Was I In A Cult? - UCKG: “ Taking down a Billionaire Megachurch Cult”

Episode Date: May 13, 2024

Meet Rachael Reign, a tenacious activist battling to dismantle a billionaire megachurch cult. The cult that once owned her life. From her innocent introduction to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) in South London as a 13-year-old girl, to devastating financial coercion and insidious practices, including exorcisms and grooming to become a pastor’s wife, Rachael's journey is one of transformation from victim to advocate. Through her story, she exposes the cult’s billionaire leader, Edir Macedo, and the exploitation under the guise of religion. With unwavering determination, Rachael empowers survivors and fights for justice, symbolizing the triumph of the human spirit over oppression. She's an inspiration for reclaiming freedom and standing against abuse. And she was a delight to have on the show. LINKS: Follow Us:  Instagram/Tik Tok: @wasiinacult Support Us: https://www.patreon.com/wasiinacult Have a story to share on our show? Email Us: [e-mail] Follow Rachael: Instagram : @msrachaelreign Follow her movement: Instagram/Tik Tok: @survivinguniversaluk

The views, information, or opinions expressed by the guest appearing in this episode solely belong to the guest and do not represent or reflect the views or positions of the hosts, the show, podcast one, this network, or any of their respective affiliates. I just loved the way that you guys were talking about coats so freely, you know, it's not a taboo subject in this space. For a lot of us, even the word coat can be scary. You know, they hear the word coat and they immediately are taken to some remote area somewhere, you know, when really, coats can be in your neighborhood.

I mean, hell, chances are there is a coat in your neighborhood. So the more we talk about it and familiarize ourselves with the realities of it, the better. Welcome to Was I and a Cult people. I'm Liz Ayakuzzi. And over here, I'm Tyler Mieson. And over here, I'm Tyler Mieson. And on this show, we give those who have been in cults and cultic environments a chance to tell their story and take their power back. Yep, and often we do this with a touch of levity because you know why?

Because cults are funny. They're funny if you look at them through the right lens. You're funny too, Tyler. Thanks Liz. You too sometimes. And tod- tod- tod-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I's th-I's th-I's th-I's thi-I's thi-I's thi-I's-I's-I's-I's-I's-I's thi-I's thi-I's thi-s tho-s thi-s thi-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi-a thi-a thi-a thi-a thi-a-a-a-a-a-a-s, thi-s, thi-s, thi-s, tie-s. tie-sia-sia-sia'-sia'-sia'-sia'-sia'-sia'-s. thi-s. you too sometimes. And today's guest, man, if she doesn't embody the take your power back part of our show... And the funny part, she's wacky. She is. I don't know who does, guys. Yes, today's guest, it is one badass, horrific human being. I would not want to be on the other side of an argument with her, or in this case the other side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side side of of of of of of of of thiiiiiii, thi, thi, the other side side side side thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, to be to be thi, the other side of a to bea, to bea, to bea, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other the other the other side of a multi-billion dollar British cult posing as a church and I knew that to be true the minute she

reached out to us her email subject line was this I'm taking down a billionaire mega church cult and I was like okay let's do this and the truth is guys she is doing that and it's brave and inspiring and everything we love here on was I in a call? Yep. And as an added bonus, she's got a great accent. One in which I'm certain Liz will fail at emulating quite soon. I don't know what you're talking about, the fresh fuck you're talking about. How about we get to the show? For real. Meet today's funny, awesome guest. I spent a few wonderful hours interviewing her.

Miss Rachel rain. And boy does she ever rain. That is, she rains. Not like a cloud. She's not. She's not, she's not, waterfalling. No, rain. R-E-I-G-N. She rain.

Like a queen! She rules. All right. Fine. Here we go. So I was born and raised in South London. So credence where I come from it's my hometown, as you guys would say, hometown. It's basically known as like the rougher area of town. So, credence where I come from, it's my hometown. As you guys would say, hometown.

It's basically known as like the rougher area of town. I mean it's pretty much like a hotbed for like stabbings and youth crime. I came from a single parent household, both of my parents are Jamaican. I have two older brothers and a younger sister. So I didn't have a religious upbringing. It really wasn't something, you know it wasn't a day-to-day fort in our house. We never went to church on Sundays. So when I was a kid I was very much so into like performing arts, singing, acting, you know, I like that kind of thing. So it's funny how that was the thing that kind of lured me into this cult, singing and dancing and acting. So one day it was a Sunday and I was 13 years old

and I was walking into the city shopping center and this young person reaches out and they say, we're having an event right now, a youth event, we're doing singing and dancing, why don't you come in and watch? So I had nothing really else on. So I don't know what made me go in and I'm horrified at the fact because oh my god how could I have been like taking up a stranger's invitation to like go into some weird dodgy building but yeah we

went through this super long creepy corridor and you turn and then you walk up these stairs and then you turn again and then suddenly you're in a church, you know. There's no kind of indication from the outside. All it really had was like the UCKG logo and it says UCKG. UCCG stands for the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. I sat down, they were doing their little performances, and then afterwards the pastor came and gave a message. They said, hey, we're having another youth group on Thursday, you know, you should come. And for whatever reason, I went back that Thursday.

So between that first encounter and the next few weeks, it was pretty much a fog. It's so strange how suddenly this church can just... and the next few weeks. It was pretty much a fog. It's so strange how suddenly this church can just invade my life. It literally took a few weeks for me to become like this super conservative, different version of Rachel. Like within a few weeks, I was fully

and drenched in the UCKG life. And all this from a 13-year-old girl who didn't have any religion at home growing up. And it was full on. I was in church every day after school without fail. On Mondays, they kind of pray for their financial lives. Tuesdays, it's healing. Wednesdays, it's Bible study plus youth group.

Thursdays, prayers for the family and love lives. Fridays, exorcisms, which they don't do. Hold up, did she just say exorcisms? Mm-hmm. Like for real, like, exorcisms, like, where you suck the devil's out to views. Yeah, perhaps we should perform on you, Liz. Get the British accent demon out! Oh, I can't get it out. British accent demon out British accent demon be gone

Stocking me from like I can't get it out Yes she said exorcisms and we'll learn more about that a little bit Fight God Saturday is like evangelism when you go out and recruit strangers and then of course Sunday is the normal one of the mill Sunday warning service youth group la la la la la. So I don't even know how I first even told my mom about the church even if I was to go to my mom and say hey mom I found this new church in Quaid and I'm going to be going there on

Wednesdays and and Sundays she probably would have been quite pleased. Okay great good with you you don't, in a gang. Which, legit. Respect to moms. Yeah. See, but the truth is it wasn't so random that Rachel got involved as quickly as she did. A little bit of love bombing in my life. Oh no.

