skyrider

Exactly! In the 1980’s, it was mostly region and limb guys who started splinter groups… because they already had years of compliant followers in their state/region. When wierwille died and twi was in disarray working through the wrangling of geer’s encroachment, it was quite easy to break away and take their followers with them, From what I understand, Charlie Quillen did the same thing in Illinois breaking from CFF in Ohio soon after Shroyer died. Now, the R&R group took a different approach. With corps coordinators mounting a charge, they rallied disgruntled corps grads from around the country and did a Facebook Meeting to explain their grievances. Once twi got wind of it, “top leaders” were marked/avoid and thus, no restoration of twi. LOL Personally, I think R&R will fizzle away in another 5-8 years. Too many egos. Too old to garner support. Too many corps grads who know how the game is played. Too old to dip into SS checks and support a losing battle.

In my opinion..... those splinter groups that CONTINUE to teach the wierwille doctrine of Fundamentalism and Cult Control are worse than twi's institutional dogma BECAUSE these splinter guys portray themselves as groundbreaking revivalists and restorers of the faith that is in Christ Jesus. When, in reality, they simply got frustrated with Rosalie (or LCM) and took their shingle across the street, changed their business name, and set up shop. Then proceeded to inculcate the same material with slightly tweaked loaded language. It's so damn obvious what they're doing.... tired of playing second fiddle, these splinter guys bolted when they saw "a future without being subservient to twi's board of directors more advantageous that rowing the mothership-cult along." Add, gaining the podium spotlight and access to the abs-money as incentives too good to pass up. Those corps who followed out the door in 2017..... I think just saw it as a good opportunity to exit en masse and save face from the grim reality of confrontational pressures extending into their retirement years. Even if you go to the R&R website.... it's the same 20 people who do "teachings/sharings" in a fake world of striving together for the unity of the spirit. No comments in the comment section. Ho-hum blandness.... month after month. Big whoop. My cynicism with such groups makes me think that most of these corps (from this six-year old exodus) are fading into the fabric of life and living.... only held together by a few weak threads of nostalgia for "the good old days." Let's face it.... very few movements are initiated by guys in their late 60's, early 70's. Time has passed them by. As Rocky pointed out..... I see their situation befitting to the description: Stolen Youth.

Rocky..... to add further to your statement, I wouldn't today BE the man I am without doing the arduous task of mining out the gold understanding of how the twi-cult deceived its followers. Nor would any of us who've stayed committed to unearthing these nuggets of wisdom and understanding here at GSC. While scores of thousands who exited this cult and, seemingly cared not a whit of how this deception happened, we are not counted among them. We've pressed onward to gain a full accounting of twi's history and its seduction so that we don't fall prey to another cult or organization. Like many of you, the faithful who continue to sound the alarm..... I have been OUT of twi longer than I was in. And, during these past 25 years..... especially when Waydale was launched in April 1999, these years of open discussion and disclosure of twi-experiences [Waydale & GSC], we are surrounded by a wealth of experiences and eye-witnesses. Thank you all. Thank you Paw. Unto whom much is given.... much is required. In my estimation, the faithful posters here at GSC have given back more than was required. Peace. .

Of course, you are right in your assessment of my whimsical statement. In those transitional years from my youth to adulthood (and sound judgment).... it has given me a deep understanding of how people are manipulated and exploited. And, like you Rocky, I have given hundreds and hundreds of hours to post here at GSC and help dismantle their authoritarian rule. Brick by brick, we are making headway.

