Counter-Cult Booklet.Pmd

Family Shield’s Counter-Cult Ministry Kay L. Meyer

© Family Shield Ministries P.O. Box 230015, St. Louis, MO 63123 314-772-6070 www.familyshieldministries.com 16 1 Family Shield’s About the Author Counter-Cult Ministry Kay L. Meyer is the Family Shield Ministries (FSM) works with founder and president of family members and friends of Jehovah’s Family Shield Ministries, Witnesses and Mormons and equips Inc., host of Family Shield, Christians to witness. author of publications including: Mission Field on Our Doorstep: Jehovah’s Family Shield’s Counter-Cult Ministry: Witnesses and Witnessing— A Lifestyle. Family Shield • Shares the true Christ of the Bible with Ministries, a Recognized Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, ex- Service Organization of the Lutheran Church— Jehovah’s Witnesses, ex-Mormons, and Missouri Synod, has several ministries associated their family members. with its Gospel outreach services. The Family • Offers training seminars and workshops Shield Counter-Cult Ministry offers help and hope on a wide variety of topics including: to individuals and families who have a loved one “Witnessing Effectively to Jehovah’s involved in a cult or the occult. Witnesses” and “Witnessing Effectively To learn more contact: to Mormons.” The ministry also trains Family Shield Ministries, Inc. volunteers to speak about these topics P.O. Box 230015, St. Louis, MO 63123 for church groups and missionary work. 314-772-6070 • Produces radio programs on cults and www.familyshieldministries.com. the occult and distributes recordings of those programs. • Networks with other apologetic organizations and experts knowledgeable Thank You! in the area of cults and the occult. • Refers and connects individuals to The women of the Texas resources and products, including the Lutheran Women’s book, Mission Field on Our Doorstep: Missionary League Jehovah’s Witnesses, and tracts from (LWML) approved a other apologetic organizations. grant to assist Family • Lists additional resources and links at: Shield Ministries and its counter-cult ministry www.familyshieldministries.com/ work. That includes this new resource. Thank resources/recommended links. you, women of the LWML. You are special!

2 15 What would you do if your brother Family Shield Ministries converted to Mormonism and is a Recognized Service then tried to convert you and your Organization of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod family?

Take up the shield of faith This booklet shares examples of how (Eph. 6:16) Family Shield Ministries educates and equips family members of Jehovah’s THE VISION Witnesses and Mormons and helps them learn to cope and respond in love. Family Shield Ministries is an innovative- “My family and I heard the dreaded news…my collaborative leader in family ministry and little brother converted to the Mormon faith. I evangelism. Working in partnership with need your help and have several dilemmas. First, The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and Tim is already trying to convert my father. other Gospel-oriented Christian Second, he is the godfather of my oldest organizations, it will impact the world for daughter. I have done enough research on the Christ and transform lives in time for Mormon faith to know I do not want him eternity. responsible for her spiritual upbringing if something were to happen to my husband and THE MISSION me. But I have so many questions. My daughter’s third grade teacher encouraged me Family Shield Ministries educates and to contact Family Shield Ministries for assistance equips people, through the power of the because of your expertise and knowledge of the Gospel, to know Christ, grow in His Word, Mormon faith. Can you help? What do I do? and strengthen individuals and their What about resources that will help us all begin families. to understand the differences between Mormonism and Christianity?” MINISTRIES, PROGRAMS & SERVICES Family Shield Ministries received the above e- mail from Teresa some years ago. A few weeks • Family Shield Radio Program later I met with Teresa, Teresa’s father, and her stepmother. Teresa and her parents, who are • Counter-Cult Ministry Christians, are concerned and worried about their • Family and Evangelism Services relationship with Tim, and how they will deal • Educational Programs with his new religion. And they have questions, • Resources and Collaborations like: “How do I keep my relationship with my

