Welcome, JimK3. In the early days of The Walk, JRS and his family lived in Lynwood, CA, near Grace Chapel South Gate. They moved to North Hollywood by the time period you spoke of. The Church of the Living Word in Sepulveda (now North Hills) was built in the early sixties, and JRS would preach in both LA area churches several times a week. Later there was also a church in Anaheim, CA. At Sh
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteNancyB Back in those days ministers used "doctor of divinity" to show how respected as a holy person - like a Catholic Priest. JRS as "Holy Person". I guess that was quite an exaggeration. Or quite a scam. So sad.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Oh, boy! Fred and Ethel memories. And after they were all put together, some poor sucker had to go watch a bazillion extra copies of the old ones get shredded. They weren't allowed to leave the shredding techs unattended or leave until the job was completed because spies were no doubt waiting around every corner to steal a page for nefarious purposes. Just curious, did you ever get to re
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Important to Remember...
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: NancyB () Date: July 15, 2019 01:22PMCan you think of any more statements you heard in the walk that were or were not emotionally black mailing? Where to begin... [*] You're just bitter [*] Don't use your carnal mind [*] The really dedicated people will be at the work day [*] It's your choice,
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

"Set the record straight." Does that mean "Let me tell you how to think?" I hope that most people who have left TLWF will no longer let anyone tell them how to think again. But if former members have not examined the tactics used by cult leaders, it could happen again. Doing a little homework will be of great benefit to your future peace of mind.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens new Posted by: changedagain () Date: July 12, 2019 10:44AM A post by that little red flag from November 2018 Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: that little red flag Date: November 29, 2018 I haven't been around at the local SD church for almost 5 years, but they had the apar
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Posted by: maggieb Date: July 06, 2019 03:05PM Daughter of an ex-member here. Does anyone know about adoptions taking place within the church during JRS's time? I've read posts about marriages and possibly abortions being strongly influenced by TLWF leadership, but wondering if they also facilitated adoptions within the church. Feel free to DM me if you have any information on t
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: changedagain () Date: July 10, 2019 08:50AM Reep from December of 2017: Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: Reepicheep Date: December 16, 2017 07:49PM JRS was considered to be THE Apostle to the Kingdom age. He had definite ways of letting you know what you were suppose
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Posted by: changedagain () Date: July 10, 2019 08:44AM Old habits are hard to break, Reep. Wasn't that a Kingdom proverb? Yes. Or maybe it was "You can't teach an old cult leader new tricks"? ;)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: changedagain () Date: July 08, 2019 06:27PM A post by Lone Wolf (November 2018): Posted by: lone.wolf () Date: November 28, 2018 09:23PM "....it might coincide with Silvana Hargrave's Facebook post which asked people to give monetary gifts so she and Gary can start their new life together in a new
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Wow! Apostle Dog had a way of telling the truth, didn't he? Good job, AD.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens new Posted by: changedagain () Date: July 07, 2019 11:51AM Reasonable question, and unreasonable answer...unless you happened to have been immersed in the cult, and then it is readily understandable. The coercive persuasion applied daily reached to the core of our being, bypassing the rational mind, and did its work. The pow
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Thanks for re-posting, changedagain. It's important to remember the conversations on this forum. Regarding alcohol abuse in The Walk/TLWF, where to start? At the beginning, with JRS, who was by many accounts an inveterate alcoholic. By the time people were close enough "to the center of the camp" to suspect this, they were already under such control that the excuses of spiritual wa
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: changedagain () Date: July 02, 2019 10:49AM Note: I did a search for the word "obedience" in the category "former cult members and affected families"--which includes over 400 discussion groups. I received 257 results--192 pointing to our discussion group. Apparently even among cults, at least i
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: Road to Damascus () Date: July 03, 2019 05:52AM I have been thinking about the so called word given last summer where GH said a time of persecution was coming and we would be tested to stay steady in the word. Makes me wonder if he knew what was coming. This coupled with the whole will you remain obedient is what
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote NancyB Wrote: > With that said, how in the world does Gary > Hargrave get off peddling his so called revelation > of what "god" is doing today? Changedagain Wrote: For the past 35 years of so, the only ones in the fellowship who could get away with saying 'no' to him were Marilyn, and perhaps Rick. I can't think of anyone beyond those two, post-J
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I remember sometime in the mid-seventies hearing of Martha asking JRS, "Well, are you feeling a little more divine today?" At the time, I was dutifully shocked that she would mock him like that. Now I think it's hilarious.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Posted by: Road to Damascus () Date: June 29, 2019 05:02PM Something I have been noticing lately is how some people whom I love refuse to accept that anyone who has left are not hurting as much as the ones who have stayed, and that any one that left are somehow misinformed and have dropped off the front line and that God will deal with them. Amazing that and they are walking in the word
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Dick Helphand was JRS' son-in-law and also an attorney. He helped JRS with legal matters related to the mine venture. Paul Holder was the one claiming to have a process for extracting ore. Condolences on finding out that you're not as "chosen" as you thought, changed. ;)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Posted by: changedagain () Date: June 29, 2019 09:23AM Do you think JRS was fooled by this guy (Dr. Kerry Reams)...or was he receiving kickbacks from him, after allowing him access to members of the fellowship? I suppose both propositions could be true. I wonder the same thing about the mine scam. Was JRS really fooled by his son-in-law's scheme...a display of ignorance which al
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteNancyB Date: June 28, 2019 09:41AM The old quack was Dr Kerry Reams. My mom forced me to take his courses- it was a real money maker for Reams. Instead of blood he used urine and saliva- which can help diagnosis. Several problems- those he trained had little or no education- were not licensed to practice medicine NOR was Reams licensed to to practice- he was biologist who invent the Real
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteNancyB Date: June 26, 2019 07:06AM I think most people don't realize how much contributions employers kick into to a pay check above the wage paid. The amount of employer contribution is considerable. (I've owned a business and have been self employed. ) if the kingdom had come in '79, paying into Social Security and SSDI and etc, I guess, would have seemed moot or even sil
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Well, they actually call it a "farm". Potato -- potahto.
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

