Jeff Bent wrote about it on his church’s blog early Friday evening, and now the Albuquerque Journal‘s Web site has just published a similar story about the State’s apparent effort to check-in on the welfare of nearly 50-members of the Lord Our Righteousness church near Clayton, New Mexico.
Church leader Wayne Bent and many—if not all—of his followers are now 16 days into their “final fast”, and according to their Web site, they began going without water Friday.
Here’s an excerpt from the Albuquerque Journal’s article as it appeared on abq.com (subscription required) shortly after midnight Saturday (PST):
The Journal received a copy from Jeff Bent of a DA’s Office motion filed in District Court on Friday that asks a judge “to continue to allow the Union County Sheriff’s Office and medical personnel if necessary to monitor the welfare of these individuals.” The motion says “approximately 46 people are in jeopardy of harm from starvation and may not be competent … to look after their own health and safety” because of Bent’s influence.
The newspaper also reports that Bent’s attorney, Sarah Montoya, is concerned that the State may forcibly remove people from the church’s property.
Wayne Bent is scheduled to go to trial November 17. He is charged with having had sexual contact with two girls and with contributing to the delinquency of minors.
According to Jeff Bent’s Friday evening post on strongcity.info:
The order specifies the names of three individuals are to be removed from Strong City by force and taken to Las Vegas for mental health evaluation.
Beyond90Seconds.com spoke by telephone with District Attorney Donald Gallegos on Thursday afternoon. When asked if his office was concerned about the welfare of the people living on the LOR’s property, Gallegos said, “Yes.”
The deputies just left… does that make sense?
==============
From the ABQJournal –
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Deputies Do Check at Cult Compound
Journal Northern Bureau
DES MOINES, N.M. — Union County Sheriff’s deputies performed a welfare check Friday on fasting cult members at the northeastern New Mexico compound of Wayne Bent — the self-professed messiah who is accused of having sexual contact with underage girls.
Deputies left after being assured by Bent’s son, Jeff Bent, that everyone was OK.
===================
What could Jeff possibly have said, considering what was written in the letter by “Bernice.” Surely they knew the contents of that letter. So what would have caused the deputies to just go away? Did Jeff tell them that it was all just a publicity stunt, that they were just “yanking the public’s chain?” Did he tell them that people were actually eating nutritionally and drinking plenty of fluids? Did he show them the people in question actually taking nourishment?
Or are these deputies a bunch of “Barney Fifes,” totally incompetent to make a proper evaluation of a crisis?
Here you have a young lady announcing the she will begin a no-food, no-water fast (after having been on a lengthy juice fast, followed by water only) to the with the purpose of ending her life, and you have the leader of the camp giving his tacit approval and encouragement (by validating to her that the messages was receiving in her mind were from God). Plus, in her same document she defines her present state of mind (mental condition) quite well, when she states that she thinks that two people in their graveyard will be rising out of their graves.
And the deputies just leave… very strange.
I just read on the Strong City Web page that 2 officers from the New Mexico State police were permitted to search the camp, all private dwellings, and other buildings, and speak to all of the people there. They were looking for minors, but I wonder if they were also told to look for food in everyones personal pantrys and refrigerators in their dwellings. Was there food on the shelves in the camps store, especially fresh food? Are the people able to eat should they so desire, even if they want to cheat and eat behind everybodies back,(God Forbid), they should at least have the choice and opportunity. Did they look in Wayne’s refrigerator? Wayne has often said, if you are hungry, Come, and I will give you my can of beans. I am not being funny about this.
Johnny: We are not as you are. We do not lie, cheat, or pretend. We do not love our stomach as you do. It is a real fast and a good portion of the land is now ceasing from food and water. Some are still on water, but this is completely at their own instruction. Yes, I have food in my house. I just don’t eat it, but I understand very well how impossible that would be for you.
Sam,
I am glad to see that you seem to have a better understanding of what an insane situation this is. Wayne is every bit as dangerous as a Charles Manson.
My heart goes out to everyone that has been fooled by Wayne.
It’s very probable that the reason the officers didn’t proceed with any other action is because the motion has not been signed by a Judge yet. The SP stated that clearly to Jeff when he allowed them to look around.
As soon as it is signed, law enforcement will return and attempt to carry out all the orders contained in the motion, including removing people.
Face the music like a man Mr. Bent and let your people go!
Someone needs to tell Wayne Bent to his face that “he’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!” Oh, wait, I’m telling you that, Wayne. Seriously, you’re a pompous ass and certainly not God, the Messiah, or anyone like that. Instead, you’re a poor little deluded man who is leading people off the cliff.
Wayne, Jesus (or God) is not going to come down from heaven and rescue you from your folly, but the New Mexico State Police may do so (and if they do, I hope they send you a bill to cover their expenses). I’m certainly hoping that some of your followers come to their senses as the hours go on.
(For the record, I have no connection with Wayne Bent or Strong City and heard about this whackaloon for the first time last spring when the state police raided Strong City.)
Highly unlikely the NMSP will send a bill but we can always hope. Meanwhile, guess who WILL be paying for all of the shenanigans going on? You guessed it! The County, State and even Federal government will bear the costs and it comes out of the pockets of law abiding citizens who pay taxes.
Oh and don’t forget that back in May WB said he didn’t have any money so was assigned a public defender – a right afforded to citizens of the country which WB so intensely dislikes!
I do admire Ms. Montoya for her efforts on his behalf. She is doing her job and stays on top of everything. We should all be blessed with such a good attorney!
Hello All.
