Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 83
The Making of a Disciple in the International Churches of
Christ
Kathy Kelly, MA, ATC/L
Abstract
During a major life transition, the International Churches of Christ (ICC) drew
me into their web. They reeled me in with God, friendship, and unconditional
love. They held me tight with guilt and fear. They cast me out when I
questioned their doctrine. This article details my perception of my ICC
experience first as it occurred and then following my exit.
My background in religion was relatively limited. I was christened in the Methodist church as
a baby. I was raised by a non-practicing-Catholic father and a Methodist mother. I attended
Methodist church as a child but stopped going in junior high or high school when sports took
over. Organized religion was non-existent in my life through college, but I always had my
own faith in God as a Christian.
The point in my life where the ICC began to play a role was after graduate school when I
was working as an athletic trainer at Wake Forest University. I had decided that I needed
to make a career change, since I had no time for a life outside of work. This was amplified
by dating a man who was training for the Olympics in Florida.
I was planning a trip to see him when basketball season ended. I had heard that one of my
childhood friends, Julie, was living in Atlanta, and thought that the trip would be a great
chance to stop by and catch up with her. I got in touch with her and planned to stay with
her on a Friday, so I could drive the rest of the way on Saturday. The week before my trip,
my boyfriend and I broke up. I was devastated. I already had plans to work as an athletic
trainer during the Olympic Games and would be there when he was competing. I called Julie
to tell her that I would not be coming through Atlanta. Somehow, she talked me into
driving six hours to visit her for the weekend.
I arrived on a Saturday and Julie and I spent the day shopping in Atlanta and seeing the
sights. She told me that she and her husband would be going to church in the morning and
would love to have me go with them. The next morning we set off for the Omni Center
(where the Hawks used to play basketball). It was a congregational Sunday, so all of the
regions of the church would be in one place for Sunday service. We walked into the Omni
Center where about 3000 people were milling about. Lots of people were coming up to Julie
and hugging her and asking her how her new practice was going. I was very impressed
that all of these people knew each other and knew about each others‘ lives. The service
started with a band and great singers (all of them were good looking too!). The music was
contemporary and fun. Steve Sapp then began his sermon. I was uncomfortable by all of
the people saying ―Amen‖ during his talk, but people were really into it, they were even
taking notes! Steve spoke about how we often get to a point in our lives where things are
going bad, where we don‘t know what direction we are headed in, or what we were put on
this earth to do. I thought he was talking directly to me! He said that when we get there,
we need to turn to God and let him guide us. When the service ended, I was introduced to
Randy, another athletic trainer, and Marissa, a girl who looked a lot like me, and lots of
other people, including Steve‘s wife, Kim Sapp. Julie and I went to lunch after the service
and she asked me what I thought of church. I was overwhelmed. I started crying and told
her that Steve had somehow talked about my life, and I guess that what I really needed
was God. She agreed with me and told me that there were 2 ICC churches in North
The Making of a Disciple in the International Churches of
Christ
Kathy Kelly, MA, ATC/L
Abstract
During a major life transition, the International Churches of Christ (ICC) drew
me into their web. They reeled me in with God, friendship, and unconditional
love. They held me tight with guilt and fear. They cast me out when I
questioned their doctrine. This article details my perception of my ICC
experience first as it occurred and then following my exit.
My background in religion was relatively limited. I was christened in the Methodist church as
a baby. I was raised by a non-practicing-Catholic father and a Methodist mother. I attended
Methodist church as a child but stopped going in junior high or high school when sports took
over. Organized religion was non-existent in my life through college, but I always had my
own faith in God as a Christian.
The point in my life where the ICC began to play a role was after graduate school when I
was working as an athletic trainer at Wake Forest University. I had decided that I needed
to make a career change, since I had no time for a life outside of work. This was amplified
by dating a man who was training for the Olympics in Florida.
I was planning a trip to see him when basketball season ended. I had heard that one of my
childhood friends, Julie, was living in Atlanta, and thought that the trip would be a great
chance to stop by and catch up with her. I got in touch with her and planned to stay with
her on a Friday, so I could drive the rest of the way on Saturday. The week before my trip,
my boyfriend and I broke up. I was devastated. I already had plans to work as an athletic
trainer during the Olympic Games and would be there when he was competing. I called Julie
to tell her that I would not be coming through Atlanta. Somehow, she talked me into
driving six hours to visit her for the weekend.
I arrived on a Saturday and Julie and I spent the day shopping in Atlanta and seeing the
sights. She told me that she and her husband would be going to church in the morning and
would love to have me go with them. The next morning we set off for the Omni Center
(where the Hawks used to play basketball). It was a congregational Sunday, so all of the
regions of the church would be in one place for Sunday service. We walked into the Omni
Center where about 3000 people were milling about. Lots of people were coming up to Julie
and hugging her and asking her how her new practice was going. I was very impressed
that all of these people knew each other and knew about each others‘ lives. The service
started with a band and great singers (all of them were good looking too!). The music was
contemporary and fun. Steve Sapp then began his sermon. I was uncomfortable by all of
the people saying ―Amen‖ during his talk, but people were really into it, they were even
taking notes! Steve spoke about how we often get to a point in our lives where things are
going bad, where we don‘t know what direction we are headed in, or what we were put on
this earth to do. I thought he was talking directly to me! He said that when we get there,
we need to turn to God and let him guide us. When the service ended, I was introduced to
Randy, another athletic trainer, and Marissa, a girl who looked a lot like me, and lots of
other people, including Steve‘s wife, Kim Sapp. Julie and I went to lunch after the service
and she asked me what I thought of church. I was overwhelmed. I started crying and told
her that Steve had somehow talked about my life, and I guess that what I really needed
was God. She agreed with me and told me that there were 2 ICC churches in North
