Tag Archives: Leaving a Cult

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Time to Tell Your Experiences

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     A few weeks ago, I was contacted, through a third party, by a production company. They have been contracted by a major network to do a series of documentaries on “demanding groups/organizations”. This would include groups such as religious cults and thus –  Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). I have taken all steps possible to verify that this is a legitimate happening. All indicators point to a series of shows being produced and aired on these groups. One of the producers on this project was included in the movie, “Join Us” which we have posted about many times. (www.joinusthemovie.com)

    Will WOFF be included? The final decision is not up to me. However, what do you think I would say? Yesterday, I received an email asking for participants to tell their story. Here is the text I am referencing:

“Call for Participants: We are producers partnered with a major news outlet, and are seeking families or individuals who were formerly involved in demanding groups/organization(s) to share their stories. We are interested in both positive and negative experiences, and hope to hear from those who have separated from the group within the last 9 months. If you would like additional information, please email clpdocumentary@gmail.com and describe your current situation. Thank you.”

 If you reply to the address you will receive an auto-response email acknowledging your submission. In my opinion, in order to learn the larger frame in which any group exists, they need stories from anyone willing to speak. That is regardless of how long you have been separated from such a group. I am willing to help anyone frame their thoughts into a presentation to this group. This blog is read by survivors of many such groups. Anyone from any such group is welcome to reply. Admittedly, I am more aware of WOFF and the doings there, so I could help survivors of that group in a more complete way.

   Continue reading Time to Tell Your Experiences →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Teaching of Perfection- a Double Edged Sword

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    In previous post titled, “Rules, Rules, Rules – The Results?” found here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3649 , we included quotes from “Breaking the Chains” Overcoming the Spiritual Abuse of a False Gospel (Copyright © 2009 by Shari Howerton, ISBN- 978-0-9713499-4-0). The author, Shari Howerton laments about living under so many rules in the church her family was a part of during her years as a child and teenager. The church she was in taught perfection. She writes, “We believed that God revealed His “truths” to us as a group; “truths” He had not revealed to Christianity as a whole. As God’s special, we were called to restore the church to its former purity and ultimate latter day glory; we were not called to evangelize”. (page 20)

    While reading the book, I have been captivated at the many similarities that her church (Christian Gospel Temple-CGT) had/has with Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). I spent 16 years either indirectly or directly under the teachings of WOFF and more specifically –Jane Whaley. Jane considered herself as the one who heard the “Truth” in many areas. For example, Jane taught/teaches about loud prayer, deliverance from demons for Christians, certain customs for marriage ceremonies, burial customs, strict lifestyle customs and many other “truths”. Certainly, while I was there we felt these were “truths” which –“We believed that God revealed His “truths” to us as a group; “truths” He had not revealed to Christianity as a whole.” After all, it was said several times, “we know there are other people out there with “truth”; we just have not found them yet…” So, did we ever expect to find them? These unique “truths” certainly served to make us (WOFF members) feel special and “set-apart” from others who did not or would not listen or accept what God was saying to us…. After all my time in that group I can say the efforts to “evangelize” were slim to none. Can you see a pattern here?

    Continue reading Teaching of Perfection- a Double Edged Sword →

Books, Resources, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

Could You Be a Cult Member?

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    The question is not for the present, but for looking into future. Could you be involved at some point in the future, in a controlling religious cult? Could you be considered as a “regular member”? I am not asking if you could be a cult leader. That question is for another post. Could you tell when the people around you that you love and trust are beginning to take your freedoms away? At what point would you know that what started out as benign and maybe even beneficial had morphed into a controlling environment? Are you so sure?

     My experience is one that has taken me to, into and through years of a group that began as what I considered as beneficial and by no means harmful. Did I miss the changes and the signs of control? Apparently, I did. Was I susceptible before I even came into the church in Greenville, SC known first as Grace and Truth Fellowship and then Word of Life Church? That is not a question I am able to answer here, but possibly in another post. For this post, we will review several statements from those involved with cult groups on some level. After all, cult survivors should be able to give at least some insight into how they were taken into a cult group, right?

      Continue reading Could You Be a Cult Member? →

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

What is an “Omen”?

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   The question is a simple one. However, as I pondered the meaning and more importantly, the purpose of many omens, the whole concept made sense – sorta. The first definition of omen is simple: a phenomenon or occurrence regarded as a sign of future happiness or disaster. (found here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/omen ) Why even bring it up? After recently seeing an episode of the Andy Griffith Show, the question came to me: “Do religious control groups or cults, use “omens”?

   The show was titled, “The Darling Fortune”. It originally aired 10/17/1966 and can be viewed on the CBS DVD series published from Paramount – a VIACOM company. The plot includes the Darlings coming to town to seek wives for the sons in the family. Andy is befuddled as Briscoe Darling announces their intention to seek “city girls” for his sons. While the Darlings are in town, their hopes are doused and they proceed back to Andy’s house to pick up Charlene. As they are leaving, they see an owl perched on their truck! This is where the excitement picks up. Briscoe and Charlene are immediately elated as she repeats the omen, “You see an owl at day time and the next female you see is sure enough a bride for thee.” Aunt Bee expresses her doubt and Briscoe says, “Ma’am, You don’t doubt the omen of the owl!” In order to not ruin the experience of seeing the show, I will stop here in revealing the sequence of events that take place, save one.

   Later in the show, Andy is totally frustrated and says about the Darlings: “If you could just reason with them, but people who live by omens and witchcraft and stuff like that, you just can’t get through to them.” From there, the show continues and the ending turns out satisfactory to all concerned. But that one statement by Andy stuck with me. Why? I could see myself on both sides of the life ruled by “omens”. Let me explain.

