John welcomes Sam Danner to share his story of involvement in the Shepherding Movement, setting the stage by describing how it emerged as an outgrowth of Branham’s influence and helped shape what later became the NAR. Sam recounts how he first encountered the movement as a young believer in the early 1970s, describing Christian coffeehouses, Pentecostal fervor, and the excitement of discipleship, which soon shifted into rigid submission and authoritarian leadership. Together, they discuss the figures at the heart of the movement such as Derek Prince, Charles Simpson, Bob Mumford, and Don Basham, while exploring how teachings about demons and submission created an atmosphere of fear and control. John adds context by connecting the movement’s roots to Branham, T.L. Osborn, and Christian Identity influences, showing how these networks interlinked.<br /><br />As the discussion deepens, Sam shares personal experiences of exorcism meetings, authoritarian control, and the emotional toll it took, leading to years of anxiety and mental health struggles. John and Sam connect this to broader patterns in Pentecostal and charismatic history, drawing lines from Branham to Shepherding, to the Jesus Movement, to later revivals like Toronto and Bethel. They reflect on how sincere intentions turned extreme, how networks amplified destructive ideas, and how control was often marketed as discipleship. The conversation ends on reflections about leaving behind controlling systems, the challenges of processing trauma, and the importance of finding healthier faith expressions.<br /><br />00:00 Introduction <br />00:31 Sam Danner’s Testimony and Early Discipleship <br />02:38 The Birth of the Shepherding Movement <br />04:49 Demon Hunts and Fear-Based Control <br />07:41 Mental Health vs. Demonic Deliverance <br />08:47 Christian Growth Ministries and Branham’s Influence <br />10:16 TL Osborne, Racism, and International Crusades <br />12:11 Submission, Control, and Spiritual Abuse <br />15:05 John Wimber, Charismatics, and Overlapping Networks <br />18:03 Radio, Marketing, and Evangelical Growth <br />19:38 Music, Hippies, and the Jesus Movement Connection <br />22:01 Juan Carlos Ortiz and Mashed Potato Love <br />23:25 Extremism and the Cult Mindset <br />25:49 Anxiety, Coverings, and Control Mechanisms <br />27:43 Holy Laughter and the Toronto Blessing <br />29:01 Christian Identity, Egyptology, and UFO Beliefs <br />30:37 Abuse and Adult Spankings in the Shepherding Movement <br />32:22 Leadership Retreats and Manipulation <br />36:02 Toronto Blessing Spreads to Local Churches <br />40:01 Revival Networks and Cross-Pollination <br />41:24 Outcast and Branded as Judas <br />42:32 Advice to a Younger Self <br />44:55 Healing, Therapy, and Processing Trauma <br />49:02 The Importance of Speaking Out <br />52:00 Influence of Branham’s Associates <br />53:11 Closing Reflections<br />______________________<br />Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:<br />Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962<br />Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K<br />______________________<br />– Support the channe
