One ex-member said the Corps residence training was sometimes like a bordello, with promiscuity, adultery, orgies, wife swapping, and even gang-rape.4. 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. 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. She didnt take the class. And unjustified bullshit. My splinter group was one of them. Para ms informacin o para Join now to access this Journal subscriber only content. 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. We both are still active in the remnants of one of the many splinter groups and have become the inheritors of a fellowship in limbo. 2013-08-09T12:10:58-05:00 An Open Letter to You Who Are Disillusioned with The Way Ministry, J. Juedes PFO Journal. The termination of the WOW Ambassador program led to the start of the Disciples of The Way Outreach program. 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. Because of the work of splinter groups, in recent years The Way has been marked by heightened paranoia, attention to security, and bitterness. One response still in print is Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth by H.A. They assume that honest, objective biblical research and a fellowship of true believers cannot be found among Christians outside Wierwilles heritage of teaching, so they limit research and fellowship to their own narrow circles. Hahahaha. 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. The Way Worship Centre. At first I was told how loved and adored I was but quickly that facade died and it was clear I was not loved. A few, but not tons. Good call. Some retain great respect for Wierwille, while a few joke about him. 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. They have rejected some Christian teachings (such as the Trinity17) primarily because they have accepted Way caricatures and have not fully understood them. 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. 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. I think another thing to think about with the Way is that it is in many ways a pyramid scheme. application/pdf 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. 2 John P. Juedes and Jay Valusek, Will the Real Author Please Stand Up? His complaint, however, implies that he realized there were significant errors in PFAL. 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 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. 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. 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). See also pp.38 and 52. 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. 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. Prominent ex-Way leaders took with them networks of ex-followers of TWI. Still involved. An iconic five-star international hotel Our hotel is located in the heart of the city and provides 180 rooms and suites. Geers book also claims that Geer alone is spiritually able to reform The Way Ministry. Experiences, questions, observations about offshoots who trace their roots to The Way International. Your reply was a lot to unpack, digest, snd accept. There are less and less full time ministers on the field and in many Regions only one full time couple in the entire Region. 35 0 obj <> endobj 60 0 obj <>stream Former Member: The Way International Biblical Ministry Was Rife With That is to say, other people are nice and fine, but its only the true Believers that are truly living Godly lives. Este artculo es una exclusiva en lnea de Christian Research Journal. 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. Protecting Colombia's Most Vulnerable on the Road to "Total Peace He also hopes to produce more printed materials, provide a network of fellowships, and serve as a traveling teacher. The immediate cause was metastatic melanoma of the liver, which means that the cancer spread from the eye to the liver. Sweeping Changes in the Way International - Christian Research Institute 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. Disciples serve only four months, and The Way plans to send out two waves a year. Second, the doctrine of the splinter groups is nearly a carbon copy of Way . .~?mq3\n7C. Splintering of the group since 1985 has greatly reduced its active membership, from a peak of about 35,000 to less than 10,000.1. At the time Martindale saw the suspension of WOW as the response to an attack by evil devil spirits, but by the summer of 1995 he recast the suspension as a Way victory. Are other families struggling to watch their loved ones involved? 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. 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. Every splinter group or offshoot of the Worldwide Church of God claims I tried explaining to the family member that "reverend" Martindale just advocated for mass murder. 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. About The Way International The most important change involves the new The Way of Abundance and Power classes by Way president, L. Craig Martindale. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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). In fact, Martindale considers homosexuality to be devil-spirit possession.. 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 Splinter Cults are WORSE..not better - Out of the Way: The Leonards book and course syllabus called The Gifts of the Spirit are still in print. SPIRIT AND TRUTH FELLOWSHIP / CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES / JOHN LYNN. I think others have covered the most common manipulation tactics the group used. 10 These are actual experiences which Wayers, ex-Wayers, and others have shared with me. 3 Highlights of The Way Corps Graduation (June 1995), cassette tape. "Michael John Rood is an ordained nondenominational Christian minister and Messianic rabbi," according to a brochure Rood produced to promote his seminars which . And because we were Family Corp, children were added into the mix as well. We can love rock music. 11 Morton and Juedes, Integrity and Accuracy, reveals many of Wierwilles errors in scholarship and Bible interpretation. Followers 0. 