In 2004, I left a highly authoritarian group which at that time, C. Peter Wagner considered a leadership paradigm for the New Apostolic Reformation. I left after I found out about the group's secretive past and questioned its true motives, which was to take over the world. 1/

They renamed themselves Every Nation around the time I left. They were previously known as Morning Star International. They were directly descended from a notorious Religious Right campus "cult" of the 70s and 80s, Maranatha Campus Ministries. 2/

Maranatha Campus Ministries was among what Sara Diamond once called the "shock troops of the Religious Right." And underneath the rebranding and leadership shuffles in the wake of MCM's breakup in 1990, the new group arising from its ashes also aspired to take over the world. 3/

I left bc 1. I was terrified that they could take over the US and world. 2. they believed that they would become like God by being "under authority" and rule and reign AS GOD. 3. they lied about their past. I wasn't in the group long but leaving was excruciatingly difficult. 4/

Part of my healing process involved participating in an online cult recovery forum and doing lots and lots and LOTS of research into the group's past, present and teachings. Including the teachings they gave to indoctrinated people once they were properly "under authority." 5/