Maranatha Church

most people can't handle the truth. more

www.versebyversecultorg The glowing review below this one was made by a fellow ""pastor-teacher"" of the pastor of Maranatha Church named Stuart Wolf who started his own sister church in Sarasota Florida, so let that review be judged as so. I was raised in this ""church"". I cut my teeth on their doctrines, as well as many in my family. They are separatist and teach vehemently their ""Doctrine of Seperation"". You are taught in this ""church"" that the whole world is ""Negative"" and that only members of Maranatha (or one of her few sister churches)are ""Positive"". It's funny how they ridicule those that teach you can lose your salvation, but if you don't attend their church you lose your ""Positive"" privileges. This includes ""getting your crown"", ""becoming a member of the royale family"", ""being Positive"", and of course losing out on all that ""SG3"". SG3 is the super cool points you rack up while being ""in fellowship"" that you can trade for super cool prizes when you make it to heaven! Wow, as I type this and look back it's hard to think that I really believed this stuff at one time, but again I was raised there and brain washing a child is USUALLY easier than brain washing an adult. Anyway I could go on but words really don't do it justice. To have been there, raised there, lose loved ones that believed in this crap there, my pedophile uncle they still protect and so on. Now when I look back all I feel is pity, but I wouldn't take a second of it back. It helped make me who I am today. So if any of this sounds like it's for you and your family than Maranatha Church in Bethany, Oklahoma taught by Jack Ballinger is the one for you! more

I have known many members of this church. I have done business with a few more. Outside of business they were unable to be my friends, however they were able to participate in many activities that would be questionable at best. I was privy to much of the church gossip, it was unbelievable! Every negative thing that has been said on this message board is TRUE! Someone needs to SHUT the doors on this place before HE fully develops into another DAVID KORESH! The preacher is the BIGGEST FRAUD, he committed adultery, viewed pornography in church on church computers, curses like a sailor, degrades his wife and anyone else willing to question his actions. If you are looking for a truly spiritual home, run don't walk, this is not the place for you. Truly a disturbing reality! more

While it is easy to bash a church (any church) for the failures of its members, and to use words like ""cult"" to describe what you don't like, this church has been around for over 35 years with the same pastor-teacher. It is a sound ministry that is devoted to verse by verse teaching from the original languages. Believe me when I say that those that have posted previously could not exegete one verse in the Bible by themselves, but seem to have no problem attacking those that can. It is a rigorous hour of Bible teaching four times a week, which is designed to mature the believer spiritually, instruct him as to the issues of the faith, and equip him for the work of the ministry. Eph. 4:12 Do not go to this church if you have a problem with sinners that need God's grace, but since we are all in that boat, it is a good place to learn God's plan. more

Spent my whole life there until I was 18. This place will mess you up. The ""pastor-teacher"" is really a cult leader. The ""church"" is a place where anything goes as long as you parrot the dogma coming from the pulpit. The other two reviews below are 100% accurate from my experiences. I cannot over emphasize how bad this church is. Do not be sucked in by the lies. You may think you are being taught the Bible in a very intense, thorough way but you are actually being taught heresy from a psychopath. If I could give Maranatha a rating lower than one star, I would. Do not go to this church. Cons: It's a cult with pedophiles, adultery, drunken parties, etc. more

Grew up there most my life, your taught to hate outsiders who don't belong to the church.They got wife swapping, pedophiles, you name every evil deed and it exist at Maranatha Church.I wouldn't recommend\r this ""cult"" to anyone, they destroy families and lives! Pros: Well if your looking for a license to sin, you will prolly fit right in.. Cons: adultery, pedophiles, and teen suicides... more

My wife and I tried to attend this church once back in 1997, and we were shocked at how militaristic it was. The pastor started teaching verse-by-verse, and got angry at one of the ladies near the front of the church because she 'flicked' her fingernail. He stopped and told her and angrily told her that she was to either quit or leave. My wife and I were shocked not only at that, but the overall almost 'cult-like' attitude. We got up to leave, and we were followed closely all the way to pick up our child out of the nursery, then followed out to our car, like we were criminals or something. more