Gwen Shamblin Lara, the controversial figure behind the Remnant Fellowship Church and the Weigh Down Workshop, left an indelible mark on the religious and wellness world. Her life, marked by both success and controversy, continues to fascinate and intrigue.
Early Life and the Weigh Down Workshop
Gwen Shamblin Lara was born in Tennessee and struggled with her weight during her college years. This led her to become interested in diets and counseling. In the 1980s, she founded the Weigh Down Workshop, a program that equated morality and weight, encouraging viewers to “pray away” their excess weight. Her unconventional teachings and methods quickly gained popularity, and the Remnant Fellowship Church was established in 1999.
The saying “The higher the hair, the closer to God” may have been created by Dolly Parton, but Gwen Shamblin Lara popularized it—for better or worse. Shamblin Lara didn’t exactly have the appearance of a traditional church leader, with blonde hair that was teased to the skies and an extremely made-up face. She also had some unconventional teachings and congregations, though. Shamblin Lara, on the other hand, built a weight-loss empire founded on ethics, faith in God, and unbending rules. Shamblin Lara’s story is still perplexing, despite the fact that other endeavors are giving her life a new lease of life.
The Tennessee native struggled with her weight during her college years, as Elle has revealed. She became interested in diets and counseling as a result, and in the 1980s she founded the Weigh Down Workshop. The program essentially equated morality and weight, encouraging viewers to “pray away” their excess weight. She said, as seen in the HBO docuseries “The Way Down,” “What I do in this program is teach people how to stop bowing down to the refrigerator and how to bow back down to him,” according to People. The Remnant Fellowship Church was established by Shamblin Lara in 1999 as a result of the popularity of her book “The Weigh Down Diet.”
Gwen Shamblin Lara’s Tragic Death
Gwen Shamblin Lara’s tragic death in a plane crash in 2021 brought her preaching empire to an end. Her daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, took over as the interim leader of the Remnant Fellowship Church, but her role has been subject to speculation and debate within the congregation.
While her profession had more than questionable morals and doctrines on its own, the congregation that she formed has also been likened to a cult. However, what actually happened to Gwen Shamblin Lara once her work was successful?
Gwen Shamblin Lara died in a plane crash in 2021
On May 29, 2021, Gwen Shamblin Lara and her husband Joe Lara perished in a plane crash, bringing Gwen Shamblin Lara’s preaching empire to an end. According to Esquire, when the plane crashed in Tennessee’s Percy Priest Lake, their son-in-law Brandon Hannah and four other Remnant Fellowship leaders also perished. At the time, Lara was piloting the plane to the Florida “We The People: Patriot’s Day” MAGA celebration.
Elizabeth Hannah, the daughter of Shamblin Lara, was left to take over her ministry as a result. Elizabeth perished in the disaster along with her mother, stepfather, and husband. She was forced to carry on with a brave front and little to no signs of mourning. She appeared ready to take over her mother’s position as church leader, but Remnant only lists her as a member of the leadership team. In contrast to attending services in person, Elizabeth only does it virtually, according to the HBO documentary “The Way Down.” Michael Shamblin, the son of Shamblin Lara who had been active in the religion, has completely deserted Remnant since her passing.
There have been multiple projects about Gwen Shamblin Lara
Films and exposés on a person as intriguing and dangerous as Gwen Shamblin Lara are inescapable. “The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin,” an HBO documentary series, provided the first widely viewed look into her enterprise. The show examined Shamblin Lara’s life, her contentious workshop, her later congregation, and the effects of Remnant, both good and bad. For instance, according to Bustle, the church’s guidance on child discipline is thought to have contributed to the 2003 death of Josef Smith, the infant son of members Joseph and Sonya Smith. The abrupt death of Shamblin Lara in 2021, which occurred only a few months before the show’s debut, was also discussed in the series. According to Deadline, HBO Max added two more episodes in April 2022 that examined her death’s aftermath and the current state of the Remnant Fellowship Church.
The HBO Documentary: A Compelling Look at Gwen Shamblin Lara’s Life
The HBO documentary series, “The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin,” offered a compelling look at Gwen Shamblin Lara’s life and the impact of her teachings. The series shed light on controversial aspects of the Remnant Fellowship Church, including allegations of abuse and control.
The Lifetime film “Gwen Shamblin: Starving For Salvation” was recently released, over two years after Shamblin Lara’s passing.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Jennifer Grey of “Dirty Dancing” fame plays Shamblin Lara in the Lifetime film, which debuted on February 4. It is essentially a dramatization of Shamblin Lara’s life and development into a weight-loss coach and the creator of Remnant. It also discusses the worship leader’s legal troubles, her romance with Joe Lara, and the eventual foundational flaws in the church.
The Remnant Fellowship Church: A Controversial Congregation
Despite the program’s popularity, the Remnant Fellowship Church has been likened to a cult due to its strict rules, control over members’ lives, and allegations of abuse. The church has faced legal battles and increased scrutiny, with reports of internal divisions and departures.
Gwen Shamblin Lara’s Legacy: A Complex Figure
Gwen Shamblin Lara’s legacy is a complex one. Her teachings on weight loss and faith-based living have had a lasting impact on both the wellness and religious worlds. However, the controversies surrounding her church and the allegations of abuse have tarnished her reputation.
Understanding Gwen Shamblin Lara requires a nuanced perspective that acknowledges both her achievements and the challenges she faced. While her Weigh Down Workshop provided a unique approach to weight loss, the Remnant Fellowship Church has been criticized for its strict rules and alleged abuses. Her death has left a void in the religious and wellness worlds, and her legacy continues to be debated and discussed.
