uuid:a0e7d6d5-45d0-8c4c-9602-8d6d3c43e9ff Except they pretty much worship the bible. This is just awful, horrible and egregious in every way possible. Experiences, questions, observations about offshoots who trace their roots to The Way International. What Are Long-Time Wayers Thinking About? x*"fhR*_l*I&mLRQnG.O@o(UU7Wn?\6t]~mak-tX}zn[z,.o,o.*?Y~,vYj8P]w1$'ZfL1sr&E7pc'R7_\veb_ After Dr. Weirwill died and leadership was given to Craig Martindale, TWI essentially split into those who followed Craig and stayed in TWI's proper organization, and those who moved into splinter groups. Leonard. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light; therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their deeds. I grew up in the Way Ministry in the 80s and left in my last year of high school in 96. Off-shoot of The Way (formerly Christian Educational Services) 6.3k posts. Wierwille admits going to Alberta, Canada, twice in the early 1950s to hear Leonard teach on the manifestations and get a copy of his syllabus for his use.8 Leonard still teaches in Brownsville, Texas. Pacific West Fellowship,13 headed by Steve Sann (who also was once a Limb and Region Coordinator), seems to be the second most aggressive splinter group. See John P. Juedes, Looking at Lamsa, Personal Freedom Outreach Newsletter (Jan.-Mar. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The Way International is a nondenominational Christian ministry based in New Knoxville, Ohio.The followers congregate primarily in home fellowships located throughout the United States, two US territories and in over 30 countries. Not even post TWI as a survivor. While Believers with a history of Way International affiliation, esp. in English, I was well traveled as an Army wife, and never dreamed I would be embarking on events that would change my life forever. The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. I did not take your explanation about The Way members as rude. (St. Louis: Personal Freedom Outreach, 1987), 50 pp. I had been a professional lead singer and performer since I was 16, and although I . He cultivated an image of being an original Bible researcher and his followers have seen him as such. I am also former TWI. For example, Vince Finnegan formed a new splinter group primarily from the block of Wayers he led in New . However, it sucked to consider our loved as anything less than brilliant, observant, and aware. 4v$gi Allen wrote, I read it and all is true.So I will change to do my best for the man I helped kill.7 They apparently could not reconcile the death of the man of God with their teaching of the law of believing. Since they considered Wierwille the epitome of believing, he should easily have been able to will himself to health simply by believing he was well and free of cancer. What practices are different from the 80s? Again, thank you for taking the time to provide concise details. A name used by Share International. Personally I was depressed and suicidal most of the 5 years I lived there and for years after until I was able to seek help. A place for discussion about cults and other new age religious movements. Soooo, I guess to answer your question about how she was allowed to do non-Christian activities, I think the thing to remember is that the Way picked up steam in the late 70s when a big wave of evangelicalism was sweeping through the US. At first I was told how loved and adored I was but quickly that facade died and it was clear I was not loved. 2013-08-09T12:10:58-05:00 The car parking and the Wi-Fi are always free, so you can stay in touch and come and go as you please. I want to be clear that if you think something nefarious has happened here, go with your gut. There are less and less full time ministers on the field and in many Regions only one full time couple in the entire Region. This video covers some of the deaths and suicides of former members. Ancient Aliens and the Bible: What the Popular Television Series Says about Extraterrestrials in Scripture, Famous for Jesus: A Review of Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church by Katelyn Beaty (Brazos Press, 2022), Famosos por Jess: Resea de Celebridades por Jess: Cmo los personajes, las plataformas y los beneficios estn perjudicando a la Iglesia por Katelyn Beaty (Brazos Press, 2022). European Christian Press (which Geer controls) then published it a few years after Wierwilles death. Many people follow Wierwille in part because they were impressed by his claim that he took over 3,000 books on theology to the city dump3 and resolved to study the Bible alone without mens teachings.4 Although Wierwille sometimes said he learned from others, he often explicitly claimed originality. The Way not only teaches that Jesus Christ is not God, but also has instruction on tithing, the law of believing (whatever one believes will happen to one, whether bad or good), and the accuracy of the Bible (as translated by Way leaders). In spite of its name, however, The Way . Geer repeatedly promotes himself as the only man left in The Way Ministry who is fully informed, spiritually adept, and capable of leading the Ministry and stemming