skyrider

Looking back at all this frivolous activity: Craig, Don and Howard were three of wierwille's chosen misfits... considerably awkward at adjusting to the changing environment around them. They were appointed by wierwille at particular points relative to situations that he wanted to control. All three were yes-men with no leadership prowess amongst them..... at least, not in terms of leading others to greater heights. Craig, the jock who played second string football at Kansas University knew he was a Grade-A a$$hole.... er, athlete and set out to prove it every day. Not only was he THE spiritual athlete in that production, spirits in the athlete... er, Athletes of the Spirit... he made sports the center-right piece of his new foundational class The Way of Abundance and Power. That class was a major disappointment and belly flop within three years. Don was the most neutered of the three. He had his educational background to stand upon and was readying to work on his doctorate when his old man gave him a position he, seemingly, couldn't refuse. Quit your career in Michigan (or was it Wisconsin?) and come be the "Dean" of The Way College of Emporia. While there, he wrote his thesis paper on this project to get his doctorate. Besides being given the title of "Dean Don" in a "college" that didn't need a Dean...how did that that work out for Don? No wonder some referred to him as "Ding-Dong." Howard was the head "go-fer" to wierwille thru the decades. Whatever wierwille needed, Howard would go-fer it. Wierwille needed a brc to start his ecumenical work at the wierwille farmstead. Howard led the charge to build it (since Howard's background as a lumberyard foreman in Kentucky preceded him). Wierwille needed someone to drive the camper. Howard could do that. Wierwille needed a secretary-treasurer when his brother, Harry, passed away. Howard could oversee that. The incremental steps to rising to the "trustee level" of a cult. Yet, none of these men knew how to navigate the forces of change. They were entrenched in wierwille's machinery that badly needed overhauling to keep leading the thousands coming to twi. Aspiring men with academic pedigrees were stride-for-stride outpacing them and rather than make room for new leadership and growth, the "trustees" stymied their potential. Much like wierwille, the new trustees grabbed onto these reins of control even tighter... and within a matter of years, this "horse" was outta the barn running for the hills never seen again. Inept trustees begets an inept president's cabinet. .

As you noted, I wouldn't begin to guesstimate how much cash went undisclosed "under the table." I remember ushering and collecting horns of plenty at roa in the early 80s. You know, when wierwille did the big meeting and abs-push for all that twi had done for you. In each section, we collected the horns of plenty with cash only and were strategically told to take these to the OSC Building, thru the big door where they parked the fire truck. At the back of this room (out of sight from the general public).... there were like 8 clean trash barrels for us to dump the cash into. I do not remember seeing one check (only cash) in all the activity. Make no mistake... the security guys were watching all of this movement like hawks. I got the impression that they didn't even trust Limb/Region guys from sticking their grubby little paws into these horns and pocketing some money for themselves. What happened to these trash cans of cash. Well, I have no idea, but was given the impression that they were swiftly taken to the Finance Department for counting and safe keeping. All of it, cash. How would any one ever know if major sums never made it on the books? Whose to say that one (or two) trash cans of cash never even made it to the Finance Department? Everyone was glued to their chairs as wierwille opened his Bible and began teaching. Slick, nice diversion.

Well, here's my take on this. When Paul or Peter and Barnabas came traveling thru these areas.... it was electrifying times to be near these men who walked with the power of God. Signs, miracles, wonders, healings.... could happen at any moment. These were NOT your present-day dull church services where the pastor tries to stir the congregants with emotional appeals.... no siree! Back in Paul's day.... these men *BREATHED THE FIRE OF GOD.* The multitudes got wind of this God-power and brought forth sick folks and those vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed every one [Acts 5:16]. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this life-thrilling and deliverance event? That's why support was freely given. These were not the chief priests, high priests or Pharisees doing the Lord's work.... these were VALIANT MEN OF GOD'S CHOOSING.

Lots of cash flowed thru their hands. The one specific incident that I have full knowledge was in the Fall of 1985. I was the Country Coordinator for Canada and Howard Allen phoned me. He told me that their annual Trustee Meeting was at *the Lake of the Woods* in western Ontario and wanted some $4,000 Canadian money for this trip. He requested that I withdraw it from The Way of Canada's account and bring the cash directly to him in Ohio. Was never privy to all the details of this trip, but most likely Craig, Don and Howard were accompanied by three or so men to cook meals, clean up around the camp, get fishing bait and tackle, and be the general "go-fers" that they were. Who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if a corps girl or two went as well. So, $4,000 for some limited groceries, beer, fishing gear and incidentals while in Canada. I would assume that twi paid most of the gas and necessities thru various credit cards and petty cash funds prior to crossing the border into Canada. So, if the motor coach was stocked with essentials.... where did all the money ($4,000) go? What gifts did the Trustees buy themselves with plenty of money left over? Or, did they lavishly dole out gifts to their security detail (and girls?) who joined in the fun.... er, annual Trustee Meeting (cough, cough)?? .

