Non-Believer Former Members of the Worldwide Church of God

Bradenton, FL
xxcrazylilactaxx@aol.com

Hi!! My name is Tonya Marie. My sister is Cherie Marquez— you published her story here. As she has told you, we are a family of eight kids! I am the youngest child out of these eight. I am now 22 years of age and though I was subjected to the least amount of WCG cult activities, I still had just enough that painful memories stick in my mind.

My mother talks to me often about the horrible things the church did to her mind. To this day she still doesn’t have enough courage to stand up for herself, even in her own marriage to my father. Don’t get me wrong: my father is a loving father in his own way and has never done anything to harm her or his family BUT he constantly without realization belittled my mother for everything she did… she couldn’t even find escape in her artwork because he picked at that as well until she hated everything about herself. When I broke free and was old enough to understand the consequences that come with my actions is when I started speaking up for my mother, and very often too!

She has told me how the church told woman that they could not dress sexy, wear makeup, or even perfume. One time when my mother wore her perfume (outside of the church of course) to the grocery store… an older gentleman complimented her and told my mother that she smelled like his late wife used to. Needless to say, to this day, my mother feels bad about having aroused another man’s senses.

Though I was raised as a “cult Christian” I no longer claim Christianity as my religion. I follow New Age beliefs now. Meditation is my release, not ritual prayers! I remember always getting really bad headaches for 2 weeks straight while in school and my dad’s answers was to kneel me by his bed and anoint me with oil… I would just pretend to feel better the next day to avoid that again. The adults in the church were cruel and rude to not only myself but other children as well…

The saddest story amongst my siblings however, I think belongs to my older brother who I will call “Tip Toes,” because at the time of our church goings we had a neighbor that lived next door to us that constantly babysat my older brother and I on a regular basis. Well, my brother was sexually molested by this NOT so friendly neighbor. And because of the church, my brother told no one. He was afraid my parents wouldn’t believe him. So, that man, where ever he is now… is still out there, probably showing the same courtesy to other young boys. I can only hope he is too old to continue but I could very well be wrong.

I don’t hate my parents, they were manipulated by a satanic system. I love them both in fact but growing up, the words “I LOVE YOU” weren’t often heard. I took the initiative to say this to my mother every night. But I never had that connection with my father, and still don’t. I have no problem saying this now and every day to my mother, but I don’t have the courage to say it to my father. I don’t know why because I know he loves me back. But, it’s just hard never having heard him say it all these years growing up. It is a struggle for me because I want to cry when I think about the day I won’t be able to say it to him any more and will have missed out on my chance, but I choke up whenever he is around or visits. If only he would say it first…

Well, that is only part of my story… only part of my whole family’s story… but to continue would take up way too much of your time! Anyway, thanks for listening.

Tonya Marie

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