The International Churches of Christ, also known as Crossroads, the Boston Movement, and the Discipling Movement, is a very dangerous CULT, led by Kip McKean. It originally started in the Crossroads congregation of the church of Christ in Gainesville, Florida as the Discipling Movement, and spread to the Lexington Church of Christ in Lexington, Massachusetts (near Boston), from which it garnered the name "The Boston Movement". The Gainesville congregation, where the movement began, has since repented and returned to a true Bible-based worship. For a more in-depth study of the roots of the movement, and biblical examination of the movement, see the articles linked near the bottom of this page.
Since its inception, the Boston Movement has grown tremendously, and now reaches all around the world. Its main center in the United States is now the L.A. Church of Christ (Los Angeles, California), from which it operates all local churches under its control via a strict hierarchy. The hierarchical structure of the International Churches of Christ is in opposition to the Biblical pattern and authority for the church of Christ, by which each congregation of the Lord's church is autonomous, affiliated with all other congregations only by way of a common bond in Jesus Christ.
A true congregation of the church of Christ will be autonomous, non-denominational, and non-institutional, and will be part of no extended organizational structure, other than at the congregational level.
To view the web site of the International Churches of Christ, enter " disciplestoday.org " into your browser. I have only included this link for your edification -
CAVEAT: I have included the home page for the International Churches of Christ, only so the reader can see for himself how slick and well-developed their operation is. If one did not know better, he would think this was a legitimate church of Christ; just one big, happy family. This is how people get sucked into cults; the horrible truth dawns on people only after they have become totally committed and (seemingly) inextricably entwined in the organization. However, no matter how deeply involved one has become, one can always turn again to the Living God through His son Jesus Christ, and thus escape the grasp of a cult. It is not easy, but it can be done... I am not an expert on this subject, and I don't do counseling, but the pages I have listed below contain links to people who can help those ensnared in cults.
The Discipling Dilemma: Reprinted from the Gospel Advocate Company,
Nashville, TN; Flavil R. Yeakley, Jr., Editor
Errors of Hierarchical Discipleship: "Crossroadism and The Worldwide Boston Hierarchy Weighed and Found Wanting" - Roy Allen Davison
Reveal: An International Network of former members of the ICoC
Triumphing Over London Cults: Web site by ex-members in Great Britain
Steven A. Hassan: Combating Cult Mind Control
Ex-Cult Archive: General and specific information about cults. Definitions of mind-control, bible-based cults, commercial cults, political cults, etc. How to identify a cult. Links.
International Cultic Studies Association: Founded in 1979, the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic or high-demand groups,alternative movements, and other environments. ICSA is tax-exempt, supports civil liberties, and is not affiliated withany religious or commercial organizations.