Matthew Fenner says was leaving a typical Sunday prayer service at the Word of Faith Fellowship in Spindale, NC when a swarm of fellow church members circled around him.
More than 20 people surrounded him, including the church leader, and proceeded to punch, beat and knock him to the ground for nearly two hours. At one point, someone grabbed him by the throat and shook him, a police report states.
The attack happened in January 2013 and, Fenner says, was a calculated effort by church members “to break me free of the homosexual demons they so viciously despise.”
Related: Gay Christian Student Recalls Being Hazed And Tortured For Hours By 15 Of His Fellow Church Members
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Now, the church leader who orchestrated the attack, 58-year-old Brooke Covington, is on trial. She, along with five others, is accused of kidnapping and assault. If convicted, she faces up to two years behind bars.
Fenner testified that he thought he was “going to die” as we was being choked by one church member while Covington screamed, “God said there is something wrong in your life!”
“I’m frail and in my mind, I’m thinking, ‘Is my neck going to break, am I going to die?’” Fenner, who, to make matters even more stressful, was recovering from a biopsy at the time of the attack, said.
According to an AP report from February, members of the Word of Faith church have a reputation for this kind of behavior. Since Fenner came forwards, more reports of congregants brutalizing people “in a violent form of deliverance meant to ‘purify’ sinners by beating out devils” have come to light.
Related: Five North Carolina Churchgoers Charged In “Demon-Freeing” Kidnapping Of Gay Man
The church also has some strict and downright bizarre rules for members. For instance, church leaders decide which congregants can marry or have children, and members are forbidden from watching television, going to movies, reading newspapers, or eating in restaurants that play music or serve alcohol.
Covington’s lawyer, David Teddy, told the court his client is innocent because Fenner never explicitly asked her to stop beating him.
Fenner says the reason he didn’t ask them to stop was because he feared doing so would only encourage them to beat him harder. Not to mention, he was being choked, which made screaming for help a little, well, difficult.
“I couldn’t breathe,” Fenner said. “I’m sitting here thinking if I don’t get out of this, I’m probably going to die.”
But Word of Faith maintains its innocence, insisting: “We are adamant that no one ever physically harmed Mr. Fenner. The church does NOT target members who are gay.”
Related: College athlete recounts traumatic experience of undergoing gay exorcism
Captain Obvious
The world is becoming so gross. I don’t even know what to say.
Heywood Jablowme
I’m so glad the HOMOSEXUAL DEMONS took me over when I was a kid! Thank you, homosexual demons!!!
Silent_Joe
Seriously? I’ve seen kids try to use this defense.
Ken A.
Innocent my arse. This is vile.
Hussain-TheCanadian
Gay Demons? Seriously?
Ok this week needs to end now, first we were hit with “study proves fast food causes homosexuality” and now the “gay demons” – Someone needs to call Queen-B Anderson Cooper quick and ask him what the F**k is going on !!??!!
NateOcean
So by that logic, if you beat someone unconscious, where they can’t say “stop” they you are off the hook?
paul dorian lord fredine
when asked WWJD?, they say ‘BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF HIM!’
He BGB
Does her church not have rules against ugly bleached teased within an inch of its life hair?
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JaredMacBride
Please let me be on this jury.
ivanw222
Kidnap and assault? How about conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted aggravated murder? Two years, how about 20 years!
Al Peaston
What lunacy! Why are they not being charged with attempted murder???
Bob LaBlah
From the article: “The church also has some strict and downright bizarre rules for members. For instance, church leaders decide which congregants can marry or have children, and members are forbidden from watching television, going to movies, reading newspapers, or eating in restaurants that play music or serve alcohol.”
And you STILL stayed on with that church? Your honor, the victim’s ass got the beating it asked for in my opinion so I vote not guilty.
PinkoOfTheGange
He was 18 at the time living at home and had been going to the place with his mom and little brother for some time.