Has anyone considered that the government interference may be what will cause death to these people? They don’t appear to pose any threat to anyone from what I’ve read. Not even to children. Has any of the government actually read, from start to finish, the recent post s that Wayne and Jeff Bent? Or read any of their supporter or detractor’s comments written on other websites? If they have, it appears they only abstract what they want to make a point or an arrest. Isn’t that like taking a verse out of the Bible without understanding the context? Bad police. Why would the State waste resources while the people are still fasting? Besides, I don’t think that those people would “hide” anyone there, they always seem to be quite upfront with their beliefs, no matter how it will be interpreted or misinterpreted by the government, media, or former members. I think if any of the children returns, it would probably be posted with the headline “Fast Successful”; see, they aren’t hiding anything. As an outside observer, my understanding is that if the young adults return to their friends and relatives on the property the fast will be over. I think this is because these ‘children’ want to go there, not because they don’t want to go there and the fast is to force the children there. I think if these children DID NOT want to go there, then there would be no fast. In other words, I don’t think anyone is forced to be there, or made to feel guilty to stay. Maybe some people who have left can come forward and tell us their experience of leaving – were they just thrown off the property with their clothes and nothing else or what? Were they debriefed before returning to ‘civilization’?
What is the huge uproar about them fasting anyway? Apart from the fact they are doing this based on their religious beliefs (and apparently that scares some people), fasting takes place all over the world for religious and non-religious reasons. You want to get in frenzy over a fast, take a good look at pictures of children in Dufar. Maybe that’s where all this attention should go instead of towards a handful of people, fasting for a religious reason, that more than likely will stop before anything happens. I think about 1/2 the American population could use a fast.
The reason I have taken an interest in the recent ‘religious cult’ arrests: I have a brother that is strong in the Church of Scientology and has been since the late 60’s. I was terrified at first, this “cult” that “captured” my brother. His zeal for his new believes frightened me – I was only 17 and now my oldest brother was somehow changed. How sad. Fast forward 50 years and you know what? My brother is a minister of the Church of Scientology and I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s 65 and extremely healthy, happily married for over 20 years and still as enthusiastic for his religion but tempered with the wisdom of age. I know he’s fasted; some ‘weird’ fast is part of their thing; so what if it’s not ‘my thing’? Or if I don’t understand it?
Why not just leave these NM people alone.
All Wayne has to do is go to court and stand up for himself, but he knows that he will be found out to be a nutjob. Going on a hunger strike is almost an admission of guilt.
With or without religion, the human body can only last so long without food and water.
Actually, it’s not about returning the 2 children. In his own words:
“Bent says he has not eaten anything since he had a bowl of cereal and fruit on Oct. 16, and he promises to fast barring a “deliverance” from God or unless the state drops the charges against him”.
This has become an issue because the man doesn’t want to go to court and face charges for something that he did. He could very possibly be acquitted but it seems like he doesn’t want to take the chance.
I do agree with you that our time and money could be better used by helping the many starving people around the world. I do what I can to help including in my own area as it is a very impoverished land. And I’m sure many people who write on this blog do too.
But, it angers me that someone thinks they can make their own rules, while living on money from the government, then when called to account for improprieties against children refuse to answer the charges in the courts of the very Country they live in.
Just my 2 cents worth!
Amen
Inkydou,
I greatly appreciate your opinion and heartfully understand your position, not that you have stated one. May I safey assume that all that you know about this case is what you have read on the media and blogs? You sound like an intelligent person, and this is helpful in dealing with facts. But media/blogs can only deal with words on a page. Words can express emotion, general information, and opinions, but they can never replace first-hand experience, nor the knowledge that a real life witness would have and be willing to offer. In the past 20+ years I have enteracted with outsiders from this church, many of them involved for many reasons, and yet some just out of courisity. People watch a television show andnget caught up in the story and may even cry, or get angry, and then right after the show they go out a get a pizza and geo on with their own real life. This is the case for many who post on these blogs. To many, it is just another show, but to many of us it is real life. To Wayne and his little company this is real life. To all the ex-members this is real life. To the folks who have loved ones in the cult, this is real life. Why, simply because this is our lives… it involves every shread of our being, and we all have something to gain and something to lose.
I have sat at Wayne Bent’s feet for 18 years as a member in good standing of his church. Everytime Wayne issued a call for anything, I and all my friends in the church answered, and we gave our all for the cause. Wayne knows this all to well. I have seen Wayne laugh, cry, mourn, be depressed, be happy, and the whole range of human reasoning and expressions. I have read his words from day one, and understood his doctrine, beliefs, and feelings. Wayne may contest this now, but yes, I even knew his vision for the church, as many of us can relate and testify too. This Wayne Bent that I am experiencing now is not the Wayne Bent that I have known all of these years. This current Michael Travesser is not the Michael Travesser that I have known since I first encountered him since 2000. Wayne Bent would say to me now, “Johnny, you have never known me.” He can sweep me out the door with one simple sentence. The story of Wayne Bent has always been about control. His EST Training was about control. His 2 failed marriages were about control. His disbanding of the LOR church and firing of 3 ministers at Castle Dome was about control. The disbanding of all of the earthly marriages of all who lived at Strong City was about control. The “New Government” at Strong City is about control. The disfellowshipping of many former members from this church is about control. The shunning practices used so effectively by the church membership is about control. His saying that we could not have toothpaste in the little store at Strong City is about control. This final fast is about control. I think I have stated my case here, even down to the toothpaste. Wayne will be in control until his last breath. In prison, he would have no control. He would become a number and subject to the penal system. He will not go there, not if he has anything to do or say about it. He even trys to control the scriptures, but I know for a fact, that no man can control God.
