From Claire Martin, 18, Reunion Island
(Second-generation member of the Family International)

This is my conclusion, after hearing of the dreadful murder of Angela Smith by Ricky Rodriguez, and his consequent suicide.
I’m saddened to tears, but more determined than ever to live my life as a professional missionary and revolutionary for Jesus. I realized more than ever now that the ever-elusive “Endtime” which we’ve been preaching for decades is now fully upon us without a shadow of a doubt.

Angela ranks in Heaven’s Endtime Archives as being the very first Family Martyr of the End. She is Up There now enjoying the bigger rewards and pleasures than she’s ever dreamed of! But her death is not what speaks the most to me; what touches me most is how she lived: a selfless, sharing, caring and giving, Christ-centered soul.

But she’s not the only one! I know dozens, scores, hundreds of people, young, old and in-between who are just like her! They too are 100%serious about their lives and they realize that one day, they too may be caught between a wall and a knife, threatened with death for their faith, conviction and dedication to an elite cause. (more…)

Name: Davida Maria Martel Dias.
Age: 20
Location: Gambia-West Africa
(Second-generation member of the Family International)

I’ve come here today to take a stand alongside my fellow brothers and sisters. Reading what each one had to say is very encouraging and uplifting, and I’d like to say “thank you” to all you apostates—yes, thank you! All this stir up that you have caused will only serve to strengthen our cause. It unites us and it forces us to once again take a stand and be strengthened. You know that! I’m sure you remember…or have you also forgotten that, along with how you’ve forgotten what a wonderful place you grew up in, the amazing upbringing you’ve had, and the great, caring people whom surrounded you?

I stopped to think about the accusations you are bringing up against ME. One in particular stood out to me, how you’ve said I’m brainwashed and controlled, that I’m being told what to do and what to say. At first that was an insult and a bit offensive, but then I stopped and thought about it a little more and realized…actually, in a way, yes, I’m being told what to do!! I follow Jesus (Love) and He tells me what to do! I’m His servant, I love Him, I chose to be His follower and to do all He tells me to do…and guess what?? I’m happy with the results! I’m happy with where I’m heading and what I’m doing with my life. Are you? (more…)

By Mariana Buhring, 24, Senegal.
Second-generation Family member.

A friend of mine recently wrote me in “concern” that I am still in the Family International, a Christian missionary group dedicated to serving one sole purpose—that of doing the best we can, in whatever way we can, to show the world a little sample of God’s love. A love that made Him give us His Son, a man called Jesus, who came to Earth 2,000 years ago to live with us and show us that love, a love so pure and so powerful that there were those who could not handle it and tried to get rid of it by brutally torturing, beating and killing the One who was the embodiment of this Love!

As I sit writing this first paragraph, I wonder why I’ve started out by recounting this story, one that we are all familiar with especially more recently. I have wanted to write some flaming rebuttal to all the latest accusations that have once again been flung at our small minority group, (more…)

Nora Mullen, 25, Africa
Second-generation member of the Family International

Words fail me when I try to describe my feelings about this whole tragedy and succeeding barrage of negative slander in the media. All I can say is please listen to those of us who are really here in the Family today and who have our heads screwed on straight—not some foul-mouthed, vindictive and violently-inclined group of bitter people. Is that too much to ask? I know that the media always tends to gleefully gobble up the dirty, dark, and juicy, and smear it in front of our faces, but don’t you ever wonder if there is another side to the story? Let me clue you in a little on my side of the story…

I was privileged to be born into the Family by wonderful parents who have loved, cared for and given me a WONDERFUL 25 years of life! I have lived in 9 countries spanning 5 continents and visited at least that many or more. I speak 3 languages, and feel I have received a well-rounded great education—and what’s better, I’m still learning all the time! I’ve lived in Africa for the past 5 years, including traveling all over the place and heading up daring missions into war-torn countries—and I love it!

I was never abused. I have never, ever seen any one abused in The Family. (more…)

(Admin note: Please be cautioned. Not for young/sensitive readers.)

Name: Nyx Martinez
Location: Africa
Second-generation member of the Family International

I have no need or desire to discuss issues of child abuse within the Family. Too many words are wasted on what the public wants to hear. I come to walls at times trying to publish articles which must be first sliced and diced by the editors, so that their readers will digest it better.

