I’m a Black Woman Who Grew Up in a Cult - Here’s Why I’m Finally Talking About It

In this personal op-ed, actor and podcast host LaNisa Renee Frederick unpacks her childhood in the Worldwide Church of God, how racism shaped its theology, and the healing that came from naming the shame out loud.

Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s as a Black girl in the Midwest, I knew early on that my church was different—maybe even “weird”—compared to my peers'. But it wasn’t until years later that I connected my experiences to the word cult, which sent me on a journey to unpack the shame and embarrassment I didn’t even realize I was carrying.

Like many Black households, the church was a cornerstone of my upbringing. However, most of my school friends were Baptist, AME, or Pentecostal. I didn’t really understand what we were, but I knew we were Sabbath keepers. From Friday sundown to Saturday sundown: no work, no parties, no Saturday morning cartoons. (Though my siblings and I did manage to sneak in episodes of He-Man and She-Ra.)

I remember being six and pulled from the class Halloween party because I wasn’t allowed to participate. Heartbroken, I sat alone watching my classmates gobble down candy corn and M&M’s, wondering what was so sinful about dressing up like Barbie.

And while other kids settled into the school year each fall, I was collecting homework assignments ahead of our annual two-week spiritual pilgrimage out of state. Sure, it was a little unorthodox. But I didn’t start questioning the church’s doctrines and ideologies until college. I was taking an intro to theology course and decided to use this new thing called Google to look up my old church. What I found shook me: article after article labeling it a cult.

That couldn’t be right. I had fun in church! We went roller skating and had potlucks that even brought my non-member mom into the fold. Plus, we’re Black. We don’t do cults. Outside of “those Jonestown people,” cults were something that happened to white folks in documentaries. Sure, we might deal with “church hurt,” but cults? Nah. Not us.

Still, I kept digging—reading, researching, and talking to former members. At first, I defined a cult by what I could see. Then I began to understand, through experts, that cults aren’t about optics. You don’t have to live in Waco, wear matching Nikes, or drink the Kool-Aid to be under control. Fear-based obedience, punishment for questioning authority, strict hierarchies, and man-made rules disguised as biblical truths? That’s culty too.

That’s when I finally said out loud: “Oh shit. We were in a cult.”

Read the entire article here: I’m a Black Woman Who Grew Up in a Cult - Here’s Why I’m Finally Talking About It, where she discusses the curses of British Israelism that contributed to racism in the church.

 

Dave Pack: I Am NOT Setting A Date, But It Is Monday, Av 10. A Titanic All Consuming Date

 

LCG Lectures Members On Developing Humility, Servant Leadership

 

It’s striking that Doug Winnail speaks about power plays, jockeying for position, and chasing paychecks, yet urges members to cultivate humility and a servant’s heart. Shouldn’t this start at the top? Shouldn’t LCG and other COG leaders exemplify profound humility and servant leadership? Ideally, yes, but in Armstrongism, this has rarely been the case. Jealousy, power struggles, backstabbing, and a craving for prominence have long defined COG leadership. Look at figures like Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, Gerald Weston, Ron Weinland, Vic Kubik, and Gerald Flurry—they set a gold standard for hypocrisy in these traits, often rebelling against the very church government they claim to uphold, engaging in power plays and betrayal. This behavior traces back to Herbert Armstrong, the most egregious example in COG history.
Many church members, however, naturally embody humility and servant leadership. Sadly, these individuals often don’t last long, as jealous elders and fellow members undermine them.
Until COG leaders model integrity and true servant leadership with genuine humility, the church will stagnate, and its witness will fall on deaf ears.

What Motivates You? Many people are motivated by a desire for position, power, pleasure—or a paycheck. However, failure to achieve these goals can lead to frustration and problems—especially when individuals jostle for positions and seek to be noticed. This can happen in the workplace and even in our congregations. Jesus noted this tendency among the religious leaders of His day (Matthew 23:1–12), but He advised His disciples, “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:25–28). Christians are advised to avoid self-seeking motives and focus on ways to serve others (1 Timothy 6:3–5; 1 Peter 5:1–4). Let’s strive to develop the attitudes of humility and service that Jesus exhibited so we can be instruments in His hands.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail