the way international splinter groups

Followers 0. She was born into it and her home was a Twig if my verbiage is correct. 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. In my research since leaving in 2013 I have found a number of people who reported that their loved ones died in the way dating back to the 70s. I'm way-adjacent. The 27-storey building hotel is the tallest building in Phu Ly and has been carefully designed for contemporary travellers looking for sleek comforts, simplified luxury and bleisure. Geer believes Wierwille actually caused his body to die: There were two points when I felt that he might change his mind and decide to go on living.I am fully convinced that he believed to stop the functions of his body.8 He seems to believe that Wierwille chose to commit suicide, using his spiritual weapon of believing, rather than to continue fighting the spiritual decline of the trustees. New classes were also needed because the existing video version, filmed by Wierwille in 1967, was obviously dated in its style, production, and dress. In opposition, John Schoenheit produced a paper that confronted this error and biblically explained that adultery is a sin. Spirit and Truth Fellowship International, Out of the Way: The Offshoots Latest Topics. If possible, use Way terminology and address Way thought patterns, or put them in touch with ex-Wayers who can. We are all at a complete loss and clueless in some ways. 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. I think it may be important for you to identify whether she was in TWI proper or a splinter group. 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. Somehow I always imagined theyd be better than the original TWI. Accusations have disturbed many people and strained or broken numerous friendships. The most ridiculous instance was when he beat me for clinking my fork too loudly in my plate at the dinner table. 4-5 maybe? Nonetheless, hundreds of Way refugees are resisting the new groups' pleas to "join up.". I mention these because these are classic isolating manipulation tactics. A number of people died. Splintering of the group since 1985 has greatly reduced its active membership, from a peak of about . We can love rock music. %PDF-1.7 % Sann, on the other hand, considers people like Lynn to have gone too far in rejecting valid teachings. haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. They did not understand that Wierwille preached another Jesus (who was only a man) and another spirit (not the Holy Spirit personally indwelling them). Since the Martindale faction controls these, it views visits by ex-Wayers as enemy infiltration. My story might be pretty different compared to those of you who grew up in the 80's/90's. 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. Based at . 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. With the more aggressive and cultic mindset of current Way leadership, followers can expect more years of turbulence and change. terrified of seeing/interacting with a marked and avoided person because I thought their adversarial ways would rub off on me. Making you afraid of other people and afraid of having attention withheld are other classic manipulation tactics. The reason it was called that was because we imagined the whole ministry all over the world as one big tree. Take The Diary of Anne Frank for example. 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). I grew up in the Way Ministry in the 80s and left in my last year of high school in 96. Incidentally, only Geers group has published a book by Wierwille since his death. Additionally, ex-members have on file letters and transcripts in which Way president L. Craig Martindale defends sex outside marriage in many situations. Needless to say, growing up in a large communal living situation for 2 years of my childhood had unique benefits and DEFINITE drawbacks. That wing of my family joined nearly 30 years ago. 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. 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. I told them never to bring up The Way in my presence again. Splinter group of the Worldwide Church of God (WCoG). 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. 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 Way International (TWI) has been on cult watchers' radar screens for decades. Protecting Colombia's Most Vulnerable on the Road to "Total Peace I would lovingly suggest that your time might be more effectively spent honoring your friend's memory by educating others about the harm that cults cause and working with a counselor to process the grief of losing your friend twice - first to a cult and then to suicide. A name used by Share International. Available from: Capitol Saints/John A. Lynn, 5918 Chesterbrook Road, McLean, VA 22101. I did look your friend up on facebook and we have friends in common from the cult (I should probably just start a new FB to rid myself of them), which would lead me to believe it's a splinter group since the two don't typically mix. It helps me after hearing some of your stories. 