Bellerophon69
This isn’t just some church congregation, this is a Cult! I know, obviously, but I wouldn’t have gotten within a mile of that freakshow in the first place. WTF did the guy THINK people like this were going to treat him? If it’s a choice between “Church with Psychos” and “Sleep Late on Sunday”, I’m SURE not going to take the “Psychos” option! It’s just Common Sense…..
Jack Meoff
This is what organised religion gets you. When will it end?
sfbeast
Why was Fenner a member of this church in the first place?
BigWoody
The christian taliban at its finest…
Deist
This should not be surprising since the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, which Christians see as being part of the word of God, commands that gay men be killed. And Jesus is said to have said (IF Jesus actually existed, he was a Jew who believed the Hebrew Bible was the word of God and he never wrote anything himself so all there is to go on is mere hearsay) in Mark 7:1-13 that the ungodly and cruel teachings in the Hebrew Bible must be followed.
The Deist Thomas Paine wrote in The Age of Reason that we need a revolution in religion based on our innate God-given reason and Deism. This will put an end to the fear-based superstitions that cause so much hate and religious violence. As the Deists say, “God gave us reason, not religion.”
Progress! Bob Johnson
http://www.deism.com
Bob LaBlah
“(IF Jesus actually existed, he was a Jew who believed the Hebrew Bible was the word of God and he never wrote anything himself so all there is to go on is mere hearsay) in Mark 7:1-13 that the ungodly and cruel teachings in the Hebrew Bible must be followed.”
I too some times wonder why more people don’t see that possibility of all of those “teachings” being hogwash. It seems strange indeed that the first gospel didnt surface until FORTY years after his death. That seems a long time to wait for these “teachings” to surface from people whom had long since passed away themselves.
JamJewel
Bob LaBlah Just to be clear, the stories/gospels were written forty years after, though they existed orally from jumpstreet. And, the vast majority of researchers believe that Mark was the first Gospel to be written, sometime around the year 70 when he was still alive and Matthew and Luke’s were composed sometime in the 80s or 90s when both could still have been alive.
amigay
Hey lady, your dye job looks really fake but I guess it’s not the stylist’s fault since you apparently didn’t say NO.
Ditamo
Just 2 years? Really you kidnap and beat a person almost to death and you only get 2 years?
Vera Delmar
This story begs the question why is this man going to this church in the first place? Okay, I know he’s not well and had had a recent medical procedure but come on now, let’s get smart and take responsibility for our own actions. If you’re gay don’t go to a church where they hate gays and beat the shit out of them…Just doesn’t make sense at all. I hope he finds a church that accepts him as he is and if not, then he needs to be kindly told that maybe he should learn the art of meditation so he can communicate with his Creator through home meditation…Screw that skanky minister….she looks like a blonde beaver any way. She needs to go to jail and fed to the lions.
PinkoOfTheGange
he was 18 and had been attending with his family for a time before.
JamJewel
Vera Delmar They are brainwashed… look at their ‘rules!’ Give the man a break.
Billysees
Following these verses can help transform the Christian experience into good results —
1. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way…..Romans 14:13
2. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God…..Romans 15:7
3. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love….Ephesians 4:2
4. …all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble….1 Peter 3:8
5. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves…..Philippians 2:3
6. Be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone…..Titus 3:2
7. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven…..Luke 6:37
8. ABOVE ALL, LOVE EACH OTHER DEEPLY, because love covers over a multitude of sins..….1 Peter 4:8
9. Let your gentle spirit be known to all men…..Philippians 4:5
10. Don’t seek your own good, but the good of others…….. 1 Corinthians 10:24
11. Follow after the things that make for peace……Romans 14:19
Bob LaBlah
I applaud your noble intentions but to list all of the contradictions of the many books of fantasy that were written by man and being passed off as the word of a god would consume you for the next decade.
Billysees
Bob LaBlah responded —
I applaud your noble intentions but to list all of the contradictions of the many books of fantasy that were written by man and being passed off as the word of a god would consume you for the next decade.
