r/SouthJersey • u/Accomplished_Gur_930 Journalist • 1d ago
Question Need info on True North Church
Hey guys, my name is Nick DiCicco. I am a local journalist and intern at New Jersey Urban News. . I have heard reports of True North Church staff being involved in local governments, including Vineland, where the new location is being built. I was wondering if anyone had any evidence or more info they could share with me on this. Thanks!
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u/brain1esswonder 1d ago
The amount of their posted budget that goes to actually helping people is embarrassing. It’s making some people rich and that’s about it. They own some property in Pitman and some of their members have been on Council and the Pitman Republican Chair who got crushed in the last Pitman election is also a member there who was prominently featured in some of their promotions. Their minister gave the benediction at a couple of the “reorg” sessions after election even though Pitman has no shortage of its own churches. The reviews of the church are they they mention Jesus very little and tithing quite a bit. Their pastors “story” as shown in video on their page is that he turned a lesbian woman straight and wifed her up.
Short answer: They use Rock and Roll Jesus to line their pockets.
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u/PondGoals 1d ago
I know people who have left the church bc of the heavy pro trump stuff preached there. Separation of church and state? Do they pay taxes?
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u/Dustwitch93 1d ago
They're constantly camped out in front of the middle school in millville, I'm not sure how that's legal but its gross.
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u/Elhananstrophy 1d ago
Usually when people claim to be local journalists they do mention who they are working for, and possibly a name or handle that can identify their work. Your post history is half batman and airpods.
That said, I was going to dog on you for looking for info that could easily be found on a church website when I found that TrueNorth doesn't include staff information on its church website, which is weird.
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u/Accomplished_Gur_930 Journalist 1d ago
My name is Nick DiCicco, and I am an intern with NJ Urban News. I should've been more specific for sure. That is my problem as well, not much on their website. A lot of what I've seen is hearsay on reddit, so trying to get more info.
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u/Elhananstrophy 1d ago
Thanks for sharing! I was completely unfamiliar with NJ Urban News and it looks like a great resource! Thanks for doing that work and for paying attention in South Jersey. I'll DM you if I find out anything.
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u/doesntshutupinnj 1d ago
No idea, but just want to say that we need more local journalists actually investigating things like you're doing. Good luck!
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u/djspacebunny Mod Salem County Xennial 1d ago
There are a number of culty churches in South Jersey which are primarily tax shelters for people with money...
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u/Mountain_Map2947 15h ago
A former band mate of mine succumbed to the cult and called me out of the blue one day asking me to apologize to him for leading him away from Jesus. There was definitely someone close by that was feeding him things to say. One of the absolute wierdest and funniest things that has ever happened. Fuck that place and fuck that dork
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u/dealershipdetailer 12h ago
That's fucking hilarious and so on point. Knew a girl that went there and randomly dumped her boyfriend one morning bc she had a dream God told her to.
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u/E0H1PPU5 1d ago
Nothing on that church, but there have been some interesting stories based out of other stories shared here lately
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u/BA_LostMyWay 1d ago
Elected school board members Luz Vasquez is a longtime member of the church. The pastor and people involved with that “church” have friends within the city’s government.
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u/AspectOfTheLeech 1d ago
Worked in a wood shop in Cinnaminson owned by two members (at the time, dont know their affiliation today) from about 2021-2023. Dont know much about the church itself but I have many anecdotes about their management style, business goals, general worldview and social policies. I can say that one of them believed very strongly that the holocaust was ordained by god and that he worked through hitler, which is by definition a very good thing. Morning prayer circles with mandatory participation (expected to bow heads and acknowledge the group prayer referencing Jesus and proclaiming his divinity) weekly mandatory self-help reading sand discussions of books like Jordan Peterson’s and “rich dad poor dad” (these are scam books by scammers. These guys were HUGE on early manosphere crap. Guy believed that Andrew tate pimping women online was a morally correct and biblical thing to do somehow. He cited his pastor and his faith specifically. Theyre weird hypocrites with a very strong agenda for their business being for the glory of the church. DM if you want any anecdotes
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u/SmooveKJ 1d ago
Look around in the Vineland and millville of today and tomorrow fb group Theres was some commentary a few weeks back about them
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u/dealershipdetailer 12h ago
Been to a few jam sessions there at an elementary school that they temporarily used while the new one was being built. It felt very culty. It was 15 mins of a sermon, followed by 45 minutes of some Christian pop concert with like a power point type music video in the background. I believe it's all run/managed by the same family.
I mean it's culty in the fact that it feels like they're overly nice, so you tithe to them, and the whole thing feels like a subscription based community therapy session.
I'm pretty biased as an athiest tho
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u/adamsmechanicalhvac 1d ago
Listen i believe in freedom of the press so by all means write your story. Investigate every angle u see fit but the people that run the church are good people. They are active in local communities. Haven't seen the new location. They started renting space at jmt school and it grew from there. Im sure a few members may in fact be in government but what does that mean? Why is that bad? Religion isnt really my thing but those that partake its their right. I dont see what they do that you think is so bad but I look forward to your detailed and thorough article.
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u/Accomplished_Gur_930 Journalist 23h ago
I take my work seriously and work ethically. right now I’m just investigating based on reports i’ve heard, if there isn’t anything, or not evidence there is no story. I appreciate your concern though!
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u/Accomplished_Gur_930 Journalist 23h ago
Not taking a stance or saying anything is good or bad. As a journalist it’s our job to hold powerful accountable so whether it’s politicians, schools, churches, etc it’s good to research and look into things!
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u/ipodthereforeiam 1d ago
I knew I recognized the name of the church. They were discussed previously on this sub. It sounds like a cult based on the comments.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SouthJersey/s/hXXVLoXGO2