Editing Word of Faith Fellowship (section)

==Abuse allegations==
Although a number of critics and former members have described the church as a [[cult]] and accused the church of abuse,<ref name="Lewis">{{cite news|title=Word of faith fellowship discipline unveiled|last=Lewis|first=James|work=[[The Daily Courier (North Carolina)|The Daily Courier]]|date=August 9, 2000}}</ref> these accusations are disputed by current members and church officials who claim that through "strong prayer", church fellowship, Biblical teaching, and encouraging community, lives ultimately change.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thedigitalcourier.com/news/48208/former-rocker-follows-the-beat-of-a-different-drum/|title=Former rocker follows the beat of a different drum|website=thedigitalcourier.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11}}</ref>

In 1995, Jane and Sam Whaley denied allegations made by several former members of the TV program ''[[Inside Edition]]''. One former student said he had been beaten multiple times by church members to remove a "destructive spirit". Other former members described sitting in a "prayer chair" as former members walked around them shouting prayers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goupstate.com/news/19950308/convicted-child-molester-at-word-of-faith-agrees-to-worship-at-another-church|title=Convicted child molester at Word of Faith agrees to worship at another church|work=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]|date=March 8, 1995|access-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref>

The church was investigated by the [[North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation|SBI]] in the 1990s for [[child abuse]], after more than 40 former members gave testimony to the [[Forest City, North Carolina|Forest City]] ''[[The Daily Courier (North Carolina)|Daily Courier]]'' and other news outlets as to their experiences in the Fellowship. No charges resulted. In 2000, a woman testifying in a child custody case said her one-year-old son was subjected to "blasting", or standing in a circle and loudly praying, sometimes for hours, in order to "drive out demons". She also said her son was beaten enough to cause [[bruise]]s. Jane Whaley was asked about discipline at her church and said God wanted children to be beaten if that was necessary.<ref name="Lewis"/> Whaley cited [[Acts 2|Acts 2:2]] to justify disciplinary practices, members said.<ref name=USA/>

Jane Whaley was convicted of [[misdemeanor]] assault in 2004 as a result of an incident two years earlier where former member Lacy Wien described "blasting" by a group of members, followed by the assault by Whaley. Wien was suing the church for $2.5 million in a separate case.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gastongazette.com/article/20040304/News/605152915|title=Controversial church leader convicted of assault|last=Maultsby|first=Baker|work=[[Gaston Gazette]]|date=March 4, 2004|access-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref> After five years of appeals, the conviction was overturned.<ref name=Gordon/>

Another former member, Michael Lowry, claimed to have been beaten and held prisoner in 2011 to drive out "gay demons".<ref name=Curry>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/nc-man-church-imprisoned-gay/story?id=17534557|title=N.C. Man Says Church Kept Him Imprisoned for Being Gay|last=Curry|first=Colleen|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=October 22, 2012|access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> Lowry testified before a [[grand jury]] but in 2013 he rejoined the church, recanting his allegations. Lowry later left the church again and said he stood by his earlier statements.<ref name=Schmidt>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/02/gay-man-says-church-members-beat-choked-him-for-hours-to-expel-homosexual-demons/|title=Gay man says church members beat, choked him for hours to expel 'homosexual demons'|last=Schmidt|first=Samantha|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=June 2, 2017|access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref>

Former member Jamey Anderson, who joined the Fellowship aged 4, described the treatment by the church that he had undergone, with many former members describing his treatment as some of the harshest anyone suffered. Anderson stated he was frequently sent to a storage area called the green room, and one former member said he was "brutally paddled" after incidents where other children told on him for the minor offenses in school. Anderson also stated that when his grandfather died, he was not allowed to attend the funeral and was left out of the obituary. Anderson also testified to being forced to work, and that in 2002, he and four other boys were punished by being put in a room by themselves to watch Whaley on video during school; Anderson was restricted to his home outside of school. He said after leaving the church, family members who remained members cut off contact. Whaley's attorney denied the allegations and said other members supported Whaley.<ref name=USA>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/12/13/nobody-saved-us-man-describes-childhood-abusive-cult/950863001/|title='Nobody saved us': Man describes childhood in abusive 'cult'|last1=Weiss|first1=Mitch|last2=Mohr|first2=Holbrook|work=[[USA Today]]|date=December 13, 2017|access-date=January 11, 2018}}</ref> Anderson's mother and grandmother have stated Jamey was not abused but "they have always deeply loved Jamey" even though he is "spreading lies to paint a horrible picture about his loving family."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKuEg0BoXBQ|title=Lies Exposed - A Loved Son Turns to AP with Concocted Story|date=December 14, 2017|website=The Word of Faith Fellowship Blog|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>

