Yes, thanks LaRhonda. <Later I found out that he argued with my Dad and said " you gave me those kids! They're mine" my dad threatened to call the police and come with the sherif to get us. I guess John backed down after that and then called me to let me know I would have to go home.> Good for your Dad. That's a line I also never allowed TLWF leaders to cross, let
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

EverythingWasGreatUntilTheThirdGenerationCameAlong-- originally, this was going to be my username...
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

JezTheBelle, Welcome to this forum, even if we just have you for a short while.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I was close to Bob McClane during the couple years prior to his passing. I've mentioned before (I think) find out about his death when it was announced by Gary during a service in the valley. After the announcement Gary proceeded to label Bob a spiritual failure, and then criticized those closest to him for not looking out after his health. The way Gary handled the situation was inappropriat
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Apostle Dog Wrote: > I recall once that JRS was ministering to a man > and John kept asking him, "do you feel that?" > meaning the anointing. The man would say "Brother > Stevens, I don't feel anything." This went on > several times. It seemed to me that JRS was trying > to show something and he sure picked the wrong one > out of the crowd
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Paul Trowbridge Wrote: > As enshrined in our Declaration of Independence: > Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This > originally was preached for 70 years over the > pulpits in America proceeding the Revolutionary > War. It was not intended as it is interpreted now > that you are given liberty to carouse, do drugs > and generally lead a dissolute life. I
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Hargrave: > "This fellowship broke into an experience of > oneness after John Stevens’ passing." An amazing distortion of history, even for him!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

A People Rooted and Grounded in Love November 15, 2015 — by Gary Hargrave That's not us. It's never been us. Hell, I've been one of the most intolerant, dictatorial ministries you'll ever come across. So I really don't expect those under my ministry to know anything about love, acceptance or the family spirit... Hey, who gave me the truth serum? You're in trou
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The wounds inflicted upon families by TLWF leaders go very deep, and I agree with you that the initial responsibility is with the leaders to acknowledge the harm they have done, and repent to those directly impacted by it. I'm certain that there are a lot of people that have been victimized in TLWF, are not ready to forgive, but do maintain an attitude willing to forgive if those responsible
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY Wrote: > As far as church finances go, that will no doubt > be something the little people will be kept in the > dark about. They are not ‘able to bear it’. Yes, it would be difficult to acknowledge that money people intended for one purpose, went for another. Best keep them in the dark! Note: I'm being facetious. So please--don't anyone attempt to insert "h
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBOY Wrote: > JRS’ oft repeated admission that > he would “crawl on his hands and knees across > the country to find a ‘man of God’” set the > tone for every level of relationship within TLW. I think people that have experienced years in TLWF post-John are more likely to consider crawling on their hands and kneed across the country to escape a "man of God." In any
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

So true
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kBoy-- The use of email would have made things so much easier for me. I think I would have written something like this: I've decided to no longer be a part of the living word fellowship organization--or whatever it is called. However, I would still want to spend time with many of the folks I've become close to over the years. Anyway, I'm thinking of pizza and a movie this Frida
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

--Regarding Paleface: I'm aware of where he has received much of his information, and I consider the source(s) to be trustworthy. --Regarding Lily Rose: Her contributions have been very meaningful, and I hope her departure from this forum in not permanent. --Regarding Lampshmamp: Always has potent "takes." I prefer his/her contributions over Lamp from Ikea--who, BTW, se
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Going into this next phase, it appears that the two people who will have the most influence over what people in TLWF think and do will be Gary Hargrave and Rick Holbrook. I hope that those that are presently on the fence take the opportunity to find a better life.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

So true, kBoy... living with an image of a god that would kill us for our "withdrawal," and assuming that pursuing a course that might actually enhance your life will prompt this god's wrath upon your life. The "visitation" that John claimed he had really did set the mental/emotional framework of the walk. I remember when I left the fellowship in '97, receiving a Th
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

So true, kBoy... living with an image of a god that would kill us for our "withdrawal," and assuming that pursuing a course that might actually enhance your life will prompt this god's wrath upon your life. The "visitation" that John claimed he had really did set the mental framework of the walk. kBOY Wrote: > One must remember the culture of fear upon which &
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

rrmoderator Wrote: > It's not "bitterness" to share for former members > to share their experience and express their > feelings about what happened to them. > > It's wrong to imply otherwise and comes across as > shaming or somehow attempting to blame the victims > of JRS for the damage he and other leaders did to > them. So true. I expre
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

She was a sweet girl, but I suspect she may have been abused in her childhood... raised by an alcoholic mom, often on the road. I think she mentioned growing up there were men in and out of her Mom's life, which could have easily made her a target...since she obviously was without protection. Sadly, the Walk experience was of no help. Apostle Dog Wrote: ------------------------------
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

BTW, I've heard from what I consider to be a reliable source (I know--here we go again with this reliable source stuff)...that Matt Walkoe, pastor of the Church of the Living Word, is required to report to Rick Holbrook. If anyone can either confirm this, or shoot it down, please come forward.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Apostle Dog Wrote: > I just know that a girl up there, and I > somehow believe it might have been her, but when > all the "shepherds" were changing wives, including > the two pastors there, they got divorced, and one > of them is the one that called me and gave me the > "WORD"to divorce my wife and go service Marilyn, > but anyway, at the time of al
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The only thing I know about the South is what John said in Word one time...that the people always use the N word in conversation. Apostle Dog Wrote: > I would have been booted out and quit at the same time as soon as > that started. But then, that would not have even > happened in the South. We have too much rebel in > us, always have had, always will have. '
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Yes, kBOY
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Back in the 70's, I helped prepare and paint the exterior of a small home John owned near Redlands--working for a member of the fellowship that had a painting business in the area. Gary was the pastor of the church at the time. After the work was completed, and the bill submitted (through Gary, as an intermediary, who had arranged for the work to be done), he announced at the end of the ser
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Insightful kBOY Wrote: > Still having contact with many of the > ‘faithful’, the remnant seems to fall in three > distinct categories: 1) the sycophants of the > organizational hierarchy who will either > ‘do-or-die’, no matter what the cost; 2) the > sweet little-people who have populated the cheap > seats for most of their lives and will probably > ride
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The thing I dislike most about the heavy drinking, which is what it invariably led to...which were these weird revelation/confrontation sessions. People would take it upon themselves to "speak a word" to another person, usually rebuking that person for supposedly not be given enough to the pastor--who, it was said (often), possessed the heart and mind of Gary and Marilyn. I did everythi
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

larry bobo Wrote: > I had to learn to move up to a higher level and drink hard liquor > instead of beer to be in the flow. The combination of hard liquor and worshiping to The Doors songs (Break on Through, Riders on the Storm etc.) really liberated many of us in our local church. We were more cutting edge than most.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Two things I learned not to do during my > tenture in TLWF: tenture...I like that word. But I meant tenure
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

oh my...so true, Larry
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Two things I learned not to do during my tenture in TLWF: --joke to to Marilyn about her being an Apostolic fathering ministry --kid Gary about him commissioning an obviously intoxicated person to pastor our local church. As you might guess, my levity was not received warmly. Ahh...the memories!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families