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Many remember current leaders as friends, but at the same time despise them for wrongs they believe they have done or allowed. These classes replace the Power for Abundant Living (PFAL) classes by Way founder, Victor Paul Wierwille, who died of cancer in 1985 after losing an eye to the disease and suffering strokes. Although the Way brags that 5,027 people have attended these seminars, that figure actually indicates an average of only about 100 per state. At the time Martindale saw the suspension of WOW as the response to an attack by evil devil spirits, but by the summer of 1995 he recast the suspension as a Way victory. First, it is helpful to present facts of doctrinal, organizational, and personal error in Way leaders. This article first appeared in the in the Ask Hank column of the Christian Research Journal, Feb 20, 2023 | Christian Articles, en Espanol, Feb 13, 2023 | Christian Articles, en Espanol. All because of "homosexual devil spirit possession" will not be welcome at their festival. Incidentally, only Geers group has published a book by Wierwille since his death. The share and contributions of another Reddit member way help you with perspective and provide some form of comfort or solace as you and your family are ensuring the struggle currently. See also pp.38 and 52. 4-5 maybe? The Way International fellowships are located throughout the United States, as well as over 30 countries. First, the assumptions and structure of the new groups are like The Way International. The car parking and the Wi-Fi are always free, so you can stay in touch and come and go as you please. For example we had fellowship in our home 3 days per week and if I were to miss one I might be interrogated about where I was, or told that I'm unequally yoked with "worldly" people, which is how they describe anyone outside the cult. Please keep in touch. They all have been visible in speaking, writing, and leadership positions such as Region and Limb Coordinators and headquarters staff (Region Coordinator is the highest Way position other than Trustee). Ancient Aliens and the Bible: What the Popular Television Series Says about Extraterrestrials in Scripture, Famous for Jesus: A Review of Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church by Katelyn Beaty (Brazos Press, 2022), Famosos por Jess: Resea de Celebridades por Jess: Cmo los personajes, las plataformas y los beneficios estn perjudicando a la Iglesia por Katelyn Beaty (Brazos Press, 2022). The foundational class is 36 hours I believe and I can't tell you how many times I took it. After Dr. Weirwill died and leadership was given to Craig Martindale, TWI essentially split into those who followed Craig and stayed in TWI's proper organization, and those who moved into splinter groups. The past two years have been a very unsettling time for Wayers. Not even post TWI as a survivor. In spite of its name, however, The Way . Press J to jump to the feed. It's 2am and so I decided to reminisce in Google-land by doing a search on the The Way International; a group I was once affiliated with . Somewhere in the 90s someone in charge of such decisions recognized that it was probably a good idea to stop calling it twig because it sounds weird to newcomers. In the weeks leading up to it, she got sick and missed a few shifts at work and ran up a few hundred dollars of credit card debt to cover bills. Long story long. At that time I had recently come out as bisexual to my mom, which went as well as you'd expect. For example, Lionel Recio and Steve Lefevers claim that one woman was gang-raped by several Way clergy and that the Corps residence training was sometimes like a bordello with promiscuity, adultery, orgies, and wife-swapping. My splinter group was one of them. 13 Address: Pacific West Fellowship, P.O. She was loved by many because she was easy going, fit in with many and different groups - a legitimate interest in others, etc. Think of the creed is their unwritten Bible. Can any recent survivors provide their reflections if its not to much: What are the manipulation tactics used? Cules son las creencias bsicas del budismo? terrified of seeing/interacting with a marked and avoided person because I thought their adversarial ways would rub off on me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. They assume that honest, objective biblical research and a fellowship of true believers cannot be found among Christians outside Wierwilles heritage of teaching, so they limit research and fellowship to their own narrow circles. He would beat me for nearly any infraction. The group itself says it is a Christian ministry. Im going to say something rude here: my experience of adults in the Way is that they arent exactly the sharpest tools in the shed. Gross, right? They are both prevalent in Ohio. You were expected to advance through them, and you typically developed bonds with your cohort in the Foundational, Intermediate and Advanced classes. The name became "The Way" in 1955, no doubt a reference to Jesus' statement that He is "the way, the truth and the life" ( John 14:6 ). Another splinter group By Fredchopin, September 3, 2021. One response still in print is Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth by H.A. My impression is that BGSU