Chain of Command part 2

Chain of Command part 2

From PRETEND by Creative Babble, LLC

May 19, 2026 · 32 min · Season 26 · Episode 2

About this episode

This episode explores the financial practices and control mechanisms within the New Testament Christian Churches of America, revealing discrepancies in church leadership's financial claims.

Part one was about control. Part two is about the money. Behind the soul-winning and the sermons and the bylaws, the New Testament Christian Churches of America runs a very well-funded business. Tithing is tracked, enforced, and tied to your military paycheck. Fall behind and you go before the general board. Fall further behind and you lose your credentials. So where does the tithing money go? Church CEO Michael Kekel told his congregation they owed $25,000 a year in property taxes on the fellowship hall. But tax records tell a different story. The fellowship hall paid $9.65. The $25,000? That's the bill on a personal house in the name of Kekel's wife. In this episode: -Tracy Pelfrey, former NTCC member of 17 years -Bruce Smith, reporter, The Mountain News, who has covered NTCC for nearly two decades -Sarah DeJonghe, former Navy Seabee and NTCC ex-member -Archival recordings of R.W. Davis, founder of NTCC -Archival recordings of Michael Kekel, CEO of NTCC Next time on Pretend: Former members say that NTCC fosters a culture where adult men courting teenage girls isn't just tolerated — it's encouraged. That's next time. Listen to Part 3 now: Patreon…

People in this episode

Guests: Tracy Pelfrey, Bruce Smith, Sarah DeJonghe

Topics covered

  • tithing
  • religion
  • financial control
  • church leadership
  • military influence
  • personal stories

Keywords

  • tithing
  • NTCC
  • Michael Kekel
  • financial discrepancies
  • church control
  • military paycheck
  • religious influence

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Testament Christian Churches of America, The Mountain News

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