Second-generation member of The Family International

I am writing this statement in defense of my personal beliefs which I feel has been attacked far too many times in recent years and as such I would like to set the record straight.

My name is Nicholas D. Zalevich; I am Canadian and 20 years old. I have lived for all of my life inside the religious group known as “The Family International” and have lived in more then 10 countries around the globe. I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters, some of which remain as me inside this group, while others have chosen to make a life for themselves elsewhere. I have been appalled to hear of some of the stories and accusations that some disgruntled ex-members of our group have been leveling against our group. The list of the accusations go on and on but I find the most interesting one, and when I say interesting I mean the most absurd, is that young people in our group have no free choice, and are manipulated by the older “leaders” of our group. I would find this a funny accusation if it were not such a sad pathetic one.

First off in all my years in this group I have never once felt that I did not have free will to choose what I wanted to do. I retain my God given free choice just like every other young person in The Family, and what I do I do because of love for my God and for my fellow man. To give an example of this, I have three older brothers, who as I mentioned above have chosen to lead their lives outside our group. They chose this and no one ever held them back. Of course my parents, like any other parents in the world, would have preferred that they remain in the group and become full time missionaries, following in their footsteps and expressed this to my brothers before they left, but they had their hearts elsewhere. I am happy for them for they, instead of becoming pathetic losers sitting on their backsides all day, doing nothing much then talking bad about “The Family’ and all the bad that happened to them while in the group ( Bad things did happen to them, but such is life, and the they understand that it was individuals that caused their pain, not the group or its leaders) and getting involved with spirit-crushing and mind-numbing “Anti-cult” groups or disgruntled ex-members who can find nothing better to do with their lives then attack other peoples choices and beliefs (Just because they themselves were hurt and cannot get over this and get a real life) My brothers chose the other path, one of understanding and have made for themselves successful lives through hard work and dedication. (Values they learnt in this group) They are well adapted happy successful citizens of Canada. I respect their decision and they respect mine to stay in the group. Many of their friends though that left the group chose the other path when they left the group, one of bitterness and I must say they have only not had such an easy time, but rather have gotten into crime, drugs, and depression. I am sad for them, as many of them were my friends as well, and I wish that they will one day let go of this hate that eats them from within, until they cannot tell truth form lies and go on with their lives and find a happy place for themselves in mainstream society. As for me, I have made my choice long ago, for I have seen both worlds, so to speak, as my family was out of the inside circle of our group for some time, and I was able to partake of all of the so called “freedoms’ that our accusers say we do not have, behind the backs of my parents who tried to maintain a good Christian standard during this time. I smoked, took marijuana, listened to any type of music and watched any movies or TV that I pleased, gotten into fights, read all shorts of “mind opening” books on modern science, philosophy, you name it! But I would never trade the life I now lead, one of true FREEDOM and happiness, for all that so called,” freedom”, that I experienced away from my the loving care of my parents and group, NEVER! I have tried both paths, but I have chosen to give my life for others, this is my choice, my desire, and no one will ever be able to tell me that I have been manipulated into making this choice, I give my life freely! I do not do it because of my parents, peers or anyone else save he who means more to me then anyone ever will, and that is my savior and King, Jesus Christ. He is the reason I live today, and for the love of him that I give myself in service to my fellowman. And I have found the family the best place to serve him, and even if they have made mistakes in the past, who cares? I sure don’t, for every church and religious organization makes mistakes and if someone can show me one that is perfect then I will join that group in a split-second, but I know for a fact that for me, this is my place, this is my life, and to you that attack it, beware that you don’t find yourselves fighting God himself, for as a wise rabbi once said “Refrain from these men and leave then alone, for if this counsel or this work be of man, it will come to naught: but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against GOD!.” (Acts 5:38-39) I pray for you and hope you one day find the peace you are looking for but you will never find it by attacking other people’s rights and free choice, believe me on that.

This is my statement, my life, one that I will defend till my dying breath. I am not ashamed in anyway of the life I lead. And if you attack my beliefs or try to persuade me to leave my group in any way prepare yourself for one heck of a fight, as I don’t take kindly to that sort of psychological abuse!

Sincerely yours
Nicholas D. Zalevich

A Missionary’s cry

This is the cry of a Missionary’s heart,
A broken mangled heart, broken apart,
Wounded not by evil foe,
But rather the cruel words his former comrades do sow,
He is a loyal faithful one,
A soldier of mercy who does his best to get the job done,
Although not a perfect guy is he,
It’s his heart that his Commander sees,
He loves his Lord and King,
In His service, joy doth it bring
To every part of his soul,
But now in that soul is a gaping hole
Caused by his own fellow man,
Cut deeply is he,
Torn he is, it is not hard to see,
Many of his friends have been dealt a fatal blow
By this invisible foe
Will he go on? He does not think so……..

His Lord has faith in him and will see him through,
And his fellow missionaries believe in him too,
But it is so hard to fight when he is getting attacked from a foe out of sight,
It’s so hard to know what is right,
For who can fight a slanderer’s tongue?
Who can stand against words by which heroes were hung?
No mortal man can make that stand,
But with his Lords help maybe this one can,

But WHY? Why do his former brothers treat him so?
Is it because he is different that they make him sigh?
Or because the don’t understand him, or his choice, and so cause his heart’s tears to flow?
No one really knows….

They may think they have the inside story,
But one day they will be sorry,
For they will wallow in grief,
For their evil tongues that could have brought support and relief
To this poor one,

But no, it is too late. The damage has been done,
His heart’s dreams have been shattered,
And what of the supposed “FACTS”, you think they really mattered?
But it was the truth, they say,
And we heard it from a reliable source by the way!
It does not matter, who is to judge?
And if their truth is all dirty smudge,
Is not eternal shame a price too high to pay?

All because he, like us, chooses to give his life for something else,
They crucify him and his peace army as well,
Just so they can justify the fact that they have chosen hell,
Anger, hatred, and strife,
As their preferred way of life!

So hearken to this missionary’s cry,
Do not let him be the next to die,
But rather set him free,
Lift the chains of slander and let him fly,
Remove the labels that have been placed on him
Do not be found guilty of a far greater sin,
Let not his blood be upon your hands
For we soldiers of the cross do in full unity take a stand,
We will go forward to conquer new hearts and lands,
With the Love of Christ as our only arm,
What is the use in trying to do us harm?

Let us live and let us be free,
Regardless of what our beliefs may be,
Learn to love without a reason as you so easily hate,
Get a life of your own, go through your own gate,
As for our missionary friend, he has chosen his way,
He will go with us, to help the lost and dying of this world, no matter what you say,
And to him this is all that counts,

His love for his Lord is to what his wiliness to face all odds amounts
He will never give up the fight,
He will battle evil through the darkest night,
For the Lord Jesus Christ’s glory he shall reach new heights!