skyrider
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Yeah......summer camp to get young folk involved. But there is no doubt that twi notched it up to a "get committed" level.
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Summer School provided a program whereby young men and women would "stick" to twi-involvement. Other programs followed later....... WOW program Way Corps Training Fellow-Laborers (in-state program) Household of God Teaching
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The Way International ran an extended summer school in the mid-to-late 1960s. While there are some who document the origins of Vacation Bible School back to 1894.......it seems like the Baptists (and others?) earnestly began this concept in 1922. Churches had adopted this concept to teach and discipline the youth, fill their summer calendars and increase their influence on the community. By the mid-60s, wierwille saw this opportunity as well. Perhaps, Dorothy Owens, a retired teacher and once-deeply-involved in her Indiana church was a catalyst in twi's summer schools. High probability, for sure. Back in July 1981, Ermal Owens died.......and I was assigned to escort Mrs. Owens on several occasions. As she shared about some of twi's history with me......she was proud of her involvement with summer schools and summer camps in the 1960s (before the corps program). Looking back, I think she was expressing her intricate involvement and defining moments in moving twi thru those bare-bones '60s to those early '80s when twi was near its zenith. Just recently, we have uncovered more details involving summer school.......A couple of questions about VPW "In 1965 Peter Wade went to the United States to attend a three-month Summer School at The Way Biblical Research Center, which was then a non-denominational teaching organization. “His abilities, depth of perception, and conviction were immediately noticeable. Upon his return to Australia and the pastoring of a pioneering work at Taperoo, South Australia, he put into practice all the principles he had been taught and mightily convinced the believers of the fullness of Christ’s work and the accuracy of God’s Word.” If I remember correctly, there were a number of young men and women who were attendees of summer school.......in 1968, 1969. After the filming of the '67 pfal class....it was a staple part of summer school, right? Wasn't Johnnie Townsend, Donnie Fugit, Walter Cummins, and others initiated into twi thru summer school? Hotspots of outreach. Some from California. Some from New York. Some from North Carolina.
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One thing to keep in mind in this context......throughout the 1950s and 1960s, wierwille concentrated his efforts on reaching church people and specifically, church leaders and ministers. Having attended E. Stanley Jones' Ashram (retreat) in 1944 with church ministers and elders.....the young 27 year-old wierwille thought that he, too, could do this with his fledgling outreach. Then.....12 years later (1956)......wierwille, wife and kids, go on that India itinerary. Wierwille's narcissism is writing checks that his ministry (cough, cough) couldn't cash. Through contacts with Bishop K.C. Pillai.....a Dr. I. S. Williams becomes their host upon arrival. Interestingly, Mrs. Wierwille's book references this man as "Dr. J. S. Williams (perhaps, the scribbled notes at the time were the reason for this mistake....or something else?). Dr. Williams was a prominent and distinguished man. Dr. I. S. Williams was president of the All-India Federation of Churches and pastor of the St. Paul's Hindustani Church in Byculla, Bombay and devotee of Indian history.....and more. Wierwille, in his narcissistic realm, embellishes this huge storyline in pfal of his India experience. Yet, truth be told......it was Dr. I. S. Williams that was well-respected and highly prominent to religious and political officeholders.....and therefore, doors DID OPEN because Williams was the man that opened them. Not wierwille. And, all that bloviating in pfal of teaching the Word of God at the Jain Convention......when in reality, wierwille spoke for about 20-30 minutes (translated by Williams) in a week-long convention. So.....back to Peter Wade attending summer school in 1965........the guy was from Australia. Not only did Wade have talent and skill sets, he also was from another country. Could it be that this was another reason why wierwille invited him to twi's headquarters? A young church leaders (check). Another country (check). The following links go into more detail. Narcissistic Self-Promotion Ash Heap of TWI-story
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Update: Most likely, Wade was 4 or 5 years older Thus.......in May 1970 - Peter and Vivien Wade (and two children) returned to South Australia and still had some contact and affiliation with twi. At this stage of life, Wade was looking forward and twi was in his rear-view mirror.
