Editing The Way International (section)

=== The Way ===
In 1953, Wierwille started teaching the course that would later become ''Power for Abundant Living''. It was held in [[Van Wert, Ohio]]. It expanded to other locations in Ohio and eventually to other states. Four years later, he resigned from the Evangelical and Reformed Church pastorate to devote his time to The Way ministry.

Moving to his family's farm in [[New Knoxville, Ohio]], in 1959, he established the location as the headquarters for The Way's Institute for Biblical Research and Teaching, later The Way Inc. The Way's followers grew significantly in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In January 1968, Wierwille visited [[San Francisco]] to personally witness the [[Jesus Movement|Jesus People]] street ministries, such as those in [[Haight-Ashbury]], where he himself ministered.<ref name="Williams1979" /><ref name=JesusPeople>{{cite book|last=Eskridge|first=Larry|title=God's Forever Family: The Jesus People Movement in America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TIZoAgAAQBAJ&q=wierwille+visiting+jesus+movement&pg=PA50|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=21 April 2014|pages=50|date=28 June 2013|isbn=978-0195326451}}</ref> Some of the groups he met later incorporated as The Way East (based in [[Rye, New York]]) and The Way West (based in [[Mill Valley, California]]), groups that utilized Wierwille's PFAL class in their ministries. Wierwille had many join him on his trip, marking a period of large growth for his ministry. Wierwille later merged The Way East and The Way West into The Way Inc., now the Way International.<ref>"Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism" by Randall Herbert Balmer. (2004) "The Way International" page 623."</ref><ref name=GroovyChristians>{{cite journal|last=Howard|first=Jane|title=Groovy Christians of Rye, N.Y.|url=http://api.ning.com/files/SC5hFdj9kQdCRc14my-VKHgG7ZdQt-iGP2QAJefUl9kTKrAwMe0D45HsT-0jXrADhgUyt2pLAcjMyxUlvZNZpmDPHkYVCipb/GroovyChristiansArticleSigned.pdf|access-date=21 April 2014|journal=Time|date=14 May 1971|quote="The Way is heavy," say Rye kids at a prayer-and-fellowship meeting}}</ref>

==== Leadership changes ====
In 1982, during the ministry's 40th anniversary celebration, Wierwille installed L. Craig Martindale as president and accepted the title Founding President.

In 2000, Martindale's term as president ended and Rosalie F. Rivenbark replaced him. The governing board, originally called the board of trustees, but now called the board of directors, consisted of three to five directors, with Rivenbark as chairman.<ref name="Beverley2009">{{cite book|author=James A. Beverley|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ul0kFIxtMfkC&pg=PT155|title=Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions: A Comprehensive Introduction to the Religions of the World|date=17 May 2009|publisher=Thomas Nelson Inc|isbn=978-1-4185-7746-9|pages=155–}}</ref>

In January 2017, Rivenbark stepped down from the presidency but retained her position as chairman of the board of directors. Jean Yves DeLisle was installed as the fourth president.

On March 10, 2020, Vern Edwards was installed as the fifth president<ref name="lisle" />

On June 16, 2020, Rivenbark stepped down as chairman, and the board of directors was reduced to three members: Edwards, Bill Greene, and John Rupp.<ref>The Way International Website. 6/16/2020</ref>