As many readers already know, I spent many years under the direct or indirect influence of Jane Whaley, the leader of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. Since my departure in July of 2008, I learned many things about my time spent inside WOFF. Even now, 32 months later, I admit there are areas of my life where I still recognize the influence of WOFF teachings and more specifically the teachings, sayings and doings of Jane Whaley. The process of recovery continues. As I move forward, I have been reading accounts of survivors of other groups and seeing the similarities between their groups and life at WOFF. These similarities are fascinating to me since while at WOFF, I was told and believed that there was no other place quite like WOFF. A person could travel the world and not find a place filled with such love and support. For many years, I believed it. Then as the control upon my life became tighter and the methods became clearer, I began to doubt that what I saw and how I was treated was actually God’s plan. As the curtain over my eyes was lifted, I began to see how others were being treated in a new light. This all came into play as I made the decision to leave WOFF.    

     One aspect of life at WOFF was the continual naming of devils that Jane or someone in leadership would discover. In a previous post titled, “Jane Whaley Said…” found here- http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3449    the following paragraph was included:

    Some children get that “math devil”.  Yes, there are “math devils” in her school room! Jane made this statement June 1, 2008 standing in the breezeway (actually, it may have been the hallway near the fellowship room in the office building). She was talking to a visitor that came with me to the graduation ceremony that evening. Jane was telling how wonderful her class of four and five year olds was doing. Then she lamented that sometimes they get the “math devil.” In Jane’s world, there are lots of devils. Each one has a name and if you don’t know the name, ask her. She will tell you. While at WOFF, the entire list of “devils” that were named, I could not retell. There was the “video devil” for those watching DVD’s in their van… There were “ping pong devils” for that’s right, folks playing ping pong. Here is a quote from this (that) post… Jane had said folks may have a “music devil” if the music occupies too much of their time or a “religious devil” if they read their Bible too much. There was a “control devil”, a “money devil”, a “foolish devil”…  the list goes on and on and gets longer as Jane Whaley needs to demean another member in order to further her control over them and others. See here… http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1976

   If you have followed this blog for any time, you get the picture. For new readers, let me expand and then explain why I would take the time. Over the course of my years at WOFF, I heard other names of devils that merit sharing. These are in no certain order and even after I post this list, there will be others I forget to mention. Would that be the “forgetful devil”? We have mentioned the “sleep devil” that attacks WOFF members who fall asleep during the preaching. Jane hates those devils! There is the “competition devil” that gets ahold of young boys or even the men when they play some game or sport of some type. We mentioned the “music devil”, but there was also the “country music devil” and the “rock-n-roll devil”. There was the “drum devil” for those who loved playing the drums. I feel sure I heard about a “guitar devil” that could get in the young people. No playing “air guitar” at WOFF!  There was “performance devil”. There was the “lazy devil”, sometimes seen when folks would not get out of bed on time. Deliverance could come by throwing water on their face. Many members found this amusing when the story was told of one fellow who had his deliverance poured on him while he slept. Jane approved of this method.

   There was the “gossip devil” and “gambling devil” and “intellectual devil” and “sloppy devil” and “new-age devil” and “homosexual devils” and “lesbian devils” and “karate devils”, “martial arts devils”, “devils of witchcraft”, “gambling devils”, “sex devils”, “lust devils”, “unclean devils”, “perversion devils”, “lying devils” and more. There were folks accused of having the spirit of Cain, or Judas or Jezebel, or some other person in the Bible. There were “poverty devils”- you would either get these or already have these devils if you did not give tithes and offerings and more; “stingy devils”, “me-first devils”, “selfish devils”, “hoarding devils”, “speed devils”- for those who drove too fast, “worldly devils”, “alcohol devils, “cigarette devils”, a “jeans devil”, “tanning devil” and more I am sure.

   Why take time to list these “devils” knowing I would not be able to list them all? The list is not the point. The points to be made are two. First, this will help give readers more insight into life at WOFF. Many of these devils were discovered during prayer times and then the deliverance to follow – which could be lengthy. Or new devils could be named during a Sunday night “family meeting” where members were corrected in front of the congregation for giving over to some devil on Saturday, or in some other situation on some other day. It was said that people manifest more devils on Saturdays!

   The second point requires me to quote from the documentary, “Join Us”. The film is presented by Interloper Films along with Lusitan and was produced by Ondi Timoner and Vasco Lucas Nunes. (copyright© Third Floor Productions, LLC 2007) We have posted about this film before and may yet use more quotes in the future. Here is the link to the first post on this film: http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3456

    At just over the eleven minute mark in the movie, Deidra Lee Dwyer, sister to Kristy Sullivan, tells about the pastor of Mountain Rock Church, Raimund Melz.   “Raimund had all these names for demons. Like pride, rejection, rebellion, insecurity.. stubbornness, little-boy spirits, little-fat-boys spirits. I just did not see that in the Bible.” Yes, this church, which has been labeled cult, has yet something else in common with WOFF. It was/is very plain to me. What could be the reason a leader of a church would use this tactic? Could the reason be to reduce complex issues down to the simplest terms in order to gain the most control over the situation(s)? In WOFF, once something or some activity was named as a “devil”, it had to come out! Who would possibly want to keep a “devil”? Could this method be used in order to manipulate the members? Do you think it is possible? Do you think that any church leader would ever purpose to control members? I do. Could this control ever be so extensive as to oppress the very people the pastor or leader claims to be helping and “setting free”? Yes, I believe so. What do you think?

   Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

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    (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 256.