In 1995, Inside Edition aired two segments on Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. Bill O’Reilly actually was the announcer for the first segment! Inside Edition had acquired much of their information and footage from the Trinity Foundation (link- http://www.trinityfi.org ). The Trinity Foundation sent an undercover investigator inside WOFF. If I remember correctly, his name was Pete Evans. Also, if my memory serves me right, the investigator had a camera in his glasses that would film the activities within the services. During this time, I lived in Greenville, SC and attended special meetings at WOFF.

   This week I was able to secure a copy of the two segments that were aired in 1995. At some point in the future I hope to be able to provide access to these segments on this blog. But, for now, I will quote and comment on the content and my share memories from that time period. Before we proceed, I realize that many who are suffering under the hand of WOFFness were small children in 1995 or have joined the church since that time. If for no other reason, I hope to provide some back ground for those that were too young to realize what was happening  and/or give some perspective to those who were unaware of these segments aired by Inside Edition. These are not the episodes that were aired about Lacy Wein. That material can be found on YouTube® – here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPpbmDDRm8M

   The first Inside Edition segment, broadcast in February 1995, opens with scenes from a group prayer session. A voice is heard from within the church saying, “..in Jesus Name…” and the group begins the motions and sounds which all former member know were indicative of the blasting, loud prayer and deliverance sessions so common at WOFF. The announcer begins by saying, “They are raising the rafters in this church trying to scare the devil out of these kids with a bizarre form of prayer…but, is it spiritual healing or downright child abuse..?” Then a former member is shown saying, “I got hit so hard one time, I almost flew over the desk…” Next, a child psychologist is shown saying, “If you look at the kids faces, it is really quite fascinating, they’re dead.”  About the time she says this you are shown images of a lady putting her fingers to the face of a child on each side of his mouth and pushing upward as if to create a smile. I recognized the child, his mother and the lady trying to force the child to smile. This gesture was to encourage the child to get his “happy face”. Right?

    Before I go further, let me say that MANY of the folks shown in these video clips are STILL inside WOFF, today. I recognize many and also recognize the children as they are shown rocking back and forth and waving their hands. It is sad to me, as recently I have learned of the restraints and physical force used on certain youth. Also, I have learned of the emotional and psychological harm that is still being put upon the members of WOFF. Why should I be shocked? Jane Whaley is still in charge, she is still the center of the WOFF universe and forcing obedience on her members is her trademark. Yes, she has to have others to help her to do this, but, over the years there has been a never ending stream of members willing to learn the techniques, rationalize the injustices done and carry out her will. Many, if not all, are under the notion that they are doing God’s will by “doing whatever it takes to get someone to obey God and walk with God”… Honestly, watching these videos has caused me to go back and examine the choices I made and the deception I lived under. It would be foolish to think that after staying under such religious foolery, that I have no regrets and can accept no responsibility for my decisions. Though it has revealed and highlighted my many regrets, seeing these videos has been good for me. It has caused me to face my decisions and purpose to move on.   

   After the introduction, Bill O’Reilly is shown giving some back ground that Inside Edition had been investigating fringe religious organizations over the years. He mentions that in this segment they will look at a group that may be abusing children. Then a former member is show saying, “I feel like they reached inside me and ripped my child out of my womb…” Next, the scene cuts to a shot of a prayer session where the leader says:”You are not going to steal our families…in Jesus name…” and the loud sounds of prayer begins.  Bill O’Reilly is shown next. He mentioned that with help of the Dallas based Trinity Foundation; they had been investigating a religious organization in NC. What they learned goes beyond religious fraud. “…what Steve Wilson discovered is very disturbing.”

   The next scene has a picture of the NC Mountains with birds singing, the producers are listed as Mary Van Horn and Steve Wilson, and editors are listed as Robert Sickles and Lee Weissman.  A picture of a former member is shown next. Her face is blacked out as she says, “You have to live with the guilt of the things you allowed to go on. And the things you witnessed and never said anything about.” I don’t know the identity of this person. However, her words ring true. These are some of the struggles that former members must face IF they are to move on and process what happened during their days inside WOFF. Do any others agree? Some folks have told me to ignore it, put it behind and move on. I see others who have tried that and still years later cannot shake the nightmares and/or disturbing, emotional and sour thoughts of the memories from WOFF.

     The announcer says the lady is hiding her face, “not only in shame for what she has done, but also in fear of what others may do to her for telling what has been going on inside their church..” Now, let’s stop and reflect on this. Jane, are you reading this? Others fear retribution for telling what goes on in YOUR church. How is that going to look on judgment day? When God reminds you, Jane, of this and what you commissioned your leadership to do and what you did yourself. Oh, God, I did not want them to know how YOU told me to treat YOUR children. Outsiders just would not understand how we administered YOUR LOVE. Really, is that how it will go down?  The truth is MANY former members do not want their names known and refuse to comment on this blog because of this very reason. Many refuse to tell the truth of what goes on behind the lily white doors of WOFF for fear of Jane and what her thugs will do to them. That is SO SAD. I have found the truth is so surreal, that embellishment is not needed. Just the fact that others who leave still fear Jane speaks volumes as to how members are treated who remain INSIDE WOFF. Does that make sense? Why should it be believed that there are only truckloads of fear when folks leave? It does not start when a person leaves. The fear starts when a person joins and begins to face the fear-fact that Jane has moved in to control their lives or they will not be a part of WOFF and make it to heaven!  

     We go back to the video. There is another shot of men standing in front of the sanctuary and “leading prayer”. It is odd to see them with facial hair. Facial hair was declared an ungodly no-no a few years later. The announcer continues, “Outsiders seldom see the decidedly different way this secretive sect worships God.”  Now, there is THE understatement that will ring through the annals of WOFF history! Jane, are you reading this? Your group is known as a “secretive sect” and for years of SECRECY! Why?    You openly proclaim other secretive groups as unholy or pagan and yet your group has remained for years behind a veil or cloak of mystical mirages and constant practices of restricted access? How do I know? I was there and took overnight watch duty- to “guard the church”. I was also present when the direction of any meeting where visitors were present took on an obviously softer tone. In the meetings with visitors, new “family business” was not discussed. Why? Was it because they just would not understand how YOU showed God’s LOVE to your members? Really?

   Though we are just over two minutes into the review of this resource material, we will stop for now and continue reviewing the content in another post. Comments from former and present members are welcome. The journey continues.

   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, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his 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 345.