AKA: A nuclear wasteland of shit! In this episode of Oops, Scott and Charity talk about the process of recognizing that they no longer wished to be a part of The Living Word Fellowship. They discuss cult expert Rick Ross's signs you might be in a cult or high control group. They share their experiences of recognizing that they were a part of an unhealthy community, the process they went through to acknowledge that The Living Word Fellowship was in fact a cult, and the realization that this was just the beginning of their journey into healing from the trauma of being raised in such a group. They talk about how there is always further work to be done and what that looks like for them.
Scott and Charity are former members, born and raised in The Living Word Fellowship. They are investigating this organization, founded by John Robert Stevens in 1951, that branded itself as a Christian church for over seventy years but turned out to be just another cult. Stevens demanded full submission of his followers until his death in 1983 and when his successors, Gary & Marilyn Hargrave took over, the beliefs and practices became even more extreme as they levied control over the congregants for the next three decades.
In 2018 a former member finally spoke up after Marilyn's death accusing her son of abuse. There are five active lawsuits. The organization is a shadow of what it once was, but some remain believers of John Robert Stevens' teachings and many maintain loyalty to Gary Hargrave. Gary has a new following on social media and an active "ministry".
If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Use these resources to find help for you, a friend, or a family member:
https://988lifeline.org/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help
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