Twisted Message: A prophetβs unchecked global sect
- Emily Hamer Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team and Tim Steller Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
A religious sect called βThe Messageβ has spread worldwide β and also sprouted destructive βcults.β An investigation exposes the child abuse, misogyny and manipulation in some of the faithβs subgroups.
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Leaders influenced by William Branham have overseen a deadly starvation cult in Kenya in 2023 and a trailer-park commune in Arizona that abused children in the 1960s, among other atrocities.
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The 'prophet' who founded a sect called The Message hailed this Arizona trailer park as an ideal community in the 1960s. Survivors say they suffered hellish abuse as children there.
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Alleged sexual abuse of minors has been covered up in a Tucson church for decades, an investigation finds. The pastor dismissed allegations, blamed victims and screamed at police.Β
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Although William Branham died in 1965, millions of people worldwide still follow his teachings. The sect has expanded, in part, through more than 1,200 recordings of his sermons.
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