4v$gi Meanwhile, he promotes his book, The Rise and Expansion of the Church, through weekend seminars. The crowd of 11,000 applauded the changes, hoping that this would help remedy the severe decline and turbulence of the past 10 years. As a kid, I was always 1.) Strangely, that means that TWI is responsible for my birth. But in reality, women in the Way were valued primarily for sex and as caretakers. And you mentioned twig earlier. Current Way affiliates are more than welcome to utilize . Geers book also claims that Geer alone is spiritually able to reform The Way Ministry. 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. 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). 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. 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. 14 Letter by Steve Sann, Pacific West Fellowship, 2 March 1988. About The Way International has the most comprehensive collection of articles on The Way International found anywhere-- over 110. Also there are no mental health issues, only devil spirits influencing or possessing your mind. uuid:a0e7d6d5-45d0-8c4c-9602-8d6d3c43e9ff 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. Mostly shame, guilt, separation from anyone but the group, brainwashing. The manipulation tactics come from many angles. But they are open to friendships and the Bible, and are reevaluating many teachings and practices. 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. The Way stressed that these gatherings were for committed, faithful followers, unlike the Rock, which was open to anyone. To be honest, it sounds nice on paper in many ways. John Schonheits paper on adultery was a thinly veiled accusation that Wierwille and other leaders falsely taught that adultery is a biblically acceptable practice. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. Im going to say something rude here: my experience of adults in the Way is that they arent exactly the sharpest tools in the shed. Este artculo es una exclusiva en lnea de Christian Research Journal. That was deep, honest and almost liberating because it brought some of us closer to understanding as well as closure. If you weren't in good standing, you didn't get tapes of the way singers or of "reverend" Martindale. Atheism. Its current headquarters are in New Knoxville, Ohio; estimates of its membership range from 3,000 to 20,000. 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). 7:15). As a result, Martindale told everyone to eliminate this and other spirit-driven malignancies from Way circles. 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. The Way of Life or The Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. Cules son las creencias bsicas del budismo? 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. CES includes Wayers who were respected or well known, such as Lynn who had three books published by The Way, more than any author except Wierwille. Because of the work of splinter groups, in recent years The Way has been marked by heightened paranoia, attention to security, and bitterness. And I am glad you are with us. 5 Lamsa considered himself an apostle and believed in clairvoyance and universalism. 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. Unlike the WOWs, the Disciples program is open only to Advanced Class graduates, and therefore probably consists mainly of members of the Way Corps. Stiles, a leader in the early charismatic movement. 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. . My father also advised the members of our fellowship to beat their children. Mac OS X 10.7.5 Quartz PDFContext I was forced to eat food I'm allergic to in order to prove God healed me. Third, help them to relearn. All of these classes are weeks long, have an enrollment fee, and have their own expensive materials (books, binders, etc.) While Believers with a history of Way International affiliation, esp. In 2000, the president of The Way, Craig Martindale, resigned following . What is The Way, anyway? The Mandalorian's religion and - gamesradar 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. 5 Christopher C. Geer, The Passing of a Patriarch (Attrincham, Cheshire, U.K.: European Christian Press, n.d.), 34. The reason I created that thread was initial to gain some more insight. Second, the doctrine of the splinter groups is nearly a carbon copy of Way . We were taught that debt was inherently evil and that it made you a slave to the lender. Many have realized that they have also been falsely taught on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and have turned to evangelical beliefs instead. The group's misogyny was deeply ingrained while also being subtle at times. I once broke a bone and had to secretly crawl to my car to go to the hospital. John Lynn claims that Wierwille and at least four other trustees had sex with literally hundreds of women, many of whom Lynn and other ex-leaders have counseled personally.9 They also claim the Trustees fired long-time researcher John Schonheit for writing a brief paper summarizing the Bibles teaching against adultery. But if you fall out of line, you risk being shunned by the people most important to you. About The Way International The kind of stuff people go to therapy for years to get over. Many people follow Wierwille in part because they were impressed by his claim that he took over 3,000 books on theology to the city dump3 and resolved to study the Bible alone without mens teachings.4 Although Wierwille sometimes said he learned from others, he often explicitly claimed originality. that you have to purchase to participate. Then there are all the other classes about specific topics. 