All you need is love, love bombing. No. Maybe you should just go back to the British accent. All you need is love, love bombing. Now, maybe you should just go back to the British accent. Because you love bombed me. It's not bad. You know, love bombs a teenager. It's not good. No, it's not.

The reason I was attending is because, you know, they make you feel like you're just so important. You know, God's chosen you to be here, you know, I see that God has plans for you. He's going to use you to save souls. And that becomes super appealing, you know, that love bombing becomes so intense, and all of a sudden, you go from not really having much sense of responsibility because you're 13 years old, but suddenly, you know, you're counted on, you're relied upon, you know, these people need me. Like, I'm chosen by God. So every day after school, I was expected to be in the church to do different things. I mean, we have to be in the church to do different things. I mean, we had

to be in the church to do rehearsals, you know, newspapers had to be folded and stamped. We had to evangelize, which literally meant us, like 13-year-old kids, taking leaflets and heading to the mean streets of Croydon to evangelize and invite strangers to come to a service. So they would literally have us go up to like crackheads to try and evangelize them. I mean like who signed off that shit? Who thought that was a good idea to get the kids to like go and like vangelize crackheads. That's what we used to do. Crackheads need God too. Now that, that is a t-shirt. So what were were were were were were were the people the people the people the people the people the people the people the people the people the people the their their their their their their their their their their the dude. Crackhead's naked out too. Now that, that is a t-shirt. So what were the people in the church like? I thought the people were great. I felt like they were like my brothers and sisters in Christ. I had to kind of feel that everything

was perfect because they taught that even to think anything bad about the church was a sin and you will be cursed and you can like be hit by a bus and like go straight to hell. That was enforced upon us. So I would never say anything bad about it because we were conditioned just to thinking that that's what you had to do right? Okay, the U.C.K.G. The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, now I know why they use the acronym. What exactly is this mega church and how did it come into being? So the founder of the UCKG is a guy called Edie Amersedo and he is a billionaire, he is like one of the most wealthiest people in Latin America. He is also the owner of Record, which is Brazil's second largest broadcasting company.

Record TV, the tb. Perto to you, we go long. So it started in 1977 in Brazil. And it started like a typical Marvel villain story. He was born with birth defects, so his hands are de deformed and he wanted to be a pastor and none of these like pastor friends wanted to take him seriously. He was never made to be like the head guy. So then he said, well fuck you guys, I'm gonna start my own church.

And that's literally what he did. He started to, you know, really read the Bible and become like a biblical scholar. And because he's so charismatic, he started to get to, he, he, he to, he to be a pastor, he to be a pastor, he to be a pastor, he to be a pastor, he to be a pastor. He, he to be a pastor. He, he to be a pastor, he to be a pastor. He, to be a pastor, to be a pastor. And, to be a pastor, and to be a pastor, and to be a pastor, to be a pastor, to be a pastor, and to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be a pastor, and he to be a pastor, and he to be a pastor, to be a pastor, to be a pastor, to be a pastor, to be a pastor, to be a pastor, to be a pastor, to be a pastor pastor pastor, the pastor. past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past past.. to, to, to be a pastor started to, you know, really read the Bible and become like a biblical scholar. And because he's so charismatic, he started to get attention. And then, you know, he started to buy buildings and, you know, kind of train up pastors on how to, you know, follow suit. And then he started to conquer different countries, you know, after Brazil, he came to America. And then, of course, you know, we we we we came, we came, we came, we came to to to to the the the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. to, you know, you know, to be so, thi. thi. thi. thi. to be so, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the thi. thi. thi. the. the. the. the. toea. toea. too. too. too. toea.a. toe.a.a.a. toe.a.a. thea. thea. the. the. th he started to conquer different countries, you know, after Brazil, he came to America. And then, of course, you know, we came to the UK and then everywhere else. They're in India, they're in Malaysia, they're in Africa, they're in Europe, of course. Everywhere you can think of, they are literally trying to like colonize the world.

According to Harvard Divinity School, the UCKG encompasses 8 million members in over. the the UK. the UK. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thi, thi, thi, tho, thi, thi, thi, tho, you tho, you tho, you th, you th, you th, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, the, the, thatea.a.a. And, thea.a. And, thea. And, thea.a. And, the, the, the, theize the world. According to Harvard Divinity School, the UCKG encompasses 8 million members in over 150 countries, but also comprises television networks, radio stations, newspapers, a publishing house, a record company, and numerous other business enterprises, both in Brazil and elsewhere, all of course, in the name of the Almighty God. Amen. Don't they do that in church? elsewhere, all of course in the name of the Almighty God. Amen. Don't they do that in church? It's been a while.

And the doctrine of this particular church? So they're very big on Jesus is coming back any minute and it's going to be judgment day. So we have to make sure we're perfect and everyone's saved. I mean, they really did preach that 2012 would be today like we need to get geared up. They're like no come to this night vigil because there's a good chance Jesus might come back during that time because every year they have a night vigil in the church right for New Year's. I mean it's so cheap into ideology. I mean what about the time

differences? What's the odds of him back, 12 midnight in the UK? What the fuck about New Zealand? It doesn't make any sense. It's so fucking laughable. I mean, come on, guys. Get ahold of yourselves. Nonsense. Well, the sun never sets on the British Empire.

Oh, yes, another cult claiming to know when and where the return of Jesus will be. Okay, it has come up so many times on this show that I think it's time we tackle this particular subject. So the second coming. Usually lasts longer than the first. So the second coming or Parasia. The consensus belief among Christians regarding the second coming of Jesus Christ is rooted in various interpretations of biblical prophecies, primarily found in the Book of Revelations. Wasana Colt's favorite scriptures. Now according to this belief, Jesus will return to Earth and glory in power descending from heaven with a host of angels. And this event is expected to mark the culmination of human history.

Bum-bom, bum, bringing about the final judgment of all souls, including, yes, Liz, yours. Don't take me soul, mate. Many believe in the... Stuck in this British body man! Many believe in the literal interpretation of the apocalyptic imagery found in the Book of Revelation, which includes cataclysmic events such as wars, natural disasters, and the rise of a global leader often referred to as the Antichrist. Or as they are collectively known, Monford and Sons.