Staff/Administration is unaware that she was a Way member. My story might be pretty different compared to those of you who grew up in the 80's/90's. For the most part this conceptualizing of the world as being on Gods side or influenced but the Adversary makes me roll my eyes. This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). The Ways security force has become increasingly aggressive, quickly and thoroughly investigating anyone who appears at functions like the Rock of Ages conferences9 or is on their campus without a Way nametag. Word 8 Ibid., 67, 68. The Way International, The Way, La Voie, El Camino, PFAL, The Way of Abundance and Power, The Way Magazine, The Way Corps are trademarks registered by The Way International in the United States and/or other countries. Wierwille admits going to Alberta, Canada, twice in the early 1950s to hear Leonard teach on the manifestations and get a copy of his syllabus for his use.8 Leonard still teaches in Brownsville, Texas. The Way is marketed as a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry. There is a great diversity of emotions and viewpoints among those who have left The Way International. His complaint, however, implies that he realized there were significant errors in PFAL. The group says that it will hold classes and smaller conferences instead, including a weeklong gathering of 2,000 at The Ways auditorium in New Knoxville, July 20-27. We were taught that the Adversary is always looking for ways to break down our spiritual fortitude and that can come in the form of media, indoctrination in schools and even our own families. I was lucky enough to leave in high school when I was about 16. Second, the doctrine of the splinter groups is nearly a carbon copy of Way . CES now wants to be seen as an independent ministry, not just as a Way splinter group, even though its glaring similarity to The Way is obvious to outsiders. In the meantime, I want to share about her thread with you. "Christian Educational Services"-- The nature, strengths and weaknesses of the largest of the Way split-off groups, led by John Lynn. 8 Whiteside, 197-200. Jun 10, 2009. The level to which people beat themselves up for falling short, though, is intense. Can you imagine? But thats the thing: the adversary throws you curve balls, and its our job as athletes of the spirit to make smart moves. Anyways, one summer afternoon on a car ride to grandma's with a Way following family member: the tape deck had one of these Sunday service tapes start playing when they started the car. Experiences, questions, observations about offshoots who trace their roots to The Way International. An Open Letter to You Who Are Disillusioned with The Way Ministry, J. Juedes PFO Journal. A few, but not tons. See John P. Juedes, Looking at Lamsa, Personal Freedom Outreach Newsletter (Jan.-Mar. There was a Corp program called LEAD where participants had to hitchhike from Indiana/Ohio to New Mexico in a short period of time with very little money (less than $20 if I remember correctly) to go mountain climbing. Pacific West Fellowship,13 headed by Steve Sann (who also was once a Limb and Region Coordinator), seems to be the second most aggressive splinter group. Since many WOWs are in the second year of the Way Corps (leadership training) program, it is likely that many homosexuals were also in the Corps. It's one thing to simply not condone homosexuality because it's a sin against God. The complexity and overarching theme of shame as well as guilt is much bigger than I ever imagined. Spirit and Truth Fellowship International. After I had a fight in elementary school, TWI advised him to beat me into submission. But apparently, he doesn't want people to know what he did in the 1970s and 1980s. Because of the work of splinter groups, in recent years The Way has been marked by heightened paranoia, attention to security, and bitterness. I was very moved by that story as a young person, and I remember talking to my mom and my fellowship coordinator about it. If the person refuses to read or hear material which exposes such errors, then take the time to obtain the primary sources which demonstrate them and ask his or her opinion of them. Then there are all the other classes about specific topics. Again, thank you for taking the time to provide concise details. Answer. I am also former TWI. There were some other elite leadership groups in the faith (like Way Disciple that you mention) but the three I listed are the ones that most people in fellowships are expected to take. Think of an abuser boyfriend who doesnt let you have friendships with other guys or other people, really, because it distracts your attention from him, the most important person in your life. In 1983 I became involved with the cult the Way International or as it is commonly referred to by members, "the Way." I had a B.A. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. They justify ANY abuse by saying it was reproof and you needed it. Experiences, questions, observations about offshoots who trace their roots to The Way International, Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services), Accused sex predator Victor Barnard a victim's story. She probably could have just gone and not told anyone because its not like anyone checked your bank account, but her guilt consumed her and a couple days before, she called our fellowship coordinator over and confessed to him that she had debt. This group was formerly known as American Fellowship Services. The most ridiculous instance was when he beat me for clinking my fork too loudly in my plate at the dinner table. The appeal was in its casual nature, balanced with an accessible way to become disciplined in Biblical scholarship. 