Impartial Reporter and Farmers’ Journal Newspaper,

Enniskillen, N. Ireland

1903-1917, Letters, Sermon notes

I "professed" many decades ago.

For most of those years, “travel” by the so-called “saints” was greatly and successfully discouraged by the “workers.”

Why?

A few reasons:

• Everyone was needed in the little Sunday Morning meetings and everyone had to be in their own seat in these meetings to keep up the attendance and maintain their thought-control system.

• Also, money was saved by not traveling and could be used for the workers instead.

• AND THE BIG ONE: If “saints” traveled and visited with “saints” in other parts of the country and various parts of the world, they would see the big lie that has been a constant, and apparently still is, that, “The 'Truth” is the same all over the world!!!”

That was backed up un-scripturally by the statement, “Yesterday, today and forever, Jesus is the same.”

Of course Jesus is the same.

But the extension of that fact to the “Truth” being the same is false.

*Some names in this writing have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved.

Background:

I am a wife and mother in my mid-thirties, living and working as a consultant in California.  I grew up in small towns North Dakota and Montana.  My parents raised my two sisters and me in an abusive home and in a restrictive, fundamentalist, pseudo-Christian church, which some believe is a religious cult.

My parents’ church claims not to have a name, but members call each other “friends” and refer to their ideas and methodology as the “Truth.”  Some other people call it the Two-by-Two church, in reference to the church’s method of appointing its ministers in same-sex pairs called “workers.”  There are an estimated 200,000 members of the “Truth” worldwide, with the largest concentration in the United States’ Pacific Northwest. 

We were raised in a cult
We called it “the Way”
But it helped to bring us
Where we are today.

With a better understanding
Of what scripture’s really saying
Thank God for listening
When we were praying.

Praying for “HIS” help
To guide us and
Give us the strength
We were needing
To stand up and say:
“You won’t see US
At another meeting!!!”

January 16, 1998
New Mexico

To Whom It May Concern/Dear Forward Press,

Hello!  My name is Y_ _ _ _ _ R_ _ _ _ _.  I left the meetings 1-1/2 years ago, but have been very troubled.  I find I need support in truly learning “The Mind of Christ,” because in 17 years of going to meetings I thought that’s what I was learning.  I had come out of “The World,” as they say, to learn how to be Godly, as that was my heart’s desire!  I did anything they said I needed to do, EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING, until a worker propositioned me to commit the act of sex, but to promise to continue going to meeting no matter what!

Before I continue, I must tell you I had a PAST!  A nightmare of a life, from child molestation from a very religious man to in and out of marriage from age 16, alcoholic father, neurotic mother, etc.  I was seeking love, stability, home, guidance, etc. etc.  At my very first meeting, I thought, “Ahh, I have found it all!”

There’s much more that went on--all through the years so much has happened. 

Every family is different.

Every person is different.

Every worker, locality and time period is different.

Therefore, what is the purpose of looking at a Two-by-Two childhood?

Maybe none.

But it is worthy of note that nearly every person raised as a Two-by-Two, mentions the same kinds of feelings and experiences. The Two-by-Two system has changed somewhat since it first began in 1897.

Therefore, care must be taken against the obvious fallacy of saying this is how it is, was or will always be.

(My Personal Experience)
 
By "Name Withheld"

Have you ever met a person you just didn't like?

Maybe back in elementary or high school.

You know the one…She never said much, always had her nose in the air, and never had any friends around her. She was usually pretty and seemed obsessed with her looks. Never a hair out of place...perfectly applied make-up... Did you often wonder or even say, "What's wrong with her?" or " Does she think she's better than everyone else?"

Well, guess what?   I'm that person. And I am here to explain it all to you.

Where can I start?