I am honored to feature the work of my late brother-in-law, Gert Jonker, on my platform today. Gert Jonker was born on March 17, 1981, in Cape Town, South Africa, and sadly passed away on April 23, 2021, in Zwolle, Netherlands. His analysis was originally published in English on his website, www.gertjr.com. With permission from Gert’s wife, this analysis has been edited for the book presentation of “Escaping the Potter’s House: An Anthology of Memoirs by Former Members” by Joel E. Crosby, after which I’m sharing it here.
Enjoy and please share “The BITE model analysis of The Potter’s House.”
What is the BITE Model?
The BITE Model was developed by Steven Hassan, based on research and theories from renowned psychology and cult experts such as Robert Jay Lifton, Margaret Singer, Edgar Schein, Louis Jolyon West, and Leon Festinger. It describes the specific methods that cults use to recruit and control individuals, focusing on four key areas: Behavior, Information, Thought, and Emotional control.
This text aims to analyze The Potter’s House founded by Wayman Mitchell based on the BITE Model. The collective experiences of ex-members have been used for this analysis. It is important to note that within The Potter’s House, what leaders present as recommendations are understood by members as commands that must be followed. Similarly, disapprovals are seen as prohibitions. The summaries for each point are kept concise to maintain clarity in this analysis.
I. Behavior Control
- Regulate the individual’s physical reality – (mildly applicable) – Pastors tell church members what they can and cannot believe, creating an us-versus-the-world mentality.
- Dictate where, how, and with whom the member lives and associates or isolates – (applicable) – Members are discouraged from forming relationships outside the church based on the out-of-context usage of Amos 3:3 and may be excommunicated for dating outside the church. Contact with ex-members is also discouraged based on 2 Corinthians 6:14, James 4:4, 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, and Romans 16:17.
- When, how, and with whom the member has sex – (applicable) – Pastoral permission is needed for a romantic relationship to date. Physical contact is discouraged. Members are manipulated into marriage pairings under the impression that it is their choice. Dating outside the church leads to exclusion or excommunication. Sex or kissing before marriage results in disciplinary actions or temporary excommunication, with no permission to marry during that period.
- Control clothing and hairstyles – (applicable) – Women must wear modest clothing, no tight or short skirts, and skirts or dresses during church services. Sleeveless tops are not allowed. Wedding dresses are checked by pastoral wives. Men must wear a suit and tie during services; other clothing is disapproved of. Women must have long hair, men short. Beards are strongly discouraged, and not shaving can lead to losing a ministry position in the church.
- Regulate diet – food and drink, hunger, and/or fasting – (mildly applicable) – There are mandatory fasting periods in January and July. Additional fasting is planned but optional.
- Manipulation and deprivation of sleep – (applicable) – During the annual camp for teens/children, doctrine is instilled, combined with sleep-depriving activities and early mornings. They also undergo military physical training, a clear brainwashing technique.
- Financial exploitation, manipulation, or dependence – (applicable) – A lot of money is collected, with mandatory tithes (10% of income) and additional donations for blessings. Sometimes, giving everything you have to the church is preached so God will bless those who want to become pregnant with a baby. Pastors sometimes pay for something for a member to demand favors later. It is also preached that God will punish you or send you to hell if you do not pay tithes.
- Restrict leisure time, entertainment, vacation time – (applicable) – No TV, social media, or cinema. Only church-approved music. Vacations must be planned around church services (no weekends away) and require permission. Members must sign a contract confirming this.
- Large amounts of time spent in group indoctrination and rituals and/or self-indoctrination, including the Internet – (applicable) – Members are discouraged from researching the church online or seeking information independently. All books and spiritual topics are controlled and recommended by the pastor. There are three services per week, Sunday Bible study, home studies during the week, teenagers gather for Biblestudies on Friday, special discipleship classes for men, new converts, and monthly revival services with guest preachers.
- Permission required for major decisions – (applicable) – All decisions are discussed with the pastor, and his advice is binding. People have bought and sold houses, taken jobs, etc., based on the pastor’s advice.
- Thoughts, feelings, and activities (of self and others) reported to superiors – (applicable) – Members must confess all their sins to the pastor or a fellow member and are encouraged to report these confessions to the pastor.