Looking back through the years of twi-involvement, I now see how this cult organization set their snares to entrap me. It is NO SECRET that cults target the youth and twi is no different. Through years of failure, wierwille learned that he was unable to get "church people" [especially church pastors] to join his ministry after taking the pfal class. Even teaching this class live to an audience.... wierwille failed to engage most pfal-attendees in the 1960's toward twi-servitude. Little by little, things began to change with "family camps" and the filming of the 1967 pfal class. Soon thereafter, young "firebrands" emerged to take the reins of outreach. Whether it was the hippie-types playing guitar in the park, like Donnie Fugit.... or the guys in a Way Home at ECU, youth were reaching other youth. Whatever the encounter, you were about to run the gauntlet as they set their I's on you. Introduction -- the entry point of your encounter Involvement -- the beginning baby-steps of attending twig, coffee house setting, or pfal class Isolation -- within weeks, you are subtly being isolated from friends, family, information, past activities Intimidation -- slowly, but surely, your authentic self is being re-formatted to a cult follower Immersion -- introduction of new classes, programs to reinstitute a new trajectory of your life Indoctrination -- most notably found in their programs, Fellow Laborers and Way Corps Training Idolization -- can be found at all levels, but mostly among adv class grads and corps grads Most generally, the first two steps are found at the "twig level." In the early 70's, many of these twig coordinators had a special care and oversight of those in their fellowship. Broadly speaking, it seemed to me like there were hundreds of true shepherds guarding their flocks by night. Dozens upon dozens of GSC-posts give testimony to those early days of twigs and twi-involvement. Depending on how long you stayed in this arrangement, you might have been left with the impression shared by many....Short stay, good memories. For those who were second generation and grew up in this cult environment, this scenario would be significantly altered. Isolation...incrementally, began at the twig level, but there was still plenty of time and freedom to "live and move about to your heart's desire." But it was the programs like Fellow Laborers and, specifically, the Way Corps Program where Isolation increased a hundredfold. What was presented as "a college where the Word of God is taught," was pure bait-and-switch. The overall tactic was nothing short of Manipulation of One's Consent. What we had agreed to was twisted to mean that we were consenting to "a lifetime of twi-servitude." Intimidation tactics began in earnest to quell any of the rabble-rousers. The hierarchy of leaders over leaders created an atmosphere of always needing some leader's permission to do the simplest of tasks. During work assignments, one might need to go to the shop coordinator to check out a screwdriver for fixing shelves, chairs or whatever. Yeah, sign your name on a checkout list to be allowed a screwdriver!?! God have mercy if you didn't return the item and resign your name in the appropriate box. Bullsh!t intimidation. The in-residence classes were straight-up cult Immersion. All classes were taught by in-house "Faculty".... ie, corps peers. Yeah, "in-house".... meaning that the echo chamber was growing louder as "the blind were leading the blind." In my case, we were being taught generally by the 5th, 6th, and 7th way corps. Much of the earlier corps 1-4 were busy with departments, limbs and regions to run. We didn't have any selection of classes or curriculum. Everything was block format. We were simply stationed at a specific campus and instructed to run ..... The Gauntlet of Classes and Indoctrination. With elder corps on both sides, I hoped to make it to "graduation day"... whatever that meant. LOL By the second year in-residence, we were heavily into more Indoctrination. Privy to more meetings and encounters with twi-hierarchy, one could see the machinations involved to keep the railroad running. Some experts tell us that a young man's mind is not fully developed until the age of 25..... and, in my case, I think that's a fitting description. I saw these red flags, but still wasn't fully cognizant of the destructive and evil nature of the beast. I wasn't aware that wierwille, martindale and others were abusing young corps girls in the motor coaches, cabin 12 at Gunnison and on-campus apartments. The indoctrination took all the full spectrum of cult tactics.... physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual abuse. Years ago, a poster named Catcup started a thread entitled.... The Nine Dots of Nonsense. Her opening post summarized very well how the corps program became a box of indoctrination. Is it any wonder that scores of followers reached the point of Idolization of wierwille and his doctrine? Entombed in a world of isolation for decades from the outside world can do that to your mind. What you look at.... you become. Remember that? What you center your whole mind and soul on.... becomes the center of YOUR world. It's a known reality in the psychological realm. All those hyperbolic declarations of "wierwille's greatness" .... all those night owls where we sat cross-legged at those campfires listening to wierwille's bloviating .... all the "bridge-builder" poem reading wherein wierwille equated himself as some great bridge builder who took time to stop and help others to new horizons .... those mind-numbing readings of "A Day with the Wierwilles" ... the life-size bronze statue of wierwille in the auditorium .... and the need to stand with the wierwille family in order that the word will continue to live......SHEEESH. Could I please have back at least three years of my life from such nonsense? The eyes of a cult, any cult, are always looking for new recruits. If there is a new generation of youth rising up at twi, I can only pray that they will be prodded awake by the hundreds of thought-provoking threads here at GSC. .

