See The Prophetess Who Ruled Church With Terror For Many Years

FROM all over the world, they flocked to this tiny town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, lured by promises of inner peace and eternal life.

What many found instead: years of terror — waged in the name of the Lord.

Congregants of the Word of Faith Fellowship were regularly punched, smacked, choked, slammed to the floor or thrown through walls.


It was justified as a violent form of deliverance meant to “purify” sinners by beating out devils, 43 former members told The Associated Press in separate, exclusive interviews.

Victims of the violence included pre-teens and toddlers — even crying babies, who were vigorously shaken, screamed at and smacked to banish their ‘demons’.

“I saw so many people beaten over the years. Little kids punched in the face, called Satanists,” said Katherine Fetachu, 27, who spent nearly 17 years in the church.

Word of Faith also subjected members to a practice called “blasting” — an ear- piercing verbal onslaught often conducted in hours-long sessions meant to cast out devils.

“I’ve seen her on multiple occasions ask: ‘Did you throw her on the ground?’ And when the person says ‘Yes, we got the demon out,’ Jane will say: ‘I love it. I love it. Thank you, Jesus!’” said Sean Bryant, 29, who left the church last year.
Word of Faith Fellowship leader Jane Whaley, centre, holds a baby with her husband, Sam, right, during a ceremony in the church's compound in Spindale, North Carolina. Picture: AP

Several former followers said congregants were sexually abused, including minors. On one recorded conversation, Whaley admits to being aware of the sexual assault of three boys but not reporting it to authorities.

“We were warned to keep the abuse to ourselves. If we didn’t, we knew we would be targeted. ... You lived in total fear,” said Liam Guy, 29, an accountant who fled in 2015 after nearly 25 years in the church.

The former members said they were speaking out now due to guilt for not doing more to stop the abuse and because they fear for the safety of the children still in the church, believed to number about 100.
Amanda and Liam Guy fled the church in 2015 after nearly 25 years. “We were warned to keep the abuse to ourselves. If we didn't we knew we would be targeted. ... You lived in total fear.” Picture: AP

Amanda and Liam Guy fled the church in 2015 after nearly 25 years. “We were warned to keep the abuse to ourselves. If we didn't we knew we would be targeted. ... You lived in total fear.”

SEX OBSESSION

Sex was a big issue in the church. It sought to ‘control’ sexual thoughts and “ungodly” carnal pleasure — especially lengthy interrogations of pre-teens and teens about masturbation — spilt into every aspect of congregants’ lives, the former members say.

And, they say, when allegations of sexual abuse arose within the church, Whaley not only didn’t report it but tried to hide it.