Leaderboard

wierwille and others were/are masters at cultivating self-doubt in followers – and the young and naïve are especially susceptible since they lack much in the way of life-lesson experiences and usually have undeveloped critical thinking skills. We were taught the first step in the road downhill is to doubt or question “The Word”. This was the start of the great subterfuge to attack any sense of self-confidence or autonomy we may have had – subliminally what is communicated is that you do not question or doubt authority…We were led to believe TWI’s classes were all we needed to correctly understand or “rightly-divide” the Bible and unleash the power of God in our lives. “Take the class and all your questions will be answered”…Thus the self-doubt problem – that they themselves fostered – was supposedly resolved by a follower’s false-confidence in their “product” and services. We were never encouraged to think for ourselves - just ask your leadership. If you go in the way corps what is expected of you is blind – and I might add mindless - obedience to your leadership. When I began thinking about leaving TWI in ’86 – after the convergence of personal experiences and a major ministry meltdown, I had to look deeper into the layers of intellectual-hobbling (self-doubt) that are part of the TWI-mindset. Some of it went along similar lines of what Rubina mentioned - confronting the fear of forsaking God and the Word or being influenced by devil spirits.. In my mind it was almost like a call-and-response format – brave first attempts to "dialog" with myself – self-examination or something…do I love God and His Word? Yes – but now I was beginning to wonder if wierwille and/or Craig handled The Word of God deceitfully.... Am I possessed or being influenced by devil spirits? No – I recalled several bad acid trips before I was in TWI and I still remember what it was like to be under the influence of something that was not a part of me (I figured being affected by one of the most powerful mind-altering hallucinogens might be a similar experience to being possessed or influenced by devil spirits ). And by the way, some of those doubts and questions - were not about myself or about my thinking process, they were challenges to the authority of wierwille and Craig...They were coming to the surface – some of which were buried very deep for a very long time – deep within myself – buried…suppressed…held at bay by the intellectual-hobbling…mind control…brainwashing of The Way International. To any TWI-followers who feel confused, trapped or frustrated - what I’m about to say may seem discouraging at first, but it’s intended to point you in the right direction. There’s really nothing here at Grease Spot - or anywhere else for that matter - that will force your eyes open and make you see the light…but I won’t leave you without hope – I intend to point you in the right direction – look within yourself. Can you identify the self-doubt promoted by TWI that keeps you in line? Do you know what intellectual-hobbling is? Hobbling is to tie or strap together (the legs of a horse or other animal) to prevent it from straying. The ONLY person who can cut you loose from that is YOU – since you’re the only one inside your own head, only YOU can do it. The decision is YOURS.

That's why it's good to hear alternate points of view- sometimes what you don't see is more important than what you DO. In regards to the GSC: A) the regulars who post here spend a few minutes a week here. (Any spending more are socializing and that's not twi-related.) B) The vast majority of people who've posted here have moved on with their lives and don't even check in here any more. Some places consider that bad for the place. However, since the GSC is partly about helping people move on and prosper after surviving twi, we consider them SUCCESS STORIES. They moved on and spend zero minutes a week on twi. C) We STILL get new posters, so it's good to answer their questions and point to previous discussions on some of their questions. This helps them get to where they can move on.

Beguiled, I don't give much time to TWI. I do visit here from time to time, mainly to see if there are any new people or visitors who can be helped. I learned stuff there (including "what it is not"), and I've learned stuff in the very good church that I attend now. You may find that most of the continuing Christians who continue to post here from time to time think much the same. Can't speak for others, but I find TWI increasingly diminutive in my rear view mirror. Too much to deal with in the here and now. I know the scars and long-lasting outcomes in terms of my life, both now and into the future, are still there. And will never go. But I choose to live my life now as richly and fully (and as warily and wisely) as I can. That's where my "mental time and energy go. My God, and the Lord Jesus, are far bigger and better than a miserly cornfield cult.

