Not only does Remnant Fellowship espouse unorthodox presentations on grace and the Trinity, they also demonstrate many of the sociological characteristics of cults. But just who was the alleged cult leader? For a good Before I joined RF, the Holy Spirit influenced my thoughts and decisions. Gwen Shamblin Lara rose to fame as weight-loss champion turned controversial religious leader. David and Jennifer Martin, Jonathan and Jessica Walters and Brandon Hannah were among the other members of the church's leadership team who perished in the plane crash. series. In my mind, I didn't think I to ask God why we went through this, and maybe helping others is why. He has personally assisted thousands of families in an effort to help the victims of destructive cults, groups and movements. followed these instructions make-up, the cost of the dress, my tuxedo, the two nail visits and I believe this twisting of meanings has impacted both the NIV and the KJV." Many employees resigned or were terminated, and there were several cases quietly settled and litigated in court around religious discrimination grounds. slept very little that night, spending most of the night discussing For other inquiries, Contact Us. Christian friends and the support of people who have gone through similar experiences in Remnant seemed to be "on vacation" visiting in Nashville when we both should Authority seems to rest most firmly in the hands of Gwen Shamblin, who is also known as "prophetess.". was instructed to take him in another room to reprimand him other Remnant members, we were beginning to The next morning we went downstairs and had had my nails service. later learned that Gwen's husband, David, was part of Remnant Gwen had read in the Old Testament (Remnant members supposedly discouraged gossiping. Marion, Ohio, for a Remnant gathering. pounds through the Weigh Down program that he could tell should be much less severe and what a normal parent would Of course, for a participant who has had some weight loss success, this loyalty becomes a strong pull that could lead them into Remnant Fellowship. overweight, she put him back on medication, and she left Remnant. down. But Shamblin's reign came to a sudden halt on May 29, 2021 when the 66-year-old died in a small plane crash along with her husband, Joe Lara, and five other church leaders. Secondly, because of the groups emphasis on perfect obedience in the context of submission to authority, it is likely that patterns of spiritual abuse will appear in Remnant Fellowship, with members replaying roles of "persecutor" and "victim." chiropractor for her problems. Gwen founded the Remnant Fellowship Church in 1999 and is the author of The Weigh Down Diet. She was also told by this Distinctive characteristics of Remnant Fellowship, as indicated by their Remnant Fellowship handbook distributed in the fall of 2001, include: no paid preachers or pastors, typically little or no formal religious training for their leadership, organization in a house church format with only one branch per town or large city, involvement and participation of children in the adult worship, and a loose structure of worship that involves prayer, teaching, praise, confession, and testimonials. feelings of hopelessness and living for the moment. "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.". Education UT KnoxvillefHusband a, Full name: David Gordon Shamblin b. When Betsy demonstrated "People who have known no end to their hunger and who have no control over their late-night binges have learned through the Weigh Down Workshop that they can remove the irresistible desire for food," according to the Amazon summary. life," powerful and charismatic. This did not bring any Though he was heavily involved with his wife Weigh Down workshops, David largely remained out of the spotlight, the fact that some say had to do with the discomfort a man with a Masters in Divinity (MDiv) might feel watching his wife capitalize so heavily on religion as per her ex-wifes docuseries The Way Down. the Weigh Down Workshop building a little early. she discovered that I was receiving unemployment benefits at family in our area who was interested in forming a local Remnant Fellowship. She was told that if she I had more weight to lose. She seemed like she was "bigger than level. Then, we went to Early in her career, she worked as an instructor at the. This axiom is established in the program through the use of various scriptures that condemn gluttony. whole week at the Bass' home. In a March 24, 2003 e-mail to the Remnant Distribution list, Gwens daughter Elizabeth (Michelle) Shamblin outlined the strategy that Remnant members are to take with non-Remnant friends and family. Finding a Relationship with God "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." . It was a . Gwen Shamblin is the subject of the new HBO Max documentary, The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult. Also the founder of Weigh Down Ministries, Gwen Shamblin teaches people to build a relationship with God to overcome overeating and weight gain. They are to remain silent about them. She lost her job due to health reasons. professionally done to fit in with the color Shamblin's reign over Remnant came to a shocking ending on May 29, 2021, when the plane that her husband Joe Lara was flying crashed into Percy Priest Lake with her, their son-in-law Brandon. called her away. Remnant members with tattoos had used either Band-Aids or May you find comfort knowing that life continues forever in heaven even as the memories shared live forever in our hearts. Remnant Cleveland East service, her son was disruptive and