Go and Preach No More: A Legacy Abandoned, My Life Reclaimed by Wm Raff (Book Review #2031)

Go and Preach No More: A Legacy Abandoned, My Life Reclaimed by Wm Raff is an insightful memoir that takes readers on a journey through the struggles, disillusionments, and ultimate liberation of a man raised in the strict, Pentecostal-influenced New Apostolic Church. Raff’s story is one of questioning faith, confronting deep-rooted traditions, and ultimately reclaiming his own identity outside the rigid structures of his upbringing.

Raff was born into a third-generation ministry family, where the expectation to follow in his father’s footsteps and dedicate his life to the church was non-negotiable. From a young age, he learned that the world outside of the church was to be feared, and his own doubts about his faith were often dismissed as temptations from Satan. He struggled with social awkwardness, feeling out of place in both his church community and the wider world, yet he complied with the pressure to conform.

As a teenager, he thrived in the highly structured environment of the church, where ideals were set high and expectations were even higher. His life seemed set on the path of priesthood, and by age 30, he was ordained as an evangelist, serving the Spanish-speaking community. However, his encounter with a progressive bishop, Alex Klein, would challenge everything he had been taught to believe. This marked a critical turning point in his life as he began to question his faith and the ideals of the church that had shaped his identity.

The collision between the church’s rigid structure and the evolving ideas of Klein and the new apostle Leonard Kolb led to Raff’s eventual disillusionment. He found himself at a crossroads, questioning whether the church could fulfill the mission it claimed to embody. At age 50, he walked away from the legacy he was meant to inherit and sought to find his own path.

Two years later, after recovering his faith and sense of purpose, Raff embarked on a new journey. He attended community college, then seminary, where he encountered new perspectives that further shaped his worldview. This journey led him to reject the ancient doctrines of his past, embracing a myth-free worldview grounded in philosophy and science.

Go and Preach No More is a powerful story of personal transformation, challenging the expectations of faith and authority, and finding freedom in self-discovery. Raff’s honest, reflective writing offers readers a raw and emotional account of his spiritual journey, from obedience to independence, and ultimately, liberation.

Written by Jeyran Main

Click here to feature your book in the Review Tales Magazine.