Listed in alphabetical order by first names
Alistair Henderson: Many have felt as you do now. It is largely a result of ‘life scripting’ from others (not from God!). Take heart that many have been there and have found to their relief and delight that there is life beyond the meetings system. Open yourself to God’s leading and ‘trust the process’. Accept that this is a time of transition from cocoon to butterfly. And we are here to help you find your wings!
Anita Clark: I felt some guilt and fear and it persisted at times even up until recently. (Have been out about 4 years). And even until quite recently I have an irrational thought that I’m being punished or going to be struck down dead. It is just the strength of the conditioning I went through from a young age.
On the other hand, I have proved God’s love and care for me so many times. I trust in Him and have cried out and asked for His help many times (I have been through a lot on a personal level) and He has not let me down. I always felt it was our personal relationship with God that mattered and thus so much seemed irrelevant and incorrect that I heard in the meetings. Please go easy on yourself, it takes time. It is wonderful to be an authentic person and not one living to please others and avoid their disapproval on matters that are none of their business.
Anonymous: About ten years after I was excommunicated from 2×2 fellowship, I came across and read “Combatting Cult Mind Control” by Steve Hassan. As soon as I learned about ICSA, I attended ICSA conference where I met him and many other cult specialists and cult survivors! It was such an eye opening that I finally admitted to myself and others that I was raised and involved in a destructive cult. Since then I keep deconstructing and recovering from the traumatic experiences that keep surfacing through studying my family and my personal past and many known visiting workers’s past! After years of suffering in solitude, I start connecting with other ex2x2s and read about their experiences. Learning about the history of the 2×2 cult and joining the ex2x2 support groups made me realize I was not alone in this struggle for survival! The more I read and learn about my own past and about the past and behavior of the workers I met during my lifetime and travels, the more I feel the need to share what I discover in hope to help others who are still blindly following the 2×2 cult leaders!
Betty Weigman: The main reason is, they say that Jesus isn’t God. The first chapter of John says In the beginning, The Word was with God and the Word was God. Later in that chapter, John makes it clear that Jesus is the Word. I will never again have anything to do with any religion that doesn’t acknowledge that Jesus is God
Brandy Swenson: I prayed for an honest heart and slowly God revealed the real truth to me. First he showed me through scripture that I could know I was saved because of Grace and that I couldn’t earn it. “Truth” preached that “we aren’t like the other Churches that believe such things”. Then it was revealed to me that the truth preaches as much about being in the “right way” for salvation as they preach Jesus—making Jesus’s death, so that I could have salvation … not enough …we have to be in the “truth” to get salvation. They go to such painstaking lengths to prove that they are “not like other Churches” putting so much focus on things that aren’t relevant to salvation. Taking scripture out of context like “praying in a closet” to the extent that outside of meeting it would be strange to pray together.
I realize that there is no perfect Church because there are no perfect people. But now If something sits funny with me, I ask myself is it scripture and is it relevant to salvation. I left one year ago. We started going to a new Church. It’s not perfect but they preach relationship not religion. They preach Grace. And they invite souls to know Jesus at every gathering. It’s not complicated. It’s not getting right with God first and then making the decision to follow him. It’s giving your soul to God and having real faith that his holy spirit WILL change you. Not us striving to do better. I feel so free.
Charlie Rasmussen: Have courage and walk away. You will experience a freedom of soul and spirit that will sustain you through the grief and guilt. Our hearts go out to you while you make this difficult decision. Make sure you have loving, supportive people outside to help you through the dark days xo
Cherie Kropp: Suggest you educate yourself about shame and guilt. It will help you be objective, and the feelings less intense. There are good books available. Here’s some info: http://thelibertyconnection.info/index.php… Another suggestion is to study the Bible in depth. Holding 2×2 beliefs up to the light of the scripture so you know and stand secure in what you now believe goes a long ways toward eliminating fear, guilt and shame.
Your value system has been destroyed. To have peace, you need to establish a new value system. To examine the beliefs you held in the past, decide and accept your current/new certain beliefs; and jettison other beliefs taught in meetings having no scriptural support.
I recommend the excellent interdenominational Bible study is BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). It’s worldwide, free and there’s no pressure to join or believe anything–once a week. Many Ex-2x2s and some on this forum are or have attended. I’m a 7 yr graduate. I started taking it 2 yrs before I left meetings. I was able to walk away from 2x2ism with no doubts whatsoever. Just check the link below to see if there is an in-person or online zoom class near you. https://www.bsfinternational.org/
Deborah Coward: Just the fact that after 30 years God opened my eyes to see that this was really not what it appeared to be. It’s all legalism. Too much emphasis on the outside stuff…hair, dress, etc and not enough about the heart. Wrong doctrine. Wrong things taught about the Spirit (they believe it’s a force not the third person of the trinity). Wrong view of Jesus, and they do not believe in eternal security as is taught in scripture.
