in so many ways we cannot count them all. I owe all that I am in Christ to the teachings of Dr. Freeman and Bruce Kinsey. We saw through the legalism, even though we were caught up in some of it for a while, and have some regrets for how we came across early in our Christian walk.
I would not pass on the teachings and the experiences and the close friendships we developed while at the Lafayette meeting. Those people are still very precious to me. As in many churches, all to many people follow a man and not the word. These are the people who, in my opinion were hurt the worst.
I do not blame the ministry or Dr. Freeman for the suffering of those that have had families divided, lost their lives or lives of loved ones. Ultimately, they made the choices to do as they did. God will hold us accountable for what we believe and how we lived our lives. He will also hold those teachers accountable for their doctrine and teachings.
- Bryan B.
Sept 07 - “Never, never, never give up” - Sir Winston Churchill.
On a very cold winter evening in the late 1970’s, I attended FA on my way to Vancouver BC, Canada. I first heard the ‘faith message’ on tape in Germany. Hobart Freeman spoke that night and I remember being impressed by his authority. I also found some of the most loving and committed Christians I had ever met.
As a Christian wanting to go deeper with the Lord, I moved from Europe to the States to ‘sit under the faith message’.
Dr. Freeman’s undoubted academic credentials went unrivaled and I never questioned the incredible depth he could draw from God’s word.
The problem came when he began painting himself into a theological corner. He never met with other Hebrew linguists to exchange O.T. insights and stopped all contact with former colleagues. His uncompromising interpretation of a ‘literal faith’ together with his isolation, forced him to go it alone.Faith, plus no doctors, no Christmas, no other books, no other ministries, no wine, no Adidas, no TV, no sports, meant principles produced rules: rules produced bondage: bondage produced legalism. I sometimes wonder whether Dr Freeman ever realized that by cutting himself off from the world, he was removed from the very people Christ calls us to reach. As far as I recall, Bruce Kinsey tried to reason with his father in law, sadly to no avail.
Paradoxically, Dr Freeman’s teaching was not all wrong. Christian discipleship means to follow, obey, love and trust the Lord Jesus with a whole heart. That has stayed with me to this day and I learned it at Faith Assembly.
After he died there were a variety of reasons given as to why God had taken him. When one speaker implied that Dr Freeman had given up his life for us, I left. Several ministers went out into regular jobs and now no longer teach. Others have since reinvented themselves in ministry, never seriously addressing the devastation that they left behind. The tragedies enabled the secular and religious media to write countless articles vilifying Faith Assembly and everything we stood for.But the question remains, “How will heaven write us up?”
- Lois C.
Sep 07 - I've been reading this message board for several years and the varying opinions are amazing to me. My mother, Mary, started going to "the Barn" in 1975. My dad, Joe, soon followed and before long our whole lives revolved around the "faith message", Dr. Freeman, and driving an hour and a half to church every Sunday morning and night, Wednesdays and Fridays.
I grew up believing that if you didn't go to Faith Assembly or at least listen to Brother Freeman's tapes then you couldn't be a true overcomer. I remember looking around my third grade class with an overwhelming feeling of sadness because I was the only one going to heaven. terrible.
Over the years I had the opportunity to visit other meetings in Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, and Australia. I met some really great people. I also met some pretty mean people. I met people who treated me like a celebrity because I sat under Brother Freeman, and in Faith Assembly I was confronted by several well meaning adults who were convinced I wasn't saved for various reasons.
I often felt confused about the meaning of it all. Ultimately, I knew that one day I would have to make a choice between my family if they stayed in F.A. and having a 'normal' life. I am so pleased to say that after quite a few tumultuous years, I now have a pleasant relationship with both of my parents who are happily divorced and completely uninvolved with Faith Assembly.
I feel that quite a few members led many many people AWAY from the Lord with their version of the TRUTH. I am blessed to have made some good friends there who still participate in my life in various ways. I think about many of the people I once knew and wonder what ever happened to them. I would love to hear from Derrick Down Under.
Peace and All Good Things
- Angela D.
Sep 07 - My comments as a child who was brought up by parents under Faith Assembly teaching are directed to one who can redeem all that we have been through, our loving father God.
Father God, please deliver our parents from all mindsets that are not of you. Please heal us from all wounds inflicted by their attempts to live out what they perceived to be faith. Give us a true understanding of who you truly are, and let us not partake of yesterdays manna but of the true and hidden manna, your Son, Jesus Christ.
I ask you to touch each one that has been wounded right now and bring healing to their hearts and the deepest regions that only you know. where the enemy has took what you meant for good and used it for evil, I ask you to redeem every situation for your purpose to those who love you.
Empower us Lord God, through faith in your name and your Blood, to bring healing to the hurting instead of hurting to those who need healed. Give us the tongue of the wise to declare your heart, your word mingled with your spirit instead of your word mingled with our spirit and our wounds. Let us declare who you really are instead of who we have been taught that you are.
Truth Lord. That is my prayer for the truth shall set us free.
- Connie B.
Sep 07 - My Mother was mentally ill till God healed her when I was in the 5th grade. That was also the last year we celebrated Christmas so it stands out in my mind. She still listens daily to Hobart's tapes and reads his books probably as much as she reads the bible. She is also a great prayer warrior. She never goes to the dentist (she has only the front teeth left) and goes thru great personal suffering of her body because she refuses to see a doctor.
When she and Dad came back from Texas I noticed my Dad was not the same man. I spent a lot of time with him at the pool and doing different things each week. He asked me to take him to the dr. I talked to my sister and it was arranged. I thought it might be his hearing...he was very distracted, inattentive and forgetful as well. We had to keep everything secret from my Mother. It felt wrong but it was what my Dad wanted.
Well at this point they think he has dementia but they have more tests to do. She found out the next day because he forgot and told her. She took him to my sisters to live. He is really enjoying his freedom to watch TV, read books other then the bible, go to other churches ect. He's been so happy and improved since on medication which won't cure but will slow things down.
Yesterday my Mother called me to tell me and my sisters that we were all under the judgment of God. We would be punished for bringing doctor's and medication into her home. Dad can come back when he forgets medicine and trusts God. Am I supposed to say "sorry Dad you have to quit your med and go back. Sorry if you forget to dress and feed yourself in a year..." I love her and am trying to treat her with love and respect but listening to all those tapes are making it worse.
Oh well that is part of our story. Thanks,
- Lisa
Aug 07 - I am sorting through what I was taught the first 25 years of my life. It is a frustrating and confusing process at times. In the end I know it will draw me closer to God. I want to have a correct understanding of who God is. I attended a church in Milwaukee, WI that was heavily influenced by the teachings of FA. I laugh as I read this blog as I can identify with so much people in my generation (I am 26) went through.
There were a lot of negative repercussions from the teachings of this church. There was this enormous “book” of unwritten rules. This “book” was handed to new believers. They usually were frustrated within a year and left this church. They were still in love with Jesus but were frustrated with this church. Similar to the Pharisees in Jesus time there was a lot of focus on the external. The only approved clothing for women was a jean skirt. My brother was told he was going to hell for having his hair a little longer. There was little room to be transparent and honest if you were struggling.
There were some positive things too. I want to glean the positive truths and experiences that I had. The people were extremely generous to those in need. This small church would buy cars and food for those families who were struggling. I do not want to be bitter. I appreciate the people I grew up with.
I am still serving the Lord. My wife and I have found an awesome group of believers. I am still processing a lot of what I grew up with. I am sure a lot of you can understand. Anyone can contact me if you have any further comments.
1 Cor 13 God bless,
- Dave S.
Aug 07 - Me and my (ex-husband) Bob attended Faith Assembly from 1979 to 1989 when we moved back to Massachusetts. We are (10) - 2 were still born children at the time. Tonia being the oldest to Matthew being the youngest at the time. I would welcome hearing from anyone who knew us at that time. We were very close to Rick and Marybeth, the Mansfield's, Jim and Ione Mennen's. I have a lot of mixed feelings about F.A. Not really sure how I feel one way or another. I do know if greatly impacted out family in a negative way. I can't help but recall and take comfort in the verse....
"All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose".
- Shela
Aug 07 - I was born in 1980 in my parents’ farm house in Indiana and into the Faith Assembly Cult. Even before I was born, the distance between my extended family and me was growing. At the church’s direction, my parents had withdrawn from their loving families, even succumbing to church chaperones at times when visits were absolutely necessary. The rifts have never healed and I did not ask for this.
I understand now that my Dad is bipolar. For most of my life, though, there was no name for his bullying and abusive behavior which was unquestionably validated by leaders and members of the assembly because they perceived that he was God’s leader of our home. For some reason, the methods of men’s leadership seemed to escape scrutiny while the minutia of women’s submission was fair fame. The cult’s terrible instruction with regard to marriage ruined many families including mine and I did not ask for this.
Like many others, my parents were concerned about sin developing in my life and I was beaten daily to prevent this. My dad liked to experiment with spanking different parts of my body because the Bible did not specifically forbid it. Mom and Dad were terrified of sending me to public school where I might form ideas they did not implant so I was home schooled which also had the added benefit of keeping me within the cult at all times. The beatings and the isolation had long lasting effects of tremendous fear and insecurities deep in my heart and I did not ask for this.
My mother lost control of her body and, in some way, her mind when she entered the cult and fell under that umbrella of fear and legalism. Upon marrying my Dad, she promptly gave birth to five and then finally six children because she was taught that using birth control was a sin. She understood that her faith and even salvation would really be in question if ever she were to see a doctor. Even though she suffered from terrible dental, venous and emotional ailments, she did not seek medical help and so these went untreated for over 20 years. Serious bodily injury to my siblings and me went untreated and faith did not heal the wounds. Mom suffered deep physical and emotional scars at the hands of Faith Assembly and passed her confusion and pain onto her family and I did not ask for this.
My parents became prominent members of their “church body,” but when they asserted disagreement with their leadership on theological questions, they were evicted without delay and, like some of their other dissenting friends, became the subjects of vicious questionnaires which were distributed throughout the cult for the purpose of discovering every possible sin they might have ever committed. They were stonewalled by their so-called “friends,” and left for hell. But, even after they left the church, they kept the legalism along with the bitterness and I did not ask for this.
- D.
July 07- I was only a kid when I was a member of Faith Assembly, but the effects of this "church" still remain fresh in my mind. I was not at the church in Indiana, but an offshoot in Cocoa, FL. I never met Hobart Freeman, but other preachers in this clique graced us with their presence by coming and doing 'seminars.' There was Steve Hill, Bruce Kinsey, and Tom Hamilton that I can remember. The people in this church treated these pastors like rock stars, and thought of Freeman as a demigod. When he died, there were people in our church who were crying.
'Your first marriage should be your only marriage.' If you divorce your spouse and re marry, you are still living in sin. This is what was taught. My parents were both divorced when they married. My sister and I were the result. When we started going to this church, my parents were told that they were living in sin, and should divorce, and reunite with their first spouses. My mom bought into this garbage, and divorced my dad, and began praying for her first husband to be returned to her. I was only 5 years old, and I was devastated. I remember sitting on a tree stump in the apartment complex where my dad moved, bawling my eyes out, only to be told by my completely brainwashed mom that I was allowing a sprit of self pity get inside me. My dad was crushed as well. Still, he came to these church services to be with my sister and me. My sister was only 2, so she doesn't remember.
Luckily, when I was around 19 or 20, my mom met a new man...a pastor, and he was able to pull her away from this cult. They were married, and I love him as a "second dad."
The other one that effected my life negatively was the rule saying it was a sin to go to a doctor. When I was in third grade, I was bitten by a brown recluse in my armpit as I slept. It swelled up, and became infected, which led to gangrene. My mom refused to take me to a doctor. I could have lost my arm. Also, my sister was severely sunburned over the course of one summer. Her face was severely disfigured in the areas around her nose. She refused to take her to the doctor. One of my sister's friend's dad took my sister to the doctor, said that she was his daughter, and paid for plastic surgery for her. I only found this out around 3 years ago. Also, there was a single mom with a very retarded son, around the same age as me. He couldn't even form a sentence, and basically had the mind of a 2 year old. His mother refused to take him to a doctor, and every week at this 'church' he was brought in front of everyone, where they would lay hands on him, screaming for the 'demon' to leave him. The kid was terrified every time. I bumped into the 2 of them when I was 20, and the kid was still the
same way.
I held a grudge against my mother for a long time, but I have forgiven her. So has my sister. Overall, I blame Freeman for destroying my family, and taking my dad away from me.
- Bill
June 07 - Maybe I came across this information to make sense of what happened. I’m from upstate NY, but settled off and on near Milwaukee, WI. After seeking a “Deeper Life in the Spirit” I came to Faith Assembly, and heard David Freeman many times. I don’t remember if I every heard his father-in-law, Hobart speak, but I think I did. They always talked about him, that I do remember. I have tried to forget these years.
I was a young mother married to an abusive man that used scripture to justify his actions. Looking back, I can see how most of the other women were also held in this bondage. No, birth control was allowed, so I had three children with this crazy man. Most women in this church had several children. The main couple that ran this ‘off-shoot’ location had eight children at the time that I left. She was such an angry woman, I remember. I can’t remember their names. People sold their houses because of the scripture, “Owe man nothing but love.” Of course no one could seek medical help. Seems so surreal thinking about it now. Yes, people were shunned too…this I remember well.
Toward the end of the 70’s, there was a couple that brought their daughter to church often. It appeared that she was sick but no one was allowed to talk about it. She later died in my friend’s living room and they prayed over her forever before she was taken away. I left shortly after that and moved to Kansas City, where I now live.Eventually, I was able to get away from my abuser but it wasn’t easy. I went through personal de-programming and became strong enough to seek help through the law. I divorced him, but then had to raise a son with similar emotional issues. Really, all three of my children with him have problems as adults. I was bound by this man, because that’s what this church taught me. Later, I went back to school, earned a BA and went on with a career as an advertising director.
Now, my life has come full circle and I’ve left corporate life, developed a non-profit organization and spend much time in spiritual teachings. I disassociate with any so called, “Christian” These people scare me. The “Freemanites” scare me more, and I don’t know why you defend them. You are obviously male, and were not affected in the same way women and children were.
- Maureen
*Editor's note: I "defend" them because they were part of my life. Both good and bad I learned from them, but God is good.
June 07 - My mother was a member of Faith Assembly before I was born. She asked my father every Sunday to join her and he did not until I was 2 years old, that was the beginning of the end of my father on this earth. When I was 5, my mother was expecting my younger sister and my father decided that he would do something that had been eating at him for 3 years, as a diabetic, he would stop taking his insulin. He truly believed that God would cure him of his illness if he had the faith. during his last days my mother begged him to reconsider. He told her if she didn't believe, it wouldn't work. He died leaving a wife and several children behind.
Being only 5, I did not know the gravity of what happened would have an effect the rest of my life. Our family finally left Faith Assembly when I was 9 along with many other members of the church who had lost family members or were too smart to stick around and wait for one of their family members to die.
I do not remember or know my father because he listened to the teachings of a man that didn't believe that God works through people including doctors and nurses.
I remember growing up in Faith Assembly when I was young and remembering that there was something wrong with this church and its people. For someone as innocent as a child to realize that was to know that this is not what God wanted. I always felt that no matter what I did I would be in trouble for it and God would punish me. I wanted to ask questions, but I was afraid that if I did, no one would listen to me and would reject my question as childish behavior. Who would have known that I was right to be weary of this church and its followers, this cult.
As I have learned over the past few years, being a part of Faith Assembly at one time was a life lesson. It taught me to trust in God and Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, not to trust in a man (Hobart Freeman) or a church. I just wish this life lesson didn't come at the price of my father.
Faith Assembly has forever tainted me and my family and I will remember every day of my life that this cult was the cause of much pain and regret for many many people. I pray that God gives the families that are still part of this cult the strength to leave and become a member of a church that doesn't alienate them from the communities that they are supposed to be witnessing to.
- Joe
May 07 - Wow! What a great message board. I was part of a body in Clinton, Iowa the time frame 1979 - 1982. Our teacher was Harry A. who was a Five Fold Minister who sat under Dr. Freeman's ministry. He traveled each week from FA to Clinton, IA to minister t us.
My wife and I were in our mid twenties and we were introduced to Dr. Freeman's teachings. Two of our three children were born while we were there. My wife and I trusted God with our children, job, health, finances, and lives. God never let us down. I thank God for Dr. Freeman's teachings and the level of detail that he put into all the theological teachings. I spent hours and hours preparing for ministry. During our time under the faith message I was called into ministry via a theophany. I conveyed this to Harry A. and he helped me to start preparing for ministry.
What happened? The enemy brought offense into my life, questions, and my wife and I left the walk. Our hurt was so great the we stopped serving God. After 15 years of disobedience, with much chastisement, (we knew it was chastisement) the relationship with our Great God Jesus Christ was restored. Thank God.
Where are we now? I didn't know if God could ever use me, or would he ever use me because of my past disobedience. God has assured that He forgives and helps us to get back up. At the age of 50, now for many years, I'm a Pastor of a church with about 130 members. We are Pentecostal bible believing church. Yes, God has called me into a five fold ministry, I'm doing my best with he help of the Lord Jesus Christ to fulfil my ministry.
God's grace is so great. I don't know if I'll ever be able to be in another body like FA. But I thank God for FA, H. Freeman, Harry A., Steve H., B. Kinsey many others. To the ministers that God called while under Dr. Freeman's ministry, here is the scripture that Harry. A. gave me when I told him that Jesus had called me into the ministry: Colossian 4:17, "And say to Archippus (your name), Take Heed to the ministry which thou has received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it."
God prepared every person who sat under Dr. Freeman's teachings for the end time. We may not understand everything now, but I know that Dr. Freeman is a positive influence in my life and ministry. I love everyone who was part of FA. We have ties to each other even if I don't know you all.
In His Footsteps,
- H. Shaffer
May 07 - Dr. Hobart Freeman and Sister Freeman was real people of God. I loved Faith Assembly and even to this day play messages of Dr. Freeman often. We trust God for all healing and had (7) children at home by faith and now my wife has delivered more then 400 babies in faith plus 6 sets of twins and 48 breech babies at home. No Mothers has ever been lost.
Many unkind things are said about Dr. Freeman and Faith Assembly that is untrue. This is often the case. But I can say to the glory of God Dr. Freeman and Faith Assembly has been a major blessing in my life. Pastor Joe who is not the pastor of Faith Assembly has been very kind and often prayed the prayer of faith for our needs.
- Dr. Michael C.
May 07 - I was surprised and grateful to have found this posting on FA. I had searched a number of years ago, couldn't find anything - except Very negative attitudes towards FA and Br. Freeman.
I was a member of a little church that started in MN. That taught and held to Br. Freeman's teachings for a little over 10 years. I experienced much of the growth and pains associated with the message being taught. In 1991 everything started to fall apart.
I am saddened as to the number of close brothers and sisters still holding bitterness towards the message today.
The sound knowledge Br. Freeman taught at the Glory Barn and FA I have found no equal.
Personally I feel many did not take heed to Paul's warning in 2 Cor. 11:3 - minds corrupted from the simplicity of Christ.
I agree with what you are saying and continue to seek the Lord daily.
- JRS
May 07- I have been reading, pouring over, actually, these comments from others who had the experience of all that Faith Assembly represented.
I am 25 years old now, and attended FA with my family from my birth in 1981 until 1993, when we moved to Ohio.
I believe that I have a very unique perspective on FA because I was a young girl and pre-adolescent when I really began to absorb and ascribe meaning to my experiences at FA.
Home schooling, trips to the grocery store in my skirt, spending time with friends who I only met through FA, rules, laws and more rules. No room for grace or exploration or independent thinking.
Sometimes I wonder: What would I be like now if I had not experienced that manner of upbringing?
I recognize that I was so heavily influenced by the style of socializing that the FA family seemed to adhere to. When I was placed in public school at 12, I was terrified. How does one make friends with the outsiders? It was quite the uphill battle, with meager rations and little support.
BUT, God is a gracious God who knows His children. And He is faithful to ALL generations. And He knows what I needed. Today, I am blessed to have overcome the insecurities by His grace.
*** If there is anyone age 20-28, born between 1978 and 1988, I would love to talk with you about the Faith Assembly experience. Thank you.
- Angie F.
May 07 - My time at Faith Assembly (in the mid-1970s) was just what the Lord had for me at that time. I retain many of my charismatic beliefs to this day.
Unfortunately, problems came up in my personal life, and I found myself "on the outside looking in," after April 1975.
God bless all the dear folk I worshipped with and that ministered to me.
- Rick R.
April 07 - My name is Bob Cox Sr. and a 74 yr old Canadian citizen. We (my wife & I) attended a group of people that originated out of Faith Assembly in a place called Haysville Ontario, In southern Canada. Our head speaker's name was Jerry E. In the late 1970's or early 80's. I'm sorry its been so long ago.
I appreciate what you have said here, I must say I am in full agreement with what you have said concerning what it was really like. The teaching was great. I believe the problem was to many folk got into bondage and were more concerned with what others thought, than walking out their own faith in God. Too many had what I like to call...faith in faith, not faith in God.
Anyway it took a while but my wife and I attend a Pentecostal church. Our son that went with us is a pastor in a Pentecostal church, and all of our 5 children and most of our 15 grand children are born again believers in Jesus Christ. One is also a pastor, so I have really nothing more to say than just thank God for the experience and the faith teaching we received in those days. And for God allowing good to come of it all, as far as my family is concerned.Thank you for the opportunity to share.
- Bob & Anna Cox.
April 07 - It's Derrick from down under once again. I last wrote to this website in Nov. of 2005. Your website remains both interesting and entertaining. I am interested in hearing from any one my age. Thanks
- Derrick
*editor's note - how old are ya Derrick?
April 07 - Hi, it's Virginia from Australia again. I wrote on this site 21 July 2006. I periodically look up this site to see what is transpiring. Thought you'd be interested to know that I went to my first church meet in over 25 years and it was the 1st time I felt at home. It's taken that long to even want to venture into another religious place. It was pleasant but the worship not great. The word was good. The pastor preached on Jeremiah. I thought to myself "Lord not this one" as it was one of the first teachings I recall hearing from Dr Freeman but I believe it was for a purpose. It was to show me that other men of God can talk the Word of God and be inspired and receive truth too. I always knew this but it was refreshing to see. I will go again because of the Word as the worship didn't leave much to draw me again.