its speedy decline. Each link takes you to a menu of articles on that topic, most by Dr. John P. Juedes, who has researched TWI for 30 years. In the weeks leading up to it, she got sick and missed a few shifts at work and ran up a few hundred dollars of credit card debt to cover bills. haga clic aqu para obtener ms informacin. Oh my goodness. Edited to add: Would anyone be interested in an ex-Way subreddit? Youve saved me an extensive amount of grieving. Un apologista cristiano responde a la actuacin satnica de Sam Smith y Kim Petras en los Grammy, Connect with the Christian Research Institute. Another splinter group By Fredchopin, September 3, 2021. Meanwhile, Way leaders apparently have tried biblically to defend adultery. I'm still dealing with a lot of the trauma. Sometimes area twigs would get together for a branch meeting, and less frequently a limb meeting. About The Way International. Are other families struggling to watch their loved ones involved? I mention this because in the athletes analogy, theres always an adversary. The figure other Christians might call the Devil the Way often calls the Adversary (lol it looks weird to write it out). Martindale told his followers at the 1995 Rock of Ages conference that new classes were needed because The Ways opponents had attended PFAL classes and learned how to use this material against The Way. 16 Wierwille noted that acquiring young people from the Jesus movement caused the Ways growth (Whiteside, 230-35). 35 0 obj <> endobj 60 0 obj <>stream 4 Lionel Recio and Steve Lefevers, The Way of Life or the Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. nase ahora para acceder a este contenido exclusivo para suscriptores de Journal, http://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/, To the Cancel Culture: We Respectfully Decline When Believers are Told What We May or May Not Say, Polite Refusal is Called For, Christ or Lucretius: Nature and Natures God in the poems of Mary Oliver. To address your questions about suicides directly - yes there have been suicides in the past as well as other deaths. TL;DR: the Way seems chill and relaxed on the outside but its pretty intense on a personal level. The 27-storey building hotel is the tallest building in Phu Ly and has been carefully designed for contemporary travellers looking for sleek comforts, simplified luxury and bleisure. For instance, trustee Donald Wierwille (Victor Pauls son) confessed, I apologize for not having followed my man of God.6. Lynnes new teachings include the assertions that interpretation of tongues must always be praise to God (never a message to believers), and that believing does not work for saint and sinner alike, but is receiving Gods promises. They justify ANY abuse by saying it was reproof and you needed it. Think of an abuser boyfriend who doesnt let you have friendships with other guys or other people, really, because it distracts your attention from him, the most important person in your life. If you have done your reading about cults, then you are probably familiar with Dr. Steve Hassan's BITE model. Beep. Youre not going to have to perform penance. The logic has more dangerous consequences when people literally think God will cure their Cancer, Lupus, diabetes. Prominent splinter groups include Christian Educational Service (CES) led by John Lynn, Pacific West Fellowship, Great Lakes Fellowship, and The Way of Great Britain headed by Chris Geer. This book condemned not only the trustees but all Way leadership, including the clergy, headquarters staff, regional leaders, and Corps around the world. I just wanted to paint a picture here of the laid back approach to Christian faith that makes the Way appealing to people. 2013-08-09T12:10:58-05:00 As a kid, I was always 1.) She was loved by many, the brightest light and simply someone you could not avoid noticing. I wouldnt say my experience is at all recent since that was 2001, but I can absolutely say their tactics are manipulative. Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is the university she attended as a non-traditional student and place of employment. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. After I had a fight in elementary school, TWI advised him to beat me into submission. After all, it is their friends who have left and made accusations of severe error against The Way leadership. Answer. Their arguments included: women who traveled with Jesus and Paul supplied them with sex because it satisfied their legitimate needs; men have needs for sex with a variety of women and God provides for this; all things are lawful when done in faith (Rom. Instead of it being an isolated incident that sucks from time to time in life, its framed as The Adversary (the devil) is making your life difficult, and as athletes of the spirit we can outmaneuver him. Wierwilles ideas on sense knowledge, confession, and healing (among others) he found in E.W. 13 Address: Pacific West Fellowship, P.O. The Rock had been held annually for 25 years, and had been used to teach, recruit participants for Way ministries, and send out Way Ambassadors. Ex-Wayers also charge that The Way teaches falsely