Leaving the United Pentecostal Church (UPCI): Lori's Story

This email address is provided to connect with and support people, not for pointless arguments: [e-mail]
Lori's YT Channel:
/ @leavingtheupci239

[@christyjohnson4563]

I left the UPCI years ago. I graduated from JCM, was an AIM worker, and wholeheartedly embraced the doctrine. However, after 25 years, I began to question my faith. I am now an ordained minister in another organization and beyond happy to have found the fullness of God’s grace!! 😊

[@conniehensley9948]

I left the UPC church, as well. Still trying to get completely free from their teachings. Unlearning is more difficult than learning. I know my Lord Jesus through a personal relationship now instead of religion. Learning to be okay with others considering me back slid. I'm closer to my Lord now than I ever have been. Still struggling with not trying to work for my Salvation, though . Thank you,for your testimony!

[@VictorianMaid99]

I am trying to unlearn YEARS of programming.

[@Peppipainters5943]

I can not wait for this one!! Lori will always have a place in my heart. She was one of the first people i started watching on youtube about leaving the UPCI. Thank you for featuring this remarkable woman!

[@ResponsibleFaith]

She's a sweetheart. I was so happy to chat with her. ❤️

[@Peppipainters5943]

@@ResponsibleFaithi forgot that my youtube name is different than my fb name aka Carlena P.

[@simplehomeandhearthonline7182]

Brian and I watched this with such glee! We’ve known Lori for several years and consider her such a great friend. What a beautiful person! Love you, girl!

[@ResponsibleFaith]

I was hoping you guys would see this! I knew it would warm and bless your hearts. She is such a beautiful, strong woman. ❤

[@GrayTopGigi]

Awww.... Thanks my beautiful, loving friend! West Virginia will never be the same!. Love you Too!

[@amateurfaithnight1959]

Love both of you ladies! Thank you for your encouragement and friendship!

[@stevenleabon8032]

Love the humour you bring deanna your fun, respectful. Your friend guest Lori what a blessing she is , you to. 😊Prayers go out to her journey amen ❤❤❤❤love hugs 😊

[@ResponsibleFaith]

Thank you!

[@Heidi_Huntley]

Absolutely loved this interview. Thank you for sharing your story, Lori! When we first started questioning things in the UPC I stumbled across your videos. They just made so much sense as to why the UPC teachings were wrong. I remember walking in the church building and feelings of panic thinking someone would know I'd been watching anti-UPC propaganda. So funny to think about now. Thank you for giving me the courage to leave. I'm thrilled to see you so happy now. Love you!

[@ricklori9065]

You make me cry girl!! 🥲🥲

[@joyaustin3140]

Have you gotta closer to God or more carnal since you left?

[@ricklori9065]

@@joyaustin3140Feel? Feelings are paramount in the UPC, I understand that. I have much more understanding of the sacrifices that Jesus made and how great a debt He paid for me.

[@leavingtheupci239]

@@joyaustin3140 Why do you care? That's like a sincere question. Do you really care, or are you just trolling because your organization means more to you than your brother or sister.

[@rachel_white]

Thanks for sharing your story, Lori. I am so happy for you to be enjoying life so much!

[@tame3628]

Nebraska has a long history of controlling and judgemental UPCI churches, all across the state. I left in 91. I was the first in my family to leave and it was the most difficult thing I ever did. Thank you for these videos.

[@Mari-B]

I so enjoyed seeing two of my favorite people on this video! I appreciate you both, and I try never to miss a video. I miss your videos, Lori! 🙂 This video was so familiar to our experience.

[@ResponsibleFaith]

That's so sweet, Mari...I'm glad you enjoyed our conversation.

[@Mari-B]

@@ResponsibleFaith 👍🏼❤️

[@bonniejackson1824]

Thank you both. When I listen to either of you I feel encouraged.

[@joyaustin3140]

What do you feel encouraged about? Are we looking for people to make us feel better or less conviction when God is dealing with our hearts about living separate from this world

[@ricklori9065]

@@joyaustin3140you sound bitter. Are you okay?