I also want to say that divine healing and the analogy given on your talk back website from the link above about the good Samaritan and the wine and oil as healing items is so true. When you are away from the "Divine Healing Can Only Be Supernaturally" you see so clearly that God heals in all manner of ways. I have experienced supernatural healing and I've also received healing from mans hands too because my body isn't supernatural yet. One day it will be. I can't help but think that all this effort to get healing a certain way takes us away from Jesus. I hear people say that it brings them closer to God and Jesus but I don't see it that way.If you are wrestling with what you should be doing then you don't have faith for that. Perhaps your bridge has holes in it, or worse still is not a bridge to the other side for healing. When I walk on a bridge I take it by faith that it will hold me. I test it first to make sure that it is built properly but I wouldn't step on a bridge if it appeared to be in disrepair or not build properly. Would you? I feel sometimes we have stepped out on a bridge to find it isn't built properly or is in disrepair. We should run back to the edge and build the bridge. If only some could see into the spiritual realm the bridge they are walking on is so poor that they need to run back to the edge or not venture out in the first place. The bridge is our relationship with Jesus.
As for the gentlemen who was laid up in bed with a bung knee. I sympathise with you, as I too have had to have surgery on my knee because I smashed it and I know what it’s like to learn to walk again and to know that I might not ever walk like I did again. Only you with the Lord can make the decision as to what you should do. It appears God is already trying to speak to you anyway. I hope you listen. Peace be with you all and the love of God and the fellowship of Jesus Christ.
- Virginia
April 07 - My husband and I listened to Hobart Freeman (Mike attended the Wednesday night and Sat. school) during the "Glory Barn" days. Steve Hill ministered in Bowling Green and we attended those meetings. We were so blessed; we received healings. Our son was born dead but Jesus raised him up. We have no regrets. Anything that we did was our decision and our choice.
Life is good. We continue to love Jesus and walk in his Word and wonder what happened to all those folks that we used to worship with from Faith Assembly.
Lord Bless You
- Bev G
April 07 - I attended faith assembly for 10 years and I'm thankful for all the teaching and the zeal that this church had most certainly was a move of God. I most certainly miss all the praise. Thank you
- Francisco C.
April 07 - Hello, I grew up in a church associated with FA in Findlay Ohio. I learned a lot there, both from the word, but also in life. Yes there was allot of legalism, and unloving behavior from members. (I was a bad kid because I wanted to wear a pair of jeans to roller skate in! It is more modest too!)
But as I go back now and read or listen to what was taught, immature people ran with allot of what was being said and twisted it and even ignored key points he said like "if you don't have the faith, then don't stop taking your medicine". I left the church as a teenager because of a lot of it. My parents were divorced because of the church. The deception of the enemy tore my family up so bad and even today my brother's life is a mess, because of some of the people who treated him so ungodly. My aunt Lana died of ulcerative colitis in 2005 thinking she was going to hell because she called an ambulance right before she died because of the pain. She is not in hell, but heaven with Jesus. A deceptive spirit came in and lied to her. She did not learn that from Dr. Freeman. He never said anything like that.
As the Word says..."raise up a child" so the word is true and when the Brownsville Revival came. It stirred my heart to turn back to God and I ran after Him hard since. To a certain degree the word is not taught like that anymore in churches and that is sad, but I can also understand where people are coming from in their hurt from the people that attended those churches. There was no compassion, it was all doom and gloom, and spiritual pride! It came from the members, not from him.
I have to go back to Romans 8, and look at all things work together for my good. Not some, ALL. God's promises are true for everyone. I would encourage anyone reading this who has a hurt to seek God about, it is important to Him. He will show you His heart in the matter and you will have peace that passes all understanding. Also treat others with a zeal of compassion. I hope that I have helped someone. God does not want you to hurt, He wants you to be healed of that hurt and show compassion to the world in this end time where the love of many is waxing cold.
Remember people failed, not God or His word. (even Freeman failed but he was just a man)
- Jennifer H.
April 07 - I went to an offshoot of Faith Assembly in Canada for several years. During that time I believed the faith message to be true. I still do! The problem I found was that love was absent. I was deeply hurt by the church and put out of fellowship. Nobody would talk to me including my ex wife. Only my family would have any thing to do with me. At the time I believe our offshoot became a cult and were the only ones who had the truth.
There was a long time in my life that I could not listen to Dr Freedman because I felt condemnation and fear As my life did not line up to what was been taught or so I thought. I still have some troubles believing some things and struggle with my relationship with the Lord. I believe that where we went wrong is that we stopped seeking Jesus as Lord and started to seek him as Santa Clause. I believe therefore I receive anything I want even if it is not Gods will for us. Sounds like the prosperity movement today. It has taken me many years to come to terms with the things we believed there.
My brother sent me this web page and as I read some of the comments that were posted I really could identify with how many of you are feeling. God used this to get a hold of me and showed me the resident and bitterness that I have been carrying all these years towards Dr Freedman.
I was able to forgive him and the Lord healed me of the bitterness and resentment. I am currently listening to Biblical Theology. Apart from what seems to come across as criticism I find that his messages are full of love.
Dr freedman was a man who loved Truth and wanted others to have the same love of the Truth he did. I do not find many teachers today who love Truth and therefore do not teach it. I know that those of you who are still hurting, if you seek the Face of the Lord he will show you the truth and heal your hurting hearts. That is my prayer for you.
- John L
Feb 07- I read many of the comments - to the poster who said "It was the best of times - It was the worst of times" I have actually said that exact phrase quite often.
I began attending a faith assembly satellite church in the very early 70's as a young teen and "seeing a positive change in my life" (her words) my mom began attending also. We went from once a week here in SW Michigan to wed, fri, sat & Sunday in Indiana.
I miss the feeling of community and unity of the early days of faith assembly.
And I most miss that innocent faith I once knew. In the last year one of my grandchildren was diagnosed with cancer which seemed to really open this scab up for me. As a person of faith you go to God when you are in need, but I can never have the innocent faith that I had in the 70's that God's answer is what I want for it to be. Wouldn't it be nice if we could storm the gates of heaven like an angry two year old and demand our will & get it?
I remember standing at my friend A's & her stillborn child's grave service and forcing myself not to cry-I needed to be happy she was with Jesus. I truly understand now the meaning of choked up-I couldn't swallow without pain for days from forcing myself not to cry. That was the mid 70's. It wasn't the 1st FA death I witnessed but the pivotal one for me. I can't tell you how many of my friends in IN & MI have tied of absolutely treatable illness' (note to the person who has a hard time believing 90-I wish it were only 90!)
In the 1990's I sat beside my mother as still a "true believer" she allowed herself to die of a treatable illness than compromise her belief system (in Fl.) I told her I would honor her choices-but it breaks my heart she never saw any of her grandkids graduate, has never had the opportunity to meet her 12 great grandchildren. I feel like I sat by while someone I loved committed suicide right in front of me and that I forced myself to say she is where she wanted to be with Jesus instead of having a hissy fit like I would like to now. Even a decade after leaving faith assembly I was still trying to die to self instead of admitting let alone expressing my own loss. Sometimes I wonder was it faith or stubbornness that led to our error?
Well it's 2007 and yesterday I found out one more family member never breathed a breath from another botched home delivery. Will we never learn?
Tom thanks for having this board, when I heard about the recent loss of yet again a life that never got a chance to be it's hard to explain to someone who wasn't there that it's a sadness for more than just one baby, there were just so many that never had a chance to live. In this case at least the mother made it though.
- Anita
Feb 07 - My journey with Jesus began when I was seven. I gave my heart to Jesus in a small Baptist Church and was baptized. From the time I was very young I had a strong sense of God's love for me. But I still struggled with the flesh and I didn't know how to do battle or fight the sins of the flesh. So as a teen I got involved in the occult and with drugs etc. During my teen years I began to question if there was a God and I prayed if He were real to reveal Himself to me. To make a long story short I went to the Glory Barn in 1974 - where I experienced the power and anointing of God. I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and was totally sold on Dr. Freeman's teachings. I received deliverance from occult demons, I was taught about faith and the faithfulness of Jesus. I experienced miracles and healings in my life. Mainly my life was set on a straight and narrow path to follow Jesus no matter what the cost. I was encouraged to live a holy life and to trust God and to hear from Him for myself. I still had a very strong sense of Gods love for me. I experienced a greater depth and commitment to God that I don't think most Christians are aware of. We were challenged to go all the way with God and to not look back. This teaching delivered me from the world and all it's ways. That was good for me I needed it.
I began to receive Dr. Freeman's tapes and tried to live this "holy" life. I gave up everything - my family and my education - to move from California to Indiana to sit under the "anointing". Hindsight is 20/20 and looking back I realize that during this time I lost the awareness of God's love and lived in fear. Fear of not having enough faith, fear of something bad happening to me and I couldn't go to the doctor, fear of deception, etc. The fear is very real and unless you've been through it you can't understand it. During this time I stopped reading the Bible and only listened to tapes - I actually shut down spiritually. I remember clearly Dr. Freeman's last message before he died. It is not recorded because he told everyone to turn off their tape recorders what he had to say was to the ministers. He severely rebuked the other ministers at FA and said he would do it all himself if he had too. That he would even lock the doors if necessary. I told myself that if he locked those doors I was out of here. That was the first time I dared to challenge Dr. Freeman in my thoughts. I also remember the day they announced his death and I imagined Dr. Freeman entering heaven into the loving arms of our savior and not being "hit over the head like he always hit us over the head."
It took ten years to recover and to think clearly again. To trust and develop my own relationship with Jesus w/o Dr. Freeman. True healing began after I repented from all of my spiritual pride and self reliance. And yes there is life after FA and it's wonderful. There are a lot of wonderful men and women of God who are teaching the Word and I have been so blessed by them. And I don't regret all that I've learned from my experience with FA - both good and bad. Our walk with Jesus is a journey - He is the author and finisher of our faith. I don't understand everything and I don't have all the answers but I love Jesus and that He has taught me.
One last thought - we were always taught that you know a "prophet" by their fruits. Well the fruit that Dr. Freeman left behind (during his latter years) was confusion, bitterness, betrayal, and death. History records several men of God who started out good and anointed but ended up doctrinally deceived and wayward - Dr. Freeman was not the first - and this is to be our lesson - to look only to Jesus as our guide and that we need each other - we are not to walk alone - we need each others love and prayers and support!!! That was FA greatest fault. And yes "Grace" - where was the teachings on love and grace! One person does not have all the light. Dr. Freeman was a gifted man and if he would have stayed in his gift and calling I don't think he would have hurt so many people.
- Carol B.
Feb 07 - If any one has a desire to hear CARL SEITZ recordings, I have them mastered on 2-cd" they include about 50-60 songs. One of the 2 cd's are from the original burnt recordings. The other one is from cassette burnt to cd, both copies are good. Get in touch with Gene if you would like a copy of these.
- Gene Cornell
rccci@netzero.com
Feb 07 - Hi Tom, why, after all these years, are we typing in searches for Faith Assembly? For me, I like hearing from old "family" members so I come back to this site to read the testimonies. Here is mine - Jesus saved me at 20 yrs of age in 1974. 2006 it marked 32 yrs of walking with Jesus. I was introduced to the ministry of Faith Assembly in 1976 by tapes. Moved from out west to attend FA in 1981. Brother Freeman died in 1984. Of my 32 yrs of walking with Jesus, only eight years was Brother Freeman alive for me to listen to. Of those 22 years, the last 14 years have been without attending "church" and I love my salvation more today than when I first believed! I believe in those eight years I heard constantly the Word and was told to believe it and God is faithful to His Word.
When I first began one promise I believed in was 1 Pet.1:5. (Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time). Looking back over my 32 years, I now have and know it by experience. What I learned in those 8 short years about trusting in His Word is exactly what we had to do! We had to take it by faith. We had no experience at the time. But the man we sat under did, and he labored to tell us that we can believe the Word too. We had to take it by faith. Now the man is gone but the Word is not. Now we have some experience. All these years we have been walking by faith. Now Phil.1:6 is easy to believe. I will experience that promise as well.
So here we are 22+ years later and some are still bitter, resentful, hurt, even hateful of the ministry they once praised. Were you following a man? When the man died, did your hopes and dreams die with him? Do you feel abandoned, let down and forsaken, because the one you were following is no longer here to lead you on? So naturally one could feel like that. Forget the clay vessel. So it had flaws. So do I. The Word doesn't have flaws. It doesn't matter now who was in the pulpit, the result God was after is this: that we would hear the word to believe His Word. What did Hobart Freeman repeatedly try to tell us? To believe the Word! I heard that God was not a man that He should lie, that God will not alter the thing that He has spoken, and that His Word is forever settled in heaven so believe it.
The most important thing I learned from the ministry of Faith Assembly was to believe what Jesus says. At times I have failed, given up, but He has not. So for me, it was what I was taught at Faith Assembly. Now the glory of Faith Assembly has withered. And the glory of a man is fading away. But thank God I heard that the Word endures forever!
Be blessed saints in the Lord,- David l.
Feb 07 - Thanks again, for this web site, Tom! I had visited a couple years ago but apparently did not leave a post, so this time I will.
It does make my heart ache to read these stories of so much pain, suffering, and death that has been associated with Dr. Freeman's teachings and church. I attended the Lafayette "Body" from June, 1977 through 1988 when my wife (Pebba) and I moved to West Virginia under the assumption that was where we had been called to live and minister.
While living away from the "Body" God was able to bring us back into a more realistic perspective on life and faith. Thanks to a loving United Methodist pastor and his wife and many others in the church and community we were able to get involved again in fruitful and productive Christain lives. Life was still not without it's troubles though: Peb had deeply suppressed emotional and physical pain re-surface. I had a hunting accident that almost killed me with infection as I stubbornly refused to submit to surgery for seven days.
Again, because of the unconditional love of the people around us and thinking with the "brain God gave me" (as my grandmother always reminded me) I went in for the surgery and Peb sought help through Christian counseling. But again, these have not been "cure-alls". Life will always be challenging because that is how we grow. God is more interested in our character and spiritual/emotional healing than our physical healing and financial prosperity! We must NEVER give up loving God through loving others, no matter how different they are from ourselves! Pebba (now Debbie) and I are living in the Indianapolis area.
Our two oldest daughters will graduate high school and college respectively, followed by our two oldest sons the following year, and then our youngest finishing high school in 2013! I have also completed a masters degree in ministry from Indiana Wesleyan University. Debbie is still pursuing more health and healing through what she believes are God's "alternative" means, naturopathic remedies as well as faith and prayer.
PS: We still listen to Carl Sites music once in a while as well as many of the old worship tapes from FA and Lafayette and Adams Mark, etc. It's hard to find anything else that compares! We miss and love all of you we met through the years at FA, Lafayette, Indy meeting, Zion Lake, Emmetten, etc.
- Chuck D
Jan 07 - Nice Website. I really wish Steve Hill would write a book about his experiences there. Steve is very well respected now and friends with many famous ministers including David and Greg Wilkerson to name just a couple. It seems he won't mention Hobart Freeman's name. Maybe he does privately.
Anyway, here is the preface to the book that Steve should write. "Before there was Brownsville, or before there was Toronto, people were flocking from all over the world to a corn field in Indiana".
I was one who came as a young single man and was grateful I got there just in time for the start of the Charismatic School. I got a good Brethren-Baptist Seminary level education. We used to have to stand in line outdoors in twenty below zero to get a good seat in the Glory Barn. Like get there at 5 or 6 AM on Sunday morning.
As to the many people there who Dr. Freeman was unable to control and to the many people who were following a man instead of the Word of God in spite of Dr. Freeman telling them not to do so. We always had a saying for that.
There was an upstairs auditorium in the barn and an overflow in the basement. We always said it was "those people sitting in the basement" who were doing all that bad stuff that Hobart wasn't really teaching.
God bless you Tom.
- Steve S.
Jan 07 - I find it interesting the number of times the words, spin-off, satellite, or some other name that taught the "faith message" is used. My fathers name and church have been grouped together with Faith Assembly for years. My father was never a member of "FA" as it is referred to, nor was his church ever a part of FA. Dad and Mr. Freeman were friends. They never agreed on everything. The same as you don't always agree with your friends on everything. He did respect Mr. Freeman, and agreed that the message of faith is a critical part of a deeper life with Jesus. The church in Wyoming, and the pastor there, have never been a part of FA either.
When the faith message first came out, it was when cassette tapes were new. For the first time people could get their hands on a message without spending a lot of money on expensive equipment. The ministers who preached the message of faith, were invited to preach all over. It never made a church they taught at a satellite of FA. People made assumptions based on the message being taught. They also made assumptions based on others opinions (instead of their own convictions), whether from the pulpit or otherwise.
I am sorry for the pain and wrecked lives, which came from bad decisions or fear of reprisal. I'll say this, in all the water that has passed under the bridge, God has never failed to keep His word. Only man can fail God. Gods word is still true and always will be. Life is never without scars. God has been faithful to me always. I have made and lost friends because of who my father is all my life. God has never stopped being a friend, and I'll never stop being his, because of what someone else does or says. We all are required to live according to His entire word, not just the dramatic parts. No one ever said Christianity would be easy. Only that the reward for faithfulness to God is beyond description.
- Jim H
Dec 06 - Hummm...it was the best of times/it was the worst of times...my experience with FA started in the 80's. We were occasional visitors from Ohio. The first time I went I was AWESTRUCK at how it seemed to have such unity in the worship, how that Jesus seemed completely central. Not to mention the love for the Word of God.
I was struck by the simplicity and the freedom. Although the women in their head coverings made me feel a bit uncomfortable in the beginning, I saw such beauty in them that it really took me beyond what was obvious. I loved the microphones in the isles that made one feel as though they were part of the dynamic and their spiritual insight was important; We were encouraged to share. Occasionally I even did. (Not without nervousness because I knew I was under well seasoned knowledgeable eyes, still I was gently accepted.)
As we got to know some of the people I began to feel so sorry for them because they seemed to be trapped such in a paradox. I sensed a lot of elitism but also a lot of shame; and arguing between the sister churches. I got caught up in the same. It was like trying to escape a labyrinth trying to get my perspective back.
I guess I never really have. My walk with the Lord is nothing like I'd hoped it would be. Actually it has taking a complete nose dive since then. Everyday I wonder if it is all in vain that I even seek the Lord.
Part of me so longs for those days. To find a church that would come 1/2 as close to the fire and passion. I would hope this time we could have all the beauty and the simplicity and the faith without the other stuff and everyone who was there knows what I'm talking about.
There is so much going on in the "Christian World" today that lays claim to passion and fire. It seems, in comparison, to smoke and mirrors.
...there I go again being judgmental! Oh Lord where IS that balance??? It's Christmas, of course I'm thinking about Faith Assembly! ;-) God Bless Us And Keep Us ALL,
- Diana
Dec 06 - I grew up in FA in the 80s. My parents attended faithfully and ascribed to all the teachings of "the Prophet". The teachings of "the Faith" have had a devastating impact on my family. My father was asked to leave in the late 80s because he was "too legalistic". Since then, he has maintained his beliefs. When I think of my father, I feel such sadness that such a wonderful man has spent so many years of his life faithful to a lie.
I am one of eight children. My older sister and I were baptized by Hobart Freeman, and responded differently to how we were raised. She is bitter because of the irresponsibility that she feels that our parents showed; and no longer associates with our family. My mother did her best to be a good, submissive housewife and mother- but she was trapped in such legalism, and it really hurt her. We weren't allowed to have any friends who weren't from FA, wear any name brand clothing, celebrate holidays, or be seen for any medical conditions.
A vivid memory is of the time that my younger brother ate some Christmas cookies, and we could not awaken him the next morning. The fear that my siblings and I felt as we watched our parents bathe, dress, and try to feed a comatose little boy cannot be described. Our parents had us kneel and pray for his healing and repent of our sins as they laid hands on him. (He was being chastised for eating the cookies.) He revived later that day, and we still to this day do not know what was wrong with him. They called it a miracle.
I considered myself an atheist by the age of 11, and renounced all association with FA doctrine. Since then, I have become a successful member of society, and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints over three years ago. It is my hope that my siblings and my family can find what was good in their faith and find peace with themselves.
It's good to see that some on this page did have a good experience with this church. "You can always find gold in the ashes."
- Jill R.
Nov 06 - I thank God for Brother Freeman, Stan Hill, Steve Hill, Bruce Kinsey, Tom Hamilton, and all that ministered a true Word to us. We may not have been able to walk true to the level of truth that was given.
But The Word of God is still the only Truth I know today. I was Blessed to be at The Glory Barn, The Tent & the New Building 1976-1983. We lost children to the welfare system for a time, gave up another for 4 1/2 years because I wouldn't hire a lawyer, lost homes & jobs, respect of our families.
But God restored it All.... 100 Plus ! Healings, broken bones, blind eyes opened, my father & my grandfather both raised from the dead with the Doctors as our witness...Oh My !
We can complain an blame whoever or whatever you want for our mistakes, But The Word of God is still True. Today the Body of Christ is slowly dying for lack of the Truth. The Word, you an I have the power to give Life thru the Word that we have been given. Will you Withhold that Truth (the Word) from the Body of Christ because of the Hardness of your heart...
Your brother in Christ,
Ron S.
Nov 06 - Well, stumbling on this site was quite an eye opener! I could go on for hours but was interested in Chris A., I am wondering what he is doing these days. Oh, the FA building was sold by the Nei family last year to a developer
- Nathan R.
Nov 06 - I travelled to FA from Australia in the early '80s at the tender age of 22. I had been under the tape ministry for some years previous to this and really wanted to go and experience this ministry first hand. In all I spent a year in Indiana attending every service that I could and immersing myself every day between services in my own studies of theology, ethics etc.
The faith message made a lot of sense logically - it seems that many people go to God when the doctors give up on them so why not go to God first? Trouble is that logic didn't go far enough.
The movement also claimed to be 'prophetic'. This is a cultic sign and a method of insulating oneself from criticism. We were told that people who talked against the errors of the ministry were in peril of their lives. This is exactly the opposite spirit that we should have (remember James and John ready to call down fire when some rejected Jesus' message?) I also greatly admired Dr Freeman and I believe he was one of the foremost theologians of modern times. Unfortunately, he started to believe the prophetic tag and I can still remember him pointing out 'tares' in the body during the Jeremiah series. This was manipulation by fear and a very disturbing experience.
Due to the intense indoctrination I willingly put myself through it took a long time to get some things into a proper perspective. Briefly put I now believe the following: If the Lord comes for His own tomorrow and a sinner has just repented then he will be raptured. FORGET THIS WHOLE OVERCOMER NONSENSE. You are saved by grace through faith it is not nor ever has been by works! When a sinner repents he has overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of his testimony - end of story.