Continue reading What is an “Omen”? →

Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

The Appliance Repair Man – Was Right

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   During my time in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), I worked for a property management company owned by a family in the church. This position started after being called into Jane’s office. Jane introduced me to the owners and said they wanted to ask me about a taking a job. She had apparently given her approval. All things considered, I thought it would be a way to keep from traveling so much since at that time I was going back and forth to Greenville, SC, working part time. I was wrong about the travel.

    Soon after that meeting, I started my first tour of duty in late November or early December of 2002. At that time, I began by doing some painting in some properties located in Rutherford County. During the mornings, I worked part-time for a while until a full-time position came open. I was given the position which included renting out houses and apartments in the county as well as collecting the rent and processing the evictions. I had no previous experience in this kind of work. My cell phone had at least four lines forwarded to it at times. The phone rang ALL the time. 50 or 60 calls a day or more came into that phone. I was required to answer it because many were leads to rent out the next apartment or duplex. The phone traffic was a big shock to me. It was very stressful to say the least. At times, I wanted to crawl up in a corner and cry. When I told this to the wife of the pastor who came from Greenville, she said, “Sounds like you are being trained for the ministry.” That answer did not stop the calls or make it easier to answer them. Soon, I learned how to screen some calls and lessen the traffic, a little. But, the stress and pace was quite different from my experience in consumer finance.

    As that job was given to someone else in the church, I was moved. January 1, 2003, I was handed the keys to an apartment complex in Gaffney, SC. (Church members did not celebrate New Year’s Day so; working that day was no big deal.) The owners of the company had just purchased the property from a man in Greenville, SC. He was older and from my perspective now, much wiser. Regardless, I began showing, and renting apartments. I was also in charge of collecting rent, scheduling maintenance as well as managing a group of storage units on the property. As I was handed the keys, I was told, “Call us if you have questions.” The problem was that couple was headed to law school and were busy with lives of their own. My education was really just beginning when it came to managing apartments.

    Continue reading The Appliance Repair Man – Was Right →

Behavior Control, Books, Resources, Thought Reform, Uncategorized

Join Us – Reflections and Comparisons (3)

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     We have provided several posts reviewing material in the movie- “Join Us”. The film is presented by Interloper Films along with Lusitan and was produced by Ondi Timoner and Vasco Lucas Nunes. (Copyright© Third Floor Productions, LLC 2007). The film has a dedicated website with supporting information. The site is www.joinusthemovie.co . I have been intrigued by this film. It is no doubt the most intimate look at real ex-members of a religious cult. This cult was in Anderson, SC and was named Mountain Rock Church. The pastor was Raimund Melz. He and his wife, Deborah, exercised control over their members predicated on the idea that they were “family”. From all indications, Raimund Melz was the one who made the decisions and exercised the discipline.   

    In the second clip from the movie after the trailer (shown below), one ex-member, Tonya, is telling a counselor that the members were unable to know what sin was, the pastor had to point it out. “…You have to have him point out the sin, …because you are a dumb baby, dumb sheep..You can’t see them (the sins)..So, he has to be the one, he hears from God, you are inmature, he has to point them(the sin) out…” And then in a moment of revelation, this ex-member says to the counselor, “You act like you have seen this before?” The counselor answers- “.. This is what we hear all the time…” This exchange started at one minute and three seconds into the clip. I was glued to this exchange. Why? Because, for years while in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), Jane Whaley would be asked by members to tell them – what is sin? Did I do right? What should I have done different? While I was in WOFF, members were continually chided and berated for not knowing what was sin. While in WOFF- Jane ruled and made the determination who did right, who did wrong and what to do about it. She determined who got punished and how.  The only source of the knowledge of sin was Jane Whaley. In reality, Jane replaced the Holy Spirit in member’s lives as apparently did Mr. Raimund Melz. But, from the counselor, we learn this happens all the time- IN CULTS!

    Continue reading Join Us – Reflections and Comparisons (3) →

Behavior Control, Peoples Temple vs WOFF, Uncategorized

Christmas- Merry?

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    After being in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) and living through the transition from celebrating Christmas with church services, decorations, watching old Christmas movies, special music services, open house nights in Greenville and gift exchanges with church members to moving away from those activities and not celebrating Christmas at all; returning to former ways is not as easy as turning on a switch. To the credit of family, friends and co-workers; the pressures to return have been light to non-existent during the first couple of years. Certain individuals would listen to my recounting of the practices and doctrines of WOFF and know that leaving Jane Whaley’s grip was not as easy as physically leaving her presence.

   The first few months out of WOFF were emotional to say the least. The first Christmas season away for WOFF and those who had joined me in the non-celebration was emotional and confusing. I saw other folks that I knew and worked with celebrating, exchanging gifts and greetings. No such rush to join the activities was in me. I clearly saw I needed the fellowship and friendship of others more than the celebration of something that just a few months previous had been despised. As in WOFF, I was grateful that the celebration only came once a year. The build-up was truly more taxing than the day itself. One of the most exasperating things to deal with was the Christmas music. Music had been such a big deal at WOFF. Duirng WOFF days, listening to non-WOFF music was a sure ticket to hell.

   I remember the night Jane “heard” that Oh, Holy Night was a birthday song and that we would not sing that one and/or other Christmas songs. Honestly, as I had continued to believe the growing list of “don’ts” pertaining to Christmas, I knew that some traditional Christmas songs sung during the “Special Music” services would soon be banned. One year, during practice for the Special Music services in December, the young married group which I belonged to was told to go the fellowship hall and chose a song to sing. The debate raged and finally Jane Whaley’s daughter got several folks to agree on a song. I don’t remember which one it was, but we sang it loud and we sang it with perpetual smiles. Does anyone else remember that?

  Continue reading Christmas- Merry? →