After all of the allegations towards the group, it’s unbelievable to study 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 spiritual 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 towards 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 workers and church members have accused Shinn of controlling conduct. So is Shekinah Church nonetheless energetic? Learn on.
Is Shekinah Church nonetheless energetic?
Very like different non secular insitutions which have been 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 Worldwide was born with the calling of saving one billion souls, elevating up leaders for the Physique of Christ and supporting the gospel with all means.”
The group was based by Robert Shinn in 1994 initially as a spiritual group for Korean People. In 2009, Lydia Chung filed a lawsuit claiming that Shekinah and Shinn “had remoted her from her household, brainwashed her, and defrauded her out of almost $4 million, which was allegedly funneled to Shinn by way of the non-taxpaying church.”
In courtroom papers, Shinn described the Shekinah group as “small and tight-knit group of Christian believers dedicated to spreading their non secular message by way of peaceable biblical studies and outreach.” The choose dominated in favor of Shinn.
“It is a cult,” Chung instructed The Every day Beast. “This completely ruins folks. You hear in regards to the individuals who went to Vietnam—going by way of such a trauma, many individuals can not operate as a standard human being—that is what it does.” She continued: “I don’t wish to trigger hurt to anybody going to actual church buildings,” Chung emphasised and alleged that the group is “a lot worse” than Scientology or another 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 total abusive. The Wilkings household together with TikToker Melanie alleged that her sister Miranda Wilkings (now Derricks) forcibly blocked all communication from them.
“Regardless that we have been solely in there for 2 years, it’s nonetheless two years of our life that we spent battling to present full consideration to [Shinn] and his church,” hip-hop dancer Kylie Douglas instructed Rolling Stone. “We simply now not need him to have the ability to try this to anybody: the brainwashing, the manipulating, working folks down—giving their time, giving their effort, giving their cash, giving all they obtained for one thing that could be a false hope.”
Little is understood about Shinn’s whereabouts immediately however we do know he presently lives in Los Angeles along with his son Isaiah. His firm 7M got here ahead with an announcement about Miranda Derrick’s household’s allegations to Every day Mail.
“Regardless of her household’s claims, Miranda is a profitable businesswoman and a loving spouse and daughter who cares very a lot about her household,” the assertion learn. It’s pathetic and contemptible to attempt to flip her personal 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 legal expenses have been introduced towards Shinn. He has beforehand denied sexually abusing any member of Shekinah or any shopper of 7M. The civil lawsuit is ongoing. Robert and his co-defendants deny the claims towards them. The case is about to go to trial in 2025.”