In this article, we will be launching a new article series called "How to Escape From The GDT Cult." We will be providing step by step guidance and resources to help those that want to leave the Golden Dawn Tabernacle (GDT) cult be as successful as possible with their exit.

    Reaffirming Our Vision, Purpose and Mission Statement

    We first want to start out by letting you know that we are reaffirming our Vision, Purpose & Mission statement with our dedication to helping current congregants have a successful exit from the GDT cult. While we will continue to document and expose questionable and abusive practices by GDT leadership, we want to ensure that our readers know that we are also here to provide resources to help congregants prepare for leaving GDT, and adjust to life after leaving and be setup for success in living a normal, rewarding and fulfilling life.

    We also want to mention that we recognize that Pastor Isaac Noriega is using his persecution complex to claim that he and the church is being persecuted by this website and those that have left the church and use that as a sign of the end times. This is far from the truth, and is simply a control tactic employed by Isaac to continue to manipulate and keep the congregation fearful. Our primary reason for this website is because we deeply care for the congregants who are trapped in the church and don't see a way out. We believe that if even one person's life is changed for the better through this website, it will have been worth it!

    Series Introduction

    If you are reading this and you are a church member at Golden Dawn Tabernacle (GDT), you are probably considering leaving, and we recognize that this is a very daunting, life-changing and overwhelming thing to even think about. We want you to know that we know what you are feeling and going through. You are not alone, even if it might feel like it at times.

    Escaping from a cult can be very difficult. Your identity, family, friends and sometimes even your employment are tightly connected to the church, and in some cases, even your finances, home, and property are tied to the church too. All of these bonds are intentional, as they force you to stay in the church, even if you don't want to, simply because you face the threat of dire consequences when you leave, which including losing everything you ever had and known. We recognize that the GDT leadership will say that there is no one holding you back if you want to leave, but we all know that to be false. There are so many ways that the church has placed hooks into people's lives, that to leave would be deeply punitive and consequential for most, making leaving that much more difficult.

    We will be writing a series of articles and providing resources to help better prepare you for leaving the GDT cult, as well as how to prepare for life after leaving the cult. We welcome any ideas, suggestions, comments and feedback from any former members as well. This article will provide an overview and framework for the upcoming "How to Escape From The GDT Cult" articles.

    Notional 10 Step Plan to Help You Prepare for a GDT Exit:

    1. Educate Yourself about the Cult: Learn about GDT's beliefs, practices, and tactics they use to keep members under their control. Knowledge is power and understanding their tactics will give you a better chance of success. Make sure you understand your why and reason you want to leave.
    2. Educate Yourself for Success: Identify what education gaps you may have regarding your schooling and begin to address those. For example, if you don't have a high school diploma, consider obtaining your GED. If your dream job requires a college degree, work with a college or career counselor to begin identifying what those college course prerequisites are and develop an education plan.
    3. Create a Support Network: Cults often isolate their members from friends and family, so building a support network outside of the church is essential. Reach out to former members or individuals who are not currently affiliated with GDT, but who can provide emotional support.
    4. Develop an Exit Plan: Plan your escape route and identify a safe location to go to once you leave GDT. Make sure to have enough money, food, and transportation arranged before leaving.
    5. Keep a Low Profile: If possible, keep your plans to leave GDT a secret. Do not share your intentions with anyone in the cult or with those who could alert GDT leadership. Even your closest family members, as they could be under the influence of Isaac Noriega and the GDT leadership and may attempt to turn you in.
    6. Collect Important Documents: Gather any important documents such as identification papers, passports, and financial information that will be necessary when starting a new life outside of the cult.
    7. Seek Professional Help: Consider seeking the help of a professional counselor or therapist who is experienced in helping people leave cults. They can provide support and guidance throughout the process.
    8. Stay Strong and Focused: Leaving a cult can be emotionally and physically draining. Stay focused on your goal and remain strong in your determination to leave. Ignore the fear mongering by Isaac Noriega, it will dissipate when you leave. One thing you will have to prepare yourself is the emotional and psychological pain you will face from the abrupt isolation you will face once you leave. This is unfortunately inevitable, given Isaac Noriega's cruel excommunication enforcement, so you will have to prepare yourself and stay strong. This is where having a support network will be very helpful.
    9. Use Caution with Technology: Be mindful of the information you share on social media or other online platforms. GDT leadership may monitor your online activity, so use caution with technology. However, we highly recommend you leverage technology to help you prepare for this escape, just use it discreetly so GDT leadership doesn't try to punish you.
    10. Consider Legal Action: If you believe that you have been victimized by the cult or have been subjected to abusive or illegal behavior, consider seeking legal action. Also, it goes without saying, but if you believe you are in immediate danger, please call 911 and ask for help!

