WW, I'll bring this thread up and probably get you all excited for a couple of seconds that there has finally been some input. I suppose there could be more WWI vets in this town than TWIers from that time period who read this thread.
Jimmy Doop gives us some information from this time period in his most recent publication, When the Hippies Found Jesus: Ears to Hear: A True Story of the Sixties.
Jimmy Doop gives us some information from this time period in his most recent publication, When the Hippies Found Jesus: Ears to Hear: A True Story of the Sixties.
Has this book been published? And if so, where can I order a copy?
BTW WW, David Anderson would be familiar with much of this timeframe, he doesn't post very often but you might try emailing him. Just a thought.
My parents were involved in TWI during this time period. My father passed away when I was young but I do recall conversations with my mother about this era of TWI when I got older. She has dementia now so she remembers none of the details, but I will share what I remember from the conversations.
My mother took VPW's PFAL class live during the late 1950's(57-59) in Dayton, OH or somewhere in that vicinity. She really believed VPW had taught the most accurate word of God since the 1st century. Little did she know that much of the content was taken from other authors such as Leonard, Stiles, etc. She eventually talked my father into taking the class. They were members of the Baptist church at the time and taught a Sunday school class there. At some point they began teaching things in Sunday school that they learned from VPW which prompted a confrontation from the Baptist church minister. They decided they would not "compromise" so they left the Baptist church and began following VPW exclusively. I remember hearing about the Sunday teachings being held in the building that was adjacent to Weirwille Rd.(BRC??) They met Bishop Pillai there during that time and my oldest brother attended the 1st summer school that was held in NK. It was a very different culture back in those days. Much easier to conceal things. Back then they really believed VPW had special info. Wow, I just realized this thread was started in 2005.
My parents were involved in TWI during this time period. My father passed away when I was young but I do recall conversations with my mother about this era of TWI when I got older. She has dementia now so she remembers none of the details, but I will share what I remember from the conversations.
My mother took VPW's PFAL class live during the late 1950's(57-59) in Dayton, OH or somewhere in that vicinity. She really believed VPW had taught the most accurate word of God since the 1st century. Little did she know that much of the content was taken from other authors such as Leonard, Stiles, etc. She eventually talked my father into taking the class. They were members of the Baptist church at the time and taught a Sunday school class there. At some point they began teaching things in Sunday school that they learned from VPW which prompted a confrontation from the Baptist church minister. They decided they would not "compromise" so they left the Baptist church and began following VPW exclusively. I remember hearing about the Sunday teachings being held in the building that was adjacent to Weirwille Rd.(BRC??) They met Bishop Pillai there during that time and my oldest brother attended the 1st summer school that was held in NK. It was a very different culture back in those days. Much easier to conceal things. Back then they really believed VPW had special info. Wow, I just realized this thread was started in 2005.
...and waited until now to get new information, for which I appreciate your reply.[
The internet age sure makes it easy to learn all sorts of things, doesn't it?/b]
I'm not an eyewitness of those years, but I have some info about that time. First, I was in the second Way Corps (1971 - 1973) with a woman whose parents lived in Troy, OH and who raised her and her sister during the 1950s and 1960s to follow VPW's teachings, although they'd discontinued going to headquarters and supporting VPW. I met her father once, and he said they didn't like VP's arrogance, but stayed faithful to The Word (VP's buzz word for his teachings). She went in the Corps because she got hooked on VP's so-called revelation. She stayed in the Corps despite her parents' not liking VPW, and she's still in TWI today.
Last year in Orlando, I met a woman from Van Wert, OH. We have a mutual friend who introduced me to her after she learned about my book Undertow. She met me and we talked a couple of hours while she told me stories, including that she had dated Don Wierwille in high school! She showed me her high school year book with her photo in it and Don's photo in it. He was their class president. She remembers her mother saying something was "odd about Wierwille," but she didn't have enough curiosity to find out more. Maybe her mother did, but her mother didn't share more details with her.
I have an old Way Magazine from July/Sept.1969. On the cover is a young couple holding hands, walking through a field with a wooded yard in the background. The words, "The Walk of Youth" are below the photo with an arrow pointing right, as if hinting we should open the magazine.
That is the title of an article by VPW called, "The Word speaks to the "Now" generation. The Walk of Youth." A key phrase is, "Become an example of the believers" and the article expounds on I Timothy 4:12.
