Discussion group stats: Comments: 12,200 Page views: 3,242,419 (posters with right spirit: very, very few)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Post by 'that little red flag' from four years ago. No idea who this person is, but he/she provides excellent advice (in my very humble opinion): Posted by: that little red flag Date: January 29, 2019 12:19PM Disillusioned - I hear what you are saying, there are so many good people that I continue to respect and love. However, I would encourage you to read the moderators list
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Paraphrased quote from the latest episode: "Anytime we had a complaint or questioned anything that was truly f*cked up, they (Gary and Marilyn) always manipulated us into thinking it was us that were seeing things wrong." Reepicheep Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Correction: Shalom's Letters: I Can't Be Silent > Anymore.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

More on restricted tapes...from February of 2016 Note: There's a Monty Python element to this topic (IMO): Posted by: changedagain Date: February 17, 2016 11:28PM I became so weary of being pressured to listen to 'mandatory' recordings...the subject matter usually involving some person of significance that had a falling out with Marilyn and Gary, and the latter's e
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Kidding aside, I do recall a restricted tape I listened to where Marilyn was addressing a recent exodus of people from the LW building, likely (I think) related to her son's behavior. She mentioned having a file or notes on each one that left in protest/disgust, and said if they didn't keep their mouths shut, she would release what dirt she had on them (paraphrased). The intent to intim
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

If it makes you feel better, I always thought there should have been a few restricted tapes that were marked 'Set Aside Deacons Only.' Or as it applied to me--'Set Aside Kingdom Comics Only.' Oh well. The Jewel: Seeing the “classified” tape marked “Pastors Only”, brought back memories of when I became “set aside” as a Deacon at Coniah and I could finally go to the tape
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I wonder if anyone listened to a restricted tape, only to find out they had been set out of the fellowship. :) The Jewel: I am reminded of later in life when I had a government clearance, being told in a yearly briefing that the briefer felt that a lot of stuff was classified because they wanted to make sure people read it
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"Read my t-shirt. It says VIP. Now let me into this section!" posted by: reveal Date: October 14, 2018 12:19PM FROMSOUTHCHICAGO, I'm glad you asked about Marilyn's funeral because it's something I have thought of posting about on here for some time. I was there and it was very, very odd. One, we had to pay to attend. No kidding. We were told we had to register if w
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was a band student from a public school and they tried to take away from me too. That was their undoing. It was my only escape from what I was living in and I loved band. Yes
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Re: "Christ in the flesh" Posted by: changedagain Date: December 21, 2020 10:13AM I don't think there was any Walk teaching as pernicious as "Christ in the Flesh." Although theoretically it was referring to the many-membered "Body of Christ," in practice it applied to John Stevens, and later to G & M. Any problem you might have had with these leade
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Post from May 2022: Posted by: Reepicheep Date: May 04, 2022 09:20PM sierradawn wrote: "My mother felt she couldn't make decisions on her own. That is spiritual abuse, dxxn it. All these years of her being involved destroyed that decision-making ability and then some. I'm embarrassed for my Mom when I read her emails to you, pouring out her soul, looking for validation,
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Actually, I contributed toward the purchase of a Lexus as a birthday gift, when I was still part of the fellowship. I was long gone by the time the "very famous coffee table" entered the scene. The first one references the Coffee Table of Israel that many of us helped purchase.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A few posts from January 2019. The first one references the Coffee Table of Israel that many of us helped purchase. Posted by: that little red flag Date: January 12, 2019 05:54PM Changedagain- please behave (although), I couldn’t tell from the conversation what was going on. You are almost a founding member, and are needed here to keep us smiling with your jokes and sarcasm. I’m extremel
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