Wayne has created his perfect environment, and he has created his present situation. He was warned to NOT DO these things from the very beginning, even as far back as 1988 when The Song of Solomon was first introduced to the church. The LOR church Split/fell then, and now history repeats itself. Now we have the great and final conclusion. Wayne has said from day one, “That which-so-ever a man reaps, he shall also sow.” This is the life and the fruit of Wayne Bent. All of it. He did it all. It is not the State of New Mexico. It is not Prudence Welch. It is not the US Government. Wayne is a man caught in the middle of a huge pit of Quick Sand which has no botton. He is reaching out to twigs and roots which snap off. Even now his hands are full of broken branches, which are his followers, and they are going into the pit with him. Root and branches are destroyed together. But Wayne does have the power to throw these branches to safety, so they can be replanted and flurish. Will he release them? Will he do the right thing, and release his control, and at the same time, maybe even save himself, as he surrenders to God, and give Him control….
Honestly, I must confess. My faith is weak now. I somehow doubt that Wayne will be a real man of God and be fully responsible for himself and these souls who cling to him. I made a grave error of judgement in my “Return To Castle Dome” interview. For the record, let it be known that Wayne and his church are indeed very suicidal. I pray that God will do what is required to save any souls who will be saved from this grave situation. There has got to be a Remnant saved. There has got to be.
Sorry about the typing errors in this last post of mine, especially the misquoted scripture, I meant to say, “That which-so-ever a man sows, he shall also reap.” I wish part two of the “Return To Castle Dome” Interview would be soon coming. Allen Armstrongs views would be very timely right now.
Well said Johnny!
Thanks Johnny, that was the best summary of this situation. We can only hope that
wayne will be exposed as a fruad to his followers before its too late.
I also want to say something to everyone here. There is a very excellant chance that not one of Wayne’s followers at Strong City are able to read any of these appeals or comments. In the name of “Control”, from the last that I had heard, they have had the internet shut off to all of the individual dwellings. There are no phones as well. Only the people on Wayne’s hill (the leadership) have internet, phone, and Jeff Bent has all the keys to all of the cults vehicles. If an individual sitting alone in their dwelling right now, tomorrow, or later wanted to end the fast, and leave, and they are too weak to crawl out to the gate to flag down any passing vehicle… do you see the picture that I am presenting? Who would collect any dead body, that may come as a result of this fast? They are trapped, and not able to ask for help, because there isn’t going to be anyone strong enough to go around and knock on doors, to check on them. They are 31 miles from the nearest community. They are 41 miles from the nearest law enforcement and hospital. Cell phones do not work from strong City, for it sitts in a natural bowl of rocks and clifts. No cell phone signals. We could seriously be looking at the need for body bags within the next two or three days. Friends, make those phone calls, e-mails to anyone who has any influence. DO IT NOW !!!!!! There needs to be someone in there who can be there 24 hours and ready to bring out survivers. I would hate to think that any cry for help would have no possible way of being heard.
Wayne,
You have openly stated that you believe that you and the churches alleged civil rights may have been violated. When a person is dying, many thoughts go through their minds. People relive their lives in their heads, and make peace with their Maker. It is their final conclusion to all of their reasoning in this life. To die alone in one’s bed sometimes is not an option, but it is for these people there with you. Lets say, I’ll just pull a name out of the blue, Timothy, my former roommate, or anyone, maybe Salem, or my wife Lillian wanted to not go through with this fast to the death, and there was not one soul within 31 miles around to respond to this dying wish to be taken to another place, and there was no phone, or internet, or ANYWAY to get word out there to receive a helping hand,… would not that persons civil right to live be violated?
Please allow someone onto the property to be there in that event, be it a health worker, a law enforcement officer, a neighbor down the street, anybody from the outside who can knock on doors and check on the people. Even Ghandi had servants who sat by his side during his 21 day fast, and when he broke it, and was too weak to help himself, and he asked for the juice, it was brought to him quickly. Have mercy on the possible soon to be helpless. You have no right to control this for these people. Give them dignity to control their last moments of their lives. Please consider the fatherless and the widows, and the soon to be ones.
I know first hand that my mother has seen none of this as she is not allowed access to the internet and that she had to go somewhere at Strong City to use the phone. I don’t think these people can make a choice to leave as they are under the mind control of Wayne Bent.
Hello Johnny,
I have appreciated reading your recent comments on this blog, and Prudence’s web site. After fellowshipping with you for 18 years or so and getting to know you a little bit, it is nice to know you a little more, and to see who the “real Johnny” is. I am satisfied. What you must do, do quickly, old friend.
You seem a little hysterical, forgetting the closeness and brotherhood of our land. The people here love each other and serve each other. The attacks of the false-hearted such as yourself, Prudence, Trudy and the others have only driven us closer into each other’s hearts.
Each person here is checked on by another at least once a day, while others who are of a weaker constitution are checked on more often. You may remember that Grace is an R.N. with over 20 years of hospital experience including emergency room nursing, and she is keeping a close eye on everyone here. Our world is not like yours, old friend, where people are left to fend for themselves. We stand or fall together. Would any of your flatterers wipe your bottom for six months and take care of you full time if you were bedridden with stroke or illness? I doubt it. But I’ve seen that done here for more than one person.
Fasting seems to terrify you. In all the years I knew you, food was a subject you would often speak of. It would do you some good to fast for about 30 days. You would lose that ample girth, and you might never be tempted by a Pizza Hut again. Probably most Americans would benefit from a good fast. We have fasted before and our Father has given instructions to fast again. We are not afraid because our instructions come from God, not our stomachs.
As to our phone and Internet, yes, we have shut off most of our DSL connections but our wireless LAN and server are still functioning, and we email back and forth regularly. There came a point where the hooting of the mob was a distraction to us, so we turned off our external Internet access to all but a few computers when we went on our word fast. Some people who still want to do something online use the computers that still have access to the Internet. We still have a couple of phones here that aren’t used much these days.
