Category Archives: Cult Leader News

Which is Worse and Why?

    There are many grievous events and happenings in this world. As humans, we tend to rank events by severity and classify them according to which one is worse than another. Now, it is true that in the legal system, certain crimes committed against many by one or by a few are treated differently than a crime of one against one or for a “lesser” crime. For instance, a person stealing a purse from one person may obtain a lesser sentence than a person stealing purses from several women over time. This is part of our system and the result or consequence tends to be that as individuals we rank crimes or “sins” against people in the same manner.

   However, is that they way we should view crimes when considering how one individual would/could control another? Is it a lesser crime or “sin” to control three folks than to control a hundred or a million people?  I am not talking about the true responsibility of parents to guide and control their children during their formative years. In this post we will consider adults controlling other adults for whatever reason, but, especially those controlled for personal gain of the controller.

    Controllers can be found in many areas of society. You could be controlled by a boss on your job. This control is somehow not deemed as a crime or injustice until that control overreaches into one’s personal life. Why? Because there is a certain amount of compliance or obedience expected during working hours while on the job. So, this kind of control is not viewed as a crime per se. You are in essence trading hours of your day for an amount of dollars and thus you are told what to do while on that job.

   Continue reading Which is Worse and Why?

Jane Whaley Said…..

    As we come to the close of this year, it is worth recounting some of the quotes from Jane Whaley. She is the leader of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. Yes, what she does reflects in truth more of whom she is rather than what she says or believes; however, these jewels of “wisdom” do give us reason to pause and reflect on the questions- Who is the Jane Whaley? How does she command such loyalty from hundreds of folks in this country and hundreds in other countries? After all, she had my attention for about 16 years. The last six years, I lived inside the group and witnessed many of the golden utterances in person.

   “Your sin affects me!” This statement was uttered at a November seminar in reference to learning that an older lady in the church was gathering grocery papers from the local stores and sharing them with other church members. No one bothered to “check it out” with Jane and she exploded in a rage as she left the sanctuary. Just before she left she turned to rebuke this lady who was standing in congregation. After this blast from Jane, the lady crumbled in her seat and cried. The net effect was to warn others that WHATEVER they did, they needed to check it out with Jane since regular members could not determine what was sin and what was not… Jane only knew what sin was. Jane’s reputation in the community was/is precious to her. Does anyone doubt that? Here is the post about this to learn more… https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=143 (Bonus- in this post also explains the “sleep devil” that attacks members who can’t stay awake during her preaching!)

    “Some of you parents are saving money for your children, God said to give it.” We mentioned this statement during the post about the $50,000 offering. Wow, some folks must have believed her. Jane cried after announcing that though she was only $25,000 short, God have blessed with $50,000… From such a group, this was sizeable offering. See the post here… https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=245

    Continue reading Jane Whaley Said…..

More Thoughts on WOFF and Brazil (repost July 2017)

In light of the most recent Associated Press release-US church goes to Brazil; instills fear, splits families– I believe it is appropriate to repost this review from August of 2010. (click “back” button to return here)

The lead paragraph from this article:

SAO JOAQUIM DE BICAS, BRAZIL (AP) — At the Word of Faith Fellowship churches in the Brazilian cities of Sao Joaquim de Bicas and Franco da Rocha, the signs of broken families are everywhere: parents separated from their children, siblings who no longer speak, grandparents who wonder if they will ever know their grandchildren.

This AP release goes on to chronicle the process of WOFF taking the practice of destroying families from North Carolina to Brazil. The Brazilian churches have become a sad reflection of WOFF NC. Jane Whaley’s ministry of destruction and pain has indeed transferred its dark stain seen and felt in America to Brazil.

Read the post below and note the heartache and angst. The WOFF-effect on families is real. It is indeed an international travesty.

On a personal note, my daughter is expecting or has already delivered her child this month. I am one who wonders if I will ever know my grandson…

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Jane Whaley and her crew from Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) have been making trips to Brazil for many years. The first time I knew about the trips was in 1992. At that time, I heard about previous trips in previous years made by members of the Greenville church traveling with WOFF members to Brazil for seminars. There was always a certain mystique associated with the trips and the privilege of going to help the Brazilian church members. During the early years, those who did not go to Brazil would hear about shopping trips to rock shops and eating at Brazilian restaurants.  The seminars would also include many deliverance sessions and teachings about WOFF ways and WOFF life. Many of the teachings were about “hearing God” as Jane or certain others would speak, with Jane’s approval. For sure, the church members in Brazil would emulate WOFF members and end up copying many of the WOFF ways and in order to live in WOFFness.