- Rewards and punishments used to modify behavior, both positive and negative – (applicable) – Ministries are given or taken away based on your commitment to The Potter’s House and its leaders.
- Individual behavior discouraged, group thinking encouraged – (applicable) – “We all do what we are taught.” Every church worldwide teaches members to think and do the same.
- Impose strict rules and regulations – (applicable) – There are many rules, many of which are unbiblical. To do something in the church, you must sign a contract to live according to The Potter’s House principles.
- Punish disobedience by beating, torture, burning, cutting, rape, or tattooing/branding – (mildly applicable) – Children are often punished with pain, a point of pride for parents. Parents often take a difficult child out of the service for a spanking, which everyone can see.
- Threaten family and friends – (mildly applicable) – While I have not personally seen this, I have heard that it has occurred to others. Some churches used to have a group of members who would beat up former members. Others have reported their homes having been vandalized.
- Force the individual to rape or be raped – (mildly applicable) – There have been reports of sexual abuse within the movement. Women are often silenced, while men continue as if nothing happened. If a woman speaks out, she is labeled promiscuous, and the men are seen as innocent victims who return to ministry. This does not happen in every Fellowship church location but occurs frequently.
- Instill dependency and obedience – (applicable) – Without the church, you lose your salvation and social network (you are ostracized).
II. Information Control
- Deception:
- Deliberately withholding information – (applicable) – In the Netherlands, a pastor sexually abused many girls. This was not disclosed to the girls, leaving them with unexplained psychological problems. The new pastor attempts to help them without revealing the cause. This also happens in other churches. Members are discouraged from seeking information on their own.
- Distorting information to make it more acceptable – (applicable) – Favorable information is often used out of context, and only useful parts are quoted. All books are controlled by the pastor, who recommends which ones can be read. The Bible is reinterpreted according to their own ideas, and texts are misused.
- Systematically lying to the cult member – (applicable) – Pastors in The Potter’s House lie frequently, often in the form of gaslighting and to protect the organization.
- Minimizing or discouraging access to non-cult sources of information, including:
- Internet, TV, radio, books, articles, newspapers, magazines, other media – (applicable) – Any type of media or entertainment is often preached against, Christian sources outside of their organization are strongly and sternly discouraged.
- Critical information – (applicable) – Only information supported by them is allowed. All books and documentaries are checked by the pastors before members can use them. Members are told off for using information without prior approval of the pastor.
- Former members – (applicable) – Those who leave are labeled as rebels and must be avoided. Members are discouraged from maintaining ties with former members and not to listen to them. They preach rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, based on the out of context usage of 1 Samuel 15:22-23, which clearly talks about rebellion against God. They also say a former member can influence you and give you a “critical spirit” (this is a direct translation from Dutch, I’m not sure if English-speaking countries use this term).
- Keeping members busy so they don’t have time to think and investigate – (applicable) – Members are always kept very busy. There are music rehearsals, drama rehearsals, extra discipleship classes, revival meetings, bi-annual conferences (17 church services in 5 days), preparations for activities, and mandatory fellowship with other members. But just the basic activities include:
Activity Time Three services of 1.5 hours each 4.5 hours Prayer before each service 3 hours Music night 1.5 hours Evangelism 2 hours Total 12 hours - Control through cell phone with texts, calls, internet tracking – (mildly applicable) – Phones are not tracked, but members are asked to use internet filters that can email their internet activity, preferably to the pastor.
- Compartmentalizing Information into Outsider vs. Insider doctrines:
- Ensuring that information is not freely accessible – (mildly applicable) – While members can obtain the information, it is usually only shared with dedicated members in the discipleship program.
- Controlling information at different levels and missions within the group – (mildly applicable) – The more you do, the more you know. Discipleship provides more insight into the organization. Pastors of larger churches know more than regular members and pastors of smaller churches.
- Allowing only leadership to decide who needs to know what and when – (applicable) – Leaders decide who gets to know what and sometimes respond with ‘that is not for you at this time’.
