Cool!
No doubt!..Todd was a definitey a talker!
I've tried searching this board for some of the names that I still remember, but Todd's was the only one I've got a hit on so far. Todd's WOW family was in Rockledge and consisted of him, a girl named Julie from Montana or Iowa, a guy named David who after we were WOW had his fiancee, Ruthie, move in with him, and a girl whose name I can't remember(sorry), but was from Wyoming.
My family included Mike Bradway(Way Corps), Mary Kriz(an RN from Montana) and Pam Barbuto(from North Brunswick, New Jersey)
We were sent to Merritt Island. Because we were geographically fairly close, our families spent some time fellowshipping and witnessing together.
There were 2 other families sent to Florida that last great year..one in Palm Bay and the other in Melbourne. Some names I still remember are Gene, John, and Loren(a guy)
Our branch coordinator was named Janet Myracle(sp?)
Being immersed in the Word and it's movement from summer '86 to summer '87 we WOW's didn't know about any of the turbulence the Ministry was going through.
Myself and a few others even drove to Emporia for the advanced class that year and still didn't have a clue about the impending doom.
This is a bit of an exaggeration, but returning to the ROA in '87 felt a little like coming home and finding your house has burned down or something... ouch.
I don't know about any of my above friends in the Word, but to me, it was very, very weird. The sudden legalistic "tone" of things really negged me out. Only a few of us returned to Florida, and without leadership, things went into stagnancy. I ended up moving back to Texas and have endeavored to stand on the Word using insight that I gained from the Doctor in the PFAL classes.
I read Chris Geer's letter (Passing of the Patriach) and heard plenty from others about the mis-direction of the Ministry during that time and saw enough to know that it was looking too much like a denomination for me to want to be a part of it any longer.
I thank GOD and his Son, Jesus Christ, for sending thoe Way Corps Light-bearers to Norman Oklahoma in early '86 or else I'd probably still be a natural man with no power and no hope. Thanks be to Julie and Diana for holding forth HIS Word so mightily!!!
I believe that by the time Dr. Wierville passed, his vision of the Ministry had already been lost and the sand already was in the machine. The organization that exists today is just not the same thing. Too many people placed too much regard on the Doctor and elevated him beyond his true position in the Body of Christ. While he was the Father of the Word to many of us, I believe it was his intention to only lead us to water that we might drink for ourselves and be able to serve it to others. Not to build a denominational empire idolotrously worshipping his memory, or a legalistic society of Christians bent on strict rule of their "flock."
You won't hear me say another negative thing about the Way International, as without it, I'd probably still be lost.
Just wanted to say "Hi" to those who helped me grow into the man of Christ I am today.
