I remember a frail, but kind man, in his late 70's that was afflicted with several health problems. His wife said that his pituitary gland had to be removed many years prior (I'm sure it was before he came into the Worldwide Church of God), and toward the end of his life his eyesight was almost gone. 

Because he had been in the WCG since back in the `50's, he was considered one of the "staunch members who had hung on." This may have been one of the reasons that a few times he was asked to give the prayer before or after the services. However, it wasn't too long when we noticed that he was never asked to give it again.

It wasn't until after I exited, and after his death, that it slowly dawned on me why he wasn't asked anymore. He didn't pray "the WCG way." He used words we weren't supposed to use, like "Lord" and "Jesus," instead of simply "GOD" and he talked differently and made people "uncomfortable." The WCG ministers would have said his words were a little too "syrupy" and that he didn't use a "normal WCG voice."

Whether he had ever been in Spokesman Club to learn "the right way to pray," I don't know, but I guess it wasn't long before the ministers found out they had made a mistake in asking him to lead in prayer. Perhaps a member had complained about his "style" and so they thought it best to remove him from the spotlight before all of us were squirming in our seats.

Could it have been that this man was simply praying from his heart, instead of in an authoritarian voice with choice WCG words? Could it have been that no one "taught him" how to pray? And could it have been that this was what was really important to God after all?

By D. W.
Exit & Support Network™

Praying in the WCG

Articles For Those Who Were Emotionally and Spiritually Abused 

Back to Abuses Suffered

Index for Personal Writings About the WCG Experience