Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Date: March 12, 2016 06:06PM
My heart began to race as I read through the posts here, as it brings me back to a place / time that I never want to repeat!
It is clear from so many of the posts that I read, that we have all searched, and or are still searching for answers, thus knowing deep down inside that "The Walk" "The Living Word" was / is not in alignment with "God's Word - The Bible". How many times in my 30 plus years attending TLW / serving endlessly... did I hear "John's word"!!!! I remember when I got married, one of the members walked into the wedding prior to the ceremony and said "John is here". Such a sickness, as saying things like John's word / John is here is simply messed up!
I am going to keep this very short, as I intentionally do not want to upheaval too many unfavorable memories from the past, as I have spent the last several years (to the best of my ability) purging the sick B.S. that The Living Word so successfully forced me to believe. Perhaps at some point I will talk more, but for now, I will keep it brief.
I was very close with the Hargrave family... I saw / heard a lot. However for reasons that are too complicated, I chose to overlook the obvious, even though I knew that it was wrong / not of God. Example: Gary leaving his wife and daughter to marry Marilyn and lead the church... And yes, Gary does have a daughter... she is beautiful and looks so much like him. I had such a hard time with that. Where in the Bible does it say to leave your wife and children to marry another...??? And we all believed the lie that they fed us! Ricks multiple marriages... each new wife younger than the ex wife. And again, we were told that this was all of God! The mind control, "labors of love", serving the ministries, and the list goes on and on and on. Truly, if I did not really know the Lord, I would perhaps despise christianity. However I do know that the Lord is very real... he see's all. And despite all of our hurt, anger, anguish, deceptions, etc... We somehow have to forgive and move on. I am still working on that end.
What I do know, without a doubt, is that The Living Word is a cult and I am beyond thankful that I had enough of myself left to leave. Why I became one of their subjects, is beyond my comprehension... I am still in the healing process... It has not been easy... but I am thankful for where I am today.
My heart goes out to all of you who are going through the same, if not similar. May the Lord give you clarity and peace.