the way international splinter groups the way international splinter groups

My mom was a single mother and had registered for an upcoming class. 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). A name used by Share International. 60, Bien Hoa Street, Minh Khai Ward, Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province,, Minh Khai, Phu Ly (Ha Nam), Vietnam, 400000 - See map. Unless you have endless funds to fight in Court for an extended period of time, I fear that battle would only add to the pain you have already experienced. It begins to be the only thing you can do and the only people you can see. The logic has more dangerous consequences when people literally think God will cure their Cancer, Lupus, diabetes. 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. As well as the original post questions. Each link takes you to a menu of articles on that topic, most by Dr. John P. Juedes, who has researched TWI for 30 years. In the meantime, I want to share about her thread with you. Good call. Boop. 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. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. That is to say, other people are nice and fine, but its only the true Believers that are truly living Godly lives. Wierwille as father, friend, and teacher, but both the Scriptures and the empirical evidence demand it. Box 18503, Anaheim, CA 92817. 2.) This group was formerly known as American Fellowship Services. 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). Take The Diary of Anne Frank for example. "rev" gerry wrenn raises wierwille from the dead! I remember he looked at her with sympathy but didnt say anything. See also Elena Whiteside, The Way Living with Love, 2d ed. A Profile of The Way, International Mostly shame, guilt, separation from anyone but the group, brainwashing. 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. When I was in the hospital, leadership came to see me only twice and forbid anyone else from seeing me. I had been a professional lead singer and performer since I was 16, and although I . This conflict has increased as ex-Wayers have persuaded many of their friends to leave Martindales group. SPIRIT AND TRUTH FELLOWSHIP / CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES / JOHN LYNN. 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 crowd of 11,000 applauded the changes, hoping that this would help remedy the severe decline and turbulence of the past 10 years. 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). Ultimately we would also like to provide and seek justice on her behalf. nase ahora para acceder a este contenido exclusivo para suscriptores de Journal, http://www.equip.org/christian-research-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. 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. Incidentally, only Geers group has published a book by Wierwille since his death. Youre not going to have to perform penance. Sann distributes a free tape, A Ministry in Crisis: An Editorial on The Way International, in which he asserts that The Way became hierarchical in the 1970s, causing a deterioration of the Ministry in many areas. She was loved by many, the brightest light and simply someone you could not avoid noticing. At that time I had recently come out as bisexual to my mom, which went as well as you'd expect. I'm way-adjacent. 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. %PDF-1.7 % See also pp.38 and 52. One Scripture passage (2 Cor. Accusations have disturbed many people and strained or broken numerous friendships. Since many WOWs are in the second year of the Way Corps (leadership training) program, it is likely that many homosexuals were also in the Corps. J. Juedes, PFO Journal, 1990. 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?) Second, give ex-Wayers space to vent their emotions and hurts, and pray for them and their healing. Many of us were had gotten the impression that she was back. Not something I wanted to read, but something I needed to read. 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). 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. They have been active and effective at exposing problems in The Way through personal influence and meetings of Wayers around the nation. My home life was very turbulent because of TWI. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. The termination of the WOW Ambassador program led to the start of the Disciples of The Way Outreach program. The appeal was in its casual nature, balanced with an accessible way to become disciplined in Biblical scholarship. Maybe it will help to read what I experienced. 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. This is a big hurdle, because V.P. What practices are different from the 80s? Based at . 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. Way followers say the first commandment is the most important: no false Idols before God. The Cults podcast on Stitcher has a 2-part special on The Way and River Road Fellowship, which was one of the splinter groups. All because of "homosexual devil spirit possession" will not be welcome at their festival. I'm still dealing with a lot of the trauma. (New Knoxville, OH: American Christian Press, 1972), 209, 174, for Wierwilles claim that his book is the most original coverage of the subject, and p. 178 for his claim that God audibly promised to teach him directly and personally. 