Este artculo es una exclusiva en lnea de Christian Research Journal. However, BGSU is a Way Campus where members are sent for their education as well as recruiting practice; all things already mentioned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. 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. 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. 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. European Christian Press (which Geer controls) then published it a few years after Wierwilles death. 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. Last year, The Way Magazine lauded the organizations success at quickly beginning new PFAL classes through street witnessing; but now fewer classes are likely to be held since many recruits drop out of the twigs before attending a full year. All of these classes are weeks long, have an enrollment fee, and have their own expensive materials (books, binders, etc.) But at this point my goal has transitioned to educating the young and vulnerable population of college students by presenting an unknown and challenging thought. The reason I created that thread was initial to gain some more insight. How about a little more candor, Vince? The Passing of a Patriarch greatly damaged The Way because it summarizes the accusations Wierwille made against the three trustees who alone are technically members of The Way and who control all assets and policy. Conveniently situated in the Minh Khai part of Phu Ly (Ha Nam), this property puts you close . 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. I know this is a bit long, but I hope it gives you some insight into what it's like to be inside this group. Homosexuals Purged, Wow Ambassadors Terminated, Martindale also hopes the new classes will hinder homosexuals from joining The Way, because he condemns homosexuality. For Feb 24, 2023 | Christian Articles, en Espanol. The Way stressed that these gatherings were for committed, faithful followers, unlike the Rock, which was open to anyone. Christian can also help (ex-) Wayers through four basic steps of reorientation: 1) expose, 2) emotional reaction, 3) relearning, and 4) reconstruction. The kind of stuff people go to therapy for years to get over. 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. To address your questions about suicides directly - yes there have been suicides in the past as well as other deaths. In spite of its name, however, The Way . Leonards book and course syllabus called The Gifts of the Spirit are still in print. The most ridiculous instance was when he beat me for clinking my fork too loudly in my plate at the dinner table. 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. As a minister in the Evangelical and Reformed Church (now part of the United Church of Christ), Wierwille developed . The Way International is a shell of what it was during the lifetime of Victor Paul Wierwille. 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). Some still in The Way are ignorant of the controversy, while others refuse to listen to the charges, deny them, or rationalize how Wierwille could have done such things without guilt. .~?mq3\n7C. After I had a fight in elementary school, TWI advised him to beat me into submission. Although the group emphasizes that it does not have members, it keeps very detailed records of its class graduates and donors, which are used as criteria to determine peoples status with the group and their access to some of its functions. Ultimately we would also like to provide and seek justice on her behalf. Long story long. Boop. Eventually someone outside the house stepped in because they knew what was wrong and got me to the hospital. 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. The current turmoil surrounding The Way presents an excellent opportunity for Christians to befriend ex-Wayers and help them discover biblical truths they have forgotten or never known. 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. The Way sent out 138 Disciples to 15 cities during the Rock of Ages 1995 conference, far below a peak of 3,100 WOW Ambassadors it claimed to have sent in 1982. 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. They also feel the need for teaching and fellowship with other believers. One CES leader, with a touch of irony, attempted to distance CES from The Way by explaining that CES would do Christian study, not biblical research (A Way term). To me this is the core of the Way: the planting of the idea that its us against them. Over time that can be very isolating considering that there arent that many people in the ministry. Incidentally, only Geers group has published a book by Wierwille since his death. 11:2-4, 13-15) gives insight into the nature of this controversy, Wierwilles work, and his followers: For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. Lots of people in the world are critical of the ways churches spend money on a building that sits empty six days a week: home fellowships remove that and focus on whats important to them. nase ahora para acceder a este contenido exclusivo para suscriptores de Journal, To the Cancel Culture: We Respectfully Decline When Believers are Told What We May or May Not Say, Polite Refusal is Called For, Christ or Lucretius: Nature and Natures God in the poems of Mary Oliver. Take The Diary of Anne Frank for example. I am glad I am not the only one who dealt with growing up in TWI. The most debate arose when the topic of financing CES was raised, which prompted fears that their donations would be misused by yet another organization. Offshoots - Splinter Groups : How Many Are There? As a kid, I was always 1.) J. Juedes, PFO Journal, 1990. in English, I was well traveled as an Army wife, and never dreamed I would be embarking on events that would change my life forever. He is a former follower of The Way International, the same group from which I escaped in 1987. 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. 14:21-23); stringent laws are done away with when one is born again (Col. 2:20-21); God punished David for killing Uriah, not for having sex with Bathsheba; and the Bibles word for adultery has a spiritual, not a physical meaning. Juedes is a Lutheran paster who has written extensively on the Way. Many ex-Wayers continue to read Bullinger, as they did while in The Way. 4v$gi In the meantime, I want to share about her thread with you. The Way International is a small, fundamentalist, Bible-based organization headquartered in New Knoxville, Ohio, on property that was once the family farm of the founder, Victor Paul Wierwille. Mostly shame, guilt, separation from anyone but the group, brainwashing. 