My name is Zhou Jing (pseudonym), born in 1990 currently 335 years old. I was deceived by the Church of Almighty God for eight years. My once happy and harmonious family almost fell apart due to my misguided devotion. With deep regret over the past and guilt towards my family, I am sharing my story today in the hope that more people will be alerted.

Falling into the Trap

Eight years ago, I was just transitioning from a young girl to a newlywed. Living with a large family, the sudden change in roles overwhelmed me as I struggled to navigate relationships with my mother-in-laws, sister-in-law, and husband.

Being introverted and shy by nature, I was reluctant to express my frustrations to those around me. The self-perceived aggravation and sacrifices, the trifles and dissatisfaction of life are slowly piling up in my heart.

Looking back now, they were mere trivialities that could have been resolved with an honest conversation, even if it meant a heated argument.

In 2016, for a period of time, Aunt Hu, whom I had known from a neighboring coummunit, often came to my house to chat with me.

 She would ask about things at home, and everything she said seemed to resonate with me.

Believing I had found a kind and empathetic confidante who understood my difficulties, I unwittingly stepped into the spiritual trap set by the Church of Almighty God.

Deeply Trapped

At the end of 2016, Aunt Hu came to my house again and told me that she had now come to believe in a “true God” called “Church of Almighty God”, a “female deity” who had descended to save humanity.

She assured me that by believing in this “God”, my family would be kept safe and free from harm. She also claimed that all the disasters in the world were orchestrated by the Church of Almighty God, and as long as we believed in this “God”, he would protect us in the time of calamity.

As a person deeply attached to family values, after believing in the Church of Almighty God, I shifted all my concern for my husband and children into my faith in the “God”. Soon after, I eagerly attended meetings with Aunt Hu, “spreading the Gospel” by recruiting people, distributing books and videos, and helping illiterate elderly people “consume the teachings of the “God”(learn the teachings).

In December 2017, I was caught during a gathering with four other so-called “brothers and sisters” at a “reception house” in the county. By then, I had become deeply trapped in the Church of Almighty God. Even after facing legal consequences, I clung to the belief that following the Church of Almighty God was the only true path.

A Puppet on a String

When I returned home, my family didn’t blame me. Despite my husband’s, children’s, and family’s comforting words and guidance, I felt no remorse.

To my cult-conditioned mind, they were from a completely different world, and their words had no effect on me.

I stayed at home for a month, until one of the “sisters” came to visit me. She asked about my recent arrest and advised me to avoid contact with anyone for the time being. She told me to stay home, “fulfill my duties” and engage in “spiritual practice”, assuring me that someone would reach out if necessary.

By then, my thoughts were completely controlled by the Church of Almighty God, and I was solely focused on following the arrangements. I told her I would submit to the Church of Almighty God’s sovereignty, no matter the sacrifices required, I would remain loyal and never betray “God”.

One day, another “sister” came to find me and frightened me by saying that I had “left the environment”(been in danger) and that the police would come looking for me soon to arrest me.

 She said that “God” had now arranged for me to go to another place to “fulfill my duties” and that I should not come back. Despite worrying my child, I convinced myself that since it was “God’s” arrangement, I should accept and face it. Whatever path my husband and children would take in the future was preordained and could not be changed. I decided to entrust everything to “God” reasoning that just as we receive blessings from “God” we must also accept misfortunes.

Looking back now, I realize how heartless I was. I ignored the feelings of my children and family, even though they were worried about me and suffering. I didn't care at all, thinking that as long as it was “God’s” arrangement, any disaster or hardship was justified. I became a puppet in the hands of the Church of Almighty God cult, manipulated and controlled at will.

Numb and Indifferent

This was how I was arranged to be transported to a small house in a rural area near Taihu, where I joined the “District” and the “Writing Group”.

They had me study and revise articles every day, and everything I thought about or did was dictated by them.

I cut off all contact with my family and refrained from interacting with anyone else.

Occasionally, I thought of my children and husband, but I still naively that fulfilling my “duties” outweighed all other responsibilities and obligations and I believed I had to accept it. I did whatever they told me to do, following the “God’s” plan in everything.

In 2022, I was sent to Tongcheng City to “fulfill my duties”, spending my days revising articles in a rented apartment.

To further control me, they continually preached that everyone who did not believe in “God” was a bad person. They demanded me to abandon my family, isolate myself from the world and shut myself off from external information.

They numbed me, and whenever I had free time, I was told to read the “words of God”.

After living like this for over a year, I was appointed as a “community preacher”, in charge of two “churches”. Until May of this year, I was caught by the police again during a visit to one of the “churches”. That day marked a significant turning point in my life.

A Sudden Awakening

At first, when confronted by the police, I went from being nervous and unsure to gradually settling down. I convinced myself that this was a test from “God” and I was bearing witness for “Him”.

It was the tireless, patient explanations from the anti-cult volunteers that slowly dispelled my doubts, gradually revealing the true nature of the Church of Almighty God cult. They helped me see its harm to individuals, families, and the society. During that period, I began to seriously consider abandoning my belief in “God”. I realized that the the Church of Almighty God was a deceitful lie.

However, I was haunted by the words in the “words of God”, which stated, “Anyone who resists the God’s work will be cast into hell.” This fear held me back, preventing me from making a firm decision to leave the cult.

In the midst of my inner conflict, my mother, husband, and son came to visit me. Listening to their stories, I finally realized how desperately my parents had searched for me during my time away, how painful my husband felt about my leaving, and how helpless my son had felt without my accompany.

After I left, my son became silent, and his grades plummeted to the bottom of his class. Because of my selfishness, I had sacrificed my family to fulfill the empty desire of following a false “God”, listening to the cult’s lies, and turning my home into what it had become. I had harmed them!

In that moment, the normal, human emotions I had buried inside me erupted. The love between a mother and her child is irreplaceable—it is in our nature. Just like my mother, who despite my unfilial actions, despite my wrongs and the distance I had put between us, despite all the hurtful words I said, would never abandon me.

I finally broke free from the chains of the the Church of Almighty God. I wanted to escape from it because it was the cult that ruined my life! I will no longer believe in the Church of Almighty God. Instead, I just wanted to return to my family, be filial to my parents, accompany my husband, and take care of my children. No matter how much bitterness or sweetness life might bring, I would face it bravely, without avoiding it, because that is the true flavor of life…

Now, I hope that by sharing my personal experience, more people will come to understand the harm of the Church of Almighty God cult. To those who are still under the control of this cult: wake up before it's too late! Your family is still waiting for you.