14 3 brother/son and at the same time shield my young daughter/granddaughter from this religion Prayer is Vital that is not part of the Body of Christ? What do Mormons believe about God and how is it The following prayer was written by a family different from Christians?” member who had a loved one involved in Mormonism. Why not adapt it and use it for Teresa and her family understand that the someone you know who has strayed from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Lord? not just another Christian denomination. It is a cult. Recently when Tim sent her daughter a Lord God, You are the One True God, birthday card, Teresa and her husband decided the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to review it before giving it to their daughter. in You and You alone do we receive all They found comments about Mormon beliefs. things. We lift up our loved one They want to shield their daughter from false (name)______, who has been deceived teachings of this organization. by Satan and is following a false It’s never easy for family Dealing with loved organization. (Name)_____ has either members, especially ones involved in a never understood or has abandoned committed Christians, cult is a spiritual Your gracious gift of salvation through when loved ones get battle. Draw your Christ alone, and is turning back to involved in The Church strength from his own hard work and moral living to of Jesus Christ of Latter scripture and use earn his way to heaven. Father, I pray Day Saints or the God’s spiritual that You would open his eyes to the truth Watchtower Bible and weapons. about Jesus and God's Word. Send Tract Society. I your Holy Spirit to convict him of his encourage individuals and families to begin with sins, so that he may see that the only prayer and become equipped biblically so when means of salvation is through Your Son. God eventually opens a door they will be able Let him see and understand who Jesus to respond in love to their family member. is, what Jesus died for, and why He Dealing with loved ones involved in a cult is a did it. Remind him that Jesus was not spiritual battle. Draw your strength from just an example for how we are to live, scripture and use God’s spiritual weapons (Eph. but He was the only true living sacrifice 6:10-18). for the sins of the whole world. Show him the truth! In Jesus’ name. Amen. Family members and friends need to know that there is no easy solution and that it can take years of fervent prayer before they see a loved one leave the organization. Sometimes, family

4 13 or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel members need to back away from trying to other than the one we preached to you, let him witness and just keep the communication lines be eternally condemned (Gal. 1:6). open. Each situation is unique and special. At Family Shield, we offer suggestions but do not If one comes and preaches another Jesus, tell family members what they should or another gospel or a different spirit you bear shouldn’t do. The family needs to make those this beautifully (2 Cor. 11:4). important decisions.

Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks (1 Peter 3:15). Stories of those we touch

They will introduce destructive heresies even on, a father who lived in Colorado, denying the Master who bought them (2 Peter Dwas determined to help his son and 2:1). daughter-in-law stop associating with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Do not believe every spirit, test the spirits— Family Shield mailed resources— many false prophets are in the world (1 John including a series of audiocassettes from 4:1). a 10-day radio series on “Witnessing Effectively to Jehovah’s Witnesses”, Have mercy on some, save others by snatching spoke by phone, and wrote Don to help them out of the fire (Jude 22:24). equip him in his understanding of what the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe and how With gentleness correcting those in opposition, it differs from Christianity. It took over if perhaps God may grant knowledge of the three years, but finally we received a truth and they may escape the trap of the devil letter from Don telling us that his son (2 Tim. 2:25). and daughter-in-law had stopped associating with the Witnesses and returned to the Christian congregation where they had been raised.

nother time an employee at AM A850 KFUO who recorded the first May the Lord of the harvest have 10-day radio series on “Witnessing mercy and snatch those who do not Effectively to Jehovah’s Witnesses” know Christ, or who have been led asked if she could make copies of the into a false religion, out of the fire series and mail it to her son and daughter- in-law who were in the military service and escape the trap of the devil! and stationed in Germany. They had

12 5 recently been studying with Jehovah’s Jehovah’s Witness often send a letter to their Witnesses. She sent the audiocassettes, former Christian congregation asking to be and additional print resources. Before the removed from the membership roles. Put program ever aired, the woman told me this person on the prayer network. that her son and daughter-in-law had 4. If you have an ex-Jehovah’s Witness or ex- listened to the series, read the material Mormon join your Christian congregation and had been led by the Lord to stop make sure you get them involved in a Bible their association with the Witnesses in study. They will often hold on to unbiblical Germany. Soon afterward they got beliefs for years after they leave. They need involved in a Christian church. sound Christian teaching and one-on-one studies with mature Christians.

