The History

[cheranne]

I found this today in google somewhere anyway even though I was in this I never knew the complete history of

it all.

Thought it might intrest some folks and "guests" because IF The Way International is STiLL teaching VPWs stuff!

The Way International

Its History

by Wayne S. Walker

Several years ago, when I was working with the church at Medina, Ohio, I was at a shopping center in a nearby town when my attention was caught by a flyer posted on the window of one of the store. It was printed by "The Way Ministry" of Brunswick, Ohio, and the headline read, "The Way Is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). " A note near the bottom said, "We of The Way are a Biblical Research (Acts 17:11), Teaching (2 Cor. 5:17-21) and Fellowship (Heb. 10:25) Ministry. You, too can be a true follower of The Way... Jesus Christ."(1)

What caught my attention was the use of Scripture. Most religious organizations today make no appeal to the Bible for their beliefs, teachings, or practices whatsoever any more. The flyer claimed, "As Jesus Christ responded when tempted by the devil, so The Way, today, responds with 'It is written.'" There ensued five concepts, each followed by Scripture citations, four with which, if I understood them correctly, my study of the Bible forced me to disagree.

So far as I could remember, I had no knowledge of this group before I saw the flyer. So I wrote the address included with the advertisement seeking clarification of the points made. I received a telephone call from a gentleman who suggested we set up a meeting. So we met at a convenient restaurant. Although we did discuss some of our differences, my purpose was not to "argue" but merely to seek information. He explained the flyer, talked about his involvement in the movement, and gave me some more literature. I responded by giving him some tracts as well.

Seeking still further information, I found several interesting facts. "The Way," which takes its name from Acts 9:2, et. al, originated between 1942 and 1953 when Victor Paul Wierwille, a former United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed) minister, began teaching his Power for Abundant Living class, a thirteen-week course which cost $45 in 1971, $85 in 1975, and $200 in 1981.(2) It should be noted that Jesus and His apostles never charged a single penny for any of their services. Wierwille studied at Mission House College, University of Chicago Divinity School, and Moody Bible Institute, has a master's degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and received an honorary doctorate from Pike's Peak Bible Seminary, a reputed degree mill.(3)

In 1957, Wierwille resigned his VanWert, Ohio, pulpit to launch an independent ministry. The Power for Abundant Living course spread to other areas, but "The Way" was largely confined to a few adults in Ohio until 1968 when two former drug users from the Jesus movement, Steve Heefner in New York, and Jim Doop in California, joined Wierwille to take "The Way" to both coasts. Soon the movement gained a conservatively estimated 20,000 adherents, distributed among all fifty states and thirty-three foreign countries, say its leaders.(4) By 1980, the followers were numbered at 40,000.

"The Way" has no official membership. Most participants are young people, although some parents have joined also. The organization is carefully structured, according to Allan Wallerstedt in a book, Victor Paul Wierwille and the Way. The trunk is the international headquarters at New Knoxville, Ohio, near Lima. The limbs are statewide organizations of which there are about twenty. The branches are city areas. Twigs are home or campus meetings of which there are over fifteen hundred. And leaves are individual members.(5)

Although chapel is conducted each Sunday night at the world headquarters, there are no formal worship services, just home Bible fellowship meetings. Other institutions associated with the movement are The Way Magazine (which increased in circulation from twenty-five hundred to ten thousand in just three and a half years), the American Christian Press publishing house, The Way College in Emporia, Kansas, and a national convention in Ohio called the "Rock of Ages Christian Music Festival," plus a training center in Rome City, Indiana.(6)

The doctrine of the group is based on instruction Wierwille claims the Lord revealed to him directly in 1942.(7) According to Ellen Whiteside in a book, The Way, published by the organization in 1972, Wierwille reported, "I was praying . . . And that's when he spoke to me audibly, just like I'm talking to you now. He said he would teach me the Word as it had not been known since the first century if I would teach it to others." One of his converts is quoted as saying, "I see Dr. Wierwille as the next man of God to rise up after Paul's death."(8)

