In Response to the CNN Larry King Live Show
From Claire Borowik for the Family International – July 30, 2008 (updated August 1st)

Contact: Claire Borowik, Public Affairs Desk for the Family International, (202) 298–0838, or publicaffairs@thefamily.org

It’s a sad day for serious journalism when a program with the standing of Larry King Live produces a sensationalistic segment focused on the claims of a handful of apostates of the Family International and anti-religious lobbyists. Over its 40-year history, over 35,000 people have been members of our fellowship. The detractors featured on this program are not representative of the thousands of former members who have at one time served as missionaries with our movement. (more…)

From Charles Borjas
As a former member of The Family International, I am writing this in response to the Montel Williams Show which was recently aired on TV in the U.S.
I joined The Family International when it was The Children of God in 1970. I was brought up as a Catholic and already had a love of God and His Holy Word, and a desire to serve Him as a missionary someday, from the time I was 13 years old. (more…)

By Dan, 25
February 13, 2007

A friend recently pointed me to the transcript of a TV talk show on The Family. They thought I’d be interested to see the comments made by Davida about her life and childhood in WS–probably because I shared the same lifestyle to a certain extent. My parents were WS workers when I was born, and I’ve grown up in WS, received my education in WS, and eventually found my vocation in WS where I continue to work as a project manager with our internet/software department. I also met my wife in WS, and we’re raising our two children here. It’s safe to say that I’ve lived a pretty WS-centric life. (more…)

From Perla Wells to Houston Press:

Shame on you, part two: When I read this last article about “Family Ties,” I felt angry and voiceless. I’m a second-generation Family member, and I work as a volunteer missionary in Eastern Europe and teach courses about the Bible and active Christianity for no reason other than “The love of Christ constrains me.” And I am personally very proud of my profession as a full-time volunteer missionary for Jesus in the Family. I gave up a lot to do it, and it’s probably the best choice I ever made. (more…)

My name is Deborah Forsberg. I’m 28 & have been raised in the Family International. I don’t feel that I have in any way been sheltered or abused by the Family. I had a very good childhood, one that I know many of my counterparts that didn’t grow up in the Family envy. I got to travel the world, had lots of friends & so many fun & exciting experiences, awesome caring parents who did everything within their power to meet my needs & those of my siblings (& they weren’t in a position of authority). I got good training in every aspect of life from cooking to teaching & childcare to scholastics, Bible & Word studies to witnessing & telling others of the Lord’s love, I experienced bringing relief to those in need by distributing humanitarian aid in poor countries & much more. My parents & the Family taught & encouraged me to be responsible, to love the Lord & my neighbor as myself, which are the key ingredients to a happy & successful life. (more…)

I’m writing in regards to the Dr. Phil show about The Family. I am a full-time member of the Family Int. I’m 24, have a wife and two kids and live in Romania. We are busy doing our part to help others and make each day count. It hurts terribly when I think of any child who has suffered abuse, I look at my own kids and I know I would protect them with my very life. Abuse is a horrible fact of life in the world we live in, regardless of being in or out of the Family.
(more…)

Hearing and reading about such slanderous outright lies is hard for me as a 24-year-old fulltime member of The Family International. I still can’t believe that people would stoop to such low measures and means to demonize and bring others against a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping others and bringing the true Gospel to many who otherwise perhaps wouldn’t have the chance to learn about Jesus’ love. (more…)

Dear China Lamattery,

I had a hard time believing it was you when I heard the accusations made against us on the Dr. Phil show last Monday by members of your husband and his family. I didn’t know them as well, but I know you. I grew up with you and I am still in the Family International. The reason I am still here is because I never saw any case of abuse in the Family except once, a man in our school had accosted you and the news shocked everyone. This man was immediately excommunicated and we felt stunned. This was and still is the only case that I in my 26 years in the Family have ever been close to. (more…)

I cannot believe that you would have the guts to air a show like that! I know that you do not wish to hear the truth, as it has already been offered to you, but I will give it to you anyway. I don’t care whether you listen or not. I am content with sharing my personal experiences, and will leave the accountability of your actions in your hands, where it will remain. (more…)

Let me start this by saying that I am not a member of The Family. I was born and raised in TF. My wife and I moved out of Family homes in 1999 and gradually dropped contact (besides a couple friends) and even partial membership.

People criticize members of the Family for standing up for themselves. They pay little attention to their arguments because they are members of “the cult”. It seems to me that once someone is branded with the title cultist they are not accorded the normal rights (including the right to stand up for themselves) that other people are. (more…)

If John & China knew the Family was such an abusive cult then why would they place their son under the care of one of the Family homes several years ago? If I am not mistaken it was for a duration of 3 to 4 weeks, correct me if I’m wrong. (more…)

From Phil, China’s older brother.

