The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin
"The fallout of faith"
Explore how the late Gwen Shamblin Lara, who founded the controversial Remnant Fellowship Church and created the Christian weight loss program The Weigh Down Workshop, rose to fame as a diet guru and church leader.
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Seasons & Episodes
1. The Kingdom
A deadly plane crash draws public attention to the Remnant Fellowship, a Christian-diet-program-turned-church, and its infamous leader, Gwen Shamblin Lara.
2. A Family Affair
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.
3. Seen But Not Heard
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.
4. Revelations
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.
5. The Way Forward
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
Megan Cox
Self - Member 1996-2006
Helen Byrd
Self - Member 2008-2017
Rafael Martinez
Self - Cult Interventionist
Gina Wilson
Self - Member 1996-2012
Rachel Phillips
Self - Member 2002-2009