By Benjamin Van Nynatten –Rio, Brazil

This will be brief, I promise. I wouldn’t subject anyone to my writing if there was any other way around it, but extreme circumstances require extreme measures so please bear with me, just a little, while I attempt to express my thoughts on this issue.

I will not try to impress you with my style or choice of words, as that would just not be possible even if I sat here all night. Actually, the reason I am writing this is because after reading over the many postings on this site, I can’t wait to get my name on the list as well. If someone is throwing mud at you, well, I want some thrown at me too! If we’re being slandered and lied about, they can’t forget me! And I heard something about a tidal wave that’s coming for us, well hey, I brought my swim trunks just in case. Whatever it is, I’m having a part in it! I’m here to stand by each of you to the end, I’m proud to be counted in the company of the elite.

My name is Benjamin Van Nynatten, and I am 29 years old. I guess this means I was raised at about exactly the same time and, I suppose, in similar surroundings and the environment some claim was abusive and detrimental. It’s been said a thousand times and I want it on my record that personally I was never abused or mistreated in any way during all my years in the Family– my whole life, really. Not only that, but I can say with conviction that I never saw anyone else suffer any sort of maltreatment in all the communities I’ve lived in. (more…)

From Maria Rosa

Just wanted to add my two cents here, I believe most topics have been covered, but I also want to add my support to the Family International. I am currently not in the Family, but I did grow up in it and I remember my time in the Family as being a time where I felt a lot of purpose in my life, I lived in Family homes where I always felt safe, very safe. and loved and cared for. I was never lonely as there was always plenty of people around to talk to. This was very enjoyable and something I miss.

We lived well and always had our needs met, not luxuriously, but considering that we were living in a third world country, with poverty all around us, I always considered myself very lucky! And was extremely grateful for the many blessings that God saw fit to shower us with, and from a very early age I saw the fruit of the verse, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things shall be added unto you.” I feel that I had a wonderful heritage of faith instilled in me, and one that I cherish to this day, as it has brought me through many difficult times.I can’t imagine being raised any other way, and consider myself extremely lucky. (more…)

Email received at Family email box:

I am sorry for your loss. I heard about you through the news. I don’t believe some of the things that the news said about your group. I just hope that this bit of bad P.R. does not hurt the good things that you all do around the world. I will hope to hear a reply from your group, because I would like to know more about the group.

I am sorry for your loss,
JC

Email received at Family email box:

Hi there and Praise God for your ministry. My name is RJS and I have been a Christian since ‘89. I saw the story on TV last night about the suicidal member and thought how sad. In no way did I feel like it was the ministry’s fault or anyone else’s. When we do not walk with Christ it is easy for Satan to seep in and distort things. But this is how I heard about the Family and now I am interested in learning more about your Ministry. I am 41 years old and am a motivational speaker. I also wrote a book. I would like to know if you have an outreach in my state and how can I get involved in learning more.

Thank you for sharing the Gospel with so many and I will lift your ministry up in prayer. Have a great day.

RJS

Email received at Family email box:

Just watched the Ricky spot on ABC. Believed him after watching the sound bites. But after watching the whole episode, something struck me as strange. Can’t put my finger on it, something just wasn’t right with that kid. More than met the eye. I work in a rescue mission. My life was saved by Jesus Christ through a rescue mission ministry similar to the one where I now work. I long only to serve God by reaching those who at the very end of the line. I know what it feels like to be at the very edge of the abyss, then have God pull me out. Somehow I feel that I can make a difference, despite what I think of myself. He is so wonderful-just wanted to share what my heart feels about Him-and to say that I don’t believe the lies.

Thanks. Because of Calvary,
TJ

My name is Marie and I’m 19 years old. I can’t imagine my life without the Family. I most likely would have ended up cooking in some hot kitchen or waiting tables while desperately trying to find some place safe enough to keep the baby my boyfriend left me with. If this sounds like any one you know I’m sorry. Maybe they should think about joining the Family. I’m not kidding; we can help you in any area of your life. All we ask is that you live for others and share all that you have like they did (the disciples of old).

Life is a beautiful thing, only in the Family have I been given the opportunity to live it to its full. Here I have every window open to me and the freedom to live my dreams.

