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Thread: NC church has unconventional rules for sex and marriage

  1. #11
    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FaithfulOne View Post
    https://www.apnews.com/e9404784f9c6428a8d4382f5ada8f463

    SPINDALE, N.C. (AP) — From all over the world, they flocked to this tiny town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, lured by promises of inner peace and eternal life. What many found instead: years of terror — waged in the name of the Lord.

    Congregants of the Word of Faith Fellowship were regularly punched, smacked, choked, slammed to the floor or thrown through walls in a violent form of deliverance meant to "purify" sinners by beating out devils, 43 former members told The Associated Press in separate, exclusive interviews.

    Victims of the violence included pre-teens and toddlers — even crying babies, who were vigorously shaken, screamed at and sometimes smacked to banish demons.

    "I saw so many people beaten over the years. Little kids punched in the face, called Satanists," said Katherine Fetachu, 27, who spent nearly 17 years in the church.

    As part of its investigation, the AP reviewed hundreds of pages of law enforcement, court and child welfare documents, along with hours of conversations with Jane Whaley, the church's controlling leader, secretly recorded by followers.

    The AP also spent more than a year tracking down dozens of former disciples who scattered after leaving the church. Many initially were reluctant to break their silence because they had hidden their pasts from new friends and colleagues — and because they remain afraid of Whaley.
    Haven't read the story yet, but this is actually not a new story. This has been going on for years. Sam Whaley, her husband, actually taught at Rhema when I was there in '79-'80. I real several years ago about this going on, and the story may mention it. I see it mentions Jane above, but not Sam. I wonder if he died, or just isn't mentioned in the part you posted. Guess I need to read and find out. lol.

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  3. #12
    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
    The beatings will continue until morale improves.

  4. #13
    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    The real question is why would anyone even go to a church like that in the first place? Ridiculous.

    Of course even more mainstream charismatic churches have their own versions of this that you would never convince the member that they're sheeple just like these people.

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  6. #14

    The Rest of the Story About "Word of Faith Fellowship" in Spindale, NC
    By Steve Berman Published on March 3, 2017 • 2 Comments
    https://stream.org/rest-story-news-m...h-spindale-nc/

    The secular press is limited and unreliable in how it covers fringe groups with some of Christianity's trappings but little of its substance. Worse, the press often uses such fringe groups to tarnish Christians more broadly. That's why it's important to tell the whole story behind an Associated Press investigation of a congregation in a small North Carolina town, Word of Faith Fellowship....



    ...What Word of Faith Fellowship Is, and Isn't

    Pastors Sam and Jane Whaley founded the church in 1979, before joining Kenneth Hagin's Rhema Ministries. I spoke with former member John Huddle, author of Locked in: My Imprisoned Years in a Destructive Cult, whom the AP interviewed twice. Huddle was a member of Word of Faith Fellowship from 2002 to 2008.

    He said the Whaleys were "disfellowshipped" by Oklahoma-based Rhema in 1984 or 85 for some of their more controversial doctrines and practices. That's when they moved back to Spindale and restarted Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF).

    Many of the original couples who moved from Tulsa are still in leadership. Pastors Gerald and Linda Southerland were familiar with the Whaleys from Hagin's ministry. In their Greenville, S.C., church, as they took up some of the Whaleys' "blasting" practices of shouting and casting out demons, their congregation dwindled.

    WOFF has a detailed faith statement and describes itself as a "Protestant, Non-Denominational church," though it isn't part of organized denomination. The Whaleys have no ordination or licensing from any religious authority that Huddle is aware of. The church calls itself "Word of Faith" but it would be misleading to place it within that brand of Charismatic Christianity generally associated with the prosperity gospel.

    In any case, we are known by our fruits, and the fruits of this group are far from the fruits of the Holy Spirit. AP writer Mitch Weiss called Word of Faith Fellowship a "sect." A more powerful word would be "cult."

    A History of Controversy and Extreme Control

    Word of Faith Fellowship and Jane Whaley have been under public scrutiny before. In 1995, the television show Inside Edition profiled the group — hosted by a much younger Bill O'Reilly — and laudably distinguished the group from mainstream Christianity. The video is still available on YouTube....



    ...The Story We Need to Tell

    While Word of Faith Fellowship controls its members using its outward appearance as a church for camouflage, we must remember that the genuine Gospel, and the power of God, is fully able to redeem and rescue those inside dangerous and damaging groups. Leaving the group almost always causes a severe crisis of faith — an examination of everything the survivor believes. Only a genuine faith in God, and real, compassionate encounters with the Gospel, can rebuild that broken spirit....


    This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity (futility) of their mind, having the understanding darkened...
    (Ephesians 4:17-18)

    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...
    (Psalm 1)

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  8. #15
    Senior Member Valiant Woman's Avatar
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    Jim Jones and Guyana revisited.
    When your praise match your prayers, the answer will come.
    https://www.facebook.com/Valiant-Wom...1103844642026/

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  10. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by Valiant Woman View Post
    Jim Jones and Guyana revisited.
    Yep...what also came to mind as I read the story about the Whaleys, was Scientology--also dangerous and abusive to those who don't tow the line..

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  12. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by FaithfulOne View Post
    Yep...what also came to mind as I read the story about the Whaleys, was Scientology--also dangerous and abusive to those who don't tow the line..
    Me too!
    This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity (futility) of their mind, having the understanding darkened...
    (Ephesians 4:17-18)

    Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly...
    (Psalm 1)

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  14. #18
    ...and they're still in the news:

    Horrific Abuse Allegations Continue to Bleed From Charismatic Church

    https://www.charismanews.com/us/6868...ismatic-church



    Quote Originally Posted by GodismyJudge View Post
    ...Word of Faith Fellowship and Jane Whaley have been under public scrutiny before. In 1995, the television show Inside Edition profiled the group — hosted by a much younger Bill O'Reilly — and laudably distinguished the group from mainstream Christianity. The video is still available on YouTube....
    Found that video:


  15. #19
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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  16. #20
    Religious idiots and gullible followers can come in all colors ...

    I resent their being labeled "charismatic." ... It is flakes like this that move me away from using the term.

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