skyrider

My twelve step program is centered on distancing myself from twi's cult..... 1) TWI is a composite organization of psuedo-christian and occultist elements. 2) Wierwille was not a 'man of God' in any sense of biblical understanding. 3) PFAL was filled with private interpretation and agenda-driven marketing. 4) Other classes like Way Tree, CFS, and Renewed Mind were detrimental to growth. 5) The WOW Program was front-loaded with all benefits to twi, not the individual. 6) The Way Corps program was designed to indoctrinate and idolize wierwille legacy. 7) Therefore.....everything twi-related needs to be re-evaluated with critical thought. 8) Therefore.....every step I take is to distance my life from the twi cult. 9) Therefore.....I regain my true self and embrace my core values. 10) Therefore.....husband, father, son, brother, uncle, are responsibilites of joy! 11) Therefore.....coming to GreaseSpot Cafe is one contribution to warn others. 12) Therefore.....I will never again allow ANY organization that much control of my life.

At this point, I don't know if I really want to go thru the painstaking task of resurfacing all these details. Honestly, it's quite embarrassing to admit that I got ensnared in twi's cult and how it altered my life. Besides.....by the grace of God and a truckload of perseverance, I came out on the other side intact with a special wife and family. But if I did write it, should I include......?? 1) My 'Ten Days of Deprogramming' experience 2) Escaping from the halfway house and phoned twi & flown back to hq 3) Recovering at Don and Wanda's and documenting the experience 4) Meeting with VPW for 3 days on his motorcoach to write "By The Way" articles 5) Wierwille's prophesy that my parents would disown me (which did not happen) 6) Finishing my research paper ahead of others despite all this 7) Later..at our wedding, lcm-performed the ceremony, howard-walked my bride down aisle, and rosie-bridesmaid 8) Etc. etc...... For years, I've kept a very low profile.......but with all that I've shared, twi obviously knows who I am. There's more, too..........but will leave that for later. .

Ironic, isn't it? A "ministry" that prides itself in having truth, and all the right answers, and the mog of the universe in their midst.... was pathetically dismissive of others' health issues. What about the compassionate believing for DELIVERANCE? What about the guy who fell out of the upper window during Paul's lengthy testimonies of God's goodness? Did Paul scold him for FALLING ASLEEP? Did Paul send another guy down there to check on him? Did Paul go on to expound on 'attention to detail?' No, no, and no. Paul went down himself.....and the Lord gave deliverance. From everything I witnessed in my 8 years of corps/staff ----- wierwille was the antithesis of ACTIONABLE godly doctrine.

How did I get in the middle of this?

Rocky.....yeah, be ever-thankful you got away from twi when you did. And, thanks for the encouragement on writing that book. Those corps leaders, who have spent 20-40 years in twi's structure, are immeasureably ENSNARED. As noted above, even some who dissent and/or want to strike out on a new path [at age 35 or 40] find tough slogging.

Martindale, at one time, referred to these as "battlefield promotions." In other words, when people are dropping left and right.....the situation dictates that anyone with a modicum of gung-ho passion is assigned to take charge. If a lowly 'twig area coordinator' was the best available, then that's who was given the "promotion." Oh, that's right.......twi scrubbed 'twig area coordinator' and twig references from twi around 1991. It was their subtle way of erasing the ERROR OF WIERWILLE DOCTRINE.......after the fog years. The whole concept and 'foundation structure of outreach' ie 'the way tree' was not backed up by scripture. Enter.....Household Fellowships, Branch, Limb (oooops!).....guess more scrubbing is needed. The whole program was structured with an ELDER corps to "watch over" (monitor and spy) over the YOUNGER corps. Wierwille employed a structure where "the blind lead the blind."

And, one more thing...... Whenever one moves to hq......there are many dynamics in motion with this decision. 1) Removed from the state where you have inroads, job opportunities, contacts, support, etc. 2) Moving to hq, one has to adjust to the directors' archaic system of authoritian rule 3) Isolation at twi's headquarters inflicts more hardships to regain any footing 4) When demoted from hq......twi leadership herald *their version* far and wide 5) If you move to hq and down-size all furniture, equipment, etc.....now you have to rebuild from scratch 6) Exiting hq and rebuilding one's life is a tough, rough road to walk 7) Does twi instigate all these roadblocks to stifle ANYONE FROM LEAVING TWI HQ? 8) For a family......it's even more challenging to rebuild. 9) The kids, schools, rent and deposit money, travel expenses, in transition turmoil.... 10) Why do so many who leave.....travel to nearby cities to rebuild? MONEY? 11) Will twi write a glowing letter of recommendation for your next employer? 12) Twi holds all the advantages to anyone wanting to leave this isolated cult. It's that simple!