Rocky, you are right of course.... other (manipulative) organizations DO THE SAME. But that's just it.... twi was NOT supposed to BE like other (worldly) organizations. After all, this was (drum roll).... "God's ministry." Why, wierwille staked his life and integrity on "standing for God."

When I went on hq-staff in August 1979 (interim year) and 1981-1984 (after corps graduation)..... I started to see a disconnect in wierwille's mandates of putting staffers on salary and paying them "according to their need." Supposedly, this policy had been instigated since the days Rhoda Becker Wierwille was hired. None of us knew what one another's salary was (accept the Finance Department).... but there always seemed to be this small talk of purchases made that didn't fit into the category of "need." For example, my wife and I were invited to a corps grad couple's apartment for a nice, home-cooked dinner. And, it was lovely. But while we were enjoying this nice dinner.... the husband casually drew our attention to their newly-purchased dining room buffet. He was brimming with pride when he added, "And, we are waiting on our new matching dining room table soon." I held my thoughts and composure, but underneath it all... I remember thinking, "...how does that qualify for need? Wouldn't everyone on staff like to furnish their apartments and homes with two or three nice pieces of furniture each year?" Seemed like my wife and I had much lower "need levels" that what others were getting from their paychecks. One of the unjust realities of living by this "needs basis" policy is the manipulation of guilt. Obviously, we had NOT padded our level of need, because we were trying to emulate Rhoda's example of simplicity. I remember when our interim corps group (9th corps, Family Corps 5) were invited to have a night with Ermal and Dorothy Owens. As Dorothy remembered the early days of twi where staff were compelled to live frugally, she relayed the story that when they invited couples over for cards and/or social evenings.... they served cinnamon and sugar toast cut in triangles. But then.... (thinking back on it all) she never mentioned that twi provided them a nice double-wide unit for the rest of their lives next to the brc. Were the auto mechanics to be paid at the same "need level" as the janitor who waxed the floors? Or the person in the kitchen who did prep work for each meal? What about the heavy-equipment operators.... was their skill level the same as the newly-hired bookstore employee who stocked the shelves? Were the guys who cut the grass at the same caliber of skill as seasoned electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and cabinet-makers? And, why.... after just a few short years did these skilled tradesmen leave twi for higher pay and a better living elsewhere? Whereas the lawn mowing crew remained relatively the same? Wierwille's policy was determined illegal by lawyers around 2000... just after the out-of-court settlement with the Allens and January Barn*s Park*r. So, it took LAWYERS to get twi to change wierwille's mandate that was in effect from 1957-2000. For 43 years, twi was doing illegal practices. What kind of reparations are we going to see from THAT??? LOL And further, twi had us sign those waivers that gave them leeway to not pay withholding taxes... so I have zeroes on my annual statement which reduced social security payouts. Just more cheap tricks by wierwille and twi to ensure power and finances over others. So yeah.... it's good to come here and remind others of twi's shady past. That way, at least, they cannot say that they were not warned. .

In April 1999..... Paul All*n started up Waydale and presented us with a choice. With open forums, lively discussion and an ongoing document section.... we were offered an insider look at twi's underbelly of lies and deception. Paul was truly a rebel leader for our generation. Thank you Paul. Hopefully, you and yours are truly enjoying a fulfilled life.

“An enslaving dreamlike (sleep-walking thru life) CONTROL SYSTEM…. sounds about right for twi. Where they encroach upon one’s own 1) Behavior, 2) Information, 3) Thoughts and 4) Emotions…. attempting to micro-manage the clones “to do the work of the ministry.” Choosing the “red pill” opens the pathway to independent thoughts and actions. Some might even call this red pill choice “Release from your prisons” found in twi’s Blue Book…. the fundamental guide and guardrails that keep you from straying from the cult. And, even though twi has all sorts of ways to manipulate control…. why is it that very few, having escaped, come crawling back to twi’s “sanctuary” love nest?” In fact, testimony after testimony here at GSC gives birth to newfound freedoms. Some might refer to leaving the walls of twi as “an uncertain future”…. but in actuality, STAYING THERE brings uncertainty on multiple fronts. In my experience, the worst possible situation is being field way corps who daily scramble to appease twi- leadership, working for free AND constantly confronted to keep their abs-levels up, with no deep consideration about their future or anemic retirement funds. Pick the red pill to enjoy the thrill of LIFE.

