skyrider

All Corps Full-time "Revelation" Was Conditional: Within weeks, martindale sent the region men to purge the corps ranks. Although they tried to inject an air of spirituality to these decisions.......in reality, it was MONEY. In my state, there were 12 corps who went full-time. If every couples' "need-basis" budget averaged around $26,000 - $30,000 (or whatever it was)......that sure takes a huge bite in the operation expenses of a non-profit organization. Plus, all of these corps grads were NOW not tithing or abundant sharing. It took a few weeks.....but I think that it finally dawned on martindale that a fiasco was afoot. Corps were told that they didn't measure up in commitment. What? I thought this was an "all active corps go full-time revelation"......but now conditions were imposed. The "revelation" was being tweaked. Sheeesh. That didn't take long. Now, corps who had quit their employment were forced to go and see if they could have their job back. Or, it was just so damn awkward......some looked for new employment. The corps were disposable. Everything in twi was tweaked.........even "revelation" from God. Link -- from January 2005

Future ROA's Cancelled: Good Riddance: At the first corps night in September, martindale announced that the 1995 roa was the last one. I hardly could myself from an emphatic hand thrust (like making a long putt)... YES!....but thankfully I quickly regrouped my glee. Didn't want to broadcast my "good riddance" to the corps seated around the table. But hey......thank the Lord for small blessings. Martindale spend the majority of the corps meeting going over corps responsibilities as full-time and more details forthcoming. As I stated before, ".....I believe that martindale had NO CLUE of the financial ramifications of putting all corps on full-time staff. That meant.....EVERYTHING that the corps were legitimately doing for twi was attached to financial decisions. Travel, gas, motel, food, snacks, cable tv, pets, etc. etc...... every aspect of the corps was NOW under a microscope. THAT is why, I believe, that the roa was cancelled.......imagine all the expense incurred by corps and family to travel across the usa and attend corps week and roa? THAT is why on the first corps night of 1995, martindale stated that NO CORPS should plan to attend the Dallas 'special' unless specifically invited (to work).......BECAUSE then, technically, if many came, they'd turn around and include all their expenses on a petty cash reimbursement form. After 1995 ROA......every corps person was slated for extreme scrutiny to see if they were "spiritually worthy" of being full-time. During that first month in September, my region coordinator was tasked by martindale and trunk office to ELIMINATE CORPS FROM PAYROLL. Yes, within a matter of weeks......8 corps in my limb were told that they didn't measure up and needed to go get a secular job. Double speak was everywhere. Soon......martindale came up with that term "corps alumni" to add another distinction to being faithful to twi, but not active (full-time) corps. Money, money, money.......the trunk office had to triple their staff to handle all the financial statements, reimbursements, faxes, updates, etc."

1995 Rock of Ages: The Last One: From my perspective, this roa started out as same old, same old......since 1989, the smaller ones. Since 1984, I had long held the opinion that these "festivals" were little more than repetitious herd-fests........moving groups from meeting to meeting. Why didn't they ever do something..... ANYTHING....outside of the wierwille box? Sigh. But definitely, after a couple of days, martindale was irritated by teenagers at the gazebo late at night....and some who stayed in "tent city" not attending the evening teaching. I'm sure others could fill in much more background on this than me. Since I was a limb guy, I had a list of responsibilities on my plate......one of which was Mr. Coat&Tie Guy usher duties in the main tent. Ugh.....it was so damn stupid. Sh!t.....why was twi so anal with the dress code at roa? It was this kind of stupid stuff that I deeply despised. Not sure if it was Tuesday or Wednesday when martindale started confronting the parents. Main stage confrontation....not just the chain-of-command wherein the region -->limb-->down to the branches. Nope. The "homo-infiltration" charge got the rapt attention of everyone. The waves of confrontation swept through the crowd like strong breezes over a wheat field. And, by the next morning (as I remember it).......martindale turned the roa into a class, of sorts. Namely, each session built on the previous one.....therefore, "structured attendance." That's one way to get people in the seats! I do remember this......a friend of mine, (spouse corps guy) asked for my counsel as to whether he should quit his job and go thru the corps program to be re-instated. His wife was 7th corps and he was "corps spouse"....until martindale sent out that July 1994 "dump the corps spouse labels." So, the corps spouse purge had knocked them for a loop and added stress to their marriage. Well, I spend about 20 minutes with him and listening to his desires and goals.....I told him not to go into the corps program. And, further.....I told him that I wasn't sure how many more years I was going to be "jumping all the hoops." Years later, he thanked me aplenty for this counsel. The 1995 Rock of Ages will be long remembered as the "homo infiltration at roa".......but I don't describe it in those terms. IMO.....there were dozens upon dozens in attendance who were dealing with "a purge" of some sort (debt, unproductive, corps spouse, etc.). Martindale was adamant on devil spirit infiltration and possession.......but I'd seen this same movie by wierwille 15 years earlier. The sooner martindale quit yelling......the sooner I could get out of that suit.

