Any story I have would be mostly about mind numbing boredom while providing free security services for a cult that masterfully renamed “security” “bless patrol”.
Every once in a while you would see Jesus on a golf cart. Or some other large named performing clown.
But mostly mind numbing boredom. The only redeeming quality was getting to know the other captives.
I was bless patrol at some function in our city and the motor coach was parked in the parking lot taking up 4 or 5 parking spaces. I was given a roll of quarters and when a meter ran out of time, put a another quarter in. It was some time until VPW finished up. I thought I was so privileged because when VPW left the building and returned to the motor coach, I got to walk with him, holding an umbrella over him, to shield the sun light from the man of god.
Any stories about serving on Bless Patrol at any of the Rock of Ages? I was on Bless Patrol at the back door of the House of Wierwille in 1981. It was surreal watching Dubofsky, Lynn and Martindale shooting hoops and performing for anyone nearby. The motorcoach was tucked into a portion of the driveway and seemed to be a social meeting spot for the upper muckety-mucks. I was a nervous wreck, so petrified of being singled out for an inquisition or something of that sort. Silly, I know. But it's my memory.
I clearly remember one ROA night time bless patrol shift keeping an eye on the protesters from Westboro Baptist Church. This was well before the Westboro folks had become well-known throughout the country. Same flavor they retained for the decades to come. Hateful signs in abundance.
It was a very cold (maybe down into the 50s F.) August mid 1970s night in rural Ohio, before The Way began holding ROAs at HQ. I remember the yellow Bless Patrol hats and standing (shivering) with a guy (who later served in the 7th corpse) for a couple of hours. It may have been boring, but I recall a sense of camaraderie on an otherwise calm night.
Why would a THE man of god need a security detail? Why couldn’t he just beleeeve big enough for his own security? After all, he beleeeved big enough to provide for national security - if it weren’t for his beleeeviing, the Soviets would have attacked the U.S.
Why would a THE man of god need a security detail? Why couldn’t he just beleeeve big enough for his own security? After all, he beleeeved big enough to provide for national security - if it weren’t for his beleeeviing, the Soviets would have attacked the U.S.
Oh, boy. You went and opened a can of worms now. Do you really want to hear about the loaded gun under the podium or the armed bodyguards that accompanied him around the grounds?
Oh, boy. You went and opened a can of worms now. Do you really want to hear about the loaded gun under the podium or the armed bodyguards that accompanied him around the grounds?
Ha! Not necessarily. I've read those stories right here in this café. My questions were rhetorical.
This must have been pre-LCM. Didn’t he hate gays with the same passion as Westboro?
It was before Loy was in charge, yes. Westboro, at the time, must have been still trying to settle on its identity, who do they hate most. It wasn't about gays for either group, as intensely as it became only a few years later.
Why would a THE man of god need a security detail? Why couldn’t he just beleeeve big enough for his own security? After all, he beleeeved big enough to provide for national security - if it weren’t for his beleeeviing, the Soviets would have attacked the U.S.
The answer is multifold. Sure, believing and holding forth the story for God's protection was only one part of it. The reality was more complicated. Any religion seeking to stir up the dust and challenge entrenched church empires was bound to be a magnet attracting disturbed individuals.
Further complications entered when the hired heavies (official bless patrol, would get LEO certification and carry firearms). With that came another level of arrogance both on the part of the MOGs and those who carried the hardware.
Why would a THE man of god need a security detail? Why couldn’t he just beleeeve big enough for his own security? After all, he beleeeved big enough to provide for national security - if it weren’t for his beleeeviing, the Soviets would have attacked the U.S.
Paul Allen was ....ED OFF. He got in LCM face and told him off and did not give two hoots about his goon Linder displaying his firearm in a holster.
If you are having affairs with peoples wives his own fear and conscience kept him with a personal goon whenever he traveled in public. I mean how many husbands would justifiably want to beat his @$$? Or more?
Paul Allen was ....ED OFF. He got in LCM face and told him off and did not give two hoots about his goon Linder displaying his firearm in a holster.
If you are having affairs with peoples wives his own fear and conscience kept him with a personal goon whenever he traveled in public. I mean how many husbands would justifiably want to beat his @$$? Or more?
Right, I get it. I've read the accounts. I was pointing to the hypocrisy, the doctrinal and spiritual dishonesty, the bullshonta.
I know. The hypocrisy wasn't the worst part. It was the raping.
