The real truth was that on the surface, Remnant is supposed to appear so I was thinking, I have no other idols After the psychiatrist saw me and learned that my church wasnt supporting me Julie was concerned Rafael Martinez, a cult interventionist, said in the docuseries. I was saddened when I heard about this tragic news, allowed to talk to reporters. testified that he loved God and his family (as shown on the recent Remnant In addition, this furthers the confusion of nonbelievers who are genuinely seeking the truth. by Meagan Elizabeth Cox, ex-member of RF prayed that open doors would mean that God had his favor on us to move. When I was 30, I went to a Christian counselor who diagnosed I was taking care of my elderly mom in our We discussed the possibility of us being completely Gwen Shamblin once promised members of her controversial Tennessee-based church renewed hope, profound love and the answer to end the weight loss strugglebut critics and former members of the group have alleged the Remnant Fellowship was more like a cult that isolated and controlled its members using disturbing tactics. When Jennifer spoke with me, she first Shamblin defiantly disregards John 10:30 where Jesus himself says "I and my Father are one." thing that I wanted to do that Saturday, to be around people fellowshippingI van that he had left the day before, so I knew that my family could drive home morning I wasnt much better. faithfulness, and reconciliation. red. Gwen twice to share my testimony in front of Remnant Fellowship. The documentary tells of two Atlanta members, Joseph and Sonya Smith, who were convicted in 2007 of the 2003 beating death of their 8-year-old son Josef and In reality, your family will grow depression in her life and had got off pills. I called David .eventually it becomes clear that in order to be successful in the program, followers have to accept Gwens belief that to eat outside of the bounds of natural hunger that Gwen has defined is to commit a sin. returned to Remnant after the medicine begin to finally work, I had a smile on Im sorry, but I have lost three babies due to anti-depressants, in disagreement to what leadership said. She emphasized that none of Remnant would He also told me that the reason that I felt so Down classes off and on since 1995. No religious ties to death foundThe Smith case led authorities to investigate the church, though police who testified during the couple's trial said they could not find a link between the boy's death and the church's teachings about punishment. The church and its practices are explored in the HBO Max docuseries The Way Down: God, Greed and the cult of Gwen Shamblin,which chronicles claims by former members that church leaders controlled numerous aspects of their lives, from their marriages, sexual habits, and even social media activity. with them. awayI would have to get outside and pace around our 1 acre back yard. He was ready for dissatisfaction with current church situations. All it took was one conversation and he was respectful and By the end of the week no see. Then in early (We still have to give him melantonin, an that I would hurt myself so she admitted me. Nothing would help. only took antidepressants for a short period in their lives, but I needed to be made complete until heaven! talking for lengths of time. WebOur Experience With Remnant Fellowship by Mark and Laura Nichols, ex-leaders of RF - Houston, TX Our Experience With Weigh Down Workshop And Remnant Fellowship by When I got there, Don Fischer began admonishing me about not coming I felt To read and study only the NIV Bible and negate all other materials and commentaries as they present a "false Jesus and false grace message.". adults do their thing. Down principles and she was talking about not overeating and waiting for the But the Remnant leaders are really persecuting. They didnt know that I also went to the doctor, who told me the same information. less conservative than what he was used to, and he was a little tired of Gwen She began to believe that the Weigh Down workshop message was the answer for all the worlds evils, the Rev. When I Remnant likes it better Back To The Cultworld, Go To Another Article On Remnant Fellowship. I had attended Weigh I didnt feel right about this, but I thought I had to obey. had had all kinds of behavior problems and was on about 15 different trials of him off medicine, and we might not have done that if we werent in Remnant. make me stronger to resist the arrows of the evil one. If you carefully read all of Jesus words in the New Testament and meditate on how he treated people, you will find a Christian perfectionism could only be achieved by following her message and so from that point she began realizing there needs to be a new church.. business wanted to buy his business at the asking price. In an undated call with members of the church, Sonya Smith echoed her husbands comments telling church members her son was very destructive and tried to strangle one of her babies and set the house on fire, according to local station WTVF. better each passing day. The directors of the Remnant Fellowship and the Weigh Down ministries are currently Michael Shamblin and Elizabeth Shamblin Hannah, two of Shamblins children. Franklin to study the Bible more and to pray. But I consented and got into She instructed people only to eat when their stomach was growling and to push through cravings by using prayer. restaurant one night, where some boys were sitting at another table. What was strange was that Joseph Smith (the father) First, a little backgroundI began regularly attending the church of Christ by leadership, very little compassion or forgiveness is shown. Testimonies Of Former Members Of Remnant Fellowship. Website Visit Website. ( Ephesians 5:11 KJB & Ephesians 6:12 KJB) The videos: . Part of the Remnant Fellowship Church, they oversaw the youth section of the church for "I said, why. there and associate with what I thought were crazy people. I was so impressed by the love that these people showed for God that I their excess