Headquarters: Places in the Heart: My mind and heart hold two sets of "Headquarters" in parallel universes: 1) The headquarters that houses the evil, the deceptive, and the destruction of peoples' lives.......where pharisees, pimps, seductresses, deceivers, bodyguards and filthy enablers collude into the night. Of course, there are plenty to fill the lower ranks to mow, trim, cook, clean, scrub, and polish its surface......who unwittingly, don't know or don't care to know its inner core. And, 2) The headquarters that houses special memories where my wife and I began our courtship, our memories, our wedding day and the first few years of marriage. The 1995 corps week and roa was the last time I was there. OSC: My interim year was in way builders. That year, 1979-1980.....was the transition year to the OSC. I hung nearly every door on the second floor. Later, while working in the cabinet shop.....we did work in trustee homes, conference rooms, and special projects. EOB: The executive office building was, in the latter part of my interim year, where my fiancé worked. Blacktop Area: Wierwille's motor coach was, often, parked near the shed and dog kennels. I spent three afternoons with wierwille going over details of my 10-day deprogramming episode, because vpw wanted to include them in his series of "By The Way" articles. BRC: My wife and I were married there. Craig performed the wedding, Howard walked my bride down the aisle, and Rueben and Rhoda sat in the front row in place of my parents' absence. The deprogramming experience cut a deep wound into a relationship that never fully healed. But....I married the woman of my dreams. Warehouse: After my corps graduation, I worked alongside Mike Sm!th (1st corps) in the warehousing department.....until he headed to Alaska. As department head, the vast complexities of interacting with 8 different departments, special events, safety, foot-traffic, forklift training, etc. was all-encompassing. My "office" was 600 ft by 120 ft......and "air" conditioned on both ends. LOL New Knoxville Airport: My wife and I flew to Canada in March 1984 and were assigned as country coordinators in this vast Great North. Just seemed like nearly every work space throughout my life.......wasn't in a micromanaged cubicle. Other Places: Because of these experiences, I am who I am today. To me, it is necessary to properly define and distinguish the boundary lines of my past, my experiences. Whether it was good, bad or ugly.......I cleave to the "good;" eschew the "bad;" and eliminate the "ugly." .

Sign on the Line: In Blood: At the 1995 Corps Week, every active corps grad....who jumped every hoop, survived all the purges, passed thru the fire and crossed the alligator pit (scratch that comment about the alligators).....was sanctioned to meet with B. Th0rpe, the gatekeeper of twi's need-basis employment. Corps couples and single corps each came with their "monthly budget list" that was cross-referenced with certain parameters that twi was willing to accept. If certain categories were too high, then Brad helped to trim those projected costs off one's list. Twi held leverage....so there, seemingly, wasn't much to negotiate. After a 30-minute meeting, my wife and I signed a couple of forms. Next. I would guesstimate that some 325-375 corps grads signed the papers and, as of September 1st, were deemed salaried employees of twi. Perhaps, the numbers exceeded over 400......but I certainly wasn't privy to the numbers, nor was I counting heads. Seemed like there was excitement in the air, but looking back.....I now would say it was "nervous anxiety." What lie ahead? Nobody knew......not even the trunk personnel. Note: "Blood" is being used figuratively, not literally.......but it might as well have been (literal). .

