ex-cogtfi
Ex CoG/TFI
Survivors of the cult Children of God/The Family International.
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Have you ever felt like you had a chance to be reborn, to see the world with fresh eyes? Verity Teri Carter, a second-generation survivor of the COG-TFI cult, describes the intense emotional rollercoaster she experienced after escaping the cult.
Although she had to contend with many struggles after starting her life over, the challenges did not diminish the sheer joy of having the freedom to make her own choices and forge her own way, in contrast with the coercive control of the cult infrastructure. Finding freedom is not without its cost, but it is worth it!
Please read, share, and take a moment to sign the petition (in bio) to bring current leader of 'The Family International' (formerly known as 'The Children of God') to justice.
#cogtfisurvivors#thefamilyinternational#davidberg#karenzerby#coercivecontrolawareness#cultsurvivor#religiousabuse#childabuse#igotout#cults#survivor#freedom#healing#trauma
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Mary Mahoney, a first-generation survivor of the COG-TFI cult, describes the emotional devastation of coming to terms with spending much of her adult life in a cult. Coupled with guilt and regret for the decades devoted to an exploitative organization was the struggle of unlearning years of propaganda and manipulation. Over time, Mary has found healing and is grateful for each day now spent in freedom.
Read more of Mary’s writings on Medium https://mary-mahoney.medium.com/
and on her blog, where she shares her journey: https://comingtogripswith.blogspot.com/. Read about her experiences in COG-TFI in her memoir, Abnormal Normal: My Life in the Children of God.
#cogtfisurvivors#thefamilyinternational#davidberg#karenzerby#coercivecontrol#cultsurvivor#religiousabuse#childabuse#igotout#cults#survivor#freedom#healing#trauma
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TW child abuse, religious abuse
February 18th. On THE DATE that the cult of COG-TFI is still celebrating as the "birthday" of the cult and its late pedophiliac founder David Berg, COG-TFI survivors are speaking out in The Sunday Mail and on Episode 2 of the explosive documentary series Prayed Upon by the Courier Mail.
We are incredibly proud of these brave survivors for speaking out, as it is an emotionally intense, vulnerable, and demanding experience to go public with such personal and painful stories. Please support COG-TFI survivors and help us raise awareness by sharing this post and signing our petition to bring COG-TFI cofounder and current leader Karen Zerby to justice (link in bio).
#cogtfisurvivors#couriermailaustralia#davidberg#karenzerby#cultsurvivors#thefamilyinternational#childrenofgod#childabuse#childsexualabuse#medicalneglect#physicalabuse#childtrafficking#religiousabuse#justice#cults#igotout#tw child abuse#tw religious abuse
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A QLD cult survivor has revealed as a child growing up in The Children of God cult, she was given to a rich man to abuse in exchange for cash donations. Watch now: https://bit.ly/42L6g3R
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February 18th, the birthday of COG-TFI’s late founder David Berg that doubles as the cult's self-appointed "birthday", has been a day of cultic rituals and forced declarations of devotion, but in 2002 it became a very different anniversary for second-generation COG-TFI survivor Whisper James ( Whisper Wind ). Instead of a day devoted to a cult that oppressed and abused the most vulnerable, it became the day that Whisper James found her freedom. In this post, she describes the many obstacles, psychological and physical, that she bravely overcame to gain freedom for herself and for her children. Despite the cult’s mechanism of forcing cult women into coerced reproduction and childrearing to keep them enslaved to the cult and its ideology, Whisper found the strength to become a Cycle-Breaker, taking herself and her children away from the cult’s clutches forever.
#cogtfisurvivors#thefamilyinternational#davidberg#karenzerby#coercivecontrol#cultsurvivor#survived#survivorstory#religiousabuse#traumahealing#breakingfree#igotout#cults#free#survivor#freedom#healing#trauma#cycle breaker#september 11 tw
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February 18th is a loaded day for many COG-TFI survivors in terms of memories, associations, triggers, and even flashbacks. This post explains why.