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You are probably right, Rocky. In looking thru his website and comments section......I inferred that Wade was born in 1939 or 1940. Maybe, I'm mistaken on that.
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"Soooooo........It's another offshoot? " In looking over Peter Wade's background and website......I would say that, NO.....it's not another offshoot. Wade had been involved in other Christian training (like WW noted above) since 1957.......and attended The Way's summer camp in 1965 (when he was like a 25 or 26 year old). And then, Wade came back to Ohio (with his family) to help wierwille with way publications from 1967-1970........but then, back to Australia. Clearly, Wade was strong in his faith, goals and personal boundaries. He did not go into the corps program. Nor did he, it seems, allow wierwille to "set the hook" of joining wierwille's inner circle or yes-men club. If I understand this background correctly........Wade would have been 30 or 31 years old in 1970 with wife, Vivian, at his side and two children. Peter Wade wasn't some young buck looking to go corps and become a state/region coordinator. Wade was his own man. Yes, every young pastor has his teachers and mentors..........but I tend to think that Wade chose to go back to the original source. Not wierwille. Wierwille in his narcissism pawned other mens' work as his own. Yet, Wade in the tribute to Kenyon, makes is clear that he underscored the value of mentors and then, named a half dozen of those men from the 1870-1950 era. Obviously, when we hear one-liners like "the integrity of the word is always at stake"........who's to say that that one-liner is a wierwille-original? More likely, it came from Kenyon or someone else.....like most everything that wierwille taught (plagiarized). There is plenty of documentation to state that wierwille's organization was MORE of an offshoot than Wade's......ie the pfal class was stolen WHOLECLOTH from B.G. Leonard.
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Thanks Rocky........the website connects the dots. 1965.......Wade attends The Way's 3-month summer school 1966.......June 1966 - wierwille sends Wade an invitation to help with twi's publications/outreach 1967.......May 1967 - the Wades arrive in Ohio. Peter became the editor of "The Way Magazine" 1970.......May 1970 - the Wades returned to South Australia and still had affiliation with twi. 1973.......Peter J. Wade decouples from twi-affiliation. Independent ministry began in earnest. So yeah......wierwille invites Wade to come to twi and become editor of magazine. Wierwille does the teaching; Wade does the publication. Hand-in hand........in 1967, Wade is the right-hand man. October 1967........wierwille films skinny-tie pfal class. Praises Wade and the work, "You are righteous now." Early editions of audio/video pfal ..... mention Wade. When Wade fades away, the later editions (1976...+) edit Wade from newer pfal classes. That is why some of us heard about Peter J. Wade in the OLDER version of pfal......before he was scrubbed. BOOM.......there you have it folks! THAT is how things go down the memory hole.
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Yeah, T-Bone............ain't it amazing how many things we think about now......rather than when we were 18, 19 and 20 years old. Why did Wade exit twi? I can only surmise and respond with this: I find it interesting what attributes and qualities Peter Wade emphasized in his tribute to E.W. Kenyon. What stands out (to me) is the following: Every preacher and teacher has his mentors. E.W. Kenyon was a man of God who lived a devoted life to God above reproach. Kenyon boldly heralded the biblical truth of sanctification by the finished work of Jesus Christ alone. Could it be that Wade saw and detested wierwille's plagiarism, arrogance and manner of life? If Wade was the right-hand man directly connected to publishing/editing wierwille's works (for example.....the booklet, You are righteous now).......and saw blatant plagiarism.....it could sever their relationship. An upright man eschews that which is unholy or malicious. When Wade attributes Kenyon as "a man of God who lived a devoted life to God above reproach"......did he see aspects of wierwille's life that were carnal, opportunistic, predatory and/or NOT above reproach? Also, Peter Wade was NOT a corps grad. He did not go thru the indoctrination program. Obviously, he was his own man and held to boundaries and convictions. He was involved at the "ground floor".......before the unbridled adulation of wierwille gained a head of steam. And perhaps, he had a "front row seat" to wierwille's power-grabbing Heefner's and Doop's ministries (1972) and monies.....and saw the writing on the wall of what was in store. Probably......a combination of lots of things. Maybe someone will come forth with more information, but right now..... that, T-Bone...........is what I think.
