How To Identify A Dangerous Religious Group

                                                    "And ye shall know the truth,

                                                  and the truth shall make you free".

                                                                     John 8:32

This article is about recognizing dangerous religious groups (DRG), siting as an example

a local church of which I have personally identified as a DRG--Evangel Church, formerly

known as Evangel Temple, located at 13901 Central Avenue, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

The church is run by the Meares family.

Honest preachers who are walking in truth and integrity and preaching the Gospel of Jesus

Christ are to be loved and esteemed highly for the Work's sake (2 Thessalonians 5:13).

They are to be prayed for and have their hands held up as Aaron and Hur did for Moses in

the Old Testament (Exodus 17:12).   They are to be followed as long as they follow Jesus

Christ.

Any pastor who sins and confesses and forsakes that sin, is to be restored by those who

are spiritual.  True Christians are to live holy lives because Jesus is holy, and we are to be

like him.   Without holiness no man will see the Lord.  We are to look up for our

"redemption draweth nigh".  Criticism and gossip should not be tolerated or encouraged.

In the case of the Meares family, I found that they have used the truths of Word as an

opportunity to further their evil work and live wicked lifestyles.  They have twisted

the words of the Bible to suit their purposes and for monetary gain.  The Church is God's

family, it is His court, He rules and dwells there. He (Jesus) is the head,---not Donald

Meares, as he publicly claimed.   God clearly shows us in the Bible how things are

to be done in order.  If there is an offense we are to:

1.  Go privately to try and rectify the matter
2.  Take two or three witnesses
3.  Take it to the Church
4.  Warn the Christians and take it to court

Because I believe teaching false doctrine and defrauding other Christians is an enormous
offense, I followed the first three steps and was promptly ostracize.  I then followed the
fourth step and took it to court.

In the court there were so many lies and perjury it was unbelievable.  I later found out
that the lying Bishop Meares was and probably still is a Mason, so was the Judge.  
There were Masonic signs passed regularly between the Judge and his Mason brother
(Details Available).  If there was choice, in which court to win, my choice would have
been in the Higher Court and that is what I got.  Would you believe Virgil Meares told
the court that he and his wife Janie's income was $27,000.00 in 1984 and $28,000.00 in
1985?   They have three children, lived in a $400,000.00 home on Crestwood Drive,
in upper NW area of Washington DC, travelled extensively and had new cars, servants
and a six figure bank account.  While the average members of the congregation were
poor black inner city dwellers.  He obviously is in the wrong profession.   He should
be touring the country giving seminars on "How to live on stolen money".  For our
courts to accepts such blatant lies shows that the system definitely needs repairing!

My conclusion is that all things work together for good if one is a Christian.  Now God
is going to get all the Glory for He is doing his work His way.  He can use anything and
anybody.   My prayer is--"Use me as light to dispel darkness anytime and anyplace, and
like Queen Esther of old, if I perish, I perish, so be it".    What I want most is for
Meares family to make me a liar.   I dare them! (2Timothy 2:19).  This article is a
small fraction of what went on.  It probably will take a couple of books to tell it all.


Yours In His Service,

Shirley O. Roberts-Douglas

This article is backing up my Website