In the previous post, we introduced the movie- Join Us. The film is presented by Interloper Films along with Lusitan and was produced by Ondi Timoner and Vasco Lucas Nunes. (copyright© Third Floor Productions, LLC 2007) This award winning film released in 2007 captures the fear and torment in the lives of four families caught in a religious cult in South Carolina. The families are shown receiving help at the Wellspring Retreat in Ohio. Actual footage of counseling sessions led by the late Dr. Paul Martin show former cult members receiving instruction, asking questions and dealing with the issues facing them as they struggle to find “normal” lives. The emotions are real and the language reflects the intense struggle with guilt, anger and remorse.
The clip below is from a radio interview with Ondi Timoner. She talks about how she came to learn about cults and mind control. She also gives some insight into how the group came to light. It is worth the time to listen.
I have been intrigued by the film to say the least. Though my time in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) does not mirror exactly the course of the families in this film, there are enough similarities to draw some conclusions. The church in the film was Mountain Rock Church in Anderson, SC. Not much is revealed about the ministerial background of the pastor- Riamund Melz. There is one reference to having pastored a church in New York previous to moving to South Carolina. One person in the film makes reference to similar things happening in the church in New York as happened in South Carolina. Mr. Melz tells of his childhood and the physical abuse he came under in his youth. In comparison, Jane Whaley, leader of WOFF, did not/has not shared about any abuse during her childhood, as far as I remember. Others may know different. Often times it is true, the abused become the abuser.
The church in the movie appeared to be lead by a couple- Pastor Melz an his wife. From some comments made by Mr. Melz, he was the stronger of the two and seemed to make the majority, if not all the decisions. In comparison, though WOFF appears to be led by a couple, those who are inside truly know that only one person – Jane is in charge of the church. From what we know about WOFF and have seen in the movie about Mountain Rock Church, the churches were/are both led by a strong, assertive leader. These leaders operate in total control of the church and the lives of those who are called members.
In the movie trailer, one ex-member is shown talking to Dr. Martin. She says “He (the Pastor) was perfect and he never sinned.” She is restating what Mr. Melz says later in the movie about himself, “ I am as close to perfect, I think as you can get.” View it for yourself! In the previous post we provided the movie trailer- watch it. At one minute and forty-three seconds into the clip, you will hear these words coming out of his mouth. He would NOT say it unless he believed it. Apparently, he taught others to believe it! Well, how does that compare to what we know about Jane Whaley? Has she ever made similar statements? She did with her actions, while I was there. Recently, it was told to me, she has made claims to perfection and being sinless. I am repeating what I have heard, but this does compare to what I witnessed while in the group. Do others have the same or a different understanding? Does Jane act like and talk like she believes she is perfect or “as close to perfect, I think as you can get.” What is this called? Is this normal for other pastors and church leaders? Does your pastor call himself or herself- perfect or sinless or some other phrase denoting having obtained a perfect state? When someone believes and calls themselves perfect- who can help them?
We will close for now, however we will share more on this movie and the similirities between Mountain Rock Church and WOFF.
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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 227.