Reply #38: Once again…subjective experience varies.

[ironbark]

I used to work with psych disabled adolescents in post hospital residential care. After a year with us the kids had to move on, home was often not an option and high rents made housing difficult. One of our clients got involved in the local Assembly of God Youth Group and I had real concerns for him. The Assembly found him cheap/decent accommodation and provided surrogate family and support. He kept coming back to visit and introduce other clients to the Youth Group…I kept raising concerns about vulnerable kids being exposed to weird theology and/or cult indoctrination.
Quite simply I was wrong. Over a 3-4 year period a dozen or so clients became involved in the Youth Group, got a great deal of support/healing/community from it…and only two of the girls ever joined the assembly then drifted off/out within six months.

I still think the Assembly’s theology is weird…but from what I saw-harmless…and they provided an effective/healing social service that saved taxpayers millions.

The field is wide open for anyone else to step up and demonstrate how such services can be better provided.