The Living Word Fellowship

The Living Word Fellowship is a Christian cult[1][2][3][4] that at various times was located in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico.[5]

Not to be confused with Living Word Fellowship founded by Bobbi Morris in California, or the Shiloh community in Maine founded by Frank Sandford.
The Living Word Fellowship
Formation1951
TypeReligious and commercial
Founder and leader
John Robert Stevens

The group was founded in South Gate, California, by John Robert Stevens in 1951.[6] It has been known in the past informally as "The Walk" or "This Walk," referencing the biblical view that every Christian should have a personal walk with Jesus Christ, from 1 John 1:6–7.[2][6] The fellowship celebrated the Jewish Old Testament festivals, and "It believes in the inerrancy of the Scripture, in the Trinity, in Christ's saving work, and in the various gifts and ministries of the Spirit as taught by the apostle Paul."[2]

At its peak in the 1970s, the fellowship had about 100 member congregations. Its oversight was centered at Shiloh, a farm and retreat site near Kalona, Iowa. Membership declined after founder Stevens' death in 1983[3] and the fellowship continued to close churches throughout the 1990s. As of early 2018, it comprised around ten primary churches.[5]

The Living Word Fellowship announced in late November 2018 that, in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, it was closing down the organization and its central governing body.[7]

In November, 2018, Gary Hargrave announced his resignation as head of the organization, following a sexual misconduct scandal taking place within the branches of the Living Word Fellowship. He has since founded a new organization known as Hargrave Ministries.[8]

In a December 21, 2018 press release, Shiloh announced the end of its affiliation with The Living Word Fellowship.[9] Shiloh, which served as the headquarters of the fellowship since the 1970s,[10] is currently in discussion with the city of Kalona about a possible annexation of the more than 200 acres of church property south of the city limits.[11]

As of August, 2020, five women have filed lawsuits against the Living Word Fellowship. The lawsuits claim that Living Word employees and officials sexually abused these women when they were minors.[12][13]

In Oct 2020, the former Shiloh Facilities were burned to the ground by the Kalona Volunteer Fire Department. This was done as a practice burn. [14]

Notable members

References
  1. "Breaking Away from a Boomer Christian Cult". The Baffler. 2019-03-04. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  2. George D. Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, Second Edition (Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2011), 93.
  3. Ruth A. Tucker (2004). Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement. Zondervan. pp. 360–362. ISBN 0-310-25937-1.
  4. "The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens". forum.culteducation.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  5. Churches in The Living Word Fellowship, Living Word Fellowship website
  6. A Brief History of the Living Word Fellowship, Living Word Fellowship website
  7. Jennings, James. "Shiloh's future in question after Living Word dissolves". The News. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  8. "Hargrave Ministries". Hargrave Ministries.
  9. Jennings, James. "Shiloh will continue as independent church". The News. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  10. "A Brief History". Shiloh. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  11. Jennings, James. "Shiloh annexation questions addresse at committee meeting". The News. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  12. "Three women sue Living Word Fellowship, alleging sexual abuse". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  13. "More Alleged Abuse Victims Sue Living Word Fellowship Church". MyNewsLA.com. August 19, 2020.
  14. Slechta, Ron. "Kalona fire dept. oversees burn of Shiloh buildings". The News.
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