Personally, I don’t want to get into a tit for tat argument over what has been said. I don’t want to get into detail the accounts that took place in my life when my parents decided to place me and later my brother in public elementary school. I do not need to harp on the fact that my daughter is loved and cared for, and is in a perfectly safe environment. I also know and still know how much my sister, China, loves my daughter—and how much it would pain her to see my daughter get hurt or even taken away from us, she has told me this so many times. I also don’t want to get into the fact that China told our uncle that she did not believe it was premeditated suicide that took my brother’s life. We all know how much Abe loved us, and how he would never do anything to hurt us or our parents. How many times Mom had helped China through her difficult times of her marriage is uncountable. My mom’s never ending patience and love is what has helped their marriage come this far. (more…)

Dear Dr. Phil,

I just would like to respond to your show that was recently aired “The Family Cult”, and let you know how extremely disappointed I was to know that you would air such things without researching or looking at the other side of the story.

My name is Abi Orcutt and I also grew up in The Family, or the Children of God, or as you put it “The Family Cult.” I was born in 1980 and have lived in a lot of different countries and have been in many of our “communities” around the world, so I can say I’ve seen a fair bit of what happened back then. (I want to add here that I have never seen anyone abused, raped, or mistreated in the Family). I know that everyone is entitled to their side of the story and so I wanted to include mine as when reading what you have posted on your site made me question just how much of your “inside scoop” you really did get. (more…)

I was a difficult child. I caused a lot of heart ache to my mom and those who cared for me. But it was their love and patience that won me, not beatings. If I had grown up anywhere else but The Family I would probable have be sent to a detention center.

What is abuse? Teaching a child right from wrong? No, I was not beaten or abused! I was encouraged to find my path in life in spite of being difficult. When others would have given up on me, my parents and caretakers gave me love and consistency, that’s why I am who I am today, a dedicated missionary who lives to help others. (more…)

My name is Nina Moore. I am a 30 year old mother of three children. I grew up in the Family and am still a member.

I am writing in response to the accusations against us from former members on the Dr. Phil show. (more…)

My name is Connie Braaten and I am a second generation member of the Family International, although judging from your program I am quite sure, that you don’t care who I am or whether I was abused or not. In fact I doubt you care at all what I have to say. It’s not as exciting as me telling you that I was raised in a sex cult and now I’ve escaped. Pause… (Emotional music plays in the background)… Feel the moment. Here we go again. You’ve heard this all before from our side and we’ve heard these same old allegations before, frankly it’s getting a bit tiresome to hear the same old stuff recycled and then being passed off as some new thing. But I guess that’s the way it goes, history repeats itself. (more…)

As a current member of The Family International I just wanted to comment on a few things. I’ve actually have read one of your books once, I believe it’s called “"Self Matters"….Creating your life from the inside out” and rather enjoyed it as I’m someone who believes you are in control of your life and can change it at anytime. Reading your life story of your father expecting you to have a certain career and deciding to instead do what you want was interesting. (more…)

“I cannot even do the subject justice”. As, the saying goes. After seeing what you have aired on your show, I don’t even know where to start. First off, all the allegations, trumped-up, inflated and grossly exaggerated stories, are absurd.

I have a question for China: why did she remain in the group for many years after all the alleged abuse happened? She was a happy, socialized individual when I knew her and worked with her in Jakarta Indonesia (1999). She knew how to rent a car or go out shopping back then, and she probably even had a bank account at that time as well, at least her husband John did. We went to visit them in their home in Bali. They had a very nice place (Sept. 1999). We had a great time snorkeling, sightseeing and going out to clubs. (more…)

In the USA you remain innocent until proven guilty. For being a land of truth and freedom, my personal rights are quickly vanishing, having been stolen from me by media shows like these, spreading untruths about my way of life. If you’re seeking to broadcast truth regarding the group The Family, why don’t you look into all sides, including mine? (more…)

I’m writing in regards to your recent piece on the Family International (formerly the Children of God).

My name is Anaik (Anna) Alcasas, and I was born and raised in the Family International. I’m now happily married and have a one-year-old son. My husband and I, both now thirty years old, are active missionaries with the Family, and we’re confident our son is going to be able to boast of a higher-than-average standard of care and education. The concept of abuse is certainly going to be completely foreign to him, as it was to me. (more…)

To people interested in truth:

I’m Jason, 21 yr old living in the US, and have been a member of the Family International (the full time missionary organization that is being labeled a “cult”) since birth.