For those who continue in the religious trappings of the day.... most will scoff at this concept. It nearly borders on blasphemy! The avid church-going Christian will say, "Didn't God do His work for six days, but rested on the seventh.... setting apart this day for reverence and rest? How would ONLY meeting once a month not hold dishonor and contempt to what God so freely gave?" Here's a "radical" thought to bypass those religious barriers. On the other three Sundays.... if someone felt that it dishonored God, then get your family together at home for 20-30 minutes for prayer and some Scripture reading. Sing a song or two if you like. Problem solved. Guilty feelings assuaged. Blasphemy stopped in its tracks. The most dangerous man to the religious faction of the community is "the guiltless man." There is no way to disarm this man except through guilt. Through that which he himself has accepted as guilt. This man simply refuses to allow others to force him to kowtow to their religious rituals. He is the man who stands his ground having strong convictions of what he believes. He lives by his own standards and clean conscience. Thus, religious factions, most all, look for ways to insert aspects of coupling him to "the original sin" and/or awareness of his shortcomings. But a man of clean conscience has already addressed these issues and asserted his position in his own mind. Is there something about the religious ritual of sitting in a church on Sunday (for Christians) that checks all the boxes? There are plenty of religious groups who feel that it's perfectly fine to attend home fellowships rather than church buildings.... as twi-followers would concur. My paternal grandparents, in the 1920s-1930s, had an itinerant preacher visit their home about every six weeks. When he wasn't there. my grandfather did the honors with family, and sometimes extended family in attendance. IMO, the reason to even have a "church facility" is for the benefit of the community, the townspeople, the youth. Therefore, this concept of a monthly church service has validity. Especially a facility with break-out rooms and a gymnasium. It pulls in the youth, the 12-18 year-olds, to healthy activities rather than have them run the streets where gang activity is increasing. As a community service, the church could have a food pantry or food drive once a month, Saturday 8am-noon. It is high time to break some of these religious barriers that have ingrained themselves into the fabric of our society. It is past time that we stop this merry-go-round.... and breathe fresh air. LIVE LIFE. .

How about this one? Breaking Religious Barriers (BRB) Church Service Once a Month Freedom: A Beautiful Reality .

Now.....what name do we give this church?

Okay....that seems fair. Make a slot for the elderly folk Bingo in one room Card games in another (bridge, spades, hearts) Community activities in the church are closed Mondays and Thursdays Need time for cleaning, kitchen inventory and deliveries Only on special occasions will exceptions be made. .

Now.... that's a church model that I could really support

Friday Night Music Jamboree.......May-August, 6:00 - 10:00pm Sign-up schedules available Young adults.... bring your guitars and drum sets Clean up and restacking chairs is your responsibiltity Privileges and responsibility go hand-in-hand Open Hours for Basketball and/or Volleyball......Saturdays, 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Church Billboard: Come Visit Our Church We Meet Once a Month Our Motto: Live The Life You Know Honors God

How about this business/church model? Change the “requirements” for attendance from weekly to monthly. Send out a decree to your congregation that it is NO longer needed or required to attend church services every Sunday…. only the first Sunday of every month. God honors what's in your heart.... not the activity of weekly church attendance. In fact, if they do show up on those “other Sundays” the church doors will be locked. Therefore, prepare them with instructions on how this new model will affect their lives. For example, these monthly services will now be 2 - 2 1/2 hours in length…. where most of the congregants will receive the “meat” of the Scriptures. Newcomers will need to attend a different session, a side-service, to learn the basic truths. Children's Fellowship will be allotted a variety of activities, play time and breaks. We will adjust as needed. No messing around. We treat the Scriptures with honor and respect. On the three other Sundays, spend quality time with your family, loved ones and friends: Online help and support will be available Tuesday thru Friday, 9am-4pm: Senior pastors and associate leaders will monitor this website for questions, support and announcements. With this new model…. we believe that it will be of greater support than weekly services wherein families, who have time constraints and challenging lives, will be able to slow down, rest and be invigorated as they live this FREEDOM IN CHRIST. For indeed, he is truly our mediator, intercessor and advocate. Enjoy this newfound liberty in Christ. God bless you all. Note: In addition, if the church has kitchen facilities, break-out rooms, conference rooms and/or a gym..... information will be forthcoming as to when these areas will be available. Suggestions are welcomed. .

