Category Archives: Behavior Control

Balanced Respect, Inordinate Admiration or Worship?

     Lately, I have been reading “Breaking the Chains”- Overcoming the Spiritual Abuse of a False Gospel (Copyright © 2009 by Shari Howerton, ISBN- 978-0-9713499-4-0). There is so much that her church; Christian Gospel Temple (CGT) had/has in common with Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Though there were some differences, many of the similarities are very important and I feel worth noting on this blog. This book is written in a very honest and forth right manner. I do not assume I can do it complete justice by posting certain quotes and drawing the conclusions that show the similarities. I recommend you visit the website –  http://www.sharihowerton.com/ and consider purchasing your own copy. The author’s quest for personal growth and Truth is inspiring in many ways.

    Howerton writes, “What I remember most about the ministry was how the ministers and their families were treated like royalty. It was as though they were the dignitaries and we were the common folk. … At some point, I realized that for all the talk of being like Jesus this behavior was very unlike Him. … I never thought of the ministers as servants. They were more like kings to me.” (page 107-108) Here I will just mention that during my time at WOFF Jane Whaley was treated as royalty in many ways. Not only was there the extensive wardrobe and obvious unchecked spending privileges; there was the heir of superiority that she carried which reinforced the self–acclaimed notion of her perfection. The notion of royalty carried over to her family and her extended family as certain allowances were made for them that were not afforded others. Do I need to elaborate? I certainly can for those who do not remember.

  Continue reading Balanced Respect, Inordinate Admiration or Worship?

“Jesus Camp” – Kids on Fire

   “Jesus Camp” is a documentary produced by Loki Films for A&E Indie Films Copyright © 2006 A&E Television Networks. (www.jesuscampthemovie.com) The film presents a close –up look at Becky Fisher, a children’s minister. Her website is  https://kidsinministry.org/ . The film crew is allowed to document a week of summer camp, “Kids on Fire”, led by Becky Fisher and her team. The camp is located at Lakewood Park Bible Camp near Devil’s Lake, ND. The camp includes certain normal summer camp activities plus intense teaching sessions led by Ms. Fisher as she presents a Pentecostal, Evangelical message. She includes teaching sessions using props along with teaching about sin, living for God and praying for the government and specifically the President.

    It is my understanding, the directors; Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady do not claim to be Christian. This would explain the composition of the film. Many political references are made as the radio talk show host, Mike Papantonio, of the Ring of Fire (http://www.ringoffireradio.com/ ) is allowed several minutes to express his views. This show is the voice of the Progressive Movement which constantly takes aim at Evangelical Christians in this nation.

    Continue reading “Jesus Camp” – Kids on Fire

Let Me Explain, If I Can…

     Yesterday, I began to consider certain aspects of my time in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The group is led by Jane Whaley and has been in the news lately. See the previous post “WOFF Member Sues Clerk of Court (1)” found here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3549  In reflecting back on my many years under the teachings of Jane Whaley, I realized during that time, it did not dawn on me that living the WOFF life could be hurtful to relationships inside or outside of WOFF. Even if the thought had come that living in WOFF may be detrimental to relationships with family and friends outside of WOFF; those thoughts would soon be replaced with thoughts such as “this is the cost of following Jesus”, or “they just are not walking where we are walking where we are in the Spirit,” or “after all, Jesus said – “Who is my mother and my brother?; But, those who do the will of God.” And for sure, I am doing the will of God and this is just what happens, some will follow Him and some will not…  

    Here is another thought that may not be verbalized every time, but for sure is internalized in the hearts and minds of WOFF members. When they shun or ignore or stop seeing or cut off, either a present or former member and/or a family member outside of WOFF- it is for the good of that person. Yes, in WOFF, that is taken from various Scriptures such as this one:

   For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.” Hebrews 12:6

    This is the line of reasoning that allows WOFF members to cut-off ones they love. It is an effort to keep the teachings of Jane Whaley. The effect becomes a closer and tighter knit group of those who agree and never doubt or question anything Jane Whaley says or does. Those who “attack” Jane are the ones that may simply question her authority to do and say some of the things she does and says in whatever area of life it may be. Pick one; there are many areas that Jane regulates in her members’ lives.

   Continue reading Let Me Explain, If I Can…

Exclusive Brethren Compared to WOFF (2)

     Concerning the Exclusive Brethren:For 175 years the sect has counted among its strange proscriptions – no public entertainment, no novels, no eating with outsiders, no university, no membership of other organisations of any kind, no shorts (“God has no pleasure in the legs of a man”), no party walls shared with non-Brethren, no films, no radio, no television and no mobile phones – an absolute ban on worldly politics.” This is an excerpt from the article found here.. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/hidden-prophets/2006/07/01/1151174401719.html

    This post is part two of a comparison sent from a survivor of this religious cult group called –“Exclusive Brethren”. He has taken the list of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) “don’ts” that was posted earlier on this blog and reviewed it for similarities with the Exclusive Brethren.  The survivor who we will call “Paul” has taken the list and commented after every few rules with his observations. The list of “don’ts” can be found here.  WOFF Don’t list from 03 10  Follow down the home page of this blog for the first post in this series. Also, the first post about Exclusive Brethren on this blog can be found here. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3198  

    These comments are from an email returned to me from “Paul”. His comments will be italicized after he quotes from the WOFF list. My comments will be after his comments. 

