Praise for Cult to Christ
This is an excellent book, and I dont give praise lightly. Elizabeth is a gifted writer, and has expressed her journey to freedom extremely well in this intriguing narrative of growing up in a sect that claims to be Gods only right way. This unique and fascinating true story provides a revealing glimpse into a nameless worldwide home church.
Cherie Kropp, www.tellingthetruth.info and author of The Church Without a Name and the Life, Ministry and Legacy of William Irvine
Reading this book brought tears, smiles and thankfulness for what I consider is a book that everyone should read. It is so well written and holds your interest throughout. It is a book that should be made available to every person who is currently part of this group, anyone considering fellowship with them, or anyone who has never heard of this church which claims to have no name. I wish it had been available many years ago as I think it would have changed the course of my life ... but then I wouldn't have known so many dear people who have experienced more difficulties than I, and are rejoicing today as ex-Two-by-Twos.
Joan F Daniel, Compiler of Reflected Truth - Former Workers and Followers Unmask Life in a Large, Little-known Sect
Elizabeth Coleman writes a fresh and clear description of her spiritual journey from growing up in a family that had long religious connections with the sect variously known in the USA, Australia, and other countries as The Way, The Church, The Two-by-Twos, and also by other names internationally.
A carefully structured juxtaposition between the preachers teachings and Elizabeths belief in her right to question them demonstrates the courageous pathway she took as a young adult when she chose to challenge them.
Release from the shattering heritage of workers influence on her mind and spirit opened the way to joy in belief in Jesus Christ as Saviour but she wisely notes that with separation from the fellowship, time for recovery and healing from embedded beliefs was needed.
This brave work reveals the true colours of the power to silence that preachers believe they hold over quietly obedient members of the fellowship. I recommend this book to any reader interested in the Two-by-Two fellowship, and also in the practise of conditioning of cult or sect members.
Helen Parker, co-author with Doug Parker of The Secret Sect
Cult to Christ
The Church with No Name and the Legacy of the Living Witness Doctrine
A journey out of spiritual bondage
Elizabeth Coleman
Second Edition October 2015
First published in April 2015 by Adeline Press
PO Box 199 Woden ACT 2606 Australia
Contact: adelinepress@gmail.com
Copyright Elizabeth Coleman 2015
All rights reserved. Apart from any uses permitted by Australia's Copyright Act 1968, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process or in any form without prior written permission of the copyright owners.
Scripture references marked NIV taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture references marked KJV taken from The Authorized (King James) Version.
Website: www.culttochristbook.com
Online photos available at Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Coleman-Cult-to-Christ-Book/1422568694725497
ISBN 978 0 9942953 1 6
Also available in hard print
ISBN 978 0 9942953 0 9
Front cover (clockwise from top left):
- Convention tents in New South Wales, Australia (as known by the author and still currently in use in Australia today);
- The author at 19 years of age (1993), photograph by Cheryl Harriss
- Current portrait (2014) of the author, photograph by David Coleman
Introduction / Explanatory Notes
This book records my experiences concerning a worldwide religious organisation that declines to give itself a name. Members of this group recognise each other by the terms workers (clergy) and friends (lay members). Members refer to their own religious order by the following terms interchangeably: The Way, The Truth, The Meetings, The Fellowship. Former members now most frequently identify this organisation by the term Two-by-Twos. In this account, I refer to the organisation interchangeably as The Meetings, The Friends, The Fellowship or the Two-by-Twos.
This book attempts to be a true record of events. I acknowledge that the version of events recorded here is primarily from my own perspective. Real names have been used for all persons mentioned who are no longer - or who have never been - a part of The Fellowship, unless to do so would be a significant breach of their privacy. Where names have been changed, it is clearly noted. Names of friends, relatives and workers still within The Fellowship have not been used, both for reasons of privacy and to acknowledge that their input or verification has not been sought for the events recorded in this book.
Every attempt has been made to convey events as they occurred. Private conversations are expressed as accurately as can be recalled, and seek to retain the words and intent of the speakers as closely as possible.
Where certain words or phrases appear in italics as part of the general text, this denotes the introduction into the book of a common phraseology used within the group, seeking to familiarise the reader with common verbal and cultural aspects of speech.
I commonly refer herein to the Two-by-Twos as a cult. I know that some may take exception to this label. However, they may also be surprised to learn that the Two-by-Twos are already listed as a cult on numerous cult-identification internet sites (see below). When weighed against the general hallmarks of a cult, the Two-by-Twos fit the criteria of a Christian cult; that is, a group which claims to be a Christian group, yet teaches something that is not primarily a Christian belief, or does not align with the historical tenets of the Christian faith. If you are offended by this label, I invite you to undertake further investigation for yourself.
Online Cult Awareness / Research Organisations:
These websites identify the Two-by-Twos as a cult; note that this list is far from exhaustive.
www.apologeticsindex.org
www.caic.org.au (Cult Awareness & Information Centre)
www.carm.org (Christian Apologetics & Research Ministries)
www.neirr.org (New England Institute of Religious Research)
www.mmoutreachinc.com/cult_groups/2x2.html
www.SO4J.com (Sold Out for Jesus)
www.watchman.org (Index of Cults and Religions)
www.cults.co.nz (Cults in New Zealand)