An [[Associated Press]] investigation included interviews with 43 former members, who told stories of physical abuse resulting in injuries which were not treated, families being separated, and males being held prisoner in a former storage building for as long as a year. Former members described being afraid to leave the church or even oppose Whaley for fear of public reprimand or worse. Children at the church's school were beaten for minor offenses, former members said, even by the other children. The investigation also included numerous documents, and recordings of Whaley made without her knowledge. Whaley denied abuse took place and defended certain practices as being protected by the [[First Amendment]]. She refused to be interviewed for the AP investigation, instead accusing former members of lying.<ref name=abuse>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/f3ce7b57d69d4194803e68a40f4c215c/ap-exclusive-ex-congregants-reveal-years-ungodly-abuse|title=Ex-congregants reveal years of ungodly abuse|last=Weiss|first=Mitch|publisher=Associated Press|date=February 27, 2017|access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref>

=== Matthew Fenner case ===
In 2017, Matthew Fenner testified that, after he and his family joined the church in 2010, he witnessed members being shouted at for hours to remove "demons". In January 2013, Fenner<ref name=Delay/> was allegedly beaten for two hours "to break me free of the homosexual 'demons{{'"}}, he said in a police affidavit.<ref name=Gay>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-carolina-church-members-facing-charges-in-2013-beating-of-gay-man/|title=Church members charged with beating gay man|publisher=Associated Press|via=[[CBS News]]|date=December 15, 2014|access-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> He said he escaped to the home of his grandparents, who reported the incident to law enforcement. Fenner tried and failed to get law enforcement agencies, including the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], to pursue the case. Because Fenner persevered, five church members were [[Indictment|indicted]] in December 2014 and charged with [[kidnapping]] and [[assault]].<ref name=Delay/> Fenner and his girlfriend at the time of the alleged incident, Danielle Cordes, testified in the trial. Observers have noted that there are "important differences in Fenner's and Cordes's recollections and telling of key events."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rccatalyst.com/column-fair-trial-for-matthew-fenner-compromised-by-media-bias-changing-witness-testimonies/|title=Fair Trial for Matthew Fenner Compromised by Media Bias & Changing Witness Testimonies?|last=Clayton|first=Gayle|date=July 17, 2019|website=RC Catalyst|access-date=July 20, 2019}}</ref>

In May 2017, Brooke Covington, with whom Fenner lived before his escape, became the first Word of Faith member to go on trial. Because the jury foreman shared documents that were not supposed to be made public, Superior Court Judge Gary Gavenus declared a [[mistrial]] and a new trial was scheduled for September 11, 2017.<ref name=Delay>{{cite news|url=http://www.greensboro.com/news/north_carolina/ap-authorities-delayed-investigating-gay-demons-case/article_f4b0d481-a6c3-5325-ba71-660591901df6.html|title=AP: Authorities delayed investigating gay 'demons' case |last1=Weiss|first1=Mitch|last2=Mohr|first2=Holbrook|agency=[[Associated Press]]|via=[[News & Record]]|date=June 26, 2017|access-date=June 26, 2017}}</ref> {{As of|October 2017}}, Covington's trial had not taken place but it would still be in [[Rutherford County, North Carolina|Rutherford County]]. Four other related cases were moved to [[Buncombe County, North Carolina|Buncombe County]]. Robert Walker was scheduled to appear in court in October but his case and those of Sarah Anderson, Adam Bartley, and Justin Covington were moved to January 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2017/10/23/trials-assault-word-faith-fellowship-moved-bunbombe-courthouse/790773001/|title=Trials in Word of Faith beating case moved to Buncombe|last=Bordas|first=Alexandria|work=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]]|date=October 23, 2017|access-date=October 24, 2017}}</ref>