Dismal outreach with high overhead costs. An auditorium with few “paying customers” Camp Gunnison that sits empty 8 months out of the year Programs with minuscule attendees Resulting in ……. Sending out cheap postcards. LOL

Nothing shouts FAILURE more than building an auditorium with an orchestra pit, deluxe rehearsal room, a/v sound room, 1,440 seating capacity…… and very few people, besides staff, show up. So much for that “spiritual perception and awareness” let alone the “higher powers of the church” (ie wierwille) receiving any type of guidance or revelation.

The vanity that I speak of is......one of self-importance belonging to this group. IMO, we thought that we were special to adhering and promoting wierwille doctrine....ie "God's Word." We were indoctrinated to think that we were "God's remnant, standing in the gap against the onslaughts of the devil." And, corps grads clung to this "higher level of elitism" indoctrinated to believe that God had given them a specific calling to stand with wierwille and lead others. For corps, this vanity was signed and sealed with a salt covenant. As things spiraled downward, wierwille sent out his *corps letters* to guilt corps grads to stay true to their corps commitment. Even with common sense and reality staring back, some corps felt (guilty) obligated to stand strong with wierwille doctrine long after the cult leader was dead.

I just got off the phone with a friend. In our talks, he asked me if I'd gotten this postcard from twi. He and another corps grad in my city received this postcard a few weeks back. Apparently, twi is targeting those who they think might be susceptible to nostalgic messaging to return to twi. For the record, I never received this postcard. Could it be that twi monitors GSC to see who the outspoken critics are.... and then, (obviously) does NOT send them this postcard knowing that it's not possible to seduce and deceive you or me, AGAIN? In my opinion, yes... that's their deceptive marketing strategy. Those who have not done their due diligence in dismantling twi's deception and web of lies is STILL vulnerable to the cult's trappings. Everything that upholds common sense, tells us that twi operates as a cult to instigate total thought reform of the individual. Study Scientology and you'll see the same "steps to enlightenment," loaded language, isolation, destruction of the authentic-self, dependency, groupthink, totalitarian tactics, etc. Seemingly, at this time twi has settled on using nostalgia as a weapon to entice. What is left at The Way International that could possibly lure someone to "come back?" The people, so-called leaders, "friends" and acquaintances have scattered to the winds. Campuses sold off. Programs altered. An auditorium that can seat 1,440 has generally the first 5-6 rows on the main level occupied on any given regular STS. Staff members who do their duties and quickly head back to their trailers after the meeting. Everything reeks of a dying organization. I am sometimes reminded of one of the final lines in the movie, The Devil's Advocate.... where the sleazy reporter says to Keanu Reeves, "Vanity.....gets them every time." Could it be that vanity is used as a form of ju-jitsu to leverage one's past experiences with present common sense reality? I mean, it's just nuts to even consider returning to the trappings of a cult.

Could it be that twi initiates these little side-projects to keep the indentured servants busy? Maybe this has to do more with keeping them busy than some outreach effort? As the numbers crater in outreach and programs...AND....staffers quit to find better employment, what is there to do all day? Donna and Rosalie are boxed in a corner. They see the pathetic numbers. Twi has no life left in its bones, so staffers are assigned to projects much like an institutional setting.... a mental ward or retirement setting.

Twi is nothing but a one-trick pony. When I look at this postcard there are several things that jump out at me.... Why is it time to come home? Impersonal and presumptuous..... they have NO IDEA where my life is today. What is the benefit for me at this time? Once again, it reeks of a self-serving agenda to attract those who'd already had their minds grooved with cult-indoctrination rather than go out and find NEW PEOPLE. Plus, the non-subtle agenda of desperation attempts to increase revenue flow. Maybe they consider it "home"..... but I don't. That type of juvenile loaded-language has long lost its appeal. Wierwille used these types of deception when he referenced "Uncle Harry." Old man Harry was NOT my uncle.... nor was I one of wierwille's "corps kids." With attained critical thinking skills, these tricks of deception NO LONGER WORK. Is this picture of wierwille's burial site supposed to trigger nostalgic memories? Again, this is such juvenile marketing 101 that tells us more about them than they realize. Whether its been 10, 20 or 30 years since exiting that place.... most all have discarded memories and trashed those books from that abusive cult. In fact, I would wager that most have connected the dots to see how wierwille/twi conned them into years of indentured servitude. And further, doesn't every corporation have a burial site to showcase their product? Knowing what I know today about signs and symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder ... wierwille was a prime example. Was he so consumed with this disorder that he perceived himself as some "Egyptian Pharoah" entombed *front-and-center* at the entrance of twi-property for ALL TO SEE? Was he expecting his legacy to pass from generation to generation? Yes. This postcard reeks of deception, manipulation and exploitation.... just like wierwille's tactics and policies. Donna and Rosalie are simply running on the railroad tracks that brought twi to this point in time. It's just the latest form of redux manipulation sent to those who might fall for it. P.S. This tactic is similar to wierwille's corps letters. .

