Earlier this week, I received a call about a man who had left Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). After a couple of more phone calls, I agreed to meet him and hear his story. The following is not a comprehensive narrative but a short version of what would take several posts to cover. To no one’s surprise, EVERY survivor of WOFF has a unique and often heart wrenching story of emotional upheaval, confusion and heartache. This man’s story is no different-sorta.

The survivor’s name is Bryan Bullock. During his stay in a local prison, he had contact with other churches in the area. While inside, he had heard some negative things about WOFF over an incident with a Christmas tree. While WOFF members were visiting the prison for a time of ministry, an inmate plugged in the Christmas tree lights in the same room as the gathering. An unidentified WOFF member promptly unplugged the tree and said “We don’t celebrate Christmas.” That event stuck with Bryan, but who considers Christmas traditions in early spring?

After his release, he was staying in a hotel.  A short while later, he approached Joe English at his home and asked for help. Not long afterwards, DeWitt Prince and Douglas McDonald visited his hotel room and took him out to McDonalds for the usual cheeseburger, fries and a drink. Over the next couple of days this event repeated itself not necessarily at the same restaurant. Finally, Bryan was invited to come live at WOFF. He told me he accepted without knowing the rules of no television, no movies, no blue jeans, no walking to the store without a guard. He certainly was not aware at the total loss of privacy which was required to move inside WOFF, into the lower building.

 He joined in April of 2013 and by his account, the first two to three months were wonderful. He was asked to work around the church grounds and received $100 a week on Wednesdays as a “love offering.” He was given clothes, a place to live and had lots of new friends. After a while, he was allowed to “walk out a relationship” with a young lady inside the group.  

After a very painful incident in June of this year, he was diagnosed with a severe form of cancer which caused his bones to become brittle. He admits that WOFF helped him tremendously with his medical costs, transportation and support. Until he could qualify for state support, he said WOFF members directed by Jane Whaley gave him everything he needed to pursue a cure. He took chemo treatments locally and then was admitted to a hospital in Winston Salem for a bone marrow transplant. During the 16 day stay in the hospital, a WOFF member was with him for the entire time less 3 days. As I heard his story, he continually expressed his gratitude for the money, clothes, transportation and help that WOFF gave him. He was hospitalized from October 28th to November 13^th. The treatments appeared to have been successful. In January, he will revisit the hospital for tests to determine status of the disease.

After all of the support from WOFF, the question comes- why did he leave? Bryan’s answer to that question was he could take the preaching and the teaching. “I just could not take all of the rules. I never got into the prayer.” Close to the end of his time there, he was told that his relationship with his friend was over. This was at Jane’s direction.  This affected his enthusiasm for the WOFF-life in a very negative way.

He also admitted to me of smuggling a DVD player and some movies into his living area at the lower building. After an unannounced search of his quarters under the guise of wanting to find receipts for his spending of the “love offerings”, he was confronted with the contraband. His personal property was taken along with his cell phone. He was provided another phone but, did not realize it was monitored. After a few weeks, he was confronted with his printed text messages to a former member telling of his plans to leave. At first, Jane agreed to put him up in a motel until his support stated in January of next year. But, after “hearing from God” she had her helpers pack his stuff and take him to a local motel and only pay for three days. He would be on his own after that.

As I heard this man’s story, he made it very clear he did not want to “attack.” He was grateful for the help, he just could not live by all the rules and when the relationship with his friend was broken up by Jane, he lost interest in pursuing the WOFF-life. In fact, after our initial meeting on Monday, he was visited on Tuesday by DeWitt Prince. He said DeWitt lamented that he had been seen hanging with John Huddle. Bryan explained that when WOFF would not help him, he had called Faith Freedom Fund for some assistance. He was really in a hard place and needed the help. DeWitt said then just don’t attack! From my perspective, by telling his story, Bryan would not be attacking. I was so taken by Bryan’s sincere appreciation for the overwhelming support from Jane and her crew. It compels me to ask why? What I must also ask is why they would stop their support during his hour of need? The list of violations includes watching movies, saying some “foolish” things and straying from their compound to take a walk in the woods. Bryan admits he has had a couple of relapses during his stay, but, his battle is not over… he has no local family to help and is appreciative of any help he does get.

In the farewell meeting with Jane, she told him that though he may be declared all clear from his cancer; he would still “burn in hell.” She pronounced that he was a “Son of Satan!” Jane also expressed a desire for him to move far away from Spindale. After the reciting of his story, Bryan simply characterized his exit such that he was told to live by their rules or live somewhere else. He chose to live somewhere other than the lower building at WOFF.  

During this week, I have been in constant contact with Bryan. He is doing well and is just waiting for the next step of his life to begin early next year. He seems to be much happier and is attending services at Adaville Baptist church. He has approved the posting of his story.

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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 451.