Voices for Voices®

Escaping the Cult: One Survivor's Warning | Ep 291

• Founder of Voices for Voices®, Justin Alan Hayes • Season 4 • Episode 291

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Escaping the Cult: One Survivor's Warning | Ep 291

David Solomon returns to share his harrowing first-hand experience with the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City, known as "The Baby Killing Cult" for its dangerous faith healing practices and manipulation tactics. He provides crucial insights into cult recruitment strategies, brainwashing techniques, and institutional complicity to help others recognize warning signs and find hope after escaping similar situations.

• Youth recruitment tactics that separate children from parents through fun activities and special attention
• Gradual indoctrination process that creates dependency on the cult while isolating members from family
• Dangerous faith healing doctrine that rejects medical care, resulting in preventable deaths and suffering
• Manipulation of Bible verses to control members through fear and twisted theology
• Institutional connections with police, social services and schools that protect the cult from accountability
• Brainwashing techniques that turn children against parents by claiming parents are "spiritually unwell"
• Warning signs that someone you know might be involved in a destructive cult
• Message of hope that escape is possible and survivors are not alone

If you or someone you know has been affected by cult manipulation, please reach out for help. You're not alone, and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Chapter Markers

0:00 Welcome and Show Introduction

1:21 David's Personal Cult Experience

4:06 Youth Recruitment Tactics Exposed

9:06 The Baby Killing Cult Revealed

15:02 Brainwashing Techniques and Bible Manipulation

20:53 Police Misconduct and Institutional Connections

26:20 Final Message of Hope

#CultSurvivor #EscapeTheCult #TrueStory #CultsExposed #SurvivorStories #MentalHealthAwareness #BreakingFree #TraumaRecovery #LifeAfterCult #WitnessingTheTruth #CultsAndSociety #PersonalJourney #ResilienceInHealing #EmpowermentThroughSharing #WarningToOthers #justiceforsurvivors #justice4survivors #VoicesforVoices #VoicesforVoicesPodcast #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #factoverfictionmatters #transparency

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Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the Voices for Voices TV show and podcast. I'm your host. Founder of Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes. Thank you so much for joining us. Whether you're watching, whether you're listening, whether you're here in the United States or you're somewhere outside the United States, we're pushing 80 countries getting close to 800 cities. It's really it's mind-blowing, it's humbling, and to know that we're having an impact and getting some excellent feedback and knowing that people as high up as you know, our president and President Trump is aware of Voices for Voices, with what we're doing, and it's really humbling to even have again a second or two of his time or his team's time to even know Voices for Voices is just incredible.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

So this particular episode, we are going to do an audio call with our guest and we are going to dive into three areas. First we're going to dive into as we have and will continue to do, we're going to talk about some difficult topics and so just to kind of give you a heads up that we're going to be going into that, you know tough subjects in this particular episode. So first we're going to talk about cults, then we're going to be talking about brainwashing and then that's going to lead into our third pillar of this particular episode police misconduct, and so our guest is going to help weave all that together. Our guest coming to us via the phone is a prior guest and now current guest, David Solomon. David, thank you so much for joining us on another episode of the show.

David Solomon:

Thank you for having me.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

You're welcome. Can you get us started with why you felt it was important to come on and talk about these topics, starting with cults?

David Solomon:

going on in my town and I was actually a member of one of the churches. That was a cult and I got out Honestly, I thought I was the only one and I talked to someone yesterday and found out that they're up there and it really opened my eyes to talk about this a little bit for their sake. So I wanted to share a little bit about how dangerous cults can be and just try to open eyes with that in new ways, and so that's why I felt really just compelled to talk about it, because there's a lot of victims still out there that think they're the only ones.

David Solomon:

Can you start off just a broad definition, your understanding of what a cult is from a definition standpoint, and then jump in yeah, well, this particular type of cult likes to pull people in at a very young age, and they like to seclude you from your parent, and what that means. I'll tell you how I was brought in. I was in my youth, and they have all these big youth programs, and they attract the youth. They call them youth nights, wednesdays, saturdays, fridays and Thursdays, so like things are just you know happening, and the funny thing, though, is you won't find any parents there, except for maybe someone that's 20 years old, oh, and so they attract the youth that way, and they hook them, and then they get their social media information, and then they start to weave in a little bit at a time, basically every week, of their doctrine, and I'll give you an example. The first time I went, they gave me a flyer, and they were like you know what's your email, what's your phone number and where do you live, and it seems kind of interesting and like sort of harmless. And then they go oh yeah, we want to, you know, drive by and check in on you and fellowship with you, and you know, maybe you can get plugged in, and that in on you and fellowship with you, and you know, maybe you can get plugged in and that's harmless, and then it gets a little more unique. You know how about? You come for one of our studies and, oh, you're a homeschooler or you're in high school Well, we can help graduate you. Oh, I got friends in the school, cool, well, we can help graduate you. Oh, I got friends in the school. And it's a very attractive proposition when someone says I can graduate you, all you got to do is lead worship and you know, I can help you graduate, I'll make some calls, I can help you graduate, I'll make some calls.

