Karl Kahler

Thanks Raf!

Thanks for your interest, Charity! I've done a fair amount of study on this, and no population on earth commits suicide at a higher rate than people with bipolar disorder. Even those who suffer only from major depression, without the often pleasant highs of mania, are not as likely to attempt this ghastly solution. I hope you love the book, and I welcome your review on Amazon!

Greetings to all “greasespots by midnight”! It’s Karl Kahler, and it’s been a while since I posted here. Hello to old friends and “mucho gusto” to new ones. I’m the author of “The Cult That Snapped: A Journey Into The Way International,” which is a memoir, history and exposé of what used to be one of the largest cults in America. I’m also a big fan of Charlene Edge’s book “Undertow,” and I salute all the brave souls who have written publicly about their experiences in The Way. I wanted to let you know that I’ve written a new book, “Manic Dawn: The Strange Adventures of a Mad Father and a Loyal Son.” This is the true story of my father’s nearly lifelong battle with an extreme case of manic bipolar disorder that got him into every kind of trouble imaginable, including seven years in prison and many unplanned visits to psychiatric wards. You might wonder what this has to do with The Way, but please read on, because it actually does. Jerry Kahler was an international educator who raised a family in five countries and once played bridge with John Wayne. But in his mid-30s he began experiencing drastic changes of personality — he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t stop talking, couldn’t shut down the geyser of ideas constantly flooding his brain. In public he spoke to everyone who crossed his path, sometimes launching into speeches in front of crowds. He was supremely inspired, utterly confident and absolutely fearless. He came to believe he was God’s personal emissary on Earth, and he answered this call with the devotion of a saint and the fury of a demon. Jerry was arrested perhaps 20 times and served seven years in prison in the United States and Costa Rica. Yet he was the uncommonest of criminals, one whose repeat offenses included disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and fleeing the police when they weren’t even chasing him. When two armed police officers tried to handcuff Jerry at his home in Little Rock, he subdued both of them using a headlock and a leglock, prompting an “Officers down!” call to which 17 policemen responded. When confined to a rubber room in northwest Arkansas, Jerry set it on fire, prompting the evacuation of an entire psychiatric ward. When told by one examiner that he couldn’t smoke in the office because there was no ashtray, Jerry offered to eat his own ashes. A fascinating exploration of the manic condition, this book is a harrowing descent into madness, and a son’s uncommonly intimate portrait of a troubled father. “Manic Dawn” also describes how I got involved in The Way, partly because my “earthly family” had splintered as a result of my father’s madness. Jerry actually took the PFAL class (when sane), but when manic he once broke into my “believer home” in the middle of the night and had to be forcibly ejected by my roommates. Dad once visited for lunch in the dining room at The Way College of Emporia, where I was in the 14th Corps, and he made a big splash during guest introductions with his outlandish personality. A couple of days later, he was arrested by Emporia police for slashing a plastic booth at a diner with a knife because he thought they overcharged him for a hamburger patty to give to his dog. All of this is in the book, which is full of stories that are sometimes shocking and sometimes hilarious. “Manic Dawn” is now for sale on Amazon and other platforms as an e-book ($4.95) or paperback ($19.95). To find it on Amazon, go to https://shorturl.at/L0mbl. For more info, visit https://www.karlkahler.com/manicdawn. If you do order a copy, I hope you find it a rollicking good read! I look forward to hearing from anyone. Thanks all!

Hey Raf, sup! Long time, huh?

Courage to you, BlueCord. Leaving is not easy, especially with the deep social and family ties that The Way can wrap around you, not to mention the suggestions they may have planted in your head that if you leave The Way, God is "forced" to remove his hand of protection from you and you are fair game for the Adversary. That is pure manipulation and brainwashing, but it's powerful stuff. You ask me, the freedom on the other side is worth whatever it takes to break out of The Way's bondage.

Ex, I always call him V.D. Wierwille, but yes, we're talking about the same person.

