The Living Word Fellowship

Not to be confused with Living Word Fellowship, founded by Bobbi Morris

The Living Word Fellowship
A map of Living Word centres worldwide.
Formation	1951
Type	Religious and Commercial
Founder and Guru	John Robert Stevens

The Living Word Fellowship is a group of nondenominational Christian churches located in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico,^[1] often described as a new religious movement or cult.^[2] The group was founded in South Gate, California, by John Robert Stevens in 1951.^[3] It has been known in the past informally as "The Walk" or "This Walk", reflecting the view that every Christian should have a personal walk with Jesus Christ.^[3]

At its peak in the 1970s, the fellowship had about 100 member congregations. It was based at Shiloh, a farm and retreat site near Washington, Iowa. Membership declined after founder Stevens' death in 1983.^[2]

Anthony Cox's 1985 documentary film Vain Glory deals with his experiences as a member of "The Walk."^[2] Cox, who was involved in the group from 1971 to 1977, described the Church of the Living Word as "a pseudo-Christian cult" and said that John Robert Stevens prayed for the deaths of several U.S. political leaders and practiced a form of mind control and hypnotism with the church's followers.^[4]

References

1. ^ Churches in The Living Word Fellowship, Living Word Fellowship website
2. ^ ^{a b c} Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement by Ruth A. Tucker, Zondervan, 2004, ISBN 0-310-25937-1, pages 360–362
3. ^ ^{a b} A Brief History of the Living Word Fellowship, Living Word Fellowship website
4. ^ Jim Calio, Yoko Ono's Ex-Husband, Tony Cox, Reveals His Strange Life Since Fleeing with Their Daughter 14 Years Ago, People magazine, February 3, 1986

External links

• The Living Word Fellowship Official Site