David Solomon:

And I think that's one thing that really hooks people to this cult is education, and they have a lot of power with education. And then they start turning the child against the parent and say oh well, you know God is working in you, but your parent is spiritually unwell, and so I think we need to take custody of you. And so that's what we call phase two, and then phase three is then that they brainwash the person so bad they never want to see their parent again, and one major reason why they justify the parent needs to separate is they don't believe in sickness at all. They believe that sickness is of the devil. Um, they, but, like my, when she had cancer, they believed that she was doing something wrong and she didn't have enough faith, so God was punishing her for doing something evil and wicked.

David Solomon:

And that wasn't the case, and so you know that's a dangerous moment for sure, and so it takes a long time for people to realize they're in a cult once they're in their educational system and once they think they're doing something really cool and go into youth group, but then their mom or their dad gets sick and they can't see their mom or dad anymore and church comes first, and pretty soon it creates that bridge where they use the Bible to say that church comes first before your parent, and there are kids that have taken their lives because they don't want to choose. Don't want to choose. The church that I am speaking about is called Followers of Christ in Oregon City.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

And you've been given permission to talk about this, correct?

David Solomon:

I have.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Okay, continue, and you've been given permission to talk about this, correct?

David Solomon:

I have Okay continue.

David Solomon:

The Followers of Christ is called the Baby Killing Cult, according to KATUcom, chicago Times, new York Times, kgwcom and KOIN6.com and CultEducationcom. So we're going to read this to give you a little overview. So the followers of Christ is named one of the most dangerous cults in the United States and is nicknamed the baby killing cult because multiple criminal allegations and investigations have been made about the church. Because they do not believe in doctors and they do not believe in sickness. They believe that faith heals everything and if you don't have enough faith, then you don't deserve to be healed, and so this was a very dangerous moment for someone like me that was caught up in it and others. We didn't know that it was a cult, it was youth group. It was, uh, it was youth group and nothing more. So it starts out as that that wednesday or t and they give you pizza or whatever. You know I couldn't have pizza, but other kids did and they give you free video games, right, they give you access to anything you want on Wednesday and Tuesday. That's video games or hanging out. They encourage running around the church and you know they go crazy on their youth nights. I mean, we're throwing eggs at each other and eating spiders and snakes and it's like an extreme youth group. It's like an extreme youth group and it sounds fun until the next week.

David Solomon:

You know the youth leader, they call them the circle youth. They go to you and they go oh, okay, well, you know you were here last week. How about we connect with you at your home? Well, I just came once. Oh, that's okay, I'll just stop by. I'd love to meet your parent. Oh, okay, and you know, your parent doesn't have to drop you off, I can personally pick you up and make sure that you're here on time every day. And so they get that commitment out of you really quick. And it happens so quickly.

David Solomon:

You don't know that you're in a cult until four weeks later when you're going every day. Four weeks later, when you're going every day, and then your parent is saying, well, I need you here to do chores, and your youth leader is saying, well, I need him here to do the Bible or her. And that is a very dangerous moment because when you do that, you cross lines. So that's why they're called this great cult, because they don't let their members go to doctors and they get you into membership within four weeks of joining that youth group and you're required to uh, to give tithe.

David Solomon:

What that means doesn't necessarily mean money, it means your time. Take me, for instance. I became worship leader and I did the offering and I did the music, and those were just three of the things they did. I I taught Sunday school a few times, and so that's what they do to lure people in, and they've been guilty of letting a baby die because they would not let the baby see a doctor, nor the parent, and they've been found guilty of not letting other members see doctors because that's what they believe, and so it's a very dangerous moment.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Yeah, can you go on about that. You're not the only one and how important that is for anyone that has or is currently being affected or impacted for them to understand, as somebody who went through it with that experience.

David Solomon:

Yeah.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Yeah.

David Solomon:

So they do what's called brainwashing and they're really good at it. And brainwashing means that they will brainwash you to think that your parent is bad and they're not. And for someone that's going through it, your parent is who raised you, remember where you come from. They are not your parent and that anything that is is uh is slightly evil is evil. So if someone's trying to tear you from your parent your parents loving on you, and saying I'm horrified at this, this isn't right, you should listen to them. Don't listen to someone that's only known you four weeks, when someone's known you your whole life and to the brainwashing. Remember who you are and where you come from, because they don't. They don't know where you come from. They want you to come from where they are, but that is not where you come from. Brainwashing is so heavy in their techniques to use on numbers.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

How did you learn about this? How did you become aware that you had been one of these children? Yeah, how did I learn it? No, I mean, as we're having our conversation on this episode, how did you learn that? That's what happened? To be able to know, to talk about this, I guess.

