I knew Ricky well, we where good friends once. We lived together in Hungary where he met my sister who he later married. My heart goes out to my sister during this difficult time, she is in my daily prayers. I truly believe that no matter what mess we make of this life on this end, on the other side is Heaven, so I draw my comfort from that, I know Angela has her reward and that Ricky can now be at peace.

I knew Ricky before he hated the Family, in the happy days, the days when he was madly in love with my sister. We would all sit on my big bed and we’d laugh and just talk. He was a happy person, loving and kind, always ready to give a hand. I still have a beautiful picture of Jesus both Ricky and my sister made for me on my birthday. Those are my memories of Ricky but I write this not to talk about my feelings on the tragedy but as a reply to the different articles and news clips I have read in the days since the event. I’ve been downright baffled at some of the garbage that has been printed and that our antagonist ex-members would stoop so low during this difficult time. I am not a good writer but I will try my best to explain to anyone reading this about my life, a life I love and have chosen of my own free will. (more…)

My name is Luca Vitali, I am 23, Italian/American, and live in Italy. I was born, raised, and still am in The Family International. A few people have asked me to write something up here because we are getting so much negative coverage that we have to stand up and defend ourselves.

What I want to say to all those journalists, former members, and people that don’t like us is: GET A LIFE! Why can’t you just leave us alone to live the life we like? Come see for yourselves! Do we look miserable? Do we look unhappy? Do we look like we don’t want to be here? No one is forced to be in The Family, to the contrary, there have been countless publications saying that if you don’t like it, it would be better if you leave and go and live a “normal life” like everyone else.
(more…)

My name is Raquel Sousa, 27, and I live in Brazil. I was raised in The Family. I chose to remain in the family and raise my own 2 kids in the same environment I grew up in. I have had one of the best upbrings someone could wish for. I had the opportunity to travel and to learn about different countries and cultures and to learn different languages.

I am quite saddened by what happened to Angela. I’m shocked at the horrible state Ricky was in, how he let others pollute him with such hatred and vengeance based on twisted interpretations of how The Family is responsible for his problems. Ricky was affected by people who really wanted to do us harm.
What if anybody who disagreed with others would decide to kill because of it? I don’t understand why anyone should listen to a word of what Ricky had to say in the video he made before taking Angela’s life. So it’s horrible that the media would publish the views of a murderer instead of the other tens of thousands of people that know and support The Family. (more…)

By Christian Yoder
Second-generation member of The Family International

Hi, my name is Christian Yoder and I am full time missionary volunteer for the Family International.

I was born and raised in Japan for the first seven years of my life and have been living in the USA ever since. When I heard the news of Angela and Ricky, and even though I have never met either one personally, I was shocked and very grieved to say the least. So I cannot begin to imagine what those people who did know them are going through this very moment.

What took place was an extremely cruel and brutal murder, and the fact that some of you former members come around and try to condone and even justify this act is just beyond me. No, there is no one with a gun to my head forcing me to type out this note; I do this on my own free will because of the frustration I feel that some of you seem like you could not be more heartless about the situation.

I was raised with the most care one could ever hope for; I had everything I really needed. I never lacked physically, I always had clothes in my dresser, food in the fridge, and toys under the tree for Christmas. I never lacked socially, I always had friends my age nearby to play with, not to mention nine siblings. I never lacked emotional support; my parents and friends were always there to pull me through with whatever emotional battles I may have been going through. And I certainly have not been lacking spiritually, as the Lord has always been there to bless, comfort, and protect me.

I believe this because I choose to. This is my faith, and my decision to stay in the Family is a choice I make everyday. If you’re too narrow minded to accept this, I know a few good psychologists if you ever feel you need the help.

As an American citizen, I have the freedom to choose what I want to do with my life……I choose The Family.

4PM 1/20 – My Conclusion has been up and running for just under 24 hours. I helped setup this website in such a way so that the general public could hear the other side of the story. Suddenly, my phone rings. It’s a TTY phone call, a call via an MCI IP Relay which goes through an operator (probably so I don’t hear who’s on the other end of the line). The phone call is from someone who wants me to take this website down. I ask for a name and I’m told that, “I’ll give you my name if you just take the website down”. At the end of the phone call I receive an ominous threat, “I’m right outside your house”.

