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 news was Gary's assessment of Bob's ministry as being a failure. There was also blame ministered to
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: > I always wondered how many of Rick’s security > group are packing heat while they walk alongside > the truck. (permitted, of course). I bet most of > them are. It's all so silly.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Nice Cloudwatcher Wrote: > My heart goes out to you Tknc. I am sure we have > crossed paths some time in the past. Your story > makes me feel sick to my stomach. It is just so > sad. I know that you can take the people out of > the Walk but not necessarily the Walk out of the > people. > > So many still hold JRS as the sacred > cow--remembering the
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

lily rose Wrote: > And I can't help but notice family photos of poor Melania looking so shocked. Wondering every day...how did I get into this horror show?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The result of Tuesday's election is significant for the future of our country, I think. I just hope the Alabama folks have a revelation of Roy Moore, and vote the way God wants them to. ;)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Puddington: "First it was "you gotta get a revelation of The Apostle", then it was "you gotta get a revelation of John and Marilyn", then it was Marilyn, and then Gary & Marilyn. And no matter how hard I tried, no light bulb ever came on for me." Many times that statement "you need to get a revelation of ______" was used to place a protective shie
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

kbyrne Wrote: > I don't know if you've watched any of Leah > Remini's program on Scientology or not. It's > certainly more extreme than my experience, but > definitely saw similarities. And almost every > person she talks with, there's a deep family > dynamic involved. I need to see that--thanks.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

> The lie I was told was that it was impossible to > understand the Bible without the interpretation of > it from JRS (then later, G&M). YASP kids were > encouraged to skip reading the Bible and just > listen to tapes. Yes--if the YASP kids learn to give themselves to their shepherds (designated relationships), who in turn give themselves to their shepherds, who in turn
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Kbyrne wrote: I left the Walk 30 years ago and it's only recently that I've tried to understand what it is that I was involved in. This group has been a great resource and a great encouragement to me. Know that you're not alone, many of us still struggle, but I feel a bit freer every day. That's good to hear, Kbyrne. The truth should set us free, even if it's initiall
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"The pattern captures the musings of a man who traffics in conspiracy theories and alternate realities and who can’t resist inserting himself into any story line at any moment." I came across this line in an op-ed this morning, describing traits of a man that most of us likely are sick of hearing about. I think the characteristics highlighted could easily be applied to the cult lead
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > “Roller coaster from hell” > > Sounds like an AC/DC song. "Hey mama, look at me I'm on my way to the promised land, I'm on the highway to hell Highway to hell" (sing in the spirit)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed: Watch out LW. Gary is about to lay another heavy duty unreasonable weird trip on you. It's a relief not having Gary's thoughts be my thoughts, or Marilyn's ways being my ways. Never regretted finding a way to get off that roller coaster from hell. Ha
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Lily: "Towards the end of my stint at Shiloh, I was getting pretty sick and tired of ministries taking their own imagination for the voice of God." That, in a nutshell, explains the insanity we were subjected to. God forbid that we ever applied logic or reason to situations. The will of God, apparently, was almost always something that would seem bizarre to a 'normal' pe
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BTW, this thread is extremely interesting and > applicable to the LW. > > Excellent thread. Thanks for the referral. It is very applicable to our experience in the cult- 'love bombed' until you were an intrinsic part of the fellowship, followed by consistent harshness. Of course John,
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Listening to early restricted tapes today would be > a riot. Like the UFO ones. The restricted tape > contents FCSLC shared. John calling a SLC member > a "stupid whop" was "collector" series worthy. Wow
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Larry: <Anyone remember 1979? I asked about it and was taken out of any type of ministry for the next year - until I learned not to question anything.> Yes, being a member of Mom and Dad's family meant to never question them, lest you no longer be part of the family. Such love and acceptance!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I used to have a “standing order” for LW > tapes. But eventually I realized it was actually > a “squatting order”, so I cancelled it. Were you cleared to receive every star (1-4) rating? p.s. did you ever listen to a restricted tape with someone watching you to make sure you were not taking notes?
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Larry: "To speak up about areas that are destructive and need to change is not hate, but love. What’s even more curious to me is how you can view the damaged lives and not care – none of it seems to matter as long as you are serving the leadership." Yes
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

TheJewel wrote: "RDC thought that the facility was his possession (and perhaps on paper it was)." It would be interesting to see the money trail on the sale of every church affiliated with the Walk and TLWF--who received the proceeds, what account(s) it went into, and how it was eventually used. With all the talk, post-John, of there being a transparency in the handling of church
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

TheJewel Wrote: > He was really big on conspiracy theories too. > Often times stories of the Illuminati, tri-lateral > commission, etc. would be woven into his sermons. > They didn’t have Twitter in those days but there > were all sorts of goofballs (like Dr. Peter David > Beater) who sent out weekly cassettes (the > forerunner of today’s “podcasts”) which he >
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

changedagain Wrote: "since there acceptance" yikes...meant 'their'!
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Does anyone know the details about the end of > Coniah Chapel? When RD changed the locks on the > doors and kicked everyone out? The remnant of > the congregation met somewhere else and eventually > suied RD to get the property back. Is that how > CoHK was born? No idea, puddington. I sus
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

The history of the walk and TLWF is riddled with power plays among leadership. Battles over Who gets to control what--all in the name of God, of course. The people are always put in a position of choosing sides--since there acceptance depends on it. BTW, I've heard Gary is very open about supporting Trump. They do have a very similar approach to dealing with dissension--so it makes sense.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

TheJewel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > RD held services in a converted “garage” out back. > I remember he used to get fired up and hop across > the platform on one foot, right arm outstretched shaking his > finger (at the Devil, I guess). Occasionally a > cuff link or his watch would come flying off. I > remember thinking of Ian Anders
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: > Here are the 4 names for that church, as far as I > can remember: > > 1. Orange Ave Fellowship: (RD's early church, > not associated with JRS yet). > 2. Coniah Chapel: The LW church under RD > 3. Church of His Kingdom: The church post-RD. > 4. Living Word Community Church: The new name, > post-Miller 5. We Give Up Chap
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

NickleandDimed Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Untreated depression can set you up. For a life time of > mental health problems. I suspect some members. > Who have depression. Self medicate with booze. > There's better ways to treat depression. Yes
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I also think that the whole emphasis on travail, > intense intercession and screaming at God > certainly doesn't help. You get so focused on the > unfulfilled promises and prophecies that it just > sets you up for a lifetime of torment and > depression. Yes, and then when things don
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

seventies walker Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > COHK IS church of his kingdom, tlw in san diego Thanks for clearing that up, seventies walker. Today those initials could stand for Church of Hargrave's Kingdom.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Cloudwatcher Wrote: > Destruction after his death increased when G man and the M > proceeded to rape the churches of money, time, and > energy--and the real upward flow began--their bank > accounts and property attest to that. True > It is open season to speak of these horrors, voice > opinion concerning G man's continued pillage of > the pocketbooks and men
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

puddington Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So, what do you suppose the gifts were that they > gave to the Pope? I hope it wasn't an original copy of The First Principles. That would likely be counterproductive. Especially the section about Babylon.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families