Category Archives: Criteria for Cults

What critieria should one use to determine if a group is a cult?

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

My WOFF Exit Drama- Ben McGee

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The following is a brief narration of events leading to the exit of Ben McGee from Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. Though my family had not moved to Spindale before these events took place, we knew Ben, his wife and children. Since we were living in Greenville, the details in this story were not conveyed to us, as far as I remember. As I learned, this exit drama was not unusual for WOFF families. If there are other former members who would like to share their story, please contact me by email- author@religiosucultsinco.com

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My WOFF Exit Drama- Ben McGee

Introduction

In or around the early 90’s my wife and I moved from Jacksonville Fl. to Rutherfordton NC. for a number of reasons. Close friends from a bible study group we attended had been to a seminar in Florida WOFF had hosted and told us how wonderful it was and they were going to move to go to bible school in North Carolina. I trusted these friends; I could see and feel their zeal to do God’s work unselfishly. My wife was recovering from destructive crack and alcohol addictions which if we stayed without the help of close friends, I feared would return. I had my own demons but not the violent addictive behavior openly displayed by my ex-wife. Many will sit in judgment of my actions and decisions but the fact is the majority of people have problems they aren’t aware of or refuse to acknowledge and deal with or simply don’t know how. Please, bear in mind this is a blog and not a book so all the dynamics of my life and choices are not discussed or explained. In faith, we packed all our belongings in a truck and my wife drove the car with our 4 children. Contrary to WOFF’s made up perceptions we were not on the verge of divorce. Why on earth would we go through all we did if it weren’t the hope in our hearts of a better life? We did not ask to come; we did not know anything about Word of Faith Spindale or Rutherford County. We came in faith.

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Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The True Cost of WOFF Membership… (2)

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We continue with examining the true cost of being a member of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF).  This past week I saw the cost of living in Jane Whaley’s group from another perspective. Let me set the scene. In the post about a recent exit drama, I mentioned a phone conversation with Jane. (link here- https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=4782 ) During this conversation, Jane began to remind me how many lawsuits WOFF has “won”… She was telling me of her record and how she had met every challenge. Now, I am no expert on the details of the court rulings. I was on the inside during these court cases and have discovered since I have been out that I was only told part of the so called “truth” about these decisions. Regardless of the details now, let it just be said that this litany of Jane’s “perfect court record” has been repeated enough for many if not most folks in Rutherford County to believe it without question. Others who talk to Jane confirm she tells this often, as well as it is on their website.

While on the inside, I heard this “praise report” and record of “victories” over and over. I thought it was great! Wow- those Jewish lawyers were worth the millions of dollars that WOFF and whoever paid them! Wow- we showed them! When you were inside you counted the victories as “blessings”. But, now that I am out, I think I was deceived –AGAIN about life inside WOFF.  Please, keep reading.

Also, while inside WOFF, it never occurred to me to ask why it was such a common occurrence for families to have their custody battles orchestrated by Jane. Why would a church be so concerned and take up the cause or get in the middle of custody battles or adoptions? Hmmm… Why is that? Could Jane believe that everything about her members is her business and reflects on her? Yes, I think so. But, if WOFF was a normal, Protestant, evangelical church why would they be so intoxicated and dedicated to defending their perception or reputation in the community? You tell me. Do all the other Christian churches in Rutherford County make it their mission to educate and grow their own attorneys? Why does Jane see the need to have in-house legal defense? What is the cost of all this court activity? I believe there are many sides to this issue. I will expound on two of them.

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Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The True Cost of WOFF Membership… (1)

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There are times when different themes of several posts will begin to converge and allow more insight into the life of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) members. This is just such a time. On Saturday, I pondered the events over this last week and actually the last few weeks. Without going into great detail, I have seen the cost of WOFF membership from a new perspective. After having been a member and now a former member; my experiences and observations cannot be wholly dismissed. I am not an outsider who has never seen the intimate cozy surreal almost “family atmosphere” of the homes and the church buildings.  For some, my words may still be considered highly prejudiced. Yes, that could be assumed since I have lost my immediate family, many friends and sixteen years of my life to WOFF.  But, in this post, I hope to present a more complete assessment of WOFF membership.  In this post, I will attempt to list the benefits AND what I see as the actual cost of being a WOFF member.

In recent posts, we have discussed the many conflictions and conundrums of life at WOFF. We have discussed the advertising of WOFF member-owned businesses in media that regular members are not allowed to partake of. These WOFF member-owned businesses are not advertising for new members- directly. But, if WOFF were to run some commercials on radio or television, what would it sound like? We have all seen or heard commercials for churches before. What if WOFF had to hold to the same standards as drug companies? That makes sense as some say that during a WOFF membership, some faithful members are so addicted to Jane that it can be like a drug addiction.  Hmmm…

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Stockholm Syndrome at WOFF? (1)

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 During this last week, I heard the term “Stockholm Syndrome”. Though I had a vague idea what the term meant, I took some time to read more and found a very informative resource article titled: “Love and Stockholm Syndrome: The Mystery of Loving an Abuser” The article was four separate pages with the link to the first page found here- http://counsellingresource.com/lib/therapy/self-help/stockholm/ .

