Tag Archives: Word of Faith Fellowship

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 →

Uncategorized

Welcome New Readers- 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 three 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.

FLDS vs. WOFF – the Similarities Part 1 –follow the link here – https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=86

   This information was posted January 18, 2010. It was the first of many to outline the similarities in the practices of Warren Jeffs of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and Jane Whaley of WOFF.  An excerpt from the series:  It is amazing how well fear can work to surpress rational thought, something I unfortunately experienced over and over during my time in the church.” (page 99) (emphasis added by author- Brent Jeffs)

What Thoughts Helped Me Leave WOFF?? Part 1–the link here – https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=1396

    After many years inside of WOFF, what were the thoughts and events that helped me leave. This post is from April 20, 2010. Entering WOFF was a process and so exiting was a process that took several months. Here is an excerpt, “There came a point where I was forbidden to be on church property. What happened that would cause me to leave the group all together?”

The WOFF “Don’t” List – Part 1–the link is here- https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=650

    From the post of February 25, 2010, “Life at WOFF was full of “don’ts”. Some were spoken “don’ts”, others were supposed to be understood by example. If you did not catch on to the “don’t” in certain cases, you could be called out during a service or summoned to the office to answer why you did the “don’t” that you were not aware of doing. Does that make sense?” The series explains several of the “don’ts” and how or why they exist.

    Continue reading Welcome New Readers- Selected Series August 2010 →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Cult Leader News, Uncategorized

More Thoughts on WOFF and Brazil (repost July 2017)

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In light of the most recent Associated Press release-US church goes to Brazil; instills fear, splits families– I believe it is appropriate to repost this review from August of 2010. (click “back” button to return here)

The lead paragraph from this article:

SAO JOAQUIM DE BICAS, BRAZIL (AP) — At the Word of Faith Fellowship churches in the Brazilian cities of Sao Joaquim de Bicas and Franco da Rocha, the signs of broken families are everywhere: parents separated from their children, siblings who no longer speak, grandparents who wonder if they will ever know their grandchildren.

This AP release goes on to chronicle the process of WOFF taking the practice of destroying families from North Carolina to Brazil. The Brazilian churches have become a sad reflection of WOFF NC. Jane Whaley’s ministry of destruction and pain has indeed transferred its dark stain seen and felt in America to Brazil.

Read the post below and note the heartache and angst. The WOFF-effect on families is real. It is indeed an international travesty.

On a personal note, my daughter is expecting or has already delivered her child this month. I am one who wonders if I will ever know my grandson…

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Jane Whaley and her crew from Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) have been making trips to Brazil for many years. The first time I knew about the trips was in 1992. At that time, I heard about previous trips in previous years made by members of the Greenville church traveling with WOFF members to Brazil for seminars. There was always a certain mystique associated with the trips and the privilege of going to help the Brazilian church members. During the early years, those who did not go to Brazil would hear about shopping trips to rock shops and eating at Brazilian restaurants.  The seminars would also include many deliverance sessions and teachings about WOFF ways and WOFF life. Many of the teachings were about “hearing God” as Jane or certain others would speak, with Jane’s approval. For sure, the church members in Brazil would emulate WOFF members and end up copying many of the WOFF ways and in order to live in WOFFness.

   Since my time at WOFF ended in July of 2008, I have heard several accounts of WOFF doings that as a member inside of WOFF, we just did not learn about. Why would that be? A few months ago, someone began to let me know about things happening in Brazil. At first, I was shocked. But, as I considered what I knew has/had happened in America over the whole WOFF saga, it all began to make sense. What I will share here is from a translated email sent to me from Brazil. The names of the church members affected are not the key part of this story. The key thing about the scenario of events is to note the strange and sad similarity to previous events here in North Carolina and/or in other states caught in the WOFF-web.

Continue reading More Thoughts on WOFF and Brazil (repost July 2017) →

Behavior Control, Criteria for Cults, Uncategorized

My Trip to Brazil with WOFF – Part 2

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My Trip to Brazil with WOFF – Part 2

     This series of posts includes my remembrances from a trip with members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) to Brazil in 2005. For sure, I will not remember everything in correct time order and some of the surrounding “observations” may be misplaced or just misstated. However, the main points of this trip I do remember and still do cherish the encounters with the Brazilian people. Each one of them welcomed us and made room for us in every regard.

   We begin this post where we ended the last one,  the arrival on the first day of the time in Brazil. After we stopped at the first house, I believe we again boarded the bus and went around to the main entrance of the church. There the luggage was unloaded and we were grouped by the assigned household list and ferried to our respective homes for unloading and settling in. The streets were dirt and gravel.  We were in a neighborhood on a large hillside. Each home was fenced in and gated. I was told that because of the poverty, everyone needed heavy security for their properties.

    For my time there, I would stay a very nice, large home on what looked to me like about three to five acres. The surrounding fence was brick and the large electric gates were wooden. The owners were a very sweet husband and wife, who were leadership in the local church. The estate had a large home, a pool and a large pool house where another couple lived with their children. There were several fruit trees on the property, some near the front and more towards the back of the property.

    Continue reading My Trip to Brazil with WOFF – Part 2 →