Yeah, thanks chockfull. I first learned of this stuff from Robert Jay Lifton's book during my deprogramming episode. They spent a whole afternoon going thru the tactics of cults. I should have listened more closely back then (1981), but more importantly I wanted to get back to twi to be with my fiance'. Hassan studied the thought reform theories of Robert Jay Lifton, and concluded that he was "able to see clearly that the Moon organization uses all eight" characteristics of thought reform as described by Lifton.[21] Hassan studied the work of Richard Bandler and John Grinder who developed neuro-linguistic programming, the works of Milton Erickson, Virginia Satir, and Gregory Bateson,[21] and used their works as a basis to develop his own theories on mind control, counseling, and intervention. .

IDK, Rocky.... it's like, freedom in Christ got them to come into the store [church or cult], but guilt and fear keeps them coming back. If people would just go out and live this creed, then church pastors and cult leaders might be out of a job. So, with each sermon there's a snippet of guilt/fear slipped in (just enough) that most people never notice it. But high-demand churches and/or cults keep adding another spoonful to the next sermon to ensure a steady flow of them return. .

And.... so was the repetitive nature of Rock of Ages and all "Advanced Class Specials." As corps, we were required to be suited up and ready to go long before the meetings started. I always considered *dress protocol* of wearing a coat and tie for meetings at roa, in a hot, muddy cornfield, a cruel joke. It was so damn impractical and stupid. I remember wierwille's "reasoning" for this protocol was..... we wear our best, because God's Word is being represented. And, sure.... wierwille was dressed in a suit at the podium.... with a small air-conditioning unit installed in the podium to keep him nice and cool. To me, without the presence of God rocking the place.... every big meeting became a herd-fest. Even the "healing service at roa" became a fizzle when wierwille simply stood at the podium and called for advanced class and corps grads to come forward and minister to those in need. I was SO disappointed. Hypocrisy was at the highest levels of twi.... starting at the top of the pyramid. Which, of course, was no surprise to anyone who did a thorough reading of the four gospels. Jesus always stood against the leaders of the Pharisees, Sanhedrin and scribes. They were the impeders of true deliverance to the people. So, too, were the trustees and emeritus trustees. Setting forth meetings and forms of godliness, but denying the power thereof. These forms of godliness, attending all these stupid meetings, were the trappings of a cult. Instead of placing Jesus Christ in his rightful place, at the right-hand of the throne of all true power and deliverance... we were serving idols by attending these bloviating herd-fests. Even to this very day.... they blather on, unfazed by selling a product that doesn't deliver. No matter. They pat themselves on the back thinking that they are about the Lord's work.... when even a scant reading of the Book of John shows that Jesus was out and about amongst the people one-on-one. As I've stated before....imo, none of this cult stuff works without the guilt factor. If people would step back and apply simple discernment and logic, they'd see that after decades of this, it doesn't come near the praise and worship services of God-loving churches. Apparently, wierwille's derogatory proclamations of church denominations in pfal still holds power over their heads. Shouldn't everyone enjoy sitting in a stone-cold meeting to learn greek and aramaic words that you'll probably forget in a week.

Classes and twi-programs were trappings, for sure..... but so was the repetitive nature of attending Sunday Teaching Services. Back in the day at headquarters, we often had Sunday morning fellowships in the BRC or under the apple trees (on nice summer days).... only to turn around and throw on a suit for Sunday Night 5pm. Apparently, as time marched on, the 5pm Service was moved to 3pm..... to accommodate trustees and emeritus going to bed earlier....er, for travel time extended to out-of-town guests. Sunday Teaching Reading Service has evolved because every "teacher" became so brain-dead boring with no exciting input or examples from their own lives. No personal testimonies of God-power in action. Besides, Rosalie didn't trust said teacher from going off-script and the pfal-messaging got garbled. So, reading was just going to have to suffice. The Monotony was Killing Me The butt-brigade ushers made sure that young corps had their butts in front row seats 10 minutes before meetings/sts started.... while they sat near exits and got up and down. Of course, emeritus corps and faithful old timers got choice seating and sat near the back row Each Sunday.... going thru the motions, sleepwalking thru life. No one WANTS to "live life" like that.... unless you're a dead-head cultist. It just ain't right. It's a mental trap with lethargic implications. It sets a pattern in your brain cells of low expectations and a God that has no power. But a staffer must comply, because someone has got to sit in those seats. God knows, most who've trodden this path for 5-15 years feel like the siren has gone off and one is led to the train station shipped off to cult camps. Why not have personal testimonies at STS??.... because there are NO vivid, personal testimonies. It's just dead-pan Jan reading her approved "teaching." Week after week, the monotony drones on. Break free from this trapping.... and spend a few Sundays at the nearby lake.