Everyone wants to join a cause that is popular and riding on the high places of the earth, Johnny. But God lets persecution come to reveal the truth about a person’s character, just as yours has been revealed here. We have been tested to our limits by the attacks of the mob who are stirred up by the lies and misrepresentations of our former brethren, but it has only driven us closer to our Father, and to each other. We will not fail nor be discouraged. Father will manifest the answer to our prayers at the right moment.
Do you remember the experience of the disciples of Jesus? You should. I’ve never regarded you as a stupid man, Johnny, but I do think you are a foolish one.
Why do you see me as a Judas, old friend? What would you rather I do? I am concerned about people dying a very real death. This is not what we were taught from the beginning. This is known by many. I would think that you would believe that there is going to be a great deliverance from Father in your behalf. I understand your joy and faith. I would have no issues with that kind of deliverance should Father bring that about. I haven’t been there this past two years to receive the preparation that you have received. You could say that I am to blaim for that to a great degree. Yet it is part of all of us counting the cost. But I am looking at the entire picture, but not from on top of the fence. Do you really believe the scripture saying that they loved not their lives, even unto death, means what you have been appling? This is new to me. I do not see your deaths as a proper defination of translation like Enoch and Elijah. Why would Father rewrite the rules now. Are the straight testimonies of the scriptures wrong? Was Ellen White wrong? In the end we will all know who was right. May Father has mercy on all of our souls. He knows all of our hearts. And I will leave the judgement of who are fools up to Father. I wish you the best. By the way, should Grace be too weak to check on the people, who is left? Perhaps Grace is not fasting because of the needs of her aquired knowledge of nursing. I have no knowledge of these final facts. I sense these affairs may already be worked out. I hope so.
The poster called Inkydou asked this -”What is the huge uproar about them fasting anyway? Apart from the fact they are doing this based on their religious beliefs (and apparently that scares some people), fasting takes place all over the world for religious and non-religious reasons.”
Inkydou, evidently you haven’t read their plan… sure, they started with rather routine fasts (first juice, then just water). People in good health can fast for 40 to 50 days without food, only water. But, when the fast is no food and no water, then death comes quickly. If someone has been on nutrition and calorie deprivation for several weeks and then goes to no-food no-water, a coma ensues (often in a day or two) and then death is assured in 3 to 7 days. Some of these people are not really in a position to think clearly and they have been convinced that they will be “translated,” by which they mean that their physical selves (bodies) will undergo some sort of tele-transportation to heaven without dying conventionally. There is concern for those people who have lost proper judgement to make decisions sanely, because they are under the influence of a leader claiming to actually be God incarnate who has taught them that such a “translation” is going to be a reality
That’s the uproar.
What I don’t understand is that if some of the family members living not far outside of the compound are concerned about their loved ones, why don’t they just go out there and see what they can do to correct the situation?
Are you afraid of them calling the cops because you would be trespassing? Are you afraid that Jeff and Wayne would shoot you? Do they have guns? Would they kill an intruder? Are they a violent bunch? Call the cops before you go and tell them you think there is going to be a ruckus… because you plan to make one. Take some action if you care that much, don’t sit around moaning. Force their hand… make them have to call on “the beast” for help.
This was in todays Sunday edition of the Albuquerque Journal. I had to copy and paste the entire text, because the link would not transfer. Here is the article. It is a very good one. It was sent to me by the news desk this afternoon.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
‘Messiah’ and His Followers Fast As His Trial Approaches
By Vic Vela
Copyright © 2008 Albuquerque Journal
Journal Staff Writer
DES MOINES, N.M. — Wayne Bent said it was 10 in the morning on a July day eight years ago when he was anointed by God as he sat in the same soft purple chair on which he relaxed during a recent interview.
“I was sitting there just looking out the window, not thinking of anything, not praying,” he said. “And suddenly Father came to me and called me Messiah.”
At the time, he was merely the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, which he brought to northern New Mexico in 2000 with 77 followers.
So, he said, he was at first hesitant to take on this new role.
“I felt nervous,” said Bent, clad in pants, a long-sleeve flannel shirt and suspenders while meeting a Journal crew at his Strong City compound in Union County, northwest of Clayton. “False Christs and all these images of messiahs came up in me, and all those cult leaders.”
Bent said he ultimately took on the messiah mantle and for the last eight years has led the followers who live on his serene, 280-acre property in peace.
But the tranquility members once enjoyed has given way to turmoil in recent months.
Bent not only faces the prospect of prison time, but also — by his own choice — death by starvation.
He was arrested in May on charges that he had sexual contact with underage girls who once lived at his compound. His trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 17 in Clayton.
While Bent has flatly denied any wrongdoing — he claims the physical contact was a healing exercise — the pending prosecution could be the least of his problems.
Bent says he has not eaten anything since he had a bowl of cereal and fruit on Oct. 16, and he promises to fast barring a “deliverance” from God or unless the state drops the charges against him.
He had been drinking juice since the 16th, but, on Friday, he said he began drinking water only and that he will not consume anything beginning next Friday.
He said all of his followers are fasting as well. Some stopped drinking water as of Saturday, according to Bent.
“It is time for us to go, and for this we now pray,” he wrote on a Web site posting Friday. “If we cannot freely worship our God, it is a certainty that we will not worship the image of the beast. We are free, or we are gone.”
Bent also declared that he will no longer participate in court proceedings, though a hearing is scheduled for Thursday that will determine a possible change of venue for his trial. He calls his refusal to go forward with legal proceedings a “holy rebellion.”
He said public misconception of him and his belief that the judge in the case is in cahoots with the district attorney against him means he cannot be exonerated through the state’s judicial system.
“I think any jury with a lot of psychiatrists and a lot of hocus-pocus and all this cult leader sex stuff, these are just magic buttons for people in this country,” Bent said. “And I just don’t think a fair trial can be had in New Mexico.”
Meanwhile, Bent’s followers are standing behind their leader.
