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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.
"I am very excited about the future of our
ministry; despite obstacles and challenges, the bedrock foundation of our
ministry, which is God’s word, has never altered," she said.
"God’s word is our only rule of believing and practice. We delight
in teaching God’s word to those who truly want to know."
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