That damn song I can never get it out of hand. I can never get it out of hand. Oh wait, I've got to sing it in British. No, you do not. However, no one really knows when Jesus will return. They don't? No, they do not, despite many, many cults choosing the date. In fact, a 2010 survey showed that about 40% of Americans

believe that Jesus is likely to return by 2050. But Tyler, yes, Liz. We actually do have the date for when Jesus returned. Yeah, it's April 12th, April 12th, 2025, yeah. It's a Thursday, yeah, and it'll be around I'd say 430 Give the traffic, you know He's got to get all the angels the horse of heaven all the way down the 405 Takes a minute. Right, so I would just schedule just block off like three o'clock between three and five

I would just take the second half of the day off guys just so you can mentally physically and spiritually prepare yourself April 12 12th in the UCKGG they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they the the to the the the the to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the to the the the to the the the the the the the the to to the the the to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the to to the to to th. I I th. I th. I th. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the. I the the prepare yourself. April 12th. In the UCKG, they have a structure within the youth group. So I rolled up the ranks really quickly. So remember, guys, I came when I was 13. By the time I was 15, I was not only a youth leader. I was promoted to something they call an assistant. Now, an assistant is something very coveted in the UCKG.

The assistants, the females at least, have to wear a really snazzy kind of uniform that basically looks like an air-stuadist uniform. Oh, well, that's nice of them to at least fund their sexism. And we have to pay for it. Oh, never mind. Like, they don't give it to to you to you to to you to to th th th th th we have to pay for it. Oh, never mind. Like, they don't give it to you for free because they don't do that.

It was over 300 pounds. It was so expensive, but at the time, it could have been a thousand, and I would have found a way to like, beg, borrow that money because they made it, like, getting that uniform that uniform that uniform that uniform that uniform that uniform that uniform that uniform that uniform that uniform that uniform their their their their their their their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, th. thoome, thi. to be, to be, to be, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to be, to be, to be, to be, to be, to be, to be, to be, to be, to be.............. And, to be.. And, to be. And, to be. And, to be. And, to be. And, to be. to be. to be. to be. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toge. toe. toge. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. to, beg borrow still that money because they made it like getting that uniform was like the ultimate privilege. That's your armor of good. For all you yanks out there, 300 pounds is about 376 bucks. But it just for inflation so that was about 486 smacker roos in today's currency. For a bloody uniform people I can find one for like 27

quid even as a cut out crotch on it. Now that is merch we need. I didn't want anything else but to be an assistant and to buy that uniform. But I was dirt poor when I was in the church, like like poverty. Like we have to put money together to buy a bucket of KFC broke. I begged my mom. I literally begged my mom and I'm so surprised that she actually brought it for me. Now that's a good mom right there. I was the youngest youth assistant. So that also added a lot of pressure to me because by the time I got into my late teenage years,

I was like a poster girl for the UCKG. Everybody knew me. I was well known and my whole life was about the church. It was my identity. I had no life outside of the church. I listened to the songs that they said I can listen to. I wore the clothes, they said that I should wear. So when I got really involved, they would literally say now that you're an assistant, the devil's gonna use your family to take you out of the church.

You can't listen. You know, when the devil tries to use your mom to stop you from coming, you have to rebuke the devil and serve good even harder. they thoo th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu they thu they're have have have thu thu thu the thi they're they're they're they would have they would have they would have they would have they would have they would have they would have they would have they would have they would have they would have they they would have they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they thu. to thu. to to to to to thu. back, they're literally laying the groundwork so that when my mom did start to be like, Rachel, are you in a cold? Like, ah, you see, pastor said this will happen. Poster said that, you know, the devil will use my mom to come against me and then that starts to make you even more isolated from your family. So then you don't trust the their their their their their their their tho... tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. that, thathea. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to serve. So, to serve. So, to serve. So, to serve. So, to serve. to serve. to serve. to serve. to serve tho, tho. their their their their the the the the the thooooooooooooooome. their th th thooooooomoomorrow. So then you don't trust your family. I didn't trust my family. They're not of good, you know, they don't come to the church, you know, they balancing, the tracking, the saving, exhausting.

It's like the last thing I want to do at the end of my week is spend time budgeting. I'd rather watch you listen to old white rock music. Smart choice, which is why we now use rocket money. It does all of that for us. It's actually incredible. I've been using it and I must admit it has saved me from hours of financial anxiety doom. You guys know what I'm talking about? Oh yeah, yeah you know what's cool

about it? It will alert you when you have bills that are coming up so you can plan accordingly, which in our case means a reminder to pay that old jet fuel bill for our private was I in a cold airplane. We always forget to pay that bill that bill that bill that bill that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that th th th th th th th. th. And th. And th. And th. And th. And I thi thi thi th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. And I th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi thi thi to to thi to thi to to to thi to to to to to to to thi to to thi thi thi thi thi thi thi. thi th reminder to pay that old jet fuel bill for our private was I in a cold airplane. We always forget to pay that bill. Look guys this app actually is really helpful. Rocket Money is a personal finance app that finds and cancels your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending and helps lower your bills so that you can grow your savings. Rocket Money has over 5 million users and it has saved a total of 500 million in cancelled subscriptions, saving members up to $740 a year when using all of the apps features. So stop wasting money on things you don't use. Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to rocketm.com.s.coll. That's rocket money.com.

slash cult. Rocket money.com. Slash cult. Tell them we sent you. So even when Rachel wasn't at church, which was rare, it encompassed her life. Even when she was at school. You know, some kids deal drugs. Others deal the Holy Handbook. My mission was to save these people souls. My break time and lunchtime was literally spent walking around my school giving people leaflets for this church, or hiding away in a classroom reading my Bible. I started to detach

from my friends. By the time I was 15 and I was like senior in the church like studies were like noised. You know I don't remember doing homework like let me get this crap over with because I'm gonna be a pastor's wife one day and none of this is gonna matter. And now for the unequal opportunity portion of our show. No if you're a girl all you can do is marry a pastor. Because you're not worthy to be a pastor if you're a woman in the ECCG. No, that's completely out of the question. You have to marry a pastor. You can be his helper.

Oh, come on, Liz. You get to be his helper. I mean, that's a highly coveted position, comes with a uniform, pastor helper person. That'll sound great on the resume. So basically they had this thing called Godlywood. The future pastor's wives and the future assistants have to be trained how to be women of good because the pastors in the church can only marry someone from this group, right? So it's literally like an intensified like grooming ring. The pastor's wives groomed the younger girls and then because I was so enthusiastic and I was doing all the right things and saying all the right things. I think they were starting to groom me to become a pastor's wife.

