For the 8th anniversary of GS cafe, I have a very special guest.  He was the third trunk coordinator of The Way International during the biggest expansion of The Way.  He also served as a Corps Coordinator.We talk about the last days in the life of VP Wierwille.  And then through the reading of the Passing of the Patriarch onto the events that led to the 37 page letter sent to the Board of Trustees in early 1987.

Kristen got involved with the Way International in New York in 1970.  She was an avid supporter and was one of a number of people featured in an article in Life Magazine, The Groovy Christians of Rye.  As the years went on, she got more involved and entered the Way Corps. And got married.  

Her book, Losing the Way, deals with her life in the Way.  From her spiritual hunger, she was led down a road of Manipulation and Abuse, until her dramatic escape.

This interview deals with the early part of her memoir.  She has a blog which you can find at  http://losingtheway.blogspot.com/

Someone really needs to take credit for putting this together.

The Way International has once again brought legal action against another religious organization, forcing them to change their church's name.

According to The Cincinnati Post, The Way, a Baptist church located in Grant County, Kentucky:

But another setback came in August, when attorneys for The Way International wrote to Howe demanding that the church change its name.

Followers of the international group consider themselves Christians, but hold some beliefs outside orthodox Christianity. According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, they believe Jesus is God's son, but not God.

This is a podcast done about a month or so ago.  We discuss the law of believing 

Many groups teach a form of “believing,” sometimes called the “faith message,” “word-faith” or “the law of believing.” Of the many variations of this teaching, one of the most damaging is “the Law of Believing” taught by The Way International and its late founder Victor Paul Wierwille.    

    Like Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland and some other teachers, Wierwille teaches “believing equals receiving.” In other words, whatever you believe will indeed happen. One of their favorite verses is Mark 11:23-24:    

    “Jesus said, ‘Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.... believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”    

    Wierwille called this “believing equals receiving.” When you truly believe, you will receive what you believe.    

    Mark 11 highlights an important Biblical principle: faith is an essential part of the Christian life. As Hebrews 11:6 adds, ”without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

(from the CFF website www.cffm.org) 

TROY - The Rev. John F. Shroyer, 65, of Tipp City, Ohio, fell asleep Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, after a brief illness and is awaiting the return of Christ. He was born Feb. 1, 1942, in New Bremen, to the late, Harold Levester Shroyer and Wilhelmine Clara (Topp) Shroyer.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Mary Lou (Watkins) Shroyer; his sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff and Tonia Shroyer and their children, Katie, Courtney and Kristen of Tipp City, and Randy and Lisa Shroyer and their children, Matthew, Morgan and Mitchell of Sidney; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Doris Shroyer of St. Marys and Danny and Donna Shroyer of New Bremen; and sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and Troy Watkins of Sidney.

He was a 1960 graduate of New Bremen High School and furthered his education at Bluffton College and the Dayton Art Institute. John, along with his wife, Mary Lou, have given 40 years of faithful service to God's people. He was the founder and pastor of the Christian Family Fellowship Ministry of Tipp City. He also ministered and taught extensively throughout the United States and many foreign countries.

Friends may call from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Baird Funeral Home, Troy, with a service following at 7 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Wayne Clapp officiating. A Sunday morning fellowship and memorial will be at 10:30 a.m. September 9th at the Christian Family Fellowship Ministry, Tipp City.

Contributions may be made to the Christian Family Fellowship Ministry, 1575 St. Rt. 571, West, Tipp City, OH 45371.


Friends may also express condolences to the family through www.bairdfuneralhome.com

Thanks and God bless,

The Way International filed suit against The Way Ministries in U.S.Federal Court on July 13th, 2007 over their use of the words "The Way" in its name.  The original complaint (pdf) can be found in GreaseSpot's Downloads section.

Excerpts from the complaint:

Plaintiff has provided religious educational services and related materials under the trademark/service mark THE WAY, and variations thereof, in the United States and internationally for more than 50 years.

Plaintiff has spent substantial time, money and effort establishing its reputation or scholarship and services in religious education, fellowship and related fields. This reputationis identified by various marks, both registered and unregistered, that use or incorporate THE WAY

Dave Lutz, a long time staple of Way Productions through 1996, died July 13th after battling an illness since 2004.

Ted Ferrell had this to say about his fellow musician and friend:

As tears flood my eyes, I write these few words about my dear friend and brother in Christ, Dave Lutz.

I first met and heard Dave sing at Camp Gunninson in 1979 and I was impressed by his God inspired talent.

When I got back to HQ, I told V.P. That we should bring Dave to New Knoxville to be a part Of Way Prod. Dave and his lovely wife Terry, did come and through the years of Dave's involvement with Way Prod., he gave his all in all. His songs and love for God's people shall forever remain with us.

Dr. Carolyn Mann Rawlins, well known in The Way International for her work in obstetrics and gynecology, died on Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC.  She had been living in North Carolina the last 7 years near one of her sons.

During her medical career, Dr. Rawlins assisted in the birth of over 16,000 babies, many of whom for members of The Way.  Dr. Rawlins was a pioneer in the field of natural child birth.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 3:30 p.m.Saturday, March 3, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel. 

Below is the obituary notice as  it appeared in the Winston-Salem Journal:

The Board of Directors of Christian Educational Services (CES)/ Spirit of Truth Fellowship International (STF) removed Mark Graeser from the post of President January, 2007 (reported by Greasespotcafe.com). The dramatic move followed months of controversy in the group, which is the largest splinter group of The Way International.

Graeser filed a lawsuit for defamation of character against several CES leaders including Jeff Blackburn, Dan Gallagher, John Lynn and Gary and Karen Theisen. John Schoenheit was appointed the new president (reported by Greasespotcafe).

The controversy gives insight into the practices and doctrine of CES and its newer offshoot STF, which was designed to establish CES as a full service church rather than as just an educational agency.