Greetings to All,
It has taken some time to reach the stage where you feel free to talk about your experiences and life in the "way". So many of us are now at different stages and still wrestling with the past and it takes some time as 42 years of one's life cannot just be forgotten in six months.
The "truth" came into our family in 1917 with my Dad, his Mother and brother professing. I was therefore born and raised in the "truth" and professed when I was 12 (1956).
Some years later I questioned my Dad about the beginning of the "truth" and he told me about William Irvine, that he had had a revelation from God and this Way was revealed to him. He also explained that prior to this it had been hidden through the "dark ages" and we were very privileged to have it revealed in our lifetime. I have accepted this although it had never been discussed or been an issue.
As a result of circumstances, I became divorced in 1979 and my two children stayed with me and we continued to go to meetings. Although we never had a meeting in our home, I did have the responsibility of leading the Wednesday evening bible study for a number of years. In 1980 I met someone who had great concern for her salvation and after many discussions she attended Gospel meetings with me. She later professed and was baptized in 1983. Our friendship then continued. She was also divorced and our affection for each other grew so we decided to marry in 1985. Her two children and mine became one happy family.
We were visited by two of the local workers with instructions from the head worker of South Africa and immediately stopped from attending all meetings.