Godlywood, like Hollywood, but instead of Snoop D-O-D-O-D-D, it's Snoop D-O-D-D. I'm seeing what you did there. Snoop God. And instead of rapping about Weed? Why, he's rapping about Bibles. When the Lord is in the chmah, praise him like it's hot. Praise him like it's hot? When the sinner's trying to get it, you resist it like it's hot, resist him like it's hot. Can't believe I encourage this? Ha ha ha ha. To join Godlywood, you had to apply. Of course you have to raise a certain amount of money for the church each month. It was for three months. You had to do challenges. You know, you, you, you, you, you, you, you to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their, resist, resist their their their their their theirfe, resist resist resist it, resist it, resist it, resist it's too, resist it's too, resist it's too, resist mea, resist mea, resist it's too, resist it's too, resist it's too, resist it's toe, resist it's toe, resist it,. You had to apply. Of course you have to raise a certain amount of money for the church each month. It was for three months. You had to do challenges. You know, you have to prepare a meal for your family or for your

husband. You have to like decorate your room and take a picture and send it to the pastor's wives. Like we had to basically pretend to be like a a 1950s housewife. It was so crazy. And the back the back the back the back the back the back the back the the the the the th-I th-in-in-in-in-in-in-in-in-in-in-inno th-inno to th-so-inno to to to to to to to to to to to to to-inneneneau-inusus-inus-inus-inus-inus-inus. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to do to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to th-in th-in c-in cune-a-a-a-a-mo-mo-moomcoomcuncantease thooom-moombsencuncuncantease the thoooooooooombsenencantease tooom-moombs. to-moombs. to be like a 1950s housewife. It was so crazy. And the back-ass word rules didn't stop there. So the non-alist had like 20 things on it. And it ranged from no brightly colored nail polish, no songs, no friends with anyone who didn't attend the church, no hugging boys, no talking to boys on the phone. Oh my god, no gossiping. I mean, some of the things you had to do

was just so, so manipulative and just wrong. Like for example, one of the challenges was that you had to tell a secret that you haven't told anyone else to your big sister, and your big sister is like your mental. And you would be expected to do this regularly with different things. Like you have to tell your big sister if you develop feelings for someone. You have to tell your big sister if you fell into sin. You have to purge your most intimate thoughts to another person who sometimes you don't

even know. And you basically have to do all these things for like three months. And at the end the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th th thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thoes thioes. the the. the the thoes. thoes. thoes. thoes. thoes. the the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to te. te. te. toe. teeeeee. toe. te. to t these things for like three months and at the end of the three months the girls who did make it in will be invited to this like amazing award ceremony where they get this like stupid bracelet and they're part of the secret club and all of the girls who didn't get in are basically like shunned up on like what are you doing why you couldn't get into God be? I I mean you just you can't make this shit up. Yeah and so Rachel was she works hard she bakes all the tea cakes and crumpets and and they didn't let my horse in okay they were like no and I was like devastated and I tried twice to get in and both times they were like, yeah, no, you're not in. And I was fucking devastated. I'm like, how could it be? I'm doing everything and they're not going to let me in. Like, clearly you're not godly enough. Why are cults basically just high school

all over again? So they believe that in order to receive God's blessings, you have to give financially? So traditionally you're supposed to give 10% of your income to charity or to the church. And we have to type everything. If I was walking on the street and I saw five pounds, I would have to take that money and type it and put 50 P in the type envelope they give and we had to teach children that they had to give the first 10% of any money they get to good or to the church in other words and they had a Sunday school envelopes which had like cartoon characters on the front. Talk about a bait and switch I mean

these poor kids probably thought they were donating to Thomas the Tankengen. Look man Shining Time Station that doesn't run on good vibes and stories from Ringo or George Carlin. That building it needs upkeep. They claim the money goes towards the work of good. You know that's all they say. What is the work of good? You're never allowed to question it. I mean the money's clearly going towards Mercedes-Bol because he owns a penthouse in Miami. He owns a mansion in Atlanta at at Atlanta at Atlanta at at Atlanta at at at at at at at at at the tank at tank at tank at tank at tank in tank tank tank in the tank in tank in tank in tank in tank. tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking in tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking. tank. tank. tank. tank. tank. tank. tank. t. t. t. t. tine. tine. tank. tine. tank. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the tank tank tank tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tanking tank going towards Mercedes-O because he owns a penthouse in Miami. He owns a mansion in Atlanta. They have a massive headquarters of the world in

Brazil. It's like this huge mega church. So I've spoken to experts about this and they agree that the UCKG may very well be the most wealthiest Pentecostal movement in the world. Last year in the United Kingdom, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God made a reported 15 million pounds. And of course this is a registered charity we're talking about. This guy, Edia Mercedo, was branded by Forbes last year to be worth $1.2 billion. Billions!

Little update there. As of just last week, Forbes claimed his real-time net worth is now $2 billion. It also says the Mercado owns a majority stake in the private Brazilian bank, Banco Digimace. And in 1992 he spent 11 days in jail on accusations of charlatanism, an event that apparently features prominently in his self-financed biopic, nothing to lose. Yeah, this is not to be mistaken with the Tim Robbins, Martin Lawrence, Action Comedy of 1997. Similar tone, though, I would imagine.

Yeah, no, this one has a rating on IMDB of 2.4 out of 10. Which is higher than Kurt Cameron saving Christmas at 1.5, but slightly lower than the other cult-financed film, Battlefield Earth at 2.5. So good. John Travolta was so moving in that film was me. I've never even heard of that. Battlefield Earth was huge. It was based on El Ron Hubbard's book. Who is of course a prolific 20th century writer. And they made it into a massive movie starring John Travolta naturally. Because Tom Cruise was busy. Right. And it just tanked. It absolutely utterly tanked. Wow. I would watch it though. I'd probably I'd probably watch watch. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. that that that that that that that that that that that that that's that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that. that. that's that. that's that's that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. to. to to to to to th. to to to to th. to to to to the. to to the. to to to to the. to the. to the. the. to the. the. the. the., it absolutely utterly tanked. Wow. I would watch it though.

I'd probably, I'd probably watch it, yeah. So, our particular Marvel villain. He'll do like these missionary visits where he flies in in these private jet. Everyone shows up. It's like that Bible verse where it's like, if only I can tou'cest, he's garmed. It's literally the same thing. Tyler, I'm sure you've got that verse handy for us, don't you? Really, Liz? You couldn't have done this work yourself?

You couldn't have looked it up. You don't own a Bible? The most widely read book on the planet. You don't have a Bible. I would, but women, we can't be pastors or, or use our fingers. Just a pastor, a pastors, a pastors, a pastor, a pastor, a pastor, a pastor, a pastor, a pastor, a pastor, a pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the pastor, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th.. tie, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to., to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to's helper. Fine, help this. This is from the book of Matthew, all right? And it's about a woman who was apparently having blood issues, she was hemorrhaging, whatever. She saw Jesus. He's in a crowd. She reaches out as he's passing by and she touches the hem of his garment, his glowing robes. Jesus sees her, he turns around and he said, your faith has made you whole.