I’ve lived, I’ve loved, I’m never afraid of the future, and why should I be? I’ve been raised to believe that only God holds the future, and as our Father he wants what’s best for us and will never leave us comfortless. I know Jesus had a plan for our dear loved one’s death and I know she is happier now. Where in your system can you find this complete and totally satisfaction, this freedom from fear. Nothing can take away the joy I have and I thank my parents for showing me the way.
Have you nothing better to do with your time then to bash at those who have found happiness? I would never turn away from the calling the Lord has given me; I would never forsake my crown. Only heaven will tell who is free in the end, but I chose to live my heaven on earth. (more…)

I have recently heard some lies about MY life, & MY upbringing, by people who never met me, never talked to me, & weren’t there as I was growing up. Yet they feel it is their “duty” to inform the world about the “horrible, detrimental, abusive environment” that I grew up in, & to try to “rescue” me from the evil clutches of this dreadful group, called The Family International (aka: the Children of God). You have heard their voices, though they are few, but very vocal… now let mine be heard, along with hundreds of other young people who share my beliefs, opinions, & have had the same upbringing as mine!

My name is Marie Martel Dias.

I was born & raised in The Family, & have lived on 3 different continents, most of that time being in Brazil. I am 24 years old, the oldest of a family of 6. I have nothing but good memories of my childhood & upbringing. I think I have the best parents in the world, who loved me, & still do, & did their very best to ensure I had everything I needed, & was well cared for! Sure, they weren’t perfect, & my life wasn’t perfect either… but then, whose is? I think I had it a lot better than most people who have had a “normal” upbringing. (more…)

I’m a Family-born 29 yr. old, third oldest of a family of nine children and now husband to a precious wife and father of two kids, ages two and four. I’m so thankful that I can raise my family in The Family. I’m so thankful that my parents made the decision to live out their faith in The Family. It isn’t easy to raise kids, (much less nine of them!) and I know that one factor that helped my parents raise us to be happy, adjusted children, was because of the privileged environment that exists in The Family, where we can raise our kids in a healthy, safe atmosphere amid all the negative attitudes and detrimental input via the media and questionable Hollywood role models that parents the world over have to fight against if they want their kids to have values that reflect their chosen faith.

I’ve chosen my faith and I want to past it on to my kids; the third generation of Family members, because I’m very pleased with my parents’ attitudes and behavior, they are pleased with mine and I consider that an important part of the heritage that I want to give my own children. My wife just recently met and joined The Family, and she is also very pleased with the Family ambience where we can put our Christian beliefs into practice. It’s not news to anyone that society at large and any of its institutions offer from little to zero support when you try to live by the standards of your religious beliefs.– And anyone who’s a parent knows that support is imperative when it comes to the trying task of raising a family. I believe in the Family and that it is the best place I could choose to raise my kids. (more…)

Emerset, age 16, Male, Brazil

What I have to say about all of this, is this.

I will still hang on. I will still trust in Maria David. I will still trust in prophecy. I will still live this life with all of my heart. I will still keep on. none of these things move me, & neither do I hold my life dear unto myself. And this is what I will do. I will do this with all of my heart, and happily.

I wrote this out of my own accord, because this is what I FIRMLY believe on. there is nothing anyone could do to change that. these are my convictions, and I am writing what I want.

My older brother left the Family, & he’s a great guy, nice friendly and everything. I’m going to visit him soon. Yet I know that’s not my life. I choose this one. Im glad he respects my decision; and I respect his.

Thank you, former members, everyone, for you who went on with life. who didn’t let life pass you by. You’re worthy of respect, for not backbiting, back-stabbing, & swearing.

As for me, I will fight on. And on, and on.

Emerset Farquharson is a second-generation member of The Family International

My name is Santiago de la Torre, 18, Spanish national, Presently FM.

It wasn’t but yesterday night that I decided to raise my voice and speak out for what I believe is right, after reading the comments that some of my friends posted on this web page.

Now, you might be thinking, what does this guy have to say about the Family, he isn’t even a full time missionary, nor has he been living all his life in a home of The Family; but that same thing is what makes me write this article, because I’ve been living a system life in the world till last year, and I’ve gotten to experience a few times how the life in a home is. I know both sides of the coin, and right now even with all the fuss that the media is making around the topic of Ricky and Angela’s death, and the apostates about The Family being an abusive environment, if I had to choose between both lifestiles, I’ll choose the Family.

