I was a young age when we left “The Family”—my parents myself and two brothers. I can’t quite recall all the details of why we left but we did. We continued to live in a similar manner as we did when we were members of “The Family”. We continued to live communally by faith and held many large gatherings (fellowships) which consisted of Family members and former Family members. These times of fellowship seemed to be pretty positive with everyone sharing a mutual faith and enjoying the company of one another. It was a time where those that were former members could enjoy the same fellowships and unity in worshiping God they had missed and most of them had done without ever since they had left “The Family”.

My parents decided to create a website which was initially designed to be a place where the users, both favorable and unfavorable to “The Family”, could express their views and thoughts towards “The Family”. My parents had become quite popular amongst almost anyone who was associated or formerly associated with “The Family” because of the active part they played with their fellowships, newsletter and website which was created to reach a broader number than had their newsletter. My parents assumed the neutral role towards both sides which caused a number of people from both circles to feel comfortable in their presence which in turn resulted in many visitors, as my parents had always been an open home and well liked by many.

It was about this era when I had started to experience the influence of those who were antagonistic towards “The Family”. As time elapsed and my association with the people of this nature continued, I too found myself growing more antagonistic until I found myself joining in on their conversations and attacking the belief system of “The Family” as well. A neutral could have asked me back then why I felt the negativity toward “The Family” and I would’ve given him/her a run down of reasons, none of which I had experienced first hand or had been shown proof that it had actually taken place, but rather had only been uttered by a convincing presenter.

You see I personally never experienced any of the things that I felt so strongly against “The Family” such as child abuse, sexual abuse or any other form of illicit practices. Sure maybe there were some strict guidelines or certain luxuries that we as children had to forgo at times which a bitter or resentful one could take and contort as being abusive action, but in my opinion it doesn’t hold water as evidence to what some accuse the Family of and to what I once condemned The Family for.

So why did I feel that way? Psychologists say your environment and the people you live and associate yourself with have a major impact on your development. I would have to agree. I have seen people relent their alliance to “The Family” and become antagonistic over time based on hearsay alone without any evidence. All it takes is a begrudging person who is set on defaming The Family through exaggeration, peer pressure and gossip. Hasn’t it ever happened to you when you went on what somebody said and you formulated an opinion on someone or something until you got the full scope on the matter and found that the opinion you had was similar to the accuracy of the result of a game of “Chinese Telephone”. The Bible warns us against gossip saying, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost part of the belly (Proverbs18:8).

Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in just recompense for incorrect actions such as children being abused. But be mindful of where you get your information, because you could be fighting fabrications which are convenient to believe, but retain no worth. I have encountered this and previously been an initiator thereof, at the cost of hindering people that are only seeking a vicarious life in line with Jesus’ teachings of loving your neighbor as yourself.

I am now in full time service for Jesus with the Family and am thankful for my place, even if not a glorious one, among the few that I know have given their lives to help others, seeking nothing in return. In the Family I have also had the opportunity to learn new skills that will help me to be successful in numerous paths in life such as teaching, communication skills, computer, performance etc… I made a transition in joining “The Family” at the risk of not having the support of my family or friends but I feel that to do the most with my life for others I have to be where that is possible and I believe that’s “The Family”

Sincerely,
David S. Lourenco

David S. Lourenco is a second-generation member of the Family International.