Last fall, Lakewood resident Cricket Harris searched a Web site containing a registry of former Denver International Church of Christ members and found someone who was interested in starting a support group with her. Schweikert, who is grateful that she left the church and married her husband, says recalling her experiences is still traumatic. On the one hand, you have these questions, but at the same time, you have lots of good friends. To an outsider, the church is like any other. Inside, short sermons are followed by communion and fellowship.
People shake hands, smile and greet one another like family.
But it's deceiving, Schweikert says. But it's just a way to suck you in. And Schweikert knew what members said about people who left the group. If you weren't one of us, you were going to hell.