A few days ago, Slarti pointed out that some of my diet tips were straight out of the Weigh Down Workshop. I feel bad about that, because I didn’t mean to lead anyone astray. I’ve been thinking about it for several days now, and need to set the record straight. Now seems like a good time, for reasons that may become clear later.
I first participated in Weigh Down somewhere between 1997 and 1999. (Years bleed together after awhile.) I bought the book and read it and loved the idea behind it. Surely Jesus would love it if I were skinny! While parts of the book seemed a little bit insane, I overlooked the Crazy in favour of the nuggets of weight loss wisdom. One piece of Crazy has stuck with me for years, however. In the book, Shamblin claims that she is so in touch with The Holy Spirit that she needs never to set an alarm clock. Jesus wakes her up whenever she needs to be out of bed. Hallelujah.
That kind of thinking has always bothered me. Yes, Jesus loves us and provides for us, but he also gives us things like electricity and batteries and stores which sell alarm clocks for a purpose. Pray to God but row for shore, brothers.
In the fall of 2000 I began working for a division of Thomas Nelson publishers–the original publishers of the Weigh Down Diet book. They dropped Shamblin as an author when she denied the Trinity. I began to wonder if perhaps Jesus had gotten her up too early on a few days, leading to sleep depravation and a resultant case of mild insanity. But I didn’t really care about her one way or another.
Then I began to work with a woman I’ll call Noel. This lady is perhaps the sweetest and kindest co-worker I’ve ever had. She was also overweight. For years she had worked as Gwen’s assistant but then was fired in part because she was overweight. Granted I have only the word of Noel and other coworkers for this, but the several times I’ve called Remnant Fellowship for clarification, calls were not returned. Now, I can understand a diet peddler wanting, unlike Caeser, to surround herself with men and women who are lean. But for Shamblin, ostensibly a Christian who taught that God loves all people fat or thin, to fire a woman because of her weight was a travesty. Surely if she truly cared for Noel as a human being–and if her diet truly worked–Shamblin would have taken Noel under her wing and worked with her as together they pursued thinness through Jesus. But no. Shamblin was more concerned with book sales and the building of her Remnant Fellowship.
I often drive past Remnant when I take a scenic route into Franklin. It’s a not-cheap building on a highly-valuable piece of land. I always wonder at this–at churches who purport to do the work of God yet see fit to spend money on earthly treasures. I suppose they expect to pay for part of the church with proceeds from their lawsuit against Rafael Martinez for libel. In addition to suing Martinez, they are also suing an anonymous blogger.
I can’t help but wonder if Jesus does have a special hotline to Shamblin. I mean, he’s told the rest of Christians to not sue other Christians. Apparently he’s told Shamblin that it’s okay to proceed otherwise.
I liked her better when she was just telling me to take half my restaurant meal home in a box.
yikes.
a couple of years ago I read the first couple of chapters of Weigh Down. I never got in a group or anything, or even finished the book–just adopted a few of the tips that made perfect sense. learn to listen to your body’s natural signals; eat only when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full. eat more slowly so you recognize when you’re satisfied. etc.
just the simple portion control made me realize how much more I was eating than I needed to be satisfied. I thought it was all brilliant because I could still eat pizza and chocolate and whatever, and I lost weight slowly and steadily and kept it off–sustainable, realistic, etc.
I still think all those are great principles–I had no idea Shamblin was so wacko until the last few months. I guess, what’s that saying about even the blind squirrels finding a nut occasionally?
Amy’s right. Some of the principles are sound common-sense ideas. Listening to your body’s signals is one. I still take her religious take that there are no such things a “clean” or “unclean” foods to heart. That jibes perfectly with my engineer’s brain: It’s all about how many calories you take in vs how many calories you burn.
But when reading her book, you could see the warning signs. Her pronouncement that if you weren’t a hand-raisin’ Pentecostal, you weren’t a true worshipper. All that talk of being “In Love” with Jesus – if I had to talk like that in church, you better darn well bet that me and the guys would be grunting a lot and saying “How bout those Titans?” more than usual.
But just as one of the worlds greatest hedonists, Freddy Mercury, made some of the most magical, inspirational, even quasi-Christian music, I believe God can use anybody any way He wishes. When it comes to her basic plan, I do believe Gwen has a pipeline to the Truth.
But if she’d only stopped there, many more probably would have followed her advice; now she is written off as a nutbag.
The things I know, I can not say here.
We can talk about this in person sometime.
All I’ll say is Praise the Lord and pass the brownies!
