A few weeks ago, there was a post entitled “Am I Wrong? Please, Let Me Know…..”. ( see link here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=117 ) That post seemed to be one of the factors initiating a response by two WOFF members which I tell about here… “A Knock at the Door“.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=572 . The basic question was “If I am wrong based on the facts and not emotions, then please, show me ..?” If my comparison between FLDS and WOFF is off base; then show me with facts. In the series, “FLDS vs WOFF”‘, I outline many similarities between these two groups, especially in the mind control techniques used on their members.
To date, there have been several confirming comments posted as well as the reply in the post listed above about the visit from two WOFF members. In January, a leader from WOFF called to complain and question his name being listed in a post. That call inspired a finalization of the legal disclosures on the blog as well as the beginning of regular posting. About five weeks later came the personal visit to my residence of the WOFF members. One of them accused me of posting “lies, all lies”… This criticism did not give me much to go on since there were no facts disputed. There was only intense emotion expressed. I recognize the emotion and respect the right for its expression. Folks in groups like WOFF often have intense emotion.
The second person mentioned in the “Knock at the Door..” post, did say that I mis-stated the facts concerning our conversation. She said it was in person and not over the phone. Okay, I may have been wrong in telling the circumstances. But, where are the facts being disputed concerning the way WOFF members are treated? What WOFF member will stand up and dispute the major content of these posts and let us all know that things are well and emotionally balanced at WOFF? Has Jane Whaley changed in two years since my departure? Has the religious mind control stopped and are people allowed to leave the group whenever they chose? Has the “Holocaust teacher” stopped chiding folks for wanting free access to all information sources? Sources which may not shed a positive light on WOFF? Is there full, written financial disclosure to the members of WOFF?
One ex-member has scalded me about this blog. She used very caustic phrases to say the content was wrong and would only give WOFFers something more to talk about. Well, I probably do help with Jane’s sermon prep from time to time… That just goes with the territory. But, after taking time to read more posts in a calm objective manner; this person wrote back to apologize for the accusations and confirm that I had some “good facts”. She objected to WOFF being called a cult. Though she admitted her objection was based on “relative” reasons. But, in the end, she agreed on the facts. That assessment was comforting. For sure, I cannot predict the reaction of folks to certain phrases or words like “cult”. The word has many negative connotations and offends some inside and outside of WOFF.
Recently, I learned about Dr. Paul Martin of “Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center” in Ohio. (see link here .. http://wellspringretreat.org/ ) He passed away August of 2009. He worked a lot with former cult members. In the obituary, it listed several of his accomplishments. He received his doctorate in counseling from the University of Pittsburgh in 1983. He was instrumental in pursuing a case into the US Supreme Court which allowed access for Christian college students to meet on campus. (Wideman vs. Vincent) He also worked as a behavioral counselor for over 20 years at Echoing Meadows in Athens, OH. His main work was serving the needs of people abused by cults. This work was done at Wellspring Retreat located near Albany, OH. He had aided in helping over 1000 people who had been in abusive situations, over a 23 year period.
While at WOFF, the information we received about Wellspring and their work was not so glowing. They were cast as the enemy. One young fellow came back to WOFF after being taken to Wellspring by his parents. He claimed they threw him out of treatment because he was so stubborn and would not submit to the help. This was supposed to prove WOFF was a safe place? It proved that WOFF and the leadership had a major hold on this fellow- still do as far as I am aware.
During a recent conversation with the good folks of Faith Freedom Fund, they told me about the visits of the group from Wellspring, to Rutherford county a few years ago. They came at their own expense to interview and help anyone desiring to leave WOFF. After learning about WOFF, Paul Martin said that WOFF was one of the top five most emotionally destructive cults in America. Should he know a little about religious mind control cults? He had helped hundreds of folks by that time. His expertise was used in 29 court situations. He was an expert witness testifying to the role of “brainwashing causing behavioral changes“. His testimony was used in the Muhammed/Malvo DC sniper case, as well as in a famous terrorist case. He was respected in the field of psychology and well known for sure. However, while at WOFF, I was never told about his good work helping lots of folks! So, his assessment of WOFF could be considered “expert testimony”. His words should awaken those inside and outside of WOFF.
Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. It could very well save their life. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members.
(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. )
Hi John… I do enjoy this blog. I am not surprized by the ‘attention” you are getting from those at WOFF! Personally, it is still hard for me to say the word cult outloud concerning my time there. Only because when I do I always think to myself – How in the world did I ever fall for all that ? And I did hook,line and sinker. Until one when I was told that 1) I did not need friends outside of the “fellowship” and 2) the “fellowship” cared more about me than my natural family and then of course when thinking about the move up there I was told that I would need work in a different field of nursing so I would not rely on what I knew ( or was comfortable with) but needed something “different” of authority’s choosing. And just where did my ability in that field come from but God Himself!? One of the last things my Daddy talked to me about was the mind control up in Spindale and to get my son home. He was esp. upset after meeting the couple that my son was living with. This was a week before Daddy died and they said he did not look “that sick”. He lived 2 wks longer than the doctors said he would .Having been apart of that cult has caused some walls within my relationship with my family, but God is faithful and bring complete restoration to us. They know that I love them and am not “looking down” on them as they felt before. I am sure those reading this from WOFF have figured out who vs is!! I don’t care. I HAVE NOTHING TO ASHAMED ABOUT. GOD LOVES ME AND HAS SAVED ME AND I AM SERVING HIM WITH ALL MY HEART. HE TOTALLY ACCEPTS ME!! More later. Keep up this good work!! ( oh yeah and they can not comment on how much weight I have GAINED since I left!! Wonder if they say anything about how much weight I have LOST!!! LOL LOL
Hi, it is interesting about the word, “cult”. In one of the history books that our children used in Word of Faith Fellowship Christian School, it gave a definition of “cult”. It stated (paraphrased here), that a cult tries to get to God through works. That really struck me. Here is an Abeka school book being used in the Christian School of WOF and it defined the church. To me, the church was all about works. You had to do this and this and this or you were in sin. You had to . work here and here at night. If you did not do this you were going to hell. You had to open up your heart to only certain ministers, if you did not you were in sin. So, it was never a personal relationship with Jesus…it was what were you were doing within the church. The church keeps you busy with “works”, it is something every minute. You do not have time to talk to your own family. If you worked hard and opened your heart to ministeres, you were okay. It was fun to hear the people open their hearts enough to stay out of trouble. It was like they knew exactly what to say. Many years ago, Jane posed the question to the church about if they are really saved. If you felt like you were not saved, you had to sit on one side of the church. Then, other members of the family were scolded from the pulpit for not making their families serve God and be saved. Many were on the side that were not saved. I definitely searched my heart and felt that I had that relationship with Jesus. But, the pressure to even acknowledge that you knew you were saved was hard. It was easier to be on the side that did not know. Because if you sat on the side that did know they were saved, your salvation was questioned publicly by the ministers in the church. I know myself and others just sat on the side that was not saved so not to have the public berating that you really are not saved. Again, these are memories I have and may not apply to everyone.
Randall,
Thank you for reminding me of that “searching” time. Yes, “publicly berated” would be a correct assessment. Why, how dare you say you are “saved” or “being saved” when “you don’t walk in the that place in God?” Oh, I feel another post coming on… I agree with your rememberance of those times.
John