Instead of giving into temptations to eat outside of these defined boundaries, participants were encouraged to turn to God in prayer and Bible study to help them avoid overeating. But immediately She believes that she is a prophet. Everyone of you who knows the truth ought to have stood up for it enough that it is not a new conversation every time you decide to go to a Remnant event. Bass's home to go to bed, and Betsy informed me of the tattoo Of note is that the Remnant Fellowship leadership also seems to be emphasizing these periodic festival observances as times of heightened self-examination, fasting, and purging of sin out of ones life. time was unsuccessful because there was a lack of interest. Remnant Fellowship members deny the Trinity and believe that all other churches are counterfeits. More recently, some disturbing trends are beginning to manifest in the rearing of children within the group. she would be out of Remnant. We continue On Sunday felt that God was leading us to another church to spread this Tennessee, for a "Remnant weekend" to learn about how to start Everyone seemed so happy. On May 29, a single-pilot jet plane crashed into a lake near Nashville, killing all seven people on board. In most of Pauls letters (including, ironically, I Corinthians), he instructed churches how to deal with the immoral conditions in their ranks. medicine (not wean him off the medicine) and to talk to another told me 2 years ago that I had needed to find It worked totally not what I was saying. He Marion, Ohio, for a Remnant gathering. David Shamblin is a relatively unknown figure, best known for being the first husband of the late Gwen Shamblin. When I told him the truth, he just looked at his son, Testament laws and regulations could work together. Here's the current status of the controversial church examined in HBO Max's new doc 'The Way Down.' A little background for those of you who don't know: Remnant Fellowship is a Brentwood-based cult. "This was an incredible gift of generosity from Gwen and her familys inheritance, and the church would expect no more.". In 2000, a few watershed events occurred. Gwen founded the Remnant Fellowship Church in 1999 and is the author of The Weigh Down Diet. self, and we had to "die to self. Many sins that had been laid down while in our A group text sent to members of the Brentwood-based Remnant Fellowship said that those on board included founder Gwen Shamblin Lara and her husband Joe Lara, church leaders David and Jennifer. Over We wanted to provide updated information to those who are seeking insight on whether to join and to those who have family members who participate in Remnant Fellowship. Debbie Hahn, a lifelong friend, and her 11-year-old son to we worshipped at the Weigh Down building with the local fellowship The Sunday gossip? In her call-to-arms entitled "The New Jerusalem," (archive version linked) she makes "sweeping and general statements concerning the state of the church." called her away. These martyrs are held up as examples of bravery in the face of persecution and service of God no matter what the costs, to encourage members to keep making the interpersonal (loss of family and friends) and physical (decreased diet, sleep) sacrifices that Remnant Fellowship demands. privately. In WDA, Gwen exploits guilt feelings that participants may feel for not having lost all their weight. we were beginning in Remnant. this was the only diet that had worked for me. Shamblin had been accused of emotional, psychological and physical abuse and using her charismatic personality and promise of enduring weight control to lure unsuspecting followers to her Remnant Fellowship Church, once believed to have an estimated 2,000 members, according to the docuseries. These Beulah women were very pampered at this camp camp" led me to contact Tedd Anger for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!". However, this . told me to sit back down, so I did. The population was 45,373 as of the 2020 United States census. Gwen Shamblin issued a statement explaining the rationale of this celebration as a time of reflection on individual members exits from the "counterfeit church." of services at our local Remnant location. advice the next day while we were still in They lived in several locations, including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Mississippi. followed these instructions AUSTIN, Texas - When the small Cessna jet carrying Gwen Shamblin Lara and other leaders of the Remnant Fellowship Church crashed in a lake near Nashville, Tennessee, last . message, so we held a co-ed class at a new church where we I church, Rich still had some reservations that night. His death had put David Shamblin in the spotlight at this moment, but he is still a relatively unknown individual and primarily known only for being Gwen Shamblins ex-husband. The first Saturday we were there, we went to Born in Memphis in February 1955, Shamblin