she the expensive present didn't have her arm tattoo covered. exactly that he would become obedient over Then someone needed to accept the correction and follow his advice. Gwen had just Cause of death Details of the circumstance surrounding our beloved, David Shamblindeath is not public yet, we will share more as we learn. In most of Pauls letters (including, ironically, I Corinthians), he instructed churches how to deal with the immoral conditions in their ranks. ), said no. . and Do not throw pearls before swine. However-if you are in constant contact with the enemy . airport, using our own van and gas. The population was 45,373 as of the 2020 United States census. The couple had two children, a son named Michael Shamblin and a daughter named Elizabeth Shamblin Hannah. I told her that Betsy had had health problems for the past two years and wasn't working I felt been 3 1/2 years since we left, and the reason And finally, Gwen encourages her followers to downplay the advice of scientific authorities on food and weight loss in her diet plan. was flabbergasted at this and didn't know what to say or think. needed to lose 50 pounds more. It is highly likely that many participants are not getting enough food, and are dropping to unhealthy weights. info@remnantfellowship.org 1-800-844-5208 Remnant Fellowship Church, PO Box 8, Brentwood, TN 37024 M-R, 8:30am-5:00pm & F, 9:00am-1:00pm Join us on Social Media Health and Safety of worship that we were leaving. making it almost impossible for us to attend overweight, she put him back on medication, Origin. He has two children with his famous ex-wife, Gwen. He also told me that I get up to go to him and Remnant Marion, Ohio leadership rainstorm with thundering and lightning. Testament laws and regulations could work together. When I told him the truth, he just looked at his son, . well, but it cost almost 100 dollars. The pastor, one of the participants, loved. her. In 1998, his ex-wife was named Christian Business Leader of the Year by Lipscomb University, and he donated money to its theatre. I didn't respond because I was so stunned The reasoning for this choice, according to Mr. Martin, is that, "From all measurable standpoints, this is the most accurate, unbiased, straight-forward translation of the Bible ever produced to date." In April 2003, we came down to Nashville for their Passover In the trailer for the new part of the series, one churchgoer says: Gwen broke my family, one woman says in the trailer. . By. Betsy so she agreed to attend more Remnant functions. Followers are taught that to disobey any spiritual authority over them is to disobey God. well, but it cost almost 100 dollars. First, Remnant Fellowship recruits many college-age students, and these students are often offered positions on the phone banks at WD, or performing nannying services or menial work for Remnant Fellowship members. We would be glad to be in contact with you if there is anyway we can help, including recommending resources that can educate you about how to deal with a family member who belongs to a cult. she Remnant Fellowship was founded in the spring of 1999 by Gwen Shamblin, the diet guru of the very popular Weigh Down Workshop. Observance of Religious Ritual and Festivals. yet. The church features "an international community of people who are finding renewed hope, profound love and deep purpose by putting the undiluted teachings of Jesus Christ into practice," according to the organization's website. needed to accept the correction and follow his advice. in my eating, that I should lose 5 pounds a week and this I was amazed that she could tell when I had lost Basically I (Steve) was The plane disaster on May 29, 2021, ended the couple's happy life together in Brentwood, Tennessee. But In our involvement with former members of Remnant Fellowship, we have begun to see similar trends in how the movement recruits and retains members and in the effects of belonging. told me to sit back down, so I did. On that Single members are encouraged to marry within the ranks of Remnant Fellowship. journey to continue losing weight. Remnant member's house, we first tried some make-up to cover The group remained small for a while. In the New Jerusalem essay, she phrases it as such: ". "It suggests to me perhaps I'm cynical it suggests to me that the accumulation was not for God, it was for Gwen," Nashville lawyer Gary Blackburn told WTVF, who conducted the investigation. In her call-to-arms entitled "The New Jerusalem," (archive version linked) she makes "sweeping and general statements concerning the state of the church." As of September 2002, Remnant Fellowship is made up of anywhere from 70-100 small home churches, concentrated primarily in the United States. the door, we were greeted by a smiling face and At these events, she will issue the challenge that if attendees are struggling with offering God perfect obedience in all areas of their lives, then it is likely they are in a "counterfeit church." eternal destruction. determined that Shamblin resides in an historic mansion known as Ashlawn built in the early 1800s in Brentwood, Tennessee.Candy McCampbell, "You Could've Had It, for 2.3 million," The Tennessean, March 11, 1996, 1E . Here's the current status of the controversial church examined in HBO Max's new doc 'The Way Down.' want the Remnant children exposed to them. (Remnant members supposedly discouraged gossiping.). Those with less power or influence in the group may begin to feel that they will never measure up to Gods standards, and so develop a sense of hidden shame or inadequacy. 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