The Abuse at Petra of Bozeman

“Spiritual abuse is when a spiritual leader—such as a pastor, elder, or head of a Christian

organization—wields his position of spiritual authority in such a way that he manipulates,

domineers, bullies, and intimidates those under him, as a means of accomplishing what he takes to be biblical and/or spiritual”

I’ve spent a great deal of time thinking on this, praying on this, and seeking the counsel of trustworthy and faithful Christians and Pastors. It has become clear I am compelled to inform you of a significant problem within Petra Church Bozeman. I’ll start with the conclusion; you must remove Jared Cox from his position as Pastor of this “Church”. He is dishonest, he is controlling, he is a tyrant, he is manipulative, and abusive to individuals in his congregation. He is a narcissist. I personally witnessed all these flaws and have confronted him first then his “leadership” and was met with a demand to “submit to Jared”. I challenge this is not Church behavior but that of a cult. We are to submit only to Christ. Jared is not to be worshiped yet that is his expectation, or you will be attacked as you are asked to leave the “Church”. I can reference specific sermons to prove this with his own words.

I’ve watched him target women and those that might be fragile due to other hurt in their lives or their past. I’ve watched him attempt and be successful in controlling these people in ways that are very negative to them both emotionally and financially. There are several people that are very loyal followers of Jared that attend the “Church” and will defend him. I would challenge they have been brainwashed as I was, and they haven’t seen the truth, yet. More important would be for you to talk to those that have left, why they left, and the attacks they had to endure. You will find in Bozeman that Petra and the abuses lead by Jared are not a secret. Many people know about it but are afraid to speak openly. There are help groups at other Churches because of Jared and the damage done to the faith of those that leave and are then attacked.

I joined the Church about a year ago. I have never been a Church participant and had no faith prior to my experience at Petra. I confided in Jared at a terrible time in my life where I had no choice but to confront the sinful life I was leading. We met almost weekly for that time and he often tried to overstep and control me. I am not a weak person and was easy for me to tell him no. On several occasions I stepped in and tried to mediate and help Jared see where his behavior with others was wrong and most certainly was not biblical or remotely “Christ-like”. I watched firsthand him throw out of the “Church” three families because the men confronted him about his behavior. I finally left the Church after watching him abuse a friend of my wife and then lie about it when I had the proof.

Spiritual abuse is when a spiritual leader—such as a pastor, elder, or head of a Christian

organization—wields his position of spiritual authority in such a way that he manipulates,

domineers, bullies, and intimidates those under him, as a means of accomplishing what he takes to be biblical and/or spiritual”

I can also say that Jared told me things about other people’s confessions that he should not have. I am now seeing that confessions that I, my wife, and her best friend trusted to Jared about have been released to the public. A clear violation of trust but also and, maybe most importantly at this point, the law.

This isn’t a Church. It is not a safe place for people. Jared is dangerous and is putting the Church and you at risk with his behavior. He is hurting people emotionally and purposely under the guise of “Church Discipline”. He’s proud of this power and control he has over the people that will submit to him and vigorously attacks with lies those that won’t. He’s out of control and has no accountability. If anyone brings up things he’s doing wrong, he lies about them and forces them out of the Church. I’ve watched this happen to no less than 14 people in my time at the Church. I am one of these people that has been attacked by Jared and his congregation under the lie that I won’t “confess my sins”. When in fact I can say for myself, the issue is I did in confidence, and he has now breached his spiritual and professional duty and inflicted emotional distress. Gentlemen this is not the work of Christ but the opposite of that. He is destroying real and actual faith and trying to hijack it for his own worship.... Polluting the word with his spin. I pray for him daily to see this truth and repent.

There is something broken in Jared that comes out when you disagree with him or leave his “Church”. I’m confident from my discussions with board members that each of you know this as well. It’s as if he feels he’s got to protect himself and the “Church” by discrediting those that disagree by lying about them. I’ll give you my example. My family and I left because I had witnessed enough abuse and after confronting both him and the men of the Church I was told to submit to Jared or leave. It was immediate that Jared created a story that I was not saved and was living to please others. That because I have chosen to live in my sin, I could never be saved. That I was possessed by demons. He then created a story that I was having an affair with the women he abused (my wife’s best friend) and that is why I was defending her some staunchly. These are complete fabrications by a demonic person. Yet he gave this story to the Church as a reason why I left. I have heard about this for months and the last straw was today I heard this same story through a 16-year-old girl (a friend of my daughter) that just got back from a Petra Wilderness camp. I have confirmed with the father of the source this is a topic of discussion on the camping trip while discussing “shame” and those that have left the church. This is manipulative and inappropriate behavior. A true follower of Christ doesn’t behave in this way let alone a pastor. It’s disgusting and couldn’t be more wrong. Today I had to explain to my 16 year old daughter that Jared has created this lie to protect his false Church. A Pastor that we trusted and I brought my family to listen to for almost a year is a liar and fabricated this story. I would really like one of you to explain to me in what world this is ok.

