Word of Faith Fellowship Church
(Spindale, NC, USA)
Leader:
Jane Whaley
BITE Model as it applies to WOFF (formulated from
former members' accounts of time in the group):
Behavior Control
Members are strongly encouraged to only associate
with other members; even play-time between children of members
and those of non-members is discouraged
Constant need to report every thought and action
to leadership of the church
Work and sexual activity is regulated by the leadership
Members are often financially dependent upon the
church
Lots of members' time is taken up in church activities,
whether or not actually in the church
Rules are extremely rigid; leader hands down rules
as though directly from God, no going against the rules in any
way, no questioning of rules
"Blasting" - screaming into members' faces
to discipline them - used to control behavior the leadership finds
unacceptable
"Guards" - fellow members - are used to
make sure members are never left alone
Information Control
Leadership often lies to members
Spying on other members--even if one's own spouse,
parent or child--is greatly encouraged, and all activities are
then handed over to the leadership of the church
Members are pressured by WOFF leaders to "confess"
all sins so that members can be right with God
Thought Control
Member must accept Jane Whaley's word as the word
of God, no thoughts of dissent are allowed
Loaded language - breakthrough is someone
who gets right with God, usually after a public and humiliating
confession; locking in means to report thoughts to the
leaders, etc.
Emotional Control
Fear is frequently used - such as fear of "blasting",
referred to above - to keep members in line
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