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. I saw your post a few days ago when it was first posted and having been thinking about it ever since. Reportedly, a few people have even considered suicide or entered mental institutions. Many former Way members are flocking to break-off organizations some of which are led by well-known and respected ex-leaders. (St. Louis: Personal Freedom Outreach, 1987), 50 pp. My story might be pretty different compared to those of you who grew up in the 80's/90's. Explain teachings carefully, and give them time alone to read the Bible in a newer version (such as the New International Version or New American Standard) which has clearer wording and lacks Wierwilles marginal notes and deletions marked in their old King James Versions. TL;DR: the Way seems chill and relaxed on the outside but its pretty intense on a personal level. Can you imagine? RECOVERY FROM THE WAY INTERNATIONAL - empirenet.com Sale of assets, reduction of overhead, smaller Corps classes, large numbers of defections (which left more staff openings), staff purges, and the sale of the The Way College of Emporia, Kansas, campus helped make this possible. 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. They all have been visible in speaking, writing, and leadership positions such as Region and Limb Coordinators and headquarters staff (Region Coordinator is the highest Way position other than Trustee). 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. . He cultivated an image of being an original Bible researcher and his followers have seen him as such. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. What is The Way International? | GotQuestions.org A number of people died. See the CultFAQ page Types of Cults for information about cults of Christianity or see CARM's The Way International page for more about the group. - Nowadays, Finnegan runs another Way splinter group called Christian Biblical Counsel. 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. 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 . Im terribly sorry to hear that feel free to message me privately if it helps. Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services) 6.3k posts. The foundational class is 36 hours I believe and I can't tell you how many times I took it. 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. 1 John P. Juedes and Douglas V. Morton, The Integrity and Accuracy of The Ways Word (St. Louis: Personal Freedom Outreach, 1980), 43-48. John Lynn described in detail how Way leaders practiced and tried to justify adultery in the audiotape, Overview of Events-1.. He is a former follower of The Way International, the same group from which I escaped in 1987. Long story long. Can any recent survivors provide their reflections if its not to much: What are the manipulation tactics used? 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. "rev" gerry wrenn raises wierwille from the dead! After all, it is their friends who have left and made accusations of severe error against The Way leadership. But apparently, he doesn't want people to know what he did in the 1970s and 1980s. She probably could have just gone and not told anyone because its not like anyone checked your bank account, but her guilt consumed her and a couple days before, she called our fellowship coordinator over and confessed to him that she had debt. Have others committed suicide? They are both prevalent in Ohio. Since then, The Way has sought to purge (that is, totally shun) all who do not tithe or who question Martindale on any issue. There is a great diversity of emotions and viewpoints among those who have left The Way International. First, the assumptions and structure of the new groups are like The Way International. Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is the university she attended as a non-traditional student and place of employment. New Zealand Cults, Sects, Religions, Christian Organisations, and other haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Juedes is a Lutheran paster who has written extensively on the Way. At that time I had recently come out as bisexual to my mom, which went as well as you'd expect. The most ridiculous instance was when he beat me for clinking my fork too loudly in my plate at the dinner table. 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. The Way International is a shell of what it was during the lifetime of Victor Paul Wierwille. 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. John P. Juedes is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Highland, California, and has written extensively on The Way International. The appeal was in its casual nature, balanced with an accessible way to become disciplined in Biblical scholarship. Christian can also help (ex-) Wayers through four basic steps of reorientation: 1) expose, 2) emotional reaction, 3) relearning, and 4) reconstruction. Bullinger is that they had already heard Wierwille teach Bullingers material as his own. 7 Whiteside, 205-9. Participants were sensitive (having been wounded by The Way), were open to friendships and ideas, and were reevaluating their beliefs. Eventually someone outside the house stepped in because they knew what was wrong and got me to the hospital. The Way is predominantly financed via its course fees and tithing. It is common for ex-Wayers to take several years to fully separate from The Way and reorient their lives. Subforums. 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. The largest group seems to be Christian Educational Services, Inc. (CES), which incorporated this fall in Indianapolis. 8 Whiteside, 197-200. 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. He taught that Jesus Christ was not resurrected bodily and will not return visibly, and that the Holy Spirit is an influence, not a personal being. This conflict has increased as ex-Wayers have persuaded many of their friends to leave Martindales group. Household Prayer would be around 6am or earlier sometimes, which you couldn't miss or again you would be reprimanded. It is apparent that almost all Wierwille taught he acquired from other men, not from original study of Gods word. The level to which people beat themselves up for falling short, though, is intense. 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. Again, thank you for taking the time to provide concise details. Rev. Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly. Because they had women on the Board of Directors and allowed women to lead fellowships, they could espouse their views as progressive. The Way International fits the criteria outlined to a T. One thing I didn't see mentioned much in the thread is how incredibly patriarchal and misogynistic the Ministry was, and I am sure that has not changed. 