Newsflash: The Cleveland Scene Exposes David C. Pack & The Restored Church of God
June 3, 2025 | by Marc Cebrian
The Cleveland Scene news site is shining a light on the shady religious practices of Pastor General David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God. Released online on June 3, 2026, the expose is titled, “Former Members of the Restored Church of God in Wadsworth Say They Were Left Financially and Spiritually Bamboozled.”
Reporter Mark Oprea called me about this time last year to ask questions about the exrcg.org website and my motivations behind exposing an obscure church operating out of Wadsworth, Ohio. We have since spent hours on the phone and in person discussing the theological nightmare that is The Restored Church of God. He had access to sermons and videos posted on the YouTube channel to confirm what is reported about David C. Pack is accurate.
I proved to him that the best way to discredit David C. Pack is to listen to David C. Pack.
Mark interviewed dozens of former RCG members on the record, including Kevin Denee, Elizabeth O’Leary, and Peter Baerg. The article covers a variety of topics, including the financial fleecing of the brethren via Common, failed dates for the arrival of God’s Kingdom, the self-proclaimed divine authority of David C. Pack, and the cancerous religious roots planted by Herbert W. Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God.
The story about how RCG offloaded $3.1 million in corporate debt onto the members, including some widows, was oddly absent from the final article. Overall, those close to RCG who have read it acknowledge it is well-written and are pleased with how the Cleveland Scene covered the story.
Mark reached out to RCG directly to interview them with prepared questions. They hid behind the front gate and issued a generic, authorless response. It is too risky these days for a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to attach a real name to a public statement.
Their laughably faceless “Communications Team” is really just Edward L. Winkfield cowering behind his desk with Bradford G. Schleifer hovering over his shoulder.
This is RCG’s official non-statement:
Hello Mark,
Thank you for your questions.
Information regarding The Restored Church of God, including its beliefs, history, sermons, publications, and teachings, is available at rcg.org for those interested in learning more.
With respect to your questions concerning the Church’s teachings, we teach biblical tithing and voluntary giving principles based on scripture, consistent with longstanding Christian teachings regarding supporting the Word of the Church. We also teach the gospel of the soon-coming Kingdom of God as preached by Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15)—a future world-ruling government that will bring peace, restoration, and righteous leadership to the Earth, in which faithful Christians will ultimately rule and reign with God and Christ (Romans 8:16-17).
RCG’s focus remains on preaching the gospel, providing free educational resources, and helping individuals and families live more stable and successful lives.
As a general practice, we do not comment on private member matters or internal administrative affairs.
Public tour dates are announced periodically on social media or at rcg.org. At this time, we are not participating in interviews.
Regards,
RCG Communications Team
The highlights noted are mistruths and flat lies.
“is available at rcg.org”
A few select sermons are, but mysteriously absent is “The Greatest Untold Story!” Series that just recorded Part 636 this past weekend. There is also a long list of discontinued literature that is not available on their website, including Is "That Prophet" Alive Today? The Rise of False Prophets, The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!, How God’s Kingdom Will Come—The Untold Story!,The Bible’s Difficult Scriptures Explained!, I Will Send Elijah to Restore All Things, and Herbert W. Armstrong: His Life in Proper Perspective.
Try to find any literature that nails down exactly how God's Kingdom will come. You cannot because it changes week by week, and they know that.
The coercive cash cow financial perversion known as Common is such a vital truth of God that there is not a single mention on rcg.org. Only after people commit to attending are they privileged enough to learn about that financial blessing and test of faithfulness.
“consistent with longstanding Christian teachings”
They meant to type out “longstanding Worldwide Church of God teachings.” But that is no longer true, either. David C. Pack has dismantled so much of HWA’s doctrines that RCG no longer even resembles the Splinters they so desperately separate themselves from.
They recently discontinued The Government of God—Understanding Offices and Duties because David C. Pack blew all that up. Everyone in RCG is an elder now and is only ordained once. Being an evangelist and a prophet just means you have a gift. I wonder if Brad had to sweat through a pay cut. Dave also confessed that Local Elder, Preaching Elder, and Pastor-ranked ministers were made-up positions invented by HWA. He also sheepishly admitted that the United Church of God was actually right with their governmental structure all along.
I never did see the draft of Dave’s apology letter to them after he accused them of being the Synagogue of Satan. Water under the bridge, I suppose.
But apostles are still apostles, wink-wink.
“We also teach the gospel”
But not loudly. After eliminating their $3.1 million in corporate debt one year ago, they have still done nothing to elevate their standing on the world stage. They may exploit the gospel for their own internal purposes, but it cannot be argued that it is their focus.
I challenge RCG's Chief Coward, Ryan Denee, to explain to anyone about the great marketing efforts they have made in the past year, paid for with all that sweet widow’s cash. No new World to Come videos. No new literature. No social media campaign. No public Bible studies.
Just more gardens, more trees, and a reduced groundskeeping staff. You know, just like the idyllic city on a hill.
The “gospel” RCG now teaches is Dave’s bastardized version dipped in his imaginary malarkey.
“RCG’s focus remains on preaching the gospel”
No. RCG's true focus is keeping the campus lights on and the grass sprinklers pumping. David C. Pack is a permanently-sitting prophetic bloviator larping through every Sabbath, befuddling his brain-dead audience with a remixed remix of his malarkey remixed. “The Greatest Untold Story!” is the focus of The Restored Church of God because that IS their gospel. Anyone in that biblically corrupt organization who thinks otherwise is lying to themselves.
Those 144 false dates for the coming Kingdom to Israel, Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ, or Daniel’s 1335 did not math themselves into existence. That is all on false prophet, false apostle, false teacher, blaspheming hypocritical liar David C. Pack, despite his desperate efforts to convince everyone to the contrary.
The focus in RCG is on David C. Pack. Dave knows this. Brad knows this. Carl knows this. Ed knows this. Jaco knows this. Salasi knows this. Frank knows this. Jim and Andy know this. Mike knows this. Even “the littlest Denee” Ryan knows this.
“live more stable and successful lives”
Those who live the most stable and successful lives in The Restored Church of God are those who leave The Restored Church of God. That entire organization is a toxic pit of spiritual corruption. David C. Pack does not teach what he does by the inspiration of God or the Holy Spirit.
The Cleveland Scene article exposes the doctrines and practices of Pastor General David C. Pack and The Restored Church of God. I am grateful for Mark Oprea’s interest in this story. The more publicity RCG receives, the more people who can be warned about what kind of spiritually bankrupt organization they really are.
Just shine a light on them and watch them scurry.
