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The
International Church of Christ
Overview
It was founded in Boston in the United States in 1979 by the cult's present day leader Kip McKean. McKean is, according to the cult, the "greatest living treasure that God has given the Kingdom on the face of the earth today". Wanting to get a branch in every major city (with more than 100,000 people) by the year 2000, the group is very evangelistic, using church plantings to start new branches. As an example of how this works, the original Boston branch planted the London, England branch, who started the Sydney, Australia branch, who planted the Auckland, New Zealand branch (which resulted in Cultwatch being started). The Central Auckland Church of Christ then planted the Christchurch branch. However this rapid expansion leads to members burning out - sometimes after just a few months. Back to top Discipling
"And again to those who believe that I, like countless others in a 'manmade movement' am blindly following Kip McKean, then know this. With eyes wide open I'm following Kip McKean: Consciously, intentionally, thankfully. I guess I'm just not as strong as some folks and I need help in following Jesus. And so far, I've found no better help, no better leader, no more righteous a man - no better friend than Kip." Those in the cult are instructed to imitate their discipler who is above them - which they do, even in voice inflection and facial hair. (At one stage almost all of the men in the Central Auckland Church of Christ were wearing goatees because the then leader of that branch had a goatee.) Of course, this means that ultimately they are imitating Kip McKean. This is especially noticeable in preaching style. This is what two other ICC leaders said on this subject: "The person who discipled me in the Lord is Kip McKean, the evangelist of the Boston Church. I want to be just like him. When he tells me things to do, you better believe I listen. And as I think back on the course of my relationships with Kip, I can tell you honestly, there are few times that I bucked Kip. And I can tell you honestly that I did wrong every time. It was not right to be arrogant, to be proud, to be rebellious... I want the guys who I am discipling to want to be like me." "It would suit me just fine if I could leave this place and say you know - I just want to be exactly like Kip. I just want to be exactly like Kip. That would be enough." "I want to be able to imitate Kip McKean. I want to preach like him. I want to think like him. I want to talk like him." Scary stuff. The average ICC member is convinced they are trying to follow Jesus, but the reality is that they are following McKean. The ICC also claims to be the only church really following the Bible, however its practices such as ICC discipling and their method of taking "contribution" are not found in the Bible. There are also many other areas where its practices and beliefs violate scripture. Back to top Branch Names
One of the cult's aims is to get a branch in every city of over 100,000 people by the end of the millenium.
It should be noted that not all churches that use the words "Church of Christ" in their names are part of the ICC. Back to top What Do I Do If I Know Someone Involved? First of all,  Second, don't tell them that they are in a cult. The ICC warns them early on in the recruitment process that Satan will use people around them to attack their conversion into the ICC by telling them that the ICC is a cult. By telling them that you are walking into the ICC's trap. Third, research mind control and the ICC. The links on this page will help you do that. While you are doing that, put effort into keeping strong the relationship you have with the ICC member. Fourth, see if you can arrange an exit counselling session with the ICC member. Often ICC members can be very open to talking about their involvement and examining the other side of the story, but beware - if the ICC leaders find out they will try to stop any intervention. Cultwatch has an ICC expert who can help exit counsel an ICC member. Also, there are many ex-members and other people around the world who are able to do this sort of thing. If you cannot arrange something like this then search the Internet and make up a package of material which shows the other side of the story. Give it to the member and encourage them to read it, but warn them that their leaders will not be too happy about it! Please note that exit counselling is a voluntary action. We at Cultwatch will have nothing to do with kidnapping and deprogramming, so don't ask, because a referral to the police often offends. The most important thing to remember is that we want the ICC member to have a time when they can examine their involvement and be presented with the other side of the story - the side the ICC would rather not have them hear. Your average ICC member is a person who wants, more than anything else, to follow God. When they realise how the ICC disobeys scripture and how their practices damage people they will seriously reconsider their involvement. It is important to note that it is the practices of the ICC which are wrong, not Christianity itself. There is no point "throwing the baby out with the bath water". Contrary to what the ICC will tell its members, they can leave the ICC and still be a Christian. Back to top Related Articles Informative articles revealing the beliefs and practices of the International Church of Christ in greater depth. Quotes. An article containing numerous quotes by ICC leaders and evangelists and rebuttals of those quotes. More quotes. More quotes and rebuttals. Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation? Are we saved at the point of baptism, or at the point when we believe? The Amazing God-like Powers of ICC Leaders Why ICC leaders are not qualified to tell members the member is prideful etc. Back to top Recommended Links Here are some of the best places on the Internet to begin your research into the ICC.
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