Somehow I missed this thread previously! Good points all around. Victor and Stephanie Barnard and I were in the 14th Corps, not the 12th (as well as his prominent followers Ken and Amy Pacanowski and at least two other followers that I know of). Stephanie was an assistant to V.D. Wierwille the year he died, our interim year, 1985. We graduated in the summer of '86, which is when Victor and Stephanie married. I've heard one theory that Stephanie was not too perturbed by her husband's philandering because she knew how V.D. Wierwille lived his life. One of Barnard's "Maidens" was a young woman from Brazil who had to go home when her visa expired around 2008. Barnard, enforcing his rule that Maidens had to travel in pairs at all times (a very effective way of keeping them from thinking for themselves, or blabbing to others), sent a series of Maidens to Brazil to be with the Brazilian girl for six months at a time. After about 18 months, and around the time River Road Fellowship blew up in MN and relocated to WA, Barnard flew down to Brazil as well, and may have spent up to six months there before rejoining his flock in Washington. I have no idea how many followers he or his Maidens were able to win down there, but it would be a natural place for him to hide. However, my understanding is that the police are pretty sure he is in the U.S., and probably in Washington, where he has a much larger network of worshipful followers to help him hide. Here are the top people closest to Barnard that I know of: Mark and Jean Frontczak are in Bellingham, Washington. Mark allowed Victor to ordain him (wtf?), so it's Rev. Frontczak now. He used to be a big wheel in Bless Patrol at HQ, so presumably he would know a thing or two about security, and possibly about hiding someone from the police. I believe their daughter is one of the Maidens. Mark was one of the people who most vehemently resisted any effort within the group to bring Victor's sins to light or to confront him on his adultery with married women in the group. There is also a group of seven young women in Bellingham called Auriga's Band, named after a constellation. These women, who are in an all-girl band, are described as just like the Maidens, in the full service of Victor "Christ in the flesh" Barnard. Pam and Randy Roark are in Spokane. I put her name first because she is said to be extraordinarily close to Barnard, almost certainly one of his "conquests." But Randy was another person Victor ordained. Pam and Randy used to be in the Family Corps and were Branch coordinators in the Twin Cities. TWO of their daughters are Maidens — even though Pam should know what a lech Barnard is, and what service to him entails. I'm told that Randy was bothered by Victor's closeness to Pam (as was Victor's wife Stephanie), and that Victor once said they might have to deliver Randy to Satan. Pam Roark was probably the primary person who organized the Maidens, planned their day, scheduled their cooking and cleaning and sewing duties, as well as their time to attend Victor. If anyone is an accessory to Victor's crimes, Pam Roark would be my chief suspect. Craig Elmblad is another person Victor ordained who is Spokane. He was never in the Corps but was a younger brother of Judy Bedard, who was an assistant Corps coordinator when we were in the 14th Corps. When Minnesota police went to Washington looking for Victor and knocked on his last known address, Elmblad answered the door and said he had no idea where Victor was. A fourth person ordained by Victor was Ken Pacanowski, who was married to Amy, both of the 14th Corps, now back in Pennsylvania. He was one of the first people to confront Victor on his adultery, and he has since left the group, though his confrontation appears to have been rather namby-pamby, and he thought it was wrong to go to the authorities about Barnard's alleged crimes. I don't know what kind of resources the cops have to investigate this case, but I believe if they had a court order and the time and staff to tap the phones of just two or three of the above-mentioned people, it would lead them straight to Barnard before too long. Cheers to all, Karl

Tragically, Ex, Lindsay Tornambe's younger sister took her place as a "Maiden" and is still in the group.

Thanks for that, Ex. It's good to know that some people out there know what I'm talking about (and know much better than I). I vaguely remember Carmen Tornambe because he was in the 12th Corps and in residence with the 14th Corps (and was a man with a woman's name). He left Barnard's group, and talked to investigators, but his wife, Peggy, left him and stayed with Barnard. Their daughter, Lindsay, told me that Peggy didn't want to hear anything she had to say about Barnard's lechery, saying she was still standing with Victor no matter what. Lindsay doesn't speak to her mother anymore. Lindsay also doesn't speak to her father, because she says he's still in denial about what happened to her — and wants people to feel sorry for him because he lost his whole family. Well, boo-hoo. If Carmen Tornambe thinks he's the victim here, I can only pity his cluelessness.

The most disturbing story I’ve ever reported will be published Sunday in the St. Paul Pioneer Press and was just posted online here: http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25783953/victor-barnard-called-girls-brides-christ-and-he It’s the story of a remarkable woman who endured nine years of sexual abuse, starting when she was just 13, by a cult leader and Corps grad named Victor Barnard who recruited a harem of 10 young “Maidens” to be “sacrificed to God” and “married to Christ.” What that meant, according to a criminal complaint filed in Minnesota last month, was that he would use them repeatedly for sex — for years — because he was “Christ in the flesh.” He’s a wanted man today, believed to be hiding in Washington state. I actually knew the guy 30 years ago when we were both in the 14th Corps, and I believe The Way is where he learned his sick tactics.

For those who are interested, I've talked to some knowledgeable ex-insiders from River Road Fellowship, and I hope to publish something soon. Stay tuned. If and when it happens, I will post a new thread.

Hello gang! Long time no play. I was in the 14th Corps with Victor Barnard and his wife Stephanie Sarro, and as one of you noted I was interviewed by Fox 9 News in the Twin Cities, as well as the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio. I'm an editor at the San Jose Mercury News and I'm interested in writing something about this myself. If anyone has contact info for Jeff Sjolander or anyone else who was involved in River Road, I would welcome your email at kkahler@mercurynews.com. Thanks!

I think what he meant was, "Don't you dare question anything I say, or this whole fraud could collapse like a house of cards!" What amazes me is how Wierwille elevated the worship of the Word above the worship of God or a relationship with Jesus Christ. "It's the Word, the Word, and nothing but the Word!" Here he played to his strength, such as it was - the "right dividing" of the Word that he plagiarized from so many others and enshrined in PFAL. I suspect he personally had no relationship with God, and he diminished the importance of Christ except to use his name as a magical incantation at the end of every prayer, or to rant about "Christ in me" (which is more about "me" than about "Christ"). The only angle VPW had was "the Word." He taught us to worship a book!

Yes, David, I wrote to that shyster on Amazon and asked why he was charging $139 used for a book I sell for $25 new. He never wrote back. Glad to hear it's still there, meaning nobody has bought it yet! It's not THAT good! :)

Good to hear from you again, Sudo! I'll see you in hell. = )