A month later on June 19, 2017, Matthew Fenner's grandfather Robert Marvin Rape was found dead in his yard from a gunshot wound to the chest. With the [[North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation]]'s assistance, District Attorney Ted Bell determined the death was a suicide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rccatalyst.com/02/da-closes-bobby-rape-death-investigation/|title=DA Closes Bobby Rape Death Investigation|last=Clayton|first=Gayle|date=July 5, 2019|website=RC Catalyst|access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref>

=== Brazil ===
The Associated Press found that the churches in [[Brazil]] also have the same practices as the Spindale church. Former members claimed that a move by Verbo Vivo and its members was intended to keep them away from the rest of the world. The church and the area where members lived were both surrounded by high fences. In 2009, two of the pastors quit, accusing the church of "[[brainwashing]]". A committee of the [[Minas Gerais]] state legislature held hearings. John Martin described practices as "guidelines and not prohibitions". Both churches lost many members. For the Associated Press investigation in 2017, over three dozen former members were interviewed and many reported being afraid of what the church would do if they spoke out. Some needed therapy. While the changes in Brazil happened slowly, they were drastic. Some young people were taken to the United States and allegedly required to work at the church or companies owned by members. Some young people were told not to contact their families. One of the rules in Brazil was the banning of [[soccer]]. Former students reported being isolated and shouted at for bad behavior.<ref name=Brazil>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ap-us-church-brazil-instills-fear-splits-families-48828251|title=AP: Brazilians detail abuses by US church, shattered lives|last1=Prengaman|first1=Peter|last2=Weiss|first2=Mitch|last3=Mohr|first3=Holbrook|via=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|publisher=Associated Press|date=July 25, 2017}}</ref>

Three former members said in 2014 to a U.S. Attorney that Brazilians brought to the United States were not paid for their work, while Americans working with them were paid, and that they were beaten if they disobeyed. One former member who left the church in 2016 also said his passport and money were taken away.<ref name=Slaves>{{cite news|url=http://wspa.com/2017/07/24/brazilians-funneled-as-slaves-by-spindale-church-ex-members-say/|title=Brazilians funneled as slaves by Spindale church, ex-members say|last1=Weiss|first1=Mitch|last2=Mohr|first2=Holbrook|last3=Prengaman|first3=Peter|via=WSPA-TV|agency=Associated Press|date=July 24, 2017}}</ref> The federal investigation found no such evidence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/us-attorney-announces-closing-investigation-after-last-defendant-involved-unemployment|title=U.S. Attorney Announces The Closing Of An Investigation After Last Defendant Involved In Unemployment Insurance Benefits Scheme Is Sentenced Today|date=2019-09-27|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-10-05}}</ref>

Pastors of the Rhema church told {{lang|pt|[[Folha de S.Paulo]]}} that the claims were "many lies and distorted facts."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wspa.com/2017/07/27/brazil-church-rejects-word-of-faith-abuse-claims-detailed-in-ap-stories/|title=Brazil church rejects Word of Faith abuse claims detailed in AP stories|agency=Associated Press|via=[[WSPA-TV]]|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=August 3, 2017}}</ref>

Labor prosecutors sued to shut down the Rhema church. In a March 1, 2018 labor court filing in [[São Paulo state]], prosecutors suggested they had evidence of beating and forced labor in the Rhema church.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/world/article204433284.html|title=Brazilian prosecutors sue to shut church over forced labor|last1=Prengaman|first1=Peter|last2=DiLorenzo|first2=Sarah|last3=Weiss|first3=Mitch|work=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|publisher=Associated Press|date=March 9, 2018|access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref> The case was summarily dismissed in the church's favor, with the judge's finding.