People Magazine Investigates: Cults featuring Word of Faith Fellowship

Jane Whaley and the Word of Faith Fellowship church are the focus of a television special.

The television series People Magazine Investigates: Cults aired July 8th at 8 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery. This is the same church I covered for an entire season on my podcast Pretend.

Years of accusations

The Word of Faith Fellowship is accused of beating children and holding young adults in isolation for months—even years. Unlike most Christian churches, the Word of Faith Fellowship is not known for welcoming outsiders. The press is rarely allowed inside the church compound. I was fortunate to receive a personal invitation to attend a Sunday service and a one-on-one interview with pastor Jane Whaley.

All eyes on Jane Whaley

Many in the media have cover this secretive church. An ongoing Associated Press investigation exposed ethical and legal concerns surrounding the Word of Faith Fellowship. Most recently, A&E networks shot an entire season covering the Word of Faith Fellowship only to pull the plug on the entire series the night before it was scheduled to air. But tonight, the nation finally has a chance to watch and listen to former members tell their stories.

Word of Faith Fellowship Reacts

Butch Maltby, a member of the Word of Faith Fellowship, and an unofficial spokesperson for the church cried foul. He had this to say about the People Magazine episode, “God miraculously and improbably brought me to what is arguably America’s most persecuted church. Standing firm on the bedrock of Biblical foundations isn’t normative these days especially when having convictions is perceived as making you hateful.” He continued to argue that his church and Christianity as a whole are under attack. “This is a religious minefield where personal convictions based on Biblical truth and a lifestyle honoring those beliefs is sorely under dangerous and often random fire.” You can read Butch Maltby’s entire op-ed on RC Catalyst.