Runfree

[runfree]

Hello,

I'm brand new here and so glad I've found this site. I come from a loving, Christian family but last year my younger sister met and married a young man who is a follower of Steve Maxwell. She must obey her husband who doesn't allow her to visit her family because we are "worldly". Now and then he will allow a short phone call. She's just had a baby girl but says no visits are possible. I've checked out the Maxwell's website. The restrictions and rules overwhelm me. I'm hoping for support in this forum.

Thank you all,
Runfree

[krwordgazer]

Oh, wow, Runfree. That's so sad to hear; I bet you miss your sister very much.

[fabucat]

Wow! Maybe you could clue us in on who this Maxwell guy is!

[nikita]

I looked up Maxwell's website and read some of his Dad's Corner and Mom's Corner articles and wow. Strict patriarchy, served up cold. The whole 'wife must remain quiet and not question or disagree with ANYTHING the husband does is big with him. It was very much in line with what Jo's article was saying today in 'What Went Wrong'. You couldn't find a more exact teaching on that patriarchal teaching than what Maxwell teaches on his site. I have to tell you that Steve and Teri Maxwell gave me serious creeps.

Runfree -- so glad you are here with us and I am so sorry you are dealing with the results of this man's teachings in the life of your sister. Ugh!.

[journey]

It may have been caused by physical issues, but I, personally, felt that Terri Maxwell's long bout with depression was her body's response to a very difficult situation. Living in a patriarchal environment, having a large family, homeschooling them all and living on the tight schedule that they set up (Managers of Their Homes---MOTH) is not something that would inspire a joyful outlook on life.

She wrote about her (8 years? Longer? I can't remember, but it was a long time) of depression, writing that it was helpful to have the MOTH schedule then. I remembering reading that and wincing. I know that when I tried to do the MOTH schedule (Oh, my husband LOVED that!), it sucked the joy right out of me. I *hated* that...hated it, hated it, hated it.

Remember the part where you schedule everyone's day, including your own, and then take it to your husband to get his permission on it before you posted it up and followed it? Even in my fully-submitted days, that part still made me feel sick. To have to get my husband's approval on every single 15 minute increment of my time, and then to have to account for that time, should he so desire to ask?

[runfree]

THANK YOU ALL! I feel so supported already.

Since I feel pretty directly involved with the Maxwell family because my sister is under the influence of their beliefs, I've spent time studying their website (www.titus2.com). I've learned a lot from reading entries going back a year, in their Daily Blog and in Mom & Dad's Corners.

This family is SERIOUSLY SCARY. They are almost completely isolated from the worldly world where there is wickedness. Among Mr. Maxwells decrees: no outside friendships for the children or parents; no team sports; no newspapers, TV, or radio. They do not participate in any of the home schooling conferences /meetings that many of the fundamentalist families enjoy and attend. They do not go to a church. Mr. M holds his own service in a nursing home attended by just his family and some of the elderly residents. He probably considers these old people no threat to his authority. The family travels around the country to sites Mr. M has set up for services (led by him) and to sell their books on home schooling and family management. The only contact with others that the daughters have is in these small homeschooling workshops and worship services. None of the 3 daughters are allowed to be near any males other than their brothers. The sons by necessity of making a living, have more contact with the world but strictly for business.

Mr. M strikes me as a person who has enormous fear of any situation where he can't be completely in charge. Seems like he works hard to take as much control as possible over all aspects of his wife and children's thoughts and behavior. (See journey's descriptive entry posted Oct 7). What's really scary is that Mr. Maxwell is accountable to no one and writes as if he's the last word on interpreting the bible. My sense is that he greatly abuses his parental power. The focus is on sin, wickedness, prayer and very long lists of chores.

Anyway, I'm hoping my sister and her husband will not fall into these extreme behaviors. Thank you all for listening. I feel better for having put my sadness and frustrations in writing.

Runfree