For more than two decades, Michael Shamblin Black lived at the very center of Remnant Fellowship, not only as Gwen Shamblin’s son, but as a musician, worship leader, and eyewitness to what was happening behind the scenes.

In this episode of The Way of Escape, Michael joins Rhonna Rickman for a candid conversation about growing up with Gwen, the beginnings of Remnant Fellowship, the control that reached into music, relationships, dating, marriage, work, and everyday life and what ultimately led him to walk away.

Michael and Rhonna compare experiences from inside Remnant, sharing stories about the pressure to please Gwen, the elevation of leadership, life behind the carefully presented image, and the fear of getting something wrong. Michael also opens up about his music and the messages he was quietly trying to communicate through his art.

It’s an honest, sometimes funny, sometimes painful conversation between two people who experienced Remnant from different places, but now have the freedom to look back, ask questions, and tell the stories they once couldn’t tell.

The Way of Escape is an ongoing series featuring former members and others connected to Remnant Fellowship and Weigh Down. The experiences and opinions shared are those of the individuals speaking.

In this personal episode of The Way of Escape, Rhonna Rickman and her son, Adam, discuss his cancer diagnosis, the loss of lifelong friendships, and the reality of shunning after leaving Remnant Fellowship.

Adam shares how cancer deepened his faith, revealed who truly showed up for him, and helped him recognize the freedom and genuine relationships he has found outside the group. Together, they reflect on forgiveness, healing, and the peace that comes with finding your own way forward.

🫶 Thank you for watching! Please like, subscribe, and share to help others find hope and healing.

Why do completely different high-control groups use so many of the same tactics?

In this follow-up episode, Rhonna Rickman and Julie Dragt discuss the striking similarities they recognized while watching HBO’s The Vow, a documentary series about NXIVM.

They explore how charismatic leaders gain devotion, accountability becomes control, personal information is weaponized, boundaries disappear, and fear keeps people from questioning or leaving. Through their own experiences in Remnant Fellowship, Rhonna and Julie examine the patterns that appear across high-control groups and the freedom that comes from finally recognizing them.

🫶 Thank you for watching! Please like, subscribe, and share to help others find hope and healing.

Keywords: Remnant Fellowship, Gwen Shamblin, NXIVM, Keith Raniere, Julie Dragt, Rhonna Rickman, The Way of Escape, spiritual abuse, cult recovery

Former Remnant Fellowship member Julie Dragt joins host Rhonna Rickman to share her powerful story of pursuing perfection, sacrificing everything, and ultimately finding freedom after leaving a high-control religious environment.

Together, they discuss the impossible standards, spiritual manipulation, and fear that kept members trapped, while offering hope to those questioning their own experiences.

The Way of Escape is an ongoing series featuring former members sharing their personal stories and perspectives. The views expressed are those of the guest.

🫶 Thank you for watching! Please like, subscribe, and share to help others find hope and healing.

Keywords: Remnant Fellowship, Gwen Shamblin, Julie Dragt, Rhonna Rickman, The Way of Escape, spiritual abuse, religious trauma, cult recovery.

One of the questions we hear most often is, "If you knew something was wrong, why did you stay?"

In this episode, Rhonna Rickman welcomes friend and former Remnant Fellowship member Alex Spredemann to share her remarkable story. Together, they discuss the hopes that drew them into Remnant Fellowship, the fears that kept them there, and the emotional and psychological barriers that made leaving feel impossible.

From cognitive dissonance and fear of losing family to the pressure to be perfect, this honest conversation explores why good people remain in high-control environments for years. Most importantly, it offers hope for anyone wondering if freedom is possible.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and reflect their personal experiences and opinions. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The podcast is not affiliated with any organization mentioned. References to individuals or organizations are based on personal recollection and publicly available information. 

Raised in a system of perfectionism and condemnation, Adam Rickman spent years believing fear was faith.

In this heartfelt conversation with his mom, Rhonna Rickman, he shares how leaving Remnant Fellowship helped him rediscover Jesus as a loving Savior who rescues, not condemns.

This is an episode about healing, truth, and learning that grace really is enough.

Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests. They reflect personal experiences and opinions and are shared for informational and educational purposes only. The podcast is not affiliated with any organization mentioned, and all references to individuals or groups are based on personal recollection and public record.

What happens when the version of faith you’ve been taught turns out to be built on control and fear instead of grace and truth?

In this episode, Rhonna Rickman and her daughter, Abbi Waterson, dive deep into the distorted doctrine of Remnant Fellowship Church and Weigh Down Ministries. Abbi shares what it was like to grow up believing she was serving God while being kept from truly knowing Jesus.

Together, they unpack what it means to unlearn toxic teachings, rediscover the real Gospel, and find peace in a relationship with Christ built on love, not perfection.

When you walk away from a high-control religious group, you don’t just leave a church. You leave behind your community, your identity, and sometimes your entire world.

In this episode, Rhonna Rickman sits down with her daughter Abbi Waterson to share what it really cost their family to leave Remnant Fellowship Church and Weigh Down Ministries. From fear and isolation to the pain of losing friends, Abbi opens up about the emotional and spiritual journey of finding truth after deception and discovering a faith built on love, not fear.

Description:
In this first episode, Rhonna Rickman opens her heart to share the story of how her family became deeply involved with Remnant Fellowship Church and Weigh Down Ministries and how, after 18 years, they finally found their way out.

From early Weigh Down classes in Minnesota to leadership inside Remnant, Rhonna describes the gradual pull into a high-control environment disguised as faith. She shares the warning signs she missed, the manipulation masked as love, and the courage it took to leave.

This powerful first-hand account sets the stage for a season of healing, truth-telling, and hope for anyone seeking freedom from spiritual control.