FreshAir 99

When I signed on the line to partake of a corps "training"..........the form specified that it was for those who desired to develop their natural leadership ability and lead others to Christ. My corps application said NOTHING about staying committed to twi for the rest of my life!!! When Scripture speaks of BEWARE OF WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING......I now more fully comprehend the depth of such warnings!!!!! Fresh

Buds, I couldn't agree more. The corps program is now a "farm-program" for aquiring drone workers.....all in the guise of serving God. Those who succumb to such tactics are sure to be led into a lifetime of twi servitude. Sorta reminds me of the eunuchs of old. Should be interesting in the next 5 years to see how all this plays out. Seems to me, that its getting harder and harder to find ANYONE who wants to be a corps drone. There seems to be more going OUT THE BACK DOOR than coming in "the front." Wonder why? :P--> Fresh

Another aspect about seclusion..... In today's twi, the innies rarely [especially those outside the 250 mile radius] see ANY ASPECT of hq staffers' lifestyles or activities. The innies are "secluded" from any eyewitness accounts of hypocrisy and abuse. Imagine........SEEING YOUR "SPIRITUAL LEADERS" ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS (in dallas, in a conference setting)???? At least churchgoers see their ministers once or twice a week (if not more). And, when involved in church activity, most would have daily contact with their spiritual leaders. Twi's system is SECLUDED FROM INNIE SCRUTINY!! Rampant hypocrisy was bound to occur. Fresh

NKresident, Thanks for your input on this thread. As you describe the current situation there from twi staff......I wonder if this same situation applies for innies on the field. Sometimes there is a vast difference between hq's public relation tactics and what is deemed acceptable commitment by corps and advanced class grads on the field. Perhaps, as you mentioned.....twi HAS adjusted their past mode of operation to new methods. Wouldn't surprise me one bit. Especially now that they've stashed $47 million away. Yeah, they might be comfortably sitting on a big NEST EGG today.....but it was nurtured from decades of deception and is rotten. Fresh

Without seculsion, where would twi have gone?? Interesting.......vpw taught his classes live from 1953-1968. Those Ohio folk sat and listened......many of whom left, never to return. THEN......PFAL was filmed and, step by step, the system of seclusion walked in. * Sign up for the class -- make a commitment. * Class separates believers from unbelievers. * No questions would be tolerated during class. * Quit reading all other secular material. * Take other classes.....more isolation. * Go WOW......leave family/college/home. * Go WOW again.....establish your "growth." * Take Adv Class...see life thru spiritual eyes. * Go Way Corps.....leave all else behind. * For many, work at hq......live in founders hall (uuugh). So much more could be added to this short list. Seclusion was the brain-child of vpw's "success." Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually......it gave vpw a fixed audience and instant authority. Seclusion is the cornerstone of tyranny. Fresh

Kathy & Hope, Thanks for your heartfelt welcome back. I've enjoyed my mini-vacation from twi-postings. Heck, I go whole weeks now without even thinking about their evil doings and abuse. Hope, good points about sanctified teachings and twi's disdain for others. Clearly, they have an agenda.......one that ISOLATES "their" people from friends, family, co-workers, other Christians, and the evil world of unbelievers. Systematically, twi draws individuals into their epicenter of seclusion. Once there, it becomes very difficult to break away from its "in-household honoring" and "way-worship." Even in PFAL.....one was ambushed with "higher truth" and "living the mystery with twi mentality" apart from all other Christians. Again, ISOLATION was one of the major staples of vpw's agendas. Is it any wonder that abuse of power ensued??? The system of seclusion........whether at hq, camp gunnison, lead outdoor academy, emporia, rome city, gartmore, or wherever.......will always bring darkness. Power-filled Christians, as LIGHTS of the world, are to be "on display" for ALL THE WORLD TO SEE........not secluded in a dark dungeon of despair and devilish dealings. Why should we be surprised that twi continues to spiral downward??? Fresh

Having spent 24 years in twi1 & twi2......I tend to think that it WORSENED in direct relation with its structured system of seclusion. seclude -- shut off or kept away from others; isolated; withdrawn; cut off from the public view The way corps training [programming] was SECLUDED and therein perverted and abused. Corps women were sexually victimized, scream sessions were commonplace, kangaroo-courts of confrontation were constructed, mark & avoid proceedings were instigated.........and, because of the SECLUSION, there seemed to be very little recourse of action for the used and abused victims! NOW.....having walked away from twi FIVE YEARS AGO.....I easily see how twi abused the youth. When isolated in programs.....twi's summer school, the WOW program, the corps programming, etc.....twi leadership abuses multiplied. Power corrupts....and power over secluded individuals is self-mesmerizing to a powermonger. Whether in a prison situation [like Shawshank Redemption] or in a military situation [like the movie, "A Few Good Men"] or in a religious setting like twi. IMO vpw quickly strayed from a Christ-centered ministry [if he started that way at all] to a vpw-centered system. LCM only continued in the system......thus, it worsened. With no ACCOUNTABILITY......twi's trustees became/become self-imposing lords over innies. IMO all trustees are to be held accountable for such injustices. Why has twi continued to relish in its rural holdings? Headquartered in western Ohio?? Camp Gunnison?? Twi feeds off of seclusion. Always has!! Fresh

Yes, vpw was the "proud owner" of an animal sex video. I saw it too. Having never seen such perversion......it struck me as really odd that vpw needed/wanted to show this to the corps. To this day......I WISH I'D NEVER GONE CORPS. Fresh

Kathy, This is for you.....(((((((Kathy))))))) I still think that one of the reasons why I stayed in twi soooooooo long was.......good friends and good people. I, too, miss them. Sometimes, when I think back on those simple times [before things got really twi ugly]......my heart cries. Sharing life with special friends meant more than fame or riches. Taking two steps backward....isn't always a bad thing. Time for reflection and time for healing. Someone said that "Leaving twi was like a divorce" ....and I see what they meant. It just didn't turn out as I expected. Take all the time you need. Besides, who wants to string more chairs anyway? Fresh

Thousands of extras were added to trailer 5......trying to make it pleasing for Chris Gxxx......all the fussing over the details. And when trailer 5 was finished............NOT one night did Chris G. ever sleep there. At that time, he was refusing to come to HQ....fearing for his life. Fresh

ex10, As best I remember, "Uncle" Reuben passed away in 1987 or 1988......and Rhoda moved into trailer 5 shortly after the funeral. One of the reasons why I seem to remember this is because......trailer 5 was equipped with all the European audio/video stuff and was designated specifically for whenever Chris Gxxx came over to help the trustees after POP was publically read at corps week in 1986. Reuben....such a gentle soul. And, Rhoda, with her strong Mennonite background, seemed always ready to work some more. As far as I know, Rhoda is still living in trailer 5. Fresh

FreshAir Having escaped twi's prison and stench-filled confinement..........nothing seemed more pleasant than fresh air. Fresh air and freedom are synonymous, to me. Just call me..... Fresh