The more I consider these myriad of tactics, the more examples come to mind. Understandably, the more one is isolated and immersed in this realm of control.... the higher the levels of abuse. That's why the corps program was the ultimate stronghold wierwille utilized to attain his narcissistic power and control over others. Everything about the corps program gave wierwille and corps coordinators access to twist and mold young minds. When you signed on the line to "be corps"... you entered the door of bait-and-switch. Generic terminology of the corps commitment was an accelerated *mission creep* bonanza. Young, committed minds surrounded by cunning leaders and peers was pressurized. Those who fell short were publically castigated for all to witness. The cult held absolute control over the daily schedule and could change it at any time. Keeping corps off-balance stripped individuals from any control over their daily lives or future. Edgy and dangerous exercises.... colon cleanse, hitch-hiking at dark, safety at work projects. Death came early for some....even then, wierwille did not adjust or change course. Some young corps girls were selected for wierwille's sexual delight and predatory nature. Resistance to wierwille's "advances" was enough to give her the bum's rush off twi-property. Corps were disposable. Dreams of "serving God" were dashed by one act of disobedience. Isolation, immersion, idolization breeds a world of absolute control over others. Twisted teachings like "the lock box" and "salt covenants" were weapons of control. Corps were used as slave-labor at Camp Gunnison and Tinney, New Mexico (and roa). L.E.A.D. replaced T.F.I. in California. Wierwille stripped John Svmmerville of his authority. Purging those who challenged vpw was evident throughout twi's history. Wierwille did NOT lead by example.... he flaunted his position to smoke and drink at will. By 1977, 1978.... dozens of elder corps were moving towards the exit doors. What's a cult leader to do? Change? LOL. Nope, move younger guys into those vacated positions. Damage control, damage control. Twi was a one-trick pony. Decades of carnival tactics for 8 years (1973-1981) of power and control. Even when transitioning to lcm and stepping down (1981).....wierwille detested giving away power. Wierwille wanted his son, Don, to lead the ministry.... but Don's teaching prowess was lame. So, martindale was chosen because he ALWAYS obeyed wierwille. Nothing about being God's servant. Twi was built on a man of the flesh and remains ungodly to this day.

********* One could write a thesis paper on twi's tactics. I always find it interesting to study wierwille and the timeline of twi's "explosion of growth" between the years 1973-1980. As wierwille accumulated power and control over others, his tactics were tethered to two uncompromising positions: 1) the pfal class, and 2) the way corps program. Claiming spiritual authority from God, wierwille was relentless in subjugating his followers with tactics that can easily be categorized as emotional, psychological and spiritual abuse. Some cult experts have labeled these tactics as total thought reform of the individual. Wierwille spent years traveling the highways teaching a plagiarized version of pfal [stolen from Bullinger] trying to convert and recruit church people to join his ministry. It wasn't until he locked into "Family Camps" and targeting the youth that gave his efforts momentum that unleashed the 1970's decade of control. In studying these tactics, one can easily identify wierwille's narcissistic methods that are found in cult leaders the world over. Established spiritual authority.... called of God to lead others to enlightened truths. Build a framework of stair-climbing steps to attain this enlightened status. Isolation of the group from the evil, outside world. Us versus them. Allow enablers into the inner-circle. These "yes-men" will protect your flank. Travel with an entourage. It exudes an elevated level of importance and authority. A series of purges. Keep people off-balance and second-guessing themselves. ....... Load the language with words and phrases that only insiders understand. Anyone who bucks authority must be shunned and/or purged. Public character assassinations of one's reputation is a powerful weapon. Labeling one "possessed" scares the bejesus out of followers. Keeps them in line. Move in herds. Keep people in groupthink mode, no room for individualism. ....... Demand the tithe/abs to be in fellowship with God. Keep followers in meager, dependent state. Establish an outreach program that is "reaching the world with God's Word." Again, load the language making God's Word synonymous with pfal. Build the perception that hq is *home* further breaking ties with parents, family. Annual pilgrimage to hq's rock of ages is demanded. Strengthening bond. ....... Establish a two-tier spiritual authority structure. Way Corps are your "spiritual leaders." It's all a ruse.....because corps are NOT leaders, they're sycophant followers (suck-ups). Corps were subjected Stockholm Syndrome tactics and abuse others when given chance. Everything in twi became a herd-fest. Major events were an exercise of control. As followers grew older, married, had kids and responsibilities....reality broke these tactics. ....... Wierwille was infuriated that "his kids" were abandoning ship....thus, the corps letters. By hiding behind a cover of false humility (woe is me).... vpw was a huckster to the end. Not once, did I ever see wierwille do a "God-revelation" act to benefit the people. Hiding in the shadows, he built his mystique with enablers who amplified "his greatness." In the light of day, wierwille was nothing more than a country-bum fraudster. ....... In the end, his "kingdom" came crashing to the ground for everyone to see. Rival opportunists have been trying to mimic his tactics ever since. Irony of ironies that Mrs. Wierwille's book exposes vp's serial plagiarism and tactics. Twi continues its grip on the millions that were accumulated in the 70s. Only by isolating itself can twi continue to lay claim to its self-referential "greatness." ....... Peace to all who find the exit doors.

