Do You Want To Get Well?

A few nights a week, I travel home late from work. Last year, while driving home, I had the radio on surfing the AM channels, as it were. I tuned into a station out of Nashville and Dr. Asa Andrews was taking callers and answering their health questions. I listened with interest as my struggle at the time was against a major illness that had captivated most all my attention and extra time. I wanted to learn how to fight the disease. Dr. Andrews had some ideas that were new to me and I listened hoping to learn and eventually win my battle.

As I listened, he talked about a book he wrote titled, “Empowering Your Health” (Copyright©2007 by Asa Andrews, published by Thomas Nelson, ISBN-13:978-1-4016-0372-4). I made a mental note at that time to order the book. Have you ever done that? Make a mental note to do something and several months later- you have not followed through? That is what happened to me. It was almost a year later and I had not ordered the book. Why? There could be many excuses. I had ordered other books and not remembered to order that one… I may have actually looked it up and intended to order it and just never did. Then in early January, I told someone about the book and told them I would order it and read it. Finally, after several more weeks, I went to amazon.com and ordered the book. The struggle did not end there.

When the book arrived, I left it in the back seat of my car for a day or so. It was as if I was afraid to open it because that would bring me one step closer to reading it and possibly seeing what I knew in the back of mind was my reality. So, I unwrapped the book and it is in great shape for a “used” book! That was wonderful. The jacket for the book had a picture of Dr. Andrews throwing an apple in the air. So, I opened it and began reading. The first part was about his struggle when he was on a team of folks who lifted weights and traveled. He met with physical struggles and began searching for answers. After all he was a medical student! Chapter 2 was titled “Do You Want to Get Well? Taking Responsibility for Your Health” I read a few sentences then I stopped and put the book down – for days! Let me explain.

More Memories From Ben McGee

This post is the next one submitted by Ben McGee. He tells of events he remembers from his time at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). As Jane Whaley said during my time at WOFF, no one can take your experiences from you. They are yours. The following are more of Ben McGee’s memories and experiences.

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I would like everyone involved to know that I will show respect where due yet, I’m going to be very frank about my thoughts, perceptions and the subsequent actions that took place; this applies to everyone in that community and local government. Jesus is in control and he will be glorified regardless of our purpose. I honestly don’t know everything that was going on and I do not condemn anyone or any agency for what they did or didn’t do. Again as a stated before, the purpose is to save and not destroy. God is our ultimate judge and we shall all be held accountable whether you believe this or not. Man was given free will in the garden because of his actions and no one on this earth was appointed to suppress or control free will, including the original apostles.

The Ugly Truth

Here is some insight to things I witnessed which were triggers that led to my decision at first to doubt and ultimately leave this oppressive regime. They are random as the timeline is not clear to me. This is not a debate about doctrine right or wrong, I’ll let you decide what is Holy and Acceptable.

Oh, where to start! The blinders started to fail when Derek Moser took his stand to leave because he was not allowed to make a better life for his family. This is my assumption as I have never spoken with them at length. Derek simply wanted to start a business but, Jane decided he was not in a place in God or not ready to do this yet. I was standing in the hall outside Jane’s office where they were meeting with open door. I wasn’t intentional listening, nothing better to do while waiting my turn to speak with the high priestess. This process is referred to as locking in. Approval or disapproval of a thought or action and its eventual success or failure was done this way and the line and wait could be lengthy. Attempts at circumventing this process were frowned upon and dealt with in creative and usually stressful emotional ways.

Salvation Critical Issues

A recent conversation with a person who has never been a member of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) revealed something to me that helped me understand the quandary for many outsiders. After asking several questions and trying to understand the dynamics of life inside WOFF, this person said, “You know, I don’t think about my salvation constantly. I am not worried if I am going to hell over every single thing I do…” I was shocked at the statement, but suddenly I could see the problem and at least some of the answer. Let me explain.

First, the fact that I was shocked showed me I was still at least in the shadows of WOFF thinking. Why? Inside WOFF, for faithful members, the life is saturated with “salvation critical issues”. What do I mean? Everything at WOFF – every behavior, every attitude, every decision, every thought, every purchase, and every choice of a garment, every relationship, and every facial expression – can be and is subject to being scrutinized to see if you are saved, born again and submitted to the will of God. This may seem strange and should to those outside the WOFF sub-culture. So much revolves around this one aspect that is may be difficult to fully explain the vital role that this has in the control environment of WOFF, but, I will make an attempt.

