My home life was very turbulent because of TWI. 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. All of the various groups claim to hold the true legacy of Wierwille's teachings. Gross, right? It's one thing to simply not condone homosexuality because it's a sin against God. Your reply was a lot to unpack, digest, snd accept. (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). The book asserts that the president and trustees were untrustworthy and spiritually corrupt, did not listen to God or Wierwille, killed Way ministries by neglect, avoided responsibility, were hypocrites, led selfish lifestyles, and so forth. Bill Green, who handles some public relations for The Ways New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, declined to be interviewed about the classes and related developments. However, it sucked to consider our loved as anything less than brilliant, observant, and aware. The other classes were filmed from February through April of 1995 and are currently being used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. To address your questions about suicides directly - yes there have been suicides in the past as well as other deaths. This includes Wierwilles plagiarism, approval of adultery, authoritarianism, errors of scholarship and Bible interpretation, and so forth. Mostly shame, guilt, separation from anyone but the group, brainwashing. I dont know if any of this is helpful to you. His appendices offered reasons Way leaders gave to justify adultery, along with his own rebuttals. 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. This is where I experienced most of the abuse. Have others committed suicide? 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. The most ridiculous instance was when he beat me for clinking my fork too loudly in my plate at the dinner table. And because we were Family Corp, children were added into the mix as well. 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 . At 29yrs old. 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). Spirit and Truth Fellowship International. Making you afraid of other people and afraid of having attention withheld are other classic manipulation tactics. 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. 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). Some say that the Way International is a cult. The Way is marketed as a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry. 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. What do they make members do? While Believers with a history of Way International affiliation, esp. Ultimate question, do you think The Way or anyone that endorses the way is worth pursuing as - culpable? I was told by a leader that having an understanding of the Word as it is supposed to be understood helps you form opinions. 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. Somehow I always imagined theyd be better than the original TWI. I am glad I am not the only one who dealt with growing up in TWI. 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. Moving on: I know a lot of people who grew up in strict religious contexts, but the thing that I always found kind of culty about the Way was how we were always supposed to prioritize people in the ministry to the exclusion of others. Strangely, that means that TWI is responsible for my birth. At one point I got sick with an infectious disease that typically kills you within 48 hours. She was sobbing and apologized profusely that she hid this from them. 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. Most still feel hurt from being betrayed by The Way, are suspicious of any new organizations, and hesitate to connect themselves with any Christian church. 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 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. The Corp is their leadership training program where you live on campus and attend their unaccredited "college." In spite of its name, however, The Way . 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. There are less and less full time ministers on the field and in many Regions only one full time couple in the entire Region. 2 John P. Juedes and Jay Valusek, Will the Real Author Please Stand Up? 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. 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. My eating habits were monitored and I would get made fun of by leadership for things i liked or how much I ate. Thank you thank you for replying and contributing to the thread. Gotta run! 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. Wierwille was not the only former minister to draw away young disciples David Berg was one of several others. I did not take your explanation about The Way members as rude. As well as the original post questions. He cultivated an image of being an original Bible researcher and his followers have seen him as such. Way followers say the first commandment is the most important: no false Idols before God. Tired from excessive bible study, didnt share and/or complain about any of her home life and doodled a lot which always made me ponder what she was thinking about?. The new policy may reduce The Ways recruitment. 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. Nonetheless, many ex-Wayers desire publications, traveling teachers, regional meetings, and a network of fellowships similar to those they had in The Way. With the more aggressive and cultic mindset of current Way leadership, followers can expect more years of turbulence and change. These people are capable of anything. And unjustified bullshit. The Way International (TWI) has been on cult watchers' radar screens for decades. They did not understand that Wierwille preached another Jesus (who was only a man) and another spirit (not the Holy Spirit personally indwelling them). This book condemned not only the trustees but all Way leadership, including the clergy, headquarters staff, regional leaders, and Corps around the world. If you have done your reading about cults, then you are probably familiar with Dr. Steve Hassan's BITE model. 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. I just wanted to paint a picture here of the laid back approach to Christian faith that makes the Way appealing to people. 