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There are dozens of Christian campus ministries at N.C. State University, but few seem as hungry to save students’ souls as the group of young, ardent evangelists who make up Restored Church Raleigh.
Since August, members of the non-denominational church have embarked on a campus recruiting blitz, approaching students in high-traffic areas with an innocuous question: Do you want to join a Bible study?
Restored Church Raleigh is an offshoot of a religious movement known for using aggressive tactics to proselytize on college campuses, particularly in the 1990s. By 2000, at least 39 colleges and universities reportedly banned the ministry for soliciting or harassing students, including Meredith College in Raleigh and Queens University in Charlotte.
Some former members at N.C. State said the church targets vulnerable students, especially those in their first year, and that they felt pressured to be baptized and to isolate from friends and family. It started to feel “cult-like,” one said.
Two students filed a police report in September, and a parent also complained to police, according to documents The Assembly obtained. Emily Vespa reports on concerns about the church on campus.
How an Aggressive Church is Making Waves at N.C. State
An offshoot of the International Christian Church, which is accused in lawsuits of “psychological manipulation,” is vigorously recruiting students at N.C. State University. Some students and parents are pushing back.
A spokesman for N.C. State said the university is aware of the church, but offered no further comment.
Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.
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