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Campus Files

Campus Cult

Campus Files

Audacy

Documentary, Society & Culture, History

4.67.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As a freshman at Long Beach State, Chele joined a church that was popular with other students. What she didn't know: the group had been accused of cult-like behavior by students nationwide. Years later, she's sharing her story — and warning others about an organization that's still recruiting on college campuses today. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

A new season of Survivor means a new season of On Fire, the only official Survivor podcast.

0:07.3

Each week, we break down the game like nobody else can.

0:09.9

From how the season is built to why the players make the moves they do,

0:14.5

it is the ultimate companion to the show.

0:17.1

So if you love Survivor, I think you're going to love On Fire.

0:19.9

Follow and listen to On Fire with Jeff Probst on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast.

0:28.4

Every college campus has some version of a campus ministry, a space where students can explore or maintain

0:39.0

their faith.

0:40.5

These groups typically offer Bible studies, worship services, and social events.

0:45.7

For many, they provide a sense of community during a time of major transition.

0:50.7

But in recent decades, a controversial religious group has quietly made its way onto campuses,

0:56.0

posing as just another student ministry.

0:59.0

It's called the International Church of Christ, or ICOC.

1:04.0

Founded at the University of Florida in the 1970s, it quickly expanded to colleges across the country.

1:17.1

Before long, former members began speaking out, describing a disturbing pattern of manipulation,

1:19.9

control, and psychological abuse.

1:23.4

They warned that the ICOC wasn't a church.

1:24.7

It was a cult.

1:31.6

And despite years of scrutiny, it's still active today, recruiting new members on campuses nationwide.

1:40.8

College is absolutely admittedly their fishing ground. It is their favorite fishing ground.

1:47.3

They built this, they call it a church. They built their cult on campus students.

1:54.6

They will tell you from the pulpit, that's where they go. They put all of their focus and energy into the campus ministries. I'm Margo Gray.

...

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