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Well, went through a much needed divorce, spent way too much time in various and sundry bars, basically forgot about twice for quite some time, and lately I have decided to get back to God. I'm learning to pick up the basics, and especially discard TWI garbage. I'd love to talk more via pm. it's good to be back though!

The best i know is the only reason the way international raised pay (around 1999-2000) was they were paying staffers so poorly (and illegally) on the old "need basis" scale that they had to at least bump pay to minimum wage to avoid potential legal repercussions.

Happy Thanksgiving, GreaseSpotters. First, thank you to those who've ordered my book already. The books have shipped! This holiday is especially bittersweet for me, as it is for many whose loved ones are not here to share it. I feel like many of you are my extended family. We shared a unique sub-culture in TWI that bonded us. I am grateful for you. I want you to know that you have touched my life and enriched it. You have exhibited courage in your posts that honestly portray your experiences in TWI and the perspectives on them you have now. You continue to engage people, get them to think critically, and motivate them to look beyond the surface propaganda coming from closed-system groups like TWI that twist Scripture to suit their objectives, like teaching "believing equals receiving," which puts blame on people if they do not get answers to their prayers and keeps people feeling that if they just took one more Bible class at TWI they would be more spiritual, more able to know God, more successful in life. Mmm ... for many of us, that narrow view just doesn't work. If religious tolerance is going to prevail in this country - or anywhere - let it begin with us. If free speech, freedom of religion, and all the other freedoms we enjoy are to continue, let us not be afraid to speak the truth in love. On a personal note: Today, this holiday is happy and sad for me. It is a prominent feature of my life’s story. In 1968, when I was sixteen years old, on the day before Thanksgiving, after battling ovarian cancer, my mother died. She loved God, in her own Catholic way. She was dedicated to her family. She was kind. She was brave. Her untimely death set me on a path to find “the truth” that changed my life forever. Today, I honor her life and thank her for the inspiration she instilled in me to never give up. Hold your families close today. Cheers, Charlene

Me too.

Thanks for amplifying this concept, skyrider. My perspective is from a perfect, stereotypical Wafer from birth, compliant unto the last detail. We were bred to contribute to Mecca: Live around other believers (read CORPS) or MOVE to be in closer proximity them Expected to help at EVERY function (free labor) from planning, parking, set-up, cleaning, etc. and scout out free locations (or host ourselves, but most of us had crappy apartments and reached out allowable limit with the landlords) Work Hardily in school to go to a university Find a post-secondary school with other believers (very important) and dissuaded from other ideas /classes that challenged our beliefs or time to help win others BUILD THE BASE and get numbers. A class every quarter was pushed at all costs, far above content and spiritual enrichment. Although not explicitly mandated, implied to get a middle-class job that did NOT in any way impact our Sunday, Fellowship, or time to give to classes. This amounted to lower-middle class jobs and to drop any other position that made you work on those times (just look at the current WAY DISCIPLES model and their love of Panera for low-paying, highly flexible schedules) Tithe/ABS as religiously as possible. Only once was I talked to in person about my name being off of a weekly ABS blue form. Not to get too into finance because "the love of money is the root of all evil". Stocks being controlled by the Adversary Financial planning for Wafers was dismal, including a college workshop where I was told to expect a windfall from a dying relative to pay for a house/college. Really? All of my family are poor Wafers with nothing to leave but a name tag. They asked to see our monthly budget in college and EXPECTED ABS to come out, even if we were not earning an income. Cutting of the hose of blessings, you know. There was a small series on how to save for a car or larger purchase, but that was essentially explain how a monthly budget worked. Keep you head down, don't do anything with money, live a quiet lower-middle income life, donate all free time/money to the cause, and WIN WIN WIN those paychecks souls. It's as sad as it is reassuring that those with titles/responsibilities in the establishment had similar experiences. God was the final Giver- put your head down and do his work now and he will take care of you. Don't you dare take thought for the morrow. Well, I am now baby! I'll retire with over a million in my bank, a pension, two paid-for houses, and the knowledge that I would have had nothing if I didn't leave the Matrix. I am creating the windfall for my children that the Way took from my family.

Hello Grace- Thank you for the kind words and sharing your perspective. I feel the pain second-hand as I watch my parents struggle, but know the reality of those who did labor in vain for the cause suffer more. I hope you find the process of writing as helpful in recover as I have. I don't post much anymore (or log on as much) due to an anger spiral that seems to kick up when I start going in too deep, but it feels good to get it out. And bourbon. Happy Hunting- CD

Thanks Twinky…but remember no one person can do it alone It’s going to take all of us…remember we’re funnier together So…let’s make Grease Spot laugh again

Hi CD!! Wow, where did you learn to write like that??!! In MHO, you are a true Wordsmith!! I too am new to posting at the GSC, but so much of you said, in your post is sadly true. Since coming to the GSC, I have learned about the great number of longtime staff members that TWI has let go!!! OMG!!! These people probably had some idea that that if they worked for TWI in their Salad Days. they would be taken care of, in their Golden Years. Instead, far too many found out during the eleventh hour, that TWI cruelly threw them away out, like a used diaper. Every time I read this, I get seriously p----- off!!! Many of these people have no retirement plans, no pensions, no savings, no SS; nothing!!! TWI made promises to these people to take care of them when they entered their Senior Years, and now, TWI is defaulting on their promises when these staffers need them the most!!! How ungodly. and inhumane can one organization be! Yes, I am sure the people on the top rungs of TWI, have made plans concerning THEIR retirement. What concerns me is how the rank-and- file will live when they leave TWI's payroll. I am almost old enough to retire, and I have options. Many of TWI's former staff, lack options. TWI is sitting on piles of ABS; they are far from being bankrupt, yet the leaders will not share the wealth with most of the former staff members. How evil, and uncaring TWI is!!

Hello CollateralDamage, great intro, welcome. I don't visit here often, only like today when I couldn't sleep because I was having WOW year or Advanced class flashbacks. We probably bumped into each other throughout the years, I left about 20 years ago but I was active from '90 thru the end of '94, tried sheepishly to get back in up until '99 or 2000 whenever Loy's lawsuit became public. I was at the Advanced Class Special where LCM taped the DTA class, what a trip, I felt so special for about a minute. Anyway the point I wanted to make is this. It's a damn good thing TWI ditched PFAL, they had no idea what they had with that class, the indoctrination Vic does in it. All they needed to do is run PFAL classes and Vic's Intermediate and Vic's Advanced class and rake in the money. What he did in PFAL alone should be studied by mind control researchers because he uses multiple techniques for trance induction, and implanting phobias, trigger words. All TWI would need to do is stick to Vic's playbook say all the buzzwords in the TWI loaded language dictionary and people would still be coming in droves. But everyone has an ego, and the Fox has to rule the hen house. Anyway I bid you well, Seth