Since you have started reading this page, countless children have been abused. (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…)

From Gabriel Glaser (age 25), South Africa

I’m a second generation member of the Family, and like most people I was shocked and saddened to hear of Angela’s murder and Ricky’s subsequent suicide. Unfortunately I have to say most people, as I’ve seen articles and internet postings that not only condone this vicious murder, but go on to call for more! In my book anyone who can coldly praise a murderer and say that they wish he had managed to kill even more is about as sick as they come, and these are the same people who are now gleefully sending you their malicious slander.

I know their supposedly “true life stories” are shocking, and I realize that this is a juicy story that is just too good to miss, but I want to give you the opportunity to hear the other side as well. (more…)

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 Brian F. Whyte—Uganda! Written, 24th of January, 2005

You’d never believe the shock that overtook me when I read the first notice that we received about the heinous crime that was committed by Ricky Rodriguez & the further calamity of him taking his own life afterwards.

My shock was for several reasons:

1) I had met him personally on one occasion & thought he was a rather nice sort of person. I also have several other friends & acquaintances who knew him well & also testified to the fact that he was a kind, concerned, loving individual, who was very outgoing & friendly–This seemed like the absolute last thing someone like him would do.

And 2) Having grown up in The Family International & knowing our policies against violence of any kind, I wondered what in the world would’ve possessed someone else who was raised on the same loving principals as I was to do something like this. (more…)

By Amber Hawron (age 29), fulltime Family International missionary

What does everyone really want to know? Or did those who read the recent newspapers really want to know anyhow—those articles just happened to be there and now they may feel responsibility and concern. From my perspective and experience, it often doesn’t matter what’s published or how horrible it is, people just seem to take it at face value.

You can’t trust the media!! You can’t believe everything you read! Not every model is perfect, there’s airbrushing added! – And we all know that! Have you ever had your child come up to you and “tell” on the one of their brothers or sisters? Any loving, concerned parent would then go to the one “told on” and find out the other side, not make a harsh sweeping judgment solely based on what “Johnny” said about his sister “Mary.”

My personal reaction to these recent accusations is extreme annoyance at the waste of time, ink and paper. Child abuse? You’ve gotta be kidding! We’ve been through these ridiculous accusations enough before, and the outcome has told the truth, written and documented, there’s no such thing!! The media’s riding a dead horse here. Just ask any of us who are actually in the Family and even have our own children; if anyone knows, we do!!!! I was born in the Family International in 1975, and was raised by my parents in Family Homes in England, Uruguay, Brazil, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Uganda, Switzerland and Argentina, and never, never ever, ever, have I seen or experienced abuse of myself or other children! – And believe me, I knew what was going on in each place I lived…little girls have a way of making everything their business, eaves dropping and all, and I was no dumb child!
(more…)

I was among the lucky few who were born to Missionary parents in the Family International. I am 25 years old, Australian, was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Asia. I have lived in countless countries and had opportunity to learn to love God above all and to find a higher purpose for my life.

I grew up in a Family International School in Japan where I learned not only my curricular studies but acting, singing, cooking, dancing, teaching, photography, basic guitar and piano, art, Japanese culture and language, public relations, typing and poetry. I have a love for all of these and use most of them in my current work in Uganda.
(more…)

Age: 18
Location: Tanzania, Africa

Firstly I’d like to say that my heart goes out to all those who have been affected by this tragedy and I am praying for you that the Lord will comfort your soul and help you find his peace through this situation! Secondly I’d like to state for the record that I’m living proof that being raised in the Family is not a pre-requisite of insane actions as we witnessed in Ricky’s case! Our religion and everything our lives stand for is life and love the complete opposite of Ricky’s portrayal of death and hate! We believe that God made us in his image and we are not our own but bought with a price and as such we are to respect and care for our body’s physically and spiritually as the temple of God!

No one has had a perfect life and we have all been treated unfairly or unloving at some time regardless of our religion background or race (and I would be as bold to say that in the Family much, much less then anywhere else) but that gives no excuse whatsoever to brutally take the life of another human being no matter what we have gone through or how “unjustly” we feel we have been treated! And if you in any way associate the Family with such violence and senseless loss of life then you would do well to actually come and visit one of our homes or speak to our members or read our publications as you will find that we not only abhor but actively stand against violence of any kind and it is strictly prohibited in the Family!
(more…)