skyrider

Twi has ALWAYS done this...... Rather than truly analyze the problem, the blame-game is initiated to keep the spotlight OFF THE CULT'S ABUSE AND ACTIVITES. Examples: 1) Wierwille blamed the students of the first corps program....labeled it the "zero corps." 2) Heavy rainstorms in humid Ohio in August........blame the corps' lack of believing. 3) L.E.A.D. program -- hitch-hiking and major accidents were corps' fault of course. 4) Wierwille dies at age 68.......Howard and others said vpw died of a "broken heart" when leadership/corps would not stand with him. And, someday.....when twi is little more than sell-order-bookstore joint, the directors will spin it as "No one really is hungry for the rightly-divided word anymore."

Snowstorms seem to be "of God" or "from the devil" with The Way Ministry. Wierwille welcomed them when he, supposedly, was praying for a sign {how does that work? I thought a believer was 'off the word' to pray for signs?). Yet, this region coordinator was convinced the snowstorm was from the adversary...??? Rainstorms.....same deal. The nearby farmers welcomed them "of God" and yet, wierwille or martindale was shaking his fist at the corps for allowing the devil entrance into the event. Could it be.......snowstorms and rainstorms need NOT interfere with the mog's scripted schedule to be deemed A BLESSING OR A CURSE? If these storms obstruct and interfere..... of course, the devil is attacking this narcisstic sociopath mog's intentions. He is the ruler of the universe......weather or not ( ) you think its so. C'mon peeeple.......it sits there like a diamond.

penworks......you nailed it. Just seems like wierwille was a narcisstic sociopath his entire adult life. Even in earliest recollections when he said to his New Knoxville Church minister...."I want to be a man of God like you, sir." What he was really saying was...."I want to stand in front of hundreds of people and be revered like you." And, the BG Leonard class "The Gifts of the Spirit" was when his light bulb went off. Wierwille saw this class-structured ministry as different, authoritarian and dominant to be revered as The Teacher. And from there, the teacher and his work were exhalted in legendary library of everlasting life. Move over, Jesus..........there's a new sheriff in town.

The Way International has defined their world in a black/white framework....ie ALL opposition to twi is spiritual in nature. Is that true? Of course not, but twi propaganda has used this tactic for decades to energize and mobilize the youth. In the late 70's......wierwille coined the term "cop-out" and it had far-reaching peril to any and all who were labeled as such. By association, a cop-out could be possessed by a spirit, or spirits, or a nasty daimon. The wrath of wierwille was most exclusively heralded at corps grads or clergy.....and yet, wierwille left his Van Wert pastorate in 1957 when he wanted to build a class-ministry like BG Leonard. Martindale did the same. When someone exits the corps for family reasons........is that spiritual in nature? When a corps grad has growing interests in business.....is that a spiritual cop-out? When an elderly staff person has health issues.........is that a spiritual attack? Have any of twi's Board of Directors read Acts or Hebrews 11.....??? They railroad twi's agenda on the tracks of isolated scriptures and never see the countryside that passes them by.......the ends justify the means, full-steam ahead. Just like the Pharisees in Jesus' day, twi leadership demands that the 'unwashed' go to them for counsel and their blessing. And yet, the mediator between God and man is ignored. IMO...twi is a psuedo-political organization with all the trappings of propaganda. They know the deception of what they do.....yet, they do it anyways. And, that's why the escalated levels of 'spiritual verbiage' that obfuscate the simple message of Christianity....it keeps the faithful on their heels. <_<

See.....the TRUSTEES know what's best. They can sniff out those pesky debbil spurts and help twi walk the straight and narrow path. The blind were in charge. Craig, Don and Howard went out in a blaze of glory......crashing and burning.

Nottawayfer.....very well said. Each one of us has a unique set of experiences and vantage point from whcih we cumulate and corroborate opinions/facts/truth. For me, staying in twi after those turbulent years (1985-89) gave me time to set some things in perspective. By 1994, I found myself distancing my identity from twi.......and embracing my relationship with God. Then, with each passing year, twi's crushing legalism had become remarkably apparent. Everyone's journey is different that's for sure. Even those who jumped into offshoots after twi have had a mixed-bag of issues and experiences to sort through....especially the CES momentus stuff and all. I gotta be ME.......what else can I be? :)

I wonder if the slow economy is exposing the psycho-babble of "the law of believing" in The Way International? Just seems like another small exodus in the making......? With 112 pages in this forum About the Way.....Everything You Always Wanted To Know about The Way International (and Sex) But Were Afraid To Ask. :)

Socks-meister........good to see you. The Cafe just isn't the same without you. The food isn't spiced quite right and the service is slower......but the pitchers of beer are on a steady stream. wwwwssssssttttt.....the sound of soft money coming your way.

