Cult expert Rick Ross says members of the Word of Life Church in upstate New York lived "in abject subjugation" Chris Harris has been a senior true crime reporter for PEOPLE since late 2015.

What does the word “cult” mean? The earliest version of the term can be found in writings from the 1600s. Back then it simply meant “homage paid to divinity” or “offerings to win over ...

Word of Faith has vehemently denied the allegations ... established the narrative and attempted to hang on us the ‘cult’ label.” Another statement quoting a member named Jordan Kidd says ...