A couple more: Authority = Ministries claim to exercise the authority of Christ. Congregants must submit to their authority. "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Matthew 28:18 NASV Rebellious Spirit = describing the "spirit" of a congregant not submissive to the authorities. Closely linked to wit
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wow, who knew we were taught to speak in such an odd language! The original First Principles (well, at least the first one with JRS' name as author) had a whole section on "Terminology". He already knew that he was creating a loaded language that no one else would understand. Going back to the term "Submission", I should add asking permission for the following concerni
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotecorboy Great idea to create a dictionary of "Walk Talk" identify ways that the same word is used one way by The Walk and other ways in the Christian world. Its a good idea to identify Scripture passages commonly used by The Walk and how TW interpretation of these passages differs from how these same passages are interpreted by communities untainted by The Walk and untainted by
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The latest incarnation of TLWF's Wikipedia page: The Living Word Fellowship is a group of nondenominational Christian churches located in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico,[1]which stem from the Pentecostal tradition. Some disagree that the fellowship is nondenominational, instead believing it to be a form of Protestant Christianity.[2] It has sometimes been described as a
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteWalked Walked Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- "I feel like I’ve just been told there is no Santa Claus.... I always felt inferior to those who held named positions, and I was awestruck when seeing JRS in Anaheim and South Gate and the Valley church. I only regret that I had never seen him perform one of his laying on of hands “miracles” or to have see
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 things that he needed done to protect his secre
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Welcome back, Cloudwatcher. We missed you! Cloudwatcher, is that really you? So glad you didn't go away after all. :)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Regarding the "decision to join a cult", I hope that people will take the time to read and listen to the experts on this Cult Education Institute. Here is a link to a video by Rick Ross that discusses the question, "Is Joining A Cult a Personal Choice?" Victim blaming does little to further the healing process for all. Look at the research on "mind control" on th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Awesome posts, HappySad, Amos, changedagain, kBoy, Cloudwatcher, puddington, Onion and so many others. There are those misguided friends who think that all of us here are the destroyers. We are not. The destroyers are the upper echelon TLWF leaders bent on absolute control and power. Even now they are rallying sympathy and support from among the faithful behind the scenes. The torches and pitchfo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

denisewallerlaughlin, Did you post at the end or after someone else's reply? Having trouble finding it. Your story is so important.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I noticed on the The Living Word Fellowship > website that the Honolulu and Palmer Lake churches > are no longer listed in the church directory. > What is that about? > Should I contact Robert Mueller, or is that taking > it too far? Changedagain, good catch! I googled those two churches and
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Has anyone seen this? Unbelievable! The Response of Living Word Fellowship to the Allegations of Sexual Misconduct by a Member of our Leadership We take seriously any reports of mistreatment of our staff, congregation or visitors within the Living Word Fellowship of churches, and we strongly condemn sexual harassment and misconduct of any kind. Such damaging activity should never take pla
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Has anybody looked at FB lately? There are reports that Gary is saying that this is all HIS idea! He started the investigation. So all who believe that stand on your head right now.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Let freedom ring, my friends!!!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Well, hi folks. Today my husband received an unsigned letter with no return address in the mail, postmarked HONOLULU, HI Here is what they wrote. Please give me your thoughts, or let me know if this has ever happened to you. "Husband's Name, I keep track of posts on the Rick Ross Forum. Last month your wife began posting and published her name in the profile section. Her name i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

larry bobo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Those who have served on church corporations know > that the Bylaws clearly state that the Apostolic > Fathering Ministries have final say on what > happens to church properties. The rest of the > corporate members do all the leg work, but have no > decision making power as far as asset ownersh
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Here's an interesting take on the time period when churches were being disbanded and sold from . "In the 1990s, many congregants of the smaller churches and home meetings chose to relocate in order to attend the churches originally founded by John Robert Stevens. Since the mid-90s, the fellowship has focused on developing church communities that create an environment for the maturing
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Additions to the list: > > Bakersfield > San Luis Obispo > San Gabriel > La Cresenta > Sacramento > Kauai, HI > > > Note the El Cajon church was in Casa de Oro > (Spring Valley). It was not shut down but left > TLWF. It is now pastored by David Cokas. Thanks, pu
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > That list is stunning. I agree, changedagain. Do you remember the name of the Redlands Church and the approximate date it was sold?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Below is a list of TLWF churches that have been closed and/or sold in the U.S. I think that most or all were closed after John's death. I couldn't remember the names of most. Please post any additions, corrections or additional info that you know. I was surprised at how many there were. All my old This Weeks are long gone. If anyone has some, there should be info on these churches in th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In spite of what John said, I still consider > deceit, arrogance and greed to more contemptible > human traits than sarcasm. Of course, I'm biased. Ha, changedagain. Good one! ;-)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Reepicheep. You can bet that us posters on this > forum were blamed for Marilyn’s death. They > probably think we are a coven. Tknc Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Rebellion is as witchcraft after all. Puddington and Tknc, I was tempted to make a joke about this,
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes, serve as an example. Be the first ones to > 'drink the cup.' > So many of these 'living words' would never see > the light of day if the measuring stick was > stringently applied to the person speaking it, > instead of just dumped on the fellowship. So true, changeda
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

larry bobo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Speaking of leadership styles, I’m reading a #1 > New York Times Bestseller entitled “Extreme > Ownership” written by a Navy SEAL about business > leadership....The main point of the book is to > encourage leaders to accept total responsibility > for what happens under their watch. You alone are
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > That would, unfortunately, > be the first instinct for many of them should > their church shut down. I have no sympathy for > those that have led them down this dead end path, > and continue to harp about their supposed lack of > dedication. They've suffered enough. They should > do
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I remember hearing a similar word given to the > sheep of a LW church that was being shut down and > sold off. They were being rebuked for having put > roots down in the city the LW church was in. > Never mind that many of the sheep had careers and > established businesses in that location. If t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Sons Have Nowhere To Lay Their Heads...Uh oh! Here it comes! February 3, 2018 - by Gary Hargrave Still in Brazil, BTW When people told Jesus they wanted to follow Him, His response was, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:57-58). In this response, Jesus was showing us something significant about a walk with God.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When a church stops giving enough to the central > apostolic ministry, it’s time to close it down, > sell the assets off and move the funds into a > corporation that has ultimate ownership by the > “apostolic fathering ministry” (i.e. Gary) > > Seems like Shiloh probably runs in the red most
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Reepicheep Wrote: > > > Make of it what you will. My take is that the > > people will suffer. > > That's a safe bet given Walk/TLWF history. If > anything doesn't work out it's the people's fault, > sometimes the result of their connecting to > demonic for
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families