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I thought about this some more...... Thinking back to those first pfal classes.......four (4) times I sat thru pfal that first year. It was a flurry of activity. At the time, I was a college student and glued into learning. I distinctly remember wierwille referencing that little booklet, You are righteous now, and then praising his right-hand man Peter J. Wade. And so, when I was at rock of ages in 1976, 1977 (and 1978)......I thought it would be neat to meet this "right-hand man" of wierwille. But with getting my WOW stuff in order, it fell by the wayside. Unbeknownst to me, Wade had exited twi in 1975 and, I believe, was scrubbed from the pfal segment. Down the memory hole he went. Like so many things in our twi-experiences.......it was a moving target. So many people have probably never heard that Wade was mentioned in pfal. Just like wierwille's books............
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One of these days.......I need to take the time to see what I can find concerning these mentors.
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A Tribute to E.W. Kenyon E.W. Kenyon: A Tribute Essek William Kenyon (1867-1948) was considered one of the all-time greatest of God's teachers of the 19th and 20th century. He did more to teach and spread the truth of Christ's finished work on Calvary than perhaps any other ministry in the 20th century. Although he spent many years as an evangelist, and then a pastor, he was known as the teacher of teachers. Over the air on his radio broadcasts, he was known as "the faith builder." Every preacher and teacher has his mentors. For E.W. Kenyon, these were the leading evangelical preachers of his day: D.L. Moody, the American evangelist; Dr. A.J. Gordon, under whose ministry he rededicated his life to God; Dr. A.T. Pierson, one of the strongest voices for evangelism and an associate of D.L. Moody; and others of Moody's "warriors" such as R.A. Torrey, S.D. Gordon, A.B. Simpson, G. Campbell Morgan, Andrew Murry, F.B. Meyer. These were all household names in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Articles by many of these writers can be found in our Library. Having a long and fruitful ministry for over 50 years, the Word of God was taught by this devoted man of God with unusual clarity, as deep and profound revelations of the Word were preached and taught in the Divine simplicity of the Gospel. His sermons were filled with incredible love, inspiration and Divine anointing, and were all geared towards increasing the faith of the hearers. In the days when many holiness pioneers were teaching sanctification as a second work of grace, Kenyon boldly heralded the biblical truth of sanctification by the finished work of Jesus Christ alone. This won a decisive victory for God's people. Kenyon's ministry has inspired millions to believe God for healing, deliverance and salvation all upon the finished work which our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross! E.W. Kenyon was a man of God who lived a devoted life to God above reproach. When faced with the seemingly impossible adversities of life, he conquered them all confidently, and victoriously by his simple faith in the Word of God. Kenyon's ministry needs no other vindication when we realize that his faith teachings have produced the exact same transformations in his converts. It is no small surprise that his ministry continues today, 50 years after his death, through his writings -- which are producing the same faith results in those who read his books! Kenyon's biblical teachings place us into the realm of a superman! John 14:12, "He that believeth upon Me, the works that I do, shall he do also" becomes a living reality! Kenyon's life and ministry was so faith inspiring and uplifting that many ministries today emulate his life and faith teachings! The words and teachings of E.W. Kenyon are quoted by more ministers who teach faith and healing today than perhaps any other minister of the 20th Century! Some have suggested this is a negative thing, but this is a not a negative thing, but a positive one, because it clearly shows how one man of God has influenced an entire generation for God! The Apostle Paul continually reminded his disciples to say just what he said, because what he