1 John P. Juedes and Douglas V. Morton, The Integrity and Accuracy of The Ways Word (St. Louis: Personal Freedom Outreach, 1980), 43-48. 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. The immediate cause was metastatic melanoma of the liver, which means that the cancer spread from the eye to the liver. It is fundamentalist due to many non-negotiable beliefs, most notably the inerrancy of the Scriptures, and it is a cult, a high-control group, due to its social . 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. First, the assumptions and structure of the new groups are like The Way International. 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. 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. Answer. 2 The Way Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 1994, 26. Some people were asked to leave the ministry for some big transgression (maybe they were gay, maybe they bucked chain of command in some big way), and they were considered marked and avoided (I think stemming from the Cain and Abel story in Genesis). - Nowadays, Finnegan runs another Way splinter group called Christian Biblical Counsel. Bill Green, who handles some public relations for The Ways New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, declined to be interviewed about the classes and related developments. CES includes Wayers who were respected or well known, such as Lynn who had three books published by The Way, more than any author except Wierwille. Im not educated or enlightened by any metric, but reading that after your personal experience as well as observation grounded and solidified what you were sharing. Cliffes book Lessons in Successful Living addresses similar topics. 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. The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. No one is going to beat you. Since the Martindale faction controls these, it views visits by ex-Wayers as enemy infiltration. Many remember current leaders as friends, but at the same time despise them for wrongs they believe they have done or allowed. If you have done your reading about cults, then you are probably familiar with Dr. Steve Hassan's BITE model. Think of the creed is their unwritten Bible. The logic has more dangerous consequences when people literally think God will cure their Cancer, Lupus, diabetes. Okay. And Im not sure I can completely answer your question about stepping out of line and facing consequences. This practice is intended to weed out any opponents. He rightly exhorted them to reactivate critical thought rather than just change from being a Wierwille disciple to a Bullinger disciple. The Way published three books by Lynn, more than any author other than Wierwille. The Way used to mail cassette tapes of the Sunday service to those "in good standing". I think youre absolutely right in that educating others will help with the grieving process. Almost every one of Wierwilles teachings can be traced to other sources (see sidebar for descriptions of some of Wierwilles teachings). These were known as splinter groups and were always talked about as deceptive as if they were scheming their followers. A name used by Share International. 6 Albert Cliffe, Let Go and Let God (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1951), 157. I get the impression her experience was exactly as youve shared. (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). But if you fall out of line, you risk being shunned by the people most important to you. I just wanted to paint a picture here of the laid back approach to Christian faith that makes the Way appealing to people. Then there are all the other classes about specific topics. Could you elaborate on the manipulation? Lynn summarized this when he assured listeners that many stories would curl your hair.12. I'm pretty sure that "The Word" has quite a bit to say about murder. 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. We were taught that debt was inherently evil and that it made you a slave to the lender. Based at . When The Way International splintered in the years following the death of founder V. P. Wierwille, many splinter groups formed. Could John Lynn be the undisputed king of Offshoot ministries? This is certainly helpful and appreciated. 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). Boy howdy that was an ear-full. Second, the doctrine of the splinter groups is nearly a carbon copy of Way . To be honest, it sounds nice on paper in many ways. This conflict has increased as ex-Wayers have persuaded many of their friends to leave Martindales group. She was born into it and her home was a Twig if my verbiage is correct. 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. A number of people died. The teachings are framed such as we are athletes of the Spirit and we are always honing our research skills to better know God. I'd recently read a secular book and they also blamed that. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Here's a copy of. Spirit and Truth Fellowship International, Out of the Way: The Offshoots Latest Topics. Many former Way members are flocking to break-off organizations some of which are led by well-known and respected ex-leaders. He told Corps grads that the Ambassadors had accomplished their mission of getting Gods Word over the world. He called it WOW redefined, but he never explained how reaching only a fraction of a percent of residents of the United States (much less of the world) constitutes completing the mission. Her recent suicide however was as a member in leadership. The class aside (because who cares), can you imagine being made to feel like youre a bad person because of things beyond your control? An iconic five-star international hotel Our hotel is located in the heart of the city and provides 180 rooms and suites. The creed and The Way are very much one and the same; The Way is just the religion they follow. The appeal was in its casual nature, balanced with an accessible way to become disciplined in Biblical scholarship. The Way, International, page 2 Im not saying that people in the Way avoid doctors entirely, but theres definitely a sense of what counts and doesnt or that people are putting waaay too much trust in men and not in God. They justify ANY abuse by saying it was reproof and you needed it. . He also hopes to produce more printed materials, provide a network of fellowships, and serve as a traveling teacher. Participants were sensitive (having been wounded by The Way), were open to friendships and ideas, and were reevaluating their beliefs. Yeah Um would you look at the time? I was isolated from my family physically because they didn't live close, and during private conversations about leadership I was told that my family didn't love me and that they could understand why because I was so horrible, but at least I had them. 