I wouldnt say my experience is at all recent since that was 2001, but I can absolutely say their tactics are manipulative. At first I was told how loved and adored I was but quickly that facade died and it was clear I was not loved. It has shrunk in size and, as often is the case in cults when the original leader dies, splintered into various rival movements. 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. Splinter Cults are WORSE..not better. Although the Way brags that 5,027 people have attended these seminars, that figure actually indicates an average of only about 100 per state. 60, Bien Hoa Street, Minh Khai Ward, Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province,, Minh Khai, Phu Ly (Ha Nam), Vietnam, 400000 - See map. They have been active and effective at exposing problems in The Way through personal influence and meetings of Wayers around the nation. If youve seen the documentaries about Scientology or even that Nxivm sex cult this is practically a template for revenue income for these religious organizations. And because we were Family Corp, children were added into the mix as well. Although Wierwille has written against spiritism, he welcomed this spiritist with open arms. This is hard to accept for those who knew V.P. I'm still dealing with a lot of the trauma. 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. Not even post TWI as a survivor. I saw your post a few days ago when it was first posted and having been thinking about it ever since. One Scripture passage (2 Cor. The Way not only teaches that Jesus Christ is not God, but also has instruction on tithing, the law of believing (whatever one believes will happen to one, whether bad or good), and the accuracy of the Bible (as translated by Way leaders). Oh my goodness. Despite a pattern of members losing their lives to the insanity of this group, proving negligence/culpability in Court regarding a suicide is very, very difficult. The group itself says it is a Christian ministry. 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. At 29yrs old. Based at . This practice is intended to weed out any opponents. 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. uuid:d7ca4186-7029-344b-a237-3b86f585aa59 mediacodec bufferinfo size avocado mattress reviews; rpx regal premium experience 2d vs 2d hair 504 drug test; 500mg test before and after reddit appleton rummage sales 2022; opala schedule They perpetuation of mental health that manifested in suicide with no accountability. Current Way affiliates are more than welcome to utilize . 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. Juedes is a Lutheran paster who has written extensively on the Way. Some retain great respect for Wierwille, while a few joke about him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. 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. TWI splinter group leader John Lynn wrote a letter in 2008 defending and praising "the old" Way International, proof that the old Way Arrogance lives on as well. In the 90s as home internet was starting to become a thing, and ex-Way followers were posting their experiences on message boards, I remember fellowship leaders told us to limit our time online and to not Google search (or in those days Yahoo?) This is very hard. After all, it is their friends who have left and made accusations of severe error against The Way leadership. Groups like the Way Ministry where you are expected to have instant familiarity with and trust for other members (who are practically strangers) by virtue of you all being "like-minded" is an environment absolutely rife for abuse. I was born in Sidney, Ohio in 2001 and lived at the Way Headquarters in New Knoxville. The reason I created that thread was initial to gain some more insight. A good example of this is John Lynns 12-session class Keys to Victorious Living. The Class is nearly an exact duplicate of Wierwilles Power for Abundant Living class, teaching over two dozen of the same specific doctrines and using the same proof texts Wierwille used (though Lynn corrects some of Wierwilles most glaring misinterpretations). Children who grew into adults in the Way are another matter because it is hard to go out into the world and maybe get your own place or go to college and have your worldview challenged by people you were taught were lazy, selfish, or had an agenda. It helps me after hearing some of your stories. The Cults podcast on Stitcher has a 2-part special on The Way and River Road Fellowship, which was one of the splinter groups. They did not understand that Wierwille preached another Jesus (who was only a man) and another spirit (not the Holy Spirit personally indwelling them). What Are Long-Time Wayers Thinking About? The Advanced Class was first presented in the fall of 1995. While ex-Wayers want the groups to be much different than The Way, there are many similarities in teaching and goals. Some people started their own non-Way affiliated Bible fellowships. My eating habits were monitored and I would get made fun of by leadership for things i liked or how much I ate. 7 Whiteside, 205-9. 9 In an April 30, 1996 press release The Way announced it would not hold a Rock of Ages festival in 1996. In addition, anyone who is well-acquainted with Wierwilles writings and reads Kenyons and Bullingers books is struck by the close parallels, even though one cannot always trace exact word-for-word plagiarism. TWI now is less than a tenth of what it was in the early 1980s, but TWI was far less than a tenth of what its . Nonetheless, hundreds of Way refugees are resisting the new groups' pleas to "join up.". This conflict has increased as ex-Wayers have persuaded many of their friends to leave Martindales group. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. Myself and others are looking to cope and find closure or understanding from a recent loss/death due to suicide. This includes Wierwilles plagiarism, approval of adultery, authoritarianism, errors of scholarship and Bible interpretation, and so forth. This is just awful, horrible and egregious in every way possible. It's one thing to simply not condone homosexuality because it's a sin against God. Accordingly, several groups have arisen to try to meet these needs. Point out that Wierwilles adultery and lying (plagiarism) mark him a false teacher, not just a teacher with failings (Matt. 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). 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. 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. Prominent splinter groups include Christian Educational Service (CES) led by John Lynn, Pacific West Fellowship, Great Lakes Fellowship, and The Way of Great Britain headed by Chris Geer. He also hopes to produce more printed materials, provide a network of fellowships, and serve as a traveling teacher. To be honest, it sounds nice on paper in many ways. It has now become apparent to many of them that Wierwille was instead an eclectic plagiarist. Cules son las creencias bsicas del budismo? Mostly shame, guilt, separation from anyone but the group, brainwashing. 35 0 obj
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He is a former follower of The Way International, the same group from which I escaped in 1987. I did not take your explanation about The Way members as rude. While accusing the Christian church at large of being divisive, the new groups (like The Way International) practice division much more stringently than most Christian denominations or churches. In addition, the account includes several insights into The Way. They justify ANY abuse by saying it was reproof and you needed it. "Christian Educational Services"-- The nature, strengths and weaknesses of the largest of the Way split-off groups, led by John Lynn. Gotta run!
