Rivenbark, Martindale, or V.P. Wierwille...do you think that TWI's decline was inevitable anyway no matter who held the reins? The participants were getting older and therefore priorities were changing within the lives of the general populace. It was quickly becoming inpractical for the followers to continue participating in the manner to which TWI had become accustomed. I'm speaking of one's ability to invest the time needed to run a class, or the many trips to many meeting most of which were unnecessary. The inability to drop everything to a meeting of a top name leader just because they passed through one's area, etc. etc. How long coud TWI have survived?
Is it possible that the purge's, splits, and firings actually helped TWI because it gave their followers something to focus on rather than the group's ineffectiveness? When I say "helped", I mean prolonged TWI's decline.
Rivenbark, Martindale, or V.P. Wierwille...do you think that TWI's decline was inevitable anyway no matter who held the reins? The participants were getting older and therefore priorities were changing within the lives of the general populace. It was quickly becoming inpractical for the followers to continue participating in the manner to which TWI had become accustomed. I'm speaking of one's ability to invest the time needed to run a class, or the many trips to many meeting most of which were unnecessary. The inability to drop everything to a meeting of a top name leader just because they passed through one's area, etc. etc. How long coud TWI have survived?
Is it possible that the purge's, splits, and firings actually helped TWI because it gave their followers something to focus on rather than the group's ineffectiveness? When I say "helped", I mean prolonged TWI's decline.
Yes.....I think that TWI's decline was inevitable. Though there was a pivot point, around 1979 or 1980, when twi could have re-structured and reinvented itself, but wierwille and co. didn't see it nor did he want to.
Around 1979, there was that huge push for "Word in Culture." Twi was brimming with talented people.....musicians, orchestra, arts & crafts, writers, cartoonists, stone masonry, builders, medical personnel, psychiatrists, professional ceo's, athletes, etc. Word in Business Conferences were hitting their stride and, for a few years, participation was such that twi had one WIB in the east, one in the west each year. At the Rock of Ages, twi set up an Arts and Crafts Tent for believers from around the country to sell their wares and feature their business talents.
There was so much musical talent around 1981/1982 that twi had a competition to select the best group. New Horizons was the first all black group in twi. In the eight or ten Regions, twi was swelling with excitement, talent, growth, new ideas, etc. Imo....the whole thing was busting at the seams. Twi was on the verge of exponential growth.
Ambassador One flights were bringing field people to hq.....and taking staff people to the field for an extended weekend. Way Productions had its own motorcoach for traveling around and blessing the folks at events. Five campuses of corps training.....HQ, Rome City, Emporia, Camp Gunnison, and LEAD in Tinnie, NM. And, for a time....there was talk of Regional "rock of ages" events.
Wierwille ran the thing to the point of everyone gasping for air. The corps program was an indoctrination to shut your mouth and succomb to groupthink. Wierwille/Martindale seemed to spiritualize everything and ONLY CORPS could "carry the water" for the mog's wishes. All music talent had to be corps. The staff department coordinators needed corps training. The good-hearted staff of the early 70's made their silent exits one-by-one as the years passed.
IMO....the window of opportunity passed without wierwille or martindale seeing it. The fields were ripe to harvest, and yet, the "reapers" were asleep in the shade. Talent, love, and excitement was everywhere......and yet, the spotlight had to be ON THEM and every word that proceeded forth from their pieholes.
What would have happened...
...if twi had de-centralized around 1980?
...if business & professional talent had been spotlighted?
...if parenting and family issues had been emphasized?
...if the yearly pilgrimage to Ohio had stopped?
...if regional programs allowed for flexibility and time constraints?
...if Christ as the Head would have been the focal point?
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waysider
Ahhhhh!
Such fond memories of The Way International, gently nestled in the mystic foothills of BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN.
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skyrider
Yep.....that time of year.
The Big Rock (of Ages) Candy Mountain...........
Where there's smiles all day,
Tent city at The Way,
Love-rumbling in the hay,
Smoking pot is okay,
at The Big Rock Candy Mountain.
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Broken Arrow
Rivenbark, Martindale, or V.P. Wierwille...do you think that TWI's decline was inevitable anyway no matter who held the reins? The participants were getting older and therefore priorities were changing within the lives of the general populace. It was quickly becoming inpractical for the followers to continue participating in the manner to which TWI had become accustomed. I'm speaking of one's ability to invest the time needed to run a class, or the many trips to many meeting most of which were unnecessary. The inability to drop everything to a meeting of a top name leader just because they passed through one's area, etc. etc. How long coud TWI have survived?
Is it possible that the purge's, splits, and firings actually helped TWI because it gave their followers something to focus on rather than the group's ineffectiveness? When I say "helped", I mean prolonged TWI's decline.
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skyrider
Yes.....I think that TWI's decline was inevitable. Though there was a pivot point, around 1979 or 1980, when twi could have re-structured and reinvented itself, but wierwille and co. didn't see it nor did he want to.
Around 1979, there was that huge push for "Word in Culture." Twi was brimming with talented people.....musicians, orchestra, arts & crafts, writers, cartoonists, stone masonry, builders, medical personnel, psychiatrists, professional ceo's, athletes, etc. Word in Business Conferences were hitting their stride and, for a few years, participation was such that twi had one WIB in the east, one in the west each year. At the Rock of Ages, twi set up an Arts and Crafts Tent for believers from around the country to sell their wares and feature their business talents.
There was so much musical talent around 1981/1982 that twi had a competition to select the best group. New Horizons was the first all black group in twi. In the eight or ten Regions, twi was swelling with excitement, talent, growth, new ideas, etc. Imo....the whole thing was busting at the seams. Twi was on the verge of exponential growth.
Ambassador One flights were bringing field people to hq.....and taking staff people to the field for an extended weekend. Way Productions had its own motorcoach for traveling around and blessing the folks at events. Five campuses of corps training.....HQ, Rome City, Emporia, Camp Gunnison, and LEAD in Tinnie, NM. And, for a time....there was talk of Regional "rock of ages" events.
Wierwille ran the thing to the point of everyone gasping for air. The corps program was an indoctrination to shut your mouth and succomb to groupthink. Wierwille/Martindale seemed to spiritualize everything and ONLY CORPS could "carry the water" for the mog's wishes. All music talent had to be corps. The staff department coordinators needed corps training. The good-hearted staff of the early 70's made their silent exits one-by-one as the years passed.
IMO....the window of opportunity passed without wierwille or martindale seeing it. The fields were ripe to harvest, and yet, the "reapers" were asleep in the shade. Talent, love, and excitement was everywhere......and yet, the spotlight had to be ON THEM and every word that proceeded forth from their pieholes.
What would have happened...
...if twi had de-centralized around 1980?
...if business & professional talent had been spotlighted?
...if parenting and family issues had been emphasized?
...if the yearly pilgrimage to Ohio had stopped?
...if regional programs allowed for flexibility and time constraints?
...if Christ as the Head would have been the focal point?
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waysider
What would have happened?
It would have broken wierwille's heart.
No longer would he have been the focal point of everything.
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krys
former message replaced...
I'm sorry Skyrider.....I didn't intend to kill your thread. Next time I'll think twice before I open my mouth.
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cheranne
Like candy coated satanism,or giving candy to sick people to replace real medicine
they really need to be ALIVE. Symbolically speaking ofcourse.
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