Charlene Lamy Edge Speaks about The Way International

First, a few words about Undertow If you’re not acquainted with my story in Undertow , here’s a section from the Preface of my book: In its heyday in the 1980s, The Way International was one of the largest fundamentalist cults in America, with about forty thousand followers worldwide. Founded in 1942 by a self-proclaimed prophet, Victor Paul Wierwille (1916–1985), who marketed the group as a biblical research, teaching, and fellowship ministry, The Way still operates in the shadow of its dark history. I knew Wierwille personally. As one of his biblical research assistants and ministry leaders, I am a witness to his charisma, as well as his abuse of power and manipulation of Scriptures to serve his own agenda. I discovered his sexual abuse of women and chronic plagiarism. Today, those underbelly facts are hidden, denied, or otherwise squelched. The years of Wierwille’s authoritarian reign and the chaos after his death provide the context of my story. Former Way devotees endorse Underto...

Hi readers! Amazingly, my memoir  Undertow  will celebrate its 10th birthday this November, 2026. Yeah, I know it's a bit early to begin celebrating, but that's what's happening, so welcome to the first of many posts to honor this book's life in the world.  If you don't know, Undertow is my personal story about the 17 years I was a leader and biblical researcher in The Way International (1970-1987) and how I escaped. The book has sold every single month for ten years to readers around the world.  This review is important because The Way International is still in business today, recruiting vulnerable believers who just want to know the Bible. Note : A word about publication dates that I learned during the process of writing this book. In case you don't know, I published the book in November 2016 and began selling it then; however, the publication date printed in the book is 2017 because books published after the end of September of any given year are given the fo...

* This photo was taken in Squaw Valley, circa 1975, featuring Way Corps grads and Victor Paul Wierwille who is on the left side, wearing a white coat, sunglasses, green hat. Charlene is in front of him, wearing a green sweater, sunglasses, white hat. Others' faces are blurred to protect their privacy. This photo was included in Charlene's book,  Undertow . Greetings, readers. If you are new to my Blogspot account, welcome. Today's post is not pleasant, but I think it’s important—a list and descriptions of source materials presenting first-hand accounts of women who say they were sexually abused by Victor Paul Wierwille, founder of The Way International (1916-1985). He was married and had five children.  Note : Frankly, with the Epstein files in the news every day, this topic in my personal history has come back to haunt me. I feel compelled to speak out again on this outrageous and damaging aspect of my Way experience. There are more adjectives I could use, but those are en...