    These are very high level steps that you can use to start preparing for an exit, but are not an exhaustive list. We will be exploring these steps in greater detail while also providing resources you can use to help you on this journey to freedom.

    Conclusion

    Our goal with this series is to lay out a plan that you can follow, that will empower you and maximize your preparedness and success for a GDT exit. Our hope is that we can help you be self sufficient and gain the independence to make your own decisions and live your life to its full potential. We can provide assistance along the way, but ultimately, if you have the tools to learn how to survive on your own, this will enable you to forge your own path and charter your own destiny, with freedom!

    Do you have any information you'd like to share about Golden Dawn Tabernacle / Tabernaculo Emanuel? Feel free to comment below, or you can contact us directly at our Contact Us page or via our social media accounts below.

      Archived Comments#

      8 comment(s) imported from the original site:

      Changing of the guard — May 6, 2023#

      We are out here to help whoever needs it. A support group is important, but let me tell you what difference it makes to not hear that Man on the pulpit and his threats anymore. It will help you heal little by little. Remember you don’t have to be condemned every service year after year. Please realize that you are able to think for yourselves.There’s freedom in Christ. Since I’ve been gone I have visited some messege churches and they are some of the sweetest people you ever meet. When you see people from gdt they look like they are just drained of life. Noriega preaches that they are the only elites ones…they should be the happiest people but they’re not, it’s fear. We’re here to help you, find freedom. I know people think we hate them but we don’t. God bless you all.

      Saved By Grace — May 6, 2023#

      If your reading this and are thinking its a horrible world out side the GD walls. PLEASE understand it is not. Is it tough when you first leave? yes Does it get easier? yes But it will be you living a wonderful life being all you can be. God gave everyone different gifts and dreams. You gotta realize that Isaac will consider the dreams and goals you have in your heart sinful. They are not. God placed made us all to be individuals. Your parents will tell you there is nothing but trouble and problems outside the walls. But realize they once had dreams too but allowed Isaac to crush and deamonise them..now they are just going aimlessly through life like sheep being hearded from Sunday to Wednesday year after year.. There is alot of people praying for you young people to find freedom and for God to open your eyes to the evil power pyramid of GD. As for you parents tolerating the control Isaac has on you and your children. Shame on you. But its never to late to take a stand.

      So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

      Andrea 5202248497 — May 7, 2023#

      First of all, read 2Timothy 1:7!! Do not be afraid! Through this site, I believe God has heard your pleas,to live a life of freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ! To experience true salvation!! What the Lord Jesus Christ did for us is a finished work of grace, if you can receive His sacrifice on the cross! I have received it with so much gratitude to My God, for my Lord Jesus Christ!! You have the opportunity to STOP worshipping the preacher and worship the One true God, who has redeemed You ! YOU belong to God!!! NOT to the preacher!! Did the preacher die on the cross for you??? NO!! Can he save you? NO!! Take a leap of faith, trust God and follow the Lord Jesus Christ!! This offer is a Godsend!! We are here to support you!! Do NOT be Afraid!! Reach out to someone, who is offering you help!! This is God’s Love reaching out to you!!

