The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin

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  1. The Kingdom

  47m

  A deadly plane crash draws public attention to the Remnant Fellowship, a Christian-diet-program-turned-church, and its infamous leader, Gwen Shamblin Lara.

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  2. A Family Affair

  47m

  Gwen’s divorce and prompt remarriage to struggling actor/musician Joe Lara raise questions about the odd couple’s checkered past – and the church’s finances.

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  3. Seen But Not Heard

  55m

  When two Remnant members are charged with murder, Gwen rallies her congregation to defend against claims of abuse. As former church members recount their chilling experiences, another tragedy threatens to upend the future of the church.

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  4. Revelations

  40m

  After a mysterious accident claims the lives of Gwen, Joe, and some of their inner circle, former Remnant members grapple with the leader’s complicated legacy, and new voices come forward for the first time.

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  5. The Way Forward

  40m

  As the Remnant Fellowship fights to control the narrative, footage of a never-aired reality series pilot surfaces, casting new light on the ways Gwen shaped her image and the lives of those who followed her.

Cast

Gwen Shamblin Lara

Self (archive footage)

Joe Lara

Self (archive footage)

Natasha Pavlovich

Self - Former Girlfriend of Joe Lara

No photo

Megan Cox

Self - Member 1996-2006

No photo

Helen Byrd

Self - Member 2008-2017

No photo

Rafael Martinez

Self - Cult Interventionist

No photo

Gina Wilson

Self - Member 1996-2012

No photo

Rachel Phillips

Self - Member 2002-2009