Christian

Korean apocalyptic Christian movement founded by Lee Man-hee (1984) claiming to be the promised pastor of Revelation. Notorious for deceptive 'gospel-fishing' recruitment via front churches and the 2020 COVID-19 super-spreading event in Daegu.

Kingston Order / Davis County Cooperative (Latter-Day Church of Christ)

Polygamist sect of fundamentalist Mormons headquartered in Davis County, Utah. Distinctive teaching of 'pure blood' that has produced documented systematic incest. Multiple federal and state investigations including the 2020 federal $511M tax-fraud sentence of leader Jacob Kingston for biofuel tax-credit fraud.

Shincheonji (additional reference)

Cross-reference entry — see the primary Shincheonji Church of Jesus entry for full data.

Kenyan Christian doomsday cults (umbrella, Mackenzie tragedy)

Umbrella for Kenyan Christian doomsday cults. The 2023+ Paul Mackenzie Good News International Ministry Shakahola tragedy killed 400+ through starvation-based fast commanded by Mackenzie.

La Luz del Mundo (Naasón Joaquín García)

Mexico-based Christian Restorationist movement founded by Eusebio Joaquín González (1926). Current leader Naasón Joaquín García was convicted in California in 2022 on multiple counts of child sexual abuse and sentenced to 16 years.

Providence / Christian Gospel Mission (JMS, Jeong Myeong-seok)

Korean Christian-derived movement founded by Jeong Myeong-seok (1980). Leader convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault in 2009 (10y) and again in 2024 (23y). Subject of Netflix's 'In the Name of God' (2023).

Gloriavale Christian Community (New Zealand)

34/40· Extreme

Isolated Christian community of ≈600 in Haupiri, West Coast, New Zealand. Founded 1969 by Hopeful Christian (Neville Cooper). Multiple 2022–24 NZ Employment Court rulings have found that members were illegally treated as unpaid labour from age 6, awarding back-wages.

LeBaron clan polygamist groups

34/40· Extreme

Network of fundamentalist Mormon polygamist groups descended from the LeBaron family. Notable for the 1972 Joel LeBaron assassination ordered by his brother Ervil; the 1977 'Lambs of God' assassinations across the US; and the 2019 Mexico cartel-related massacre of nine LeBaron family members.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Christian restorationist movement governed by the Watchtower Society's 'Governing Body'. Independently assessed as high-control by Steven Hassan and Kimmy O'Donnell, with documented practices around shunning, blood-transfusion refusal, and information restriction.

Twelve Tribes

Communal Messianic-Jewish-influenced movement founded by Elbert Eugene Spriggs (1972). Members surrender all property, work in community businesses (Yellow Deli cafés, construction), and follow strict child-discipline teachings repeatedly investigated by child welfare authorities.

Maranatha Campus Ministries (defunct, 1972–89)

Authoritarian campus ministry founded by Bob Weiner (1972). Distinctive shepherding/discipling, dating control, and aggressive recruitment. Dissolved in 1989 under pressure from the broader evangelical community after extensive abuse allegations.

7M Films / Shekinah Church (Robert Shinn)

Los Angeles-based Shekinah Church and its 7M Films talent management business, led by Robert Shinn. Subject of Netflix's 'Dancing for the Devil' (2024) documenting how TikTok dancers under 7M contracts were severed from family.

Followers of Christ (Oregon)

Pentecostal-derived faith-healing church concentrated in Oregon City, OR. Multiple parents convicted of homicide or criminal mistreatment after children died of treatable conditions because the family refused medical care.

The Brethren / Jim Roberts Group

Itinerant Christian movement led by Jim Roberts ('Brother Evangelist', d. 2015). Members live communally, dress identically (modest 1800s-style), travel by foot and bicycle, and are completely severed from family of origin. Subject of multiple disappeared-college-student investigations.

Khlysty (Khristovshchina, historical Russian flagellants)

Russian underground sect (17th c.–early 20th c.) believing the Holy Spirit re-incarnated in successive 'living Christs' and 'living Mothers of God'. Distinctive ecstatic spinning rite (radenie) and ascetic celibacy paired with sexual antinomian variants.

Manmin Central Church (Lee Jae-rock)

Seoul-based Korean Pentecostal sect founded in 1982 by Lee Jae-rock, who claimed to be sinless and capable of healing miracles. The Christian Council of Korea declared Manmin a heretical group in 1999. Lee was convicted in 2018 of raping eight female members and sentenced to 16 years.