I’ve never been stalked before in my life, but I sure felt like someone was trying to stalk me with that kind of a statement. So I do a bit of research and find out that my personal information from the registration of the domain myconclusion.com has been posted on a couple ex-members websites, the administrators of one of the sites removed one post though my phone number is still posted. The other website has not responded to my request to have my personal information taken down. A post on one site stated, “Please feel free to call him and reprimand him as necessary".

I ask the person who called me, who no doubt is reading this: when did I ever threaten you to try and get your website, which attacks my lifestyle, taken down? In my book a threat like that is not something I take lightly. Any threat to my family, I take seriously. To me that’s more like how the mafia works. Did you really think a phone call like that would take a website down which is presenting the other side of the story? If you don’t agree with what’s here, DON’T READ IT!

I’m all for dialogue and intelligent conversation, I love debates and I’m more than ready to defend my lifestyle. However I call upon those ex-members who seek to use these tactics to stop. I call on all of us to respect each others privacy.

-Dan Johnson

A tragedy occurred, emotions are thriving, and my initial reaction was one of bewilderment. Why would Ricky let lies saturate him till it changed his entire perspective on things entirely? Why would he allow false bitterness to be rampant in his live and cause him to kill another? The Bible states, “Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” Was Ricky duped to believe he was doing God a favor by attempting to stamp out The Family? Or was this all supposed to be more like a premeditated murder that would initiate another war? There were many questions and I couldn’t find logical answers for.

Then as time passed, bewilderment turned to righteous anger and rage…and then sorrow. Yes, for Ricky and Angela, but more towards you, the media. Why is it that you readily condone a murderer, trample a giving and loving woman, and slander everything I live for?

There is no legitimate reason why a murderer is innocent. There’s no law that condones murder. (more…)

I was among the lucky few who were born to Missionary parents in the Family International. I am 25 years old, Australian, was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Asia. I have lived in countless countries and had opportunity to learn to love God above all and to find a higher purpose for my life.

I grew up in a Family International School in Japan where I learned not only my curricular studies but acting, singing, cooking, dancing, teaching, photography, basic guitar and piano, art, Japanese culture and language, public relations, typing and poetry. I have a love for all of these and use most of them in my current work in Uganda.
(more…)

Care to know who you’re talking to? You want to put a face on it? It’s easy to criticize a group or organization, but this one has nearly 2,000 young people in it and I for one am not going to let you speak for us all. I did not choose an organization to be a part of, I chose much more then that; I chose a lifestyle, the only one worth living for, and if need be, dying for.

My name is Miguel, I’m 25 yrs. old, and I was born in The Family. But even though I was born in The Family, that’s not all I’ve known. When I was 13 my parents left the group, and I was integrated into a different kind of lifestyle. I went to school as opposed to being home schooled. Although as a home-schooler in the Family, I was always just a bit “behind”, getting put in a public school was all it took to show me that I was ahead. All my teachers were amazed at me and all that I knew and how quickly I learned.—it all came from my earlier training as a home-schooler.

But being in public school was not healthy for me; I was picked on, threatened, and abused by other students. It was a difficult time of my life and I could only wish I was back “in the good old days” with friends who liked me and thought like me, and teachers who cared for me as a person and not just a student. But I eventually became more and more like “normal” kids—calloused, crass, bullies who looked down on each other in a mad race to see who’s “cooler” or has the hotter chick. I became cynical, mean, and had my “tough guy” facade on all the time. But inside, I knew where I belonged and it was not there in the middle of all that hell.

Shortly after I turned 15 the Lord gave me the opportunity to rejoin The Family, which, after seeing what life in the system was like, I was very eager to do. I did have dreams, and possibilities of careers to follow, things I wanted to do, but I knew there was something about The Family that I couldn’t shake, it was a part of me, and I knew I wouldn’t be as happy anywhere else. Everything else just paled in comparison. (more…)

Written by Ariana Matas – a second generation member of “The Family International”

My initial reaction when hearing of the tragic event of the murder of Angela Smith by the hand of Ricky Rodriguez was complete shock and sadness. I wasn’t so shocked however when I heard the blatant lies spread through the media by our detractors. Nor was I shocked when the media just gobbled it up like my goldfish gobble the fish food I throw at them – although comparing the media to my gentle goldfish would be an illusion. I would compare the sensationalistic media of today to voracious sharks who often don’t care who they rip apart as long as they get their fill of “high-rated”, lucrative stories.

