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.

I grew up in a large [Family] Home with over 100 people from ages 3 to age 11, and those were some of the best times I’ve had in my life. I was in a group of kids my age and there were many of us who were schooled, fed, clothed, made sure we had our exercise, taught the Word (our heritage), and had wonderful fellowship. They’d take us for excursions, made school fun, and most of all taught us how to live in love and respect for others. Life was always exciting living with so many people that looked after and cared for each other. We were taught to care for others that weren’t in our group as well—to witness to them, show them God’s love that they can know Him as well as we do, and so that they can enjoy the same caring and loving freedom we possess.

When I turned 12, I moved into a smaller unit, yet it was fun as well. I changed countries (China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Taiwan, Chile, Indonesia, Korea) several times and found that everywhere I went, to each unit I visited and briefly lived with, they each held the same caring spirit and love that I experienced before. The Family was the same everywhere.

I was encouraged to use the talents I had in performing, culinary arts and childcare, balloon-making, and was given great opportunities to study, practice, and become certified in each area. I now am married and have a child of my own, and all that training that I had while growing up became very handy to me, especially childcare and people handling. Marriage is by no means a piece of cake, but it’s challenging and the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. I have so many here I can go to for counsel—including my parents who have 25 years of marriage—and the Word which has been my strength and source of wisdom.

Both my husband and my son are the apple of my eye and after living so long in such a wonderful environment I want my son to grow up having the best … and that’s here. I’ve had the best upbringing in the world and I want him to experience living in this Family. When he grows up and starts making his own decisions and choices, whether he decides to stay in this Family or leave I will respect that, but until then I will do everything possible in my power to give him the best training and knowledge of the Word that has been my foundation since birth.

Recently in light of this tragic happening, many former members are coming out with all sorts of outrageous stories and lies of us young people being abused. In all my years living in the Family, experiencing everything I did from day one till now, I have never been mistreated, abused, or misused in any way. I’ve heard these outlandish stories that former members are circulating around, blaming my Family for being abusers and “weirdos.” I have worked and lived with these precious adults who’ve been my overseers when young—some are still my overseers now—others co-workers, partners, and friends, and I’ve been privileged with working and living with them. We’ve had our ups and downs (as every relationship has them), we’ve had our personality clashes, yet it was smoothed out with love, prayer, and humility, which I’ve seen them posses.

I was shocked to say the least when hearing the news about Angela and Ricky, and absolutely angered by how some former members feel so free to just take and twist the facts and truth and try placing the blame on us and our leadership; making us somehow responsible.

I take offense that they could so outrageously point their finger and blame these people who they don’t even know [and haven’t] lived with, and accuse them of being “evil” and “child-molesters.” They seem to think they have such freedom to speak for all us young people in the Family and to me the way they’re saying it, they want to “rescue us from their clutches.” Do you even know what you’re talking about? I’m afraid not, because for one, they don’t know me, so how can they speak such unrighteous nonsense against the very people I love and work with, accusing them of the “horrible” way they treat me? They are my Family and are anything but the way you say they are, and they’ve given their blood, sweat and tears for me. They gave me their listening ear, they encouraged me to seek the Lord so that I could get His answers; which always solved everything, and lent me their precious wisdom they’ve gained over the decades, (now-a-days you pay big bucks to go to some psychiatrist or counselor and have them solve your problems and give answers when they don’t even know you or what you’re going through.).

This isn’t just the way I feel, but the way many of the young people I know and live with think and feel also. Do you know how many young people there are in the Family? Are you telling me that you know each and every one of them and their history in the Family and you think we’re being mistreated living in this environment? I think not! Each one of us are here because we WANT to be, we committed our lives, hearts and spirits to living in this Family and reaching the goal Jesus gave us, which is to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” and to “Love the Lord your God, and your neighbor as yourself.” These former members think that by these lies and comments you’re posting on sites that you’ll somehow tear us away from our Family, but to the contrary it makes me love my Family all the more as I see how much my Family and Jesus has been there for me, they’ve proved their love, devotion and care many times over even when I didn’t deserve it. Whereas these former members … what have they done for me? Nothing!

We’re committed to making this Family go places that you aren’t going because you bailed out. That was their choice and I respect that as I made my choice to stay in this Family and live my life here, but what I don’t appreciate and respect is the way they so vocally lash out and put down the way I and others chose to live and accuse me of all sorts of lies that aren’t true. Mama and Peter apologized numerous times to you and I’m sorry if you’ve been mistreated, but that’s the past now and like normal people, we move on and leave the past exactly where it should be: in the past. Yet you seem to want to continue your tirades and waddling around in your doo-doo diapers carrying all your sob stories around with you as if that would make things better. Maybe you’d see things in a different perspective if you let it all go and just learn to forgive and forget.

Many others in the world have gone through things that you’re saying you’ve gone through and not only that but much, much worse. Why don’t you grow up and learn to face life as the adult that you are? You’ve had the same type of heritage I’ve grown up with, put it to good use and learn to get over it. Yet if you want to continue your maiming of the innocents and lying to make yourself feel better, then I pray for you, as I sure don’t want to be in your place when it comes your turn to stand before God and give account.

Lily Groft is a second generation member of the Family International.