By Matt, 17
(Second-generation member of the Family International)

I was born in the Family International, and have been a part of it all my life. I am now 17 years old, and while some may say that is not enough time to make a definite decision about my goals in life, I feel that I can definitely say that the Family is where I want to be.

Those who oppose this choice need only think objectively to realize that they have no valid argument. One accusation that seems to be quite popular with our former members and others who seek to bring us down, is that the Family International as a group is responsible for their (the former members) inability to adapt to any other life, this however doesn’t measure up.

Say, for example, there was a family of businessmen, and their child was raised to be aware of and actively involved in business. One day when this child is grown, he decides that he wants to be a normal citizen, get a simple job, and be largely unaware and unconcerned about the higher struggles in the world of business. Unfortunately for him, he has had all these things instilled form birth, and cannot put them in the past. So he comes to the obvious conclusion that his parents, no, all businessmen are to blame for his inability to move on. He decides he must do something to fight this. So he sets about trying to find other like-minded individuals and instill in them the same anger at businessmen in general. Now suppose this story was true, would the public and authorities even give credence to the arguments of these individuals. Probably not – I say probably, as in these days one can’t be sure.

But that is not the point at hand, since the Family International is a missionary movement that is “on the fringes of society”, or might I even go so far as saying, a totally separate society, the public seems to be easily swayed against us, even though most of what we are being accused of has already been proven false.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that the Family International is perfect, or that it is the place for everyone. Every way of life has its benefits and drawbacks, anyone with an open mind should be able to see that, however I feel that the Family International supplies the greatest benefits. I won’t go into all the details here as there already is an abundance of such statements, but I will say that above and beyond what the Family International has to offer in this world, we also have the next to look forward to - Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

It is rightly said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Throughout history it has been proven to be so, and this time will be no exception. Anything that is slung against us, accusations, bad publicity, lies, or worse, will only succeed in springing us to greater heights.

The Family International is not simply an alternative lifestyle made up of missionaries dedicated to spreading the message of Jesus. The Family International is made up of spiritual warriors whose goal is to be the leaders and shining lights of the future. We may not look like the force we are destined to be, but you can be assured that when the time comes, we will be raised to fill the post that we are destined to fulfill. Any attacks against us will only bring about a greater strengthening; they will only cause us to grow stronger in faith and closer to the Lord.

Those who seek to bring us down are our friends, because they are bringing about what we are striving for. I would be happy to put all of these things in the past, with just a simple apology from those who oppose us. My deepest sympathy goes to those who are stuck in the past and cannot move on. My prayers go out to you.

Note: My sincere apologies to anyone that I might have offended in this writing. I just want to clarify that while I am opposed to what is being done against us, I do not hate or even dislike any who are perpetrating these acts, and I have not yet met any Family International members who do.

P.S.
A few nights ago I had trouble sleeping. After lying in bed for several hours, these words started to form in my mind. I have never written poetry before, the few times I tried ended in failure after spending hours trying to get matching rhythm and rhyme. These lines came in a matter of minutes, I only changed three or four words from the original.

Sleepless Thoughts

‘Tis sad that they should find complaint
In what the Master led them through,
And cannot keep in self-restraint
From blaming what they once held true.

How quickly they have come to fear
With bitter feelings of disdain
The wealth that they had once held dear.,
They now regard with so much pain.

I pray that some will turn once more
To take up what they left behind.
But those who stay unchanged and sore
Will face a God who’ll judge mankind.

With burning anger, filled with hate
They seek and yearn to tear us down.
But in ironic twists of fate
Make God bestow on us a crown.