She was healed. M of the Garment. I thought he would have been like, excuse me, bitch. You're on my robe. That costs 300 pounds. Honestly, though, like, Jesus must have been on so many drugs, right? You know, there is truth to the fact, Moses, where he found the plates of the Ten Commandments, there is a bush near there that when you take it causes severe hallucinations. Really? Yeah,

so some theologists believe that he might have just been tripping balls. Just came down like, these are the Ten Command commandments. Don't kill, honor your mother and your father. That kind of makes sense. I believe it. It's having a good day and he's like, let's make the world a better place, man. I guess it is, dude. Check it out.

It's kind of like how all the miracles to the time we got really good about food safety. Oh, this mushroom is just a mushroom. It doesn't do much, other than give you some vitamin D. They see him as like, good. They worship. He literally comes, holds a service and then runs out. Don't talk to anyone. Doesn't shake any hands. But he preaches and he answers for money. He's known to ask again and again like he goes for it when he's in the UK. Come on people you have to give to God. It's either you give to God all or nothing. That's literally how he talks. He's a villain. He's a Brazilian villain. He doesn't believe what he preaches. He's in it for the money. When the cook is in the house mom, give it like it like he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he, like he, like he, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, he, he, he, he, he, like, he goes, he goes, like, he goes, he goes, like, like, like, he, like, he, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like the the their, like, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, he, the, the, he, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, th. He's, th. He's, th. He's, th. He's, th. He's, th. He's, th. He doesn't believe what he preaches. He's in it for the

money. When the crook is in the house, Ma, give it like it's hot, give it like it's hot. Give it like it's hot. Give it like it's hot. Don't make me do that anymore. I can we, I'll just take a a Bible verse again. That I know. Okay, um, Macedo, the billionaire business man actually has two bibles to his his his his his his his his to his the Bibles to his the Bible the to his the the to his the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. the th. the the the the the th. thi. Hea. thi. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. Hea. Hea. Hea. Hea. Hea. Hea. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. tr. tr. tri. tri. truth. truth. tr. tr. truth. th. th. th. th. He's. He's. He's. He's. He's is. Okay, Mercado, the billionaire business man actually has two Bibles to his name, don't you know? Because the regular Bible is not good enough. He had to make his own versions and he charges a lot of money for it. And then it says Bishop Edie and Mercedo, literally on the front cover. So there could be no mistake, it's a Mercedo Bible. Of course it's mandatory. You cannot have a regular Bible because how dare you? You have to have

Mercedes-Bibel. Well the first one because he has two because one's not enough. The first one in the UK cost 50 pounds and then the second one cost, are you ready? 47 pounds. So he's such a generous man of good. He even gave us a little discount there. Oh my goodness, such a bargain. Now what kind of leader just believes he can make and sell his own Bible? Yeah, I'm sure glad we don't have that in America. Someone who thinks he can just create

his own expensive Bible and sell it to his followers. Let me ask you a question. You have a best friend? How big would it shock you if somebody told you that your best friend just killed somebody? Can I know what a long wish, emergency? But someone on every line said they're kidnapped my son and they're demanding $500,000. On September 12th, 1995, 12-year-old McKay Everett disappeared from his home in Conro, Texas. It was a crime that shocked the community because the suspect was so unlikely, so unexpected. Former high-ranking police official, he'd run for sheriff at one point.

Law enforcement personnel were pretty much split down the middle over whether or not he actually did this. And to this day, McKay's mother Paulette still feels that justice was never truly served. I've asked myself so many times what in the world happened. Ransom is available now. Listen at Ransom Podcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. So for Rachel,

Life in the Cult meant staying away from worldly things like movies and music. You know, there were times when a B-on-Thay song came out. I remember what song was it? And I remember liking it. Drunk in love. It was drunk in love. We was on the underground here in London, going to an event. And somehow that song came up and one of my friends were like, yeah, that song, so demonic.

Yeah, Bionce sold her soul to the devil. And I remember being like, why can't I just listen to the song the song the song the song the song the song the song the song the song the song the song the song the song the song song song song song song song song song the song song song song song song the song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song song the song song song song song song song song song song song song song.. the song song song song song song song so so so so so so so so so. the song. the song, the song, the song, the song, the song, the song, the song, the song, so. I so. I so. I so. I so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so. I, so, I, I, I, I, so, I, I, I, the song, and I remember being like, why can't I just listen to this song freely and talk to my friends about it. Fuck back, I want to listen to this song, but I can't. I want to do this, but I can't. Just getting pissed and getting bitter at the situation. And like all cults, questioning was out of the question. I see what you did there.

Like that? You don't have doubts about the church and about the men or women of good. It wasn't allowed. You can lose your uniform if you're an assistant. For having doubts, you could be ridiculed. You could be ostracized from whatever kind of friendship group you have in the church. We had no friends outside of the church. It was forbidden, you the the the the the the the their their their their their their their the. You the. You the. You the. You the, you are thea thea their their their their thoes thoes. You their thoes, you thoes, you their their their their their their their their their the church. You don't the church. You don't the church. You the church. You the church. You the church. You the church. You the church. You the church. You the church. You the church. You theaaa. You thea. You thea. You thea thea. You thea thea thea. You're thoes. You're thoooats, thoats, thoooats, thooooooo' thoats, thoats, thoats, thoats, thoats, thoats, th you have in the church. We had no friends outside of the church. You know it was forbidden completely out of the

question. They are worldly, they're gonna contaminate your faith. Worldly of course is one of their favorite worlds. Worldly in the UCKG it means non-UCCG, you know. There's Manifest. So manifest is the word they use when a demon is exercised. But remember, according to the UCCG, they don't do exorcisms, okay? If anyone was to ask, the UCKG does not do exorcisms because they claim they do not do exorcisms. When in reality they literally do exorcisms all day on Fridays. Any way you are in the world, if you go to a UCCG on a Friday, you will see exorcisms, okay? What are you doing Friday, Tyler? No plans. Want to go see a live show? They got like real live Damians and stuff. So exorcisms are very physical in nature.