60, Bien Hoa Street, Minh Khai Ward, Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province,, Minh Khai, Phu Ly (Ha Nam), Vietnam, 400000 - See map. No one is going to beat you. Boop. The group says that it will hold classes and smaller conferences instead, including a weeklong gathering of 2,000 at The Ways auditorium in New Knoxville, July 20-27. Reportedly, a few people have even considered suicide or entered mental institutions. Could you elaborate on the manipulation? 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? 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. If you have done your reading about cults, then you are probably familiar with Dr. Steve Hassan's BITE model. New Zealand Cults, Sects, Religions, Christian Organisations, and other Maybe it will help to read what I experienced. Participants were sensitive (having been wounded by The Way), were open to friendships and ideas, and were reevaluating their beliefs. I think some of the main differences between the 80's and now is the infrastructure. He would beat me for nearly any infraction. There are certain rules Mandalorians must adhere to . 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. 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. 15 H. A. Ironside, Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1938) addresses the relation of the gospel to the church, the Bride and body of Christ, baptism, and related topics. Soooo, I guess to answer your question about how she was allowed to do non-Christian activities, I think the thing to remember is that the Way picked up steam in the late 70s when a big wave of evangelicalism was sweeping through the US. I cannot stress enough how much the control and fear is internal. How about a little more candor, Vince? 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. 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. Your reply was a lot to unpack, digest, snd accept. He also hopes to produce more printed materials, provide a network of fellowships, and serve as a traveling teacher. 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. Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services) 6.3k posts. Ultimate question, do you think The Way or anyone that endorses the way is worth pursuing as - culpable? 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. . 13 Address: Pacific West Fellowship, P.O. Un apologista cristiano responde a la actuacin satnica de Sam Smith y Kim Petras en los Grammy, Connect with the Christian Research Institute. There hasn't been a good gathering place for survivors since the Greasespot Cafe and I think there is a need for one. As a result, many Wayers view Geer as being the true spiritual heir to Wierwille. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. Growing up, I remember hearing stories about people who had drifted from the Way, and they were always spoken of as dangerous people. About The Way International 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. https://www.reddit.com/r/BGSU/comments/mlu753/the_way_international_twi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf. "Christian Educational Services"-- The nature, strengths and weaknesses of the largest of the Way split-off groups, led by John Lynn. Hahahaha. Geer repeatedly promotes himself as the only man left in The Way Ministry who is fully informed, spiritually adept, and capable of leading the Ministry and stemming its speedy decline. An Open Letter to You Who Are Disillusioned with The Way Ministry, J. Juedes PFO Journal. This video covers some of the deaths and suicides of former members. Oral Robertss The Red Thread in his Lifestyle of Gods Word. Rev. Kenyon. 35 0 obj <> endobj 60 0 obj <>stream The group itself says it is a Christian ministry. I know this is a bit long, but I hope it gives you some insight into what it's like to be inside this group. We are talking about a lot of people who fall for get-rich-quick schemes and fad diets. She was sobbing and apologized profusely that she hid this from them. Can any recent survivors provide their reflections if its not to much: What are the manipulation tactics used? True Story: My Family Was In A Cult - Yes and Yes Sometimes area twigs would get together for a branch meeting, and less frequently a limb meeting. 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. Juedes is a Lutheran paster who has written extensively on the Way. Still involved. 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. 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. The Way International - Wikipedia Many remember current leaders as friends, but at the same time despise them for wrongs they believe they have done or allowed. 16 Wierwille noted that acquiring young people from the Jesus movement caused the Ways growth (Whiteside, 230-35). I dont know if this is still true, but a weird criteria at the time was that you had to be debt free to participate. 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. Experiences, questions, observations about offshoots who trace their roots to The Way International. I'm a robot. 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. Leonards book and course syllabus called The Gifts of the Spirit are still in print. 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. 