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Heads up on Another Splinter off the Way International Tree. An Open Letter to You Who Are Disillusioned with The Way Ministry, J. Juedes PFO Journal. Martindale seems determined to remake The Way and close ranks, which may result in an increasingly cultic mindset. The Way, International, page 2 Personally I was depressed and suicidal most of the 5 years I lived there and for years after until I was able to seek help. Many Wayers have accepted these allegations in part because they explain and confirm previous experiences. Meanwhile, he promotes his book, The Rise and Expansion of the Church, through weekend seminars. It begins to be the only thing you can do and the only people you can see. In short, the Way (though it started much earlier) at its highest participation rates was essentially home fellowships with hippies talking about Jesus. Again - really helpful and it has expanded my perspective as well as empathy much more. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light; therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their deeds. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We are near 70 years of age now, but the "Way" still affects us. Participants were sensitive (having been wounded by The Way), were open to friendships and ideas, and were reevaluating their beliefs. Reportedly, a few people have even considered suicide or entered mental institutions. There are people who spend 7 nights a week at fellowship or taking classes or teaching. Wierwille always told them that they could only go as far as they had been taught, and the new groups demonstrate this principle by organizing themselves in the same ways, and on the same assumptions, which Wierwille used in building The Way Tree. But they are open to friendships and the Bible, and are reevaluating many teachings and practices. And you mentioned twig earlier. We were required to eat every dinner together or we would be reprimanded in front of the whole house (about 10 people). Wierwilles death certificate lists ocular melanoma, or malignant tumor of the eye, as the underlying cause of death. The car parking and the Wi-Fi are always free, so you can stay in touch and come and go as you please. Disgusting. He added, We have flushed homosexuals and homo fantasizers and sympathizers out of our Way Corps and Staff.2 The Corps coordinator, a Rev. Technically, the group has only three members the trustees who control all aspects of The Way International, Inc. Martindales classes include material from PFAL as well as new topics. The stories which former (and current) Way insiders hear include many more specific charges about shocking events. I thought of myself as a good person, but Id grown up to believe that you couldnt be both good and a homosexual. Spirit and Truth Fellowship International. haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. We ourselves have two articles in our website concerning that movement. The 27-storey building hotel is the tallest building in Phu Ly and has been carefully designed for contemporary travellers looking for sleek comforts, simplified luxury and bleisure. There are less and less full time ministers on the field and in many Regions only one full time couple in the entire Region. 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. As Wayers recognize false teachings, they further see the inaccurate scholarship Wierwille used to defend his teachings.11 Therefore, they also criticize Wierwilles skill as a Bible researcher and teacher and call into question everything they learned from him. In response, he defends such Way teachings as that on interpretation of tongues.14 Ralph Dubofsky told the May 1988 CES meeting that the reason they like so much of E.W. This is where I experienced most of the abuse. These people are capable of anything. 15 H. A. Ironside, Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1938) addresses the relation of the gospel to the church, the Bride and body of Christ, baptism, and related topics. 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. - Nowadays, Finnegan runs another Way splinter group called Christian Biblical Counsel. If possible, use Way terminology and address Way thought patterns, or put them in touch with ex-Wayers who can. See also Elena Whiteside, The Way Living with Love, 2d ed. But thats the thing: the adversary throws you curve balls, and its our job as athletes of the spirit to make smart moves. Until then I was personally fighting acceptance because I wasnt able to understand and someone else had not articulated a realistic and plausible answer. TWI's splinter groups, formed at TWI's implosion in the late 1980's, are bigger than . 1 See The Way Tree Is Splintering, Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988. Many former Way members are flocking to break-off organizations some of which are led by well-known and respected ex-leaders. 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. Each fellowship was just one small twig connected to a branch, then a limb, then a trunk and so on. We both are still active in the remnants of one of the many splinter groups and have become the inheritors of a fellowship in limbo. Martindale told his followers at the 1995 Rock of Ages conference that new classes were needed because The Ways opponents had attended PFAL classes and learned how to use this material against The Way. Geer and trustee Howard Allen apparently believed that the behavior of the trustees, not strokes and cancer, caused Wierwilles death. Three editorials which answer misconceptions common among followers and ex-followers of The Way such as distrust of Christians outside The Way and the forming of Way splinter groups. It endured so long largely because members of The Way (Wayers) viewed Wierwille as their Father in the Word, who heard Gods audible voice and taught Gods Word as it had not been known since the first century.. Think of the creed is their unwritten Bible. While PFAL was used to introduce prospects to The Way, Martindales new classes are open only to people who have attended a twig (home fellowship) for a year and have been taught how to receive holy spirit and speak in tongues by the twig coordinator. We are all at a complete loss and clueless in some ways. Again, thank you for taking the time to provide concise details. That is to say, other people are nice and fine, but its only the true Believers that are truly living Godly lives. Wierwilles ideas on sense knowledge, confession, and healing (among others) he found in E.W. The Way International has a book value of all assets over $68 million, however believers often pay a facility fee to meet as a State or Branch, or they meet in only "budget" or "free" spaces. As well as the original post questions. My mom thought God helped her get a good parking space once (Im not kidding). 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. We could go into particulars like the Holocaust denying, the speaking in tongues, how women are supposed to be subservient to men, the homophobia but I just wanted to provide you with some context. This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). A number of people died. However, we are still driven by their nefarious existence.