As I go through different information sources, there are several questions which are constantly in the back of my mind. A few have to deal with the process of recruitment into and exit out of a high-demand faith group. It would be unwise to assume that the path I took into such a group is the only way into these groups; or that there are only certain types of folks who join such groups. I am convinced of the fact that each group of this type uses a form of deception in order to recruit. In light of that, anyone can be recruited as anyone can be deceived within the right circumstances. That is how magic works. In many ways the deception used by high-demand faith groups is like a magic show. At least initially, the illusion is the primary focus, not the mechanics of how the illusion was set-up. Visitors to the group I was a part of – Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) had no idea how purposeful and practiced the created illusion had become. Any person who comes in contact with a magic show such as WOFF- could be fooled.

Aside from that aspect, are there any particular groups of folks that may be more susceptible to the illusion presented by control groups? Recently, I found two sources which were written about two different types of control groups which were suggesting the same answer to this question. It struck me as crucial and an important insight. After we review these sources, I will apply this understanding as a possible explanation to the recent trend I have heard about WOFF.

“Unholy Devotion – Why Cults Lure Christians” written by Harold L. Bissell (Copyright©1983 by The Zondervan Corp. ISBN 0-310-37251-8) is the first resource I will use. The author draws from his experience in counseling those who were drawn into religious cults. At the time he authored this book, he served as the Dean of Chapel at Gordon College.

In Chapter 2- “But You Can See the Love in Their Faces”- He warns about an over “emphasis on the subjective religious experience” can cause folks to “confuse Evangelicals with other “radical” religious groups who also exhibit changed lives, testimonies of joy, smiling face, and evangelistic zeal.” (page 19)

Honestly, when I read the chapter title, I remembered the service after service at WOFF where members would recount to the congregation about the compliments of the visitors who had been at a previous service. The testimony would include statements from visitors to the effect of “everyone looked so happy and smiled all the time! They were all dressed so nice. You could just see the love of Jesus in them!” They were reacting to our exhibition of our WOFF “experiences” which would often include reciting of Scripture. In retrospect, it was the feelings we showed and the aura we created which the visitors were caught up with not the soundness of our faith. Our faith was rooted in the utterances of the leader. We were actors on a stage sharing the WOFF gospel which was all about the subjective religious experience (feelings) from “prayer”, the many “friends,” the new clothes, fine homes new cars and just plain looking great. Forget that Jane preached for weeks or months telling us all –“you are of your father the devil.” When visitors were around – we were high stepping and acting the part. We also knew that public rebukes and corrections did not happen with visitors present. We could relax in a sense.

Folks, when those reports came from outsiders, it bolstered our confidence that we were THE Church! We were doing it right. Regardless of the planned effort to manufacture the smiles, the atmosphere, the magic show which the visitors had seen, we took their praises as confirmation that God must be with us! Looking back, it was so shallow. For the most part, I suspect many were totally unaware of the hypocrisy we were bathing in. Many of us believed the show was real and in many respects it was our “reality.

Once visitors were gone, every member who spoke was subject to the whims and controls of the leader. If they shared a less than positive report, it would be reworked before our very eyes and ears. We were all about the making sure the visitors had a wonderful experience and only saw the positive things at WOFF. Why? I believe the dynamics came from the top down as with other pyramid groups. And in some ways to just survive, we had to keep our focus on the “positive feelings” to outweigh the negative aspects of WOFF. I believe we were centered on the outward because our leader we followed our leader who was so shallow and had no real depth to her Scriptural understanding of the true gospel. In that she was hindered by her own inward focus, her narcissism.

Now, don’t get me wrong. We read out Bibles and we “learned” Scriptures. We were taught them Jane’s way. A different focus or interpretation was not allowed. “Knowing the Bible” was a part of the closed subculture that deceived many inside and outside the group. And for many, just being able to recite and quote Scriptures was as far as we needed to go. They became a part of our lingo and were used as conditioned responses to actually stop our critical thinking and not promote reflection and maturity. We did not need to apply them in any spiritually logical fashion- that was Jane’s gift.(?) I admit, I allowed the controls to stop me from truly seeking a personal understanding of many of the questions of faith. It was much easier to ride the waves of the WOFF experience and allow the daily WOFF-drama to occupy my time and energies.