I mean that they'll come up to you and say, so, you know, what's your biggest problem that you're facing right now? What do you want God to deliver you from? So you'll be like, I suffer from mental health issues. I have depression. And they're like, okay, God will deliver you tonight. And then during the service, you know, they'll come up to you and say, so the Diann, the Diann, the Diann, the d'n, their their their their their thin, their their thin, their thin, their thi, thi, their thi, their thi, their thi, their, thi, their, their, their, thi, thi, thi, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, what's, th. What's, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their their, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. their, their, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, their biggest, their, their, their,that's causing her to help depression come out of her show yourself manifest manifest come out and then the prayer gets more intense and I'm like yeah show yourself I know you're showing yourself you're making our heart beat faster you're making our palms sweaty show yourself and then in your mind you're like oh my god my heart is being fast oh my god I am getting hot this must be a demon coming out of me and when the prayer gets more intense and when the the prayer the prayer the prayer the prayer the prayer the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the that that that that that that's the the to that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's to to to to get to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the of me. And when the prayer gets more intense, the assistants and pastors are trained to basically put you in a headlock in an attempt to control the demon

that is manifesting. And then it can get to a point where you know you're wrestling with the person, you're falling on the floor, you know, you're trying to hold on to them so they don't run away, and like you're gripping the back of their head. I've seen pastors grab women by the hair and like drag them onto the altar which is like the stage. They just go right in you know and lay hands on you and do this. And you're left physically bruised. So from the age of 13 that was happening to me. And the U. CK.J. prides itself on interviewing demons. Okay. So they will get someone to. to quote.. to to to quote. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to to to to to to the the their their their their their their their their to their to their their their their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. I. their. I. I. their. I. I. th. th. I. th. I. th. I. th. I. th. th. I. the the the the the their. I. I. the their. the happening to me. And the UCCJ prides itself on interviewing demons. Okay, so they will get someone to quote-unquote manifest with a demon and then what they'll do is drag you up to the front. And then they'll put the microphone to your mouth and then it'll be like, what kind of

demons working in this girl? Yeah, they put the microphone to me. I said something like, I'm the demon that causes her to like, boys! Because I was a straight teenager, right? I mean, it went the worst thing I could have done. But, um, yeah, because you have to kind of go along with the flow, because you're, it's like behavior, you know that the demon scream, you know that they talk like this, I'm the demon, I'm amazing, I did it, like you kind of just do it, you're trained to do it in a way. And then they burn the demon and kind of send the demon on their way by saying, in the name of Jesus, get out!

So the demon that's causing her to lack ways, show yourself. Manifest, come out, come that, come that, come that, come that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, the demons, the demons, that, the demons, that, that, the demons, that, that that that that that that that the demon, the demon, the demon, you the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, you the demon, you the demon, you the demon, you the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the demon, the the the the the the the. the. that's, that's that's, that's that's that's that's that's that's thea.a.a. the the the the. Good, send fire to burn this demon. Yes, burn, receive fire, demon, receive fire, burn, burn, good, send fire. And then the person will be like, it burns, it burns, it burns. Looking back now, it's kind of funny because it's just so, it's so lame as you guys would say. Very theatrical. And then immediately you're supposed to like come to and be conscious. And I remember looking up and just being humiliated, like, fucking oh, like I was in front of all of these people telling them my business. Like, you feel so naked and so vulnerable.

Now that sounds like the best theater I've been, you feel so naked and so vulnerable. Now that sounds like the best theater I've been to in a while. Yeah, I now have Friday and our plans. And now for the emotional control portion of our show. You know, I was conditioned into thinking that crying would lead to depression, which will lead to demonic possession. So we weren't allowed to cry. We weren't allowed to feel feelings because feelings was of the devil. You know if he was to come to Churchill's side they'll be like you're using your emotions, you know don't be emotional. I think it's a way to

dehumanize their members. I think you're right Rachel. Now it wouldn't be a cult without a cover-up. So the U.C.K.D. has always kind of denied that they do exorcisms. And I think one of the reasons they strongly deny, at least here in the UK, is because the church was actually linked to the most horrific child abuse case the UK has ever seen. The UCKG was involved in the Victoria Columbia case. And what happened was there was a young girl, she was seven or eight, and she came to the UK from Africa to stay with her aunt and the aunt's boyfriend.

They had it in their mind that the child was possessed and was a witch. So they started torturing her, burning her, beating her, stabbing her, scratching her, starving her, and when she was taken to the UCKG, the pastor at the time actually agreed with the aunt that Victoria was demon possessed. And the church did nothing essentially they didn't call the police, they literally they literally the police. They literally the the the the the the the they the the the they the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their their their their their torture torture torture torture their, um tortortorture torture their, um their, um torture torture torture torture torture torture tortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortortort tort tortort tortort tortort tort tort tort tort tort tort tort tort tort torture, torture torture torture torture their, torture their their torture torture torture torture torture torture torture torture torture, Victoria was demon possessed and the church did nothing essentially. They didn't call the police. They literally just demonized this poor child. He said, okay bring her back on Friday we'll pray for her, right? So the aunt brings Victoria back and Victoria passed away. So it's the most horrific child abuse case in the UK. So it was very

public, it was all over the media. I think that made them really reluctant to brand themselves as a church that does exorcism because until today they deny that they was even involved in Victoria Colombe's case. So the UCKG made a great deal of money. That is obvious and much of it comes from tithing. Now unfortunately, 10% of your income isn't enough. It's never fucking enough, is it? They actually preach something called the campaign of Israel. And what they do every year is they take like a random Bible verse. Like, so Abraham sacrificed his son, Isaac, in order to get God's blessing.

So what you're gonna do, you know, is you're gonna sell something, you're gonna make a large financial sacrifice, something that's really, that's really, that's really, that's.... that's something. that's something. that's something. It's something. It's something. It's something. It's something. It's something. It's something. that's something. that's something. that's something. that's something. that's something. that's something. that's something. that's something. their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their their their their their their their their their their their their, their, their So what you're going to do, you know, is you're going to sell something, you're going to make a large financial sacrifice, something that's really going to hurt, and you're going to make a sacrifice before good, and God's going to honor you and give you the miracle you want. So that's the premise. And they would have like these promotional videos where people come on and they say, yeah, you know, I I I I gave my inheritance I sold my wedding rings I sold my car and I put the money on the altar and I got the job of my dreams I'm now a manager a tired refrain in cults and the UCKG is clever in the sense that it targets people who are vulnerable and desperate because if you're vulnerable and desperate and you're sold a dream and you are toled that if you that th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho tho- tho- I thorou thor thor thor thor thor thor thor thor thor th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th the the the the the the the the the the their the their tho tho the the the the the the the told told told told told their their theeeeeee their their their their their the their that it targets people who are vulnerable and desperate because if you're vulnerable and desperate and you're sold a dream and you are told that if you give your welfare check to the church you know God's gonna

change your situation you may just do it you know and they do target the black and brown community here in the UK I mean in America I know they target the Spanish community. You know we was living in such poverty as members of the church where we had to like scrounge for food. And I just think to myself, you know, but we do everything we're told to do. Why are we living this way? I mean, oh my goodness, one thing I'll never forgive myself is participating in this madness and actually selling all of my clothes, literally all the good stuff. I sold AMAX trainers, oh my God, all of my fits, all my bags, my accessories. I literally sold it all to this random place for like nothing.

