the way international splinter groups

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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 practice was common back in the 70s-80s as well as taking people's medications away so they could "prove God." About The Way International has the most comprehensive collection of articles on The Way International found anywhere-- over 110. Wierwille exercised very little discernment in learning from others, readily accepting teachings from itinerant mystics, Christian Scientists, and spiritists. And if the world thought you were a good homosexual it was because you had an agenda to legitimize your perversion (the way Jewish people use the Holocaust to legitimize their ungodly faith). 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. Wierwille as father, friend, and teacher, but both the Scriptures and the empirical evidence demand it. He told Corps grads that the Ambassadors had accomplished their mission of getting Gods Word over the world. He called it WOW redefined, but he never explained how reaching only a fraction of a percent of residents of the United States (much less of the world) constitutes completing the mission. 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. This present controversy is serving to alert pure believers that Wierwille and his successors are false apostles after all. 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 group's misogyny was deeply ingrained while also being subtle at times. With the more aggressive and cultic mindset of current Way leadership, followers can expect more years of turbulence and change. 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. Some retain great respect for Wierwille, while a few joke about him. 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. Disciples serve only four months, and The Way plans to send out two waves a year. I dont know if any of this is helpful to you. Needless to say, growing up in a large communal living situation for 2 years of my childhood had unique benefits and DEFINITE drawbacks. He never credited his sources, in effect lying to his readers by leading them to believe that he originated his teachings under Gods direct tutelage. We ourselves have two articles in our website concerning that movement. At first I was told how loved and adored I was but quickly that facade died and it was clear I was not loved. Making you afraid of other people and afraid of having attention withheld are other classic manipulation tactics. Have others committed suicide? haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. 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. As well as the original post questions. 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. The Way began to grow significantly only when Wierwille traveled to California and recruited followers from the Jesus movement.16 Like Eve and the Corinthians, these young believers (and many since the 1960s) were virgins with simple devotion to Christ, but were not grounded in Scripture and thus were easily led astray. Oral Robertss The Red Thread in his Lifestyle of Gods Word. A place for discussion about cults and other new age religious movements. 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. Your last sentence though. dagger to the heart ..internal turmoil reconciling her faith with just being a person in the world. The Way International also claims trademark rights in the following: . Spirit and Truth Fellowship International. 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. Many remember current leaders as friends, but at the same time despise them for wrongs they believe they have done or allowed. He rightly exhorted them to reactivate critical thought rather than just change from being a Wierwille disciple to a Bullinger disciple. Meanwhile, he promotes his book, The Rise and Expansion of the Church, through weekend seminars. One ex-member said the Corps residence training was sometimes like a bordello, with promiscuity, adultery, orgies, wife swapping, and even gang-rape.4. I think some of the main differences between the 80's and now is the infrastructure. I thought of myself as a good person, but Id grown up to believe that you couldnt be both good and a homosexual. The Way is considered a cult by many former members, by most mainstream churches, and by certain secular groups. terrified of seeing/interacting with a marked and avoided person because I thought their adversarial ways would rub off on me. First, the assumptions and structure of the new groups are like The Way International. 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. 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. Prominent splinter groups include Christian Educational Service (CES) led by John Lynn, Pacific West Fellowship, Great Lakes Fellowship, and The Way of Great Britain headed by Chris Geer. Martindale hopes that the Disciples will have more strict and disciplined lives than WOWs did, which itself is an implicit indictment against the lifestyles of many WOWs. We are talking about a lot of people who fall for get-rich-quick schemes and fad diets. 1 John P. Juedes and Douglas V. Morton, The Integrity and Accuracy of The Ways Word (St. Louis: Personal Freedom Outreach, 1980), 43-48. application/pdf The Way stressed that these gatherings were for committed, faithful followers, unlike the Rock, which was open to anyone. To me this is the core of the Way: the planting of the idea that its us against them. Over time that can be very isolating considering that there arent that many people in the ministry. Could John Lynn be the undisputed king of Offshoot ministries? I'm pretty sure that "The Word" has quite a bit to say about murder. We can love rock music. At the time, Schoenheit was on The Ways research team. 17 Rick Lessing, An Analysis and Critique of the Theology of The Way International: An Evangelical Christian Response to Victor Paul Wierwilles Concept of the Trinity (unpublished paper, 1986), makes a case that Wierwille misunderstood Trinitarianism as (alternately) Sabellianism and polytheism, and that when Trinitarianism is properly explained, it is clearly biblically valid and coherent. 