Getting accurate Christian information to those studying with Mormons and Jehovah’s Beware of those that teach another Witnesses while they will still listen is critical. Christ and a different gospel As they become Getting accurate more and more Christian information to involved and The Bible warns Christians to beware of false those studying with prophets and those that teach another Christ or indoctrinated into Mormons and Jehovah’s the false beliefs another gospel. It also warns us to hold fast to Witnesses while they the words of Scripture; be wary of those who they will often will still listen is critical. refuse to read or want to lead people away from Christ and away listen to information from Christians and from eternal life as a free gift and focus on apologetic organizations. A Jehovah’s Witness doing good works instead of focusing on Christ can be disfellowshipped for reading Christian as our Savior. The following are some of these apologetic material or talking to an ex-Jehovah’s Bible verses: Witness. Mormons sometimes are shunned for similar activities. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers disguising themselves as an apostle of Sadly, everyone doesn’t have success in getting Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises loved ones out, although we never stop praying himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). for a conversion. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting n 1981 I met Kathy. She was the first the one who called you by the grace of Christ Jehovah’s Witness I ever witnessed to. and are turning to a different gospel—which is IOver the years following that first really no gospel at all. Evidently some people encounter, I shared my faith with Kathy, are throwing you into confusion and are trying her husband Terry, his sister Donna, and to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we his sister’s teenage daughters. All were 6 11 6. Establish ground rules to protect your Jehovah’s Witnesses. During that same time children and others in your extended family. I also began a Bible study with Pat, who Shield your children and other loved ones was a new Christian at the time and one of from false teachings and dangerous beliefs. the only Christians in the extended family. 7. Join a support group for family members Pat was Terry’s ex-wife and the mother of and friends coping with a loved one who is Amy, Terry’s daughter by his first marriage. actively involved in a cult. Pat and I have stayed in contact over the years. She continued to grow in faith, is Suggestions for congregations, a zone, active in her congregation, and is one of or a circuit: Family Shield’s faithful radio listeners. During the past 25 years she has grown 1. Establish a support group for family into a mature Christian who lets the light of members and friends of those involved in Christ shine brightly in her life. But, she is cults. Family Shield has had support groups the first one to admit she failed as a new for family members and friends and would Christian in raising her two daughters to be happy to share suggestions for know and love Jesus. She didn’t shield them establishing one in your community. from false teachings and dangerous beliefs! Support groups would be a wonderful outreach for a circuit or group of Some years ago I got a telephone call from congregations to consider. Family Shield Pat. She had just learned that her daughter, advertised its support group at Christian Amy, had become a Jehovah’s Witness. As bookstores, churches, and other public you can imagine, she was extremely upset. venues. Within three weeks twelve people Here is what she said to me that day, “I had signed up. Most support groups offer wish I had encouraged my daughter in her friendship, support, and educate those who Christian faith and witnessed more often attend about the challenges of the cults. while she was growing up. I never realized 2. Other apologetic non-profit organizations her father and stepmother were taking every have excellent resources. A list is available opportunity to teach her about the false at http://www.familyshieldministries.com/ teachings of the Watchtower Bible and links.html. Some of these organizations also Tract Society. Now she believes Jesus is offer support groups for family members only a man and that she must do good works of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. to obtain eternal life. Why didn’t I speak up 3. Prayer is vital. Involve congregational more for Christ? It’s so sad. Amy won’t prayer groups. Many churches have prayer allow me to talk to my granddaughter about networks already established. Invite them Jesus. I can’t give my granddaughter to pray for issues related to salvation, not birthday or Christmas presents. Please, Kay, just health issues. Those who become a ask Christians to pray for my daughter and granddaughter!” 10 7 Please join us in praying for Pat’s family. Suggestions for Christians who have a Besides helping family members cope and loved one involved in a cult: witness to loved ones, Family Shield also receives calls from concerned neighbors, friends 1. Pray for God’s wisdom in your of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, and communication with loved ones. Ask God Christians who are interested in learning how to help your family member or friend to reach them. Family Shield shares resources involved in a cult learn about the false and tracts that will help friends and families teachings, prophecies and come to know understand the teachings of cults compared to the true Christ of the Bible. the teachings to the Christian faith. FSM also 2. Pray fervently for their salvation. Ask others trains volunteers to witness to Jehovah’s to pray too. Pray that God would use you Witnesses and Mormons, and those studying or bring someone into your loved one’s life with Witnesses, when invited to do so by an that will witness effectively to him or her. involved family member. 3. Keep the communication lines open. This may mean not talking about spiritual issues etty heard a Family Shield program on with your family member. Be aware that Bthe radio and called asking for literature Jehovah’s Witness elders will encourage and prayers for her daughter, Cathy, who members to stop all communication if family is a Jehovah’s Witness. She later invited me members continue to try to witness to them. to meet with her daughter and son-in-law. This is less common with Mormons. We talked at Betty’s kitchen table for over 4. Equip yourself and learn as much as you three hours. I focused on the Gospel, talked can about their teachings and beliefs from about the humanity and Deity of Jesus a reliable Christian source. Family Shield has Christ, the Word, and touched briefly on a referral list of books and resources the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s available for those who request them and false prophecies. At the end of the has recommended links on its website. You conversation Cathy and her husband can find these at http:// accepted print resources from us. This www.familyshieldministries.com/ surprised me. They usually will not do this. links.html. Although I was willing to continue talking 5. Encourage your congregation, zone, or with them, they refused to do so. circuit to coordinate a seminar or workshop on “Responding and Witnessing Effectively Please pray for Betty, Cathy, and her son-in- to Jehovah’s Witnesses” and/or law, too. “Responding to Mormons.” Advertise it to your members, to other denominations in your community, and in the community newspaper.

