"Woman Explains Why She Withdrew From Remnant Fellowship"

WKRN News, Tennessee/February 8, 2007

Critics have long questioned the Brentwood-based Remnant Fellowship Church’s teachings of following God.

On Thursday, News 2 spoke with a woman who was a former member of the church, but left after she feared for the safety of her children.

The woman, who did not want her identity revealed, she said didn't quit until she worried about the safety of her children.

She said at first, she liked Remnant Fellowship when she and her family joined the church in 2002. “We were very happy for the most part,” she said.

Remnant Fellowship founder and leader Gwen Shamblin impressed her when they first met. The woman said, “At first I was star struck with her because I had watched her on video for many years and got to go to her mansion and have luncheons and that kind of thing. At first, it was like she was a celebrity.”

She, however, claims when other members of the church started telling her how to discipline her children... That's when her feelings changed.

“I was afraid that my son would get beat severely by another parent,” she said.

Soon after, she and her family left. Now, she has nothing to do with the church, although she is paying very close attention to the murder trial of Joseph and Sonya smith inAtlanta. She hopes the case will shine a light on Remnant Fellowship.

She said, “I pray for them. That’s all I can do is pray for them and hope that they change their ways. I don't feel angry at them; I just don't have the respect I used to have."

When asked what she'd like to see happen, the woman said she would like to see the church fold.

No one else from the Remnant Fellowship Church is charged in the Smith murder case

Church leaders said the Smith’s are innocent.