A 59-year-old woman, who called herself Faith, said Bent is not guilty of his charges for one simple reason: “He’s innocent because I believe he is the Son of God.”
But Faith said she is prepared for whatever may happen in the coming weeks if Bent is not “vindicated.”
“I was looking forward for this particular day to come, and it’s finally here,” she said. “That the world is gonna come to its end, and I’m leaving.”
District Attorney Donald Gallegos of Taos said recently that he doesn’t know of any precedent for handling a defendant who may be starving himself.
On Friday, his office sought permission from a judge to allow sheriff’s deputies to check on the welfare of Bent and his followers during the fast. The judge was not available Friday, however, according to Bent’s attorney, Sarah Montoya of Raton. Deputies did perform a welfare check at the compound on Friday and were assured by Bent’s son Jeff that everyone was OK.
‘My desires changed’
Bent said he grew up in Compton, Calif., and joined the Navy Reserves when he was 18. After a two-year stay with the military, he got married and had three children.
One of them is Jeff Bent, who now lives on the Union County property with his father and is extremely loyal.
Wayne Bent said he smoked for nine years, drank the occasional beer and was a fan of Southern California professional sports teams, such as the Dodgers and the then-Los Angeles Rams. He also liked to hunt.
But, in 1967, he had a religious conversion and all that changed.
“All I know is my desires changed, and I didn’t want to do those things anymore,” he said.
He earned a master’s degree in religion at Loma Linda University and became a minister. As it became clear that he was devoting his life to God, he said, his wife left him in 1981 after 19 years of marriage.
“She was never happy to be with a converted husband,” Bent said. “But she did the best she could for 19 years.”
He moved to Idaho in 1982, where he was a pastor for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He left the church in 1987 after having a falling out with a fellow pastor there.
Bent continued to preach and lead seminars teaching the Adventist faith until 2000, when he says God told him to move to New Mexico. His role here changed, he said, that July morning when God spoke to him.
Bent said God gave him three Bible verses during that moment that forever changed him.
“I wasn’t just Pastor Bent,” he said. “Now I was Messiah; and the people knew it.”
Bent spoke matter-of-factly about his transformation, pausing to acknowledge most people doubt his claims.
“I know how unbelievable it sounds, but that is how it happened,” he said. “I know how crazy it is.”
Bent prophesied that the world would end Oct. 31, 2007.
Son Jeff recently defended his father’s doomsday prediction, saying it had been misunderstood.
‘We believe in God’
The church compound is lined with trees that provide cover for the small, modular homes where members live.
Women interviewed at Bent’s property earlier this month were full of smiles and wore dresses that reached their ankles. They strongly defended their leader and vowed to stay by his side through thick and thin.
“We just see God in Michael,” said Wendy, the former wife of Jeff Bent who now calls herself Zion. “If we didn’t see truth or integrity in him, we wouldn’t be here.”
When asked why she is willing to fast, even to the point of death, Wendy told a reporter, “We believe in God. You don’t.
“We are following our instructions from God. The consequences are up to him. We’re not planning on dying. God’s promise to us is we will be changed. We are just going forward with what he says to do and leaving the consequences to him.”
Bent lives alone inside a modest, clean trailer with laminated signs inside that are used to tell visitors not to disturb him while he is resting or praying.
A small pillow — a gift from a follower with stitching that reads: “He shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied” — rests on a futon. The message refers to Bent, who is known to his followers as Michael Travesser. The surname comes from a nearby Union County creek.
On his bookshelf sit several stuffed animals, gifts from children who once lived on the property.
In conversation Bent is usually thoughtful, articulate and reserved, but there are moments of anger.
Twice during the interview, he slammed his hand down, once when talking about the state’s charges and again when asked about published reports that he had sexual relations with his son’s wife. Bent said the couple were separated, though still legally married.
Bent is just as forceful with the written word.
On his Web site he has posted blistering opinions about state authorities, saying they’re doing Satan’s work.
Bent has been criticized by the district attorney’s office for comments he posted on the Web. He has called prosecutor Tomas Benavidez “evil” and wrote that Benavidez has “exhibited the classic stance of the beast.”
A judge last week ordered Bent to “cease and desist” from making such comments.
‘She felt she had to’
Bent said the will of God led to his “healing” of the two girls with whom he is charged with having illegal sexual contact; he had no control over what happened.
He said one of the girls was 16 when God came to her in August 2006 and told her to “lay naked on my bed.”
“She felt she must, she felt she had to,” Bent said. “So I allowed her to do that.”
Bent said he touched and kissed her clavicle and then told her to leave his bedroom.
When asked why he allowed a naked teenage girl to enter his bedroom, Bent said, “I’ve always told the girls to do what God tells you. No way I was going to tell her, ‘I don’t care what God tells you. Get out of my house.’ ”
Bent said he had a similar encounter with the girl’s sister.
“If (they) had come to me before (the anointment) and said, ‘Can I come lay naked on your bed?’, I would have said, ‘No way,’ ” he said. “But not after Messiah came into me, because I was now responsible for their soul(s).”
But there was fallout from the girls’ parents.
Bent said the parents left the church and became friends with and told another former church member, Prudence Welch, about the incident.
Welch called State Police.
A three-week investigation by State Police, the state Children, Youth and Families Department and the Union County Sheriff’s Department led to Bent’s arrest May 6.
A police report states that one of the girls said that as she lay naked with Bent, he “kissed her lips like a husband and wife do.” She also reported Bent touched and kissed her breasts. The sister also told police that Bent had kissed her and that she and Bent “lay chest to chest” while she was naked.
Bent points to interviews obtained for his defense where the sisters reportedly have said he never molested them.