said was Scriptural! E.W. Kenyon was used by God to lead men back to faith in the Word of God. Men of God such as F.F. Bosworth, who had a notable healing ministry throughout his life, continually referred to and applied E.W. Kenyon's teachings throughout his entire life. John G. Lake was also fond of E.W Kenyon's teachings. The great healing revivalist T.L. Osborn considered E.W. Kenyon one of the greatest exponents and teachers on the subject of Divine Healing in his book "Healing The Sick." E.W. Kenyon influenced a generation for God! In a day when very little real faith in the Word of God existed, E.W. Kenyon began teaching people how to have faith based upon the Integrity of the Word of God alone. He taught and demonstrated to people of all walks of life, how to live by faith in the Word of God, based upon the sole foundation of the Authority of God's Word. He dominated and utterly mastered all circumstances supernaturally by his simple faith in God's Word. You can too! Kenyon's teachings will make your Bible a new Book! If you have never read any of E.W. Kenyon's books, I strongly encourage you to order some of E.W. Kenyon's books [see below], for your faith will be strengthened, Jesus will become an absolute personal Reality to you, and you will truly learn what is is to walk by faith in God's Word! His books will teach you how to have your own faith life, how to be a master of circumstances, how to pray for sick folk and see instant results, and most of all, how to have a close and deep relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ! Articles by E.W. Kenyon These extracts are from books and articles gathered from all over the Internet. Some are short; some are long. Enjoy! Claiming Our Rights The Danger of Seeking Experiences Do You Believe in Miracles? God-Inside Minded God Reproducing Himself The Helpless Babe The Integrity of the Word Jesus the Healer The Price is Paid Raised With Him The Reality of Redemption Satan Defeated! This Jesus Kind of Love What We Are In Christ Why Have the People Failed? Books by E.W. Kenyon See the complete collection of individual titles online. This page layout Copyright © 2000 Peter Wade. The Bible text in this
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To me, it is very interesting that Wade writes this detailed tribute to E.W. Kenyon.........decades later. This needs more attention. .
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Hey there.......just so you know, I addressed the two questions by Jim and made note of E.W. Kenyon in another post (above). To help you see it plainly..........here it is. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another radio program.......E.W. Kenyon's morning broadcast, "Kenyon's Church of the Air." This program was an inspiration and blessing to thousands across the country. One woman who had brief involvement with the wierwilles told them her mother was a member of Kenyon's church......and thus, vpw began studying Kenyon's writings: Kenyon's fixed goal: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman....." Writings: The Blood Covenant The Two Kinds of Faith The Two Kinds of Knowledge Identification Jesus the Healer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oftentimes, here at GSC.........E.W. Kenyon is overlooked, but in the early to mid-1970s his books and small booklets were commonplace in The Way International. My wife had purchased nearly every one of them while on staff. We still have several of Kenyon's books and one of my favorites is "The Father and His Family." In the 1967 pfal class, wierwille mentions his right-hand man, Peter Wade. A few more years later and Wade exits twi in 1975. Decades later, Peter J. Wade was still a huge admirer of E.W. Kenyon ............ A Tribute to E.W. Kenyon Kenyon was a "bridge-builder" and some suggest that he was the originator of the positive-confession movement. Many of wierwille's teachings, writings and one-liners were grafted from Kenyon's work and ministry.......thereby, he was highlighted as one of vpw's mentors in Mrs. Wierwille's book (as noted above). But new waves of books replace the old.....and Wade's ministry has moved on as well. Yet, Kenyon was a giant among other church-men at that time. If you want to see more on Kenyon, here is a Wikipedia link ........E.W. Kenyon .