- Encouraging spying on other members:
- Imposing a buddy system to monitor and control the member – (applicable) – This is done among men as ‘protection against pornography’ and among teenagers to keep an eye on each other. The follow-up ministry monitors newer members.
- Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership – (applicable) – This is encouraged, especially among teenagers.
- Ensuring that individual behavior is monitored by the group – (mildly applicable) – Social control is present; everyone keeps an eye on each other.
- Extensive use of cult-generated information and propaganda, including:
- Newsletters, magazines, journals, audiotapes, videotapes, YouTube, movies, and other media – (applicable) – The movement has a YouTube channel and produces its own books but discourages unapproved material.
- Misquoting or using quotes out of context from non-cult sources – (applicable) – This happens frequently, mostly through taking Bible verses out of context.
- Unethical use of confessions:
- Using information about sins to disrupt and/or dissolve identity boundaries – (not applicable) – Not sure what this entails exactly, so assume it does not happen.
- Withholding forgiveness or absolution – (mildly applicable) – Members are kept in guilt and asked for forgiveness for sins they have not committed for years. Sermons make members feel unworthy and in need of forgiveness. They preach a gospel of fear.
- Manipulation of memory, possible false memories – (applicable) – There is gaslighting in the movement; stories are adjusted as needed. Rape victims are sometimes convinced that they initiated the sexual contact themselves.
III. Thought Control
- Require members to internalize the group’s doctrine as truth
- Adopting the group’s ‘map of reality’ as reality – (applicable) – What the leaders say is true, if you express any form of doubt you’re labeled a rebel and shunned.
- Instilling black-and-white thinking – (applicable) – The church is right; any dissenting thought is wrong.
- Deciding between good and evil – (applicable) – You must choose the church; everyone outside the church is lost and on their way to hell.
- Organizing people into us vs. them (insiders vs. outsiders) – (applicable) – Many sermons focus on us vs. them. They see opposition as Christian oppression and do not collaborate with other churches, which they consider inferior.
- Changing a person’s name and identity – (mildly applicable) – One known case where someone was given a different name because another member already had that name.
- Using loaded language and clichés that limit knowledge, stop critical thinking, and reduce complexity into simplistic slogans – (applicable) – Many one-liners and church jargon with different meanings.
- Encouraging only ‘good and proper’ thoughts – (applicable) – You are considered a rebel if you think differently.
- Using hypnotic techniques to alter mental states, undermine critical thinking, and even make the member regress to an earlier behavior – (mildly applicable) – This happens through the speech patterns and word choices of leaders.
- Manipulating memories and creating false memories – (mildly applicable) – Memories are manipulated to present the movement positively.
- Teaching techniques to stop negative thoughts and allow only positive thoughts, including:
- Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking – (applicable) – This often happens by leaders and members.
- Chanting – (not applicable) – No.
- Meditating – (mildly applicable) – Prayer is mantra-like, with the same phrases repeated.
- Praying – (applicable) – Praying against negative thoughts, including doubts against the church. Or praying curses back on someone else rather than blessing their enemies.
- Speaking in tongues – (applicable) – Encouraged, even without real guidance.
- Singing or humming – (mildly applicable) – Minimal singing to limit emotions.
- Rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism – (applicable) – Criticism of the church or leaders is not allowed; everything is labeled negative.
- Forbid critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy allowed – (applicable) – People are ostracized for questioning the leaders. Questions are limited to ‘how to do this’ and not ‘should we be doing this’.
- Labeling alternative belief systems as illegitimate, evil, or useless – (applicable) – They are seen as rebellious and witchcraft. Other churches are considered inferior.
IV. Emotional Control
- Manipulate and narrow the range of feelings – (applicable) – Emotions are considered bad, they are a tool of the devil to tempt you into a sinful lifestyle.
- Teach techniques to stop emotions and block feelings of homesickness, anger, and doubt – (mildly applicable) – Members are discouraged from seeking contact with neglected family or old friends and are encouraged to spend more time with the church.
- Make the person feel that problems are always their own fault, never the leader’s or the group’s fault – (applicable) – They preach that you must follow the leader even if he is wrong. In case of problems, the blame always lies with the member, never the leader.
