A Twisted Faith by Gregg Olsen

I have just finished  A Twisted Faith by Gregg Olsen.  I finished it in two days, reading almost non-stop.  Yeah, this true crime lover thought it was that good.

A Twisted Faith is a true story about a youth minister who heard or said that he heard direct words of God through Rick Joyner's prophecies of the late nineties. He then worked actively to fulfill these prophecies and others as he thought they applied to him. After his wife died, and even before, he manipulated several women into believing they were a part of a prophecy and their involvement with him would lead them closer to the will of God.

Olsen's writing is without sensation and dispassionate, relating the story clearly and with sympathy, it seemed to me, for all parties.  Having long been a member of pentecostal churches and having been familiar with Joyner's prophecies, I could hardly put the book down.   The pastor/minister, Nick Hacheney, used Joyner's words and other more direct prophecies (as given to particular members of the fellowship) to ultimately destroy lives, including his wife's, and to help destroy their community church.

To me, the most interesting character of the book was Sandy Glass.  She was a prophetess and the church's secretary for a time.  Her involvement is to date not totally known.  Since she didn't interview with the author, she remains opaque and mysterious.  Is she guilty, complicit or a victim?  Let the reader decide.

I recommend this book highly for any true crime lover, or one who loves explorations of religion gone awry.  As I am writing this, Annette Anderson, one of the main people profiled in the book is answering posts here.  Part of what is so remarkable about the internet is that this type of interaction can occur.

I've just ordered another of Gregg Olsen's books.  I'm impressed with his writing.

If you are interested in this book, and you are from Lake, Mendocino or Sonoma Counties, you can order it here.

~mel