The word “cult” describes many groups, including not only certain churches, but other groups as well. Just being removed from the group does not automatically solve all the problems associated with group practices or beliefs. “Undoing beliefs is a slow process.” So says Janis Hutchinson in “Out of the Cults and Into the Church”(copyright 1994, page 51) Janis is an ex-Mormon who has taken on the task of helping others make the transition from cult groups to the Christian church. She helps “walk-aways”, who leave cults on their own. Her work does not attempt “de-programming” cult members. She was in Mormonism for 36 years before her exit. Her main work has been with ex-Mormons. While reading the first part of this book, I have been so shocked in some ways that ex-Mormons would have the same struggles as ex-WOFFers!
While in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), I would be aware at times, of the sub-culture world that is WOFF. While at WOFF, your entire schedule consists of working around WOFF members, living with WOFF members and spending time at church- of course with WOFF members. The job I had did put me in contact with non-WOFFers, who were fellow workers. But, these folks wanted the job they had and very few ever mentioned their questions about the church and what they saw in WOFF members. The weeks, month and years at WOFF became packed with WOFF centered activities and relationships. If a WOFF member wanted to remember what they were doing on a certain day; the two qualifying questions would be: 1. What day of the week was it? and 2. What was going on at the church? (WOFF) While in the midst of that lifestyle it is easy to lose the magnitude of such an intense WOFF centered life. In many cases, the far reaching effects are not truly known until a person leaves and begins the transition into American culture.