“Yes, Jesus loves us and provides for us, but he also gives us things like electricity and batteries and stores which sell alarm clocks for a purpose.”
Snicker. Bless you for stating this POV so wonderfully, Miz C.!
I did Weigh Down at my church back in ’98 or so. It really did help to have pointed out that simple principle of eating until you’re full and then stop. I still try to do that today.
However, that woman is an nut. She even looks whacked out. Plus, there was some controversy awhile back with teaching discipline, er, child abuse at their cult, er, church.It all started out good and then went straight to ….
A lot of the foundational principles are sound common sense, and they work for me. My favourite of them all is to not save the best for last.
I would love to see someone publish a Weigh Down book without the CRAZY parts. A ‘Slimmed Down’ version, if you will.
And yes, Ginger, you’re totally right. The woman does look like a nut. According to the Channel 5 story the parents of the little boy are undergoing their trial for his death.
Portion control is a lot of what Weight Watchers is about. I too love the idea that you can eat anything you want–just be careful how much. When my hubby saw that his “24 points” a day could be a 12 pack he decided it was a diet he could do!
On Shamblin I must confess. Tuesday there were about 100 cop cars, a crime scene investigation unit and a SWAT team in a driveway between her glorious mansion and the one next to hers on Franklin Road (just North of the church.) Brentwood phone lines were hot with talk of a mysterious murder/suicide. My confession is that I assumed things had caught up to ole Gwen. Turned out not it wasn’t even her house, but a farm cottage nestled out of view from the road that I had forgotten was there. Some poor bloke was having what was probably an acohol induced really bad day, and it turned out a bunch of nothing. Big excitement for Brentwood–until the sheriff got arrested the next day…
I just can’t see a good end game for Shamblin at this point.
I’m a regular reader of you, Kat, and you link to me, but honestly for fear of a lawsuit, I’m posting anonymously.
I would highly recommend that people read this article for an on-the-ground view of what things can look like at Remnant. Or just Google Gwen Shamblin and Cult and that will give more info
I’m posting this anonymously since I am a recent walkout of Remnant Fellowship Church. I had lost 20-some pounds doing Weigh Down for a year before I decided to officially join RF. Things turned scary as soon as I did. I didn’t go through huge scary situations like some people blog about online, but probably because I only made it six months in the church. What I did go through was scary enough for me and I finally left.
Gwen had a great thing going with the Weigh Down Diet if she had just left it at that. Even after leaving the church, I am not abandoning the WD principles because I have eaten this way for a year and a half and it’s probably mere habit now!
In the church they constantly stress being “Spirit led.” I never felt Spirit led at all inside the church. Only on eggshells constantly to please the members and worrying my kids are not going to measure up. What took the cake was planning to host everyone in my home for the online service and being accused by a local member that I had not checked with her husband (authority) first. What???
That, together with lots of other unsettling things that happened, was enough to send me packing. I had had a few of what they call attacks from Satan telling me to get the heck out of this church and run as fast as I can away. It happened a few times where I felt it in my gut that it wasn’t right, but I dismissed it as the enemy. Now that I finally listened, I realize I was being Spirit led finally and I was finally obeying!
Any time you have any doubts at all, it is dismissed as an attack and not to listen because the enemy knows we’re onto something and he doesn’t want people to find the true church. They give you the feeling that you are the called-out and elite and you’re special because you have found this church, so how can you reject it?
There were many times I would drive to work and listen to Gwen’s cd’s, and when she would talk about, “Beware of false prophets. They come to you as wolves in sheep’s clothing,” I would always find myself thinking, “She is talking about herself and she doesn’t even know it.” This is when I was a full-fledged member!
Most of the people in the church are great people and very nice and just kind-hearted people. However, there are some that take on this zombie-like appearance and are almost like Stepford wives, but the men and kids too. The local members here who took on the leadership role, they were hard to be around because they wouldn’t talk about anything else but the church and Gwen, and we felt like heathens if we tried to talk about something else. I always felt like I was being watched and then prepared for my “correction.” There were a couple new members who joined right when I did, and they were pretty down-to-earth people then. But in this short time, I have seen them morph into the likeness of the others. I sent out an email to the locals to let them know we were leaving, and I got a couple brief, “Goodbye, nice knowing you,” kind of emails. Apparently now I am more evil than I was before I knew “The Truth,” and so I am sure that the leaders are telling everyone not to associate with me anymore, lest I lead them astray!
