TX Church Dogged by Years of ‘Cult’ Accusations
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A church in the small town of Wells, Texas, has been dogged by years of media coverage in which relatives of members and past members claim the group exhibits cult-like behavior.
The Church of Wells reportedly has a lot of influence over the small town, which is located just northwest of Lufkin. It acquired a growing number of businesses and properties, prompting concern among former residents and neighboring Texans alike.
However, the expansion of the church’s infrastructure and business plans were not the sole cause of concern for some in the community.
In 2013, a young woman from Arkansas named Catherine Groves left her home without notice, leaving behind her car and possessions. She joined the Church of Wells. Her parents claimed the group was holding her against her will, according to The Lufkin Daily News.
In April 2015, Groves broke her months-long silence with her family by calling her father, Andy, and telling him she needed his help in Wells before abruptly ending the conversation, per the Texas Monthly.
Later that day, witnesses saw her walking south along Highway 69 toward Lufkin. She appeared frail, dressed in a grey mock turtleneck and long black skirt, clutching a brown and white striped purse. Catherine, 28 years old at the time, had a pale complexion and seemed disoriented, witnesses reported.
She was picked up by Angelina County deputies and reunited with her family, but after six days, she returned to the Church of Wells.
Catherine said she was engaged to church member Ronnie Saltsman, as The Lufkin Daily News reported. She told the news outlets at the time that she was not interested in leaving the church and that she only wanted to mend her relationship with her parents.
“Cult dynamics can be incredibly seductive. They often offer a strong sense of belonging, purpose, and community. But this can come at a cost. Critical thinking can be discouraged, and isolation from outside influences can make it difficult to see potential manipulation,” Dr. Jessica Lamar, a psychologist, told The Dallas Express.
The Church of Wells posted an image of the official patient discharge paperwork issued to Groves upon her release from a medical mental health evaluation. This evaluation was required after she was found walking on the side of the highway, seemingly fleeing the group.
On the Church of Wells website, a leader of the group claimed that Catherine’s family was holding her against her will, not the congregation.
“Though we have feared that the Groves would hold Catherine against her will, manipulate her, and unrighteously attempt to bring her into their own legal custody, the fact that such an atrocious thing has literally happened now is still a heart-wrenching grief and sorrow to our souls,” read a message by one of the church leaders, Ryan Ringnald.
“Indeed, it is a shame and a mockery that the Groves have propagated lies against their own daughter of mental illness; blessedly, after Catherine was involuntarily taken to a Psych Ward because of those lies, she has been completely acquitted,” he added.
The official church website features a video of Groves herself giving a verbal statement assuring the public of her safety and personal decision to return to the group.
Following the media attention surrounding Groves, the Church of Wells released an additional statement in a letter published by The Lufkin Daily News in response to the growing allegations of cult-like behavior on its part.
In the statement, the group asked the community of Wells, “Would you meet with and hear us while leaving your children at home? If so, we would be glad for it! What else are we to do for a town which is perishing?”
Content retrieved from: https://dallasexpress.com/state/tx-church-dogged-by-years-of-cult-accusations/.
