Rocky

Nevertheless, keeping physical distance (6 feet) from each other is the MOST important thing we can all do to limit the reach of the virus in this pandemic.

excellent point. We here at GSC are kinda close socially, but not physically.

"Wade would have been 30 or 31 years old..." Not necessarily to split hairs, but I don't think Wade wrote the things on his website recently. My guess is that he may have been four or five years older in 1970... 50 years ago. But yes, he clearly was his own man. So arguments can be made either way on the question of whether he's got another offshoot. I lean toward that Wade's ministry is not one.

Interesting website, including the page "About the Wades." He doesn't get into why he parted ways, which fits with what he calls his ministry these days, Positive Word Ministries Inc. Wade does, however, use TWI jargon to some degree. "In 1965 Peter Wade went to the United States to attend a three-month Summer School at The Way Biblical Research Center, which was then a non-denominational teaching organization. “His abilities, depth of perception, and conviction were immediately noticeable. Upon his return to Australia and the pastoring of a pioneering work at Taperoo, South Australia, he put into practice all the principles he had been taught and mightily convinced the believers of the fullness of Christ’s work and the accuracy of God’s Word.”" He's also on YouTube

Wouldn't that be wonderful. Yet, 45+ years hence, it's not likely. There's so much I know now that I'd love to ask my parents about from the 50s, 60s, 70s... but my parents have both passed as have my two younger siblings. Sigh. But we do have this record (GSC and several first hand accounts of things) from which we can draw reasonable inferences. And now that we're in our 60s and older, we can and must make those inferences. To that end, we tell our stories. Stories being the most human things we can pass along to our progeny. Thanks for yours my GSC friends.

Good point. Thanks.

Check your private messages.

By Reese Frederickson, Pine County Attorney The naïve part of me believes that once evil is locked away, closure and healing can begin. But, reality is complicated, and the scars from years of trauma remain even after achieving justice. Reality delivered a blow last week when I learned that Jessanna “Jess” Schlinsky took her own life. She was 32 years old. We sent the monster who had sexually abused her for all her teenage years to prison three years ago. Although the crimes were in the past and her abuser will spend many more years in prison, the suffering loomed large for Jess every day. It ultimately proved insurmountable. Jess, along with Lindsay Tornambe, bravely exposed cult leader and traumatizing narcissist Victor Barnard for the years of childhood sexual abuse suffered at his hands. Jess and Lindsay grew up in Barnard’s cult that was located on an isolated camp in Pine County. When Jess and Lindsay were 12 and 13 years old, respectively, Barnard separated them from their parents, forced them to reside in a remote spot of the camp, and began raping them. The sexual abuse and Barnard’s control of their daily lives continued for the next nine to ten years until the women escaped the cult. Jess and Lindsay’s quest for justice took many years. Barnard was eventually charged, caught hiding in Brazil and extradited to Pine County in 2016. As county attorney, the case was my responsibility to prosecute. (continued at the link above, worth the time to read)

That's true regardless.

Reporter's notebook: Death of a maiden By Tom Lyden Published 2 days ago [March 9, 2020] Victor Barnard FOX 9 (FOX 9) - If you do this job long enough you may be lucky enough to encounter people who are extraordinarily kind, fiercely courageous and incredibly wise. Sometimes, although rarely, they are the same person. Jess S*******-********* was that person for me. Six years ago, she and her childhood friend, Lindsay T*******, bravely came forward to tell me the story of cult leader Victor Barnard and his River Road Fellowship. Their willingness to share their painful story of life in a religious cult and of their rape by its leader, led to 52 criminal charges against Barnard for sexual assault, an international manhunt leading to his capture in Brazil, and eventually, his conviction and sentence to 24 years in prison. That was the part of the story the world got to see. But the scars of living in a religious cult, one in which the people you love may also be enablers of your rapist, can run tragically deep. Those scars never really heal. Jess would be the first to say that if she was still here. Last week, Jess took her life. She was 31.

Or that twi is inherently Christian?

Know what I mean, Vern? I wish that your exhortation, Twinky, was realistic... but I can't see it falling anywhere but on deaf ears at least in NK, OH. Just today, I read a review a friend on Goodreads.com posted about James Baldwin's play The Amen Corner. From the review, I'm hoping to borrow a copy of The Amen Corner from one of the local public library's near me.

Indeed, I didn't realize the crucial nature of the social connections twi provided at that time. Reconnecting with old friends and family is a wonderful thing and a great first step (when available) for finding "one's own tribe." Thanks T-Bone.

Even when faced with immensely challenging situations.

I found this blog on the Psychology Today website after listening to a couple of TED Talks by psychologist Guy Winch. The Importance of Belonging to a Tribe The curative powers of group identity. Posted Feb 19, 2020 As social animals, we have a "need to belong." We might not experience this need consciously or even be aware that we have it but it resides deep within us nonetheless. After all, in our historical past, we lived in tribes with whose members we spent our entire lives. Today, our "tribe" is often our immediate family—those with whom we live and share meals. However, given the fractured nature of today’s families (picture five people sitting in different rooms, each absorbed with their own screen), and given that unmarried adults often live alone or with roommates, our "need to belong" often goes partially or substantially unmet. What makes it important to address our need to belong to a group(s) is that it is not just a theoretical construct: It has real and significant implications for our emotional health. Here are some of the ways joining a group and finding our "tribe" can improve our happiness and emotional resilience. (continued) [...] If you do not have a "tribe" of your own, take the time to seek one out or create one. Doing so requires effort and initiative but the return on investment will be worth it as it can give a significant boost to your quality of life and your emotional well-being. Btw, here are links to the two TED Talks Young people (when we were young) were drawn to veepee's cult by the tribal need to belong. Coincidentally, a new movie that opens tomorrow in the US addresses the need to belong for both kids and an alcoholic adult.

Indeed, I remember March Fo(u)rth every year. So glad your nephew only lost property, hopefully he had insurance.

Indeed. But at age 22 (43 years ago or so), it just felt overwhelming... but yes, I know now it was a smart move. I almost made it all the way out of the cult that year. After being away for nearly a year, a 7th corpse guy apparently found my phone number (it was listed then) called me and I went back to twi for a few years. Finally made the break after veepee passed.

Obviously, I can't speak to your motivations (and I know you didn't ask me to), but there hasn't been anyone that matched your insight and communication skill to more effectively spell out the problems as well as you. Yes, others have told their stories. That's just as important. But your insight has been incredibly valuable and important. Had you not stayed in as long as you had, your story would not be as rich and robust as it is. So, thank you (on behalf of many others beside just me). Because of personal stress I'm currently enduring, I've been thinking a lot today about John 16:33. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In plain English, EVERYONE endures stress. Everyone has major challenges. Perhaps for much of our lives.

Yes, yes, and YES! Key words, abandoning him. As always, Brother Sky, you nailed it... not unlike nailing 95 theses to a church door.

Word!

My perspective is that it wouldn't have taken any supernatural operation for them to have seen it coming. Just common sense thinking about that tree. Perhaps they should have known it was inevitable.

Foreseeable. But without critical thinking skills, what can you expect?