Lynn summarized this when he assured listeners that many stories would curl your hair.12. Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly, Phu Ly (Ha Nam) | 2023 Updated Prices, Deals How about a little more candor, Vince? True Story: My Family Was In A Cult - Yes and Yes 13 Address: Pacific West Fellowship, P.O. Sometimes these classes had add-ons like Advanced Class Specials that were held in a hotel conference center in another city and had associated registration and travel fees. OVERVIEW OF THE WAY'S SPLINTER GROUPS. Cliffes book Lessons in Successful Living addresses similar topics. The Way, International, page 2 This conflict has increased as ex-Wayers have persuaded many of their friends to leave Martindales group. 4-5 maybe? Lynn retains all the critical Way doctrines of concern to Christians, such as anti-Trinitarianism, ultradispensationalism, soul sleep, and the belief that speaking in tongues is infallible and essential proof that one is saved. 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. This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). Accusations have disturbed many people and strained or broken numerous friendships. While ex-Wayers want the groups to be much different than The Way, there are many similarities in teaching and goals. Disciples serve only four months, and The Way plans to send out two waves a year. 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. Its not interested in interrogating deep questions of being and it doesnt hold up well to fact based challenges. How come she was allowed non-Christian activities such as going to dances/concerts, have a boyfriend or a job prior to college and Way Disciples Training? endstream endobj 3 0 obj <> endobj 2 0 obj <> endobj 61 0 obj <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 21 0 obj <> endobj 25 0 obj <> endobj 29 0 obj <> endobj 30 0 obj <>stream A number of people died. Michael Rood is a self-proclaimed Messianic preacher who was ordained as a Christian minister in The Way International (TWI).. Rood has continued many of the themes and practices which made TWI theologically a cult of Christianity. My story might be pretty different compared to those of you who grew up in the 80's/90's. SPIRIT AND TRUTH FELLOWSHIP / CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES / JOHN LYNN. That was deep, honest and almost liberating because it brought some of us closer to understanding as well as closure. I was forced to eat food I'm allergic to in order to prove God healed me. . 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. How do they suffocate you as a person? Point out that Wierwilles adultery and lying (plagiarism) mark him a false teacher, not just a teacher with failings (Matt. He rightly exhorted them to reactivate critical thought rather than just change from being a Wierwille disciple to a Bullinger disciple. Este artculo es una exclusiva en lnea de Christian Research Journal. 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. 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. These were known as splinter groups and were always talked about as deceptive as if they were scheming their followers. John Lynn described in detail how Way leaders practiced and tried to justify adultery in the audiotape, Overview of Events-1.. I did not take your explanation about The Way members as rude. These people were rarely spoken of again, and if they were it was in hushed tones. 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. 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 . 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. The crowd of 11,000 applauded the changes, hoping that this would help remedy the severe decline and turbulence of the past 10 years. They also feel the need for teaching and fellowship with other believers. 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. Growing up, I remember hearing stories about people who had drifted from the Way, and they were always spoken of as dangerous people. I figured out I was gay in college, and having grown up in a household that called people faggots, fudge-packers, rump-riders and played count the queers when we went to amusement parks, I knew this wasnt going to fly. This is a big hurdle, because V.P. About The Way International has the most comprehensive collection of articles on The Way International found anywhere-- over 110. haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. Started in the early 1950s by the late Victor Paul Wierwille (1916-1985), the original organization was called the Way Incorporated. 8 Ibid., 67, 68. The main groups vying for control of rural settlements - including the National Liberal Army (ELN), two rival splinter or "dissident" groups composed of reconstituted FARC remnants, the Gulf Clan and smaller illicit bands - are now the focus of government efforts to pen deals aimed at halting the hostilities. 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. 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. Im terribly sorry to hear that feel free to message me privately if it helps. Juedes is a Lutheran paster who has written extensively on the Way. My eating habits were monitored and I would get made fun of by leadership for things i liked or how much I ate. Word I told them never to bring up The Way in my presence again. 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. As well as the original post questions. John P. Juedes is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Highland, California, and has written extensively on The Way International. uuid:d7ca4186-7029-344b-a237-3b86f585aa59 Like when life doesnt go like you expect, whether its a health problem or an issue at work. And to answer your question, yes, people do commit suicide after being in the cult. You were expected to advance through them, and you typically developed bonds with your cohort in the Foundational, Intermediate and Advanced classes. 6 Albert Cliffe, Let Go and Let God (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1951), 157. My impression is that BGSU Staff/Administration is unaware that she was a Way member. 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 ). 0 replies; 812 views; Fredchopin . 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. Omg this info about splinter groups is shocking. 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. As a minister in the Evangelical and Reformed Church (now part of the United Church of Christ), Wierwille developed . https://www.reddit.com/r/BGSU/comments/mlu753/the_way_international_twi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf. Sometime after reading that I came across Religion Trauma Syndrome (RTS) and learned about repressive cognitive dissonance. Another splinter group By Fredchopin, September 3, 2021. The Way International, Christian evangelical group founded in 1942 as Vesper Chimes, a radio ministry broadcast from Lima, Ohio, by Victor Paul Wierwille (1916-85). I was born in Sidney, Ohio in 2001 and lived at the Way Headquarters in New Knoxville. Geers book also claims that Geer alone is spiritually able to reform The Way Ministry. 