I AM shocked though at the unashamed disregard for human life displayed by our detractors and I hope and pray that somehow the general public will comprehend and wake up to the following analysis: If Ricky Rodriguez was capable of brutally stabbing and killing an innocent victim, if others in the circle of our detractors are capable of speaking of physical violence against the members of our missionary community and treat this tragedy with the coldness and hard-heartedness of what you would expect of a serial killer then what sort of a conscience would keep them from blatantly lying and making up false accusations against our community? Think about that next time you’re sitting in front of the T.V. and some sensationalist program comes on spraying the typical but oh so juicy “cult stories”. Think about that next time you pick up the New York Times with the title “Murder and Suicide Reviving Claims of Child Abuse in Cult” (Ooooh, there goes the “cult” word again. How’s that for an eye-catcher?).

Look, the truth is a very different story. I have authority to say this statement on what is the truth because I was also born and raised in “The Family International”. As far as I know the reporter Laurie Goodstein, who wrote the above-mentioned article in the NYT, never visited or lived in any of our communities. I challenge her, along with her distinguished journalist colleagues, to not only interview the “more than a dozen people who grew up in the cult” (Boy, do you guys just love that word….) who speak of the supposedly “horrible treatment” received while in our community but to interview at least a fraction of the several hundred young people who are happy, fulfilled and presently living in our missionary communities. I challenge you to not only cite the abuse stories fed to you by our detractors, but to cite, even if only some of the abundant real life stories of young people presently living in “The Family” who are giving their lives to somehow change for the better their part of the world. Do you dare do that? Or are those true-life stories not qualified as “eye-catching”, “attention-getter” or “lucrative” for the general public? God help the media of today for perverting the appetite of the general public creating an inordinate desire to hear and read lurid, scandalous stories with little, if any, basis on facts and the way things really are.
(more…)

From Kenji Yamaguchi

I will risk sounding dull, dry and dreary (the horror) when I say that my entire childhood can be summed up in a single word.

Love.

Truly I am the same as all of these before me, none of us being treated unfairly, none of us being handled in any unreasonable way, none of us giving any claim or basis to your (Daniel Roselle) statement that, “thousands are being methodically abused", but rather giving a wall of evidence that this is indeed not the case, and that you are in fact attempting to stuff our mouths with the excrement that is your lies.

Honestly, with 20/20 hindsight I would say that I was handled “perfectly” by those who watched over me, and taught, cooked, cared for, and gave their lives for me. You, however, I have neither seen nor met, your credibility has already been destroyed by the lies you have told, and yet you have the gall to tell me that my upbringing was wrong, that I should go your way, that I am being abused by people you don’t know exist, that my parents and caretakers should be punished, and that what I have lived, breathed and bled* for should be heaved into the ground. (*I cut my finger once while out witnessing, counts for bleeding for my lifestyle, heh) (more…)

By Samuel Renaud, 21
(Second-generation member of the Family International)

I’m 21 years old and I was born and raised in The Family. I just wanted to say that in the 21 years of my life I have met hundreds if not thousands of Family Members from all around the globe and have never seen or heard of any of these abuses that are supposedly going on or “encouraged". It sickens me to even hear of such rumors floating around about us because as a Family member we represent The Family and it’s our way of life. We all have tough choices at one point in our lives and God gave us the ability to “choose” what we do with our lives and I chose to devote mine to The Family.

I pray for those who devote their lives to destroying The Family. I just can’t understand why they can’t just move on with life like many other former Family members have. I personally have several brothers and sisters currently not in The Family. They have chosen a different lifestyle and I am happy for them and proud that they’re still doing something good with their lives.

One thing The Family has in common is that we live a very sacrificial lifestyle. We’ve devoted our lives to others and go into countries where it’s not so easy to live in order to help others and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). And we also believe in living communally and sharing all things. (Acts 2:44-45) And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.) That is a tough one wouldn’t you say? Not everyone is willing to do that… but I am, and there is nowhere else in the world that I know of that I can do that

I was appalled by the way that the media portrays The Family as being one big group of people that are just a bunch of weirdoes or a “sex cult". First of all where’s all the sex???? Secondly I might be a weirdo in your eyes but to me what really matters is what I look like in God’s eyes. It’s not what you believe in that will get you somewhere. It’s what you do with what you believe.

