Broken Faith - Inside the Word of Faith Fellowship, One of America's Most Dangerous Cults - Mitch Weiss Page 0,3

wrongdoing. But believers were not helpless. They had the Bible, strong mutual ties, and frequent worship services to keep their minds trained on higher things. When the devil threatened, Jane Whaley used a dramatic high-decibel technique she called “blasting”—shouting and screaming—to drive the evil back to the pit of hell.

“You literally scare the demons away,” one congregant gushed as he explained the technique to Rick.

Jane used Scripture to justify the church’s practices, including blasting. One of her favorites was Mark 16:17–18, where Jesus lists the many spiritual powers given to his followers. Among them was “deliverance,” driving away evil spirits. Whaley singled this one out as a commandment.

She cited Acts 10:38, too. “We are told that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power to heal all who were oppressed by the devil,” Jane said during one fiery sermon. “As believers, we are to take that same healing and deliverance to those who are oppressed. God has revealed to us that demonic oppression is present in those who have been born again, as well as those who have not.

“Many have been set free from the devil’s torment and oppression as the result of believing prayer and submission to God. Those who were once drug addicts and alcoholics are now delivered by the power of God and are living normal lives, serving God and doing His will,” she shouted.

The dramatic prayer could “break the power of Satan” so “the demons can come out,” she said. It didn’t matter that nothing akin to blasting appears in Scripture. This was her personal revelation, straight from God.

Once started, a “blasting” session could go on and on. People would get so worked up they’d wail, scream, convulse, or vomit into buckets. Members left services hours later, hoarse and spent, but cleansed.

Odd as this appeared to outsiders, Jane Whaley’s congregation fawned over her. “Isn’t she wonderful?” they said. “God speaks to her.”

Rick found it a bit much at first. Too much noise and commotion. But slowly, over time, he came to understand the end justified the drama: church members were happy. They shared a spiritual bond forged by helping each other get rid of their oppressors. Heroic pastors held the keys.

Rick was so impressed by the Whaley technique he introduced blasting at Christian Life back in Georgia. But what worked in Spindale didn’t fly in Darien. Congregants complained about the bizarre ritual. Salvation is powerful and dignified, they said, and a life dedicated to Christ does not require ongoing exorcism. When church leaders offered Rick the pastor job, they made one condition: no blasting.

Rick turned them down flat. If he couldn’t share “the whole gospel,” if he couldn’t practice blasting and preach about devils and deliverance, then to hell with all of them.

He made up his mind to leave Darien. Rick knew the Whaleys ran a Bible school at their compound in Spindale. He’d take classes there and open his own church when the time was right.

Rick told Suzanne he had turned down the pastor job.

“Rick, what did you do?” she cried, horrified.

They had no savings, no money. They lived from paycheck to paycheck. They barely had enough to get by.

Rick tried to articulate his vision. He truly believed that God would come through for them. But Suzanne knew better.

Shortly after they’d married in 1981, Rick wrote a check for a $5,000 living room set. They only had $10 in their account. Suzanne blew up. Rick said if he prayed long and hard enough, the Lord would provide the money.

Suzanne went to the store and begged the manager to cancel the transaction.

Years passed. Rick was always listening to “prosperity preachers” who promised every dollar donated would be multiplied by God and providentially returned someday.

The stress had taken its toll on Suzanne. She had just turned thirty-two but felt more like sixty. She was still pretty—tall and thin with long, shiny brown hair, green eyes, and high cheekbones. But now this: turning down an opportunity to pastor a growing church. What was he thinking? His Navy pension was only $1,200 a month. Suzanne couldn’t work, not with six kids to care for.

If Suzanne had to leave Darien, she’d rather go home to Florida, to be nearer to her sisters and mother, Wanda—“Mama-Gail” to her grandchildren. She was outgoing and fun, the life of the party.

Suzanne, Wanda’s eldest child, was the fruit of an unplanned high school pregnancy, a scandal back in 1961. Wanda married and had three more daughters in quick succession. She worked several jobs