Brent T. Calls the Assembly Leadership to Action

In October 2002, Brent T., formerly a member of the Geftakys Assembly in San Luis Obispo, created the GeftakysAssembly.com website, to expose George Geftakys' favoritism towards his son David in allowing him to remain in the ministry in San Luis Obispo even after being disciplined by the local Leading Brothers.

What follows in chronological order are the articles Brent published on his website calling out the leadership in Fullerton and Omaha.

Brent and Suzie T. left the San Luis Obispo Assembly in February 2000. Brent began writing articles about the Assembly and posting them on cult information websites.

• "What It Is Like to Be Fully Committed to the Geftakys Group" on Rick Ross's site and on MM Outreach Inc.
• 'The Code of Silence'
• 'The Leaven of the Pharisees'
• Rachel Geftakys' restraining order against her father, David
• "Crisis Brewing in Central California Assemblies".

In March 2001 SLO Leading Brother Kirk C. resigned from leadership because of disagreement with others in leadership about the issues with David Geftakys.

• In January, 2002, someone who had recently left the SLO Assembly posted a personal account on the Rick Ross site about what was going on there.

April 23, 2002 - Excommunicated! - Brent T., a member of the Assembly in San Luis Obispo for 17 years, is "excommunicated" in order to keep people from listening to his criticism of the Geftakys ministry. Brent says, "For years before the website, I had tried to 'faithfully, lovingly,' entreat the brethren and talk to them people in a truthful manner. I was excommunicated for it."

Nov. 13, 2002 - Brent T. launches the "GeftakysAssembly.com website and explains why he is doing this. Not only was he privy to Rachel's struggle with her father, as her neighbor and employer, but also he knew of letters and even articles that had been written about the situation which needed to become public information:

• 'Issues' begins to publicly address the issues as they emerge.
• Rachel (Geftakys) Steepleton's story makes clear that the physical abuse she and her mother Judy suffered from David Geftakys was long standing, and that George and Betty knew about it for years.
• Brent posts a letter dated July 2001 to George from a Hispanic brother in Fullerton expresses concerns about the situation in SLO. This letter is brought to Brent's attention in November 2002.
• "'But We Didn't Know'" is the excuse being made by Assembly Leaders for failure to deal with David and protect the family and the SLO Assembly.
• "Brent sees a parallel to the account of The Wicked Sons of Eli".
• Brent posts 'Repentance and Openness' from Day 19 of Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life, with comments.
• An ex-assemblyite honestly evaluates the Geftakys ministry.
• Rob K., a seasoned door-keeper in the SLO Assembly, presents the Biblical principles of repentance.
• Mark Campbell writes on 'False Holiness'.

"Denial and Abuse" is published, which documents Kirk C.'s attempts over the years to confront issues with David G. It includes multiple letters of appeal to David G., George, and Leading Brothers, as well as several essays Kirk wrote examining issues in the Assembly:

• 'Sin in the Camp'
• 'Denial and Pride'
• 'Persecution or Prosecution'
• 'Shepherding Versus Meddling'
• 'Welcoming to the Lord's Supper'

Nov. 16-19, 2002 - Brent writes:

• A letter to Danny Edwards
• 'Finances in the Assembly'
• 'Brochure on the Assembly and George Geftakys'
• "My son just joined a strange church and I am worried about him. Who are these people?"

Soon the 'Articles' section looks like this. The ball is rolling. Soon others submit thoughtful articles.

• 'The Greatest Question in the Bible', Greg T.
• "The Defense Mechanisms of Addicts", Mark Campbell
• 'The 3HO Dysfunctional Family: How I Figured It Out' by Rachel Geftakys. Brent says, "It is one of the most powerful things I have ever read."
• 'Getting Back to the Book of Acts', Dave Sable
• 'Last Conversations'., Dave Sable
• Brinda M. submits an extensive and insightful 'History of the Midwest and Tuscola'.
• 'Is There a Minimum Requirement for “Christ’s Church?” - Or - Am I Just In a Lodge?', John Malone of Omaha
• 'Misplaced Loyalty', Tom Maddux
• A little later Brent wrote an allegory, 'Glasnost, Perestroika and the Assembly', about the system crumbling when people are given a tiny taste of freedom.
Kimberly T. from the SFV Assembly wrote Of Gnats, Camels and TV.

