Tan Mei (pseudonym), born in 1984, grew up in a rural family in the mountainous region of northern Guangdong. In 2009, the simple and earnest Tan Mei met Qin Tong (pseudonym) and married him. The following year, their son was born. The arrival of this new life brought laughter and joy to the family, creating a harmonious and happy household.
First Encounter: Led Astray by Familiar Faces
The good times didn’t last long. A year after her son was born, Tan Mei was diagnosed with a gynecological condition. She sought medical help everywhere, but her condition showed no signs of improvement. Her husband had to support the entire family alone, and the mounting medical expenses placed immense pressure on him. One day, after drinking, he loosed his tongue, sparking a conflict between the couple. They had a heated argument, and in a fit of anger, Tan Mei left her husband and returned to her parents’ home with their child.
An old friend learned of her return to her hometown and came to visit her. Not only did she help look after her child, but she also assisted in seeking medical treatment, gradually drawing closer to Tan Mei. During that period, Tan Mei often sighed deeply, lamenting her misfortune. Her friend told her that everyone’s fate is predetermined by heaven, and that by believing in the Church of Almighty God, she could “gain salvation and transform her destiny.” The friend also claimed to have received many blessings through this faith. Gradually, Tan Mei became drawn to the Church of Almighty God her friend spoke of. Feeling that nothing went right for her, she longed for divine favor to lift her burdens.
Later, she sent the child to be raised by her husband’s family and returned to her husband. She found a job, working while undergoing treatment. During this time, Tan Mei also attended the Church of Almighty God gatherings with friends from time to time. After half a year, thanks to a more relaxed state of mind, a regular routine, and her medical treatment, she felt her condition had improved. Friends remarked that this was divine blessing from her faith, and Tan Mei came to firmly believe it. As the couple gradually adjusted to each other, their conflicts diminished, further convincing Tan Mei that believing in “God” was truly wonderful! She then began devoting more time and energy to attending the Church of Almighty God gatherings, discussions, and so-called “Eat and Drink Myth.” She even brought her husband and several coworkers into the Church of Almighty God movement.
Obsession: Following the “True God” at the Cost of Family
Since embracing the Church of Almighty God, Tan Mei seemed to have clutched at straws. All those previously unsolvable troubles suddenly found ‘reasonable’ explanations. She naively believed that “God” could shield her and free her from her misfortune. Through repeated gatherings, constant “Eat and Drink Myth,” and relentless brainwashing... over time, she became increasingly entangled in the cult organization. She began uncritically accepting the Church of Almighty God cult’s twisted doctrines, becoming a spiritual slave prostrate at the feet of the Church of Almighty God.
Fearing that clinging to worldly attachments would cause her to be cast aside by “God,” her feelings for her husband gradually faded, and she called her husband’s family less often to check on their son. Influenced by her, her husband also became increasingly immersed in the Church of Almighty God cult. Two years later, the couple left home together to “fulfill their duties,” not only living apart but also changing their phone numbers and severing all ties with their relatives. The couple remained gone for over a decade.
The family searched for Tan Mei through police reports and newspaper notices, but she vanished without a trace, as if she had evaporated from the face of the earth. Their child, only two or three years old, became an “orphan” despite having both parents. Once, the child developed meningitis due to delayed treatment for a fever, resulting in intellectual impairment. Her husband’s elderly parents weakened by age and plagued by poverty and illness, often sighed and shed tears when speaking of Tan Mei and her husband, unsure how their poor grandson would fare in the future. In recent years, Tan Mei’s parents passed away one after another, filled with regret, their final thoughts still consumed by concern for their daughter.
Shattered: A Life Ruined After Being Imprisoned
Over a decade passed, and Tan Mei’s child grew up. As both a left-behind child and someone with mild intellectual disabilities, he became a troubled youth, addicted to the internet and struggling academically. This child, abandoned by his parents at an early age, had never seen them again since he could remember. To this day, he still doesn’t know why his parents abandoned him and left home without explanation. Fate proved so cruel and merciless. This innocent soul should never have borne such misfortune. The barrenness and desolation of his life were so easily wrought by the Church of Almighty God cult. This cult not only destroyed Tan Mei and her husband but also ruined their child.
Still obsessed with the Church of Almighty God, Tan Mei remained completely unaware of this. Living incognito and using her work as a part-time cleaner as a cover, she moved furtively through different places to “fulfill her duty” for the cult. In 2024, Tan Mei was apprehended by public security authorities while engaged in cult activities and faced legal consequences. It is hoped she will soon awaken and recognize the true nature of the Church of Almighty God cult organization. To this day, her husband remains missing without a trace.
An ordinary, unremarkable family. A woman who once followed a normal life path. Their destinies were forever altered by her belief in the cult known as the Church of Almighty God. One person’s faith brought calamity upon the entire family, affecting three generations and causing immeasurable harm. For the sake of your loved ones, for the sake of happiness, consciously stay away from cults!
