A Listener Question: Leaving family behind: Do we go back for them ? Do we leave them alone? This is a very difficult thing for anyone leaving the message or a fundamentalist church. To what...
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all the articles available on morning mercy
articles to help
all the articles available on morning mercy
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Many of the articles I’ve written have never been published, or have been removed as my opinions have changed (and I didn’t like my perspective or tone). There will be more content added, but here are the current list of available articles.
Podcast: My Story (Part 2): Leaving the Message
Continuing from my story of coming into the message, this video explains my experience in the church and decision to leave in 2013. Joining the Message seemed to be 'the answer' in my life. It...
Read MorePodcast: My Story (Part 1): Coming Into the Message
My personal story of being raised around message influence, and coming into church as a young adult after a confusing upbringing. My parents left the message when I was very young, but didn't have any...
Read MorePodcast: The Individual & Unique Experience of Leaving the Message
For anyone leaving a fundamentalist faith group, like the message of William Branham, the experience is going to be individual and unique. Trying to compare, or expecting to find people who perfectly relate to our...
Read MorePodcast: The Transforming Power of Social Pressure
One of the arguments I faced countless times while leaving the message was the issue of living a “clean life”. This is my viewpoint of why transformation is an expected result of social pressure, which...
Read MorePodcast: Giving Yourself Permission to Move Forward
If I were asked for one piece of advice to provide people in the early stages of leaving the message and an extreme faith group, I would say this: become endlessly curious, and seek understanding.
Read MorePodcast: Giving Yourself Permission to Move Forward
Giving yourself permission to step forward, breaking the "script" despite the feeling of fear is hard. It’s one of the most difficult things to do when you leave "The Message", or any performance-based religious group.
Read MorePodcast: Is It Okay to Not Know What You Believe When You Leave?
People expect that you should have immediate answers for why you are leaving their faith group and, ultimately, where you are going. So is it okay to not have answers? Is it okay to not...
Read MoreIntroducing the Morning Mercy Podcast
I have decided to step forward after years of silence, and contribute a perspective of the journey away from The Message, as a means of support for those struggling with leaving.
Read MoreCaring for the Heart Series (Part 5): In Conclusion – Seeking Help
(this is a continuation of Part 4: Doing the Work) Criticisms of Psychology vs Spirituality For anyone who criticized me about this method of spiritual counselling as undermining the power of preaching-ministry, message tapes,...
Read MoreCaring for the Heart Series (Part 4): Doing the Work
(this is a continuation of Part 3: Why Message Ministers Are Poor Counsellors) My Last Months Doing Counseling in the Message In the months following my visit to Caring for the Heart, I spent...
Read MoreBarriers of Exit: Fundamentalism & Restorationism
Although not unique to the Message, Fundamentalism & Restorationism are part of the fabric of being a believer in William Branham's message. The affect these have on your thinking, and your ability to leave the...
Read MoreBarriers of Exit: Branham’s Ark
The Message is Branham's Ark. He's provided the way of escape by all his claims and promises. And this is the quandary for someone who is concerned about the message, and yet looks outside at...
Read More20/20 Perspective: Cults Within Cults
Early in my post-message life, I would have other former members approach me suggesting their experience was significantly different than what I experienced. Likewise, there were times when I would read someone else's testimony and...
Read More20/20 Perspective: Shunning
Who Shunned Who? Honestly. This is a question I've had to really reflect on. In the immediate aftermath, it could be well documented in my writing on this website how the message folk effectively 'shunned'...
Read MoreBarriers of Exit: The Exodus Story
The following article is part of my “Barriers of Exit” series. These barriers are cognitive hurdles that make it extremely hard to question or leave the Message. For a questioning individual, they may have...
Read MoreDisclosure & Vulnerability (2020)
I’ve spent a long time on Morning Mercy through the years. It’s hard to explain how much was invested in this online space. Most the effort will never be visible on the pages or...
Read MoreCase Quote: “They’re Asking Questions Because Something is Wrong with their Heart”.
Since leaving the message, one thing I have occasionally done is to listen to archived sermons from various churches and ministries. I don’t do it to load up on criticism or document my greivances....
Read MoreTime + Distance = Perspective
It’s a simple and beautiful formula. It’s the thing that I want to talk about most when I am now reflecting on my time in the message. It’s been nearly 7 years – and...
Read MoreIt Wasn’t About You: It was About a System
What is a System: “An organized, purposeful structure that consists of interrelated and interdependent elements (components, entities, factors, members, parts etc.). These elements continually influence one another (directly or indirectly) to maintain their activity...
Read MoreCaring for the Heart (Part 3): Why Message Ministers are Poor Counsellors
(this is a continuation of Part 2: When Religion Hinders Help) A message church that follows the message of William Branham is a challenging environment to introduce anything using material outside of itself. For...
Read MoreCaring for the Heart Series (Part 2): When Religion Hinders Help
(this is a continuation of Part 1: An Introduction to Caring for the Heart) Getting Help: Not an Easy Subject I realize the headline of this article may cause some unease for readers who...
Read MoreSocial Pressure | But The Message Cleaned Up My Life!
One of the arguments I faced countless times while leaving the message was the issue of living a “clean life”. As per the experience of many, they testify to the transformation they experienced as they...
Read MoreCaring for the Heart Series (Part 1): Introduction
In the year prior to leaving the message, I had become very acquainted with a method of counselling called “Caring for the Heart“ (Developed by John Regier). I appreciated my pastor who would often go outside...
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