So true. Twi wants to DEFINE 'you'.......in a COLLECTIVE 'we' unit. All their defining terms come in plural forms..... 1) Stand with the ministry that taught you the word 2) The Zion of God 3) The true household 4) The faithful remnant Notice, how even in the last 15 years or so.....twi has moved away from 'Christ-in-YOU' as well. All their terminology is geared to 'it takes a village' mentality. The power structure has a place for you to serve.....and its at the base of the pyramid.

Perhaps it goes without mention, but.....the TWI deception/experience does not define who I am. Yeah, it altered my journey in life and highlighted the trappings of charlatans and spiritual gurus.......but it doesn't DEFINE me. My life away from these GS boards is full and enriching. For me, Waydale and GreaseSpot have provided 'therapy and healing' enough......and I continue to visit this site to share my insight and experiences for others. If I have helped someone, that is a bonus. But I do like the thought-provoking conversations, the many friends that hang here, and even the jokes aren't half-bad. But I don't have some bitter streak that is unrelenting........ Those who accuse GreaseSpot posters of 'full of bitterness' just don't have a clue. This place is a small part of my daily activity, my thoughts, my life. My wife and I have moved on.......my two young-adult kids have unlimited potential stretching out before them. Life is good.....quite good, actually. Sure, it takes some time to get grounded after leaving the confines of twi, but I'm here to say that I'm far past the dirt roads of Ohio and 'driving down the highway.' Some of my friends, neighbors and co-workers have NO IDEA that I once was a part of a subtle cult that espoused christian beliefs. Even my siblings have little interest in talking about those crazy years of yesteryear......it just doesn't matter anymore. I am the one who is DEFINING my life.......every step, every decision is mine. With every step I take......I'M SO GLAD THAT I LEFT WHEN I DID. The defining moments of my life may still be ahead of me.

Fake smiles....repetitive responses. The reproof-free answer to the question, "How are you doing?" Great. That way no one could question your attitude. It was the repetitve response of choice that kept others from prying or confronting. <_<

FREEDOM..........full speed ahead. Speak up, post away........ask those questions that twi wouldn't answer. When I take my vacation this summer......no working for two weeks at corps week/roa in Ohio during my VACATION TIME. No sirreeeee. No stinking, money-grabbing cult is going to see me 'volunteering my life' so they can live on OUR $54 million of blood, sweat and tears.

In a galaxy far, far way.....I thought that I'd found "spiritual freedom" after taking twi's Power for Abundant Living class. Yet, as the months followed, this "freedom" could be equated with an ankle bracelot monitoring my whereabouts. Sure, as long as I stayed in home-detention [The Way household], no problem. I could go to the frig anytime I wanted, or watch tv, or the internet (oh, not so much) and attend home fellowships 3X a week.....my freedom seemed unhindered. But is THAT true freedom? No, not by any stretch of one's imagination. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. [iI Cor 3:17] Today, more than ever....I have a deeper appreciation of freedom and all it encompasses. Whether it be financial freedom, freedom from spiritual abuse, freedom from bondage or cults, national freedom......oh, life is grand. I need to get me a harley davidson and get out on the highway. Welcome to the newbies who continue to enter Greasespot Cafe's doors...... Vacation time is just around the corner......... "Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” ~ Ronald Reagan, from his first inaugural speech as governor of California, January 5, 1967.

Character assassinations..........absolutely. My wife and I fall into that category. Why? Because of two things: 1) We heard about all the dirty laundry details of martindale's sex romp at the 1998 Advanced Class at HQ. In verifying the account, and hearing from multiple sources.......we knew that evil was afoot at The Way International. The then-trustees were covering martindale's sexual predation and destroying other people's lives in the process and 2) twi leadership was strongly requesting us to take hq-staff assignments. When we refused the corps assignment, martindale sent region/limb leadership to confront us head-on. We still refused.......and, within 24-hours (after the minions had done their reporting back to Craig-Almighty) we were on their Mark/Avoid list. Then.....twi leadership scoured our branch/limb to try and find any dirty laundry on US. They found none. The only fiery dart that they could throw at us was...."They have chosen worldly things over the twi household." That's it! But of course, martindale had to cover 'seducing spirits and doctrines of devils' when he addressed the next corps meeting to add hyperbole to the context. As time unfolded, and others left....we had 10-12 corps couples tell us that they NEVER believed the lies L. Craig Martindale had spewed forth about us. Anyone who thinks that they might have been able to reason with Wierwille or Martindale face-to-face.....has NO IDEA how intensely, and instantly, and explosive it becomes. I've seen these confrontations up-close and dozens of times on corps meetings. With veins popping and swearing, wierwille/martindale could sometimes go for 30 minutes or more. Heck.....Ralph D. is on record for posting how wierwille summoned his attack dog on Ralph. Whether one was the Trunk coordinator of the USA......or a lowly corps branch coordinator, the collective culture of isolation and a totally submissive cult gave wierwille extreme intimidating power over this "corps keeeds."

