Oops! I'm In A Cult

In this especially personal episode, Scott and Charity show how The Living Word church leaders coerced Scott's mom, Laurie Barker, into using unproven alternative medicine to treat her stage 3 ovarian cancer. The emails that Scott uncovered display how effectively The Living Word brainwashed their members into thinking that they were soldiers fighting for “resurrection life” and how they should lay their lives down to fulfill the Founder John Robert Stevens' version of God's Kingdom. You'll see how the leaders, like Gary Hargrave, persuade the followers to not trust medicine and how his subordinates worked every day to ensure each member obeyed his Word. In the end Scott is left to put together the pieces 7 years after the loss of his mother. Scott Barker and Charity Navalesi 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 Podcast Links: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oops-im-in-a-cult/id1703501829 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YlZeTiuons5y4J3RZYXSv Contact Oops! www.oopsiminacult.com eMail - oopsiminacult@gmail.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oopsiminacultpodcast More - https://linktr.ee/oopsiminacult --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

We have compiled so many amazing stories from former members of The Living Word Fellowship on the Oops! I'm In a Cult podcast and on this YouTube channel. From the early conversations to the 14 episodes of the podcast we have truly discovered some wild and terrible stories about Gary Hargrave, Marilyn Hargrave, John Robert Stevens, and other leaders of The Living Word. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their stories on camera and through letters and a million thanks to everyone who avidly listened to each episode. We're super excited about what comes next! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

In our final episode of the season we dive into a treasure trove of archived materials from the 1970s that expose the secrets of The Living Word Fellowship's bizarre doomsday preparations. These guidelines were delivered on leaflets that we recently received from a former follower of John Robert Stevens' cult. We share more revealing letters from listeners, including another former tape editor with tea from the tape room. We also hear from a couple of Kalona, Iowa locals who experienced the cultiness of the Shiloh compound first-hand. Scott Barker and Charity Navalesi 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 Podcast Links: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oops-im-in-a-cult/id1703501829 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YlZeTiuons5y4J3RZYXSv WEBSITE - www.oopsiminacult.com Contact Oops! eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc More - https://linktr.ee/thewalkdoc --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

Johanna Wozniak was born and raised in the Los Angeles chapter of The Living Word Fellowship and attended the church school from pre-school until her senior year. She spent most nights of her childhood in the church's recording studio which was run by accused serial abuser and leader Rick Holbrook. She talks about how her troubled home life caused her to seek out family in the form of the church despite its toxicity by immersing herself in the never-ending work. She discusses her abrupt and dramatic exit from the Fellowship and how she was immediately shunned for making one big decision without the church's permission. She shares with us how she had to rebuild her life on her own just a week after her eighteenth birthday. Johanna says, “I was born the day I left.” Scott Barker and Charity Navalesi 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 Podcast Links:  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oops-im-in-a-cult/id1703501829  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YlZeTiuons5y4J3RZYXSv  Contact Oops! eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecultdoc  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc  More - https://linktr.ee/thewalkdoc --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

Larry Bobo joined The Living Word Fellowship in Des Moines, Iowa in 1969. From there he watched as leadership was expelled for not fully submitting to John Robert Stevens' teachings. As a teenager he experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a leader and a another member of the church. In later years he became a leader himself and was relocated to the Colorado church where he called out inconsistencies in the Living Word doctrine to Marilyn and Gary Hargrave and the head leadership of the Fellowship in a detailed letter. Afterwords he was immediately silenced, literally being told he was not allowed to speak in the church. Eventually he left the Fellowship and discovered his own path back into Christianity. We talk with Larry about personal relationships with God, abuse in Christian churches and what being a Christian means to him. Larry's letter to TLW leaders https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/02uif2gyiffd5hjmpk71i/CS-Shepherds1.pdf?rlkey=02pakfvazvyhs3pdidgmspepr&dl=0 Scott Barker  and Charity Navalesi 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 Podcast Links: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oops-im-in-a-cult/id1703501829  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YlZeTiuons5y4J3RZYXSv  Contact Oops! eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecultdoc  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc  More - https://linktr.ee/thewalkdoc --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

