The drama in Florida concerning the Word of Faith Fellowship(WOFF)-Word of Faith Christian School (WFCS)Holocaust Museum added another chapter Tuesday night. The city council of Cocoa held their first monthly meeting for April. Included in the public comment section were two individuals from the local Sister Cities group seeking continued support from the city, and President of Temple Beth Shalom, David Pelzman who spoke for the local Jewish community in reconsidering the council’s resolution of support for the WFCS Holocaust exhibit.

The lady speaking for the Sister Cites group admitted her organization found out about the WOFF indictments in March. That is not in dispute. What is in dispute is when did Ron Shelton, Program Director of the upcoming display, know about the five WOFF Indictments?

The Sister Cities representative put forth the idea that the indictments had nothing to do with the children or the museum. She asked for continued support of the Sister Cities project.

David Pelzman made an impassioned presentation on behalf of the local Jewish community. He stated that Ron Shelton was presented information about the indictments in mid-December. Going on, he pleaded with the council to see the children of the school as no different from the leaders, members and the work of the church. He stated the Jane Whaley is the leader of the church and a principal and teacher in the school. He likened the Holocaust display to the true story of the concentration camp, Theresienstadt. At this camp, the Germans organized a concert given by Jewish prisoners “who could play music” against the background of a “Hollywood set” to the watching eyes of the International community. He recognized no difference in what WOFF does in using the “Holocaust museum project to hide (from) the eyes of a moralistic and ethical society.”

Toward the end of the meeting, the clip seen here
– starts with the council discussing the proposed Resolution to withdraw support for the Holocaust Museum. Councilman Blake says Ron Shelton told him just prior to the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting, he did not know about the indictments until March. This is contrary to published reports citing Shelton knew in January (here) and in direct contradiction to David Pelzman’s earlier assertion stating the information was given to Shelton in mid-December.

Which story is true? When did Shelton know and when did he decide to not know what he knew? Why is this important? This is more than a “leadership flaw” as Shelton describes in the Floridatoday.com article. This contradiction points to an effort of one man to do whatever he can which includes hiding valuable information from his support team, in order to continue with an event that he perceives will bring him recognition.

The discussion continues and soon Deputy Mayor Warner weighs in. When she voted on the resolution, “my vote was based on the children who participated.” Explaining further about her decision in favor of the original Resolution, “I knew nothing about them.”(the church)

The original Resolution (2014-094 (Supporting Sister Citys Hosting of Holocaust Museum in Central Fl) states nothing about the school or the church. From all indications, the plan from the inception was to keep the church affiliation unknown.

Now, Warner does not want to make something that started out about children become based (on the actions) of adults. Warner ends by saying she cannot support the Resolution canceling support. Councilman Blake ends up with a rally cry to the council and the ones gathered at the meeting, “I’m hoping like all giddy-up you will stand with us, in God we trust…” No action is taken on the pending Resolution. Barring unforeseen last minute changes, the exhibit is on for this Sunday.

You may ask okay, who will be harmed? Children of WFCS who “can play music” will be required to take center stage on the “Hollywood set” created for the presentation, using their “Holocaust instruments” and play music for the International community. All the while, smiling and showing the visitors how wonderful life in WOFF really is. Their smiles will be on cue and their clothes pressed and clean. It will be Show Time! Everyone will be on stage giving their best performance or risk being pulled from the event.

Therein is the harm. The enhanced innocence and staged interactions will be a thick veneer betraying the true life behind closed doors in North Carolina. The children singing will be aimed to warm the hearts of the listeners and garner the trust that is so needed to continue the Theresienstadt concert. The young artists will be pawns on a greater stage, oblivious to the political games adults play to benefit from their obedience, in the same manner as the young children at Theresienstadt so many years ago..

The goal of dispelling peering eyes full of questions and discrediting the detractors will be achieved at any cost. The children of WOFF will live on in their contrived reality as the leaders of the church vicariously drink in the sunlight of adulation and praise from the display attendees. The church/school leaders will use the wonder and expressions of thankfulness from the visitors as a salve for their dry aching souls, weary from the task of supporting the WOFF life-style; all the while seeking identification as the persecuted Jewish people and not the ones who engineered the concert at Theresienstadt.

The visiting children will be treated to a sham and walk away with a complete misunderstanding of life inside of WOFF. It will appear all roses and honey, while honestly it is not.

Do you know the difference? Would you be fooled by the Theresienstadt concert starting in Cocoa this weekend?

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.

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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 511.