Comparing the list between WOFF and the Exclusive Brethren From Paul

WOFF Rules on Pictures, Videos and such….

Don’t take pictures during a regular service.
Don’t make your own recording of a service.
Don’t bring visitors unless you tell someone in the office so they
can tell Jane.

EB- Pretty much never ever happens.(Paul mentioned in the previous post that visitors were very rare, to none, in the EB)

Continue reading Exclusive Brethren Compared to WOFF (2)

Exclusive Brethren Compared to WOFF (1)

  A survivor of a religious cult group called –“Exclusive Brethren” (EB) has taken the list of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) “don’ts” that was posted earlier on this blog and reviewed it for similarities.  The survivor who we will call “Paul” has taken the list and commented after every few rules with his observations. The list of “don’ts” can be found here. (WOFF Don’t list from 03 10)  The first post about Exclusive Brethren on this blog can be found here. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3198   

    These comments are from an email returned to me from “Paul”. His comments about EB will be italicized after he quotes from the WOFF list. My comments will be after his comments.  

 Comparing the list between WOFF and the Exclusive Brethren From Paul

WOFF- Do’s-
You will be required to attend every service. If for some reason
unforeseen at this time, you miss a service; you will be required to
listen to the tape at the church. (Death, severe illness and surgery may
be considered excused absences.)

EB- Yes, in the early stages of the cult known as the Exclusive Brethren
which here a
fter will be refer to as the EB, there was a rule of strict
adherence of need to be attending all services .Members risked being put
under assembly dis
cipline by way of separation for a period of time, and
ex
communication for any who were not repentant or those who became
repeat offenders
. However, these days these rules have needed to become
rela
xed a little, this being because of fear of losing to many of the
youth should t
hese rules be kept as strict as they once were …. (in my
opinion)
Public scrutiny has also played a big part in the relaxing of
these rules
, the EB doesn’t want to seen as a domineering cult by the
public
.    (That is what WOFF needs- PUBLIC SCRUTINY!)

Continue reading Exclusive Brethren Compared to WOFF (1)

What is an “Omen”?

   The question is a simple one. However, as I pondered the meaning and more importantly, the purpose of many omens, the whole concept made sense – sorta. The first definition of omen is simple: a phenomenon or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster. (found here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/omen ) Why even bring it up? After recently seeing an episode of the Andy Griffith Show, the question came to me: “Do religious control groups or cults, use “omens”?

   The show was titled, “The Darling Fortune”. It originally aired 10/17/1966 and can be viewed on the CBS DVD series published from Paramount – a VIACOM company. The plot includes the Darlings coming to town to seek wives for the sons in the family. Andy is befuddled as Briscoe Darling announces their intention to seek “city girls” for his sons. While the Darlings are in town, their hopes are doused and they proceed back to Andy’s house to pick up Charlene. As they are leaving, they see an owl perched on their truck! This is where the excitement picks up. Briscoe and Charlene are immediately elated as she repeats the omen, “You see an owl at day time and the next female you see is sure enough a bride for thee.” Aunt Bee expresses her doubt and Briscoe says, “Ma’am, You don’t doubt the omen of the owl!” In order to not ruin the experience of seeing the show, I will stop here in revealing the sequence of events that take place, save one.

   Later in the show, Andy is totally frustrated and says about the Darlings: “If you could just reason with them, but people who live by omens and witchcraft and stuff like that, you just can’t get through to them.” From there, the show continues and the ending turns out satisfactory to all concerned. But that one statement by Andy stuck with me. Why? I could see myself on both sides of the life ruled by “omens”. Let me explain.

Continue reading What is an “Omen”?

Join Us – Reflections and Comparisons (3)

     We have provided several posts reviewing material in the movie- “Join Us”. The film is presented by Interloper Films along with Lusitan and was produced by Ondi Timoner and Vasco Lucas Nunes. (Copyright© Third Floor Productions, LLC 2007). The film has a dedicated website with supporting information. The site is www.joinusthemovie.co . I have been intrigued by this film. It is no doubt the most intimate look at real ex-members of a religious cult. This cult was in Anderson, SC and was named Mountain Rock Church. The pastor was Raimund Melz. He and his wife, Deborah, exercised control over their members predicated on the idea that they were “family”. From all indications, Raimund Melz was the one who made the decisions and exercised the discipline.   

    In the second clip from the movie after the trailer (shown below), one ex-member, Tonya, is telling a counselor that the members were unable to know what sin was, the pastor had to point it out. “…You have to have him point out the sin, …because you are a dumb baby, dumb sheep..You can’t see them (the sins)..So, he has to be the one, he hears from God, you are inmature, he has to point them(the sin) out…” And then in a moment of revelation, this ex-member says to the counselor, “You act like you have seen this before?” The counselor answers- “.. This is what we hear all the time…” This exchange started at one minute and three seconds into the clip. I was glued to this exchange. Why? Because, for years while in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), Jane Whaley would be asked by members to tell them – what is sin? Did I do right? What should I have done different? While I was in WOFF, members were continually chided and berated for not knowing what was sin. While in WOFF- Jane ruled and made the determination who did right, who did wrong and what to do about it. She determined who got punished and how.  The only source of the knowledge of sin was Jane Whaley. In reality, Jane replaced the Holy Spirit in member’s lives as apparently did Mr. Raimund Melz. But, from the counselor, we learn this happens all the time- IN CULTS!

    Continue reading Join Us – Reflections and Comparisons (3)