Friday, October 28, 2016

Silence is NOT golden part 2

In this post there will be links to some lost/missing content that has been found/recovered. This content is mainly comprised of blogs from ex-members of UBF and articles/journals by third parties and/or authorities that documented UBF being caught red-handed which UBF tried to silence but failed.

List of Articles/Journals on UBF in general

1. Here is an article of a UBF chapter "targeting" students at the JHU college campus. Here is the broken link: http://www.jhunewsletter.com/sports/cult-like-evangelist-group-targeted-recent-jhu-undergrads-1.1145781


Short List of  Blogs

Blog of Emily M. Francis. Here is the broken link: http://www.thelifedesired.com/ .
 Recovered link: https://web.archive.org/web/20150317202126/http://www.thelifedesired.com/

Blog of Sarah J. Rhee. Broken link: http://www.sarahjanerhee.com/
Recovered link: https://web.archive.org/web/20061107220752/http://www.sarahjanerhee.com/

Blog about what is truly going on the El Camino UBF chapter: https://agentd33.blogspot.com/ 

Spanish Blog (From Mexico, Central America, or South America UBF):
 http://ubfsecta.blogspot.com/


Bonus

On the Escape UBF blog there was a 2007 list of college campuses that have (and still) banned UBF. 
Here is the broken link: http://exubf.info/banned.htm
Here's the recovered link: http://web.archive.org/web/20070714021157/http://exubf.info/banned.htm

An article on the Canada UBF chapter being banned.
Broken link: http://escape.exubf.org/outside_material/SILHOUETTE.htm
Recovered link: https://web.archive.org/web/20040610162609/http://escape.exubf.org/outside_material/SILHOUETTE.htm


This is a very rare powerpoint that only chapter directors and those at UBF HQ have access to. 

This powerpoint is a clear outline of how UBF really works behind closed doors. 




Wednesday, October 26, 2016

UBF “Fishing” 10/18/16 -text messages amongst EX UBF Members

UBF “Fishing” 10/18/16 -text messages amongst EX UBF Members

C: Unfortunately, they fish to teach false doctrine and indoctrinate people to UBF, but fishing is just another religious activity for them in how they try to discipline their flesh, it would be different if they went out to actually preach the gospel with people.

K: It Seems to me that even “fishing” in the UBF sense is unbiblical. It’s not an attempt to preach the gospel, but rather to trick young people into attending subtly deceptive recruitment sessions. Find me one example of Christians “fishing” one to one students in the scriptures. Find me one passage that 
says one to one is better than groups because it’s easier to control someone that way.

C: @K couldn’t have said it better.

A: Well it becomes unbiblical because if you leave their bible study you leave God’s will in some way.

E: Fishing is cool, but it’s not the only way… I would have fun fishing.

E: Teaching was harder.

C: Cool doesn’t make it right or correct.

E: I hated when I had to “challenge” students tho…  man it would get heated.

A: When It becomes about student staying instead of just giving them the gospel and pointing to 
Christ- then that’s when it gets crazy!!

A: Yeah, me too.

E: I think fishing is biblical but for the most part I think Jesus sent them out two by two.

E: But yeah what they do isn’t even fishing.

C: Its evil for them to make us think you’re sinning when you’re not fishing.

E: It’s just plain hunting people down.

A: yeah, that’s true @C and @E

C: Or for them to make you fell obligated to fish.

E: LOL

E: Yeah that’s a sing on their part

A: @k-yeah fishing just “College Students”

E: That’s that binding heavy loads on u

A: yup!

K: There are other similar activities that are biblical, but I would call it by another name because it is another thing. “Fishing” is the process of specifically looking for vulnerable people and enticing them via half truths into a situation where you can manipulate them easier. There are specific cases where fishing can be biblical, but UBF generally pressures you to approach It the “Ideal” way.

C: The work of God is the work of the Cross on what Christ did at Calvary overcoming sin and death! That’s the power that saves us is what He did with his blood, fishing is not the work of God, they make you believe fishing is the work of God, and make you feel bad for not doing it.

