How Do You Use Your Influence? Hello reader, it's been a year since the catalytic event that started this blog — the Senior night basketball game at KVHS where one student was targeted and bullied by the Prestons and a handful of their followers. A year since "Protect the Kids" t-shirts were given out and the Protect the Kids movement was promised...it still doesn't exist. This is all that remains from the hype: A website that doesn't link to anything. It brings up the question: Was it really about the kids? It's also been (almost) a year since dozens of victims wrote their stories and sent t ..read more

Introduction It's a stormy August day. That's an unusual sentence to write at this time of year. Tropical storm Hilary is bringing abnormally strong winds and rain at a time when it's typically 100 degrees and scorching hot. I feel another storm has been gathering force since before I started posting this blog. I feel it is gathering momentum whenever another person calls or writes to share their story. Even though I took a few months off between posts, the calls, emails, texts, and meetings didn't stop. Most say something similar, "I can't believe they continue to hurt people daily. And no on ..read more

Previous Chapters Introduction Loyalty Intentional Exclusion A New Language The Erskine Fire The Big Secret The End Before the Ending Revelation of Corruption Never Ending Abuse Introduction Not every story has a happy ending. Or even an ending at all. This story will conclude far before people's pain has had a chance to heal, far before adequate justice or resolve has finished its work. And far before the powers that be at the National Foursquare Church have finished their investigation. But my hope from the beginning of this writing has been for readers to know this: You are not alone in you ..read more

Previous Chapters Introduction Loyalty Intentional Exclusion A New Language The Erskine Fire The Big Secret The End Before the Ending Revelation of Corruption "I stand by my decision to send you home and I stand by asking you to cut those relationships." The Meeting October 2018 Rivernook Campground in Kernville has over 40 acres of campsites, riverfront beaches, trees with their own stories, and lusciously green meadows. We sat at a weather-worn picnic bench near the water. This was the neutral setting for the last meeting I had with Neal. We hadn't met since the June meeting at Riverside Par ..read more

Previous Chapters Introduction Loyalty Intentional Exclusion A New Language The Erskine Fire The Big Secret Chapter 6 "Why are you still with her?" "She’s not part of the mission. How do you know she really loves God? If she doesn't love God, should you even be married to her?" "STOP!" "What, you’re going to leave now and just go home to her? It’s the middle of the day. Neal, James Ranger wouldn’t let his employees talk to him this way. Are you going to put up with this?" "STOP!" Neal was firmly asking Amie to JUST...STOP...TALKING. It seemed like for the first time she was spewing a geyser of ..read more

Introduction 3.10.23 - 7:38pm Neal Preston posted a video on his social account and blog tonight, sharing his rebuttal to these blog posts. You can read/watch it here. He also mentions a letter he wrote in the fall of 2018. That letter is a key piece of evidence in a future post. The interesting thing, this chapter you are about to read was written on Monday. It's been passed through a lawyer and editors this week, and now is being released on Saturday morning, 3.11.23. The timing is uncanny. His video rebuttal further emphasizes two things: First, manipulators "flip the script" in order for t ..read more

Vocabulary that constricts thinking Chapter 3 PREVIOUS CHAPTERS: Introduction, Chapter One, Chapter Two. "I cannot have a religious spirit around me or this church. I have to be the shepherd of this flock and ask you not to attend until the religious spirit is revealed to you through conviction of the Holy Spirit, which will bring you to a place of confession, true repentance, restitution (apologizing), and eventually and hopefully restoration into the church. If you spread this to others, it reinforces the spirit of religion and rebellion you have and non submission to the God ordained autho ..read more

INTRODUCTION (Read this first) Chapter 1 “The difference between a cult and a religion, of course, lies in extremity.” -Benjamin Wittes It all started with a parade and a phone call. In June of 2013 our family moved to Lake Isabella California. A small mountain town about an hour northeast of Bakersfield. We were installed as pastors of Family Life Center a Foursquare Church in Wofford Heights, one of a handful of communities that surround the lake. I take all responsibility for what happened next. I reached out to Neal within the first week, having previously met him during a vacation to visi ..read more

Hi, my name is Jon and I'm finally writing my story. INTRODUCTION I have a lot of fear in writing this. I know I live in a small town, and the story I’m sharing might cause a powerful family to take aim at me and possibly even my wife and children in the form of bullying, harassment, and threats. I’ve already had my life and livelihood threatened by the family. But it’s time to bring this to light. Additionally, this is my story, my point of view, my experience and I am fully aware there are two sides to every story and situation. There is no easy way to say this. I came close to ending my lif ..read more