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". When The Way International splintered in the years following the death of founder V. P. Wierwille, many splinter groups formed. Can you imagine? And we have to consider the times: inspired by peace movements and anti-war efforts. True Story: My Family Was In A Cult - Yes and Yes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. This is a big hurdle, because V.P. The false apostles disguises are being pulled from their faces, and the virgins who were led astray are returning to the one true Jesus, Spirit, and gospel, and the church of Jesus Christ. Splinter group of the Worldwide Church of God (WCoG). 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 Cults podcast on Stitcher has a 2-part special on The Way and River Road Fellowship, which was one of the splinter groups. .~?mq3\n7C. Maybe it will help to read what I experienced. This group was formerly known as American Fellowship Services. This conflict has increased as ex-Wayers have persuaded many of their friends to leave Martindales group. Thank you thank you for replying and contributing to the thread. 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. It begins to be the only thing you can do and the only people you can see. When I arrived back home my entire bedroom and all my belongings had been searched for anything ungodly. 8 Whiteside, 197-200. In addition, anyone who is well-acquainted with Wierwilles writings and reads Kenyons and Bullingers books is struck by the close parallels, even though one cannot always trace exact word-for-word plagiarism. Eventually someone outside the house stepped in because they knew what was wrong and got me to the hospital. UPDATE: Victor Barnard convicted of rape. - Charlene L. Edge There are certain rules Mandalorians must adhere to . I remember he looked at her with sympathy but didnt say anything. I cannot stress enough how much the control and fear is internal. The Way not only teaches that Jesus Christ is not God, but also has instruction on tithing, the law of believing (whatever one believes will happen to one, whether bad or good), and the accuracy of the Bible (as translated by Way leaders). Still involved. 2 John P. Juedes and Jay Valusek, Will the Real Author Please Stand Up? The most prominent of these groups are John Lynns Christian Educational Services (CES) and Chris Geers The Way of Great Britain. My parents are still standing, as they say. My parents met in the Way in the late 80s through the WOW program. The Way International - Free Christian Ministry 9 In an April 30, 1996 press release The Way announced it would not hold a Rock of Ages festival in 1996. 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). What practices are different from the 80s? Stiles, a leader in the early charismatic movement. Way followers say the first commandment is the most important: no false Idols before God. John Lynn described in detail how Way leaders practiced and tried to justify adultery in the audiotape, Overview of Events-1.. Geer is damaging to The Way because of his previous close ties to Wierwille. J. Juedes, PFO Journal, 1990. 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. Press J to jump to the feed. The creed and The Way are very much one and the same; The Way is just the religion they follow. John Schonheits paper on adultery was a thinly veiled accusation that Wierwille and other leaders falsely taught that adultery is a biblically acceptable practice. Beep. The Cults podcast on Stitcher has a 2-part special on The Way and River Road Fellowship, which was one of the splinter groups. 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. Prominent ex-Way leaders took with them networks of ex-followers of TWI. John P. Juedes is the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Highland, California, and has written extensively on The Way International. The Way To Happiness International. Experiences, questions, observations about offshoots who trace their roots to The Way International. 11 Morton and Juedes, Integrity and Accuracy, reveals many of Wierwilles errors in scholarship and Bible interpretation. I dealt with it as a kid by pretending not to notice the issues in my family and in the cult. 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. uuid:d7ca4186-7029-344b-a237-3b86f585aa59 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. Think of the creed is their unwritten Bible. After I had a fight in elementary school, TWI advised him to beat me into submission. They also feel the need for teaching and fellowship with other believers. Answer. Lynn summarized this when he assured listeners that many stories would curl your hair.12. 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. 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. Are other families struggling to watch their loved ones involved? Im so sorry for your loss. 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. Splinter Cults are WORSE..not better. 16 Wierwille noted that acquiring young people from the Jesus movement caused the Ways growth (Whiteside, 230-35). Her recent suicide however was as a member in leadership. The most important change involves the new The Way of Abundance and Power classes by Way president, L. Craig Martindale. Like Wierwille, Bergs teachings became the ultimate authority, and when he committed adultery, he reinterpreted the Bible in order to defend his sinful practice. This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). Not something I wanted to read, but something I needed to read. 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. But they are open to friendships and the Bible, and are reevaluating many teachings and practices. "Christian Educational Services"-- The nature, strengths and weaknesses of the largest of the Way split-off groups, led by John Lynn. 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. The manipulation tactics come from many angles. Ultimate question, do you think The Way or anyone that endorses the way is worth pursuing as - culpable? They are both prevalent in Ohio. It's one thing to simply not condone homosexuality because it's a sin against God. After all, it is their friends who have left and made accusations of severe error against The Way leadership. The other classes were filmed from February through April of 1995 and are currently being used. Long story long. I want to be clear that if you think something nefarious has happened here, go with your gut. The crowd of 11,000 applauded the changes, hoping that this would help remedy the severe decline and turbulence of the past 10 years. No Way Out: Why Talk About V. P. Wierwille's Death? So I dont think youre going to find any one person in her fellowship circle to point a finger at, but I can imagine your friend, as a young, thinking, caring person was having a lot of internal turmoil reconciling her faith with just being a person in the world. uuid:a0e7d6d5-45d0-8c4c-9602-8d6d3c43e9ff 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. My mom was a single mother and had registered for an upcoming class. 