To finish on a positive note, this ministry (along with the personal study that was encouraged) has given me discernment that has served me well through the years. At times I cannot believe the gullibility of some people and the nonsense that is taught in the name of truth. I now devote my time to combating error and heresy where I see it arise and much of this zeal to contend for the faith I attribute to what I learned in my time under the Faith Assembly message. To this end I have just started a forum of my own that is designed to discuss and debate the theological issues of today. This is the good work of FA that should continue. As Dr Freeman used to love to say: 'Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater'.
- Cheers, Steven W. Australia
Oct 2006 - I was web searching for Hobart Freeman and came upon this site. First when I saw his picture that I hadn't seen for years, the memories started flooding back. Then when I went to this site and a few others I was amazed by how much response I found, and that reading the posts was very cathartic.
I went to Faith assembly from 1973 just about until it closed up shop. My father was a minister there, and at other offshoots of the assembly. like most of the others I have some conflicts, but I don't blame or point fingers it would be pointless. I was 4 years old when we started and about 19 before we finally became less associated with the church.
I would be interested in finding others, especially in my age bracket, to communicate with if any others are interested. I will probably post some more about the history I remember of the church in the future but for now I wanted to say this is an amazing trip down memory lane. The pictures of the buildings also was great. I'm still in the area so I might have to make the trip back out there to the sites.
One thing I know is that those of us who were in this church probably still have bonds to each other that was family like, since Faith assembly shaped our lives so many years ago.
- Chris A.
Oct 2006 - I have been seeking answers again lately. I was introduced to the Faith Movement and Hobart Freeman teachings down in my home town of Princeton, Ky. back in 1977. I was a Catholic at the time and was looking for more ways to express my love for God because I was just ready to be a better person and I suppose I was growing up as well. Some protestant kids at school were talking excitedly about their inter-faith youth group and how good the music and the teacher were and getting in on the conversation basically invited myself to the meeting. The rest is history. I loved the excitement and the natural high of worshiping and hearing the word of faith that I had never heard quite like that before. I was really seeking something more and boy did I find it.
Next thing you know I was attending a home meeting where a guy from Indianapolis or somewhere, was teaching faith. His name was Don Wake. He and some other couples had just purchased some land in southern Indiana and were planning to start a Christian Campground. I loved the meeting and the tongue speaking and the emotional high that I received there. I liked the positive teaching and confession and the whole thing. The Spirit led life. I was 17 at the time and looking for security and acceptance from others. I thought that I had found the answer to everything all of a sudden. I continued to attend the meetings and soaked all the teachings up. Listened to every tape I could get my hands on and went to every meeting I could. I converted my Dad and my brother Carl. During the blizzard of 78 we listened to Tom Hamilton and Hobart Freeman 'till we had it memorized practically. Not to mention read and memorized the word of God.
Since I am supposed to keep this short I will get to the point. We moved to Zion Lake area after I married and had six beautiful children, all born at home except one. We didn't go to the doc or do Xmas. We went to the Adam's Mark in Indy every Christmas where we watched and listened to Steve Hill and Tom Hamilton. I actually performed there a few times as I am a singer/songwriter.
We made a Zion Lake CD that was awesome. I still write and play music, but we quit Zion Lake church because we needed more couples our age. There were not many going there and we were also beginning to realize that we needed to think for ourselves more. We were so young when we got in to the faith movement. We started going to an Assembly of God in Madison IN and went there for several years until the kids all got into sports in school and we moved closer to town and further from Madison area. After we left church things sort of fell apart and I became mixed up and bitter about how I was told so many lies, if not in person on tape, about things. I was under a whole lot of bondage and was ready to start over. Problem is, we did throw the baby out with the bath water so to speak.
I am just now getting my life back in order and have been to hell and back. My kids are turning out great though thank God. I am remarried and realize that I can't blame anyone but myself for anything I have ever done. I chose to believe it all and now I am starting to realize how much truth was in what we were taught as far as the being positive part. (Not the refusing medical help part). I have begun a quest to be more positive because for the last 10 years I have been soooo negative.
- Pat
Oct 2006 - Thank you for creating this website so that God's children have a safe place to express their feelings about their experiences. I read many of the responses; I called Russ who is working to help those who were wounded by the deadly poison that was tangled with God's Pure Word. Jesus said it would be this way. He said if it were possible even the very elect would be deceived. Let's fix our eyes on Jesus, His Love, His grace, His mercy... He is Good and He is our FRIEND!!!
God does not dwell in temples made with hands! We are the temple of the Holy Ghost! Don't you get it? We have a CHOICE! CHOOSE LIFE, LOVE and JOY! Faith Assembly happened for our teaching. The Law makes us know our need for our Savior. It's not about a certain building or fellowship. Jesus said not all who call to Him will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but the ones who do His will. If you don't know Him, how will you know His will for your life? He stands at the door and knocks. Just open your heart and let Him come in!!!
I am God's nurse. Here is the simple gift from the Holy Ghost:
A NURSE'S PRAYER
Oh, Great Physician,
As we attempt to deliver care
We know our limitations
Please make us fully aware
We trust in You for guidance
This job is too big for mortals
We must depend on Your mercy and grace
Please open Heaven's portals
Let Your Love rain down
Help us to do our bestGive us strength and protection
Help us to pass each test
Only You know how to cause healing
We can only do our part
Only You can give the increase
Only You can we trust with our heart
So, be our Great Physician
Reign in our hearts and our minds
Help us always to give You the praise
Please remove the blinds!I wrote this poem in June of 2002.
After our faith was made shipwreck in the 80s, I cried out to my Friend, in my kitchen. I gave my life to Him and asked Him to take away all that did not please Him. I asked Him to lead me and guide me. I live for Jesus! HE will finish the work that He started in Me and in ALL His children. God made ME a nurse. It has NEVER been what I wanted. Anyone who has been involved with Faith Assembly knows how contrary to Hobart Freeman's teaching being a nurse is. I am not fallowing Hobart Freeman! Jesus said to fallow Him. I am a fisher of men. I catch them in the net of Love and let the Lord clean them up. Like the character said on the movie, "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?", "Come on in boys; the water's fine!", as he was being baptized.
LOOK TO JESUS AND LIVE!!!!!!
- Eva RNPS- Does anyone know about Carl Sites? His music penetrated to my soul. I still find myself singing the songs he wrote. I know he lived in Ohio. I met him once and shook his hand in an elevator in Indiana. He went Home in the late 80's - because God called him out of this mess. I'm still waiting on my call. Meanwhile I am going to do my best to hold fast to the joy of the Lord. I would live to get hold of his recordings. Does anyone have connections to his family? He had two sons with him in the elevator.
Oct 2006 - I am a church-planter and minister. I visited the Glory Barn with an old friend of mine, Glenn Stech, in the early 70s as a ministry student at Huntington College. I now live in the area of the Old Glory Barn and am available for anyone who wants to talk and pray and be healed from all old wounds and bitterness. I believe the Lord wants to pour out HIS Glory in this area once again. cell 260-388-1130
- Russ
Sept 2006 - I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1975 and became involved with a church group that received Doctor Hobart Freeman's tapes on a regular basis. I lived in Indiana and knew a lot of people associated with Faith Assembly. I had attended services in Faith Assembly three times (1980, 1981, and 1982). A lot that has been written about Faith Assembly are just things made up by the media to sell their papers. I know a couple of women died in childbirth but there was no reason to believe that would not have also happened if the women had gone to a hospital. Women die in childbirth. It happens; it's sad, but it happens. A child passed away and the parents wanted it to rise from the dead. Trouble happened because they didn't contact authorities. As far as 100 people dying, I do not believe that. I lived close enough to have heard rumors of these deaths. But even if 100 people did die in a congregation of 2000, what of it? Look at any other church with a membership in the thousands and check to see how many of their members die over 20 years. Things were blown out of portion because of the teaching in divine healing.
Almost everyone posting on your web site here that have horror stories to relate or are bitter about things done in that church are children who grew up in that church. This happens in almost every church; talk to the teenagers and younger children after they grow up and they are all resentful of the things they feel they have missed because they grew up in that particular church. Doctor Freeman said God has no grandchildren, which he meant that each generation has to received salvation for itself; that the parents cannot receive salvation for their children.
I did receive wrong teaching in other church groups that were loosely associated with Faith Assembly. When I came out of those, I had to rethink everything that I had been taught. What was of God; what was not? The book 'Churches That Abuse' by Ronald M. Enroth helped me a great deal.
I've read testimonies of the adults who were in Faith Assembly in the 70's and 80's who are nostalgic about the worship services. They can't find any other church that "worships" God like Faith Assembly. To that I have to say, that these Christians associated the wonderful feelings that they had while listening to the Faith Assembly music to God's actual Presence. After they were cut off from that music, they thought they could not experience God's Presence again. To get any relief from this, they must realize that we cannot experience God with our feelings. We experience God by faith. We must believe that God exists and that He is true to His Word that says He will hear us when we pray. One can "experience" God no matter what music is playing or not playing. Faith Assembly appealed to our senses and we got hooked. It has taken me many, many years to come to this realization and get free.
I do not regret my experiences of the past; they have made me the person that I am today.
- Patty
Sept 2006 - I was first exposed to Hobart Freeman's tapes in January 87. I was going through a severe trial in my marriage and met a man who shared many of HF tapes with me. My greatest need at the time was Holy Spirit Baptism which this man shared many tapes and the Books of Faith & Why Speak in Tongues. I began to introduce this material to others and had a cousin who began going from Michigan down to Indiana to Faith Assembly even though HF had passed away.
As a result we began a Home Fellowship in the Detroit area. We met a couple of men who would come up and teach just a handful of people every week. In the beginning it was a blessing all who attended were growing in faith, wisdom, and knowledge. The fellowship that we had with many of the families from Indiana was a blessing. But one thing we noticed was all the division which was backed by whispering, backbiting, gossip, and much sowing of discord among the brethren.
It did not take long for these things to manifest themselves amongst our little fellowship in MI. After 71/2 years our fellowship was broken up, but prior to that I had noticed for quite some time all the backbiting and gossip going on. The leaders in our fellowship had become very critical of EVERYONE else, always finding fault with everything. My wife divorced me as a result of my association with the assembly in 1998 and we just got remarried on 9-24-06.
Two of the men who led us have had some real severe tragedies come there way. My question is, is it chastening or judgement? There are 3 guys left in the assembly, can you really call that an assembly? Do 3 people make up a church? Our assembly dismantled in June of 2004 and then went down to 3 men by January 2005. There is no Pastor and none of these men have their homes in order, one is not married, one is divorced, and the others wife is not submitted to him. Doesn't the bible say that if a man cannot rule his own house how shall he feed the Flock?
Since I have come out of this group my eyes have been opened to how legalistic we had become. We were taught much truth, of which I will never forsake, but we did not Love one another, "Knowledge puffeth up", but when we would say we should love one another we were told we were effeminate. I attend a wonderful church where the gifts flow every Sunday without reservation, the Pastors home, wife, children, grandchildren, and nephews function in the ministry. Much of what I was taught through HF and others is held to at this church, and the word which is preached is confirmed every Sunday. Yet we are told it is a wrong church. How can fruit lie? The very thing Jesus himself said we could know one another by, Fruit. When I look back and then forward on my experience one path has fruit and the other has everything the Bible warns us about.
- D.F. Michigan
Sept 2006 - Greetings! Thank you for a WONDERFUL website. I am one of the results of the Glory Barn. My parents met and were married at the old Barn and I was born just a year later in 1976. Many of you would know my parents as Gary and Melinda B. My father Gary was often seen at the front of the church with his dear friend Ray B singing about "I'll fly away"...
I don't remember much of that time, we were out of the church after it burned...and attended Faith Assembly a short time after. I think I remember celebrating my first Christmas when I was 7 or so...
At any rate, I recently decided to go back to school, and I am taking a theology class that is requiring a research paper done on a denomination of our choice. I wanted to learn more of what is my past...and basically my beginning. I will be sitting down with my parents as well, but I would love any feedback that anyone would like to give me.
If you want me to pass on a message to my parents from any of you that know them, I would be happy to! Cheers!
- Ami B
Sept 2006 - Hey! I was contemplating joining a church body that was an offshoot of Freeman's in Saginaw, Michigan. The preacher and his wife went to a oneness Pentecostal church together, then she married and started going to Freeman's church. I wonder what happened to them.
I was saddened by all that happened, and though I was not a part of it, I had my own 'ghosts' to break through. I am very wary of the 'Faith' movement. I have not been able to stay under any church fellowship for more than five years. I don't trust!
- Cathy
4 Aug 2006 - Some of you will remember me. You took me in, an unwed mother, took care of me, helped me and married me off. Brendan and I lived in the Brown House after Steve and Dee moved out. We also lived in the orange/yellow trailer at the tent in Warsaw and Goshen. And was living in the Glory Barn when it burnt down.
I was back up in North Webster last year, the New Building looks really run down. The old Glory Barn site, is well taken care of but, I couldn't see if the log cabin that Mel and Brendan built was still there by the pond. I'm not sure who Merrybeth sold the place to. I know Mel's old cabin that Dirk inherited burnt to the grown and is really heavily over grown. I always wondered what happened to Merrybeth.
I got saved at the Glory Barn in 1973, it changed my life. I really believe those early years we where taught the truth. I saw lots of miracles, and came to know Jesus in a very very special way. After the fall out with Mel and the move to the tent and then the new building, things changed drastically. I can't put my finger on it. I went from feeling very much part of the church to feeling like an outcast. It wasn't long after that we quit going.
I'm going to a Assemblies of God church in Missouri and my 1st time there, the preacher sounded just like Hobart did back in those early days. The people are warm and friendly and there is about 3000 of them that go there. I really believe with direction, FA would of ended up like this church. I am so sad that it has falling apart.
I would love to hear from other old Glory Barners!
- Peg
4 Aug 2006 - I have been struggling with the faith message for the last 20 some years. Once a member. I am in a trial now that I feel that I am wavering like the wave in the sea. I have just stepped out of the boat and now I am saying "Lord save me". I came to this site looking for answers.
I have read all the comments that others have said. Why do we keep coming back to this? Why did I? After so long it still has us in its grasp. But what is it? Is it Jesus or is it bondage. Is it both? Jesus told us the truth shall set us free. I think it is the truth that we are searching for.
Can anyone else see that the message of faith has spread to other ministries? Perhaps not as strong, but none the less much more now than in the time of Faith Assembly. It seems they want to teach the principles of faith...until it comes to physical healing. I think perhaps I have learned a lesson and see it in many of the other responses on this site. There is a lot more to faith than the ABC's. One, is the pride of faith. When the Apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith he told them the parable of the servant that worked all day, then prepared his master's food. Was He thanked for it? No.How can God increase our faith if we pride ourselves in our victories; if we put ourselves above those weak in the faith because we received an manifestation of something we were believing for, if we are believing for something others haven't or can't; if we look down on those who stayed in the boat? At Faith Assembly did we have faith in ourselves? The mountain may be removed...but only because someone obeyed God.
Oh, if only this was simple for me! I am caught in the middle of the sea and the banks seem so far away. But this I know, above all I want to obey the Lord and that he loves me and will take care of me. He has not forsaken us.I pray that the Lord Jesus will give all of us wisdom and understanding and fill our hearts with his love.
- Ed (Ed can you contact me, someone wishes to speak with you)
26 July 2006 - Very informative and interesting forum. I was saved 8 years ago and within a few weeks of this transformation, I was introduced to Dr. Freeman's teaching tapes/books. I have also sat under Bro. Tom Hamilton's tape ministry for the last 5 years. I will say that the brother who turned me on to Freeman is an extreme radical, as I have heard some of you referencing.
He won't leave his home, make a phone call, go to the job, eat a meal, drink a beverage, speak a word or God forbid fellowship with someone who isn't in perfect harmony with Freeman's teachings, unless he receives "by revelation" from God himself the instructions to do so.. It's like the others are as "infidels".
I have learned a wealth of info from this brother and the tapes, however without really realizing it, I became very legalistic, as well as thinking and acting like this brother. Say what you will, but even though I never met the man, I do believe that this is the overtone of this particular ministry. On the other hand, Brother Hamilton in my opinion, toned down quite a few notches from his involvement with Faith Assembly. He teaches hard truth but in a way that seems to be more applicable and sensible.
I would definitely recommend his tapes to anyone who is looking for a safe alternative, without the watered down, worldly denominational stuff. I don't mean for my statement to be critical, but there is a balance between Freeman and the denominational ear tickling sermons out there today.
My heart goes out to all of you, who like me, find yourself in bondage from what we allowed to go in through our ears. God Bless You All.
- Chris
21 July 2006 - I live in Australia. I gave my heart to Jesus 30 years ago as a result of the Word that was coming out of Faith Assembly Glory Barn. I went to church Sundays and to Sunday School but I didn’t have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ until I heard the word that came from Faith Assembly. One thing I can be certain of is that I am thankful for the strength of teaching on Faith and for the blessed power to pray in the Holy Spirit. I do think the faith message became a formula in the end and not Jesus. The focus moved from Jesus.
I was hurt by legalism and it did affect my testimony. When faith for healing eclipses salvation from sins through Jesus, an imbalance in the teaching is evident. Jesus said ‘believe in me’ on the cross to the thief not have faith in God for your healing and you’ll be in paradise. That’s what it had come to in the end at Faith Assembly.
After 25 years and it has taken that long, I now have the desire to read the bible again. During these last 25 years I have always known God’s love and witnessed his closeness but reading the Word didn’t excite me or interest me anymore. When I left the “church” (faith assembly teaching) 25 years ago I was told by the Spirit of God to “leave no stone unturned”! I think there is a place for faith in God to heal today. I go to doctors now but know that God has made our bodies (fearfully and wonderfully) and faith has given me the power to believe that my body He made, can repair itself within limits – remembering it’s not a supernatural body yet. It’s according to your faith in God not a formula set down by any man. You have to reach out and touch the hem of Jesus' garment and be healed. Not touch the teaching of a man but to touch Jesus himself.
Dr Freeman’s teaching lacked the relationship side with Jesus. But was that his fault? His lack can be found elsewhere in the body of Christ. People died at Faith Assembly and for that I’m deeply saddened. Was their faith in a formula (Dr Freeman) and not Jesus?
I have been both blessed and saddened by many things I have read on this internet sight. I hope my experience has helped to refresh your faith in Jesus. I wonder if any other teaching or group of people has had the same affect on believer’s lives as Faith Assembly has had. The very fact an internet site is dedicated to those who came in contact with Faith Assembly Glory Barn is amazing in itself. Pray for those who teach, they need it, they will be accountable to God for what they teach. Continue to have faith in Jesus Christ and look unto Him. I know I am and always will.
- Virginia
July 2006 - I came across your website while looking for Faith Assembly's website. It is interesting to read the posts from those who were associated with Faith Assembly's ministry. I wanted to share my experiences on the chance that it might help someone else.
In 1974 my husband and I separated. Although we had been involved in church off and on we were into some pretty heavy sin at the time. He left me and said he wanted a divorce. I was not in agreement and did everything that I could do to get him to change his mind about divorcing me but he wasn't interested. Feeling that I had no other options I decided to kill myself. But before I did, because I knew I was going to go to hell, I decided to get my heart right first. The Lord met me there, saved me, and changed my life forever.
So then I was saved but still separated from my husband. My husband really wanted nothing to do with my new found faith. Someone gave the faith book to me along with Why Speak in Tongues. I read both, received the baptism and claimed my husband's salvation and restoration of my marriage. At the time I was a real mess. I had grown up in a family with a dad who gambled and cheated and a mother who was in and out of mental hospitals. She was very physically and emotionally abusive and my dad was never home. I really literally had no one in my life to help me. I contacted Faith Assembly and got on the automatics. At that point in time I had no idea what a long drawn out ordeal this would be with my husband. Several months after claiming restoration of my marriage, my husband moved back home. It was just one of many times that he would leave me, only to return months later. But during this time the Lord was changing me. I was such a mess. As I studied his word and grew closer to him he did a deep work in my heart and in my life. He blessed me, healed me, taught me, gave me joy and peace, and chastened me. Through all the trials the Lord allowed in my life I grew and changed and learned to walk with the Lord daily.
After 17 years the Lord manifested my husband's salvation and then he got under the faith teaching. The Lord has blessed us abundantly, restored many times over all that the enemy had stolen, and restored our relationship to each other. When I read all of the comments on here about Faith Assembly and Br. Freeman I can't help but think that at any point in time I could have given up all that I had asked the Lord for. I could have looked to a man or said it didn't work or whatever. But God's word is true and it doesn't really matter what any of us think or say or do. In the end God's word will still be true. We have the choice to accept it and believe it or reject it and blame the vessel for our failures and the failures of others. And God does see it as failure when we don't trust him.
As for the faith message being bondage I say bunk! I was in bondage and deep sin going to a Baptist church. They gave me no answers, no help, and no way out of the misery I was in. I was a 22 year old alcoholic, on the verge of getting into witchcraft and committing suicide. The Lord set me free. Where is the bondage in that? Because his word says we are to be holy? You can't blame a man for what people did with the faith message. We all have choices to make and ultimately we will all have to answer for the word that we were given and what we did with it.
- Pat
May 2006 - WOW!!! That's all I can say right now.
I'm listening to a tape my mother still has from our years at Faith Assembly. It's a worship tape made by G&G. I decided to look up Dr. Freeman on the internet and when I I found this web site with the picture inside the church I got chills and tears came to my eyes. I guess because tonight God is tugging at my heart to come back to him! I saw the seats we used to sit in. I can picture myself getting up and testifying before everyone.
I can still hear people speaking in tongues and then hearing another person interpreting it. And the part that touches me the most is there has NEVER been a church I've set foot in that has moved me with their praise and worship as Faith Assembly did. Jesus was present there and you could feel it!
I wish sometimes I could go back and have that feeling again. There may have been some things that were wrong with the teachings by Dr. Freeman, but I believe God put us all there for a reason and used him to prepare us all for what is ahead.
- Staci
May 2006 - While I am sorry so many share not so fond memories of Brother Freeman, I would like to share my testimony of what God has done, shown, and taught me through Freeman's teachings.
I met a young woman in 1997, named Patricia who had come by several tapes by Freeman. My marriage was failing and at the time, I had been diagnosed as "barren". I did not know the Lord at that time. This woman became my closest friend and eventually my spiritual "mother". My husband at that time left me in 2004. Standing in faith and clinging to the very principles that caused my husband to leave, and has kept me strong and even had me prepared for the time when God would send my true spiritual mate. My husband grew up listening to Freeman's teachings. He is Patricia's eldest son.
And glory to God! We are expecting our second child in October. My ex-husband and I are close friends and I continue to pray for him. He is engaged to a good person who loves him. I am happy for them. This could only have worked out through God's intervention. While I worship God the Father, I do trust with a certain amount of caution, Freeman's teachings and will continue to do so.
God bless you and thank you for speaking the truth.
- Sharon
April 2006 - It was interesting to read the different perspectives of FA. I would like to contribute my experiences.
I have been associated with Bro. Freeman's ministry for over 30 yrs. I was part of a satellite group, so was not a regular attendee of FA however I visited frequently. I had many close friends there and was aware of the inner workings etc. of FA. I also experienced and was aware of many of the hurts that came thru interpersonal relationships and interactions. Most of the problems seem to stem from application and implementation of the message rather than the message itself.
I saw that the principles Bro. Freeman taught were in the word. The full redemption of Jesus, the sermon on the mount, the crucified life, non resistance, holiness, debt free living, etc. along with Godly principles for raising a family. I saw that along with the gift of faith (I Cor. 12:9) there was a fruit of faith ( Gal 5:22) which matured thru trials and tests (Heb. 6:15, 10:23, 36-39 ) .I was given a complete and comprehensive message based on scripture, set forth with theological integrity. I purposed to apply it and see it work for myself and my family.
I saw that Jesus was real and also realized that the devil was real and played for keeps. I lost a child in 1984 (Mt.4:43). I now have 12 children : all saved, filled with the Holy Spirit (speak in tongues), none in rebellion, all embracing the principles of faith found in the Word. We are healthy, debt free, and very prosperous, all obtained without the need of the medical system or the finance company. God has proved Himself faithful thru enough trials to write a book about. Two sons brought back to life from death, broken bones supernaturally set, a tooth grow in, a son attacked by a bull only to get a chipped tooth, a son inside a feed mixer when it was accidentally started only to get a bruised shoulder, a horse brought back to life when my children laid hands on it, supernatural deliverances in childbirth, two grandsons brought back from deaths door, deliverances in car accidents, ATV accidents , construction accidents, etc. etc. Not to mention the hundreds of things we have spared from. His word is true . It works. There is no deeper work done in your faith and heart than when you have experienced Gods faithfulness thru a trial. There is no safer place to be than to be shut up to God and his word knowing that as with Job there is only so far that the devil can go. God is in control and wont allow any more than we can handle for any longer than we can handle it. (I Cor . 10:13) I know of many families with similar experiences as mine who are seeing the word prosper in their lives.
Bro. Freeman taught truth. His personality was his personality, his opinions were his opinions, but the word was truth. He laid a foundation of faith (Jude 3) for this generation. he never changed or made the word fuzzy when people stumbled or misapplied faith. It was clear and unchanging, I appreciate his faithfulness. It is grievous to hear of the hurts and heartaches, and to see the pettiness , biting and devouring, strife and division that exists. It is my prayer that we do not squander the precious word and be as the Israelites whose children went into the promised land saving for Caleb and Joshua. This is a relevant, pertinent, and essential word for us all. It is a blessing to pass it on to my children and now grandchildren. As my son said to me last week "It is priceless". Remember the three little words from Ps 118 IT IS BETTER. I would be willing to encourage anyone. You can contact me via this website connection.
- Thanks, Chuck
April 2006 - I just recently read a book by Cindy Barnett entitled "Never Far From Home" (a very good book, I would recommend it to anyone who attended Faith Assembly). Her husband, Jeff, was a preacher at Faith Assembly and after reading this book it brought up a lot of old feelings and memories of attending the Glory Barn and Faith Assembly.
I Googled "Faith Assembly" and came across this web site. I can relate to a lot of the people who have posted.
I grew up in the church and have some memories of the Glory Barn and a lot of memories of Faith Assembly. I still remember it was difficult going to public schools and not being able to celebrate Holidays and to always wear dresses & skirts.
Looking back, I don't have any regrets. It has only made me stronger. I know that my parents feel bad for all that us kids went through. We have a typical huge family and we have all been truly blessed.
I think that we have a choice; we can be bitter or better!
- Cara
April 2006 - I don't know what to say. Reading these responses is a bit overwhelming. I attended a splinter church in Brisbane, Australia, having joined myself when I was 14. I went to Faith Assembly for periods in our summer (it was bloody cold in Indiana) on two occasions. The second time we arrived on the eve of Pastor Freeman's death.
I think that Faith Assembly was a cult, and if you think about it, any grouping of people defined by a set of beliefs, is going to gravitate toward features of a cult. And it wasn't just a cult. There was something very authentic about Freeman's teachings that have left a deep impression, even though I'm as likely to call myself an atheist or a Pantheist nowadays.Anyone who learned Theology from Freeman or his tapes got a very solid, albeit conservative, grasp of protestant theology, and a fair basis in Western philosophy as well, especially if they followed the readings.
For that education I have Dr Freeman to thank. There was an inspired rigour about the man - like with his emphasis on languages. He was not a charlatan. His scholarship was real. He was not a hypocrite either. I think many were attracted to FA because it was the only place they'd ever heard of where people were prepared to die for their beliefs.
But that trailer park I used to stay in - was a freaky place. My memories look like something from very bad Yanky horror movie.
Love to all from Australia, especially to Jim D, Angie D, Scott and Kelly H, Claude and Jesse R, Paul and Rocky C and Malcolm W.
- Hamish
April 2006 - I cannot begin to express what an affect your website has had upon me. I spent approximately 20 years associated with this ministry in the Indianapolis area, but left in 1995 when guest speakers associated with the "laughing revival" were introduced. I appreciate much of the teaching that I received and met some wonderful people. Yet, the issues expressed on your site are experiences that are all too familiar to some that I have known and some that are longtime friends.
I found this website late one evening. After having gone to bed, I got up at 3am to go back and print off the responses. I read through all but about the last two pages, when I began weeping over the letters expressing the heartache and broken dreams of those that had once been a part of Faith Assembly. I remembered the words of Jesus in Matthew 23:37, "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not?"
Here is some wonderful news: JESUS is still very much alive! Many of us have experienced disappointment for various reasons but the same magnificent Jesus that many of us knew some years ago is still the same today.
If you are reading this message, I urge you to forget "those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before", to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus". Philippians 3:13-14
Eternity is at the doorstep. I can recall an elderly neighbor man, who upon his deathbed was asked, if he would like to receive Jesus, and this weak man, in a very strong voice said, "I CERTAINLY DO". Within a few days, he died and is with Jesus for eternity. I pray that you would once again set your eyes on Jesus. He alone is able to impart the peace that passes all understanding.
Father, I thank you for the love that you show to each person reading this sentence. You are well able to save, heal, and deliver your children. We ask that you extend your hand to touch each one reading this text and ask you to break every yoke of bondage and restore your children. In Jesus' name we pray.
- Jerry (not Irving.)
April 2006 - I moved to the Syracuse area with my wife and children 12 years ago, so my experience with Faith Assembly has all been in the past tense. Several people that I know have spoken about their involvement with 'The Glory Barn.' It seemed like seeing people die 'in faith' was the main clincher for getting them to leave.
Just this week there appeared in my bedroom a booklet critiquing FA written by Dr. Jack Clark sometime around the late 80's. He makes some interesting claims in the booklet that I'd like to see documented, namely: "Tetanus is a disease which can be easily prevented through immunization but can be cured on 35 to 40 percent of the time even if treated promptly".
I have a friend who contracted tetanus (after having been immunized) and had the hardest time convincing her doctor to treat her. Had it not been for her insistence, she would be dead, as she was already in the lockjaw stage. If this is how tetanus is typically 'treated,' it's no wonder 40 per cent die.
I have a daughter who has never had tetanus shots. A couple of years ago I took her to a doctor to get one when she stepped on a farm-infested nail, and he talked me out of it. He said it was easier to just wait and treat her if she contracted symptoms. Not to mention that it's almost impossible to get the tetanus vaccine as a single shot.
My daughter never contracted tetanus, and remains un-immunized to this day and continues to roam the farm in her bare feet. I no longer panic when she or a sibling steps on a nail, not due to a faith in divine healing but due to an extreme skepticism of the ability of the medical profession to meaningfully prolong life through routine treatment.
- Daniel
March 2006 - April I would like to add my story. I was a new Christian in 1971 hungry for more of God. I attended the first service with some students from Huntington College. I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and began to experience love, peace and joy in my life that I had NEVER know before. Faith Assembly became my support and foundation family and best friend. I lived in a spiritual bubble protected from the reality of the world because my focus was on the Word (teaching)!
We did not own a TV, read a newspaper or have any contact with the outside world. I was busy with my home and children (ten). My babies were born at home and we home schooled our children (all the right things). I took healing for granted and had authority over every demon in hell (life was good)!! My husband was not a believer so it was a constant struggle but for the most part it was a wonderful life.
In 1986 I was shopping in the mall. I was walking toward a man who was slovenly dressed, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. I thought "if you only knew what I know". In an instant God's voice thundered from heaven and said "WHERE IS YOUR COMPASSION"! I realized what I had become! A prideful, arrogant, selfish, self centered brat! I did not tell anyone about my experience. I thought it was very personal.
When I left Faith Assembly NO ONE called me after attending faithfully for fourteen years. Those who I had looked up to shunned me when they saw me! We lost our home, my husband divorced me, he lost his business, our children were scattered to the wind, our daughter was killed by a drunk driver. I lived in a homeless shelter. God kept me through those dark days by His grace and mercy. But I did not want to go into another church fellowship again. It has been 16 years since the divorce now and I just recently started attending a Bible Study that has helped to stabilize me.
Faith Assembly was an important part of my life. I regret some areas the way I raised my children. They were able to come out with a balance in their lives. My grandchildren will be my reward. I would like to hear from anyone else who has experienced a divorce. Faith Assembly did not have anything to do with our divorce. I would love to hear from Christy Albright. God Bless You All
- Ilene
March 2006 - I found your website interesting I attended Faith Assembly from 1972-1987. You say you set under the teaching and were there 8 times. You seem to have some insight on what went on, but not much. You had to go there and you had to agree 100% with teaching to be in good standings. My wife and I did that.
Agree with every word that came out of the “Prophet’s” mouth. We left in '87 what a breath of fresh air. I am not bitter about experience we had. I knew all the ministers and find it interesting how it has unraveled. The faith concept is correct, it needs common sense mixed with it. Hobart Freeman was the problem, he was not in touch with his followers and made many recorded statements that were way off the chart.I did all the studies, Hebrew, Greek, and everything that was offered. After leaving I found out I was not superior to any other Christian. God still loves us and I have found purpose in life that living Christianity is better than just talking and studying the ”deep” things of God. I hope that for many who left that they get mental healing, I still see some former FA people that can’t figure it out. Gods grace, mercy, and love were not a part of FA teaching. Interesting website brought back many memories.
- Mark M.
Feb 2006 - Except for the children, no one was made to attend Faith Assembly. Did the man, Hobart Freeman invite us? Was it God? the devil? Why did we drive out to a cornfield to attend church? Was there not closer ones we would pass? Why did we go 4 times a week? Who made us attend? Are we glad we can now choose where we want to attend and even now that we are free, we don't even have to attend but for one hour a week! Such liberty not to be in bondage to meeting with like minded believers for an hour of prayer, then an hour or so of worship, then maybe up to 2 hours of teaching from the Word, all that at 4 times a week!
I'm afraid we have become like the children of Israel that murmured and complained about Moses. They blamed Moses for God bringing them out. We blame Dr. Freeman for God bringing us out. Looks like all the testimonies start out praising God and end up criticizing what they once praised. We have picked up that "victim" mentality that found success in the Garden down to now. We have to blame anything, anyone, but ourselves, for we are the real victims here.
Saints, Dr. Freeman is dead. What we learned some 20 years ago we can still put into practice. That is to go on. What was good from FA, keep and nurture into spiritual maturity. What you did not like, put behind you, forget it and don't allow it to rob you of the victory you still have in Jesus Christ being born again, not of corruptible seed, as from man, but of incorruptible, the Word of God. fall all flesh (man, dr. freeman, all of us) is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. the grass (man, dr. freeman, us) withers and the flower thereof falls away. (the glory falls away, fades) but the Word of the Lord endures forever.
- David L
Feb 2006 - I was sincerely seeking truth when I became involved with home Bible studies in Southern Ohio - listening to tapes from Faith Assembly. There was truth there. The problem is that the truth was mixed with deadly poison. Our family was spiritually shipwrecked after Faith Assembly. I know the pain. This is all fulfillment of the scriptures. The Good Book says there will be deceptions so subtle that if it were possible even the very elect would be deceived. I was God's little lamb before Faith Assembly; I am still God's little lamb after Faith Assembly.
If one will keep focused on the True Light they will find the True Light! The Light of the world is JESUS! My story is a good one; it is my prayer that someone will be helped.God is good! God's Kingdom is a Kingdom of Love. It is bigger than any church that claims to have the truth. Take a walk in the woods! That's what I did - it worked for me! I live in Love ... it's all HIS GRACE! He Loved me before I loved Him. He is Love! 1 John 4: 7&8 says: Beloved, let us love one another. For Love is of God and everyone that Loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that Loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love...Again ...Beloved, let us Love one another.
- Eva L.
Feb 2006 - Greetings, I have a somewhat different perspective and would like to ask for feedback to help me settle some nagging questions. I was in the walk for 15 years and taught on Sundays for 7 years in my satellite church in Illinois. I have been out for 15 years now and find myself intrigued and identifying with what I read here. I also have run the gamut of emotions ranging from self pity to anger about what happened. I believe I see a simple answer that describes what happened at FA and at the satellite churches. Though not completely satisfying this answer allows me to cope well with our/my failures. This is simple in concept but extremely crucifying to self for us even to consider. My idea respects that most of the teachings were very good, that Christianity is defined by only the Scriptures, and that most of our hearts were good and acceptable before God... after all how much more sincere can you be if you are willing to go to and through death's door? Premise to consider -> << That we had little or no anointing but we did not notice. >>
In other words - it did not work from God's side not from our side. Did we have an anointing or not? What if what "anointing" we did see in our churches actually came from sincere people trying their best ... and not from God? Signs and wonders should happen once in a while - maybe fairly often in an anointed church. All we ever saw were things that might have come from sincere, well meaning men or women. Tongues could possibly come from the human mind as could the prophecies. Pastoral compassion and care could originate in the caring heart of nice men. Teaching could come from the sincere intellect of honest men who simply take the Scriptures at face value.
Can we consider that maybe Bro. Freeman was not "anointed"? With respect to brother Freeman...note: I speak next of major doctrines, not tacky small things termed "legalistic." Most of his teachings were commonly available in reference books and in seminaries such as the Baptist seminary that trained Dr. Freeman. What he brought out that was not available elsewhere was clearly stated (which is why we all believed it) in the Scriptures available to the human intellect of a smart, learned, sincere, honest man. Freeman was smart, sincere, honest with the Scriptures, and above all courageous enough to just say what the Scriptures actually say. We all elevated him as anointed and the center of God's end time move.....but as we begin to see him now as only a normal minister ... can we consider that maybe it was not "the anointing" but rather his personal honestly and courage that set him apart? Can we consider the possibility that he and we were not anointed?
We were thousands of believers walking the walk for 10 to 20 years and there were never any signs and wonders. Signs and wonders are part of the anointed church. Anyone think the churches at Corinth, in Galatia, or at Ephesus went years and years without seeing any signs and wonders? Not as a frivolous sideshow but there should be the ICor12 gifts of miracles and also the "signs of an Apostle" .... and by the way where is an Apostle after 2 or 3 decades? We believed the healing and faith promises (both very valid in my opinion) to and sometimes through death's door but we let the signs, wonders, and Apostle verses go unfulfilled and we did not notice. It is a very disturbing pattern that everything that might possibly come from the intellectual efforts of sincere men we did see happen ...BUT everything that would absolutely require a supernatural action by God was missing.
Long after brother Freeman's death I spoke to a very sincere brother who had witnessed with his own eyes all of brother Freeman's ministry at Faith Assembly nearly from the very beginning. At the time we were both still totally committed to the message. My question to him was...."Have you ever seen a clearly supernatural event?" His answer was "No." I was aware that in my satellite church we never saw the clearly supernatural but I always assumed that things occurred at Faith Assembly. I submit that this premise of "little or no anointing" perfectly explains what happened. Maybe it is the only idea that fits our experience.
- Ned
Feb 2006 - I read your article with interest, Tom, and appreciate the desire for level-headed analysis and discussion about matters of faith. I was not previously aware of Dr. Freeman or of the events you describe, but something you said did prompt me to add my perspective.
I was born again at Christmas time in 1983, and it was like a whole new world that I knew nothing about, was opened up to me. I was captivated with spiritual things and my hunger for answers to so many questions was very satisfying. Things now made sense in ways they never did before. My father, who led me to the Lord, was a relatively new Christian also and could not answer all of my questions, but he pointed me towards a pastor he respected who could teach me more about the Word of God. So I started attending his church and 23 years later, I am still there.
This brings me to the comment you made about people honouring Dr Freeman so much that he became the focus of the Assembly. It is sometimes easy to blur the line between respect and worship.
During my early years as a believer, when I knew a lot of doctrine, but not a lot of the reasons why, I found myself repeating the words of my pastor, but when challenged to justify or explain the underlying truth, all I could say was that pastor said so. Now if that was all there was to it, and I spent the rest of my life saying what my pastor said, then I would be guilty of blindly spreading his words, not the Word of God.
But there are two reasons why that didn't happen. Firstly, I wanted to grow in my faith and in my knowledge of truth, so I would not settle for just blindly spouting concepts that I had heard. I wanted reasons, and so, over the years, I did learn more. Now I can explain what I believe because I believe it is truth, not just because pastor said so.
Secondly, my pastor himself was not willing that anybody put him on a pedestal. He would always encourage us to check out the things he said in the bible, and not just take his word for it. Furthermore, his often stated purpose in life was to see people grow to maturity in their faith, even to surpass him.
I add my story to your Feedback page, because I wanted to share how important it is to desire personal spiritual growth. I know some people sitting under the teaching of my pastor who show up every Sunday, but are simply spectators warming a chair. I also know another believer who for some inexplicable reason, remains under the teaching of a spiritually flaky minister in a dead church.
So my point is, that it really takes a combination of both a willing heart, and faithful teachers to grow to spiritual maturity in Christ.
One without the other makes it much more difficult to avoid error and wrong decisions. The key to a mature faith is to remember that primarily, Christianity is a relationship between yourself and Jesus, and that fellowship with other believers is a bonus blessing that comes along with it. Not the other way around. Fellowship without a relationship with the living Christ is not a church; It's just a club.
- Scott.
Jan 2006 - Being born again in July of 1976 and receiving the baptism of Holy Spirit in Feb. 1977 at the Glory Barn I was overjoyed as a new Christian to see that God was not dead but alive. At that point I started listening to Dr. Freeman's tapes, and enjoying the ministry and worship at Faith Assembly. Living only 40 miles from the new building I started attending there full time in Jan. 1979 to 1987. I have been blessed to have gained the knowledge of the word of God that I received from Dr. Freeman's ministry.
I also have been grieved that a christian ministry could have done so much damage to people's life's and had brought people into more bondage than they had in the denominational system. We spoke against the denomination's yet became one ourselves. Teaching that scriptural balance is what we need, yet falling away from the truth ( in some cases) to man's own ideas and false teachings, to the likes of the Deeper deliverance series, healing only by faith ( no grace healing like that is found in John 5:6-9 & Act's 3:6, you were not filled with the Holy Spirit unless you spoke in tongues, teaching on the medical profession and the medical deity's, the unbalanced positive confession teaching's, could not get a family member and medicine or might open up a door for demon's, the unbalanced separated life teaching's, and to take a pet to the veterinarian was a lack of faith. And the list would not stop here.
The false prophecy and vision's, like we Faith Assembly were the hub of the end time move, lifting up what Faith Assembly would do, and God would vindicate Faith Assembly. The false (subtle) saying's from the pulpit like I hope we are not the only one's, some of you are not going to make it in, or if you depart from Faith Assembly you have departed from the faith. Dr. Freeman said he could not die in this season because it would take God along time to raise up another person that had his knowledge. There was fear instilled in us that if we went to another church or christian meeting's we could open the door for deception.
Being a new christian I thought that these minister's really new the heart of God, but to find out when you are proud and in legalism and attacking every ministry that doesn't see it your way you are far from the heart of God. There was no room to be led by the Holy Spirit and allow faith to grow and mature. I'm glad I attended faith Assembly and I'm glad my wife and children didn't. I have a good sense of smell for pride, and can spot legalism.
In my final thought's I wish Dr. Freeman would have allowed himself to be accountable to other minister's to keep the ministry in check, but he could not do that, and because of that the body at Faith Assembly could only become like their teacher. God had to remove Dr. Freeman or there would have been more death's and more deception. I have read every testimony on this page and it has pierced my heart to see what family's and the youth have went through.
It drive's me to pray for those who were apart of this move of God, that he would bring refreshment and healing to those I love and was knitted together with. I'm so thankful for what I have learned threw all of this, and the precious people I have met. I'm not bitter against the ministry, of Dr. Freeman and it will be a joy to see him and Br. Hill Sr. again and all those that have went before me.
I love you saints of God
- John
Jan 2006 - I attended Lighthouse from 78-85. This website is totally bizarre. I thought I was the only one screwed up. I've spent twenty years hiding from God because I left (failed). Is Bruce teaching now? I wrote Bruce a recommendation after he left FA.
- Jim
(editor's note: and a happy new year to you too...)
Dec 2005 - Concerning our associations with Faith Assembly; no matter where we lived or with whom we fellowshipped and heard the word of God, we were all personally responsible to establish a personal relationship with our Jesus and search out how the word applied to our individual lives, first, as we had need and by the enablement of the Holy Spirit.
Brother Freeman was faithful to remind us of this. To blame Brother Freeman is unfair. God was testing us all, to see how we, personally, would respond to the word preached, despite the vessel. We didn't allow ourselves to be penetrated many times, finding it easier to use someone else as our scapegoat. Personal responsibility is the key here. We heard the word preached; forget about the man. Did we search the scriptures ourselves? Did we wait on the Lord? Did we really have a relationship with Jesus, or were we to blame for our own superficiality that we later disguised by blaming someone "else"? Maybe we were full of our own pride.
