“My Last Days”  
authored by Christine Hilton

>>All of the suffering, misery and torment a cult member is subjected to by their punitive cult environment magnified by their own conscience twisted by cult-induced guilt is without question among the most haunting of reveries to consider. The testimony of Christine Hilton’s departure from Gladstone is particularly excruciating to consider.<<


I had been praying for some time about my daughter's physical, and emotional health.  She was suffering from horrible migraines and not sleeping.  The women's house we lived in had 6-8 women living there, always changing bedrooms, guest etc.  The schedules for everyone were grueling.  People were coming and going all the time, and the tension in our house was horrible.  

I believed it would be better for her health to move into a close family member's home because it would be much more peaceful and quiet.  I told her my idea one morning before work.  A few hours later Zak came to homeschool where I was working visibly angry demanding I come with him.  We walked across the street and walked in his house with him to see my daughter and Brandi the "community therapist"

Zak began the conversation asking about me leaving.  I explained we did not want to leave the church, our jobs, or fellowship in any way but just to move out of chaos, because of my daughter's health.  I asked her in front of them when her headaches started, "when we moved here", when anxiety began, "when we moved here", when did you start having trouble sleeping, "when we moved here".

Zak was in an obvious rage telling me I was evil and a danger to my daughter.  He continued to repeat it in front of her over and over.  I do not remember most of the next three hours.  The next thing I remember was being taken through 1 Corinthians 13 forced to confess how I was not loving to the people in community and repent.  

Brandi came to my house that night and said "I have never seen Zak so mad, you got your ass handed to you on a silver platter". The next day she came to me asking for me not to throw her under the bus for saying that.

Cebastian was in Guatemala at the time, he had heard about what happened and asked me not to leave until he got back and we could discuss G and I moving into the cottage.  I agreed and those 10 days were some of the darkest I have experienced. 

When he got back he and my daughter cooked a dinner for me that went really well until it took a turn.  I believed we were there to discuss moving into the cottage,  but they began bringing up the fact that I started talking to my husband and the sin of divorce and remarriage.  I could not take it. I left and walked to a nearby park until I got an Uber then hotel room.  

The next week was horrible.  I was meeting with various members, them trying to convince me to come back and me asking for forgiveness for leaving.  I could not make sense of anything.  I ran homeschool, I discipled many women and in 24 hours I was labeled evil and dangerous and crazy.  I could not figure out why they wanted evil, dangerous and crazy back.  At one point my kids said they would not speak to me until I went into an inpatient psychiatric facility.  That week I went to various doctors and therapists begging them to commit me.  Nobody would. For weeks I was convinced I was a danger to my daughter, so I left her in "their care".  

Eventually with the help of a counselor I decided to get her out 6 weeks before her 18 birthday.  I called her and texted her, Cebastian, and other leadership with no response.  I was forced to get the help of the Cincinnati Police Department.  The officer went in and got her.  Of course she was furious. This has now been labeled "the day I kidnapped her".  

 I asked her and she agreed to not talk to anyone in the community except her brother for the next six weeks.  They were in 24/7 contact with her through text,video messaging, Google notes etc.  At one point she confessed guilt for lying and disobeying me.  They all told her these were special circumstances.  

My son Cebastian came to get her 1 day before her 18th birthday. That was the last day I have talked to her or seen her.  It's been over 5 painful years.