the way international splinter groups

I can remember being a teenager and being intellectually curious and asking a lot of questions. Maybe it will help to read what I experienced. And to answer your question, yes, people do commit suicide after being in the cult. Oral Robertss The Red Thread in his Lifestyle of Gods Word. My father also advised the members of our fellowship to beat their children. We ourselves have two articles in our website concerning that movement. The stories which former (and current) Way insiders hear include many more specific charges about shocking events. All because of "homosexual devil spirit possession" will not be welcome at their festival. Please keep in touch. To be honest, it sounds nice on paper in many ways. Because they had women on the Board of Directors and allowed women to lead fellowships, they could espouse their views as progressive. But apparently, he doesn't want people to know what he did in the 1970s and 1980s. People were eager to engage, but I dont think answers were ever very satisfying. They include the Foundational Class (Receive with Meekness), the Intermediate Class (Retain with Conviction), and the Advanced Class (Release with Boldness). The kind of stuff people go to therapy for years to get over. 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." Each fellowship was just one small twig connected to a branch, then a limb, then a trunk and so on. Accusations have disturbed many people and strained or broken numerous friendships. 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. Long story long. 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. Homey, reported that 163 sodomiteshad been purged, marked and avoided by January l995.3. The Way International also claims trademark rights in the following: . 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. That is to say, other people are nice and fine, but its only the true Believers that are truly living Godly lives. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. I am glad I am not the only one who dealt with growing up in TWI. When I arrived back home my entire bedroom and all my belongings had been searched for anything ungodly. Many people did not believe in medical care. My eating habits were monitored and I would get made fun of by leadership for things i liked or how much I ate. 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. I was lucky enough to leave in high school when I was about 16. 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. Martindale seems determined to remake The Way and close ranks, which may result in an increasingly cultic mindset. 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. haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. Second, give ex-Wayers space to vent their emotions and hurts, and pray for them and their healing. I dealt with it as a kid by pretending not to notice the issues in my family and in the cult. Jun 10, 2009. The creed and The Way are very much one and the same; The Way is just the religion they follow. Many remember current leaders as friends, but at the same time despise them for wrongs they believe they have done or allowed. 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. At 29yrs old. 35 0 obj <> endobj 60 0 obj <>stream I tried explaining to the family member that "reverend" Martindale just advocated for mass murder. Hahahaha. How about a little more candor, Vince? Oh! I thought of myself as a good person, but Id grown up to believe that you couldnt be both good and a homosexual. Most ex-Wayers are confused, not knowing where to turn, whom to trust, or what to believe. Anyways, one summer afternoon on a car ride to grandma's with a Way following family member: the tape deck had one of these Sunday service tapes start playing when they started the car. 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. 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. 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). Oh my goodness. 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. These people were rarely spoken of again, and if they were it was in hushed tones. This book condemned not only the trustees but all Way leadership, including the clergy, headquarters staff, regional leaders, and Corps around the world. 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. What practices are still common? 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. Lynn summarized this when he assured listeners that many stories would curl your hair.12. The other classes were filmed from February through April of 1995 and are currently being used. 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. I grew up in the Way Ministry in the 80s and left in my last year of high school in 96. This conflict has increased as ex-Wayers have persuaded many of their friends to leave Martindales group. 4 Lionel Recio and Steve Lefevers, The Way of Life or the Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. I did not take your explanation about The Way members as rude. The appeal was in its casual nature, balanced with an accessible way to become disciplined in Biblical scholarship. The group itself says it is a Christian ministry. The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. One response still in print is Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth by H.A. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Homosexuals Purged, Wow Ambassadors Terminated, Martindale also hopes the new classes will hinder homosexuals from joining The Way, because he condemns homosexuality. The most ridiculous instance was when he beat me for clinking my fork too loudly in my plate at the dinner table. The reason I created that thread was initial to gain some more insight. Este artculo es una exclusiva en lnea de Christian Research Journal. 8 Whiteside, 197-200. 2 The Way Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 1994, 26. 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. The Way of Life or The Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. My home life was very turbulent because of TWI. 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. 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. I went to a couple fellowship meetings shortly after they took the "foundational class" and wouldn't shut up about it. The level to which people beat themselves up for falling short, though, is intense. 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 Although Wierwille has written against spiritism, he welcomed this spiritist with open arms. The Way published three books by Lynn, more than any author other than Wierwille. 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. 