As an example, the second article is called, "The Walk of Youth on College Campus," which is about The Way Home down the street from East Carolina University. This is where I was recruited in 1970. The article is a patchwork of little essays by these people: John T. and Mary Somerville (Mary is VPW's second eldest daughter) who were the Way Home "directors" at that time. Later "directors" would be John and Pat Ly*n, who were there when I took PFAL. Other essays are from people who lived in the house and other students who fellowshipped at the house on a regular basis.
The next article is by Pete* J. Wad*. I think there are some posts here on GSC that he wrote. He is in Australia now and runs his own Christian group.
Walter J. Cum*ins wrote the next article. It's titled, "Walter Cum*ins discusses the walk in darkness," which is about the two gods and how to be born of either seed, etc.
The issue has an ad for the 1969 Summer Youth Advance and for a Way family camp in Minnesota.
Bernita Jes* has an article about the Oriental Backgroun in the book of Ecclesiastes, and there is a Children's Corner with Audrey Hamilt*n encouraging kids to learn the Word at The Way.
The News from Headquarters section includes a new phone number for HQ 419.753.2523. A report on a Pentecost Truth Rally in Columbus with 300 people. Then the Board of Directors met. 480 new PFAL grads were recorded from the previous year. A Renewed Mind camp was held at HQ and a West Coast Women's Advance was held near San Francisco. 29 women came, including Mrs. VPW. I see some familiar faces in the photo of young women who soon afterward entered the First and Second Corps.
There are letters of thankfulness near the end, a Bulletin Board with dates of classes and advances, and an Our Times editorial by VPW. Here are a few quotes from it:
Opening, "In our day, the denominationally organized bodies are in a position of ecclesiastical desperation. They manifest an acculturated church marked by a conformity of unbelief and bureaucracy. ..." He goes on to bash churches in ways many of us have heard before.
At the end, there's an ad for Sunday Evening Fellowship, offering, "Here positive and accurate teaching of The Word by Dr. Wierwille and other teachers. Enjoy bright singing and good fellowship with like-minded believers. Everyone welcome to these non-denominational services."
Yikes! I'll refrain from editorial comments of my own on this material. I suspect you already know my opinions, anyway. I'm at http://charleneedge.com
This was the first "Eyewitnesses" thread, looking for personal accounts of twi from that time-frame. As you can see, the gleanings were lean, but it's worth reviewing.
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WordWolf
Still looking for any accounts....
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Lifted Up
WW, I'll bring this thread up and probably get you all excited for a couple of seconds that there has finally been some input. I suppose there could be more WWI vets in this town than TWIers from that time period who read this thread.
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jkboehme
Jimmy Doop gives us some information from this time period in his most recent publication, When the Hippies Found Jesus: Ears to Hear: A True Story of the Sixties.
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Outin88.
Has this book been published? And if so, where can I order a copy?
BTW WW, David Anderson would be familiar with much of this timeframe, he doesn't post very often but you might try emailing him. Just a thought.
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jkboehme
You've got mail! See your PMs.
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Outin88.
Thank you jkboehme.
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WordWolf
Has anyone who was around in the old, old days checked in?
ANY account, no matter how fragmented, would be very appreciated.....
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likeaneagle
Maybe a good source would be, the book Mrs. Wierwille's did on VPW.
I gave the book away, otherwise, I would fill the gaps.
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WordWolf
It's possible someone who was in before 1966 will check in, but by this point, it's highly doubtful.
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penworks
So, is Doop's book available to the public?
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waysider
Some of the people on this thread or mentioned on this thread have passed away.
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Infoabsorption
My parents were involved in TWI during this time period. My father passed away when I was young but I do recall conversations with my mother about this era of TWI when I got older. She has dementia now so she remembers none of the details, but I will share what I remember from the conversations.
My mother took VPW's PFAL class live during the late 1950's(57-59) in Dayton, OH or somewhere in that vicinity. She really believed VPW had taught the most accurate word of God since the 1st century. Little did she know that much of the content was taken from other authors such as Leonard, Stiles, etc. She eventually talked my father into taking the class. They were members of the Baptist church at the time and taught a Sunday school class there. At some point they began teaching things in Sunday school that they learned from VPW which prompted a confrontation from the Baptist church minister. They decided they would not "compromise" so they left the Baptist church and began following VPW exclusively. I remember hearing about the Sunday teachings being held in the building that was adjacent to Weirwille Rd.(BRC??) They met Bishop Pillai there during that time and my oldest brother attended the 1st summer school that was held in NK. It was a very different culture back in those days. Much easier to conceal things. Back then they really believed VPW had special info. Wow, I just realized this thread was started in 2005.