Bent provided the Journal a transcript of one girl’s interview by Montoya, his attorney, where the girl said Bent was never naked in her presence and that she “didn’t feel like (Bent) wanted sex. Just probably religious, I guess.”
Bent also provided a letter to District Attorney Donald Gallegos dated June 25 from the second girl who stated that Bent “never molested me or touched me sexually in any way, nor did he use authority to coerce me.” A recent letter purported to be from the girl is posted online.
Montoya verified the authenticity of her interview and the June 25 letter.
Bent says he doesn’t believe he is leading his followers down a suicidal path in spite of their commitment to fasting with him.
“Let me tell you what it is,” he said. “They love me. That’s it. If they saw me whipped off to jail or in a hospital with tubes down my throat, you would see church members sitting right outside.”
He rejects any suggestion that he has manipulative control over his followers.
“I have never implied to anybody that they should copy me,” he said. “Let me enlighten you: God’s here and he talks to the people’s hearts. It’s not Wayne Bent.”
Bent blasted the public perception of who he is.
“Oh, he’s having sex with kids and everybody else, too,” he said. “It wasn’t like that. Nothing here was like that. But the problem is people don’t believe me when I say God speaks to me — ‘There’s this fruitcake out there … claiming that God talks to him’ — and I can’t answer for that. But they didn’t believe Jesus either.
“I expect to get the same treatment that Jesus got. The media wasn’t fair with him, either. They accused him of false charges and they killed him. I know how it looks. I am charged with a crime that did not occur, and even you can understand that.”
This is not a fast! They are going to starve to death and should not be called anything other than Suicide. This is Suicide on Waynes part and Murder on his part as well as he knows very well that these people are under his control. It’s all about control for Wayne and when he saw he was losing control with the current charges against him he became a very desperate man. Wayne the way you are going about this just makes you look that much more guilty! If you really believed in GOD you would leave it in “His Hands” but you do not have enough faith in GOD.
Taylor: Your mother brought this post to my attention so evidently she reads this blog. She told me a few days ago about your physical condition and so I believe a fast is in order for you, too.
Johnny: We have shared truth with you for years, only to watch you turn back to your vomit again. You just can’t help yourself, and I’m not going to try and clear up your confusion.
Your comments about body bags and dying in bed are hateful and very inappropriate, and they are also dishonest because you know our fast isn’t about suicide. You are baiting the people on this blog with rhetoric like that so can stir up sympathy and attention for yourself.
Funny Jeff! Just avoid the Truth and I know for a fact that she does not read this Blog as she told me she does not have internet so who is the liar here Her or You? and do you now answer for Wayne? Is he unable to speak for himself? Thanks!
Jeff,
I have often in my life been wrong. I know myself that well to honesty state that about my many judgements and predictions. I tell you honesty right now, never in my whole life have I ever wanted to be found wrong as I do right now about what I am seeing and feeling. Please prove me wrong, and I will be very much relieved and comforted. I have been praying to Father that I am wrong about all of this, and if I am, then to please have mercy on my soul. I want to be wrong. I do not desire that any of you perish without deliverance from Father. Will you please believe me with this expression of hope. I am sorry if my current state of mind is difficult for you to reason with. I’m afraid that I have never dealt with a situation like this before, and I am dealing with it moment by moment. You would have to admit as well, as this is new ground for yourself. I am doing the best as I am able. There simply are not any flip cards to flip over with step by step instructions as to what to do next. Reality sometimes is not an easy task. But I am doing as I believe I should and would be expected for anyone in my position, as you all are also doing for yourselves. Nobody is keeping score here. I will refrain from the graphic illistrations in the future, if I am able. I WILL MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT. Wayne has been also very graphic as well in presenting his views, not that that gives me license. Again I am sorry, Jeff. And No, I don’t know what you folks are doing anymore. Appearance does say a very lot, despite as to what the church has clearly taught me in the past 20 years. Somewhere, something has been changed, and nobody told me. I do not want attention, yet at the same time I cannot crawl under a rock and hide. That is just an expression.
Johnny, have some nuts here you don’t have to bow down to Jeff or Wayne! Thats what they want you to do and everyone else to do right now! They want to feel in control and that they have all the power. You don’t have to apologize to them for nothing! This is nothing more than a suicide and murder pact with them and they will be just like all the other cults before them. Something they never said they would do, but then again if they were really following the instructions of GOD they would not do this. Do you really think that the way Jeff or Wayne has spoke to you is really christ like? No! Both of Jeffs comments are meant to hurt and not something that a man of GOD would say to anyone. Be strong Johnny! leave this to the real GOD and trust in him.
Jeff, is your father still sleeping with your wife?
(Yes, this is horribly mean, but I still can’t forget the look on Jeff’s face in the documentary when he talked about it.)
Seriously, Wayne and Jeff, to those of us in the “outside world” you look like a bunch of whackaloons. Unfortunately, your whackery now involves the lives of people who may die because you’re trying to prove some obscure point (or worse yet, no point at all).
The fact is, Wayne and Jeff, that God is not going to intervene on your behalf and save you from the day of judgment. Maybe the New Mexico State Police will save you people from yourselves.
I will also add Jeff, that I am not in hell, but I am walking through some very hot flames. This is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me in years. Everything that has prepared me for these fires that I am walking through, I have learned while sitting at your Dad’s feet. Everything that has brought me to where I am today was as a result of your Fathers influence in my life. I owe Wayne that much, and for that I am very thankful. Don’t be so quick to toss me aside. It’s not over with yet. Believe me, my eyes are very, very open. Remember I was annointed twice with those bitter herbs and it was for a reason.
Mom, Judy Halstead
I need my mom to call me immediately.
541-928-3873 or 541-990-0580 Do not deny her this call.
