Former 'cult' members call for Pennsylvania church to be shut down, investigated

Former cult members are calling for the Pennsylvania church, Faith Tabernacle Congregation, to be shut down and investigated. The church, which has branches in various locations across Pennsylvania, has been accused by several former members of operating as a cult. Members allege the congregation does not seek medical care, relying instead on prayer for healing. This practice has led to the deaths of several children, with faith-healing being cited as the reason in past cases.

One former member, Colleen Winkel, shared her personal story of being a member of the Philadelphia branch of the church. Winkel's mother died in 1997 after she pleaded with her father to take her to the doctor, only for him to refuse. Winkel, now 54, has experienced emotional trauma and witnessed horrific events in her mother's decline. She believes the church's teachings on illness and death are a result of man-made rules rather than divine guidance.

Winkel left the church in 1997, the same year her mother passed away. She describes the church's control over its members as oppressive, citing restrictions on personal choices, such as clothing, social interactions, and even home ownership. She believes the church's practices amount to a violation of individual autonomy and seeks its closure to prevent others from suffering as she did.

Kenneth Martin, another former member, also supports the call for the church to be shut down. Martin, who spent 27 years in the church, describes the rules and restrictions imposed on members as confusing and contradictory, with a strong emphasis on not associating with those who have left the congregation. These rules, he believes, hinder personal growth and relationships with non-members.