Since I left, though, I am much happier and finally feel Spirit led. We have already found a great church nearby and now I need to let God reprogram my mind to not hate everyone who isn’t in Remnant anymore. How terrible…not very Christian at all…
Thanks for reading.
-K
Well, our family too has recently left Remnant Fellowship.
What a sweet bunch of lambs being led to the error of those who know NOT the scriptures nor the power of GOD..
The leadership refuses to see that they have something that belongs to GOD…. his people.
The followers take EVERYTHING that the leaders say as GOSPEL.
Yes, sadly even above Gods word.
God is allowing his displeasure and their counsel to be brought to rubble as anyone with eyes to seee can see….
As they now seek to sue another part of Gods family to re-gain their reputations , one can only marvel at their biblical ignorance…
We had gone to the “leaders” with our biblical questions all which were spurned by reactions to the tune of
“How dare “you” try to teach us, you who still need to lose 10 pounds and whose lives arent as holy, upright and perfect as ours”
How I wish I were exaggeratiing.
They never admit wrongdoing, even though we have caught them in actual lies.
No one dare share biblical truth outside of theirs, otherwise they are made to be ashamed, demonized and made to feel evil.
They will tell you plainly, WE DO NOT AGREE TO DISAGREE HERE…
YOU ARE EITHER with us 100% or go find another church…
I am paraphasing but honestly conveying what we were told.
This group is very in need of true light…
Every teaching begins and ends with “THIS IS THE REAL TRUTH”
Isnt this truth amazing*?!?!?! .
They behave like Pharisees towards others.
Blind to their pride and arrogance towards the family GOD has chosen, because of their faith and not their body size!
I pray blessings of mercy, for many feel trapped…
Some have even called but are too afraid to leave, you are TOLD, that if you leave GOD has sifted you out, because you have been found unworthy.
They truly believe that THEY are the only ones who have it right.
Even though GOD did not come through for them in the SMITH trail , even after all the prayers and lengthy fasts, still GOD said “NO”
He knows what happened to Jozef and he is allowing them to be punished for going too far.
And following the advice of a leadership who truly believes that if YOU PUNISH someone severely enough they will change and do what you say*
This is what has been promoted for years.
They belittle Gods people who choose NOT to be under THEIR authority.
Gods word clearly states
“The head of every woman is the man and the head of every man is
“leadership” OOPS NO , NO
The head of every man is CHRIST, and the head of CHRIST is GOD!”
So many would say things like, go to the leadership about where to live, what colors to paint, what job to take, some even said verbatim “I am so glad I no longer need to make my own decisions, I depend on leadership for eveything!”
They only allow the NIV version
They do not allow their followers to go to weddings or funerals in any other church.
They tell you that IF YOU DO, you are endorsing every evil practice in that church.
They seem to forget where Jesus, Paul, Peter, James and so many others went to teach the people, they forget completely 1 Cor 8, but then again when someones method of studying scripture is to play spiritual roulette by just letting the word fall open, what can we expect?
This is how they study!
Just let the bible fall open.
Instead of choosing Gods righteousness, they have hewn out their own.
From Romans 9
“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
They manipulate people into behaving the way that makes Gwen look good and right.
Beautiful and thin is what she wants.
Because it is all about “Looking inward” not outward to the unsaved.
Evengelism towards anything other Remnant or Weighdown is NOT done.
They disregard everything that happened before you come to Remnant as dung…
Only Remnant has the power to change lives….
How very arrogant.
Perhaps, God is angry for they are stealing HIS praise, His people, and the access HE HAS given people through HIS SON, freely!
There are many other biblical errors that we found in our brief tenure at Remnant.
May God bless the good things among them and humble them to turn from this path of error, arrogance & thorns….
We told them it was wrong to sue Mr Martinez because of GODS word..
But it is apparent that Gwen believes she can go outside of Gods boundaries in this area and be ok….
After all, all her YES men and women fully agree that they need to sue to get their reputations back!
Poor Remnant, I hope that poor church doesnt lose any more softball games, she berated them unmercifully trying to find out WHO was sinning in the camp when they lose.
She belives that losing a game is because someone was sinning and God was angry.
It was so sad….
We exhort all Remnant members to
LOOK at the REAL fruit not the outward appearance.
Where are the manifestations of HOLY SPIRIT?
Is being thin, submissive to your hubby the fruit God desires?
Do we reconcile people to Remnant or Jesus Christ?
Do we preach Remnant or WeighDown or Jesus Christ?
Since Remnant is so favored by GOD, why did not God answer their YEARS of prayers for the Smiths?
Could it be that GOD did make HIS truth and judgement known?
