Category Archives: Uncategorized

Books, Resources, Uncategorized

Dietrich Bonhoeffer- Voice of Dissent

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    Periodically over the last twenty years or so, I have heard about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. But, I have not until recently taken time to learn about his life. Oddly, on the “pre-WOFF” bookshelf, I found two of his works. “Letters & Papers From Prison” published by Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc; this edition is the fourth printing in 1975 and was edited by Eberhard Bethage, a very good friend of Dietrich. The second book I found was “The Cost of Discipleship”, written by Bonhoeffer and first published in 1949 as a translation from a work titled “NACHFOLGE” in 1937. This paperback edition was published in 1963 by Macmillan Publishing Company of New York. Honestly, I have not read either book. It was not until I recently viewed a documentary film released in 2003 by Journey Films titled “Bonhoeffer” that I learned more about his life. The documentary contained interviews with relatives of Bonhoeffer as well as some of his students, historians of the time and leaders in the church. It outlined the major events preceding the end of Bonhoeffer’s life in 1945. This film is the resource for this post unless otherwise noted.   

     Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born February 4, 1906 in Breslau, Germany. His father was a university professor and his mother had aristocracy in her family history. He had a twin sister and six other siblings in total. He was the youngest boy in the family. His oldest brother Walter, at 18 years old joined the German army to fight in World War I. He was killed within two weeks of joining. This event seemed to have a profound effect on Dietrich and some would say this helped him decide to join the ministry and later be a pacifist.

    Continue reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer- Voice of Dissent →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Prayer? After WOFF?

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    There is no doubt that no matter what I write on this subject, members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) will take it personally and may even call it an “attack”. It is not my intention to “attack” with this subject. Is it possible that WOFF members see this blog as an attack because I am doing what they are forbidden to do? I can express doubt while trying to work things out. Do WOFF members want to express their doubts but know that in doing so they would be chided, berated or attacked themselves? At WOFF, expressing doubt as to the validity of WOFF-life is not allowed.

    I will endeavor to share my observations on the subject of prayer from my time inside WOFF and my time since leaving WOFF in 2008. After 16 years of being indirectly or directly under the teachings of Jane Whaley, it must be obvious that much of the teaching centered on prayer. Loud prayer, blasting and deliverance prayer are signature practices of WOFF as discussed previously on this blog. I have shared on this subject in the past. (here is a link from March 21, 2010- https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=599 )

    After leaving WOFF, how did the previous teachings and activities affect my view and practice of prayer? First, let me make it clear that participating in forms of WOFF-prayer does not assure that a member believes in the WOFF prayer 100% – day and night. Yes, it is hard to conceive, but, as powerful as Jane Whaley is with her persuasion and control; deep inside, every individual has to decide if WOFFness and WOFF-prayer are as critical to salvation as is portrayed during WOFF-days. That is up to each individual. Certainly, it is close to impossible to remain at WOFF for any length of time and not participate in loud prayer, blasting and deliverance. So, a WOFF member will participate. But, is it vital to pray the WOFF-way in order to be saved, born again or know Jesus or make it to heaven? When put in that context, the answer should be obvious. Is it?

    Continue reading Prayer? After WOFF? →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Trust? After WOFF?

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     A reader of this blog, who is a survivor of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) recently made this statement in a comment, “We are still a little unsure of becoming “totally committed” to another church, just yet. But, that may come.” The observation addresses the issue of trust. We have not been able to trust the leadership and members of another church, but we might one day. After my time at WOFF and being under the teachings of Jane Whaley, I completely understand. It took several months to enter a church of any sorts. Even then there were walls of immense proportions between me and anybody in church or even in other areas of life.

   Let me explain. Upon leaving WOFF, there is not only the trust issues with other people in churches, there is also trust issues with the people who were not to be trusted while you were inside WOFF. As a member of WOFF, there were certain folks and groups that were not trusted unless the approval came from Jane Whaley to trust them. For example, DSS workers were never to be trusted. Government officials were to be at least doubted unless Jane said “okay”. Anyone associated with the media in any way was to not to be trusted.  That included television, newspapers and radio. The reason should be obvious. WOFF members were not allowed access to those types of media. Others not to be trusted included lawyers- who represented outsiders, defectors or anyone you were not sure of. Now, there was a catch, after a while WOFF had their own home grown attorneys for most every situation. So, you of course could “trust” them. But, making the distinction was tough after you left. I found that trusting attorneys was based on their knowledge of WOFF and the things that had gone on there in the past.

    Continue reading Trust? After WOFF? →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The Deceptions I Lived Under While at WOFF (2)

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      In the previous post, I outlined certain deceptions that were foundational to continued membership in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. For a review, I spent a total of 16 years under the direct or indirect teachings of Jane Whaley – the leader of WOFF. In order to make it clear, I do not assume that I see all or know all of the deceptions I lived under while in that group. For sure, not every group which may practice a level of deception could automatically be labeled a destructive “cult”. However, I would say that every destructive cult does practice deception as its core operational methods.  Also, this post is not meant to hurt or harm or impugn others who have been a part of that group in the past or who are a part of that group now. This post is purely reflective of my search and struggle for Truth that brings emotional and spiritual stability and life. Recently, it has been brought to my attention that WOFF members see these posts as an attack on their choice of religion or their faith. That is not the intent; my purpose includes telling the deceptions I believed and the Truth I now understand.

