Although a regular poster back to the Factnet days, I haven’t posted in a couple of years, even though I continue to follow this site. I was pleased to see things exposed that had gone on for decades and was really hoping for the deception to be broken enough to where people could make an informed decision about their involvement in TLWF. At the point I left TLWF in 1999, I told Marilyn in pers
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I just wanted to speak a kind word for Mike Wood, who got into a disagreement with Apco and left TLWF, and then later committed suicide. The business name was Wood Electric and it was located in Whitewater and Colorado Springs, CO. It was an electrical contracting business that spanned several decades, although I was not there the whole time. Many who were in the local church in Palmer Lake w
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Since it has only been slightly over a year since the implosion of TLWF really started, this suggestion may still be a little soon for many. I want to suggest rethinking the relationships many of us have had with those who left TLWF prior to a year ago. Whether it was 10, 20, or 30 years ago, at some point, we faced situations that our integrity would no longer allow us to ignore certain situat
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I also wanted to say that 20 years after leaving TLWF, I am so thankful for the valuable lessons learned there. If I had not found value (e.g. wonderful relationships), I would not have invested 30 years of my life in the organization. Like many others, I questioned the validity of those relationships formed in TLWF after being shunned by those I thought were my friends. Most were just doing w
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

It is so difficult to unwrap the damage from all types of abuse. I think our minds build up a defense mechanism that only allow us to see a limited amount as we can handle it emotionally. It keeps us from having a meltdown. For many on this site, it has taken years of serious effort and research, and in many cases professional counseling, to be able to have our current perspective. It certain
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I would encourage those who are following this thread to go to the Zalkin Law Firm site on Facebook and view the interview with several from TLWF who have filed lawsuits today.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

At the time of John’s death, the upward flow had already started. As Gary and Marilyn took control of the organization, the level of control and focus on them increased dramatically. There were a few members of the third generation that had referred to John as “Christ in the Flesh”, but to most, he was the “Door Opener Apostle” and Marilyn was "The Lamp of Israel". I believe in most
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reepicheep mentioned boundaries a few weeks back, and I think healthy boundaries is something that has to be re-learned post TLWF. Allowing a human to take the place of God is so destructive to the most sacred part of our lives. The deception of false “words from God” is that they bypass the normal filter of human communication and destroy us from the inside out. When you really open up, you a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Many have prayed and posted for decades in anticipation of these past few months. There really has been a significant breaking of the deception that has held members of TLWF in bondage. Much of the now public knowledge of the inner workings of TLWF leadership has been known by many for years, and yet to speak of it in the past has had little effect, except to brand the speaker as a heretic. I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reepicheep mentioned boundaries, and I think healthy boundaries is something that has to be re-learned post TLWF. Allowing a human to take the place of God is so destructive to the most sacred part of our lives. The deception of false “words from God” is that they bypass the normal filter of human communication and destroy us from the inside out. When you really open up, you are defenseless.
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Welcome SunnyFord! Thanks for posting the definitions from 1958. Like Reepicheep said, the definitions are not too bad until you come to “submission”. It’s not that I want to be unsubmissive, but after 30 years of letting another human play God, the fruit is destructive, not life giving. There is only one God - and it's not the leadership of TLWF! I thought the definition for Babylon ri
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY – A few more terms (Feel free to alter the definitions) “Free Apostle and a dead Jezebel” - Prayer for Martha (John’s wife) to die so he could marry Marilyn “Breakthrough” – An imaginary new spiritual level where nothing outwardly changes but you still convince yourself to feel good about it. “Upward flow” – Preparing meals, cleaning house, and mowing the grass of your leader’s home while
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that little red flag - Thanks for recommending the A & E special "Cults and Extreme Beliefs". I watched the first three episodes (there are now 9) last night and it is an eye opener. For those who are not big readers, it's a great alternative. It does a great job of helping the viewer understand what a cult is, and then you can do the math and determine if you think TLWF is
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

As we enter the holiday season, it would be a wonderful time to re-establish family relationships. One of the first destructive things TLWF did was to break family ties. Calling G&M Mom and Dad is the most dishonoring thing we could have done to our natural parents. I would never advocate a relationship where parents have been physically or sexually abusive, but some have cut off contact f
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington – I think most people who left TLWF were labeled as some version of Satan or Jezebel – especially if they spoke out against the leadership. When I broke with party lines and suggested that TLWF leaders should not take the place of God in people’s lives, and that people should read the words of Jesus for themselves and put them into practice, it did stir up quite the hornet’s nest. I’
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY - There really is a special connection among ex-pats. We really are like family. I recently met several people in person for the first time that I had only communicated with by email. It was nice to put a face with the words. The shared experience really does create a special bond - even though we were in different churches across the country. It's surprising how similar our stories
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