#cogtfisurvivors#thefamilyinternational#davidberg#karenzerby#stevenkelly#coercivecontrol#religiousabuse#traumahealing#breakingfree#cultsurvivor#religiousrituals#cultleaders#fasting#igotout#cults#free#freedom#trauma#feb 18
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This piece reflects on the unequal power dynamic and oppression many second-generation cult survivors experienced being raised in the cult of COG-TFI. Children raised in the cult were of value only in their potential to serve the cult’s interests, not for their inherent worth as human beings. As many cult members watched large numbers of second-generation adults choosing to leave the cult, some cult parents became fixated on guilting and trapping their children into staying in the cult. This piece uses the relationship between a tyrannical empress and a slave girl to portray the dictatorial control children and youth in the cult went through. After a long struggle, freedom is sweet, as it would have been to a slave girl bidding farewell to the empress who enslaved her.
Credit: image by pngtree
#cogtfisurvivors#thefamilyinternational#davidberg#karenzerby#coercivecontrol#cultsurvivor#survived#religiousabuse#traumahealing#childabuse#breakingfree#igotout#cults#free#survivor#freedom#healing#trauma
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Have you ever been shunned by the people you loved the most because of your personal decision? This account by a second-generation survivor of the COG-TFI cult describes the immense determination and strength it takes for those born and raised in a cult to leave, as it often means the loss of family, friends, and any support system they may have known. Children in COG-TFI were raised to be God's Endtime soldiers and taught that furthering the cult's mission was their life's sole purpose. Thus, leaving was seen as the ultimate betrayal, and shunning by family members was institutionalized through explicit edicts from COG-TFI leaders Karen Zerby and Steven Kelly. With little education and no financial provisions or connections, the outside world was frightening and the transition often deeply difficult and painful. Still, this survivor bravely chose to break free.
#cogtfisurvivors#thefamilyinternational#davidberg#karenzerby#stevenkelly#coercivecontrol#cultsurvivor#survived#survivorstory#religiousabuse#traumahealing#childabuse#breakingfree#igotout#cults#free#survivor#freedom#healing#trauma
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In this personal account, a second-generation survivor reflects on the day she left the cult of COG-TFI. She describes her realization of freedom in having her own room, being able to come and go without permission, being free to have and express emotions. Basic needs such as privacy and personal space were not guaranteed for children in COG-TFI; overcrowded and unbalanced living conditions were more common than not. From infancy, most children in COG-TFI were policed in every aspect of their lives from matters such as shower duration and clothing to emotional expression. Although recovery is a daily struggle and the pain of trauma is long lasting, freedom makes it all worthwhile, as this survivor celebrates on her Freedom Day each year.
#cogtfisurvivors#thefamilyinternational#davidberg#karenzerby#coercivecontrol#cultsurvivor#religiousabuse#emotionalabuse#childabuse#igotout#cults#survivor#freedom#healing#trauma
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Historically, February has been a month when the cult of The Family International (formerly known as Children of God) celebrated the cult and its founder David Berg, and forced cult members into rituals, fasting, and "rededication" vows in the days leading up to Berg's birthday of February 18th, which the cult termed Family Birthday and has continued to mark as the annual “birthday” of the cult itself.
On February 18th 2022, #cogtfisurvivors was launched as survivors of TFI / COG decided to reclaim a day that for many of us symbolizes unspeakable abuse and the violation of our rights and humanity from infancy.
This February, we are reclaiming the cult's celebratory month by sharing survivor accounts of leaving the cult and finding freedom. For many survivors, leaving was deeply difficult and even traumatic, and for many it came at great cost including the loss of family members. For most, breaking fully free has been a long process. Yet the strength survivors found to make that first break is what allowed us to start new lives and find the freedom we deserve. We invite you to celebrate freedom with us and hold space for survivors as they share their experiences.
#cogtfisurvivors#igotout#childrenofgod#the family international#cults#cultsurvivor#davidberg#spiritualabuse#traumarecovery#coercivecontrol#freedom#feb 2024
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Happy 2024! Thank you to our followers for holding space for COG-TFI survivors by hearing our stories and engaging with our posts. We remain committed to continuing to raise awareness and share survivor stories in 2024.
#cogtfisurvivors#igotout#childrenofgod#the family international#cults#cultsurvivor#new year 2024#raise awareness
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To close 2023, we're sharing this heartfelt poem by COG-TFI survivor E.S. @poetry_catharsis that traces the impact of psychological and emotional abuse inflicted upon children, the devastating repercussions, and the reclaiming and unlearning we choose as survivors. The choices we make each day to choose self love and freedom, to rewrite the messages ingrained in us. To take back what was stolen from us before we were born.
