Jan, I choose to use an alias because I have friends and family still in the cult. Presently they still talk to me. If I "came out", I would be totally shunned and cut off. I'd rather not do that just yet. Everyone's situation is different.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I heard someone say this "my time in the Walk was sort of like high school. There were good times and bad. But eventually you graduate and move on." You don't stay in high school your whole life. And you learned what you needed to learn, hopefully. But a reunion every decade or so can be fun.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thank you, Jan for the news. Sad. I sent you a PM. I hope you don't mind. Great hearing from you.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was reading about the old requirement for being an apostle. I remember that, early on, one of the requirements was that a person had to have “seen” the Lord in order for the calling to be truly apostolic. With the original church, it was men who had walked and talked with Jesus. Then, in the case of Paul, it was a person who had experienced a visitation. In the early days of JRS, it was a v
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I agree with you Jewel. Never saw it work at all. Chapter 1 of the book "Twisted Scriptures" is titled The Discipleship Game. Very interesting discussion of how shepherds force sheep into thinking what the will of God is. I think the LW uses this trick.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

From what I've witnessed, the "little people" are actually hated by the LW leadership.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Gary Hargrave has a blog And Marilyn Hargrave has a web page As does Gary Hargrave
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I'm no lawyer, but I think it is possible to have both a will and a trust. Also, you don't have to put everything in a trust. So for example, Marilyn could have had jewelry she held back from the trust and could have designated that it would go to a person upon her death. I think this is done all the time.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

FoF, go back one page to my post. The Sun link still works for me.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A writer, for sure...
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

This is an interesting read as well...
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Sarge - I hear the current party line at TLWF is that "nothing has changed" regarding Gary's leadership. I suspect Gary is winning any power plays that may be going down. I don't think Rick is interested in taking the helm of the pirate ship. He'll just enjoy the booty the pirates collect.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I too do not consider "lurker" a derogatory term. Just a silent reader of forums.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wow. Very interesting kBOY.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Interesting reading about the whole Nevada mine mess in the Nichols paper. One thing I discovered, is that Nichols presents an alternate reason as to why JRS stayed in Shiloh so much in 1978. I had always been told that he was hiding out from the divorce lawsuit (with Martha). But Nichols presents a whole different theory. He was hiding out from a court felony fraud case that was going down i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY, I started reading the Nichols paper. Trying to find info about the mine, but got completely distracted by the account of the church split that happened in the Valley Church in 1967. Wow, sound familiar? This stuff has been going on for a long time. Nichols paper:
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Can anyone please explain what went down with the Nevada silver mine thing? I know a number of LW members invested in it and lost significant chunks of money. Was this strickly a Coniah chapel deal? Was it mostly RD and a guy named Holder? Or was JRS involved too. I recall that the whole disaster was vealed in secrecy and sheep were told to not ask questions.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY. Most interesting blog reference. I like the comment: "the literal is the enemy of the real”
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I'd like to remind everyone that the Living Word has been designated a "cult" by all the major cult experts. It was and is a cult by all the standard criteria. Shiloh University is an on-line bible school founded by this cult. If you pay the tuition to enroll, just know what it is you are signing up for.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wow, it looks like anyone in the LWF with a college degree is on staff.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Is Gary Hargrave the dean of Shiloh University ? And does Rick Holbrook have any affiliation with it?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Gotta love John Pavlovitz. He's saying stuff that needs to be said.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I'm been re-watching the HBO documentary film "Going Clear - Scientology and the Prison of Belief". There are many points in that film that resonates with me and in many ways, (but on a more subtle level), the traits of Scientology are present in the Living Word. (even today). I am also struck by how L. Ron Hubbard founded Scientology and when he died, a young, more aggressive
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I've got an old can of Superfood from Dr. Schulze and a red pepper tincture from Marilyn Farms. Does that count?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

An alcoholic, womanizing shepherd. Why does that not surprise me? An all too common situation in the LW, even to this day. Your story is gut-wrenching, slandjt. The term "unequal yoke" was used to justify leadership directed divorces in the vast majority of LW couples that split up. Much spiritual abuse has occurred in the name of the Unequal Yoke. It must have been awful for y
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

LS, you bring up a very interesting point. In a way, we are all like SS members that were gunho in carrying out the orders of Hitler. A lot of us took our turns running the gas chambers on the sheep. Before we stone Miller, lets stop and think about our participation as well. Anyone who has served as an elder or who got involved in a DR has participated in this destruction of sheep and sp
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was in the Walk. Currently known as The Living Word Fellowship. Founded by John Robert Stevens. Currently being led by Gary Hargrave. I was in for many years. Been out for a while. This was and still is a cult by all the standard definitions. I have had to unlearn much. I got professional help. Getting free takes time and effort. But is so well worth it.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The story of what happened to John Miller is very sad. I too, have had contact with ex-LW folks close to Miller. It is a story that reminds me of Joseph. An absolute, blinded-sided, stabbed-in-the-back treatment of him by those who swore they loved him. The G&M body-wide order to shun Miller was the icing on the cake. Still wonder if the Living Word is toxic?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

UnAp, I feel your pain. Walk lightly. Part of your situation will depend on what her shepherds think. And if they think you will pull her away from the LW fellowship. You might see if she is open to going to other churches. You might find something that you both like. I think most LW members recognize that the LW is a sinking ship. Tell her you are looking to the future. Where your "n
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families