Tag Archives: Cult Criteria

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Over 5,000 Days and Counting

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    As mentioned, this past week has confirmed the strong curiosity in the surrounding community about Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and Jane Whaley. One former member asked me a few weeks ago- How do you put out so much stuff? My immediate answer was that I type fast. Well, I type faster than I used to. But, a more complete answer would mention that WOFF has affected my life for over 5,000 days. We were definitely affected by WOFF while in the Greenville church. That was from 1992 until 2002. Add those days to the six years of being inside and then the two years since.  I am gone from there, but my life is still being affected by their ways and beliefs. Some of that is due to what is still affecting me personally. Some is due to certain ongoing personal situations that are not resolved. So far, there are less than 200 posts on this blog. The actual number of days that WOFF has affected my life is closer to 6,000; but who is counting? True, many of those days I was under the impression that the effects were positive. It was not until 2005, during a period of a few months and later starting in late 2007 and early 2008 that I began to see the negative nature of certain effects of WOFF in my life. But, shall I post one for one? I am a long ways behind the count even if I have any hope of catching up…

   Along those lines, it is a good place to restate that the effects of WOFF on its members vary from person to person. Some of this is due to length of time in the group, how many “changes” were made to make the person’s life WOFF-compliant and if other family members went into WOFF along with the person in question. Some folks go in and come out- without having other family members directly involved or becoming a part of the group. That person may have a better chance of escaping some of the emotional stress associated with leaving and having family members stay in the group. Yes, these are all only my observations. I have no hard statistical data to back these statements. But, I do know folks who appeared to have a less traumatic exit. In order to verify this statement, I would have to speak directly to those individuals.

       Continue reading Over 5,000 Days and Counting →

Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Information control, Thought Reform, Uncategorized

Movies and Thoughts on “Thought Reform”

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     In 1990, I went to a movie theater in West Ashley near Charleston, SC. The movie was “China Cry”, produced by TBN Films. This movie is the story of Nora Lam, her life and escape from China. I attended with two younger folks and remember much of that evening. That would be the last film I would view in a movie theater until 2004 when several Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) members were allowed to attend “The Passion”, directed by Mel Gibson. We viewed it in the theater in Forest City, NC.  That was a night I will not soon forget. Jane Whaley did not attend. Here is link to a previous post where I mention attending “The Passion”.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=216

    Recently, I watched “China Cry” again. By mentioning this movie here, I am not endorsing a particular ministry or TV preacher(s). For the time period, the movie was done with quality and I would recommend others to watch it. What struck me this time was the very detailed depiction of the thought reform used by the Communist Party under Chairman Mao Zedong. Both Neng Yee Sung, who later changed her name to Nora Lam, and her husband were forced into detailed confessions of their past, their relationship and other areas of their lives individually and together. It was said that the officials were trying to get confessions about past transgressions and Nora’s Christian education. One scene shows Nora’s husband secretly admitting the temptation to “give them what they want”; he was ready to confess but, he was not sure to what. Later, the officials would use simultaneous lies against both husband and wife in an attempt break their bond and their love for each other. “Reform” would come to resisters through “labor training.”

    This visual depiction correlates well with the accounts found in Robert Jay Lifton’s work in “Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism” (original copyright 1961, later published again in 1989. ISBN 0-8078-4253-2 [alk. Paper]). The subtitle of the book is “A Study of Brainwashing in China”. Lifton studied the thought reform used on Westerners by the Communist party in the 1950’s. I have not finished the book, but what I have read has been fascinating. I quote from the PREFACE of the recent edition, “I see it (this book) as less a specific record of Maoist China more an exploration of what might be the most dangerous direction of the twentieth-century mind- the quest for absolute or “totalistic” belief systems. … Indeed this quest has produced nothing short of a worldwide epidemic of political and religious fundamentalism- of movements characterized by literalized embrace of sacred texts as containing absolute truth for all persons, and a mandate for militant, often violent measures taken against designated enemies of that truth of mere unbelievers.” (page vii emphasis added) Was the author ahead of his time on this observation! Lifton’s observations can apply to so many groups around the world, today.

