Is YWAM A Cult? Is YWAM Guilty of Spiritual Abuse?

Apologetics Index ^ | January 4, 1994 | Ex YWAMer

[Exnihilo]

I feel sorry for people that stumble through life believing that spirits are constantly manipulating their God given ability to make choices. It's pathetic to see autonomous human beings attributing their own behaviors to "Satan" and "demons" and other foolishness. If there be a Satan, then surely he puts the temptation before us and then we alone decide to give into it or not. The ultimate sign of weakness is someone who pawns their own behavior off on Satan who apparently can manipulate their behavior and their thinking. What a load of spineless crap.

[Saundra Duffy]

It's my understanding that anorexia is a psychological ailment, not a supernatural oppression

I don't have a clue; maybe it's both.

[Saundra Duffy]

Spiritual abuse - my definition - would be when the leadership takes control and makes you feel like an unworthy worm. You aren't supposed to "talk back". You are pretty much a mindless robot. The leaders can take advantage of the meek little ones, the very ones Jesus spoke so highly of (these little ones). In YWAM, the strong rule - the ones who speak loudly and cry first. They're always yacking about how God tells them this and that. Nevermind that God spoke to someone else with a completely opposite message. The spiritual bullies RULE the roost.

[Saundra Duffy]

I'm stronger now. I wouldn't allow them to push me around and make me feel like an unworthy lump of nothing. At the time, however, we were like sheep with good intentions. Don't get me wrong; there are many wonderful people in YWAM but as I said the meek don't inherit anything over there.

[Saundra Duffy]

"whoever wants to be first must be your slave" 'Xactly! They wanted US TO BE THEIR SLAVES. They had this brochure called "Unsung Heroes" which was about all of lowly worker bees who were supposed to clean up after them, take care of their kids, cook for them, drive and bend and scrape - so the leaders could be free to do the leadership thing.

[Saundra Duffy]

One time, this team came to Belize to "minister to children". So we were having a Vacation Bible School at the Belizean Church across the river in Roaring Creek. So I got all excited and asked for their help. The leader said they'd "pray about it". I thought, "What's to pray about, for God's sake?!!" You guessed it. God "spoke" to them and told them "no". I said, "THERE IS NO WAY GOD SAID NO!" She got all huffy and mad and stayed mad for a long time. In the end, our VBS had a hundred kids and there were about ten of us teachers (Belizean women and a few YWAMers). We had a great VBS anyway!! So there. Only one bad thing - I got sick because we all drank from the same cups. I feel happy remembering that VBS. Love those kids!!

[Saundra Duffy]

All four of your points are quite valid.

[Saundra Duffy]

Of course, you're right, but there were some folks in YWAM who didn't get healed and others would criticize them saying they lacked faith, etc. Also, there were times when the money didn't miraculously appear for a missions trip or "outreach" and some would say, "I guess it wasn't God's will for you to go with us." And off they'd go, leaving the poor little ones behind, their only sin was being poor.

[Saundra Duffy]

We were at the Belize base before the walk bridge; the walk bridge was constructed by the British while we were there. Before that, we had a rope boat. It was a hoot. We were there when a Canadian couple ran the show. You were probably there after that when a Belizean couple was in charge. The Belizean couple was wonderful. I think there are problems when Westerner pearlie white Christians descend on the innocents and try to conform them. I was offended by many things - like the White people teaching Bible studies. Give me a break! The Belizean people taught me more about the Bible than YWAM could every imagine!

[Saundra Duffy]

Selling cults use the same tactics But at least they pay people. In YWAM, everyone pays their own way. What bugged me was that the leaders were making money selling books and going on speaking engagements all over the world. Next thing you know, they had their kids and wives writing and selling books and going on speaking engagements. It was kind of like inside trading. The rest of us worker bees had to keep it all going so the leaders could be free to write and travel and sell.

[Saundra Duffy]

I did a YWAM DTS in Amsterdam, outreach in Greece We did Crossroads DTS in Kailua-Kona, outreach in Okinawa (Japan) and in Hong Kong/China. It was a great experience. We basically home schooled our 8 yr old son during the outreach time. After outreach was over, we decided to go to Belize. I don't regret it because we grew and learned. Just wish we'd been stronger to stand up to the abusive behavior of some leaders.

[fogarty]

A word of advice. Let your bitterness go. What's done is in your past. Move on. Posting story upon story and anecdote after anecdote will not help you get on with your life. Let God handle YWAM, and you just worry about yourself. If He truly is God, then the scales of justice are going to be balanced on the last day, right?

Find yourself another organization that is Christ centered and focused on sharing the Love of God to others. Campus Crusade, Calvary Chapel missions, Harvest Crusades, Women of Faith, PromiseKeepers - there are plenty to choose from out there.

[Saundra Duffy]

You should have seen the BUGS in Belize! Now THAT was scary. I saw some beetles one time as big as birds - and I'm not kidding! When you first arrive, the bugs attack the heck out of you. Fresh meat! After a few months, your body builds up an immunity and the bugs say "ho hum" and wait for the new arrivals. Ha!

[seenenuf]

Wondering here if you came across any Peace Corps workers and if their motives seemed be seperated from the motives of the Corps?

[Saundra Duffy]

There was a group of AID workers; I forget what AID stands for. I did see some White people who were population controllers, too. They really made me mad and I yelled at them: "Why do you think it's your business to tell the Belizean people how many children you think they should have?!!!" I just hate it when White population controllers target dark skinned people for extermination or tampering. That really made me mad! But I can't say I met up with the Peace Corps folks; I'm sure they were there, though.

[Quix]

ACTUALLY, I think the YWAM--what's the word--DTS--goes a long way to weeding out and healing such problems in a lot of people. That it is not a thoroughly effective and perfect process is not surprising given that they are still mortals. . . . and, perhaps even DTS has too much of a performance orientation. I'm not a good judge of that from my distance.

But perhaps the DTS process and experience needs some adjustment. THERE ARE some pretty effective ways to surface such junk in such a setting. And, there's normally enough spiritual clout there to effect a lot of spiritual healing. But a lot of this kind of healing takes months and years. So, it seems to me, regardless of how good the screening and orientation process is, some ongoing monitoring by folk healed and extra discerning and sensitive about such matters--seems like such would be worth making happen.

Thanks for your comment.

[Saundra Duffy]

Thanks for your thoughtful and insightful commentary. Can't say I disagree with anything you said, pal.

[Saundra Duffy]

Spanish Lookout is an Amish community in Belize. They supplied all the eggs and chicken and a bunch of other stuff for the country. There was an exchange program going on with Cuba, too, but at that time I was not politically active. Imagine that!

[Saundra Duffy]

Protestant quasi-cult - could you be more specific? I'm curious.

[Saundra Duffy]

I've been out of YWAM for about ten years already. I wish people wouldn't detect "bitterness" in other people. It isn't very helpful. If people want to vent about YWAM here, I think that's a good thing. Perhaps someone will become enlightened and protected. I'm all for YWAM if people are forewarned and have ammo to protect/defend themselves.