For days, I have considered the material for this post. It has been a struggle to actually put this one into words. There is no doubt that life within a group such as Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) is full of broken relationships. You may ask – Why? Why would a group calling themselves a “Protestant, non-denominational church with a Christian school (as defined by classical Christianity) and “Our Beliefs include traditional evangelical doctrines”… have so many broken relationships in the lives of present and former members? What is the cause of so many folks being cut-off or cutting themselves off from either members inside or folks outside of this group?

    Do I even have the ability to write about such things? Have I ever seen relationships torn apart while either inside or outside the group? While on the inside for so many years, what thoughts accompany the witnessing of other members as their family unit breaks apart because of WOFF ways? When I saw other families ravaged by the power of Jane Whaley to split them, what were the thoughts that helped calm what should have been obvious concerns? We will start there.

   From 1992 to 2008, I was under the sway of the teachings of Jane Whaley. The beginning years were spent in the church in Greenville, SC where the leaders were being directed and counseled by Jane Whaley and her leadership team. We could be assured that if Jane taught it at WOFF, eventually, whatever doctrine or practice, it would be brought to Greenville. Sometimes, the source of the doctrines were obvious, other times, the source was not so obvious. Looking back, it is all very obvious.

  

      While in Greenville, there were families that left the church as certain practices were put in place. Generally, whole family units would leave. Occasionally, a spouse would attend the church and the other spouse would not. This would/could cause some friction. But, some place of peace would be reached and the couple would not often split over church doctrine/practices. I remember very vividly one couple that did split over the wife’s adherence to church doctrine/practices. It was emotional and confrontational. When learning of this, I reasoned it was the husband – fighting the will of God. After all, he was a God-hater and was headed to hell; at least, that is what I was told. Since I never met the man, it was easier to take such counsel and believe it.

    What about the members that left the Greenville church during my time there? For most, it was reasoned that they did not want the will of God or had stopped pressing in to know God or for some – they wanted their sin more than God. My contact with these folks was based on church activities and many I thought I knew very well. How could I all of the sudden believe that these folks were ready to split hell wide open just because they chose not to attend the Greenville church? It was easy to believe because it made me feel better about the sacrifices and decisions I made to continue attending the Greenville church and all that that included. When others make their choices to not make the choices I make, some form of feel good rationale must be presented to keep me from doubting my own choices to submit to the church, the leadership and its practices. You could say in order to protect my religion and my choice of religion; I would believe others were less religious and thus less spiritual. Does this sound plausible? Does this sound mature?

    Looking back, as the Greenville church declined in numbers and few if any new members were being added, we members who stayed had a lot of rationalizing to do in order to feel good about our choice to stay. Why were people leaving in droves as we were following more and more of the doctrines of WOFF? This whole process started before I joined in 1992. It was recounted by the pastor as the cost of following Jesus and/or few will truly follow the Lord… or some other statement to assure him and his wife that they were doing the will of God. Well, why not? The longer they followed Jane Whaley and her teachings, the more concentrated and intense their influence became over the few that did stay. Leaving this group often times was seen as an offense to the pastors.

   All of these rich traditions and rationalizations just set up a pattern that would continue as we moved to WOFF in 2002. For whatever reason, the constant threat from Jane about being put out of WOFF seemed to raise the intensity of the situation and thus the need for constant soothing rationalizations as to why this was happening. Why was it a regular tool of Jane to threaten folks that if they did not agree with her, do what they were told or whatever, she would put them out? Sometimes, she would say “God will move you out of here…” If being there was such a blessing, why was the threat of being put out needed to keep a person there? While inside WOFF, these simple questions were not allowed or discussed between members. Doing so would disturb the aura of Jane the whole WOFF experience.

    During my time inside WOFF, I saw many folks leave, be put out or just walk away from what I considered precious- at least, sometimes. When folks left, it was said they wanted their sin, walked away from God (god) or some other rationalization. If the person leaving was single, the ties were broken and the person’s name not mentioned – at least between regular members. Jane said, “If you want to know where someone is come ask me.” I am responsible for who is not here and know why they left. When a person did not show to a meeting or several meetings, you were told not to say anything or ask questions – just go ask Jane. Is this normal? Does this help concentrate the power or attention on one person?