8 9 Please join us in praying for Pat’s family. Suggestions for Christians who have a Besides helping family members cope and loved one involved in a cult: witness to loved ones, Family Shield also receives calls from concerned neighbors, friends 1. Pray for God’s wisdom in your of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, and communication with loved ones. Ask God Christians who are interested in learning how to help your family member or friend to reach them. Family Shield shares resources involved in a cult learn about the false and tracts that will help friends and families teachings, prophecies and come to know understand the teachings of cults compared to the true Christ of the Bible. the teachings to the Christian faith. FSM also 2. Pray fervently for their salvation. Ask others trains volunteers to witness to Jehovah’s to pray too. Pray that God would use you Witnesses and Mormons, and those studying or bring someone into your loved one’s life with Witnesses, when invited to do so by an that will witness effectively to him or her. involved family member. 3. Keep the communication lines open. This may mean not talking about spiritual issues etty heard a Family Shield program on with your family member. Be aware that Bthe radio and called asking for literature Jehovah’s Witness elders will encourage and prayers for her daughter, Cathy, who members to stop all communication if family is a Jehovah’s Witness. She later invited me members continue to try to witness to them. to meet with her daughter and son-in-law. This is less common with Mormons. We talked at Betty’s kitchen table for over 4. Equip yourself and learn as much as you three hours. I focused on the Gospel, talked can about their teachings and beliefs from about the humanity and Deity of Jesus a reliable Christian source. Family Shield has Christ, the Word, and touched briefly on a referral list of books and resources the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society’s available for those who request them and false prophecies. At the end of the has recommended links on its website. You conversation Cathy and her husband can find these at http:// accepted print resources from us. This www.familyshieldministries.com/ surprised me. They usually will not do this. links.html. Although I was willing to continue talking 5. Encourage your congregation, zone, or with them, they refused to do so. circuit to coordinate a seminar or workshop on “Responding and Witnessing Effectively Please pray for Betty, Cathy, and her son-in- to Jehovah’s Witnesses” and/or law, too. “Responding to Mormons.” Advertise it to your members, to other denominations in your community, and in the community newspaper.