I had no joy or real peace the last 5 years in. I just had to get out. I just knew that God would hold me responsible if I now know the truth and still stayed in what was a big lie. Also I hated all the worship of workers and not Christ. I could go on but I think you get the picture. I am now in a great church for almost a year now. Joy has come back, and God has set me free to serve Him in the way the scriptures teach….not the workers. What a huge deception I was in. I encourage you to break free, your soul is n the line.
Dee Brits: Fear is normal! It took at least a year if not longer for that to slowly start dissipating. Don’t rush to be part of another church, love bombing from other churches is a thing. Find and connect with other people who have left 2×2 and understand your journey. You may need to reduce or cut contact with family and friends still in. You will find peace and freedom in your life outside the 2×2. I’ve now been out over 27 years and it does get easier.
J. R. Kirsch: Truth Meeting Board (TMB) and other groups like this. Knowing doubt storms are/can be part of the process and do not mean you are doing the wrong thing.
Jane Bengtson: John in his gospel further said about the Word…”and the word was God…” Pretty plain language. Additionally, the meaning of Immanuel is “God with us…” I think we humans are limited in our ability to understand that He was fully human and fully divine…a concept hard to grasp but then, as scripture also says about God…His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. We cannot now fully understand it, but as for me, I accept it in faith, completely…I don’t understand it all, but then isn’t that where faith comes in?
Jeanine Price: My years of questions left me open to attend Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) classes in 1997 and there scales were removed from my eyes. When true Biblical teaching and “the church” history is taught then there is no going back to darkness. You will find that a Biblically based church will post either on a website or on printed materials their core beliefs for all to see.
Jennifer George: I was struggling with leaving because I was born and raised in it and a lot of my family go to meeting. I had been praying desperately asking if I should continue going or what, and one day I got the answer “They deny my name.” And then He brought to mind the verse 1 John 5:7 and I knew from that I wasn’t going back. He’s revealed so much more from reading and meditation that’s been comforting and the feeling God wants me to just trust him and follow Him and not rely on man.
Judy M. Bates: Start using a new Bible translation.Shelve your old KJV. I highly recommend the NIV or New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Study Bible. There is an explanation at the bottom of each page as to the meaning of the scripture you’re reading or a bit of history of the times it was written. Now when I have a question or don’t understand something, that’s my go to Bible. As for the translations I mentioned here, they are understandable in our world today and use today’s language.
Julie Brunsdon: I feel there’s a lot in this group who have been where you are now (even me)…. after 6 years, I still struggle…wanting the ‘real’ me to surface. However, when I’m out and mixing among those still in, the ‘guilt and unsureness’ creeps back in. I blame me for 2 of my children ‘still in’ and ‘adhering’ to the book of unwritten rules. It does take time, lots of time, and encouragement that you have stepped out and heading to ‘freedom’ you have support on this site…lots of it.
Julie Speight: Guilt and shame are a very big thing. Maybe not everyone struggles/is struggling with this. It’s something that I’ve had to deal with and am still dealing with. It does take time and patience. We all have different struggles and it’s a reassurance to me we have each other and a God that loves us. I really think the book Cult to Christ that Elizabeth Coleman wrote helped me to take the stand of not attending anymore. The fact is I was missing meetings over a long period of time so it wasn’t like a clean cut. I was so torn about it all and about having to attend meetings, the guilt came over and over again. I think reading the book and seeing my questions answered helped me lots. It gave me courage to say, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’
I also got help from friends that had stopped going to meetings and a very close friend that had been 100% committed like myself stopped going. She had been treated badly by the friends and workers and this really hurt me. All because her ex treated her and the children badly, and yet workers and friends were supporting him more so than her. This was very obvious to me that the system was wrong and so unbalanced. Another thing, when you’ve given everything you have mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally, and then you are slapped in the face and not one worker shows any support or help whatsoever!!!
Maureen Anderson Parsons: The physical distance is a very big step after years of being in it. It is a pretty weird, strange, kinda lost feeling when Sunday morning rolls around to being in meeting, and you’re at home, glad but sad; then get your Bible and read and pray, you are no longer alone. If one part of you still wants to dress like them to not cause ruffles, to do this, do that to still be friends…no peace…let God lead you…freedom, joy, peace in your heart…good days ahead.
Reed Watkins: Get out of the bubble and you wont be missing it as much. I just talked to my pastor for an hour about what I grew up in. He listened and was stunned I think. He then asked how he could help and that he is glad I can see what is wrong, and that I am welcome there or any other church I want to go to. I told him that I want to get out of my head that rules and works will get me into Heaven. I also want to read the Bible. Not just read it to have something to say on Wednesday and Sunday. Going to a Wednesday night Bible group tonight actually. I also want to learn how to be a disciple. In the truth, you just look different and that is supposed to lead people to the truth.
