At Remnant Fellowship Church following the death of Christian “weight loss cult leader” Gwen Shamblin Lara in a plane crash

THE sudden death of Gwen Shamblin Lara in a plane crash in 2021 marked a new chapter for the Remnant Fellowship Church, the controversial religious group that founded it.

After allegations of being a cult and controlling the weight, lives and finances of its followers, the group is now run by a leadership team that includes the weight-loss guru’s daughter.

4

4

It was assumed she would continue to lead the megachurch along with her brother Michael, reports People.

But it seems that Elizabeth Hannah does not lead the church alone.

In fact, the church is now led by a group of followers, including Hannah.

Her husband, Brandon Hannah, was one of those who also perished in the plane crash that killed her mother.

The church states on its website: “Our overall leadership team consists of 120 individuals who serve the community through ministry and counseling and meet its needs.

“Under the guidance and guidance of Elizabeth Shamblin Hannah, we have incredible hope for the future as we continue to heal and grow in love for God as a church.”

Hannah’s brother Michael is said to have given up all leadership roles completely after the death of his mother, divorced his wife and left the church.

Gwen – who was known for her striking blonde hairdo – was 66 when she died.

In 1999 she founded the Remnant Fellowship.

Gwen was previously the author of the 1997 book The Weigh Down Diet, which credited God with helping people lose weight, before she started the Weigh Down Workshop.

Shamblin Lara held conferences where fans held up banners that read, “God took 86 pounds from me.”

But soon she faced accusations of running a cult and using the money raised for the church for her own personal wealth.

One follower even claimed she suffered irreparable kidney damage from the weight-loss program while starving herself “for God.”

Others accused the church of “emotional, psychological and physical abuse,” according to researchers.

A new Lifetime film about Gwen and the Church, starring Jennifer Gray, will air on February 4th.

A explosive HBO documentary, The Way Down, also aired months after Gwen died in a plane crash in Tennessee.

It had been in production at the time of her death.

A synopsis read, “Despite a carefully curated image, Lara and the church soon made allegations of emotional, psychological and physical abuse and exploitation for their alleged cult-like practices.”

The Christian guru was among seven people killed when a Cessna plane crashed into Lake Percy Priest near Smyrna, Tennessee in May 2021.

The group, which also included her Tarzan actor and second husband Joe Lara, 58, are said to have gone to a Women Fighting For America event.

Air traffic control data showed the plane began to descend after just 90 seconds in the air.

The Church told the HBO documentary makers that it “categorically denies the absurd defamatory statements and allegations made in this documentary.”

The US Sun has reached out to the Remnant Fellowship Church for comment.

4

4