Category Archives: Uncategorized

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Why is WOFF Obsessed with the Holocaust?

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    Recently, in a discussion on Facebook®, this question was posed. It is a valid question. For one, is there any other church in North Carolina besides Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) that has been so taken up with this historic event? If there is one, it has not crossed my radar. Also, there were academic areas of emphasis in years past, remember the science conferences or the Thomas Jefferson conference? None of the others have developed into a road show. Road show? Yes, see the article here from an online newspaper in Deming, New Mexico. WOFF is taking it on the road, again. http://www.demingheadlight.com/ci_18082999?IADID=Search-www.demingheadlight.com-www.demingheadlight.com

   Here is an excerpt: “Guests to the Night to Honor Israel will have a chance to see works of art on display, courtesy of the Holocaust Museum in Spindale, North Carolina. The museum was a dream come true for the Word of Faith Fellowship and the Word of Faith Christian School in North Carolina. Students, grades K-12 have their works of art across the nation, and now Deming can tour choice works on display at the DPS auditorium.”   

   Let me say I was there during the gestation period for the budding event. Who could have seen the development of this academic interest into a full blown take it on the road display? Some years later, I took the online Holocaust class through Cleveland Community College taught by Karel Reynolds from WOFF. The class was enjoyable though the irony did not fully hit me until I left the group. We were studying the beginnings of the Third Reich as Hitler came to power as Chancellor. Some of the restrictions he imposed on the Jews, as well as the Germans sounded awfully familiar. Why did I not see them while inside? I believe it was because of the blind zeal for Jane Whaley and the WOFF cause. Regardless if Hitler stole and violated personal freedoms of the Jews and then the Germans, we at WOFF were “learning God’s ways and walking with Jesus”.  It was as if we were thinking, “If we are in a cult, Jane will tell us!” Really?

   “To follow by faith alone is to follow blindly.” Benjamin Franklin

   Continue reading Why is WOFF Obsessed with the Holocaust? →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

This Privilege Has Been Paid For With Blood….

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   As could be expected, freedom of expression does necessarily bring with it a voicing of opinions and with that privilege we then must come face to face with the reality that there are different views and opinions. With the expression of different opinions can come heated discussion and in some minds controversy. For some, this is unacceptable. For some, the world should be a place for peace, peace. Reality tells us that is just not the case. And for that we should all be grateful.

     When researching the concept of “freedom of expression”, we must cite some obvious sources. An obvious choice would be our U.S. Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

   Other sources that would help with the understanding of the idea of freedom of expression or freedom of speech would include some text found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech#cite_note-22

 “A succession of English thinkers developed the idea of a right to freedom of expression, starting with John Milton (1608–74), then John Locke (1632–1704) and culminating in John Stuart Mill (1806–1873). Locke established the individual as the unit of value and the bearer of rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. It was the role of Government to protect these rights and this belief was first enshrined in the US Constitution, with the First Amendment adding the guarantee that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press”. John Stuart Mill argued that human freedom is good and without it there can be no progress in science, law or politics, which according to Mill required free discussion of opinion. Mill’s On Liberty, published in 1859 became a classic defence of the right to freedom of expression.[21] Mill argued that truth drives out falsity, therefore the free expression of ideas, true or false, should not be feared. Truth is not stable or fixed, but evolves with time. Mill argued that much of what we once considered true has turned out false. Therefore views should not be prohibited for their apparent falsity. Mill also argued that free discussion is necessary to prevent the “deep slumber of a decided opinion”. Discussion would drive the onwards march of truth and by considering false views the basis of true views could be re-affirmed.[23]  

    Continue reading This Privilege Has Been Paid For With Blood…. →

Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Spring Missions Project – Part 2

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   Wednesday evening was the second part of the Spring Missions Project. It involved a walk up and down Oakland Rd. in Spindale, NC, with the same signs from Sunday evening. Honestly, the whole day was an adventure! Where do we start but- the beginning! I received a call at mid-morning from another former Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) member telling me that there had been an announcement on the local radio station about an open invitation to the public for a meeting at WOFF. The speakers would be two Holocaust survivors. After I got over the IRONY and blatant HYPOCRISY of WOFF prohibiting their members from listening to the radio and then USING the radio to announce their meeting, I began to make plans. How about something worse; that WOFF would be the place of a meeting for two folks that came through the hellish times in Hitler’s Germany which started out with many of the same prohibition of personal freedoms and restraints that Jane Whaley uses on her people- TODAY? It took me a while to adjust to the WOFF-zone that was playing out before me.