E: Well Jesus did say that if you followed him he will make u a fisher of men.

A: Okay, so then how does that work… How do you make someone a fisher of men?!

E: You don’t Jesus does.

A: Okay true. But then what is fishing? Lol What’s the right way to fish?!

E: It’s not a requirement for justification but it’s a result of it.

E: But yeah I agree what UBF does is something else.

C: I believe there’s an appointed time when God will empower an individual by His Holy Spirit to preach the gospel, maybe when He thinks they’re ready.

E: Just throwing the word out there…like in the parable of the sower.. I doesn’t have to be on campus it can be anywhere… you throw the word/bait and then God draws people to himself through the word through/into the ocean of peoples.

A: Oh I see…..

K: By not setting out to prey on vulnerable people that you can mold into “disciples,” but rather to simply preach the gospel and to testify of Christ.

E: When you throw it into the sea… the sea actually represents the world based on a passage in 
revelations.

E: Amen, yes to everyone.

E: N anyone

E: To every creature it says in Mark

A: Omg everything you guys said is sooo new to me… like mind blown!!! When did you guys realize this Cause you all had the same belief “System” as me at one time.

C: There's a lot we don’t share @A lol some stuff you might not be ready for lol

E: Just pray and read the scriptures without any preconceived bias n the spirit will speak to u

A: huh = (

E: Lmbo that sounds cultish

C: I’m just messin lol

K: A one to one Bible study can certainly be healthy and biblical, but only if done in the right spirit and in truth. We are not called to control people, and we have not failed when the people in our lives disobey us. We are called to love people and live for Jesus; God is the one who does the work. Remember, 3000 people were added to the church at Pentecost simply because they saw the love and the community of the early Christians… it is God who works.

A: Oh I hope so = (

A: @K- praise God

A: I started reading Matthew soo let’s see how God works. So many lies that need to be cut off!!!

E: Amen I agree with @K 100 percent but at the same time I do believe that everybody in the body of Christ has a function whether big or small… every function is important…. So although Christ did all the work necessary for  salvation we are still created for good works which he prepared before hand. Eph 2:1

E: Not in a legalistic sense but yeah

A: This is true

E: I don’t believe that all should be teachers or all should be shepherds etc.

A: Oh I see….

E: Its through our good works that God does the greater work… because Peter still had to preach in order  for the 3000 to be converted.

A: WOW!

E: God can do anything he pleases but it seems to me that not all times but for the most part he uses a “vessel” to accomplish his purposes… correct me if I am wrong.

K: Oh yes of course. God works through us; that is the way He has designed his kingdom. But as soon as we try to manipulate people we are no longer letting God work.

K: Though as we all know He can still choose to work even through our flawed actions.

E: Amen… yes there are two phrases in the scripture… one is quenching the spirit and another grieving the spirit.

A: Amen!! So I can copy and paste these messages in a document and post them on the blog we have? Lol

E: My understanding is that quenching the spirit is when you don’t do what the Holy spirit is leading you to do… the other grieving the spirit is when you do the opposite to what the spirit desires.

E: UBF are pros at quenching the spirit

E: The Spirit will start to work through the preaching of the word, but then its put out or quenched when they include their false teachings, then at that point the spirit is grieved as well.

E: N then a counterfeit spirit creeps in

E2: Go for it @A

E: What’s crazy is that on the end everyone even Satan serves Gods purpose… in a sense.. for example the Pharisees and even the Romans served Gods purpose by crucifying Christ… but yeah I don’t want to be the one to serve God in the way lol

A: Lol yeah NO!!

C: @A I think part of the deprogramming that we have to do is separating our identity from the word of fishing and the religious thing we did at Shepherds Church, a lot of our identity was shaped up by what we did in that church, that’s why it was easy to become proud and self-righteous, when you were doing better than others in trying to discipline your flesh, your identity became at the expense of the religious work you did, that’s why when failed, you felt bad, condemnation came, guilt, and at times you weren’t even sure about your salvation when you weren’t doing the “work of God,” so you’re identity went up and down because you based it off of you and your actions, we have to learn to only shape our identity in Christ and His actions for us, what He did for us, surrendering what we are currently doing, and what we will do, to allow what he is doing to be accomplished and achieved in and through our lives.