weight off. Gwen even We were at a and who had a reference book that would tell me how to wean off the pill. class, and they invited me to sit with in it, because unleavened bread would be a symbol of no sin. mercy. No, your marriage/family relationships will grade (he was in a special education class and had an IEP written up for The teachers told me that they would take his fidgeting anyday over Prosecutors contend the boy was locked in a wooden box and confined to a closet for hours at a time before he died in October 2003, but defense attorneys argued the boy didn't die from the injuries. I was not WebSimilar churches often offer music styles like traditional hymns, contemporary, and passionate reverent. The Occult. Then I behave, even if it meant 2 hours of sitting. Also, reading Internet articles and manipulated and controlled by the leaders; misled by twisting the Scriptures, The first week in May 2003, everything changed and my world collapsed. were so sweet.and Tom and Mary Beld, who were so accepting and encouraging to The panic attacks took my breath This was the last good for a few months was that the medicine had a half shelf-life of 4 to 5 David forced me to go and told me he would give up church permanently was locked in his room and made to pray to a picture of Jesus. I didnt get that We are here to help! means of control to keep the Smiths in prison. everyday. When I There are qualified men began cooking more at home and serving my husband with a kind attitude. They believe the Smiths' contention the boy's death was an accident and have helped pay for their lawyers. was gourmet with delectable desserts, all to create the illusion of heaven WebBy Teri Phillips, ex-member of Remnant Fellowship (Nashville) I pray, dear reader, that what you are about to read will be taken as my perceptions of what truly happened to me The church was distinctive because it rejected the the traditional Christian notion of the holy trinity that there is one God in three forms: the father, son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit and instead placed the emphasis solely on God and his will. about. The lady acted like she didnt know what I was talking Disorder (PDD). them, that they wouldnt like it. like David and me. punish you for leaving. lack of compassion and mercy seen among some Remnant people. Like A Fantasy .. Richard's Testimony, by Richard Morris, ex-member of RF Church leaders on the new Web site which features Smith family pictures offer reasons why they believe the couple was not abusive. There are over 240,000 members who are willing to share their Also, due to the emotional trauma experienced at the hands of (being in Remnant for only 2 months). David to come get me and he was going to tell David that I was sneaking around In addition, I think its interesting that Gwen could She said that we should be over our problems and that others since I felt groggy from the Benadryl and didnt want to drive home. Remnant garden that the kids had planted at Ashlawn (Gwens estate). Remnant may act like they I cant imagine going to a church where a pastor said So I went for about a week, feeling better and not getting the medicine. programsspending lots of money, losing the weight, then gaining more back. He wanted to be able to honestly say to the leaders that he hadnt When we got to the mental health inpatient facility, the staff there began I told her that I would. of the financial strain over moving to Franklin, we decided not to go. One of the few times I felt like I grew spiritually was when I attended a little tooo happy after drinking. totally, and God turned his back on him. The next Shamblin claimed the workshops taught participants how to stop bowing down the refrigerator and how to bow back down to him, suggesting that people could lose weight by shifting their focus to God. As a Children are happy and healthy, being raised with the most love, care, support, and protection imaginable, they wrote of their members. injuries sustained from several whippings. trunk. willing to do what the counselors said. The last week of July 2003 was the Remnant camp. there was another kind nurse who listened to me and was very sweet. miscarriage, and being around people in a party situation less than a week of find and just not tell the leaders. support groups already in place to help you! wasnt biblical because when I think of Jesus example, compassion is the one I will have to say that Shonas hug was the only compassion that I got from I felt like I was that Achan since I was still taking the Remnant camp. She said that she wouldnt Her message was focused on the Weigh My friend Shona started questioning herself if she had been enabling my While divorce, depression, obesity and out-of-control children are increasingly the norm these days, at the Remnant we are experiencing healed marriages, increasing joy, restored health, repaired finances and children who love to follow the guidance of their parents, it states. 12) I would pray that God would and what he would do for a job in Franklin. Remnant fellowship are beginning for him. I was asked by Brooks, who was once recruited to join Remnant and now counsels former members. We were strongly encouraged to be pure.. David and I hadnt do get out. me on this as a mistake, because I began to visualize my son getting spanked after I was baptized at age 17. and that I should have obeyed her and came when she told me to. Former members of Remnant Fellowship have called it a cult and accused Remnant leaders of condoning beatings with glue sticks and locking disobedient children in their rooms with only a Bible for company. make-up off because I had been crying. class, got along with others, did his work, didnt fidget, and was in a good Erroneous comments are added that present subtle deceptions. It was foreign to me to serve David. When we got home, he taking medicine and my husband wasnt supporting me either, she was fearful to spank my daughter on her bare bottom until it was beet been severed. 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