I just watched the new video interview of Johana Wozniak, who was born and raised in The Living Word Fellowship. This included spending her entire school career at Centers of Learning in North Hills, CA. What do you suppose happened when she needed help at the age of 17? Thank you, Scott Barker. Thank you Charity Navalesi. These interviews are helping so many of us to process our experiences.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

It boggles my mind how long these con artists were able to trick people (us) into believing that God was talking to them in a coherent manner. They were making it up as they went along. There was no "God's plan". It was a long con since the beginning. And at least one or a few are still gouging misguided people with good hearts. May the cons rot...
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

There's a new Oops! I'm In A Cult featuring former TLWF member and frequent contributor on this thread, Larry Bobo. Excellent, as always! Thank you, Scott and Charity!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Another excellent episode of Oops! I'm In A Cult is up on YouTube.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

JezTheBelle wrote: Proverbs 11:9 "With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered" For once the buggers got it right. It WAS knowledge that delivered us. Not G&M and certainly not some plagiarized "Word" or even "submission." It was knowledge. And we've certainly been delivered. And about that
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed wrote: I'm a little confused. So what do you want me to be? Anything but you. That's for sure, Changed. Especially if it was a zero with the rim rubbed out. And I feel that I would be remiss if I didn't point out that neither JRS, nor Marilyn, nor Gary, nor Rick ever attempted to be that (a zero) even once in my recollection.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Happy Freedom Day! I know that I'm two days late. It's worth mentioning that five years ago on October 25th, 2018, Shalom Abrahamson posted her devastating evidence of abuse and coverups by TLWF leaders. I, and so many others, are still in awe of this act of bravery. Thank you forever, Shalom!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed shared: Posted by: pressingonbyHisgrace Date: January 03, 2019 01:48PM Do you remember the phrase "You're killing John"? This was said to people who were not toe-ing the line correctly, in the late 70's and early 80's. The responsibility of God not moving John into resurrection life was laid upon the congregation. We were told (mostly by Marilyn Hargrave) t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Excellent new YouTube video from Scott Barker and Charity Navalesi. Lots of historical evidence. I'm still watching and I'm blown away.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed wrote: Q. You see some guy, obviously drunk, recklessly driving a golf cart. He is now heading dangerously close to you. What, if anything, do you say to him? A. Hello King David! **************** Oh, yes. And if you were foolish enough to live in the Church of the Living Word, North Hills neighborhood, it was a very common sight. True story: Did you know that when we first mo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed wrote: You will need to pay for room and board, but then you get to work for free. It's a win-win! (just started listening) ******** Yes. And that was just the beginning. It becomes tragic as you get into it.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Well, another Oops! I'm In A Cult podcast is up on Spotify. Thank you to Scott Barker and Charity Navalesi for doing these excellent deep dives into the effects that The Living Word Fellowship cult had on member's lives. This one is about another younger person, 3rd gen Titus Walker. It's called "Bad Boy Boot Camp". I highly recommend listening.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I highly recommend this new podcast by Scott Barker and Charity Navalesi on Spotify. In it, they take an in-depth look at Shalom's letter, which were publicly posted on October 25th 2018. Extremely helpful and insightful. Hey, the 5th anniversary is just around the corner!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed wrote: IF YOU ARE GOING TO VOLUNTARILY WORK ON AN OUTSIDE PROJECT FOR VIP CHURCH MINISTRIES, MAKE SURE YOU BRING YOUR OWN SUNSCREEN, DRINKING WATER, PORTA-POTTY, FIRST AID KIT AND PERHAPS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT!! IF YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE, FOLLOW DIVINE ORDER AND TALK ONLY TO THE HANDLER, IF YOU CAN LOCATE HIM. DON'T BOTHER THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE!! THEY NEED THEIR SLEEP!!! #Fa
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed wrote: Not quite the inspirational Labor Day story I hoped to share today. That said, it did end on a positive note, with the author 'Aleutian' having a 'light-bulb moment" that presumably led him to leave the fellowship. It's all good. Posted by: Aleutian Date: January 09, 2019 09:12PM I recently recalled a time I was volunteering working on ¨G and M´s¨
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