   Continue reading Movies and Thoughts on “Thought Reform” →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Welcome New Readers-Posts of General Interest (2) August 2010

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Night version of sign
Sign in Forest City

   The traffic on this blog has increased over the last week. What does that mean? I do not believe that since the traffic has increased one automatically assumes that all readers are in agreement with the material. That is about as silly as thinking that just because one reads the “Communist Manifesto”- then you automatically become a communist. Some have expressed their thankfulness for the posts. Many have kept silent. The only thing that can safely be deduced from the increased traffic is that it confirms the curiosity in the community about Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), Jane Whaley and the operations of that group.

     Several have asked if there has been a reply or comment or anything from WOFF in response to this blog or this week. Recently, there has been no official reply either written or verbal. What does that mean? It means nothing. WOFF may choose to ignore this forum all together. On the other hand, I may get some sort of reply. Whatever the reply, whether written of verbal, I will post it and allow others to learn what has been done or said. WOFF may choose another forum that they consider more neutral. Even if their reply is negative toward my material, I would post it here in the interest of presenting both sides of the WOFF experience. After all, the members of the community deserve as much information as possible in order to have a more complete understanding of the group living, growing and doing business among them.  

Here are three posts about life at WOFF:

“The Church Service No One was to Talk About” link – https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=335 From the post on February 6, 2010- “Some even would kneel before her(Jane). Men and women of all ages made their way to the front. Jane soon allowed the “news” to start being told. The people were coming telling Jane that “God had shown them who their mate was to be..”  

Continue reading Welcome New Readers-Posts of General Interest (2) August 2010 →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Welcome New Readers-Posts of General Interest (1) August 2010

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Night version of sign
Sign in Forest City

     Over the years at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) certain practices have come and gone. One practice that has developed and still continues, as far as I know, is the practice of standing outside of Jane’s door and waiting for a “minister” to come “deal with your sin”. Particularly before the Sunday evening service, folks would line up either by themselves or with someone who was “taking hold of them”. There, they would wait until they were approached or could snag the attention of someone in leadership. If they caught someone, then there would be the “opening of their heart” and “exposing their sin”. They would often get “help” in “seeing their sin the way God sees it”. If they found a “place of repentance” then they could proceed into the service- generally. If the person in leadership felt they needed to remain “set apart” and “in discipleship” (after checking with Jane or someone higher up in leadership…), the person being dealt with would be sent into the discipleship room and after the service they may meet again to “check them out” and hear “what God had shown them”.

    This scenario could go many different directions. The “sin” could be over “big” things like a “bad attitude” or “not submitting to authority” or in many cases, over “smaller” infractions like not picking up your dishes after a meal, or not taking out the trash when you were told or not “pulling your weight in the household” or “checking out” during the morning service or not ironing your clothes at the right time or coming to church looking sloppy or wearing the wrong color shirt or wearing the wrong tie or wearing the wrong dress or reading headlines of newspapers, or rolling your eyes, or making some motion or expressing some notion that you maybe, kind of sorta, want to watch TV or read a magazine. You could be corrected for whistling, or humming or snoring, over-sleeping not wiping the shower out when you were done or being late for ANYTHING, not parking in the right space, not having your car tag up to date, going shopping at the wrong place, or at the wrong time or even being by yourself! Correction came to bring you back “under the protection of God” and in good graces with those around you- especially Jane Whaley. (select “Read …..” to continue……)

    Continue reading Welcome New Readers-Posts of General Interest (1) August 2010 →

Uncategorized, WOFF and Money Issues

Welcome New Readers- Posts About Money Issues August 2010

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Night version of sign
Sign in Forest City

    There are several posts on this blog which are not in a series. They may address a certain subject or a particular service at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). The main subject most times is Jane Whaley simply because she runs WOFF. She is the top of the pyramid structure. All decisions of any importance and many of seemingly no consequence flow through Jane Whaley. That is how she has designed the group and deviation from that is not often. Straying from this mandate is often met with a rebuke from Jane or some other level of leadership. The structure is tight to say the least. People move up in rank with her approval and move down in rank with her disapproval. Obviously, WOFF members are moved in and moved out of the door with Jane’s approval. When insiders and outsiders learn this rule of WOFF-life; things will seem to make more sense, if that is possible.