We have chronicled many of these issues here on this blog in previous posts. Your walk with God and eventual salvation could and would be judged for how you talked, how you walked, how you dressed, how you drove, how you handled your cell phone, how you left a bathroom, who you wanted to be friends with wither inside or outside the group, where you wanted to work, what classes you wanted to take in school… The list can be endless as new situations would arise and you would be judged in that new situation as to whether you were “hearing God” or were “under authority” or were “lawless” or “giving over to your sin” or “giving place to the devils in you” or risk being “put out of the church and the MOVE of GOD”… All of these phrases were meant to instill fear over your eternal destination while relating to common occurrences such as how you cleaned your house or folded your clothes or if you cleaned your deck, or whatever Jane decided to use for her purposes. All of this would be covered in the phrase- you need to walk, talk and act “like a minister of God…”

My WOFF Exit Drama- Ben McGee

The following is a brief narration of events leading to the exit of Ben McGee from Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in Spindale, NC. Though my family had not moved to Spindale before these events took place, we knew Ben, his wife and children. Since we were living in Greenville, the details in this story were not conveyed to us, as far as I remember. As I learned, this exit drama was not unusual for WOFF families. If there are other former members who would like to share their story, please contact me by email- author@religiosucultsinco.com

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My WOFF Exit Drama- Ben McGee

Introduction

In or around the early 90′s my wife and I moved from Jacksonville Fl. to Rutherfordton NC. for a number of reasons. Close friends from a bible study group we attended had been to a seminar in Florida WOFF had hosted and told us how wonderful it was and they were going to move to go to bible school in North Carolina. I trusted these friends; I could see and feel their zeal to do God’s work unselfishly. My wife was recovering from destructive crack and alcohol addictions which if we stayed without the help of close friends, I feared would return. I had my own demons but not the violent addictive behavior openly displayed by my ex-wife. Many will sit in judgment of my actions and decisions but the fact is the majority of people have problems they aren’t aware of or refuse to acknowledge and deal with or simply don’t know how. Please, bear in mind this is a blog and not a book so all the dynamics of my life and choices are not discussed or explained. In faith, we packed all our belongings in a truck and my wife drove the car with our 4 children. Contrary to WOFF’s made up perceptions we were not on the verge of divorce. Why on earth would we go through all we did if it weren’t the hope in our hearts of a better life? We did not ask to come; we did not know anything about Word of Faith Spindale or Rutherford County. We came in faith.

The True Cost of WOFF Membership… (2)

We continue with examining the true cost of being a member of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF).  This past week I saw the cost of living in Jane Whaley’s group from another perspective. Let me set the scene. In the post about a recent exit drama, I mentioned a phone conversation with Jane. (link here- http://wp.me/pPfwC-5r) During this conversation, Jane began to remind me how many lawsuits WOFF has “won”… She was telling me of her record and how she had met every challenge. Now, I am no expert on the details of the court rulings. I was on the inside during these court cases and have discovered since I have been out that I was only told part of the so called “truth” about these decisions. Regardless of the details now, let it just be said that this litany of Jane’s “perfect court record” has been repeated enough for many if not most folks in Rutherford County to believe it without question. Others who talk to Jane confirm she tells this often, as well as it is on their website.

While on the inside, I heard this “praise report” and record of “victories” over and over. I thought it was great! Wow- those Jewish lawyers were worth the millions of dollars that WOFF and whoever paid them! Wow- we showed them! When you were inside you counted the victories as “blessings”. But, now that I am out, I think I was deceived –AGAIN about life inside WOFF.  Please, keep reading.

Also, while inside WOFF, it never occurred to me to ask why it was such a common occurrence for families to have their custody battles orchestrated by Jane. Why would a church be so concerned and take up the cause or get in the middle of custody battles or adoptions? Hmmm… Why is that? Could Jane believe that everything about her members is her business and reflects on her? Yes, I think so. But, if WOFF was a normal, Protestant, evangelical church why would they be so intoxicated and dedicated to defending their perception or reputation in the community? You tell me. Do all the other Christian churches in Rutherford County make it their mission to educate and grow their own attorneys? Why does Jane see the need to have in-house legal defense? What is the cost of all this court activity? I believe there are many sides to this issue. I will expound on two of them.

