To me this is the core of the Way: the planting of the idea that its us against them. Over time that can be very isolating considering that there arent that many people in the ministry. Almost every one of Wierwilles teachings can be traced to other sources (see sidebar for descriptions of some of Wierwilles teachings). In that same breathe, her sister/siblings believed she was waking up and coming to her own conclusion about her situation and the life she had created with the expectation that she would removing herself as they did during that similar age period of their lives. Explain teachings carefully, and give them time alone to read the Bible in a newer version (such as the New International Version or New American Standard) which has clearer wording and lacks Wierwilles marginal notes and deletions marked in their old King James Versions. Disciples serve only four months, and The Way plans to send out two waves a year. Gotta run! Wait, it's "The Word of God" and then some other follower will utter "The Word of God is the Will of God" like some sheep bleating "four legs good". There is also an intermediate and advanced classes. It is apparent that almost all Wierwille taught he acquired from other men, not from original study of Gods word. All of these classes are weeks long, have an enrollment fee, and have their own expensive materials (books, binders, etc.) That wing of my family joined nearly 30 years ago. Splintering of the group since 1985 has greatly reduced its active membership, from a peak of about 35,000 to less than 10,000.1. In spite of its name, however, The Way . In addition, the account includes several insights into The Way. I once broke a bone and had to secretly crawl to my car to go to the hospital. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light; therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their deeds. Good call. Third, help them to relearn. This article first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 44, number 2 (2021). J. Juedes, PFO Journal, 1990. I did look your friend up on facebook and we have friends in common from the cult (I should probably just start a new FB to rid myself of them), which would lead me to believe it's a splinter group since the two don't typically mix. Started in the early 1950s by the late Victor Paul Wierwille (1916-1985), the original organization was called the Way Incorporated. Sometimes area twigs would get together for a branch meeting, and less frequently a limb meeting. Eventually, all you have is them and all you know is that they love you and that's why they're abusing you, because they've convinced you you're terrible and you deserve the abuse because it's helping you get closer in your relationship with God. (New Knoxville, OH: American Christian Press, 1972), 209, 174, for Wierwilles claim that his book is the most original coverage of the subject, and p. 178 for his claim that God audibly promised to teach him directly and personally. .~?mq3\n7C. In opposition, John Schoenheit produced a paper that confronted this error and biblically explained that adultery is a sin. But at this point my goal has transitioned to educating the young and vulnerable population of college students by presenting an unknown and challenging thought. A place for discussion about cults and other new age religious movements. I thought of myself as a good person, but Id grown up to believe that you couldnt be both good and a homosexual. She was loved by many, the brightest light and simply someone you could not avoid noticing. Youre not going to have to perform penance. However, we are still driven by their nefarious existence. . My parents are still standing, as they say. The Way of Life or The Way of Death (self-published, 1987), 106. I was isolated from my family physically because they didn't live close, and during private conversations about leadership I was told that my family didn't love me and that they could understand why because I was so horrible, but at least I had them. In addition, anyone who is well-acquainted with Wierwilles writings and reads Kenyons and Bullingers books is struck by the close parallels, even though one cannot always trace exact word-for-word plagiarism. 11:2-4, 13-15) gives insight into the nature of this controversy, Wierwilles work, and his followers: For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy, for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. My sister, mom and I put up with constant abuse from our dad, who was a fellowship coordinator after we moved to Arizona in about 2008. And unjustified bullshit. Although Wayers project a curt and indifferent attitude toward the many who have left the group, they have undoubtedly been hurt deeply in recent years. Each fellowship was just one small twig connected to a branch, then a limb, then a trunk and so on. The complexity and overarching theme of shame as well as guilt is much bigger than I ever imagined. Some find it hard to reevaluate the Trinity, perhaps because they heard Way leaders ridicule Trinitarianism so often, and because they themselves also berated the teaching. terrified of seeing/interacting with a marked and avoided person because I thought their adversarial ways would rub off on me. CES holds two national meetings per year in Chicago (drawing about 150 people per meeting), publishes Dialogue magazine bi-monthly, circulates periodic newsletters, and distributes tapes. Many have realized that they have also been falsely taught on Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and have turned to evangelical beliefs instead. The Way International introduced sweeping changes at the annual Rock of Ages gathering last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dshceGGvY&ab_channel=TheEyewitnesses. Are other families struggling to watch their loved ones involved? The Way International, Christian evangelical group founded in 1942 as Vesper Chimes, a radio ministry broadcast from Lima, Ohio, by Victor Paul Wierwille (1916-85). Here's a copy of. They all have been visible in speaking, writing, and leadership positions such as Region and Limb Coordinators and headquarters staff (Region Coordinator is the highest Way position other than Trustee). Wierwille always told them that they could only go as far as they had been taught, and the new groups demonstrate this principle by organizing themselves in the same ways, and on the same assumptions, which Wierwille used in building The Way Tree. That is to say, other people are nice and fine, but its only