Our apostates say that the Family is not a good place to be raised in, but I tell you, I wish I had been born inside a Family home, for the only thing that I have received from the system is rejection. I was psychologically abused at school by my classroom mates since I was 7, till the age of 10; there even came a time when I came back home crying everyday because of the insults and humiliation I received from other kids, and I definitely was scared of going another day back to school to face the same treatment over and over again. I would be still traumatized right now if it wasn’t for the love of Jesus in my life. And I was definitely not bullied because I was weird or anything, just because of the simple fact that I wasn’t as evil-minded as them, and they saw me as an easy prey, besides the fact that I was good at school, and you know that “that kind”, are normally those who are bullied. Just recently a kid in Spain commited suicide because of that… and we are not starting a whole campaign to prevent kids from going through the same thing that I went through. (more…)

From João Paulo de Mello Connolly

I am only sixteen years old. I have no outstanding list of vocations and skills to boast. I mow the lawn, wash dishes and scrub toilets. I am still quite inexperienced, busy learning, wondering and growing. I guess everything seems so huge when you’re growing, so long, frustrating, and yet, ironically, so small, so short. You want to be understood and heard, accepted for what you are.

I am only growing up. There are no great answers I can give. No dissertations I would write. The Family International has given me something more priceless than any high education or career: love. I’m proud to see my older friends and peers standing for what they believe. They have learned to fight and sacrifice, and I can only admire them for what they’ve already given. “We cannot all be great,” it was once said, “but we can attach ourselves to a great cause.”

Jenny Fisher 22 years old presently missionary with the Family International in Mexico

Hi, I’m 22 years old and have been in the Family International all my life and I’m proud of it. I love the Family and all that it stands for. I’m super happy to be privileged to have been born into it, because when I see life outside of the Family nothing interests me and it all just seems boring and monotonous to be living life day in and day out doing the same thing. Being like everyone else and just copying everyone else because it’s the “in” thing to do at that moment. Also life outside the Family is so selfish as everyone is just looking out for themselves and has to have their own personal everything.

Life in the Family rocks because we have originality and we have a purpose for living and the best goal in the entire world to bring others to know the Lord. We have a spiritual depth that wherever we go in the world we can connect on with other Family members who are like minded. It’s not boring frivolous shallow conversations that we partake of, but we actually talk about things that dig deeper into the soul and speak from the heart. The Family International has a loving caring environment.

I have never been abused in my whole life in growing up in the Family neither have I seen others being abused. My parents took very good care of us kids and I’d say I have the best parents ever. I come from a large family, 12 children, and I’m thankful that my parents had the faith to have us all as I can’t imagine life without one of my brothers and sisters. What I fail to understand is why some people who have left the Family just can’t understand that I have chosen of my own free will to be here and I’m not dumb, naïve, or brainwashed. I’ve seen what the world has to offer and “No thanks”. (more…)

Francis Salva
Age 18
Second generation Family member

It saddens me that folks that where once our friends and part of our Fellowship have taken on such negative views and become so bitter and hateful towards us. I just don’t know what to think about the ones that have taken it upon themselves to attack us through their accusations and in some cases lies which seem to always be aimed at first generation Family members. I am angry that they have the nerve to even suggest that my Dad and Mom are child abusers. Listen, every one that has met or knows my Parents are impressed by their missionary work and have to admit that they are good Christians that have a strong and very real love for God. Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments,” Jn. 14:15. Those of the first generation in The Family have done the will of God and His work at great personal sacrifice. If you think of that it is easy to see that they must truly love the Lord and be his Children. That’s what being a Christian is all about, Loving God; not just with your words but by deeds of love, by doing the job He has given you to do, and loving our fellow men as ourselves. That, I believe, is the passion or every Family member, first and second generation alike.

I have two older brothers who after doing missionary work in Brazil for two year decided that they wanted to pursue something different with their lives. I would just like to say that even after being away for three years they still love The Family International. They still often talk about the fun things they did and the missionary work they where a part of while in The Family. They actually brag about it to their friends, “Oh yea, I lived in Brazil for two year I was involved in volunteer missionary work.” I am glad (but not surprised) that the majority by far of folks who where in The Family International but for different reasons decided to leave have very positive things to say and good memories of their time as a member of The Family. That should make anyone think twice before believing the accusations and stories from our apostates and the muck that they are feeding the media. Jesus said, “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit:", Mat. 7:18. I challenge any one to visit our communities and see the work we do and the way we live with an open mind and heart and decide for themselves.

By Samuel David Smith, 25; Spanish nationality, fulltime missionary with the Family International in S. Africa

To whom it may concern:

I remember I had a nice life.

Moving around with my parents as a child, being missionaries in the Family. It was fun. I was a bright child, alert and aware of my surroundings. Having being born and raised till an early age of 4 in the WS Family, I was taught to read when I was two years of age. By the time I was 3, I knew 200 verses from the Bible. Now, when I go to get my dental checkups, I can smile at the doctor who tells me I had some very considerate parents that took such good care of me and didn’t give me junk food or sweets that would rot my teeth. Indeed I was blessed. When I was older and moved out of WS, I went around singing to make people happy, songs about Jesus and how much he loved them. I remember they’d cry and ask for more. Then we’d sing them more songs and they’d smile. It felt so nice to make people happy.

