Category Archives: Behavior Control

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

My Trip to Brazil with WOFF – Part 2

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My Trip to Brazil with WOFF – Part 2

     This series of posts includes my remembrances from a trip with members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) to Brazil in 2005. For sure, I will not remember everything in correct time order and some of the surrounding “observations” may be misplaced or just misstated. However, the main points of this trip I do remember and still do cherish the encounters with the Brazilian people. Each one of them welcomed us and made room for us in every regard.

   We begin this post where we ended the last one,  the arrival on the first day of the time in Brazil. After we stopped at the first house, I believe we again boarded the bus and went around to the main entrance of the church. There the luggage was unloaded and we were grouped by the assigned household list and ferried to our respective homes for unloading and settling in. The streets were dirt and gravel.  We were in a neighborhood on a large hillside. Each home was fenced in and gated. I was told that because of the poverty, everyone needed heavy security for their properties.

    For my time there, I would stay a very nice, large home on what looked to me like about three to five acres. The surrounding fence was brick and the large electric gates were wooden. The owners were a very sweet husband and wife, who were leadership in the local church. The estate had a large home, a pool and a large pool house where another couple lived with their children. There were several fruit trees on the property, some near the front and more towards the back of the property.

    Continue reading My Trip to Brazil with WOFF – Part 2 →

Behavior Control, Uncategorized

My Trip to Brazil with WOFF – Part 1

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Beautiful Rock from Brasil Trip 2005
The Rock

     In December of 2004, I experienced a serious personal health set back. For those who were around me then, they will know what I am speaking about. For this post, the details have no relevance. Later in January of 2005, I was tested and released to accompany other Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) members on a trip to Brazil, in February. This was a trip I had been waiting for since the third quarter of 2004. The trip expenses were already paid before my health set back. I was glad to be able to go.

    During those years, trips to Brazil were considered a really big deal at WOFF. There would sometimes be over 100 folks that would take the trip to visit one or both of the two churches in Brazil that were under Jane Whaley. At one time, there were three churches under her influence, which was “apostolic direction and protection”. I do not know for sure, the full story of why the third church was no longer mentioned. Seems to me that may have been merged in with one of the others? Anyway, Jane Whaley made or still makes regular trips to Brazil, unless things have changed. (We will speak to that a little later..)

    Continue reading My Trip to Brazil with WOFF – Part 1 →

Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Know the Marks of Cults” Part 2

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“Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese Part 2

    We will continue with insights from the book:  “Know the Marks of Cults” by Dave Breese, (copyright 1975, SP Publications, ISBN 0-88207-704-x). In the first post from this book, we reviewed the definition of a cult and some of the traits. Breese writes next about the “Extra Biblical Revelation” as a mark of a cult. At first, I was going to move over this point and not comment since there is no written “Extra Biblical Revelation” at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The leader, Jane Whaley has not written a “revelation” that she claims to supersede or be equal to the Bible.

    Breese goes on to explain about this “Extra Biblical Revelation”: “Sometimes this extra-biblical revelation” comes in the form of a “divinely inspired leader”.  Many religions have invested divine authority in the person of a visible individual who speaks infallibly, his words having the same or higher authority than Holy Scripture. Some of these religions have made their leaders equal with God.” (page 26) He goes on to admonish Christians to give themselves to study of the Word of God.

     Continue reading “Know the Marks of Cults” Part 2 →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Does Love Put Up Walls? If So, To Protect What?

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Does Love Put Up Walls? If So, To Protect What?

    As I go through my day, there are certain things I remember and certain things I do not. There are things that bless me and some things that do not. A few of the things that bless me, I share here on this blog. Some things that irritate or bother me or I have questions about, I share here on this blog. There are things that fit into both categories in each day. Living life to the fullest means we concentrate on the “blessings”. Do you agree?

   For a time today, I have been considering the outpouring of “love” that we were taught at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) to show to other members. There were countless sacrifices of time, energy and money spent to help each other accomplish whatever Jane Whaley said was needed in a situation. Jane would direct these times either herself or through others in leadership. Helping each other could take on many different forms. You could receive help painting or renovating your house, doing yard work, moving from one house to another, replacing a well pump, installing appliances, building a deck, cleaning a basement, moving your belongings out or in to storage and the list goes on… As mentioned, we never paid for child care for our children. We would keep each other’s children in an understood arrangement. No money changed hands for this. (At least not with regular members.) You may need prayer or correction or an escort to attend a family function or a guard on a telephone conversation with someone. You may need a ride somewhere because your car was being repaired or you didn’t have your own transportation.   