T-Ball and Baseball: Child's Play: In the Summer of '95, our two boys were at that age where swimming, t-ball and baseball bring smiles and fun. Although my wife carried this "burden" gleefully......I, too, took time to slip away and just be dad. Screw the guilt that would, at times, build in the back of my mind. I mean......it wasn't like I was in some kind of hardcore cult (sarcasm intended) or anything. Spending quality times with your kids, making family memories and honoring one's heritage traditions was taught extensively at the advanced class and corps program......ppffffftt. For about 16 months, our boys were involved in karate classes. They learned the respect, honor and discipline in the sport as the different colored belts signified their growing achievements. Definitely brown belts....not sure either made it to black. Little did we realize that much of their little world would be "clawed back by the cult" when we went full-time. That "need-basis" thing was a b!tch on children/family when it raised its ugly head during the "major expense cutting measures" on the horizon. But......I'm getting ahead of myself. So, the summer of '95.....it was a treasure to our family album of memories. Screw whatever the cult thought.

Skipping School, Skipping Lunchtime: Nope, I couldn't pull a Bueller.......I had too much to do. Four month out......quickly became three......and three became two. The thought of going back on twi-payroll caused a reflexive recoil. It had been over 11 years since I'd been at hq, on staff.........its micromanaged schedule, even mandatory lunchtimes. I wasn't the same person that I was back then, I had grown up. I grew to despise the manipulation. I disliked the herding routine. And, I detested singing children's songs and treated like children. Bueller pulled a "fast one" over the school administrator. I liked his attitude and style.

Chockfull, Shortfuse, Bueller? No doubt, there are others here at GSC who could add more examples and insight to this timeframe. April-July 1995 was a crazy, wild ride.....and the OKC bombing had brought a strong measure of disruption to plenty of believers in the city. I desperately needed a day off. I should have pulled a Bueller.

Another Corps Meeting: Another Confrontation: It was bound to happen.......the corps started asking questions about being full-time? about insurance, and pensions, and retirement? Supposedly, a corps grad (wife, mother) had written craig martindale a lengthy letter to ask pertinent questions. Questions were percolating throughout the regions.....obviously. And, in craig's mind, how does one address this? A full-frontal attack on ALL the corps in a blistering response....that's how. He'd learned the lessons well from wierwille.........these wide-brush corps confrontations were classic wierwille. Guilt, shame and fear were used to cower any more dissent. But.....why couldn't they just stop trivializing our futures ?? Cults never do. It's not in their nature

Corps: The Leash Gets Shorter: Week after week, martindale hammered on this "revelation." The momentum of twi hinged on corps grads going full-time......but some were dissenting. One corps grad worked was a pilot for American Airlines......was he going to resign, forego his pension? Are there any exceptions? Martindale was convinced that this was the next step to "rise and expansion" in twi. He was in no mood to back down. I had too much on my plate to ponder all the ramifications of all corps full-time.....and, looking back, clearly martindale didn't either. The psychological, social and financial implications were staggering The time for choosing had arrived. One could easily be excused for failing to see it.....but for the Corps: The Leash Gets Shorter.

The Next Corps Meeting: The Purge Those weekly corps phone hook-ups were mandatory. Martindale was able to "teach and converse" with all in-residence corps and active corps grads across the nation. So, it only took seven days from The Announcement.......and the purging had begun. Apparently, some corps grad in Arizona [martindale called him out by name] did NOT want to quit his job and go into full-time salesforce.....er, twi-ministry work. He was employed at a nice, country club with promotions and perks and, at his age, didn't want to quit and jump into the unknown. How dare that corps grad have his own life! This public berating was common practice in twi. Not only with the corps "training" program, but during lunchtimes at headquarters. Seemingly, it had metastasized into the whole of twi.....that few even acknowledged its existence, let alone wielding power. I really thought that I'd escaped its foreboding grip when I was on the field.....but, alas, twi had found another way to extend their reach via these corps phone hook-ups. Now, presumably........an active corps grad would be submitting to this verbal harassment for decades to come? Who would willingly subject themselves to this? Those who Hold the microphone.....Hold the power. In a cascading series of purges, this "full-time corps" purge had begun.