Then it happened. We found out that we couldn’t be missionaries any more. We didn’t get told why, just that we were not going to be missionaries anymore. I couldn’t believe it. My mom couldn’t believe it. My dad couldn’t believe it. They couldn’t understand it. We went to visit my grandparents and didn’t unpack our suitcases in one whole year, waiting for a letter, telling us we could be in the Family again. That happened when I was 11 years old.

Time went by. I stopped being home schooled. I went to a public school where the teachers didn’t know what to do with me because I was too young to be in the equivalent grade for my education, and just dropped me into grade 6, instead of 8. The home schooling that my mom gave me in the Family was excellent. More time went by. I eventually grew into a young adult, and continued with my life. I was 21. I had two professions: I was a cook, and I was finishing my degree in Industrial electronics. I was happy. I had friends, I had a car, and I was a famous dancer. (more…)

By Julia Kelly (age 17)

What I have to say is not concerning Ricky or Angela. I wrote another article on this site, it still stands as my views on the subject, and I continue to support their families and loved ones in prayer.

I have had an epiphany. I’ve had epiphanies before on a variety of subjects ranging from “What is cool?” to “Does it matter what is cool?” and have, in the past, felt the need to share them with the world. I feel that need now. I figured newspapers wouldn’t be interested and I have no web log of my own to share these things with, but I have this awesome website. So here goes.

I’ve had a rough week. It started off good: I come home from vacation and find a spiffy new website where Family/former Family young people can post their views. That was cool. An article of mine gets posted on this site. That was cool too. I start reading all the entries, they’re all very cool.

Then I start musing the whole incident over in my mind; over and over and over again. I hear what the media is saying, I don’t like it. I hear what some former Family members are saying to the media about the Family, I don’t like that either.

I read some comments from former members that I don’t agree with. I start thinking about these comments a lot. I feel they are wrong, so wrong. I start to get angry at these people. I start to spend a lot of time trying to think of ways to disprove them and humiliate them and expose them. I start to get really worked up.

I start to attack them, sometimes in my mind, sometime verbally. I attack their arguments, their logic, their reasoning. I start to attack their lifestyle and their choices. I start taking personal offense to everything they’re saying, regardless of what it is. I lose sleep over all of this.

I start to get exhausted, I can’t think of much else. My mind is racing with rebuttals, snide remarks, cutting innuendos, and all kinds of things I could say to these people. I start to think they are very evil; I start to think all former members are very evil because of how I feel about a few individuals. I stop doing the normal things I like to do and instead spend the time reading over, musing over, and trying to rebut a few comments I don’t like. I find myself thinking bad things about these people. I find myself becoming bitter. I find myself thinking I have every right to become so. (more…)

By David, 25, England.

It’s hard to find the words to write in a moment such as the one we are living together now. In a time when our emotions, lives, and values seem to have been attacked and soiled, not by Ricky, but by those who are trying to use the tragedy surrounding his end to accomplish their purpose, I was thinking to myself today, “what exactly are they after?” “they do not seem to be satisfied by apology over the hurt (if any) caused, etc…, and why do they not want in any way, shape or form to discuss things, but rather seem set on causing as much pain, suffering, abuse, (yes, that word) to anyone who seems to have found happiness in something that they could not find?” As a Christian, many verses come to mind, and many an example of things that I’m sure others have already formulated in better ways than I could. In a way, I feel anger towards these who could cause so much pain to so many innocent lives, but then almost instantly, it is replaced by sadness. I pray that somehow, all will come to terms with God and themselves, and hence, end this unnecessary agony, both in their lives and ours.

Though I was born in the Family, I spent many a year as a TSer, and lived alone with my mother, brother and sister. We were home schooled, and, to be honest, lonely. I missed the other children I used to live with. I missed doing school with them, I missed the baseball games, I missed exploring the forest, I missed always having “auntie so-and-so” or “uncle so-and-so” there in case I hurt myself, always including me in everything they did. I missed the trips into the Alps (I lived in France), the “uncle” who taught us how to fill our Bibles with cross references, and I missed going out with my friends for cake on my birthday. Living alone in a flat, I would often think back and wonder why we were no longer with those that I to this day consider my brothers and sisters. (more…)