Yeah.......I, too, worked my interim year on staff (at hq in late 70's) ...........$75 per month (or 25 cents an hour)

LCM followed the VeePee directives.......what did he do wrong? He got caught.......and the lawsuit(s) went public. That's what. Too bad he can't be 'Back to the Past' in his motorcoach sexmobile.

Yeah.......lcm learned it alright. In VP and Me, martindale's account of wierwille's mentoring........lcm stated wierwille's words to him regarding his corps tuition money, "You can stay as long as your money holds out." To wierwille.........money = believing. If you're broke, you're not believing and thus, a "spiritual hitchhiker." Show me the money......or get your @$$ out.

waysider.....I hear what you're saying. It was tough, but everytime I started to 'feel like a failure'.....I claimed the high ground of scriptural truths wherein they lie in wait to deceive. Yes, I was warned time and time again to watch out for wolves, pharisees, false prophets, deceivers, seducers, clouds that hold no rain, oppressors, lords over God's heritage, etc. etc. Twi failed God........Twi failed us. Period.

Ironic, isn't it? Twi defines the terms......1) earthly family, 2) in the word, 3) program rules, 4) success or failure.......and then, the 'Christian believer' finds contradictions of the program or teachings or minister abuse that VIOLATES scripture, and he/she is supposed to feel like a failure? How about this........when one searches the scriptures and FINDS OUT THAT THINGS AS PREACHED ARE NOT SO...he/she is doing the will of God by leaving the abuse and those oppressors who deceive the elect of God? Happy Trails.....

JJ........check the link below. The Wierwille Heritage

erkjohn.....yeah, the wierwille-worship corps week. When it was all over.....my inner thoughts were, "That's absolutely nuts. My God isn't limited to wierwille's blood line and a wierwille grandson 'standing on the word.'" Of course, like most -- and not wanting to 'speak evil of the man of god' -- I, too, shoved it to the back corner of my mind and got ready for rock of ages. From 1979-1985, wierwille seemed to escalate his self-bloated image at every turn. With the death of Harry (1977) and Ermal (1979)......the clock was ticking on wierwille to instill his wierwille legacy for generations to come. The 1980-81 corps nights were totally devoted to wierwille's "literal translations according to usage" in the Book of Romans for University of Life. The frenzy to get all this done, and recorded, was more important than the corps student. Heck, even the wierwille crest was changed to spiritualize it. ----> .....no rose-colored glasses anymore!

When you say "still standing"......you mean "still standing in lockstep with twi" right? None of wierwille's five kids are in twi. Don -- died at age 60, in 2000. M@ry -- not involved since the early 70s (?) K@ren - not involved, except help to edit Mrs. W's book in 1995. J.P. - affiliates with CFF, the "half-sister of twi" S@ra - on staff at CFF The special prophesy of grandson Luke Som3rv1lle....totally bogus. It was all hushed over and not spoken in public again.

This thread addresses spirits...... In wierwille's advanced class, he taught that CANCER was a devil spirit. Why didn't the top cahoonahs CAST OUT THAT CANCER SPIRIT IN WIERWILLE BEFORE HE DIED?

Yeah.....twi kept MOVING the goal posts. Once inresidence....the game of endurance begins. Read Dale Carnegie books, memorize the list of sales techniques, learn a bunch of ludicrous 'memory pegs,' blocks of classes to attend, assigned to a twig and a certain branch, a 4 hr/day work group, a branch responsibility, dorm assignments, attend early morning teachings - 5:20am, respond to any 'red alerts' or fire drills, or wierwille's arrival, etc. etc. Once you graduate....the game continues. The field/staff corps assignments have uniquely different rules, but the oversight and confrontation goes on. One is monitored by reports, by leadership, by corps meetings attendance, by class attendance, by the yearly pilgrimage to corps week/roa, etc. The goal posts keep moving.......enough is never enough. No corps exits twi gratiously. Twi will not allow it. Highly respected corps get trashed the most......to instill fear, to stifle questioning, damage control cult-style. <_<

Guess I'm not the only one who bristles at twi's smugness in saying......."earthly family." I never heard the term earthly family before twi.....some 36 years ago. I don't remember if I heard it in pfal or just some teaching, but I do remember the disdain that twi attached to it. Ya know, 'the spiritual family' and more specifically 'the true household of God (twi)' is your REAL family. Spirit is thicker than blood....yada, yada, yada. Wierwille set his eyes on the youth and 'abducted' us from our past, our families, and our geneologies. YET......wierwille trumpeted his wierwille legacy, his roots, his ancestors. Mrs. Wierwille did the same thing. The first three pages of her book boast of the wierwille family and family crest back to the 1300's. The Kipp family is covered in her book as well (though not as extensive as wierwille's family). And......why did/does twi ASSume that my 'earthly family' was/is a bad thing? The double standard is so blatant, so appauling to me. Nothing new though.......didn't Jim Jones make references of 'family' in their compound prior to the Jonestown massacre? Or, the Branch Davidians......and David Koresh taking the young teenage girls to bed for the Davidian family of God? With a 'family' like twi...........who needs enemies?