The Family is formed by individuals. They are all very different and from different nationalities. There are thousands of members in hundreds of homes in over a hundred countries. They all have their own ministries and their own lives. We as individuals chose where we live and chose what ministries we are a part of and together we form The Family International.

My name is Becky (Rebecca Sarina Wilson), I am 16 years old, and I have had the privilege of being born and raised in The Family International. My childhood was not perfect, but I got LOTS of love, time, attention, and good training. I have a beautiful life, and I’m surrounded by great people who care about me personally, who I can confide in, and who are there for me whenever I need them.

It’s hard to express the joy it is to be able to live and work with like-minded people on a daily basis, and to be able to count on the support of others who are striving with their blood, sweat and tears for the same dreams as you. It is our life’s goal to share the peace, happiness, and tremendous love that we have found in Jesus with others, and to work together to make this world a better place, that is what I look forward to with every heartbeat.

It hurts me to see people take something so marvelous, and distort it so unrealistically. If the life I have CHOSEN to live is not good enough for you, then go your own way! Live your life and let me live mine! It’s so ironic! A site devoted to a bunch of rantings from bitter individuals refusing to let go of hurts from the past, called “Moving On"? I would suggest they take their own advice and MOVE ON! Honestly, life is full of hurts and disappointments, it’s how you react to them that makes you who you are, you cannot blame your lacks on anyone! We have all gone through experiences we wish we could have avoided, yet we’ve just got to learn from the bad times and move on! (more…)

My name is Jessica Salazar. I am 19 years of age.

From the moment I was born my parents brought me into the best little haven we could possibly call in this God Forsaken, grief stricken and lying earth. This place is called The Family. I couldn’t begin to express to all of you out there what The Family did for my life. Our wonderful leaders that taught us the wonderful meaning of God’s Word. The fun, laughter and excitement every day brought me. I am no longer in the Family. I have been out 2 1/2 years now to pursue another part of life.

But all the lies and strange and completely contorted twists of the murder which happened to one of our dear Family members which the media is feeding to all of you out there absolutely disgusts me! The man who killed Angela was nothing less that a man driven by Satan, which led him to do it. I didn’t personally know Angela. But from what I have read and heard about her, she was nothing short of an angel put on this earth.

I lived in a Family home fulltime until I was 17 years old, and not ONCE did I ever see any such “Abuse” as you would call it. And I have lived in over 5 different countries around the world. In each and every single home which I lived, all members loved, worked together as a team and did their absolute best to ensure that all us kids had the BEST upbriging in the world. (more…)

My name is Angie S. Butler, I am 27 years old and grew up all my life in the Family. I am married to a wonderful man, who also grew up all his life in the Family. I have 3, almost 4 kids and I hope that they will also spend all their lives in the Family in the best place anyone can live and doing the best job anyone on earth can do. Helping others, lifting a neighbor in need, giving when there is not much to give, sacrificing personal gain to help mankind. That is a life worth living and one I am proud to say has been mine since I was born. Well, I have had my moments of selfishness and wanting to do my own thing, but I do try.

I have many friends who left the Family, and the ones I am still in touch with are living pretty good lives. They’ve moved on and I am happy for them, we are still friends and they have chosen to let me live how I want to, just as I let them live their new life the way they wish.

There is another bunch, who have also left the Family, that as far as I know, don’t know me, never met me and probably never met the majority of members in the Family around the world, yet they seem to know exactly what has been happening to each of us all of our lives. Well, you have no idea what’s been up with me and my life so I want to make it clear that I have never been abused sexually or otherwise by my parents, or any other adults in the family that I, in all 27 years of my life, have lived with. And I can say the same for my 8 brothers and sisters. We have the best and most loving parents who gave a lot so we could have a good life, education and standard of living. And I have never seen any forms of abuse happen to any of the 100’s of kids I’ve lived with throughout my life. (more…)

My name is Yoko Matsuoka; I live in Tokyo, Japan.

Living the life of a missionary in the Family International is a great privilege that I am eternally thankful to God and my parents for. They have given me the kind of childhood and upbringing that I wish everyone in the world could partake of.