Part II BOOM: Everything Changed Revelation: He Said God Said The announcement came at the end of the 1995 Placement Meetings.......was explosive: BOOM! All active way corps would be going full-time ministers in August. This was revelation from God, martindale claimed. Don Wierwille and Howard Allen were in agreement. This was God's will. For five years, the field corps had been dialing into headquarters via phone hook-up.......but never heard anything so earth-shattering as THIS. Each year, the annual staff and corps placement meetings were cause for varying amounts of uncertainty and apprehension. For 20-some years, the repetition was the same.......in early February, corps were interviewed and reports were funneled thru limb/region/trunk to the Holy See-We-Only-Give-A-Damn-About-What's-Best-For-Twi. These meetings included the region couples, president's cabinet members, select individuals......and the cult elites. This group of "leaders" sat in the BRC and made decisions that changed lives. It was The CABAL.........C-orps A-ssignments B-y A-llusive L-eaders. Anyways, THAT ANNOUNCEMENT........all active corps would be going full-time was mind-numbing. Did I hear what I thought I heard? Martindale spend 20-30 minutes elaborating on this "revelation" and the implications of the "rise and expansion" that would follow. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.......if you doubt, be honest and drop yourself from the ranks of the salted and committed corps household now. Get your life in order. You've got four months. When you come to corps week, you'll be filling out paperwork to get you on twi's payroll. Need-basis.....just like rhoda, dr. wierwille's secretary. And.......you carpenters, plumbers, whoever.......sell your tools. Don't leave any room for doubt; when you go full-time.....don't look back. After the phone hook-up was over, I put on a good face of support.......but my gut was churning. I had to beat back the dozens of questions that came rushing forth. My wife went silent.....and quickly went to check on our boys in bed. The other corps left within another ten minutes. That explosive announcement changed everything...... and three weeks later, was the other explosion in my world: The Murrah Federal Building in OKC. No one that night could imagine how devastating that "full-time corps announcement" would rock the corps......

Oh my........I've got to get out the door for a last bit of Christmas shopping. I'll need help, for sure. And............it's getting "nipple-y" out there. LOL Have a Merry Little Christmas !! Click Here -- Shopping Scene

One more side-topic.......before getting back to timeline. ~~~~~~~ Funerals: It comes with the territory: There are just some things that you cannot plan into your monthly calendar......and funerals are one of them. For clergy, they come with the territory of helping others. They are untimely matters that add abruptness, inconvenience, necessity, sorrow and devastation.....depending who it is and who it affects. For me, it was a time to stop all else and embrace those who were hurting. Each funeral service is unique......the deceased have left love-imprints on the hearts of those who sorrow. A string of significant funerals had found their way to my door: Craig Martindale's grandmother ...... March 1994 Connie Panar3llo's mom................... Sept 1996 John Reyn0lds's mom.......................May 1997 Rod & Jo's twig coord, Peggy...........Sept 1997 When Peggy died, her brother in Florida was on probationary status in lieu of twi-mandates. Bob Moneyhands phoned me to let me know, in his stern opinion, that this guy should NOT be allowed at the funeral or around the believers. This brother would be calling me within the hour, he said. And.....he did. We talked for about 5 minutes and I told him.....absolutely, he should come and attend his sister's funeral and call me when he arrived in OKC. The days passed quickly as we scurried around with all the details of the funeral. Four days later, and this brother called me. He had arrived in town. We made every effort to ease his depth of hurt and sorrow. After the funeral, I invited him to the limb home to join several of us at supper, snacks, a movie and/or just hang out. He nearly cried when I offered this invitation. Nothing was really planned.....just kickin' back and living life was on the evening's agenda. Keeping. It. Simple. And. Loving. -------before leaving that evening, this brother gave me a big bear hug. He left OKC a changed man.

