Editing The Living Word Fellowship

{{Short description|Christian cult organization}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Living Word Fellowship]] founded by Bobbi Morris in California, or the Shiloh community in Maine founded by [[Frank Sandford]]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox organization 
|name= The Living Word Fellowship
|image= thelivingwordmap.png
|size= 300px
|caption= A map of Living Word centers worldwide
|map= 
|msize= 
|mcaption= 
| nickname = * The Walk
* This Walk
|formation= 1951
|type= Religious and commercial
|headquarters = 
|membership = 
|language =
|leader_title = Founder and leader
|leader_name = [[John Robert Stevens]]
|key_people =
|num_staff = 
|budget =
|website =
}}

'''The Living Word Fellowship''' is a [[Christianity|Christian]] [[cult]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebaffler.com/salvos/i-saw-satan-marzoni|title=Breaking Away from a Boomer Christian Cult|date=March 4, 2019|website=The Baffler|language=en-US|access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref><ref name="chryssides">George D. Chryssides, ''Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements'', Second Edition (Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2011), 93.</ref><ref name="anothergospel" /> that at various times was located in [[the United States]], [[Canada]], [[Brazil]], and [[Mexico]].<ref name=churches>[http://www.thelivingword.org/tlwf/churches.shtml Churches in The Living Word Fellowship], Living Word Fellowship website</ref>

The group was founded in [[South Gate, California]], by [[John Robert Stevens]] in 1951.<ref name=history>[http://www.thelivingword.org/tlwf/history.shtml A Brief History of the Living Word Fellowship], Living Word Fellowship website</ref> It has been known in the past informally as "The Walk" or "This Walk," referencing the Christian view that every Christian should have a "personal walk" with [[Jesus]], from [[1 John 1]]:6–7.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 John|1:6–7|NRSV}}</ref><ref name=chryssides/><ref name=history/> The fellowship celebrated the [[Jewish festivals]] described in the [[Hebrew Bible]], and "It believes in the inerrancy of the [[Bible|Scripture]], in the [[Trinity]], in [[Christ (title)|Christ]]'s saving work, and in the various [[Spiritual gift|gifts]] and ministries of the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Spirit]] as taught by the apostle [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]]."<ref name=chryssides/>

At its peak in the 1970s, the fellowship had about 1000 member congregations. Its oversight was centered at Shiloh, a farm and retreat site near [[Kalona, Iowa]]. Membership declined after founder Stevens's death in 1983<ref name=anothergospel>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzHsXbXOab0C&pg=PA361 |title=Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement|author= Ruth A. Tucker|publisher= Zondervan|date= 2004|isbn=0-310-25937-1|pages =360–362}}</ref> and the fellowship continued to close churches throughout the 1990s. As of early 2018, it comprised around ten primary churches.<ref name=churches/>

In late November 2018, in the wake of a sexual misconduct scandal within its branches, The Living Word Fellowship closed down the organization and its central governing body.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jennings|first=James|title=Shiloh's future in question after Living Word dissolves|url=http://thenews-ia.com/stories/shilohs-future-in-question-after-living-word-dissolves,2192|access-date=May 22, 2021|website=The News|language=en}}</ref> Gary Hargrave resigned as head of the organization. He has since founded a new organization known as Hargrave Ministries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hargraveministries.org/|title=Hargrave Ministries|website=Hargrave Ministries}}</ref> On December 21, 2018, Shiloh, which served as the headquarters of the fellowship since the 1970s,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shilohiowa.org/about-us/history/|title=A Brief History|website=Shiloh|language=en-US|access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref> ended its affiliation with the group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kalonanews.com/shiloh-will-continue-as-independent-church/article_1da89726-0ea6-11e9-a481-371b31b04b9f.html|title=Shiloh will continue as independent church|last=Jennings|first=James|website=The News|language=en|access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref> Shiloh is currently{{when|date=March 2026}} in discussion with the city of Kalona about a possible annexation of the more than {{cvt|200|acre}} of church property south of the city limits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kalonanews.com/kalona/shiloh-annexation-questions-addresse-at-committee-meeting/article_65b75952-65fa-11e9-9e84-c7df9a68c517.html|title=Shiloh annexation questions addresse at committee meeting|last=Jennings|first=James|website=The News|language=en|access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref>

{{As of|August 2020}}, five women have filed lawsuits against the Living Word Fellowship. The lawsuits claim that Living Word employees and officials sexually abused these women when they were minors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/people/story/2019-05-29/lawsuits-allege-sexual-abuse-by-living-word-fellowship-officials|title=Three women sue Living Word Fellowship, alleging sexual abuse|date=May 29, 2019|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mynewsla.com/crime/2020/08/19/more-alleged-abuse-victims-sue-living-word-fellowship-church/|title=More Alleged Abuse Victims Sue Living Word Fellowship Church|date=August 19, 2020|website=MyNewsLA.com}}</ref>

In October 2020, the Kalona Volunteer Fire Department burned the former Shiloh Facilities to the ground. This was done as a practice burn.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews-ia.com/stories/kalona-fire-dept-oversees-burn-of-shiloh-buildings,27828|title=Kalona fire dept. oversees burn of Shiloh buildings|first=Ron|last=Slechta|website=The News}}</ref>

== Notable members ==
*[[Anthony Cox (producer)|Anthony Cox]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.johnrobertstevens.com John Robert Stevens Official website]
* [https://www.ltaspod.com/23 Let's Talk About Sects]
*

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Living Word Fellowship}}
[[Category:Christian new religious movements]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1951]]
[[Category:1951 establishments in California]]