red

Now at 18 I start looking for a fellowship in my area. That was the deal. I was unwelcome until I was no longer under their roof because they were the parents and children were to follow their parents lead and the parents are the spiritual advisers not an FC. I couldn't find anyone who was still in from my fellowship or branch. So I called everyone who's number I had. Finally I got ahold of someone who gave me numbers to reach people in my area. I was so happy to hear in my new apartment complex lived a FC and his family. I called them up to get a twig schedule. "free at last"

I thought it was really fun living with this lady and her daughter, that the FC had decided should move in with us. It was kinda like having a sister. They were great people. One day they just took off, moved back to Calorado where they were from. We got a letter from them that they were doing well, they'd left the Way because they'd noticed things weren't right. We were put on another time-out. They never went back. As long as they were married, they were unwelcome unless they could be on probation and prove that dad fully supported the Way leadership and their marriage was exacly as local leadership would demand, mustard jar where they said. And micro managed by fc. They were told that if thtey came back and couldn't meet their probation requirments; they would be m&aed and never welcome back. Dad was glad not to be micromanaged by them and enjoyed his old freedom back. He made less than his best effort to do as they requested. Then he heard other stories from other m&aed in our area. He decided he never wanted to go back. Mom still couldn't be a part unless she would divorce him. I turned 18 and moved out on my own. "free at last"

My mother's sister got her "in the way" soon after she and my dad married. My father took pfal but never got to into things. Late seventies, early eighties the east side of Indianapolis wasn't such a bad pplace to go to twig. My brother came along. Then I came along and my story began. I grew up in the Way. As a child I was thrilled to be a part of the great household. I always took every class every chance I got. I was totlly involved, I thought. When it came to my father, he just wasn't involved when it came to way functions of any kind. Mom took bro and me to the ROA every year, she went to every advance, we made the trip to HQ twice a month. For me that was like a second home. Mom took us to Camp Gunnison 4 times. The last time my dad went. We never went corp or WOW, or ran a twig. Around 94 the Way had began to "encourage" people to be more equaly yoked. In other words, dad should become an advanced class grad; cause mom was. So dad goes through the process of preparing for the advanced class. I'm also headed there. In our part of Indy, that included homestudies that had to have an exact word as the answer not anything else that resembles it. There were class deadlines to be met, group meetings for candidates, surprise home inspections, and intense scrutiny of our entire family. Dad and mom started fighting more. That caused intense marital counseling from the FC. ROA 95 was still fun for me as a teen. I got to see all these great people I'd grown up visiting with at ROA. LCM ranted and raved and I bought it all. LCM started m&a-ing anyone who looked the wrong way. For us it started with time out's. I was 15 and our family was told we were not welcome until mom and dad had a marriage that was exactly the way they instructed in a recent article on marriage. There were other issues as well. Mainly my father not wanting to be ordered around by a FC who should mind his own business. Of course he had to act as head of the household and lead the family according to the Way's every directions, suggestions, and whims. Trying to keep his wife, dad broke down and tryed to be a good little wafer for mom. Our family was welcomed back. My older brother got interested in animal rights. He decided to become vegitarian, then vegan. FC and BC decide that that is idolatry. My brother's now unwelcome at fellowship unless he'll eat meat. He gets upset and starts rebeling. So now he has the spirit of "rebelion and witchcraft" and should be stoned like they did in the old testiment. He just didn't like what was going on. FC threatens my folks that he is contaminating their house with evil which opens the door to the advaersary to ruin our lives and the rest of the household's lives by our association with him than them. Like he's got cooties or something. So they had to choose between their son and the Way (only way for the protection from the adversary that seeks night and day to devaure them). They chose to kick him out. Then they decided that a woman and her daughter should live with us now that we had an extra room. They had just moved into state and had been living with our FC. "free at last"

I got out Christmas 2001 at 20yrs old after growing up in the Way. I'm glad that you have the freedoms in the Way that I never experienced while "in". If you are happy "in" stay in until you are unhappy. I'm glad that you seem to have a head on your shoulders and know how to use it. I didn't find greasespot until I was out. However, it would have been helpful while I was in. I thought I was the only one who noticed things because nobody else would talk about them. Now most people who I've known for years are out with their own stories. I do miss the fellowship with people I could relate so well with in the Way. However, this place helps fill that void. I hope to see you around in or out. "free at last"

Tom and cheryl and the boys were in Ft. Wayne IN last I heard, back in Jan 2002 and still in. Chris wasn't around "free at last"

Anyone remember Mark and Joanne George? Still in last I heard. Elizabeth their daughter is now married to Dan Everson. Tim and Phil are both overseas with the military. "free at last"

I'm looking for RJ. Sometimes when a thread catches my eye I send it to myself to read over later. I read your letter to your dad. It really touched my heart. Since that forum is closed now, I thought I'd respond here. I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need a friend to talk to I'm here. You grew up in the Way, so we've probaly met before. "free at last"