So sorry for what you're going through, Cult Widow. This is an older post, but I believe you'll be better off without the person who left you and the family for a cult leader. Hope things are getting better for you by now.
Forum: Abusive and Controlling Relationships

acesandates Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Even if he was a charismatic ego (whatever that > psychologically entailed) he also was an > authentic apostolic vessel of Christ's spirit. Acesandates, with all due respect, what is your evidence of JRS being "an authentic vessel of Christ's spirit"? It seems that you used very subj
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changeagain wrote: > The risks were veiled. They were only revealed > after a person became immersed into culture. Trust > me...if from the outset you were told this > movement had 'the Apostle to the Kingdom', there > were Nephilim resisting his ministry (among them, > his wife), we were to pray for their death (or the > death of the spirit moving through
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Welcome, TheycalledmeJonah! Good for you! Many people who post here are very regretful that they didn't see the light and leave TLWF while they were still young. I think it's rather interesting that Craig told you that being a musician is not you. That takes some colossal nerve, if you ask me. I don't know you, but IMO the leaders in TLWF only know what they WANT to know about the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

corboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Cult leaders hate being accountable to objective > guidelines of any kind, hate anything that is a > reminder that there is something outside of their > group that they cannot control, standards where > they are falling short. > > So...one cult building strategy is for the leader > to persuad
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

larry bobo Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In hindsight, it is curious to see how normal > healthy behavior was considered to be “religious”. > In exchange for “freedom”, we tolerated another > human taking the place of God and completely > controlling every aspect of our lives. Coming out > of a Baptist background, it made the legalism I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

lily rose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There's so much "new thing" in the LW. I remember > the 1970's were banner years for new things. We > eagerly awaited each new JRS tape and the next new > thing God was doing. Funny that all the new things > JRS said he (the anointed one) received from God > were the teaching of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Repeat sermon alert: The New Leaven of the Kingdom December 30, 2017 - by Gary Hargrave Monte Sião, Niterói, Brazil. God is doing a whole new thing in the earth by bringing forth His Kingdom, and it is totally different than anything we have ever known or experienced. Are we willing and ready for the new? A new thing called The Kingdom?!? Wow! We'd better all rush down to Braz
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > John would quote scripture to justify his hold on > people's lives, and thwart those who might > question him. Marilyn would wholeheartedly back > him in this, since it kept the power structure > intact. I recall the phrase "cutting out their > tongue" being attributed to Marily
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I never heard of the self-styled guru, John de Ruiter, until now, corboy. Control and deception seem to be the trade secrets of these people. Here are a few quotes from an article about him that seem very apropos to the Walk/TLWF: "He was their guru and teacher, to some even a saviour, a humble messiah they called simply 'John.' They left their lives and families to be with h
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Also, Lily Rose, I'm not aware of any investgations, but how would we know? My guess would be that if anything of that nature had happened it would have been after Jonestown. Cult Crashers...great idea! Lol
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

lily rose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Try this link. > > > You quoted from the Hulu production about a cult, > "Once you've seen the freak show, you can't unsee > it." So true. It's interesting the recent > appearance of movies and mini series about cults. > I think stories from the LW would be fodder
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Tknc Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "The leader's illnesses are caused by demonic or > astral assaults because of > negative thinking from former disciples or from > doubts held by current disciples" > > So many of these things ring true as they concern > the secret LW Outpost my parents ran with me and > my siblin
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Reepicheep: > Changedagain, did Gary make a huge deal about not > celebrating Christmas when he was your pastor? > Just curious. > > I don't recall him making a big deal about it. The > main focus was on the violent intercession for the > apostle, and the judgement of his enemies.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

By Rick Ross, Expert Consultant and Intervention Specialist Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader. •Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability. •No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry. •No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement. •Unreasonable fear about the outside world, suc
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

lily rose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Invisible, > > When I joined I didn't do an exhaustive analysis > of world religions and decided the LW presented > the best theology available. I had no biblical > discernment skills and did not realize then that > many of JRS's teachings go against the Bible. But > I probabl
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Invisible Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We can find fault with anyone or anything if we > choose to do so - we can even cry about how we > were robbed of all the presents we didn't buy, > give or get because some one told us not to > celebrate Christmas (easy now) - or one might ask > - why did one join the church, if they had to gi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I did not know this. Thanks for sharing the bit > of walk history, dbc. > BTW, I had a falling out with my father > (biological, not John) over my refusal to > celebrate Christmas in the late 70's...based on > walk teaching. It was all so unnecessary. And > now, of course, the Christm
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Like to hear from Rick. I'm given up child brides. Oh, dear God...one can only hope, NickleandDimed! And not just for Lent!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain wrote > > If they would like to add a Mormon holiday I would > suggest Pioneer Day. It is celebrated on July 24 > of each year. It celebrates the entry of Mormons > into Salt Lake valley in 1847, after the long > journey westward to escape religious persecution. > Just a thought. Great idea, changedagain! I was thinking that if they want to show o
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Hot news flash!!! (Where's kBoy?) THIS FEAST OF DEDICATION — FILL YOUR HEART WITH THE LIVING WORD (or keep buying more of those CDs!!!) 12/17/17 Honolulu, HI The Feast of Dedication celebrates the miracle of Hanukkah that occurred at the cleansing of the second temple during the time of the Maccabees. They had to build a menorah and fill it with what little oil they had. Then God cre
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"We strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel" is a good description, Larry. Even with the coming of the Christmas Truck, I've heard Rick say that we can go out and bless other people on Christmas Eve because "we don't celebrate Christmas". I think the real meaning of this is that TLWF doesn't celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. I would even argue that
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Great points, Lily Rose. JRS was considered to be THE Apostle to the Kingdom age. He had definite ways of letting you know what you were supposed to think. In fact, he used to say, "Let me tell you how to think." If he said, "Get married," you got married. If he said, "Get divorced," you got divorced. If he told a young woman to get an abortion, she got an abortion.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I'm still having trouble editing. The second paragraph in my previous post was in response to Invisible's comments.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Kbyrne, nothing like the Jim Jones' mass suicide to perk up the holidays. Tell the kids go home to see their parents for a change so you don't get as much "persecution"! I was in the Walk for over forty years. I never felt that it was up to me to decide whether I should celebrate Christmas or not. Well, unless I wanted do that knowing that I was offending God...or admitting
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I got to know Bob fairly well in the latter part > of his life. He was very distraught about his > financial situation, and felt betrayed by G & M. > I've mentioned before that I was notified of his > death by an announcement Gary made during a valley > feast service. Coupled with the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Invisible Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think many people had their own experiences, > have their own unique thoughts and opinions about > Impact but I believe there is very little spoken > about Impact any where because of the love so many > of the people had for Bob. He wasn't about money, > nor was he greedy, and he worked at t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Tknc wrote: "As far as extended family goes, We essentially stopped all contact and broke all ties with them years ago after my grandparents passed away. We were all affected too much by being around them and taught to keep our walls up at all times. They were identified as having a religious spirit so I have no real relationship with any extended family" I'm so sorry to hear
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: "My heart cries for you Tknc. Your family was so toxic from the living word teachings. I highly recommend seeing a professional for help. I did and it helped a lot. You belong to the family of man now. Try to find the love and connection in a new place maybe. And a new way." Tknc, I agree with Puddington. I also got help from a counselor. It was very helpful
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

corboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Y'know, forbidding participation in Christmas is > an effective way to isolate us from a huge array > of outside influences and thus trap us further in > a cultic group. > > A group that tells you to avoid winter holiday > efforts and festivities requires you to forgo > special times wit
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families