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The Living Word Fellowship

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

The group was founded in South Gate, California, by John Robert Stevens in 1951.[5] 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.[6][2][5] 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's death in 1983[3] and the fellowship continued to close churches throughout the 1990s. As of early 2018, it comprised around ten primary churches.[4]

In late November 2018, in the wake of a sexual misconduct scandal within its branches, The Living Word Fellowship closed down the organization and its central governing body.[7] Gary Hargrave resigned as head of the organization. He has since founded a new organization known as Hargrave Ministries.[8] On December 21, 2018, Shiloh, which served as the headquarters of the fellowship since the 1970s,[9] ended its affiliation with group.[10] Shiloh is currently in discussion with the city of Kalona about a possible annexation of the more than 200 acres (81 ha) 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 October 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

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References

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  1. ^ "Breaking Away from a Boomer Christian Cult". The Baffler. March 4, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c George D. Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements, Second Edition (Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2011), 93.
  3. ^ a b Ruth A. Tucker (2004). Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement. Zondervan. pp. 360–362. ISBN 0-310-25937-1.
  4. ^ a b Churches in The Living Word Fellowship, Living Word Fellowship website
  5. ^ a b A Brief History of the Living Word Fellowship, Living Word Fellowship website
  6. ^ 1 John 1:6–7
  7. ^ Jennings, James. "Shiloh's future in question after Living Word dissolves". The News. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Hargrave Ministries". Hargrave Ministries.
  9. ^ "A Brief History". Shiloh. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  10. ^ Jennings, James. "Shiloh will continue as independent church". The News. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  11. ^ Jennings, James. "Shiloh annexation questions addresse at committee meeting". The News. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  12. ^ "Three women sue Living Word Fellowship, alleging sexual abuse". San Diego Union-Tribune. May 29, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  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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