Maybe there is some fantasy there. And yes, man wrote all that stuff and it was passed off as the word of a god because it seemed very very interesting.
But, how can you argue against ‘good words and attitudes’ no matter where they come from? Just imagine what this world would be if multitudes practiced those 11 items. You’ve got to admit they are pretty good things to put into practice.
JamJewel
Forty days and forty nights and gawd had nothing to say to Moses about incest, homosexuality, or pedophilia or misogyny? Gimme a break! Oh! I forgot! The ‘coverting’ one covers the first three….
Redmage
She should have said she was Muslim, then she would have been given a pass.. Maybe would have been able to just outright kill the guy even..
What stupid people, and by stupid I mean anyone who considers themselves a progressive, a leftist, (you’re not a liberal), or for social justice (barf)… Is the fact that Jesus, (especially when he came, and reformed the faith he simply called “the truth”, or “the way”.. Not Christianity).. Would never condone anything like what this beastly woman did. Pointing to old testament is also irrelevant, because again, Jesus was moving many things away from OT, not to mention the world during OT era was different.. Laws and rules were VERY harsh/strict, and had to be in order to promote survival.. If some catastrophic event happened today, and we had to start over, losing more than half of the world’s population.. You bet your ass the rules and laws will be harsh.
Pointing to books like Leviticus, Corinthians, Romans ect.. Don’t have anything to do with two people of the same sex, being in love (key word LOVE), so you’re not scoring any points trying to use that, to show how “Hateful the bible is”, if you’re a dumb progressive, nor are you gaining points trying to show how “God hates fags” if you’re a super social conservative twat. Understanding the bible requires an open heart, and the ability to think… If you are any one of the things I mentioned… Then you lack both, and therefore will always say the typical dumb stuff.
Now all of the people showing their “outrage” about this.. Do you have the same outrage towards Islamic fascist, who outwardly say hateful stuff about homosexuals, but then act on their hate and kill them, then have the media try to make it into something its not, or ignore it, or rather talk about gun laws instead.. My guess is you don’t.. Because you are cowards, and for the sake of political correctness, don’t want to appear racist.. Islamist have actually opened up a concentration camp for homosexuals by the way, in Chechnya.
PinkoOfTheGange
yes yes that’s nice.
Actually not that is a pile of stinking word salad made worse by lacing it with hate and lies.
Juanjo
First, this troll says, “She should have said she was Muslim, then she would have been given a pass.. [sic]Maybe would have been able to just outright kill the guy even”. Lovely bit of red herring. Then troll boy follows up with a No True Scotsman” argument. Must have been homeschooled.
grero
Hilarious. When gays do it, it’s celebrated as BDSM. So think of it as BDSM.
Kangol
No, BDSM isn’t solely the province of LGBTQ people, and it’s not BDSM if it’s not consensual.
This white Christian fanatical attack on a gay man was NOT consensual.
So please take your homophobic, anti-gay trolling elsewhere. Thanks!
blackhook
Religion & all its bizarre gods & myths is the worst thing man has ever created …hocus pocus dominocus indeed, HALLELUJAH!!!!
ProfessorMoriarty
That evil kunt should rot in prison for, oh, eternity should do the trick.
Bob LaBlah
Seriously, Queerty, was it necessary to rerun this article at this time of year? I find this soul stirring b/s totally unnecessary for this time of year. There are times when NOTHING is better than something or better yet just wait till something else more worthy of recognition comes along.
ProfessorMoriarty
^^^ Eapecially since the trial ended in a mistrial and the b!tch is still free.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4576384/amp/Gay-beating-case-hands-jury-4-years-incident.html
jhon_siders
well we could hunt her down like a rabid dog ???
PinkoOfTheGange
It is scheduled to be re-heard early next month.