After 20 years now after the first seeds of God's word being planted in my heart through the lips of Bro. Freeman, I have to say, he was truly God's messenger of truth. I am not saying I always agreed with the way he presented it; my responsibility was to take the word and let it bear its fruit in its season, according to the will and cultivation of the very Jesus I say I serve. The word of God is exactly what it remains to be, whether we feel hurt or oppressed.
Over these past 20+ years of walking with Jesus-by faith-after the first impartation of grace through Bro. Freeman, I have had nothing but suffering, hardship, grief, seeming failure, and despondency of circumstance; everything contrary to what I would have "expected" and wanted, but have seen my life preserved and maintained by God as it has taken time TO LEARN and understand God's ways... through TIME, which has only confirmed the word I heard out of Faith Assembly. Patient endurance. Watchfullness.
God allowed me to go through a severe physical trial that changed me in my body forever because He had to show me MY OWN haughty heart, as I -not because of Bro. Freeman's teaching- had self-righteous pride concerning doctors. Whose fault was that? MINE! What God has brought me through and confirmed to me about Who He is, as a result of the teaching of Bro. Freeman has only validated as truth... because it has been proven in my own life.
- Miss Avery
Nov 2005 - In 1981, the church that I belonged to received a new pastor and slowly but surely transformed into an offshoot of Faith Assembly. The new pastor had come from Faith Assembly. The faith message had always been taught in the church, but the transformation that accompanied the new pastor was hardly subtle. In part, the message became, God would heal every sickness if a believer's faith were genuine - in fact, God was obligated to do this.
We returned from our honeymoon to a devastated church. While we had been gone, a couple who had been "standing in faith, believing" had withheld medical attention from an infant born with an intestinal deformity. The infant died while we were away. We attended services the following Sunday without knowing anything that had happened. During the service, a young mother, who was a friend of ours, spoke a word of prophesy to the effect that the Lord was punishing the church for its lack of faith. The church went into turmoil of outspoken disagreement. It wasn't until later in the day that we even began to get the highly distorted picture of the events – the picture remained distorted for years.
I wish I could say I had an immediate epiphany. I can't. What I can say now is that the faith-healing message is flawed. Faithful Christian or not, everybody gets sick, everybody dies eventually. Withholding medical treatment from children is a terribly selfish act that above all else seeks to retain or to earn approval of the group that espouses the doctrine. It is self-deception to blame the message, blame the cult, blame this pastor or that elder. Awakening to the full realization of all the error is very difficult and painful. When honestly examining the flaws, you end up having to face yourself and the unsettling truth about the role you may played in the suffering of those who have died and those who have lost loved ones. A particularly vile realization is that those who are healthy retain special honor and learn to become arrogant taskmasters. It is also hard to begin to see the truth about whose approval you really have been seeking (man's not God's).
Even though it was 20 some years ago, I am recently aware of the scars I still carry. A couple years ago, I had looked around for the posted musings of someone with a similar past, but it didn't seem there are many who are willing to record such experiences. I am glad a looked around again. I read some similar accounts on your site and they have served as icy reminders, so I thought I'd try to write some thoughts/recollections. I hope they are meaningful or even helpful to someone.
- David
Nov 2005 - I would have to say that the way FA affected me the most was in the area of athletics. I was a good sized kid as a freshman in High school. During my freshman year the head football coach sat me down and told me that if I would play football for him he would guarantee me a full ride to a D1 college to play football. My parents still would not let me play. Since then, I have devoted my life to teaching young men through sports.
I now coach High School Baseball and Officiate High School Football, and soon the NFL!!! I do wish that I would be playing football, but that is not what God had for my life. I feel that I am able to reach more people through what I do now rather than being a player. I know God's hand was on my life all along and that I am where I am because of Him. I think that God can use any situation to make us stronger, and he used this one to make me into what he wanted me to be!!! After all he used a donkey of all things to straighten out Balem!
I am thankful that God has brought me to where I am know and I know that he will continue to lead me as I submit to him and his leading. I am no longer under the FA teaching, and I am glad to be free. I feel that even though I am not a FA person any more, I feel I still have my salvation, and I would challenge anyone who is still living under all the FA teachings to compare their "fruits" to those of us that are following Christ outside of the FA way!
How many young men have you mentored, and shown the way to be a responsible loving husband and leader? I am not saying any of this in pride, just as a challenge to those who are still in bondage. Come on over to freedom in Christ! Experience the Joy of your Salvation! Thanks Tom for this opportunity! God Bless You All.
- Tim
Nov 2005 - Tom, your comments on F.A. are fair and balanced. And very gracious I must add. I started attending F.A. in June of 1983. Went up on a Fri. night at one of Bruce Kinsey's meetings and give my life to God. Two years later I moved to the area from Cleveland.
The 25 yr old gentleman who wrote to you in 2002 is my nephew. His father, my brother in law, died when he was only a young boy. My sister who lost her husband was the primary Christian influence in my life. Because her faith was always a relationship and not just a theory, she had the Grace of God to move forward. She remains today the most beautiful Christian lady I have ever known.
There were some good quality people that came out from the movement. However, as a whole the movement produced more modern day religious Pharisees than good sincere Christians. In 1989 I moved to Australia and was a part of one of the many splinter groups from faith assembly. I have met several people from around the world who come from churches who base there faith on Hobart's teachings. Those to this day who earnestly "contend for that message of faith" once delivered to the saints all have some common denominators. Spiritual know it alls. Spiritual Pride. Little or no fruit of the spirit. Everybody is wrong. Exclusiveness. Separation from the body of Christ. Legalism. Little or no love for people. No outreach. To name a few. Doctrine affects the way we think and the way we live or die as in most cases from F.A. I was fortunate to live through a life and death experience, when the snowmobile I was riding {irresponsibly} landed on top of me and ripped open my leg back in Jan of 1986. I decided to 'trust God for my healing'. I was in bed for nearly three months. The open wound slowly grew back together. I expected to die on several occasions. The pain alone was unbearable. But I was hoping for the best.
I eventually recovered and was able to run faster than ever six months later. The faith camp really loved my testimony. It was not until years later that I realized the fact I did not survive because of Dr. Freeman's 'Faith Book'. But I survived because of God's mercy. I have heard many a time over the years that there was no love at F.A. I'll give you an example of how true that was. While in bed for nearly three months I never received a visit of even a phone call from none of the so called 20 'five-fold ministers' who were teaching in the church at the time. "Just take it by faith brother and the faith message will work". How ridiculous. But again doctrine affects what we do or don't do as in there case.
After 16 years of marriage and five kids later my wife has decided on a separation. She was indoctrinated into Hobart's teachings. And to this day those teachings influence her decisions. While I believe in the principal of the scriptures, she lives by the law of the scriptures. Do's and don'ts laws and rules. While faith assembly may be dead and gone. Its teachings still influence people to this day.
- Derrik
Nov 2005 - My husband and I started attending Steve Hill's meetings in Rockford, Illinois back in 1980. We stayed 11 years. Not because we wanted to but were afraid to leave for fear that God would be mad at us. Attending F.A. turned out lives upside down.
Of course we were looking for something or we wouldn't have gone there in the first place. What was the most frustrating was you wanted to believe God for everything but had no confidence that He would answer you for fear that you weren't perfect. The grace of God just didn't seem to be preached. I always thought God was frowning at me even though I was just a young mother trying to take care of my children and my home. I always thought if I didn't have the formula right God wouldn't answer me. While some people didn't get hurt, some of us were devastated, and I do not have any good memories while attending F.A.
I'm not saying there was no truth there, but what I am saying it was a very dangerous church to go to. People were trying to believe for things they didn't have the faith for or for fear of what others might think. I sometimes think about other people that have gotten hurt by F.A. and say a prayer for them. If you are one of them, my heart goes out to you and I'm so sorry for what you've had to go through. After 15 years we have finally found a church that has a balanced teaching. I hope you have found one too.
- Pat
Oct 2005 - I attended a satellite church in Grand Rapids, MI from 1979 to 1987. I also attended Faith Assembly in Indiana on a regular basis. About 2 years after I had left the church I was sharing with a co-worker about how I had taken my glasses off and believed for my healing for 8 years. He marveled that I hadn't driven for all those years. Rather than make fun of me he said "You must have been pretty committed to do something like that". I appreciated this from someone who couldn't have possibly know what it was like to be in "The Teaching" or Faith Assembly. Attending Faith Assembly was like stepping out of society into another world. We talked a certain way, we dressed a certain way and we drew a circle around ourselves that no one could get into.
The people I met in the teaching were people that really wanted to please the Lord. They were willing to do anything to be that "Overcomer" that they believed God wanted them to be. I met so many wonderful people in the church I was in. After 18 years of being out of the church I am still close friends with several of them. We all had different levels of pain and confusion we had to overcome upon leaving but we share a bond that is hard to duplicate.
I learned a lot about theology at Faith Assembly. I even learned about Archeology :-) I learned what faith was supposed to be but I was missing a very important facet of the Christian walk: God's Grace. The "walk" as we liked to call it became a test of how well I could do and how holy I was or how much faith I had.
The greatest truth I have learned since leaving the teaching is that it is ALL about God's grace, what HE did for me. It's not about MY performance or MY faith or MY spirituality, it is about Jesus, what He did, who HE is. I cannot study enough hours (believe me I tried) I cannot fast enough( I did a lot of this too) and I cannot be more righteous ( I was very self-righteous). But I can fall completely on the gift of Grace that God has given me. I share this because this is the thing that helped me to heal from the legalism and fear that I walked out of Faith Assembly with.
Today I am excited, I am joyful and I have a sense of humor about my Christian life.
I agree with many of you that the tone of the message became very condemning. It did not minister life. The focus got off of loving the Lord and onto a bunch of confining details. The level of authority that the ministry carried became a barrier between myself and the Lord. I was losing the relationship I had with Jesus in my early Christian years. I think that was one of the most damaging effects of the teaching at Faith Assembly.
Anyway, I appreciate reading what so many of you wrote. I pray that those hurt and confused by Faith Assembly find their way back to the Lord who is compassionate and has never stopped loving them.
- Becky
Oct 2005 - Thanks for the opportunity to share my experience. As I read others stories here, I realized how alone I feel in this part of my history. I was coerced by my mother in the late 70's at the age of 14 to start attending an offshoot of Faith Assembly. Had I the will at the time to trust myself I would have left after my first visit to the church in Toledo, OH. There was nothing in the "service" that spoke of love, hope, peace, or faith. The words were used, but there was a spirit of fear, hatred, and self-loathing. Unfortunately I was already a compromised human being. Needing to be affirmed by others. Desperate to fit in and please my one support, my mother.
As I sit here, I am overwhelmed with memories and stories. I don't know where I could begin. It's a tornado really, of pain and suffering. Memories of children being beaten until their butts and legs bled. People dieing because they believed if they had enough faith they'd be healed. Children forced to endure being crippled. Baby's dieing in childbirth. I lost an Uncle to cancer. He trusted God to heal him as his colon was eaten away. My sexuality (homosexuality) began to reveal itself and I began a crippling struggle/battle/war between what I believed was good and evil. Every nite I begged God to heal me. I had the faith of a child. Every ounce of me believed God could and would heal my from my affliction of homosexuality.
Every morning I woke up to the reality of my who I was sexually. I hated myself for not having enough faith, that could be the only reason I was still gay. I begged and obsessed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit so I could pray in tongues. I waited and waited believing the Spirit couldn't inhabit a body as evil as mine. I believe I came close to a personality split. When I finally could speak in tongues I prayed constantly to force evil thoughts out of my head. I experienced horrendous screaming in my head. My "problem" as we called it, was put before the head of our church. A 20 something, not very wise, but zealous man. I'm sure very damaged himself. They spoke of casting demons out of me, and now after years of therapy, 12 step programs, and following a spiritual path that is grounded in peace, love & compassion, I have found peace. I feel I was spiritually raped. It has been a long, hard road out of the insanity that still echos around (much less powerfully) inside me. I don't believe the voices anymore. But there is still something there. Some remnant of that loathing.
I think it's especially hard for those of us who were in our formative years. It seems like it became part of our D.N.A. I certainly can't blame all my struggles in life on Hobart Freeman (never saw the man). But the damage done in Gods name to me, my siblings, and so many wonderful people I knew back then, has been hard to forgive and let go of.
I have though, for my own sake. I feel very fortunate to have been able to heal so much , from such a dark place. I'm tempted to go on, but I think I'll leave it at that. It feels good to know that others who've been through this will read some of my storey...
The healing continues.Thanks again for this opportunity,
- Drew
Oct 2005 - To let you know that I became a "satellite" of the Glory Barn thru listening to the tapes and reading of Dr. Freeman's books. I visited Faith Assembly and I am thinking that was probably late 70s or early 80s; it was the most exciting experience of my young spiritual life. I was taken with Dr. Freeman's humility when I spoke with him after the service.
God used Dr. Freeman in my life and I only have great memories of those days and my vacuuming up all those tapes and books...today I am walking closer to our dear Savior and pray HE draws all of us even closer to Him.
His mercy, His grace, His plan. Love in Jesus,
- Ruth Ann
Oct 2005 - Thank you for your board! I never attended Faith assembly but a Milwaukee based offshoot. It to seemed to be a mirror image of what happened at Faith assembly. I believe that what we all have gone through are growing pains. I do sorrow over those who have had losses and pray that the Lord easy their pain. But all of this has shown us( I hope) that we can not live our lives by what others expect of us but by what we we believe in our hearts (convinced) the Lord expects of us.
We all walk in different paths and at different speeds, I have not experienced all that someone else has or he all that I have. We have to walk in the light we each have convinced that it is the way He wants me to go. Even in the times I have not obeyed I know that He is still working all things for my good. Because of all the pain and confusion I am convinced that Satan has really come against this end time work of empowering the Saints. The teaching is of God and is valid, but we must get are eyes off others and on God to show us how to walk out our faith. We must Love others, while not always agreeing with them, we must let them walk out their faith, if the Lord leads them differently or if they fail. We must pray that the Lord continues with them even as he continues with me.
Anyway I believe the Lord used the scatter principle to strengthen the church as he did with the early church, When we look to leaders so much, the Lord scatters the people so they look to Him and not to another. The Lord said My sheep hear my voice another they will not follow" My heart and concern is with my brothers and sisters but it is only the Lord who can restore the body.
- Steve
Sept 2005 - I find it difficult to blame Dr. Freeman or anyone else for what happened. And I agree with you on this: I do believe that at one time (perhaps before I knew him or was able to comprehend) God was speaking his Word through Dr. Freeman and using him for great things. But as time went on, Freeman's teaching and Christ's teaching diverged. I was just trying to help distinguish the two.
I was happy to have found your website and I'm glad you have continued to help others find their way through the confusion.
- Aaron
Sept 2005 - My name is Anna and I am a New Zealander. The Hobart Freeman tapes and books came to our area when I was only about fourteen years old and I had just been "born again". This teaching caused chaos for the people involved. It ended up leaving us with the idea that we were "better" Christians than everyone else and that those people (family friends) who did not confirm to our ideas would not be saved. So our job was to reconvert the converted to our way of thinking. How Sad! A person in this close circle of friends that listened to Hobart Freeman's tapes also caused me grief mentally, emotionally and abused me in ways no woman should ever have to suffer. The results of this persons so called love and controlled ruined my life for more than a decade. I saw this as a cult when after leaving NZ and going to join an Australian group saw the lack of love between these people. All I could see was people judging each other if you didn't confirm to the right beliefs. People casting demons out of people who were just plain sad and brokenhearted. Thank God my plain common sense and experience of unconditional love prevailed and I moved away from it at the age of nineteen. It continued to affect me for another decade, but now I know this one truth. The TRUTH shall SET YOU FREE not put you into bondage. I decided to change my name legally by deed poll, and people will not know me by by new name which I chose myself to put the past behind me. My new name means a double portion of grace to me.
- Anna
Aug 2005 - I grew up as a child in F.A. and I think there was to much pressure on kids. The whole image thing we had to go through, no name brands, doctors, music, TV, etc. Being teased growing up being called "glory barners" etc, it was definitely a tough time for a kid missing out on the child hood things. But life goes on and I think back all time I could have, should have, would have.
Here is an example of some of what was wrong with F.A. or really Dr. Freeman - I had developed severely ingrown toe nails and I was walking on the sides of my feet and had these for 3 yrs. The reason I was told they would not heal was that I did not have enough faith in God. I was 8 or 9 yrs old, now come on.
I moved away from my family and the church when I was 12-13 and went to the hospital for my feet. I explained to the Dr. how long I had ingrown toenails, (by then both my big toes where about the size of golf balls), when I told him the church I just left he understood. He did the surgery on my toes for free. That was about 20yrs ago and I have not had a problem with them since.
I believe God gives Dr's the ability to do what they do. So with that said, I think going there was a learning experience in that life is short, and that you can believe in God, live life and have fun all at the same time.
God bless, and glad I found this site.
PS (I saw that Marcy P. posted on this sight and she might remember me, we went to the same elementary school together were "secret boyfriend-girlfriend" -if you call it that at that age, I just thought I would add that)
- Justin
Aug 2005 - I understand your desire to be a healing salve; and there are of course, a lot of unanswered questions in the minds of many people, who attended Faith Assembly. I personally find that life itself is a harsh reality, and regardless of what avenue one takes in life....it ain't easy.
Life has its' highs and lows, but one thing Dr. Freeman's teaching helped a lot with, is simply learning how to overcome life's' trials victoriously; however, it is everyone's individual responsibility to make their own decision whether to move on, and learn, or cry about it.
I have suffered many things too, but those things are really my problem. Dr. Freeman and the rest of the ministers I sat under gave me the keys that help me to continue to live victoriously IN CHRIST, that no other preachers out there are offering today. I am still thankful for what I learned there, though, like many, I want to ask why, why, why to certain things.
The question of God and the meaning of life, is without a doubt the deepest journey one can embark upon. To be handed an open doorway into that realm, has been, without a doubt, the most meaningful, and valuable experience in my life, outside of receiving salvation. We should be thankful for what we've been given, not resentful for 'what didn't work'.
There could be a million reasons for 'why' in every case in which individuals prayers were not answered the way they thought they should be. I am not any of those people. I can't answer for them. I am still working out my own salvation, and seeking answers to my own questions.
It is nice that I have also found your site and been able to read what others have to say.
- Whitney
May 2005 - I do not attend church anywhere consistently, but what I gave up attending FA, I did not need or want anyway. I miss the strong fellowship of the saints we had there. It's a dry and thirsty land we live in now. I do not care about the neg's of attending faith assembly. I came into contact with the teachings in 1976 and moved from AZ to Indiana in Jan 1980. I miss the saints, the fellowship, the worship and the prayer meetings. enjoyed reading what others have to say about FA. After all these years we can discern between opinion and Word, but I do not regret any of it.
- David
May 2005 - Just wanted to express my compassion on all of those who had bad experiences with Faith Assembly. I can empathize due to my own bad experiences with church bodies. I have listened to some of Dr. Freeman's tapes over the past few years however, I found them to be pretty on target. I have been under Tom Hamilton's automatic tapes for three or four years now, and I believe that if you weed through the theology of these Faith Pastors that a lot of them have some good insight.
As long as we don't put all of our dependence on these men, but on the Lord, we should then be able to discern the fruit of their doctrine. I'm preaching to myself. Nonetheless, I do hope that all of you who are hurting diligently seek the Lord for deliverance from the offences you have experienced at FA.
Isaiah 61 is not only to save us, but as well, to heal our broken hearts from these kinds of experiences. I love all of you brothers and sisters in Christ and pray that you find this peace you are looking for. Remember Romans 8:28..
Yours in Christ,
- Chris
May 2005 - Our relationship with Faith Assembly began in 1976. At first it was a satellite group gathered around Brother Freeman's tapes, meeting with one other couple in a living room in Minnesota. Wanting a more meaningful experience, we sold our farm and moved to Warsaw. The church was meeting in a the tent at that time. The entire year we lived in Warsaw we never missed one meeting, and not once were we ever extended a hand of fellowship from any of the other members. We came back to Minnesota and opened our own home up to a tape ministry. Eventually it grew to a small group and we had a biweekly visiting preacher minister to us. After our eyes were opened in 1992 to the legalistic bondage we had enslaved ourselves to, we regrouped and began looking for another message to feed our hearts. Because of the mindset that we had locked into, I soon discovered that anything else I tried to hear was drowned out by echoes from the past. My mind was in constant turmoil and I could not sift through and find one true message to drink in.
In 1994, I left my marriage of 25 years. (My ex husband is still searching for that perfect message and averages a new church about every 6 months.) We have twelve children and only two of the adult children attend church. I know that many of their issues are directly related to the confusion that they remember from the unnecessary restraints and restrictions put on them as children (i.e.. no make up, girls in dresses, boys in dress pants, no tennis shoes, no Christmas, no birthday parties, no toy that could conceivably be related to a cartoon, yadda yadda yadda). I've seen them all wrestle with their lives spending precious time untwisting values and balancing what is normal against what is evil. As a parent, I am enormously burdened by the mistakes I made in rearing them to be social misfits. They were home schooled, home birthed, home churched and lets face it home baked. Speaking of which, I actually thought I would break God's heart by buying a boxed cake mix. Where did that come from?
Brother Freeman I believe was a true man of God. How he became a god to so many people is an enigma. During my process of throwing the bathwater out the door (and yes, I managed to throw the baby out too) I realized that for years, I had been subconsciously asking my self NOT "What would Jesus think?" but rather "What would Brother Freeman think?". Somehow, I do not think I can ascribe the blame to Dr. Freeman, that misjudgment was my own. The fact is that I was not alone in my misdirected worship as is plainly evident in the postings on this site. It has been a good thing to find this website, as it has made me remember a lot of things I have resisted thinking about. Much of the impact of that portion of my life is an unresolved issue and I would be so open to finding some answers with others who could actually relate to what I am talking about.
Thanks Tom.
- Candi
April 2005 - Tom, I found your website to be a great help to those that have been involved with Dr. Freeman's ministry either directly or indirectly. I never did attend any of the services at the Glory Barn or Faith Assembly, but I have listened to many of Dr. Freeman's tapes. I would just like to say that Dr. Freeman's ministry has helped me to be a stronger Christian. He has taught truths on discipleship and the crucified life that you are just not going to get in most churches.
