In December 1972 Brother Stevens disappeared for an entire day and a few days later he went to the Valley Church and claimed that he'd been caught up in the spirit and taken 7 years into the future where he saw the Kingdom. As he explained his vision and his sense of losing all track of time that day, some of the young prophets speculated about black holes and time warps in the spirit where
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The Feast of Purim is coming up. Which means that just around the corner the flock can expect to hear the annual messages comparing Marilyn to Queen Esther who went before the King and interceded to save the Jewish people from destruction. Some of the more zealous faithful will claim that she ever lives to make intercession for them.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Gary has persisted in promoting the vision JRS allegedly had in 1972 seeing 7 years into the Kingdom, even though one of the Blix girls at that time told Gary and Marilyn that she had been with John Stevens that entire day. This was common knowledge among the Living Word Building gossips. It was bad enough that John felt the need to cover for his day-long disappearance with a fantastic story abo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I'm sorry for your loss AD and thank you for sharing with us. We're here for such a short time and we have all strived to have our lives take on a meaning beyond ourselves. When you're with a loved one in their final hours, all the other theological debates and grand proclamations about being the mighty sons of God who've come to rule and reign takes on a rather hollow ring
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

There was a period of time after JRS died where Gary claimed to have a revelation that Satan had been bound as a result of John's death and that if you really had perception you would be aware that the spirit of Satan was not present. These many years later, Satan has reappeared as an enemy, especially as the messages have conformed more to traditional Christian teachings. Maybe this was th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Re: Southern Boy I just want to say that I disagree with RR Moderator's crackdown on Southern Boy's post. I did not find it to be self-righteous at all or to be demanding that others get rid of their bitterness. It was an honest, self-examination of his experiences and I thought it was free of being judgmental of those who have left. He himself says he is glad that he is not in th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

What Larry Bobo said about a Shiloh pastor being interviewed and saying he could not recall praying for John’s resurrection was an example of LWF authority just reshaping their narratives for their own convenience. Every civilization develops its narratives – its creation stories, genealogies, stories of battles won and how they came to be. Churches are no different. Martin Luther, Joseph S
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The congregations were raised on a diet of being told what to think. Paul claimed to have the mind of Christ on many issues. Likewise, it was important for people in the Walk to strive to have John's thinking -- sometimes it may have been benign, as in looking at people with the same faith that he was perceived to have. Other times it was "Let me tell you how to think about ..."
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

JRS used to say that people would half-heartedly excuse themselves by saying things like, "I have a temper like a shotgun -- sometimes it just goes off!" He followed it up with, "Yes, but how many dead and bleeding sheep did you leave in your wake?" Many people have been on the receiving end of Gary & Marilyn's explosions through the years. Some people became near
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

One thing has not changed through the years -- the belief that the LWF is always on "the front lines." First they were different because they were not the old order. Then they had the Apostle. When others started to claim they had apostles, they claimed that they were still different because they had the Apostle to the Kingdom." They had the Apostle who saw 7 years into the Kingd
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

You will know that the leopard has changed its spots when this scenario stops happening: Someone with ambition in the local church begins coming on stronger than everyone else in their expressions of violent loyalty to Gary & Marilyn. The woman especially tries to portray herself as one of "Marilyn's women." Sheep start to be beaten or slaughtered and issued ultimatums
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Paleface -- An Affair To Remember is so popular they make a remake every decade.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Lily Rose -- Another movie title for aging members who still engage in violent intercession: Old Yeller For those who got out sooner, rather than later: 12 Years A Slave For those who religiously followed every fad from Franklin Planners to the McDougall diet: The Imitation Game Gary Hargrave's explanations for everything from failed election prayers to why the LWF is resp
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

For many here, the Living Word Fellowship was a destructive experience. I think it would be helpful if the people who've had the courage to try to share their experiences would not be lectured that they are vomiting, or that their "tone" is incorrect. Or that while the Living Word abused the Scriptures -- here are the right Scriptures that they must follow now. I know some fe
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

One of Gary Hargrave's rationales for why the Living Word Fellowship didn't have more of a worldwide outreach was that they were like Noah -- just by building an ark in his back yard he changed an age. At one point he said, "How do you know our prayers weren't responsible for Nelson Mandela?" After their recent period of fasting and praying for the country just prio
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I have heard many longtime members say, "Things are really different now." I have not heard any of them say that Gary & Marilyn have brought messages from the pulpit apologizing for all the hell they inflicted on people as they were working through their anger issues and coming to grips with where they wanted to take the fellowship after John's death. What seems to be di
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I doubt that John Miller is one to feel sorry for himself. He has served the Lord to the best of his knowledge and been told that he is obsolete for Gary & Marilyn's purposes. He's not the first one, or the last, to be on the receiving end of Marilyn's anger, but he still has his life ahead of him and he can use his remaining energy to focus on the life he chooses to live rat
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

You can wipe out your opponents. But if you do it unjustly you become eligible for being wiped out yourself. Ernest Hemingway
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families