Saturday, October 8, 2016

News Flash

Hello Everyone,

The ubfriends.net website is out of hibernation. So now commenting is once again available.

So now if you wanted to comment on the 22 minutes of mind control article you can. Here is the link to the article: http://ubfriends.net/22-minutes-of-mind-control/#more-1589

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Loopholes/Cracks in the UBF system & techniques you can use to resist their mind control pt 2

1. Allies. This is very crucial. If you have cut off ties with family & friends while in UBF go and regain those connections whether they are people you have met or are virtual. It is also recommended to have someone to talk to. Brian J. Karcher the author of the book Identity Snatchers which I have provided a link to in a previous posts has make a website called ubfriends.net: a friendly community to UBF members both current and ex-members who have also experienced and/or witness the atrocities at UBF. At the site you can also submit articles/blogs as well as have discussions. Here is a link to his website: http://ubfriends.net/. As of this post the site is on hibernation for the Fall.

2. Keep a blog. Whether it's public or private it is helpful to keep a journal/memo of events & experiences you had at UBF as an observation and/or reflection of what is going.

3. Be familiar with the legal system. It doesn't matter which state, city, or even what country you are it's a good idea to get familiar with the legal system particularly in regards to "religion" and abuse. Here is a book that I have at home which is quite handy. For I live in the United States particularly in California.    


4. Treat other members as equals. There is nothing in the bible that says 'it is wrong to treat others as equals as far as I know. It does say that you shouldn't put yourself above others (Matthew 10:24).

5. Don't use UBF vocabulary. I have touched upon this in the first part in #3. You are not obligated to address anyone as "brother", "sister", "shepherd/ess" , "sheep" nor "Missionary". Instead address them by their first name. For the preacher you can address them as pastor or sir or madam. Also use the language/terms that UBF deems as negativity such as: theology, mind control, programming, brainwashed, sarcasm, cop, criminal, attitude, business, close minded, fake, humanism, objectivism, melancholy, opinion, etc just to name a few.

6. Don't let members especially the seniors & the pastor come to your house. You are not obligated to let them into your personal life for they are technically not your parents. If you do choose to do so then keep your foot down. For they will either interrogate you or will offer you promises & deals. Should they do the latter don't accept the offers & promises.

7. Document, Document, Document. Keep record of all the texts, emails, and messages. I recommend taking screenshots/photos of all kinds of messages they send you. It is also a good idea to archive websites, content, etc relating to UBF. You can use archive.is or the wayback machine to do so. To archive with the wayback machine go to the bottom right of the main page, copy & paste the link/URL you want to archive, and click save page.
You can also use htttrack to archive entire websites: http://www.httrack.com 

8. Be a smarty pants. They hate it when you get smart with them. Especially in regards to the messages or something that is said in bible study. It is most effective when you have evidence with you like two messages contradicting each other.

9. Be unpredictable. When you do any of these things on this list or of the list in part 1 don't do it by routine. For if you do so they will catch on really quick. Instead you want to throw them off guard every time. 


Final Note: After continually doing the things on this list and the list in part 1 they will eventually stop giving you "the talk" all together but that takes a long time.

Loopholes/Cracks in the UBF system & techniques you can use to resist their mind control pt 1

1. Silent Treatment. The one-to-one bible studies are similar/parallel to counsel/psychiatry sessions. I went to a psychiatrist back in high school in the 9th grade and I distinctly remember (I'll call him Mr. C) hearing from him that "If you don't speak then I can't help you". And it was true for he didn't want to do all the talking but instead wanted me to be engaged by conversing. So if you remain silent, don't converse, and answer to your bible teacher as briefly as possible the bible teacher won't be able to figure you out.

2. Keep testimonies close to surface level as possible. When they ask you to do testimony writing do it on surface level: summarize the passage, (optional reference other passages in the bible), and when writing on yourself make it as brief as possible ex: I committed the sin of lust. But never go into details. For my bible teacher accidently revealed and gave away the fact that in the church they only know about you based on their observations of what you say, and do. So if they tell you that you are ____________ or your being _________ or that you need to repent of__________ it is based on what they have seen and heard about you. The less you reveal about your personal life the better.