But I just remember thinking, no, this really hurts. I really feel like I've rubbed myself so that means God is got a blessing and I gave the money to the church and because of the indoctrination I thought yes now I'm gonna be blessed I can't even remember what the hell I wanted obviously never got it it didn't work I was like this is stupid like why did I do that? Like I almost regret it almost immediately, like hundreds of pounds worth of gear and trainers and nice clothes. I sold it for like trump change. What the hell am I doing? And I thought to myself, this doesn't make any sense. Like, fuck this. This is not right. Everything in me just started to side-eye the church a bit.

And that was the first step. A first step, but not the last. And now for the romantic coercion portion of our show. So because I progressed in the church so much, you know, I kind of went up the ranks first. By the time I was 17, 18, it was time for assistant Rachel to start looking for a husband because that's what you do. So there was a guy who was in my branch and that's pretty much all we had in common. And I was like, should we date? And it's like yeah, let's ask the pass the permission. We started dating and they have a timetime scale you have to either break up or get married after three

months. So the three months was coming up and it's like so we're getting married. Kissing too much was found upon like it was a sin it was a sin to do anything like that. So that probably was one of the reasons we rushed down the aisle to avoid sin because apparently getting married is better than falling into sin. Like marry a stranger, that's always better. Because that's essentially what it was. Sorry, married at first sight.

Looks like someone's still your concept. They're not one of these churches that have licenses that can like legally marry you. So you have to have to have their their their their their their their their their their their their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their..... I. And, their. I. I. I. I. th. thi. I was. I'm thoooooomorrow, their. I. I'm their. I'm their. I'm their. I'm their. I'm the. th have licenses that can like legally marry you. So you have to get married in the registry office and then have your church who had an after. And then that night you do what married people do. I mean it's been a long couple of years I said, okay let's do this time to pop this cherry as it was. So the next day when I went to church, the pastor's wives was like, did thii, thia thia thia thia thia they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they they thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, they they they're thi, they're the, they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. they're thi. they're thi. thi. they're thi. thin, the. theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeean. thean. thean. they're thean. they're the pastor's wives was like, did anything happen last night? And I'm like, yes?

Because in my mind it's like, we're married. So she was like, oh, and I'm like, hmm, so that was really awkward and I sensed that something was up. So then I get a phone call from her husband, who further questions me about what happened the night before and says, okay, so Pastor James wants to speak to you in Finse's married................. I to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to church to church to church to church to church to church to church to church to church to church to church to ch cha to cha to ch-c, to chu, to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to chc, to cha to chc, to ch ch cha the church to to the church to to to the church to the church to to to the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church. the church. the church the church. the church the church the church. the church. the church. the the church. the to the to the to to the the the the the the the night before and says, okay so Pastor James wants to speak to you in Finsbury Park. So Finsbury Park is like the headquarters of the UCKG in the UK. It's the base, it's the hub, it's the hive. Like what is happening? Like what could I have done wrong? At this point I was kind of pissed because I was summoned. My husband't summoned okay it was just me oh Rachel don't you know only women is

responsible for sinful sex in the eyes of God mate you're kind of getting it so I get there now and then he takes me to this room and it's just me and him and for like an hour he interrogates me about what happened that night. And that even though I'm married legally, I'm not married under the eyes of good, and I committed a sin. And basically what he did at that point was demote me from being an assistant. Now, you know how it is with the hierarchy structure? When you are like deposed from a position, it's like like obviously you commit some kind of sin

because you're no longer in your uniform. So for me that was the ultimate blow because in my mind it's like what the hell is happening I'm literally married. But perhaps this was all a blessing in disguise. So I think that's when like the final crack just broke. It's like the layers started to pull back, the layers of fear, the layers of wonder. You start to think things you weren't really allowed to think. This doesn't make sense. God does not need to be paid. You know, I do not need to attend all of these damn services.

It's like a kid realizing that Santa's not real. Everything you kind of believed and dreamed in and you know had faith in you suddenly learn is a lie. You know it hits you hard and it hit me real hard and I think that was one of the lowest points in my life when you start to really see a cult for who they are. So at that point I was incredibly depressed. My mental health like declined rapidly. I contemplated suicide because I thought to myself maybe that's the only way because if I leave I'll lose everything.

I would basically forfeit my friendships in the church. But it was a risk I was willing to take. So I said know what let me just let me just rip off this bandaid so I writ a message a text message and I sent it to the pastor and I sent it to some of my friends and I was just like look I no longer agree with what the UCG is doing I think it's false doctrine and I'm leaving and I'm never coming back and I have not stepped foot back in since like never never will. And that's why she rains.

Miss Rachel fucking rain. But she rains like like a queen again not like them cloud stuff, you know not like that water coming out and precipitating. We covered that like 20 out and reciprocate it. We covered that a long time ago. We covered that like 20 minutes ago. Cool, cool. For years and years, I was conditioned into thinking a certain way. So to reintegrate back into normal society was hard. It was hard to function.

It was hard to kind of trust myself because you were taught that you can't trust yourself. There was a a th was a th was a th was a th was a th was a lot th was a lot th was a lot th was a lot th was a lot th was a lot th. th. th. th. th. thoe tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. tho. thoom, the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. theemememememem. the. the. the. the. the. the. thught that you can't trust yourself. There was a lot of turmoil in terms of would I go to hell if I do this you know but there was also a lot of curiosity you know what if I watch this movie that I shouldn't really watch what if I do listen to that Beyonce song then you'll be an empowered badass woman that's what yeah you know what in fact let's all listen to a little bit of a Beyonce song, shall we? It took years to really start to undo that conditioning, and I don't think it ever really goes. In the church, you're not allowed to have kids, you know, even though you're married, they preach that having children is selfish, it's wrong because Jesus is coming back. You have to focus on the work of good. the the the the the the the the their, a their their their their their their their their th, th, th, th, th. th. th. th. th. thi tho tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, who tho, who tho, who tho, who tho, who tho, who tho, who tho, who their tho, who th. We, who th. We, who th. We, who th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi, thi, tho, tho, thoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, to, to, you're married, they preach that having children is selfish, it's wrong because Jesus is coming back. You have to focus on the work of good. A kid is a distraction. So when I got married, I had no intention on having kids, but when I left, you

know, I discovered, hey, I want to be a mom, I want a kid. And, you know, we eventually had a son. My ex, we had nothing in common. Complete opposites, and opposites didn't even attract in this instance. So, yeah, during lockdown we separated, and then last year I legally divorced him. Reminds me of one of my favorite Beyonce songs. All the single ladies? Nope. If I were a boy? Nope. Irreplaceable? That's the one. You're irreplaceable. So go ahead and get on.