    Continue reading Does Love Put Up Walls? If So, To Protect What? →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Those Who Do This.. Are Deceivers- Further Understanding

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     After rereading the previous post, it was apparent I needed further explanation for at least two passages. First, in “Out of the Cults and Into the Church” (copyright 1994 Kregel Resources) by Janis Hutchinson, I quote Hutchinson as she writes concerning sacred stories and cult myths, … “Neither are the doctrines that cults try to establish from them. Visions, dreams, symbols, images or angels, which are often incorporated in myths, were never meant to produce doctrine or dogma. According to the biblical pattern, that is not how God works. Those who exaggerate a meaningful message in order to establish doctrines are deceivers.” (page 155)

   As an example I use the passage about Elisha found in 2Kings2:22-24

22So the waters were healed to this day, as Elisha had said.  23He went up from Jericho to Bethel. On the way, [a]young [maturing and accountable] boys came out of the city and mocked him and said to him, Go up [in a whirlwind], you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!  24And he turned around and looked at them and called a curse down on them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and ripped up forty-two of the boys.

    Jane Whaley of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) would quote this story and warn WOFF members not to “talk back” or “mock God’s anointed”. The effect of sharing this story, in this fashion and in this setting was to cut-off any questioning or inquiries of Jane and/or what she taught or did under the guise of being “God’s anointed”. It was a clear use of fear to squash the voicing of doubts or questions. On occasion, Jane would ask the congregation if there were any questions. However, the manner in which she answered the questions, especially ones that called into doubt the decision(s) she made; made it clear that questioning her was not acceptable.

    Continue reading Those Who Do This.. Are Deceivers- Further Understanding →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

A New Term- “Antinomianism” A New Perspective…

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Recently, a local college professor answered my email inquiry. This person has studied “new religious movements” as well as other groups for years. Their work includes a recently published book dealing with a certain aspect of these groups.

This professor acknowledged in the reply that they had read my blog and other resources on Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). My email was this person’s first exposure to WOFF or Jane Whaley. The reply contains this assessment, “From my reading, it seems to be a Pentecostal “prosperity gospel” group with some rather extreme practices and beliefs. Scholars would call what they do “antinomianism,” meaning that WOFF’s leaders (and presumably, some members too) believe that their special spiritual state allows them to transcend the laws and morals of mainstream society and other forms of Christianity. It certainly wouldn’t be the first such group to take this approach.”

The term “antinomianism” was new to me. I did some further reading about the term. In a source found here: http://www.theopedia.com/Antinomianism . The definition mentions that “antinomianism” is the opposite of legalism. So in order to apply the professor’s assessment within this definition, it warrants mentioning that Jane Whaley and the LEADERS exhibit “antinomianism”, but they apply a heavy dose of the extreme opposite, legalism, to the regular members. It is definite continuum according to the situation at hand. For instance, WOFF members are denied the rights of “mainstream society” when it comes to freedom of press or access to media and freedom of speech. (Dissent is squashed!) That is the application of “legalism” on the regular members is at the behest of Jane Whaley and leadership. They apply this from the standpoint of antinomianism. Jane Whaley acts as if she is above common morals and accepted religious mores in this country and applies legalism evidenced by the numerous and ever growing list of rules, restrictions and “don’ts” that are required of the regular members.

Continue reading A New Term- “Antinomianism” A New Perspective… →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Peoples Temple vs WOFF

What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 4

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Possible WOFF Defenses- Part 4- The Children

    We continue our list of possible Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) defenses for their practices and lifestyles. One spring evening in 2008, in a parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Shelby, NC; I was talking on my cell phone to a WOFF member who was in “leadership”. She was doing her best to answer my growing list of objections by attempting to point out the good points of life at WOFF. I had not yet voiced my true concerns, just my sadness and dismay at how I was being treated in my household. The shunning was taking its toll on me.

   This person said many things, one of which; what about the children. See how well behaved and mannerly they are? Everyone does so well in school. They “take hold” for the most part. Honestly, I cannot remember the exact words. But, it was one of the often repeated excuses used by Jane Whaley and WOFF members. There seemed to be some desire to overlook certain things, if only outsiders would see how the children behaved, obeyed and could carry on a good conversation. After all, remember the DSS case which was settled on appeal. WOFF “won” that case- right? So, how could there be anything wrong at WOFF? (I have already mentioned my take on the DSS case and its outcome here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2267 )

    First, over the years there have been several meetings and conferences showcasing the school projects of the students at WOFF. There was a routine before every such meeting. Scrubbed clean and repainted- every area that would be open to the public. From the top, cleaning the light fixtures and also return vents in the ceiling, all the way down to scrubbing the grout in the bathroom floors. (I know; I had that job at least twice.) The clothes to be worn were reviewed and everything approved before these meetings. Sometimes several folks would work late into the night, finishing projects and setting up the displays. Making sure everything was just right. Why mention this? Because what visitors saw at these meetings was a well orchestrated veneer.

Continue reading What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 4 →