The Living Word Fellowship

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{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]]}}
{{Infobox organization 
|name= The Living Word Fellowship
|image= thelivingwordmap.png
|size= 300px
|caption= A map of Living Word centers worldwide
|map= 
|msize= 
|mcaption= 
|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 biblical view that every Christian should have a personal walk with Jesus Christ, from 1 John 1:6–7.<ref>{{Bibleverse|1 John|1:6–7}}</ref><ref name=chryssides/><ref name=history/> The fellowship celebrated the Jewish Old Testament festivals, and "It believes in the inerrancy of the Scripture, in the Trinity, in Christ's saving work, and in the various gifts and ministries of the Spirit as taught by the apostle Paul."<ref name=chryssides/>

At its peak in the 1970s, the fellowship had about 100 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/>

The Living Word Fellowship announced in late November 2018 that, in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, it was closing 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>

In November 2018, Gary Hargrave announced his resignation as head of the organization, following a sexual misconduct scandal taking place within the branches of the Living Word Fellowship. 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>

In a December 21, 2018, press release, Shiloh announced the end of its affiliation with The Living Word Fellowship.<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, 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> is currently 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 former Shiloh Facilities were burned to the ground by the Kalona Volunteer Fire Department. 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)]]

==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]]
[[Category:Cults]]