Exactly right

And, that is why so many of the guys I knew skipped past the big company/corporate scene and did self-employment..... painting, landscaping, flooring, roofing, window cleaning, car detailing or sales. All of this got jumpstarted when wierwille demanded corps attend corps week AND roa each year. At the time, there just didn't seem to be many companies out there that gave their young employees 3 weeks vacation time EACH YEAR.... and welcomed you back with open arms. Travel time to Ohio each year could be a real bi+ch. Add, *more vacation time* needed to visit family, weddings, funerals and baby births.... if you even had an "earthly family" (cough, cough) that you loved and wanted to spend time with. I swear... the narcissist-in-chief never had any empathy for our plight as corps grads. We were simply used and exploited to the max... and then, if obedience waned, discarded. Good riddance! .

Going in residence way corps was journeying into the unknown. We started our training at a campus of their choosing. After 3-4 months, there was a “block rotation.” Dozens of corps were shuffled off to another campus depending upon the needs of the ministry…. especially the corps who had experience in plumbing, carpentry, electrical, floor installations, landscaping, etc. Daily schedules could change at the drop of a hat. If confrontation was doled out at lunchtime…. It didn’t matter if everyone’s schedule got backed up one hour. Time was relative to the circumstances at hand. No choice of classes. No grades. No achievement by merit. What a “college.” Everyone got a passing grade. Everyone received public confrontations. Everyone saw each other’s dirty laundry. Everyone failed in their “Light Bearer” experience. Upon graduation, it wasn’t an absolute that we’d even get an Associate’s Degree….. because “The College of Emporia” had no status for accreditation. If we got this degree, it had to come from the Rome City Indiana Campus. Shady to say the least. So yeah…. this was a journey into the unknown. LOL We were not required to take assignments when we graduated… but then we were. Bait-and-switch decisions and policies surfaces all around us. And, if you complained, then what were you thinking that you signed up for? We simply didn’t know for sure. We were zealous youngsters on Manipulation Road with a destination known as Exploitation Extravaganza. Twi had set the snare and we had fallen into it. Through assertions of spiritual attainment and eternal rewards, we were caught into their trap and yet, fearful of trying to escape. When nearly 80% of the way corps existed en masse in 1986…. it was a major blow to twi’s growing power. Twi ushered in damage control to set the snare again. Did they go thru the godly steps of sorrow leading to repentance? Nope. Martindale and trustees leveled a volley of accusations against these men and splinter groups that defied their heavy-handed authority. And, the wheels of the bus go ‘round and ‘round. GreaseSpot is the first, and ONLY, place to offer clear and concise markings on how to escape from twi’s trappings. All other places and splinters make concessions around wierwille.

In the summer of 1973.... my high school classmate encouraged me to visit a local missionary pastor who often flew to Central America for his outreach missions. My classmate was an avid church-goer and I was not. We had several, deep conversations about Jesus as Lord and he felt compelled to help me before he left for the Navy. Little did I realize what was in store for me. Upon arrival at his home, there were only four of us in attendance and this missionary pastor wasted no time before he delved right into the Scriptures. Romans 10:9,10 [the new birth] was his starting point. From there, he handled aspects of sins and shortcomings and one's old man nature. Another 15 minutes of verses.... all of which would cast the central theme of all Scripture upon Jesus Christ, lord, savior and mediator. Then he asked me if I would confess Jesus as Lord Jesus to receive the new birth. Timidly, I spoke out loud and confessed him as lord. At this point, he stood, approached me and laid hands on me. After ministering the new birth and the other two guys praying.... I "felt" this rush of energy/power from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes. To me, I took this experience as the in-filling of holy spirit. Days later, my friend left for the Navy and soon I headed off to college. So, for me.... I was born again BEFORE ever hearing about twi or pfal. I never credited twi with leading me to the new birth; I credited my classmate and this missionary pastor. Had I gotten more scriptural understanding before leaving my home town.... perhaps, I never would have been susceptible to twi's hucksters. Who knows? I do know that God has had His hand on my life before AND after twi. No doubt or guilt of this has crossed my mind. Perhaps, that's why when the scales fell from my eyes.... there was no doubt I was released from twi's bondage.

I think so too. Whether or not we can identify wierwille's initial motivation as godly or not.... we certainly experienced its deception and exploitation. And, now some 38 years after his death, we've witnessed its collapse and downward spiral. By every measure, twi is a cult.