   Since my time at WOFF ended in July of 2008, I have heard several accounts of WOFF doings that as a member inside of WOFF, we just did not learn about. Why would that be? A few months ago, someone began to let me know about things happening in Brazil. At first, I was shocked. But, as I considered what I knew has/had happened in America over the whole WOFF saga, it all began to make sense. What I will share here is from a translated email sent to me from Brazil. The names of the church members affected are not the key part of this story. The key thing about the scenario of events is to note the strange and sad similarity to previous events here in North Carolina and/or in other states caught in the WOFF-web.

Continue reading More Thoughts on WOFF and Brazil (repost July 2017)

FLDS News Updates

     We have been following the case(s) against Warren Jeffs. He was the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) until he was jailed on charges stemming from performing underage marriages between FLDS members. The link to the following article provides more background. It is important to note the number of convictions coming out of the state of Texas against several men from this religious cult. There are five convictions in Texas and the trial of the sixth man is in progress. It should not be shocking, but it is in some ways.

Arizona drops cases against polygamous sect leader

By Brooke Adams   The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated: 06/09/2010 09:18:40 PM MDT

A judge has dismissed two cases pending against Warren S. Jeffs in Arizona and ordered that he be sent back to Utah, a move that abruptly ends the state’s prosecution of the polygamous sect leader and potentially puts Jeffs on a faster track to face more serious charges in Texas….

See full article here.. http://www.sltrib.com/D=g/ci_15263481

  Continue reading FLDS News Updates

Religious Cult News Updates

More Polygamous Sect News:

The link below is to the Washington Post story about Jacqueline Tarsa LeBaron. She was on the FBI Most Wanted list as a fugitive from justice for 18 years. She has been charged with orchestrating the murders of three former sect members and an 8 year-old little girl. The link has a picture of Ms. LeBaron.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/19/AR2010051902505.html

Jacqueline’s father, Ervil LeBaron, was the leader of another break-off sect of polygamous Mormons called the “Church of the Lamb of God”. The leader died in prison in 1981. The link below predates his death and explains more about this ongoing saga of religious madness and murder.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,915334,00.html

 In Other FLDS News:

Jeffs’ attorney seeks disclosure from law firm

By JIM SECKLER/The Daily News

Published: Thursday, May 20, 2010 1:33 AM MDT

KINGMAN — Warren Jeffs’ attorney has filed another motion Monday to follow the money trail from a Utah law firm. Follow this link for the full story: http://www.mohavedailynews.com/articles/2010/05/20/news/local/doc4bf4e3789960c906807308.txt

 A Follow-up to the Anthony Jinwright Tax Evasion Case:

Jury convicts Jinwrights in fraud, tax evasion case

By Eric Frazier  efrazier@charlotteobserver.com  Posted: Tuesday, May. 04, 2010

Bishop Anthony Jinwright and his wife were convicted of tax evasion. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 53 years in prison for him. She will be sentenced later in the year. Read the article for more information.
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/04/1414752/jury-convicts-jinwrights-in-fraud.html#ixzz0oXlsGPos

  Continue reading Religious Cult News Updates

What They Did in Secret- Has Changed Their Lives..

    FLDS Update: Another FLDS Member Sentenced in Texas.   Five men have been sentenced so far..   The deeds done in secret have changed their lives. The link below is about an FLDS member- Lehi Barlow Jeffs. This is from the Salt Lake Tribune on April 15, 2010.

     “An FLDS man who was to stand trial later this month in Texas on charges related to sexual assault of a child and bigamy has pleaded no contest and been sentenced to two eight-year terms in prison.

     Fifty-first District Judge Barbara Walther issued the sentences, which will run concurrently, during a hearing for Lehi Barlow Jeffs, 31, on Thursday in San Angelo, Texas….”

