Controversial Remnant Fellowship Church founder, diet guru, and best-selling author Gwen Shamblin Lara (66) was killed over the weekend when her private plane crashed into Percy Priest Lake in Tennessee shortly after take off Saturday, May 29, 2021.
Those also on board the Cessna 501 when it crashed were Lara’s husband and Tarzan actor Joe Lara (58), Remnant Fellowship Church leaders David Martin and his wife Jennifer, Jonathan Walters and his wife Jessica, and Gwen Shamblin Lara’s son-in-law Brandon Hannah, who helped out with the church’s youth group. All those present on the plane were killed upon impact.
The cause of the deadly plane crash is still under investigation.
Gwen Shamblin Lara founded Weigh Down Ministries, a Christian organization that provides a Godly approach to dieting.
Controversy Surrounding Remnant Fellowship Church
Remnant Fellowship Church was founded in 1999 by Gwen Shamblin Lara and has been reported to have over 1,500 members in 150 congregations spread all over the globe.
Lara regularly said that being “overweight was a sign of greed and gluttony,” leading some media outlets accusing Lara and her church of being a cult because their focus on Biblical principles for weight loss and addictions.
Lara’s book “The Weigh Down Diet” has sold over one million copies and has been used for teachings and group studies by other churches.
According to the Clarion Ledger, Lara has made “insensitive comments about thin Jews in concentration camps and has claimed genetics don’t play a role in weight loss.” During a Larry King interview she said “How in the Holocaust did you have all these people getting down real skinny? They ate less food.”
The church was also in the middle of a child abuse case that led to the death of 8-year-old Josef Smith. Remnant Fellowship Church congregants Joseph and Sonya Smith were convicted of murdering their son after beating him and locking him in a wooden box for hours at a time. The case prompted the authorities to raid the church because of its teachings that support corporal punishment for children. The parents claimed innocence and said their son carved death threats in the walls. They also said he was “soldier of the devil.”
Members of the church bailed the Smiths out of jail while the couple awaited trial. Both Joseph and Sonya Smith received life sentences.
Thomas Nelson Pulled Gwen Shamblin Lara’s Book
In 2000 Thomas Nelson pulled Gwen Shamblin’s (she wasn’t married to Joe Lara yet) upcoming book at the time due to her belief regarding the Trinity. Lara said in an email sent out to her followers that her ministry believes in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit: “However, the Bible does not use the word ‘trinity’ and our feeling is that the word ‘trinity’ implies equality in leadership, or shared Lordship. It is clear that the scriptures teach that Jesus is the Son of God and that God sends the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not send God anywhere. God is clearly the Head.”
Remnant Fellowship Church Released a Statement
A statement posted on the Remnant Fellowship Church’s website said, “We want everyone who was affected, especially the children of the passengers, to know that they are very loved and our church will be taking special care of the children’s needs in these coming years.”
It continued, “Gwen Shamblin Lara was one of the world’s most kind, gentle, and selfless mother and wife, and a loyal, caring, supportive best friend to all. She lived every day laying down her own life to ensure that others could find a relationship with God.” The church explained that Gwen Shamblin Lara’s memory will last for a long time in the hearts of the millions of people she has touched with her work through Weigh Down Ministries and added, “Joe Lara, will also be greatly missed.”
“The other passengers who perished in the crash were Remnant Fellowship leaders who were very involved in the community and loved by many,” said the statement. “David and Jennifer Martin, Jonathan and Jessica Walters, and Brandon Hannah.” The church continued, “On behalf of Remnant Fellowship Church, we would like to thank the First Responders and all who have helped our church and these families during this difficult time.”
Assuring their members and ministry followers they would continue as they have been, the statement concluded, “As far as Remnant Fellowship Church and Weigh Down Ministries are concerned, Michael Shamblin and Elizabeth Shamblin Hannah, Gwen’s two children, and the church leadership intend to continue the dream that Gwen Shamblin Lara had of helping people find a relationship with God.”
Gwen Shamblin Lara’s son, Michael Shamblin, released his own statement, saying, “My family is just asking for prayers at this time and we hope everyone who was affected, especially the children of the other passengers know that they are very loved and we hope to take special care of their needs in these coming years.”