Rosalie Rivenbark

New Way leader

NEW KNOXVILLE - The Rev. Rosalie F. Rivenbark is just the third leader in the 57-year history of The Way International.

Rivenbark had served as vice president prior to her new appointment.

The Sidney Daily News has made several attempts to interview Rivenbark. She has declined interviews, but has issued a statement regarding The Way and her hopes for the organization.

Rico Magnelli of The Way's public relations department said the organization has declined interviews due to recent court cases involving Way leaders.

Defines ministry

In the prepared, Rivenbark responded to questions about her "plans and/or philosophies in leading the ministry." She defined the ministry as follows:

"The Way is a fellowship of the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ for the manifestation of the more abundant life. A follower of The Way is filled with and manifests power from on high, Holy Spirit, and freely avails himself of fellowship meetings for spiritual nurture and growth. The Way fellowship is cemented together by the spirit of God with each individual believer being transformed by the renewing of his mind according to the word of God."

She said this is a broad definition that the founding president, Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille, developed and the second president, the Rev. L. Craig Martindale, established, and "I believe still very appropriately defines our ministry. This definition has proven itself throughout the years and is very biblically accurate."

The Way's purpose

She restated The Way's purpose:

"The Way International is a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry. Jesus Christ is ‘the way,' and the singular purpose of The Way International is to research the Scriptures to understand their inherent and inerrant accuracy regarding Jesus Christ, the way. Teaching these biblical research truths to others and living the principles of the word of God is the goal of The Way International."

She said The Way works hard at "endeavoring to unearth the governing principles and salient truths that the early church operated on the heels of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry nearly 2,000 years ago."

This can be challenging because "we're dealing with a distant and foreign culture in the Semitic lifestyle within which Jesus Christ and the early apostles functioned. Also, most prominently when dealing with different cultures, we must handle the disparity between languages. The original word of God was written in languages like Hebrew or Aramaic and later translated into Greek. These languages are difficult for our western minds to grasp at times. Our teaching seminars, classes, and fellowships help to bridge the gap that these barriers pose to the biblically minded seekers of the truth. I fully intend to continue in this approach."

‘Tremendous power'

Christians in the first century "had tremendous power" because they "believed they were saved and received power to operate the nine manifestations of Holy Spirit," she said. The early believers also studied the word of God and acted upon it as the will of God.

In the Book of Acts the early Christians developed a pattern of growth in various localities. The Way International endeavors to pattern its ministry of service along these principles of the first-century followers of the way, she said. "Those believers met in the homes, establishing a way of life - being together, fellowshipping on a daily basis.

"Similarly, The Way International is primarily a home fellowship ministry. Meetings in the home are available during the week throughout the United States and in over 30 international countries." She said these "household fellowships" usually are coordinated by a member of the family in that home.

No obligation or membership

"The fellowships include a short, positive teaching from the Bible, prayer, singing, and manifestation of the spirit of God. Those participating in these home fellowships do so freely of their own volition," she said, with no obligation or membership. "Finances for the operation of The Way rest entirely upon the renewed-mind believing and love of each individual."

Rivenbark has worked in the field of education and taught at the elementary, high school, and college levels. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and master's from Appalachian State University. She has also worked in a leadership capacity directly with Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille and Rev. L. Craig Martindale for over 25 years.