Bold claim: wealth isn’t blessings—it's manipulation in disguise. That statement captures the core issue facing London women who say they gave everything to a controversial church. Here’s a rewritten, fully unique version that preserves the original meaning and key facts, while expanding a bit for clarity and beginner-friendly understanding.
"Sometimes people treat God like a genie: if I hand over a large amount of money, He will grant me health, success, and wealth," says Sarah, a 27-year-old whose years were consumed by the prosperity gospel. Her belief system taught that large cash donations to evangelical churches would unlock divine favors. Jennifer*, 29, shares a similar trajectory, claiming she handed over her life savings.
Both women are professionals from London and were members of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), a global evangelical movement that is a UK-registered charity. In recent months, the Fundraising Regulator (FR) investigated UCKG’s practices in the UK.
The FR’s findings were stark in Jennifer’s case: the charity breached the fundraising code because it was aware of Jennifer’s prior mental health difficulties when it accepted a large donation from her and did not show that it had otherwise considered her needs or circumstances. The regulator also found that UCKG lacked policies addressing vulnerable donors and urged the charity to consider refunding Jennifer’s contribution, which amounted to £15,000.
Jennifer recalls the church’s message vividly. She described videos showing people who had given everything—money, belongings, even sleeping on the floor—and then receiving the Holy Spirit, which they believed brought them peace. She explains that she believed giving all she had—savings, her current account balance, spare change collected in envelopes—would prove she had received the Holy Spirit and would help her rise within the church’s volunteer ranks toward the role of pastor’s wife.
Over eight years, she says she donated more than £38,000 and eventually felt isolated from friends and family. She has alleged that UCKG discouraged dating or marriage outside the church and sometimes arranged marriages to pastors, as well as encouraging members to give money as a way to attract divine favor.
The regulator’s report states that, regarding Jennifer’s large donation, the charity breached the code by not considering the possibility that she could be vulnerable. It recommends the charity’s trustees consider refunding any portion of the donation and to explain their decision to the complainant. If a refund is issued, the trustees might need authorization from the Charity Commission for England and Wales, depending on the rationale behind the decision.
UCKG has denied the allegations, insisting it adheres to high governance standards. A spokesperson highlighted the church’s work: 14 food banks in London, aiding 100,000 people in Ukraine, and volunteer efforts supporting care homes, hospitals, and vulnerable families across 38 cities.
In Sarah’s case, the FR found a breach of the fundraising code due to the absence of a clear, publicly available complaints procedure and for failing to meet all data protection requirements after she asked to be left alone. She received subsequent outreach from UCKG despite her requests not to be contacted.
Both women are supported by Surviving Universal UK, a group for former members led by whistleblower Rachael Reign. The FR has no enforcement powers, but the women are urging ministers to impose stronger measures against high-control religious groups—groups not currently governed by specific legal provisions.
Publicly, UCKG reported UK income exceeding £15 million in the latest financial year, of which £13 million came from donations. In 2022, former followers told the Guardian they felt pressure to tithe—contributing 10% of their income.
Reign explains, “We receive at least five new referrals a week about UCKG—people who want to leave, who have left, or who are concerned for family members.” She adds that in a healthy church, grace is the core doctrine; in UCKD, however, salvation, healing, or success is presented as something you must buy.
High-control groups don’t discriminate about who they target; they prey on people with unmet needs and those who are passionate about change.
A UCKG spokesperson rejected the accusations, stating that they do not reflect the experience of the church’s more than 5,000 members across 38 UK branches. The church said it is working with the regulator to update policies, strengthen governance, and ensure compliance. They emphasized that tithes and donations are voluntary, and that members make their own financial and personal choices. They also stated that UCKG does not control members’ relationships, clothing, finances, or personal lives, nor does it arrange marriages or isolate individuals from their families, and that people are free to leave at any time.
Name changed for privacy.
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