I hope you'll consider getting a DNA test, OP. I bet that you have family out there who would very much like to get to know you.

I was physically abused by my ex when I was only 19 and in agape mission’s NYC branch and we traveled frequently to MD for Agape mission trips. When I told my church leaders about it (we had a gender divided and hierarchical structure of who we could interact with) I was told not to go to the police and that they would take care of it. Soon after my entire church and pastor knew and they took his side as he was in the church longer. When I moved an hour away and attended only Sunday services instead of the SEVEN nights a week nightly activities that were apparently mandatory I was shunned. All blocked my number after isolating me to the point of not having friends or family (even the pastor said if your family and friends are non believers and not in this mission they cannot be around you) things like that… after being told they were my family.. etc etc I always knew something was not sitting right with me I have always been more sceptical but always looking to be closer in faith but it was a money and power scheme. Married couples also had to have joint social media accounts. It was just all so strange.

Why would anyone want to be in a cult? What made your parents go back?

You said you had help from people to escape who helped you? Did you further your education when you got out?

Anonymous wrote:What is knee time, OP?

Being in your knees as punishment for ... Living basically. Praying for forgiveness for ridiculous things like not being happy to go scrub toilets.

What is knee time, OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has it affected your ability to form relationships? Or have you found love and lived happily ever after?

It definitely affected my ability to trust. I had some issues with men, and with men around children. There was a lot to unlearn for sure.
I have found love, and am happy now.

Were you raped or did you see rape? I'm curious what you mean about issues with men and men and children?

Tell us what day to day life was like. You don't need to mention the cult, but I want to know how it was cultish, etc.

Yes, I was raped. You know those people who say things like "I'm sorry but I just could never trust a male babysitter with my kids"? That's my gut instinct.
It was cultish in that we were severely cut off from society. No tv, no internet, no newspapers, no radio. We were told the world "outside" was our enemy, was against us, that if anyone left, they'd have nobody. Nobody could protect us like we could. Imagine Fox News, times 100, on steroids. We got up each morning, did chores, knee time, sermon, more cleaning/chores, school, evening sermon, dinner, chores, knee time, sleep.

Is this group identified on the Rick Ross site?

Btw op, I think you showed amazing survival abilities, and resourcefulness. All the while refusing to go back to essentially slavery.

Anonymous wrote:Do you still talk to anyone in the cult? Or others who have left?

No. I tried to reach my sister but wasn't able to.

Anonymous wrote:Good for you OP, that this goes on just makes me so sad and feel helpless. Were there ever any investigations into the cult by law enforcement?

I don't know. I have no idea if they're aware of it. It may not be big enough to be on their radar but I'm just not sure.

Was this a Christian cult or other religious cult?

Do you ever worry about them finding you? Do you see others from your cult who have also escaped?

You don't have to say where you were but how remote was the location -- was it a logistical challenge to escape? Was it a compound with guards, barbed wire etc.? And once you got off the compound, was it a matter of having someone on the outside who'd pick you up, walking for miles to the nearest town, or was there something like a Greyhound station nearby?

How did you go about planning your escape?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has it affected your ability to form relationships? Or have you found love and lived happily ever after?

It definitely affected my ability to trust. I had some issues with men, and with men around children. There was a lot to unlearn for sure.
I have found love, and am happy now.

Were you raped or did you see rape? I'm curious what you mean about issues with men and men and children?

Tell us what day to day life was like. You don't need to mention the cult, but I want to know how it was cultish, etc.

Do you still talk to anyone in the cult? Or others who have left?

Good for you OP, that this goes on just makes me so sad and feel helpless. Were there ever any investigations into the cult by law enforcement?