I grew up in SECC. Did it all--boy scouts, small group, youth sports leagues, childrens choir, summer camps, etc. It was the backbone of my social network as a kid, and almost all of my friends were Southeast people.
I came to terms with the fact that I was gay shortly after high school, and when I reached out to my youth group leader to talk about it, he said he'd pray with me, which led to him telling his wife, which led to his wife telling all the girls in my small group, which led to the girls telling all the boys, which led to me being the topic of "prayer" (aka gossip) without anyone even reaching out to me. People refused to even speak to me, and suddenly my entire social support system as a very young adult had crumbled.
It made me lose my faith in God and also in humanity for a very long time. It was by far the hardest period of my life, losing my entire world all because I reached out to someone I thought I could trust for counsel.
They now have at least 10 campuses where attendees watch the sermon on a large TV. They emotionally manipulate the fuck out of their members and shake them down for donations almost weekly.
I have friends who have gone through their conversion therapy department where they were sexually abused by counselors.
One year they demanded everyone in the church do some sort of mission trip. So I paid $1,000 to spend a weekend at a refugee center in South Louisville. All they did was take us around Southern Parkway and show us apartment buildings where immigrants lived and told us to look at the poverty and be grateful for what we have. We were invited to have dinner in a Syrian refugee's apartment, and they were so welcoming. And our leaders just kept talking about how poor they were.
The church camp was led by a gun crazed creep who would touch girls inappropriately and scold them for their t shirts being too revealing.
Lots of instances of guys sexually assaulting and even raping their girlfriends, and leaders wouldn't report it, instead they would praise them for repenting.
Elders and lead preachers are making millions, go on lavish vacations, and live in secluded estates on long gated driveways.
The preacher's son was caught up in in the Liberty University / Falwell Jr. scandal which I don't even want to touch on here. It was conveniently swept under the rug, and the he is now a realtor back in Louisville.
It's all about money, manipulation, blackmail, and false virtue.
It has harmed me, my family, and countless friends. And they refuse to take any accountability or even discuss where they could possibly be wrong. That would be bad for business