| The Living Word Fellowship | |
| Size: | 300px |
| Formation: | 1951 |
| Type: | Religious and commercial |
| Leader Title: | Founder and leader |
| Leader Name: | John Robert Stevens |
The Living Word Fellowship is a Christian cult[1] [2] that at various times was located in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico.[3]
The group was founded in South Gate, California, by John Robert Stevens in 1951.[4] 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.[5] [2] [4] 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."[2]
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[6] and the fellowship continued to close churches throughout the 1990s. As of early 2018, it comprised around ten primary churches.[3]
In late November 2018, in the wake of a sexual misconduct scandal within its branches, The Living Word Fellowship closed down the organization and its central governing body.[7] Gary Hargrave resigned as head of the organization. He has since founded a new organization known as Hargrave Ministries.[8] On December 21, 2018, Shiloh, which served as the headquarters of the fellowship since the 1970s,[9] ended its affiliation with group.[10] Shiloh is currently in discussion with the city of Kalona about a possible annexation of the more than of church property south of the city limits.[11]
, 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.[12] [13]
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.[14]