    Anyway, the rich traditions of rationalizing why folks would leave such a loving, caring place like WOFF continued during my time there. Exactly how many folks left during my time there? It is hard to say, but I can directly remember- over 50 — which is where I stopped counting. Many of these exits were VERY DRAMATIC, very emotional and very intense. Relationships with family and friends were torn and divided as leaving the group proved an offense to Jane Whaley, especially if she had not directed the exit. Children split from parents, parents split from children as well as friends being told not to speak to friends that had left or even mention the name of person who had left.

   How is all of this played while inside WOFF?  How is order restored when someone in leadership leaves WOFF? How are members comforted when one of their family members leaves? Remember, Jane controls the whole show. She controls the entire social atmosphere. What she says is the absolute rule at WOFF. She chooses when to talk about the people that have left. She chooses when to put pictures of those who leave on the big screen or pass pictures of them around the congregation as a warning. She chooses when to tell the latest gossip on those who have left and how they have fared. All is meant to concentrate her power base and edify – her.

   So, while I was there, I was told that certain folks who left had wanted their sin more than God (god). Others had been offended at something said or done and no matter what, they had chosen to believe the lies and left the will of God (god). Some had been caught in gross sin and no matter what help was offered, they chose to leave God’s place of protection. Jane said of one single lady, she was better off with her parents, she never would let God (god) change her. Was there ever a person who had a good reason to leave WOFF? Not truly. Two couples I remember from years ago were sent out to do whatever. One couple started the work in Africa and have never really left the WOFF “culture”. They just took it back to their country. The other couple went to Sweden (?) and we never heard much about them and their 6 or 7 children. (as far as I know). For the most part, exiting WOFF was seen as a penalty and not a promotion. Therefore, folks were told to sever ties with those who left, whether they were family or friend, they were now foe.  Why was/is it important to cast shame on and doubt the salvation of and cut ties with those who leave WOFF?

     Now forward a few years later, since I am out of WOFF and the family ties are broken for me, how do I take the rationalizations from inside the cult and make sense of them while on the outside? Did I fake the Christian life as one has said? Did I choose sin or worldly ways after being a WOFF-saint? Now that my family strives not to talk to me, how does that speak of the caring, loving reputation of WOFF? Does Jane really want to count all the broken relationships to her credit and give an account at the end of her life for them? So, does the fact that when I left, and my family cut ties with me speak well of Jane Whaley? For the children that grew up there- they know no different. For the adults there- when will you take responsibility of true Christian love and not push away those who have chosen to not follow your god? I am now seeking to unlearn the years at WOFF. It was not real to me until my time was over. The end result of WOFF is broken relationships, heartache and sadness. Can this be the result of folks at WOFF following after the will of God or will of a god? Can those who say they “love” in good conscience push away those who desire to love them? While in WOFF, it was rationalized to say you were pushing away evil when you cut-off those who have left. Is that really true? Am I now evil since I do no longer follow Jane? Yes, I no longer follow all the rules; did following the rules make me a saint while I was inside WOFF? While inside WOFF, it was said those who leave, now follow the devil. But, is that true? Do I follow the devil now after being a follower of Jane Whaley? Or is it I now follow Jesus after following a deceived one who followed the devil?

     When will Jane stop leaving a trail of broken relationships in her wake as she presses ahead to know her god? Will all the destruction end as when Jane realizes that using her gift to bless folks doesn’t really bless them at all? Could changes come when she realizes that her god is herself and her aims and pursuits have destroyed folks for years? For the true Christian, one must ask, does Jesus really want her to continue destroying, confusing and robbing the life from the very folks He died for? In my opinion, Jane Whaley destroys God’s will and does not do it- because she is the center of her world. She lives as the center of her own universe and the moons that rotate in her gravitational orbit do so at their own peril.

   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 221.