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No one can take your experience from you…

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At some point during my years at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), Jane Whaley said the above statement or something very similar. She was soliciting testimonials from members to add to whatever testimony she needed for some legal battle somewhere… take your pick. Yes, I remember writing one and it had a positive voice to it. How many others who have left that place did the same thing or at one time were positive about their days inside WOFF. There are positive things that happen inside the group. How else or why else would people stay for years on end. The more exact question would be, “What is the true cost of membership?” What are you surrendering in order to be a part of WOFF?

No one can take my experience from me AND I can add more to the story as I learn more.

Any positive testimony I wrote about that place was written before my family relationships were destroyed. Any positive testimony about my time in that group was written before April 9, 2008. Why do I bring that up? We can take a look back at the video from April 12th and see that some WOFF members don’t believe in survivors telling their experiences. Is this because it did not match their own experience, or maybe it did match and the similarities were too much to admit? I am not sure at this point.

In addition, a few readers of this blog who have spent hours reading and I am grateful to be such a help. There are others that express some confusion on how to find an exact post about a certain subject. There is a “word search” feature, but for some, it does not help. The large number of posts does not seem to help in the search for certain subjects.

In light of this situation and for other reasons to be explained in the future, I have set aside the next few months to tackle a more concise writing project. I have begun a draft of a memoir of my time before, during and after being under the influence of Word of Faith Fellowship, Jane Whaley and her leadership team. This draft will contain some material introduced here on this blog. I will update and bring the experiences forward and put them in perspective of known events since beginning this blog in January 2010.

As readers, I am asking for your suggestions and to what part of the life inside the group you would like to see included in the final edition of this memoir. I will take all suggestions into consideration and decide if it should be included. If it can, then it will help others with the same questions. If for some reason, your suggestion is not included, I can write a post about that subject. You are welcome to leave your suggestion in the comments or email direct to “author@religiouscultsinfo.com”

This is your opportunity to have your questions answered. Please, share this post with others who may have their own questions. Repost and share as needed. I need to know what you want to know about WOFF-life. There have been rumors over the years. Some were true and some were not. My experiences cannot not be taken from me and I know more now than when I was inside WOFF. It is time for me to share the truth about those experiences.

“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons that history has to teach.” Aldous Huxley
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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Outburst at the Child Abuse Prevention Vigil

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This is the video clip from the gathering on April 12, 2014 in Rutherfordton. About 1:20 into the clip you can hear and barely see to the bottom right of the screen the two sisters of the speaker screaming out. Is it fair to say that this type of display is normal to the sisters? Would it also follow that since the first sister was on the phone just previous to this outburst, that she probably had the approval of their leader? So, if that holds true, then it would be logical to say that this was the Word of Faith Fellowship’s (WOFF) chosen way to make their thoughts on child abuse known to the community? Rutherford County– Are you listening? If my assumptions are correct, then this public display is the preferred method of WOFF to deal with survivors who tell of the abuses inside their group. The standard WOFF response- anything negative about them is a lie. The video goes on to document Jeanna Powell’s remarks as referenced in a previous post. Whew! Below the video, I share more on this tactic.

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Books, Resources

Hope is the Only Thing Stronger than Fear…

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Not often do I think that a line from a movie is worth sharing. However, this one will not go away and it finally became an idea worthy of sharing here. Suzanne Collins’ book and subsequent movie- “The Hunger Games” had been out for a long time before I was convinced by a friend to see it. Contrary to what some in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) may believe, I don’t readily read or desire works of fiction. In order to appease this request, I agreed to watch the first of the trilogy by Ms. Collins. The main attraction for me was the story was filmed in Asheville, NC. Once I learned that, it made the thought of watching it a bit easier.