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OldSkool
Lol no worries. Its a work in progress around here.
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WordWolf
...and waited until now to get new information, for which I appreciate your reply.[
The internet age sure makes it easy to learn all sorts of things, doesn't it?/b]
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penworks
I'm not an eyewitness of those years, but I have some info about that time. First, I was in the second Way Corps (1971 - 1973) with a woman whose parents lived in Troy, OH and who raised her and her sister during the 1950s and 1960s to follow VPW's teachings, although they'd discontinued going to headquarters and supporting VPW. I met her father once, and he said they didn't like VP's arrogance, but stayed faithful to The Word (VP's buzz word for his teachings). She went in the Corps because she got hooked on VP's so-called revelation. She stayed in the Corps despite her parents' not liking VPW, and she's still in TWI today.
Last year in Orlando, I met a woman from Van Wert, OH. We have a mutual friend who introduced me to her after she learned about my book Undertow. She met me and we talked a couple of hours while she told me stories, including that she had dated Don Wierwille in high school! She showed me her high school year book with her photo in it and Don's photo in it. He was their class president. She remembers her mother saying something was "odd about Wierwille," but she didn't have enough curiosity to find out more. Maybe her mother did, but her mother didn't share more details with her.
I have an old Way Magazine from July/Sept.1969. On the cover is a young couple holding hands, walking through a field with a wooded yard in the background. The words, "The Walk of Youth" are below the photo with an arrow pointing right, as if hinting we should open the magazine.
That is the title of an article by VPW called, "The Word speaks to the "Now" generation. The Walk of Youth." A key phrase is, "Become an example of the believers" and the article expounds on I Timothy 4:12.
As an example, the second article is called, "The Walk of Youth on College Campus," which is about The Way Home down the street from East Carolina University. This is where I was recruited in 1970. The article is a patchwork of little essays by these people: John T. and Mary Somerville (Mary is VPW's second eldest daughter) who were the Way Home "directors" at that time. Later "directors" would be John and Pat Ly*n, who were there when I took PFAL. Other essays are from people who lived in the house and other students who fellowshipped at the house on a regular basis.
The next article is by Pete* J. Wad*. I think there are some posts here on GSC that he wrote. He is in Australia now and runs his own Christian group.
Walter J. Cum*ins wrote the next article. It's titled, "Walter Cum*ins discusses the walk in darkness," which is about the two gods and how to be born of either seed, etc.
The issue has an ad for the 1969 Summer Youth Advance and for a Way family camp in Minnesota.
Bernita Jes* has an article about the Oriental Backgroun in the book of Ecclesiastes, and there is a Children's Corner with Audrey Hamilt*n encouraging kids to learn the Word at The Way.
The News from Headquarters section includes a new phone number for HQ 419.753.2523. A report on a Pentecost Truth Rally in Columbus with 300 people. Then the Board of Directors met. 480 new PFAL grads were recorded from the previous year. A Renewed Mind camp was held at HQ and a West Coast Women's Advance was held near San Francisco. 29 women came, including Mrs. VPW. I see some familiar faces in the photo of young women who soon afterward entered the First and Second Corps.
There are letters of thankfulness near the end, a Bulletin Board with dates of classes and advances, and an Our Times editorial by VPW. Here are a few quotes from it:
Opening, "In our day, the denominationally organized bodies are in a position of ecclesiastical desperation. They manifest an acculturated church marked by a conformity of unbelief and bureaucracy. ..." He goes on to bash churches in ways many of us have heard before.
At the end, there's an ad for Sunday Evening Fellowship, offering, "Here positive and accurate teaching of The Word by Dr. Wierwille and other teachers. Enjoy bright singing and good fellowship with like-minded believers. Everyone welcome to these non-denominational services."
Yikes! I'll refrain from editorial comments of my own on this material. I suspect you already know my opinions, anyway. I'm at http://charleneedge.com
Cheers.
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WordWolf
This was the first "Eyewitnesses" thread, looking for personal accounts of twi from that time-frame. As you can see, the gleanings were lean, but it's worth reviewing.
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