Recently, I have had several conversations with a survivor of another group. The similarities between the control measures used in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and the survivor’s former group have been nothing short of amazing and sad. It is regretful that the results have been eerily the same. During one conversation, this survivor said there “stolen intimacy” as a result of the control measures of the leader of that group. This person had lost their family relationships over their discontinued church membership. Yes, really- it was the same as many cases from WOFF. As I listened and began to understand their situation, I realized it was not so much “stolen intimacy” but rejected intimacy. Let me explain.

   During my time at WOFF, it was an acceptable and actually a required practice to be denied contact with members that had left WOFF. As warm-up for that practice, when a member was on “church discipline” or in church discipleship, you were expected to allow God to deal with their heart and not talk to or “fellowship” with them. Certain ones in leadership or a spouse may be able to talk to them and allow that person to “open their heart” and share where “God was dealing with them”. All of these phrases were code talk within WOFF and after a short period of time, you began to get the meaning and became aware of the penalties for crossing the boundaries or breaking the unwritten rules. You may cross the line once- but, you would soon be told how to act toward those on church discipline.  

   What “sin” could have you put on church discipline? Whatever violation Jane thought was too severe to allow you to “walk among God’s people”. The “sin” could be one you were warned about before or a new one you were totally unaware of as being “sin”. If you were “listening to the spirit of God” and in tune with Him – you would know what actions or thoughts were sin and what were not “sin”… Really? This seemed so spiritual when you were in WOFF. I believed and acted upon that notion for a long time while inside WOFF. It seemed perfectly justifiable to me within the confines or parameters of the sub-culture we lived in.  Now, I see it as a power play from Jane and the leadership to keep the regular members always unsure and fearful to do ANYTHING without “checking things out with leadership” to “see if they were hearing God”. Can you say – dysfunctional grace? Since the rules were unwritten and the code of conduct at times so elusive, then it allowed Jane her own interpretation and ability to make the rules what she wanted them to be at any given moment. If she decided to change things, then we were walking in a higher place in God (while still being “so full of sin it made her sick!”)and/or “God was trusting us more” or the individuals had heard God for that situation, but it was not certain everyone else would have that liberty.

 

  A few good basic rules to follow while inside WOFF: if whatever you did or thought or tried to do or maybe thought made Jane look less than perfect- it was sin. If whatever you did or thought or allowed or saw and ignored or were in the same room and did not correct or laughed when it was done- made Jane or the reputation of WOFF in general look less than perfected- then it was sin. If whatever you had knowledge of made it seem that someone else may have a higher level of “truth” that Jane- then you were in “sin” and needed to get on your face before God and cry out for his mercy. You could lose your salvation over any such transgressions.

   So, when a person left WOFF, they were denied contact with their family and friends who stayed in WOFF. (Every situation was different and for some this denial ebbed and flowed and may be relaxed for a time and then reinstated- all at Jane’s direction.) In comparison, the survivor from the other group thought their intimacy with their family had been “stolen”. (in a sense, it had been- by the pastor.) However, they had still attempted to have relationship with their family inside the group – their offers had been rejected by their family members. I can relate. Why would family members reject relationship with a family member who had left the church? After all, isn’t God a loving God and aren’t his children known by their love for one another? Why would those who follow Christ reject the love and relationship of a family member who had been with them inside the church and now are walking either in another church or remain unaffiliated with a church? I think the answer may be in the concept of “magic”. Well, at least part of the answer.    

   During WOFF days, it was clear- we did not believe in “magic”. Well, that was our confession. We did not buy toys or books for our children that included references to “magic”. All in all, we even made no profession of believing in luck. But, actually, did we believe in “magic”? Why? Well, we practiced instant shunning of those who we had known for years. We worked with members until every hour of the night, we trusted them with our children, we trusted them with our money and in essence our life. BUT- when they would “listen to the devil” and walk out of WOFF, they instantly were not worth of trust or confidence or any part of our lives. Can that be true? What do others say? When a member of WOFF decides that Jane is no longer the only gift of God on the face of the earth that knows God’s voice- then that person is turned into “reprobate”- as if by “magic”! Poof! One day on the WOFF-team, one day a trusted WOFF member on the road to righteousness and holy living. The instant Jane’s gift is doubted- you instantly become the devil’s workmen. Really? Yes. Life inside WOFF has at its foundation an unwavering, died in the wool, no doubts allowed, lay your life down for Jane loyalty. When that is gone, you instantly become a Judas and are cast into outer darkness, or at least out of WOFF-dom.

   This instant magical transformation explains the rejection of any attempts at a continued friendship or familial relationship with members still in WOFF. No matter what is done to continue with a relationship, it did not/will not happen. The person who leaves had become wrong and not matter what they did/do, they would never be right again until they were accepted back into the WOFF-fold by Jane. It has taken me more than three years to understand this. Even though I was under Jane’s influence for sixteen years, I could not see clearly that once a person left her group, a “magical” transformation occurred and their salvation is no longer was determined by faith and trust in the work Jesus did on the cross. Once you left “Jane’s protection”, it became evident your salvation was riding on WOFF membership and in truth, had been the entire time you were inside the group. While inside WOFF, you are told to believe your salvation depends on being “born again”; if that were true, then eternal salvation would not be dependent on Jane, would it? Does that sound right? For true Christians, shouldn’t our salvation rest on our faith in Jesus, his obedience and his sacrifice- regardless of where we may attend church? What do Jane’s actions say about her beliefs about herself and her group? In my opinion, by Jane’s actions toward former members, she tells outsiders that in order to be saved they must follow her religion. Does that sound like magical thinking? What do other former members say?    

   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 369.