I was home schooled for most of my life and firmly believe that the method of home schooling is far superior to that of secular schooling. I graduated from junior high school at the age of fourteen and then graduated senior high school at the age of 16. Because I finished my studies early I now have a head start of more than a year to begin vocational training in the job I love, that of being a missionary and teaching children.

Where else in society can you find a movement that provides love, support, excitement, change, valuable training in all aspects of life, and a real sense of belonging than the Family? I doubt you could find any such place. In the Family I have a chance to daily interact with people from all walks of life, from many different countries and cultures. I have the opportunity to really do something to help my fellow man, to make the world a better place.

True, my life was not, and is not perfect. But then again, no one can boast of a perfect life. But I do believe that my life up until now has been happy, exciting, fulfilling, challenging, meaningful and productive. In my mind, that is about as close to perfect as you can get.

Yoko Matsuoka is a second-generation member of The Family International

I do not know of all the allegations or thoughts that people are having during this tumultuous time. But I do wish for you to see a face, a representative, of the youth that are members of the Family International. I am only one of the faces; but I do make up a part, and so I pray that what I say will make a difference in the way you decide to view current matters.

My name is Tomoko Matsuoka; I am 21 years old and a full time missionary with the Family International in Tokyo, Japan, where I daily lead a fulfilling life. My parents, both missionaries to this day, joined in their early twenties. Thus, I was raised in a missionary community where I was home-schooled for the most part of my learning years. I say “learning years” as through home schooling I was able to finish ahead of my peers and graduate from my high school courses at the age of 15; two and a half years ahead of my contemporaries.

One issue I wish to address and a truth I wish to make fundamentally clear is that in no way have I had an underprivileged or abusive up-bringing within the Family International. (The only reason that I am addressing this unreality, is that you, the reader, may have heard or read some un-truths concerning members of the Family International; and it seems the words “underprivileged” and “abused” have been flung about. If you have not heard of these falsehoods, feel blessed. That is one less distortion to deal with.)

When thinking of the words “underprivileged” and “abused” the following came to mind: Underprivileged would be the 2 billion people in the world that cannot read. Abusive would be the 11 million children, ages 4 to 14, in Pakistan that work in often brutal and squalid conditions to keep the country’s factories operating. Underprivileged would be the 300 children under the age of five that die out of every 1,000 born in Nigeria. Underprivileged would be the 1.3 billion people in the world (yes, our planet) that have no access to clean water. Underprivileged and abused would be the 120,000 child soldiers in Africa. (more…)

I’m writing because I’m deeply saddened by recent events regarding Ricky and Angela. I’m writing because there are those who are trying to use this tragedy to smear the name of the Family, and those I love. There are those who are saying that all those who have been raised in the Family have been abused and live in abusive conditions. These are lies! “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” And because of this I feel compelled to express how I feel, and say it like it really is.

My name is Isamu Matsuoka, I’m 24, I will be a father next month. My wife and I were both born and raised in the Family International, and we’re proud of our upbringing. We live in Tokyo, Japan, and we’re dedicated to serving our fellow man and bringing God’s love to those we meet.

At our center I’m personally involved in a project to bring needed supplies, toys, clothing to orphanages and single mother institutes. We also perform for these children who are desperate for love and acceptance. Over Christmas we also took our performance and supplies to Niigata, which was hit by an earthquake. The earthquake victims who lost homes, and most of what they owned, were very thankful for the fun performance, and most of all our encouragement and hope that we were able to share with them.

I’m living a happy, fulfilled and complete life, surrounded by those I love and who also want to do something to make the world a better place. I love the life I live and I owe it all to the wonderful upbringing I received both from my parents and excellent teachers in the Family, who always challenged me and motivated me to reach out and help others. (more…)

By Gentle S. Seaman-Bixler a.k.a. Sherri

My given name is Gentle Joy Seaman-Bixler. (Understandably, my nickname is Sherri.) I was born into the Family in Dec. 1977 in Jamaica, West Indies to a wonderful mother and father. I have spent all of my 27 years as a missionary. Most of my childhood was spent in Ecuador, South America; my travels then took me to Peru, Mexico, the US, Ghana, and Botswana. I am married to a wonderful man and have three small children.