David Solomon:

Well, my mom went through it. But just recently I connected with someone else who has gone through it and we had a very long talk about brainwash and it really shocked me how many victims there are out there of this. And it all goes back to these. People twist the bible. I'll give you an example. They say that they're sinless. Well, saying you're sinless is calling God a liar Right there, Because Jesus died for our sins. That's the first verse that tears up their entire philosophy. But they believe in the extreme of what's called faith healing. So let's see One of the verses that a majority of verses they use is by his stripes, we are healed. I don't know if you've heard that.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Can you say that again you were breaking up March?

David Solomon:

16, 17, and 18.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

You were breaking up.

David Solomon:

Laying hands oh.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Yep.

David Solomon:

March 16, 17, and 18. Laying hands on the sick.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Okay.

David Solomon:

So they really believe that, that, and so they twist that. But they don't understand the context of that verse, and so they'll manipulate the bible. Um, one of their favorite verses is in second corinthians, where it talks about how we're not to sin, and another verse is Jesus paid the price for us in every way, and they interpret that as every illness. By his stripes we are healed, and if you don't have his stripes, you don't have enough faith. So they go as far as to not believe in disabilities. They believe that's demonic. Oh, and so that's why they've been in criminal investigations.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Yeah, can you, as we continue, if you're able to, can you share what? How? Police departments around the state? So you mentioned the state. So you mentioned the church. Can you mention the state? And then also, if you're able to talk about the retreat, the once a year.

David Solomon:

Yeah, so with this in particular church, they have a strong relationship with police departments.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

We're talking about the state of Oregon, so I just want to make sure our viewers and our listeners know that.

David Solomon:

Yep, the Followers of Christ Church in Oregon City Correct Okay continueers of Christ Church in Oregon. City Correct. Okay, continue On Malala Avenue.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Thank you.

David Solomon:

You're welcome and they have a strong relationship. Let me make that a little bit more clear and clarify that. So they go as far as to throw a banquet for police departments all over the state and they partner with other people to do it and they make sure that they have those relationships so that their crimes are covered and that's why they're not caught. And so then they get officers to go to the church or offer them membership and money and different things, and so there's a lot of police misconduct going on. If you Google Oregon City police misconduct, there's a lot going on. I was amazed at how much is going on because of this church alone, and this is the church where everything in my life went down. Now, the other thing is they also have a strong relationship with social services.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Okay, that's important.

David Solomon:

And so they like to alter social security numbers and or change identities. They're very big on it. They have relationships with the public school system to the point where they can pull kids out or expel them if they try to escape, and so they have a lot of power also over scholarships and colleges. I know that from experience because a friend of mine got threatened if he left they would pull his career, because he got into OSU and they would pull his career. He was on the Oregon Ducks. So they have a lot of power that way and they like to utilize those services. You know, one of the head firemen goes to the church, one of the head paramedics a hospital, even though they don't believe in sickness. They got a hospital person there, a nurse and an ambulance worker, which is hilarious, and so that kind of goes to show you just how twisted they are, if that makes sense.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Yeah, and you're not saying these things lightly. I mean, we understand the gravity of the terminology that's being used, so that's also important for viewers and listeners. These terms aren't being thrown around just willy-nilly or whatever we want to think. We understand how serious what we're talking about is in the terms that, yeah, it sounds extreme, but if it actually is occurring, it still can sound extreme. It still can sound extreme, but again, if it's occurring which you've been given the authority to talk about this, so that brings just that. It's fact finding, it's having conversations and more conversations, and more conversations. That's right. We've got about a minute and a half if you want to close us out.

David Solomon:

I would just encourage people to look at where you come from and really, as a Christian, look at where you come from and really, as a Christian, look at the Word, because they can brainwash you all you want, but the truth will always show and the Word doesn't their words. Do Remember the devil can always quote Scripture, but he doesn't know it.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Any last thoughts before we?

David Solomon:

I would just say use caution and if you are in that place, get out. Don't be afraid. There is light at the end of the tunnel and there is hope.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

Great. Well, thank you for sharing so intimately about. You know the topics of cults and brainwashing and misconduct and things you went through and finding that you're not alone and that others should know that they're also not alone, that by you speaking and and uh, you know, being a guest, that this is a a form of a light for somebody who, a form of a light for somebody who may have been waiting for this time, been waiting for somebody to say something, and I think that's powerful.

David Solomon:

You know what you've done and what you're doing. I appreciate that.

Voices for VoicesⓇ, Justin Alan Hayes:

I hope it can help someone absolutely. And again, our viewers, our listeners, all of you, thank you for being with us, sticking with us. Again, some hard topics, difficult terms, some things that may sound extreme. However, it does. Again, from David being given authority to talk about these topics, it shows that, while there are good people, there's also people that may not be who we thought that they were. And, to David's point, if you see something, say something, you're not alone, and we'd love to have you on the show so you can be another guiding light for others that have been, unfortunately, victims at the hands of this. So please be a voice for you or somebody in need, and we'll see you on the next episode of the Voices for Voices TV show and podcast. God bless.

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