Speaking Out | My Conclusion

Archive for the ‘ Speaking Out’ Category

Free Hugs to Advertise Jesus

By Nala (General member), Iceland
We marched up and down Laugavegur (the main shopping street of Reykjavík) with signs proclaiming “Free Hugs”! I don’t even know how many people we hugged that day. I’m sure I personally hugged over 100! People’s reactions were very positive.
“This is just what I needed! You just saved [...]

Monday, December 15th, 2008
Posted in Speaking Out, Featured Posts, Europe, Archived |

Angie Staughton’s Response to the Larry King segment on The Family International.

As a 30 year old second generation member of The Family I find the story aired on The Larry King Live Show to be very one-sided and tainted. The people in The Family International are dedicated to making the world a better place and to see them cast in such a negative light breaks my [...]

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
Posted in Speaking Out, Archived |

In response to CNN’s “Young man’s suicide blamed on mother’s cult By Randi Kaye CNN” (airing December 4th on CNN)

From Claire Borowik for the Family International
December 4, 2007
Contact: Claire Borowik, Public Affairs Desk for The Family International, publicaffairs@thefamily.org
It is disappointing that a reputable network such as CNN would publish such sensationalistic, poorly researched material. The bias and lack of balance displayed in this program transcript are highly unprofessional and discriminatory. Although I [...]

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007
Posted in Speaking Out, Archived |

Review: An Uncommon Life, by Bethany Kelly

An Uncommon Life is a collection of true-life accounts written by Bethany Kelly, the eldest daughter of Peter Amsterdam and Abi (formerly Damaris), recounting memories of her childhood and teenage years, including her interactions with Father David (Grandpa), Maria, and their immediate family.

Thursday, April 26th, 2007
Posted in Speaking Out, Archived |

To Whom This May Concern

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 [...]

Friday, March 23rd, 2007
Posted in Former Family members, Archived, Letters to the Editor |

I Was There

By Bethy
I’m the eldest daughter of Peter Amsterdam, (currently co-administrator of the Family with Maria) and as I was growing up, I lived in or visited the household of Father David and Maria four times.
My first encounter with Father David occurred when I was six years old. At age 10 I spent a month living [...]

Monday, February 19th, 2007
Posted in Speaking Out, Archived |

It Wasn’t Like That

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 [...]

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
Posted in Speaking Out, Archived, Letters to the Editor |

A response to Montel Williams show: “Escaping a Cult”

From Lorie Richards, February 6, 2007
I don’t watch the Montel Williams show, because I don’t watch much TV at all. For the most part I feel I have better things to do with my time. For a little entertainment, I’ll have at most one show at a time that I follow. Right now it’s [...]

Wednesday, February 14th, 2007
Posted in Speaking Out, Archived |

Right of Response to the Montel Williams show

From Claire Borowik
It has come to my attention that a number of the Family’s former members are under the mistaken impression that the Family was invited to participate in the Montel Williams show or present a written statement.
For the record, neither myself or any Family spokesperson was contacted by the Montel Williams show [...]

Sunday, February 11th, 2007
Posted in Speaking Out, Archived |

From Claire Borowik for the Family International

Re Escaping a Cult
To Montel Williams Show and Producers
I am writing to express how appalled I am at your program’s one-sided coverage. This is the second time you are airing a program featuring former members of my church, the Family International, and their allegations without contacting our church, or providing us an opportunity of [...]

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007
Posted in Speaking Out, Archived |