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
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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

I shudder to think of the degree of mental bondage people have been placed under authorities insisting they have a right attitude (in the walk--a right spirit), while they are being used and abused. In the walk, John would specifically promise that even if you think a shepherd is way off the mark, God would honor your obedience...which has proven, of course, to be bogus. The flurry of activity
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

40yearsin2016 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- I have a similar perspective. > G&M: forgiveness, errors (you’re very > gracious) > Later Marilyn personally destroyed the lives of > dozens of people I care deeply about. Gary, to > me, was always a puppet – my 1st wife called him > the guy in the really tight blue jeans. > He wa
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks for your input, 40yearsin2016. Your posts are substantive...you know, as opposed to most of mine :) Hope you continue to be involved here.
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Exactly! LampShmamp Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am going to add my unapologetic opinion and the > opinion of many ex-walkers who are too politically > correct to state their view out loud here, but I > do not mind. I have no mixed feelings about > Marilyn's death. Ding dong, the witch is dead, > and good riddance. She kn
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Gary often conferred with Marilyn while he was pastoring. She did have a strong influence during that time period (late 70's).
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

AD-- Due to your prolific output, I now consider you The anti-cult apostle of this forum. Take note all you other so-called apostles!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

lily rose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Changedagain, > > I think you were lenient too. You have said that > you were brainwashed but I am wondering if you > were an example of "brainwashing lite" and were > less vulnerable to mind control work to > discombobulate the little people compared to other > elite mid mangers
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I think I was a pretty lenient mid-level manager. I recall often telling members of the fellowship not to show up to services and work days if they didn't feel up to it. Maybe that is what got me into trouble.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

paleface Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I understand that Miller raised a question about > something possibly being done unethically. Bamm! > He was fired and excommunicated immediately. Oh > course the LW people were kept in the dark and > told not to ask. And definatly to not talk to > John Miller. Humiliate, and pressure out of
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

pbxguy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > John Miller is The. Very. Last. Person. I thought > would leave the walk. wonder what the #$%#$ > happened. Really
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"And Jesus said unto them, take your hands and put them around your own neck and strangle yourself until you pass out and those thoughts will go away." --somewhere in the New Testament (New American Living Word Shepherding Edition)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Remember--both my wife and myself had experiences where we were physically threatened by these leaders, each for something we said. So I'm aware that they are not hindered by normal boundaries. Since this was a direct experience, I shared it.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

lily rose Wrote: > I personally don't believe that the > majority of those harmed by the LW make up lies > and a rumor that Marilyn asked Larry to marry her > hardly casts much negativity or is a way to get > back at the LW. My point is that there is so much that each one of us has personally experienced from being in this cult, we don't need to engage in speculat
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"The Wild, Soulless Shark Eyes of Marilyn" What a great book title. It really grabs your attention!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

BTW, the prior comment was not to cast any aspersions toward Larry. I didn't know him, but I've heard from many others that he was a decent man, with a genuine concern for people in the fellowship. That said, I think the black/white marriage at the top of the authority chain would have been a major issue in TLWF at that time--leading, I think, the many more leaving than actually did. H
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I've never heard of this rumor that Marilyn approached Larry Cotton with the offer of marriage. It seems bogus to me--far-fetched, implausible given the culture of TLWF. Unless something more concrete is put forth, my inclination is to dismiss it. I think when authority figures have been abusive toward their members, the tendency of those that have been wronged is to want to believe almos
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Also, if you're going to demand that someone submits their life to you, it would nice if you would have something of value to offer, such as being an example of what a real 'walk with God' looks like. So many congregants unwittingly became victims of 'mentors', backed by Gary and Marilyn, that were just dysfunctional nut jobs. Hey, I was pretty nutty back in the day, but
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

In light of your latest comment Paleface...I'm now wondering if I have understated the deranged mentality of these church leaders--Gary Hargrave, Marilyn Hargrave, Rick Holbrook, the Larsens etc. In my heart I wish that whatever assets/funds these people have accumulated on the back of the congregants could be seized, liquidated and used to help those who have suffered under the regime.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families