As I understand it.... twi had to make changes in operation AFTER lawyers got involved in martindale's two lawsuits. Not only did they have to dissolve the "work on a needs-basis bi-weekly paycheck" but that a modified pension was set aside for decades of service. Of course, one needed to have been a faithful employee for 10 years (15? 20?) to qualify, right? Some of you guys who were there into the 2000's (and after craig high-tailed it to Toledo in the dark of night).... experienced the changes and probably know the details. It is interesting to look at how few field corps leadership (region/limb/branch) even last 10 years on the field, let alone 15 or 20 years. Even the early corps wave of leaders... First Corps thru Fifth Corps... how many of them were hitting the exit doors by 1978-1982? I know of a couple of dozen who were ALREADY MAKING FUTURE PLANS BEYOND TWI before 1980. So, for them, twi wasn't a mainstay in their long-term planning or goals. Those who do stay with twi the longest are the staffers. You know, the guys who 1) Do not go witnessing, 2) Do not undershepherd others, 3) Do not have to juggle work AND outreach every day, including every weekend, 4) Do not sit thru class after class, 5) Do not spend wear-and-tear on their vehicles and gas money throughout the year AND drive to hq for the annual pilgrimage, the roa, 6) Have a bi-weekly paycheck coming in for "doing the word," and are esteemed highly by the Pharisee Board of Directors for unbridled adulation suck-up. At the top of this corrupt summit are Rosalie and Donna. Not only does Rosalie presumably receive a $65,000 annual pension for her years as twi's president.... but she has access to daily meals and hidden perks. Does she also receive *travel privileges* with Donna to Chicago or elsewhere for shopping sprees, overnight stays and fine dining? What about "consultation fees" that are paid out in perks and/or access to twi-credit cards? Imagine the possibilities that these two women are able to skim from the kitty of petty cash accounts.....all legal under the guise of non-profit organizations and outreach. YET..... the field corps leaders who give their time, effort and loss-of-future-opportunity are driven off. They see the game that is being played on them. So, perhaps this *pension fund* question is moot. The upper field leadership seem to last 7-12 years at that level of service before moving on to greener pastures. Years ago, I read an article that detailed how denominational clergy exit their respective churches on average of 15 years. With a cult like twi..... I see why it is less.