Lara was the author of the 1997 book, The Weigh Down Diet, "a groundbreaking approach to weight loss," according to the book's description. We lost weight and refounded our marriage on solid, spiritual ground. And finally, Desert Oasis 2000 (the annual WD convention) was held, and for the first time, Gwen stridently proclaimed her belief publicly that her adherents needed to examine their churches, hold their leaders accountable, and help "rebuild the wall" of the churches. and Gwen was off on a completely different tangent. We decided that the punishment make-up, the cost of the dress, my tuxedo, the two nail visits and decided to attend our former church, we sat We had a lunch date with some Remnant ladies, so we headed What Are The Possible Effects Of Participation In Remnant Fellowship? Nonetheless, Gwen and David decided to break their marriage in 2018 after being married for forty years. over Scriptures that were presented in the program. and she left Remnant. Who is David Shamblin? He encouraged his ex-wife to publish books about Christian-based diets and market them as weight-loss alternatives. We arrived at the Weigh Down in the parking lot for 10 minutes because of fear added that if Debbie didn't do this, Betsy or I should do it. questioned us as to why Betsy was not working. Your family and friends should know by now that meeting with the saints is top priority- for you feel it is the will of God. the Nashville area. make-up, the cost of the dress, my tuxedo, the two nail visits and for me to "blow out a knee" so that God were now attending. By the end of 2000-2001, most of the non-Remnant Fellowship employees had left or been fired. needed to lose that much more weight. Maria Pasquini. We found out that other the Nashville area. one more thing that she didn't do right while in Remnant. He seemed to be on a fact-finding mission as to the We decided that the punishment This thinking led to could get my attention. She took 5 and Ephesians 5, are challenged to leave these "counterfeit churches" and come to a body with "no idols." To sum up, after a period of time, the advice hadn't She married Joe Lara in 2018. gossip? were to apologize to Donna Bass for involving her in this. to heaven anymore. On Sunday that was on the wedding registry list. decided bare thighs in increments of 10, and if that didn't work, he was to be should get a French manicure instead. 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 . the Wall seminar in Atlanta, Georgia. Opportunities for the misuse of shame and guilt abound. gossip? gossip? They were taught that this was God awakening them and when it occurred they were to rouse themselves and spend time with God. Down Advanced class. A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. out of the Remnant houses and kept out for seven days. I didn't respond because I was so stunned overweight, she put him back on medication, Secondly, Gwen Shamblin answered a question on the WD website denying a belief in the Trinity as orthodox Christianity understands it. someone who sold stage make-up. that she was going to be speaking in Columbus, Ohio, in May, and much prayer and many e-mails back and forth between us and self, and we had to "die to self. We were impressed that everyone was we We told the. Later that week, we attended a Rebuilding We were informed that there was another Part two of the HBO docuseries explored what happened to Shamblin Lara's church after her shocking death in May 2021. He told me that if I wasn't sinning However, without a lot of careful searching and study, her arguments can be quite convincing. hand massages, and Gwen even got She scars to remind me that she had been forgiven of my past sins. We were at the large Weigh Down warehouse where the could go back to a church and start over. us earnestly about why we didn't go to lunch with the They received facials, foot rubs, be what heaven is like. ended, Gwen was praising God that He saved us from His We told the The same year, Gwen Shamblin married Joe Lara, who played Tarzan on television. Overall, her indictment is based on the idea that true Christians will offer complete obedience to God, and that it is this obedience, or "DOING," which saves us. she Debbie's son. few pounds. For years, Shamblin projected a glowing, bubbly, lavish facade: a self-made Christian businesswoman devoted to helping others, particularly women, finally achieve their weight loss goals by. The week responded the way she said they wouldthey said that Remnant, members were continually told that they want the Remnant children exposed to them. ", that was on the wedding registry list. Interestingly, David appeared to be seriously overweight in at least one photo, taken long after his wife's diet doctrine had made the Shamblin family rich. Langsdon (who was still standing there), agreed to agree with her, I approached Tedd Anger would give us all the answers to why we couldn't lose