Henry Hildebrandt, Ray Tinsman & The Church of God Restoration

 

The Church of God in Aylmer has been made ‘famous’ by Henry Hildebrant.  Because of their recent stand for freedom and for the right of churches to gather, Henry and his congregation have become well known and even admired.  It is no secret that they are actively pursuing a wider audience and seeking a greater influence in the churches and communities of the province.  

My concern is that many in the Church look to them as something like noble freedom fighters.  Still others - who ordinarily wouldn’t - have begun attending their church; and even some faithful pastors are making common cause with them because they have defied the government’s interference with the churches.  Initially I was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt (as I wrote previously). I wanted to treat them, at very least, as co-belligerents. I now believe this was a grave mistake.  A little research reveals that they are not another Christian church or denomination.  Rather, they are a wicked cult. 

I wrote previously, "If we were freedom fighters we might count it an honour to join ranks with a man like Henry."  Having done more digging I have concluded that I was being far too generous.  No thinking freedom fighter and certainly no believing freedom fighter would look to Satan for aid in the cause of liberty (or any other cause for that matter).   Neither then should we look for aid to any of these so called 'apostles'. Make no mistake.  The leaders of the Church of God Restoration are not well meaning men who happen to be a bit mixed up theologically.  We read of wolves in Scripture, but here is something far worse.  Here we are dealing with the demonic.  This is a movement that surely comes straight out of the pit of hell and should be shunned and avoided even as we would shun and avoid Belial.  

The more I listen to audio coming from the Church of God Restoration the more I find myself thinking of men like Jim Jones and David Koresh.

I have been helped by a website whose author remains anonymous.  I cannot give due credit, but I owe the following to him as he has done the work that I am simply borrowing. 

The following is a brief but helpful documentary on the Church of God Restoration:

For the source videos used to make the documentary go here.  The maker of the website helpfully provides time stamps for all the relevant clips.

If you go to the source videos and listen to them you will hear (among other things):

a) Ray Tinsman admit that

• they are brainwashing people,
• that he and the other apostles can write scripture, 
• praying to Jesus is weird.

b) One of the ‘apostles’ preach a sermon about Ray Tinsman.  In that sermon you will hear

• that the apostle (preaching) owes his life, soul, salvation to Ray Tinsman,
• that the congregation should stop thinking the apostle Paul is greater than Tinsman,
• that Ray Tinsman’s ministry is greater than John, James, Peter and Paul,
• that Ray Tinsman is the greatest man (other than Jesus) to ever walk the earth,
• that they don’t believe anything unless Tinsman has said it,
• that Tinsman is perfect.  

c) Ray Tinsman agree with the sermon that was preached about him and say that who whoever feels called to be a minister has to believe that as well.

d) Ray Tinsman tell the people, "you that are weary and troubled concerned come rest, lay down your burdens, get behind me... yeah I said it." 

e) A woman ‘apostle’ say that if the people are listening to somebody, and it's not brother Ray, they are slaves.

f) Preacher Jonathan Anselm tell the people

• not to pray to God for a vision, but to come to Ray Tinsman,
• that the church of God is measured by the arm of Ray Tinsman,
• if they want to go to heaven they have to come to Ray,
• that one day Bill Gates will bow in front of Tinsman.

g) Ernest Benion Jr say that to be saved, you have to say "yes" to Ray Tinsman.

h) You will then watch Ernest Benion Jr kneel before Tinsman.

I regret that I did not see this earlier. Though I tried to be careful with what I said, I was wrong to speak even a bit favorably of the Church of God in Aylmer. I can only hope and pray that others will see these leaders for what they are and have nothing more to do with them. If you know someone in the Church of God recognize that they are in bondage and pray for their rescue.