Okay.......I'll give you the "cliff notes" of findings done by a state representative (lawyer background) and his team who spent weeks collecting data, facts, and eye-witness accounts. He put together a vhs-cassette tape (two hours) and gave ample time of local news coverage and how many factors were incongruous with eye-witnesses that day. This was a fast, ever-changing domestic terrorist crime scene....with local and national coverage, and undercurrents of conspiracy theories. Disclaimer: I am not advancing this state representative's investigation, nor am I refuting it. Today, there is Wikipedia, articles and books if anyone wants to delve into all the varying issues, the FBI unit on 9th floor, the background noise of Ruby Ridge, the 1993 Waco siege of David Koresh and Branch Davidians, Timothy McVeigh, etc. etc. At the time, I was very interested and this man's investigation was asking questions that were not being covered in the national news.......so I purchased this videotape. I loaned it to someone 15 years ago and she never returned it. A retired brigadier general with 18 years of experience in munitions said that there was no way a truck bomb, parked on the street, could have knocked out those interior pillars of the Murrah Federal Building. At the Oklahoma University in Norman, OK (some 28 miles south of OKC) -- the geological seismic readings charted two blips in rapid sequence. The seismic activity on that morning of April 19, 1995 indicated two explosions in rapid succession. Several people in Stillwater, OK (60 miles north of OKC) came forward and stated that they had heard two separate, distinct explosions. With sound waves traveling at 1,100 feet/second.....the farther one was away, sound waves registered into two flashpoints. Within the first 15 minutes after the initial explosion, police and emergency personnel were warning people to get blocks away because the danger of more bomb explosions was imminent. Three or four eye-witnesses said that the bomb squad guys were seen loading stuff into the trucks that was never mentioned on local or national news coverage. Within 5 days.....the building was hastily demolished and debris was hauled away to an undisclosed dumpsite. No extensive forensic work was done as is usually seen in crime scenes of this magnitude. The McVeigh story highlighted the news; the building left one with many questions. Claim: Having ample stockpiling of FBI ammunition in a federal building was illegal.....six children died, the death toll reached 168 confirmed dead. Parents of the deceased children were incensed by lack of government security and procedures. Conspiracy theories abounded regarding McVeigh/Nichols/Fortier......and its lengthy pursuit of involvement and/or co-conspirators. The Findings: This state representative's investigative analysis was that the FBI unit, on the 9th floor, had stockpiled thousands of rounds of ammunition in storage lockers in this Murrah Federal Building. With the brigadier general's expert opinion and analysis, he strongly believed that there was no way pillar 3 would have collapsed from this ammonium nitrate truck bomb on the curb. Therefore, when the McVeigh bomb exploded....it detonated a second, fierce, interior blast from all the FBI stockpiled ammo that immensely concaved the face of the Murrah Building. And, those eye-witness accounts that testified they'd seen bomb squad guys loading stuff into the bomb trucks.......that was some of the FBI ammunition on the 9th floor that didn't detonate. Again.....these are not my findings or stated beliefs. My reason for bringing this up is that it fell into my timeline and heaped further communication and reports to martindale. The back story of the 1993 Waco siege with David Koresh, the compound, the cult, the isolation.........had some similarity touchstones to twi's hq and questions I harbored. This April 1995 episode disappeared in my rear view mirror rather quickly......within months, all active corps were going full-time. .