The faith message is not man's message, because only those that have faith are pleasing to God. If we are looking to only one man for receiving the truth, then we are probably going to be out of balance. We need the whole Body of Christ, and when the truth is taught without the mercy and grace of God then it will just make us legalistic instead of spiritual. The enemy will always try to get us to settle for one particular emphasis of truth to drive us to some extreme and get us into error. Our protection is in knowing the Lord and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth. Some of the strongest leaders that are uncompromising as for as upholding the truth of the Word are also some of the most unmerciful people that I know. There are others that walk in unsanctified mercy that have watered down the truth, which has opened the door to every kind of compromise within the church of Jesus Christ.
We should not throw out the baby with the bathwater. We should prove all things and hold fast to that which is good. There have been perversions of the faith teaching, but that does not mean that we should throw our faith away. I believe that God would teach us some valuable lessons from the experiences of many that have been involved with Dr. Freeman's ministry. Our eyes should be on Jesus and not on man. The Lord will not allow us to put any man before Him. God uses men, but men are not perfect, and one of the worse things that a man can fall into is spiritual pride. Knowledge puffs up but love edifies.
All of God's promises are true regardless of our experiences. May we always speak the truth in love. Because God is love.
- Mike
April 2005 - Hi Tom. My husband and I also moved to Warsaw, Indiana to be a part of FA. We were living in Port Chester NY at the time and our oldest daughter was about 7 months old when we moved out there. We took everything we owned and headed West to Indiana.
Being a Christian since I was 8 and having been brought up with very clear Christian convictions, I felt that I was grounded pretty well in the Word and did not fear going so far from home and our Family. Well after 6 months, 6 LONG months in Indiana (way to flat for a Pennsylvania girl), we decided it was time to head back East. We went to Dr. Freeman to tell him we were leaving, and he just looked away, and said as long as we were doing what the Lord wanted, then go.
It was all very "weird" to me. I was raised in the C&MA (Christian and Missionary Alliance) church and had spent 2 years at Nyack College before meeting my Husband. I was filled with the Spirit in 1974, and was walking and living by the Word. Many things I learned at FA are still very true in my life. Believing for our needs to be met. Praying once and then praising the Lord for the Answer. These things are all true, because they are in the Word. The one thing I will say, that saved us, from some very awful things while we were there, was that Greg, my husband, continued to study the word, read other authors, and to fast and pray about what the Lord would have for us and our young family.
We have heard the Jim's wife is suffering from a brain tumor - we are praying for her. We have tried to contact some of the people we loved out in Indiana. When we called them all and told them we were leaving the FA meetings, they tried to get me to leave my husband, and to stay with the "faith". My faith wasn't going anywhere, and I wasn't leaving my husband.
We had made close friends with a couple named Rob and Ruth. They lived in So. Whitley. We would like to reach them. We want to let them know we are ok, and that we still love Jesus and are still believers. However, we do go to the doctors if we need to and I am an administrator in a Nursing Home taking care of the elderly.
I am so grateful for this site and would love to hear from you. I believe Greg my husband wrote to you too.
- Shirley
April 2005 - Hi Tom. I did not know of or have not heard of a place where faith assembly survivors could talk to one another. Toward the end of my faith assembly sojourn I credit my ability to see clearly on an intensive simple reading of the gospels .
God renewed His love for me during this exercise, He set me free from fear and brought me back to my first love. We were involved in faith assembly from 1977 thru 1985 after Dr. Freeman's death. I was in ministry for several years hosting a house church for almost two years.
Somewhere Dr. Freeman got off track, when people are afraid to disagree you begin to see cult like symptoms prevail. Too many people died tragic deaths, and it did not have to happen, I believe many people died as a result of fear, not godly fear but the fear of man, fear of Freeman and the so called faithful of Faith Assembly.
There is so much more I could say but maybe at another time, it is so good to be free and especially wonderful to be free in Christ.
- Greg
April 2005 - Thank you very much for this website. I have learned that all that this church taught was accurate for the bible, but subject to individual interpretation and out of the old testament. I have had a long, long road of healing from the extreme's that my mother and that church took me to.
I was wanting to know if you could help me? I read the post from Marci (Pine) L. and cried. That story was me, in more ways than one. I was a member of the Lafayette sect and I was severely abused by church members. Also, Marci and her family were friends of mine while attending church there.
I was in awe of her response. It helped me feel better about myself. If you are able, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, I want to thank you again for a calm, logical look at the church and the extreme practices of it. I too do have good memories of the church, but don't all that are abused by a loved one have good memories of the abuser also?
Thank You
- Mendy C.
Feb 2005 - I am so grateful for the teachings of Dr. Hobart Freeman. God has used this man greatly. I have been set free from 'manology' and have been liberated from a lot of false teaching and movements because of this man of God. Those who speak evil of this man need to repent to God for speaking evil of God's anointed servant.
- Mark S
Feb 2005 - I was one of those kids that grew up at F.A. My parents were introduced to Dr. Freeman in the very early 70's in Alabama. He, and his wife June, were in our house numerous times, and we have been to their house many times. We moved from Alabama to Indiana in 1978 to attend church. That is the same year I started 1st grade. I can remember as a young child that there was a wonderful feeling in our fellowship. My dad would preach on Sunday mornings every few months, and I always wanted to preach too. I would even ask Bruce Kinsey if I could preach (he always scheduled the Sunday morning preachers.)
As I got older, I was subjected to the same things other F.A. kids (or "Glory Barners") were at school. I had to leave the room for Christmas parties (not birthdays - my family always celebrated birthdays), puppet shows, movies, etc. It was difficult, but I survived. Unfortunately, many of my old friends from those days couldn't handle things when they turned 18. Many got pregnant (or got someone pregnant), many got into drugs, some got their driver's licenses taken away for drunk driving. It seemed to me as I got older that many parents were trying to take their kids OUT of the world, rather than teaching them to be IN but not OF the world.
As my spiritual maturity has grown over the years, I now understand the solid foundation I received in the Word (even though it was hard for an 8 year old to sit through a 2-hour sermon). I have gone back and listened to many of Dr. Freeman's tapes as an adult and can se a distinct difference between the early and mid-70's vs. the 80's. In the 70's, the church was being equipped to go out and minister. In the 80's you were looked down upon if you moved away, and people thought you were going to hell. I agree with some of the others that Dr. Freeman changed over the years and introduced a lot of legalism. I remember as an elementary student having to throw away my running shoes because Dr. Freeman said that the homosexuals were wearing them. The doctrine was great, but the daily applications went terribly wrong. I have to lay much of the blame on the members that took everything that came out of his mouth as pure gospel, rather than his interpretations. As such, the peer pressure from within became the driving force behind much of the problem
As was my family's intent from the start, we moved back to Alabama in 1986. My personal life strayed from God to some degree while I was in college. However, after getting married and having children of my own, I have been able to build on a solid foundation and have been able to discern much of the good I received from the bad. Although, I have had some difficult times and had many questions, God has kept me close to him. I have been able to avoid the bitterness that has taken hold of many of my old friends.
I thank God for my salvation and for the teachings I have had the privilege of sitting under. It's amazing what has come back to my memory as I have gotten older. I may not have understood a lot as a child, but my spirit still picked it up. I continue to be interested in what has happened to many of the old friends I used to know.
God Bless.
- Chris D
Feb 2005 - I left FA the same day Bro. Farrell did and it was one of the happiest days of my life. We had been under the teaching since 1978 and moved there in 1979.
Why didn't I see the warning signs? The pride, the fear. I met Dr. Freeman in person just once and my husband and I were shocked by his rudeness and lack of love or understanding.
I lived in fear and bondage for years. I remember seeing some 'Baptists' smiling and laughing and thinking .. something is wrong here! I have lost the joy of salvation and this yoke is very very heavy. I started to question.. which scared me.. we were warned against questioning the message.
To sum this up, after leaving, I found that FA had almost destroyed my TRUST in God, not faith, just basic simple trust in the Lord that saved me. It was hard to read the Bible because I had been programmed to the FA slant on every verse. It has been a long struggle but I do love the Lord and he has brought me out of that.
I would love to find out where my friends are from FA during that time period as I have lost contact.
- Mary A
Feb 2005 - My parents began attending the "Barn" in 1973. I was 5 years old. I attended the Glory Barn, the tent, the private meetings and then Faith Assembly until Dr. Freeman's death and then until 1987. In light of the fact that we were hard-core and didn't typically miss a meeting and all our friends were associated with the church, I will say that some of the information included in the prior posts are incorrect.
I grew up at the Barn. Frankly, I was delighted to be there. Yes, we would all camp out in the parking lot, with coffee and breakfasts cooking - while one person was sent to stand in line and obtain seats. That was my job. I loved it. We did arrive quite early on Sunday mornings - and I did stand in line - but it was fun. These were all our friends and I loved it there. The time would come and people at the front of the line did run for seats a little like a herd of buffalo - but I never knew of anyone ever being hurt and as a young person - I believe I would have been one of those prone to such an injury if anyone was. I would be carrying a few bibles and then just lay down across those red chairs until my dad came in a minute or so later. I got a pat on the head and a smile and frankly, most people always sat in the same area anyway - so I'm not really sure why we did it.
I have my fair share of "miracles" to attest to - for example: One time I was babysitting for my siblings and my brother fell into a horse watering tank trying to grab a tadpole. He fell in and slit his wrist the LONG way on a broken bottle in the bottom of the tank. My sister dragged him out and they ran to the house and blood was gushing everywhere. He hadn't cut his wrist the way suicide victims slash across their wrist, but the "right" way to slit your wrist - from wrist up toward the elbow on the inside. Again, blood was gushing and amazingly I was calm....even though I was a young teenager and frankly would never have left those kids in the care of someone my age - but I digress. As we had been taught, I said, "The blood of Jesus. I command that bleeding to stop in Jesus name." The bleeding stopped. For me there can be no other explanation than that God heard me.
In the time since Dr. Freeman died and I eventually left the church, I had 10 years of living like an "unregenerate." I guess like Carl Seitz's song said, "Every sin that came my way, I think I tried. Till my life like some old coat got worn and raveled. I was reaping the wages of sin. I tried to run and hide....." I had some bad taste in men. I did experiment with pot. I did go to college and worked and looked like a normal 20'something kid with lots of potential and a bit of growing up to do. I didn't go to church at all - and no, when I did visit other churches they DID NOT STACK UP to what we had at Faith Assembly. SO often I'd think, "What the heck am I bothering to get up for for this?" - and so I didn't. Do you remember the song services at Faith Assembly. THEY WERE AWESOME. Just awesome. Jerry Erving did such a good job - but it was more than a good job - it was God's spirit there. That's the difference. It was like magic. It is one of my most profound feelings of loss to know that my church now and the song services there will never even come CLOSE to that.
Anyway, growing up I was good girl. I did hate wearing those stupid blue jean skirts to gym class and being a kid in the public schools during the 80's was a tough thing. I guess I kind of shake my head as I hear my current pastor talk about suffering persecution for being a Christian at work to people - when I know what it's like to really bear up under pressure for being a "Glory Barner" - They made fun of me daily. Are people at work giving you crap for being a CHRISTIAN every day at work? Where the heck do you live? People don't really make fun of Christians these days? What? Do people snicker a little if you bow to pray for your food? Pansies. I had people stab me in the back with pencils. They pulled my hair. They called me a "baby killer" - and yes, I spent a lot of time feeling like a freak and being pulled from class and sent to the library all the time.....Halloween parties, Christmas parties, human sexuality classes, and my art teacher, Mrs. S. was always cruel to me when I said I couldn't make those witch projects in her class.
I say all that to say this. I am glad I went through it. As an adult, it makes me stronger than a lot of people I come across. My experience at Faith Assembly built something inside me. Many say Faith Assembly brainwashed people and that we were a cult. I say it encouraged in me something I haven't seen much of in the "normal" people I've met....and that is INDEPENDENT THINKING. I'm not afraid to have my own opinion about things. I don't feel the need to argue my point, but I'm not shy about stating it if asked.
I've been saddened to hear about the lives of people who used to attend the Church. I've heard of the failed marriages, the illegitimate children, the couple of people who got in involved in crime - the eventual deaths of the older people, and the high school graduations of some who I remember hearing their dads stand up at the microphones and announce their births. I do wonder what happened to everyone. I wish them well - but like any high school or college reunion, we see successes and failures.
- Kristi A
Jan 2005 - Thanks Tom for this website. It has brought back many memories.
We first became acquainted with Faith Assembly about 1978 through friends that were receiving tapes of the meetings as we lived in the Denver area at that time. The more we listened, the more interested we became. We made several trips from Colorado to visit Faith Assembly in the "Butler Building" in the corn field.
We were on Brother Freeman, Jeff Barnett, Bruce Kinsey and Steve Hills automatic tape lists in addition to purchasing many of their previous messages so we received a lot of teaching, probably more than many that actually attended Faith Assembly. We still have those tapes but we haven't listened to any of them in many years.
We also lost a baby in 1981 so we weren't immune from the same trials as those in Indiana.
I think it was about 1983 that Tom and Danny from the Casper Wyoming church started coming to Denver to teach our small group. At first, I was thrilled to have weekly meetings to attend but they just didn't teach as strongly as the teachers at Faith Assembly. It was probably on our last trip to Warsaw that I remember talking to Steve Hill complaining about the Casper church still having their 501-C3 and him telling me in so many words to "let God take care of the situation" that started me pulling back from what I now feel was legalism.No, I don't believe Faith Assembly was a cult. The final blow came when Brother Freeman died. After that, we didn't fellowship anywhere for several years. We tried to get back into the "mainstream churches" along with the holidays, doctors, & etc. but that didn't last. We've been back to just a home fellowship for about the last 10 years.
It's true, there are a lot of hurting people from Faith Assembly, but the same can be said about every other church but for other reasons. I personally have been hurt a lot more by mainstream Christianity than the "faith message". As long as there are human beings involved, there will never be a perfect church.
I look forward to seeing Brother Freeman again. I know he wasn't perfect and I'm sure he was in the flesh a lot towards the last but I still thank the Lord for Faith Assembly and the teaching I received from there.I have no regrets!
- Garry S
Jan 2005 - I became involved with Brother Freeman's teaching by being given a couple of his tapes, which when I listened to them was very blessed and I for once heard a man preach it as is revealed with no compromise. I made investigations and found that he had a tape ministry and taught theology and for about four years went through all the tapes studying them in depth.
I can only say from the teaching that we grew spiritually and much of the seed that God used through him was needed at the time for growth. No one as far as I am aware was preaching an uncompromising word as he did and he was also living it which spoke to us.
I soon however had to make some decisions before the Lord that I wasn't another Hobart Freeman and we weren't Faith Assembly but we were to be built as a church God's way. I also began to see by God's grace and mercy that one grows in faith, as it is a fruit and we must as a church give time for each other and pray one for another. I also had to deal with the healing question not only what Brother Freeman was preaching but above all what the Word of God has to say.I think PRIDE has been the downfall but that cannot all be blamed on Brother Freeman and he was preaching very much what God has revealed to us in His Word. The second problem was FEAR and this came about through ungodly pressure and faith not backed by love and as I see it. God had to allow the hedge to come down to expose!
The question I raise is are we going to throw the baby out with the bath water? A wise man or woman will seek God as to how we learn from this and move on and that is what God is looking for. We mustn't change God's word to suit now our prejudices, fears or even unbelief. God is also looking to see that what wrong has been done or even how it has affected us, that we forgive as we have been forgiven?
It is all about Romans 8:28 the seed of Brother Freeman's ministry has been fruitful but he was merely a man, and he too was overcoming in areas and I think we have to be honest that we placed him on a peddle stool but its all about growing up, and unless our eyes are open by God's mercy we cannot see!
We still hold to the deeper life but equally see that we haven't made it yet and above all that Faith Works By LOVE.
Every Blessing
- Kim P
Jan 2005 - I have my "own" answers for what went wrong at Faith Assembly. Faith Assembly grew so large that it was impossible for one man to watch over the flock, to know the true spiritual state of each member in attendance. It seems that there were many teachers going out to spread the word to others, but were there enough overseers amongst the Indiana assembly?
I've also thought about how I would feel if I had given my life to lead people to the truths God had given to me and then been blamed and prosecuted for their "failures." I believe Brother Freeman fell into ranting and railing against his enemies rather than continuing to bless them, pray for them and do good to them.
Truly, pride is insidious. And pride always brings a fall. The higher we've climbed, the greater the fall. All scripture is given by inspiration of God for our equipping. We can never rise in faith above the revelation of Scriptures. James 5 will forever be for the entire body of Christ until we are in the spiritual state where there is no more sickness.
Because of experiences like these, today I am a member of the Body who is not afraid to share what I believe with someone in my own assembly who believes something differently. My husband and I have learned to take our differences to the Lord for His counsel. If we have doctrinal differences with our leadership, we have learned to prayerfully prepare and present our differences to our pastor.God will reveal all He chooses on the day on which each of us will stand before Him to give account of our lives. I want Him to be merciful with me, so I thank Him that He helps me be merciful with others. I still follow a God who can unscramble eggs. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoking flax. May He heal all the wounded and restore His church.
In Jesus' Name,
- Karen P
P.S. -- For the young girl whose father died in faith upon the mattress, if he was a song leader at Faith Assembly, I want to share something with you. The songs God gave your father have been my favorite of all I've ever heard. To this day I still find God's anointing strong upon my heart. I want to share a particular encouragement with you...I was reading in Hebrews one day and was quickened to ask the Lord for a song to Hebrews 13:20-21 and within the next few weeks, a someone in our assembly came back with a tape of a new song shared by Carl. What should it be, but this very passage! I think this was one of the last songs given by your father to the Body of Christ.
Jan 2005 - I was very young while attending the glory barn. I had lots of family members involved there. Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles. While I was there I witnessed weddings, births and deaths.
And to this day it still has an impact on all of their lives. They have all questioned their faith. They have all struggled with trust, and they have all taken a very long journey to find truth.
I missed out on Santa and other fun childhood things but it is nothing compared to the mind job that my family has been through.
- Raquel (R) S.
Dec 2004 - I was born into the Faith Assembly movement and have heard varying opinions on whether it was a cult or not. In doctrine no. In many ways I am thankful for my upbringing because of the solid foundation in the Word. I remember the precious Sunday morning drives as I sat on my Grandmother's lap singing those scripture songs to her on the way to church. But that was before I began sensing the heavy hand of legalism and I am so totally burdened for my generation who came out of this church.
I've been a part of a few different churches since the time F.A. as the big movement, became Living Faith. At almost all of these churches, I've met young people my age who also came from the same place and their stories break my heart. Human struggles and sins were not really addressed in many homes or in church and as a result, many were victims of abuse as well as abusers themselves. Whether it was parent to child or child to child, many things were kept hidden.
Not wanting to confront or lack of education for the children, I believe brought about these abuses as well as that ugly pride that wouldn't allow us to go to our fellow believers in accountability. For to admit you had struggles, doubts, or problems, meant you did not have faith and you must be backsliding.
It WAS an adult's world and I feel, like many other F.A. kids that our innocence was taken from us at an early age. And the constant fear I still remember and have only recently realized how much God has been freeing me from it. And to once again know that childlike faith.
We all have had choices to make. Many of my friends have made ones that have brought painful consequences. But I think it was a result of disillusionment after what happened at Faith Assembly and trying to find out what is truth.
If you are a young person who is bitter about your upbringing, I pray that you will seek God and Him alone and ask Him to show Himself in a real way, aside from anything you've known of Him from the past. He wants to bring healing and for you to know you are completely forgiven. He has the deepest affection and desire for you as His own creation.
- Marie
Dec 2004 - I found your website while looking for information on Hobart Freeman because my brother and sister-in-law were part of a spin-off group who was led by Steve Knapp. I got saved because of my brother and sister-in-law but also watched a terrible tragedy unfold regarding healing.
I never attended services at Faith Assembly but read Hobart Freeman books and listened to messages from Steve Hill (as well as attended the meetings with Steve Knapp). I know that many positive things came from Freeman's ministry, just like Jim Jones' during his early years.
But as history now tells us, Satan can turn something good into bad. I watched all the years my brother and his family sent back Christmas gifts to my parents that were intended for their grandkids. My parents were Catholic and could not grasp this theology. My brother and his wife were "excommunicated" because he counseled a brother to go to a doctor for insulin IF he did not have the faith to believe God could heal his diabetes. He told him he was dying. My brother watched a number of "followers" die premature deaths. The group shunned them in public. Why is it so tough to believe ALL healing is from the Lord (doctor induced or otherwise)?. Maybe He gave the idea for insulin to the man that first came up with it.
Bottom line, the Lord comes to bring abundant life and the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy. I witnessed a lot of destruction toward the end of Hobart Freeman's ministry, Jim Jones type destruction. After trying to put their spiritual life back together, I watched my brother explain to my Dad why they now felt they should celebrate Christmas and asked forgiveness. My Catholic father had one comment: "We are just glad we can enjoy this now". Who learned from whom that day? Isn't it ironic, our culture is trying to pull Christ out of Christmas and the faith based people are fighting it while Hobart Freeman's teaching did just that many years ago!
I would suggest one would use his teachings in a likewise manner with the teachings of Jim Jones and for some reason I haven't heard of a great demand for Jones' teachings. Just my opinion. I praise my Lord and savior as I was young and came very close to forming relationships with potential mates from those meetings. I don't know where I would be if that would have happened.
I think what you are doing is a good thing because it can give those who shunned brothers and sisters in the Lord an opportunity for reconciliation. The kind of forgiveness we all need in order to experience the forgiving grace of our Heavenly Father.
Merry Christ-mas
- Scott P
Dec 2004 - From January 1981 through August of 1985, I belonged to a church in Casper, Wyoming that avidly followed Dr. Freeman, and had ministers like his son-in-law Steve Hill and Tom Hamilton of Louisville, KY.
Casper was an industrial area and was never Bible Belt turf until the late 70’s when all the wealth from Energy related industries attracted all the Charismatic flavoured Christians. I saw then many local men enter the Ministry. They all went to many different Seminaries and went to places in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and so on and came back with about the same haircuts and same glib Fundamentalist talk. Many of them are still spouting and have the same bad haircuts.Since I was a single parent and divorced in that church, I was a second-class citizen as was anyone divorced there was. I had walked in looking for answers like many who do such things, and I was young, impressionable, and exploitable.
