A friend of mine told me this... "Back in the caveman days, religion was invented so the weak, skinny guy could get a woman."
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I think the way Mike Wood felt is rather commonplace. Many members stay in the fellowship because they have been programmed to believe that their lives would be empty and hollow if they were not in "the upward flow". What mental bondage!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

This is sad news. I liked Mike Wood. Didn't even know about his death. Very sad.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Larry, there actually are a few dead bodies in the wake of the SS TLW. Several suicides from people that felt they could never measure up to the demands made by shepherds. I can't help but think they would be alive today, if they hadn't been exposed to the insane LW doctrines. And maybe had not been discourged from getting real professional help.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I think all forms of heresy are welcome here. The ideas presented in "To Be A Christian" are noble indeed. I'm pretty sure most of us have fallen short of that. I think it was also the foundation for creating a "high-demand" organisation that asked too much of it's congregants. It was presented to us that the Gold Standard of discipleship was to lay down our live
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Excellent posts lately. Thank you to all. I recall that the worst thing a person can be accused of in the Living Word Fellowship was having a “critical spirit”. That is, anyone that questioned something was considered to be under satanic influence. Anyone speaking up was labeled as “critical” and of course, this was the same as the “sin of witchcraft”. This is a clever way to shut down a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

In our society, there are certain types of people that seem to naturally become bullies. Were they always bullies, or did certain situations cause them to become bullies? Can an environment bring out and nuture the bully nature. In the Living Word, Gary and Marilyn certainly display bully type natures. And they collect similar people around them to be their hatchet men (and women). I've
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yes, there has always been a hubris at the Living Word. They think of themselves as the "Green Berets" of the Christian World. The ones on the front line. The ones making it all happen. The ones blazing the new trail in the spirit. They just hope someday, someone will take notice. After all, it was John Stevens that took Satan down when he died, right?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I used to think it was all carefully calculated to fool the sheep. But G&M seem to believe a lot of this stuff. Such hubris. These guys are batsheit crazy!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

With all the Pope attention, one thing you can bet on is that Gary and Marilyn are telling the churches that all of this happened because they (G&M) created it with their prayers.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I find it interesting that Gary and Marilyn are talking up the present Pope so much. At some point, you would think the LW sheep would put two and two together and notice that G&M are not following the Pope’s leading in taking a life that isn’t so dripping with wealth. The Pope refuses to wear the red slippers or ride in the Pope-mobile. Instead, he drives an old Renault. Do you think G&a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

One thing I heard over and over again while in the Walk, was "You've got to get a revelation of John". Then it was "You've got to get a revelation of Marilyn." Come to think of it, I never really got a revelation of either. I used to feel bad and unworthy about it. Now I'm just thankfull.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

OK ChangedAgain, you get the Oscar award for best sarcasm in a RR post. Bravo! : )
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

If you have ever read the book "Babylon, Mystery Religion" you will notice that it is nearly identical to the First Principles lesson on Babylon. I am now of the opinion that John lifted that whole teaching from that book or other similar sourses for that particular chapter. G&M have been trying to sanitize the FP for years to make it suitable for a wider audience. Speaking o
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I hear John D is in LA and Lynn C is the sole pastor. Membership is small. It is just a matter of time and that LW church will be shut down.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Testing one two three. Anybody here?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

If you are in the LA Living Word church, you better love Halloween:
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"sheltered echo chamber". I like that. Very accurate. Well said, Saw.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Didn't Martha outlive John by about 10 years? Maybe it was that old "boomerang principle" in action. I guess God ignored all that intercession to "kill the neph".
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The more I read Sierra's post, the deeper the grieving goes. So many families hurt. So many lives trashed and so many years wasted by the spiritual abuse from the LW leadership. Yes, the San Diego LW church under Bruce and Gilee Larson has become one sick, toxic place. A woman that used to be a member a long time ago recently passed away. She had been attending David Cokas's chur
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I recall hearing the wife of an elder say "I'm going to love watching Brother XXX e*t sh*t over the word he's going to get. It will really cross-him up." And she was gloating about it, taking delight in watching someone struggle. It really bummed me out and made me wonder what kind of people were being created by the Living Word. A lot of it was done under the banner of &q
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

In the movie "Waterworld", Dennis Hopper plays the captain of a tanker ship that is oar-powered. At one point, he says to his 2nd in command, "Just keep them rowing. It will take them a month to figure out I don't know where we are going (or where land is)." To me, that sums up the leadership of the Living Word. Keep the sheep busy with programs and campaigns. And
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

It is interesting reading the Wikipedia entries for "John Robert Stevens" and "The Living Word Fellowship". Certain LW members must be assigned by G&M to monitor and try to keep these sites sanitized. If you click on the "talk" tab, you can read the edit notes. Back and forth it goes. It's a tough job because most of the Christian world regards TLWF as a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Europe? maybe. I used to think it was going to be Brazil for them. They need to be out of the US, so the law can't reach them. But maybe Brazil is no good either because the little people in the churches down there could legally press them. So I'm thinking they might buy up a small island in Fiji like some other cult leaders have done. (Like Franklin Jones, for example). They have
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Here's another prediction: Bruce and Gilee Larson will end up getting sued by someone. They are getting sloppy with their spiritual abuse. And when they end up in court, guess who won't be there to support them?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

What will the future bring to the Living Word? If I may speculate, here's my predictions..... I predict that with membership dropping, churches will continue to shut down. I suspect that DC will be next, then San Diego. SD already closed down their school which was a source of income for them. With so little members in place and with about 80% of tithes being sent to the APCO su
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Amen.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The Living Word is presently making a connection with the Catholic Church. Gary Hargrave must be hoping that this connection will help legitimize his ministry. Maybe the Catholic leaders learn something from the LW as well. Like how to hide the sex scandals better.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Living Word = North Korea
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

John Miller was forsaken by those he had given his life to. I think the above posts are correct. He was too mature in the Lord and was a distraction from the focus on Marilyn. To this day there are few leaders in the LW with a true sheperd's heart like Miller. He is one whom the corruption of power has passed over. So now he is labeled as "the enemy". The congregants are bein
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families