Shalom, I know how much courage it took to post those letters, and I so deeply respect you for it. What happened to you was so wrong and violating. It makes me feel so upset to read the account of this young woman, trying to do right by God, being ignored and abused again and again by the people who were supposedly her "spiritual parents". It's sickening to read what you were going
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Lately, I have been feeling a deep sense of heartsickness. I am heartsick for those who are still stuck in that thing. We've all been able to accept what we were part of, and move forward with our lives as free people, but there are still people I love and care about who are under the Gary Hargrave spell. His sharp tongue is constantly reinforcing the abuse and control, and people I love are
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was speaking with someone about choice yesterday, and I stumbled on what I feel is perhaps the most succinct way I can state the core question that TLWF poses to its members: "Are you going to be part of what God is doing on the earth? Or are you going to do your own thing?" Being raised and indoctrinated in a cult, this persuasively phrased choice is almost unassailable, and it
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I heard through the grapevine that in the service yesterday morning at Church of the Living Word North Hills, Rick Holbrook and Lorena Holbrook were placed on administrative leave. The official message seems to be from Gary "Hey, it's come to my attention that some of the people in this church might not be happy, and that they perceive a hierarchy in the church and feel they can't
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Nickle and Dimes is gaslighting, plain and simple. They are trying to make us doubt our own feelings and experiences, and accept their strange apologist rationalization of what goes on at TLWF. They're a plant, a mole, an insider. It's telling that TLWF doesn't have a more effective messenger that they can drop in to our forum. Nickle and Dimed is the best they've got, an
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

People always had problems with Rick, but they knew they couldn't speak up about it, because he was Marilyn's son, and no one was going to dare criticize Marilyn's little boy. Rick and Lorena were always an issue. I'd be willing to bet that everyone who was ever around them had a sort of icky feeling about them. Their relationship just didn't feel right; especially con
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I feel nothing but outrage over the word on hierarchy. As Reveal so eloquently pointed out, hierarchy is the fabric of TLWF. The part of it that really gets to me is that what Gary is doing here is basically acknowledging that up until now, the church has operated on a hierarchy. That hierarchy was put in place to directly benefit the people at the top, at the sacrifice of the common people.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hey changedagain. Is there a real anonymous survey going around? Is it being circulated by TLWF, or someone else? changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I hope I am not the only one who answered the > latest confidential TLWF survey this way. Boy, > I'll be in real trouble! > > Name something you have received by serving >
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks for sharing all that Reveal. I don't know about anyone else, but it is therapeutic to hear other people's stories and experiences in TLWF. Just to know that someone else on earth knows what it was like gives me the feeling of not being alone in it. I know other people I have spoken to feel this way. I feel like my number one suggestion to people who are out there, maybe readin
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

First time poster, long time reader. You know what we need? We need a website or something that helps people escape from the TLWF cult. Maybe some kind words and a message about what it is like to be free, and out from under the influence of the church. It bothers me that there is no real counter message to the TLWF talking points. I know when I was still inside it, I felt like it would be alm
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Mr. mfox2010-and anyone else reading these- i too am a graduate of pathways-after reading this entire thread-i would like to offer some info/comfot/honesty. 1-pathways is an experienced based training that teaches people how to create a life of passion purpose and success. you that part, while in the training, yes they guide you thru different experiences that allow you to return to past (f
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"