Over the time, I actually studied deeply and acquired one of the largest Theological book collections in the state, and many ministers borrowed from it.For just over four years, I attended that church and it got more militant and legalistic and more insane. In that church, like Faith Assembly, the people were under peer pressure to conform, people neglected their health and the health of their children. I watched children come to Church with rotting teeth who were sick. Harsh corporal punishment was also advocated and I saw parents throttle and drag a misbehaving kids to the bathrooms. No one was really very happy but they were sure more concerned about being Right than being happy.
The bottom line was that the ministers in Casper and out East made a very comfortable living off their parishioners. I know one fine man who gave his home to a minister in Casper. They drove nice cars and got fat off the land, but when times in Indiana and Wyoming got tough under Reaganomics, it wasn’t as easy to support those churches.
I still remember like yesterday seeing preachers from down east come out in a smug, self-satisfied and arrogant way, and how the the ministers slavishly imitated them out here and became just as arrogant and self-righteous.
Oddly, I actually wanted to become a minister and the preachers demanded that I “believe” for my ex-wife to come back and to court her and re-unite to her so I could be saved and only then could I minister. But my ex-wife had re-married. I remember going to houses to take her flowers and court her and her many boy-toys answering the door and looking at me like I was a schmuck.I was also a musician, and the church thought my electric guitars were too guttural and satanic and the ministers didn’t want me playing in Church. They coerced me into selling my guitars for Jesus’ glory and I got like exactly $450.00 for about $4000.00 worth of custom guitars alone and gave it to the Church.
Today, I can honestly say that the four plus years of my life in that Wyoming church was the most miserable experience of my life. I hated those years. I kind of doubt you’ll post this. I took a lot of damage in those years. They sucked bad. I saw a lot of nice people get hurt bad and no one has had the balls to apologize to this day how do you expect us to feel?
Pray for these wretches? No way...
- Ricky R.
Oct 2004 - Final judgment rests with GOD. Balance is an elusive thing. This should provoke deep seated humility in all of us. Lord teach us what we do not see.
- Dr. Allen W.
Oct 2004 - I am glad that most from FA are reaching a balance in their Christian walk. I too am trying to maintain the balance in my life. It has taken some time to get to the place where I can get close to people again. After leaving FA I had bad experiences at other churches. I found many good Christian friends through it all. I would like to have a reunion as well to see how God is moving in the lives of exFAers. I do not want to go to a whine fest though. God is still true to his word. Not all things taught at FA have I continued to believe but I found my wife there and many friends. I try only to focus on the positive and learn from the negative so that I will not be the cause for others to fall.
- Michael V.
Oct 2004 - I was a member of the Lafayette Assembly (satellite) from the years 1982 to about 1986. I received Christ in the summer of 1981 in Washington, D.C., and was baptized in the Holy Ghost about six months later as a result of reading Dr. Freeman's book, Why Speak in Tongues? That book blessed me tremendously because I was able to come to a place of asking in faith for the Holy Spirit instead of trying and hoping that I would receive. I learned the basic principles of faith through Dr. Freeman's ministry, and much understanding and insight into spiritual warfare, deliverance, prayer, healing, etc. I will always be grateful that I received a strong charismatic Christian foundation through his teaching and through the teachings of his associate ministers.
I guess that what I now believe, after 18 years away from the movement he headed, is that the truths of the Scripture must be believed and received and acted upon and incorporated into an individual's life as they walk with God and mature and learn to trust Him and walk in the Holy Spirit for themselves. No one can be my Holy Spirit except for the Holy Spirit Himself, and no one can tell me how to "act my faith" except the Spirit of God Who lives in me and knows exactly where I am in my walk with Him. And we as believers must be very careful in telling other believers exactly what to do in any given situation, because if we give them wrong advice or tell them to do something that they are not ready to do or convinced of -if they are not "fully persuaded in their own minds" (Rom.14:5), we may end up with their blood on our hands.
I believe that this happened in the area of healing, and it was tragic and heartbreaking. I lost a good friend and brother in Christ who probably loved me more when I was a baby Christian than anyone else ever loved me. I bless his memory. And I went to a baby funeral. also remember the death of the worship leader named from Faith Assembly. I still have one of his tapes somewhere. (To his daughter: His music was anointed by God, and I am sorry for your loss, but I do not believe it was God's will for him to pass the way He did, certainly not God's perfect will. I don't put his death on God.
I hope that you understand that Your Heavenly Father loves you with a perfect love that will help you in any situation that you may face, and as you trust Him and pray and give your heart to Him , God will bind up the brokenness, comfort you, restore you, and help you to understand whatever you need to understand. God will prove Himself to you to be a Father I believe that with all of my heart because the Word says it and because I have been through enough loss of my own and God has brought me through all of it and I have been better on the other side.
I left the Assembly in Lafayette when certain teachings started coming out from Faith Assembly that I couldn't find in the Word. I had been taught to "be a Berean", and I was searching the Scriptures, and, ironically, couldn't find these teachings in the Word. When I brought this to others, I was told that maybe I had an "unteachable spirit", or I was rebellious, or I just needed to keep praying and God would eventfully show me. But I was coming up with different conclusions than those around me. We were told that if we didn't have any confidence that the Word coming forth from the leadership was the word of God, that we could leave, but that if we left, we might lose our salvation. When I finally left, I told the man who was the acting pastor at the time that I had received salvation before I came into the Faith Assembly movement, and so how could my salvation depend on remaining in the movement?
I told him that equating my salvation with membership in a specific church was what the cults taught, and that I was leaving. I left peaceably and didn't try to take anyone with me. The next several years were very difficult. I would never go back to them, but I also wouldn't trade them for anything, because I went back and got into the Scriptures for myself and prayed and cried out to God and told Him that I didn't want to believe anything that was not in His Word, and I asked the Holy Spirit to give me eyes to see and ears to hear what He was saying to me. It was a process, but I believe that I have retained the core truths of what was imparted to me from God through the Faith Assembly movement, and have been freed from the legalism, the man-made rules, and the extremes of how the teachings were applied.
I would encourage those of you who are still hurting : Please, please don't blame God for what happened. Human beings can pervert and twist the Scripture, or how it is applied. People can be doctrinally correct, but wrong in their attitudes , words, and actions toward others. Ask God to help you "sort" through your experiences. I did, and God has been faithful. I have a genuine salvation and a real indwelling and filling
- Michael Mc.
Oct 2004 - This is a neat site, I am sure it has and will helped many. As for me, yes I was part of the movement. Four year in Grand Rapids with Jim B (Fred Abennowits) as we called him. I did leave for the same reasons as others did more or less. After Dr. Freeman died I remember the Lord telling me to watch and learn. Not saying I wanted to learn anything out of it but I did. Some talk about it was not the Lord, it was Brother Freeman and Brother Freeman we all talked about. That is what I learned!
After that I went it alone for many years just me and the Lord. Had a lot of fun and sad times but He was there with me all the time. I do not remember receiving from the Lord on a silver platter so to speak but when I really sought him for something, He showed me what to do by sending books or people into my life to show me the way so I could learn. Did it work? Yes, I made a million dollars that way, only because I wanted to do it. It was a goal I wanted to achieve. Of course I had to learn the ins and outs of a business and all the day to day stuff that goes with it but I would not have made it if it were not for the time I spent in the Navy and at the “teaching” not the legalism we all talk about, by no means but the straight forward information I took from there.
I say this because I did not take anything I could not walk in at the time. A lot it seems were felt forced to. I am sorry for that and I see your pain clearly. As you all know we live in a world of uncertainty because we do not know what is around the next corner. God does but we do not. I find myself trying to offer something to lessen the pain but all I can say is that we must learn from this or it will eat the life out of us as many seem to be saying.
If you are still looking for a group to feel needed or wanted or to act like them you need to stop! It is you and the Lord now. If you do not have your relationship with Him, you will fall back into the legal trap again in another form. The time at the teaching had its good points and bad. Do not worry about if you are doing this, that or anything. Take it one day and one thing at a time and if you need to take a lot of time fine. When I want something, I make it a goal and I break it down into bit size pieces that I know I can obtain. If I want to make a million dollars I lay out a plan. Do I pray about it? Yes, always but I lay the plan out. I do not follow the crowd. Crowds are looking for something but you have a plan so walk with the Lord in your heart.
God knows what went on at FA and with you. You are alive even if you do not feel the way you want to feel. People who live the longest are people that can accept change and the lose of loved ones. You have lived this way, now it is time to live a new way, a new venture, adventure. Live it with the Lord directing in your hart. Use the tools you have, you have a lot of time in so far. Your wisdom and knowledge is value and will take you far.
- Dan W.
Aug 2004 - My experience with Faith Assembly began as a small child and continued through my teenage years. My parents moved from Michigan when I was eighteen months old. I am the oldest of nine children, which is not uncommon for families that took the scripture “be fruitful and multiply” as a command for every couple to try to fulfill single handedly. In a cynical way it could possibly be construed as an attempt to replenish the congregation: as men, women and children were dying at an astounding rate.
On a personal level, death was a part of my experience with Faith Assembly, including my own family. An important issue, that seems to be repeatedly ignored is high occurrence of child abuse that was overlooked, explained away or outright mishandled. To make this point I am going to use an example closest to home. A person to whom I am very close was grossly abused by a member of the Lafayette “body”.
The pastor at the time was Bruce K. Whom the adults in this situation trusted to make the ultimate decision not to contact authorities or professionals. The abuser was then “disfellowshiped” for what I believe was a trivial six to eight months. Amazingly, once reinstated, the abuser was again entrusted with other children. As the abused child was forced to sit week after week during services, in the presence of this abuser. It has since occurred to me that Bruce K., whose resume before becoming a pastor included car salesman, did not have the experience to make life altering decisions about a child‘s well being. The church made the dangerous mistake of trying to replace every aspect of society as we know it.
Unfortunately the abuser I spoke of also happened to be a family member of mine. I now realize that possibility of mental illness is tremendous and if anyone had ever considered seeking help this entire atrocity may have been averted. In a Shakespearian twist, this family member died several years later of a common form of cancer.
In the struggle to find validity in the theology I was taught from an early age, I have concluded that maybe the basic doctrine was correct but as with anything; Fanaticism in any form leaves many victims in it’s wake. History has proven this over and over.
As cathartic as it may be I will not write a book on all of my experiences being raised in such a constrictive environment. God is good and with his mercy I am saved because Jesus died on the cross for my sins. My salvation is not based on what men have said should or should not be or misguided ideas to whom God has “spoken”. May we all learn from these experiences so that the next generation does not have to suffer.
- Marci (Pine) L.
Aug 2004 - Tom I would like to thank you for this web site…..I’ve been a way from the Lord for a time…..But I’am back now !!!!! I don’t have a lot of time to go into details now but I will later. I was at FA & The Glory Barn from 1776 To 1983 I lived in Fort Wayne & came 3 times a week …for the most part. I have 9 children some are in the Faith & the others are coming back. I’ve read all the commits ref F.A. my only question is……Are we going to let that time at Faith Assembly be a Stumbling block or a Stepping stone in our walk with Jesus ? Do we want pity or A JOB WELL DONE from Jesus?
Tom, I was just looking for any info reference on FA. I wanted something other than the negative & I found that on your site ...Thanks
I also found Faith Assembly church with Jim Brenaman, pastor. He taught Hebrew when I was there & ministered on wed night at times...I don't know much about what's going on there, but I'm up to finding out. It was a great time in The Lord back then, but we can't live in the past, we can pick up & go on for even better times now. I'll take time this weekend to share my thoughts & experances @ FA
Thanks Tom.
- Ron S
Aug 2004 - Over the years I've done much searching to find peace about what happened at Faith Assembly. I was an attendee at some of the satellite meetings for more than 10 years. I never attended the "Glory Barn".
I became involved with the meetings when I moved to an new area, and, being desperately spiritually hungry, asked someone with a Christian symbol as their bumper sticker where they went to church. I was invited to that first meeting and was impressed by the preaching of the Word of God. It was different from anything I had ever experienced! These people really believed that God was at work in the world today!
I was a new Christian and so thirsty for more of God that I gulped the teachings, spending hours daily studying the Bible with Strong's Concordance. I listened to two years worth of Freeman's Theology tapes (good information). I met with other women and learned to be a submissive wife, and an 'oiko despotes' (from Dake's study Bible). My new perspectives, however, gradually created tension in my home as I refused to participate in Christmas or Easter. I wouldn't take the children to the doctor, stopped going to the doctor myself. Wore Osh Gosh bibbed skirts and knee socks, called deviled eggs 'stuffed eggs'. Somehow all of this made me feel safe. If I kept 'doing' all that I was supposed to then my family was 'safe'. Legalism ruled my life. I didn't know that the increasing stress I was experiencing was actually bondage.
Where was my relationship with God? Did I know Him as my heavenly Abba who loved me with a depth of love that was almost incomprehensible? I believe now that I grew to be so busy keeping the 'law' that I lost sight of the One who had set me free from the 'Law'.
After Freeman died our meetings gradually dried up. As with the others who have posted to this site, I was confused, bewildered, adrift. I didn't feel comfortable at any church, and would leave a service in tears. What WAS true? What WAS compromise?
It has taken 10 years to find the beautiful stability of a close and personal relationship with my risen Savior. I have become a Christian Counselor in order to support those who have been wounded in similar ways. I hope you will be able to allow me my thoughts, for this is how I see it now.
Am I sorry it all happened? Not at all, because "all things work together for those who love the Lord, who are called according to His purpose". I know I was responsible for choosing to attend these meeting, I was responsible for pushing down my questions and confusion, I was responsible for wounding the heart of my family when I chose the meeting over them. But God has so graciously given them back to me, and a role in ministering His healing to the wounded.
Yes, God does heal.
- Wilma
July 2004 - I was raised Catholic but was most unregenerate until being born-again in college in 1974. Being starved for the word of God, I was thrilled to find a Bible study in Boise, Idaho that was playing Dr. Freeman's teaching tapes. I still remember wonderful series such as Gleanings from Galatians and the Old Testament Survey. We moved to Indiana in 1978 and were there until 1987.
I don't view FA as a cult because none of the primary doctrines of the faith were denied. I don't ever remember Hobart Freeman asking for money and even taking up daily collections because he didn't want people to give for the wrong reasons, i.e. someone watching them as the basket was passed. I think Brother Freeman sincerely taught what he felt was the uncompromising word of God, and I truly believe he is with the Lord right now. But I also believe he slipped out of balance as the criticism grew louder from the rest of the community. I remember when we were listening to tapes in Boise hearing him say, "If this teaching is too difficult for you to receive, then put it on the shelf and pray about it". Then the day came several years later when putting something on the shelf was tantamount to apostasy! The tone of the message grew increasingly intolerant of different points of view. There was only one truth, and Faith Assembly had it!
Regarding the faith message, I describe Faith Assembly as being like the disciples in the boat when Jesus came walking on water toward them. Peter asked the Lord to allow him to come to Jesus if it was really him and not a ghost. Jesus said in effect, “If you have faith for it come on out”. As we all know, Peter did fine until he took his eyes off Jesus and began looking at the wind and the waves and started to doubt. After Jesus carried him back to the boat there was only one person who got rebuked; the one who got out of the boat but then doubted. First observation, Jesus didn’t forbid Peter from walking supernaturally on water, but he expected Peter to stay in faith once he stepped out. Second, Jesus didn’t rebuke the others for staying in the boat. I feel Faith Assembly was telling everyone to get out of the boat regardless of where they were in their faith and regardless of what God was telling them to do at that time. Maybe God didn’t want everyone to get out of the boat at that time.
I think one of the most damaging effects of FA on families was the insensitivity many wives, including mine, experienced as new children were coming every other year and income was always a severe test of faith. But the brothers were to be in their studies learning Hebrew and Greek and dedicating themselves to a study of the word. I’m blessed to say that my wife and I are still very much in love after 28 years, but we went through a very difficult period shortly after leaving FA and we heard of so many divorces of couples we knew. That was heart breaking. Some of our children also suffered from the imbalance of being forced to sit quietly through 3 hour services targeted at adults. For years we met Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and Friday evenings. It didn’t surprise me that many FA children rebelled after escaping the confines of that system. Our 7 are all professing Christians and I believe all to be born again.
I don’t regret our involvement with Faith Assembly because of Romans 8:28. I know God had a purpose in allowing us to experience FA and I cherish all the relationships we had as members. I am sorry for those I hurt when I was taken up with zeal for our mission and wasn’t listening to what the Holy Spirit was trying to say to me. I am also sorry to hear about those who gave up on their faith because of the imbalance of FA. Those who leave the Lord will not be able to blame anyone else when they stand before the Lord.His love, mercy and truth remain.
- Bart
July 2004 - My husband and I sat under Jim Brenneman in a satellite meeting and lost a baby in 1986 we refused tried to go back to mainstream religion since thin but never was able to recapture the same ability to stay. We have raised our seven children away from conventional churches and only on the bible scriptures alone. It wasn't easy. And they did rebel. And they have been allowed to choose their own life.
Standing on the scriptures I can say to you that God hasn't failed us, and faith is still speaking at this point too. I loved Dr Freeman and his teachings thank you for your uplifting comments. I am looking for more tape ministry do you know any now?
The Lord Jesus Bless you richly
- Mrs. A.
July 2004 - I have so many mixed feelings about the Faith message. I listened to the tapes for years and hung on to every word. In my heart I know it is right. I am confused until this day.
It is not just ... these are the instructions, follow them and this will work. My Aunt died in church in Birmingham. I know she would have lived if she had sought medical care but she would have refused the offer because she believed with all of her heart. the cataracts on her eyes were so white her dark brown eyes were gray. Jamie her daughter died two years ago of cancer as we held on to the last of the teachings and had many discussions over the four Years of liver cancer she experienced ,we wanted to understand.
I have to believe it was not all for nothing. I feel such a void in my being. I can only believe one day the Lord will show me where we missed the understanding. I do know I thank God everyday my mother my Aunt Melba's sister did not believe the message Dr Freeman taught about Doctors. She always told me about God's grace. I do know this Melba, Jamie and Dr Freeman are with the Lord and they now have the understanding and one day so will we all.
I have to believe that.
- Candice
July 2004 - It appears from many of the responses you have received that most of us realize what happened at FA though many may not be willing go into details because of the pain involved.
There was much good truth given to us and blessed by the Holy Spirit. We need to hold on to that truth, renounce imbalances and legalism and allow what truth we have to take root in our hearts. I believe there is much potential in all of us if we will allow this to happen. I allowed it to happen to me although it has taken years of study to find a balaced truth in some areas. I had to learn how to use 9 rules of interpretation of scripture to sort out the imbalances and find the truth. WE can still use our faith but in love not out of fear. I believe there is still a divine purpose that can be realized in all of us if we will examine ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to continue to perfect what he has given us.
Faith is still an apostolic principle but it is energized by love. We all need to seek the balance of the scripures in context on what we have been taught and weed out any doctrinal tares. Grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, do not become discouraged about the past, the Lord knows exactly how to heal us and make us usefull to him again. Be encouraged, seek his face, repent where needed, weep if necessary for joy comes in the morning. Allow all to grow motivated by the love of God planted in our hearts. Pray in the spirit for all true believers. Intercession will help heal the hurts. Seek to serve all brothers and sisters and reach them on the level they are at to edify them with the truth we have and not make them stumble. If we seek to serve others, we will grow into the image of Jesus that he intended for us. He has a purpose for us in all that we have learned or the enemy would not attacked it. Cleanse ourselves and allow that purpose to be realized.
- Your Brother and Servant, Larry
June 2004 - Dear Tom I appreciate your site about FA. I have been part of one the Swiss 'sister churches' from about 1979 - 1985. I have visited FA in Indiana in 1982 where I stayed 9 months and then again in 1983 for three months.
I like to remember very much the time I spend in my host family, who visited FA as well. They took me in like a family member and we spend many good hours together. Thanks to them I got to know one part of American life.
As to FA itself: Well, it was a shock to me when Hobart Freeman died. For me it was clear since then, that something in his (my) theology was wrong. We had missed God somewhere in our walk. So it was necessary to backtrack and look for a better way.
Finally I decided in 1989 to study theology at the State University in Zürich, also as a part of my emancipation from the teachings of FA and because I realized that much in the teaching was oversimplified (e.g. the understanding of church history).The years at the University were very hard on me. My faith got shaken, I had to find it anew. One great help was my fiancée (and later wife), who comes from a wholesome mainstream protestant background.
Today I believe my faith in God is more stable and realistic. I am a pastor of a mainstream protestant church (in the US I think I would be a Christian in a Presbyterian Church). I guess I would be labeled a liberal by the old FA parlance. I consider myself to be a conservative liberal follower of Jesus or a liberal conservative one (ha, ha). Lately I am again looking more into divine healing and prayer. I think FA had rediscovered (together with the charismatic movement at large) a forgotten truth: God does not save alone but also wants to heal us.
However the way in FA was wrong. One has but to read the previous feedbacks and one can see something was terribly wrong there. I am so sad and angry about the children and grown-ups who died unnecessarily. :'(
I had but 'to pay' with two bad teeth - they will remind me the rest of my life to remain balanced with regard to faith and healing. ;-)
I have started to anoint people with oil , sometimes just as a special blessing sometimes because people ask to be healed. So far I have not really seen any manifest healings but I think people get away from the anointing blessed and strengthen which is better than nothing ...
So this being a few thoughts about my feelings with regard to FA. Greetings and thanks again for your site.
- Olivier
June 2004 - I grew up in faith assembly. It was not until about ten years ago that I realized this was a cult. Today my mother still doesn't believe that Hobart Freeman and faith assembly was a cult.
- Hanna
June 2004 - I was a member of faith assembly from the 70's into the mid 80's. I attended both the glory barn in Indiana and a local congregation in Michigan. I saw it start out as something good and go horribly horribly wrong.
I remember trying to choke down tears at a friend and her stillborn child's funeral because I thought that crying would be a lack of faith although my heart was breaking. So much concern about doing the right thing in the eyes of others is so perverse. I never cried in front of others but I sure did cry inside for my friend, I am ashamed that I didn't cry for Alice and her unborn baby that day.
I was young and naive, but I had a brain. Why did it take me so long to see that what started out sincerely became so sincerely wrong?
Why did I watch things go from bad to worse in a legalistic cult like fashion and not question the leadership openly?
I robbed my kids from learning to enjoy church and a relationship with God as a positive thing by all the things I took away from them in the name of Jesus. Taking a child to the nursery and outside to spank them for getting fidgety in a 2 to three hour adult service? What in the world was I thinking?
