skyrider

For many.....the LEAD experience factors in the weather conditions, the hitch-hiking episode, the staff members at Tinnie, one's physical strength and conditioning, any reproof sessions culminating in the LEAD evaluation and the reception back at Emporia (or Rome City). All factors contributed to one's overall experience......therefore, the range of the LEAD experiences will vary greatly. How twi thought that THIS experience would be a major indicator of one's spirituality.......

Thanks likeaneagle........I appreciate it. IMO there is very little doubt that there were some awesome believers and corps who genuinely served God and their fellow man. Yet, when one closely looks at the hardness of heart and searing of one's conscience that progressed throughout twi's doors......it seems apparent to me that "the searing and branding of corporate loyalty" leads back to the root, to hq.....and namely back to wierwille himself. When applying constant pressure to the corps and upper leadership, the pressure intensity was blowing some gaskets....for sure. Seems like neither wierwille nor martindale had the spiritual perception to recognize this......or the long-term effects on corps marriages and families, etc. Is it any wonder why the inresidence corps numbers have plummeted to single-digit numbers? But please note.....the first corps principle is: Acquire an in-depth spiritual perception and awarenes.

So......in today's twi, when they speak of a "kinder, gentler ministry".... Maybe, or maybe not........you can halve the intensity of the LCM wannabes.

And.....that was a public statement. Now.....try to imagine what wierwille said BEHIND CLOSED DOORS to the corps or clergy. :blink:

Corps indoctrination was one BIG CLONING COMMUNE. Many of those nightowls were spent listening to wierwille share, again, about how God showed him the word. Along with these "Look at ME sharings" were the expounding on the wierwille family, the wierwille farm, the way woods, veepee's childhood......you get the picture. I understand some of you wierwille apologists are thankful for pfal......I get that. But from where I sit, having heard the wierwille bravado in countless ways.....and seeing wierwille idolatry surrounding HQ i.e. 1) wierwille road, 2) The Victor Paul Wierwille Prevailing Word Auditorium, 3) pictures of wierwille all over, 4) wierwille plaques, 5) the fountain area with wierwille at the pinnacle gravesite, 6) names of side streets after the wierwille family, 7) paintings and prints of wierwille in them, 8) "Founders' Hall and etc........IT ALL POINTS TO THE WIERWILLE IDOLATRY THAT PERMEATES TWI. So, yeah......go ahead and boast about "all you learned in pfal".......and when the curtain is fully pulled back its WIERWILLE, not Jesus Christ, that is standing FRONT AND CENTER.

johniam.......I know. But then.......you never sat in those wierwille-veins-popping yellfests when all hell broke loose. Man, wierwille and martindale and others could really spit out some over-the-top fear manipulation by using scriptures such as "salt losing its savor" or "like a dog returning to his vomit" or "being loaded up with devil spirits like a new boot in hell." Believe it or not..........the wierwille of pfal was NOT the wierwille of corps training. Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hide comes to mind.

Well........After corps "training" my stereotype of twi was that if you step out of line just a little, you will be labeled a cop-out and might go to hell.

Wierwille seemed to pride himself on being able "to teach his keeds." Time and time again, he said that NONE of the corps knew how to work. So, those 3 1/2 hours work assignments of pulling weeds, mowing grass, mopping floors, etc was soooo essential to our corps training.......PULEEASE. Sure there were some who needed help to learn some work areas, but to lump ALL in the same batch and degrade them publically was wierwille's mode of sicko teaching. Of course, having been raised on a farm with crops and livestock, driving a tractor when I was nine attending to fieldwork, etc. etc.....I took exception to wierwille's vaunted ego and put-downs (while he sipped on his drambuie). The work program was just ANOTHER means to milk the money and stock the coffers for twi......free labor, especially from the skilled workers i.e. electrians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, etc. So was wierwille REALLY an expert in chopping wood and clearing trees?