Pack up your shit and tell me he's gone. Don't think for one second. You're irreplaceable. I really fucked that up. Yeah you did. Editors note. I usually like to use the original song as a backing track for Liz's singing, as maybe you heard earlier in this episode, but I cannot find those lyrics at all in the original Beyonce song, so this space is intentionally left blank. So, Rachel, Herner X, they left the cult together, right? So I left first and then it took him around three to four years to leave because he's still really believed in what they were saying. So any time I would mention the church it would cause an argument.

But when he was no longer in the picture, I was like, hey, I can actually talk about this shit now. So I was talking to a friend who also went, I'm like let's talk our truth and we went live on Instagram and I shared my experiences and people started messaging me and they were like can I share my story and it's like yeah so I'm like okay we're gonna do lives every week and we're gonna have like survivors come on and share their story and oh my god God, it snowboard. And then I posted a video on there about the church's finances about the making millions and then that went viral. And then it got to a point where it was like, wow, this is a movement. Her movement. Remember, this Rachel rains, y'all.

It's called Surviving Universal UK. Look it up, follow it. Like for the last two years I've publicly been on the UCKG's neck. So yeah I reached out to an investigative journalist and be like hey you know there's this church here that's basically a cold like they brainwash me they manipulated me they they isolated me for my families and she was like wow I wow, I actually know about the U.C.K. and I've been interested for a while. And then it resulted in an incredible investigation. We got two pages on the Guardian newspaper here in the UK.

And you know, we had a BBC Panorama investigation. And it covered everything that I've been screaming about for the last two and off years. Undercover in a global church led by a billionaire bishop. The church claims to transform lives but it can come at a price. Telling gay people it can make them straight and saying it can help with mental health problems by casting out evil spirits. With millions of members worldwide, I'm going inside the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Millions of people saw it in one night.

It's been crazy. You know, this church has been causing chaos and mayhem all these years and there's been no exposure like this. Last month I was invited to speak in the House of Parliament and I, you know, stood up and spoke about everything. So me, as a black woman, kind of being at the forefront of this movement, made the world see, you know, this is an organization that's masquerading as this help center or is this church when in reality you know they're destroying

lives, they're tearing families apart, they're brainwashing people, you know, they're making people throw away their future. So it's been a great process so far but I'm just about getting started. I literally started on Instagram live and now this cult that terrorized me and their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their this church. this church. this church. this church. this church is this church this church this church this church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church the church their c. their c. their c. their c. their their their their their their their their their their their their te. tea. tea. tea. their tea. their their their their their their their their their their their on Instagram live. And now this cult that terrorized me and terrorized so many others are like on their knees right now here in the UK. And they're holding on by a fret. And they're about to lose their charity status. Their days are literally numbered here.

It feels great. It feels great to finally be taken seriously and to have the conversations. It's what I'm passionate about. I love advocating for people. I love giving a voice to the voiceless. And I love justice. I love fighting for justice. I love the right thing happening. Wow. So now I work in administration and I'm also a part-time law students. So yes you're looking at a future lawyer. And life's good. Life's fucking great. I mean since I live the UCKG my life has literally gone from like a zero to like a plus. My life's not perfect. No one's life is. But when I say that I now know who I am and I have

the freedom to live my best life, it's never to be like downplayed. Like I am fucking happy. I live how I want to live. I believe what I want to believe. I love who I want to love. You know I'm a mom. I love my son. I love my life. I'm fucking happy. Like I'm free. Now if that's not a mic-drop episode, I don't know what is. Rachel, you just made it rain, my friend. You know what that means, right, Tyler?

I mean, she crushed it, right? No, then you'd say like she ate. Eight. Like, she left no crumbs. I'm gonna need a translator Liz. What does that even mean? What do you mean left no crumbs? You ate too much? I don't understand this. You know what made it rain really means that, right? Yeah, you precipitate on... No, like the slang. The slang. Oh, money. Money, dollar bills. You made it rain, money comes down. You didn't know that. I did at some point. It's in the cavity of my brain somewhere. That's our show, guys. Rachel, thank you. Thank you. You were an absolute joy to chat with. Even with our funky overseas connection, we made it happen. And we're so grateful. You're a so-a-sa-skneu. the thin. the th. the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the the the the the the the the the the the the the th.thank you, thank you. You were an absolute joy to chat with. Even with our funky overseas connection, we made it happen. And we're so grateful you reached out to us to share your story.

Yeah. We will have links, listeners to everything Rachel discussed in the episode in our show notes. As well as all the ways to find her and keep up with where she is with her movement to take this cult down. Yes. Also, when she becomes the the the th th th th th th th th th th th thi th thi th thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi tho- thi thi thi thi thi tho- tho- tho- tho- tho- tho- tho- tho- tho- tho- tho-a tho-a tho-a tho-a tho-a tho-a tho-a tho-a tho thi th, thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi than to to to toeeeeeean-woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-s, to to take this cult down. Yes. Also when she becomes a lawyer, I'm calling her. She's going to kick ass for me. Yeah. Thanks for being here with us today, folk, for continuing to share the show with your friends, your loved ones, your enemies, that person who steps on your feet on the subway, everyone. Crackheads. share it with crackheads. They're important demographic of our show. We would be nothing without you are people. Like any good cult leader, she is nothing without her followers. And join us next week as we plia

into a ballet cult out of none other than Chicago. Chicago, a Chicago ballet cult. This is true. Who would have thought? None other than Chicago, a Chicago ballet cult. This is true, who would have thought? Was I Ain't a Cult is written, produced and hosted by the not so single lady, Lizai Cousie. And the one who doesn't run the world, Tyler Mesa. Sound design and edit by the not so Sasha Fierce, Rob Perra. And our social media, one plus one, Shannie Payton. And our

executive producer, the flawless Stephen Labra. Tyler, do you know what on red means? No. Like when you leave me on red? No. You know what that means? Oh it means you're yelling. Like volume? Like no. I don't know like red is when you go too hard into the... No, I don't know what the hell it means. think about it. Like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, their. their. their. their. their. their. their. the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the, the. the the, is when you go too hard into the... No, I don't know I don't know what the hell it means. Think about it like he left me on red what a dick. At a red light? What? I don't know. Bleeding? Is it... You get one more guest. Um, I'm gonna pass. I'm gonna phone a friend. When you can see your red text messages and you know that they saw. Oh, on red. R-E-A-D-L-R it. And they don't respond. And they don't respond.

It's a... He left me on red. Oh, okay. All right. Don't never do that. Take out my life. Crucify.