That sounds familiar, changedagain. Something like that.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

light777 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 2. Seeing so many other faces that I actually > considered my family for years, thus putting my > "true family" to the back; this still breaks my > heart... how could I have been so blinded? > > 3. Grasping the fact that I was in a cult. That > I actually believed in this mind c
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Money, power and playing God seem to be strong motivators for this leader. It's hard to imagine a situation dire enough to cause a suicidal reaction. If the outlook for the LW looked that bleak, he could always take the money and run. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Inquiry is human; blind obedience brutal. Truth never loses by the one but often suffers by the other. William Penn
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In this recent message about obedience, Gary > sounds an awful lot like Jim Jones. Which begs > the question, do you think Gary is capable of > enacting a Jonestown style event in the LWF? Not sure about that, puddington. I hope not. The problem is that when you subject your free will and mind and hea
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

This bears repeating: 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, such as impending catastrophe, evil con
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

GSchaeff Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > GoingRogue, was that an exchange from camp that > you just quoted? > > Sidenote: The sender I quoted has said the boy in > their story may not have been from DC. I find it > fascinating that this pattern is occurring this > year as well. Looking at my old tape collection, > it could very we
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

GH. "This Word clarifies what we are to be as a school of prophets and why. God is looking to have a people by which He can distinguish between that which serves Him and that which does not. God is a gracious, just judge, and there is only one distinguishing factor that matters to Him: obedience. This is the basis of His judgments." Question: How do people know what to be obedient to
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

GH. "This Word clarifies what we are to be as a school of prophets and why. God is looking to have a people by which He can distinguish between that which serves Him and that which does not. God is a gracious, just judge, and there is only one distinguishing factor that matters to Him: obedience. This is the basis of His judgments." Question: How do people know what to be obedient to
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

What a brilliant kid, GSchaeff! Too smart to last long in a cult, I would imagine. BTW, this just in:
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The fishing lures are set with hidden hooks. The > "true meaning" of the miserable experience is laid > out while there is no time to ask reasonable > questions or consider another way. The > (purportedly) only door of salvation is creaking > open. No time to think. The ability for detailed
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "For Moses, there was just one covenant that would > make God the God for him and the people: the > covenant of Abraham. Moses, however, had not > circumcised his sons. As a result, God sought to > put him to death (Exodus 4:24). Oh, I forgot the circumcision part. Get ready, boys!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Oh boy! Repentance, disobedience, judgment and Kingdom, to name but a few topics covered in the first SOP message. Plus, the temperature is 99 with 89% humidity. (With a side of flies and way too many people.) How would you like to be stuck in Shiloh right now?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "The Shiloh 4th of July event is by private > invitation only and is sold out to general > public." > > I haven't received my invitation yet :( Dear God, It's me, Rogue. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that you saved me out of that mess and I don't have to go
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A little more gruff sounding from the Shiloh website. Does anyone know why they're stopping the public show? Could the LW be turning inward again? Or is it just due to financial priorities?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kbyrne Wrote: If I had to guess, I'd say that Donna is a great mother! I had a couple of contacts with Dawn when she was 1-2 years old. I was in the car with Donna and Dawn. As we were driving, Donna would point out to Dawn our surroundings, "Look at the yellow school bus," etc. Donna was so present and so engaged. Years later when I had kids of my own, I remembere
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Did you find the posts from Gary’s daughter, Dawn? > They will break your heart. What a poor example > of a father. It says a lot about the “apostolic > fathering ministry”. No, I couldn't find that exchange in the doc files I received, puddington. I know I've read it before, though. It was
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: > The people in the South Gate fellowship have been > through enough. They certainly didn't need some > bitter guy casting spells on them. What a nut. No kidding, changedagain. As if there wasn't enough hocus pocus coming from G&M. Geez!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Been reading the old Factnet .doc files. Good stuff. Some things are heart-wrenching, as you hear similar stories over and over. :(
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yes, very unethical. Here is more proof that JRS did, in fact, use the PhD title in the early days. Another link to the Ethel Waters vinyl. Click on "More Images" to view the back of the album where "Dr." John Robert Stevens wrote the program notes and to get a better view of the logo. Here's a link to find out more about Paul Mickelson, especially the following q
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Well, the San Fernando Valley Church was dedicated in 1965 and named Church of the Living Word. But I'm sure that the eerily similar logo and name is a coincidence. ;) Also, I do remember JRS being referred to as "Dr. Stevens" at times. Why???
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

GSchaeff...interesting is right! About the album cover, it says "Arranged by Paul Mickelson". He was Martha (Mickelson) Steven's brother!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Onion Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There were or are also large safes in several > locations. My ex-husband and I both worked with > the contents and inventories of every safe. Gems, > gold, mnpt rumors. Doesn't everybody feel better about working endless hours for "the Kingdom" after learning this info? I guess the leaders
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

That is astonishing, Onion. Thanks for posting this!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

GSchaeff Wrote: For example, I've recorded one instance where Dan Statton sent a letter to an individual asking to remit that individual's share in the silver mine worth hundreds of dollars in the 70s. The letter was signed and returned, and that individual lost his money, but no copy exists today. All that remains is a bitter taste in that individual's mouth. GSchaeff, peopl
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain, Interesting that posters who want to expose the abuses and warped theology of the LW are experiencing so much "persecution" (to borrow an often used term in the LW.)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

GSchaeff Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > TKNC and GoingRogue, I can relate to that. My > relationship with God is inextricably linked with > a relationship to a person and to TLW. That is so true. The focus was very negative. How about leaving your father and your mother? Or rebellion is as witchcraft? The Jesus that I heard about in the LW was a m
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Tknc, there are probably as many answers to your question as there are LW Cult survivors. For me personally, when I first left the cult, I visited a few other Christian churches. The trust issues were too great for me. I even considered becoming Catholic after attending a Catholic funeral and rosary for a friend's family member. It was the most different thing I could think of. At this point
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I don't quite understand why NickleandDimed and Lily Rose keep quoting old posts and bludgeoning fellow ex-pats with them. I don't think that the purpose of this forum is to fight with each other. Can we please stick to the stated rules? Vitriolic posts that personally attack people, will not be tolerated and are grounds for banning the author from this message board. Any person t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed Wrote: > JezTheBelle, I wasn't in the forum. When you > posted. Your comments sound familiar to me. Maybe > I knew you. I think you were marginalized. By some > of the elite posters. And stopped posting. I would > like to hear. The rest of your story. If you want > to post again. I will support you. NickleandDimed, I looked back at when JezTheBelle
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families