To me.....when I go back in the files of my mind.....the pfal class was wierwille's cut-n-paste operation to bring people into his corporation. Even in the final minutes of the 12th session...."Having done all STAND" and the translation: Stand with and for the way ministry or the adversary, the devil, will kill you. And, the "code red" unspoken and unpublished version of this fear motivation was ratched up AFTER one took this pfal class. It was like a silenced secret known amongst the grads of the class. Wierwille left little doubt to our impressionable young minds that walking away from "the truth" [as taught in his version] was unacceptable in God's sight. Why did many of us stay so long? Gee, the interweaving of "standing on the word," peer pressure, fear tactics, "friendships", having forsaken our families, serving a higher purpose, etc........all mounted to years of serving idolatrous men, missed opportunities, staying in comfort zones, marriage with like-minded zealots, etc. And, in spite of twi's oppression.....there still were pockets of genuine love and service to God's kids. Good riddance to "the good ole days."

Thanks polar bear. I appreciate your kind words. Yeah........IN SPITE of the regimentation, many of us went out onto the field and forsook the hardened approach to "helping" others. Many of us, you included.....endeavored to take the high road of Christ's love and help carry the burdens of others that could be shared. Many corps sidestepped the twit-leadership's counsel of stern micro-management and allowed the spirit of God to come alive in ways far surpassing the pee-brain training. The corps training.....I was expecting SO MUCH MORE. It was a numbing experience to be herded in and out of classroom teachings day after day, roll calls, reproof sessions to everyone because of ONE violator, and the hundreds of regimented techniques in the three-ring circus of inrez-ville. So much of those two years of inresidence were hoops and hoopla. Heck, the little "good" from that structured set-up could have been easily addressed in a three-month training. All the other stuff was indoctrination into the wierwille propaganda machine.......not the MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR concept of the One Body. Polar bear...........your song-writing is awesome and your heart to serve others is beyond reproach. You and your wife were truly some of the good-hearted ones, not because of twit-training......but because of WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST and your walk of faith. I detest the wierwille-adulation indoctrination that was pushed by the corps coordinators. I detest the idolatry of the trustees/emeritus trustees/presidents cabinet/trunk coordinator/region coordinators lift lists that were to be our prayer-rosary at the first of each day. I detest the "wierwille -- father in the word" jargon that martindale and geer promoted. So very many tares......and very little wheat in twitville. Thank God for opening my eyes to this leavon. Back to higher ground.

Had I taken the pfal class and learned many of Rev. B.G. Leonard's teachings [i.e. wierwille stole BG's class material in 1953 as documented in Mrs. Wierwille's book Born Again to Serve] ....I think I would be most thankful. But signing on the line to receive enhanced "leadership training" via the corps program was a MAJOR detour in my spiritual growth and walk with God. IMO the corps program can be summed up in two words..........CORPS CLONING. The regimentation of the corps program was a herding of hundreds into the same bull factory. Neither wierwille nor martindale really understood the awesome dynamics of the CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY reality. For had they locked into the depth of each-one-unique, each-one-called, each-one-having-special-gifts, each-one-is-prized-by-God, they would NOT have pushed the Wierwille Cloning Factory. I've said this many times on GS.........I detested the corps training. I've spent nearly a decade unearthing its toxic waste and deadly doctrines. Even after those inrez years, I never had any use for those "sacred" corps notes.....sheeesh. And, wierwille's literal translations acccording to his usage were elevated ego on a mog-stick. Crap, three years of corps nights......sitting for about three hours (or more) each night.......and it was a total waste of my time in deeply desiring to be a good and faithful vessel for the Lord. The corps indoctrination constantly notched up the concept of the mog-adulation. The corps indoctrination was a field of fear-fixation. The corps indoctrination was an obedience-above-all-else food-fest. And, the corps indoctrination was a perversion of discipleship learning, leading young men to aggressive abuse and young women to the mog's motorcoach. More later.

Yeah.....most all of mine went in the trash too. Same goes with me.......I didn't think it was fair to unload some of this fear-doctrine and manipulation on another innocent soul. At the time, I said "screw the money".......heck, I'd given 24 years of my life and tens of thousands of dollars to push the way effort of "their word over the world." Making a few hundred bucks just seemed so miniscule to me at the time.