8 9 6. Establish ground rules to protect your Jehovah’s Witnesses. During that same time children and others in your extended family. I also began a Bible study with Pat, who Shield your children and other loved ones was a new Christian at the time and one of from false teachings and dangerous beliefs. the only Christians in the extended family. 7. Join a support group for family members Pat was Terry’s ex-wife and the mother of and friends coping with a loved one who is Amy, Terry’s daughter by his first marriage. actively involved in a cult. Pat and I have stayed in contact over the years. She continued to grow in faith, is Suggestions for congregations, a zone, active in her congregation, and is one of or a circuit: Family Shield’s faithful radio listeners. During the past 25 years she has grown 1. Establish a support group for family into a mature Christian who lets the light of members and friends of those involved in Christ shine brightly in her life. But, she is cults. Family Shield has had support groups the first one to admit she failed as a new for family members and friends and would Christian in raising her two daughters to be happy to share suggestions for know and love Jesus. She didn’t shield them establishing one in your community. from false teachings and dangerous beliefs! Support groups would be a wonderful outreach for a circuit or group of Some years ago I got a telephone call from congregations to consider. Family Shield Pat. She had just learned that her daughter, advertised its support group at Christian Amy, had become a Jehovah’s Witness. As bookstores, churches, and other public you can imagine, she was extremely upset. venues. Within three weeks twelve people Here is what she said to me that day, “I had signed up. Most support groups offer wish I had encouraged my daughter in her friendship, support, and educate those who Christian faith and witnessed more often attend about the challenges of the cults. while she was growing up. I never realized 2. Other apologetic non-profit organizations her father and stepmother were taking every have excellent resources. A list is available opportunity to teach her about the false at http://www.familyshieldministries.com/ teachings of the Watchtower Bible and links.html. Some of these organizations also Tract Society. Now she believes Jesus is offer support groups for family members only a man and that she must do good works of Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. to obtain eternal life. Why didn’t I speak up 3. Prayer is vital. Involve congregational more for Christ? It’s so sad. Amy won’t prayer groups. Many churches have prayer allow me to talk to my granddaughter about networks already established. Invite them Jesus. I can’t give my granddaughter to pray for issues related to salvation, not birthday or Christmas presents. Please, Kay, just health issues. Those who become a ask Christians to pray for my daughter and granddaughter!” 10 7 recently been studying with Jehovah’s Jehovah’s Witness often send a letter to their Witnesses. She sent the audiocassettes, former Christian congregation asking to be and additional print resources. Before the removed from the membership roles. Put program ever aired, the woman told me this person on the prayer network. that her son and daughter-in-law had 4. If you have an ex-Jehovah’s Witness or ex- listened to the series, read the material Mormon join your Christian congregation and had been led by the Lord to stop make sure you get them involved in a Bible their association with the Witnesses in study. They will often hold on to unbiblical Germany. Soon afterward they got beliefs for years after they leave. They need involved in a Christian church. sound Christian teaching and one-on-one studies with mature Christians.

Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks (1 Peter 3:15). Stories of those we touch