Not just any limb assignment: In August 1992, my wife and I were assigned to the Oklahoma Limb. This was not just another limb, this was Craig Martindale's home state. His roots. His pride. His family. And, therefore......it was a special limb assignment. We were the Oklahoma limb coordinators for 6 years.....August 1992 - August 1998. And, by 1993......craig's parents, rod and joann, decided to move from the Denver area back to Stillwater, OK. So, along with limb responsibilities......we were entrusted with the whole martindale family and the special protocol to one and all......rod, jo, craig, kirk, kent, and kerry. When I said that I've "brushed shoulders" with all four twi-presidents........that is an understatement. Most notably from 1994-1998, I had a couple dozen or more intricate workings with craig.......personally and ministry-wise. Anytime that I assisted his parents, craig would express his gratitude. For nearly 10 months, we didn't have an established twig in Stillwater.....so I'd drive the 60 miles from Oklahoma City to Stillwater, with two or three corps and/or advanced class grads and I'd teach the "fellowship" in rod and jo's living room. They always expressed thankfulness and appreciation for our efforts. I was their "twig coordinator." Numerous situations......numerous communications. In March 1994, craig's grandmother passed away. Rod called me and asked if I'd come to Blackwell, OK to help. Several hours before the funeral service, craig and I did a few errands together and talked about the service. I had recently done a funeral and shared with him several of the verses of scripture that I highlighted at that time. Well....it did amaze me somewhat as I sat several pews back in that church and heard craig read and emphasize a couple of those same verses [not the normal standard ones] that I'd just given to him. I don't know why he did it.......but he did. When the "Rise and Expansion" series became a hot item.....martindale assigned for each limb coordinator to teach it in their state. Not sure if this was Sep/Oct 1994 or whenever.......but it took lots of prep time to teach those 8 "great statements." With charts, itineraries, expansion......we were to detail how the word prevailed in the first century. During that Fri/Sat/Sun weekend, I taught six of the sessions and my wife taught two.....and I must admit that we did a fine job of it. At the close of Sunday's final session, Rod M. came forward to shake my hand and thank me. He was slightly teary-eyed. And, the next week he called craig and signed up for the advanced class. Needless to say, craig martindale was very moved by this.......and sent me a hand-written note. On April 19, 1995......my wife and I were on our way to an apprentice corps couple's home. It was his birthday.....and we stopped at a nearby store near 60th street on the north side of Oklahoma City. While my wife was inside the store, there was this big BOOM.....and my car jostled side to side. What the heck was THAT? I stepped out of my car looking to the skies.....expecting to see the skytrails of a fighter jet that had broken the sound barrier (an air force base not far away). But no.....it wasn't that. Another 10 seconds go by before this white plume of smoke arose in downtown OKC. Must have been an explosion......a bomb. The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building became a crime scene. Within 90 minutes, McVeigh was implicated in the Oklahoma City bombing. I was less than six miles from the explosion and my car shook side-to-side. One of our advanced class grads had just left that building to walk three blocks to another building to run an errand. Lots of disinformation hit the airwaves. I could write a short thesis of what unfurled and what the public was never told. The building was demolished in 5 days and all the debris was hauled away to an undisclosed dumpsite.......no forensics. Lots of witnesses saw varying details. Some had reported of two seismograph readings (two blasts!) in Norman, OK.....a geological center just 28 miles south. A state representative in Oklahoma lost his job trying to expose the details. Martindale asked my region coordinator to keep him updated. One time, in 1996......craig was in Stillwater visiting his folks. He invited me to meet up with he and his dad at this sandwich/brewery OSU college-campus hot spot. A casual, light-hearted, good-to-see-you, get-together. A simple gesture to thank me for "being there" for his folks. Prior to the finished recording The Way of Abundance and Power class (foundational)......communication from the trunk/region had gone out to each limb coordinator to present a special gift to craig in a token of this class. For weeks, I'd pondered what would help to convey our appreciation for his efforts......and then, it hit me. Craig had highlighted at certain points in this class his love of baseball with his dad, and sports in general. Well.....it just seemed fitting to present craig with a new top-of-the-line baseball mitt with a baseball personally autographed by his dad. Craig, again......wrote me a nice, hand-written note of thanks. The next sunday teaching, craig showed the ball and glove for all to see. At the Dallas Advanced Class Special in November 1997, we presented craig martindale with a Will Rogers miniature stature [Will on his horse].....only three in existence. The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, OK had two in their possession [one on display]......and this one had a price tag on it for sale. The Oklahoma believers chipped in and we bought it for around $1,250. [Amazed that they wanted to part with it.] For sure, this gift was very special to craig. For those who don't know......craig martindale was born on November 4th, the same day as will rogers.....and when craig was a little kid, his mom often called him "little will." SO.........here I was, in the midst of this psychodynamic personality fluctuating between super-ego and fits of yelling rage........and a guy who yukked it up while having a beer near the osu campus. He could be a raging terror on stage.....and an average guy in Oklahoma. But still..... all the purges, the directives, the reporting back, the micromanagement of full-time corps, the extreme expense cutting, the pregnancy and pet policies, the "present-truth" revelations.............(and yet, I still did not know of his rampant sexual predation)......... ........it was all so dizzying and I knew, deep down, that I wanted to jump from this train. ........I told myself to stay patient and look for a soft spot to roll. .