the true Believers that are truly living Godly lives. Except they pretty much worship the bible. The Way not only teaches that Jesus Christ is not God, but also has instruction on tithing, the law of believing (whatever one believes will happen to one, whether bad or good), and the accuracy of the Bible (as translated by Way leaders). The most important change involves the new The Way of Abundance and Power classes by Way president, L. Craig Martindale. Leonards book and course syllabus called The Gifts of the Spirit are still in print. I mention this because in the athletes analogy, theres always an adversary. The figure other Christians might call the Devil the Way often calls the Adversary (lol it looks weird to write it out). They assume that honest, objective biblical research and a fellowship of true believers cannot be found among Christians outside Wierwilles heritage of teaching, so they limit research and fellowship to their own narrow circles. It is common for ex-Wayers to take several years to fully separate from The Way and reorient their lives. How do they suffocate you as a person? Este artculo es una exclusiva en lnea de Christian Research Journal. Atheism. In the 90s as home internet was starting to become a thing, and ex-Way followers were posting their experiences on message boards, I remember fellowship leaders told us to limit our time online and to not Google search (or in those days Yahoo?) The Corp is their leadership training program where you live on campus and attend their unaccredited "college." Way trustees fired Schoenheit for writing the paper and sternly warned Wayers not to read it, ask about its contents, or have contact with those who read it. Im not educated or enlightened by any metric, but reading that after your personal experience as well as observation grounded and solidified what you were sharing. Martindale openly and vulgarly expressed his contempt for the splinter groups during his Rock of Ages 95 sermons. Lots of people in the world are critical of the ways churches spend money on a building that sits empty six days a week: home fellowships remove that and focus on whats important to them. Homey, reported that 163 sodomiteshad been purged, marked and avoided by January l995.3. This is where I experienced most of the abuse. It endured so long largely because members of The Way (Wayers) viewed Wierwille as their Father in the Word, who heard Gods audible voice and taught Gods Word as it had not been known since the first century.. To be honest, it sounds nice on paper in many ways. My splinter group was one of them. I cannot stress enough how much the control and fear is internal. Juedes is a Lutheran paster who has written extensively on the Way. The 27-storey building hotel is the tallest building in Phu Ly and has been carefully designed for contemporary travellers looking for sleek comforts, simplified luxury and bleisure. I just wanted to paint a picture here of the laid back approach to Christian faith that makes the Way appealing to people. The apostle Paul warned of deceivers when he told the Ephesians, I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:29-30). After Dr. Weirwill died and leadership was given to Craig Martindale, TWI essentially split into those who followed Craig and stayed in TWI's proper organization, and those who moved into splinter groups. And I am glad you are with us. 2013-08-09T12:10:58-05:00 I dealt with it as a kid by pretending not to notice the issues in my family and in the cult. Cules son las creencias bsicas del budismo? This present controversy is serving to alert pure believers that Wierwille and his successors are false apostles after all. Could John Lynn be the undisputed king of Offshoot ministries? 17 Rick Lessing, An Analysis and Critique of the Theology of The Way International: An Evangelical Christian Response to Victor Paul Wierwilles Concept of the Trinity (unpublished paper, 1986), makes a case that Wierwille misunderstood Trinitarianism as (alternately) Sabellianism and polytheism, and that when Trinitarianism is properly explained, it is clearly biblically valid and coherent. Participants were sensitive (having been wounded by The Way), were open to friendships and ideas, and were reevaluating their beliefs. I've even attended a wedding at HQ. TWI's splinter groups, formed at TWI's implosion in the late 1980's, are bigger than . As a result, Martindale told everyone to eliminate this and other spirit-driven malignancies from Way circles. I think youre absolutely right in that educating others will help with the grieving process. Can you imagine? Im not saying that people in the Way avoid doctors entirely, but theres definitely a sense of what counts and doesnt or that people are putting waaay too much trust in men and not in God. Word Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I saw your post a few days ago when it was first posted and having been thinking about it ever since. She didnt take the class. Jun 10, 2009. And you mentioned twig earlier. I dont know if this is still true, but a weird criteria at the time was that you had to be debt free to participate. 14 Letter by Steve Sann, Pacific West Fellowship, 2 March 1988. However, it sucked to consider our loved as anything less than brilliant, observant, and aware. Wierwilles writings on the topics of interpreting the Bible, soul sleep, the distinction of impersonal holy spirit from the Holy Spirit, ultradispensationalism, gospel harmony, and the mystery are all drawn from Bullinger. All because of "homosexual devil spirit possession" will not be welcome at their festival. Martindales classes include material from PFAL as well as new topics. While accusing the Christian church at large of being divisive, the new groups (like The Way International) practice division much more stringently than most Christian denominations or churches. Last year, The Way Magazine lauded the organizations success at quickly beginning new PFAL classes through street witnessing; but now fewer classes are likely to be held since many recruits drop out of the twigs before attending a full year. After all, it is their friends who have left and made accusations of severe error against The Way leadership. Leonard. Bill Green, who handles some public relations for The Ways New Knoxville, Ohio headquarters, declined to be interviewed about the classes and related developments. We both are still active in the remnants of one of the many splinter groups and have become the inheritors of a fellowship in limbo.