When martindale was called out on his sexual predation at the 1998 Advanced Class......the man who confronted craig had undisputable evidence of twi's underbelly of evil. Martindale offered this guy the Way Disciple Coordinator position! Bribery? Pay-off? Cover-up? Makes you wonder HOW MANY of these "promotions" were given to buy-off silenced loyalty.

Or......bribery. Twi requested that my wife and I meet with our region coordinators when we resigned our limb positions. So, in our attempt to convey our growing discontent of twi's legalism.......we agreed to meet and address these disturbing issues. The 15-minute time schedules and endless faxes were just over-the-top micromanagement. According to our region leadership, martindale was extending to me a cabinet position at hq IF, in fact, we would reconsider and stay onboard. Was this a "promotion".......or a concealed plan to get us out of the state and away from this limb that we'd taken oversight for six years AND then, demote us? Through the years, many are "invited" to work in a leadership position at hq......only to be systematically monitored and publically discredited for any dissent.

Yes, the s@ges were region coordinators in the mid-west region. They ran the region from Arkansas and were the Arkansas limb coordinators in conjunction with running the region. The s@ges........good folk. Sad to see that they never were able to connect the dots of wierwille and company's evil. At one time, I held high regard for their depth and insight. But, alas......it wasn't all that deep. Good folks, though.

OldSkool......as you know, the onslaught of ever-changing policies, teachings, leadership changes, people exiting, debt purge, homo purge, non-productive evil and destructive evil suspicions, etc. etc. made for a whirlwind of changing the twi-landscape forever. But yes, I believe you are correct.......the mullins replaced the lichts. For years, the mullins were on twi's "watch list"........and, seemingly, leadership over them were reporting back to hq on the mullins' "progress." In other words, the mullins had to jump thru a series of hoops to rebuild their integrity of supporting twi. I do not recall whether they went back inrez......but they might have. These types of situations are kept out of public view, of course. Twi does not want to put a spotlight on those leaders who split out.......and, years later, debase themselves and let the alpha male dominate. In more subdued fashion, Bill and Regina S@ge resigned from their region responsibilities and slipped away to work secularly and raise their family. From what I heard, the s@ges had a tough time paying the bills and resolved to go back to twi. Everybody has got bills to pay. <_<

Back in the early 90s, Tom and Brenda were Limb Coordinators of Michigan (??) and there was a brouhaha that erupted over twi policy issues and teachings coming from hq. Of course, we were given martindale's version of details and scathing report on a corps night teaching. As most all know, whenever a Limb or Region coordinator exits......DAMAGE CONTROL is of utmost priority. Resources are deployed from hq to stop the bleeding. If I remember correctly, Tom and Brenda left the leadership roles of twi from like 1993-1998....or thereabouts. Martindale and trustees made it clear that they didn't have any salted commitment. So, how did the mullins crawl back into the graces of twi? Simple.....they groveled. Why? I have no idea. :B)

Who among us believes that 1,400 number? After all, we're talking about an organization whose founder didn't even leave his van wert church until 1957. It's fuzzy math and deluded assumptions. Did Walt Disney.....after drawing his first few animated cartoon characters declare he started Walt Disney Productions? Nope. Yet, wierwille gets five little kids to sing and DECLARES STARTING HIS OWN MINISTRY. :biglaugh: And, Tom Mull!ns......the same guy who left twi for many years and was raked over the coals on corps night?

Belle.....good to see you. So, in other words........no, twi did NOT even fill the auditorium on their 70th (cough, cough) anniversary. And, when twi claims "in attendance" what that means is anywhere within a one-mile perimeter of twi.....includes all staff on grounds, security guys driving up and down wierwille road, bookstore workers, hamburger flippers, children, nursing babies, and dogs named boo. .

The ridicule is well deserving. Another thing........that whole camera analogy in wierwille's blue book about getting "clear and focused" on one's needs in prayer, and then twi doesn't even tell their followers about this cancer???? And, after his death.......twi trustees would tell us that vpw "died of a broken heart." .

Enter GreaseSpot Cafe......isn't that why most all of us are here? What we experienced was traumatic and cut close to the heart. We come here to share our stories, our twi experiences, ........to help others, to warn others, to unravel the confusion and pain. We grieve when we see how twi shredded lives and left good people "wounded on the spiritual battlefield." The fiery confrontations that were senseless.......why? What kind of fury lies in the heart of a man who claims to be the mog of the universe? And, why is there an inner circle of people who cover for his every move.....and still claim to be christians? Why aren't others moved with compassion like so many of us who exited twi? Yes, seeing public humiliation heaped upon my friends for wierwille's gain was painfully pathetic. And, how many not only walked away from twi, but walked away from christianity altogether BECAUSE OF WIERWILLE AND COMPANY? When one deeply grasps the truth of the gospels and has turned from the wicked ways of twi......is there enough strength and willingness and compassion to speak against these injustices? Or, does one cower in hurt and shame and sorrow...... and silence? What wierwille did was evil. Maybe, there is some "spiritual justice" in knowing that wierwille died of liver cancer and eye cancer......his drunkenness was self-indulgence and his narcissism clouded his perception to see spiritual truths. What a terrible and tragic end to a man who deceived himself and was impaled on "the sword he carried."