   Nonetheless, I made plans to launch part 2 of the Spring Missions Project. It was exciting just thinking of the possibilities! So, I arrived at the chosen hour and began my walk, this time with no hat or sunglasses. The weather turned out to be cloudy but wonderful! At first, I was at a loss as to why Wayne Hall did not fire up his camera and video the 2nd walk? Then it came to me that with the public invited, WOFF would not want several of the security to be seen out front filming a man expressing his opinion and walking up and down Oakland Rd. Why, that would look like they were overly concerned. They could not show that to the general public!

    The first reactions on this walk were more positive than Sunday. Several folks were blowing horns and giving me the thumbs-up! It was encouraging. Some folks would circle around a few times to make sure they were reading both signs. It was a positive time. Some stopped to ask for my phone number and just to say they liked the sign. Then I saw him, Josh Farmer, driving by real slow with his cell phone enmeshed into his ear. No concern, at least they knew I was there and the cameras would soon begin rolling from a distance. All was set to not be too obvious, where visitors to WOFF would easily notice the camera crew. Was that sneaky? I made sure to show myself friendly and waved as often as I could, facing the camera(s).

   Continue reading Spring Missions Project – Part 2 →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

WOFF is UNSAFE? Doubters Read This- Please.

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    Below is a repost from another blog. Yes, it happens to be my mother’s blog. She gave me a heads-up about the content and actually finished the post before the day for the Spring Missions Project where I wore a sign which read- WOFF is UNSAFE. Word of Faith Fellowship is WOFF. In the previous post, I never really explained just how WOFF was/is UNSAFE. Obviously, I just assumed everyone knew especially if they were a reader of this blog for any length of time. In order to clear-up any lingering doubt, let me list a few things that were/are in danger while inside of WOFF. Danger is one synonym of unsafe. I used “unsafe” because it left more up to interpretation, but I have no problem saying that certain things were in DANGER, if you were/are a member of WOFF.

    The number one thing in danger for a WOFF member was/is any true relationship with God they had before they went into the group. By her practices, Jane Whaley seeks to slide between her members and God. She “hears God” when they are wrong and when they are “right”, which is seldom. The later being when she helps them “clear-up a few things” and makes sure they are “hearing accurately”. Hearing God or walking with God without Jane’s input or control was/is not part of the practices of WOFF. She was “responsible” for your soul- so she said then and I presume still says now. Being “responsible” gave her a right to direct, impede, monitor, in WOFF-reality – overtake and replace your personal relationship with God. To me, that was/is dangerous.

   Other relationships which may suffer greatly or be in true danger were/are your family relationships. That would include those inside and outside the group. The following repost deals with family relationships outside of WOFF. I will let my mother speak to the hurt and bewilderment. As for family relationships with those inside WOFF, they are always subject to Jane’s intervention as well as the level of blinding zeal one person in the relationship may have or want to acquire. Different levels of consuming zeal for WOFF-life and what that entails can strain marriage or parent-child relationship. That also should be obvious from the total number of “family” relationships which have been wrecked by the intervention of a “spiritual parent”. To allow a “spiritual parent” to be a guide or “someone you lock-in with” (translated – tell your heart issues to and submit to their directives) was seen as another level of WOFF-zeal called “submission”. This could have been Jane or it could have been someone else in leadership under Jane’s direction. Do you see the dangers here?  