3. Don't address anyone as shepherd, missionary, or God's servant. When you don't they will eventually reveal their true colors by getting emotional, develop an attitude, and will say tell you along the lines of "Its respect if you address me this way". But you are in no obligation to address them that way and furthermore they shouldn't take it personally when they preach about forgiveness. If anything address the members by their first name and the "missionary" as pastor or sir or madam.

4. "Kick out" is just a scare tactic. In the U.S it's illegal to remove anyone from the church. (The exceptions are if one physically harms a member or make a threat by destroying a member's property like popping tires of their car or smashing the window of their home.) If you don't go with their ideology then they want you out of there but at the same time they don't want to look bad or get into any legal trouble. So they will try to get you to become emotional or trick you into leaving. The chapters are designed in a particular way in that one would either go along with the church or that individual would just quit.

5. Powerful but not invincible. Just like how Superman has his own kryptonite the seniors and the pastor (those who have the real power) also have their own kryptonite (weakness). It differs on the member for they have their own unique kryptonite. It can be used against them to weaken them or for you to go in a defensive position. Referring back to #2 Don't ever reveal what your kyrptonite is to them for they will use it against you when you least expect it.

6. They are very gullible. They will believe practically anything you say, write, or confess to them especially if you are a new. You can write or say how you "did" drugs, joined a gang, had many lovers, etc and they will automatically believe you without question even though it is just a flat out lie.

7. Jedi mind trick. Yes the mind trick works on them. It is the matter of how you use it, the timing, and the execution. Here is a link to one of the many videos on the internet on some mind tricks and how to pull them off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OMfpIdQroA

8. Reverse Psychology. This is related to #7 in that you can trick them to get to doing what you want them to do ex: getting them to back off, getting certain people to like you, who would snitch and who wouldn't, or getting them to stop rebuking you. For if you were to be upfront with them and ask them to for example stop pushing you into a corner then they will definitely not do it hence why this comes in handy.

9. The messages themselves.  You can use them to your advantage by pointing out the contradicts
when they ask you to do something questionable. Ex: If they ask you to ride with a female member and you are male use the message of compromise Genesis ch 21 and the message of adultery Matthew ch 5 against them. Then you can get out of that situation and you won't have to ride with a female member. Note: The members can also use this against you so make sure you have multiple references prepare, time your execution carefully , and use a combination of the other things on this list.

10. Don't answer their phone calls. Doing so will cause your heart or your knees to psychological become water letting yourself prone to them. But instead when you need to contact them or vice versa do it by text or email (I prefer email). In this way it dramatically decreases the chances of getting a jelly heart or watery legs. If they ask why you don't answer or contact them by phone calls tell them that you have limited minutes.

11. They only know about you based on their observations of you and intel from other members. This ties back to #2. In this way they become judgment but the flaw is that their judgment can be wrong many times.  This also ties back to #6 for they will automatically believe their judgment of you and what is told about you from other members without question.  You can use this to your advantage with things like #7 & #8. Luckily I am the only one my campus. For the other members that went to my campus have already graduated and have a full time job, an internship or some combination of both.

12. Deliver your own message. If you get picked to be a speaker than you can get out of it by putting minimal effort into the message continuously. Soon they will get someone else to take your place. If this fails then let whoever is in charge of editing your message & testimony revise it. Only that when it is your turn on the stage/podium share your initial draft not the final revised draft. This works for I saw a blog post of an ex-member of UBF of a different chapter do this.

13. Recorder: They allow you to record them on bible study and for the Sunday message. You can also record them via audio and/or video by having the recorder, mic, or camera hidden in your shirt. pants, or in a hat. They never do a captivity search on any member or anyone else. In this way you can catch them red handed and can be used as evidence against them.