on the topics of believing, abundant sharing, tithing, interpretation of tongues, and athletes of the spirit (the belief that every warfare metaphor in the Epistles should be understood as an athletic metaphor instead). While ex-Wayers want the groups to be much different than The Way, there are many similarities in teaching and goals. Eventually someone outside the house stepped in because they knew what was wrong and got me to the hospital. The apostle Paul warned of deceivers when he told the Ephesians, I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:29-30). This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. It's one thing to simply not condone homosexuality because it's a sin against God. Needless to say, growing up in a large communal living situation for 2 years of my childhood had unique benefits and DEFINITE drawbacks. Ultimate question, do you think The Way or anyone that endorses the way is worth pursuing as - culpable? The immediate cause was metastatic melanoma of the liver, which means that the cancer spread from the eye to the liver. She was born into it and her home was a Twig if my verbiage is correct. Then there are all the other classes about specific topics. Way followers say the first commandment is the most important: no false Idols before God. Some people were asked to leave the ministry for some big transgression (maybe they were gay, maybe they bucked chain of command in some big way), and they were considered marked and avoided (I think stemming from the Cain and Abel story in Genesis). The leader was arrested recently as he had convinced the fellowship members to give him their eldest daughters which he physically and sexually abused for 9+ years until one girl escaped. It's another thing entirely when the leader of a "Biblical Research and Fellowship Ministry" delivers a fire and brimstone sermon threatening to chain gays to the back bumper of an RV and go for a little drive. These were known as splinter groups and were always talked about as deceptive as if they were scheming their followers. This is where I experienced most of the abuse. terrified of seeing/interacting with a marked and avoided person because I thought their adversarial ways would rub off on me. Second, give ex-Wayers space to vent their emotions and hurts, and pray for them and their healing. Wierwille was always more effective at turning people away from the church of Jesus Christ than he was at turning people toward the Bible or The Way International. It has shrunk in size and, as often is the case in cults when the original leader dies, splintered into various rival movements. Rev. 17 Rick Lessing, An Analysis and Critique of the Theology of The Way International: An Evangelical Christian Response to Victor Paul Wierwilles Concept of the Trinity (unpublished paper, 1986), makes a case that Wierwille misunderstood Trinitarianism as (alternately) Sabellianism and polytheism, and that when Trinitarianism is properly explained, it is clearly biblically valid and coherent. Its current headquarters are in New Knoxville, Ohio; estimates of its membership range from 3,000 to 20,000. I was berated, told I did this to myself because I didn't have my head in the word enough and allowed devil spirits in. Splintering of the group since 1985 has greatly reduced its active membership, from a peak of about . And you mentioned twig earlier. Strangely, that means that TWI is responsible for my birth. Press J to jump to the feed. https://www.reddit.com/r/BGSU/comments/mlu753/the_way_international_twi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf. This is to say, you can be you with all your quirks and eccentricities because we are all unique people and can come to have unique relationships with God through his Word. Oh! Wierwilles stance that the whole Bible was authored in Aramaic, that parts of Scripture have been lost, that many Bible passages in popular translations were deviously inserted by pagans, and his Nestorian-like view of Jesus Christ (which drives a wedge between the human Jesus and the divine Christ) all trace to mystic George Lamsa. Sann, on the other hand, considers people like Lynn to have gone too far in rejecting valid teachings. Not that a college degree is by any means the only metric of intelligence, but there arent a lot of college degrees in the faith. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. John Schonheits paper on adultery was a thinly veiled accusation that Wierwille and other leaders falsely taught that adultery is a biblically acceptable practice. All of the various groups claim to hold the true legacy of Wierwille's teachings. Sann distributes a free tape, A Ministry in Crisis: An Editorial on The Way International, in which he asserts that The Way became hierarchical in the 1970s, causing a deterioration of the Ministry in many areas. Word Most ex-Wayers are confused, not knowing where to turn, whom to trust, or what to believe. My family transitioned to a splinter group in the mid 90s, and later when I was a teenager I moved into a "Way Home" which is like a group home for the cult.
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