0 replies; 812 views; Fredchopin . It's another thing entirely when the leader of a "Biblical Research and Fellowship Ministry" delivers a fire and brimstone sermon threatening to chain gays to the back bumper of an RV and go for a little drive. My story might be pretty different compared to those of you who grew up in the 80's/90's. I get the impression her experience was exactly as youve shared. TWI's splinter groups, formed at TWI's implosion in the late 1980's, are bigger than . They are both prevalent in Ohio. 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. After I had a fight in elementary school, TWI advised him to beat me into submission. When The Way International splintered in the years following the death of founder V. P. Wierwille, many splinter groups formed. Take The Diary of Anne Frank for example. So obviously if you're feeling depressed or suicidal you CANNOT tell ANYONE or you will likely be told you're possessed and have to have it cast out of you, at which point you have to pretend to be healed or else it means you're a bad believer and it's your fault you harbor spirits. The most prominent of these groups are John Lynns Christian Educational Services (CES) and Chris Geers The Way of Great Britain. Sometime after reading that I came across Religion Trauma Syndrome (RTS) and learned about repressive cognitive dissonance. 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. Oh my goodness. We believe and speculate it was attributed because of the known cult The Way International. It has now become apparent to many of them that Wierwille was instead an eclectic plagiarist. Heads up on Another Splinter off the Way International Tree. Growing up, I remember hearing stories about people who had drifted from the Way, and they were always spoken of as dangerous people. The CES meeting in May 1988 sponsored two and one-half days of biblical teachings and allowed sales of books by those attending, including Lynn, Lionel Recio, and myself. He would beat me for nearly any infraction. 4v$gi Like Wierwille, Bergs teachings became the ultimate authority, and when he committed adultery, he reinterpreted the Bible in order to defend his sinful practice. The group itself says it is a Christian ministry. 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. 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 Your last sentence though. dagger to the heart ..internal turmoil reconciling her faith with just being a person in the world. 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. Some retain great respect for Wierwille, while a few joke about him. My family transitioned to a splinter group in the mid 90s, and later when I was a teenager I moved into a "Way Home" which is like a group home for the cult. A name used by Share International. 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. The appeal was in its casual nature, balanced with an accessible way to become disciplined in Biblical scholarship. 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. That made it harder for me to get a centered view on my life. Yeah Um would you look at the time? New classes were also needed because the existing video version, filmed by Wierwille in 1967, was obviously dated in its style, production, and dress. Current Way affiliates are more than welcome to utilize . Press J to jump to the feed. I think others have covered the most common manipulation tactics the group used. John P. Juedes is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Highland, California, and has written extensively on The Way International. Splintering of the group since 1985 has greatly reduced its active membership, from a peak of about . Wierwilles writings on the topics of interpreting the Bible, soul sleep, the distinction of impersonal holy spirit from the Holy Spirit, ultradispensationalism, gospel harmony, and the mystery are all drawn from Bullinger. The most important change involves the new The Way of Abundance and Power classes by Way president, L. Craig Martindale. What practices are still common? My mom was a single mother and had registered for an upcoming class. The Way began to grow significantly only when Wierwille traveled to California and recruited followers from the Jesus movement.16 Like Eve and the Corinthians, these young believers (and many since the 1960s) were virgins with simple devotion to Christ, but were not grounded in Scripture and thus were easily led astray. There is a great diversity of emotions and viewpoints among those who have left The Way International. This led to Martindales promise that all new Way Corps grads would obtain paid positions, which hadnt been done for over 20 years. As a kid, I was always 1.) 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. Bullinger is that they had already heard Wierwille teach Bullingers material as his own. Nonetheless, hundreds of Way refugees are resisting the new groups' pleas to "join up.". We are near 70 years of age now, but the "Way" still affects us. 2 The Way Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 1994, 26. In that same breathe, her sister/siblings believed she was waking up and coming to her own conclusion about her situation and the life she had created with the expectation that she would removing herself as they did during that similar age period of their lives. 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. application/pdf Atheism. The past two years have been a very unsettling time for Wayers. 5 Christopher C. Geer, The Passing of a Patriarch (Attrincham, Cheshire, U.K.: European Christian Press, n.d.), 34. Geer is damaging to The Way because of his previous close ties to Wierwille. I had been a professional lead singer and performer since I was 16, and although I . Geer repeatedly promotes himself as the only man left in The Way Ministry who is fully informed, spiritually adept, and capable of leading the Ministry and stemming its speedy decline. It has shrunk in size and, as often is the case in cults when the original leader dies, splintered into various rival movements. Many people follow Wierwille in part because they were impressed by his claim that he took over 3,000 books on theology to the city dump3 and resolved to study the Bible alone without mens teachings.4 Although Wierwille sometimes said he learned from others, he often explicitly claimed originality. Oral Robertss The Red Thread in his Lifestyle of Gods Word. Until then I was personally fighting acceptance because I wasnt able to understand and someone else had not articulated a realistic and plausible answer. 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).