60, Bien Hoa Street, Minh Khai Ward, Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province,, Minh Khai, Phu Ly (Ha Nam), Vietnam, 400000 - See map. Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services) 6.3k posts. I grew up in the Way and drifted from it the year I went to college (though I went a few times reluctantly to a new fellowship in the town where my college was). Prominent ex-Way leaders took with them networks of ex-followers of TWI. She didnt take the class. Dont get me wrong, we should all have some financial literacy, but the extent to which Believers internalized their shortcomings was heart-breaking. They now favor home fellowships which are self-governing, self-financing and self-propagating. This is a reaction against The Way, which governed home groups, received and dispensed their income, and directed all the propagating efforts (which focused on promoting Wierwilles videotaped Power for Abundant Living class). The apostle Paul warned of deceivers when he told the Ephesians, I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:29-30). It was heavy-duty indoctrination using known "brainwashing" techniques like sleep deprivation and intense manual labor mixed with a hippy commune mentality and a healthy dose of college hijinks thrown in. Many former Way members are flocking to break-off organizations some of which are led by well-known and respected ex-leaders. OVERVIEW OF THE WAY'S SPLINTER GROUPS. No. Could you elaborate on the manipulation? But small IRA splinter groups have continued to launch sporadic attacks on security forces. Additionally, ex-members have on file letters and transcripts in which Way president L. Craig Martindale defends sex outside marriage in many situations. Wierwilles ideas on sense knowledge, confession, and healing (among others) he found in E.W. Point out that Wierwilles adultery and lying (plagiarism) mark him a false teacher, not just a teacher with failings (Matt. Wierwille was not the only former minister to draw away young disciples David Berg was one of several others. Meanwhile, Way leaders apparently have tried biblically to defend adultery. The kind of stuff people go to therapy for years to get over. The crowd of 11,000 applauded the changes, hoping that this would help remedy the severe decline and turbulence of the past 10 years. I am glad I am not the only one who dealt with growing up in TWI. Just as 100 different Mormon groups all revere the Temple Lot in Independence, Missouri, because of founder Joseph Smiths attachment to it, the many Way splinter groups also revere Wierwilles New Knoxville, Ohio family farm and books. Although Wayers project a curt and indifferent attitude toward the many who have left the group, they have undoubtedly been hurt deeply in recent years. I mention this because in the athletes analogy, theres always an adversary. The figure other Christians might call the Devil the Way often calls the Adversary (lol it looks weird to write it out). Until then I was personally fighting acceptance because I wasnt able to understand and someone else had not articulated a realistic and plausible answer. Soooo, I guess to answer your question about how she was allowed to do non-Christian activities, I think the thing to remember is that the Way picked up steam in the late 70s when a big wave of evangelicalism was sweeping through the US. See also Elena Whiteside, The Way Living with Love, 2d ed. My parents are still standing, as they say. Bill Green, who handles some public relations for The Ways New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, declined to be interviewed about the classes and related developments. One ex-member said the Corps residence training was sometimes like a bordello, with promiscuity, adultery, orgies, wife swapping, and even gang-rape.4. Wierwille as father, friend, and teacher, but both the Scriptures and the empirical evidence demand it. 1 See The Way Tree Is Splintering, Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988. My Mom got heavily involved in the ministry straight out the gates - going WOW (their outreach program) shortly after taking the PFAL class in the early 80s and then we went Family Corp right after that. There are less and less full time ministers on the field and in many Regions only one full time couple in the entire Region. If you have done your reading about cults, then you are probably familiar with Dr. Steve Hassan's BITE model. Boy howdy that was an ear-full. graduates of the PFAL Series (Power For Abundant Living) may find links to fellowship, study, friends, and loved ones, believers and seekers of all congregations or none at all may find wonderful links at this page. This is certainly helpful and appreciated. Any time I needed to see a doctor (I've had chronic health issues) I had to do it in secret and lie about where I was going, and have the