We’ve all heard the saying that “Freedom isn’t free”. As one of several who recently met with Onion and Reepicheep in the C. Springs area, I think those following this thread should be aware of the great cost Onion has paid to go public with her information. Perhaps Janis Joplin captures it best by saying, “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.” At some point, threats mean noth
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Walked – I was very involved in back room meetings on the local level in Palmer Lake. Nobody received a salary from TLWF in our local church, including the pastor. In fact, he paid more than fair market value for the apartment his family lived in on the property as a way of contributing a little extra to the financial needs of the facility. I did not observe any overly harsh treatment by the l
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I’ve posted this several times before, but some may not have seen it. These are some Latter Rain teachings – you decide if they sound familiar to what you heard in TLWF: The Latter Rain, Restoration of the Church, Restoration of the five-fold ministries, Pre-rapture spiritual second coming of Christ, New revelation and prophecies, Manifestation of the sons of God, Overcoming death before Chri
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion said,” I have heard from a very reliable source that the leadership of TLWF is instructing those still involved with the churches NOT TO TALK TO ANYONE about what is going on in the churches and NOT TO ANSWEAR QUESTIONS even from their closest family members.” If this is really true, it certainly doesn’t sound much like resigning. This is a good opportunity to examine how much residual f
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

It is so easy to blame “middle management” for all the suffering caused in TLWF, but I would suggest that except for a few bad apples, most were duped just like everyone else. They too are victims, and should not be blamed. There are a handful at the top deliberately causing harm, but I think most shepherds were just following orders, believing they were following God, and somehow things would
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I was just thinking back on how God has used the broken roads to bless me – many were my own mistakes. In this season of life, I’m so thankful for everything He has done. I know this period may seem like a crash and burn for many who have been involved in TLWF. But God is able to take from the ashes and rebuild relationships, first with Himself, and then with those who we have walked with for
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Drbuckunghamdc - I'm sorry for causing you any hurt and not being more conscientious of how this would affect you. The rumors are certainly rampant, and attempting to sort fact from fiction before the next big deception attempt by the LWF leadership is difficult. Wishing you the best!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

At the time I left TLWF (1999), Directors of a local corporation could be removed by Apco for any or no reason. If there was a conflict between the Officers of the corporation, the Apostolic Fathering Ministry had the final say. Unless something has changed, I don’t see how a local church could break away from TLWF without permission. It was my understanding that it was set up this way because
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

As someone who has posted for years, I know there is a period where you need to share your experience, just to get it off your chest and find some personal healing. I also know there is a later period where it is not so much about you, but about helping others. If you say too much, the walls go up and the defenses become stronger – actually hindering your goal of helping. You can only say as m
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I know that forgiveness provides a path to freedom for those who have been offended. Trust, on the other hand, is something that is earned. Decades of good behavior can be offset by one betrayal. However, decades of betrayal reveal a deep character flaw that should not be ignored. The corporation of TLWF could be closed down, ending public outcry over violations, since it no longer exists – a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

My first thought to the news of some of TLWF leadership resigning is who will get the assets? Will they be returned to those who have spent decades of their lives contributing finances and labor to the local churches, or will they be siphoned off to a few for a luxury retirement? Also, what about those who have given their lives to “kingdom businesses” with nothing to show for it, while a few p
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Onion promised and delivered that there would be proof of Gary’s knowledge of Rick’s behavior decades ago. Many others are also starting to share their stories from all parts of TLWF. The leadership that permitted this type of behavior is still in power and within TLWF they still hold “apostolic authority” over people’s lives. Just because you think you have a “revelation” of them does not exc
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puddington – “And now Gary is threatening to sue those that discuss any of this as invasion of privacy.” I don’t know if this is really true or not, but prosecuting public figures for invasion of privacy is a high bar to overcome in my understanding – and I’m certainly not a lawyer. Does claiming to be God and ruling over other’s lives classify you as a public figure? Not too many people in
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY – “TLW leadership excelled at not being religious by being prime examples of debauchery.” puddington – “It certainly makes you wonder how many of the APCO guys were/are sheep bangers. I sorta think it isn’t just Rick.” It was interesting to me watching my own transformation after leaving TLWF. My need for a six-pack of beer to survive an elders meeting went away. I found out that hea
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