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PFAL: A plagiarized (stolen) class .... run in a church basement (St. Peter's Evangelical and Reformed Church) .... and one of the new students (Dr. E.E. Higgins) .... introduces wierwille to the influential research of E.W. Bullinger .... whereby vpw gains access to further plagiarize another. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the Van Wert church basement, vpw ran Leonard's class. No charts. No books. No syllabus. One of the twenty-seven new students in attendance was Dr. E.E. Higgins, an osteopathic physician. She is pictured on page 99 of Mrs. Wierwille's book.....standing behind VPW and next to Dorothy Owens. Mrs. W's book [p.102] ..... "Dr. Higgins was the person who introduced Dr. Wierwille to the great and influential works of an Englishman named E.W. Bullinger (1837-1913). She gave Dr. Wierwille his first Companion Bible, containing the notes and appendix information of E.W. Bullinger, and a copy of How to Enjoy the Bible, also written by Dr. Bullinger." "After reading these books by Dr. Bullinger, Dr. Wierwille wanted to consume his Journal of Biblical Literature, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible and his other writings. Dr. Wierwille obtained the book The Witness of the Stars which aroused his curiosity concerning the star that led the wise men to the house of the young child Jesus. He read all the research he could find....."
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Thanks WW........yes, the different names of Pillai is very interesting. During the 1940s thru early-'50s........wierwille found "influential" men via three ways: Radio broadcasts.......programs and announcements Church congregants and others......relaying information of upcoming speaker, event or book Happenstance or divine intervention (as wierwille often claimed) Clearly, the E. Stanley Jones Ashram was announced well in advance.....as church leaders from near and far registered for this conference and traveled far distances to be there. This was in July 1944.......during gas rationing and World War II. Those four contacts: 1) Jones, 2) Moseley, 3) Daily and 4) Clark led the 27 year old wierwille to other men, books and writings. As noted above, every Sunday morning ( 1941, 1942) before wierwille went to church or his office, he listened to Rev. Charles Fuller's radio program......"The Old-Fashioned Revival Hour." This evangelist, Rev. Fuller, reached a vast amount of people with these radio broadcasts. On page 94.....Mrs. W depicts that Albert Cliffe was "a cold Episcopalian" until he heard Fuller's morning sermon......a phenomenal thing occurred. Cliffe was healed and born again......and later, wrote Let Go and Let God. Albert Cliffe was an invited guest of the Spiritual 40 Club in January 1953...and taught extensively on "The Miracle of Believing." The roots of wierwille's teaching, "The Law of Believing," can be traced back to Albert Cliffe. Another radio program.......E.W. Kenyon's morning broadcast, "Kenyon's Church of the Air." This program was an inspiration and blessing to thousands across the country. One woman who had brief involvement with the wierwilles told them her mother was a member of Kenyon's church......and thus, vpw began studying Kenyon's writings: Kenyon's fixed goal: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman....." Writings: The Blood Covenant The Two Kinds of Faith The Two Kinds of Knowledge Identification Jesus the Healer Interesting of note, wierwille does not gain influential direction or contacts from the 1948 Pikes Peak degree-mill "educators. " None is recorded. Mrs. Wierwille's book gives a half-page overview of this commencement with a picture [p.67]. The brevity speaks volumes. .
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Look at this expansive work! How much of it inspired wierwille? How much of it did he plagiarize? E. Stanley Jones books.......... The Christ of the Indian Road (1925). German transl. Der Christus der indischen Landstraße. Jesu Nachfolge in Indien by Paul Gäbler (1928). Christ at the Round Table (1928). German transl. Christus am Runden Tisch. Offene Aussprachen unter Jesu Augen in Indien by Paul Gäbler (1930). The Christ of Every Road – A study in Pentecost (1930). German transl. by H[einrich] Fellmann (1931) The Christ of the Mount – A Working Philosophy of Life (1931). German transl. by H[einrich] Fellmann (1933) Christ and Human Suffering - Hodder & Stoughton, First