After all of the allegations in opposition to the group, it’s unimaginable to be taught whether or not the Shekinah Church remains to be energetic. Accusations of abuse and “cult-like” conduct first broke in 2022 when Rolling Stone seemingly related TikTok dancers for 7M Movies with a non secular group headed by pastor Robert Shinn.
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Dancing For The Satan: The 7M TikTok Cult on Netflix explores Shinn, who based 7M Movies in 2021, and allegations in opposition to his firm. 7M indicators TikTok dancers and expertise and has claimed that their expertise’s following has grown from 1.78 million to 10.42 million followers. Shinn and 7M Movies declare that each operations operate independently and haven’t any connections, nevertheless, each former 7M staff and church members have accused Shinn of controlling conduct. So is Shekinah Church nonetheless energetic? Learn on.
Is Shekinah Church nonetheless energetic?
Very similar to different non secular insitutions which were accused of horrible crimes, there’s been little or no accountability for Shekinah Church as a result of it’s nonetheless energetic. Based on their web site, “Shekinah Church International was born with the calling of saving one billion souls, raising up leaders for the Body of Christ and supporting the gospel with all means.”
The group was based by Robert Shinn in 1994 initially as a non secular group for Korean Individuals. In 2009, Lydia Chung filed a lawsuit claiming that Shekinah and Shinn “had isolated her from her family, brainwashed her, and defrauded her out of nearly $4 million, which was allegedly funneled to Shinn through the non-taxpaying church.”
In courtroom papers, Shinn described the Shekinah group as “small and tight-knit group of Christian believers committed to spreading their religious message through peaceful religious study and outreach.” The decide dominated in favor of Shinn.
“This is a cult,” Chung advised The Each day Beast. “This totally ruins people. You hear about the people who went to Vietnam—going through such a trauma, many people cannot function as a normal human being—this is what it does.” She continued: “I don’t want to cause harm to anyone going to real churches,” Chung emphasised and alleged that the group is “much worse” than Scientology or some other non secular sect.
In 2022, a number of former members of 7M Movies Administration and the Wilkings household got here ahead alleging that Shinn forces members to chop out family and friends members and is general abusive. The Wilkings household together with TikToker Melanie alleged that her sister Miranda Wilkings (now Derricks) forcibly blocked all communication from them.
“Even though we were only in there for two years, it’s still two years of our life that we spent battling to give full attention to [Shinn] and his church,” hip-hop dancer Kylie Douglas advised Rolling Stone. “We just no longer want him to be able to do that to anyone: the brainwashing, the manipulating, running people down—giving their time, giving their effort, giving their money, giving all they got for something that is a false hope.”
Little is understood about Shinn’s whereabouts immediately however we do know he at the moment lives in Los Angeles together with his son Isaiah. His firm 7M got here ahead with a press release about Miranda Derrick’s household’s allegations to Each day Mail.
“Despite her family’s claims, Miranda is a successful businesswoman and a loving wife and daughter who cares very much about her family,” the assertion learn. It’s pathetic and contemptible to attempt to flip her non-public household issues right into a tawdry public scandal for clicks and clout. Whereas the latest portrayals of Dr. Robert Shinn and 7M Movies have been wildly offensive and riddled with inaccuracies, these false claims is not going to deter 7M from supporting Miranda in whichever endeavors she chooses to pursue subsequent.”
Based on the tip of the Netflix documentary, Shinn revealed planning to go forward with the lawsuit. “No criminal charges have been brought against Shinn. He has previously denied sexually abusing any member of Shekinah or any client of 7M. The civil lawsuit is ongoing. Robert and his co-defendants deny the claims against them. The case is set to go to trial in 2025.”
“Well bless their hearts.”