Lauren Beckman was born and raised in The LIving Word Fellowship, her early life spent in San Diego where she was separated from her mother as a teenager and sent to be a live-in servant for her shepherd where she was physically, emotionally and mentally abused. In early adulthood, she moved to the Church of The Living Word in Los Angeles, where the abuse only escalated. Not only was Lauren regularly abused by Rick Holbrook, but she shares with us a traumatic sexual assault perpetrated by a member of the Fellowship, which was covered up by church leadership, including Marilyn and Gary Hargrave. Through all of the abuses she endured, Lauren was instructed not to tell her mother, report abuses to authorities, or seek professional help. She tells us about the lasting effects these experiences have on her and how she continues to work toward healing. ______________________________________ 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 Podcast Links: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oops-im-in-a-cult/id1703501829  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YlZeTiuons5y4J3RZYXSv  Contact Oops! eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecultdoc  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc  More - https://linktr.ee/thewalkdoc --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

In today's episode Scott Barker and Charity break down the system of “submission” The Living Word Fellowship used to control and manipulate the lives of its members. They revisit John Robert Stevens' and Gary Hargrave's sermons to reveal how this system existed at the very inception of “The Walk” and how through its many iterations it became increasingly more controlling and severe, resulting in systemic exploitation and abuse. 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". TLW TAPE SOURCES @5:18 - 2001 February 18 Elisha amd Elijah The Force To Create North Hills CA  @7:11 - 1972 December 14 Thursday PM South Gate CA JRS - RESTRICTED - The New Step into the Day of Revelation @8:35 - 1971 Apr_Festival Of Freedoms_South Gate @10:14 - 1965 MARCH 17 - A COMPANY OF TIMOTHYS SEPULV CA 11:58 (We're One!) - 1978 December 10 - Ministry To Brother Stevens December - South Gate 13:05 - 1977 January 10 and 11 Santa Brbara - Santa Barbara Goes Wild - JRS IS LORD 17:03 - 1985 August 11 - Shiloh IA - When Seeking God becomes Unbelief 20:15 - 1985 August 11 - Shiloh IA - When Seeking God becomes Unbelief 24:11 - 1985 August 11 - Shiloh IA - When Seeking God becomes Unbelief 25:26 - 1993 Jan 31 - Sunday am Sepulveda CA - The Truth About John 29:39 - 1992_Gary and Marilyn Talk to The Singles 33:50 - 2000 Sept 3_Honolulu HI_Positioned By A Relationship 34:37 - 2000 Sept 3_Honolulu HI_Positioned By A Relationship 37:15 - 2000 June 27 Shiloh IA - Shepherding Is A Chain of Relationships 38:19 - 2000 June 29 Shiloh IA - Shepherding What do you Mean? 38:38 - 2000 Oct 20_North Hills CA_Baptized Into A relationship 39:48 - 2001 July 1 _Shiloh IA - Aggressively Bringing Forth Christ In One Another 41:17 - 2001 July 1 _Shiloh IA - Aggressively Bringing Forth Christ In One Another 41:44 - 2001 July 1 _Shiloh IA - Aggressively Bringing Forth Christ In One Another 43:09 - 2001 July 1 _Shiloh IA - Aggressively Bringing Forth Christ In One Another 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 Podcast Links: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oops-im-in-a-cult/id1703501829  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YlZeTiuons5y4J3RZYXSv  Contact Oops! eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecultdoc  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc  More - https://linktr.ee/thewalkdoc --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

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 eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc https://www.youtube.com/@thewalkdoc ⁠More - ⁠linktr.ee/thewalkdoc⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

On today's episode we read feedback we've received from other former members of The Living Word and one curious local of Kalona Iowa who observed from afar, but instantly knew that Shiloh was anything but normal. 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 eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube - ⁠   / @thewalkdoc  ⁠ More - ⁠linktr.ee/thewalkdoc⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

Adam Beatty was a member of the original Southgate, CA church, Grace Chapel, as well as the Shiloh, IA faction of The Living Word Fellowship. Adam talks with us about his family's history in The Walk, starting in the John Robert Stevens days, his experience with power dynamics and racism within the Fellowship, and learning to maintain relationships with friends and family members who still believe the cult's teachings, while making room for his own healing and the healing of others. 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 eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube - ⁠   / @thewalkdoc  ⁠ More - ⁠linktr.ee/thewalkdoc⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