John Halstead
Taylor, please be calm and have faith. Father is in control. He is above and beyond all appearances, and well able to act and do His Greatness. I pray that I am very aware of the present situation, and what I don’t know, well I believe that Father has my best interest at heart, and I trust Him. I hope this doesn’t sound like double talk, but for some reason this is pouring out of me, and I am oddly at peace. Something is happening. I think I want to be quiet for a while. Good night everyone. I am going to go to bed and listen for a while.
Jeff, YOUR comments to a young man who is ill and about to have surgery are hateful and inappropriate. During such a time in his life he desperately needs his mother’s love and attention. All he gets is the knowledge his mother is starving herself because her religious leader is doing the same. Your lack of sympathy for him is SUCH a Christ like attitude.
Johnny baits no one. People posting on this blog can read and have read the current stories as well as the past. We don’t need anyone to tell us what is happening at this moment, it’s very obvious. But Johnny’s views having lived there are valuable bits of information to those of us who are interested in this story. As well, he is genuinely concerned about all of you at SC and sadly his graphic details are not that far fetched.
Facts are facts: One can survive an average of three days without the intake of water assuming you are at sea level (SC is at an elevation of about 6600 ft. above sea level) and at room temperature (It’s 33 degrees at present and will be around 15 degrees during the night warming up to the mid 60′s in the daytime).
A single day without water significantly reduces bodily and mental performance which is dangerous where clear thinking is essential.
A continued lack of water causes dehydration which may result in lethargy, headaches, dizziness, confusion and eventually death.
You haven’t answered Taylor. Do you now answer for Wayne? And my question is are you NOT fasting? To keep answering questions here and maintaining the SC website requires more brain function than someone on day 17 of this type of fast would have.
And yes, I do happen to know quite a bit about the above facts and I seriously doubt one nurse would have the physical capacity or medical equipment needed to care for the amount of people at SC.
I really don’t wish you ill. I just wish for your sake and the sake of your families and friends you would stop this insanity and let God take care of the proceedings in the courtroom.
Mom,
If you read this information as Jeff says you do then communicate with me on here or email me at jrzmh@msn.com I want a phone call immediately although. Mom, I’m pleading with you to not break our hearts. We have dealt with sucide our whole lifes and we plead with you to not do it again to us.
MOM YOU ARE BREAKING MY HEART!!!! PLEASE CALL
JOHN
Judy,
As I’ve told you before I know you have a heart. You know how much love is in the boys heart, please do not destroy it.
Robyn Halstead
Jeff,
I am married to Wendy’s younger sister. I to watched the documentary that was published. I to watched how distraut you were that Wendy slept with your father. You know what the laws are concerning sex abuse against children, and would speak off camera. You know these laws are in place to protect our children from predators. Based on your law enforcement back ground, you know these laws need to be enforced. Times have changed Jeff, where laws were written that indicated how old a child could be to have sexual relations. You might ask yourself if when you were a police officer, would you not have arrested someone for doing exactly what your father did. I see the look in my sister in-laws eyes as she looks at Wayne. There is no doubt that she believes that he is “father”. But I have also seen the look in your eyes. Wendys family and parents, your inlaws are worried sick. You need to have Wendy contact her family, her parents number is still the same. Your inlaws have said nothing bad about you to me. I am expolice officer and married to Joanie.
I only heard about the Strong City group shortly before seeing the documentary Inside A Cult, but I have this nagging thought that I’ve yet to see anyone consider. Everyone seems to be aware that Wayne Bent is a master manipulator and that Jeff Bent has more than the usual layman’s knowledge of the Justice System in America. Has no one put these two facts together? It occurs to me that perhaps Wayne’s back and forth double-talk, and constant contradiction of his own words, as well as his prior public fasts have also been a form of manipulation. But of the courts. I believe that he has always intended his followers to follow him in a fast to their deaths and by acting in this manner to the point that a sane and rational person (such as a judge) would not take his ‘final’ fast serious enough to approve a raid on his compound. Would it surprise anyone if the Judge’s reaction was “Oh yeah, here he goes again. I wonder what date God will tell him to eat again this time?” If his followers live past the date of Oct 31, 2008, what will he tell them when the world continues with no ‘change’? I do believe that this time he and his followers will not survive but I also believe that he has planned this for the past year. And I wonder why some of his followers went off water earlier than others. Could this be because Wayne considers these individuals to be of stronger physical health than himself? In that case wouldn’t he need them to succumb to their starvation before he himself “leaves this Earth”?
As a nurse of 30 years, I know for fact that if anyone has been without water for over 48 hours their potassium levels drop. Then severe muscle cramps and spasms occur. These can be extremely painful. The ability to perform simple tasks ie: sitting at a desk and typing out well thought out letters would be impossible for Mr. Bent as of yesterday.
I do not believe that Mr. Bent is fasting from food and water. He would be so weak at this point he would be confined to his bed.
Sam I agree. If this were my family out there I would not be sitting behind a computer blogging. I would be driving out to their land and walking if I had to, to wherever they were living to see them and do what I could to remove them.
If my parents were part of a fast that was going to exclude water (because that is apparent suicide), then I would be petitioning a court for them to be taken to a facility for an evaluation. I would not be making up web sites and writing posts, there would be action. I would not be waiting for police to make moves. It is obvious that the police do not care if they starve to death as long as there are no minors involved.
My advice is stop blogging and begging this man. GO TO THE LAND AND WALK IN IF YOU MUST to check in on your families. This messaging back and forth while lives are at stake seems not only tragic but ridiculous.
“And I wonder why some of his followers went off water earlier than others. Could this be because Wayne considers these individuals to be of stronger physical health than himself? In that case wouldn’t he need them to succumb to their starvation before he himself “leaves this Earth””?
