A church in the small town of Wells, Texas, has been dogged by years of media coverage in which relatives of members and past members claim the group exhibits cult-like behavior.
The Church of Wells reportedly has a lot of influence over the small town, which is located just northwest of Lufkin. It acquired a growing number of businesses and properties, prompting concern among former residents and neighboring Texans alike.
However, the expansion of the church’s infrastructure and business plans were not the sole cause of concern for some in the community.
In 2013, a young woman from Arkansas named Catherine Groves left her home without notice, leaving behind her car and possessions. She joined the Church of Wells. Her parents claimed the group was holding her against her will, according to The Lufkin Daily News.
In April 2015, Groves broke her months-long silence with her family by calling her father, Andy, and telling him she needed his help in Wells before abruptly ending the conversation, per the Texas Monthly.
Later that day, witnesses saw her walking south along Highway 69 toward Lufkin. She appeared frail, dressed in a grey mock turtleneck and long black skirt, clutching a brown and white striped purse. Catherine, 28 years old at the time, had a pale complexion and seemed disoriented, witnesses reported.
She was picked up by Angelina County deputies and reunited with her family, but after six days, she returned to the Church of Wells.
Catherine said she was engaged to church member Ronnie Saltsman, as The Lufkin Daily News reported. She told the news outlets at the time that she was not interested in leaving the church and that she only wanted to mend her relationship with her parents.
“Cult dynamics can be incredibly seductive. They often offer a strong sense of belonging, purpose, and community. But this can come at a cost. Critical thinking can be discouraged, and isolation from outside influences can make it difficult to see potential manipulation,” Dr. Jessica Lamar, a psychologist, told The Dallas Express.
The Church of Wells posted an image of the official patient discharge paperwork issued to Groves upon her release from a medical mental health evaluation. This evaluation was required after she was found walking on the side of the highway, seemingly fleeing the group.
On the Church of Wells website, a leader of the group claimed that Catherine’s family was holding her against her will, not the congregation.
“Though we have feared that the Groves would hold Catherine against her will, manipulate her, and unrighteously attempt to bring her into their own legal custody, the fact that such an atrocious thing has literally happened now is still a heart-wrenching grief and sorrow to our souls,” read a message by one of the church leaders, Ryan Ringnald.
“Indeed, it is a shame and a mockery that the Groves have propagated lies against their own daughter of mental illness; blessedly, after Catherine was involuntarily taken to a Psych Ward because of those lies, she has been completely acquitted,” he added.
The official church website features a video of Groves herself giving a verbal statement assuring the public of her safety and personal decision to return to the group.
Following the media attention surrounding Groves, the Church of Wells released an additional statement in a letter published by The Lufkin Daily News in response to the growing allegations of cult-like behavior on its part.
In the statement, the group asked the community of Wells, “Would you meet with and hear us while leaving your children at home? If so, we would be glad for it! What else are we to do for a town which is perishing?”
Previous incidents associated with the group also drew scrutiny. After the reported death of a child in the custody of parents who were members of the Church of Wells, the group issued a response.
Allegedly, the parents of the child reportedly chose prayer over calling 911 when their baby was dying. The parents admitted they were aware the baby had respiratory issues before she passed away, according to reports.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the baby’s father at the Wells Manor Apartments. He said that their daughter had been dead since Saturday afternoon, and they had been praying over her body along with around 20 others. Upon arrival, deputies found the baby in a bassinet covered with a blanket in the corner of the apartment, according to CBS 19.
Ryan Ringnald, Sean Morris, and Jake Gardner, all current lead ministers of the Church of Wells, released a statement in response to the baby’s death under the “You Must Be Born Again Ministries” label, asserting their decision was faith-based and “good nature” for the child’s mother. The lead ministers did not offer any further clarification for the exact cause of the child’s death.
The group continued to gain negative attention following a segment on the Dr. Phil show, during which a guest alleged that preachers associated with the group had drugged and abducted him in Austin, Texas, eventually transporting him and keeping him on their land in Wells. The individual also claimed that his family helped him escape the group and return home to detox safely off of the drugs they allegedly administered to him without consent.
“For those who escape cults, there may be a lifetime of trauma that comes with it. Developing coping strategies to manage the PTSD and learning not to blame yourself is key,” said clinical psychologist Dr. Robert Cuyler.
“Most people tend to hear PTSD and equate it with military service, but there are countless forms of trauma that people have to live in the long term, and cults are no exception,” added Cuyler.
In response to the criticism spurred by the Dr. Phil show, the church issued a statement via YouTube in 2018, saying, “Dr. Phil passes for fact, his words and ways pass for sincerity, and a studio audience watching the intimate details of broken families and wounded souls is normal & acceptable! What have we become! What treachery prevails among this debauched land!”
The group has shown great interest in land in the area of Wells, acquiring more new properties in town and converting multiple old community businesses into new housing for its members, as evident by the videos published by Dr. Phil.
Among the properties acquired by the church was a lumber mill named Custom Cut Lumber, which has been a focal point of controversy. Following numerous reports of illegal practices, the Texas Workforce Commission intervened, leading the mill to relocate to the nearby city of Alto.
According to a report published by Texas Monthly in 2022, nearly a quarter of severe injuries reported at all Texas lumber mills since 2017 have occurred at the facility owned by members of the Church of Wells.
Inspections of Custom Cut Lumber Company revealed at least 21 injuries between 2017 and 2018 alone, with listed injuries including fractured toes and amputated fingertips.
The Dallas Express contacted Jake Gardner, the lead minister of the Church of Wells, seeking comment on the allegations of cult-like behavior on the part of the church and an update on Catherine Groves’ status.
Initially responding via cell phone, and expressing interest in scheduling an interview with The Dallas Express, Gardner has since ceased responding to further attempts at communication.
Additionally, The Dallas Express reached out to the mayor’s office and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office to ask about the church’s influence in the city.
No responses were received prior to publication.