It is funny how even if you haven’t spoken a foreign language in a long time, some words will come to your mind out of the blue. That is what’s happening to me now. I feel like a lot of the French I have learned is about to come out when I hear what some former friends of mine are saying about me and the lifestyle that I live and have chosen to be a part of. But instead of feeding this feeling I will try to rise above it. Instead of stooping to their level of low blows I will, with all restraint, be as cordial as is possible in this situation as I give you a brief overview of my upbringing and where I stand in this awesome movement that I am a part of: The Family International.

I was born into The Family in the late 1970’s to parents that I believe did their best to love and care for me. As is normal with many religious parents, they imparted to me their faith and beliefs in Jesus Christ, the Bible, as well as the teachings of The Family. They were missionaries and I have many fond memories throughout my childhood of the over 25 countries that I have been blessed to either visit or live in; The new sights and sounds of India, Thai cuisine, or my travels in South America.
Their mission was to fulfill the calling that Jesus gave to all Christians found in Mark 16:15; To tell the whole world about the Gospel of His love, truth and salvation. I know that when this life is over and they stand before Jesus He will reward them for the life of giving that I have witnessed them lead.
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For me, writing is a dream that quickly fades as soon as I attempt it. Each time I have approached the computer to express all the emotions, feelings, and thoughts I’m experiencing, I realize how inadequate I tried to express myself. It never comes out the way I had clearly thought it out in my mind. But I’m attempting to do it now on behalf of a memory. I’m doing this for Angela.

My name is Michelle Dykas, I’ve just turned 25 and am currently living in Japan. I’m proud to say that I have been a member of The Family International all my life.

My memory begins when I was 19 years old living in Texas. I had gone there to help my older sister with her first child so she could be free to continue her work as a secretary for one of our missionary centers. I enjoyed taking care of my niece, I didn’t mind that it wasn’t what is considered a “great job” and that most people at 19 are thinking about college, boyfriends, and so on. I trusted the Lord that my personal future could wait, while I helped someone I loved.
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(From a second-generation member of the Family International)

By Jude Osborn, 31 (a.k.a Kevin Kanwayte)

There’s no doubt that I had a good, positive upbringing as a young child. I had regular school, lots (and lots) of friends, went witnessing, sang on television utterly off key, played with toys, completely unraveled entire rolls of toilet paper with my friends. You know, just normal kid’s stuff.

Then between the age of 7 and 8 my immediate family left The Family to pursue a secular life. As ironic as it may seem to some people, I suddenly found myself surrounded by abusive situations. Having the best parents in the world, I was personally never subject to anything remotely abusive as a child, but my heart goes out to these childhood friends of mine. For example:
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I am a secretary here at our center in Japan. I was born in the Family International and have been blessed to be raised with my brothers and sisters in a loving, caring Christian environment free from the violence, crime and perversions that are in society today.

We are not “held” here against our will as some of our detractors claim! And I would not trade this life for anything!

Some of our detractors claim that we do not receive a “normal” education as we are home schooled. I would like to know what they mean by “normal”. I have experienced what they would call a “normal” education going to public elementary school for a few years! The shocking reality hit me when I saw kids being bullied some to the point of suicide, foul language rife, perversions of all kind coming from elementary school students some as young as the age as 6! A lack of respect for authority and fights were a regular occurrence not just between students but between teachers and kids! If this is what a “normal” education and going to a “normal” public school entails then all I can say is NO THANK YOU!
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(From Luke, 31, a second-generation former member)

After seeing the latest development of Richard Rodriguez brutally murdering Angela Smith, & the media feeding on it as a new sensationalist story, I think it’s time I write about my own experiences in growing up in The Family, & what it has done to my life & career as an adult.

I was born in 1973, a little before the “baby boon” happened in The Family, grew up all over the Middle East, Europe, & Latin America, so I’ve gone through all aspects of the child raising efforts that were put forth. Being very independent, & quite a troublemaker, which means I went through if not all, then definitely most of the discipline programs that were in place for various reasons.

Without going into further details, I had found that I was more fulfilled & challenged working in highly technical fields, than in The Family, so I am not currently leading the missionary lifestyle I grew up in & was used to. According to the very vocal Family detractors, because of my time in The Family, I now should be a psychological mess, doing as little, or less, with my life as they are, & generally worthless!
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I don’t know who may be reading this but whoever you are, if you love freedom, if you love liberty then may I please suggest that you stop to take the time to read this and ponder it.

On the night of January 8th a horrific and tragic event took place in Tucson, Arizona in which a lovely and innocent woman was brutally murdered and then her murderer sadly took his own life. In most cases this sort of homicide/ suicide wouldn’t generate that much media coverage, at least not internationally.

However, unfortunately in this case it has, as those involved were former members of the Family International. Ricky Rodriguez was the murderer and Angela Smith was the victim who suffered a cruel and untimely death. When I first heard the news I was greatly saddened and appalled that such a thing could have happened as in our fellowship we are diametrically opposed to any and all forms of violence of any sort.
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I have no idea who will end up reading this, but I feel compelled to do my part to clear my name and that of my friends and co-workers in the Family. My name is Sofia. I am 25 soon to be 26 and have grown up my entire life in the Family, in my opinion the best environment for every child there is. I spent most of my life in Asia with my parents as missionaries. When I was old enough to decide what to do with my life I decided that I wanted to carry on being a missionary and at the age of 18 came back to Asia where I have spent the last 8 years in humble service to the people of this wonderful continent.

