The Way International holds four-day festival

[Belle]

NEW KNOXVILLE — The Way International concluded its four-day festival, Rock of Ages ’25, on Saturday evening with music and a fireworks show.

The event drew more than 3,000 participants from around the world, according to a release from The Way International, with attendees enjoying amenities such as a petting zoo, a splash pad, food trucks and more. The final tent meeting included the commissioning of more than 900 people to serve as Way Ambassadors for the next nine months, traveling throughout the globe and spreading the message of The Way.

For more information, go to theway.org.

Link to the article here. 

It looks like they are now editing whatever press release TWI sends to the paper.  I especially like how they most likely changed the wording from "spreading the Word of God" or "sharing information on how to properly interpret the Bible" or some other TWI-speak nonsense.

"More than 3,000 people" - were these people pestered over and over until they caved in and used vacation and PTO to appease the gods of TWI? 

 

[Rocky]

5 minutes ago, Belle said:

"More than 3,000 people" - were these people pestered over and over until they caved in and used vacation and PTO to appease the gods of TWI? 

Great question.

[Belle]

And where the eff did they get "more than 900 people" to sign up as Way Ambassadors?  Or is it just that they have 900 actual "members" and declared that wherever they are they are "ambassadors of TWI"?  A mere technicality to be able to claim they have 900 ambassadors.

[waysider]

This sounds plausible.

[Twinky]

3,000 participants.  Does that include, I wonder, all the staff pressganged to work on the event?  Limb coordinators, etc (if such still exist), dragged in?  Together with spouses and children?

I'm almost surprised that there'd be 900 non-staff present.  And 900 "ambassadors"?  In their dreams!

[Twinky]

Nice to see you, Belle.  It's been a while.

[Nathan_Jr]

They did open this year's festival to the general public. How many of the 3000 were locals, I wonder. 

[waysider]

On 8/13/2025 at 5:25 PM, Twinky said:

3,000 participants.  Does that include, I wonder, all the staff pressganged to work on the event?  Limb coordinators, etc (if such still exist), dragged in?  Together with spouses and children?

I'm almost surprised that there'd be 900 non-staff present.  And 900 "ambassadors"?  In their dreams!

 

[waysider]

During the absolute height of the WOW program, Wierwille had a dream of sending out 1,000 WOW Ambassadors, which was essentially a self-funded, uncompensated sales force. I think it might have been the the Bicentennial (1976). I could be mistaken on the year. I don't recall if that goal was ever reached. Well, my point is, it's almost comical to think they could ever come anywhere near a goal of 900 WOW Ambassadors, given the current state of affairs. As Twinky said, "In their dreams!".

 

edit: I suppose anything is possible if you redefine WOW Ambassador.

Edited 2 hours ago by waysider

[Nathan_Jr]

And if it’s NOT possible, just apply that foundational hermeneutic: if it doesn’t fit, you got to MAKE it fit.

Make the numbers whatever they need to be. What a tremendous truth!

 

[oldiesman]

On 8/13/2025 at 10:04 AM, Belle said:

NEW KNOXVILLE — The Way International concluded its four-day festival, Rock of Ages ’25, on Saturday evening with music and a fireworks show.

The event drew more than 3,000 participants from around the world, according to a release from The Way International, with attendees enjoying amenities such as a petting zoo, a splash pad, food trucks and more. The final tent meeting included the commissioning of more than 900 people to serve as Way Ambassadors for the next nine months, traveling throughout the globe and spreading the message of The Way.

For more information, go to theway.org.

Link to the article here. 

It looks like they are now editing whatever press release TWI sends to the paper.  I especially like how they most likely changed the wording from "spreading the Word of God" or "sharing information on how to properly interpret the Bible" or some other TWI-speak nonsense.

"More than 3,000 people" - were these people pestered over and over until they caved in and used vacation and PTO to appease the gods of TWI? 

 

You may be correct...  I did a little numerical research (AI OF COURSE) and that average of wow ambassadors to rock attendees is greater than even in 1974 when the first 1000 ambassadors were commissioned...