Vol. 8, No. 5, 1991

Another Way

Craig Branch

The Way International was founded by the late Victor Paul Wierwille in 1953. It quickly earned the label of cult as The Way denied the Trinity, the deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Way also has been guilty of many incidents of destructive mind control, causing many of its members to have to undergo exit counselling (deprogramming).

After Wierwille's death, leadership was assumed by Craig Martindale.

In 1988 some of the leadership became disillusioned over Wierwilles alleged adultery and plagiarism and challenged Martindale's leadership (Christianity Today, July, 1987).

The result was a splintering into four major groups in the U.S.: American Fellowship Services (soon to become Christian Educational Services), Pacific West Fellowship, Great Lake Fellowship (A Concise Dictionary of Cults and Religions, W. Watkins, p. 251).

The group Christian Educational Services appears to be the most organized and active. It is governed by former Way leaders John Lynn, John Schoenhert, Mark Graeser, and Tom Reahard.

In an interview with Watchman Fellowship on September 15, 1990, John Lynn shared the following information about Christian Education Services (C.E.S.).

John Lynn held many leadership positions in The Way, as a long-time member including Chief Executive Officer for five years of The Way College in Emporia, Kansas.

Lynn was also Limb Coordinator in Washington, D.C. for one and a half years before he was "fired for exposing corruption" in l987.

Lynn explained that originally the reasons for leaving The Way were not doctrinal as they are now, but because "the trustees of The Way had stopped practicing what they preached."

He thought at the time that "Wierwille was aloof of the problems which Lynn defined as `power, money, and sex.'"

Optimistic, Lynn requested a hierarchy "Acts 15" meeting but soon realized how "twisted their hearts were" as they "did not care about even one of their most productive leaders."

Lynn soon learned from "many people of first-hand experiences of sexual immorality with Wierwille and Martindale. In the inner circle of leadership Wierwille began to communicate that "adultry was O.K., that the Bible justified it, that it was doctrinal."

When asked if he had read the documentation exposing the significant plagiarism of Wierwille, Lynn stated that he did not read anything critical of Wierwille while in The Way, but did not find that much wrong with being influenced by others. Yet he did find fault that people credit was not given especially "in light of the idolatry surrounding Wierwille."

C.E.S. was incorporated in September of 1988 and officially began operation on January 1, 1989. Lynn explained that C.E.S.'s purpose is "disseminating accurate Biblical teaching via live teachings, tapes and literature."

They claim to have "no local representatives, no hierarchy, and nothing to join. Lynn claims to receive no salary, yet is the only one of the four adminstrators who travels extensively speaking for C.E.S.

C.E.S. produces a 16-page, bi-monthly publication, Dialogue, containing study articles, book reviews, letters and testimonies. They also produce a series of bi-monthly teaching tapes.

The Way's Power for Abundant Living course has been replaced by the 24-hour series entitled Introduction into God's Heart. Also an 18-hour seminar on C.E.S.'s interpretation of the book of Romans.

Doctrinally, C.E.S. continues to deny the Triune nature of God, denying the pre-existence and deity of Jesus Christ. They continue to deny the deity of the Holy Spirit, teaching the holy spirit is the power and life of God.

When asked where C.E.S. deviates doctrinally from Wierwille, Lynn stated that Wierwille was wrong on his "law of believing" (whatever you believe you will receive). Lynn said "that gets into mind-science."

He also said that "fear is believing that brings things upon you is witchcraft."

Lynn states that their current belief is still that the Trinity is pagan mythology and that C.E.S. has arrived at a "singularly unique doctrinal configuration regarding certain major things."

When asked about C.E.S.'s relationship with mainline Christian churches, Lynn responded that "We do not fear dialogue. We like dialogue. We encourage people to go anywhere they are blessed and helped in the body of Christ."

Amazing to us, Lynn indicated that John Schoenheit attends and teaches at the First Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C.

When asked if critical doctrine is essential for acknowledging and fellowshipping with other Christians or churches, Lynn does not depart from his Way roots. He answered "Romans 10:9."

But when asked "confess with your mouth which Jesus as Lord," Lynn stated that the deity of Christ is pagan.

In Dialogue, an article also states that the rejection of the Trinity and a reinstatement of the uniqueness of the Father alone being God "would represent a great step toward the recovery of New Testament Christianity" (Sept./Oct. 1990, p. 13).

According to a September 1990 letter to members, John Lynn was travelling to Clarksville, Indiana; Nashville; Birmingham; Atlanta; Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte; Raleigh; Greenville; Virginia Beach; Washington; Baltimore; Fred¬erick, Maine; St. Albans, W. V.; Columbus, Ohio; St. Louis, Kansas City; Wichita; and Houston, from September through December to teach at various fellowships.

He also visited Hawaii, Japan, Singapore, and South Africa during those months.