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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://newtestamentchristianchurches.org/ New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc] - official website
*[http://newtestamentchristianchurches.org/ New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc] - official website
*[http://www.dispatchnews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=2556&SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&S=1 A look within the "church behind the fence"]
*[http://www.dispatchnews.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=2569&TM=34775.67 Life and worship in the New Testament Christian Church]
*[http://www.dispatchnews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=2578&SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&S=1 Is NTCC a cult?]
*[http://www.dispatchnews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=2590&SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&S=1 A deeper look into NTCC - Following the money]
*[http://www.dispatchnews.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=2607&SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&S=1 A deeper look: Sexual and marital relationships in the NTCC]
*[http://www.scribd.com/doc/11625745/NTCC-News-Tribune-Article "The News Tribune" of Tacoma Washington's Article on NTCC - 1999]
*[http://www.ntccxposed.com/Handbook1.pdf NTCC College Handbook - 1980]
*[http://www.ntccxposed.com/Handbook1.pdf NTCC College Handbook - 1980]
*[http://www.ntccxposed.com/Handbook2.pdf NTCC College Handbook - 1992]
*[http://www.ntccxposed.com/Handbook2.pdf NTCC College Handbook - 1992]

Revision as of 18:35, 22 June 2010

New Testament Christian Churches of America (NTCC) is an independent Pentecostal, trinitarian, evangelical, dispensational, holiness denomination of about 5,000 members, founded by Pentecostal Church of God missionary to the Philippines Rodger Wilson Davis. It was incorporated in 1969 in St. Louis, Missouri, and is now headquartered in Graham, Washington. Each individual church location is called New Testament Christian Church.

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 especiall in Germany and Korea, and is headquartered in Hinesville, Georgia, and patterned after the NTCC model.[10]

Constituency and facilities

CEO Rev. Kekel did not provide basic statistics about the NTCC when asked for them in an interview, such as how many churches there are, or how many people attend services, but internet sources say that there are perhaps 150 churches and 5,000 church members worldwide.[11] 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.[12] Membership in Graham NTCC is racially diverse, with about 40% of the congregants being black and significant numbers with Asian or Hispanic backgrounds.[13]

The NTCC has a particular strategy for proselytizing at United States Military bases, especially those which are not on U.S. soil where the American soldiers are lonely and in need of more than the usual entertainments available. Associate pastor Phil Kinson told the Dispatch (a local newspaper), "We provide a home-away-home, and get them out of those filthy, evil barracks."[11]

NTCC owns campgound facilities in Santa Fe, Missouri, which hosts its ministerial meetings.[14][15] The church also operates servicemen's homes near American military bases in the United States, England, Germany, Republic of Korea, and Japan.[16] 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.

Controversy

Dozens of ex-members of NTCC, including former ministers, say that the NTCC is a cult.[17] The NTCC is an insular organization, with strict rules concerning the role of women, and about contact between men and women. Divorce is strongly encouraged when one of the marriage partners leaves the church.[18] Questions have been raised about personal and financial conduct within the church.[11][13][10]

References

  1. ^ New Testament Church of God, filing record, Missouri Secretary of State website, accessed August 15, 2009
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ [3]
  5. ^ [4]
  6. ^ The Holiness Messenger
  7. ^ [5]
  8. ^ "Piety finds sanctuary in Graham", The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), January 30, 1999.
  9. ^ New Testament Christian Churches of America, Inc., filing record, Missouri Secretary of State website, accessed August 15, 2009
  10. ^ a b Smith, Bruce, "A deeper look into NTCC - Following the money", The Independent Voice of South Pierce County, Washington, retrieved June 21, 2010
  11. ^ a b c Smith, Bruce, "A look within the "church behind the fence", The Independent Voice of South Pierce County, Washington, retrieved June 21, 2010
  12. ^ [6]
  13. ^ a b Smith, Bruce, "Life and worship in the New Testament Christian Church", The Independent Voice of South Pierce County, Washington, retrieved June 21, 2010
  14. ^ [7] NTCC Campground Santa Fe, Missouri
  15. ^ [8] Conference Invitation
  16. ^ [9] Locator for NTCC churches
  17. ^ Smith, Bruce, "NTCC: Is it a cult?", The Independent Voice of South Pierce County, Washington, retrieved June 21, 2010
  18. ^ Smith, Bruce, "A deeper look: Sexual and marital relationships in the NTCC", The Independent Voice of South Pierce County, Washington, retrieved June 21, 2010

External links

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