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. It begins to be the only thing you can do and the only people you can see. 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? Another splinter group By Fredchopin, September 3, 2021. 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. 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 . Michael Rood - Apologetics Index Myself and others are looking to cope and find closure or understanding from a recent loss/death due to suicide. Not even post TWI as a survivor. I was berated, told I did this to myself because I didn't have my head in the word enough and allowed devil spirits in. Its not interested in interrogating deep questions of being and it doesnt hold up well to fact based challenges. Sometime after reading that I came across Religion Trauma Syndrome (RTS) and learned about repressive cognitive dissonance. Ive started this process in some form and would like to invite you to take a peek at another thread. The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. European Christian Press (which Geer controls) then published it a few years after Wierwilles death. This is hard to accept for those who knew V.P. This practice was common back in the 70s-80s as well as taking people's medications away so they could "prove God." 9 John Lynn, Overview of Events, two-cassette series, 1987. 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. What practices are different from the 80s? First, it is helpful to present facts of doctrinal, organizational, and personal error in Way leaders. 6 Albert Cliffe, Let Go and Let God (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1951), 157. For Feb 24, 2023 | Christian Articles, en Espanol. While accusing the Christian church at large of being divisive, the new groups (like The Way International) practice division much more stringently than most Christian denominations or churches. TWI now is less than a tenth of what it was in the early 1980s, but TWI was far less than a tenth of what its . And to answer your question, yes, people do commit suicide after being in the cult. That exes from his life are all crazy.. Could you elaborate on the manipulation? 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. 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. There is also an intermediate and advanced classes. 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). They also feel the need for teaching and fellowship with other believers. 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. Cliffes book Lessons in Successful Living addresses similar topics. I grew up in the Way Ministry in the 80s and left in my last year of high school in 96. I was forced to eat food I'm allergic to in order to prove God healed me. I am glad I am not the only one who dealt with growing up in TWI. If you weren't in good standing, you didn't get tapes of the way singers or of "reverend" Martindale. 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. Update on The Way International and Its Offspring - MarketFaith Ministries I don't talk to my family that's "in" much anymore though I do see them every so often. We could go into particulars like the Holocaust denying, the speaking in tongues, how women are supposed to be subservient to men, the homophobia but I just wanted to provide you with some context. I'd recently read a secular book and they also blamed that. You were expected to advance through them, and you typically developed bonds with your cohort in the Foundational, Intermediate and Advanced classes. https://www.reddit.com/r/BGSU/comments/mlu753/the_way_international_twi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf. 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. 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. Oral Robertss The Red Thread in his Lifestyle of Gods Word. What practices are still common? See John P. Juedes, Looking at Lamsa, Personal Freedom Outreach Newsletter (Jan.-Mar. 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 Way Tree Is Splintering - Christian Research Institute The Way is marketed as a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry. 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. 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. 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. About The Way International. About The Way International I did not take your explanation about The Way members as rude. Splintering and Subjugating.as night follows day, Remembering a woman of courage, who stood up to a monster. Wierwille exercised very little discernment in learning from others, readily accepting teachings from itinerant mystics, Christian Scientists, and spiritists. See also Elena Whiteside, The Way Living with Love, 2d ed. 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.. The group's misogyny was deeply ingrained while also being subtle at times. I dealt with it as a kid by pretending not to notice the issues in my family and in the cult. 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. This is certainly helpful and appreciated. 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. A place for discussion about cults and other new age religious movements. 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. We were required to eat every dinner together or we would be reprimanded in front of the whole house (about 10 people). 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. 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. She was loved by many because she was easy going, fit in with many and different groups - a legitimate interest in others, etc. Available from: Capitol Saints/John A. Lynn, 5918 Chesterbrook Road, McLean, VA 22101. He would beat me for nearly any infraction. 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). Disgusting. Sometimes area twigs would get together for a branch meeting, and less frequently a limb meeting. Mac OS X 10.7.5 Quartz PDFContext My eating habits were monitored and I would get made fun of by leadership for things i liked or how much I ate. 5 Lamsa considered himself an apostle and believed in clairvoyance and universalism. Martindales classes include material from PFAL as well as new topics. This group was formerly known as American Fellowship Services. I was born in Sidney, Ohio in 2001 and lived at the Way Headquarters in New Knoxville. For instance, trustee Donald Wierwille (Victor Pauls son) confessed, I apologize for not having followed my man of God.6.