As I remember it (and I'm quite certain of it)........when vpw's quartet were in the beginning stages of performing, they needed a name for this new quartet. I was working on hq staff at the time and anyone who wanted to submit a name could do so. About a week or so went by.......and one name that was submitted was to vpw's liking. The name submitted: The Victors The name was submitted by: Rosalie Fox Rivenbark

Seriously go back?....... To attend a SNS where they READ the pre-aprroved script? To shake Howard Allen's "there are no strangers at the Way" hand? <_< To visit veepee's gravesite and reflect on his mog-status? To walk thru the way woods and see the "corps" chalet? To observe the hypocrisy and backbiting tactics once again? To be reminded of my years of devoted labor to a pathetic cult? The only possible reason to visit twi's hq would be to again see THE BEAUTY AND BLESSINGS OF BEING OUT OF THIS VIPER NEST.

polar bear, Yeah......twi's options are dwindling each year. Even from a corporate standpoint, it must have seemed rather ridiculous to keep "training" the corps there.......since the corps inrez levels are hovering around 5 or 6, or whatever. Doesn't quite fit with proper stewardship of the abs now does it? The twit visits and camp idea is a no-brainer. It buys them time. Twi is good at spinning a good idea, but this one has lost its flavor years ago. Sure, there may be some who partake of the mountain scenery and rafting, but gollygee.........there are fun parks and water parks everywhere these days. And yeah, the hq staffers might get a cut-rate deal to help promote it......but I seriously doubt it has much longevity. Seems like several twi-offshoots are outnumbering their parent organization.

Well............some hq staffers have sat in those offices for 20+ years. To name a few.......Jox & Lindx Cxxlter, N@ncy Hxxrnx, J0hn & Vxckx Reyn0lds, McCullxxghx, Cxyles, etc. etc. So many of these people locked into their hq positions and spent very little time on the field. And, of course twi really likes those single, committed individuals who don't mind living in tight quarters and five changes of clothes. I never did figure out why many of them "needed" the corps training to simply stay in an isolated office job a lifetime.

John, Always good to see your input on GS. And, someday if you and your family are passing through our fair city, please stop in. I suppose, like any organization, there are the hard-core, aggressors.....the moderately-committed individuals and the deadend losers who slither their way through in a variety of ways. Guess I just didn't see this thing as an iron-clad organization with politics and inner-circle secrets and brown-nosers and sloppy promotions. Silly me......I thought we were being trained to be disciples of the Lord and follow His lead. Heck, I even signed up for the corps training thinking that it was a FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM. It was not apparent to me that the board of trustees were attempting to keep their hooks in me a lifetime with new assignements every three years. Wierwille stayed intoxicated by his own pride and stumbled through the darkness of his own doing. He chose to see "right" in his own eyes and walked away from the Lord. Today, his "ministry" has all the markings of a Branch Davidian cult with an isolated/compound mentality. Even the innies are embarrassed to witness and bring others to this pathetic existence. Thankfully.....and hopefully, I'll have another thirty-some years to enjoy my freedom from cults.

So true. And, in terms of thought processes.......it seems to me that twi's definition of "standing" or "committed" is far-removed from the pro-active mindset and spiritual stamina of the Apostle Paul. Clearly, he didn't just sit around Jerusalem and institute more policies and bonk the girls. Nor did he sip his drambuie and coffee throughout the day while he met with his leadership. And, his walking by the faith of Jesus Christ was in demonstration of God's power and not just cliches and zig ziglar motivational speaking. Twi's version of "standing on God's Word" is an INSTITUTIONAL VERSION of wierwille's cut-n-paste that has been propounded from day one. Throughout his presidency, Wierwille was considered the spiritual apex of walking with God.....and yet, a cancer devil spirit sent him packing to digger o'del.

It seems to me that those who've been successfully conditioned to NEVER THINK......fall into two categories: 1) sold out leadership with vested interests and bod accolades (like the Moneyhands) or 2) hq staffers that have a cushy job and indulge themselves in self-importance for working at this spiritual epicenter where devil spirits work night and day to viciously attack. After all, when former REGION COORDINATORS want no more involvement with twi it sends a ripple effect throughout the whole corporation.....and jolts a few into CONSTRUCTIVE THINKING. I know that when my wife and I disassociated with twi, I had many phones calls from near and far who wanted to know why the "sudden" change of direction.

Yeah, I too would have finished college.......rather than twi's robbery of self, time and potential. What irks me the most.....is that while some of us were diligently witnessing, running classes, going inrez and planting trees, painting their buildings, etc.......wierwille was romping in his motorcoach with young corps girls and slooching around in drambuie. Martindale followed wierwille's adulterous ways and went after many a corps man's wife. Thanks Donna for speaking up......NOT. Wierwille betrayed us and sold our diligent efforts down the river. Even to this day, twi cannot seem to right their ship........wierwille's cult needs to find THE North Star. And, ANY offshoots that keep wierwille on a pedestal and laud his work.......

