Sbi Asked to Investigate Abuse Claims into Wnc Church

By Brianna Smith
WSPA
March 8, 2017

http://wspa.com/2017/03/08/sbi-asked-to-investigate-abuse-claims-into-wnc-church/

This 2016 image from video shows the entrance to the Word of Faith Fellowship church in Spindale, N.C. Newcomers to the Word of Faith Fellowship live by a list of strict rules for daily life, which sect leader Jane Whaley says God revealed to her, former members say. (AP Photo/Alex Sanz)

The Burke County District Attorney has asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations to investigate abuse claims and allegations listed in an Associated Press Article against a Western North Carolina church.

For 18 months, the Associated Press investigated the Word of Faith Fellowship church in Spindale, North Carolina. The reporters talked to 43 members who had left the church, who described years of mental, physical, and sexual abuse.

In a second article, the Associated Press outlined potential cover ups by two employees of the Burke County District Attorney’s Office, Chris Beck and Frank Webster. Both Back and Webster are ministers within the WFF church.

The article detailed that Back and Webster provided legal advice, helped at strategy sessions and participated in a mock trial for four congregants charged with harassing a former member.

In a press release from the Burke County District Attorney, he stated the following:

“On Monday, March 6, The Associated Press released a story containing allegations against two Assistant District Attorneys employed by me in the 25th Judicial District. On Tuesday, March 7, I requested that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into The Associated Press allegations.”

We have reached out to the SBI to see if they will be investigating.