God forbid, they could be wrong….
They are receiving back the exact measure of judgement they have meeted out to others as the precious words of Jesus said….
How I cry over these people who reject others and shame those who will not submit to them…
May God be glorified to intervene
and bring down this grave haughtiness….
All I can say is I share Jesus Christ, and HIS gospel of salvation
I want to spend all my days Lovings others, giving them the words which GOD desires.
Encouraging their faith and planting and watering so that God can bring the increase.
Instead of spending all my time looking INWARD, I want look UPWARD and outward at the needs of others and live to HIS glory and praise, led by HIS sirit of truth into all truth….
And I will pray always that God might show mercy on all our ignorance…..
On judgement day many of these lambs will find they are being led to slaughter instead of led to the ‘pearly gates’.
God bless you dear annonymous posters..I knew it was rough for those in the membership, but I had no idea it was this bad.
Do you think that this could become a Jim Jones/David Koresh situation? I can only imagine that now their defence mechanism is on high alert now to protect their precious church and practices?
No, I can only hope with all my heart that they will see these ungodly traits, unbiblical based practices and change….
I know God promises to continue the work he begins in each of us, till the DAY OF JESUS CHRIST…
While we have breath we have hope to change!
These folks have a real zeal for GOD and just as Paul who has such a zeal for GOD that he consented to the death of Christains and then forged a path to Jerusalem despite GODS warnings (after his conversion) Sometimes our passions
are just misdirected.
My only hope is that THE BODY OF CHRIST, Gods beautiful ekklesia can bring HIM joy as we seek to LOVE one another…
This chrch needs help, they have simply veered from the hOLY scriptures to the words of fallible man…
Making lots of rules and regulations that GOD has not ordained….
God has a way of humbling us and I pray that we all will grow up into a family that reflects HIS greatness..
I am thankful that I had a chance to be part of Remnant, it has helped me CLEAVE even tighter to The Holy Scriptures as my basis for life and practice…
Joyfully serving the one true GOD through Jesus Christ always…
biblical view
So is Gwen’s husband overweight? Sounds like she rejects overweight people but her husband looks like he struggles with his weight????????
I had Gwen’s book sitting here for years. I picked it up a week ago and found a receipt in it where I guess I had stopped reading at chapter two and used the receipt as a bookmark. The receipt was dated 4/1/01.
I went online and found her site and signed up for one of her online classes. Now I am reading all this craziness about her, her church, and the WD business.
I had really hoped this would help me. I have well over 100 pounds to lose and I have always felt something has been missing in my life (like God). I really thought “this” was going to be the thing to save me from my weight as well as bring me to God.
Now I feel like a fool.
I appreciate all of you sharing your stories…I wish I had searched the internet prior to forking out almost $180 to her.
😦
Try Thin Within, it’s a biblical based program that has had good success and isn’t tied to a ‘church’.
Friend,
Don’t give up entirely on the message in the original Weigh Down program. It truly is life-changing. It is true that if you wait until you are hungry to eat, it is far easier to know when you are satisfied. It is very simple to eat all things in moderation–it truly is a program that you can live with for the rest of your life–and you WILL lose weight. Your heart will be drawn closer to God as you depend on Him to help you. The Weigh Down at Home program is on sale on her website for only $29.99, and I’ve seen it on e-bay even cheaper than that. These videos helped my sister and I each lose about 65 pounds. The early materials in the program, I’m convinced, were absolutely revolutionary and could have changed so many lives…but sorry to say she went too far when she started the Remnant Fellowship. Don’t feel defeated–God is the only One who can truly help you to overcome your addiction to food. Others can help you change your behavior–for a time–but God can change your heart. Learning to love food less and love God more can only be a good thing.
In Christ’s Love,
Mary
I don’t think I would purchase this ‘program’ as it is only feeding their ministry (if thats what you want to call it.. i call it a CULT!)
It’s hard to believe that 11 years have passed since the Weigh Down Workshop was introduced at my church (Southern Baptist). The leader, who I’ll call Kay to protect her privacy, had lost 80 pounds and was later featured in Gwen’s second book, “Rise Above.” She and her husband were well-respected members of our church. Kay’s enthusiasm for the workshop led over 200 church members to sign up. The meetings had to be moved to the sanctuary to accomodate everyone.
The class began in January, 1999. By June I had lost 70 pounds and felt better than I had in years. As soon as one workshop ended, Kay started over again. I have to admit that the second and third time around, the videos started to get old. Over time, so many church members had taken the Weigh Down Workshop that only a few were still coming to the classes. Kay stopped leading Weigh Down classes in late 2000. She felt it had run its course at our church.