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). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. The most prominent of these groups are John Lynns Christian Educational Services (CES) and Chris Geers The Way of Great Britain. The logic has more dangerous consequences when people literally think God will cure their Cancer, Lupus, diabetes. We are spiritual beings in a material world, my mom would sometimes say. Many ex-Wayers continue to read Bullinger, as they did while in The Way. Sometime after reading that I came across Religion Trauma Syndrome (RTS) and learned about repressive cognitive dissonance. 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. Show love and patience throughout this trying time of change. Ultimately we would also like to provide and seek justice on her behalf. The apostle Paul warned of deceivers when he told the Ephesians, I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:29-30). 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. Ironside, which addresses aspects of ultradispensationalism.15 It is often perplexing to Wayers, though, that teachers Wierwille respected such as Bullinger, Kenyon, and Stiles staunchly held primary orthodox beliefs which Wierwille rejected, including Trinitarianism. Boy howdy that was an ear-full. That exes from his life are all crazy.. A place for discussion about cults and other new age religious movements. Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly. Splintering of the group since 1985 has greatly reduced its active membership, from a peak of about . Third, help them to relearn. Edited to add: Would anyone be interested in an ex-Way subreddit? Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services) 6.3k posts. The Cults podcast on Stitcher has a 2-part special on The Way and River Road Fellowship, which was one of the splinter groups. Lynnes new teachings include the assertions that interpretation of tongues must always be praise to God (never a message to believers), and that believing does not work for saint and sinner alike, but is receiving Gods promises. 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. terrified of seeing/interacting with a marked and avoided person because I thought their adversarial ways would rub off on me. The crowd of 11,000 applauded the changes, hoping that this would help remedy the severe decline and turbulence of the past 10 years. 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). See also pp.38 and 52. . Household Prayer would be around 6am or earlier sometimes, which you couldn't miss or again you would be reprimanded. 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. Bill Green, who handles some public relations for The Ways New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, declined to be interviewed about the classes and related developments. 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. Thank you thank you for replying and contributing to the thread. My parents met in the Way in the late 80s through the WOW program. As a result, many Wayers view Geer as being the true spiritual heir to Wierwille. 5 Christopher C. Geer, The Passing of a Patriarch (Attrincham, Cheshire, U.K.: European Christian Press, n.d.), 34. 2.) 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. Although the Way brags that 5,027 people have attended these seminars, that figure actually indicates an average of only about 100 per state. My mom thought God helped her get a good parking space once (Im not kidding). 14 Letter by Steve Sann, Pacific West Fellowship, 2 March 1988. John Lynn described in detail how Way leaders practiced and tried to justify adultery in the audiotape, Overview of Events-1.. 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. 1 See The Way Tree Is Splintering, Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988. 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. Some people started their own non-Way affiliated Bible fellowships. 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. 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. 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. What practices are different from the 80s? The crowd of 11,000 applauded the changes, hoping that this would help remedy the severe decline and turbulence of the past 10 years. 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. 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. Many have realized that they have also been falsely taught on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and have turned to evangelical beliefs instead. Available from: Capitol Saints/John A. Lynn, 5918 Chesterbrook Road, McLean, VA 22101. This includes Wierwilles plagiarism, approval of adultery, authoritarianism, errors of scholarship and Bible interpretation, and so forth. Conveniently situated in the Minh Khai part of Phu Ly (Ha Nam), this property puts you close . I remember he looked at her with sympathy but didnt say anything. 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). Okay. And Im not sure I can completely answer your question about stepping out of line and facing consequences. 4v$gi The Way stressed that these gatherings were for committed, faithful followers, unlike the Rock, which was open to anyone. 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. 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. - Nowadays, Finnegan runs another Way splinter group called Christian Biblical Counsel. Youve saved me an extensive amount of grieving. 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. 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. Para ms informacin o para Join now to access this Journal subscriber only content. Instead of it being an isolated incident that sucks from time to time in life, its framed as The Adversary (the devil) is making your life difficult, and as athletes of the spirit we can outmaneuver him. 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 ). A Profile of The Way, International The Rock had been held annually for 25 years, and had been used to teach, recruit participants for Way ministries, and send out Way Ambassadors. They did not understand that Wierwille preached another Jesus (who was only a man) and another spirit (not the Holy Spirit personally indwelling them). 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. This is his first book, and the first book produced by this Biblical Research and Teaching ministry in over 10 years. When Wierwille wrote, he commonly used these mens writings and copied them, idea by idea and often word by word.

What Time Are The Fireworks At Epcot 2022, Western Union Capture On Bank Statement, Why Does My Ring Camera Keep Going Offline, Articles T