Dear ladies,
I happened upon this thread while researching "Dr." Michael Palmer's connection with Lester Roloff. I am sad to read the experiences of so many women who suffered as girls at the hands of these misguided "Christians". I thank you for sharing with others what you've gone through, I know it's not easy.
I have struggled a lot in many ways with my experiences, and it's nice to know that I'm not alone. I'm a generation younger than you ladies, and I really needed to hear the maturity and the way you speak about what actually happened like adults, and that many of you have been able to separate God from what was force-fed as truth. It's taken me at least eight years to love God again. The Roloff brand of Southern Baptist extremism was never God's idea in the first place!
Please forgive me for posting on your site.
I went to Victory Christian Academy in Jay, Fla around 1995. We had Bible Memo, the routines were probably very similar to Rebekah, some things sound identical. Medicine Call. No Periods for six months. Yes, this happened to just about every girl, the older girls always informed us that it was normal. I believe it was the overwhelming stress, culture shock, and the way a lot of us were brought in. Usually not aware of the situation until we had "30 seconds to say goodbye", or being "escorted"/kidnapped from the home state. Usually California, because that's where the Palmers opened their first school. There was no corporal punishment. Except if a girl tried to run everyone would tackle her to the ground. It was the only exception to the no-touching rule other than holding hands around the prayer circle before meals. I think the Palmers learned from Roloff & Co's experiences that corporal punishment would bring scrutiny to them that they couldn't afford.
I'm not sure if all of you have read the news but on 09/10/04 the Mexican police raided and closed 3 schools, one of which was owned by "Dr." Michael Palmer, Patty Palmer/Genesis Ministries.
I read it on
http://www.isaccorp.org.
I would love so badly to be able to help stop this from happening to others. I'm in my mid-twenties, trying to learn how to grow up and be a decent, healthy human being, and I can't believe there's been an endless stream of people going through these Roloff-inspired programs. There very well may be internet sites for teen survivors in twenty years, if we can't get our voices heard by state and government officials.
I'm looking for answers, namely how and why these schools started in the first place.
Please, any information you can give about "Dr." Michael Palmer, his family etc. would be very helpful. I never realized he had been involved in "the ministry" for so long. He used to tell us girls that he had once owned a McDonald's and got busted growing pot on the roof of it before he got saved.
I want to clarify if you mean that the man calling himself "Dr." over in Fla is the same man who ran homes for Lester Roloff in the eighties or if he is the son of the man who was the photographer at Rebekah homes? The son of "Dr." Palmer is also in Jay Fla but also has a real job as a sheriff's deputy. (From what I've gathered).
I don't know why these people are still in business! How many Roloff-style programs are there? What states are they in? Who should we call to have them investigated? Apparently the only way to stop them from moving to another state/country and starting up again is to lock them behind bars. I move for a change of venue too because I'm sure "Dr." Palmer and the leaders like him have the locals in their pockets.
Please email me if you can help.
VCA Survivor
cainstar@aol.comThanks for reading this, and hopefully no one's mad at me for posting it here!