[@carlcraft5416]

Thank you for doing this left the upcl too look up so I have watched almost all your videos and you had gave me confidence and yes the people are running into a very hateful they will not even say hi to me so thank you very much for speaking out about this😊

[@clementsisland5808]

I watched all of Lori's videos before they were removed. Both of you have been so helpful to me in my journey out. Your friendship is so sweet! "And i cuss a little!" 😂 Cracked me up! It's a relief to be able to slip a little sass without worrying about your salvation 💕

[@ResponsibleFaith]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@joyaustin3140]

Really..God can do better than that. The same Spirit and power that got Jesus out of the graves lives in us and God can’t deliver us from cussing … really . You’ll wouldn’t make it in other countries were their dying for their faith

[@susanspatz9501]

@@joyaustin3140 God delivered me of a filthy mouth 35 years ago. Every single person I know that has left church has started cussing again. Really sad too, because those that were still in church had a conviction about it , and now justify their potty mouth once they have left.

[@GigiRocks1969]

Celebrating your happiness, Lori! God bless you!☺️

[@TechNSaved]

I’ve watched her vids too! Currently seeking a new church, unfortunately my wife and kids still enjoy our current Pentecostal one. I’m really trying to leave and find one but it’s been tough! 😓

[@ricklori9065]

What a FUN hour this was!!! Maybe Canada will be on our list of places to visit after retirement!!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼❤❤

[@ResponsibleFaith]

It was fun! ❤ I think Canada would be an great idea for a visit! The East coast is beautiful! 😊 hint, hint

[@timholloway8821]

I watched lori after leaving oneness, my wife stayed in and divorced me, married the guy that sat behind us in church for years! You get more wounds from church than a barstool, or it was for me anyways!

[@melodymorgans2659]

Awe love you. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@ricklori9065]

Thanks friend! It was fun to share it again!

[@maryhelencampos9964]

Intriguing Interesting Insightful Information Interview/ Blessings on your new marriage Lori❤

[@ricklori9065]

Thank you!!!❤

[@murrayritter]

Thank you so much both of you! I’m wanting to get out but my husband isn’t getting me. So frustrating.

[@sandimcclain6523]

Love this and love Lori!

[@joyaustin3140]

The world love their own

[@GrayTopGigi]

Pride of life; lust of the eyes; lust of the flesh.... THAT'S what the Biblical definition of 'the world' is, sweetie. NOT "anyone that believes differently than our tiny, NEW (under a hundred years old - study it!) group. I don't blame you for ignorance...it's what you were fed.

[@cbd.5447]

Great interview!

[@ResponsibleFaith]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@joyaustin3140]

What was great about it?

[@Matthew3232_]

I keep asking for direction. And your video keep popping up. About leaving this cult. Look at is God showing me.

[@NicoleCB]

Thank you.

[@NOTaNTHERlikeMEzealbook]

Question, do you think it’s painting with a broad stroke to aim an individual experience with a local assembly against a whole organization? Just interested in your view on that. I’m very sorry for your encounters that brought you both emotional injury. Praying for your healing. #theNakedPreacherbook

[@ResponsibleFaith]