The True Cost of WOFF Membership… (1)

There are times when different themes of several posts will begin to converge and allow more insight into the life of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) members. This is just such a time. On Saturday, I pondered the events over this last week and actually the last few weeks. Without going into great detail, I have seen the cost of WOFF membership from a new perspective. After having been a member and now a former member; my experiences and observations cannot be wholly dismissed. I am not an outsider who has never seen the intimate cozy surreal almost “family atmosphere” of the homes and the church buildings.  For some, my words may still be considered highly prejudiced. Yes, that could be assumed since I have lost my immediate family, many friends and sixteen years of my life to WOFF.  But, in this post, I hope to present a more complete assessment of WOFF membership.  In this post, I will attempt to list the benefits AND what I see as the actual cost of being a WOFF member.

In recent posts, we have discussed the many conflictions and conundrums of life at WOFF. We have discussed the advertising of WOFF member-owned businesses in media that regular members are not allowed to partake of. These WOFF member-owned businesses are not advertising for new members- directly. But, if WOFF were to run some commercials on radio or television, what would it sound like? We have all seen or heard commercials for churches before. What if WOFF had to hold to the same standards as drug companies? That makes sense as some say that during a WOFF membership, some faithful members are so addicted to Jane that it can be like a drug addiction.  Hmmm…

In advertising, one is generally trying to sell the benefits of a product or service and thus convince the listener to buy. Have you seen a commercial for any new drug recently? In these commercials, the people are seen smiling, laughing and obviously in better health after taking the new medications. But, have you noticed the disclaimers? You hear the instructions to ask your doctor if this drug is right for you and make sure to tell him about all your medications. Use of this drug may cause certain side effects which include but may not be limited to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and so on. Tell your doctor if you notice a sudden change in your mood, sleeping patterns or have thoughts of suicide. A simple blood test is used to determine liver function and if your liver function changes as a result of taking – whatever drug. Why do advertisers do this? I suspect to try to deflect any lawsuits and/or disclose full knowledge of how their drug affected some who had taken it during the trial period.

Well, you get no such disclosure when Jane Whaley or some other WOFF member plays their commercial for you! You may be told how God has a plan for you, how you need to fulfill the call of God, you need to meet Jane, or just simply be invited to a special service or Friday night fellowship. You may be invited to a wedding or graduation. From my experience in years in WOFF, just one visit and a person can be “hooked”. For sure, WOFF members will be on their best behavior and in their best dress for such a “commercial” presentation. When you are invited to WOFF or to meet Jane- THEY WANT YOU TO BUY!  But, what if they were required to disclose the side effects others have experienced after spending time at WOFF? What would that commercial include?

The scene would open with a hundred or so children on the WOFF stage singing some old hymn so you can relate and sing along! The announcer would begin with extolling the benefits of living among God’s people. “Are you seeking answers? Are you without a job? Do you need a place to live, clothes to wear or even friends that will help you walk in the ways of God? Come to WOFF, talk to Jane, she will hear God for you. Previous members have come and been provided jobs, housing, clothes, instant friends, and Scriptural teachings on walking with God, big houses, nice cars and much more. The teachings of Jane Whaley can show you how to be the minister you have always wanted to be! To the Nations!” Call the number on your screen right now. A WOFF member is standing by to answer your questions and pray with you to receive your blessing!” All of this  could be “true”, well sorta.