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. At 29yrs old. 60, Bien Hoa Street, Minh Khai Ward, Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province,, Minh Khai, Phu Ly (Ha Nam), Vietnam, 400000 - See map. As a kid, I was always 1.) The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. Your reply was a lot to unpack, digest, snd accept. How do they suffocate you as a person? The stories which former (and current) Way insiders hear include many more specific charges about shocking events. My splinter group was one of them. We were required to eat every dinner together or we would be reprimanded in front of the whole house (about 10 people). 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. This book condemned not only the trustees but all Way leadership, including the clergy, headquarters staff, regional leaders, and Corps around the world. 3 Victor Paul Wierwille, Power for Abundant Living (New Knoxville, OH: American Christian Press, 1971), 119-20.4 Victor Paul Wierwille, Receiving the Holy Spirit Today, 6th ed. 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. Hahahaha. Pretty sure "in good standing" meant you "tithed" over a certain amount each month. See John P. Juedes, Looking at Lamsa, Personal Freedom Outreach Newsletter (Jan.-Mar. This article only sketches the most prominent and publishable charges. Unlike the WOWs, the Disciples program is open only to Advanced Class graduates, and therefore probably consists mainly of members of the Way Corps. It has now become apparent to many of them that Wierwille was instead an eclectic plagiarist. . Many of us were had gotten the impression that she was back. 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. Good call. Based at . This practice is intended to weed out any opponents. Another splinter group By Fredchopin, September 3, 2021. 1 See The Way Tree Is Splintering, Christian Research Journal, Fall 1988. The Ways decisions to terminate the WOWs and PFAL classes are partly due to the damaging influence of Way splinter groups. 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. 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. 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? Way-Showers. Because they had women on the Board of Directors and allowed women to lead fellowships, they could espouse their views as progressive. Can any recent survivors provide their reflections if its not to much: What are the manipulation tactics used? 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. If possible, use Way terminology and address Way thought patterns, or put them in touch with ex-Wayers who can. The appeal was in its casual nature, balanced with an accessible way to become disciplined in Biblical scholarship. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Out of the Way: The Offshoots - GreaseSpot Cafe Youve saved me an extensive amount of grieving. There are people who spend 7 nights a week at fellowship or taking classes or teaching. Many ex-Wayers continue to read Bullinger, as they did while in The Way. 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. 7:15). 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. 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. Please keep in touch. Word I grew up in the Way Ministry in the 80s and left in my last year of high school in 96. 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. 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. I'm a robot. Here's a copy of. x*"fhR*_l*I&mLRQnG.O@o(UU7Wn?\6t]~mak-tX}zn[z,.o,o.*?Y~,vYj8P]w1$'ZfL1sr&E7pc'R7_\veb_ (New Knoxville, OH: American Christian Press, 1972), x. Im terribly sorry to hear that feel free to message me privately if it helps. Show love and patience throughout this trying time of change. A number of people died. Not only is it about reading the Bible and having a personal relationship with God, but there are various levels of classes that you take to be better scholars. 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. The Advanced Class was first presented in the fall of 1995. This is where I experienced most of the abuse. Followers are now tasting the matured fruit of The Way Tree fruit of promiscuity, adultery, plagiarism (a form of lying), authoritarianism, false teaching, unfaithfulness, and lack of self-control. 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. Protecting Colombia's Most Vulnerable on the Road to "Total Peace Homey reported that it liquidated $29 million of debt by mid 1995. Like the new classes and the Disciples, this is a sign that The Way is striving to further restrict access to its activities, purge anyone who questions current Way leadership, increase control, and consolidate. Cules son las creencias bsicas del budismo? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. One response still in print is Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth by H.A. Lynn retains all the critical Way doctrines of concern to Christians, such as anti-Trinitarianism, ultradispensationalism, soul sleep, and the belief that speaking in tongues is infallible and essential proof that one is saved. 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. 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. The Way is marketed as a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry. That is to say, other people are nice and fine, but its only the true Believers that are truly living Godly lives. Again, thank you for taking the time to provide concise details. TWI's splinter groups, formed at TWI's implosion in the late 1980's, are bigger than . (Ex-)Wayers would also benefit from Robert A. Moreys Death and the Afterlife (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1984), Stuart Olyotts The Three Are One (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1979), and Cal Beisners God in Three Persons (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1985). 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 . 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.

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