Final notes/disclaimers: When applying any one of these on the list don't make it obvious or overdo it for you'll give yourself away and they will put up their guard all the more. Instead be unpredictable mix and match what's on this list , and be cautious of your timing & execution. You will know these things work especially after a year when the members (especially the Seniors and the Pastors): get emotional, distance themselves from you, develop a negative attitude towards you, become desperate, ask you seemingly random & bizarre questions, and try to make a deal with you. When they do this things don't give in to their demands or compromise with them but continue to do the things on this list      

Friday, September 30, 2016

Five Things That Helped My Journey out of UBF

Leaving an organization like UBF is often a messy, complicated process. The level of emotional and spiritual manipulation that one has experienced by the time they are compelled to leave can lead to stress, anxiety, fear and confusion. Cult dogma that has been grafted in and emotionally hardened over the course of years is not easily tossed aside, and it is not simple to sort out the truth from the twisting. Am I really leaving God’s will? Does this mean that I’ve compromised in my faith? But what about all the good things that have happened in the ministry?

Therefore, when the time comes that the Spirit prompts one to leave an unhealthy church, it is the start of a long, bumpy process. Here are some things that helped me along the way.

1. Prayer

At the time God opened my eyes to the truth about UBF, I was in the habit of praying for a couple of hours every day because I was living in the common life. During this process, I used that time to bring my concerns to the Lord rather than suppressing them, since I knew that He would not lead me astray (“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” - Matthew 7:9). Specifically,

I prayed for clarity. I asked God to remove the fog in my mind and enable me to understand the way UBF works and what exactly is unhealthy about it. I asked Him to reveal true biblical doctrine and to show me what a healthy ministry should look like.

I prayed for discernment. I asked God to let me distinguish between right and wrong. I asked Him to distinguish between the two voices that were pulling at me: one the voice of peace, logic and clarity, which was leading me out of UBF, the other the voice of fear, sentiment and blindness which was urging me to remain.

I prayed for guidance. I asked God to lead me down the path the He’d chosen for me. I asked Him not to let me take a wrong turn; I begged Him to force me in the right direction. Whether I remained in UBF or left, I prayed that God would make His will painfully obvious to me.

I prayed for strength. I asked God, no matter what decision He led me to make, to build me up and empower me to follow through with His will. I asked Him not to let me hesitate and stumble but to obey and press forward with a pervasive commitment to Him.

I prayed for Jesus. I asked God, in the face of all these struggles, ultimately to center my heart, mind and soul on Christ, so that I could serve Him in spirit and in truth. I asked Him that, through this trial, He would lead me into a deeper and fuller relationship with Himself.

Much of my prayer time was spent at the church building. In that environment, you were often expected to pray out loud, and even louder the more people were there. In these cases, I prayed on these matters silently as I audibly prayed for the usual vague things (mercy, mission, “You alone, Lord!”). I also made a special effort to find times when I could pray by myself, away from the influence of other people, so that I could approach God sincerely and openly. Which leads to the next point:

2. Meditation

A practice that UBF never emphasizes is the balance between community and solitude. When you worship, you worship with your co-workers. When you pray, you pray with your co-workers. When you study, you study with your co-workers. However, both the Bible and the history of the Church place great value on solitude: taking time to remove yourself from other people and from the regular routine, including “spiritual activities”, and spend time with God. Jesus especially was in the habit of doing this regularly.

During the time when I was making the decision whether to leave UBF, I started a regular habit of meditating on the scriptures by myself. I would read a passage and try to determine its meaning apart from the UBF doctrine, praying for the insight of the Spirit. I often wrote down my reflections and thoughts on the passage as I was meditating. Then, after I had sought the Spirit’s insight, I would read commentaries on the passage to understand it on a deeper intellectual level as well. Some days, when I felt a special need to draw close to God in solitude, I fasted from food. My relationship with God deepened as I sought Him in this way. Additionally, as I removed myself from the constant influence and manipulation of UBF practice, I started to see the organization with more clarity as well.

