In previous posts, we have reviewed some excerpts from the work by Tim Reiterman- “Raven”. Reiterman co-authored with John Jacobs (copyright ©1982 Tim Reiterman, Introduction copyright 2008 by Tim Reiterman, ISBN 978-1-58542-678-2); the authors tell “The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People”. “Tim Reiterman is a prizewinning journalist who extensively covered Jonestown for the San Francisco Examiner. He was wounded in the jungle airstrip attack that killed a U.S. Congressman, plus three reporters, and a Peoples Temple defector.” (from the back cover) The link to the most recent post is here… https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3343 . There are more similarities in the story of Jim Jones and Peoples Temple when comparing them to Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF).
As I have continued reading “Raven”, I have been amazed at the revelations about life in the Peoples Temple. The mechanisms set-up to secure funds to hoard and in part pay for Temple needs was elaborate. One aspect was the number of folks on public assistance. “Officials found that 17 percent of the Jonestown residents had been on SSI, compared with a 2 percent national average… A November 1979 “Investigation Report on Peoples Temple” prepared by the California Department of Social Services, found that of 992 Temple members checked, 550 — about 55 percent—had a history of receiving public assistance of some sort. According to the report, 109 of the 550 continued to receive assistance in Guyana, and 51 of those cases were “potentially fraudulent.” Fifteen cases involved forgeries on checks and 36 cases involved parents, spouses or grandparents fraudulently signing public assistance checks after the rest of the family had migrated to Guyana.”(page 591) The national average for those receiving public assistance today is around 40%, sadly enough. But, the point is that this ploy was just another in the many used by Peoples Temple to obtain funds. Why? Because Temple members signed over their income checks of any type to the church and were given an allowance. “People signed over pay checks and disability, welfare and social security checks, receiving in return room, board, medical care and other benefits.” (page 256) “The Temple would monitor and maintain control of every dime, paying rent, phone bills, and other allowable expenses. Wage earners signed over their checks; in turn, they were allotted a certain amount of money for their needs and had to submit requisition slips for the rent, even personal articles such as toothpaste, shampoo and sanitary napkins… The very day she (Joyce) handed the church an $800 paycheck, she had to submit a request for $10 for the children’s monthly birthday party outing.” (page 297) This financial arrangement was included in what was called at Peoples Temple – “going communal”.
While there was/is communal living practiced at WOFF, Jane Whaley had not progressed to the point that some in the community accused her of and that was handling pay checks as was done at Peoples Temple. While I was there I never signed over a paycheck to the church office. The methods of securing finances or “fund-raising” were different, but, no less intense at WOFF. I have written about this aspect of WOFF-life many times in previous blogs. There was the $50,000 offering- https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=245 . Jane Whaley made all financial decisions of any importance and never issued a financial disclosure to the members- https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2080 . One former member talks about a fairly recent WOFF church service containing several passings of the offering plates and an admonition/rebuke/demand from the pulpit for the church businessmen to step-up and give. How come I don’t doubt this?
While in WOFF, the constant push to raise funds was before us at almost every gathering. Yes, there were the normal offerings received or taken during the Sunday morning and evening services. Yes, it was counted and if the “budget was not met”, then the plates were passed again and again and again, if needed. We were told the amount needed for that particular service and each time the offering was counted and we were either allowed to leave or sit back down and “hear God” as to what you were to give. “We are still doing this because some of you are not listening to God as to what He wants you to give.” There were services on Sunday evening when we were rebuked for not giving with your whole heart in the morning service. We were told – “Why wait? Give it all the first time, don’t hold back on God”. We may be told what the offering was for like church insurance or taxes or a trip or something else, but there was never a yearly budget shared with regular members in the many years I was a part of WOFF. I can remember getting the year end giving statement in January and reflecting on the thousands given the previous year. At the time, I thought it was the “right and just” thing to be doing. I look back now and see how I was manipulated and duped. Oh, how we learn.
Steven Hassan in his book, “Combatting Cult Mind Control” (copyright 1990 by Steven Hassan, ISBN 0-89281-311-3) he writes about the time spent in cults fundraising. “Cult members tend to spend all of their time either recruiting more people, fundraising, or working on public relations projects. When people are fully hooked, they donate large amounts of their money and assets to the group, sometimes all they own… This transaction leaves the person dependent on the group for everything: food, clothing, shelter and health care.” (page 50, emphasis added) Jane was more efficient; she would combine two or more of the main goals into certain activities and get more done!
The last two weekends, WOFF has held a large free-for-all on two of the properties they own or control on Oakland road. While inside, I remember being told that the city of Spindale only allowed a certain number of yard sales for address per year, was that two? That was/is why they rotate them from property to property. These money raising circuses included flower sales, “yard sales”, consignment sales, car washes, hot dog sales maybe a bake sale and who knows what else. The money was/is tallied every day and the progress reported to the person(s) heading up the event. On Sundays following these events, the tally was announced and usually cheered by the congregation! If it was low, reasons would be discussed and maybe even dates set for the next foray into fund raising. At church yard sales, a security person was/is present 24/7 so no one wanders in to steal what were/are considered WOFF rejects. BC would announce from the pulpit during the sessions where men were being told how to dress; “Don’t buy your ties from the yard sale!” Those are not God’s ties!
Moving on, fund raising had been honed down to an art at WOFF. After moving to be inside WOFF, I was close to the one person put in charge of almost every yard sale/fund raiser. This person was tasked with finding fundraisers every year for the school and many times this would bleed over into finding fund raisers for the church. This person literally kept a file of money making possibilities. She would contact vendors and obtain samples and product information. After her research she would review them with JC and then they would be referred to Jane Whaley for approval or rejection or postponement. Research included but was not limited to making sure the product was not worldly, sinful or violated a previous edict or WOFF don’t. Yes, that was a major deal and required knowing the latest on what was evil and what was not.