    Continue reading WOFF is UNSAFE? Doubters Read This- Please. →

Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Taking It to the Street- Spring Missions Project

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WOFF is UNSAFE
Near the End of the Walk
2nd Sign for Project
2nd Sign for Project

     Today was the Spring Missions Project in Spindale, NC. The two pictures tell only part of the story. I wore the “WOFF is UNSAFE” board in the front and the “Ask Questions…” board on my back. I walked up and down Oakland Road for about 45 minutes. It was hot and I was very thirsty when I was done. Where do I start but the beginning. It took much longer to make the signs than I first planned. But, my previous time helping a teacher in the Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) School paid off. Now, don’t get me wrong, I did not help every time there was a bulletin board need, but, I helped enough to learn how to make letters when you run out! I had to make several letters in order to complete the task.  Though I have a long way to go in making posters, glad I paid attention during those times!

  Continue reading Taking It to the Street- Spring Missions Project →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized, WOFF Don'ts

A Blinding Zeal

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   Earlier this evening, I was in Wal-Mart® in Forest City, NC helping someone get groceries. This person was a former member of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). As I stood by the entrance to the store talking with the greeter, who I had not seen in a long while; a present member of WOFF walked by me. I was not sure she recognized me. I knew who she was immediately. Later in the evening, I responded to an email from another ex-WOFF member and mentioned this person in my email. I wrote, “I saw (her name) tonight at Wal–Mart® and felt sorry for her. Her “zeal” was blinding at times, as was mine- I am sure.” The term “zeal” stuck with me as I remembered a song we used to sing in years past at WOFF. If I remember right, Jane stopped us from singing it. My first time singing this song was in 1984 at a church in Sheldon, SC. It was titled simply- “The Zeal of God”. Though different groups may modify the original words, here are the words as I remember them:

THE ZEAL OF GOD

 THE ZEAL OF GOD HAS CONSUMED ME

IT BURNS IN MY SOUL

A DRIVING FORCE THAT CAN NOT BE STOPPED

A FIRE THAT CAN NOT BE QUENCHED

OH  HALLELUJAH,  HALLELUJAH

OH HALLELUJAH,

HALLE- HALLE-HALLE-HALLELUJAH

    Continue reading A Blinding Zeal →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Cult Leader News, Uncategorized

Update: Raimund Melz – Mountain Rock Church – Pictures

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   In previous posts, we have drawn from the movie “Join Us”. We have provided several posts reviewing material in the movie. 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 . One of the posts was titled: Join Us – Reflections and Comparisons (3) link: https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3511

    Toward the end of the movie, I found several points of interest I believed worthy of mention. My point of reference was/is comparing and contrasting the material found in this documentary of members of a religious cult in South Carolina to my time of involvement with Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. We have noted several comparisons in previous posts, but yet I have found more.

   Near the end of the film, Patrick Provost-Smith a Professor of the History of Christianity at Harvard Divinity School was shown saying these words: “Anyone can claim to be a pastor, if they have a following… What one can look at in terms of a warning sign for realizing one is involved in an extreme group is that one can no longer account for one’s self as a human being as a person with thoughts, with ambitions… if only your pastor can tell you who you are to the extent that you have no story left of your own – leave.”  Does this happen at WOFF? Do any of the faithful regular members have their own story or does Jane Whaley tell them who they are – either directly or indirectly through the use of religious mind control? Quite frankly, while I was in the group, I did not have see how much control WOFF/Jane and her leadership had over my life. I was under the illusion until the last few months of my time there that I was in control of my life and “walk with God”. What a joke! That was the major part of the deception.  In my opinion, WOFF members do not see or are even allowed to admit to themselves or others that there is a problem with WOFF-life. WOFF members are required to check their religious freedoms, as well as other freedoms that others in this country enjoy- check them at the door give them up for the faux promise of “fulfilling their call” and making it into heaven. It is no wonder people leave that group in emotional turmoil and upheaval. There is such an adjustment to make when exiting any religious control group. “Join Us” documents some of the struggles.  

Continue reading Update: Raimund Melz – Mountain Rock Church – Pictures →