Let me introduce you to the Kingdom of God Global Church, led by "Apostle" David Taylor and his "executive director" Michelle Brannon.
According to federal prosecutors, these two masterminded what can only be described as a modern-day slave labor scheme wrapped in the trappings of religion. The FBI's August raid of Brannon's mansion revealed 57 victims of forced labor living in cramped, squalid quarters — while Brannon enjoyed seven Mercedes, two Bentleys, half a million dollars in gold bars, and a backyard full of marble statues.
Their "church" reportedly ran nationwide call centers staffed by unpaid followers, coerced into working endless hours to collect donations. Those who failed to meet impossible fundraising goals were allegedly "punished" with "public humiliation, additional work, food and shelter restrictions, psychological abuse, forced repentance, sleep deprivation, physical assaults, and threats of divine judgment in the form of sickness, accidents, and eternal damnation."
Taylor also allegedly used his "ministry" to sexually exploit women, ordering his so-called "armor bearers" (personal servants who fulfilled Taylor's demands around the clock) to transport them to him and to ensure they took Plan B afterward. Investigators say they found thousands of explicit videos and images on his devices.
All told, the call centers generated $50 million in donations over the past decade. money that lined Taylor and Brannon's pockets while their victims lived as captives in service of their "Apostle."
When your business model depends on fear, coercion, and the illusion of divine authority, you're not a ministry, you're a(n alleged) criminal enterprise.
For exploiting faith, twisting loyalty into labor, and turning religion into a racket, Kingdom of God Global Church has earns its nomination as the Worst Employer of 2025.