Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 6, 2006, Page 49
Having settled a lawsuit brought by the State of Maine that charged the group with
defrauding the public by purveying ―healing instruments‖ of unproved therapeutic
effectiveness, the Gentle Wind Project is up and running again, despite agreeing to
disband. The group, which also lost its non-profit status and says it no longer accepts
donations or payments in any form, still presses a defamation suit against former followers
who say, on their website, that Gentle Wind is cult-like and practices mind-control. ..
Meanwhile, Gentle Wind‘s lawyers have refused to continue to represent the group because
it has not paid their legal fees.
Gilbert Deya Ministries
Gilbert Deya, the UK-based millionaire head of Gilbert Deya Ministries, accused of
running a Kenya-to-Britain child trafficking ring, says no evidence has yet been produced by
police to substantiate the allegation. He spoke a day after the Charity Commission
announced that it had found ―there was no misuse of funds‖ by Deya‘s organization. ―We
asked them [the Deya Ministries] to remove references to miracle babies‖ from its website
— Deya says he can produce children in infertile women — and stop saying it can generate
them. The Commission added that it will continue to monitor the Deya Ministries‘ ―financial
procedures.‖ Meanwhile, Kenya still wants to extradite Deya to face child smuggling
charges.
Global Empire Covenant Divine Government
Manila police in August raided the concrete-walled ―hideout‖ of Global Empire Covenant
Divine Government and arrested suspected cult members, including leader Antonio
Laernal (alias Amedo Aram) and rescued 11 minors, including four boys and seven girls,
alleged ―sex slaves‖ of the group.
Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church
Four leaders of Missouri‘s Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church, now free on bail,
are accused of molesting children at the church‘s reclusive live-in community. Rev.
Raymond Lambert, his wife, and her brothers allegedly sexually abused young girls over
three decades, sometimes as part of what court documents call ―a ritual or ceremony.‖
Leaders of a related church led by Lambert‘s uncle have been charged in a similar case.
Greater Grace World Outreach
The Baltimore-based Greater Grace World Outreach — which claims 55 affiliated
churches in the U.S. and hundreds worldwide — is being criticized by numerous former
followers and cult observers for alleged mind control, sexual misconduct, child molestation,
fraud, extortion, and family schisms. The organization is led by the Rev. Carl Henry
Stevens, whose Massachusetts-based Bible Speaks — Greater Grace‘s predecessor — was
ordered by a court two decades ago to repay a woman whom he had persuaded to donate
$5.5 million to his ministry. The head of Watchman Fellowship, a Christian research
organizations, says Greater Grace is ―a dysfunctional religious group ...[that] teaches
certain doctrines that empower the leadership, which also creates powerless followers. It
leads to emotional or spiritual injury for people who question or step outside (the ministry).‖
Greenville Hills Academy/Boot Camp
State agencies are trying to determine if excessive force was used at the privately run
Greenville Hills Academy for delinquent boys, the subject of more than 280 complaints
from youths calling a state hotline, including one who said he suffered a broken collarbone
and another who claims he was choked at the facility. A Panama City, FL, boot camp for
juveniles was shut down earlier this year following the death of a 14-year-old.
Having settled a lawsuit brought by the State of Maine that charged the group with
defrauding the public by purveying ―healing instruments‖ of unproved therapeutic
effectiveness, the Gentle Wind Project is up and running again, despite agreeing to
disband. The group, which also lost its non-profit status and says it no longer accepts
donations or payments in any form, still presses a defamation suit against former followers
who say, on their website, that Gentle Wind is cult-like and practices mind-control. ..
Meanwhile, Gentle Wind‘s lawyers have refused to continue to represent the group because
it has not paid their legal fees.
Gilbert Deya Ministries
Gilbert Deya, the UK-based millionaire head of Gilbert Deya Ministries, accused of
running a Kenya-to-Britain child trafficking ring, says no evidence has yet been produced by
police to substantiate the allegation. He spoke a day after the Charity Commission
announced that it had found ―there was no misuse of funds‖ by Deya‘s organization. ―We
asked them [the Deya Ministries] to remove references to miracle babies‖ from its website
— Deya says he can produce children in infertile women — and stop saying it can generate
them. The Commission added that it will continue to monitor the Deya Ministries‘ ―financial
procedures.‖ Meanwhile, Kenya still wants to extradite Deya to face child smuggling
charges.
Global Empire Covenant Divine Government
Manila police in August raided the concrete-walled ―hideout‖ of Global Empire Covenant
Divine Government and arrested suspected cult members, including leader Antonio
Laernal (alias Amedo Aram) and rescued 11 minors, including four boys and seven girls,
alleged ―sex slaves‖ of the group.
Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church
Four leaders of Missouri‘s Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church, now free on bail,
are accused of molesting children at the church‘s reclusive live-in community. Rev.
Raymond Lambert, his wife, and her brothers allegedly sexually abused young girls over
three decades, sometimes as part of what court documents call ―a ritual or ceremony.‖
Leaders of a related church led by Lambert‘s uncle have been charged in a similar case.
Greater Grace World Outreach
The Baltimore-based Greater Grace World Outreach — which claims 55 affiliated
churches in the U.S. and hundreds worldwide — is being criticized by numerous former
followers and cult observers for alleged mind control, sexual misconduct, child molestation,
fraud, extortion, and family schisms. The organization is led by the Rev. Carl Henry
Stevens, whose Massachusetts-based Bible Speaks — Greater Grace‘s predecessor — was
ordered by a court two decades ago to repay a woman whom he had persuaded to donate
$5.5 million to his ministry. The head of Watchman Fellowship, a Christian research
organizations, says Greater Grace is ―a dysfunctional religious group ...[that] teaches
certain doctrines that empower the leadership, which also creates powerless followers. It
leads to emotional or spiritual injury for people who question or step outside (the ministry).‖
Greenville Hills Academy/Boot Camp
State agencies are trying to determine if excessive force was used at the privately run
Greenville Hills Academy for delinquent boys, the subject of more than 280 complaints
from youths calling a state hotline, including one who said he suffered a broken collarbone
and another who claims he was choked at the facility. A Panama City, FL, boot camp for
juveniles was shut down earlier this year following the death of a 14-year-old.
