After From Vesper Chimes to The Way
International, John P. Juedes and Douglas V. Morton, C.A.R.I.S.,
Milwaukee, WI 53201, copyright 1983, and other sources.
December 31,
1916
|
Victor Paul Wierwille born.
|
1938
|
BA degree from Mission House Seminary, Sheboygan,
WI.
|
1940
|
BTh from same institution.
|
1941
|
MTh from Princeton Theological Seminary.
|
1941
|
Ordained in Evangelical & Reformed Church
(E&R, now United Church
of Christ ) and begins serving St. Jacob Church, Payne, OH.
|
1942
|
Wierwille experiences a "call" from God.
Wierwille begins "Vesper Chimes" radio program, Lima, OH.
|
1944-1957
|
Pastored St. Peter's church in Van Wert,
Ohio.
|
1945
|
Wierwille publishes his first book,
Victory in Christ.
|
1947
|
Chimes Hour Youth Caravan is incorporated
|
1948
|
Doctor of Theology from Pike's Peak Bible
Seminary, Manitou Springs, Colorado (alleged "degree mill").
|
1951
|
Wierwille meets J.E. Stiles and speaks in
tongues in Tulsa, OK.
|
1953
|
Creates and begins teaching initial version
of "Power for Abundant Living" (PFAL). E.E. Higgins
introduces Wierwille to the works of E.W. Bullinger.
|
1954
|
Wierwille publishes the first edition of
Receiving the Holy Spirit Today (RTHST), which borrows material
from Stiles' The Gift of the Holy Spirit. The Way Magazine is first
published.
|
1955
|
Chimes Hour Youth Caravan changes its name
to The Way, Inc., and greatly expands its statement of purposes to include
even ordination of ministers.
|
1957
|
V.P. Wierwille leaves (forced out?) E&R
church and forms independent ministry. Overhauls and repackages "Power for
Abundant Living" (PFAL) course.Publishes the third edition of
RTHST, the first to contain material which was apparently borrowed
from Bullinger's The Giver and His Gifts.
|
1958
|
Wierwille resigns from the ministerium of
the E & R Church.
|
1959
|
The Way, Inc. moves to New Knoxville and
begins out of-state summer camps.
|
1961
|
Establishes Headquarters of TWI at family
farm near New Knoxville, Ohio.
|
1962
|
The Way holds its first summer school in New
Knoxville. Wierwille publishes the fourth edition of RTHST, deleting
Trinitarian references.
|
1963
|
Wierwille begins the television and radio
program called "The Teacher" in Lima.
|
1967
|
PFAL course (12 lessons ) filmed.
|
1968
|
Wierwille gains recruits from the Jesus
Movement in CA.
|
1969
|
First Way Corp.s training fails.
|
1971
|
"First Rock of Ages Christian Music Festival
" (ROA) held at New Knoxville with attendance at 1000. Word Over the World
(WOW) Ambassador program starts with 100 WOWs . The Way publishes several
of Wierwille's books . The Way Productions is established and releases its
first recordings.
|
1972
|
Second Way Corps, later renamed the First
Corps, graduates. Several top Way leaders depart in the early '70s,
accusing Wierwille of authoritarianism.
|
1974
|
Fourth ROA has over 5000 participants. The
Way Special Corps, later renamed the Family Corps, begins . The Way
purchases the campus of the College of Emporia. PFAL is placed on
videotape. The Way holds the first European WOW Ambassador training.
|
1975
|
Fifth ROA has over 8000 in attendance. The
Way College of Emporia Kansas opens with 400 Way Corps students. PFAL
classes now enrolling over 1000 students per month. Wierwille publishes
the book Jesus Christ is Not God. The Way, Inc., changes its name to
The Way International.
|
1976
|
The Way purchases a camp at Gunnison, CO, a
campus at Rome City, IN and its first airplane
|
1977
|
The Way disturbs New Knoxville with an early
morning Reformation Day demonstration with the theme, "Jesus Christ is not
God."
|
1978
|
The Way establishes its own police
department, which is terminated by the state of Ohio 18 months later. The
Way passes the mark of 6000 PFAL classes completed.
|
1979
|
9th ROA has 15000 at the New Knoxville H.Q.
Estimates place membership this year at
100,000 people in 50 states and 72 countries
world wide Financial Holdings are valued at 50 million
dollars. The Way offers its first
"University of Life" correspondence courses.
|
1979
|
TWI has purchases 100-acre ranch in Gunnison
Co. and a facility in Rome City, Indiana.
|
1981
|
The cost of the PFAL class reaches all-time
high of $200 per student, then soon drops. United Families Association is
organized to combat publicity damaging to The Way.
|
1982
|
The Way establishes a base of operation in
London, Ontario, Canada and is ordered out by the Canadian government. L.
Craig Martindale is installed as second president of The Way
International.
|
 1985
|
V.P. Wierwille dies of ocular cancer.
|
1986
|
L. Craig Martindale assumes control of
TWI.
|
1986
|
The purging of Way management begins.
|