bills sent to fake addresses so no one would find out. I can't speak much on what the formal organization is doing now but the splinter groups just don't have the financial or organizational power as they did before they split off. The Rock had been held annually for 25 years, and had been used to teach, recruit participants for Way ministries, and send out Way Ambassadors. Hahahaha. The new policy may reduce The Ways recruitment. Way security personnel try to intimidate outsiders by dressing as police officers complete with utility belt, holster, CB-style microphone clipped to a shoulder, metal badge with the word patrolman prominently stamped on it, and white vehicles with a seal painted on the door and emergency lights on top. A place for discussion about cults and other new age religious movements. Kenyon. Some find it hard to reevaluate the Trinity, perhaps because they heard Way leaders ridicule Trinitarianism so often, and because they themselves also berated the teaching. Way trustees fired Schoenheit for writing the paper and sternly warned Wayers not to read it, ask about its contents, or have contact with those who read it. Splintering of the group since 1985 has greatly reduced its active membership, from a peak of about 35,000 to less than 10,000.1. We were taught that debt was inherently evil and that it made you a slave to the lender. Homosexuals Purged, Wow Ambassadors Terminated, Martindale also hopes the new classes will hinder homosexuals from joining The Way, because he condemns homosexuality. Current Way affiliates are more than welcome to utilize . Some retain great respect for Wierwille, while a few joke about him. John Lynn claims that Wierwille and at least four other trustees had sex with literally hundreds of women, many of whom Lynn and other ex-leaders have counseled personally.9 They also claim the Trustees fired long-time researcher John Schonheit for writing a brief paper summarizing the Bibles teaching against adultery. I did look your friend up on facebook and we have friends in common from the cult (I should probably just start a new FB to rid myself of them), which would lead me to believe it's a splinter group since the two don't typically mix. When The Way International splintered in the years following the death of founder V. P. Wierwille, many splinter groups formed. They also feel the need for teaching and fellowship with other believers. I think some of the main differences between the 80's and now is the infrastructure. Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is the university she attended as a non-traditional student and place of employment. Para ms informacin o para Join now to access this Journal subscriber only content. The Corp program was insane and I could write a huge thread just about that experience. Pretty sure "in good standing" meant you "tithed" over a certain amount each month. This practice was common back in the 70s-80s as well as taking people's medications away so they could "prove God." While Believers with a history of Way International affiliation, esp. This is a part of growing up for anyone, but I think its especially hard for people who grow empathy and conscience and recognize the way they grew up was manipulative and mean-spirited. The leader was arrested recently as he had convinced the fellowship members to give him their eldest daughters which he physically and sexually abused for 9+ years until one girl escaped. The Cults podcast on Stitcher has a 2-part special on The Way and River Road Fellowship, which was one of the splinter groups. European Christian Press (which Geer controls) then published it a few years after Wierwilles death. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By word, character, and example, show them that there is more-than-abundant life outside The Way International.Dr. Christian can also help (ex-) Wayers through four basic steps of reorientation: 1) expose, 2) emotional reaction, 3) relearning, and 4) reconstruction. Just after Wierwilles death, Geer published The Passing of a Patriarch, which is a rambling account of Geers final conversations with Wierwille shortly before his death. - Nowadays, Finnegan runs another Way splinter group called Christian Biblical Counsel. It helps me after hearing some of your stories. Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly. During WOW training at the 1994 Rock of Ages conference, however, Way leaders decided not to send WOWs, because nearly 10 percent of their Ambassadors were homosexual. I would lovingly suggest that your time might be more effectively spent honoring your friend's memory by educating others about the harm that cults cause and working with a counselor to process the grief of losing your friend twice - first to a cult and then to suicide. Since the Martindale faction controls these, it views visits by ex-Wayers as enemy infiltration. Wierwilles stance that the whole Bible was authored in Aramaic, that parts of Scripture have been lost, that many Bible passages in popular translations were deviously inserted by pagans, and his Nestorian-like view of Jesus Christ (which drives a wedge between the human Jesus and the divine Christ) all trace to mystic George Lamsa. The most important change involves the new The Way of Abundance and Power classes by Way