Twi's corporate secret is nothing more than OPPRESSION.....coming from an over-staffed, gluttenous outfit that has salaries and bills to pay. Maybe........when twi gets rid of about 150 staff positions at hq AND travels out to field locations to genuinely serve, pray and minister to those who love God AND squelches their arrogant and puffed-up self-importance status AND learns to walk with the Christ as lord...............then, just maybe this oppression will stop. Until then, long-standing believers will continue to leave the confines of this ungodly corporation.

Polar Bear.....thanks. Yeah, seven years of a "kindler, gentler twi" and corps leadership are STILL exiting! Hmmmm......guess it's not quite synonymous with the grace that is in Christ Jesus that the epistles highlight. As long as Christ is preached, all of us Christians have a right to move on with our lives. The mog/mogette status in twi is SO........uhh, cultish. Wierwille called all who left his ministry........cop outs. Martindale yelled and called us....................greasespots. What does Rosie and company label the exitees? Even after all of wierwille's mistakes and martindale's yell-fests........hasn't rosie learned anything? Just seems like she's running things down the same manipulating road. Amazingly pathetic.

In my opinion, twi has a corporate secret: No one on the field will truly "remain standing with twi" throughout their lifetime in the eyes of twi's contempt. Why do I say this? Because, as twi defines "standing" or "committed".....it embodies the concept of faithfully witnessing, abundant sharing, attending fellowships and classes, constantly keeping step with the present truth (cough, cough) and embracing an adulation of youthful bliss. So, unless one dies suddenly and thus, prematurely it's quite certain that twi's bod will scoff at their "commitment" in their elderly years. As the years quickly pass by, it seems more and more apparent that twi is grasping at the wind in its attempts to hold onto its followers. Their desire to exploit their followers as merchandise is CONSTANT CONVERSATION on the internet i.e. Greasespot Cafe. And, without a charismatic leader, twi has NO appeal. It's policies and mundane teachings are transparent to the aging followers. The love of God does NOT abide at the trustee/director level in twi. A competitive and manipulative environment is fostered by twi's leadership and is core to way corps teachings. The marching orders of the day are to keep step with the directors' policies.....of which, they themselves do NOT live. In reading through the Friend Tracker Forum.......ANOTHER region/limb coordinator (and wife) walks away from this gluttenous cult and strikes out on his own in a brave move. Yep, even in this "kinder and gentler ministry" H@yward and N@ncy Ch@ppell (sp?) are disassociating themselves from their "embrace." Where have I seen this pattern before???........from Region coordinator........to Limb coordinator........to Branch coordinator....... to secular career..........to NO twi involvement! Yeah, Twi's corporate secret: No one on the field will truly "remain standing with twi" a lifetime. But, in actuality I tend to think that MANY of the corps leadership are busy planning their LIFETIME without twi. Thank you Paw.......Greasespot continues to awaken those in cultic slumber.

I agree.......wierwille was martindale's idol-maker. On THREE occasions, I sat in corps meetings where wierwille went TOTALLY FXXK... BALLISTIC and used every four-letter word in the vocabulary to strip away the inidividual's dignity and reputation, leaving them anathema for all the "household" to witness. Sicko cultism at its finest! Martindale was present at all three meetings and even added his heapings of evilness after wierwille fumed and stomped off. Yep, martindale should be very "proud" of his VP and Me publication.

Yeah...........around 1996 the corps were told to have NO friendships with those in their area, no "hanging out with those you are 'leading'". The martindale-policy was one of control and intimidation. If it wasn't a ministry function, then what the he11 were you doing anyway? Everything was moving towards micro-management and control. Under martindale rule, twi2 was a "follow your leader, don't ask questions, I own you" type of fear-fellowship. True legalism wrapped in the phrases like the present truth and weakness always brings down strength. Today................I have MANY friends again. Some friends from childhood whom I've sought out. Some friends from twi1. :) Some NEW friends as I'm busy living life. Some friends that I'm soon to meet.