WHEN WE JOINED AGAPE

We first heard of Agape through a friend who had been to a service and was praising the whole experience, she also told me that the Apostle was Zimbabwean, my ears picked up at that point.  Being between churches at the time I asked my husband if we could go, which we did the following Sunday.

It was an experience like no other, at the door there was a man who met and welcomed people and in-between times was praying.  The church was decorated in bright clothes and the music was lively and had people joining in with dancing and praises. During the service we were asked who we, where we from and our names and were given the 'Agape' hug. From then our Sunday's became a routine trek to Stirling to go to church.  We found from the very beginning that everyone was expected to take part in the service as it was not like a normal church with a Pastor and Elders, this did not seem important at the time, as there was a running committee who took care of church matters behind the scene.

Finally we got to meet the mysterious Dr Walter Masocha who everyone greeted as 'Dad' or 'Daddy', in the church the chairs his wife, Judith and he sat on were covered with blankets matching in colour, the table in front of them was also highly decorated and special drinking glasses were put out with bottled water.  Both Judith and Walter had people to host them, these hosts carried their bags, poured their water and when Walter was on the pulpit the host carried his bible, and cloth that was used to wipe the sweat off his face.  Everything that was done for Dr Masocha and his wife Judith was the best of the best, they had special food cooked for them after the service, even if the rest of the congregation only had sandwiches.  He was always placed high up on a pedestal like he was not the same us ordinary people.

As time went on, we heard about the 'vision' and have to be honest we never really took much interest in it, this was a gross oversight on our part as we would have seen through this farce far earlier than we did.  Walter changed the way the 'satellites' (church) was to be run by calling various people into office of Envoy, Evangelist, Attaché and Stewards.  This was the first time that he split us up as a couple as he called my husband to be a steward and I was not allowed to join him in various meetings.  My husband was not happy with it, but I said it would not come between us, which it never did.  Eventually we became Attaches together, but this was so difficult as in leaders teaching meetings we were told how to deal with situations, but again Dr Masocha would not let go of the reigns, but actually used this to bring discord amongst people, but saying one this to one and another to the other party.  This brought conflict and resentment into the satellites.

Then came the groups..... when I think about it now I ask myself, 'what were daddy dancing boys, daddy dancing girls' all about?  This was definitely not worship to our true God, but as they are named, they are worship to Dr Masocha.  To think I used to participate in this form of worship makes me feel sick to the stomach and I hope that others can see these for what they really are.

The last leaders meetings we attended we were starting to question the teachings. Dr Masocha had become this new figure who was above all, someone who believed they were so anointed by God that only he could administer to the church flock.  Continually we heard of the 20 meter radius that should you be within it you were truly blessed.  
Dr Masocha started to bring tithing and personal pledges for the Miracle Rain Centre up saying that he had all the bookwork showing who was being faithful or not.  It was like a hug hammer over our heads as we felt that if we never gave 10% of our income plus extra for free will and helping our Envoys and on top of that the new Miracle Rain Centre, there was something wrong with us and we would be cursed.  Money was constantly being poured into Agape, where we had nothing left over to live a normal life. Over and above the finance blackmail talks, Dr Masocha came up that he wanted us to run with the vision and become HIS disciples! And to become his TWINITY... yes it is a real word meaning: Twinity is a 3D online virtual world, often as an avatar.  How this fits in with Agape I really do not know as I am no one's avatar.

Talking of a normal life... well it was not, we were so tied up with Agape, if it was not the local satellite it was the conventions, get together's and openings to attend.  Every month there was something happening, often away from home having us travel miles and miles, costs for hotels and of course eating at the destination.  
Food was offered at some of these events, but having got ill from it in the past I wouldn't eat from there again. This was probably because it was made and brought to the venues by church member who did not have the necessary qualifications and health and safety certificates to serve food. 
Children at these events were left to their own devices, parents not knowing where they were, if they were hungry or thirsty.  Child care was illegal as there was no Disclosure done even though it is law in the UK; I actually confronted Dr Masocha and he said it was not needed in Agape!  There were even allegations of children been physically beaten by the carers and I myself witnessed a father beating his young son outside the hall.
The disrespect the 'children of Agape' had towards others property was something I never could understand, they walked over other peoples belongings, ate and drank in the halls leaving a mess on chairs and the floor, the toilets were left in a disgusting state.  

Our very last attendance at Agape was the very first couples conference.  We drove down late at night to get there so we could  be there early on Saturday morning.  Arthur was so tired after work and driving he did not manage to go to the morning services.  We got all dressed up for dinner, had our photo taken, we even paid for Dr Walter's brother and his wife to have their photo taken as a remembrance of the very first Agape couples conference.  Dinner was fine, good food and fellowship, then Dr Masocha took to the platform for a teaching.  It was the most disgusting, sexually graphic teaching on how a man and wife should lure each other to the bedroom, and using the term used there, 'service' each other.  Dr Masocha boasted how long he could last sexually and was able to perform multiple times.  We were sent off with the encouragement to put the teachings into practice!  The next morning the breakfast room was abuzz with who did what, what they heard from the room next door and so it went on.

We arrived home, contacted our Attaché and another person we believed to be a close friend, and told them that we were not coming back and gave our reasons.  The outcome of this was to be totally cut off from everyone we had fellowship with over the three plus years we attended.  We were hurt and disillusioned, questioned our beliefs and faith so much so that we still do not feel comfortable in a church, regardless of it being Bible based or not. This is not what Christians do as it should not matter where you worship, what matters is that they are in one mind as believers.

So, I end my ramblings with where we go now even though I have not gone it into too much detail.... some friends and I have been working hard on what the vision is all about, how it measures up to what the word of God tells us.  Also each of the booklets we were to use as study guides that Walter wrote will be done the same way.

Our first study will be...... THE THRESHING FLOOR....