FCSLC wrote: Reepicheep: You Tube video: Charity speaking at 1:03:00 to 1:03:35. All the dropouts of the collapsed church are “Dead Weight,” and can be cut out so the true remnant can go forward. Not surprising to me. Thanks. Thank you very much, FCSLC. I was trying to explain this to some other people, but couldn't find the exact quote. It's not surprising to me either. This
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

FCSLC wrote: I watched the You Tube video and had a trifle reaction to the “dead weight” accusation. For me, it’s clear that certain deceivers are not changing their MO. Not surprised ---- “dead weight” is another charged, cringeworthy and ridiculous sentiment belonging to the ongoing list of hustle terms headed by the all-time scam phrase, “divinely appointed.” Absolutely! Question: I must
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed wrote: For the record, I don't think it is anyone's business how clean someone else's pipe is. Even for TLWF, that inquiry is going too far. #FocusOnYourOwnPipe I couldn't agree more, Changed. Also, for the record, John Robert Stevens never in his life was anything even remotely resembling a "zero with the rim rubbed out". Neither was Marilyn Clelan
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Episode 2 of Oops! I'm in a cult. Eleni Davis and son, Sam, open up about their years in the cult. Excellent insights. I'm not sure why I'm still somewhat surprised at revelations.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed, Thank you very much for reposting these very timely and timeless reflections from TLWF survivors. And hey, y'all can put your stuff on my calendar anytime! <3
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The podcast is also in video form on YouTube. Great stuff!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changedagain wrote: turns out that this quote is not from the Sermon on the Mount. Boy, did I get duped: "Blessed are those who have no sympathy, for they shall rise up the chain of command." That just about sums up the Walk mentality. And here I always thought that it should have been: "Blessed are those who give a damn, for they shall not be damned." Meanwhil
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changedagain, you have a great talent for reposting and weaving salient points together. I appreciate very much that you do this here. Posted by: typer Date: November 07, 2019 08:51AM It is so weird. I still get afraid and flinch when I think of certain things. I'm actually a little scared right now to share this, for fear John S**er will come to my house and kill me. Please don'
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Posted by: FCSLC () Date: July 04, 2023 09:38AM The exhilarating sense of individual independence and agency was never taught to the congregants of TLWF. Unlike natural people who “love and appreciate” their universal right to do as they please, TLWF congregants were basically denied and even warned against that life-giving teaching. Happy Independence Day to all. ************** Good
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed, I still have to laugh when I think of the My Fair Lady songs he had some of us perform at the pre-4th of July squawk nights in Shiloh. "Just you wait, male nature. Just you wait". And the "No Popes" t-shirts we painted and were planning for South Gate people to wear at Shiloh. Something was definitely afoot. That was the first School of Prophets summer camp...1990. I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed wrote: "I know in a few instances that they used this new doctrinal twist to target a few key men in the fellowship that were perhaps a threat to them. Dan S., pastor of SG at the time, may have been one of them." Definitely Dan S. He must have royally pissed Marilyn off. Why else would they oust him from the law office and try to send him to pastor the church in Phoenix?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changed, I've thought about that male nature baloney quite a bit. Since women had been targeted for years and years, I think that maybe it was done to upset the apple cart and throw everyone off balance. I clearly remember John Robert Stevens talking very negatively about the "woman spirit", the spirit of Eve, the Jezebel spirit, you name it. I knew that women were crap since my ea
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changedagain wrote: "What is something you said to another person that was spoken in love, yet was not received that way, due to their insecurity?" "Keep your spirit in your sneakers." Actually, Marilyn said that, and I thought that it was pretty uncalled for. Right up there with, "I'm pretty anti woman."
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Changedagain wrote: Fortunately, part of me remained intact, which enabled me later to write on this forum, along with nephs, Jezebels, bitter blowouts, subnouncers, f8cking musicians and at least a few who are led only by the 'beach spirit.' These are my people too, Changed. I think that at some point, a little part of me deep inside knew what cowardly, evil people the leaders
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Meanwhile, by many accounts, Marilyn was already lying in another's bed. I think she would refer to this as the "pure atmosphere." ;) No doubt, Changedagain. One repetitive theme that I noticed throughout my 41 years in The Walk/The Living Word Fellowship was the shifting of those who were on the inside or outside of leadership positions. The biggest predictor of who was tr
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families