Former Geelong Revival Centre member Ryan Carey wants action on coercion

A long-time member of a shadowy, ultra-conservative church based in Geelong wants government action on coercive control, which he says causes untold damage throughout the community.

Ryan Carey was born into the controversial Geelong Revival Centre. Picture: Alison Wynd.

A Geelong man who spent the first 40 years of his life as a member of a cult-like church is spearheading a campaign to outlaw what he labels “religious coercion”.

Ryan Carey was born into the Geelong Revival Centre (GRC), a secretive Pentecostal church based in Norlane that he said controlled almost all facets of members’ lives

Having left the church in early 2020, Mr Carey is now calling on all levels of government to target not only the GRC’s practices, but that of other similar churches.

The 45-year-old said no organisation should be allowed to control, for example, who someone could marry or associate with, medical decisions, or how children are disciplined.

He also said churches such as the GRC should not be granted tax-free status when taxpayers footed the bills for rehabilitative services required by former members.

“These churches operate on religious coercion,” Mr Carey said.

“They have the power to control what you do, how you live your life, through the threat of losing family, friends and community.

“It causes an immense amount of psychological damage to people, particularly children born into it, as I was.”

Mr Carey’s now-late father was a senior GRC figure who worked closely with church founder Noel Hollins, who died this year aged 93.

Geelong Revival Centre founder Noel Hollins. Picture: Supplied.

Coercive control has been outlawed in some Australian states, but only within a domestic setting.

In September, a petition was presented to federal parliament that called for legislation against coercive control by any organisation.

“No group or individual should be allowed to use deceptive, manipulative methods that restricts a person’s ability to make informed decisions about their beliefs, access to information, thought processes and emotional state,” it stated.

The petition was filed by Diane Nguyen, a former member of Shincheonji, which she described as a “pseudo-Christian cult”.

GRC members suffering from psychiatric issues who were blamed for their condition and told not to take medication was the final straw for Mr Carey.

He exited the church despite his wife, Catherine, and two young daughters – now aged 12 and 10 – remaining for a further 18 months.

The couple kept contact despite GRC rules forbidding interaction between members and ex-members.

Mr Carey’s mother and two sisters remain in the church.

“I still have hope they will get out and our relationship will be healed,” he said.

“At the moment, that relationship is dead.

Geelong Revival Centre’s headquarters on Thompson Rd, Norlane. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Mr Carey features in Richard Baker’s recently released Secrets We Keep: Pray Harder podcast, which delves into the GRC, Mr Hollins’ leadership, and the impact on members.

Along with other fellow ex-members, Mr Carey plans to meet with politicians from all sides to highlight the urgent need for action.

“There is currently very limited government oversight as to what these organisations can do, leading to untold harm in the community” he said.

“There’s a lot of people who do not want to be there, but they’re trapped, they’re too scared to speak out.

“If we get these laws changed, this could impact tens of thousands of people across Australia.”

The notoriously publicity shy GRC and its new leader, Brian Griggs, were contacted for comment.

Approximately 300 people are GRC members in Geelong.

Originally published as Former Geelong Revival Centre member Ryan Carey wants action on coercion