Comments on: How Are You Doing?

By: Admin

Admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:28:09 +0000

Randall,

Thank you for your sincere reply. I am being helped by writing and sharing what happened. It is all a process. There were some good things that happened. “We talked about the ones left behind and continue to pray for them.” Yes, most definitely. Being a member of WOFF does not disqualify a person from God’s grace, His mercy or His Love- ever.

John

By: Randall Jones

Randall Jones — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:52:07 +0000

The emotions that come when you leave are intense. The organization and friends have been all you have known for many years. To totally move away and to know you will never be able to talk to your close friends again is overwhelming. It is hard to describe, it is a deep sinking feeling in your stomach. You want to cry all the time. But, again there is the relief that you do not have to live under the control anymore. It is a healing process. It helped us to have family and friends who would just listen and not be judgmental. It is hard for anyone who was not in WOFF to understand the turmoil you are going through when you leave. They just cannot believe that such a group exists under the label of a loving Christian group. But, as it was a process for us to leave, it has been a process to heal. We made sure that we did not go totally into “sin” as Jane has preached will happen. We grew closer as a family and talked about our experiences, even the good ones. Because there were some good experiences. We talked about the ones left behind and continue to pray for them. Now, we have loving friends and family and enjoy fellowship with other Christians and go to a few different churches. We are still a little unsure of becoming “totally committed” to another church, just yet. But, that may come. Reading your posts has helped with the healing as well. Thank you John for your posts.

By: Admin

Admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:11:30 +0000

In reply to RS.

RS,

Soon, I plan to post on Robert Jay Lifton’s research and work on the subject of “thought reform”. He studied the subject from prisoners of war coming out of Chinese prisoner camps in the 1950s. I believe you, as well as others, will find the material shocking and revealing. The author was approached be those desiring to know more, as they had seen the techniques used in cults. This of course was all before WOFF. Thank you, for reading and taking time to comment.

John

By: RS

RS — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:39:45 +0000

John, I’ve just read through the three posts where you describe the events that preceded you leaving WOFF. I never realised such aggressive abuse was a consistent practice. It is the sort of thing that you’d expect to see in a movie where the suspects are tortured for information on terrorists or something. How barbaric!

By: Darlene Eichler

Darlene Eichler — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:56:02 +0000

John,
I just read “How Are You Doing?” and sat here lost in thought for several minutes. I wanted to type but my fingers wouldn’t move. Memories and thoughts were going through my mind as if shot from a gun…..Hugo, loss, heartbreak, relief, eye of the storm, rescue, power, frustation, joy, foregiveness, regrets,etc. When you spoke of Hugo and its destruction I thought of my trip to Summerville three weeks after it hit. I became disoriented and lost in a town where I had lived for over seven years…the road signs were gone and there was very little left to point the way. I will never forget the feeling and as I finally found my way to houses where I had lived, the tears came without warning. I’m still not sure why I was crying but I think I must have felt to a much lesser degree the way you have in enduring the “storms of emotions” since leaving WOFF. You have shown great strength which is rarely seen in one your age( and I know some days are easier than others). Your faith and fortitude have not gone unnoticed by your family and friends. We are here for you and you have the support and prayers of many others around the world(thanks to the Internet).
Love,
Mom

By: Admin

Admin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:56:13 +0000

In reply to RS.

RS,

Yes, I have reconnected with the “best man”. Read this 3 post series for more understanding to your question. http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1396

Thank you,

John

By: RS

RS — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:15:59 +0000

Wow, I found this is really powerful piece to read. I admire your courage for sharing it. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be to leave your family behind and know that they are still under the power of WOFF.

I wonder have you made contact with your best man since you left?

When you say you were put out of WOFF because you lost your job at one of their organisations, does that mean that you weren’t ready to leave? That it was forced upon you or had you already begun to think that WOFF was not something you could believe in anymore? (Hope you don’t me asking).

Thanks again for sharing,
RS

By: vs

vs — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:22:22 +0000

Reading this does bring back a flood of emotions!!!! I knew the last Sunday morning I drove up to WOFF that it would be my last. My biggest regret was believing the lies that my son was better off staying up there. I vowed on my way home to NEVER have anything to do with organized RELIGION. Not GOD, but man’s idea of religion. It took me years to find a fellowship and we are not “religious”!!!! I have a wonderful spiritual home full of love and compassion. I prefer to think I was put out of WOFF becasue I DID want the true will of FATHER in my life, not because I did not want to “follow after God” but rather I did not want to follow after MAN(OR WOMAN) My son is home with me now. Restoration is ongoing. My heart breaks to think of your family members are still up there and that they treat you so badly. They are in such deception, but GOD will not allow this to continue !!!!! Deception can be broken!! Love, hugs and prayers to you my friend