English Edition, August 1933. Christ’s Alternative to Communism (1935) US title Christ and Communism (1935) UK title Victorious Living (1936) (devotional) The Choice Before Us (1937) Christ and Present World Issues (1937) Along the Indian Road (1939) Is the Kingdom of God Realism? (1940) Abundant Living (1942) (devotional) How to Pray (1943) The Christ of the American Road (1944) The Way (1946) (devotional) Mahatma Gandhi: An Interpretation (1948); 2nd ed.: Gandhi – Portrayal of a Friend (Abingdon, 1993) The Way to Power and Poise (1949) (devotional) How to be a Transformed Person (1951) (devotional) Growing Spiritually (1953) (devotional) Mastery (1953) (devotional) Christian Maturity (1957) (devotional) Conversion (1959) In Christ (1961) (devotional) The Word Became Flesh (1963) (devotional) Victory Through Surrender (1966) Song of Ascents (1968) (autobiography) The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person (1972) The Reconstruction of the Church – On what Pattern? (1970) The Divine Yes (1975) (posthumously)
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Hey Jim......good to "see" you again. To answer your two questions.......I have, again, searched Mrs. Wierwille's book, Born Again to Serve, to attain this information. Yes, vpw was ordained in June 1941 as an Evangelical and Reformed minister. On July 6, 1941 "reverend wierwille" was installed as minister for St. Jacob's Evangelical and Reformed Church in Payne, Ohio. With this little church and limited activity, vpw was in constant search of other avenues and opportunities. Every Sunday morning before wierwille went to church or his office, he listened to Rev. Charles Fuller's radio program......"The Old-Fashioned Revival Hour." This evangelist, Rev. Fuller, inspired vpw with his charisma and moving sermons. In June 1944, the wierwille family of four, soon to be five, moved to Van Wert. The St. Peter's Evangelical and Reformed Church enticed wierwille to pastor their church as it was a bigger church with a parsonage to accommodate his growing family. Van Wert was located on one of the crossroads of America. U.S. Route 127 ran north and south from Canada to Florida, and U.S. Route 30, called the Lincoln Highway, reached from the East Coast to the West Coast. 1) When did wierwille renounce the trinity? As far as I know.......there is nothing definitive in Whiteside's book, The Way: Living in Love or Mrs. Wierwille's book, Born Again to Serve, that documents this transition. Clearly, wierwille built his ministry and mystique on "how he took truths from all these sources and put it all together." Even in the vaunted pfal class......there is one point where wierwille gets all hyper-excited and claims of Jesus Christ.......that he is coming back as "God Almighty." In my opinion...........wierwille's narcissism was undiagnosed, undetected and advancing in leaps and bounds by 1972. After power-grabbing the youth minister movements of Steve Heefner [The Way East] and Jimmy Doop's ministry work [The Way West]......wierwille consolidated power and funneled all monies into twi's headquarters. And, with in-residence corps in training (cough, cough)......wierwille's persona as "the man of God" had evolved to the point that he refused to be questioned or reveal his evolving on certain doctrines or beliefs. Others here at GSC might know the timeline better than I........but it seems to me the 1975 book "Jesus Christ is NOT God" was his definitive way of staking out his position that ran contrary to a widely-accepted denominational church doctrine. Wierwille had been searching and learning from his contemporaries since the mid-40s.........and, as documented in Mrs. W's book, most all of these men were teaching outside the confines of denominational churches of their day and time. In conclusion......I would say that attempts to get into the thicket of explaining the "trinity" was something most preferred to avoid. When people are moving thru the struggles of life and living, shortages and famine, the Great Depression, World War II, etc.......perhaps, even clergymen understandably kept it on the back burner. 