We have provided several posts reviewing material in 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). The film has a dedicated website with supporting information. The site is www.joinusthemovie.co . I have been intrigued by this film. It is no doubt the most intimate look at real ex-members of a religious cult. This cult was in Anderson, SC and was named Mountain Rock Church. The pastor was Raimund Melz. He and his wife, Deborah, exercised control over their members predicated on the idea that they were “family”. From all indications, Raimund Melz was the one who made the decisions and exercised the discipline.
In the second clip from the movie after the trailer (shown below), one ex-member, Tonya, is telling a counselor that the members were unable to know what sin was, the pastor had to point it out. “…You have to have him point out the sin, …because you are a dumb baby, dumb sheep..You can’t see them (the sins)..So, he has to be the one, he hears from God, you are inmature, he has to point them(the sin) out…” And then in a moment of revelation, this ex-member says to the counselor, “You act like you have seen this before?” The counselor answers- “.. This is what we hear all the time…” This exchange started at one minute and three seconds into the clip. I was glued to this exchange. Why? Because, for years while in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), Jane Whaley would be asked by members to tell them – what is sin? Did I do right? What should I have done different? While I was in WOFF, members were continually chided and berated for not knowing what was sin. While in WOFF- Jane ruled and made the determination who did right, who did wrong and what to do about it. She determined who got punished and how. The only source of the knowledge of sin was Jane Whaley. In reality, Jane replaced the Holy Spirit in member’s lives as apparently did Mr. Raimund Melz. But, from the counselor, we learn this happens all the time- IN CULTS!
During this same clip at one minute and twenty-nine seconds, the ex-member talks about “having to get the laziness out, having to get the rebellion out”. Again, this comment captured my attention. Why? Because “getting the rebellion out” was a very common reason at WOFF for a member to get loud prayer, deliverance, correction, spankings, church discipline of various types. This was a very common justification for any various kinds of rebuke or “love” as it was sometimes put. Later, towards the end of the clip, Tonya expresses her questions, “What if he is right? What if we are doing wrong? We are totally in rebellion and we will are really going to be in that deeper level of hell?” Much of the documentary shows her continued struggle with just these questions and the issues they include.
Listening to these questions was heart wrenching for me. Why? Because, they were REAL CONCERNS of a REAL ex-cult member. I know these doubts. Similar doubts raged in ME for months after leaving WOFF. Two thoughts helped me. The first, I had the question; Why am I not afraid of the Pope excommunicating me? Because I am not a member of the Catholic church. Then I saw since I was no longer a WOFF member, Jane had no power of me. Next, before I was in WOFF, I was a man searching after God. That part had not changed. I was still searching after Him. WOFF did not take away my hunger to know God.
This documentary is available through the website listed above and Netflix®. I encourage you to watch it, maybe two or three times. I see new things and learn each time I watch it. The ex-members do express their emotions in colorful language and there are scenes that are not appropriate for children. But, the content is real. The struggles are real. The leading cult experts share valuable information that is very helpful. The website for the movie has several good links for further research.
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 231.