But, for full disclosure, the announcer would also have to give the side effects. “Warning: if you are allowed to join WOFF, you will be required to ignore and shun relatives and friends that do not “go with God” or believe Jane hears God perfectly every time. You will be required to submit to Jane’s direction regardless of your desires, your talents, and your rights under the U.S. Constitution. All of you rights are subject to being taken; this may cause dizziness, vomiting, severe chest pains, severe emotional swings, diarrhea, crying, bewilderment and other signs of severe stress and confusion. You will be told how to dress, how to relate to your family, how to personally, intimately relate to your wife or husband. You will be prevented from freely accessing outside information sources. You will be shown how to correct your children and how to teach them that whatever is done inside the group is right and true. You will experience a slow and ever growing distrust of those living outside the graces of WOFF. You will be told where to live, where to buy your insurance, your car and other professional services provided by WOFF member-owned companies.  If you do not accept these rules for you and your family – your spouse of family members will contact Jane and you will be subject to loud blasting prayer for a few minutes to several hours. Once you begin a regiment of daily life inside the group, you may lose track of the days, weeks and months as they pass. Please, tell your family and any other person who is concerned for your well-being before you go into WOFF of all of these possible side effects and that you may not be back in touch for years to come.” All the while the announcer is listing these DOCUMENTED side effects of WOFF-life, the scene would show WOFF members happy and dancing and running around the sanctuary as happy as any person could be under the circumstances. For an example of this visit their website. Now, that displays the true conundrum of WOFF-life. There are some temporal benefits, but at what cost?

Honestly, I have shared my perspective while being inside WOFF. Once you are in and drugged and/or intoxicated with WOFFness; you are not concentrating on what the costs are, you are taught to focus on the “benefits”. While you are surrendering your personal freedoms, personal property, personal life-direction, relationships with family and friends who chose not to go into WOFF as well as the authority of your family to Jane herself; you are told that you are in the move of God, walking with God’s people, serving Jesus, taking back your life from the devil, being delivered from sin, you might make it to heaven- (maybe)… you get the picture.

In a recent conversation with my brother, he likened it to what he had seen before. He called it “verge-ism”. It was preached that you were always on the verge of a breakthrough! You are so close to that next place or level in God! If you will just open your heart more, read your Bible more, work harder, work longer, give more money, AND give more time… WHAT EVER is needed… if you will just do more of that then you are on the verge of your next BREAKTHROUGH! In my opinion, this one aspect of WOFF-life is so intoxicating that it causes folks to lose track of time. The ever elusive breakthroughs eat away years of your life and cost you dearly! While you chase the next breakthrough, Jane finds yet another sin in you or devil that has deceived you for years. Back to the grindstone you go to get delivered, all the while Jane proclaims her perfection and holiness as a reason or excuse to be your apostle, prophet and/or pastor worthy of receiving your tithes, offerings and gifts while being accountable to no one. Verge-ism is another way to describe legalism. A pastor recently defined legalism as “Jesus plus anything”. How costly is living under the WOFF style legalism?

It is not practical to claim to tell all of the costs of living at WOFF in one post. Certainly, what WOFF-life cost me may not be the exact cost you paid or will pay for being a part of WOFF. Not all folks suffer the same level of stress and emotional turmoil from spending time in WOFF. But, for many the impairment goes so deep it takes years to heal. We will continue in the next post.

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 69.

Stockholm Syndrome at WOFF? (1)

During this last week, I heard the term “Stockholm Syndrome”. Though I had a vague idea what the term meant, I took some time to read more and found a very informative resource article titled: “Love and Stockholm Syndrome: The Mystery of Loving an Abuser” The article was four separate pages with the link to the first page found here- http://counsellingresource.com/lib/therapy/self-help/stockholm/ .

The article was written by Dr. Joseph M. Carver, PhD. The website was labeled as “Counseling Resource”.

For this series of posts, I will review the parts of the article that help explain how and/or why many members of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) act as they do toward and in defense of the leader, Jane Whaley. We will review the characteristics of the Stockholm Syndrome and also hopefully gain some insight as to why many WOFF members cut-off and walk away from their family members and friends.

As the author introduces the subject, he begins by remarking when people make changes away from certain behaviors or destructive relationships, they sometimes look back and find it hard to believe they once had dark thoughts. They may even miss those negative controlling relationships. Why would this be? Socially it makes no sense to long for that which was destructive in your life. The answer may be found in understanding the Stockholm Syndrome.

  In order to bring the question closer, how many times have WOFF members heard Jane brag that former members longed to fellowship with present members?  She announced as some sort of endorsement or badge of validity that she must be doing something right! Ex-members still want to be around her as long as she didn’t “hit their sin”. Again, I believe the answers don’t validate Jane and her practices, but in truth, the answers point out just how destructive WOFF-life has been on many folks. Let’s continue.