An enigmatic spiritual community with roots in the Shepherding Movement, marked by its home-based gatherings and stringent leadership.
The Assembly of the Body of Christ, a group with origins in the 1960s Seattle, evolved from a congregation initially influenced by Derek Prince and further shaped by the Shepherding Movement’s doctrines. This movement became known for its home-based gatherings and an ultra-authoritarian leadership style under the guidance of key figures such as Gilbert Larson, David North, Andy Atwell, and Bruce Leonard. These leaders assumed roles with biblical titles—apostle, prophet, and evangelist—imposing strict control over members and their beliefs.
Originating from teachings of the Latter Rain Movement, the Assembly of the Body of Christ intertwined these doctrines with highly authoritarian practices. Members experienced a form of love bombing, initially welcomed with open arms only to face severe repercussions for questioning leadership or failing to conform to the group’s strictures. This control extended to financial opacity, with significant funds directed to the leadership without accountability, and rigorous monitoring of tithes, leading to a hierarchy of members based on financial contributions.
Personal testimonies from former members detail a regime of spiritual and emotional abuse, including harsh judgments, shunning, and ex-communication for minor disagreements with the leadership. These practices led to severe personal crises for those who left or were expelled from the community, including social isolation, emotional distress, and financial hardship. Despite the personal costs, those who escaped the Assembly’s grip often found themselves struggling to reintegrate into mainstream society, grappling with the legacy of their time within the group.
The genealogy of the Assembly of the Body of Christ traces back to influential movements and figures in American Pentecostalism, such as the Azusa Street Revival and the Sharon Orphanage, highlighting its complex theological and historical roots. Despite its origins in revivalist movements, the Assembly’s development into a controlling and closed community illustrates the transformation of religious zeal into authoritarianism.
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