2 The Way Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 1994, 26. Mostly shame, guilt, separation from anyone but the group, brainwashing. The stories which former (and current) Way insiders hear include many more specific charges about shocking events. Disgusting. Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly. They did not understand that Wierwille preached another Jesus (who was only a man) and another spirit (not the Holy Spirit personally indwelling them). The false apostles disguises are being pulled from their faces, and the virgins who were led astray are returning to the one true Jesus, Spirit, and gospel, and the church of Jesus Christ. I remember he looked at her with sympathy but didnt say anything. Then there are all the other classes about specific topics. 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). My parents met in the Way in the late 80s through the WOW program. People were eager to engage, but I dont think answers were ever very satisfying. Your experience brings so many new things into perspective and reflects the things we noted about her 10yrs when we were younger but never questioned because well how much can a teenager really articulate? 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). 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. I dont know if this is still true, but a weird criteria at the time was that you had to be debt free to participate. Not only is it about reading the Bible and having a personal relationship with God, but there are various levels of classes that you take to be better scholars. Myself and others are looking to cope and find closure or understanding from a recent loss/death due to suicide. I am sorry for your loss. Each fellowship was just one small twig connected to a branch, then a limb, then a trunk and so on. 3 Highlights of The Way Corps Graduation (June 1995), cassette tape. I was left on the bathroom floor for a week because "there's nothing we can do if you're not believing God to heal you." Wierwilles ideas on sense knowledge, confession, and healing (among others) he found in E.W. Like Wierwille, Berg drew young people from the Jesus movement to form his own group, the Children of God (now called the Family of Love), which uses sexual promiscuity to win new followers. The reason I created that thread was initial to gain some more insight. Meanwhile, Way leaders apparently have tried biblically to defend adultery. This article only sketches the most prominent and publishable charges. 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. My mom was a single mother and had registered for an upcoming class. At first I was told how loved and adored I was but quickly that facade died and it was clear I was not loved. Un apologista cristiano responde a la actuacin satnica de Sam Smith y Kim Petras en los Grammy, Connect with the Christian Research Institute. 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. Eventually, all you have is them and all you know is that they love you and that's why they're abusing you, because they've convinced you you're terrible and you deserve the abuse because it's helping you get closer in your relationship with God. Technically, the group has only three members the trustees who control all aspects of The Way International, Inc. Geer is damaging to The Way because of his previous close ties to Wierwille. 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. 5 Lamsa considered himself an apostle and believed in clairvoyance and universalism. That made it harder for me to get a centered view on my life. The Way International also claims trademark rights in the following: . As a kid, I was always 1.) Heads up on Another Splinter off the Way International Tree. Ultimate question, do you think The Way or anyone that endorses the way is worth pursuing as - culpable? 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. 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). I cannot stress enough how much the control and fear is internal. 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. 10 These are actual experiences which Wayers, ex-Wayers, and others have shared with me. 3 Victor Paul Wierwille, Power for Abundant Living (New Knoxville, OH: American Christian Press, 1971), 119-20.4 Victor Paul Wierwille, Receiving the Holy Spirit Today, 6th ed. Somehow I always imagined theyd be better than the original TWI. Bullinger is that they had already heard Wierwille teach Bullingers material as his own. This video covers some of the deaths and suicides of former members. For Feb 24, 2023 | Christian Articles, en Espanol. I was a Girl Scout as a kid and all through high school, and I devoted myself to community projects my whole life. When I arrived back home my entire bedroom and all my belongings had been searched for anything ungodly. I'm pretty sure that "The Word" has quite a bit to say about murder. To address your questions about suicides directly - yes there have been suicides in the past as well as other deaths. We are spiritual beings in a material world, my mom would sometimes say. Cules son las creencias bsicas del budismo? New classes were also needed because the existing video version, filmed by Wierwille in 1967, was obviously dated in its style, production, and dress. Kenyon. They believed that God heals and if you believe enough he can heal anything. The Way International fellowships are located throughout the United States, as well as over 30 countries. 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. And because we were Family Corp, children were added into the mix as well. The Way International - Biblical Research, Teaching, and Fellowship 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. 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. Youre a survivor. It begins to be the only thing you can do and the only people you can see. The Way president is accustomed to using crude speech and profanity, even in public settings. The Way is predominantly financed via its course fees and tithing. No one is going to beat you. 4v$gi 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. 12 Lynn, Overview of Events. 35 0 obj <> endobj 60 0 obj <>stream Okay. And Im not sure I can completely answer your question about stepping out of line and facing consequences. Maybe it will help to read what I experienced. Pretty sure "in good standing" meant you "tithed" over a certain amount each month. Hahahaha. 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). We are all at a complete loss and clueless in some ways. I dont know if any of this is helpful to you. 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. Can you imagine? 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. 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.
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