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Broken Faith: Inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, One of America's Most Dangerous Cults (Original)
Broken Faith: Inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, One of America's Most Dangerous Cults (Original) | Mitch Weiss, Holbrook Mohr
8 posts | 10 read | 20 to read
"I can't imagine a more important book."--Jeff Guinn, New York Times bestselling author An explosive investigation into Word of Faith Fellowship, a secretive evangelical cult whose charismatic female leader is a master of manipulation In 1979, Jane Whaley, a fiery preacher with a thick Southern drawl, attracted a small group of followers--twenty-two men and women drawn in by her passion, and promise that through prayer and deliverance, they could turn their lives around. In the years since, Whaley's following has expanded to include thousands of congregants across three continents. In the eyes of her followers, she's a prophet--to disobey her means eternal damnation. It could also mean hours of physical abuse. The control she exerts is absolute: she decides what her followers study, where they work, whom they can marry--even when they can have sex. Broken Faith is the meticulously reported story of a singular female cult leader, a terrifying portrait of life inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, and the harrowing account of one family who escaped after two decades. Based on hundreds of interviews, secretly recorded conversations, and thousands of pages of documents, Broken Faith offers both a cautionary tale and a deeply emotional examination of faith, resilience, and family. It's the story of an entire community's descent into darkness--and for some, the winding journey back to the light.
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bookwrm526
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Pickpick

I was honestly shocked reading this because a lot of the areas mentioned were so close to where I grew up and yet I had never heard about any of this! It terrifies me that this group is still super active and has managed to avoid so many of the consequences. The book was repetitive in some places and disjointed in others, but still a decent read.

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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ How had I not heard of this group before?! Unlike most cults I‘m familiar with, the undisputed leader is female. Jane Whaley‘s Word of Faith Fellowship is grounded in Pentecostalism but on steroids, complete with the rage. Verbal and physical abuse keeps kids and adults in God‘s good faith and under Whaley‘s complete control. It‘s sick and sad that this organization exists in current day America.

PS. Audio is fantastic!

britt_brooke @Cinfhen I think you recommended this to me? 🤔 4y
BestDogDad I have not heard of this! How many crazy cults are out there which the average person has no knowledge of?! 4y
8little_paws Oohh thanks for the recommendation!! 4y
See All 12 Comments
britt_brooke @BestDogDad Scary thought, isn‘t it?? 4y
britt_brooke @8little_paws It‘s nuts. 4y
Hollie @JacintaMCarter have you read this one? 4y
JacintaMCarter @Hollie I haven‘t, but I‘m adding it to my list! 4y
Cinfhen I did!!!! It was wild, right??? How insane is Jane Whaley??? 4y
Cinfhen I think @Reviewsbylola NEEDS to pick up the audio too!!! And @Megabooks xx 4y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen She‘s a really piece of .... something. 4y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Agree! It‘s bonkers. I think y‘all would appreciate this. @Megabooks @Reviewsbylola And the audio is great. The narrator is hilarious when she does Jane‘s voice. 4y
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CoffeeK8
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Pickpick

This book was insane! I can‘t believe this cult is operating in this way today. #audiobook

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CoffeeK8
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A foggy & warm #audiowalk today

Juliwyant I live in the town in NC where their leaders live. Any charges or investigations never stick....it‘s amazing what they get away with. 4y
SamanthaMarie Well that is beautiful 😍 the book sounds really interesting! 4y
CoffeeK8 @Juliwyant this book is insane, I cannot believe it‘s still happening now. 4y
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CoffeeK8 @SamanthaMarie thanks! It‘s a lovely change of pace 4y
BethM Wow that‘s gorgeous! 4y
MemoirsForMe 😍😍😍 4y
VeganCleopatra What beautiful part of the country is this? 4y
CoffeeK8 @VeganCleopatra rockland County NY. The mountain in the background is called Hook Mountain. We don‘t usually get such beautiful fog 4y
VeganCleopatra Beautiful! I would have guessed the PNW especially considering the fog. 4y
CoffeeK8 @VeganCleopatra I can totally see that! 4y
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Cinfhen
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Mehso-so

This was an eye opening read for me. Jane Whaley, leader of World of Faith Fellowship is an absolute criminal and someone abusing their position of power. Using coercion, blackmail, shaming, and a technique known as “blasting”, Ms. Whaley controls her followers in all aspects of their daily & personal lives. Shocking that this cult still continues, and law enforcement is still looking the other way.
#ReadingUSA2020 #NorthCarolina

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 5y
Cinfhen I‘m baffled how reasonable people can become so brainwashed @TrishB it‘s heartbreaking how abusive this particular cult is and they are still “practicing” 💔 5y
TrishB Yeah, I don‘t get that either! 5y
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Cinfhen
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This book is not for the faint hearted. There‘s a lot of really dark material and at times it‘s painful to read. I‘m not being judgmental, but it‘s difficult to understand how people can become so easily swayed and shocking to see how others can behave in the name of God/ Christ. I‘m just bewildered and saddened. Have 40% more to go.

Suet624 I don‘t understand either. 5y
Centique Look at the beautiful fruit! (I‘m always distracted by your pretty pictures 😊) 5y
Cinfhen Awwww, thanks @Centique xxxx the lighter cherries were super sweet!!!! 5y
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NerdyRev
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Mehso-so

I am giving this a so-so not because of the writing or the story, but because of the sheer number of description of essentially torture to members of the congregation. People were blasted if the pastor felt they had demons inside, meaning they were yelled at for hours by members some yelled so much they vomited blood. The female pastor, Jane would also dictate who can have kids and when. It is a rough read, but it is crazy train.

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Ephemera
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Pickpick

This book is the work of two investigative journalists who looked into the fundamentalist cult known as the Word of Faith Fellowship. Run by a woman named Jane Whaley, this religious sect survived for years in spite of physical and mental abuse reported by ex-members. It always helps to have local law enforcement among the faithful. The book will have you cheering for those who left, and loathing Whaley and her manipulative ways.

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