Life in "Wicked Doomsday Cult"

Hat tip to both Gavin and Felix for continuing to bring Benjamin Grant Mitchell's story to light.  He recently was featured on the Australian version of "Inside Edition."  Check out the video about growing up in the the Worldwide Church of God, where it is rightly referred to as a "Wicked Doomsday Cult."

The video is here:  "Neighbours" star's dark secret

Mitchell tells of his siblings death and his grandmother who both died because of the church teachings. His father was a WCG minister until he ended  up in Pasadena and got to witness first hand the corruption.  Disfellowshipment loomed and they were exiled and shunned.

Some of the die-hard Armstrongites who saw the show are none too pleased and drop the proverbial COG mantra: "Just get over it."

The creepy thing for me watching that clip was listening to Herbert bellow from the stage and from his radio/tv broadcasts in his bombastic know-it-all "authoritative" voice.  I could feel my stomach muscles start to tighten at that sound! I guess that stems from too many years of having to sit there and listen to him bellow and vomit his crap all over us year in and year out.

Benjamin's blog and book information is here: The Last Great Day

Radio Interview of Benjamin Grant Mitchell on Life in Armstrongism

Growing up in a Doomsday cult

listen now download audio

Benjamin Grant Mitchell
full image

Until he was 10 years old Benjamin Grant Mitchell lived with the notion that the end of the world was imminent.
He and his family were part of the notorious Worldwide Church of God, run by the equally notorious Herbert W. Armstrong.
Now Benjamin has written a novel based on his early experiences growing up in a doomsday cult.

If audio above does not work checkout this link Podcast

Novel About Growing Up In Armstrongism a "Best Seller"

Benjamin Grant Mitchell's book, The Last Great Day is selling well.  Kudos to him for the success.  Maybe he can prevent more lives from being destroyed by Armstrongism!

My novel is a ‘Number One’ Bestseller

4 Aug

A writing affirmation popping up on my screensaver from time to time lately is:
“My writing brings happiness to others”

Amongst other self-penned reminders like “Everything I write makes me a better writer” are others focussed on my novel, The Last Great Day.

Occasionally I will return from making a cup of tea or changing a nappy (or changing a nappy while making a cup of tea—it’s all about time management) and see something like:

“The Last Great Day is an inspirational story”
or
“My focus in 2011 is on promoting The Last Great Day“.

The point of these particular bits of silent self-talk-it-up is to help me remember that although I am writing other stories now the one I spent three years perfecting is available for others to buy, read and—hopefully—enjoy.

Having put my heart, soul and back into making The Last Great Day ‘sing’, it is important for me to let people everywhere know The Last Great Day exists.
Luckily for me I’ve been invited to officially launch The Last Great Day at Melbourne Writers Festival (on Saturday 3rd September) this year. I’m really looking forward to it but am also grateful for other opportunities I’ve already had to share my story.

Since self-publishing on 21st April this year I have been fortunate to have been invited to the Emerging Writers Festival; Readings in Carlton have taken on The Last Great Day, and I also got to do a book signing at my local Dymocks.

At my first writing festival and my first retail outlets I’ve been able to share—and sell—my story. I’ve also met people who’ve already read my novel. It’s been fantastic getting enthusiastic and positive responses and seeing in the eyes of my ‘ever expanding readership’ how my words have found an appreciative and growing audience.

There’s been photo opportunities too. The one I’ve put up with this blog shows a small step towards achieving one of my other affirmations which is:
“The Last Great Day is on top of best seller lists everywhere”

And it’s true.

At least for one day, in a single bookstore in East Doncaster, The Last Great Day outsold all other books. As of August 2011, The Last Great Day is officially (not just in my imagination) a “Best Seller”.

Now, for my next bookstore storming…

'Last Great Day' Book Published

The year is 1969. Henry Conroy is a minister in an American doomsday cult based in England. Becoming a father for the first time, Henry moves his family home to Australia where his wife, Elizabeth, is reunited with her parents and pregnant, sickly sister.

When, as a result of their beliefs the family suffer a series of avoidable tragedies, Henry begins to question the true character of his leader. Elizabeth, however, driven by grief and guilt holds ever tight to her faith and, even after a harrowing encounter with the man she and her husband once so revered, refuses to face the shocking truth.

Disheartened by failed prophecies and impelled by disturbing rumours of sexual abuse, a defiant Henry relocates the family to church headquarters in California. There, he faces an agonising choice between continuing to live a lie and the possibility of losing his family forever.

Benjamin Grant Mitchell sent me a note to let me know that his book is now for sale.  Because of high shipping costs from Australia ($25.00 US), he recommends that those who do not want to pay the shipping fee to order it from Amazon as a Kindle or other reader download.  It is only $19.00 that way.

For more information go to Benjamin's web site:  Benjamin Grant Mitchell

Amazon Digital Version

Top 12 Fun Facts About WCG/Armstrongism

Check out Benjamin Grant Mitchell's blog for his top 12 Fun Facts about Armstrongism in all it's wacky glory!

Benjamin Grant Mitchell Blog 

New Book Based on Armstrongism: The Last Great Day

From Benjamin Grant Mitchell's site:

 THE LAST GREAT DAY

A novel based on a TRUE STORY

The author of THE LAST GREAT DAY, Benjamin Grant Mitchell, was born into a cult who believed the world was going to end sometime in the nineteen-seventies. Throughout his childhood his father was a minister in The Worldwide Church of God, an American based religion started by Herbert W. Armstrong, a former Oregon advertising man. The cult followed a mixture of religious beliefs including viewing medical assistance as unholy. As a result Benjamin’s Aunty and baby twin brothers died in otherwise preventable circumstances.

When prophecies for the End Time repeatedly failed, the Mitchell family moved to church headquarters in Pasadena, California, discovering rumours of sexual and financial corruption were well founded. Despite having no savings or home to return to (the cult paid rent and minimal wages), and knowing his family would be isolated from friends and extended family, Minister Mitchell resigned. On the way back to Australia, Benjamin turned ten in Hawaii, and although the cult banned celebrating birthdays, it was a notable milestone for the Mitchell’s, who began life for the first time free of the influence of a deluded megalomaniac.

THE LAST GREAT DAY is based on actual events including ex-members and friends of church leaders reporting child abuse at the highest ranks. It is set during the most tumultuous period of the cult’s existence, culminating when hundreds of thousands of members from around the world learned (via a 60 Minutes USA exposé), the Californian government was investigating the church for fraud. This turned out to be the beginning of the end —  not of the world, as Armstrong had falsely predicted for years —  but for his cult.

More information here:   Benjamin Grant Mitchell