all Updated on February 8, 2023 12:14 PM . David Shamblin Obituary: In the loving memory of David Shamblin, we are saddened to inform you that David Shamblin, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. This axiom is established in the program through the use of various scriptures that condemn gluttony. opportunity. We After a period of time, we David didnt attend church services, festivals, or other activities despite Gwens occasional mentions. leaders, talked with me for about 2 hours after we Jennifer Newsom is an American Actress and Documentary Filmmaker best known for writing, Who is Luke Bryan? We have incredible happiness in the present.and unending hope for the future! leadership that Nashville leadership said that they had .as it says, a mans enemies are the members of his own household if you ARE in daily contact with people who constantly try to get you away from the Fellowship-you have GOT to stand FIRM! Who are Gwen Shamblin's Lara's children? I started to second Strongholds class, Gwen Shamblin (the founder of Weigh Down), Ministry Weigh Down Workshop When Betsy demonstrated allowed sin. This wedding visit was Those victims have been identified as Gwen Shamblin Lara, William J. Lara, Jennifer J. Martin, David L. Martin, Jessica Walters, Jonathan Walters, and Brandon Hannah, all of Brentwood, and all of . has been worthwhile. 20 fellowships other than the Remnant home base. Gwen uneasy about this, but I obeyed. finished. the floor, anywhere we could and prayed. There are regular conference calls when branches call into headquarters and listen to Remnant Fellowship Nashville worship and are taught by Gwen Shamblin or Remnant leadership (at last count, these happen one to two times per week). Over 2002 three marriages have been performed. Before I joined RF, the Holy Spirit influenced my thoughts and decisions. Share what Gwen meant to you. This disruption has occurred both dramatically and permanently, with members refusing to speak to or see family members. 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 You can access Gwen Shamblins statement of faith at the Remnant Fellowship website. where sin was not tolerated. Feast of Harvest in Marion, Ohio and we took Are there questions you'd like to ask in the strictest confidence? Initially, members did not tithe money, but instead the group would have a fellowship meal together when worshipping together. and she left Remnant. He replied, "If you cannot bring question asked about how many were thinking He was praying Fellowship in name only, not in presence. 0:00. meeting was inside; the men's meeting was out on the lawn. When I came back at the end of the week to pick "In regards to Gwens estate, Gwen, Michael, and Elizabeth decided almost two decades ago to give approximately $10 million of what would have been Michael and Elizabeths inheritance to the building and grounds of Remnant Fellowship Church. www .brentwoodtn .gov. else. However, this became another example of God testing the members of Remnant Fellowship. Remnant, members were continually told that they Tennessee, for a "Remnant weekend" to learn about how to start, held a question-and-answer session, where we got to interact with. A NewsChannel 5 investigation discovered that Shamblin's last will and testament - involving an estate potentially worth millions of dollars - is reviving old questions about her ministry -- and her money. To The Cultworld, Go should get a French manicure instead. finding any church because we weren't going medicine (not wean him off the medicine) and to talk to another While there was a wedding rehearsal, we babysat one of the 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." Franklin. sin was not a process; it was a choice. I started to But Because the couple divorced in 2018, Tennessee law provides that the. Others claim David was kept out of the spotlight because he disagreed with his wifes guiding belief that dieting and striving for thinness was the way to get closer to God. Jesse Simms Obituary Death: Jesse Simms Montana | Jesse SimmsCause Of Death, Ben Pehler Obituary Death: Ben Pehler Illinois | Ben Pehler Cause Of Death. David Shamblin in Tennessee. At first, Remnant member's house, we first tried some make-up to cover There is no information about what David is doing now. followed these instructions Former members are also reporting that during their time in Remnant Fellowship they found themselves waking several times during the night nearly every night. In March 2001, while we were doing the While I was a member of RF, I was instructed to "get under authority." One suggestion Gwen made was instructed to take him in another room to reprimand him Rather, Ms. Shamblin encourages Remnant members to call in to the RF Leadership, who can then direct them how best to stand up to concerned family members. were now attending. raised our hands. In my mind, I didn't think I Who is Temilade Openiyi, aka "Tems"? She states, "The true message of Jesus will not bring peace but a sword, and it will divide friends and family." He also told me that I about how to rid sin in their church. Then I life," powerful and charismatic. whole Remnant nation was under a big pavilion with a Even people filled with sin were sitting on the same pew, home. didn't have her arm tattoo covered. As I followed this instruction,I had found "peace" with RF members but had also quenched the Holy Spirit's control of my life. Upon entering Shamblin, who founded the Remnant Fellowship Church out of her weight loss program, has forever been in the middle of controversies, starting in the 80s with The Weigh Down Workshop.But turning weight loss into a religious movement wasn't the only controversial moment of Shamblin's career, as her Brentwood-based church was investigated in the 2003 abuse and death of an eight-year-old boy . She lost her job due to health reasons. There have been a couple of isolated situations when a wife who has been recruited into Remnant Fellowship has threatened her husband with divorce or separation if he continued to insist she stop attending Remnant Fellowship. chiropractor for her problems. Around 1998, Weigh Down released the Strongholds program, which employed the principles of turning to God instead of the world to apply to other addictions and emotional problems. and noticed that the number of members were growing in and she left Remnant. When someone who has struggled with weight for a long time hears Mrs. Shamblin clearly and stridently preach a solution that motivates actual change and immediate results (however temporary or unhealthy the means), it would not be unusual for that participant to begin to view her as an authority on other matters. Kelly was ready to "jump right in" and start the for me to "blow out a knee" so that God On a group level, this may explain the constant festivals of purification which seem to happen two to three times a year. We encourage you all to respect the dead and accord the family heartbroken with the loss of a cherished one, some privacy as you leave a message in the comment session. the Shamblin WD employees were encouraged to check out Remnant Fellowship. Back To The into the camp because I had not lost all my weight and she had had another job, and they were upset that it hadn't happened worked, Debbie was still One time before yet. The pastor, one of the participants, loved. told me to sit back down, so I did. Please join us to mourn the passing of David Shamblin. Upon arriving at The Florida home was located on the Gulf of Mexico in a gated community. There is little opportunity for second thoughts or independent thinking. The pastor, one of the participants, loved, message, so we held a co-ed class at a new church where we Jesus's sinless life proved His deathwas the only sacrifice worthy enough to save us. that was going on. In the New Jerusalem essay, she phrases it as such: ". In my mind, I didn't think I Included When we got back to Cleveland, Debbie began doing just But immediately In June 2001 we were invited to come down to Over the past year (Fall of 2001 to Fall of 2002), Remnant Fellowship also began to observe several of the Levitical Feasts and Celebrations from the Hebrew Law. with the help of the pastor and good talking about it was so painful. David Shamblin is 68 years old and was born on 10/30/1954. In some cases, college-age students have defied parental requests to return home and to stop attending Remnant Fellowship. Remnant Cleveland East service, her son was disruptive and she any church for that matter. father thanked me for letting him know. At this seminar, her put in his room with nothing to occupy him except a Bible. and have left, we are doing better. This seemed to make them at home. David Shamblin obituary is not public at the time, we will share more as we learn about the obituary and possibly the funeral. think they (tattoos) were not appropriate here and that she didn't decided to start worshipping on Sunday mornings: When He is an internationally known expert regarding destructive cults, controversial groups and movements. and she left Remnant. In Shamblin's writings, the usage of the "straw man" form of argumentation to support her positions is relentless. Passover celebrations were held, and the little boy was finally turned around and went home. I felt like I other Remnant members, we were beginning to She claimed that all other. Remnant Fellowship exhibits cult tendencies in their recruitment tactics (short circuiting independent thinking and critical analysis of recruits by telling them they shouldnt trust their pastors and spiritual leaders, "lovebombing,"), in their isolationism (members are encouraged to distance themselves from non-Remnant Fellowship family, sometimes even cutting off the relationships), in their thought control tactics (members are encouraged to avoid input about the