Are you aware of “scandals”? Then what shall we do…?

Our last post explored an article in Charisma Magazine® about Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and their Holocaust Museum display. It was dated October 1, 2013 and can be found here. The article was written by Marcus Yoars. Here is the contact information for Mr. Yoars: marcus.yoars@charismamedia.com main tel:407.333.0600

A few blog readers have replied to me with copies of emails sent to Mr. Yoars. Also, several comments were placed in response to the article. This post will review a response written by Mr. Yoars to a blog reader. A blog reader wrote this to Mr. Yoars:

After reading your well intended article, I realized you do not know the truth behind the walls of WOFF. As a victim/survivor, I am here to tell you that what you are seeing is a well orchestrated façade. I am not bitter, just thankful I survived.  However, I do want people to know the truth about what seems to be a loving, caring, God centered fellowship. My story is one of many. These people are not what they portray themselves as. They lie, cheat, steal and destroy the families, marriages etc. of those who do not accept Jane Whaley as their almighty. I know, I WAS one. Thank you for taking the time to consider my email.

 

And this was his reply October 28, 2013:

Thanks for your email, *****. I’ve had another person contact me with a similar message. I intentionally tried to focus on the Holocaust Museum and the students’ artwork in this story rather than the church or the Whaley’s because I was aware of the scandals surrounding WOFF. But at this point I’m seeing there’s more to this story that what one visit and a handful of interactions will reveal.(emphasis added)

 What are we to make of this reply? Are we to assume that he wrote this narrow article after “one visit and a handful of interactions” …? “I was aware of the scandals surrounding WOFF.” And yet the “scandals” are glossed over by the paragraph below…

“Since 1979, Word of Faith Fellowship, a vibrant Spirit-filled church about 70 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., has endured its own history of persecution. The tight-knit congregation of 750 people houses WFCS and, for whatever reason, has been a lightning rod for controversy for more than a decade. Death threats. Drive-by shootings. Lawsuits. Investigations. Child abuse allegations. Assault charges. Boycotts.”

After considering the article and the responses from readers posted on the Charisma Magazine® website, the conclusion I have reached is that Mr. Yoars is guilty of doing exactly what so many others have done when it comes to WOFF. He took the easy road. He decided to emphasize the “glamour and the glory” and ignore the destruction that has come for so many who have been a part of WOFF. He chose to see the sparkle of the presentation and not investigate the dynamics or methods used by WOFF leaders.

Mr. Yoars, the course you took is a well traveled road. Many in local government as well as State agencies and Federal agencies have taken the easy road when it comes to seeking the facts as to what really happens behind the lily white doors of WOFF. For them, it has been easier to dismiss the stories of survivors as baseless or worse yet- unable to be proven beyond a doubt- without taking the time to do the uncomfortable task of actually performing a thorough investigation regardless of who cries foul. It has been easier to believe the framed picture that WOFF presents rather than afford the survivors and the PRESENT members- adult and child alike- what is due them- equal protection under the law.

What will it take for the proper authorities to do what is required when survivors come forth with allegations of wrong doing and criminal offenses within WOFF? Will it take some pictures of bruises to stir an inquiry? Will it take a broken arm or leg? Worse yet, will it take an unexplained death uncovered after a death certificate signed by a WOFF doctor to turn some heads? I don’t know what it will take and yet, why should it have to be blood-evidence? There are crimes committed every day against individuals in our society that don’t cause death yet, the victims are afforded their due equal protection under the law. Does the fact that these events are purported to take place in a religious environment ward off or scare certain officials from investigating? Does abuse in the name of religion get a free pass in America?

November 18, 2013 will be the 35^th anniversary of the Jonestown massacre.  Can we apply the “Art of Remembering” to that event and take away some precious lessons from this enormous tragedy that could and would save lives? Jim Jones presented a framed picture and it turned out to be a fraud. In my opinion after living inside the group and seeing life firsthand; WOFF presents a framed picture and yet who will do what was done in Lake City, SC and closely examine their work to see if it truly meets the standard?

In future posts we will again review more material from “Raven” by Tim Reiterman with John Jacobs (copyright ©1982 Tim Reiterman, Introduction copyright 2008 by Tim Reiterman, ISBN 978-1-58542-678-2); the authors tell “The Untold Story of the Rev. Jim Jones and His People”. “Tim Reiterman is a prizewinning journalist who extensively covered Jonestown for the San Francisco Examiner. He was wounded in the jungle airstrip attack that killed a U.S. Congressman, plus three reporters, and a Peoples Temple defector.” (from the back cover) This book is over 600 pages. I have finished it and am astounded at the similarities between the events surrounding People’s Temple and the events surrounding WOFF.

Here is the link to the first post from the book which I wrote July 15, 2010- “Raven” by Tim Reiterman – Voice of a Survivor. This review was only covering the introduction. Soon we will delve deeper into this comprehensive work and take away some common elements that were in Peoples Temple and which exist today in WOFF. Please, return to read more from this blog.

And with that, let us remember:

“It is never too late to wake up and leave and reclaim your life!” Steve Hassan

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. Jane told me. 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 445.