By the end of the year things are beginning to move. More articles are submitted.

Dec. 19, 2002 - False Apology by George Geftakys - Rachel Geftakys Steepleton raises concern over George's proposed apology to the assembly in San Luis Obispo.

Dec. 21, 2002 - Eyewitnesses to the Farce - An eyewitness account of the George's supposed apology on Dec. 21, 2002 to the assembly in San Luis Obispo.

Dec. 24, 2002 - On Acid? - Letters written by George Geftakys on Dec. 24, 2002 and later on Jan. 6, 2003 reveal how disconnected he is from reality.

Jan. 10, 2003 - Judy Geftakys names the individuals who knew about David's physical abuse towards her.

Jan. 3, 2003 - On Jan 3 George Geftkys writes a letter to the Assemblies announcing that he is stepping down.

Jan 11, 2003 - Brent makes some sarcastic as well as serious observations about George's so-called retirement.

Jan. 13, 2003 - Rumors, Musings and Encouragement - Brent cautiously hopes that the Workers and leading brothers in Fullerton will follow through on their discipline of George Geftakys.

Jan. 13, 2003 - Rachel G. and Brent T. post, On the Threshold of Opportunity? Or "Let's Keep This Thing Going!" Brent T. posts Rumors, Musings and Encouragement.

Jan. 16, 2003 - Outsider's Perspective - Critical mass is finally reached.

January 18, 2003 (Saturday) - Brent T. posts "Something to Consider Regarding Leaders", and "The Latest".

January 18, 2003 The Leading Brothers in San Luis Obispo announce reconciliation with Brent and Suzie T.

Jan. 19, 2003 - Brent and Suzie T. write a letter of repentance to the SLO Assembly for an element of bitterness and sarcasm in certain articles on the website. Where Are All the Articles? - Brent announces their reconciliation to the brothers in San Luis Obispo and describes the happy day of fellowship they had together. One of the conditions of reconciliation was that Brent take down offensive articles from the website. Sunday! gives further details of the Saturday reconciliation in SLO, as well as the Sunday meeting that followed.

[These articles have since been reinstated by the present editors for the sake of presenting the complete story of the final weeks of the Geftakys ministry. This does not negate the fact that Brent T. fully repented of his sin and error in overstepping his calling to expose the darkness by becoming, in his words, "a cruel messenger, as opposed to an evangelist."]

Jan. 25, 2003 - Ray Dienzo wrote a letter stepping down from the leadership in SLO.

Jan. 27, 2003 - Brent posted a challenge to take a six-week break from attending any Assembly activities, to get away and seek the Lord. Lynda C. responded with a brief supportive article on why it should be six weeks.

Brent recommends four articles on this website to help folks understand the situation.

The excommunication of George Geftakys and repentance of Elders and Leading Brothers precipitated a call for repentance to the leadership in other places. The next three stories from Chuck V., Judy Geftakys, and Jon LeG. (and those of several folks who wish to be unnamed), along with Brent's unrelenting call to repentance, led to Mike Zach at last surrendering his hopes of replacing George as his heir-apparent.

Feb. 1, 2003 - "Who Are the Wolves?" - Brent warns that at least three leaders who have "stepped down" are still moving behind the scenes to exert pressure on at least one of the groups on the west coast, to not read the letter of excommunication, and to continue listening to George's tapes!

Feb. 1, 2003 - Mike Zach's part in the division of the Miller family - Written by Chuck V., son-in-law to Chuck Miller, raises a long standing issue regarding Mike Zach's role in turning Chuck Miller's own children against him.

Feb. 2, 2003 - "Care-giving" - Judy Geftakys shows how Mike and Cheryl Zach's "play acting at counseling and care-giving" actually incited David to abuse her even more.

Feb. 5, 2003 - Brent calls out Timothy Geftakys (and Mike Zach).

