1 See The Way Tree Is Splintering, Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988. The largest group seems to be Christian Educational Services, Inc. (CES), which incorporated this fall in Indianapolis. Spirit and Truth Fellowship International. Could you elaborate on the manipulation? As a result, many Wayers view Geer as being the true spiritual heir to Wierwille. I went to a couple fellowship meetings shortly after they took the "foundational class" and wouldn't shut up about it. Again - really helpful and it has expanded my perspective as well as empathy much more. Ultimate question, do you think The Way or anyone that endorses the way is worth pursuing as - culpable? Any recent The Way International (TWI) survivors? : r/cults - reddit The last fatal attack on a police officer in Northern Ireland was the April 2011 killing of Constable . One ex-member said the Corps residence training was sometimes like a bordello, with promiscuity, adultery, orgies, wife swapping, and even gang-rape.4. uuid:d7ca4186-7029-344b-a237-3b86f585aa59 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. If possible, use Way terminology and address Way thought patterns, or put them in touch with ex-Wayers who can. graduates of the PFAL Series (Power For Abundant Living) may find links to fellowship, study, friends, and loved ones, believers and seekers of all congregations or none at all may find wonderful links at this page. Im so sorry for your loss. The Way Worship Centre. 0 replies; 812 views; Fredchopin . One response still in print is Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth by H.A. Then there are all the other classes about specific topics. We are talking about a lot of people who fall for get-rich-quick schemes and fad diets. 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. 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. 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. Martindales classes include material from PFAL as well as new topics. Un apologista cristiano responde a la actuacin satnica de Sam Smith y Kim Petras en los Grammy, Connect with the Christian Research Institute. 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. 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. Homosexuals Purged, Wow Ambassadors Terminated, Martindale also hopes the new classes will hinder homosexuals from joining The Way, because he condemns homosexuality. 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. %PDF-1.7 % To address your questions about suicides directly - yes there have been suicides in the past as well as other deaths. Geers book also claims that Geer alone is spiritually able to reform The Way Ministry. 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. 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. These people were rarely spoken of again, and if they were it was in hushed tones. 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. His complaint, however, implies that he realized there were significant errors in PFAL. I think another thing to think about with the Way is that it is in many ways a pyramid scheme. Current Way affiliates are more than welcome to utilize . 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. Since the Martindale faction controls these, it views visits by ex-Wayers as enemy infiltration. 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. Hotel Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly, Vietnam | Melia.com Beep. However, BGSU is a Way Campus where members are sent for their education as well as recruiting practice; all things already mentioned. See also pp.38 and 52. Carol's Story: About The Way Part One The Life and Times of Bruce 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?. "Michael John Rood is an ordained nondenominational Christian minister and Messianic rabbi," according to a brochure Rood produced to promote his seminars which . In spite of its name, however, The Way . The group itself says it is a Christian ministry. 9 John Lynn, Overview of Events, two-cassette series, 1987. 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. 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. Splinter Cults are WORSE..not better - Out of the Way: The 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. At one point I got sick with an infectious disease that typically kills you within 48 hours. 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). I was forced to eat food I'm allergic to in order to prove God healed me. He added, We have flushed homosexuals and homo fantasizers and sympathizers out of our Way Corps and Staff.2 The Corps coordinator, a Rev. 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. Martindale seems determined to remake The Way and close ranks, which may result in an increasingly cultic mindset. This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). 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). (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. Long story long. The Passing of a Patriarch greatly damaged The Way because it summarizes the accusations Wierwille made against the three trustees who alone are technically members of The Way and who control all assets and policy. Former Member: The Way International Biblical Ministry Was Rife With Are other families struggling to watch their loved ones involved? 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. Para ms informacin o para Join now to access this Journal subscriber only content. Subforums. But thats the thing: the adversary throws you curve balls, and its our job as athletes of the spirit to make smart moves. I told them never to bring up The Way in my presence again. (The PFAL classes had been open to anyone who paid the $50 fee.) (New Knoxville, OH: American Christian Press, 1972), x. 2 John P. Juedes and Jay Valusek, Will the Real Author Please Stand Up? 4v$gi 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. 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? 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. 60, Bien Hoa Street, Minh Khai Ward, Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province,, Minh Khai, Phu Ly (Ha Nam), Vietnam, 400000 - See map. This is hard to accept for those who knew V.P. I just wanted to paint a picture here of the laid back approach to Christian faith that makes the Way appealing to people. Mac OS X 10.7.5 Quartz PDFContext New classes were also needed because the existing video version, filmed by Wierwille in 1967, was obviously dated in its style, production, and dress. They also feel the need for teaching and fellowship with other believers. Pretty sure "in good standing" meant you "tithed" over a certain amount each month. 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 Way International, The Way, La Voie, El Camino, PFAL, The Way of Abundance and Power, The Way Magazine, The Way Corps are trademarks registered by The Way International in the United States and/or other countries. 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. .~?mq3\n7C. 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 Corp program was insane and I could write a huge thread just about that experience. In fact, Martindale considers homosexuality to be devil-spirit possession.. 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 most ridiculous instance was when he beat me for clinking my fork too loudly in my plate at the dinner table. In the meantime, I want to share about her thread with you. 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 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. Oh, so when I say curveballs I mean it in the figurative sense. All because of "homosexual devil spirit possession" will not be welcome at their festival. 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. Edited to add: Would anyone be interested in an ex-Way subreddit? I was told by a leader that having an understanding of the Word as it is supposed to be understood helps you form opinions. Strangely, that means that TWI is responsible for my birth. For Feb 24, 2023 | Christian Articles, en Espanol. "rev" gerry wrenn raises wierwille from the dead! 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). Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly, Phu Ly (Ha Nam) | 2023 Updated Prices, Deals The Way used to mail cassette tapes of the Sunday service to those "in good standing". What practices are still common? Box 18503, Anaheim, CA 92817. As well as the original post questions. Lots of people in the world are critical of the ways churches spend money on a building that sits empty six days a week: home fellowships remove that and focus on whats important to them. 9 In an April 30, 1996 press release The Way announced it would not hold a Rock of Ages festival in 1996. It helps me after hearing some of your stories. Sometimes area twigs would get together for a branch meeting, and less frequently a limb meeting. 11 Morton and Juedes, Integrity and Accuracy, reveals many of Wierwilles errors in scholarship and Bible interpretation. 8 Ibid., 67, 68. Please keep in touch. UPDATE: Victor Barnard convicted of rape. - Charlene L. Edge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses.