In a controversial turn of events, two London women, Sarah and Jennifer, have come forward with their harrowing stories of giving everything to a church that promised divine blessings in return. The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), an international evangelical movement and UK-registered charity, has been at the center of this debate. The women, both professionals in their late twenties, were once devoted members, but their experiences have raised serious concerns about the church's practices and the well-being of its followers.
Sarah, 27, shares her journey, "Sometimes you’re seeing God as a genie, where if I give him all this money, He will bring me what I want." She fell prey to the "prosperity gospel," which preaches that cash donations to evangelical churches unlock divine blessings of health and wealth. Jennifer, 29, also fell victim to this belief, handing over her life savings. The Fundraising Regulator (FR) has recently investigated these cases, finding that UCKG breached the fundraising code by not considering Jennifer's mental health difficulties and not having policies in place for vulnerable donors.
Jennifer's story is particularly eye-opening. She describes how the church showed videos of people giving everything they had, even selling things and sleeping on the floor, in exchange for the Holy Spirit and peace. "I considered my all was everything I had: my savings, my current account, change I had collected. I had a help-to-buy Isa, I closed that to give them that money, and filled up an envelope with 1ps and 2ps." She believes she was financially coerced and controlled. Her hope was that the £15,000 donation would prove she had received the Holy Spirit and help her ascend through the UCKG volunteer ranks to the "best position" of pastor's wife. Over eight years, she estimates she gave more than £38,000 to UCKG, feeling isolated from friends and family, and alleging that the church forbade dating or marriage outside the membership and arranged marriages to pastors.
The FR's report highlights UCKG's breach of the code, stating, "In terms of [Jennifer’s] large donation, we found the charity in breach of the code as it did not give any consideration to the possibility the donor could be in vulnerable circumstances." The regulator recommends that the charity's trustees consider refunding the donation and explain their decision to the complainant. UCKG has denied the claims, asserting its commitment to the highest standards of governance and charitable work, including 14 food banks in London and helping 100,000 people in Ukraine.
However, the women are supported by the Surviving Universal UK support group for former members, led by whistleblower Rachael Reign. Reign emphasizes the difference between healthy churches and UCKG, stating, "In healthy churches, there’s a doctrine of grace, that God’s love is free of charge. In the UCKG, if you want to be saved, if you want to be healed, if you want to receive any kind of success, you have to buy your blessings." She also highlights the pressure to give tithes, which can be 10% of one's income, as reported by former followers.
The controversy extends beyond these two women, with at least five new referrals a week about UCKG, including people looking to leave, parents, and caregivers. The FR has no powers of sanction, but the women are urging ministers to take tougher action against "high control" religious groups, which are not restricted by specific legal provisions. UCKG reported a UK income of more than £15m in the most recent financial year, with £13m from donations. The church's practices and the well-being of its followers remain under scrutiny, inviting further discussion and debate.