      Israel zepeda — May 14, 2023#

      I remember when I left my mom and dads house I was still gonna go to the church but because I wouldn’t move back into my parents house Steve Lopez threatened me that he was gonna have me presented to the church and I told him to do what he had to do, I thank the lord that I left for good because I felt so relieved when I left and I have been so much happier all of these years, just because you leave Isaac noriegas church doesn’t mean that you left the lord I know that the lord has never left me either, I thank my lord Jesus Christ that my eyes were opened and I was able to leave with no problem

      Saved By Grace — May 14, 2023#

      Israel thanks for speaking up..they need to know that true happiness can only be found living your true self not the cookie cutter mold of Isaac. He has generations of families trapped by his man made fear serving his families empire which will soon be handed over to Matthew. We need more people who have found freedom to speak up like you! Isaac has spent to much time abusing mentally and physically behind closed doors.. Isaac tells the people life is miserable outside those prison walls we know that is a lie

      Israel zepeda — May 14, 2023#

      Yes it’s a very big lie and it’s really hard to believe that the people there don’t open their eyes and see how he and the deacons manipulate them I just pray and hope that more people start to see what has been going on for a long time, and yes I am not afraid to speak up about it nor do I care if they know what I’m saying

      José Cruz — November 24, 2024#

      Saludos, estoy completamente sorprendido por la situacion actual de GDT. Todos los que algún día lo visitamos de otros países, nos dábamos cuenta del espíritu nicolaíta que existía allí. Pero como dijo alguien: ver, oír y callar, pues no era nuestro papel, además de que quien está metido en eso, tiene una venda en sus ojos de religiosidad y sale contraproducente tratar de ayudar, ya que al contrario, sale uno perjudicado, por los comentarios que hace Issac Noriega a nuestros pastores, algunos de los cuales toman la misma actitud. En mi caso que soy latino, siempre miré en la actitud de Issac Noriega, un desprecio hacia nosotros, en una ocasión, que asistimos a un culto de oración, llegamos varios hermanos y acostumbrados a esperar la guianza de nuestro pastor para saber por qué orar, esperamos leyendo nuestras biblias, en un momento se abrió la puerta lateral del edificio y entró el, al mirarnos que estábamos sin postrarnos, empezó a gritonearnos de una manera, que de ni de una persona incrédula lo esperaría, sin la más mínima paciencia ni amor, menos de mansedumbre y templanza. En fin, nosotros como visitantes, veíamos la situación y nos aflijíamos al ver el grado de nicolaísmo y solo orábamos por ellos. Poco a poco GDT, se fué quedando solo, todos los grandes predicadores de varias partes del mundo que eran traídos, fueron rechazando volver a venir, pues siempre, el último en darse cuenta del nicolaísmo en que se encuentra, es la misma persona que está dentro del culto o secta, pues como dijo WMB, el peor espíritu que satanás le puede poner al creyente del evangelio, es un espíritu de religioso, y así ellos creen que están haciendo bien las cosas, pero están mal. Cómo último comentario, recuerdo por allá por el año 1989, el hermano que nos hospedaba., el cual ya descansa con el Señor después de la pandemia. El me dijo, que sus familiares no creyentes les decían que estaban bajo la influencia de un Jim Jones, y el me decía que como lo veía. Yo en ese tiempo no sabía todo lo que se movía allí. Bueno, reciban un saludo de mi parte y sigan haciendo este esfuerzo, por todos aquellos que no han visto la luz. Yo aún tengo un pariente y me mantendré orando por el por su libertad de esa secta, pues con el espíritu religioso que le han puesto, no puede ver las cosas que suceden. Bendiciones.

      Ligth — December 13, 2024#

      Dios los bendiga Jose, Ud, explico muy propiamente una parte minima de la situacion de GDT, Este hombre siempre se a burlado de los mexicanos o centroamericanos, es un moustruo rasista, los explota en sus proyectos, faraonicos, y en cualquier oficio fisico de limpieza,… Claramente es un fuerte complejo por su acendencia cubana, y de gente que practicaba la brujeria… Sin embargo a casado a todos sus hijos con mexicanos .. Y Al su hijo mayor un abusador sexual, no a podido casarlo,… Los pastores que lo apoyan hasta el dia de hoy es por la “ofrenda” nutrida que el les da, o porque los intimida y amenaza con no mandar los mensajes que traducen … Isaac maltrata a Todo el que se le pone enfrente, especial a los que buscan su favor, especialmente a las mujeres.