In October 1942 our young minister started hosting a program on a local radio station in conjunction with his pastoral duties. He brought in guest speakers for his radio program and to his church, ostensibly to learn more about the Bible so that he continue to teach it. After a few years, he once again was starting to feel that he really wasn't getting the answers that he sought. Around 1951 or '52 he became aware of a class called The Gifts of the Spirit that was being taught by a minister in Calgary. He traveled to Calgary and became entranced with what was taught in the class, especially with speaking in tongues. By 1953 he was teaching a version of this class, without permission from the originator, initially called Receiving the Holy Spirit Today, later changed to Power for Abundant Living, as if he had originated it. He taught this class, mainly around his area of the country, gaining a small number of followers, all the while maintaining his position as a minister in the local church. In 1955 he incorporated separately from his church and in 1957 either was removed or resigned from his position as pastor. For the next few years he taught his classes, mostly within a one day's drive from his home, setting up his headquarters at the family farm that he and his brothers had inherited upon the death of their parents.
Once again, in 1968, our not-so-young-anymore former pastor was unsatisfied with how things were progressing. (It seems like this was a recurring feature of his life) Some graduates of his classes attended services on Sunday nights at his home, while many remained active in their home churches. He had recorded his class so that it could be distributed outside his home area. No longer a cog in the wheel of his original denomination, he had his own organization, was publishing pamphlets and books, and had a modest following.
Around this time young Christians around the country became involved in what was popularly called "The Jesus Movement". They were by and large unhappy with the traditions of the churches in which the were raised and sought greater spirituality in new Christian groups. Our former pastor, now 52 years old, traveled to San Francisco with a copy of his taped class and made contact with a group of young people (referred in retrospect as "the hippies") who he introduced to his novel approach to Christian doctrine. They hit it off immediately. His structured approach, combined with the enthusiasm and love of the young people, made for a perfect storm of outreach. Small Bible study groups, made up of graduates of the class started to spring up all over the Bay Area. A similar situation occurred in the northern suburbs of New York City. Graduates who moved to other areas brought copies of the class with them and started local fellowships in their new homes. Locals went off to college and started classes and study groups there. Soon there were followers of our once searching pastor all over the country.
At this time I should probably introduce our your seeker by name. Victor Wierwille. The group that he founded was eventually called The Way Incorporated. The San Francisco and New York groups incorporated under the names The Way West and The Way East. The new influx of followers gave Wierwille, if not answers, at least followers, as well as prestige and power, which may be what he was really after all along. In short order he managed to gain control of The Way West and The Way East and folded them into The Way International. He started a program for potential leaders which he called The Way Corps in 1970, and in 1971 he initiated The Word Over the World Ambassadors (WOW), basically a missionary program. In just a few short years there were followers of The Way in all 50 states as well as numerous other countries, sending in their tithes of 10% of their income and gathering every August in Ohio at the Rock of Ages festival.
In the New York City area, by 1978 there were 2 branches of 7-10 home fellowships each in all New York City boroughs, as well as in Nassau & Suffolk on Long Island. Most of these were led by college age men and women who had graduated from The Way's Power for Abundant Living class.
This is where I came in.
At this time I should probably introduce our your seeker by name. Victor Wierwille. The group that he founded was eventually called The Way Incorporated. The San Francisco and New York groups incorporated under the names The Way West and The Way East. The new influx of followers gave Wierwille, if not answers, at least followers, as well as prestige and power, which may be what he was really after all along. In short order he managed to gain control of The Way West and The Way East and folded them into The Way International. He started a program for potential leaders which he called The Way Corps in 1970, and in 1971 he initiated The Word Over the World Ambassadors (WOW), basically a missionary program. In just a few short years there were followers of The Way in all 50 states as well as numerous other countries, sending in their tithes of 10% of their income and gathering every August in Ohio at the Rock of Ages festival.
In the New York City area, by 1978 there were 2 branches of 7-10 home fellowships each in all New York City boroughs, as well as in Nassau & Suffolk on Long Island. Most of these were led by college age men and women who had graduated from The Way's Power for Abundant Living class.
This is where I came in.
Part III
Start from the beginning
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