Perhaps, Vern is not aware of The Way International's history of when Victor Paul Wierwille left (fired?) St. Peter's Evangelical and Reformed Church in Van Wert. Mrs. Wierwille's book, Born Again To Serve, gives us plenty of details leading up to them starting a new faction: Victor Paul Wierwille sought spiritual counsel and guidance from Rev. B.G. Leonard's class (February 1953). p. 90 In June 1953, wierwille takes TWO CARLOADS of Van Wert Church people to B.G. Leonard's class. p.91 In October 1953, wierwille taught Leonard's class in the basement of St. Peter's Church in Van Wert. p.99 Victor Paul Wierwille was starting a new faction!! He was canvassing and recruiting others from his church. Four Years....1953-1957.....wierwille spent time building his own group while on Van Wert Church payroll. Wierwille admitted: "Now if I had to do it again, I would do what Paul did -- take all my people with me across the street..." p.216 Wierwille began this new "independent undertaking" on Washington Street in Van Wert December 19, 1957. In using Leonard's class wholesale for years......it would be fair to say that twi was an OFFSHOOT. Much to wierwille's chagrin......his name was stricken from St. Peter's Church registry after his departure. One could say that victor paul wierwille was "considered mark and avoid." See, Vern.........churches, sects, and cults all have common elements. They section off their interests from others who might claim a stake in those holdings. Then, they tether "their" people to their sanctioned doctrine......even though, that doctrine is fluid and changing thru the years. Church leaders erect more structure that helps them to evade accountability. The Van Wert Church Board was certainly glad to be rid of wierwille. And, unanimously signed in consent to have his name stricken from their church's registry and history! Stricken from record. Erased. Good Riddance. Forgotten. Vern.....your little Facebook page to "Household Fellowship Coordinators" is a faction unto itself. You are sectioning off your group from others. No matter how many verses you cherry-pick to bolster your position, I could find scores of others to counter them. And, I do find it laughable that you chose to quote "Dr. Wierwille" from his TNDC book and its chapter entitled, "Why Division?" The same man who stole B.G. Leonard's class and then, ran it in a Van Wert church basement.....while he was pastor and on payroll.....and, finally after the church board had had enough, wierwille was unanimously stricken from the clergy registry where he'd served at this church for 13 years. You quoted wierwille.....to make your point on "Why Division?" .

They not only saw it coming, their plans depended on it. A year before they sent their letter to the BOD, they were heard recruiting, and they'd reserved the domain name for "revival and restoration". This whole "maybe we can all fix this and stay together" thing was mere posturing, a formality that didn't reflect ANYONE'S thinking.

Being contentious, difficult and especially maligning other Christian groups is exactly what wierwille did to distinguish and separate The Way International from all other Christian groups. I’ve been in meetings where wierwille would get into his anti-Trinity rant and say stuff along the lines of wrong-seed are promoting the Trinity and to really believe in the Trinity you have to be possessed…As Skyrider said, TWI is a cult - not because of its beliefs, but because of its methods…There was no debating the Trinity – strict obedience to wierwille’s leadership was expected and enforced by sowing the fear of following wrong seed or risking devil-possession. Thinking about that now, I don’t think it was ever really a concern over “right doctrine” but was just another method of closing the ranks – to keep TWI followers united against other Christian groups…wierwille’s “Why Division?” in The New Dynamic Church book seems like some great rah-rah-let’s-go-team rhetoric – but I tend to think many of us who were caught up in the spiritual elitism of TWI, assumed we were the only “team” that really counted – we were the true Church with more of the rightly-divided-Word than anyone else…teachings on “the household” had a similar agenda – to immerse us more deeply in commitment to the organization but also to further isolate us – set us further apart from other Christians and even other grads of PFAL who didn’t get that involved with TWI…I began to realize how pervasive this “spiritual hierarchy” was shortly after I left TWI when I heard of Chris G’s comment about those who left, saying “now is the fat being trimmed from the body of Christ.”