3 Highlights of The Way Corps Graduation (June 1995), cassette tape. Like Wierwille, Bergs teachings became the ultimate authority, and when he committed adultery, he reinterpreted the Bible in order to defend his sinful practice. Kenyon. I think it may be important for you to identify whether she was in TWI proper or a splinter group. Our dear and sweet beloved friend. The Way of Life or The Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. I was born in Sidney, Ohio in 2001 and lived at the Way Headquarters in New Knoxville. His complaint, however, implies that he realized there were significant errors in PFAL. 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. Gotta run! This practice was common back in the 70s-80s as well as taking people's medications away so they could "prove God." . 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. We were required to eat every dinner together or we would be reprimanded in front of the whole house (about 10 people). She was born into it and her home was a Twig if my verbiage is correct. I'm a robot. 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. Experiences, questions, observations about offshoots who trace their roots to The Way International, Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services), Accused sex predator Victor Barnard a victim's story. The Way is marketed as a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry. There are certain rules Mandalorians must adhere to . Ive started this process in some form and would like to invite you to take a peek at another thread. The Corp is their leadership training program where you live on campus and attend their unaccredited "college." Also former TWI here, my parents are still in it, and its causing incredible family pain, now between my older sister. After Dr. Weirwill died and leadership was given to Craig Martindale, TWI essentially split into those who followed Craig and stayed in TWI's proper organization, and those who moved into splinter groups. https://www.reddit.com/r/BGSU/comments/mlu753/the_way_international_twi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf. I was told by a leader that having an understanding of the Word as it is supposed to be understood helps you form opinions. I once broke a bone and had to secretly crawl to my car to go to the hospital. A number of people died. The Way founders instruction on how to receive the Holy Spirit by inhaling and the belief that speaking in tongues cannot be counterfeited were derived from J.E. 16 Wierwille noted that acquiring young people from the Jesus movement caused the Ways growth (Whiteside, 230-35). 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. But if you fall out of line, you risk being shunned by the people most important to you. Almost every one of Wierwilles teachings can be traced to other sources (see sidebar for descriptions of some of Wierwilles teachings). Current Way affiliates are more than welcome to utilize . haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. 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. 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.. Some retain great respect for Wierwille, while a few joke about him. 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. They use Wierwilles teachings, jargon, and writings, and have drawn off many of The Ways followers by accusing International of authoritarianism, misuse of power, adultery, misuse of funds, spiritual corruption, departure from the Word of God, and denominationalism. In the weeks leading up to it, she got sick and missed a few shifts at work and ran up a few hundred dollars of credit card debt to cover bills. John P. Juedes is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Highland, California, and has written extensively on The Way International. 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. 1987). The manipulation tactics come from many angles. Reportedly, a few people have even considered suicide or entered mental institutions. I just wanted to paint a picture here of the laid back approach to Christian faith that makes the Way appealing to people. Most ex-Wayers are confused, not knowing where to turn, whom to trust, or what to believe. The Way published three books by Lynn, more than any author other than Wierwille. In spite of its name, however, The Way . The immediate cause was metastatic melanoma of the liver, which means that the cancer spread from the eye to the liver. Jun 10, 2009. Your reply was a lot to unpack, digest, snd accept. We were taught that debt was inherently evil and that it made you a slave to the lender. 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. His appendices offered reasons Way leaders gave to justify adultery, along with his own rebuttals. Para ms informacin o para Join now to access this Journal subscriber only content. For Feb 24, 2023 | Christian Articles, en Espanol. But thats the thing: the adversary throws you curve balls, and its our job as athletes of the spirit to make smart moves. 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. 9 In an April 30, 1996 press release The Way announced it would not hold a Rock of Ages festival in 1996. 