president, L. Craig Martindale. It begins to be the only thing you can do and the only people you can see. And they were pretty insistent on saying that the Holocaust did happen but not nearly to the extent that Jewish people say it did, and that their agenda is to make us feel sorry for them and legitimize Judaism over Christianity. Rev. What practices are still common? After all, it is their friends who have left and made accusations of severe error against The Way leadership. as I got older I was terrified of doing something that would have me cast out because my whole life THESE were the people I knew and had history with, and it made me deeply sad to imagine suddenly being cut off from that. I dont know if any of this is helpful to you. I once broke a bone and had to secretly crawl to my car to go to the hospital. Geer is damaging to The Way because of his previous close ties to Wierwille. Boop. Each year The Way had sent out hundreds of WOW (Word Over the World) Ambassadors as volunteer missionaries to cities around the world, which was its primary outreach for 25 years. Oh! J. Juedes, PFO Journal, 1990. 2 John P. Juedes and Jay Valusek, Will the Real Author Please Stand Up? I saw your post a few days ago when it was first posted and having been thinking about it ever since. Scientology front group. I thought of myself as a good person, but Id grown up to believe that you couldnt be both good and a homosexual. The Way also teaches its followers to receive an impersonal power (called holy spirit, power from on high, or Christ in you) by inhaling, and that speaking in tongues is the only proof that one is born again. SPIRIT AND TRUTH FELLOWSHIP / CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES / JOHN LYNN. Lynnes new teachings include the assertions that interpretation of tongues must always be praise to God (never a message to believers), and that believing does not work for saint and sinner alike, but is receiving Gods promises. As a kid, I was always 1.) There are certain rules Mandalorians must adhere to . As a minister in the Evangelical and Reformed Church (now part of the United Church of Christ), Wierwille developed . It is apparent that almost all Wierwille taught he acquired from other men, not from original study of Gods word. Allen wrote, I read it and all is true.So I will change to do my best for the man I helped kill.7 They apparently could not reconcile the death of the man of God with their teaching of the law of believing. Since they considered Wierwille the epitome of believing, he should easily have been able to will himself to health simply by believing he was well and free of cancer. Splinter Cults are WORSE..not better. 5 Lamsa considered himself an apostle and believed in clairvoyance and universalism. The crowd of 11,000 applauded the changes, hoping that this would help remedy the severe decline and turbulence of the past 10 years. CES holds two national meetings per year in Chicago (drawing about 150 people per meeting), publishes Dialogue magazine bi-monthly, circulates periodic newsletters, and distributes tapes. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. TL;DR: the Way seems chill and relaxed on the outside but its pretty intense on a personal level. 7 Whiteside, 205-9. "rev" gerry wrenn raises wierwille from the dead! The Way To Happiness International. Ultimately we would also like to provide and seek justice on her behalf. The splinter groups made a lot of sense because fellowships (church) was held in people's homes anyway, so they continued to hold them and they all have their own little names like "Harbor Light Fellowship" or "Living Word Fellowship" however they still are Weirwill purists and teach his ideas. Their arguments included: women who traveled with Jesus and Paul supplied them with sex because it satisfied their legitimate needs; men have needs for sex with a variety of women and God provides for this; all things are lawful when done in faith (Rom. Atheism. There are people who spend 7 nights a week at fellowship or taking classes or teaching. The reason I created that thread was initial to gain some more insight. Nevertheless, The Ways situation has improved. A number of people died. 0 replies; 812 views; Fredchopin . (Ex-)Wayers would also benefit from Robert A. Moreys Death and the Afterlife (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1984), Stuart Olyotts The Three Are One (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1979), and Cal Beisners God in Three Persons (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1985). Sale of assets, reduction of overhead, smaller Corps classes, large numbers of defections (which left more staff openings), staff purges, and the sale of the The Way College of Emporia, Kansas, campus helped make this possible. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber They have forsaken the right way and gone astray" (2 Peter 2:1-3, 15). He cultivated an image of being an original Bible researcher and his followers have seen him as such. Sann distributes a free tape, A Ministry in Crisis: An Editorial on The Way International, in which he asserts that The Way became hierarchical in the 1970s, causing a deterioration of the Ministry in many areas. shooting in kettering today, victor valley high school yearbook,