- Promote feelings of guilt or unworthiness, such as (all present in sermons and personal counseling):
- Identity guilt – (applicable) – The way you are is bad, you are a sinner and must repent. This is especially true in case of sexual identity, but also sometimes cultural identity.
- Not living up to your potential – (applicable)
- – God has a plan and a destiny for you at The Potter’s House, if you do not do what the organization and its leaders say, you are not living up to your potential.
- Your family is deficient – (applicable)
- – If you have family members who do not attend, and have expressed their concerns about your involvement in the church, the devil is using them to keep you from doing God’s will.
- Your past is suspect – (applicable)
- – If anyone in the church knows what you did in the past, even if you told it in your testimony, it will repeatedly be used against you.
- Your affiliations are unwise – (applicable)
- – Do not associate with non-members, they will influence you and give you a critical spirit.
- Your thoughts, feelings, actions are irrelevant or selfish – (applicable) – Feelings and emotions are tools of the devil to keep you from doing God’s will.
- Social guilt – (applicable) – If you’ve confessed your sins to the pastor, you may be placed under a 6 month discipline which is a form of social guilt where you are not allowed to hold any ministry position.
- Historical guilt – (applicable) – If you’ve had disciplinary actions taken against you in the past, this will repeatedly be brought up and used against you.
- Instill fear, such as fear of: (also prominent in sermons)
- Independent thinking – (applicable) – Critical thinking, or independent thinking, is strongly discouraged. You can not trust your own thoughts.
- The outside world – (applicable) – The outside world is the enemy (James 4:4).
- Enemies – (mildly applicable) – There are people they don’t trust, such as chiropractors, people who practice martial arts, journalists, etc., because they carry satanic influence or write negative news about the church.
- Losing your salvation – (applicable) – There’s a very present danger that you can lose your salvation, you may not even know it when it happened.
- Leaving the group or being shunned – (applicable) – Leaving the church God placed you in (1 Corinthians 12:18) equals being excommunicated.
- Disapproval of others – (applicable) – They disapprove of anyone who speaks badly against their church, or has a lifestyle or career they don’t approve of, such as people who have sex out of wedlock, men with earrings, or even people who paint abstract art (yes, really!).
- Emotional highs and lows – (applicable) – Love bombing and praise alternate with statements that you are a terrible sinner.
- Ritualistic and sometimes public confession of sins – (applicable) – During altar calls after sermons. Not coming forward to pray about your sin means you are still living in sin.
- Phobia indoctrination: instill irrational fears about leaving the group or questioning the leader’s authority – (applicable) – Tactics to keep people in the group:
- No happiness or fulfillment possible outside the group – (applicable) – Those outside the group who appear happy are faking it. Current members may greet former members in a friendly but emotionally distant way just to give a good example and keep the door open should they consider returning to church.
- Terrible consequences if you leave the group: hell, demonic possession, incurable diseases, accidents, suicide, insanity, etc. – (applicable) – Those outside the group with problems are used as examples of punishment.
- Shunning those who leave; fear of rejection by friends, peers, and family – (applicable) – Preach separation from former members; members who stay fear being shunned as well.
- No legitimate reason to leave; those who leave are weak, undisciplined, unspiritual, worldly, brainwashed by family or counselor, or lured by money, sex, or rock ‘n’ roll – (applicable) – If you leave the church, you are rebellious; rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, you are going to hell.
- Threats of harm to ex-members and their family – (mildly applicable) – Rumored but not personally experienced.
Conclusion
As previously mentioned, this analysis draws on the collective experiences of former members worldwide. It offers a comprehensive look into life within any Christian Fellowship Ministries church. Given the numerous cult-like characteristics identified, the logical conclusion is that The Potter’s House, founded by Wayman Mitchell, is indeed a cult.
If you have been a member of The Potter’s House or any Christian Fellowship Ministries-affiliated church, I encourage you to read my book, Escaping the Potter’s House: An Anthology of Memoirs by Former Members. Many readers have shared that it has helped them process their own experiences. For those who have not been members, this book may help you recognize signs of spiritual or narcissistic abuse before they affect you.
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Nederlandse versie (Dutch version)
Om de Nederlandse versie te lezen, klik hier.