1. Angela in no way deserved this. And I would say the same about anyone that was murdered in such a way.
2. I’m appalled by the comments of those who have said or in any way insinuated that Ricky was the victim and that Angela deserved it.
3. I strongly oppose the idea that taking a life, no matter what the circumstances, is ever justified.
4. I feel the media for the most part is not giving true, unbiased, full-rounded coverage of this story. (At least at the time of my writing this.)
5. I know that life in the Family is not abusive in anyway. (I say this after having lived and experienced the Family way of life for 23 years.)
6. I believe in Jesus and the Bible and have dedicated my life to being His disciple. I feel that the Family is the best place for me to do this. If at any point in time I feel that the Family is hindering me from living the life of a disciple, I will be the first to admit this. But till that day, I’m dedicated to the Family and its beliefs, which I believe are all in line with the teachings of Jesus and the Bible, and I don’t say this because I have been conditioned to or because I have been told to; I say this of my own free will.
7. I believe that all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, so attacks on my faith and my way of life are only helping to strengthen my convictions, not weaken them as I’m sure those attacking me would like… sorry.
8. I knew Angela quite well, and while the thought of her death has deeply saddened me, there is another thought that is on my mind as well, and that is… who knows when this life will end for each of us? And when the time comes for us or for the one(s) we love, will we be able to die in peace knowing that our life was worth it? Or if it is the one(s) we love that dies, will we feel we have shown enough love, forgiveness, compassion and concern to that one(s)? There is only one life, it will soon be past; how are each of us going to live ours?

Praying for us all during this time – Benjamin

PS: This song expresses the way I feel about those who oppose the choices I’ve made and try to convince me to change, those who can’t accept the lifestyle and calling I’ve chosen and those who seek to besmirch the Family.

Words from the song “Craving to Slake”:
You waste your time trying to tear down my beliefs to get ahead.
Rather than get a life, you choose to pop me in the head.
Are you so deluded that you don’t know your story is full of holes?
You’ve slipped backwards to the crowd and sinking mire of lost souls.

Don’t you have something better to do? ‘Cause right now this trend you can leave.
But if you keep on walking down this road, a tangled web you’ll weave.
If what you wanna do is get hooked up with a comfortable life, Get your mind out of the gutter and put down that blaming knife.

It takes a stronger man to see the truth these days, To consider the fact that you’re blind and in a defiant phase.
My friend, won’t you open your eyes, ask God to help you see?
Take a stab at living your life, and stop stabbing me.

I don’t expect you to choose the same life as I, But it’s dangerous when you poke your finger in God’s eye.
Can’t you choose to do what you’ve wanted all along?
Or must you first try to prove my choice is wrong?
Are we humans like God? Can we bring down His hand?
Can we righteously judge? Can we truly understand?
I think not, my friend, ‘cause I’ve made the mistake of pointing the finger, my craving to slake.

Please stop complaining!
Stop draining the marrow out of my bones!
There’s a life and you can get it;
The past you can forget it, rather than throwing your stones.

PRO.11:19 – As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
PRO.8:36 – But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
LUK.21:16 – And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
1JN.4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Benjamin is a second generation member of the Family International.