Honestly, my world was shattered when I heard of the murder of Angela Smith – more precisely, when I heard who had done it, and how. I grew up knowing of Ricky and his sister, and felt very close to them, almost like they were part of my personal family. I loved them as I loved David Berg, and as I love their mother. So it was like finding out that my own brother had murdered an innocent woman in cold blood, because he wanted to harm ME. Yes, that’s what it really amounts to, because in harming The Family he is harming me – a girl he never met, with sweet children he never got to see, and a life he obviously never saw the value of. Yes, my world was shattered – by Ricky, and by the poisonous tongues of those he associated with and listened to.

I have to say that the knife that was already in my heart was twisted by a merciless hand when I saw and heard the media take this heart-breaking situation and report their twisted version of it. In my mind’s eye, I see an innocent, helpless woman, who loved Ricky, with multiple knife wounds in her body that he inflicted. I see blood. I see pain. I see hate. My God, have we become so callous? Can we not see that it was a crime? Can we not report it as such? (more…)

(From Nadia Paone, 30, second-generation member of the Family International)

My first reaction to realizing that the old abuse issue was what would come out of the sad and tragic event of last week was “God, not again.” I felt tired. We’ve been through this issue from every angle and our detractors and accusers have always ended up with egg on their faces when the results of all their “reports of rampant abuse in the Family” and stirring up authorities to take action, turn up test result after test result, time and time again, proving that each of these supposed “abused children” is actually healthy, loved, abuse-free, well adjusted and educated. And yet, because child abuse is something that turns any feeling human being’s stomach, it’s juicy and something that will get attention. (more…)

This is a song by a friend who I admire for his conviction and love for our Family. I have taken this song on as a personal anthem for my life in the Family THAT I WOULD NOT TRADE FOR ANYTHING. You can have the whole world, just give me Jesus

Mama, I love you and I am sticking with you, Jesus, and this Family!!!!!

Blood a da Martaz
Music and Lyrics: Jay Dee

Rap 1:
If ya trying to get rid of me homie, better be wise and do it quickly
Cuz I ain’t gonna drop, I ain’t gonna stop as long as my breath is in me
I’m a keep preachin’ the word cuz He hold me to do that’s my job.
And if ya be messin’ with me funny, be stupid to mess with my God.
For the love of my Lord, my vocal chords is screamin’ out in praise.
My love remains true only to You past my dyin’ days,
It’s driving me mad the love that I have for You and for this Family.
And those who be fighting it, shedding my blood is those who simply can’t see.
I’m free from Satan’s lies, the thing that’s makin’ me different
So you better open your eyes and realize that I’m Jesus’ servant.
The only way ya can hold me down is to put two in my main brain,
But even with that, me ain’t so sure my God might have a plan man.
For the love of the game I’m driven insane I’m livin’ my life in faith here,
The love of my brothers, the love of my sisters, a life of God, there’s no fear.
But don’t mean to scare ya, you better beware ya cause it’s a martyrs thang.
If you think you is down with the Christian crown, then take on a life of pain.
(more…)

My name is Felicia Moore. I am 21 years old and proud to say that I was been born and raised in The Family International my entire life. I am currently a dedicated, sold-out missionary in Eastern Europe. I am writing this in regards to the current tragedy and murder of my friend, Angela Smith, as well as the outright lying, accusing and slander from those who were once a part of our organization but who now apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than attack mine.

You see, I’m your traditional Family kid. I grew up overseas most of my life in large Family centers with many others my age. I received the best care, training, education and practical life skills anyone could desire. I never once left the group nor did I ever attend public schooling at any time. Among the usual schooling by excellent, top notch Family teachers, we also were taught that which would further us and give us the best chance at success in any field once we were older. We grew up in many different cultures with many different traditions, customs and ways of operating. In each new country we learned fairly quickly how to adapt, how to understand and relate to the people, and in most cases we learned their language and became one with them. We learned straight from the Bible, how to get along with others our own age, how to “prefer the happiness of others to our own”, to “do unto others as we would have done unto us”, to “preach the gospel to every creature”, that “honesty pays”, to love others and to love the Lord most of all. I was a very stubborn child, willful and rebellious however not once did I feel my teachers were giving up on me, not once did I feel them apply discipline too harshly. The opposite is the case. They had genuine love and concern for each child; they knew that “we were the future” and they treated us as such. In what public school can you get that kind of attention and individual care? Yup, they’re right, I lived a charmed life.
(more…)

