Larry Bobo joined The Living Word Fellowship in Des Moines, Iowa in 1969. From there he watched as leadership was expelled for not fully submitting to John Robert Stevens’ teachings. As a teenager he experienced sexual abuse at the hands of a leader and a another member of the church. In later years he became a leader himself and was relocated to the Colorado church where he called out inconsistencies in the Living Word doctrine to Marilyn and Gary Hargrave and the head leadership of the Fellowship in a detailed letter. Afterwords he was immediately silenced, literally being told he was not allowed to speak in the church. Eventually he left the Fellowship and discovered his own path back into Christianity. We talk with Larry about personal relationships with God, abuse in Christian churches and what being a Christian means to him.

Larry's letter to TLW leaders

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/02uif2gyiffd5hjmpk71i/CS-Shepherds1.pdf?rlkey=02pakfvazvyhs3pdidgmspepr&dl=0

Scott Barker  and Charity Navalesi are former members, born and raised in The Living Word Fellowship. They are investigating this organization, founded by John Robert Stevens in 1951, that branded itself as a Christian church for over seventy years but turned out to be just another cult. Stevens demanded full submission of his followers until his death in 1983 and when his successors, Gary & Marilyn Hargrave took over, the beliefs and practices became even more extreme as they levied control over the congregants for the next three decades. 

In 2018 a former member finally spoke up after Marilyn's death accusing her son of abuse. There are five active lawsuits. The organization is a shadow of what it once was, but some remain believers of John Robert Stevens' teachings and many maintain loyalty to Gary Hargrave. Gary has a new following on social media and an active "ministry".

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Use these resources to find help for you, a friend, or a family member: 
⁠⁠⁠https://988lifeline.org/⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help⁠⁠⁠
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