By Jason Pair, 21, USA
(Second-generation member of the Family International)

A wise man once said: “You can’t tell the truth without making some enemies. You can’t believe in love without facing some people that believe in hate. You can’t believe in freedom without meeting some people who don’t think you should be so free.”—David Brandt Berg

My name is Jason Pair, I’m a 21 yr old male who has been born and raised in the fellowship known as The Family International. As a member of the Family, I’d like to take this time to put to words the feelings that have come about in regards to the recent murder of Angela smith, and subsequent suicide of her killer Ricky Rodriguez. I feel a deep sorrow for the families of both of the deceased, and my heartfelt prayers go out to them. I wish there was some way to comfort them in their grieving.

I personally knew Angela and know that she was a precious woman and am very saddened by the premature ending of her life. Though I never met Ricky personally, I am trying to follow what the Bible instructs and “love my enemies”. I feel a deep sense of pity for Ricky who though previously was happy and fulfilled in his service as a member of The Family, working with us toward changing the world for the better, became so estranged from his parents and friends, becoming bitter to the point that he eventually took his life after stabbing to death an old friend. What makes one turn from the belief of love being the answer to all the world’s problems as our organization teaches, to resorting to violence, murder and eventual suicide?! I cannot say, but let me ask you this, what so enraged the Pharisees and religious rulers of the New Testament, that they felt it was necessary to brutally torture, beat and finally execute their Messiah? Its summed up simply in one verse in the Gospel of John: “Yeah, the time cometh, that whosever killeth you will think that he doeth God service”( Jn. 16:2b). Again, I pity him and though I know the Lord forgives him, I hope that Angela’s family can find it in themselves to forgive as the Lord has asked us to.

Having said that though, It angers me that some of our negative ex-members would use such a tragedy to try to discredit the Family and its way of Life, trying to put the blame on the Family and its leaders, hoping to use this to push their own agenda, going so far as to fill the media with lies, and untruths, and for what purpose?

It makes me mad to say the least, that after all the court cases on the Family proving its innocence against the lies of our detractors, and after all the academic studies done, proving that the Family is not only a safe place to teach and raise our children, but that it is in fact a better place to raise them with its superior education, love, and Godly lifestyle, that after all of that the media still is portraying the Family as a child abusing “cult” that the public should fear, is not only ridiculous, but poor journalism.

Unfortunately as so often is the case, both sides aren’t considered, and truth is not sought for, or is ignored in its entirety simply because it doesn’t make for quite as good a story. Nevertheless the truth is (confirmed by scholars and academic studies alike) that while our current beliefs and lifestyle are different from the norm, they aren’t harmful to anyone; and that we should have the right to live and believe as we like, and that by doing so we in fact positively contribute to society.

I myself in my years growing up in The Family have never once been abused, or witnessed abuse of any kind. In fact I’ve never seen anyone show more love and outgoing concern for their children than members of the Family. Our beliefs have only helped us to be better members of society, helping those in need, and doing our part to change the world. I grew up/traveled all over the world from Europe to Africa, and consider my upbringing to be superior educationally and otherwise, to society at large. Because of my parents lifestyle of helping others, and living with the mission of imparting the love of Christ to all that came along their path, they instilled in me the same devotion and dedication to loving God and my fellow man, which is why I have chosen to follow in their footsteps as a member of The Family International, as it is the best place I have found to achieve those goals
I personally have friends who have left the Family and moved on, now living productive lives as members of society, I wish the best on them, and all others who let us believe as we do in peace without negatively slandering and maligning us to the point of condoning violence and even murder.

The majority of the articles that have come out so far on the subject have given a very one-sided and false view of The Family, an organization that I not only am a part of, but that I believe is working hard towards making the world a better place. All I have to say to our detractors and apostates is: We’re not asking you to live this life of sacrifice, or even to love God and your fellow man, as we do. We’re not asking you to support us in our determination to make this world a better place, all we ask is that instead of going out of your way to destroy our lives, that you move on, and work towards getting one of your own.

Apostates have come and gone, court cases have been fought and won, our children have been wrongfully taken away and returned, but the Family is still going strong. As a warning to those that fight us I leave you with this verse from the Bible “If this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye can not overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:38b-39)