     The link to the article is hear. A picture of Jeffs is included..    http://tiny.cc/nf5cd 

    When will the vile filth of this FLDS polygamous cult be purged? The trial of Winston Blackmore in Canada has taken several turns..   In the article noted, Canadians may not end up paying the legal fees of the “broke” FLDS businessman.

Blackmore welcome, but reference case on anti-polygamy law can go ahead without him  By Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun  April 20, 2010

“The participation of Winston Blackmore, Canada’s most notorious polygamist, would be welcome in the reference case on the anti-polygamy law’s constitutionality, but the chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court said Tuesday that it’s not necessary.

In a written decision, Robert Bauman said that not only is Winston Blackmore’s participation and that of his 500 or so followers from the community of Bountiful, B.C. not necessary, there is no reason for taxpayers to pay their legal costs of participating in the reference case…” 

See the full article and a picture of Blackmore with more headlines in the case- here… http://tiny.cc/gcmub  

Update on Tony Alamo Ministries:

Alamo cites religion, wants appeal

Convicted evangelist says he deserves new trial because of judge’s beliefs

By: Lynn LaRowe – Texarkana Gazette – Published: 04/18/2010

“Tony Alamo contends he should get a new trial because the judge considered his own religious beliefs when sentencing Alamo to 175 years in federal prison, according to documents filed late last week.  ”

See the article with a picture of Alamo- here …http://tiny.cc/kuj73 Basically, the judge judged and gave him the maximum sentence on each count. Where is the problem?   See other articles in the rather bizarre tale by searching this newspaper site- here.. http://tiny.cc/5sc1m  

      In a very sad case, a Virginia man, James R. Boughton Jr.,   killed a Mormon and injured another. This was a tragedy. The 23 year old  man was sentenced to 38 1/2 years.

      See link with picture here.. http://tiny.cc/06lmj
    
     Rick Ross has a great resource for news related to various cults. See this link for other news of interest.
http://tiny.cc/2ezpz  For sure deeds done in secret, can and will change your life. This is for good or for the bad.
    
      Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. It could very well save their life. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.
    
      Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) This is post number 93.

Updates on FLDS and Other Groups

Late last year, October 2009, this headline was a first of many…

Raymond Jessop, First FLDS Polygamist to Stand Trial for Sexual Assault on Child Bride

From the article on the CBS News “48 Hours” website…

     Jessop, 38, the first of a dozen polygamist sect members charged with abuse of women, is set to stand trial Monday, 18 months after agents raided the group’s remote ranch and carted off more than 400 children in the largest child custody case in American history. See full article here..
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-5077717-504083.html

March 20, 2010, this headline tells more of the story..

Jury Sentences FLDS man to 75 years in Prison

 From the Salt Lake Tribune:  A Texas jury has sentenced a polygamous sect member to 75 years in prison on one count of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl whom he spiritually married in 2006 while living at a ranch in Schleicher County.

The sentence for Merril Leroy Jessop, 35, is the stiffest yet handed out in the criminal trials of members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Under Texas law, Jessop has to serve half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole…. see full article here… http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14710442 

Update from Tony Alamo Case:

Seizure of Children at Alamo Compound Upheld

March 2, 2010 from “Courthouse News Service”.. (CN) – An Arkansas appeals court refused to restore custody to five members of the Tony Alamo Christian Ministries, who claimed their boys were unconstitutionally seized from the church’s compound amid allegations that the ministry abused children. 

see full article here.. http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/03/02/25174.htm

STRONG CITY: END OF THE WORLD CULT (1/5)

Video segments on YouTube.com that were originally aired on National Geographic. Documentary about Michael Trevasser and the cult- Strong City. 

See this link for part one – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri0MA5D36mQ 

NC Pastor Accused Of Child Molestation

Deputies: Crime Went On For Years     (posted March 19, 2010)

BREVARD, N.C. — The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office said allegations of child molestation led to the arrest of a pastor.  Michael Waddell Miller, 49, of Pisgah Forest, N.C. is charged with two counts of statutory sex offense and three counts of indecent liberties with a child. (This story is posted just for regional interest)

      see full link here..http://www.wyff4.com/news/22888964/detail.html  

     Interesting photos here of Living Waters activities. http://cid-d90e76c0fdbeadac.profile.live.com/

    Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. It could very well save their life. There are readers at WOFF.

     Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. )