Making certain choices was a matter of survival. This led many of us to be caught up in the experience and as long as we obeyed the rules and stayed out of discipline- we were going to make it. The whole experience was so superficial on the one hand and so serious on the other. At any moment, you could be thrown out of the church and on your way to hell or be told you were allowing Jesus to deal with your heart, going to higher levels in the spirit and fulfilling your call. The seriousness of that daily drama was confused with the true Christian faith. Since leaving the group, I have looked back and realized life there was so misguided.

More from our resource which deals with Christians being lured into “radical” groups:

“As Christians, we often bear witness to the results of the gospel rather than the gospel itself. To do so exclusively is a serious mistake…

Many people undergo dramatic experiences as they are converted to est, an encounter group, a meditation group, Marxism, or a cultic religious community. All conversion experiences offer common psychological results. The discovery of “new life” or a new system of belief gives a fresh reason for living and an exciting focus for life. A new sense of emotional security is born, and its breath is full of direction, a sense of belonging, and often happiness.” (page 20-21)

From the admission that conversion experiences can be similar across different groups, we move to a source which does not refer to the Christian experience, but to those who become a part of a New Age group. “Recovery From Cults- Help for Victims of Psychological Abuse” – edited by Dr. Michael Langone- (Copyright©1993- W.W. Norton and Company) Chapter 9- The Importance of Information in Preparing for Exit Counseling: A Case Study – written by Kevin Garvey begins with an introduction as to the types of folks who may be caught up in a New Age control group. The text includes this passage:

“The essence of the New Age vision that captivates these seekers is that meaning is not cognitive; it is primarily an emotional experience; it is not necessary to be logical, rational, or even reasonable. The ultimately dominant criterion of what is good is a totally subjective feeling state. The goal of life becomes a good feeling, a never-ending “high.

What is not made clear to New Age recruits, however, is the degree to which spiritual and psychological hucksters can manipulate the feelings of their vulnerable targets” (page 183)

What are we saying here? Neither source is saying everyone who joins a control group is alike in all ways or joins for the same reasons. Although, I believe it would be safe to add that recruits into religious control groups looking for the next “new experience” are also not aware of how easily they can be manipulated.

From these two resources and my own experience, I do believe that people who depend on the “experiences and the feelings” to be the criteria for their involvement in any group prove more susceptible to manipulation. People who don’t use logic or rational thinking skills can be more easily taken in by “hucksters.” I would also add that those who first believe and then try to think rationally about a group are setting themselves up for a sour experience. I must admit that in years past, there was a naiveté in me that trusted certain “preachers” first and entertained questions and doubts later. This I admit to my detriment. Is this solely the folly of youth? I cannot confirm that, but we know control groups regularly target youth because of their idealism and inexperience.

The aforementioned conclusion will not surprise some. Let me take it a step further. Those who grew up in a controlling group obviously did not make the choice to join. It was made for them. These members are referred to as “second generation.” As the years pass, the experiences that attracted the parents may not hold the same sway for their children for any number of reasons. One reason may be the requirement for logical and rational thinking could be higher in a second generation member. The constant “high” which drew and kept the parents as members may lose its grip on the second generation. Thus, the second generation makes choices to hold the group leader, the group dynamics and the foundational beliefs to a higher degree of scrutiny. Besides the raw abuse in a group, some may choose to leave just because they see through the “experiential sham.” Just because a parent joined for the WOFF signature practices/experiences, the children may leave because those same “experiences” become viewed as hypocritical and/or shallow.

Is this a contributing factor or cause of the next wave of second generation members to leave WOFF? The physical abuse, the shallowness, the pure sham of the show: are these contributing to the choices for the young adults to leave WOFF? Is this plausible? It makes sense to me and I am so glad. How many others will follow their lead?

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 and Josh confirmed it.

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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Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 490.