Strangely enough (or maybe not so strange), for the 21 years I’ve lived and worked in this organization, I have *never been abused*, nor have I witnessed abuse of any kind. I’ve traveled the world, first with my parents and then as a teenager and young adult on my own, and still have never even met anyone in our organization that has suffered abuse at all, whether mental, psychological, physical, or otherwise. (more…)

I’ve been living in West Africa for the last year. I’ve been back in the US for five days now. Wow! A lot has changed, but I guess some things haven’t, like sensational TV shows. We will always have those because that’s what we want to watch. We want the nitty-gritty, juicy tales of horror and abuse that make our eyes sting and ears cringe. (more…)

Thank you for offering your help and two cents to these obviously distraught former Family members. God knows that they needed it as well as your generous offer of professional help and counseling for them. I hope that they take it and that in some way it will help them to separate truth from fiction in there own minds. (more…)

My name is Julia Kelly, seventeen years old, and I was born and grew up in the Family International. Never once was I ever abused in any way, physically, sexually, emotionally or otherwise. I was home schooled my whole life, and very happy with the results. I feel just as educated, if not more so, than any student fresh out of high school. Home schooling, by the way, is something done by hundreds of thousands of citizens all over the United States and not at all unusual. (more…)

To Dr. Phil and Whom It May Concern:

I am appalled and deeply sadden by your extremely slanted show. I have been in the Family since I was born, that’s 23 years, I was never subjected to the abuse that the LaMattery’s say happened. The notion that it’s going on to this day is completely absurd. I am married and have a daughter who’s two years old and believe me when I say if such abuse was happening I would have left the group long ago. (more…)

I am a current second generation member of the highly publicized group The Family International. I am 27 years old, and mother to a beautiful 2 year-old daughter. I can open a bank account, I can write a check, I know how to use public transportation. I consider myself well adapted to the world around me though I have lived my entire life in this group. I have traveled the world, lived on 3 continents in 8 countries, visiting many more. (more…)

I am Nicholas D. Zaleivch. It has come to my awareness that the Dr. Phil show is to broadcast a show about the religious group “The Family International”, of which I am an active part of, and so very proud of it! To give you so background about myself, I am Canadian, 21 years old, and presently living and working as a fulltime missionary in Brazil with “The Family Int.” (more…)

I’m Lorie Richards, a second generation member of the Family International. I’m writing to comment on today’s Dr. Phil show, which I have not yet seen, but after reading the brief on your web site, I have a few things to say. (more…)

In Response to the program “The Family Cult” aired on October 3, 2005

As a spokesperson for the Family (formerly known as the Children of God), I wish to state for the record that I find your coverage of my church to be extremely biased, malicious and clearly aimed at inciting intolerance and discrimination. It is quite apparent that your agenda was to demonize my church and your program was rife with falsities and inaccuracies. One would think that I had not presented you with facts, all of which you ignored and made absolutely no note of on your program. (more…)

People Magazine
Letter to the editor
Re: Article on the The Family International, July 18th issue, pg. 87

I just finished reading the article on “The Family International” in
your 7/18 issue and I had to laugh. Daniel Roselle says he “only had
a first grade education at age 20″? Seriously. I grew up in The
Family and he was one of my childhood friends between the ages of 10
and 18. He was an extremely bright person. When he “came out” he
“didn’t know how to do long division?” Spare me. I could do that at
age 9 and I had essentially the same upbringing he did.

Look, I respect his choice to pursue a secular career. I get the
point that he doesn’t like his parents and thinks a high-commitment
religious life is not for him. But don’t you think he’s pushing the
envelope a bit to make his story a bit more dramatic? (more…)

Marie Claire - Letters to the Editor printed in July edition, 2005
Letters section (page 14)

FAMILY VALUES

I’m currently working in Japan as a missionary for The Family
International. I was born in the States but grew up in Japan. I was
never stuck at home or abused by my parents or members of the group.
On the contrary, I remember making friends my own age and, although I
was home-schooled in English, I also learnt Japanese and visited
ancient castles, studied the Buddhist religion etc. These wonderful
experiences as a child led to my decision to remain a missionary. Now
I work with young (12 - 17 years) members of our group to give them
that same chance. I’m speaking out on behalf of these teens. They
don’t understand why we are being misrepresented.

Michelle Dykas
Nagano, Japan

Marie Claire - Letters to the Editor printed in July edition, 2005
Letters section (page 14)

FAMILY VALUES

I’m a second generation member of The Family International. My
attention has been drawn to your article about our missionary
movement, in connection with the suicide of Ricky Rodriguez ["Killing
Myself is The Only Way Out Of The Cult", May]. Some of the statements
published there are quite misleading. The presented “fact” that “for
many years cult members had virtually no contact with the outside
world” was surprising to me. I’ve lived in over 15 different
countries, and had substantial contact with the local people and
cultures. Mine has been a beautiful and happy life thus far, not only
free from abuse, but filled with a “world education” that few have
the opportunity to enjoy. I would want nothing better for my own
future children.

Lorie Richards

Re: Article on the The Family International, January 15th

I am writing this letter in response to your article, written on January 15, 2005 [article not named]. I was appalled by your bias and eagerness to print a one sided story, rather than getting a more balanced picture of the situation. This is not journalism; this is sensationalism.

I have known the Family for many years. At one time I worked with them as a full-time missionary in 12 different countries around the world. It was a wonderful experience, one I would not trade for anything. I still support the Family missionaries even though I am no longer a full time missionary. Their sacrificial, selfless endeavors have been a shining example to many in a world that is dying from violence, selfishness, and materialism. (more…)