The Way International
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| .....shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:30 |
A CULT is born......
1950's
Victor Paul Wierwille, a fired pastor of the Evangelical & Reformed Church (This denomination would join with most Congregational churches to form the United Church of Christ) began a radio show in Lima, Ohio. It quickly caught on & spread. On AM 700 WLW out of Cincinnati, it had up to 70,000 listeners at its peak.
1951
As a self-proclaimed "pioneer in the holy spirit field", he claims the Holy Spirit poured upon him on 12/13/51. He claimed he was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, stuck in a snow blizzard. Problem is-weather records for that day show NO snow in Tulsa & only a half an inch earlier in the week. OOPs....
...Back in 1942
He claims God spoke to him back in 1942 & literally told him what to do as far as the movement he would eventually found as a supposed bible research organization. (He always claimed that The Way International wasn't a church).
The Scam/Scheme...
He organized his followers into groups of 4 called a "family" and sent them out for spreading his word and getting more converts. (Sounds like a pyramid marketing scheme). His main focus was selling tapes of the program he produced known as Power for Abundant Living.
BRAINWASHING
His movement grew to over 100,000 at its peak. They were probably the best known group in the 70's & early 80's for brainwashing. They were known for forcing members to listen for hours to certain tapes. They were also a top target for the "de-programmers" of that time, who would rescue (kidnap) people in these cults and try to get some sense into their heads at the request of their parents.
Affairs
Mr. Wierwille was known for his affairs with many of the ladies. At one time, a young woman in his movement committed suicide. Before she did, she claimed she had been having an affair for a month with pastor Wierwille and felt so guilty.
Also, his hand-picked successor, Craig Martindale, was eventually fired as head of the church because of his abuse of women, including rape & gang rape.
Search & Rescue Team?
Wierwille also had a personal bodyguard as well as a small team, which included 3 ex-navy seals, for search & rescue ops......used for tracking down rescued/kidnapped members by "de-programmers" and brought back to the fold.
According to one man in the unit, he claimed they busted out a "few teeth' and "broke a few bones" but never killed anyone on their search & rescue missions.....WHAT??????? What kind of "Christian" organization is this? Almost sounds like something Lyndon LaRouche & his people would have done.....or the Church of Scientology....
The Way International could be characterized as the Church of Scientology except they quote Bible verses once in a while.....
DOCTRINES
@ Adultery - one gentlemen was fired for writing an article for their magazine claiming that adultery was "sin". The leadership claimed they had no time for debating about adultery being "sin".
@ They believe in Once-Saved-Always-Saved (that explains the part about adultery not mattering).
@ They deny the Godhead/Trinity.
@ Wierwille taught that Christ was NOT divine. Rather, he claimed Christ didn't even exist until His birth on earth......
@ He believed in speaking in tongues (the gibberish charismatic kind).
@ They believe Christ was crucified on a Wednesday.
@ They believe there were 5 crosses at Calvary. And, like the Jehovah Witnesses, they believe He was crucified on a stake instead of a cross.
@ God has NO special day of the week.
@ Opposed to water baptism.
@ Claims only 7 of the epistles of Paul are the only part of the Bible that matter.
@ The Way were known for being potty-mouths, at least back in the day.
End of Wierwille
Mr. WIERWILLE'S probation closed when he was only 68. He had eye cancer & had an eye removed. His last month of life he was found to have liver cancer also. Near the end he was visited by some women from his movement. They claimed that he was unable to speak due to a recent stroke and cried out of his one remaining eye. .....
* The Way's current teachings on devil spirits is based, listed more than 31 varieties of devil spirits, including: Spirit of Anti-Christ, Bondage, Error, Fear (in any realm of life), Jealousy, Emulation (ambition), Envy, Infirmity, Iniquity, Leviathan (alcoholics), Oppression, Depression, Hallucination (often from drugs), Cancer, Murder, Epilepsy, Lesbianism, Sensuality, Obsession, Sadism, Lying, Deception, Python, Masochism and many more.....
* The Way's current teachings on devil spirits is based, listed more than 31 varieties of devil spirits, including: Spirit of Anti-Christ, Bondage, Error, Fear (in any realm of life), Jealousy, Emulation (ambition), Envy, Infirmity, Iniquity, Leviathan (alcoholics), Oppression, Depression, Hallucination (often from drugs), Cancer, Murder, Epilepsy, Lesbianism, Sensuality, Obsession, Sadism, Lying, Deception, Python, Masochism and many more.....