This doctrine is a blend of many different ideas. It includes typical denominationalism - salvation entirely by grace; Calvinism - once saved, always saved; dispensationalism - the church began with Paul's epistles; Pentecostalism -tongue and healing are stressed; Unitarianism - the trinity doctrine is contrary to Scripture; and materialism - human beings do not have immortal souls.(9) Members believe in God, the Bible, Jesus Christ, salvation, and eternal life, but define these terms differently from the way we would. For this reason, James Bjornstad, executive director of the Institute of Contemporary Christianity in Oakland, New Jersey, said, "Probably the closest counterfeit to orthodox Christianity we have today is The Way International."(10)

According to a publicity folder, "The Way" is "not a church, nor is it a denomination or a religious sect of any sort." Yet the organization's fifty ordained clergy (as of 1975), five of whom are women (cf. I Timothy 2:11-14), are authorized to perform marriages. A strong missionary effort is emphasized. In 1974, one thousand thirty-three "Word over the World" ambassadors were commissioned to herald the news about "The Way" in the United States, and two-thousand seventy-seven more in 1975 in both the United States and foreign countries, plus one-hundred four "minute men" or seasoned troops. The group began to grow appreciably when they began foraging for leaders among Jesus-movement converts.(11)

Shirl Short has written in the Moody Monthly, "The individual who has some religious or biblical background but no strong church ties or convictions is easy prey of The Way. So is the person who is down and out, feels rejected by his family, doesn't have a good self identity, or lacks love. He is very likely to find appealing the loving, positive approach of The Way.(12) Wierwille also convinces some with his claim of scholarship. He often makes a point of saying, "Now in the Sanskrit it says . . . ." There are no Sanskrit manuscripts, but he uses that language to prove his unique interpretations. To anyone who has no scholastic background, it sounds plausible.

The group is often accused by critics of mind control of its recruits, who are usually young, white, and with "Christian" backgrounds. It is suggested that members be approached in the same manner they were approached by "The Way" - in love. It is best to begin with the Scriptures and the deity of Christ. If it can be demonstrated that Christ truly is God and the passages shown that reveal it, Wierwille's theology

crumbles. It is also helpful to show that his scholarship is faulty and how the Bible refutes "The Way's" doctrines. These will be studied in the next article.

Endnotes

1. Flyer published by The Way Ministry, 660 East Dr., Brunswick, Ohio.

2. From articles in Christianity Today (3/26/71, 12/20/74, 9/26/75, and 9/19/80).

3. Christianity Today (12/20/74), p. 312.

4. Christianity Today (3/26/71), pp. 618-619.

5. Moody Monthly (7/8/77), pp. 27-31.

6. Ibid.

7. Christianity Today (12/20/74), p. 312.

8. Christianity Today (9/26/75), pp. 1232-1234.

9. Ibid.

10. Moody Monthly, op. cit.

11. Christianity Today (9/26/75), pp. 1232-1234.

12. Moody Monthly, op. cit.

I also want to see that Lonnie Frisbee movie(I really never knew any of this stuff) just trying to know the bible

because I at the tender age of 18 didn't know even where the book of John was??????? :(

Edited January 25, 2009 by cheranne

[themex]

Interesting.

[cheranne]

but "The Way" was largely confined to a few adults in Ohio until 1968 when two former drug users from the Jesus movement, Steve Heefner in New York, and Jim Doop in California, joined Wierwille to take "The Way" to both coasts. Soon the movement gained a conservatively estimated 20,000 adherents, distributed among all fifty states and thirty-three foreign countries, say its leaders.(4) By 1980, the followers were numbered at 40,000.

I think we would have been better off without lil vpw and "his' lies. Seems like those two guys had it going on.

