The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
—Mahatma Gandhi

When I first heard about the events of Saturday, the 8th of January, I was both appalled and disturbed. Appalled that someone I had once looked up to would do such a thing, and disturbed that anyone could have the audacity to imply that The Family’s ways of raising their children were responsible for this crime. When I read some of the postings that former members had written insinuating this, I felt I, as a person who has grown up in and is currently a member of The Family, had to respond.

I didn’t know Angela. I didn’t know Ricky beyond what I read of him as a child. But I do know that what happened is a horrendous example of the depths to which humanity is capable of sinking and is a disturbing reminder of where hatred and bitterness can lead.
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Name: Lily Groft
Age: 19
Status: Married
Occupation: Fulltime volunteer-missionary/disciple; mother of 1 child
Country: Taiwan

I was born, into this wonderful Family, to two lovable people: My parents. They forsook all when they were both teenagers and gave up “the pleasures of the world for a season to revel in the eternal riches and rewards for eternity.” It wasn’t easy for them, no doubt, to receive opposition and scorn from family and friends as they made their cut from the world and joined sides with God. I’ve heard their stories and others’ stories of how they stood up in the face of falsities, lies, and accusations and now it’s my turn to do so which I am gladly willing to do.
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The recent events that have taken place are nothing short of appalling, for anyone who knew Angela I think we can all testify that she was one of the sweetest, nicest, and most encouraging people.

Let me tell you who I am and how I came to know, love and respect Angela. My name is Julianna, I’m 19 and have been a missionary all my life. I was born and raised in this group and I would never trade any of my experiences as a missionary’s daughter for anything. I grew up most of my life in Thailand with my mother, sister, and brothers. My dad wasn’t living with us and yet throughout all my life I never once doubted that he loved and cared for us kids.
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Shocked! Sorrowful! Angry! Enraged! Sad! Sorrowful!

All these feelings hit me in succession, in the first 12 hours upon hearing the news of the murder, and then the suicide!

I am Emanuel Boder, 21 years of age, and “born and bred” in The Family! I was born, in Santiago, Chile, as the second eldest of my family, and in my earlier childhood was raised in South America, Europe and India! My Mom and Dad were missionaries and taught me and my sisters to “Love God and our neighbor as ourselves.” Somewhere around the age of 11 my family, which now was comprised of 5 kids, moved to Africa! We grew very fond of the peoples, cultures and lands there and often made “pioneer” journeys to “darker Africa”! When I reached the age of 15 I began visiting other missionary stations around Southern Africa until I was 17.

It was at this time that I grew weary of the lifestyle of being a missionary, which meant giving your time and energies completely over to helping other people! A lifestyle where selfishness and self-centeredness are two things you got to give up!
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Recent articles in the mainstream media have once again proven that the mainstream media is not an unbiased source of news. The articles are filled with sensational headlines of “a cult which abuses its children.” I put the question to the journalist who wrote those articles: Did you thoroughly investigate and try to come up with an unbiased picture? Or did you just print what would make a good story?

I’ve lived in the Family since my birth—that’s 23 years. During my childhood, I was raised in a godly, loving and safe environment. I’m presently married and have a daughter who’s 1 year old. If I didn’t feel the Family was a safe environment for my daughter, I would have left the group long ago. However, that hasn’t been the case. Why not? Because the Family has taken every step to ensure that my child is raised in a safe, caring and abuse-free environment.
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