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. There were people who were sexually assaulted while hitchhiking and injured due to accidents. The Way International was founded in 1942 by Victor Paul Wierwille as a radio program, then was renamed the Chimes Hour Youth Caravan in 1947. When Wierwille wrote, he commonly used these mens writings and copied them, idea by idea and often word by word. Many people did not believe in medical care. It's one thing to simply not condone homosexuality because it's a sin against God. Nonetheless, many ex-Wayers desire publications, traveling teachers, regional meetings, and a network of fellowships similar to those they had in The Way. Here's a copy of. John Schonheits paper on adultery was a thinly veiled accusation that Wierwille and other leaders falsely taught that adultery is a biblically acceptable practice. Heart-to-heart sharing with those who have . I tried explaining to the family member that "reverend" Martindale just advocated for mass murder. Okay. And Im not sure I can completely answer your question about stepping out of line and facing consequences. Because of the work of splinter groups, in recent years The Way has been marked by heightened paranoia, attention to security, and bitterness. The most important change involves the new The Way of Abundance and Power classes by Way president, L. Craig Martindale. I can remember being a teenager and being intellectually curious and asking a lot of questions. 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. He also was a spiritist and claimed, Many of the subjects I have given in my Bible class have been dictated to me by the loved ones long since passed on.6 It would appear that Wierwilles gnostic leanings, healing emphasis, camp/advance (retreat) formats, divine laws, stress on physical exercise, desire to be the best, and even the term The Way itself were derived from New Thought speakers Glenn Clark, Starr Daily, and Rufus Moseley. The Way stressed that these gatherings were for committed, faithful followers, unlike the Rock, which was open to anyone. Although Wierwille has written against spiritism, he welcomed this spiritist with open arms. Each fellowship was just one small twig connected to a branch, then a limb, then a trunk and so on. And I am glad you are with us. Long story long. At 29yrs old. I saw your post a few days ago when it was first posted and having been thinking about it ever since. At the time, Schoenheit was on The Ways research team. x*"fhR*_l*I&mLRQnG.O@o(UU7Wn?\6t]~mak-tX}zn[z,.o,o.*?Y~,vYj8P]w1$'ZfL1sr&E7pc'R7_\veb_ Several thousand followers have severed ties with The Way International as a result of the allegations and evidence they have seen, including the entire state (Limb) of South Carolina in April 1988 and about 80 percent of the Washington, D.C., Limb. This is to say, you can be you with all your quirks and eccentricities because we are all unique people and can come to have unique relationships with God through his Word. They justify ANY abuse by saying it was reproof and you needed it. That exes from his life are all crazy.. 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. In fact, Martindale considers homosexuality to be devil-spirit possession.. We believe and speculate it was attributed because of the known cult The Way International. I want to be clear that if you think something nefarious has happened here, go with your gut. It has shrunk in size and, as often is the case in cults when the original leader dies, splintered into various rival movements. For example we had fellowship in our home 3 days per week and if I were to miss one I might be interrogated about where I was, or told that I'm unequally yoked with "worldly" people, which is how they describe anyone outside the cult. 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. My parents met in the Way in the late 80s through the WOW program. The kind of stuff people go to therapy for years to get over. As a result, many Wayers view Geer as being the true spiritual heir to Wierwille. Homey reported that it liquidated $29 million of debt by mid 1995. 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). 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. But in reality, women in the Way were valued primarily for sex and as caretakers. CES includes many past Way celebrities and clergy such as John and Pat Lynn, Ralph Dubofsky, Robert Belt, Sue Pierce, Tom Reahard, and John Schonheit. application/pdf Scientology front group. Martindale openly and vulgarly expressed his contempt for the splinter groups during his Rock of Ages 95 sermons. Wierwille was always more effective at turning people away from the church of Jesus Christ than he was at turning people toward the Bible or The Way International. Available from: Capitol Saints/John A. Lynn, 5918 Chesterbrook Road, McLean, VA 22101. This is a part of growing up for anyone, but I think its especially hard for people who grow empathy and conscience and recognize the way they grew up was manipulative and mean-spirited. Thank you thank you for replying and contributing to the thread. Experiences, questions, observations about offshoots who trace their roots to The Way International. Im terribly sorry to hear that feel free to message me privately if it helps. What do they make members do? Oral Robertss The Red Thread in his Lifestyle of Gods Word. Many remember current leaders as friends, but at the same time despise them for wrongs they believe they have done or allowed. Bill Green, who handles some public relations for The Ways New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, declined to be interviewed about the classes and related developments. Household Prayer would be around 6am or earlier sometimes, which you couldn't miss or again you would be reprimanded. 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. 2013-08-01T19:56:36Z 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.