JesusJesusJesus wrote: Hey! It's been awhile. I keep trying to put the Living Word behind me, but it keeps popping back up Which reminds me, if anyone spots me in public wearing an oversized Hawaiian shirt, they have permission to take me out. Just assume I'm too far gone. /s Posted by: that little red flag () Date: November 06, 2018 02:23PM CHANGEAGAIN wrote: Possible
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks for sharing, katnmouse91265
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Discussion group stats: Comments: 12,165 Page views: 3,200,078 p.s. Wishing everyone in this forum a Merry Saturnalia!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A few posts from September of 2015: Posted by: slandjt Date: September 17, 2015 09:45PM (excerpt) I've been reading these posts for a couple of years and thought I would weigh in now. I came into the Walk as an impressionable young teenager in the late 60s. My parents actually came to a service and then told me I couldn't go any more. I was told by the church pastor and elders
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I left the second time when the intercession (or what my wife referred to as "yelling at God") just got too flippin weird. I remember yelling "WE LOOSE THE APOSTLE" so loud so many times that it should have taken an entire drum of Immodium to tighten him back up. I think most of us did the best we could to 'loose' JRS into resurrection life, but apparently it wasn
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Good to hear from you, TheJewel. And thanks for the recommendations. Your initial post in this forum (I think): Posted by: TheJewel Date: January 05, 2016 04:35PM Hi, This is my first post here. I have read through all the posts in this thread (a long, long, slog -- but very enlightening). I was in TLW twice, once from 1970 to 1972 and a second time from 1975 to 1978. All of th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A new documentary being made by two ex-members of this cult. I'll certainly be watching this. Here is the trailer on YouTube:
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Cloudwatcher wrote: I don't care how kind or loving he was, he was a sick man and the sooner we all realize that and make peace with it, the better. Post by 'fool me twice'--providing a glimpse of John (aka Apostle of Love) behind the facade: Posted by: fool me twice Date: March 23, 2019 10:57AM Onion wrote: Fool me twice: How many hours did you work to earn that whopp
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A few posts from September of 2016: Posted by: Twoteetwo Date: September 02, 2016 10:27PM I'm a sometime reader who wants to thank you all for the years of great posts. I binge read the FactNet site about ten years ago and now here I am again binge reading this site. Don't know what that means other than you can take people out of the Walk, but it sure is hard to get the Walk ou
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reshaping the narrative as needed... Posted by: Saw enough Date: November 03, 2015 04:13AM What Larry Bobo said about a Shiloh pastor being interviewed and saying he could not recall praying for John’s resurrection was an example of LWF authority just reshaping their narratives for their own convenience. Every civilization develops its narratives – its creation stories, genealogies, st
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Just a small dose of the substantial contribution that Richard M. made to the discussion in this forum--especially pertaining to JRS: Posted by: Richard M. Date: February 19, 2019 05:33PM Reepicheep, thanks. I knew Stevens was a phony when I first saw and met him. He wouldn't look at me eye-to-eye and seemed even a little frightened of me. Of course, it later made more sense. But if
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Always remember those who treat you kindly during rough times. Dan and Carol E. filled that role for me in the 80's. I moved to L.A. in the early 90's and no longer benefited from their hospitality. Extremely uncertain times we're living in now... Posted by: puddington Date: March 14, 2018 09:27AM I agree. This is very sad news. Carol was a very kind human. Very loving pe
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"Today, the people in politics who most often invoke the name of Jesus for their political causes tend to be the most merciless and judgmental, the most consumed by rage and fear and vengeance." Peter Wehner -The Atlantic Note: Yes, this is a politically-oriented post, and should the moderator remove it, I won't object. I might throw my lunch at a wall in a fit of temporar
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I wonder what, if anything, the independent investigation discovered. Perhaps by now they know who stole that small box of paper clips from one of the local churches. Really looking forward to the report! #HighHopes
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Reepicheep Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Happy 4th anniversary of Shalom's post heard > 'round the world, the beginning of the end for > TLWF. Let freedom ring! YES
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Despite our prayers, John never returned. But Satan is back. John's victory over him was just temporary, I guess. Perhaps he will be brought down again by the death of a future Apostle...and this time it will be permanent. We can only hope. #LookOnTheBrightSide /s Saw Enough wrote: There was a period of time after JRS died where Gary claimed to have a revelation that Satan had been bo
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Discussion group stats: Comments: 12,147 Page views: 3,149,548 References to John being dead: not sure
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families