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). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Many Wayers have accepted these allegations in part because they explain and confirm previous experiences. My impression is that BGSU Staff/Administration is unaware that she was a Way member. Gross, right? I just wanted to paint a picture here of the laid back approach to Christian faith that makes the Way appealing to people. It's another thing entirely when the leader of a "Biblical Research and Fellowship Ministry" delivers a fire and brimstone sermon threatening to chain gays to the back bumper of an RV and go for a little drive. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Cules son las creencias bsicas del budismo? 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. Former Member: The Way International Biblical Ministry Was Rife With These people were rarely spoken of again, and if they were it was in hushed tones. That ego had gone to their heads; that the Adversary had gotten to them. It has shrunk in size and, as often is the case in cults when the original leader dies, splintered into various rival movements. There were people who were sexually assaulted while hitchhiking and injured due to accidents. There is a great diversity of emotions and viewpoints among those who have left The Way International. Think of an abuser boyfriend who doesnt let you have friendships with other guys or other people, really, because it distracts your attention from him, the most important person in your life. CES now wants to be seen as an independent ministry, not just as a Way splinter group, even though its glaring similarity to The Way is obvious to outsiders. But apparently, he doesn't want people to know what he did in the 1970s and 1980s. I went to a couple fellowship meetings shortly after they took the "foundational class" and wouldn't shut up about it. The other classes were filmed from February through April of 1995 and are currently being used. I'm pretty sure that "The Word" has quite a bit to say about murder. Youre a survivor. 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. Eventually, all you have is them and all you know is that they love you and that's why they're abusing you, because they've convinced you you're terrible and you deserve the abuse because it's helping you get closer in your relationship with God. First, the assumptions and structure of the new groups are like The Way International. The Way International 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 we have to consider the times: inspired by peace movements and anti-war efforts. This led to Martindales promise that all new Way Corps grads would obtain paid positions, which hadnt been done for over 20 years. I think the biggest thing I would emphasize is that the biggest way faith organizations control you is by fear. 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. I was born in Sidney, Ohio in 2001 and lived at the Way Headquarters in New Knoxville. But thats the thing: the adversary throws you curve balls, and its our job as athletes of the spirit to make smart moves. While ex-Wayers want the groups to be much different than The Way, there are many similarities in teaching and goals. Because they had women on the Board of Directors and allowed women to lead fellowships, they could espouse their views as progressive. 6 Albert Cliffe, Let Go and Let God (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1951), 157. See also Elena Whiteside, The Way Living with Love, 2d ed. Im terribly sorry to hear that feel free to message me privately if it helps. You were expected to advance through them, and you typically developed bonds with your cohort in the Foundational, Intermediate and Advanced classes. Meli Vinpearl Phu Ly. I saw your post a few days ago when it was first posted and having been thinking about it ever since. This present controversy is serving to alert pure believers that Wierwille and his successors are false apostles after all. TL;DR: the Way seems chill and relaxed on the outside but its pretty intense on a personal level. They believed that God heals and if you believe enough he can heal anything. For example, Lionel Recio and Steve Lefevers claim that one woman was gang-raped by several Way clergy and that the Corps residence training was sometimes like a bordello with promiscuity, adultery, orgies, and wife-swapping. It begins to be the only thing you can do and the only people you can see. Until then I was personally fighting acceptance because I wasnt able to understand and someone else had not articulated a realistic and plausible answer. Accordingly, several groups have arisen to try to meet these needs. The Way is marketed as a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry. While PFAL was used to introduce prospects to The Way, Martindales new classes are open only to people who have attended a twig (home fellowship) for a year and have been taught how to receive holy spirit and speak in tongues by the twig coordinator. Lynn summarized this when he assured listeners that many stories would curl your hair.12. Disciples serve only four months, and The Way plans to send out two waves a year. What Are Long-Time Wayers Thinking About? Any recent The Way International (TWI) survivors? : r/cults - reddit

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