We're not aiming an individual experience in a local assembly against a whole organization. But, the organization is made up of local assemblies, and we hear from people all over North America who experience similar abuse and crushing hopelessness within their local UPC assemblies. We are speaking based on our experience working with and supporting ex-members. We speak based on extreme UPC public sermons/rules, their exclusive view of salvation/other Christians, and the attitudes of many of their ministers and saints. Lori and I agree that the organization has kind people and even pastors. But not everyone is lucky enough to get one of those pastors, so we're trying to throw a lifeline to the abused, to people who have had to leave because they don't see the UPC doctrine in scripture anymore, to those who are harshly judged and controlled, some who have lost their families, others shunned by almost everyone they know and love...many who no matter how hard they tried it was never good enough, so they just gave up. This thread runs through a large part of the organization, unchallenged and uncorrected. It needs to be addressed. The kingdom fallout is too great to ignore, just to spare a few UPC'ers from getting their feeling hurt. Lori and I are both healed. If you have room on your prayer list, pray for the casualties of the UPC who are deeply wounded and struggling to figure out if they even believe in God anymore. Pray for those who attended UPC churches for decades and never heard the gospel fully explained. Pray for those whose pastor was such a tyrant that they lived in constant fear of upsetting him or disobeying his ever-changing, unbiblical, arbitrary rules. Pray for UPC sexual abuse victims who deal with lifelong trauma from their assaults and who don't trust Christians anymore because of the victim blaming they experienced from the church. Many of them distrust pastors because their abuse was swept under the rug when they took it to him, and sometimes the pastor/his son was the abuser. Pray for those who spent their entire childhoods crippled with fear because of the fear-based teaching they grew up hearing. Pray that top UPC leaders will have the revelation and support they need to make the necessary organizational changes. Pray for a UPC reformation; they fully understand the gospel and are brought to repentance for their pride and any abuses they have perpetrated. People always talk about the "good ones," but when scandal/abuse goes down, the good ones are as quiet as church mice. Enablers. They need to publicly stand for what is right. Lord knows they are vocal enough about foolish things like a woman's closet or a man's beard... They need to stand with spiritual and sexual abuse victims instead of being too timid to ruffle the feathers of their buddies. Toxic leaders need to be confronted and, if need be, removed. It's costing people their faith. There is nothing more serious imo. Regarding your prayer list...this would be a great place to start.

[@user-dk6oo1rg6v]

Great interview

[@stevenleabon8032]

Jessy typing ❤❤

[@melodymorgans2659]

The Metoo movement had hats, think we should do the bitter hats 😂

[@ricklori9065]

I totally agree!

[@ResponsibleFaith]

Haha! Maybe we should.

[@darcygilbert1353]

Hi Deanna Jo! Just a quick question: Have you interviewed anyone who left the UPCI and are now no longer Christian? After two years in the UPCI and over 30 years of being Christian, I am agnostic now. Was looking for people like me. Thank you!

[@ResponsibleFaith]

I typically interview ex-UPC'ers who retain their faith but I know Sterling is agnostic (Heather and Sterling's interview), and Debbie is pagan now. I guess I felt like there were more voices on social media who left that didn't retain faith and wanted to fill that void. I also think TikTok has a lot of different voices from ex-fundie people.

[@darcygilbert1353]

@@ResponsibleFaith Thanks for the info! In my experience most of the content that I have found is on ex-UPCers that are still Christian. I will take a look at the content in the people you mentioned! Thanks Deanna Jo! I really like listening to your channel. You are well spoken and prepared and I enjoy all of the interviews! 😉

[@joyaustin3140]

Your answer are in the Bible. Your left the Upc church and now you’re even more confused. So why did u leave? You haven’t gotten closer to God and sounds like you’ve gotten further away. We truly need to search our own hearts and stop playing like we don’t understand. God is a holy God

[@leavingtheupci239]

@@joyaustin3140 , you know you sound like a know-it-all, right? It's so off-putting. Why would folks want to be a part of your organization, when it has such a reputation for creating long term know it all's. Please, stop trolling.

[@darcygilbert1353]

@@joyaustin3140 I don’t believe in the Christian god. Therefore reading the Bible more than I have wouldn’t do anything for me. Im guessing you don’t believe in Allah or Vishnu or Odin. Would you waste your time reading those “holy” texts? Im guessing no.

[@solodecora]

🙏🏾🔥🙏🏾

[@ws775]

Nice hat!

[@ResponsibleFaith]

Haha, thanks.

[@stevenleabon8032]

I so want to be married, but certainly want the right one. Lori has been a testimant to that. ❤❤

[@ResponsibleFaith]

Yes, the wrong one can certainly make your life miserable. There are plenty of lonely married people out there.

[@rickyhurtado]

Lori used to leave distasteful comments on my wife's #holiness and #modesty hashtag images haha my wife didn't take it as an attack, luckily. She understood that everyone was on their own journey.

