Leaderboard

Mrs. Wierwille's book documents the struggles and challenges of their fledgling splinter group [from B.G. Leonard's class and teachings]......after leaving the Van Wert Church in 1957. And, like most splinter groups who are strapped for cash and reaching out for ANY MONETARY SUPPORT THAT THEY CAN FIND.......wierwille did the same. When the wierwilles left the church pastorate, they found housing at 649 South Washington Street, still in Van Wert......[when you don't have much money, or much of a plan......you don't move far]. This house was the Queen Anne style with a three-story round tower with fretted windows. Back then, wierwille utilized letter writing as one of the main tools for solicitation of support and funds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [p. 228] November 5, 1958 Dear Friend in Christ: Greetings to you from Headquarters in the Name of Jesus Christ......... ......... From November 18th to 25th I will be with B.G. [Leonard] in Canada for a Missionary Convention. Eric Watson will be back from his 7 months afield and the big news is he is getting married to Mona Nelson, one of B.G.'s Congregation. Enroute to Calgary I will stop at Denver to meet with Dr. Stemme of Burton College and Seminary to discuss with him The Way Biblical Seminary. Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 27th. I will be back for Thanksgiving and I was wondering if you would like to have a special Thanksgiving Service that night at Headquarters? If we could get another 6 families interested in our local group meetings who would join with us week after week in fellowship as well as the giving of their tithes for this work and ministry we would have a greater group than we have even now. Although I sure thank God for your faithfulness and you know I have to teach whenever and wherever God opens doors. Some weeks and months our people are gone a great deal, but I know I do, and others do the same, even when we are out teaching we arrange for our tithe to be in every Sunday night. When it comes to our expenses to operate Headquarters I have complained only about the light bill from Ohio Power. They charge us commercial rates which is morally not fair as far as I am concerned but they are a utility monopoly and they have legal rights backed by the Utilities Commission of Ohio so what can we do. I have also been thinking about putting the Wierwille family back on an $80.00 a week schedule, but to be real truthful to try and run our family of 7 of us on much less than a hundred and to maintain the dignity that we as leaders of The Way must have, because of the nature of our position, it would be real difficult. We as a family apparently have many obligations which a similar sized family would not necessarily have. Well we have no complaints only thanksgiving. I have never felt better in my life, in the work of Christ than I feel now. We are free, we can walk in love and in unity with those who want to love us and walk with us. We are free to change when God's Word shows us where we must change. Oh what a joy to be free and to walk in liberty. Another thing I know is true that if we would have our Bible teaching fellowship on Sunday Morning instead of Sunday Night we would have many more in attendance. Having a family I know what a chore it is to get the children out and ready on Sunday Night when they should be put to bed early. But, we are a pioneering group and as such we many at times have to push ourselves to do certain things that the more or less nominal Christians would not do. Well God bless you for your prayers and help for The Way ministry and the whole cause of Christ. Sincerely, In His Service, Victor Paul Wierwille ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As a fledgling splinter group started in 1957........and NOT the 1942 myth of twi's starting date........wierwille was grasping for ways to keep from drowning. Why is any of this important? Who really cares after all these years? BECAUSE.......it's the same thing that every splinter group does Splinter cults claim love and liberty.....from what they left behind How about a Thanksgiving Night Service? Sound familiar? No damn it.......I spend time with MY FAMILY on Thanksgiving The Way Ministry was a splinter group............and went thru the fits-and-starts of a fledgling operation with no money or support. When one reads thru Mrs. W's book, one of the most salient points throughout is the struggle for money. And, when talk of "A Permanent Headquarters at the Wierwille Homestead" was bantered about in 1959.......a schism arose by those who did not trust vic and harry to keep the farm operation [money] separate from the ministry. The first "twi-exodus" ensued......... So, what does every splinter group do? Teach, teach, teach........and find people to give, give, give. Build the cult.....er, charitable ministry whose main, and only, mission, is "to teach the Word (cough, cough)." No help or support to community events or services. No help to food drives. No help to Red Cross. No help to homeless shelters. No help to spouse abuse services. Hock the classes and teachings as secret, spiritual insight. Same old, same old......every splinter cult does it. They want to get you in ANOTHER splinter group as fast as possible. Many corps leaders still want to leverage their power over others. These corps leaders want to CONTINUE the ruse. Who ordered the code red?