The Jim Jones suicides put the 1st question in my mind. I was and am a philosopher. I looked into the Jim Jones debacle and saw how they followed the leader to their deaths. I saw many many people around me dying. I wondered if we were not following a leader more than a savior to our doom.I saw those around me with big spiritual egos (judgment on my part sorry) who were able to say their illness' were "trials" and those with less self esteem question if they had sin as many others also did when someone was gravely ill or dying.
I saw homes ransacked after a death to remove all evidence of affiliation with faith assembly (books, tapes, notebooks) I'm sorry Christina that this was done to your home.
My final leaving of faith assembly came years after we lost our daughter and I can't even name all the others the list kept getting bigger and bigger. I had married someone I met at faith assembly. He had stopped going because we left the church a while and were living in sin. He never felt that he could be forgiven and worthy of going back to God for having left the faith. We both had family in Faith Assembly. My mother accepted us back, his family did not. We were not allowed to give their newborns gifts, we were told we couldn't buy their forgiveness. I still struggle with bitterness over this as I feel Satan used it to convince my husband he was beyond redemption.
I went back for years after a short time away. As people died the teachings became more extreme. Pointing out suspected "sins" that were causing the word of faith not to work in the flock's lives. The final straw for me was the new stronger emphasis on not associating with "unbelievers" & those of "The faith". I was married to "an outsider" how could I obey their belief in the sanctity of marriage and not fellowship with unbelievers? Was our God so small that the devil would jump off of somebody and do me ill because I am friendly to people in public or my neighbors or my HUSBAND? For years before I finally stopped attending I had taken my children to Drs. when sick if I was scared because I KNEW that I didn't have a perfectly pure heart and if the kids were getting sicker while I prayed I didn't want them to die cause I was a sinner.
Anyway I left. I never said a word to anyone. Only one person called and said if I had stopped coming cause it was too hard with 3 kids under 5 she would help me watch the kids. That was it, after 10 years not one call, not one visit. Not from the "teacher" not from my friends. I was dead to them.For years after if my kids got injured or sick I figured God was gonna kill them to pay me back for leaving the faith. That is some sick theology. I am glad that isn't the God I know now.
My mom stayed a faithful member of the most extreme of the faith assembly flocks until her death in 1998. She died of a perforated ulcer left untreated and I sat with her the last 24 hrs of her life. She believed their teachings up until her last breath. She said though he slay me yet will I trust him, her last choice was to sing Jesus, Jesus, Jesus sweetest name I know, wakes me every morning, keeps me happy as I go. I'm glad she was happy. I am not! I am MAD. She was too trapped in her faith to choose life, She never saw her 1st grandchild married, or any of my grandchildren born. I went to plan the funeral as she would have wanted and said and did all the things she would have liked but now I am just plain mad.
I am mad that I can't seem to get comfortable in any church, I feel inundated with echoes of teachings I learned all those years ago and compare current teachings to theirs and find them weak, yet I don't believe the things they taught as true. When I find a church I like as soon as they start having "expectations" of me I want to run away screaming.
I want to find one person who attended long term, all the time that is out in the real world in a good Christian walk and ask them "How did you do it?" How did you put the past behind you? How did you get the echoes of the past to stop infringing on today? How did you say goodbye to all the people we buried and never shed a tear over?
Tom Thank you for this chance to speak my mind. I have been looking for years for a site that had former faith assembly people that I could talk with. I would be interested in going to a reunion. I have been trying for years to find some former friends, I hope they are alive & well and would still talk to me (much of the more extreme sects believe in shunning like the Amish) I also want to talk to Steve Hill but he has dropped below my radar and members I have talked to say they know his email addy but never give it to me when i ask. He had a long conversation with me a few years before my mom died and he apologized for not being a "pastor" to me when I was a part of his flock he said he earlier just assumed if people left they didn't want the message but later came to realize that he was too separate from his flock. At that time I wasn't interested in the changes in his ministry but now I honestly am, I would sincerely like to talk to him. From what I gather he has moved on into a more mainstream ministry and I want to ask him how he did it. My mom said "he'd compromised the faith" in the years before she died sounds like just the person I need to find he taught me much of what I knew, maybe he can help me unlearn it:)
- Anita
PS- I am sorry that my earlier post was so negative. I do have a good life now. I get depressed sometimes thinking about all of this. It was good to get it off my chest though.
May 2004 - My daughter just emailed this website to me. We moved from Saginaw, MI to Indiana to be part of Faith Assembly back in 1975 when she wasn't yet two. We were also part of the Lighthouse in Lafayette where Bruce Kinsey taught.
I will share my opinion of Faith Assembly/Glory Barn. I for one, spent hours on Sunday mornings waiting for a "good" seat at the Glory Barn. The line would go out to the road before the doors opened. During the 70s we were taught a pure Word. Theology, Ethics, Old & New Testament Survey; beautiful & deep truths; an excellent foundation. But as time went on, slowly, insidiously, legalism crept in. The focus of the message began to be ridiculous things like "Sodomite Shoes" and "Prostitute Purses". The teaching went from a well balanced meal with a faith emphasis to externals, legalism & some of the trappings of a cult. Unfortunately, many (most?) of us followed along like dumb sheep.
I still struggle with the "faith message" because all of those precious promises ARE in the Bible. But I have been going to the doctor for years now. And I do NOT feel condemned for doing so. I do wonder why all weren't healed. I know for a fact that I broke my left arm & God sent His angel to set it. No one can take that from me. But I can't say that I still believe it is God's will to heal every time without exception.
I take exception to the writer that implied Dr. Freeman taught that women are less loved or inferior to men. And I surely don't recall him ever teaching us not to associate with Christians in other churches, but then I had to spend alot of time in the nursery because I have 9 children. Speaking of which, they have a very negative view of F.A. I think I could have been much more balanced. Sports have become a very positive part of my sons life. Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate family & friends. And as far as I can remember Dr. Freeman never taught that it was wrong to celebrate birthdays. Anyway...I'm beginning to ramble.
To the one young lady who wrote about her father dying when she was 3 or 4... if your dad's name was Carl and if he was a musician, then you should know that to this day his music blesses me. I am sorry that you lost him, especially so young. I don't have the answers. But you have chosen to keep a godly attitude and God will surely bless you for it.
- Elizabeth
April 2004 - We really enjoyed you thoughts and feelings about Faith Assembly and Dr. Hobart Freeman. I personally learned a whole lot at Faith Assembly. I only went in 1982 and/or 1983 then had to move to California. I thanked God for the faith message that I had learned but I did have a big fear of going to Doctors. But the Holy spirit did deliver me from a Spirit of Condemnation that was being spread over the whole body. It was something to see just like one of those cartoons where the ghost spreads out over everybody. We anyways to make a long story short. I need the Faith message and about our authority in Christ to be able to make it through my very big trying time in Calif. where the enemy tried to destroy my faith and literally kill me. I did not really see Dr. Freeman but I really like Bruce Kinsey. Do you know what has happened to him?
My husband went to Faith Assembly and has good and bad stories. Also we would really like to get together with others that has been under Brother Freeman's teaching.
We are really interested in knowing what has come of some of the teachers, ect. like Bruce Kinsey, Jerry Ervin, Stephen Hill, do you have any idea? If you have time to answer this email, I would really appreciate it. I figure you might get a lot of mail.
- Mrs. S.
April 2004 - I am amazed that some Christians accuse Brother Freeman of being extreme and deceived. Brother Freeman claimed that all of God's promises were either true or not true. That the promises for healing are just as valid as the promises of forgiveness of sins. How could God tell the truth about one and lie about the other? Either all of the promises are true or throw the Bible away. Stop blaming the teacher for it is written: Luke 12:48 Unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required. Many just don't want to pay the price of fasting and study of God's word. Brother Freeman always pointed us to the word of God! I don't have to know why he died, just what God said. Obviously some of you have forgotten this or just simply never knew. Stop blaming others for your unbelief. That's the problem. The promises are clear and abundant. We either believe them or we don't. Let God be true but every man a liar!
- William
April 2004 - I moved to No. Webster, IN in 1970, became acquainted w/Irene Foreman, read "Faith for Healing" and visited the Glory Barn. I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and became a part of the body of Christ there. I was a close friend of Gracie Knafel as well as Alice and Ron Moerchen, Cathy & Jerry Ervin to name a few.
We are still close friends. I agree with about everything you've said. It is puzzling to this day how Brother Freeman got caught in the web of pride and legalism when the simple message of faith he began with was so very beautiful! The puzzling thing for me is that he didn't follow his own teaching about "staying in the middle of the stream" and not allowing yourself to be deluded. I still know that the Holy Spirit began the work there and that, though he became deluded about some things, Brother Freeman desired to please the Lord and present the people he taught to the Lord as "spotless". I have only grown closer to the Lord since I left Faith Assembly. The Lord has taught me about Grace and Mercy and love and humility. I count those years and teachings as valuable beyond question.
- Irene
2003? I'm his only daughter of two children. My father died when I was four. Since I've struggled to understand his experience with Faith Assembly. He died when he went off of his insulin. He was on a mattress on the floor with people praying around him. I know my father was a beautiful man and I choose to understand his experience rather than hate him for what some view as suicide.
2003 - I just read your commentary on the ministry and life of Dr Freeman, and I must say that it is the most honest, fair and balanced commentary offered on the net. I was a "Freemanite" for about 6 years, (1992-1998) and when it was over, my head cleared and I made some astounding observations: Christians are the only ones who eat their wounded. There is absolutely NO grace offered to fellow believers. (I never heard a single message preached by Dr Freeman on grace, so naturally, grace can NEVER be offered by his "followers.")
Aside from Dr Freeman claiming that Faith Assembly was the only church preaching true faith, and a few other things, he never would've preferred God's people to be so close-minded and hard-hearted. (People have a tendency to over think or over reach things that they believe to the exclusion of scripture.)
It is astounding to me that the faith message in its twisted form is still being preached and believed. "Freemanites" make minors majors, and majors minors. (Very sad). I have been able to keep the best of the Faith Message and incorporate tons of other truths into my daily walk. (God after all is full of compassion and love). Dr Freeman was passionate, foundational and brilliant but lacked the grace and ready forgiveness necessary to stay out of the Cult Awareness lists.
On a personal note: I am something of a "victim" of the extreme faith message. I was booted from a "Faith" church in 1998 because I became sick. I refused to seek medical help and after a month I was kicked out because it was thought that I was sick because I had sin in my life. The entire church turned against me and was told that I was off limits. Actually, in another month I was finally diagnosed with Type A diabetes.
I realize now, that God used my experience to expose the heinousness and meanness (pride) possible with this teaching. As a result of my experience, (witnesses and participants in my expulsion ) many members from that assembly decided to leave. I'm now healthy and in love with my Saviour like no other time.
I have discovered that there is life after Freeman, and that God's grace is wondrously abundant. Sorry for the long email. Its been a few years since I've discussed this.
2003 - I was born and raised in the area of Indiana where "Dr." Freeman "taught".
The Glorybarners (I'll back up the previous post stating it really was a barn) actually had a farily large, and uneasy, presence in our small town. Some say as many as 2,000 people in our area were members -- this may seem insignificant compared to Chicago, but it's a fair ammount for rural Noble and Kosciusko counties.
As an elementary school student (1980-1985)I can remember 5-10 students in each of my classes who would leave the room during birthday parties and any type of holiday celebration. My teachers would never explain but my parents told me they were Glorybarners and changed the subject. In many ways the Glorybarners were looked down upon by others in our community who viewed them as cult members, not as followers of a branch of Christianity.
Dr. Freeman hurt many, many people in our small town. The American Family Foundation reports that over 100 members died as a result of Dr. Freeman's teachings. Children weren't given inoculations, corrective lenses, or even seemingly insignificant topical medications for things such as poison ivy and diaper rash. I've heard stories of people dying from diabetes and pneumonia -- I even remember a baby dying of what I later found out was meningitis. Her parents were convicted of reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent in the mid-80s. Another baby also died of meningitis, but the charge of reckless homicide was dismissed after they renounced their Faith Assembly beliefs. I think this happened around 1992-93.
The sick part of all of this is that Dr. Freeman attributed the deaths of 100 of his followers to a lack of faith in God's ability to heal, not his own misguided preaching.
I wouldn't go so far as to say Dr. Freeman was an evil person -- just severely misguided in his beliefs.
The actual glory barn met its demise in a suspicious fire after media reports of the deaths of his followers. A few years ago the chimney was still standing in the field where the church was located, but it may have been removed since the last time I was there.
Dr. Freeman met his demise from either blood poisoning or gangrene after breaking one of his toes. I probably don't need to say this, but he certainly would have lived if he had sought medical treatment. I guess his faith wasn't strong enough either.
Most of the Glorybarners left the church after this because Dr. Freeman had said he would live forever, just like Jesus. I've heard that he said he would rise again after three days. He didn't.
I also can't believe that there are some out there who still believe Dr. Freeman's teachings.
The final effect of Dr. Freeman's teaching was that he drove many young people away from belief in God.
Believe me, the Faith Assembly was definitely a detriment to our community.
2003 - Two people in my family both met with an early demise because of Dr. Freeman's theology. They died of cancer, which by the time they sought help, the doctors told them there was nothing that could be done. In addition to this, my favorite aunt has also long followed Dr. Freeman's brand of faith. Her teeth have rotted in her head, all the while she has confessed she has no cavities.
My aunt is a particularly tragic story. She has locked herself away for more than two decades. No church is good enough and no Christians are worthy her attention. Like Dr. Freeman there is no real compassion for others, especially those who go unhealed. After all, if they only had the faith, all their problems would disappear.
After seeking unsuccessfully for many years to help my aunt. I think I've learned a little about Dr. Freeman and where he and his followers went astray.First, his charismatic personality led people to worship the man, rather than God. My aunt has many times shook her finger at me and said, "Don't talk ill of Dr. Freeman. You risk divine retribution!"
Secondly, they put their faith in faith, rather than faith in God. To them, faith becomes some sort of power in and of itself, a kind of "Trust the force, Luke" Star Wars thing. They are taught it's all a matter of formula, say the right words and have the right thoughts. Any who fails to be healed is trampled in the dust as lacking faith or having unrepentant sin.
It is truly ironic these beliefs go on even when their leaders like Dr. Freeman can't make it work and die themselves from ordinary maladies. But then, isn't that what the whole world seeks, health and prosperity? Just turn on the TV to see how much advertising is geared toward making us feel better or get richer.
In any event, beliefs such as these lead people away from the one and only truth, Jesus Christ. Emphasis is centered around having enough faith to change reality and obey all the legalistic edicts of the sect. In my aunts case, she can't perform personal hygiene (tooth brushing etc), own a smoke detector, seek medical or any other assistance from others, wear glasses instead of squinting over her large print Bible, associate with anyone she deems a lukewarm Christian and the list goes on and on forever.
This is not what Christians are to be about or to stress. Any professing believer in Christ Jesus would do well to remember Matthew 25:31-46.
2003 - I grew up believing in a God that I did not know. I remember as a child being actually scared of doctors. It actually put fear into my heart to even think about a doctor living next door to me!! this may sound incredibly stupid, and it was, but at the age of 5 I did not know any better. At that time going to the doctor meant not being able to go to heaven, at least in my mind. My mom remarried, as I mentioned, and my step-dads brother and his wife spent a couple of years in the state penitently for the death of a baby. They actually had a couple of babies die. I think two or three at the most. To this day I don't know the specifics, as no one wants to talk about it. They now have four children and have recovered from the F.A. catastrophe.
Like many people have. I was 6 when Hobart died. I still remember them saying that "brother Freeman has gone to be with the Lord" I was so scared because I thought that this meant that I was going to hell. Again, stupid, but very real in my 6yr. old mind. Why??
This is something that I cannot figure out even to this day. How could I have been so scared of all these things?? I realize that children have very active imaginations, maybe mine was on overdrive. I went my whole life until I was about 16 not really knowing the extent of what went on in the church. I'm still finding out about horror stories even until this day, people that let their children suffer in such a way that it makes my head spin. A child with a tumor in her eye, so bad that people at the church asked the family to not bring her there anymore because it was too gruesome for them to see. When the social workers went into the house they found blood stains on the walls where the little girl had ran into them while trying to navigate her way from room to room. I want to scream out in my loudest voice....THIS IS GOD?????????
How could I grow up in that environment and not question my beliefs? I mentioned that many of my friends have totally turned their backs on God and that is why. Who wants to serve a God that kills??? you mentioned the "persecution of the media" on your website, and it makes me cringe. They were reporting more fact then fiction, and I wish there was more of it. You also talk about God having to disband the people to keep the faith, are you sure that that is the case? I live here and I still am in contact with a lot of people that came out of Faith assembly, and I challenge you to tell me that there was more good then bad that came out of it.
That is why I referred to it as a catastrophe. If it was truly of God then where is the fruit? All I see a few scattered groups desperately trying to cling to the teachings of Hobart (even though they cant even manage to agree amongst themselves) and everyone else, myself included, in desperate need of healing from the wounds left by faith assembly. I will not say that Hobart was not a gifted man of God, I will also never say that God did not move in the 60's and 70's through him. But I do think that God did not disband everyone to "preserve the message". I believe that he shut it down and allowed Hobart to die because he absolutely could not tolerate it any further. You say on your website that people who call it a cult are in serious danger, and I agree, however, I can defiantly see characteristics of a cult when I see the way that people acted. It was one step away. What more would anyone have to do????
They were willing to watch their children die, stop taking insulin, leave their family, and so on, and I know the names of people that have done all these. I've known them since my childhood, I just did not know their stories.
Now I'm finding out.
How am I supposed to make sense of this. When I read about the life of Jesus, how he treated people, especially the "sinners", I see nothing that was even close to the thing that I was taught to believe.
thank you for giving me an opportunity to let go of some things I've been holding in for a while. I appreciate your openness and willingness to talk
2003 - I saw your website and thought i would write. I grew up as a child in faith assembly. my parents moved from xyz when I was 1 to Indiana to be a part of the church (this was 1979). we moved away when I was 8. it is safe to say that while my father's convictions and beliefs were not really challenged, my mother's, my own, and my brothers and sisters who were old enough to understand, were all left on very shaky ground.
it is very surprising that my parents' marriage survived post-faith assembly. my older sister became pregnant as a teenager, my brother is living with a man 30 years his senior, and most of us have emotional issues dealing with our relationship with god.
to say that "calling faith assembly a cult is akin to blaspheming god" is a ridiculous statement. faith in god should not destroy lives. every day I call authority into question because of the way it was dictated through faith assembly.
I remember sitting for hours on end (AS A 7 YEAR OLD!!) listening to sermons and reading the bible verses on the walls over and over again. or watching my mother frantically searching for a cloth to place on her head for the sermon.
I was told that god didn't value women as much as men, and that if something bad happened, that my faith was questionable. these were not tenets that my parents taught me, but what i learned being in the midst of faith assembly. when we moved away from faith assembly, we as children did not have the tools needed to live in the "real world". when my parents could no longer afford to send us to Christian school, they had no idea that they were feeding us to the wolves.
When we moved away, I was allowed to wear my first pair of pants. as a result, I began to associate freedom with anything that was not feminine. of course i have received a lot of flack from my mother and father, but today I believe that god loves me just as much wearing my hair short with jeans and a sweater than if I wore my hair long with a skirt.
This is a subject that my parents and i have discussed a lot. my dad, to this day, does not believe faith assembly was a cult. but then, we moved across the country and into poverty all for the sake of his faith, not my mother's and certainly not my brothers and sisters'. for those of us who were unwilling participants (my mother) or didn't know any better (myself and my siblings) faith assembly was a terrible place to be.
2002? I was born in 1978 and my parents were attending the "glory barn" at that time. My dad died when I was three years old of a brain tumor. He went to the doctor when he was first diagnosed, and after doing some "exploratory" surgery, sent him home because there was no hope. He then heard about Hobart and the "faith message" and believed for God to heal him. He actually got better and went back to the Cleveland clinic where they did a x-ray and found no trace of the tumor. I have a tape of him giving his testimony at the glory barn in February 1978 where he says that he is totally healed. It was three years later, in 1981 when he died. The autopsy proved it was the tumor that caused the death.
I do not blame the teachings of Hobart for his death. The doctors sent him home to die, he got better, then he died. I know that he totally trusted God to completely heal him, I have his words on tape and he was so enthusiastic about it that it sends chills up and down my spine whenever I hear that tape.
I appreciate your website in that it explains how the people took the teachings too far. Believe me, I know. I was a member of that church until about 1995 or so. I went to Russia with Steve Hill when I was 15, and the second Sunday after we arrived home was when he made the announcement that he was handing the church over to Malcomb Webber and we would be moving and changing the name to Living Faith. I continued to go to Living Faith for about two years.
I was born and raised in that church and saw everything that transpired. For the most part I was too young to understand what was going on, but I soon learned. I am now twenty-five years old and many of my friends that were raised in the church have totally turned their backs on God.
I agree with your take on faith assembly, as an outsider. I was on the inside, and I saw the aftermath...I live the aftermath. I agree with how you say that it was the people that took the teachings too far (producing legalism) and the spiritual bondage, I know people who still hold to that (my wife's grandparents) but my main concern that you do not know the whole story.
2002? - I moved to No. Webster, IN in 1970, became acquainted w/Irene Foreman, read "Faith for Healing" and visited the Glory Barn. I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and became a part of the body of Christ there. I was a close friend of Gracie Knafel as well as Alice and Ron Moerchen, Cathy & Jerry Ervin to name a few.
We are still close friends. I agree with about everything you've said. It is puzzling to this day how Brother Freeman got caught in the web of pride and legalism when the simple message of faith he began with was so very beautiful! The puzzling thing for me is that he didn't follow his own teaching about "staying in the middle of the stream" and not allowing yourself to be deluded. I still know that the Holy Spirit began the work there and that, though he became deluded about some things, Brother Freeman desired to please the Lord and present the people he taught to the Lord as "spotless". I have only grown closer to the Lord since I left Faith Assembly. The Lord has taught me about Grace and Mercy and love and humility. I count those years and teachings as valuable beyond question.
2002? - Your comment was well done. All what happened at Faith Assembly did not make any difference to my faith and walk with Christ. I am convinced that one of the best teachings about Faith came from that particular Church. I remember the time when I received the first tapes how I was blessed and how my life was changed . How many times I got supernatural healed and delivered, how my business got blessed. O.K. we live now, the anointing I received in the early 80's is still with me, exactly how the word of God says. My commitment is not with a church, but with the Lord Himself. I believe in that unmistakable word of God . Glory to him!