2) Secondly, did VPW ever mention the evangelist William M. Branham? The short answer is no ........I never heard wierwille, or in his writings, ever mention Branham. Mrs. Wierwille's book gives us a timeline and listing of men who were influential to her husband and there is not even an acknowledgement of Branham. Although this book is sanitized and strategically attempts to prop up wierwille in every way ........it is clear that one of the MAJOR breakout points was in July 1944. Wierwille was a young preacher of 27 years old when he rode with three other people to North Carolina to attend E. Stanley Jones' Ashram ( a religious retreat ). E. Stanley Jones was nearly 60 years old at that time. He had amassed a mountain of powerful biblical work, writings and good will to others.......as church leaders from near and far gathered at this Ashram to learn from him. Young wierwille is among the younger participants and stands in the back row when the picture is taken to document the event. Rufus Mosely was also a key-noted speaker. So, when vpw later boasts of his time with "Brother Stanley"...... it is doubtful that wierwille had any personal contact with him at all. And, if he did, it would have been very brief at a retreat/conference with 220 or more. Rufus Mosely did visit wierwille later in Ohio on two separate occasions......and then, moved on. Starr Daily and Glenn Clark were also at this North Carolina Ashram. So, when one goes to the Founders' Room at twi's auditorium and sees those 12-14 pictures on the wall...... keep in mind, that FOUR of those men were from this one event: 1) Jones, 2) Moseley, 3) Daily, and 4)Clark. Birds of a feather, flock together.........and wierwille was "flocking" with those OUTSIDE the denominational church system, per se. In all this, I see wierwille as a "searching opportunist"......not as someone who wanted to infuse this gained knowledge back into his Van Wert church congregants. His narcissist pathologies were driving his interests and agenda toward a position of power and control over his surroundings, over others. Wrangling with church boards was growing tiresome. With each passing year, wierwille was searching for a path outside the confines of the church.......and B.G. Leonard's class and class-based ministry, in 1953, provided that lane to run in. Wierwille took it (literally). Whether it was another man's radio program, books, teachings or pamphlets.........wierwille garnered from these men, in full. Wierwille did not produce anything original. His claim "to fame".......as he said, was "putting it all together." Mrs. Wierwille's book unveils the timeline, the sequence, of wierwille's gleanings and relationships. Truth be told, some of it was pure happenstance......like when Harry Wierwille was traveling thru Tennessee in 1953 and ran across Bishop K.C. Pillai at a Christian children's camp called the "Tennessee Mountain Mission' [p.96]. Pillai, like other men through the years, was invited to Ohio to teach wierwille and his close-knit followers. In this manner, wierwille accumulated his "wall of fame" of men who were influential to his life. And then, after attending (twice) B.G. Leonard's class in February 1953 and July 1953 in Calgary, Alberta..... wierwille taught this same class for several years. Along the way, he was introduced to Bullinger's work so more research material was added.....and thereby, vpw had enough to RE-package the material. So, after the filming of the 1967 pfal class.......the doctrine was "set in stone." Within years, twi became a closed society...... a cult. .
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Good point, T-Bone......That's a money-quote right there. "Both may be true accounts of what wierwille actually said. I don’t think it’s a matter of conflation on wierwille’s part – where he had combined the two ideas. Maybe in a deluded mind that’s usually inclined towards plagiarism the source of the idea for The Way Tree simply “evolved”.. I remember sitting in Emporia's Fireplace Room......when wierwille would talk about the pfal class like it was the Holy Grail to mankind. There is just no way you could improve upon that material in reaching people with God's Word. Superlatives all around. THEN.........later at a Gunnison nightowl (not long before graduation day for the 9th corps), wierwille boasts that he could probably have taught the pfal class in a dozen different ways!! I am NOT exaggerating this claim. Think about that.......wierwille claimed that he could have offered up a dozen different versions of pfal. Was THAT the Drambuie talking? Or, was it the narcissism? Probably like a lot of things - - the truth was somewhere in between those two claims.......1) PFAL was clearly not the Holy Grail of truth and 2) Could that foundational class have been taught in a number of different ways? Absolutely.