Feb. 7, 2003 - Omaha Leadership Cover-up - Jon LeG. (whose family was close to the Millers) tells the story about Mike Zach's handling of their leaving the assembly. He appeals to Mike Zach (and brothers in Omaha) to put a stop to the cover-up.

Feb. 9, 2003 - Omaha Leadership Coercion and Manipulation - Joyce (Vacha) Hines wrote an account of the hidden agenda of the leadership in Omaha regarding her nursing businesses. Bill Hines later added his part in the story. In April, 2010, Bill and Joyce requested that this article be removed from the website.

Feb. 10, 2003 - Encouraging Developments - Brent expresses cautious optimism about the repentance that is occurring throughout the Assemblies.

Feb. 12, 2003 - Discouraging Developments - Brent responds to people's outrage towards him.

Feb. 13, 2003 - Principles To Employ When Dealing with Geftakys' Servants - Brent warns that the repentance on the part of some leaders may be their way of controlling the damage that has been done.

Feb. 13, 2003 - Recent Words From Mike Zach - Brent discusses Mike Zach's possible motive for encouraging the saints to stick together and maintain unity.

Feb. 14, 2003 - Corrections, Retractions, and Clarifications - Brent retracts and clarifies some statements he has made about certain individuals.

Feb. 16, 2003 - Recent Events in the Geftakys Assembly - Brent takes a look at what has happened in the past weeks. He is both encouraged and concerned about what remains of the Geftakys system.

Feb. 17, 2003 - Joyce (Vacha) Hines submitted a letter of regret and apology for the many times, in dealing with sisters, she was more concerned with upholding the ‘standard’ than in caring for the needs of the individuals. It was published on the website as an encouraging example of the kind of apology that was needed from other leaders. In April, 2010, she requested that the letter be removed.

Feb. 18, 2003 - Testimonials of Appreciation - Testimonies of how people have been delivered from the Geftakys system and encouraged by what has happened.

Feb. 20, 2003 - Mike Zach Repents - Mike Zach's letter of repentance.

Feb. 27, 2003 - Bewitched and Deceived - Brent is stunned that people can be so bewitched and deceived as to allow George to continue spinning his webs of darkness.

Mar. 10, 2003 - Encouraging Developments From Omaha - Jon LeG. expresses his gratitude for the steps that Mike Zach (and others) have taken to make things right with him and his family.

Mar. 20, 2003 - Farewell - Brent T. retires from the website and looks back over the activities of past months. This is what the website looked like. At this point the Irons take over ga.com and called the new site, "Assembly Reflections." At first, Assembly Reflections looked like this.

January, 2004 - One Year Later - On the one-year anniversary of the Geftakys ministry, Brent T. reflects on what he would have done differently.

February, 2004 - Jeff Lehmkuhl recants his repudiation of the Geftakys ministry, and begins a new Geftakys-style Assembly in his home. This is discussed eleven years later on The Geftakys Assembly Facebook group page.

After hearing of the collapse of the ministry, here are some heartfelt responses:

• An ex-assemblyite honestly evaluates the Geftakys ministry.

• Flora from Ottawa examines the question, "Was George's excommunication Scriptural?"

• Margaret Irons looks back on the early beginnings of George and Betty's Ministry.

• Delila H. from Canada reaches out to the survivors of the Geftakys ministry. This article is her response upon reading about the collapse of the Geftakys ministry.

• Chuck Miller writes an Appeal to the Assembly Leadership.

• Dave V., who grew up in the Assembly in Calgary, and his wife Jennifer went through a hard time when the Assembly broke up. They both loved the Lord and were very confused. Dave's father (a Leading Brother) saw a lot wrong with how they were conditioned in the Assembly and helped them see why continuing to meet in the same way without rooting out the problems would have been dangerous. Dave came across an article that spoke to him about what the Lord has taught him since being out of the assembly in Calgary. The article talks about self-effort in the Christian life and how God wants the believer to rest. Dave is recommending the article to all those who went through the experience of the collapse of the Geftakys ministry. The article is entitled Living in the Rest of God by Malcolm Smith.