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My memory says Wayfers don't self identify as Christians. I seem to remember that word being thought of with a negative connotation. Quickly looking at theway.org site, it's a Biblical ministry. Christian isn't mentioned. Maybe I missed it. During WayD we gave out the website to those we witnessed to. I remember one call with one polite but firm gentleman who looked at the website and realized The Way did not share his views on Christ and no thank you. We were Believing Believers of the Standing Follower in the HouseHold of the Remnant qualifier qualifier qualifier qualifier qualifying qualifier of previous qualifier.

That's fine. The other guy I mentioned was VPW's cotemporary and went through church after church. But VPW died a bazillion years ago. And men and women like him are a dime a dozen. I'm not saying VPW wasn't a predator. Yes predators are good at detecting weakness. Yes VPW set up a system that benefited his in all areas he desired. Not arguing that. But he is dead. LCM is gone. The followers continue onward, because many of them feel they are benefiting.

It's all about the power dynamic. It CAN be (reasonably) argued the person in the role of "prey" has a responsibility or at least a right to survive. Loy, and his mentor, Vic, were predators.

Yeah it seems there was a whole inner Nexim like cult within the cult that was involved with those kind of things. Since that is really bad and hurtful and cost lawsuit money instead of the VPW Nexim Cult we have the VPW Whitewashed Cult the second one comes with your own VP bronze WITH COLLATERALS.

I know somebody who knows somebody who knows Mike. The world just got smaller. *sniff* VPW's works were incoherent trash meant to confuse and seduce.

"DODGE, DENY, DISTRACT, BUT NEVER ADMIT AN ERROR IS AN ERROR." - MIKE. I'm sure, later, Mike regretted being that up-front for once about his methods. It was remarkably candid about having a blatantly dishonest approach.

He may have copied the snow story too from Rosalind Rinker. When she dumped him he retreated . . . excuse me, advanced, to his ice castle with his Snowman Fallacy.

Except when it isn't.

Absolutely right, and it had never occurred to me until now. It's always described itself as a "Biblical research, teaching and fellowship ministry." Never a "Christian research, teaching and fellowship ministry." Mind you: it's no good at research, Biblical, Christian, or otherwise; no good at teaching, though it is good at indoctrination and bullying; not good at fellowship, being so exclusive and manipulative.

The Book of Longings is a very readable, very intriguing book. Time I had a re-read.

My memory and text messages say the same. My FC said TWI/PFAL/VPW is not a religion. He said he did not consider himself a Christian nor self identify as religious. I asked, "What is religion?" He answered, "Man made." ** I rest my case.

It seems some (but not all) of what this guy sets forth reflect what Mike does on GSC.

We have an architect in our congregation. I don't know if he will be doing the design (quite likely) but he will be overseeing and helping smooth out any planning objections when planning permission is applied for. I have seen some draft sketches, but they're only sketches at this stage. I'm guessing it'll be next year at least before we're breaking ground on this new venture. We'll have to raise the money (or most of it) for the building works first. But the ££ will be there when it's needed. Meantime, the Youth minister is already hatching plans and can't wait to get in there. We will also be housing a Foodbank, much needed in this area. It would be good if we can re-start Homework Club, much better for kids than trying to do homework on the end of the ironing board or in the room they share with two noisy siblings. The Debt Advice centre [Christians Against Poverty - CAP] or the Credit Union might come back. I am going to suggest Repair Cafe does a session once a month, too (that'd be new). We have big plans :) !!!!!!!!!

The top photo: My church. Opened 2010, newbuild, the previous old-fashioned traditional-design church on the same site having burned down, suspected arson (kids broke in to play, played with matches - wastebin - curtains - poof!). So the church claimed some insurance moneys and requested donations from the congregation, and our new modern church building, very flexible, was built. The tall part is the meeting room, next to it is front entrance with big lobby, offices to the left, and at back, another smaller (but still very big) meeting room used for children's activities. There's a fenced outdoor play area with grass and soft resin at the very back. The second photo: the community centre, immediately adjacent to the church. This scruffy "temporary" building has been there decades. My church met in it about once a month while the old church was demolished and then the new one built - the main congregation meeting weekly with the usual congregation at a different, sister, church half a mile away. (You can see a sliver of the new church in the background.) The community centre is on a large piece of land, with car parking, but has been neglected for over 6 maybe 8 years. Dilapidated, horribly overgrown, shrubs and small trees everywhere, building looking awful, rubbish abandoned underneath the building and out the back. Car park under 4" of compressed leaves. We bought it! In one month, we raised £240,000 in donations and sealed the deal last week. Painters are already restoring the interior. A working bee which about 40 adult members of the congregation attended cleared the carpark of all the fallen leaves over the deserted years, all the three and shrub overgrowth, all the rubbish.... hard work, but lots of fun. Some parents brought their little kiddies, who helped with their tiny spades, or carried twigs to the skip (dumpster). There's another working bee this coming Saturday; that'll be outside too, but there may be some inside stuff as well, like cleaning the kitchen and sanitary facilities. There's an 8 foot fence between the two parcels of land. Concrete posts, wire, and topped by several strands of barbed wire. Think that may be down in part this weekend, too. Eventually, the community centre will be demolished and the church, with its graceful lines, will be fully extended into the site, providing a larger church meeting hall, and more offices/smaller space, particularly for the youth activities. It's been wonderful over the last decade+ to see this community transformed. The feral youths have grown up, and are better young men for it, having learned discipline and decent manners at the church. Lonely single parents can meet others at Mums & Toddlers. Other single people can come to a free lunch on Wednesdays, with activities before and after the lunch. There's a youth club on Friday nights, where, among other things, table tennis is a popular activity (and one that teaches kids discipline and rules). There's at least one event at the church every day. All sorts of people on the surrounding housing estate see us as a place to get help and comfort. So - it's going to be exciting seeing the difference over the next decade, when the permanent building is erected and we can continue to glorify God in our service and expand our offering to the community. Please pray, if you're the praying sort, for the ongoing work and then the outreach.