Chadwicks NY | Religious Cults Info ~ Resources, Answers and Hope

Over the last few days, I have been contacted by several folks asking if I was aware of the events in New York. Truly, this has been a sad week for many as the details surrounding the death of Lucas Leonard become known. This young man wanted to leave his association with Word of Life Church. As a result, he was beaten to death with “fists and feet” and a belt or cord. He died Monday, October 12th at St. Luke’s Hospital.

Investigators soon learned about his brother, Christopher. A search of the church building located this young man and he was transported to the hospital with extensive injuries apparently suffered during the same session in which his brother was killed.

Since learning of the events, my heart has been heavy and ached at times as the details come out in press conferences and court hearings. Wednesday, I watched the stream of the press conference. Friday, on wktv.com, the felony hearings were carried live. The judge set limits of no audio or video during the witness testimony. At least two reporters were in court tweeting the happenings inside the court. One reporter, Micaela Parker has posted her tweets here in this article. Before viewing the string, be warned the descriptions in many places are word for word and describe the events surrounding the beating death of Lucas Leonard.
Continue reading Events Unfolding in NY – Many Questions (Video and Links) →

So many thoughts racing through my head after a day spent reading and listening to reports from WKTV Channel 2 out of New York. The thoughts and feelings have washed as waves in and out of my mind. One minute, I read the reports and the next; I experience memories of my time in Word of Life – Greenville and Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale. More emotional and painful are the memories of Michael Lowry’s first interview in November of 2011 in a Chinese restaurant in Forest City. Listening to details of the attack in New York ignited the memories of his account of life in the lower building at WOFF. He was put out of WOFF, recaptured and escaped a second time. For Lucas Leonard of Word of Life Church in Chadwicks, NY- there was no escape. His life ended as the result of blunt force trauma which officials acknowledge included “fists and feet…” during a “counseling session” where the teens were supposed to confess sin and ask forgiveness.

This afternoon, I watched the live stream of the news conference given by the local sheriff. When taking questions from reporters, you could sense he was overwhelmed as if facing the darkest storm with only a flashlight. He proceeded with caution and at the end allowed the District Attorney to finish providing further details of the State’s plans for another hearing on Friday where more may become known surrounding the events which left one dead and another in the hospital in “serious condition.”

Continue reading Word of Life Church (NY) Brings Death to Teen →