I recommend watching People Magazine Investigates Cults, Season 2, Episode 5. Tonight on Investigation Discovery Channel, The Move of God founded by Sam Fife is investigated. This group has very close roots to The Walk. Both came out of the Pentecostal offshoot known as Latter Rain. Pastor of Claremont, New Hamphshire church, Bill Grier joined forces with The Move upon leaving JRS' The Walk
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quote Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: changedagain () Date: June 20, 2019 07:14AM Willing homes to TLW? Asked to provide detailed personal financial statements? Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens Posted by: Invisible Date: April 29, 2017 My point in mentioning the ballroom gowns was to show how naive I was. In reali
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotechangedagain If only more had seen this palace while we were still duped, and living hand-to-mouth to afford G & M these absurd luxuries. What do 2 people need a house like that for? And how many "sheep" ever set foot in it? How could anyone have seen this and known that it was one of (how many?) houses they "owned" and not been suspicious or questioning of their true
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotechangedagain Perhaps Gary & Silas are both maneuvering behind the scenes. They're not accustomed to being on opposite sides, as far as I know. Date: May 14, 2019 Walknntalkn wrote: I'm eager to hear more about Brazil, Onion. My source there tells me that the split in Monte Siao is a result of the majority of the congregation asking for Silas & Shuma to step down, which
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

QuoteOhman? A friend of mine that's blew out 20+ years back got a friend request from Silas Esteves on FB yesterday. Hmm... Ohman?, it sounds like Silas may be trying to make up his current FB friend deficit. ;)
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Quotefool me twice Reepicheep, I swear there actually were huge red flags! That said I don't think many people there saw them at the time. As they say hind sight is 20/20. Looking back those huge red flags were there the entire time, for over 68 years. So yes everyone of the flag poles at Shiloh must have had a huge red flag waving in the wind that day, I'm sure of it. I still don'
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families