The website, rccatalyst.com, posted an article on Friday highlighting excerpts from the motion for a change of venue made by Josh Farmer- attorney for the five defendants in the Matthew Fenner case. (source link here) The motion comes as no surprise. After being indicted twice in separate hearings, it would be a procedural oversight for Farmer not to at least attempt this move. District Attorney Ted Bell cited the “extreme volume” of the motion as a reason to decline comment until he could review it.

As a review, the five defendants are Brooke McFadden Covington, Sarah Covington Anderson, Adam Christopher Bartley, Justin Brock Covington and Robert Louis Walker, Jr. The list of charges includes second degree kidnapping and assault by strangulation. The motion will be heard on April 1, 2015 when the defendants make their first appearance before the judge. If a change is granted, this would be to an adjoining county-if previous procedures are followed.

Quoting from the article; Josh Farmer cited the need for the change due to ““excessive, pervasive and insidious publicity on a local, statewide and even national level” against the WOFF church.” The extensive documents also included a statement for each defendant that, “the defendant is a member of the Word of Faith Fellowship, a church that for nearly two decades has been subject to extraordinary persecution, hatred, bigotry and discrimination in the county, spurred by the Inside Edition tabloid news, local, national and international news media coverage, as well as continual social media postings.””

Included in the article are some vital links to historical information about the group including a link to the Inside Edition video. Good job by the staff reporter who put this together. It was concise, but inclusive of needed information for one who may be new to the ongoing WOFF drama.

Allow me some comments. If my research proves true, it was February 28, 1995 when the first airing of the Inside Edition expose’ occurred. We are coming on twenty years exactly. WOFF does not celebrate birthdays, but this date is noteworthy. Oh, I remember those times well. That expose’ set on course a series of events which have kept the WOFF group in the courts, in the news and in the minds of those affected by their venom for the last 20 years. The old adage fits here, where there is smoke, there is fire. I know of which I speak. I was burned by the WOFF-fire that destroys relationships…

If there was no cause for the ongoing attention, it would have died away as folks would have lost interest. However, as each year has passed there have been new names added to the list of victims of this cult-ure. The young people seeking freedom only to be hunted down and recaptured is very sad. The families destroyed and continual accounts of survivors harmed by the practices are what kept this group drawing the attention of news and media outlets. I don’t agree with Mr. Farmer’s descriptions of the media exposure as “excessive, pervasive and insidious…” I do propose that what ever the nature and what ever the measure of media attention, this group has brought the attention on themselves.

My contention is that the group has evolved into a more dangerous group than in 1995 and that no stone should be left unturned when seeking answers about these felony charges. My hopes are that the evolving culture of abuse will be brought to the light and all will see the extensive damage wrought by the leader and her faithful leadership.

In my opinion, the people of Rutherford County need to hear this case. If WOFF has “nothing to hide,” according to Mr. Farmer, they likewise should have nothing to worry about. Skip and be merry, the world may just see how the “holy and righteous people of God” treat one another behind closed doors. Oh, this could be a help to us all.

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. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

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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Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 505.