If Wayne was doing this by himself he would generate little sympathy from the public and his passing would be of little consequence. By having others at risk of dying before himself he is in the metaphorical position of saying “Give me what I want, or I’ll kill the hostages”. This only works because the public sees his “flock” as helpless victims rather than willing participants, or even co-conspirators, in this attempt to blackmail the public and the NM justice system. Keep in mind that that many, many people have tried to reason with the Strong City residents over many, many years to let them know that they are off track. The ones whose consciences would not allow them to participate in the SC activities any longer have already left. From my view, these people are not “innocent” and they are not “victims.”
They are all complicit in what has happened at SC.
Still….if I had family living there, under the present “leadership” team, I would be doing everything I could to get them out.
Wayne, why is it necessary for your people to follow you on this fast? If your translation is on the horizon, then their fast it not necessary. I understand the purpose of your fast. However, it is YOUR fast, not theirs. As the leader, you should disapprove of their fasting and approve of your followers contacting their families. Do you doubt their faith in you? Why can these family members not come onto the land? Your beliefs assure you that you will be delivered thru your change. So why do you encourage other people’s suffering? The Messiah does not need the support of his people in order to defeat Satan. So, why drag them along? They do not have the power you claim to possess.
Claire, Angela and Raycot, while the Bent’s ARE manipulating the system I believe there are plans in place to stop this. First the court order which hopefully will be signed this morning. Secondly, there is a status conference scheduled on the morning of the 28th (tomorrow) where the judge will hear everything that’s happening.
Of course we all hope that the court order will be signed this morning and will be acted upon immediately. From what I’ve read of the dynamics between those living at SC and their families on the outside there has been much control of the people at SC making it difficult for anyone to reason with them and I sense the families don’t want to make a bad situation worse by knocking down the gates. No one really knows what would happen if they did. The combo of Law enforcement and the families together might work, but then again, no one knows.
I don’t really see his flock as victims so much in this fast because unless physically restrained they could pick up a glass of water. But they are victims in a general sense as they have been brainwashed for years into thinking that following WB is a direct line to God.
Waiting and watching!
Sharon Tate would probably still be alive if Charles Manson had not messed with the minds of those trusting young people who looked up to him.
To Our Friends in LOR
“Your mind is not always in such a condition that you can safely follow its leadings. Frequently things come into your mind which you regard as the special teachings of the Spirit of God, impressions direct from the Lord; but they are not. You cannot rely upon these impressions. Elder D did this, and it was to a great degree ruin of body as well as to the detriment of his soul. It was the Lord’s way to instruct him by warnings and counsels through the Testimonies. This light was to correct the force of his impressions; and yet these impressions were preferred and relied upon. The light given of God was rejected because it did not coincide with these impressions and sustain the intense feelings he had upon many points.” {Ellen White, 6MR 180.3}
“Satan can give feelings and impressions, and those who take these as their guide will surely be led astray.” {Ellen White, PH048 34.2}
“When persons will speak lightly of the word of God, and set their impressions, feelings, and exercises above the divine standard, we may know that they have no light in them. Obedience is the test of discipleship. It is the keeping of the commandments that proves the sincerity of our professions of love. When the doctrine we accept kills sin in the heart, purifies the soul from defilement, bears fruit unto holiness, we may know that it is the truth of God. When benevolence, kindness, tenderheartedness, sympathy, are manifest in our lives; when the joy of right doing is in our hearts; when we exalt Christ, and not self, we may know that our faith is of the right order. ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John 2:3.” {Ellen White, MB 146.3}
You’re right Ron. He still tries every year for parole which thankfully has not happened.
And there are 1000′s of other trusting souls who over the years have followed these egotists, who claim to have the only way to eternal life, to their deaths.
I have personally known one of the couples in SC for many years although I have not physically seen them for quite some time. No, I will not say who. This is because I feel it necessary to protect others, not myself. I do not see them as victims of Wayne Bent or his ideas. I am sure that the majority of Waynes followers are now and have always been good people so before you slam me, know that. However, this couple are not innocent lambs. There has been sexual perversion and down right cruelty in their lives long before they ever heard of Wayne Bent. A man such as this cannot become the ‘leader’ he has become without others perpetuating that notion. There have been years of their family trying to reason with or ‘reach’ them. The only result has been alienation. If the state is successful in interceding or if they are somehow forced to see that Wayne Bent is not the Messiah, they will simply find another way to end their lives. My heart does not ache for them but it does ache for all those who have been and will be affected by their actions.
Point Taken! From what I have learned of these people and from their own words, they certainly are not sweet little angels, they are vain humans, just like us. Self Rightous fools.
I’m afraid I have to disagree with you, Ron. I would not consider the couple I knew as vain or self-righteous. There is an illness inside them. In many respects they have had the battle between good and evil raging inside them. Yes, they did vile things, but always had the knowledge of how vile and hurtful their actions were. And yes, they had remorse and guilt. Because of this battle, they suffered immense pain and heartache. They needed help. Along comes Wayne Bent who says to them “I can heal your heart. You are loved. I can give you the peace you are so desperate to find.” He showed them a way to continue many of these perversions and cruel actions in the name of the God and therefore alleviating the guilt the battle inside them ceases. Why wouldn’t they worship him?
I guess I am referring more to the insulting, hate filled posts that I have read from Milton, Wayne, and others in Strong City. Self righteous describes anyone who thinks they know the mind of God.
Ron,
I do understand and agree that there is alot of hate filled words coming from the principals of SC and would say the same myself. I do consider the principal leaders of SC to be self-righteous and vain. In fact, I don’t believe Wayne Bent gives any consideration to the feelings or well-being of anyone other than himself. It’s just that while I don’t see the followers as victims, I don’t believe they are motivated by vanity or a sense of self-righteousness. I also don’t think that at this point there is anything that we on the outside can do for them, as sad as that may be.