I honestly don’t remember any criticism of Gwen or Weigh Down until the Weigh Down Advanced class was introduced in the fall of 2001. Although it was over a year since Gwen had denied the Trinity, I wasn’t aware of it.
I still wanted to lose about 20 more pounds. When I heard about the WDA class, I asked Kay if she would bring it to our church. She didn’t know if the pastor would allow it, and told me about all the controversy surrounding Gwen and the Remnant Fellowship, which I heard about for the first time. I thought surely Gwen had been misquoted or misunderstood, but Kay assured me it was not the case. She and her husband felt badly that they had endorsed the original Weigh Down Workshop so enthusiastically. But like me, she wanted to lose a little more weight. Maybe Weigh Down Advanced was the jumpstart needed. The pastor agreed to allow it to be held at our church, but fewer than 50 people signed up.
The first session was designed to allay our fears so we wouldn’t cancel and demand a refund. It was merely a recap of the original Weigh Down principles on losing weight. Gwen appeared almost emaciated and more than a little scary. From then on, it was all downhill. We were urged to leave our “counterfeit churches” before it was too late. I realized that what they were saying on the videos was not true. I wanted to stop coming, but Kay was my friend and I wanted to support her. Every week, fewer people came. In retrospect, I’m surprised no one insisted that the class be stopped. But in the aftermath of 9/11, everyone’s minds were perhaps on other things. When the class ended, that was the end of anything Weigh-Down related at church.
I just wanted to comment and say that I struggle back and forth with this. I was KICKED OUT of the church recently when I decided to go into a ministry that looked really good. (they help the homeless and elderly) I did not live in the area. I had been to the church a few times and webcasted frequently. I decided to join because I was losing a lot of weight and saw the “fruit” of their ministry. I was struggling a few times financially and they even helped me pay for the classes. I got to know a leader really well. I saw only good things in the church. I still see a glimpse of good things. Just like another comment, if you try to help in another ministry, they take it as you are helping the “enemy”.
I even got criticized by leadership for putting signs on my facebook page. The kind with the pictures of Jesus on the cross and then they say something like Christ did this for you. I don’t know why they looked at that as bad.
They have a facebook group. It’s very encouraging. You don’t see any of the crud unless you dig deep.
Oh yeah and my leader friend who I thought was my friend, hates my guts now.
The times I went there I felt so out of place. It seems everyone in that church has a LOT of money. No big deal, but maybe there’s a reason. They have recently started to help people out with a clothing bank and other resources.
Their view on God is confusing. I still don’t know what to think of the Trinity.
I’m back to the way I was eating before. I’m so depressed and I just wish I never found this ministry.
Please check out this ministry before you get swallowed whole and depressed like I am.
IF YOU ARE IN THE CHURCH IT WILL SEEM LIKE YOU RECIEVE A LOT OF LOVE. I GOT A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS FROM THE MEMBERS. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A TECHINIQUE CALLED LOVE BOMBING.
Sorry for the caps but I feel it’s important. Thanks for listening. It kinda makes me feel less depressed now.
I think ‘Love Bombing’ is another term for ‘stalking’ your prey.
I really feel that ‘weight loss’ and ‘religion’ are two separate things and don’t belong together in the church. (unless it’s a group getting together after lessons to ‘shape up’ on their own time). I don’t consider myself to be overly-religious, but I can tell the difference between, how shall i say this nicely? let’s just say the truth and lies. I’m definitely no lamb to be led by money hungry fools… just wait. This will turn into another ‘Jim Jones’ thing… just drink the Kool-Aid … and then you will receive spiritual enlightenment. What a load of…well, you know.
I do not know if it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else experiencing problems with your site.
It appears like some of the written text in your posts are
running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to
them too? This could be a issue with my internet browser because I’ve
had this happen before. Kudos
I’m afraid of this Cult known as the Remnant. My husband’s ex wife is a member and four of our six children regularly attend her teachings. Advice?
The major problem is that Gwen is not accountable to anyone. Leaders with no accountability are dangerous! It is easy for “lone rangers” to be deceived by satan and led astray. I pray that the Holy Spirit will intervene and open their eyes to the truth of God’s word. Their belief is similar to Seventh Day Adventists, who believe you won’t make it into Heaven if you don’t worship on the Sabbath & if you eat pork. Their religion is works based, which says that you have to be “good enough ” earn God’s love. SMH…. Sad! 😢