Now, time for football. See you in 2023

With the internet being *the information highway*...... we are able to relay this information, and dispel twi's misinformation (deception) for anyone who wants to partake. Why does twi WARN THEIR PEOPLE TO STAY OFF THE INTERNET? As corps (who were indoctrinated with lies).... we were repeatedly told twi's history and falsehoods. Then, the most adamant sycophants (loudmouths) went on to leadership positions, ie region coordinators. Yet, how many lies/falsehoods have we uncovered... Wierwille's false proclamation of when twi started (not in 1942, but December 1957). Pikes Peak degree-mill operation Wierwille stole wholesale B.G. Leonard's "Gifts of the Spirit" class (1953) Documented many accounts of vpw's serial plagiarism. Flaws/blunders taught in pfal. Flaws/blunders in building the auditorium. Deception, manipulation, and exploitation of corps program. Picking martindale because he ALWAYS obeyed vp (wrong criteria for picking leader) Wierwille's character of bully, striker, impatient, intemperate come forward. Wierwille's death certificate is examined (another thing twi tried to hide). Etc. etc. Practical, common sense critical thinking analysis on all of these threads. Far from wayspeak.... this is the KIND OF INFORMATION THAT SETS PEOPLE FREE FROM INDOCTRINATION. Peace.

Thanks guys….. life is good, all is well. It’s good to see GSC continuing to sound the alarm as we move into the 2023 new year. Even though twi tries to guilt advanced class grads and corps to *come back to leadership roles*…. that horse don’t ride anymore. GSC’s impact has traveled FAR and WIDE. All who’ve contributed to this effort….I raise my glass in salute to you. We are on the right side of this, while twi hides in the shadows of evil.

Those of us who exited twi, AND have now done extensive background research on the cult (as opposed to being carried away by youthful groupthink and peer pressure).....maintain strong convictions of the manipulation and exploitation from the cult. It is my belief that most will recognize the early warning signs of an abusive relationship, sound the alarm for others and stay away. Many of us were deeply entrenched in the programs and networking of this cult. Whether it was WOW, Fellow Laborers, or Way Corps.....we saw the underpinnings that were non-Christian or pseudo-Christian, at best. The higher up the hierarchy, the more Pharisaic the cult's colors show thru. And, when wierwille enters the spotlight of Scriptural scrutiny, the drunkenness, serial plagiarism, bullying, striker, sexual predation, misogynic undertones, etc.....put him in the category of a man of the flesh. While there are still some who idolize wierwille, and post on GSC......their drumbeating of "this great man" is falling on deaf ears. As adults, we've moved on to the weightier matters of Scriptural integrity....or pursuits in life, career and family that give fulfillment. We see thru twi's deceptive scam that is played on the youth. We stay true to our own personal convictions and a core of GSC-posters stay committed to warning others of this evil that lurks near the flock of God. God bless. Happy New Year 2023.

Reminds me of that quote: “You know, everybody's ignorant, just on different subjects.” ― Will Rogers

It may not be the *golden parachutes and paychecks* scenario of leaving the corporate landscape with stock options, severance package, pension enhancements, 401K, perks and benefits......but starting up a splinter group has great potential for a lane to run in. If the splinter guy develops a series of teachings (a class)..... then it provides the rails to move information. There seems to be an endless supply of hirelings out there who operate out of a "storefront church in a strip mall." The gullible public have lost their critical thinking skills. Add charisma and the entertainment factor in the mix and people will come. Oftentimes, the ex-twi "believers" unknowingly have a subservient mindset that has been grooved over the decades. Once leaving twi, they seek other leadership to help them navigate thru life. The cycle repeats itself. Classes. Cults. Carry on. For the new splinter leader.....win/win. He gets adulation coming to his front door. Travel. Perks. Privilege. He is simply following the prototype that wierwille set when he, vpw, started up his group. When wierwille stepped away from the denominational church, he too was doing some math. On page 228 of Mrs. Wierwille's book, Born Again to Serve, victor writes a letter on November 5, 1958 to his start-up following. In this letter, two paragraphs stand out. 1) "Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 27th. I will be back for Thanksgiving and I was wondering if you would like to have a special Thanksgiving Service that night at Headquarters?" 2) Next paragraph: "If I could get another 6 families interested in our local group meetings who would join with us week after week in fellowship as well as the giving of their tithes for this work and ministry we would have a greater group than we have even now. Although I sure thank God for your faithfulness and you know I have to teach whenever and wherever God opens doors. Some weeks and months our people are gone a great deal, but I know I do, and others do the same, even when we are out teaching we arrange for our tithe to be in every Sunday night." ############## "The class money pays the overhead expenses......the faithful tithing/abs is the mother lode." Do the math......10% of income really adds up!! What if splinter group reaches 300 adults who faithfully tithe... 100 couples and 100 adult singles = 300 people Average in high incomes/low incomes.....ballpark averages Average annual income of couples (together) = $80,000 resulting in $8,000 tithe per couple $8,000 per couple each year X 100 couples = $800,000 per year If adult single average annual income = $40,000 results in $4,000 tithe per single $4,000 per single each year X 100 singles = $400,000 per year TOTAL: $800,000 + $400,000 = $1,200,000 per year tithe total [300 people]