I call this brain washing. See if you are trained to think in a certain way and dwell on it long enough- your mind can be guided by a pig especially if you have got to the stage where you trust him enough to do his bidding. When Hitler got up the podium to "preach" hatred of the jews to the nation of Germany, A lot of people didnt take him seriously but day by day he hammered the same old theme of why the jews were scoundrels and rats that must be exterminated. As this went on day after day, there came a time when the people of Germany convinced themselves that the jews must be eradicated from society. Middle classs and honest christians were volunteering to take turns to take a gun with them and finish off their given assignments - killing a jew Ordinarily these honest middle class working people would never even dream of doing such a thing Why did they do it? They were "protecting" the nation from the "merciless" jews who were going to "enslave" them. Hitler himself was a devout catholic and was considered a family man In the case of VPW- it was a case of systematic brainwashing- it's over a series of classes People are committed to it because they have paid for it- VPW says he is charging because people wont take the class and quit if he doesnt put a price for the class- That's right so he can properly brain wash them to accept him as a creditable, trustworthy and Godly man with the utmost integrity. He talks about it a lot so it will be etched in people's mind- Satan's servant must have definitely done his homework The pfal class is the starting point where he builds such an incredible amount of trust and credibility- a "man of God" honest, truthful and he talks a lot of the heroics of Paul and Jesus Christ was a man's man- That was true but VPW was helping himself to credibility by associating himself with others with an undeniable proven track record VPW was a shameless pig who rode on the reputation and bravery of people like Paul and Jesus Christ and people make the mistake of ascribing trust and integrity to VPW - wow what a man, we think. Pfal class- Build trust, credibility and integrity- He talks about it so much that we associate trust, credibility and integrity to VPW Intermediate Class -Demonstration of the "power of God" We see in action a "mighty man of God" like we have never seen before Finally someome teaching us to "intrepret" toungues and "prophesy"- He hides behind "forth telling" because everyone is entitled to it Fore telling- Only true prophets called by God can do it but forth telling- VPW can teach you- it doesnt matter if he is liar- you dont know about it (world's best kept secret) . Mrs VPW bag is a kid's lunchbox when compared to what's VPW's character like Christian Family & Sex Class- Priming & Loosening up of Sex Boundaries I reckon this is the whole aim of VPW in this class. It's priming women for his private sexual rights to any women -especially the young ones who go through his "brainwashing and trust building classes" . I dont know if he charged for this class but I never got to take it The ones targetted by VPW as we know are told that they are a very special calibre of women who can handle the task of relieving "overburned and stressed " "man of God" by satisfying his sexual need and people succumb to these lies because they have been trained to trust and obey along the lines of a top notch soldier It remind me of the movie called "true lies" These type of brain washing and extending the boundaries doesnt happen overnight- it's over a period of time and people dont even realise what's happening to them and how they are extending the boundaries to let the bear in. TWI distances itself from other cults by saying and it's so common (again gain credibility by associating with Godly people in the bible by saying - "Oh The pharisees and general public also called the band of people following Jesus Christ -a cult" So we are thinking to ourelves, Hmmm! That means TWI must be in the same boat as the disciples of Jesus Christ This is a trap- where people dont even check TWI because they think that if they check TWI- they are going to get the same reaction from the church groups or general poulation. Well VPW is a "greeaaat" minister of the Lord- how dare they? Why should we let other people call us a cult when TWI is such a wonderful organization "teaching" people the word Not realising that VPW is the most shameless wild pig there is - as someone once said an active resident of sodom and gomorrah would blush if he saw what goes on at TWI This is why parents have a duty to love their children and nurture them with the word of God so there is a protection around their children constantly. Even older people have been conned and this is why whenever someone gives "religious class". The first thing to do is to check the "teacher" out and check the "organization out" thoroughly before serious harm is done if only I had gone to the internet to do a bit of reearch on TWi and I might have found GSC and it would have saved e years of heartache VPW used to say people should pray and just trust God and dont worry (meaning dont check) what the children have gotten to- dont worry God will take care of it Yeah right (A godly responsible parent will both pray, trust God and check on their children whereabouts and what they are doing) Just because someone is teaching the bible doesnt necessarily mean they are good people I cannot stress this enough- they need to be checked out thoroughly before one takes any type class especially a religious class. I wonder how many people quit after taking the pfal class or midway through the class and never turned up. Smart move -I must congratulate them. It would be interesting to get their feedback. My advice to those who have been seriouly hurt by VPW is- God loves you very much he reached out to me when I cried out to Him for truth in an amazing way Spend time with God in prayer and communing with God and let God heal your heart GSC is a great place also online for other people who have been similarly hurt to share how they have overcome the hurt inflicted by TWI in the past and found closure I have been hurt tremendously and it's going away and I can forget it becaues God has something so beautiful for all of eternity for me- and I tell myself my TWI is a spit in bucket It's gone forever

I have forgiven myself; I hear it too many times not to listen, from my counselor, male survivor support group, my faith resources, and a few pertinent online pages. I don;t worry about closure with the ex-Way community, or anyone acknowledging this male being sexually assaulted. But I am very active in the general community; my non Way related friend who helped me break my silence also having co founded a national abuse prevention group, and helping me to laugh and smile (That's her job with everybody). But being loosened up (I heard those words specifically used about me) was not a loosening up, or playing around. And of course that loosening up term was one of VPW's.

I posted the below on the Old Way Tapes thread but this is better where it belongs: I have a distinct recollection of some early "grooming" material ie PFAL, that talks about moving boundaries Maybe it was in "renewed mind" class. Cursed are those who remove their neighbours' boundaries. According to VPW, this is not just the field boundaries (the obvious as referred to in Deut 27 and Prov 22 and Prov 23 (among other places) but the boundaries of other people's minds. And yet - that's exactly what VPW was doing with us - moving the boundaries of our minds. For some, who had poor boundaries, that could possibly have been a good thing (note: could. But the actuality was that boundaries were probably pushed further out in an unhealthy way; vulnerable people were very easy prey). For most of us, that would be moving the boundaries of good commonsense rules instilled by our parents or society. But actually, for all of us, what he was doing with his teaching was precisely removing boundaries: he was replacing those societally decent sexual and other behavioural boundaries by his own perverted boundaries of what was decent behaviour and then instilling a new boundary of "lockbox." Deut 27: 'The one who moves his neighbor's boundary marker is cursed.' And all the people will say, 'Amen!' Job 24: Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. Prov 23: Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: