Tag Archives: Cult Criteria

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We Can’t Afford That Right Now

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    The protest in Wisconsin has many across America thinking about the future. And for sure, we should all be considering what steps need to be taken now to avoid certain financial disaster. If spending budgets do not change, there are hard times looming in the not too distant future of the individual states as well as the nation as a whole. The National Debt is growing… see this site for a graphic display— http://www.usdebtclock.org/ .  We have several spending “habits” that are unsustainable at many levels of government. It appears the governor of Wisconsin has decided to make the steps he believes will help the entire state. Others should listen and take notes.  

    Yesterday, as I was driving near Charlotte, NC, I tuned into the radio broadcast of Dave Ramsey. He was finishing a discussion about family budget questions and made the statement that it was okay to tell your children you could not afford something they wanted. (I will paraphrase the comments here). He then made the comment that many states will need to do the same thing and tell their citizens that we cannot afford everything we want or have had in the past. Cuts will have to be made or governments will fail financially. We don’t need that. He referenced the situation in Wisconsin and then closed his program.  

    The phrase that caught my attention was “we cannot afford that right now.” Why? Because while I was in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), we were taught to NOT say that phrase to our children. It would hurt them, it could hurt their faith.  It really was a precarious position and strained family budgets at times. If an item was approved and others were buying it (whatever “it” was), then there was great pressure to come up with the funds and buy “it”. Sometimes we were even told to go to church leadership and ask for help to get “it”.

  Continue reading We Can’t Afford That Right Now →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

February 18th – What Happened on This Date?

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  Do you know? Do you remember? For certain, I will not pretend and say I knew before I was reminded earlier today. Today, while driving near Charlotte, NC, I heard a radio program that was asking people to call in and tell where they were or what they remembered about this date- ten years ago. February 18, 2001 – was a Sunday. Once the announcer revealed the event, I knew exactly where I was when I heard that Dale Earnhardt, Sr. had been killed in a wreck at Daytona. Let me explain.

    We were still living Greenville at the time, but were traveling to Spindale, NC to be a part of the Sunday nights services at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). I can’t tell you what Jane Whaley preached that night or if she was even in town. But, I remember on the way home we stopped at the Texaco station in Tryon, NC. It was more than likely around 9:15 to 9:30 PM. We stopped at this station frequently on the way home as they had doughnuts – reduced or even free! I parked the van and as I went in I noticed throngs of folks in the station. This was unusual and caught my eye. Had others found out about the “free” doughnuts?

   Continue reading February 18th – What Happened on This Date? →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Dr. Margaret Singer – Voice for the Cult Survivor

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   Several of the books I have recently purchased and will be reading deal with recovering from cults and the effects of cults. One such book is “Recovery from Cults” – Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse– Edited by Michael Langone- (copyright © 1993 American Family Foundation – ISBN 0-393-31321-2). The preface is written by Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph. D. (1921-2003). Her biography in this book contains these statements about her work. She served as Adjunct Professor of Psychology at University of California, Berkley. …Dr. Singer has been a contributor to many edited volumes on cults and related subjects, including The Family Therapist as Systems Consultant (Guilford Press) (page xiii) A brief review of additional information about Dr. Singer found here… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Singer reveals her work against cults. “She developed theories about how cults recruit and retain members (such as her Theory of Systematic Manipulation of Social and Psychological Influence) and was on the board of the American Family Foundation, the major anti-cult group in the United States.”

     In the preface, she outlines her pathway into research and study of cults, their techniques and the results upon members, ex-members and families of cult members. Toward the beginning of her research she “concluded that cultic groups were not using mysterious, esoteric methods, but they had refined the “folk art of human manipulation and influence”… The cults created programs of social and psychological influence that were effective for their goals.” (page xvii)  She goes on to describe “pioneer families” of the 1960’s who were seeing their children enter cults and the subsequent search for answers. “The parents’ concerns were not that their young-adult children had taken up a new religion, nor were they concerned that their loved ones had left school and home or had completely redirected the course of their lives to help mankind by joining altruistic groups. They were concerned that these young adults were doing none of the above but seemed to have closed their minds to the past, their families and friends and were simply helping a band of itinerant gurus, pied pipers, self-proclaimed messiahs become wealthy and powerful.” (page xviii emphasis added)

    Continue reading Dr. Margaret Singer – Voice for the Cult Survivor →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Do You Think It Is Possible?

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     As many readers already know, I spent many years under the direct or indirect influence of Jane Whaley, the leader of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. Since my departure in July of 2008, I learned many things about my time spent inside WOFF. Even now, 32 months later, I admit there are areas of my life where I still recognize the influence of WOFF teachings and more specifically the teachings, sayings and doings of Jane Whaley. The process of recovery continues. As I move forward, I have been reading accounts of survivors of other groups and seeing the similarities between their groups and life at WOFF. These similarities are fascinating to me since while at WOFF, I was told and believed that there was no other place quite like WOFF. A person could travel the world and not find a place filled with such love and support. For many years, I believed it. Then as the control upon my life became tighter and the methods became clearer, I began to doubt that what I saw and how I was treated was actually God’s plan. As the curtain over my eyes was lifted, I began to see how others were being treated in a new light. This all came into play as I made the decision to leave WOFF.    

