By Lisa Morford


1.) Have you ever met Mike Peters or any of his lieutenants?

Yes

2.) Have you ever lived in Indianapolis or at a branch of their church?

Yes. When I was six years old, my family relocated to Indianapolis, IN to become a part of "the church in Indianapolis" led by Mike Peters.

3.) How long have you submitted to Mike Peters teachings?

We were involved with the group in Indianapolis for about 6 years. Although, after 4 years we were "disfellowshipped". During this time we lived in Kentucky, however my family was still in close contact with the "members". There were people we became close to in Kentucky who tried to tell my parents that they were involved in a cult, but of course when you ARE involved in a cult, that is the last thing you want to hear. After about a year in Kentucky, we ended up moving to Phoenix, AZ(only with Mike Peters' approval, of course) with a group of other members who had been "disfellowshipped"; it was a "second chance" type of thing. After about six months in this Phoenix group, we were excommunicated again, only this time for good. My parents had finally admitted to themselves that what they were involved in was indeed a cult, and they no longer wanted any part in it.

4.) What is the strangest thing you have witnessed in their group?  

The strangest this I witnessed was the intense fear of the "outside" world. Women don't walk alone for fear of being "attacked" or "raped" or "kidnapped" or who knows what else. Women don't go to the grocery store by themselves; they are required to have a male escort and they also go in groups. This group shelters themselves from the outside world as if it were diseased; there is no such thing as just kicking back and enjoying the life God gave you. I remember the first time we were kicked out and my parents talked about looking for a church...my brothers and I were terrified because "church was bad" and "of Satan" and stuff like that.There is just so much fear in everything that you do.

5.) What is the most destructive action you have witnessed? 

There were a lot of actions that could be considered destructive. But the problem is that most of itis psychological and really hard to pinpoint with exact accuracy. Everything there, every kind of damage, is done in such a subtle way that it's sometimes hard to realize what is happening. And I guess that's the point--it's the mind control that is the most destructive action. It permeates the kids too...don't think for a minute that it doesn't! They mimic the actions of the parents...I remember there was this time where a friend of mine got this really cool doll and I was admiring the doll and saying how I would like to be able to get one someday. One of my little friends looked at me and said "Hey, you really need to not be jealous. I think you need to ask God to forgive you." There is an emphasis on NOT doing wrong.. instead of just living to please God. Everything is about sin, sin, sin....you are in a constant state of confessing every little sin(not to say that any sin is little or to be taken lightly.) But even a bad attitude would require a public confession, when really you could just get on your knees before Christ and ask him to forgive the attitude of your heart.


Actually that's kind of funny because I think as a young kid I always realized that something was different...like I kind of knew that I had to pretend to be really spiritual if I wanted to be accepted. I never fully realized that there was a "real world"...although they do instill this intense fear of the outside world in you. I remember the first time we were kicked out and my parents talked about looking for a church...my brothers and I were terrified because "church was bad"...stuff like that. But I do remember even as a kid I got a bad feeling from Mike Peters...there was this one instance where I was walking from the car on the sidewalk on the way to our apartment. I passed Mike Peters and he looked at me with this creepy(almost dilusional) smile and reached his hand out to me. Tentatively, I reached mine out to him and he squeezed it and kept walking. I remember even though I was only like 10 I was totally creeped out! It was hard to put into words...but it was almost like in some weird way, he thought he was Jesus! I mean he would never ever say that...but it was a "let the little children come to me" kind of moment. I don't know, it's just really hard to explain. But I do remember that even the kids kind of idolize Mike Peters...even the kids know that they aren't to go against his words. His word just always goes. It's unquestioned. And they discipline kids constantly. It's INSANE. For EVERY LITTLE THING. There were days when we'd get spanked like every ten minutes...not because my mom wanted to but because she felt that she had to in order to not get judged by all the other moms. It's really out of control...the focus on the negative. They took me and my siblings to stay with them for a few weeks(during the first time we were kicked out) so that my parents could take care of some things(even though my mom was against it, she was just too scared of them to tell them not to take us). Anyway, during our time there, my little sister was apparently being "disobedient" and "obstinate"(she was three, ok)...and she ended up getting spanked for pretty close to an house straight. When we went back home, her rear end was BLACK. Literally. My mom was so angry and disheartened...but when she said something they told her "You really need to work on your daughter's heart because she is really an obstinate and rebellious child." As apparent here, they really believe in disciplining each other's children; if you babysit someone else's child you automatically have the right to spank them yourself, for whatever you feel deserves a spanking. I could go on and on! There is just SO MUCH.

6.) What are the normal people like on the "inside"? 

Normal people. Well, there are those who are "leaders" and for some reason they always seem stern and almost like they are looking down their noses at you. Those are the "watchdogs"; the people who are watching to make sure everyone is conducting themselves "properly" within the group. Then there are the regular, middle people who are trying to work their way up within the "ranks". These people follow blindly, always on a quest to make themselves more spiritual so that they will be accepted by the group, the leaders, then Mike Peters; and only then will they feel that they have been accepted by God. These people will defend the group's "honor" to the death; when concerned family members question the groups integrity or even sneak the word "cult" in here and there, these people will defend the group determinedly, even when it doesn't make any sense. And in the worst case scenario, they cut off all ties to their extended family or friends who aren't in complete agreement with the group.

7.) Are there others that you know that probably will leave or need help getting out?

getting out? I believe that everyone needs help getting out. There have been those who have left throughout the years(usually due to being kicked out or as they like to call it "disfellowshipped") and they usually need a lot of time and love to heal the damage that was done to their spirit due to their time spent in the group. By now pretty much everyone there has been there for at least a decade, if not longer. And once they have you in their grip, it is extremely hard to release yourself from it. Either you are too scared to question them, or you are so blinded by their lies that you truly do believe they are right. I do know that there are probably several husbands who would like to leave but stay because their wives are so wrapped up in it all.And those who are still willingly there, if they ever do get out, will need a lot of love and patience before they are able to see clearly again.

8.) What would you say to the members that are still trapped in the cult?

I would say, to look past the lie that is Mike Peters. Look in the Bible to see if it says anywhere, "Thou shalt obey My word through Mike Peters," (or any other man for that matter). Really listen to Mike's words; pay attention to how often he will contradict himself and sometimes talk on and on without saying anything at all. Double check the scriptures he quotes for yourself; see how often he takes things out of context. Attempt to know God for yourself; good relationships with other believers IS important, but don't let those relationships replace your own relationship with God.

9.) Free form comments

I just have a couple of things that I would like to say to the anyone who is searching for truth or answers regarding the so called "church" in Indianapolis. First of all, keep this in mind when visiting the allathisfeet.com website or any of the other Indy related sites or materials:

"13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righeousness, whose end will be according to their deeds."
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NAS

Their websites say all the right things, people. To the Christian who is looking for more than just the sometimes empty, Sunday to Sunday relationship with Jesus Christ, their websites and teachings offer hope that there may be something better out there. But:

15Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot produe bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit." Matthew 7:15-18 NAS

On the outside, they look like they are just trying to live a Biblically-outlined life. But look at their fruit, guys. There are pages and pages on Factnet and here on this very website of the fruit that is produced by this group. Decide for yourselves whether it is good, or whether it is bad.