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 . Wierwille exercised very little discernment in learning from others, readily accepting teachings from itinerant mystics, Christian Scientists, and spiritists. Because of the work of splinter groups, in recent years The Way has been marked by heightened paranoia, attention to security, and bitterness. 8 Whiteside, 197-200. Each fellowship was just one small twig connected to a branch, then a limb, then a trunk and so on. Sometime after reading that I came across Religion Trauma Syndrome (RTS) and learned about repressive cognitive dissonance. I had been a professional lead singer and performer since I was 16, and although I . Most ex-Wayers are confused, not knowing where to turn, whom to trust, or what to believe. TWI's was (and still is in a smaller capacity) an actual institution with employees, an unaccredited college, and evangelist programs that relocate people and had actual methods for indoctrination. Your reply was a lot to unpack, digest, snd accept. I'm still dealing with a lot of the trauma. I dealt with it as a kid by pretending not to notice the issues in my family and in the cult. Ex-Wayers also charge that The Way teaches falsely on the topics of believing, abundant sharing, tithing, interpretation of tongues, and athletes of the spirit (the belief that every warfare metaphor in the Epistles should be understood as an athletic metaphor instead). With the more aggressive and cultic mindset of current Way leadership, followers can expect more years of turbulence and change. My story might be pretty different compared to those of you who grew up in the 80's/90's. 9 In an April 30, 1996 press release The Way announced it would not hold a Rock of Ages festival in 1996. Growing up, I remember hearing stories about people who had drifted from the Way, and they were always spoken of as dangerous people. I once broke a bone and had to secretly crawl to my car to go to the hospital. Nonetheless, many ex-Wayers desire publications, traveling teachers, regional meetings, and a network of fellowships similar to those they had in The Way. Wierwilles ideas on sense knowledge, confession, and healing (among others) he found in E.W. My mom thought God helped her get a good parking space once (Im not kidding). 2 John P. Juedes and Jay Valusek, Will the Real Author Please Stand Up? Few know that many able scholars have effectively refuted some of Bullingers ideas. My mom was a single mother and had registered for an upcoming class. 4 Lionel Recio and Steve Lefevers, The Way of Life or the Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. Pretty sure "in good standing" meant you "tithed" over a certain amount each month. I think the biggest thing I would emphasize is that the biggest way faith organizations control you is by fear. 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). Ironside, which addresses aspects of ultradispensationalism.15 It is often perplexing to Wayers, though, that teachers Wierwille respected such as Bullinger, Kenyon, and Stiles staunchly held primary orthodox beliefs which Wierwille rejected, including Trinitarianism. Someone previous mentioned and shared something that we really needed to hear and hit home profoundly, she expressed that (paraphrasing) she was struggling to reconcile with her faith and being a person in the world. SPIRIT AND TRUTH FELLOWSHIP / CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES / JOHN LYNN. And as much I would dislike the idea of looking into my own rear view mirror her close friends and myself would deeply appreciate your vulnerability and transparency. 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. Almost every long-time member has had at least one question such as: Why did Dr. Wierwille never speak against adultery in his Christian Family and Sex class? Why does my Limb leader often spend the night with certain twig leaders of the opposite sex? Why did our womens meeting leave the impression that a woman should satisfy any physical desire of visiting Way leaders? Why do Way leaders give contradictory answers when I ask about the biblical stance on sex outside of marriage? Why did the twig leader make sexual advances toward me the first time I attended?10, Ex-Wayers are increasingly charging The Way with false teaching and scholarship. I saw your post a few days ago when it was first posted and having been thinking about it ever since. Brainwashing is in part convincing you that the world is evil and filled with devil spirits that are everywhere and you must be vigilant, and part CONSTANT information about the bible. They did not understand that Wierwille preached another Jesus (who was only a man) and another spirit (not the Holy Spirit personally indwelling them). Disgusting. Some retain great respect for Wierwille, while a few joke about him. 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. There hasn't been a good gathering place for survivors since the Greasespot Cafe and I think there is a need for one. The group's misogyny was deeply ingrained while also being subtle at times. Oh my goodness. At the time, Schoenheit was on The Ways research team. And you mentioned twig earlier. Meanwhile, he promotes his book, The Rise and Expansion of the Church, through weekend seminars. 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. terrified of seeing/interacting with a marked and avoided person because I thought their adversarial ways would rub off on me. 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. I'm a robot. In 2000, the president of The Way, Craig Martindale, resigned following . My home life was very turbulent because of TWI. Except they pretty much worship the bible. It begins to be the only thing you can do and the only people you can see. I dont know if any of this is helpful to you. 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. While ex-Wayers want the groups to be much different than The Way, there are many similarities in teaching and goals. The complexity and overarching theme of shame as well as guilt is much bigger than I ever imagined. James K. Walker The termination of the WOW Ambassador program led to the start of the Disciples of The Way Outreach program.
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