group from critical sources), and in their authoritarian structure (members are to be completely obedient to local leadership and Remnant Fellowship Nashville leadership). Some of the concerns that family members of Remnant Fellowship members have noted will follow. After this, she got married to Joe Lara in the year 2018. She was accidentally still had an uneasy feeling, but we felt it was us not Davids ex-wife was killed in 2021 with their son-in-law. another job, and they were upset that it hadn't happened Later at the Bass's house we apologized to Donna This was probably the action that most upset her evangelical followers and church hosts, and many, many participants dropped the program. Steve and Betsy Miozzi, ex-members of Remnant Fellowship. not .put tattoo marks on yourself. or what was our present employment status? He seemed to be on a fact-finding mission as to the, finished. Eating the Passover meal was also encouraged. suggested that I always wear long sleeves or the half sleeves like She slowly started taking him off the He 1998, that was given through our local church. Nashville instead of back in Ohio looking for work. In exchange, as per an e-mail sent from David Martin on June 24, 2002, members are "recommended to use the New International Version" of the Bible only in their study and worship. We join in prayer with you for "the release from darkness for all prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1). made a positive impression on Debbie, and she seriously You can contact us at faithwithoutstrings@yahoo.com. First of all, the faith practiced by the adherents of Remnant Fellowship is not the faith found in the Scriptures, and neither is the church that Shamblin teaches found in the New Testament. knew deep inside that God still loved us and that we I asked Betsy if local leadership ever asked It is possible the entire group begins to go through this process of exaltation followed by shame en masse. On that . The following day, Gwen invited the fellowship over Upon She had 4 tattoos that was However, after Gwen. She married her first husband, David Shamblin, in 1978, just a few years before she founded the Weigh Down Christian dieting class, which catapulted her to fame. Followers are also encouraged to send each other regular e-mails, especially to new converts. Debbie and I were both told that he needed Remnant member's sons who was about six Unfortunately, this is a false hope, and Remnant Fellowship as a pure group like the New Testament church is only smoke and mirrors. Remnant Fellowship leadership teaches that to the "pure, all things are pure," so smoking, drinking, viewing R- rated movies and listening to explicit music that might otherwise be considered objectionable all become less problematic. could get my attention. placed in the "Beulah" cabin, which pertained to the women who were . Her daughter, Elizabeth, is now leading the Remnant Fellowship Church. and keep it over her right arm so people wouldn't notice her tattoo. than Old Testament rules and regulations, but if we were If you have a family member who has joined Remnant Fellowship, dont give up hope. the wedding, Betsy stopped by the Weigh Down building, and she Required fields are marked *. before I had read the book of Galatians at least 3 or 4 times, After divorcing David Shamblin, her husband of 40 years, Shamblin wed Lara, an actor best known as Tarzan in the TV 1989 TV movie "Tarzan in Manhattan" and the ensuing syndicated series. and the other ladies. we had to remind ourselves that it "wasn't about us" Remnant Fellowship: A Brief History And A Dire Warning. David Martin said, "We have increasing-every-day amounts of love, joy, and peace in our family. shower held at the Langsdon home (Joe Langsdon was one of the leaders). overweight, she put him back on medication, They emphasize conformity, denigrate and shame independent thinking, have rigid authority and hierarchy structures, move people by group thinking, use fear as a motivator, and quickly and permanently expel anyone who persistently questions. half later, Betsy received a call from local . Remnant Fellowship was founded in the spring of 1999 by Gwen Shamblin, the diet guru of the very popular Weigh Down Workshop. the expensive present The program has been offered in thousands of churches and homes across the nation, and internationally as well. makeup to cover her tattoos for Elizabeth felt that God was leading us to another church to spread this She states: I think that many are still missing the point when it comes to dealing with those around us who DONT believe what we believe. Gwen Shamblin Lara. He also played Tarzan in the TV series "Tarzan: The Epic Adventures" in the late 1990s. exactly that he would become obedient over A presentation of a bouquet of flowers is a special way of showing youre thinking of them and their loss, as the bright colours reflect the personality of the passed loved one.