Tag Archives: Janis Hutchinson

Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Sarah Anderson Leaves WOFF – Custody Battle Ensues

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The reasons for her choice to leave Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) have not been made public. However, some details have emerged about the events following her exit. In a GoFundMe page plea, Sarah’s sister, Rachel Bryant outlines the current struggle around the question of custody of Sarah’s son. Near the end of February, Sarah did leave the WOFF environment taking her son and seeking shelter elsewhere. Her sister, Rachel Bryant, exited the group a few months ago with her husband and child and has shown great support for Sarah’s decision. The GoFundMe plea explains that this Monday, March 14th, Sarah will be in family court for an emergency hearing on several motions put forth by counsel for her husband, Nick Anderson. The goal of $30,000 is sought for her legal fees to retain custody of her son pictured on the page. Please, visit the page, read and share with your friends.

Sarah’s exit has led to several other events with more changes to follow.

Appeal of Disqualification in Fenner Case Falls Apart

Rccatalyst.com reported on Wednesday the newly filed Notice of Appearance for Sarah C. Anderson, one of the defendants in the Matthew Fenner case. The Notice alerts the Courts of Sarah C. Anderson’s choice for a new representation. Attorneys Jeff Cooper and Benjamin Cooper now represent Sarah Anderson. Thursday, the Cooper attorneys filed a withdrawal from the Appeal on behalf of their client, Sarah C. Anderson.

Withdrawal of Appeal
Continue reading Sarah Anderson Leaves WOFF – Custody Battle Ensues →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Traveling Over the Bridge….

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We have posted from Janis Hutchinson’s book, “Out of the Cults and Into the Church” (copyright© 1994 by Janis Hutchinson, Kregel Resources, ISBN 0-8254-2885-8) in previous posts; however, it have been almost eighteen months since we did so. Recently, I have recommended this book to other survivors and it has been received well. I was reviewing material from Chapter 10 titled: The Precarious Transition Period.(page 187) The author’s direction for writing the book includes among other things an emphasis to help former cult members make steps out of their former group and into the Christian community. I will quote from her work and then expand on it to include other thoughts on this transition period.

  “There is a danger period—that precarious stage after a new convert finally acknowledges cult beliefs as unbiblical, knows he or she made a correct decision in leaving, has pretty much dealt with the problems, and is just about to cross over the line into full assimilation into the Christian community.

   It is at this point that former cultists suddenly find themselves entering an in-between stage. It is like crossing a bridge with the cult behind them at one end and the Christian community ahead—but they stop in the middle. In this suspended, limbo-like period, they are neither here nor there.”(pages 187-188)

Continue reading Traveling Over the Bridge…. →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Those Who Do This … Are Deceivers

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Those Who Do This … Are Deceivers

     The book “Out of the Cults and Into the Church” (copyright 1994 Kregel Resources) by Janis Hutchinson has provided us with many insights and direction in previous posts. This book was recommended to me from a couple that had spent many years in the “Worldwide Church of God”. That group was reported as a cult and at the minimum had unusual behavior control practices that permeated their doctrines and everyday life. The first post on this group stemming from a lunch meeting with the husband can be found here.. http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=903 It was a fun meeting to say the least.  Later, the wife referred me to this book. It had helped her in years past.

   The most recent post about the insight in this book can be found here: WOFF Contradictions – Part 4: http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2533 .  In that post, we looked at the net effect of many scriptures quoted at WOFF. “In my opinion, the net effect negated true relationship with God and furthered a subservient relationship to Jane Whaley and the leadership at WOFF. Scriptures were not intended to be tools to make one person a servant to another.” Please read the entire post in order to obtain the context for the quote…

   Today, the subject at hand comes from chapter 8 of this book. “Deadly Doctrines Tough to Divorce” The author uses her experience from Mormonism to explain her views since she was in that group for over 30 years. Hutchinson explains that as members leave religious cults, they have a tough time separating themselves from the doctrines that enslaved them while in the group. It is not obvious to many that observe a person’s exit from such a group, why the struggle would exist. Can’t you just lay down the sacred stories and start believing the truth? From the author’s experience, she relates that the Mormon’s sacred stories were taken from orthodox Christianity. The Book of Mormon “borrows from Matthew, Mark and Paul’s writings, and parallels New Testament stories.2” (page 154) This would have drawn folks in to believing and also can keep the exit process slowed as an ex-cultist struggles to replace the Mormon stories with Christian scriptural truths.

    Continue reading Those Who Do This … Are Deceivers →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

WOFF Contradictions – Part 4

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      This next contradiction is such a common practice at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) that it may be difficult for present or former members to see. I did not see this contradiction until I left WOFF and read “Out of the Cults and Into the Church” (copyright 1994 Kregel Resources) by Janis Hutchinson. Ms. Hutchinson writes in chapter 7 about rituals and how they can impact those inside or outside cults. She also explains the power of symbols. A symbol “may act as a trigger for a former cult member to the cult… This effects powerful emotions, often misinterpreted as God confirming the cult.” She goes on: “A symbol only has the power given it by the individual who is observing it”. (page 145) Former cult members may confuse the “remembering” of spiritual feelings and devotion once experienced in the cult and think this is confirmation that they should return to the cult. I believe this is at least part of the answer for why former members return to WOFF.