     Since my departure from WOFF, I have realized that I was steeped in the WOFF deceptions. Those deceptions have been in me through and through. It was a major change in my life to begin to see that Jane Whaley and the life at WOFF were not true or based on Truth. The deception which is the basis for WOFF member’s relationship with God is predicated on Jane Whaley and her “gift” of deliverance and her “hearing God”. We covered much of this in the previous post. We now will list other deceptions which are evident in WOFF-life either from what was done or not done, said or not said.

  Continue reading The Deceptions I Lived Under While at WOFF (2) →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The Deceptions I Lived Under While at WOFF (1)

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   For a review, I spent a total of 16 years under the direct or indirect teachings of Jane Whaley who is the leader of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. During the process of my exit from that group, I began to see there were numerous deceptions that I lived under while in that group. As I have searched for answers to several questions, more and more of the deceptions have been made clear for me. This post will attempt to list and explain several of those deceptions. I do not assume that I see them all or know all of the deceptions I lived under while in that group. Also, this post is not meant to hurt or harm or impugn others who have been a part of that group in the past or who are a part of that group now. This post is purely reflective of my search and struggle for Truth that brings emotional and spiritual stability and life.

    How will I determine what is a deception and what is in reality a truth? First, if there was a statement or rule or group approved behavior put forth in WOFF and I obeyed that statement or rule, then I agreed with that rule, at least on some level. If there was any discontent or angst against such a rule, I will try to tell it, but if I submitted to that rule and did not question it outwardly, then I will list that rule or axiom as an acknowledged deception. (If indeed it was one.) I will attempt to concentrate on main foundational deceptions that were put forth and lived as “truth” while at WOFF.

    Continue reading The Deceptions I Lived Under While at WOFF (1) →

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

Why Should Others Not in WOFF Care? Revisited

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     During the month of June, I posted a series under the title Why Should Others Not in WOFF Care?.(the link is here… https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2038 .)  I took as my reference text a book titled “The Five Thousand Year Leap” by W. Cleon Skousen (copyright C&J Investments, ISBN 0-9815596-6-2) with a forward by Glenn Beck. One reader, who saw the recent sign posted in the community advertising this blog, took the time to email me and express her concern that I would choose this book as a reference text. She sent her supporting text, from which I will quote,

“Around this same time, Beck began promoting the work of an arcane Mormon conspiracy-peddler named W. Cleon Skousen, whom he described as his political lodestar. Suddenly, Beck had something more to offer than irritable mental gestures…. Skousen’s paranoid politics were an outgrowth of his participation in extreme anti-communist groups during the 1950s. He boasted of a close friendship with then-FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and said he provided him with research on communist plots, claims disputed by FBI historians.”

   This was from a lengthy piece titled “Days of Rage — The Noxious Transformation of the Conservative Movement into a Rabid Fringe” By Max Blumenthal, Nation Books, Posted on August 10, 2010, Printed on August 10, 2010, http://www.alternet.org/story/147784/

   So, in all honesty, I failed to fully research Mr. Skousen’s past and did not research his all of his sources. In fact, I will say that my excitement about the book was more emotional than purely intellectual. Here was one source that listed the “rights” I had seen violated and surrendered during my time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). For years, I had submitted to the teachings of Jane Whaley and was not aware of the damages it had done. This one book though not purposed or directed to address my question(s), listed “rights” that I had seen thwarted during my time at WOFF.

   Continue reading Why Should Others Not in WOFF Care? Revisited →

Books, Resources, Uncategorized

Link to Interview with Jeff VanVonderen on Spiritual Abuse

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    A few days ago, I had this link forwarded to me from a blog I subscribe to. The blog is http://thewordonthewordoffaithinfoblog.com . Their tagline- BREAKING FREE from The Word of Faith Movement,,, and telling the World about it! TELL US YOUR STORY.  This is a group blog sharing their perspective on the Word of Faith Movement founded by Kenneth Hagin. This is the ministry that Jane and Sam Whaley came out of as they started Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. I have not read everything on this other blog. However, when I saw the link to an interview with Jeff VanVonderen, it caught my eye. In this interview, he gives some keys to detect spiritual abuse. I will give a couple of excerpts and allow you to decide for yourself if you want to click the link (above) to the whole article. The post is dated August 13, 2010 on the above mentioned site. You will have to scroll down to find that post. Below these excerpts is a direct link to the article on another site.  In my opinion, it is a good read, very insightful and worth the time.

STEPS: Talk some more about spiritual abuse in the Bible. What did it look like then?

Jeff: It looked essentially the same then as it does now. Spiritual leaders exploited people for their own gain. Authority was misused in order to get things done in the name of God that weren’t really about God at all.

Later on:

STEPS: You have already talked a bit about the role of authority in spiritually abusive relationships. In your book you list “power posturing” as one of the key features of spiritual abuse. What is that about?

Jeff: Spiritual abuse is always a power issue. In order for abuse to happen, by definition, it has to come from a place of higher power to a place of lesser power. People in low-power positions can’t abuse people in highpower positions….

   As with most every reference book I use, this book “The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse” can be found at Amazon.com. A little research finds the original interview with Mr. VanVonderen here:  http://www.spiritualabuse.com/?page_id=58  I have yet to explore this second website, but it looks like it may hold some valuable tools. Again, links referenced here are selected at your own risk. I have not viewed all material on all sites listed on this blog.  

   Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog.  Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. 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. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 182.