May 2024 be a year of continued healing and awareness, as we support survivors in telling their stories and healing, and shine a light on cults and cultic abuse.
#cogtfisurvivors#thefamilyinternational#childrenofgod#davidberg#karenzerby#cultsurvivor#coercivecontrol#emotionalabuse#childabuse#psychologicalabuse#trauma#traumarecovery#poetry#poem#cult#igotout
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Take a moment to appreciate this work of art and writeup by COG-TFI survivor and balloon artist DJ Morrow, from his debut balloon art exhibition “Messengers”. Follow DJ Morrow on Instagram or check out his website for more amazing balloon art.
www.balloonsinbold.com
@balloonsinbold
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This emotive and vulnerable watercolor painting by second generation COG-TFI survivor E.S. is titled "Inside". In her own words:
"Until very recently, I've almost exclusively created 'nice' pieces. Only ever put pencil or brush to paper to make 'pretty' creations. Although I've wanted to, I've been afraid to draw or paint from the darker, deeper parts of me, been hesitant to let raw emotion take form. It felt too vulnerable. It also felt somehow wrong or shameful.
It wasn't until I decided to paint my emotions and saw what came out in my sketch, that I flashed back to a fifteen year old. In a moment of longing for understanding, I had shown my mom my secret notebook, where I'd written some of my sad thoughts around a pencil drawing of a cracked, weeping heart. My mom berated me for drawing such negativity and for failing to produce only 'whatsoever things are lovely' (Philippians 4:8). She destroyed my notebook and gave me a blank one to fill with only lovely, positive thoughts and images.
That flashback explained a lot and motivated me to add color and complete the piece. It felt cathartic and authentic in a way art hasn't been before. For the first time since fifteen, I allowed myself to give a face to pain. It was a healing experience, seeing value in my own vulnerable expression that I had long ago learned to condemn as flawed, shameful, and ugly."
Comment below if this painting or the artist's words resonate with you.
#cogtfisurvivors#cultsurvivor#survivor#cults#arttherapy#portrait#painting#art#selfexpression#coercivecontrol#igotout
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“The Lightbringer” is another striking and poignant work of art by COG-TFI survivor and balloon artist DJ Morrow. The intricacy and the layered meaning of this piece of art make it unforgettable and thought provoking. Follow DJ Morrow on Instagram or check out his website for more exquisite balloon art.
www.balloonsinbold.com
@balloonsinbold
#cogtfisurvivors#igotout#childrenofgod#the family international#cults#davidberg#cultsurvivor#spiritualabuse#traumarecovery#art#artist#balloonart#balloons
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This work of art by COG-TFI survivor DJ Morrow was featured in his debut balloon art exhibition, “Messengers”, which was displayed at Hardy and Nance Studios in Houston, TX from November 17th-18th, 2023. Please take a moment to appreciate the talent and meaning of this work of art and the writeup by DJ Morrow. Check out DJ's website and Instagram for more incredible art.
www.balloonsinbold.com
@balloonsinbold
#cogtfisurvivors#balloonart#cultsurvivor#cults#coercivecontrol#art#truth#deception#exploitation#igotout
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DJ Morrow is a COG-TFI survivor and an extremely talented balloon sculptor and artist. In November, he launched his first balloon art exhibition. We feel honored to be sharing his work over the next few days. Please like and share, and follow DJ on Instagram to see more of his breathtaking works of art.
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"Messengers", my first balloon art exhibition, was displayed at Hardy and Nance Studios in Houston, TX November 17th-18th. I was given two months in total to put this all together from concept to execution. It contained approx. 3000 balloons which took two weeks to inflate and assemble. The installation highlights three mysterious creatures who fashion themselves as messengers of truth. When it comes to sources of meaning and morality, one person’s deity is another's devil. Caution is always prudent when practicing discernment, as messiahs have a way of turning out to be monsters. These messengers deserve a critical eye, but not for their appearance. Evil has no aesthetic.
DJ Morrow
www.balloonsinbold.com
@balloonsinbold
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