By Pawel Rogala, 16, Ukraine
(Second-generation member of the Family International)

My name is Pawel Rogala. I was born in 1989 in Wroclaw, Poland, where my parents were working in a mission home as part of the Family International. In 1993 my family moved to Russia to continue their work there. Those were wonderful years and I believe that the love I received, and the joy of bringing Jesus’ love to others is something I could have never received anywhere but in the Family. I have recently moved to the Ukraine where we continue to minister to the poor and bring God’s love to the people.

I met Ricky in our mission home in St. Petersburg, Russia, and I remember him as a kind, fun person. He would play with us children and read us stories in the evenings. The news of the brutal death of Angela Smith and the subsequent suicide of Mr. Rodriguez was a shock to me. How could a person who seemed so kind change so drastically and commit such a terrible deed? The more I thought about it, it seemed I could come to only one conclusion. Richard Rodriguez and Angela Smith were victims of hate!!! Our apostates had fed Ricky with so much negative input and hate that he scarcely knew what was right anymore, and finally this hate took control of him resulting in the death of Angela.

Never in all my years in the Family have I ever seen even the slightest hint of abuse. I’m sorry if any of our former members had anything bad happen to them in the Family, but why does it appear that those former members seemed to see things that no one in the Family has ever seen? Could it be the influence of the same negative input and hate that had taken control of Mr. Rodriguez?

To those who continue in their quest to bring down the Family I would suggest they take heed to the words of Gamaliel when he said: Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or if this work be of men it will come to nought; But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it: lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. (Acts 5:38, 39)

This entry was posted on Friday, March 4th, 2005 and is filed under Speaking Out, By Age, Where From, Those who knew them, Europe, Archived, Under 18. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.