The article was written by Dr. Joseph M. Carver, PhD. The website was labeled as “Counseling Resource”.

For this series of posts, I will review the parts of the article that help explain how and/or why many members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) act as they do toward and in defense of the leader, Jane Whaley. We will review the characteristics of the Stockholm Syndrome and also hopefully gain some insight as to why many WOFF members cut-off and walk away from their family members and friends.

   As the author introduces the subject, he begins by remarking when people make changes away from certain behaviors or destructive relationships, they sometimes look back and find it hard to believe they once had dark thoughts. They may even miss those negative controlling relationships. Why would this be? Socially it makes no sense to long for that which was destructive in your life. The answer may be found in understanding the Stockholm Syndrome.

   In order to bring the question closer, how many times have WOFF members heard Jane brag that former members longed to fellowship with present members?  She announced as some sort of endorsement or badge of validity that she must be doing something right! Ex-members still want to be around her as long as she didn’t “hit their sin”. Again, I believe the answers don’t validate Jane and her practices, but in truth, the answers point out just how destructive WOFF-life has been on many folks. Let’s continue.

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The “It Hurts” Post by Jan Groenveld

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 The following post came to my attention recently. I may have read it before, but was not ready to admit how much truth was in it. Today, I read it and instantly knew it had to be shared here. First, let’s review a little background about the author. “Jan Groenveld (1945 to October 22, 2002) was a former member of the LDS Church and the Jehovah’s Witness.[1] She spent a total of fifteen years in these organizations before leaving them in 1975.[1][2] After her negative experiences in these organizations, she resolved to make more information about what she saw as “cults” available to the general public.”

 

 

Jan Groenveld
Jan Groenveld

“The most dangerous lie is that which most closely resembles the truth.”Jan Groenveld

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Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Best of” WOFF Conflictions, Conundrums and Confusion…

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  As I was traveling in my car last Wednesday, my radio was tuned to a local station in Rutherfordton, NC. As happens many times, one can be listening and not really hearing what is being said or the music being played. Actually, I was half listening- that is until a commercial played for a company I was very familiar with: Carlson-Farmer Construction Company. Last I knew this company was owned by Kris Carlson and Ray Farmer. Both of these men and all of their employees attend Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. Many of them I had known very well over the years I attended WOFF. Why bring this up? The irony of a WOFF-member owned company using the radio to advertise for business struck me as odd and full of hypocrisy! WOFF members are NOT allowed to even LISTEN to the radio! Ask RL! He was “corrected” several times in front of us all for listening to the radio and reading the newspaper! Any member of WOFF who has been there for any length of time has already met with “the authority of God” in this area. Her name is Jane Whaley.

   The thought of using the exact thing that Jane Whaley said could take you out of the move of God and into hell, to solicit business seemed wrong! But, that thought reminded me of years ago when I was working for Two Mile Properties in Gaffney, SC and then in Spartanburg, SC. I was the manager of two different apartment complexes over a period from January 2003 until August of 2005. During that time, it was approved to use the newspaper to advertise for renters for the apartments. Naturally, I had to verify the ads were running. So, I had to buy a paper and at least look at the classifieds. At first, I was hesitant because reading the newspaper was billed as something to take you out of the move of God and into hell. Wow! What a conundrum! Required to read it and told not to read it! That was pretty indicative of several things while being a part of WOFF! 

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Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Jane’s Perception Became Your Reality…

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   Today, in a conversation I had with someone who had never been a member of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), I tried to explain to them how a member of WOFF could be accused and found guilty of a sin, while never committing the act. Jane Whaley uses the Scripture in Matthew 5:27-29- (Amplified Version)

 27You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. 28But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  29If your right eye serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be cast into hell (Gehenna).

   I was not trying to explain the correct way to incorporate this in one’s life, I was trying to explain how Jane uses this passage to control members- often members who are younger and may not have any idea what the term describing the sin act – actually meant. If Jane perceived that a member had a thought or evil desire, then she often would press for a confession to confirm her “word from God”. The pressure could be light at first, and then increase intensity as she would be convinced she had heard God and that member was in sin. This tactic was not limited to Jane, as many in leadership would have the same “skill” to root out sin in WOFF members. Remember, the environment we are talking about- a pyramidal control structure. Regular members toward the bottom of the pyramid had more “leadership” above them looking at them and pressing them to open their heart and expose their sin. A few young boys (men, now) have confided in me that they would confess to sin when they did not actually know what the sin act consisted of. Many times, this was sexual in nature. After leaving, one man told me he found out what he confessed to and was mad since he had never done that act. Other told of being required to write their confessions. After they left WOFF, they would be reminded of their written confessions and that they could/would be used against them, if they attacked! Can you say black-mail or at the least- WOFF-mail?

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