After what happened last week, I thought about how much we used the word "violence" in the walk. "The violent take the kingdom by force." Not intercession, but "violent" intercession. And praying for the death of people, I don't know, because they didn't agree with us? I wonder if this was a theme in other churches as well.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

FireWalker: I think I may need to read your post a few times, but my first impression is that it is very well thought out and it also conveys a level of emotion that's palpable. I left the walk around the same time as you, though I don't believe I knew you. I knew Mary from working at Blix and working at the Building. One of the great things about this Forum is that none of us shou
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

In my search for a good therapist, I found this on a website: CULTS "Cults are close-knit and often secretive organizations that may recruit members through false premises, such as the promise of religious salvation. Although not all cults are religious, most subscribe to a particular belief system unique to their organization and do not permit members to deviate from their stricture
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Welcome Aardvark, I would be interested to know, if you are willing to share, what were the things that caused you to leave after 47 years? Also, if you're willing to share, were you shunned in any way by those that still remain? Being called or treated as a blowout was a difficult thing for many of us that left. Maybe things have changed and people who leave now are treated differentl
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks to those that posted the link to the Living Word lawsuit. Those women are so brave. I heard one reporter say at the very end, I can't believe what I'm hearing. And another reporter responded, Wait until you read the lawsuit. It literally made me feel sick to my stomach. I'm sure there's so much we don't know yet.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NancyB -- Thank for your perspective as a long-time member of the Washington, IA church. I knew very little about the church when I went to Shiloh in 1975. I'm not sure if it was always the case, but at some point it became an "us and them," dynamic. I regret to say that out of arrogance, I (and I think others as well from Shiloh) believed that we were the more enlightened ones.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Gary is an intimidating guy. People have learned > not to mess with him, since he thrives in > confrontational situations (or used to). He may > not have charisma, but he always speaks with > confidence and conviction--giving the appearance > of being very knowledgeable in many subject a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Catching up on the last few weeks of posts, so appreciative of those that continue to share. Thanks to those that have kept us updated on Shiloh. In reading the articles it made me wonder who actually owns Shiloh? Who will benefit financially from any deals done? Thanks changedagain for reposting Saw Enough's post from 2013. So true! And also for reposting sierradawn's story, w
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Lilyrose said something once about how difficult it is to unlearn false and destructive teaching (so true). I would add, it's not always easy to recognize the false and destructive teaching. I don't call that being naive. In more recent years, I became a CASA (court appointed special advocate) for foster kids. It was difficult when you worked with a child that desperately wanted
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

fool me twice Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I, along with everyone else, was told early on not try to speak to JRS after a > service or any other time. His time was considered too important for him to be > bothered by just anyone. > That said you would be hard pressed to find many church pastors that > think like that. JRS was no
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > It would be interesting to do a roll call of who > worked full time at TLW, Shiloh, KB's, for free or > for sub-minimum wage - add up the money that was > saved by the TLWF churches and businesses and > publish it. It would be astounding. And it would > be revealing. Yes, and add to th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

My five years in Shiloh, I was paid $80 a month. I was considered "full" time because I worked year round. Those that came in to work during the summer got $40 a month and were considered "part" time even though all of us worked many more hours than 40 hours a week. The big plus .... I didn't file taxes for years because I didn't make enough to file. Also, when
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Welcome typer and others that have recently lent their voices to the forum. I'm still amazed that in spite of the fact we all left at different times and for different reasons, there are so many common threads in our experience. Richard M. I appreciate you sharing. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that I had wondered where Marti and Rick's father was in all this. Just
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > G&M were experts at ruining the reputations of any > ministries that either knew too much about their > secrets (including about Rick) or if that ministry > was too popular. I believe they did this to MANY > including Larry Makuakane, Dan Statton, Bill > Maybee, Dan Luebbers, and John Miller
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion, I hope you write a book.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reading some of the lastest posts, strangely, it reminds me of magic tricks. Coming into the walk in '73, a huge thing was to try to position yourself to get a "word," "personal ministry," from JRS. Personally, I could never get enough. And like a magic trick, I would wonder, how did JRS know that about me? The thing about magic tricks are, once you learn how i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NancyB Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > kbyrne > Who was the old doctor? Carrie Reams? Haven't heard that name in 40 years but certainly rang a bell. I did a quick google search and, yes, that is him. He's on a website called the Skeptic's Dictionary. Includes a picture of him. (Carey Reams)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Prettyboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > F sharp (loved that guy, what a character and the > one who christened me with Pretty boy) > OMG -- remember the names/people well. F Sharp and his wheat grass!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

fool me twice Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This 'old doctor' was anything but a real doctor. > He was a real piece of work. We were 'treated' by > him too. This was over 40 years ago. Nothing he > said was real and yes everyone in the church > obediently saw him. Honestly,looking back now, I > have to ask myself if
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The last few posts mentioning "breaking bonds," "boomerang principle," wow, that brought back memories. Ohman? mention of Menehunis, I remember it, but can't tell you why John told us he talked to them. It also triggered a memory about Pyramidology. I remember we were encouraged to buy these big blue volumes. They weren't cheap either. Does anyone else remem
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > WALK TALK > > If it hasn't already been brought up, "getting a revelation," or "needing a revelation," something I remember being told more than once when I didn't understanding something. Particularly when it came to G&M, "You don't understand because you don't
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Mary, You've been like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. You pulled back the curtain and now we can see who/what was behind it. We are grateful!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > A lot of people are trying to hold on to JRS and > his teachings in the midst of this and that is > heart breaking because he was a rabid perpetrator > himself. He consciously and actively created > deception to hide his wrongdoing. He gave > innocent people (some ministries) words to do >
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Unbelievable amount of information the past few weeks on the forum. So appreciative to Onion and fromsouthchicago in giving me a Walk history lesson. It's incredible. Shalom is incredibly brave and her experience is heartbreaking. Glad that John Miller posted. I don't know Shalom, but I believe her. John went a step further and validated her experience. God only knows how ma
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

howmidoing Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > My parents called me today to say that Gary > Hargrave is wanting to changing things there. > Apparently, there has been a revelation that there > has been a lot of hurt and a lot of wrong things > that have gone on. They want to have a 360 change > (I think that's what they called it)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Which is exactly what I did! It felt great!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hi Mary, I remember you well. I think it's brave to come forward. I still have trust issues. I also worked in the legal field since the early 80's. Worked for a time -- or I should say volunteered for a time and the law offices of Robert F. and Lisa R. Jeanne A. was one of the people I was closest to. In reading the posts about abuse, what I witnessed was more the total
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

rrmoderator: "What you are describing is incredible control over people's lives with no boundaries whatsoever. The only way to stop it is to leave the group. And groups like this make that very difficult by characterizing those who leave as "leaving God" and/or rejecting "God and His word." They make you feel that obedience to them is obedience to God and disob
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks GoingRogue for this post. Means more than you know.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

When JRS died and I saw what was happening with G&M, I remember thinking that JRS wouldn't approve. That G&M got this all wrong. I could envision JRS saying to Gary to take care of Marilyn in an orphans and widows kind of way, and Gary just misinterpreted what JRS wanted. Oh, so naive! Something else that struck me is when I got an email that Marilyn had died. I read it and f
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families