    “The $50,000 Offering” link is here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=245 Here is a clip from the post from February 8, 2010: “She went on to say God had told her that some folks were saving money for their children. “God said to give it”.

    “Jane Whaley makes $600 a month (sorta)” link is here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=277 Here is a clip from the post of February 5, 2010: “She said she gets a check for $600 a month. From that $600, she gives Sam $200. Sam volunteered at that point that he “squirrels away” his $200 for a future time.”

   “Jane Whaley – the Medical Debt Collector” here is the link.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=235  And yes, a clip from the post of February 7, 2010: “Jane began addressing individuals calling their name, saying how much they owed and asking what they could pay? One of the attorney’s in the church was present . He asked why he was there. He was told in front of everyone- “Your grandmother owes a balance” (under $300)”.

Continue reading Welcome New Readers- Posts About Money Issues August 2010 →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

“Honor Shunning” at WOFF?

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“Honor Shunning” at WOFF?

    No doubt, the most common subject of emails that I receive is about the division in families where one or more member has gone in to Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and others have not. The details may change, but the main points of grief and bewilderment remain constant. It is a fact, joining WOFF causes divisions. Yes, I know I have been inside and seen the division that caused my immediate family. And now, outside, I am feeling the division in a very personal way.

    With all this in my mind, I began reading and listening to news reports of “honor killings” in some places in the United States. Before I continue, let me say, I have not read extensively on the subject and do not intend to be an expert. I will just repeat what little bit I know and how it relates to the subject as it develops. In certain cultures, parents have considered themselves “honor bound” to take the life of a daughter who may have become too Westernized or expressed desires to marry outside of the culture. In order to preserve the purity of the culture, the parents have extinguished the life of the one bringing dishonor to their name and way of life. Thus the term “honor killing”.  There is even debate as to whether or not this has occurred in America.

   All that being said; I can attest with rock solid assurance, that members of WOFF practice “honor shunning” with fervent regularity. The practice begins from within the group as members who may be questioning authority or “in rebellion” are separated into the “discipleship” room. Others are expected to not talk to them or fellowship with them as “God is dealing with their heart”.  If the member repents to Jane Whaley then they are restored and allowed “back into fellowship”. As long as the punishable offense is not repeated, they can be around others. I practiced the shunning of others on church discipline while at WOFF. It is the thing to do unless you want to end up being in the same boat. Those who do not shun will be shunned until they either agree to “walk in God’s ways” or leave… You could/should say this practice is a mainstay at WOFF.

   Continue reading “Honor Shunning” at WOFF? →

Uncategorized

Welcome New Readers- More Selected Series August 2010

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Night version of sign
Sign in Forest City

     Welcome New Readers – This is a personal blog focusing mainly on my experiences while at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) which is lead by Jane Whaley. The “About Author” page gives more information about me. I do encourage you to read and comment as you come across material that raises questions or sparks a memory. The list below contains links to the first post in a series that will help explain WOFF, my experiences and what I have learned since my time ended in July 2008.

Why Should Others Outside of WOFF Care? Part 1 – link here https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2038

   From the post, “But to many others without friends or relatives involved at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), there may be some times when it becomes difficult to pay attention to the goings and doings of Jane Whaley, Sam Whaley and the members of their church.” This was written June 27, 2010.

What Are the Possible WOFF Defenses? Part 1 – link here https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2723

   From the post, “I made the point that it is not the beliefs by themselves that come under scrutiny, but those beliefs which are used to support the practices which experts believe are tied directly with mind control and/or the control of others.”  This was written July 7, 2010.

“Know the Marks of Cults” Part 1 – link here https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2841

    From the post, “The author (Dave Breese) writes about his belief that it is a hunger to go “beyond” Christianity that leads people into side paths or error.”  Post written July 24, 2010.

WOFF Members Get New Identity – Part 1 – link here https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=2402  

    An excerpt from the post, “Later in the service, Jane spoke up to correct him (Sam). She told him that all he had done before getting deliverance and getting truly born again was WICKED!” Post written: May 24, 2010.

   Continue reading Welcome New Readers- More Selected Series August 2010 →