Grace Valerie Claire

Raf, I love reading your posts! I wish you would post more often!

Raf, I really believe God lead me to TWI. I got in during Wintertime of 1978. My first Twig was great; we were young, we had fun together, and fellowship was exciting. I loved hearing The Word; finally I knew that God loved me. I had a very harsh, and unhappy childhood, and felt unloved. To know that Almighty God loved me, was breathtaking!! However, within a few years, TWI had changed; there was a lot of pressure for PFAL classes to run. The Word hadn't changed, but TWI had; it was all about money, and how many classes your Twig ran. And when Geer's paper came out in 1986, I knew I was going to leave; it was just a matter of time. So I left in May of 1988, and no one gave me any grief about it. I left, and knew that TWI, and I had parted company for good.

Allan, I will never regret my involvement with TWI, because it lead me to God. I left in 1988, and it seemed to me, TWI was going downhill quickly. From reading various posts here at the GSC, TWI went from crazy to catastrophic.

Allan, yes!! God got me in also. I loved the music, and I really enjoyed many of the people I met in TWI. However, when it was time to leave, God got me out. As bad as TWI was/is, I am thankful that it lead me to God.

Allan, bingo!!! So did mine! Looking back, I wish I had left TWI years before I did. But, I thought if I stayed, I would see things improve in Way World. After I left, things continued to get worse for TWI; however my life got much better.

Steve, excellent post!! However, I just wanted to add my two cents; I heard VPW teach live several times. I thought he was boring, boring, boring! Just my opinion; I know a lot of people will disagree with me.

Way, yes TWI did ruin lives; I wonder how many those whose lives were ruined will ever recover??

Twinky, I too would like to know if Sky receives a response.

Sky, what a great letter!! You rock!!

Steve, the staff, and students are allowed to disagree with each other??!! Obviously, most of them were not involved in TWI; if you disagreed with leadership, you were sharply reproved for voicing your opinions.

Chock, honey you are so right; TWI did prey on young people who lacked critical thinking skills. My thinking skills, and my lack of self-esteem, made me an easy mark for VPW, and company. In college, I started to develop my critical thinking-skills, and realised a lot of what TWI taught was garbage, and started to live my life for myself; that did not go over well with the local leadership. Now I understand why TWI didn't want people to go on for higher education; they wanted people to think in terms of what was best for The Ministry, not was best for the individual.

DWBH, wow!! The things I learn from the GSC; thanks for all the information. Now, I am beginning to understand why I got involved in TWI, and why I was happy to get out of it!

GM, you nailed it! The GSC has opened my eyes to a lot of S--t that went on in Way World, that I did not know about!

T-Bone, you rock!!!

George, good for you!! I probably would have done the same as you.

Krys, interesting post! I think a lot of people tried to tell others how to run their lives; I hated that! I know as a woman, I was expected to get married, and have kids. Nuts! I got my degree, and than joined the Navy. I wanted to travel, and do something with my life. So many people in TWI wanted to know when I planned on getting married; the answer was/is " when the right man comes along. " I felt a lot of pressure to get married; many women married the first man who asked them. I am so happy that I didn't do that; I may never get married. But, I am fine with that. I am happy being single; life is good!

George, neither did I. But, I feel like some of the leadership looked down on me, because I didn't "sell-out" completely to TWI. I had a life, and I wanted to live it my way; I felt that many of the leaders in TWI had certain expectations as to how "believers" were supposed to live their lives; I did not fall into that category. Nuts to them!

WG, well-said, and thank you! I did not know that Cancer was "over 600 diseases." I think VPW wanted easy answers to complex medical questions; I think that was why he said it was a DS. Hogwash!! I would not wish Cancer on anyone, but it can be successfully treated, if it is caught in time. I know from personal experience!

Penworks, interesting post. I think many of us paid a "high price" for our involvement in TWI; some perhaps more than others. I think I was fortune in that I left unscarred; I know some of the women, and children, were brutally abused by others members of the cult. If I could turn time backwards, I would love to have VPW, and others pay for their crimes; I know that isn't possible so I will have to let go, and let God deal with them.

Tzaia, what a polite way of saying that VBW was full of caca!

Way, you did an excellent job of describing Boot Camp!!

DWBH, I think of all the posts I have ever read here at the GSC, your's may be the best one I have ever read. Thanks for posting this; I need to read it a few more times to really absorb it.

Rocky, I love your posts; you seem to have your feet on the ground, and your head on straight. Just my two cents!

Bol, I think many people who get involved in cults are looking for love, and acceptance. I know I was; my family life sucked when I was a kid. When I got involved in TWI in 1978, I felt loved, and accepted for the first time in my life. What a glorious feeling it was! Perhaps if I had grown up in a loving, and kind family, I would never have felt the need to join TWI.

Way, that is a great question. I wish I had a great answer for you. If I had known about VPW's wantonness, I would never have gotten involved with TWI. However, I did meet some wonderful people in TWI, and I truly enjoyed most of The Rocks, I attended.