Count me in this category as well. With wierwille's teachings on the "inspiration manifestations".......it came down to how one DEFINES *inspiration* and who wouldn't, with much prompting, be 'inspired' to encourage others? Remember, were not talking revelation here. :B)

geisha.....in some ways, wierwille's ocular melanoma JUXTAPOSES the hypocrisy of three things: 1) Wierwille's "law of believing" in pfal, 2) Cancer is a devil spirit and 3) Flat-out lies from twi's trustees......and IS subject to ridicule. When twi's founder, victor paul wierwille, was confronted with liver cancer and ocular cancer......the "emporer has no clothes" moment was upon them. Could wierwille face down his health issues with "THE LAW OF BELIEVING" and testify of its validity? Were the household of believers asked to join in prayer with specifics? And, after wierwille's death did the trustees detail the account with any amount of specificity? No, no and no. To me, wierwille's cancer and eye personify THE DECEPTION AND DEMISE OF THE WIERWILLE DOCTRINE. Yeah.....I'll admit that the following scripture is a stretch to wierwille calling on his "law of believing" to be healed but it does point out how one mocks the absurdity of the exercise. Maybe wierwille wasn't properly 'in alignment' or his 'needs and wants' weren't parallel or....??? Just saying.....micromanaged formulas don't actually work like twi teaches. 1Ki 18:27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, [or] peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

geisha.......first of all, you can't look at this thru carnal eyes. You see, "a few thousand" walking in prevailing power can shake the world of its spiritual slumber. And, all that "prevailing stuff" is twi at its apex as it constitutes the continuation of Paul's ministry, the great mystery, and fulfillment of God's will [Acts 19:20]. And, besides......twi doesn't need to prevail with signs and stuff. Only the spiritually immature can't see twi's greatness for all that it is.

Hey Dad, Thanks for all the tuition payments and support here in college, but I've decided to quit and go WOW. I took this bible class and some people are convinced that putting God first is the best thing I can do for my life right now. Where? Oh, I don't know yet. We meet in Ohio for a big meeting and then, they send us out with others. Yeah, others going out. No, we won't be paid or anything......but we're going to live together and spend the whole year witnessing to others. It's going to be great. Go to a place I've never been. Live with strangers and find work. Spend the whole year running classes. Learn to put God first in my life. And, it's going to be the greatest year of my life. What could go wrong? .

No, no........that's a peregrine falcon diving for a kill shot on its prey. The dove was not compatible with the theme of "prevailing."

The fiery confrontations, jump-on-command, self-serving, you-can-stay-as-long-as-your-money-holds-out......was the REAL wierwille.

Are the crayons to be purchased separately?

And......why is there a corps-only website for EX-corps members? They want to REMEMBER some cherry-picked things, yet have distanced themselves from the organization altogether......huh?

Pete.....thanks for starting this thought-provoking thread. When it comes to "vetting" an individual or organization, the scriptures are laced with plenty of pearls of wisdom. Obviously, there are those [especially, youth] who are swayed by emotion, charisma, appearances, glitter, slick presentations and advertising, peer pressure idolizing, etc.........and thus, the scriptures unequivocally point out the camouflaged and hidden aspects of DECEPTION, MANIPULATION, EXPLOITATION, etc. that are designed to "fool the very elect." 1) Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and [the leaven] of Herod. 2) Wolves in sheeps' clothing 3) You shall know them by their fruits 4) Tares and wheat....will be known at harvest 5) Those who suppress by winks and hods 6) Not with excellency of speech, BUT DEMONSTRATION OF POWER 7) Etc. Etc. The manipulation that THE WAY INTERNATIONAL employed was multi-leveled......but one of their sinister ploys was that once a person took the class and "got involved" was to stay the course. What? Excuse me......but when one recognizes evil deceiving, then he has EVERY RIGHT TO STOP ALL INVOLVEMENT AND LEAVE. Why did Jesus expose the Pharisee hypocrisy over and over? Because the people were ensnared in this system of evil and could not see it! Systems, structures and organizations layered in bureacracy often hide the simplicity of the truth. And, when one peels back all the obfuscation of these systems, truth emerges.