Christian can also help (ex-) Wayers through four basic steps of reorientation: 1) expose, 2) emotional reaction, 3) relearning, and 4) reconstruction. This is his first book, and the first book produced by this Biblical Research and Teaching ministry in over 10 years. If possible, use Way terminology and address Way thought patterns, or put them in touch with ex-Wayers who can. 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). Wait, it's "The Word of God" and then some other follower will utter "The Word of God is the Will of God" like some sheep bleating "four legs good". "rev" gerry wrenn raises wierwille from the dead! The foundational class is 36 hours I believe and I can't tell you how many times I took it. But apparently, he doesn't want people to know what he did in the 1970s and 1980s. John P. Juedes is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Highland, California, and has written extensively on The Way International. They are both prevalent in Ohio. 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 Advanced Class was first presented in the fall of 1995. This means that we live in the world, but that doesnt have to impact our relationship with God. Incidentally, only Geers group has published a book by Wierwille since his death. 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. Needless to say, growing up in a large communal living situation for 2 years of my childhood had unique benefits and DEFINITE drawbacks. 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. 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. 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. 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. Household Prayer would be around 6am or earlier sometimes, which you couldn't miss or again you would be reprimanded. He is a former follower of The Way International, the same group from which I escaped in 1987. Followers 0. 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. Fourth, help them through the reconstruction of their Christian lives by introducing them to sincere, Bible-believing Christians, small group fellowships, and churches. 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). What Are Long-Time Wayers Thinking About? 35 0 obj
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In 2000, the president of The Way, Craig Martindale, resigned following . It's one thing to simply not condone homosexuality because it's a sin against God. It is not known if Martindales strong stand against homosexuality is in some way related to widespread reports of rampant adultery and promiscuous sex in The Way, including the highest levels of leadership. There were people who were sexually assaulted while hitchhiking and injured due to accidents. Some retain great respect for Wierwille, while a few joke about him. 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. I told them never to bring up The Way in my presence again. Also former TWI here, my parents are still in it, and its causing incredible family pain, now between my older sister. 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. 2 The Way Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 1994, 26. 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. "Christian Educational Services"-- The nature, strengths and weaknesses of the largest of the Way split-off groups, led by John Lynn. The immediate cause was metastatic melanoma of the liver, which means that the cancer spread from the eye to the liver. Many have realized that they have also been falsely taught on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and have turned to evangelical beliefs instead. He added, We have flushed homosexuals and homo fantasizers and sympathizers out of our Way Corps and Staff.2 The Corps coordinator, a Rev. Martindale seems determined to remake The Way and close ranks, which may result in an increasingly cultic mindset. I remember he looked at her with sympathy but didnt say anything. 16 Wierwille noted that acquiring young people from the Jesus movement caused the Ways growth (Whiteside, 230-35). 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. 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. Many of us were had gotten the impression that she was back. One response still in print is Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth by H.A. I did not take your explanation about The Way members as rude. I am also former TWI. (New Knoxville, OH: American Christian Press, 1972), x. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. Im terribly sorry to hear that feel free to message me privately if it helps. As a minister in the Evangelical and Reformed Church (now part of the United Church of Christ), Wierwille developed . When I was talking to my mom about climate change she just waved me off with Gods not going to let it get that bad! Oh. To address your questions about suicides directly - yes there have been suicides in the past as well as other deaths. Also there are no mental health issues, only devil spirits influencing or possessing your mind. Press J to jump to the feed. She was sobbing and apologized profusely that she hid this from them. The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. Bill Green, who handles some public relations for The Ways New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, declined to be interviewed about the classes and related developments. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. At that time I had recently come out as bisexual to my mom, which went as well as you'd expect. 2013-08-01T19:56:36Z Another splinter group By Fredchopin, September 3, 2021. Para ms informacin o para Join now to access this Journal subscriber only content. First, the assumptions and structure of the new groups are like The Way International. 1 John P. Juedes and Douglas V. Morton, The Integrity and Accuracy of The Ways Word (St. Louis: Personal Freedom Outreach, 1980), 43-48. 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. I think it may be important for you to identify whether she was in TWI proper or a splinter group. 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. Offshoots - Splinter Groups : How Many Are There? The Way is marketed as a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry. Beep. 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, hundreds of Way refugees are resisting the new groups pleas to join up. Second, the doctrine of the splinter groups is nearly a carbon copy of Way doctrine. I think others have covered the most common manipulation tactics the group used. 8 Ibid., 67, 68. Para ms informacin o para Join now to access this Journal subscriber only content. Spirit and Truth Fellowship International, Out of the Way: The Offshoots Latest Topics. Our dear and sweet beloved friend. That was deep, honest and almost liberating because it brought some of us closer to understanding as well as closure. 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. 