12 5 brother/son and at the same time shield my young daughter/granddaughter from this religion Prayer is Vital that is not part of the Body of Christ? What do Mormons believe about God and how is it The following prayer was written by a family different from Christians?” member who had a loved one involved in Mormonism. Why not adapt it and use it for Teresa and her family understand that the someone you know who has strayed from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Lord? not just another Christian denomination. It is a cult. Recently when Tim sent her daughter a Lord God, You are the One True God, birthday card, Teresa and her husband decided the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to review it before giving it to their daughter. in You and You alone do we receive all They found comments about Mormon beliefs. things. We lift up our loved one They want to shield their daughter from false (name)______, who has been deceived teachings of this organization. by Satan and is following a false It’s never easy for family Dealing with loved organization. (Name)_____ has either members, especially ones involved in a never understood or has abandoned committed Christians, cult is a spiritual Your gracious gift of salvation through when loved ones get battle. Draw your Christ alone, and is turning back to involved in The Church strength from his own hard work and moral living to of Jesus Christ of Latter scripture and use earn his way to heaven. Father, I pray Day Saints or the God’s spiritual that You would open his eyes to the truth Watchtower Bible and weapons. about Jesus and God's Word. Send Tract Society. I your Holy Spirit to convict him of his encourage individuals and families to begin with sins, so that he may see that the only prayer and become equipped biblically so when means of salvation is through Your Son. God eventually opens a door they will be able Let him see and understand who Jesus to respond in love to their family member. is, what Jesus died for, and why He Dealing with loved ones involved in a cult is a did it. Remind him that Jesus was not spiritual battle. Draw your strength from just an example for how we are to live, scripture and use God’s spiritual weapons (Eph. but He was the only true living sacrifice 6:10-18). for the sins of the whole world. Show him the truth! In Jesus’ name. Amen. Family members and friends need to know that there is no easy solution and that it can take years of fervent prayer before they see a loved one leave the organization. Sometimes, family

4 13 What would you do if your brother Family Shield Ministries converted to Mormonism and is a Recognized Service then tried to convert you and your Organization of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod family?

14 3 Family Shield’s About the Author Counter-Cult Ministry Kay L. Meyer is the Family Shield Ministries (FSM) works with founder and president of family members and friends of Jehovah’s Family Shield Ministries, Witnesses and Mormons and equips Inc., host of Family Shield, Christians to witness. author of publications including: Mission Field on Our Doorstep: Jehovah’s Family Shield’s Counter-Cult Ministry: Witnesses and Witnessing— A Lifestyle. Family Shield • Shares the true Christ of the Bible with Ministries, a Recognized Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, ex- Service Organization of the Lutheran Church— Jehovah’s Witnesses, ex-Mormons, and Missouri Synod, has several ministries associated their family members. with its Gospel outreach services. The Family • Offers training seminars and workshops Shield Counter-Cult Ministry offers help and hope on a wide variety of topics including: to individuals and families who have a loved one “Witnessing Effectively to Jehovah’s involved in a cult or the occult. Witnesses” and “Witnessing Effectively To learn more contact: to Mormons.” The ministry also trains Family Shield Ministries, Inc. volunteers to speak about these topics P.O. Box 230015, St. Louis, MO 63123 for church groups and missionary work. 314-772-6070 • Produces radio programs on cults and www.familyshieldministries.com. the occult and distributes recordings of those programs. • Networks with other apologetic organizations and experts knowledgeable Thank You! in the area of cults and the occult. • Refers and connects individuals to The women of the Texas resources and products, including the Lutheran Women’s book, Mission Field on Our Doorstep: Missionary League Jehovah’s Witnesses, and tracts from (LWML) approved a other apologetic organizations. grant to assist Family • Lists additional resources and links at: Shield Ministries and its counter-cult ministry www.familyshieldministries.com/ work. That includes this new resource. Thank resources/recommended links. you, women of the LWML. You are special!

2 15 Kay L. Meyer

Family Shield's Counter-Cult Ministry offers hope and help to family members and friends of Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. It also encourages them to shield their family from false teachings and dangerous beliefs. Who do we reach and equip? Here is one example. Elizabeth called us after a Family Shield radio program entitled “Responding in Love to Jehovah's Witnesses.” She cried as she explained that because she had told her son, a Jehovah's Witness, she would not become a Witness, he, his wife, and their three children would no longer talk to her. When I asked her where she attended church, she said, “I used to attend the Catholic Church, but haven't attended it in many years.” Family Shield began working with her. We found a volunteer to call her on a regular basis to build a relationship. It took time, but she eventually began attending a congregation near her home. This is just one of many opportunities to share the love of Christ with family members and friends through the counter-cult ministry. These families face many unique challenges. You'll learn about some of the challenges as you read this booklet. We invite your prayers for the families we reach and encourage your involvement and support.

Family Shield Ministries