For instance, WOFF members sold fruit, candy, doughnuts, calendars, fire extinguishers and first aid kits as well as other things. In years past, they made greeting cards for Christmas or birthdays. But, those were figuratively burned in the fire when Jane found out holidays were a sin. In years past, they made and sold “Christmas pillows” and decorations. See how important knowing the latest “sin” list would be? In 1999, they sold big white storage buckets for those wanting to store food in case Y2K was a real disaster. I know I bought some! Don’t forget, most of the fund raisers that were done at WOFF would be carried over to the church in Greenville. We were watching the fund raising masters and needed to learn during the years previous to 2002.
Throughout the years while at WOFF, bigger projects were used for fund raising. On at least one occasion, a realtor in the church bought a foreclosed home. Church labor was used to fix it up and remodel it. Then when it sold, the profit was to go to the church. If I remember right, that one raised about $30,000? Nifty, huh? Then there was the Living the Life– fiasco. The main building at the industrial complex owned by KC and BC on Shiloh Road was hard wired for over 50 incoming phone lines. Several WOFF ladies were trained to be telemarketing order takers. Leigh Valentine was to sell her make-up on the Living the Life show. No, we were not allowed to watch the show. (Looking back, that was probably a good thing, I may have thrown-up and had to have prayer…) Anyway, the WOFF ladies had to practice. So, on at least two nights, the husbands would call into the phone lines and pretend to need make-up. Yes! We pretended! But, that was okay, it was for a fund raiser! God would understand. So, I pretended to have the last name- Higginbotham. The person taking my order laughed! Can you imagine that? She claimed that was not a real name! I quickly pointed out she was wrong. This was a highly organized event. The shows were aired in many times zones and at differing hours. So, the phones had to be manned almost around the clock! What WOFF members would/will do for the cause! Anyway, Jane Whaley had claimed we could make “maybe as much as a million dollars!” with this fundraiser. Well, for whatever reason the fund raising gods did not smile on that adventure and it may have been what helped Leigh Valentine file bankruptcy. (see post about that… https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2639 ). It was a major bust. If my sources were right, it may have netted sales of about $200,000 or less. I never heard if the church received any of the “profits”. We quickly moved on to other highs and lows of fundraising for a money-starved cult.
Other projects over the years included cleaning houses or painting some other house repairs for donations to the church. Yes, the labor was free! Who can forget the Friday night fellowship dinners! This event has evolved over the years. At one time, it was like a pot-luck deal (though WOFFers don’t say “luck”, it was a “covered dish”). But, the twist was when you got to the head of the line, you were asked to donate $5 per adult and $3 per child as a “fund raiser”. How cool was that? You cooked and brought the food then “paid” for it! Oh, it was hard to control the excitement! Then as things progressed, different groups of folks would host and cook meals and still the donation would be expected. That was one “freedom” WOFF members were allowed, they could vote on Wednesday night what the menu was on Friday! Oh, the joy would just flow at the freedom we had! We were such adults! Jane was so kind to allow us a choice!
Now, I understand after Wednesday and Sunday night services, there is a “snack time” fund raiser where folks can be hot dogs, chips and stuff! (yes, for a price!) In years past, Liz Rose or someone from her crew from the Café at the Mall would bring bake goods to sell after services and donate some of the profits for a fund raiser. Also, after some Sunday morning services, there would be a bake sale and we would bring cakes and cookies then pay to take a baked good home! See how that works! How can we leave out the clothes sale! Kim W. would organize nicer clothes to be sold on consignment and it was okay to buy ties there! After all, that was more like recycling! And let’s not forget the treasures found in the bookstore! Well, there were VERY FEW if any books sold there. In previous years, Sam and Jane would sell their sermon notes (list of scriptures) and tapes of sermons in there. That ended when Jane realized the “enemy” may get her sermons and “attack the move of God” with her material. But, in the bookstore you would find drinks, candy, gum, cough drops, crackers, potato chips and maybe gummi bears. You could find Leigh Valentine’s make-up with a stand by consultant to teach and help you “look like a minister”. How helpful was that? Sometimes the make-up would “go on sale”! At another time, there were loads of purses being sold as a fund raiser! It was hard to get inside the bookstore when that deal was going on. Can you see why?
At times, other treasures would flow through the bookstore area or somewhere in the fellowship hall. One time there was a supply of work khakis sold for $5 a piece- yes, a fund raiser! It was delightful. I am wearing a pair of those pants – even as I write this post! How exciting! Another member, TW was in the public school system and would find children’s books and sell them for a church fundraiser. That was always a little tricky as certain books would come with a verbal disclaimer to censor them yourself before you allowed your child to read them. What happened if you did not? Why you could be publically rebuked of course! None the less, she found some great reference books. Jane’s daughter RW would issue the disclaimers- you better listen!
I could go on and on retelling the fund raising adventures of WOFF. Do other churches have this much fun? Do all churches act as a drug addict with no drugs as they are constantly dreaming and scheming of the next way to get a fix? Literally, WOFF is a fund raising machine where Jane Whaley reports to no one and in my opinion pushes the limit of a 501-3C tax exempt organization. But, oh, the fun they have selling their junk to the county residents and giving them what “God’s people” in many cases, consider rejects. Do you support this machine? Please, think twice about giving Jane Whaley her fix. No matter how much you like what they are selling- consider the total price that is paid and their end game-bondage.
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 288.