Ep. #32 Swindled By Faith with Richard Kiers

In this episode, we delve into the harrowing journey of Richard Kiers, who grew up in a little-known but insidious cult called The Move of God, founded by Sam Fife in the 1960s. The Move, an offshoot of the Baptist church, gained traction for its charismatic leader and promise of discovering the "truth." Richard’s father, in his search for spiritual fulfillment, uprooted their family to join a communal farm in Canada when Richard was just 10 years old.

Life in The Move was one of strict control and isolation. Members were required to sever ties with extended family, and every aspect of their lives was dictated by the cult’s teachings—down to the clothes they wore and how they groomed themselves. The commune prided itself on self-sufficiency, but this came with significant hardships. Living without running water, electricity, or proper sanitation, members hauled water from a nearby spring and used outhouses. The cabins they lived in were built by the community, and while some members had access to money and cars, these were communal property, used solely for the benefit of the group.

As Richard grew older, he began to see the cracks in the cult’s façade, especially when his father fell ill. Despite his father’s suffering, the group refused to seek outside medical help, insisting that any failure to recover was a result of weak faith. This incident deeply shook Richard’s belief in the group. Life in the commune was harsh, with children put to work on the farm and forced to contribute to building the community. The food was scarce and of poor quality, and the environment was far from nurturing.

Years later, Richard penned a book titled Swindled by Faith, chronicling his experiences. He waited until after his parents passed away to publish the book, out of respect for their memory, despite the pain they endured within the group. As his parents aged and became less useful to the cult, they were discarded—no longer of value without money or income.

In closing, Richard offers a poignant piece of advice for those questioning whether a group might be a cult or dangerous: observe how they treat the children. It is a revealing indicator of the group’s true nature.

Link to Richard's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/ucdvn73Rt5w2X6qn/?mibextid=qi2Omg

Link to Richard's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Swindled-Faith-Reconciliation-Richard-Kiers-ebook/dp/B07RWTKQ73/ref=sr_1_1?crid=104DCBNYZCZGT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EWwNrojphJ7nZqnPOSSQOfU36BIzaDHLWfoHDzxRcYg.FuYwEUjPKtHhD2vmcWNxZcPWJyT5iBgRUn-mRqgYuRs&dib_tag=se&keywords=Swindled+by+faith&qid=1723493728&sprefix=swindled+by+faith%2Caps%2C408&sr=8-1

Link to the Documentary Richard was in : https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/id-shows/6-cults-featured-in-next-season-of-people-magazine-investigates-cults

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