TB Joshua — Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN)

Lagos-based Nigerian Pentecostal mega-ministry founded in 1987 by Temitope Balogun (TB) Joshua (1963–2021). Vast global televangelism reach via Emmanuel TV. The 2024 BBC 'Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua' investigation documented decades of sexual and physical abuse of disciples; the 2014 SCOAN guesthouse collapse killed 116, mostly South African pilgrims.

The House of Yahweh (Yisrayl Hawkins)

Texas-based Sacred Name movement founded by Yisrayl Hawkins (1980). Multiple Texas legal cases regarding bigamy, child-bigamy, and child abuse in the 2000s. Apocalyptic separatist theology.

Plymouth Brethren Christian Church / Exclusive Brethren

Strict separatist branch of the Plymouth Brethren movement, currently led by Bruce D Hales from Sydney. The doctrine of 'separation' enforces severe shunning of those who leave or are excommunicated, including by family.

Remnant Fellowship Church (Gwen Shamblin Lara)

Tennessee-based high-control church founded by Weigh Down Workshop creator Gwen Shamblin Lara. Documented child-discipline criminal cases. Shamblin and most senior leaders died in 2021 plane crash.

Eastern Lightning / Church of Almighty God (China)

Chinese new religious movement believing the female 'Almighty God' is the second incarnation of Christ. 2014 McDonald's killing in Zhaoyuan by members. Chinese government-banned; refugee status disputed in multiple Western countries.

Oneida Community Perfectionists (1848–81, historical)

Historical American communal Christianity (1848–81) founded by John Humphrey Noyes. Distinctive 'complex marriage' (every adult member married to every other), 'stirpiculture' eugenic-breeding programme, mutual criticism sessions.

Calvary Temple (Sterling, Virginia, Star Scott)

31/40· Extreme

Independent church in Sterling VA led by Star Scott. Subject of Washington Post 2008 'Lost Souls' investigation documenting severance of family members from those who leave.

Westboro Baptist Church

Tiny Topeka, Kansas congregation founded by Fred Phelps, almost entirely composed of his extended family. Notorious for picketing military funerals with anti-LGBT signs. Documented severe shunning of departing members by remaining family.

Two by Twos / 'The Truth' (no-name fellowship)

Long-secretive Christian movement (founded 1897 by William Irvine) with no formal name, no buildings, no public website, claiming to be the only true church. The 2023+ public revelations of widespread sexual abuse across multiple US states and other countries — 700+ victims — have triggered the largest reckoning in the movement's history.

Legion of Christ (Marcial Maciel)

Catholic religious congregation founded by Marcial Maciel (1941). Vatican confirmed in 2010 that Maciel sexually abused seminarians and fathered children with multiple women. Major institutional reform followed.

Restored Hope Network (US Christian conversion-therapy ministries)

Coalition of conservative US Christian conversion-therapy ministries that re-formed in 2012 after Exodus International dissolved and apologised. Continues 'sexual-orientation change' counselling in jurisdictions where it is still legal.

WMSCOG 2024 successor / 'Mother God Zhang' continuation

Cross-reference entry — see primary WMSCOG entry.

Various Mormon-fundamentalist polygamist groups (umbrella)

Umbrella for various Mormon-fundamentalist polygamist groups beyond named entries (FLDS, Kingston, AUB, LeBaron) — Centennial Park Group, TLC Independents, etc.

Magnificent Meal Movement (New Zealand, 1980s–90s)

New Zealand-based Christian sect led by Doug Metcalfe (1980s–90s, defunct). Distinctive 'magnificent meal' communal eating ritual, severance from family of origin, total surrender of assets.

Logos Foundation (Howard Carter, Australia)

Australian charismatic Christian community led by Howard Carter (1968–90, defunct). Practised shepherding-movement personal authority, communal economy, and political activism. Collapsed in 1990 after Carter's adultery revelations.

The Way International

Bible-based group founded by Victor Paul Wierwille in 1942 (incorporated 1955). Distinctive 'Power for Abundant Living' (PFAL) class plus 'Word over the World' campus outreach. Long history of authoritarian leadership and sexual exploitation allegations against multiple top leaders.

Apostolic Faith / fundamentalist-Pentecostal isolate communities

Diverse cluster of small isolate Pentecostal communities (Apostolic Faith Mission and others) with documented patterns of insularity, severe modesty codes, financial control, and severance of departing members. Distinct from mainstream Pentecostalism.

Seed of David / faith-healing isolates

Cluster of small high-control faith-healing Christian communities (similar pattern to Followers of Christ) where members refuse medical care for serious illness. Several state-level child-death prosecutions documented.

