Kathleen Brooks was drawn into Chi Alpha, a campus ministry affiliated with the Assemblies of God, while searching for purpose, belonging, and spiritual direction in college. What initially appeared to be a vibrant Christian community slowly evolved into an intensely controlling environment under the influence of a charismatic leader, Mark, who inserted himself into nearly every aspect of members' lives. Kathleen describes years of manipulation through love-bombing, spiritual authority, isolation, control over dating and marriage, financial sacrifice, and relentless ministry expectations. Even after becoming a respected leader herself, she remained convinced she was serving God, unaware of how deeply the system had shaped her thinking and enabled h*rmful practices she unknowingly perpetuated while in leadership. After Mark's death, hidden misconduct, financial irregularities, and broader organizational failures began to surface, ultimately leading Kathleen and her husband to question everything they had devoted their lives to. Chapter Marks 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:42 A Former Chi Alpha Leader Speaks Out 00:05:54 The Christian Campus Ministry That Drew Kathleen In / How She got involved in Chi Alpha 00:10:05 Why Love Bombing Worked on Her 00:12:21 Kathleen's Family Life 00:13:47 The Leader Who Earned Her Complete Trust 00:19:22 How Every Part of her Life Became Controlled 00:23:58 Why She Couldn't Walk Away / Kathleen's Time in New York 00:28:47 They Weren't Allowed to Get Married / Forced to Postpone Indefinitely 00:31:52 Having ChiIdren 00:33:55 How Motherhood Almost Destroyed Her 00:40:25 The Disturbing Truth They Learned After Mark Died 00:47:47 Ways That People of Power Can Ab*se Their Authority 00:48:59 Why the System Protects Predators, Not Victims 00:54:30 Taking Responsibility for the H*rm She Caused 00:55:06 Deconstruction 00:59:30 How Unchecked Religious Leaders Ab*se Power 01:00:54 How Kathleen is Doing Now 01:02:45 Finding Freedom After Leaving Chi Alpha 01:03:36 What Brings Kathleen Joy 01:04:56 Linda, listen 01:05:16 Final Thoughts and Hope for Survivors Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClips Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness Host Instagram @sheliseann https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/ Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_ https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_ TikTok @cults.to.consciousness https://www.tiktok.com/@cults.to.consciousness Twitter @cultstocon https://twitter.com/cultstocon **Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.**