Well......I have come to an impasse. Unless I divulge more specifics, this whole timeline.....and the importance of why its so deep and personal.....will fall short of the "strike zone." So, hopefully I've got some fast balls, curves and sliders to keep the crowd involved. But.......with Christmas in sight and joy in the air, I've got dinner and evening plans. More to come..........

Repressed Memory: Now I know why it's taken me all these years to piece this timeline together repressed memory...... I've been blocking out those years of trauma and stress to protect my identity, my sanity. Piecing this timeline together year-by-year......is grueling. It's painful. With each memory, comes more memories.....and I find myself only skimming the high points (ie...the low points) of this turbulent time. I could name names, I could give more examples......but does it really matter? If I hadn't thrown away all my corps notes and way mags.....they would have triggered a mountain of repressed memory. Laced throughout these 174 pages on "About the Way" forum......I've been starting lots of threads, but never connected all those dots. Well, this thread is the concluding summary of nearing 18 years of posting on Waydale/GSC. From my childhood roots to brushing shoulders with all four twi-presidents......1) wierwille, 2) martindale, 3) rivenbark, and 4) JYDL.......I'm connecting the dots. And, still there's more.....that I'm leaving out. My spouse was/is deeply connected in all this, as well. She started working at hq in the fall of 1970. My wife is a corps grad, from an earlier corps than me.....and yes, at this point, I still choose to speak in anonymous terms regarding her involvement. From her years of involvement and insight, I've got dozens and dozens of things I've never posted........yet. Even though I'm well aware that WayGB and dozens of staffers know who I am (and many GSC posters know me as well) .......I still covet internet anonymity. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. But the "trustees" of this evil.......need to be exposed. .

Old Wineskins: The intensity of clinging (reverting) to "old ministry" stuff was NO LONGER PERMITTED. Whether it was Pressed Down, Joyful Noise Takit, music....or "Will the Real You please stand up" by Lynn....or old ministry songbooks with songs of Jesus.....or even wierwille's old teaching tapes....NOPE. The fall of 1994.......the "old-wineskins purge" was throttled forward. Not was it only "no longer permitted"......it could get you possessed. Those devil spirits are really, really sneaky and they can jump from that music tape into your brain cells. Once there, that pesky spirit has found a home. Stay vigilant, damnit. Music, teachings, songbooks, jewelry, old corps buddies who left, etc. etc.........martindale mandated that all in twi "sanctify ourselves." Much of the corps/sunday teachings were rooted in OT scripture. Those who had family/relatives in splinter groups were TOLD to mark and avoid them. Hanging out with your ex-corps brother or sister could get you possessed.

Not in my state: The more martindale yelled, the more resistance I mounted. That period between January 1994 - July 1994 was "Insanity on Steroids"........at headquarters. My world was some 900 miles away. And, just because there was a "homo purge" in craig's mind.......didn't mean there was one in mine. When we had our annual limb meeting at the end of May........we went to the lake. My independence of thought was diverging, once again.......and I loathed the authoritarian "teaching" from afar. How did they know anything about the needs in my state? How does this shotgun-yelling into the night help anybody? The droning on of weekly corps nights, the sunday teachings..........how could this possibly be "ministering" to the people? Clearly, in my mind......the answer was no. I was so far from lockstep loyalty, I wasn't even in the same platoon. Everything in my past was crying out for "Fresh Air"..........growing up on a farm, motorcycle riding with the wind in my face, pheasant hunting with my 12-guage over my shoulder, or those 3 years as Canada's country coordinator in the '80s........just don't fence me in. I loathed going to any more corps weeks/roa. I found myself Loathing the Overlords. Heck......July 1994 would have, also, been a good time to jump off the train. Everything at hq.......had lost its mystique. .