[@ricklori9065]

I did??! Oh my, please forgive me!! Yes, it’s such a journey and there’s pain at times during the process. I definitely still leave comments on UPC things, but I try to make them thought provoking, not hurtful or distasteful!! God bless you both!!

[@ResponsibleFaith]

That is a very gracious attitude from you and your wife. ❤️ Sometimes these situations can bring out the worst in us; from being in the UPC and being judgmental, to leaving, feeling hurt/judged, and lashing out back at anyone who seems to represent what we left. It can all get so messy. I am also not surprised that Lori was quick to comment and apologize. ❤️

[@rickyhurtado]

@@ricklori9065 I've watched enough of your vids to know you're a sweetheart. There were no hard feelings then, and even less now :)

[@user-dk6oo1rg6v]

Have you ever investigated the roles of elder, Deacon, etc The reason I ask is I have a different religious background I(foolishly) chose Apostolic as a consenting adult I do believe in God, etc But, I have really questioned some of these things for several years

[@mikeeagan1307]

Search the Scriptures in those areas and not men's commentaries. Too many embellish on the Word to push their narrative, it sounds good and but many pull Scriptures out of context.

[@juliosantos652]

John 10:10.

[@ricklori9065]

Yes! He’s meant for this life to be abundant! Even in the seasons of life, it can be abundant!!

[@JPalms-hd9jg]

Just wondering what scriptures it was you found that conflicted with the outward standards and made you realize it wasn’t backed by the word of God.

[@ResponsibleFaith]

It's not a matter of scriptures that "conflicted" with the UPC version of "holiness standards" (there have been various groups with differing ideas of what that looked like and even many churches don't agree church by church within the UPCI). It the lack of scriptural support for them, leading to the obvious conclusion that they are not Biblical requirements to be saved. If one has a personal conviction that leads them to follow strict clothing rules, that's perfectly fine, but it doesn't make it universally applicable.

[@ricklori9065]

I was hoping someone would ask this question, as I have a plethora of scriptures! Some of these refute, the “everyone that was baptized was baptized, in the name of Jesus” teachings (they were baptized into him, not a secret formula that was said over someone being baptized). Refer to the father and the son and the ‘oneness’ is teaching. Please study for yourself. I used several versions and also The Message… which made the big picture more clear as well. Galatians 2:15-21 Galatians 5:1 & 2:21 Acts 9:18 Acts 15:19-20 & 28-29 Acts 16:33 Acts 22:16 John 3:35-36 John 5:22-23 Galatians 3:10-11 & 27-29 James4:12 1Cor 1:17 Romans 3:21-25 2Peter 2:20 1Cor 10:29-30 Colossians 2:8-12 & 20-23 Also, Google: The Roman Road salvation I didn’t come to the decision to leave because I wanted to wear pants and make up or any other stupid idea that simple people might think. I left because scripturally I knew I was wrong and I was offputting to people who had been hurt by people who wore skirts and no jewelry. It was a thoughtful, prayerful decision I made and I am 100% ecstatic about it. I love Jesus more now than ever!! Some organized religions suck at times but you can pray your way out of it. God bless anyone who has questions!!!

[@joyaustin3140]

This is so sad..we’re living in the last days when you can spend your time fighting your brothers & sisters. If you left leave..I’m not apart of the UPC but I am a part of the body of Christ. This is why the enemy is getting the upper hand on us. Wake up people if God. Spend this energy on fighting the enemy. Nothing that the Upc church is doing will send anyone to hell. I truly sick of this …

[@ricklori9065]

Just my story. Why not just keep scrolling?

[@GrayTopGigi]

@joyaustin3140... love your mirrored cartoons, btw...lol

[@ResponsibleFaith]

Anything that discourages people and drives them from faith is worth discussing for that every reason. If it turns out that it's a common problem in an organization, that too is worth addressing. In my opinion, that is "fighting the enemy." I'm wide awake, are you? The enemy is wise to use the church and twisted scripture to destroy people. Christians are vigilant, carefully guarding against things of this world coming at them. Church/pastor related things are what often blindside them.