My purpose is here is not a full movie review. If you have not seen the movie, then make your own decision. Let me just set the scene and provide the quote. Somewhere on the North American continent in the distant future and after a rebellion is quashed; the ruling class sets up 12 districts called Pan AM and begins to rule with an iron hand. President Snow is speaking to the man in charge of the annual Hunger Games about the growing unrest in the outlying districts. The citizens there have no say in how they are governed. President Snow says, “Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.” And he goes on to admonish the games maker to not give the citizens too much hope.

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Emotional Control, Information control, Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Abuse is Abuse is Abuse….There is No Excuse

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The rccatalyst.com write up on the event on Saturday said this… “The crowd waited quietly even as they stood divided into two camps…” After I read that, I pondered- What were the two camps? Was it those who were against abuse and those who were for it? No, I am sure that would not be admitted. In a simplified explanation, it was those who had left Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and those who were still there. There was a third camp of concerned citizens who may or may not have been aware of the drama that surrounded them. If the ensuing outburst of flailing arms and shouts at the speaker did not pique their curiosity then, okay. But, there were at least two “camps” and a third group of supporters.

It is the group of WOFF members who attended the event to whom I address this post. Many of you either soon will be or are already of child bearing age. Some were carrying unborn babies at the event. It is to that group this post is focused. In order to make my case, let me share a series of events relayed to me by a former WOFF member concerning a child who attends Word of Faith Christian School (WFCS).

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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

“The Light” Shines Bright at the Candlelight Vigil in Rutherfordton!

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The Light Shines
The Light Shines

First, allow me to acknowledge those who put in the many hours of preparation for this event. You know who you are and my most heartfelt appreciation goes out to you. Thank you. Also, I want to thank the supporters who showed up early to lend a hand with balloons and pinwheels and bows and everything else. Next, let me thank the speakers who took time from their weekend to tread uncharted waters and take their message to the steps of the courthouse.  There were many unknowns going into the event, but it came together and the outcome was one none had predicted. Oh, there is more… It is the wee hours of Sunday morning, but I feel pressed to post this before things heat-up again on Sunday.  Oh, yes… there will be heat in many places. Let me explain.

Upon arrival early Saturday evening, I found a bee hive of activity with balloons, bows, a banner and a sign posted in memory of Robynn Spence. The weather could not have been better.  We were on the east side of the courthouse in the shade. The breezes were brisk at times, but that kept the pinwheels spinning and temperatures down to some degree. As the last preparations were completed and the speaker system in place; folks began to meander into the courthouse area. Many had expressions of wonder and for sure we hoped each was greeted with a smile as we were all truly glad folks made the choice to come and support the efforts on Saturday.

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Dear Sarah…

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Dear Sarah,

It has been a little over a year since I tried to contact you on your job in Tryon. There has not a day gone by since then that I don’t think of you and Michael and wonder how you both are doing. I love you both very much and miss you beyond words. My efforts at that time were prompted by information I received that a few weeks previous, you had expressed a desire to call me. I understand that desire was met with a strong rebuke by Jane saying, “You will go nowhere young lady, if you leave here you will end up just like your Dad!” Knowing the results of that exchange are just as upsetting to me today, as learning about it last year.

After I tried to reach you, two local government officials called me to say that your mother was requesting on your behalf that I not try to reach you. Once I was told you were in the room and expressed agreement. Even though I find that hard to believe, I know how that could happen within your group and the pressures you would have exercised upon you to say those things. Those calls did not lessen my love for you.

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Books, Resources, Uncategorized

Hands Up!

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Three survivors of WOFF Speak out
Three speak out in silence.

 

This picture has an impact that greatly overshadows any words I could write. Survivors of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) tell their message this time without saying a word. Often it is the hands that bring the abuse- today; it is the hands imploring abusers to stop! This sign language speaks louder than the voices of agreement or sympathy to the ways of WOFF. The abuses of children and adults alike must stop. This week, if you shake hands with a WOFF member or see them wave…ask yourself if that hand has abused anyone?

Congratulations to these three for speaking out to the community.  

See here for more survivors with their Hands Up!

And with that, let us remember:

“It is never too late to wake up and leave and reclaim your life!” Steve Hassan

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