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Oh my goodness. Since then, The Way has sought to purge (that is, totally shun) all who do not tithe or who question Martindale on any issue. Each fellowship was just one small twig connected to a branch, then a limb, then a trunk and so on. Hahahaha. We believe and speculate it was attributed because of the known cult The Way International. 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. He cultivated an image of being an original Bible researcher and his followers have seen him as such. For instance, trustee Donald Wierwille (Victor Pauls son) confessed, I apologize for not having followed my man of God.6. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. They include the Foundational Class (Receive with Meekness), the Intermediate Class (Retain with Conviction), and the Advanced Class (Release with Boldness). We are near 70 years of age now, but the "Way" still affects us. I was a Girl Scout as a kid and all through high school, and I devoted myself to community projects my whole life. Again, thank you for taking the time to provide concise details. This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). Meanwhile, Way leaders apparently have tried biblically to defend adultery. The logic has more dangerous consequences when people literally think God will cure their Cancer, Lupus, diabetes. 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. 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. uuid:a0e7d6d5-45d0-8c4c-9602-8d6d3c43e9ff I don't talk to my family that's "in" much anymore though I do see them every so often. Un apologista cristiano responde a la actuacin satnica de Sam Smith y Kim Petras en los Grammy, Connect with the Christian Research Institute. John Schonheits paper on adultery was a thinly veiled accusation that Wierwille and other leaders falsely taught that adultery is a biblically acceptable practice. Ultimate question, do you think The Way or anyone that endorses the way is worth pursuing as - culpable? 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. Mac OS X 10.7.5 Quartz PDFContext Unlike the WOWs, the Disciples program is open only to Advanced Class graduates, and therefore probably consists mainly of members of the Way Corps. nase ahora para acceder a este contenido exclusivo para suscriptores de 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. Brainwashing is in part convincing you that the world is evil and filled with devil spirits that are everywhere and you must be vigilant, and part CONSTANT information about the bible. The Way, International Profile As well as the original post questions. We are talking about a lot of people who fall for get-rich-quick schemes and fad diets. 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.. They run off anyone who is not currently active in a Way-controlled twig and who doesnt have a Way escort. 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. 9 John Lynn, Overview of Events, two-cassette series, 1987. Many Wayers have accepted these allegations in part because they explain and confirm previous experiences. I just wanted to paint a picture here of the laid back approach to Christian faith that makes the Way appealing to people. And because we were Family Corp, children were added into the mix as well. 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. Not that a college degree is by any means the only metric of intelligence, but there arent a lot of college degrees in the faith. (New Knoxville, OH: American Christian Press, 1972), x. Cliffes book Lessons in Successful Living addresses similar topics. The Way of Life or The Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. 11 Morton and Juedes, Integrity and Accuracy, reveals many of Wierwilles errors in scholarship and Bible interpretation. The creed and The Way are very much one and the same; The Way is just the religion they follow. 60, Bien Hoa Street, Minh Khai Ward, Phu Ly City, Ha Nam Province,, Minh Khai, Phu Ly (Ha Nam), Vietnam, 400000 - See map. Children who grew into adults in the Way are another matter because it is hard to go out into the world and maybe get your own place or go to college and have your worldview challenged by people you were taught were lazy, selfish, or had an agenda. That exes from his life are all crazy.. Bill Green, who handles some public relations for The Ways New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, declined to be interviewed about the classes and related developments. Im terribly sorry to hear that feel free to message me privately if it helps. 2 The Way Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 1994, 26. They believed that God heals and if you believe enough he can heal anything. I cannot stress enough how much the control and fear is internal. (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. I'd recently read a secular book and they also blamed that. 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. 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. 35 0 obj <> endobj 60 0 obj <>stream She was sobbing and apologized profusely that she hid this from them. 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. 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. I dont know if any of this is helpful to you. 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. These people are capable of anything. 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. SPIRIT AND TRUTH FELLOWSHIP / CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES / JOHN LYNN. First, the assumptions and structure of the new groups are like The Way International. In opposition, John Schoenheit produced a paper that confronted this error and biblically explained that adultery is a sin. Accusations have disturbed many people and strained or broken numerous friendships. The Way International fellowships are located throughout the United States, as well as over 30 countries. Because they had women on the Board of Directors and allowed women to lead fellowships, they could espouse their views as progressive. A good example of this is John Lynns 12-session class Keys to Victorious Living. The Class is nearly an exact duplicate of Wierwilles Power for Abundant Living class, teaching over two dozen of the same specific doctrines and using the same proof texts Wierwille used (though Lynn corrects some of Wierwilles most glaring misinterpretations). Ex-Wayers also charge that The Way teaches falsely on the topics of believing, abundant sharing, tithing, interpretation of tongues, and athletes of the spirit (the belief that every warfare metaphor in the Epistles should be understood as an athletic metaphor instead). Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is the university she attended as a non-traditional student and place of employment. Leonards book and course syllabus called The Gifts of the Spirit are still in print. Available from: Capitol Saints/John A. Lynn, 5918 Chesterbrook Road, McLean, VA 22101. How about a little more candor, Vince? 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. She was loved by many, the brightest light and simply someone you could not avoid noticing. This practice was common back in the 70s-80s as well as taking people's medications away so they could "prove God." What practices are different from the 80s? Not something I wanted to read, but something I needed to read. Like when life doesnt go like you expect, whether its a health problem or an issue at work. 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. 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?. Box 18503, Anaheim, CA 92817. 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. Youre not going to have to perform penance. 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. The Way stressed that these gatherings were for committed, faithful followers, unlike the Rock, which was open to anyone. Scientology front group. Ultimately we would also like to provide and seek justice on her behalf. Her recent suicide however was as a member in leadership. His appendices offered reasons Way leaders gave to justify adultery, along with his own rebuttals. The Corp is their leadership training program where you live on campus and attend their unaccredited "college." Household Prayer would be around 6am or earlier sometimes, which you couldn't miss or again you would be reprimanded. Many ex-Wayers continue to read Bullinger, as they did while in The Way. Sometimes area twigs would get together for a branch meeting, and less frequently a limb meeting. 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. 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. At the time, Schoenheit was on The Ways research team. Followers 0. 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. 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 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. Participants were sensitive (having been wounded by The Way), were open to friendships and ideas, and were reevaluating their beliefs. There hasn't been a good gathering place for survivors since the Greasespot Cafe and I think there is a need for one. It has shrunk in size and, as often is the case in cults when the original leader dies, splintered into various rival movements. 2.) This is very hard. 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.