[themex]

but "The Way" was largely confined to a few adults in Ohio until 1968 when two former drug users from the Jesus movement, Steve Heefner in New York, and Jim Doop in California, joined Wierwille to take "The Way" to both coasts. Soon the movement gained a conservatively estimated 20,000 adherents, distributed among all fifty states and thirty-three foreign countries, say its leaders.(4) By 1980, the followers were numbered at 40,000.

I think we would have been better off without lil vpw and "his' lies. Seems like those two guys had it going on.

No, maybe Steve Hefner is [name of GS poster deleted].

[leafytwiglet]

No, maybe Steve Hefner is [name of GS poster deleted].

You think so????? :unsure:

Edited January 28, 2009 by ModRocker

[themex]

You think so????? :unsure:

Well, he lives in New York, he is a very old PFAL grad, he knows almost every thing from VPW,TWI, and the Bible. It is a possibility.

[leafytwiglet]

:) Maybe he will spill the beans But I am not holding my breath.

[Bolshevik]

There was a rift in time and space.

Then a baboon took a dump on it.

That is the history of twi.

[potato]

Well, he lives in New York, he is a very old PFAL grad, he knows almost every thing from VPW,TWI, and the Bible. It is a possibility.

OMG, I feel like I just saw Elvis.

[leafytwiglet]

OMG, I feel like I just saw Elvis.

LOL wanders off to thread stalk [name of GS poster deleted].

Edited January 28, 2009 by ModRocker

[cheranne]

Vpw was a theif set out to kill steal and destroy,he was a parrot teaching the same thing over and over and over again and makingmore parrots through pfal and other classes.

Stepford robot people who ran the pay toll bridges as OUR lives passed from the fountain of our youth,the ticket got us

no where near the other side of abundent life!

[Mark Clarke]

Well, he lives in New York, he is a very old PFAL grad, he knows almost every thing from VPW,TWI, and the Bible. It is a possibility.

Steve Heefner hasn't lived in New York since the '70s. He was a disc jockey in California before he got involved with TWI and went back there after he split from TWI. Last I heard he was still a DJ in CA, but that was some time ago.

[socks]

Anonymity being what it is, yeah, who knows. But Steve and his wife Sandy live on the West Coast and don't post to GS. Well, who knows. But they don't.

Steve's "retired", isn't a part of any "ex-Way" community "keep-moving'-the-Word-of-PFAL" stuff and I wouldn't try to imply that to him unless you want a - well, just don't. He and Sandy continue to pursue the Word of God and spreading it in their own wonderful ways and have long since left any connection to the Way or VPW. Trust me on that one. They definitely have great big hearts for people and friends, and always have.

Jim's waiting the Return at this stage of his life. Look for a tall guy with a rakish grin, twirling his mustache. :)

[ModRocker]

This thread has been edited to remove speculation about the identity of a GreaseSpot poster.

I'm sure no harm was intended, but please don't reveal or post guesses about GSC members' real identities.

[themex]

This thread has been edited to remove speculation about the identity of a GreaseSpot poster.

I'm sure no harm was intended, but please don't reveal or post guesses about GSC members' real identities.

ok

[JeffSjo]

This thread has been edited to remove speculation about the identity of a GreaseSpot poster.

I'm sure no harm was intended, but please don't reveal or post guesses about GSC members' real identities.

And puuulease....don't guess about mine either. :D

[socks]

I am my own Grandpa. There, it's out.

themex, I think you've got a valid interest and good heart about what you're asking. There is a sense of the larger, extended family of people that have continued onward in their endeavors in "spreading" and more importantly "living" the Word in all capacities of life and work. You'd probably do well to make contact with some of the ministries that are listed around here, to see more clearly what they're doing now, too.

[cheranne]

Edited January 28, 2009 by cheranne

[nandon]

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god i loved the ROA.

[Frame57]

god i loved the ROA.

I have to admit, I really grew fond of the WOW burgers!!! Them was some goooood vittles.