What is the truth about John Robert Stevens? Throughout the history of The Living Word Fellowship cult rumors circulated about John's purported infidelities and indiscretions, but these rumors were always excused away by the belief that his "apostleship" outweighed the importance of any questionable behavior. His claims of time travel and having the power to cause the deaths of people he deemed nephilim such as John Lennon and the John F. Kennedy were among the many unbelievable things that his followers bought into. These excuses were perpetuated by his successor, Gary Hargrave. In this episode we delve into these topics and reveal our findings on one of the most recent and biggest allegations against JRS: that he plagiarized his manifesto "To Be A Christian", which was the legacy of his 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 Contact Oops!  eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube - ⁠   / @thewalkdoc  ⁠ More - ⁠linktr.ee/thewalkdoc⁠ EPISODE SOURCES: @4:46 NEPHILIM DEATH PRAYERS @11:03 1980 Vain Glory Documentary - Tony Cox  @12:06 1976 March 7 - South Gate and Sepulveda CA - A Prophets Meeting The Principles Of Judgment - Judgment When We Do And When We Don't ~ 48:37 on tape @13:13 Interview with Sandy Navalesi on The Living Word Cult YouTube @15:11 1976 March 7 - South Gate and Sepulveda CA - A Prophets Meeting The Principles Of Judgment - Judgment When We Do And When We Don't ~ 05:45 on tape @27:25 TIME TRAVEL @28:14 1972 December 14 Thursday PM South Gate CA JRS - RESTRICTED - The New Step into the Day of Revelation ~ 00:29 on tape @29:38 1972 December 14 Thursday PM South Gate CA JRS - RESTRICTED - The New Step into the Day of Revelation ~ 04:58 on tape @32:15 1972 December 14 Thursday PM South Gate CA JRS - RESTRICTED - The New Step into the Day of Revelation ~ 11:11 on tape @34:02 1972 December 14 Thursday PM South Gate CA JRS - RESTRICTED - The New Step into the Day of Revelation ~ 10:20 on tape @34:28 1972 December 14 Thursday PM South Gate CA JRS - RESTRICTED - The New Step into the Day of Revelation ~ 38:45 on tape @42:45 1993 Jan 31 - Sunday am Sepulveda CA - The Truth About John - 15:38 on tape @43:59 1993 Jan 31 - Sunday am Sepulveda CA - The Truth About John - 20:23 on tape @45:31 1993 Jan 31 - Sunday am Sepulveda CA - The Truth About John - 22:04 on tape @47:26 1993 Jan 31 - Sunday am Sepulveda CA - The Truth About John - 31:01 on tape @50:40 TO BE A CHRISTIAN Shareable Slideshow - “Oops! I'm a Plagiarist” TLW & JRS Links  https://johnrobertstevens.com/teachings/to-be-a-christian-by-john-robert-stevens/ https://johnrobertsteTo Be A Christianvens.com/biography/seeking-the-lord-in-his-youth/ https://livingwordpublications.org/video/to-be-a-christian-mp4/ CUT GEMS - ©1897 - Rev. George W. Plack - University of Florida - p.59 https://books.google.com/books?id=8WhR6VW7mKUC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=%22let+Him+possess+and+direct+it%22&source=bl&ots=00RJw5STx2&sig=ACfU3U35Yd4vl-LsM1Wy24rnGJMuqQRE6w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja3dilmLqBAxVZIUQIHTyADCgQ6AF6BAgIEAM#v=onepage&q=%22let%20Him%20possess%20and%20direct%20it%22&f=false Library of Congress Catalog - April 1897 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Catalog_of_Copyright_Entries_of_Books_Etc._March_22-July_3_1897_Nos._299-313_%28IA_catalogofcopyrig22319libr%29.pdf --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