Worked BP at the ROA a couple of times in the early 80’s. One shift I was working at the entrance to the driveway leading to (I think) Wierwille’s home. We were specifically told only vehicles with a certain colored pass were allowed through. A black limo rolls up. We stop it. Driver arrogantly demands that we let him through. We explain about the pass. He, again arrogantly informs us that The Way only has one limousine & this is it. We don’t budge. Finally the back window rolls down & it’s Howard Allen. Yeah, we let him through, but how difficult would it have been for the driver to get the pass that BP was being told to require for entry? Other than that, I worked the swing shift, so I had a legitimate reason for skipping the main evening teaching. Also a female friend would stop by to make out after things slowed down
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Raf
Before my time
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waysider
Oh, to be a fly on the wall, eh?
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chockfull
Any story I have would be mostly about mind numbing boredom while providing free security services for a cult that masterfully renamed “security” “bless patrol”.
Every once in a while you would see Jesus on a golf cart. Or some other large named performing clown.
But mostly mind numbing boredom. The only redeeming quality was getting to know the other captives.
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Stayed Too Long
I was bless patrol at some function in our city and the motor coach was parked in the parking lot taking up 4 or 5 parking spaces. I was given a roll of quarters and when a meter ran out of time, put a another quarter in. It was some time until VPW finished up. I thought I was so privileged because when VPW left the building and returned to the motor coach, I got to walk with him, holding an umbrella over him, to shield the sun light from the man of god.
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Rocky
I clearly remember one ROA night time bless patrol shift keeping an eye on the protesters from Westboro Baptist Church. This was well before the Westboro folks had become well-known throughout the country. Same flavor they retained for the decades to come. Hateful signs in abundance.
It was a very cold (maybe down into the 50s F.) August mid 1970s night in rural Ohio, before The Way began holding ROAs at HQ. I remember the yellow Bless Patrol hats and standing (shivering) with a guy (who later served in the 7th corpse) for a couple of hours. It may have been boring, but I recall a sense of camaraderie on an otherwise calm night.
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Nathan_Jr
What was Westboro protesting?
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Nathan_Jr
Why would such a charlatan need shielding from sunlight?
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Rocky
TWI
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Nathan_Jr
This must have been pre-LCM. Didn’t he hate gays with the same passion as Westboro?
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Nathan_Jr
Why would a THE man of god need a security detail? Why couldn’t he just beleeeve big enough for his own security? After all, he beleeeved big enough to provide for national security - if it weren’t for his beleeeviing, the Soviets would have attacked the U.S.
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waysider
Oh, boy. You went and opened a can of worms now. Do you really want to hear about the loaded gun under the podium or the armed bodyguards that accompanied him around the grounds?
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Nathan_Jr
Ha! Not necessarily. I've read those stories right here in this café. My questions were rhetorical.
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Rocky
It was before Loy was in charge, yes. Westboro, at the time, must have been still trying to settle on its identity, who do they hate most. It wasn't about gays for either group, as intensely as it became only a few years later.
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Rocky
The answer is multifold. Sure, believing and holding forth the story for God's protection was only one part of it. The reality was more complicated. Any religion seeking to stir up the dust and challenge entrenched church empires was bound to be a magnet attracting disturbed individuals.
Further complications entered when the hired heavies (official bless patrol, would get LEO certification and carry firearms). With that came another level of arrogance both on the part of the MOGs and those who carried the hardware.
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chockfull
Paul Allen was ....ED OFF. He got in LCM face and told him off and did not give two hoots about his goon Linder displaying his firearm in a holster.
If you are having affairs with peoples wives his own fear and conscience kept him with a personal goon whenever he traveled in public. I mean how many husbands would justifiably want to beat his @$$? Or more?
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Nathan_Jr
Right, I get it. I've read the accounts. I was pointing to the hypocrisy, the doctrinal and spiritual dishonesty, the bullshonta.
I know. The hypocrisy wasn't the worst part. It was the raping.
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Junior Corps Surviver
We used to get beer and Jack Daniels from a guy who worked Bless Patrol. What a blessing.
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Oakspear
Worked BP at the ROA a couple of times in the early 80’s. One shift I was working at the entrance to the driveway leading to (I think) Wierwille’s home. We were specifically told only vehicles with a certain colored pass were allowed through. A black limo rolls up. We stop it. Driver arrogantly demands that we let him through. We explain about the pass. He, again arrogantly informs us that The Way only has one limousine & this is it. We don’t budge. Finally the back window rolls down & it’s Howard Allen. Yeah, we let him through, but how difficult would it have been for the driver to get the pass that BP was being told to require for entry? Other than that, I worked the swing shift, so I had a legitimate reason for skipping the main evening teaching. Also a female friend would stop by to make out after things slowed down
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