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A wretched appointment.......INDEED. And now, 3 years later...........hundreds more corps and followers have broken free from the chains of the institutionalized doctrine.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "At tomorrow’s STService (March 8, 2020) The Way will announce that they are replacing Jean-Yves De Lisle as President of TWI." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Was this announcement given to set the tempo for those annual ..............Corps and Staff Placement Meetings in March? Things at twi's hq must be downright ugly the past 15 years........hearing the update from Moynihan/Fort/Horney letter in March 2017 that "in the past 10 years over 150 way corps have left twi." And then......how many more corps got booted (m/a) after that May 2017 meeting? Another 80-100 corps? How many corps are in a position to even want to move to fill some damage-control branch position in another state? Wouldn't the field corps, the few who still are around, have leverage to simply tell Rosalie and co. to "go pound sand".......we ain't moving? Years ago.........it was reported that Rosalie was really frustrated with how things had changed after martindale's two lawsuits. Changes in work hours, regulating the amount of overtime staffers worked (without compensation). Changes in retirement age and "benefits." Changes where twi could NOT dictate if a staffer wanted to have a side-business on nights and weekends (which allowed Linder to pursue a real estate representative opportunity). So......Rosalie lashes out at Jean-Yves for being "spineless"......but what does THAT even mean? Is he supposed to rule with heavy hand on policies that are restricted? Or, is he just supposed to bully corps and followers into submission? Maybe, just maybe...........Rosalie YOU have egg on your face, because you chose a replacement that faltered........just like wierwille chose martindale and he crashed and burned. Martindale walked into a buzz saw-lawsuit from a pi$$ed-off husband who had the savvy and resources to finish the job. Put Bill Greene in there as president...........or Chandler. Naw, you wouldn't do that would you? The perks of rulership are to grant favors to your friends and punish those you despise. It stokes fear in the queendom. And, just before those placement meetings........is a good time for fear. But maybe not. More corps might just decide to stand up.......and walk out. .
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Clearly, Rosalie was cunning in her strategy and the tactical advantage of adding a 4th individual to the board of directors. Thus, when Rosalie brought Bill Greene on-board, she knew that Bill would ALWAYS side with her......since Bill's wife, Marcia, is best buds with Rosalie. It seems apparent that everything Rosalie did....when she "stepped-down" (cough, cough) to vice-president AND added Bill to the board......was to diminish the power and effectiveness of the January 2017 president, Jean-Yves. president [the front man in the revolving door] vice-president [Rosalie] vice-chairman (Bill Greene - whatever title given]] secretary-treasurer [John Rupp] Who would ever want to be the NEXT president......with 3 back-stabbing officers with long knives? Why isn't John Rupp or Bill Greene installed as the next "leader?" If not, why not? What the hell is this.......LEADING FROM BEHIND BUSINESS? It is the seedy, Pharisee-hypocrisy that Jesus confronted. The whole packaging of the twit-cult is in the business of making money.......selling tapes and magazines and programs and events. But.....most of all......selling **cult control from afar** wherein followers are REQUIRED to abundantly share 15% (minimum) each paycheck of their hard-earned money. The cult confiscates it with the heavy hand of spiritual abuse!!! .
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Well, Jean-Yves...........hopefully, you will start to see what we warned you about years ago. You and Michele have been nestled in at twi's headquarters for over 31 years..........and now, change is coming. The corps program indoctrinated you to succumb to twi-allegiance rather than obey God's Truth......and your Canadian background and resume' played well to their "international outreach" marketing ploy. If there is validity to this announcement, then you are being knocked off a seemingly high perch. But in truth......it wasn't a perch at all. You were simply the front man.......the power behind that "position" was off-stage, preparing for Act 5 [ the 5th "president" of twi ]. Rosalie and her accomplices, Donna and Marcia G. .......are the shadow manipulators pushing and pulling the levers of control. And, if Vern Ed-wards is chosen as the next president......why is John Rupp and Bill Greene being passed over? As this news travels throughout the ex-twi community.......it only substantiates, again, that twi is a mess! Built on a plagiarist foundation, wierwille gathered a following of zealous youth by masking his character and intentions. In truth, twi is not just another man-made religion......based on its methods, twi is a cult. It's a modern-day Pharisaic rule of corruption. False teachers, past and present, who have fleeced the congregants and hoarded some $68 million.......may God have mercy on their souls. It gives me no joy to hear of this news.......other than the fact that it *might* be the kick in the butt you need to get you out the door AWAY FROM TWI. But I am resigned to hold out much hope.......seeing that even the newly-exited way corps climb aboard new splinter groups and ride that train. Choo-choo. Indoctrination is a bi+ch..........and it takes a hellava lot of work to shake it. Call me, Jean-Yves. Or private message me. My door is open to you.
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Interesting..........................