June is here and soon the official start of the summer. This summer will be like none other in the history of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The month of May produced the most convincing defeat ever in a court case involving Jane Whaley. The inability to convince the judge of her claims shocked her and the leadership team. She encouraged those around her to “just let it go…” Honestly, there may be no follow-up, but will she and her followers “just let it go” and forget this case? Can the legal team forget how Jane performed on the stand? Were they even the slightest bit embarrassed? Can those in leadership who witnessed Jane’s testimony on May 29th forget or excuse the display of less than perfection from their long-time leader? What excuses will be hatched to cover the obvious reduction in her ability to convince others of her righteous, holy lifestyle? Will they talk about it privately away from Jane’s ears and discuss the next step? Will her daughter Robin, Brooke Covington and the missing-in-action-Karel Reynolds review plans for succession to the WOFF throne? Will Gerald and Linda Southerland be included in the discussions or not?
This summer will be the Summer of Decision for everyone inside WOFF.
Why? Simple. August and the months to follow will include the trial for the five indicted WOFF members. Can they enjoy the coming weeks knowing the unknown awaits them? Will the recent court debacle cause them to reconsider their confidence in the defense strategy? How will Jane steady the rocking ship? Does Josh Farmer’s apparent slip in proficiency cause anxiety any of the defendants? If they had doubts and second thoughts, could they share them in simple honesty and not risk being disciplined or shunned for a lack of faith? When they lay down at night in the quiet of their own thoughts and reflections, will they deny the coming reality or recognize the fear inside of them? Will this fear be as a result in the lack of confidence in Jane or the haunting knowing they are guilty as charged? Will any of them seek immunity from the DA? Decisions will be made this summer.
For the regular members, how will this resounding defeat for Jane affect their loyalty? They will be tested and yet, will they be found true or wavering? Jane’s dismissal of her defeat as the fault of the District Attorney should not shock us. Her lack of self-awareness blinds her. For those who have considered life outside the WOFF subculture, will these next few weeks of anxious unknowns be enough to push them out the door? The next few weeks until August 19th will be the quiet before the storm. For be sure, the storm is coming. It is not known yet how high the winds will be or how high the coming tidal wave will measure. But, it is certain a hurricane of media frenzy and public scrutiny will wash over Rutherford County in the coming months.
How many members will see the signs of the rising tide and head for higher ground? Not since 1995 and the Inside Edition video and resulting local and national attention has there been potential for the same. If indeed history repeats itself, then this year will be one for the annals of WOFF history.’
John, you can’t predict this with absolute certainty. No, I don’t claim to see the future as a prophet. I can remember the past and see the signs of the present. In 1995, I was inside the Greenville church living away from ground zero. We only visited during services and I know now we were fed a preordained diet purposed to keep us in the fold.
After I left in 2008, I learned more about the 1995 storm and have seen other minor squalls since then. The storm around Michael Lowry’s exit, recapture and second exit was very tumultuous. I learned a lot during his ongoing storm. I also remember the storm of a few months ago in December and January, when the second round of five indictments were handed down. Have we forgotten that gulley washer of a downpour? That story went international and why would the frenzy around the actual trial be any less? Are the five WOFF defendants up to the pressures which are sure to come?
If we learn anything, we learn that the practices of WOFF draw media attention. The exact reasons why reside in the obtuse and abusive nature of the practices in question. People not only want to know what these practices are, they DESERVE to know about these practices. The pending trial may just prove the opportunity the public has been waiting for to learn what goes on behind closed WOFF doors. It may not be a happy unveiling and I predict it will be shocking to many.
Josh Farmer said, “…We have absolutely nothing to hide…” This August, his statement will be put to the test. This Summer of Decision will affect Josh as well. He will again be faced with the task of defending those who he may have the slightest doubts as to their pure innocence. If he adheres to the Professional Code – he will not advise them in any way to continue committing criminal acts. Will he be able to defend them “with his whole heart”? – That, my friend remains to be seen.
There is no way for us to know the extent of the internal struggles of every member going through the Summer of Decision. In light of what I do know about WOFF and now recognize as the common struggles of the membership, I can say for certainty the recent defeat, added to the coming storm in August, has and will continue to cause much uneasiness in the members of WOFF. That uneasiness will reverberate throughout every level of the group- top to bottom. Will it be enough to help members to seek freedom and safe harbor elsewhere? Time will tell. Safe harbor for many is within the welcoming arms of family and friends on the outside. Will this also be the time for family summer reunions? We don’t know for certain. For now, let the storm winds blow…
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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 519.
for many, the years and wheels of justice have moved slowly, so slowly that most have let this go in some form or fashion. The case against Jerry was no case at all. He gave Jane the word of the Lord, and now we know how she reacts to correction. The marks for a criminal case are always in the favor of the accused. Always. A family judge stands to lose alot less with his rulings than does a trial judge, family court judges can be more subjective in their rulings, as the laws in that setting are different, much different. Criminal court has to stay within the bounds of the law, and the laws for the charges in that setting have marks of proof that has to be proved by the state against the defendants. Most likely they will put it off to see if it will go away, and this could drag out for over a year. Karel being absent speaks volumes to what might be going on behind the scenes, and I for one hope Jane does not access to her brilliant mind, that can only be good for Matthew. Brooke probably knows all about everything, the others named in the case if times have not changed behind the iron curtain of no information for members, probably means nothing to the others charged, if they are in fact still members. One of the accused was over heard saying that she was ready to go to jail for God? Not an exact quote, but I imagine that they are being groomed for the outcome either way. My opinion only. Time will tell if this is finally the case and time for justice, or not. For the many that have suffered injustice, and waited for that justice, we pray for justice, so that they might finally have closure. For the ones still there, we pray that God will use all this to open their eyes so they might be free to leave.