After all of the allegations in opposition to the group, it’s unimaginable to study whether or not the Shekinah Church continues to be lively. Accusations of abuse and “cult-like” habits first broke in 2022 when Rolling Stone seemingly related TikTok dancers for 7M Movies with a non secular 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 in opposition to 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 perform independently and haven’t any connections, nevertheless, each former 7M staff and church members have accused Shinn of controlling habits. So is Shekinah Church nonetheless lively? Learn on.
Is Shekinah Church nonetheless lively?
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 lively. In keeping with 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 non secular group for Korean Individuals. 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 practically $4 million, which was allegedly funneled to Shinn by the non-taxpaying church.”
In court docket papers, Shinn described the Shekinah group as “small and tight-knit group of Christian believers dedicated to spreading their non secular message by peaceable bible study and outreach.” The choose dominated in favor of Shinn.
“This can be a cult,” Chung informed The Every day Beast. “This completely ruins folks. You hear concerning the individuals who went to Vietnam—going by such a trauma, many individuals can’t perform as a standard human being—that is what it does.” She continued: “I don’t need to trigger hurt to anybody going to actual church buildings,” Chung emphasised and alleged that the group is “a lot worse” than Scientology or some other 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.
“Although we have been solely in there for 2 years, it’s nonetheless two years of our life that we spent battling to provide full consideration to [Shinn] and his church,” hip-hop dancer Kylie Douglas informed Rolling Stone. “We simply not need him to have the ability to do this to anybody: the brainwashing, the manipulating, operating folks down—giving their time, giving their effort, giving their cash, giving all they acquired for one thing that may be a false hope.”
Little is thought about Shinn’s whereabouts in the present day however we do know he presently lives in Los Angeles together with his son Isaiah. His firm 7M got here ahead with a press release 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.”
In keeping with the top of the Netflix documentary, Shinn revealed planning to go forward with the lawsuit. “No felony fees have been introduced in opposition to Shinn. He has beforehand denied sexually abusing any member of Shekinah or any consumer of 7M. The civil lawsuit is ongoing. Robert and his co-defendants deny the claims in opposition to them. The case is ready to go to trial in 2025.”