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. This conflict has increased as ex-Wayers have persuaded many of their friends to leave Martindales group. They run off anyone who is not currently active in a Way-controlled twig and who doesnt have a Way escort. It has shrunk in size and, as often is the case in cults when the original leader dies, splintered into various rival movements. This thread is like a walk down memory lane - Sunday Service tapes, the Rock of Ages, Athletes of the Spirit, all the lingo others have quoted, and Martindale's violent tirades against homosexuality in the mid 90s bring me right back. The past two years have been a very unsettling time for Wayers. The logic has more dangerous consequences when people literally think God will cure their Cancer, Lupus, diabetes. Since then, The Way has sought to purge (that is, totally shun) all who do not tithe or who question Martindale on any issue. 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. 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. 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. But small IRA splinter groups have continued to launch sporadic attacks on security forces. By word, character, and example, show them that there is more-than-abundant life outside The Way International.Dr. He also hopes to produce more printed materials, provide a network of fellowships, and serve as a traveling teacher. uuid:d7ca4186-7029-344b-a237-3b86f585aa59 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. The group itself says it is a Christian ministry. 2013-08-09T12:10:58-05:00 With the more aggressive and cultic mindset of current Way leadership, followers can expect more years of turbulence and change. uuid:a0e7d6d5-45d0-8c4c-9602-8d6d3c43e9ff Most ex-Wayers are confused, not knowing where to turn, whom to trust, or what to believe. The reason it was called that was because we imagined the whole ministry all over the world as one big tree. Are other families struggling to watch their loved ones involved? Can any recent survivors provide their reflections if its not to much: What are the manipulation tactics used? The termination of the WOW Ambassador program led to the start of the Disciples of The Way Outreach program. There are people who spend 7 nights a week at fellowship or taking classes or teaching. 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. Im so sorry for your loss. The Way stressed that these gatherings were for committed, faithful followers, unlike the Rock, which was open to anyone. Mac OS X 10.7.5 Quartz PDFContext For example, Geer describes Wierwille as one who was very hard to live with, often lashing out at those closest to him and hurting them.5 It includes a reproduction of handwritten notes in which the three trustees admit that the accusations against them are true. See John P. Juedes, Looking at Lamsa, Personal Freedom Outreach Newsletter (Jan.-Mar. 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. Because of the work of splinter groups, in recent years The Way has been marked by heightened paranoia, attention to security, and bitterness. 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. The level to which people beat themselves up for falling short, though, is intense. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Un apologista cristiano responde a la actuacin satnica de Sam Smith y Kim Petras en los Grammy, Connect with the Christian Research Institute. 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. Thank you thank you for replying and contributing to the thread. 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. 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. No one is going to beat you. . The appeal was in its casual nature, balanced with an accessible way to become disciplined in Biblical scholarship. 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. The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. My splinter group was one of them. At the time, Schoenheit was on The Ways research team. 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. These people are capable of anything. 4 Lionel Recio and Steve Lefevers, The Way of Life or the Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. Current Way affiliates are more than welcome to utilize . When he first presented it verbally to gatherings of Way leadership (at which, John Lynn reports, he carried a large-caliber pistol for self-protection), it caused tremendous turbulence, and its content was kept out of general circulation. The largest group seems to be Christian Educational Services, Inc. (CES), which incorporated this fall in Indianapolis. Additionally, ex-members have on file letters and transcripts in which Way president L. Craig Martindale defends sex outside marriage in many situations. 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 ). And because we were Family Corp, children were added into the mix as well. "Michael John Rood is an ordained nondenominational Christian minister and Messianic rabbi," according to a brochure Rood produced to promote his seminars which . Way-Showers. This video covers some of the deaths and suicides of former members. Second, give ex-Wayers space to vent their emotions and hurts, and pray for them and their healing. I'm way-adjacent. Almost every one of Wierwilles teachings can be traced to other sources (see sidebar for descriptions of some of Wierwilles teachings). 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. European Christian Press (which Geer controls) then published it a few years after Wierwilles death. While Believers with a history of Way International affiliation, esp. I dont know if any of this is helpful to you. In short, the Way (though it started much earlier) at its highest participation rates was essentially home fellowships with hippies talking about Jesus. that you have to purchase to participate. I don't talk to my family that's "in" much anymore though I do see them every so often. Technically, the group has only three members the trustees who control all aspects of The Way International, Inc. Youve saved me an extensive amount of grieving. Like Wierwille, Bergs teachings became the ultimate authority, and when he committed adultery, he reinterpreted the Bible in order to defend his sinful practice. Stiles, a leader in the early charismatic movement. 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. Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services) 6.3k posts. Then there are all the other classes about specific topics. The Way International (TWI) has been on cult watchers' radar screens for decades. Like when life doesnt go like you expect, whether its a health problem or an issue at work. I can remember being a teenager and being intellectually curious and asking a lot of questions. This is where I experienced most of the abuse. Prominent ex-Way leaders took with them networks of ex-followers of TWI. An alarming statement from her the week prior to committing suicide and a recent appearance/presence on social media a few months prior is also what has really shaken everyone. We are talking about a lot of people who fall for get-rich-quick schemes and fad diets. 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.
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