When I decided to continue on as a missionary it was done without any coercion or pressure, I made the decision because I wanted to spend my life making a difference for the better and because I believe that the Family is the best place to do it. My only regrets are that I feel that I have not done enough and that I could never do enough to right the wrongs and save the dying and lonely, rescue those that are without someone to love and care for them and make the world a better place for all mankind

Idealistic, I know, but those are the ideals that I was raised with and the ideals that we as a Family stand for.
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(From Robin Suttin, 30, second-generation member of the Family International)

My name is Robin Suttin and I was born in a Family community in 1974. I currently reside in Mexico. To whom it may concern, I just wanted to write about my life serving Jesus in a Family Home. I am truly proud of the heritage of faith that my parents have passed onto me and for their faithfulness to Christ’s call: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

My life serving the Lord in Family International communities

I feel safe knowing that I live in a cooperative Family Home where if we invite all the members from other Family Homes in the city to a holiday dinner, I can leave my purse in the living room while I eat dinner in the dining room and know that when I come back an hour later, I will find my purse still there in the living room, intact.

I feel secure knowing that I can travel to any Family Home, even across the world and be received and welcomed with the same warmth and care as I do in the house of my own flesh and blood family, by people I’ve never even met before.
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Born and raised in the Family. I’m presently in WS where I do art work for the pubs.

I’m not the best of writers, as being an artist I tend to express myself better in pictures, but for this words must suffice and so I will do my best as I really wanted to say something about what I feel with this whole tragic situation that has happened with Pete and Angela and all the ensuing repercussions.

It definitely came as a shock when I heard about what had happened to Pete and Angela and I feel for all those who have lost someone through this, whether it was their child, brother, sister, family, friend or special love. There is no way around the loss that each ones feels, and I know that it is hard to loose someone in this way; I personally lost a dad when I was young so my heart goes out to you.
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My name is Lisa, I’m 23 years old & I used to live with Angela. We were friends, & even roomed together for a time.
I’m no writer, but when someone you know & love is brutally murdered, & then slandered in the newspapers & on television, you can’t help but be shocked, appalled, & upset – even if you’re Christian. There just aren’t words in the English language to describe how horrifically twisted it is to try to excuse the brutal murder of someone who gave their life to help others by saying the murderer was “abused as a child.”

I could go into trying to refute “child abuse” accusations against the Family, but really there’s no need. Courts around the world have done that for us. Anyone who really wants to know or see for themselves should check out any one of our hundreds of Family homes around the globe.
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My name is Anne Boleijn, and I’m a second generation member of the Family. I’ve lived in the Family all 30 years of my life.

I look back on my life and I have so many wonderful memories, and am grateful to my parents for raising me in the Family. I have traveled to close to 30 countries on 4 continents, I have learned 5 languages, I have met countless people and experienced life and the world in a way not many others my age have been able to—except others who grew up in the Family, of course. We have such a rich heritage, one that I am proud to be a part of.

It’s not that in all this time I have never questioned whether the Family was the place for me—I have, and sometimes still do. But that questioning doesn’t come from any fault of the Family, or any fear that I or my daughter are in any danger. It comes simply from a desire to try something different, to see how I would fare in society, to see how successful I would be, and to live for myself and make money. The bottom line, however, after giving these things much thought is that I couldn’t stand a life like that. I have grown so accustomed to a life lived for others, a life that gives and keeps giving, that I am pretty certain I would be miserable if my life was only about me. I would be bored and unchallenged, my life would have no meaning. I have also felt that by leaving the Family I would be depriving my daughter of the best environment for raising children that you could hope to find. So I’m still here, I’m still challenged, and still living a life that I believe with all my heart has more meaning than I could find anywhere else in the world.
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My name is Regina. I am 26 years old and was born in Iran where my parents were missionaries in the Family.

You may be thinking something’s not quite sitting right with you, when you hear the stories and accusations against us, but when you’re looking at it where I’m coming from it’s so clear there is not even a question in my mind as to whether or not these things are true, they are lies and I know that never in my life have I been subjected to any kind of abuse or know of any of my friends who have.

I say this from my heart, that from a very young age (and as far back as I have any memories) my parents’ care and training of me was always faithful and diligent and given with utmost care for me as an individual. As a young child I remember always knowing that other than caring for me and my brothers and sisters, leading and helping others to find Jesus and his love was what my parents lived for and what they helped me to do as well and what continues to be my goal in life.
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To Channel 7 Eyewittness News,

After seeing your report on the 6 o’clock news about Ricky Rodriguez’s crime of murder which later resulted in his suicide, I had some serious questions.

According to what you are saying, if anyone out there feels they’ve ever been molested, hurt or treated unfairly they should have every right to brutally stab someone to death, and not only that but if you do, the media will give you attention for it, sympathize with you, and make you out to be the victim! If that is the case, I’m sure there should be a lot more murders happening.

Did you ever even stop to think that if Ricky really did have a case against Angela he could simply take her to court? After all, he knew where she lived.
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