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New Testament Christian Churches of America (NTCC) is an independent Pentecostal, trinitarian, full gospel, dispensational, holiness denomination of about 3,500 members, founded by Pentecostal Church of God (PCG) missionary to the Philippines Rodger Wilson Davis. Its main headquarters are in Graham, Washington. NTCC was incorporated in 1969 in St. Louis, Missouri. Each individual church location is called New Testament Christian Church.
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History
New Testament Christian Churches of America was incorporated in 1969 in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] Founded as New Testament Church of God (NTCG), the NTCC was begun by Pentecostal Church of God (PCG) missionary to the Philippines Rodger Wilson Davis. Davis left the PCG after his request to start a PCG Bible College in St. Louis was denied. Soon after leaving PCG, Rodger Davis founded Midwestern Bible Institute (MBI)[2][3] in St Louis MO, later known as New Testament Christian (NTC) College,[4] and currently known as New Testament Christian Seminary (NTCS). [5]
For the first five years of its existence, NTCC affiliated itself with the Independent Pentecostal, or Free Holiness movement.[6] However, when NTCC adopted a more relaxed standard regarding divorce and remarriage, they were denied further fellowship with this movement. The church leadership eventually severed their ties with all outside churches, ministers, and ministries. They also distanced themselves from all other denominations by requiring that only those who had graduated from their own seminary could minister in their churches, and that their ministers could not minister in any non-NTCC churches. [7]
In 1984, NTCC denominational headquarters were moved from St. Louis to Graham, Washington, which is southeast of Tacoma, Washington. New Testament Christian Seminary operated in St. Louis for 18 years, but in 1987 its operations and student dormitories were also relocated to Graham.[8] That same year, its name was changed to the current name of New Testament Christian Church.[9]
In 2004 the NTCC experienced a schism when a segment of the ministers and constituents withdrew and formed House of Prayer Christian Church (HOP), which is composed of military-oriented churches, servicemen's homes, and is headquartered in Hinesville, Georgia, and patterned after the NTCC model.
Facilities and constituency
NTCC owns campgound facilities in Santa Fe, Missouri, which hosts its ministerial meetings.[10][11] The church also operates servicemen's homes near American military bases in the United States, England, Germany, Republic of Korea, and Japan.[12] For a fee, they provide unmarried soldiers a home style alternative to barracks life. It also is affiliated with New Testament Christian Seminary, a non-accredited training school. Almost all of New Testament Christian Seminary alumni/alumnae are prior military, and/or prior military spouses.
As of March 2009, NTCC has less than 3,500 constituents (excluding licensed ministers, ordained ministers, seminary students, and their respective families), and not more than 116 churches/preaching points. NTCC sponsors its seminary graduates as missionaries. NTCC's official website lists its global outreach, via missionary effort to foreign nationals, as four churches in the Philippines, and one in Panama. [13]
Allegations of abuse and cult tendencies
The website ntccXposed.com is dedicated to publishing essays of former NTCC members and others concerning "What New Testament Christian Churches of America won't tell you, even if you ask," and to figuring out whether NTCC is a cult. It hosts articles which purport to document physical as well as psychological, spiritual and financial abuses of the church leadership and culture. For example, the accusation is made that "Exclusivity plus Authoritarianism equals Power. This is the formula employed by NTCC."[14] Fact.net also hosts a very active discussion of NTCC.
References
- ^ New Testament Church of God, filing record, Missouri Secretary of State website, accessed August 15, 2009
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ The Holiness Messenger
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc., filing record, Missouri Secretary of State website, accessed August 15, 2009
- ^ [7] NTCC Campground Santa Fe, Missouri
- ^ [8] Conference Invitation
- ^ [9] Locator for NTCC churches
- ^ [10]
- ^ http://www.ntccxposed.com/anatomy-of-power/ Anatomy of Power
External links
- New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc - official website
- NTCC exposed, a site documenting abuses within the church, written by former members
- New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc - official website
- New Testament Christian Churches exposed
- "The News Tribune" of Tacoma Washington's Article on NTCC - 1999
- NTCC College Handbook - 1980
- NTCC College Handbook - 1992
- NTCC Seminary Handbook - 2006
- NTCC Bylaws - 1996
- NTCC land gift to Rev. Michael C. Kekel - the founder's son-in-law
- More documentation on land gift to Rev. Michael C. Kekel
- New FACTNet NTCC forum
- Old FACTNet NTCC forum
- Semi-Annual Conference Invitation Letter
- [11] [12] NTCG's 1969 Incorporation Document(s)
- [13] [14] NTCC's 1987 Incorporation Document(s)
- NTCC's 1988 NOT-FOR-PROFIT Registration report
- [15] [16] MBI's 1969 Fictitious Creation Document
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