Wednesday evening was the second part of the Spring Missions Project. It involved a walk up and down Oakland Rd. in Spindale, NC, with the same signs from Sunday evening. Honestly, the whole day was an adventure! Where do we start but- the beginning! I received a call at mid-morning from another former Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) member telling me that there had been an announcement on the local radio station about an open invitation to the public for a meeting at WOFF. The speakers would be two Holocaust survivors. After I got over the IRONY and blatant HYPOCRISY of WOFF prohibiting their members from listening to the radio and then USING the radio to announce their meeting, I began to make plans. How about something worse; that WOFF would be the place of a meeting for two folks that came through the hellish times in Hitler’s Germany which started out with many of the same prohibition of personal freedoms and restraints that Jane Whaley uses on her people- TODAY? It took me a while to adjust to the WOFF-zone that was playing out before me.

   Nonetheless, I made plans to launch part 2 of the Spring Missions Project. It was exciting just thinking of the possibilities! So, I arrived at the chosen hour and began my walk, this time with no hat or sunglasses. The weather turned out to be cloudy but wonderful! At first, I was at a loss as to why Wayne Hall did not fire up his camera and video the 2^nd walk? Then it came to me that with the public invited, WOFF would not want several of the security to be seen out front filming a man expressing his opinion and walking up and down Oakland Rd. Why, that would look like they were overly concerned. They could not show that to the general public!

    The first reactions on this walk were more positive than Sunday. Several folks were blowing horns and giving me the thumbs-up! It was encouraging. Some folks would circle around a few times to make sure they were reading both signs. It was a positive time. Some stopped to ask for my phone number and just to say they liked the sign. Then I saw him, Josh Farmer, driving by real slow with his cell phone enmeshed into his ear. No concern, at least they knew I was there and the cameras would soon begin rolling from a distance. All was set to not be too obvious, where visitors to WOFF would easily notice the camera crew. Was that sneaky? I made sure to show myself friendly and waved as often as I could, facing the camera(s).

    The next series of events may be out of order. We could ask WOFF to show their film to see if I have the order wrong. Aren’t they so sweet to record this Project! I walked over the bridge and back past the restaurant across from Old Flynn Rd. then I turned back around toward the bridge to go past Old Flynn again. I saw a Rutherford County Sheriff car sitting in the driveway of the restaurant. Of course, wanting to show myself friendly, I approached the officer and assured him that no one was bothering me and everyone had treated me well. He looked befuddled and said he was just considering where to eat dinner! So, I walked on!

   I walked back and forth across the bridge again. Different from Sunday, WOFF members did NOT wave back for the most part. When I recognized them, I called them by name and waved, just wanting to be – you got it- friendly! I did notice a certain Realtor® about break his neck trying to read my sign as he went by. I am not sure why he did not wave. Maybe because his wife was/is the main church secretary and he had been clued in? Some reactions from WOFFers were puzzling during this time.

    On the second or third trip over and back on the bridge, I had to stop and tie my shoe. As I did a Spindale Police Officer pulled up and put on his blue lights!  Wow, how did I rank getting such great treatment! After all, who could/can resist looking at the flashing blue lights and finding out who is getting such special attention and help? I was not upset to see the Policeman. He was so kind and helpful. He said he had a complaint that I was impeding traffic. People were stopping to read the sign(s) and traffic was being held-up! Wow- it was working! What a compliment! He said there were safety issues and asked me several other questions. He said he was required to do a background check. I gave him a piece of paper to write on and gave my name and birth date. I asked if I needed a permit. He said maybe but, of course could not render an official opinion. He told me if the complaints continued he would have to do something. I asked what that “something” was and he said “take you to jail”.

   Well, it was almost 6:30PM by that time and I had not planned to keep WOFFers from the special meeting. So, I chose not to go to jail on Wednesday. The Police Officer seemed relieved. Besides, all the folks coming off the ramp from Highway 74 headed to WOFF were being treated to a show that included flashing blues and them seeing my sign(s). Also, I was getting tired and thirsty and needed to head back to my car. Once I cleared the background check, he released me to walk back to my car. I do appreciate his help. Someone in a Spindale Police unit went up and down Oakland Road several times during the next 30 minutes or so to check out the traffic and check on me, I think. Yea!

   Let me also say right here, Thank you to the person who called in the complaint. I am not sure, but, if it was the WOFF Security was team; they did us all a favor! We are all concerned with safety, right? And it was true, folks were stopping to read the signs and express their approval. Lots of folks loved the signs. Do you think the WOFF Security noticed that, also? They are pretty sharp guys.  We just hope the next time WOFF considers a yard sale on Oakland Rd. that the Spindale Police treats them with the same concern that I was afforded.

    As I left the light show to return to my car, I walked past Tuscany’s Italian Grille http://www.tuscanyitaliangrille.com/contact.html , and two waitresses came running out to give me some food and drink! Wow- what a treat, first a blue light show and then free food! They were very encouraging saying how much they liked my signs and wanted pictures for their Facebook® pages. Well, though I had not worn my best khakis, I posed and told them how grateful I was for the food, drink and support. Another lady came running over from the restaurant parking lot. Her name was Brooke. She expressed her disdain for WOFF and asked for a couple of pictures for her Facebook® page. Wow- this was almost too much. Yes, I turned around and the WOFF security team was filming that, too! Do you think the WOFF security team was jealous and wanted a picture with me? Maybe next time I could get a shot with Josh and Ray for my Facebook®? Okay, that is NOT likely.

    After the impromptu photo shoot, I took off my signs so I could carry my food and drink and headed back to my car. It was a long walk and I eventually made it. Later that night, I received a call from someone asking about my time in WOFF. They had seen me walking. After a few sentences, I referred them here to this blog. All in all, I would say Spring Missions Project Part 2 was a success. I have already been asked what I was planning for a “Summer Missions Project”. Well, that will take some thought. When I find pictures that the others took of this project, I will post here on this blog. I did not get any pictures for myself during this adventure. Do you think WOFF would share? Okay, I’m just asking. Comments welcome.

    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 294.