The following information was submitted by former
members of the Greater Grace World Outreach:
Description of Group:
On the surface it appears as a healthy evangelical
Christian church on the outskirts of Baltimore, which moved to
that location in June 1987. It is, rather, a personality cult
revolving around Carl Stevens, who twists passages from the Bible
to further his own ends, that of controlling the lives of the
members of his congregation.
The BITE Model Applied to Greater Grace World Outreach:
Behavior Control:
Regulation of individual's physical reality
Pastor Stevens has a heavy emphasis on members
attending the ministry's 30-90 minute services a week, along with
at least one or more informal ministry meetings held daily referred
to as "rap sessions" or "the rap", which is
basically a 20 to 30 minute sermon with a few carefully chosen
questions from the congregants so as not to open the pastor up
to any legitimate challenging questions on some of his questionable
interpretations of the scriptures.
Need to ask permission for major decisions
The need to ask permission for decisions is definitley
strongly implied by Carl Stevens. He doesn't come out and state
his opinion on a congregant's decision, and says something similar
to "I never tell anyone what to do" but has also added
within the member's earshot, "...but I know what I
would do!" then goes on to suggest what the member should
or shouldn't do regarding a personal decision.
Need to report thoughts, feelings and activities
to superior
When my wife and I were members living near the
church's headquarters, and we were going somewhere, we were expected
to tell others within the church where we were going and when
we would be back. If we were going to be at all in proximity to
any former church members we were always forewarned of the "reasons
they left the ministry" and to be very careful.
Information Control
Access to non-cult sources of information minimized
or discouraged
If in conversation I let it be known that I listened
to and found benefit from another Christian teacher or pastor
on a radio program, it was made known to me that there was a certain
amount of "error" in that non-member's teaching. As
a member of Greater Grace, it is frowned upon to listen to teaching
tapes by anyone other than Carl Stevens or the ministry pastors
who line up their teaching with Steven's. His heavy emphasis upon
the "anointing" and "authority of the pastor/teacher"
crosses the line into paranoia if challenged.
Thought Control:
Need to internalize group's doctrine as "truth";
Us v. Them
An "us versus them" attitude prevails
behind the scenes at GGWO. It takes on a more deliberate form
of good versus evil.
Adopt "loaded" language (characterized
by "thought-terminating clichés")
Pastor Steven's sermons or "messages"
are replete with loaded language that members are familiar with.
No critical questions about leader, doctrine,
or policy seen as legitimate
Serious questions about Pastor Stevens or his son
and their past misconduct is outright denied or rebuked as being
"from Satan", as I personally witnessed.
Emotional Control
Organizations related to the group:
Several "branch ministries" of 10 to 200 members scattered
throughout United States, with some in foreign countries.
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freedom and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The fact that a person’s name or group appears on our website
does not necessarily mean they are a destructive mind control cult.
They appear because we have received inquiries and have established
a file on the group.
The Freedom of Mind Resource Center Inc. was established by cult expert Steve Hassan.