Boston Church of Christ (1979–2003 Crossroads/ICOC era)

Historical entry covering the pre-2003 Boston Church of Christ era under Kip McKean. See parent ICOC entry for comprehensive coverage.

Christian Identity (extreme variants)

Extreme racist offshoot of British Israelism teaching that white Europeans are the 'true Israel' and non-whites are subhuman. SPLC hate-group designation; documented links to Robert Mathews's The Order (1980s) and other violent incidents.

International Churches of Christ (ICOC / 'Boston Movement')

Independent Christian movement formed by Kip McKean in the 1980s 'Boston Movement', practising mandatory one-on-one discipleship with assigned 'disciplers' who supervise daily life. Reformed under pressure in 2003 but core practices persist.

Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ)

Filipino Christian denomination founded by Felix Manalo (1914), now headquartered in Quezon City under Eduardo V Manalo. Notable for disciplined bloc-voting in Philippine elections and the 2015 'Lowell Menorca' family-internal abduction allegations.

Members Church of God International (Eli Soriano / 'Ang Dating Daan')

Filipino Christian movement founded by Eliseo 'Eli' Soriano (1913–2021). Soriano fled to Brazil in 2005 facing rape and child-abuse charges, was extradited and convicted, and led the church remotely until his 2021 death. Successor: Daniel Razon.

JW Kingdom Hall elders / judicial committee system

Internal Jehovah's Witnesses judicial-committee system. Three-elder closed-door panels determine disfellowshipping of congregants. Documented as routinely re-traumatising abuse survivors.

Elder Ephraim of Arizona — Athonite monastery network (USA)

Network of ~20 monasteries founded across North America by Elder Ephraim of Philotheou (Mount Athos), centred on St Anthony's Monastery in Florence, Arizona. Ex-members and several Greek Orthodox bishops have flagged coercive-elder, family-severance and forced-confession patterns.

International House of Prayer KC (IHOPKC)

24/7 prayer-room ministry in Kansas City founded by Mike Bickle (1999). Fractured in 2023 after multiple women publicly alleged decades of clergy sexual abuse by Bickle.

Enlightened Christian Gathering (Shepherd Bushiri)

Malawi-born self-styled 'Major 1' prophet Shepherd Bushiri leads ECG. Faced multiple South African fraud and money-laundering charges before fleeing to Malawi in 2020 in violation of bail conditions.

Mars Hill Church (Mark Driscoll, 1996–2014)

Seattle evangelical megachurch (1996–2014) under Mark Driscoll. Collapsed in 2014 after governance investigation; subject of the 2021 'Rise and Fall of Mars Hill' podcast.

Shakers (United Society of Believers, historical)

Communal Christian tradition founded by Mother Ann Lee (England 1747; America 1774). Distinctive celibacy mandate has driven the community to near-extinction. Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village (Maine) is the surviving community.

Igreja Mundial do Poder de Deus (Apóstolo Valdemiro Santiago)

Brazilian neo-Pentecostal mega-church founded in 1998 in São Paulo by Valdemiro Santiago de Oliveira after his split from IURD. Operates 4,500+ branches in Brazil and ~50 countries. The 2020 'miracle COVID-19 bean' incident drew international attention.

Snake-Handling Pentecostals (Church of God with Signs Following)

Appalachian Pentecostal congregations practising serpent-handling and strychnine drinking based on Mark 16:17–18. Multiple documented deaths including pastor Jamie Coots (2014) and Mack Wolford (2012).

The Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (Olumba Olumba Obu)

Nigerian Christian-derived movement founded by Olumba Olumba Obu (1958) in Calabar. Followers regard the founder as God incarnate. Distinctive white-clothed worship, communal living, and total surrender to founder's authority.

Amish (Old Order)

Old Order Amish communities maintain high behavioural conformity through the Ordnung (community rules), Meidung (shunning) of baptised members who leave, and minimal engagement with outside media and education.

Local Church (Witness Lee / Living Stream Ministry)

Christian movement growing out of Watchman Nee's 'Little Flock' and developed by Witness Lee in the USA. Distinctive 'pray-reading' practice, hierarchical structure tied to Living Stream Ministry, and one-recognised-church-per-locality theology.

Sedevacantist movement (independent traditional Catholicism)

Independent traditional-Catholic movement holding that the post-Vatican-II popes are not legitimate. Specific high-control sedevacantist organisations (CMRI in Idaho, SSPV in Brooklyn) exhibit documented insularity and severance patterns.

Local Church 2024 continuation