mudflaps

I don't know Terry personally. I've met him a couple times, but know his sons. The entire family left back a couple years ago. Terry wrote an awesome multiple page letter that he sent out to all the leadership and people in the fellowships.

It was quite a remarkable and a very well written letter that hits home on so many levels and gracefully and "Bluntly" tells The Way off. If I have all my facts right, 1 or 2 entire fellowships of people left with or because of him and his son, who was running another fellowship in town. If his sons are any example of the type person Terry is then he must be one Heck of a guy. Apparently others felt the same since they left with them. Beyond that, I dont know much about what they are doing now. I know one of his sons is deeply involved and extremely happy with Larry and Connie P's group. They are still in OH and am fairly sure they can be reached by a simple web search.

....... a few minutes later....

I found the letter and will attempt to copy it here for you. It was quite moving and hope more people "in" can take it to heart.

We are eternally linked with you by the spirit of God. May we always love and care for one another!

Terry & Cindy

Forgive me for any typos I may have made copying this and hope that Terry and Cindy are not upset that I have taken the liberty to share it here where people can read what is needed to be heard and not "Say Nothing". I wish this had been written and made available when I made the decission to leave. It would have saved many agonizing hours of condemnaation and arguements with myself.

-JSN

Thanks for the info JSN.I agree with you this letter is quite remarkable!Definitely very healing.Anyone who is still "in" and reads this letter would have to admit it is the truth,if not I believe they are deceived or just not being honest out of fear.Again thank you.

Mudflaps!!!

I am glad to meet You. Have some coffee and treats. Enjoy Your stay...May it help fill the gaps and connect the puzzle pieces. I never took LCM's Class, but I heard it was filled with startling twists and turns...Maybe sometime when you're comfortable, You could post a thread on it....Did you also take VPW's class??? It would be interesting to read the differences!!!!!andRainbowsGirl

Yes,I took VPW's class a number of times,that was a while ago.If I remember correctly I don't think VPW taught on The Face of the Deep or The First Sin of Mankind in his class.

I loved this quote from another thread. I was actually thinking about this the other day. How many people who are still involved in twi just feel stuck because they believe the above quote--that there is nothing else out there?

I was so scared to leave 3 years ago. I really thought there was nothing else out there. I found out there was a lot more "available" and that it was better than twi!

The sad thing is that we have family and friends who haven't left because they don't think there's anything else. These friends are what twi would call weak and are kind of living on the fringe of twi world, but they won't leave.

I know I used to feel the same way,but since leaving I have found that there is plenty more out there too.It seems twi is afraid to move on and learn anything new.When I left three years ago they were still basing all their teachings off of Dr.'s studies in abundant living books,it's like they are trying to resurrect the ministry of a dead man.The b.o.d. of twi should be ashamed of themselves for basically shutting down any operating of the gift ministry of an apostle,no new light.

I hope your family and friends will realize that the reason they are having thoughts about leaving twi is because God is working in them to do so and that staying involved out of fear is a lousy reason to stay.God's promise "to never leave us or forsake us" and all His other promises still work even if you don't go to twi.

I still continue to tithe at the church I attend and I donate to other causes,and I enjoy doing so,but since leaving the twi I have thought alot about what they and a majority of other churches teach regarding tithing.Most teachings I have heard on tithing always end up going to Genesis 14:20 (first occurence of tithe) and Malachi 3:8-12 to show that to get above average blessings you need to give at least 10%,which I believe forces alot of people to give basically out of fear,but my thoughts are what about 2nd Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,so let him give;not grudgingly,or of NECESSITY:for God loveth a cheerful giver,(no mention of 10%).I know alot of people who don't give anything to their church and their lives have tons of above average blessings.Why? Because God is good always,His being good to people does not depend on how many hoops you jump through.Myself personally I plan to give the rest of my life,I enjoy doing so,that is my freewill right,and a person who purposeth in his heart not to give that is their freewill right and I believe they also will have many above average blessings because God is good always.

Jodi Cowan

Terry Predmore

Hi there Mudflaps!

Its good to see you around the 'spot. Yep.. lots of new friends here for you. How are your parents taking your leaving TWI??

sudo

My parents left at the same time I did so they took it good.

I enjoy reading everyone else's story on here,so I figured I would give "my story".My parents got involved with the way in the 70's,so I was what you'd call raised in the way from the time I was a baby.My parents were fellowship coordinators,so growing up at home there was weekly fellowships.When I was old enough to move out on my own I decided I really wanted nothing to do with the way or any church for that matter,but after a few years of having nothing to do with God or any church I was pretty well miserable,so I started going back to a home fellowship and I really liked it.It was'nt long before I took Craig's new foundational class and was honestly blown away by some of the new material taught in it.I ended up taking the advanced class in 1999 went out way disciple in 2000/2001,came back home after way disciple and started coordinating my own home fellowship.Even before I went out way disciple I started to notice the sunday service teachings seemed to get more and more boring and seemed as if they were rehearsed,It seemed like the different teachers were supressed,not allowed to be themselves,there was nothing new being taught,I look back on those boring teachings and think that the people teaching were not bad teachers,but they were just doing what Rosie said.Anyway by 2005 I stopped going to the way,there was just so many things I disagreed with them about.Instead of first telling the branch coordinator that I was done coordinating a fellowship and done altogether going to the way,I FIRST told the people that came to my fellowship,I wanted them to hear it from me not some regurgitated version from the branch coordinator about how "Oh he left because he's possesed".I told the people in my fellowship I was done going to the way,but if they are happy going there I was happy for them,I told them I just want them to do what is the best for them,surprisingly to me they all were having alot of the same feelings about the way I was,so I believe it actually ended up being a very healing night for us all.So here I am on Greasespot,looking forward to making some new friends.