Important facts to the above story. My sin which I confessed to Jared and my wife confessed to Tanya was that I was unfaithful a year ago. God broke me and saved me from that sin and did use Jared and Tanya in that process. In confronting Jared and leaving Petra he and his wife have used the story above to harm my wife and my family directly. With information we confided in them. With a completely false story but with the intent to break up or harm our marriage knowing this is a very soft spot. A “Pastor” using our confessions to break up a family and marriage. I think each of you should really have a moment with this FACT and find any space in your heart where this is ok. Keep in mind this story was created only because my family and I decided to leave. Nothing more. We had told no one of the truth that we witnessed while there and didn’t plan to. We expected to leave peacefully and look for another Church in which we could find the real word and fellowship. And it turns out we just like others before us were not allowed this grace by Petra.

There are so many lies we were told and influenced to believe as fact I think it’s important to outline a few. I’ll list a few actual quotes below and happy to expand on if requested:

• Don’t hire a Latina nanny or she will sleep with your husband.

• If my wife doesn’t repent of her sin of being sad God will punish her deeper than a year ago when she found out I was having an affair.

• My wife's best friend is jealous and going to steal her husband.

• No other Churches in Bozeman are saved only those that attend Petra. Not the Pastors and not anyone in the congregation.

• You must submit to Jared and the leaders of this Church, or you believe in witchcraft.

• Grace bible Church is satan’s throne room in Bozeman.

• If we leave Petra we will be destroyed within 6 months.

• All of the truths we know to be fact documented here are lies from satan.

• Pastor Brian a dear friend of ours is “sent by satan”. A quote from Jared.

• We can’t be friends with anyone not from the Church because they will be a bad influence.

• Single people can only date within the Church and if approved by Jared.

• For a student to stay home from a Petra Church event because they have too much

  homework and need to study then they are worshiping work not God.

• For a student to go to a sporting event they may be playing in instead of going to a Petra Church event they are putting that sport first before God.

• I witnessed one of the male leaders of the Church (Nick Creal who has spent 20 years with Jared) get baptized for a 4th time. I don’t believe this is biblical. Ephesians 4:5. Jared would say no one is saved unless its him that baptizes them.

• If you haven’t served on an international mission, you aren’t and can’t be saved.

  The truth must be told and realized by all because we can’t live in the darkness. I also fully believe we as Christians have an obligation to stand up and correct those that are wrong and harming others. In this case its Jared.

  
  

  I write this because I know you are not here to see this happening. I know many others that don’t take the time or effort to take any action because they just want Petra and Jared to leave them alone. I know that you will not be told this is happening because Jared is not an honest man and he cannot see the truth through his pride and ego. When you read this and if you ask Jared about it you will be lied to and will be told I’m demonic and he’s being spiritually attacked wrongly. I challenge that you as a board have failed in the fact that there is no accountability locally. It takes my letter to try to get you to engage with what is happening here in your organization. If you were remotely engaged, you would clearly see that Jared is in dire need of counseling and of Christ in his life. I first brought this to the board’s attention on May 4th, 2024 and just today I have to deal with your inaction. I can show anyone interested these truths and introduce you to the people he has harmed, ostracized, and slandered for years. I can introduce you to Pastors locally that have discipled people that have come from Petra and were harmed.

  
  

  I write this to you because you as a board have the responsibility to govern this Church. You have a responsibly as the board to ensure the “Church” doesn’t harm people. With this responsibility you also have liability when something happens that can’t be corrected. I offer you this notice to give you the opportunity to fix this terrible wrong that continues. I pray for God’s wisdom and discernment to guide you in this difficult process.

  
  

I would also encourage you to read these couple articles as you decide what to do.

https://malphursgroup.com/toxic-leadership-controlling-and-manipulative-pastors-wreaking- havoc-in-the-Church/