Tag Archives: Leaving a Cult

Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

The Blaze reports WOFF posting…

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Google Alerts® provided me the article about Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) found on The Blaze.com®.

“Church Accused of Beating Gay Man During ‘Deliverance’ to Remove Homosexual ‘Demons’ Posts Public Response Defending Its Members” found here. Interesting- it is posted under ‘Crime.’

The Blaze.com is a news site provided by Glenn Beck’s group. Mr. Beck has ties to Christians United for Israel (CUFI) as a speaker at their convention in 2013. See here. WOFF has in years past had strong ties to CUFI, though everything is subject to change. How close the ties are now has been hard to gauge.

The public response from WOFF is found here. In order to help explain the language of the response and how this statement fits with Josh Farmer’s disclaimers, we will break it down and provide context. After graduating from WOFF in 2008, I believe my experience inside will help others understand WOFF-speak.
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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

WOFF-think explains WOFF-speak…really.

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This last week news sources far and wide have picked up the story surrounding the indictments of five Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) church members in the Matthew Fenner case. Some sources have recounted the basics, some have embellished. The five indicted members include- Brooke Covington, Sarah Covington Anderson, Justin Covington, Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. and Adam Bartley. The charges include simple assault and second degree kidnapping. Sarah Anderson has an additional charge of assault by strangulation. These are by far the most serious charges for any WOFF member(s) that I am aware of.

Most every source has contained quotes from Josh Farmer. I will rely on the quotes provided in the sources and attempt to explain the reasons behind them. My purpose is to shed some light on this confusing situation.

“They are innocent of the charges leveled against them and we look forward to proving their innocence and to their complete vindication before a trial court,” said Farmer. “We are adamant that no one ever physically harmed Mr. Fenner… The church does NOT target members who are gay.” Source link here.

This reply by Josh may seem confusing at first. However, let’s apply some WOFF-think to understand WOFF-speak. We cannot excuse these statements just because Josh is an attorney. That misses the meaning and also the opportunity to learn about the WOFF culture. Let me explain.
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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

I dared to read the comments…

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The last few days have passed quickly. Since the indictments came down in the Matthew Fenner case, between work duties and the WOFF-drama, things have been a whirl. Late on Thursday evening, I fell asleep for an unexpected nap in the clothes I had worn all day. Two hours later, I woke up overrun with gym-guilt. This was the second night in a row that I did not go work out. Somehow, I got over it and began looking at my phone.

Searching minds want to know, so I searched ‘Brooke Covington jail.’ As I viewed the results, one article title caught my eye. “Anti-Gay NC Church Members Indicted for Felony Kidnapping and Assault if Gay Man…” link here.
(click “back” button to return here)

The article did not have much original material, mainly content from other sites. When I came to the end, I decided to read the comments. No, I don’t normally read the comments since those who write them are usually the most vocal and opinionated. And since, I have left comments before on other sites; I decided to read a few.
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Books, Resources, Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

So, have you strangled someone… lately? Did it help? (video)

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WSPA.com

The names, ages and charges were released today in the Fenner case. Here is the list:
“Indicted were Sarah Covington Anderson, 27, Adam Christopher Bartley, 25, Brooke McFadden Covington, 56, Justin Brock Covington, 20, all of Breeze Hill in Rutherfordton and Robert Louis Walker, Jr., 26, of New Flynn Drive in Spindale.

Five true bills of indictments were handed down for second degree kidnapping and simple assault. Anderson was also charged with assault inflicting personal injury by strangulation.”
(source link- http://www.thedigitalcourier.com/news/x1736887346/Five-Word-of-Faith-members-indicted-for-assault )

In a separate source, the church attorney is quoted,

“They are innocent of the charges leveled against them and we look forward to proving their innocence and to their complete vindication before a trial court. Please remember that the law declares them innocent until they are proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt.” (source link- http://www.wlos.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/victim-alleged-word-faith-abuse-grateful-indictments-18829.shtml#.VIen28nb3Eb )
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Uncategorized, WOFF Updates

Alleged Word of Faith Abusers Indicted – WLOS 12/8/2014

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This blip showed up on the WLOS website on December 8, 2014. Five WOFF members have been indicted. Name and the specific charges will be posted here, once they are made public. The picture below the article is of a sign I carried down Oakland Road a couple of years ago. At the time, I did not know Matthew Fenner or how the abuses had evolved within this group.