Search “Trials in Word of Faith beating case moved to Buncombe”
Knight
This kid was very correct in thinking he was going to die. The possibility was very real. These types of cults actually do cause deaths in these types of…I don’t even know what to call them. This bitch seriously needs to be given far more than just 2 years behind bars. And she needs to have a court order forbidding her to ever be around children again.
spiritedrandy
She faces only TWO years in jail???????? Why so short?
buzzy58
I often wondered why people do such stupid things and say, “The bible says it’s the way.” Religion is MAN MADE, in other words, THE WORD OF GOD is written by man. Religion is ALL bullshit and that includes EVERY religion. Some of the stuff is just common sense. Treat other like you would want to be treated. That is the ONLY rule that people should be following, NOT going by their religion’s belief what ever it is.
Billysees
” Treat other[s] like you would want to be treated. That is the ONLY rule that people should be following, NOT going by their religion’s belief what ever it is. ”
Excellent comment. But it does come from the Bible. Could it have originated from another source?…that’s possible.
In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets………Matthew 7:12
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_7:12
Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you……Luke 6:31
http://biblehub.com/luke/6-31.htm
Offhand, I don’t know what ‘this fulfills the law and the prophets’ means. It makes it sound important. And to me and you — it is very important and valuable to the beliefs that are in the world.
kornula
He didn’t use the safe word.
JamJewel
I was gonna say that… with all their ‘rules’ they forgot to institute a safe word. ROTFL
happiness17
My god it’s December now. It was six months ago that this article appeared in QUEERTY. I’m offended that all these months later that this nasty woman’s picture is still being shown on this site. When I went on this site today one of the first thing I saw was her disgusting picture. It’s time to stop showing her picture!
nickedbeater
I yearn for institutionalized atheism, along with scientific sex education, anti-bullying, and citizenship to be emphasized in the public and private education systems. Life is hard enough without zealots and bigots stinking up the place.
Billysees
Atheism presents many good ideas on how to live a good life. But the yearning for more from a God of some kind or an authority that sounds like an authority or something like that will always be a part of the human experience.
As for me, I think that, for the most part, Christianity is the brightest light for good works and loving attitudes in the world today. See examples I presented above on June 7.
But you’re right, misguided zealots and bigots spoil all the good stuff.
Musk
Lets not paint with too broad a brush stroke. It’s ony Christians who give Christianity a bad name.
JamJewel
Rest assured that cults that have rules that say “members are forbidden from watching television, going to movies, reading newspapers, or eating in restaurants that play music or serve alcohol” indoctrinate and manipulate cult members by denying them access to more rational thinking. [Makes you wonder, though, why the internet isn’t listed as a no-no! Probably because all that lack of contact with the outside world means they don’t know it exists?]
Billysees
” …cults…indoctrinate and manipulate cult members by denying them access to more rational thinking. ”
Exactly. Cults are super-selfish because they criticize and condemn others in the faith community while exalting themselves as superior. Childish and immature they are.
” …why the internet isn’t listed as a no-no! ”
Because the internet is a most excellent way to learn and see what’s going on in the world and it makes the ‘cult life’ more difficult to maintain.
Billysees
Musk wrote, ” It’s only Christians who give Christianity a bad name.”
That’s partly true because Christianity’s most visible representatives are its believers, and if their attitudes and behavior are faulty, then the whole religion looks bad. Christianity has another representative here on earth, and that is the ‘Spirit of God’ or the ‘Holy Ghost’ or the ‘Holy Spirit’. It does many good things to believers and unbelievers and is not always given the credit it deserves.
But what are faulty attitudes and behavior? Here’s how Christianity’s holy book describes such —
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men……..Matthew 5:13
But even that lacks specifics. Here’s a start towards something with some details —
…have the qualities of [good] salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other……Jesus……Mark 9:50 [brackets mine]
Again, I’d like to refer to my comments from June 7th above. These two are most excellent —
2. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God…..Romans 15:7
7. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven…..Luke 6:37
They will always mean ‘much’ to the LGBT community.
mykelb
Throw the book at her.
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