So what do I know? – Well in the 22 years of my life this is what I’ve seen & experienced: love & general concern for myself & those around me in a very real & tangible way. Looking back on my childhood & the life I’ve led over the years a feeling of happiness & most of all gratitude comes over me. So I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank The Family, which is every individual who surrounded me with love, faith in the Lord & His unending love for me & others. You have so lovingly showered my life with security, peace in the knowledge of God’s protection, purpose & meaning in a world that offers none, and hope for the future as we look to God for our guidance. I would also like to thank my wonderful parents for bringing me up in such an awesome & Godly lifestyle, one in which I wouldn’t trade for anything! What better gifts than these can be given a person? I know my life would feel awfully empty & pointless, and instead of hope for the future, fear would abound in me had I not received these truths. For those reasons I feel blessed beyond measure and I am truly thankful for my Family heritage.

-Linda Salazar

Linda Salazar is a second-generation member of the Family International.

I’ve been a fulltime missionary my whole life and am totally devoted to serving Jesus, 100%. I have lived in India, Ethiopia, and South Africa, and have visited other countries around the World, to spread the gospel. I minister to, teach, and preach the Gospel to as many as I can, telling others of God’s love and His free gift of eternal salvation.

In India I helped build schools for underprivileged children, I taught children from local slum areas, provided aid and medical attention to the needy and helped as many others I could along the way. In South Africa I frequently visited Homes for the elderly, orphanages, and shelters, where I along with my colleagues and children I taught, performed dramas, skits and songs, to bring hope, love, cheer, and faith, which the world at large is sadly lacking in. I am a youth counselor and regularly participate in camps and seminars for both parents and youth. I am also a fulltime teacher of the Bible.
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Age: 18
Location: Tanzania, Africa

Firstly I’d like to say that my heart goes out to all those who have been affected by this tragedy and I am praying for you that the Lord will comfort your soul and help you find his peace through this situation! Secondly I’d like to state for the record that I’m living proof that being raised in the Family is not a pre-requisite of insane actions as we witnessed in Ricky’s case! Our religion and everything our lives stand for is life and love the complete opposite of Ricky’s portrayal of death and hate! We believe that God made us in his image and we are not our own but bought with a price and as such we are to respect and care for our body’s physically and spiritually as the temple of God!

No one has had a perfect life and we have all been treated unfairly or unloving at some time regardless of our religion background or race (and I would be as bold to say that in the Family much, much less then anywhere else) but that gives no excuse whatsoever to brutally take the life of another human being no matter what we have gone through or how “unjustly” we feel we have been treated! And if you in any way associate the Family with such violence and senseless loss of life then you would do well to actually come and visit one of our homes or speak to our members or read our publications as you will find that we not only abhor but actively stand against violence of any kind and it is strictly prohibited in the Family!
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Dear Readers,

My name is Michelle Lavigne, and I am 19 years old. I was born and raised in the Family International. It is my joy and privilege to still be living and working in it today! To make myself more real to you who do not know me. I worked as teacher, as well as a missionary in Africa. I also helped to teach my younger brothers and sisters in the States. I have lived in four different countries, (Canada, USA, Mexico, and Africa) as most children in the Family have had the joy of traveling and experiencing different cultures. And I am presently working as a secretary in the United States of America.

As all members of the Family, my main job is witness to everyone I can, and help all those in need (spiritual or physical), no matter color, race or wealth.
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Name: Simon Peter Maghanoy Wilson
Age: 22

I was born in Naga City on the Philippine Islands. I’m the 3rd of 5 kids, 4 boys & 1 girl. (We were all born in the Philippines.) My mom is from the Manila area while my dad is from Texas. I have good memories of growing up as a kid, we were always traveling, in fact all us kids were born in a different city in the Philippines. My only regret as a young child is not speaking Tagalog, but in the near future I plan to fix that. At the age of 5 we moved to Japan due to persecution where we lived in Hiroshima mostly.