    The contradiction for me was revealed in this statement made by Ms. Hutchinson- An observed symbol in a Christian church, whether object or Scripture may have traditional connotations for the Christian, but for the new convert (former cult member) it may act as a trigger to the cult.” (page 145) Before reading this, I had not thought of Scriptures as being “symbols”. But, while at WOFF, certain scriptures would be preached and thus became a part of the arsenal of scriptures that would be used to elicit an automatic response from a member. This “symbol” of certain Scriptures were  tools used to mold and hold folks from making certain decisions or actions.

    Continue reading WOFF Contradictions – Part 4 →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

WOFF Redefines Ritual

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     In Janis Hutchinson’s book, “Out of the Cults and Into the Church” (copyright 1994 Kregel Resources), she mentions several things that persons who leave cults consider as “losses”. We have discussed a few of these losses in previous posts. The author spent over 30 years in Mormonism. After leaving that group, she has gone on to help many others in their transition out of a cult into the Christian church. After my time ended at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in July 2008, I have found this book to be very helpful.

     In chapter 7, Ms. Hutchinson reviews the ex-cultist’s loss of ritual. She mentions that several cult groups have certain sacred ceremonies or rituals, sacred symbols; sacred space and even some have certain sacred architecture. Her experience of helping others has verified many common traits of cult groups. She writes “The physical motions (of the rituals) have two powerful purposes. First, to tie the sacred place, sacred space, sacred symbols and sacred architecture all into one neat bundle. Second, to confirm the authentic doctrines, beliefs, myths, pledges, or whatever goes to make up the cult’s beliefs.” (page 143) She writes that rituals are not just tools for cults. Rituals can be seen in many other parts of culture.  

    How does this information apply to my experience at WOFF? From the WOFF website under the tab labeled “Beliefs”, listed as #5, one can read that WOFF believes and practices certain Christian ordinances or rituals. They list Baptism and Communion which are widely practiced. They also list “Laying on of Hands”, “Repentance” and “The Government of God”. The question of why a group would list these last three is a subject of another post. For now, I will accept the first two as common in the Protestant Christian church.

    Continue reading WOFF Redefines Ritual →

Behavior Control, Uncategorized

New Identity – How It Develops – Part 2

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     In reviewing the last post about a Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) “identity”, it is plain that new subjects were introduced which could lead in many different directions. For now, let’s review the concept of a new identity for WOFF members, how it would develop. There may be a few more posts on this subject as there is a lot of “ground to cover”.  These observations will be based on experiences from my time there and my readings after leaving WOFF. In all cases, I will share my opinions and personal observations unless noted otherwise.

    The Christian hope is based on change through salvation; old man to new man, sinner to saint. Folks in the Bible who experience major changes include: Saul to Paul, Peter from denier to Apostle to martyr; the doubting Thomas to the believer of Truth. So, that is not up for debate. You expect folks to change once they come to experience true salvation. This change is from the inside out – directed by God and not man’s wishes. The change that a believer in Jesus experiences is not a change orchestrated by the Law as in the Old Testament. Israel tried that and the results speak for themselves.

    The Apostle Paul was clear that not everyone would change into the same personality or gift.

 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:5-7

18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:18-19,  New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

     Would it be safe to say your spiritual gift would reflect in many ways, your identity personally in Christ and in then the local church and the Body of Christ in general? Not everyone would expect the same gift or even the sameness in their identity. There would be the same “Spirit”, each with a different expression of that identity or place in Christ that they had been given. Can we agree?

   Continue reading New Identity – How It Develops – Part 2 →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

WOFF Members Get New Identity – Part 1

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    During one service at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) Sam Whaley was up in front receiving the offering. He began to tell about God dealing with him and about his work before starting WOFF. He said it was all worthless; “well some of it was good”. I suppose he was talking about his many trips to other countries for Rhema Ministries under Kenneth Hagin. Later in the service, Jane spoke up to correct him. She told him that all he had done before getting deliverance and getting truly born again was WICKED! Everything he did before “knowing Jesus” was pure wickedness. Of course, he said “You are right, Jane.”  This event seemed to pass as one of the many times that Jane had rebuked Sam publically. It was “normal” at WOFF. No one except Jane “heard God at such a high level.”

     While reading Janis Hutchinson’s “Out of the Cults and Into the Church” (copyright 1994 Kregel Resources) I found her insights very helpful. In chapter 5, she explains how ex-cultists may seem disoriented as when they come out; they lose “their roots, their story, and their identity”. It should be obvious; you can’t lose something you never had. In order to lose a “cult identity” it had to be created in that person. She explains how a cult member needs the roots and stories to arrive at the new identity.

      I will not attempt to recite all that she gives as reasons for sharing these observations. In short, she explains “roots, spiritual or physical, tell an individual or a group where they came from, why they’re here, how they started, why they do the things they do, and why they are who they are.” (pg 98) Cults or other groups use myths or sacred stories to give its members roots.

   She goes on:  “Stories are three kinds. First myths and history of a culture’s heritage…these confirm and perpetuate the roots…. Secondly, there is the story of individual community itself- how members relate to that culture with their common problems and how they overcome them… Thirdly, there is one’s own individual story within the culture. This generally consists of accumulated childhood experiences containing the negative and positive, the triumphs and tragedies. It also includes a vast array of input from people, places and situations.” (page 98)

    And finishing her explanation:  “Identity, on the other hand, is the assurance individuals, culture, or nations gain as a result of having both roots and story. .. It promotes self-esteem and a positive self-image, collectively or individually. Without it, individuals are strangers to themselves and to others.” (page 98) Her work deals with folks after they leave cults.

     Continue reading WOFF Members Get New Identity – Part 1 →