Wierwille Takes Direct Aim: When wierwille steamed with fury......his outcry was a rifle, martindale used a shotgun (or buckshot "scatter-gun"). From my observations, I would say that wierwille was far more selective of his target. With wierwille, any dissent was personal. But wierwille was cunning and crafty.....he didn't unmask this fury to the general public. Except for the occasional advanced class rant, wierwille kept his fury ire directed at corps leadership and rogue clergy in closed-meetings. I witnessed three extreme episodes of rifled-fury as keynoted in this thread.....A Series of Purges To those who've read these accounts, my apologies for the re-iteration......but thought it should be inserted here.

LCM Screaming: Martindale is most noted, far and wide, by his screaming tirades. Whether it was corps night, sunday teachings, or even the wap-class......the man came across as "unhinged." Besides the sex predation, screaming into the microphone was his legacy. He would lose control and rail on a subject for 20 minutes that was irritating him......he claimed it was "spiritual anger." But his scream-fests could be sub-divided: 1989-1992......lcm railed against geer, lynn, cop-outs, those who'd left 1993------>......lcm began railing at those IN twi, corps, staff, those who wouldn't increase commitment It seems to me that the yelling and railing against "the homo infiltration" began, in earnest, around January 1994. The months that followed were a constant barrage of accusations and public labeling so-and-so in corps & staff meetings. Month after month, martindale fumed.......and then, wrote that July 1994 "homo purge letter." So.......he yelled and yelled some more. And,.......following the timeline, A WHOLE YEAR LATER, the 1995 rock of ages, "the homos had infiltrated the roa." Gawd.....where is that elusive manifestation "discerning of spirits" to keep them from ever getting near martindale in the first place? Or, why couldn't martindale (or wierwille) EVER CAST ONE OUT? Where was this prevailing, spiritual power that these mogs wielded? And......connecting the dots, that is why I never believed that the 1995 roa had homo-spirits running everywhere. Nor did I believe that it was the reason why martindale cancelled any future rock of ages. The dead give-away was that first September 1995 corps night.......when martindale spent nearly two hours detailing the financial responsibilities, limits, policies, etc regarding full-time way corps. Finances, finances, finances......and only about ten minutes of the homo/roa ordeal. Martindale's tirades on those corps nights was epic.......... .

Good point, Bolshevik........thanks.

Thanks DWBH......I appreciate your kind words. When I started posting on Waydale in 1999......posting as FreshAir77, and later FreshAir99.....another 2,200 posts or so. I was using a crap-computer. Didn't have much money back then and nearly computer-illiterate. Thanks twi......ppfffffttt.

Note: I welcome any input, correction or feedback to this timeline. Some of you posters....ie Chockfull, Krys, others....might remember more details than me. Perhaps, few care.....but thought it would be good to have a thread dedicated to my perspective during this time and as a limb coordinator from Aug 1992 - Aug 1998. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Time to Sell: Obviously, with the massive exodus of 1987-1989......all of twi's assets were in flux. Why have huge limb homes? Or an Emporia Campus? What about the Indiana Campus? Years later......why even have a motorcoach for twi-prez? Indiana Limb Home......sold around the end of 1990 (former limb coordinator went to geer camp) Other limb homes (??)......Ohio or NC (I can't remember) Emporia Campus..........sold around July 1993 (??). Had to reduce selling price. Rome City Campus.......sold around 1996, or thereabouts President's Motorcoach......not sure when sold, but why have a traveling sex-motel room for a predator?