Articles and Resources

"If I have prophecy,
   and fathom all mysteries
     and all knowledge,
  and if I have faith
     to remove mountains...

...but do not have love....

...I am nothing."

Sunrise breaking through ragged low clouds...

In 1970 George and Betty Geftakys launched their Assembly ministry in Fullerton, California, in the wake of Chuck Smith’s burgeoning Calvary Chapel. It was based on early Plymouth Brethren concepts, and fueled by the enthusiasm of the Jesus movement and the spiritual awakening that was sweeping across America.

The Geftakys ministry imploded in 2003 after G. Geftakys was excommunicated from the Fullerton Assembly for serious moral lapses. Underlying problems were exposed, which opened people’s eyes to the abuses that had developed in the Assembly system. Understandably, there are many - former leaders and members alike - to whom these revelations have not been welcome. People made a huge investment of their lives in this ministry, believing it to be "God's best".

This site archives the history of the Geftakys Assembly and the impact it had in people's lives. It analyses the character of the group and provides help to recover from the abuses and the spiritual betrayal. See About Us and This Site for a more detailed explanation of how this site began, its purpose, and who runs it. Site Help discusses printing, browser settings, and other technical stuff.

There are many aberrant Bible-based groups that exhibit cultic elements of control and legalism. Information in Resources, Elements of Spiritual Abuse, Recovery, Biblical Correctives, Faith Afterward, and Abuse in Christian Families is relevant to many situations.

For visitors who have an interest in the Assembly but don't know much about it, we've put together a brief Introduction to the Assembly Ministry of George and Betty Geftakys - how it began, what it was like, how it ended, and the impact on members. There is a glossary to explain peculiar Assembly terminology ;-)

The "What's New" home page introduces new articles, links, and other items of interest as they become available. (This page is a static index page that doesn't change.) Current Assembly Status reports what is known about continuing Assemblies, George and Betty Geftakys, and other former leaders.

The editor's blog, "Post-Assembly Musings", posts thoughts related to the Assembly experience.

Note: The word 'cult' is used on this website in the sociological sense, referring to the practice and conduct of groups, not their beliefs or doctrine. For more about the use of this word, read here ».

The "Assemblyboard" is a separate entity from this website, having no administrative connection. It is run by Brian Tucker, formerly of the Charleston Assembly in Illinois.


New Song at 1970's tent meeting

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