     One aspect of life at WOFF was the continual naming of devils that Jane or someone in leadership would discover. In a previous post titled, “Jane Whaley Said…” found here- https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3449    the following paragraph was included:

    Some children get that “math devil”.  Yes, there are “math devils” in her school room! Jane made this statement June 1, 2008 standing in the breezeway (actually, it may have been the hallway near the fellowship room in the office building). She was talking to a visitor that came with me to the graduation ceremony that evening. Jane was telling how wonderful her class of four and five year olds was doing. Then she lamented that sometimes they get the “math devil.” In Jane’s world, there are lots of devils. Each one has a name and if you don’t know the name, ask her. She will tell you. While at WOFF, the entire list of “devils” that were named, I could not retell. There was the “video devil” for those watching DVD’s in their van… There were “ping pong devils” for that’s right, folks playing ping pong. Here is a quote from this (that) post… Jane had said folks may have a “music devil” if the music occupies too much of their time or a “religious devil” if they read their Bible too much. There was a “control devil”, a “money devil”, a “foolish devil”…  the list goes on and on and gets longer as Jane Whaley needs to demean another member in order to further her control over them and others. See here… https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1976

   Continue reading Do You Think It Is Possible? →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Survivors of NTCC Speak Out

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   Recently, I was contacted by Don & Angela Tumioli. They are survivors of a controlling religious group which many ex-members call a cult. The group is the New Testament Churches of America or NTCC for short. Their blog containing their story can be found here http://tinyurl.com/4lsoqkd . After doing some basic research, I have decided to post some findings and compare them to my experience at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). I found a series of articles from The Dispatch – The Independent Voice of South Pierce County, Washington. The first of four articles written by Bruce Smith was posted March 31, 2010 is titled, “A look within the “church behind the fence” and can be found here –  http://tinyurl.com/488fa2p . There is a search feature on this site which is very handy.

   This group was started by a former Pentecostal Church of God missionary, Rodger W. Davis (b. 1929) in October of 1969, in St Louis, Missouri. Two other men are listed on the Articles of Incorporation, Rev. C.O. Sensabaugh and Rev. R. L. Herrera. Davis is given credit for the founding. (here is the link http://tinyurl.com/4z8fg47 ) I found a site originated by another survivor with some quotes from the founder. I view these quotes as credible as this survivor; Deborah Shunk was a leader/teacher in the group for over 30 years. The founder said, “I can’t remember the last time I sinned.” • “All I do is by the Holy Ghost.” • “I have never missed God. “…if you have a problem with me, you have a problem with God.” (link- http://tinyurl.com/4zuaoa8 )   In my opinion, this reflects the same attitude of Jane Whaley, leader of WOFF. Do others agree or disagree?

    Continue reading Survivors of NTCC Speak Out →

Books, Resources, Uncategorized

“Year-end Report 2010”

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In a previous post dated February 5, 2010, I wrote the following paragraph:

    Last January, I attended a church in McDowell County. That Sunday, they were handing out the Annual Report from the previous year! This report outlined offerings received and expenditures made during 2008. It was a pleasant shock for me as a visitor to be given this report. Why? Because in my 10 years in Greenville and 6 years at WOFF, there was NEVER a report issued to the members as to the amount of offerings received and expenses paid. After attending seminars and services for a total of 16 years at WOFF, I had no idea how much was received and where it went. Did others know? Well, maybe a handful of folks, like the Board may have known. Here is the link – https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=277.

 Later in May of 2010, I wrote the following paragraphs in a post…

     Today, as I was leaving church, I was handed a Quarterly Financial Report! Everyone that left through the front door was offered one, even the lady in front of me, who was a first time visitor! Wow, not only annual financial reports from this church, but QUARTERLY! Is this a great idea or what? I was stunned at the openness about the tithes and offerings received and the telling folks how the money was spent. The name of the church is Grace Community Church located outside of Marion, NC…. 

   Can you understand what a shock all of this was to me?  You may be thinking, what is the big deal? Don’t all churches do that? At Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), there are NO written financial reports handed out at any door to regular members, much less visitors. At least, there were none in the 16 years that I attended services. It was mentioned from the pulpit by Sam Whaley, that they needed $20,000 a week to cover the bills. Jane Whaley took up a $50,000 special offering one time (see link. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=245   ) Things may have changed, but I suspect that news would have come back to me – somehow. The link for the post is here – https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2080

    Continue reading “Year-end Report 2010” →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Information control, Uncategorized

“Using Wisdom”

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     As I read different books by different cult survivors and cult experts and learn that the phrases and actions that I experienced at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) were NOT unique in many regards; it still continues to shock me. Before leaving WOFF, I would have NEVER conceded that there was any other group in America, much less several other groups, that acted and behaved as we did at WOFF. Call it ignorance, call it naïveté. Call it a willful blindness to the very few warnings were allowed to slip past the guard of Jane Whaley and those in leadership. Whatever you call it, I suspect I am not the only one. For those other survivors who have left WOFF, I hope you are learning along with me. For those outside of WOFF, who have never been in a controlling group, my shock is probably hard to comprehend. Nonetheless, we move on with our review of a book written by a survivor of another group with many similarities to WOFF.

       We have posted from this source before. “Breaking the Chains” Overcoming the Spiritual Abuse of a False Gospel (Copyright © 2009 by Shari Howerton, ISBN- 978-0-9713499-4-0). This book has been an emotional read for me. The feelings and emotions of the author come through clearly in many places and I can readily identify with her. It has been hard to read more than a few chapters at one time because of my own memories that so mirror many reflections of the author. In the chapter titled, “Using Wisdom”, I found material that I was very familiar with. The author writes, “Growing up in such a tight-knit community leads to lives becoming deeply intertwined. Most marry within the group.” (page 160) Let me stop here and mention that though I did not grow-up within WOFF, I spent many years there and became very intertwined in several lives. At WOFF, NO ONE marries outside the group. NO ONE even has a friendship/dating relationship with the opposite sex, outside of WOFF. If you want a relationship of that nature outside of WOFF, you leave the group to pursue it. Do I need to mention names, here? So, WOFF is MORE controlling than the author’s group.

     Continue reading “Using Wisdom” →