On this episode we sit down with Beau Brown who gives us his perspective on The Living Word Cult as an outsider looking in. Beau never attended the church itself, but was a student at the Living Word based school, Centers of Learning, in North Hills, California, which was originally attended only by members of TLWF and later opened up to the public. His unique observations as a non-member give us a window into how bizarre the church and its practices came across to the outside world. 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 eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube -    / @thewalkdoc   More - ⁠linktr.ee/thewalkdoc⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

In this episode we talk with Titus Walker, who was born into The Living Word Fellowship and remained a devoted member until his early twenties when he was unceremoniously kicked out of the church by its top leadership, Marilyn and Gary Hargrave. Titus reveals how this excommunication propelled him down a dark path, having lost almost everything and everyone he had ever known. He discusses how this event, preceded by years of mental and emotional abuse the church perpetrated on him, has deeply affected his life. 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 eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube - www.youtube.com/@thewalkdoc More - ⁠linktr.ee/thewalkdoc⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

In this episode we delve into the 2018 letters that forever changed the course of The Living Word Fellowship, bringing the truth of the rampant abuse in the organization to light. We discuss the details of the letters Shalom Abrahamson published on Facebook, how they reflected the toxic leadership structure and controlling culture of the Fellowship, and why her letters were instrumental in opening the eyes of members both past and current. 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 eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube - www.youtube.com/@thewalkdoc More - ⁠linktr.ee/thewalkdoc⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

On today's episode, we talk with Leni Davis and her son Sam, former members of the Oahu, Hawaii chapter of The Living Word Fellowship, known as Grace Chapel of Honolulu. Leni and Sam discuss why Leni joined the fellowship in the early 1970's, her initial interactions with John Robert Stevens and how, in the years that followed, the toxicity of the organization affected her as an individual as well as her relationship with her child. Sam shares his experience being born and raised in the fellowship during the years after John Robert Stevens' passing, under the leadership of Gary & Marilyn Hargrave, and how its abusive culture impacted him as a child and as a gay man being brought up in a homophobic organization. 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 eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube - www.youtube.com/@thewalkdoc More - ⁠linktr.ee/thewalkdoc⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

What do you do when you realize that the church you grew up in was actually a cult? You make a podcast to talk all about it! Born and raised in The Living Word Fellowship, hosts Scott Barker and Charity Navalesi discuss their experiences growing up in this modern day cult, conducting in-depth interviews with other former members and exploring the hidden truths of an organization that masqueraded as a non-denominational Christian church for over 70 years, at its peak growing to 100 chapters in 10 countries. In 2018, a former member came forward on social media with allegations of mental, emotional and sexual abuse within the church, spawning a movement of truth-telling that caused the almost immediate demise of the organization, its entire leadership resigning as more and more accusations of misconduct were revealed. In this podcast we'll discuss the history of the organization, its ultimate collapse, and the effects of its abusive culture and toxic leadership on former members. Adding a touch of humor, because if you can't laugh about it, it just sucks too intensely, Scott and Charity unpack their and others' experiences, how they're recovering from religious abuse and navigating life today, and the moment they realized, "Oops! I'm in a cult!". Hey, it happens. 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 eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube - www.youtube.com/@thewalkdoc More - linktr.ee/thewalkdoc --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support

The Living Word Fellowship was a cult. In this podcast we'll discuss the history of the organization and the effects of its abusive culture and toxic leadership. We'll investigate the remaining factions of The Living Word Fellowship, its former leaders and... The kidnapping of Yoko Ono's baby Doomsday prepping Time Travel Gold and Silver Mine scams Raising people from the dead Secret affairs Sexual scandals Child Labor Health Food Crazes Arranged marriages Extravagant trips to Africa and Brazil Exotic Animal Farms High-budget Hollywood style productions Expensive artisan turtle coffee tables Teen bad boy bootcamps Court battles Exorcisms Death prayers against John F. Kennedy Pastors in Speedos! Violent intercession Brainwashing! Mentalists! Psychics! Communes and compounds Deviant sexual interests Misogyny Bars in churches - drinks, drinks, drinks! Christian capitalism Secret vault eMail - contactwalkdoc@gmail.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/thecultdoc TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@thewalkdoc YouTube - www.youtube.com/@thewalkdoc --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/oopsiminacult/support