By Gabriel Morales, 25 years old
Currently in Colombia

Well the thing that would culminate my life, the thing that would crown my existence, would be to die for my faith. I don’t think there is a better way to prove our point, than to let our enemies prove that when you step out of God’s will, which is determined in the Bible and all the word that we have in the Family, then you leave your life open to all the negative forces that exist in this world. I was born in the Family and left for 7 years, trust me, I’ve had both sides and I have tested the way of life and the way of death. I have really clear which side I have chosen. (more…)

(From Vas, 32, second-generation member of the Family International)

Hey Daniel Roselle. Remember me? Vas.

We had a lot of fun together at “Sizzlers” in California, in 93 & 94.

I seem to be remembering a certain song that we recorded together & that you wrote a rap break to. It was just a rough & not an official Family production. And you technically still own the rights to the following lyrics:

Judge Marquevich is gonna get killed
And when he goes to hell he’s gonna get billed
All the wrong he’s done all the bad he’s said
Will not be forgotten when he’s up & dead
God up in heaven is gonna look down below
Saying Marquevich I told you so
When you’re walkin down the street you better watch your back
Cuz I’m the Almighty & I take no flak
You’d better be careful cuz you’re gonna die
Cuz you’re sticking your finger in My eye
You think it’s fun to screw around with God
Well I’m telling you man you’re gonna feel His rod.

(more…)

My name is Priya Desruisseaux I am 16 years old & this is my statement.

I choose of my own free will to be in The Family International.

I choose to follow Jesus & Maria because I believe they have the truth.

I choose to serve the Lord as a full time missionary because that’s what He has called me to do. It’s not easy, nor is it for everyone, but don’t you think that I should be allowed to give my life to help others & obey the Bible without the constant slandering of my faith? (more…)

My name is Jonathan Michael Zalevich, I’m 17 and I’m a family-born Missionary Member of The Family International in Rio, Brazil.

I don’t have a long witty speech, being a man of few words; I’ll try to make this as short as I can.

First of all, I firmly believe in everything the Family International stands for; I am a fulltime disciple on my own accord, as well as writing this on my own accord. Second off, in all my years of life I have never been abused nor had anything that people say has happened to the second-generation of the Family International happen to me. (more…)

I’m not a very eloquent person, and my English is not that good, as Spanish is my first language, but here I am SPEAKING UP for “The Family International” which I’m proud of being part of!

My name is Luz Stella Solano. I’m 22 years old. I was born in Colombia, and raised in The Family International.

I just wanted to let you know that I don’t regret one single thing of my entire life. (more…)

By Rima Parker
Age: 26
Country: Nigeria

I can’t get over the fact that there are people out there who are wasting their lives living in the past and holding on to so many grudges and ‘injustices’. Can they really be happy wallowing in their memories – or selective memories dare I say – of a life which to them is past? Are they not capable of moving on and letting bygones be bygones?

I work as a member of the Family International in Nigeria, West Africa, where we facilitate and manage free health care programs that bring free medical attention and life-altering surgery to thousands of rural dwellers and set up vocational training courses and schools for the handicapped, orphans, the underprivileged and many others. (more…)

Name: Elly Garcia Castillo
Location: Guatemala
age: 22

I have been in the Family for like 1 year and half and I just can say that The Family is the Best place in the World if you really want to serve Jesus. Of course some times is not really easy but all is worth it because Jesus is worth it!! (like Grandpa said).

I have had some problems with my family in the flesh, they don’t want me to serve the Lord here in the Family and every time that I talk to them it’s a battle but I have learn what the Bible said about that and is that whoever that wants to live godly in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. (more…)

Dear Daniel,

Hi, my name is Bonita. I don’t know if you remember me. I was just one of the many who came through your Home hoping to rejoin the Family. I was 12 then. I’m 22 now and here’s a little background.

I grew up more or less FM (TS at the time). In most of my formative years all I knew of the Family was the Word that my Mom read with all of us each morning. (more…)

From Peter Story, 21 years old

My name is Peter Story. I was born in The Family in Thailand, but left with my family when I was four. Needless to say, I don’t have many memories of this time, but the ones I do have are quite good. I remember a nice house with friendly people and lots of fun.

Since I can’t tell you what life was like from memory, I can at least tell you what the fruits of those years were. I know that I was given an incredible education in those first few years in The Family. In fact, I received such a good education, that when I started public school at the age of six, I was way ahead of everyone else in my grade. My teachers were astonished. (more…)

From Dan (23), second generation member of the Family.

Living in WS, and being part of the WEB team, I’ve known about this site since day one, but it’s been what though, two weeks? Two and a half now? and I’ve still not contributed. I’ve been known to write a little every now and then so all my friends have been asking me, “Why haven’t you written anything?” and “When are you going to write something?” It’s not that I haven’t wanted to, I just haven’t felt like I have had enough of a ‘conclusion’ to my thoughts to tell all of you about it. I’ve been thinking about ways to try to pull it all together into some kind of a topic, theme, or central point, but I just haven’t really gotten anywhere.

But, like Archimedes, I too had my Eureka in the bath (well, shower) tonight, and I leaped out naked and wet to write something without form, order, or outline. I’m a Virgo and this isn’t usually my style, but since I just haven’t been able to wrap my thoughts around any sort of binding theme, my great breakthrough was that I can just throw them all up here random-like and see what happens.

Here’s a good starter: I love the Family. (more…)