Rosie Rasmussen: Good to get to a point of being aware that it isn’t serving you to still be there. I was fortunate to have a few friends who had been there before me and were a huge support as all the emotions came up. I have a program I now use helping people look at what is kinder to themselves, others and planet and what that looks like. This is huge in having others refocus on what really serves and is important to you. Let me know if you want more info or even chat about it. Helps with clarity of decision making without guilt.
Ross Bowden: Try and catch up with other Ex-2x2s who trust in Christ and check out a few good church communities. Give the pastor a call and catch up with him for coffee and talk it through. We did that and it was real helpful. If you don’t know some good local churches where you live, people on here can often help. Listen to sermons online before you meet up with the pastor so you get a feel for whether it’s a good church. Not easy to leave the 2x2s and the people …but possible to leave and keep good connections. Every time I had a bit of a panic about leaving, I prayed and read a part of the Bible, and it always amazed me how the Holy Spirit just kept pointing me to Christ and His finished work, and my mind became settled…praying for you brother
Sara Nicole Myers: I read read read and prayed prayed prayed. Probably the hardest thing I have ever done. It has been a year since our family left. My family has blamed me for sickness, heart brokenness etc. But somehow through all the guilt and shame that has been layed on me, I have peace. Through all my reading and praying my eyes have been opened to how big and beautiful God really is. His amazing Grace has saved me. I have no regrets about leaving. I pray everyday for my family
Shelley Nicholls: For me: I just left. The elder, my uncle was not the nicest person. Kids annoyed him big time. He was nasty to one of mine, so we never went back. I have not gone to other churches and have no desire to do so. No one came running after me either. Lol. I have moved to another state and no relatives here. Peace
Tamara K: The basis is all untruth. The doctrine is untruth. Other churches may have some untruth. The difference is the workers’ religion is the only one actually claiming to be the TRUTH. They claim they are the only right ones, the only saved ones. It made me so upset to keep hearing it. How do you have fellowship with such nonsense? God actually pulled my husband and I out. It has been two of the best years of our life. We feel so unburdened. We feel so free to read our Bibles and look for answers that we never understood before. We are so glad to be free of all the judgement, back biting, condemnation, cliques and more. The whole religion has people leaving all over the place. Workers are leaving too. The numbers are dwindling.
The problem is if they don’t want the accept the truth, God appears to not be blessing them . One or two profess here or there, but in the same time, they lose 10 or 12. The same with workers. They may get a new on here or there. In the same time, some leave, some became disabled and some leave. It is on a downward hill. If you don’t care about truth just keep going. If you don’t know what is real truth, look up some things. Did the apostles leave all or sell all? Were females ever called to leave home and preach? What is the doctrine about baptism? Who baptized? How long did they wait to be baptized? There is so much more.
The shame and guilt are not of God. God gave his Son to take that from us. Who has made you feel that way or what has made you feel guilt and shame? Are you planning to leave God or get closer to God? We were looking to be able to serve God in Spirit and in Truth. What are your aims? I think that will help you. Do you love the people or do you love God and then ALL people? Are you truly getting fed? If not, you need to find folks that do feed you. Yes, they are out there by the hundreds.
Virginia Vose: I did not struggle at all when I left meetings. When I went online and found the court documents about the abuses of young children by brother workers including Ruben Mata, Bob Heins and Ira Hobbs. I was overwhelmed with anger. That was the tip of the iceberg I’ve come to know now. Of course, my anger has subsided now but the pain those children must have endured and still are is vivid in my heart and mind. I will not be a part of such!
I would not subject my family nor friends to any of the heinous crime of sexual abuses being done—then swept under the rug. All this past 12 years, I would have laid my life down believing the workers’ word. Now, I have my eyes opened. Not all workers, of course, have done this but enough to make this child of God run as fast as I can in the opposite direction. I have found God in Jesus and Holy Spirit to be inseparable, and this has been vital to my life. I asked my Father if I should leave. He said run from it as fast as you can. Shake the dust off and go serve the Living God. I’m living in days of miracles now. I love more and laugh more and have such empathy for folk who are needy of love and understanding. I’m free of the rules and regulations that change at whim.
Above comments are posted with permission of authors; collected from Truth Old & New, now known as Christian Ex2x2 Facebook Group, September 2019.
Cult to Christ: The Church With No Name and the Legacy of the Living Witness Doctrine
By Elizabeth Coleman
Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)
https://www.bsfinternational.org/
New Living Translation (NLT) Life Application Study Bible
Updated November 25, 2025