I have some fond memories of Japan, I saw my first snow there, I remember playing in the big castles & parks all over Japan & visiting some of the beautiful temples & gardens kept by the Shinto priests. Japan was where I first really learned to witness I learned a little Japanese & was on the streets with my dad & brothers passing out posters & winning souls. When I was 6 we moved back to the Philippines for several months before moving to the states. We spent the first few years in Texas where we lived in McKinney, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, & El Paso.
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Age: 19
Location: Tijuana, Mexico

To all those reading this,

What happened here was a tragedy, a horrific, senseless taking of life that cannot be justified. I am deeply saddened. If a life wasn’t yours to give, it certainly isn’t yours to take. I didn’t know either of the people involved but I did know of them and honestly I can’t believe how someone like Ricky having grown up with the knowledge of the Bible, which is the Word of God, and its specific do’s and don’ts could do something like this. It’s really tragic and my heart goes out especially to the family and friends of Angela and I offer my deepest sympathies to them and share in their grief and sorrow. From every single testimony I’ve heard and read, I know that Angela was a great person, and her life certainly should not have ended in such a tragic death. I’ve not been brainwashed into believing this; I am perfectly sane and can make up my own mind in believing what I feel is truly right and factual.
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I woke up on Monday Jan 10th like most every other morning wondering, “Is it really 7:00 am already?!” Like usual, it took a while for my wife to convince me that I had indeed gotten a full night’s sleep and that it was now time to get up for another day.

I got up knowing full well that there were people that opposed me and people whom I opposed! The people who I opposed were the likes of Dell tech support who were giving me a hard time about fixing my recently broken PDA and other such evil-doers. My reaction to them would be to call and spend another hour on hold and then hope that I could understand the man on the other end with his thick Indian accent, after which I would summon enough courage to really “let them have it” and tell him what I thought about corporate America and their lack of care for the lowly consumer, which in reality would mean that I would beg and plead with them to “entertain” (what they actually told me with a strong Indian accent) my business even though to them I was the scum of the earth for buying my Dell system on e-Bay instead of the almighty Dell web-site.
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My name is Andrew Peloquin. I am 17 and was born and raised in The Family. I live in Mexico and was raised in Japan. The Family is a very safe environment for children (having been one not long ago) and teenagers to grow up in. I haven’t heard of any Family teens committing suicide, killing each other, shooting their classmates, and many other horrible actions that have happened in schools and other institutions.

When I hear the allegations against The Family, it makes me sick. There are some people who have deceived themselves into thinking that the time they spent in The Family was abusive, demoralizing, and any other bullshit terms they can come up with. I personally am very thankful that I was raised in The Family. I have seen life outside The Family and know, no matter how many dishes you have to wash (being an expert myself), floors to sweep, and any other jobs that you would have to do in a number of different employments, life could never be as bad as people who have way too much time on their hands, make it out to be.
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It’s funny when you look at this site and at the ex-members site and notice how different they are. Here you see obviously well educated, normal young people with a zest for their missionary life who’s postings aren’t filled with contempt and bitterness. Then on the other hand you see the ex-members’ site which is just overgrown with meaningless hatred and immature swearing (and I have a question, why is it called “Moving On” if they’re doing anything but that?).

I hate to say this for fear of it sounding like a cliché, but it’s honestly what I feel. I’ve grown up in the Family International all my life, and while I’ve had my ups and downs while in it, I know for a fact that it is the best place for me and countless others, and that there is no more secure environment for children than the one I’ve known my whole life. Why would someone want to take that away from me, or any of us for that matter? We’re happy here can you understand that?
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By Justin Paone

Why do you do this? What sort of mental victory do you seek in stabbing your friends in the back? This wide net that you spread is aimed at your own family, friends and loved ones. What sort of victory is in this? The Family of today is comprised of a large percentage of second generation young people, the very young people that you grew up with, laughed with, played together with. How does a mind turn in the absence of old friends and love ones from love to hate? I, myself, and I know I speak for many others, do not hate you. When we think of you who have gone on to pursue other ways of life, we like to remember your good traits and qualities and the happy times that were spent in your company.

I am not a brainwashed cult member because I choose to live in the Family. My decision to live this sort of life style came as the result of taking all the options into consideration that I wished to pursue. Dictionary.com defines brainwash as:

“subjected to intensive forced indoctrination resulting in the rejection of old beliefs and acceptance of new ones.”
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