Please help find information online?

Question

My oldest brother is very nieve and is also schizophrenic caused by heavy steriods in his early 20s. He lives in FL the rest of the family lives in MI so we can’t really support him as we should. The thing I really need help with is the fact that he has recently told my mother that he is joining the ‘New Hope Center for Men’ in Fort Myers, FL (a religious group). Everything he has told us about this screams cult, as, he is not allowed to leave during his stay of a year and a half, he is not allowed to make or recieve phone calls, he's not allowed to have a computer or a phone. I can't find anything about this center, PLEASE help, my brother is very very religious and believe anything and everything anyone tells him. We need to know what he is getting himself into. I've tried to find information online and I cannot find anything. Please help. I'm not against religion or anything I'm just very worried. Please adults only need to answer this.

Just to be clear I cannot find any information on New Hope Center for men. I am not asking for advice to handle the situation, I know my brother I know the problems he has. I only need help finding a source of information. I'm sorry for sounding rude, it's just one more blow in his life could do more damage than we can fix, that is way we are trying to help him before him. And to the first person to answer, he may be old enough but his maturity is of a 15 year old, which last time I check is not mature enough to make sound decisions.

Not possible that it's a rehab facility. He had done some drug in the past, his religious beliefs outweigh drugs or drinking. My brother wouldn't hurt a fly let alone commit a crime that would mean jail time.

Answer 1

http://www.cultwatch.org
If you click on cults at the top of the page, then on mind control toolbox, you will see that these actions are indeed warning signs of a cult. I would be leery of any "religious group" that insists its members have no outside contact for an extended period of time. You may also contact the District Attorney's office, police department and Better Business Bureau to see if they have received complaints on this group.
EDIT- I have not found anything specific about that group, but I will tell you that the Rev Sun Myung Moon often names his homes and temples New Hope. I would assume that this is a branch of the Moonies. It is not (as someone suggested) the New Hope Recovery Center which is located in Illinois, not Florida. He may also have gotten in legal trouble and does not want the family to know. Think about it- he is going away for a year and a half and can not have phone calls or internet access. If he called from prison, your family would know.

Answer 2

I did find a "New Hope Center for Men" in Minnesota...it was a religious-based drug treatment program.

I do find it strange that I can't find a single reference to this organization on the Internet. I searched several news sites, a couple of cult sites, three yellow pages directories in Ft. Myers FL, the Ft. Myers Better Business Bureau site, and the Ft. Myers news paper. ...and if it is a cult, unless it is brand new, the chances of keeping their name out of the paper are slim to none!!

If this is the true name of the organization, I don't know how it could be operating without at least some public information about it. It could be possible that "New Hope Center for Men" is the name of a building that is part of a larger organization...one that the parent organization doesn't market.

I did find one obscure page about a pastor at "New Hope Faith Temple" in Ft. Myers that suggested the pastor was interested in starting up a "human rehabilitation" program that included recovery programs, job training and re-training, and more. ...but no name was given to the program nor could I find other information about this church or the pastor.

I would suggest that the restrictions would also be consistent with an in-patient drug rehab facility...especially one that would be court ordered (jail or rehab). Is it possible that your brother is entering a rehab program to avoid prosecution for something?

One other thing I just thought of...while most rehab facilities would allow at least some phone calls, I can totally picture my own immature brother telling an elaborate lie to avoid having to tell us that he was sentenced to a jail term or "court-ordered drug rehab facility"...if you've ever received a call from someone in prison/jail, you know that the person on the other end can't hide the fact that the call is coming from a person in a jail. Perhaps your brother made up this elaborate excuse to hide something else that's happening to him.

I'll say a prayer for him and for you...and see if you can get more information (names, numbers, affiliations) from him so you can do more investigation.

Answer 3

Here's a site that might help you. They have websites and phone numbers of groups that keep watch on cults, and you might be able to get in touch with one of them to see if they know anything.

http://www.factnet.org/orgspubs_desc.html

I've found a few things on-line called "The New Hope Center" (based in Delaware, I think.) It seems to be affiliated with the Baptist Church. I don't know if this is the same thing that your brother is joining.
I also found this:
http://www.addictionsearch.com/treatment_facilities/new-hope-center_111427.html

Answer 4

Religions in general fit the term "cult". There probably isn't much you can do since he's old enough to decide how to live his life. Try contacting New Hope for information and if he does appear to be detrimental to his health, you may want to contact legal authorities/lawyer to find out if there is anything that can be done.

Answer 5

I have not seen any social worker break any confidentiality issues on here. There is a social worker on here who just gives professional opinions on things. I hear she was given some time off for school to better her job and because she has worked so hard and deserves some time off. Good for her. I bet she has done alot of good for the children in her area to deserve such a reward.

Answer 6

I hate to say this, But he is not being totally honest with you. Check this out and then let`s pray for him.. He is trying to help himself, and I will start the prayers..

Peace & God bless from Lonestar Prayer Warrior <><

http://www.new-hope-recovery.com/