3. Support System

Many people who want to leave UBF (and many cults) find themselves trapped because they have been manipulated to cut off ties with friends and families. By the grace of God, I had not reached that point yet (though I was beginning to feel the pressure from my shepherdess). During the final stages of my exit process, I finally shared my concerns with some family members and friends. I was also attending an independent Bible study at my school (which I never mentioned to my UBF co-workers), so I had a strong Christian support group to help me through the process.

For some, it is impossible to leave a manipulative organization without a support group, because then they would be forced to work through the confusion and the fear on their own. Some do end up leaving, but are left stranded. My suggestion: if you are considering leaving UBF (or another group), don’t be afraid to reach out to family and friends for help. Even if you have cut off ties, usually they are still very concerned about you and will be aching to help you in your time of need.

At the same time, I realize that family members sometimes don’t fully understand what it is that you are going through. My own family was supportive, but couldn’t offer much direct advice because they didn’t grasp the kind of manipulation under which I had been living. Still, there are plenty of people more than willing to talk with you and help you through this process. I started commenting on the blog at ubfriends.net for advice as I was leaving UBF (it is on hold right now, but will be back sometime in October). They are all people who have been through UBF and understand how the system works. Also, feel free to email me if you just need someone to talk with about all of this. I would be more than happy to help! michael.the.hopkins@gmail.com

4. Godly Counsel

Before making my final decision to leave UBF, I sought out the advice of Christians whom I admired. This can be difficult if one has been in a group like UBF long enough, because the sincerity of outside Christians is usually downplayed. Still, UBF at least does not claim to be the only valid church like some cults do, even if they claim to be the only valid church for you. Because of this, I felt comfortable emailing the pastor of a church up in my hometown, whom I recognized as a man with a deep faith and a clear grasp of scripture. His advice was clear-cut and to the point: you need to get out. Reading those words was the last wake-up call I needed, because if another genuine Christian recognized the red flags of UBF so quickly it had to be a serious matter. Most pastors of healthy churches will recognize an unhealthy church immediately if you describe it well enough, and they will be able to help you make your final decision whether to stay or go.

5. Christian Community

One of the most important—perhaps the most important—aspects of following Jesus is community. After leaving an abusive church, it may be difficult to move on. You may have unexplainable desires to return, even though you know that you’ve made the right choice. You may never want to deal with a church again. Maybe the best thing to do once the excessive burden is removed is to finally take a break and seek God on your own for a time. However, I would strongly advise anyone leaving an unhealthy organization to seek out a healthy, Jesus-loving, gospel preaching church.

I started attending a new church immediately after leaving UBF because some of my Bible study friends invited me to check it out. The community offered me support as I healed from my experience in UBF. It offered sound doctrine and fellowship. It helped to secure my foundation as a Christian seeking Jesus.

Because cult-like groups disparage outside Christian churches, when I left UBF I felt a desire to church hop. I wanted to move from church to church until I found a body that was just as zealous for religious activities as UBF had been. However, I am glad now that I didn’t. I’ve realized since leaving UBF that no church is perfect, but that the most important thing in a church is healthy, sound doctrine that focuses on Jesus. A church may lack a campus evangelization ministry, or it may only sing traditional hymns (or only contemporary music), or it may do this or that or the other, but none of those things would change the fact that it is a gathering of sinners who need the gospel. My new church is not perfect by any means! But it is healthy, and God placed me there to serve Him and to encourage the Body of Christ.

If you are struggling with a decision about UBF or any other group, I hope that this post finds you well. Please know that I have no intention to tell you what to do; I can only speak to my own experience and to what I have learned about the true nature of Christian community. I would encourage you to continue praying, meditating, and seeking counsel from the people in your life as you work through these problems, because it really is a decision that you have to make. Just remember: as you seek Him, the Holy Spirit will lead you to all truth.

God bless you all!


MH – michael.the.hopkins@gmail.com

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Abuse, Abuse, and More Abuse

This is an article about a recording of my bible teacher abusing me. The recording itself is on the site. So now there is actual evidence of spiritual abuse. Unfortunately the website itself is on hibernation so you won't be able to post comments there. However you are free to leave comments on this blog

Here is the link to the article: http://ubfriends.net/22-minutes-of-mind-control/#more-1589