Inside, the phrase- “Better to bruise than burn” pretty much sums up their philosophy.

My theory- “Outside pressures change inside dynamics, but not inside beliefs.” The physical abuses will stop for a time, but not the emotional destruction. After a while, the physical abuses will start again, once they don’t feel any outside pressures. Keeping the pressures on allows for more time for members to wake up and LEAVE!
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RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. — Five members of the Rutherford County Word of Faith Church were indicted by a grand jury, Monday.

The indictment relates to a 2013 alleged assault on a gay member of the word of faith fellowship in Spindale.

The accuser, Matthew Fenner, says he was beaten and strangled by members of the church because he was gay.

The names and official charges of the accused will be released by the Rutherford County clerk of court Tuesday.

http://www.wlos.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/alleged-word-faith-abusers-indicted-18823.shtml#.VIanjGcrI65
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WOFF is UNSAFE
Near the End of the Walk

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Books, Resources

“I don’t have any fear now” Katie Holmes (People Magazine)

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Suddenly an urge to do what I don’t normally do- buy a magazine. In a rush in and out of a local store, my eye caught the cover of People® magazine. The cover dated November 10, 2014 had a picture of a woman I barely recognized-Katie Holmes. The caption-“I don’t have fear now.” (written by Kate Coyne) In a fit of giddy confusion, I grabbed the magazine and began glancing through it trying to verify my suspicions. Was this the ex-wife of Tom Cruise? The woman who ditched him because of his religion- Scientology? Pointing to the cover, I asked the clerk checking my out if this was the ex-wife of Tom Cruise- she looked as confused as I felt. “I don’t know.”

Laying the magazine down, I decided to chance it, “I will take it.”

Once in the car, I flipped quickly to page 52. Yes, this was the same woman. As usual, I was running late for an appointment, stuffed the magazine into the yellow plastic bag and decided to read it later in the day.

This evening, I settled in to read the article. Not sure what I was expecting, I am not a regular reader of this magazine. In fact, there were several celebrities mentioned who I no idea what made them famous. I live unconnected like that. Better than it used to be, but I am no fan of being a fan of the Hollywood types. My interest in this article rested solely in how it addressed her break-up with Tom Cruise and if there were any insights into how Scientology figured into the split. My hopes were only partially satisfied.
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Books, Resources, Uncategorized

…assault by strangulation within the church complex.…

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Hands for Hope
Hands for Hope and Action

RC Catalyst has an editorial posted on October 21, 2014 found here. It is about Matthew Fenner’s struggle to have someone listen to his claims and then file charges with the appropriate authorities. He did finally accomplish his goal. The editorial outlined the barriers he encountered and the parties who contributed to his uphill climb. The accusations/crimes listed in the article, “assault, second degree kidnapping and assault by strangulation within the church complex.”

For those readers who may not have seen this, January 27th of this year – this was on Matthew’s Facebook page:

“A year ago, tonight, I was being cornered and assaulted by a local religious group that all too many are familiar with. It was probably one of the worst events to ever take place in my lifetime; one that left me feeling hopeless, degraded, and in fear for my life. I am so grateful to have been able to leave the environment I was in. After being slapped, choked, punched in the chest, excessively shaken, and degraded through caustic statements and threats such as “You’re a pervert,” “You disgust me,” “I hate being around you,” “You’ll sit here for the next two days if you have to,” and “If you don’t change, I will beat this out of you,” all because of the sexual orientation I was viewed as being (and born with), I have been able to grow and successfully become a grateful and empowered young man…”
(last viewed October 27,2014)
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