Here is some background on ss withholding policy...... Rosalie's Retirement Plan These comments give some insight: Skyrider quote: "There was a time when twi required staffers to sign a waiver form on SS payments. My yearly SS statement shows ZEROES for those staff years at hq. Around 1985 or thereabouts, twi's auditors/accountants informed twi that it needed to change its policies on SS waivers/payments." Linda Z quote: "In October of 1974 a law was passed exempting churches and their employees from paying social security and Medicare taxes. The law changed in 1984, and churches/church employees had to start paying into SS, although I don't remember having SS tax deducted in any of the years I was on staff (82-86)."

Rocky…..that SS withholding policy was changed in 1985/1986. Again, it was something (if I recall correctly) that was mandated by law or new policies…. not by twi’s consideration of staffers future/retirement.

For some reason......filthy lucre comes to mind.

Wierwille made it clear about his thoughts and policy on retirement. Time and again, he spotlighted Dorothy Owens and Rhoda Wierwille as examples in how a believer conducts himself/herself in retirement......ie, KEEP WORKING. As Oldskool pointed out.... things changed after the Allen lawsuit. Quite the benevolent ministry, eh? Only when lawyers and legalities get involved does twi get backed into a corner to do the "morally-right thing."

Although dozens of top-tier leaders and clergy left The Way International prior to wierwille's death (1985)...... I don't recall any of them starting up a splinter group that aligned with most of the tenets of pfal. That all changed when wierwille died. With wierwille gone.....seemingly, lots of these rivals saw an opportunity in front of them. Knowing that twi was a pyramid-structure......if they stayed, no golden parachute or paychecks in the long term. The best retirement package one could achieve was to become *pyramid point man* of his OWN group. Thru the years, trustees made it clear that twi would not be providing a substantial retirement package. Thus, it was understandable why dozens of region guys and corps coordinators took to the splinter-path. When leaders are not justifiably compensated for decades of faithful hard work.....they move on. Chris Geer was the most brazen in this attempt. His public assault on the then-trustees, craig, don and howard....was the most notable post-humous alignment and power-grab in memory. His assailed attack on the corps, claiming that 90% of them were possessed..... was a bridge too far. This disruption spread confusion and division that would never mend. Interestingly, as geer's quest for power unfolded in the following years....he patched together (can we say plagiarized?) a franchise-class that he sold to others. Talk about golden parachutes and paychecks....!!! LOL Many of these splinters who hit the trail in 1986-1988 have had YEARS/DECADES to cash in their paychecks. Those who self-installed themselves as the splinter leader didn't have to go find another job or be retrained. They simply kept doing what wierwille did. They tweaked some version of pfal..... pointing out where twi had gone wrong and convinced their band of followers to keep supporting them. Some of these guys are now deceased. They got to ride off in the sunset with those pfal tapes tucked underneath their left arm and a bible in their right hand. WordWolf quote from Revival and Restoration thread: "I really think that RnR is more a matter of the golden parachutes and paychecks of a few twi higher-ups who realized twi was planning on leaving them high and dry. If they had been given a bigger slice of the pie, they would have stayed in twi longer yet. These were leaders who stayed when all the previous exoduses (exodi?) saw everyone with sense jump ship. Other than realizing they were getting older, there was no reason to finally leave." It has been long known that when Martindale was ousted from twi in 2000...... that he went to Toledo and got a job at Bally's as a fitness trainer. A few years later, he worked at UPS and slung boxes for a paycheck. And, a reliable source just told us that he also did a stint at Home Depot as a "cart boy." Amazing to see the freefall.... (without a parachute). BUT NOW...... is craig martindale trying to start a splinter? The narcissism runs deep in these ex-twi corps. It is a fascinating study to see how these guys operate. How they rationalize their actions. How they dismiss ALL of wierwille's plagiarism, sexual predation, drunkenness, exploitation of youth, etc. etc. etc..... in God's name.