WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – Two church leaders were arrested after they exploited their call center workers to solicit donations, in which they used to make luxury purchases, federal officials claim.
David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56, were arrested on Aug. 27, 2025, in North Carolina and Florida in what federal officials called a nationwide takedown of their alleged forced labor organization.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan, Taylor and Brannon are the leaders of Kingdom of God Global Church, formerly Joshua Media Ministries International. The two are accused of victimizing people working at call centers that solicited donations for their organization in Michigan, Florida, Texas and Missouri.
Court documents claim that Taylor refers to himself as an Apostle and “Jesus’ best friend.” He reportedly claimed to have had multiple face-to-face encounters with God and that God had given him the keys to the Kingdom on Earth.
According to court records, Taylor and Brannon compelled people to work at their call centers and to work for Taylor as his “armor bearers.”
The call centers are located in the following areas:
- Taylor, Michigan
- Chesterfield, Missouri
- Eureka, Missouri
- Wildwood, Missouri,
- Tampa, Florida
- Ocala, Florida
- Houston, Texas
“Armor bearers” were Taylor’s personal servants who fulfilled his demands around the clock, officials said.
“Taylor and Brannon controlled every aspect of the daily living of their victims,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The victims reportedly slept in the call center facility or in a “ministry” house, and Taylor and Brannon allegedly did not permit the victims to leave without permission.
Taylor reportedly claimed regularly that if someone fails to obey his orders and commands, they are defying God and will suffer in Hell.
Taylor also allegedly demanded his armor bearers transport women from ministry houses, airports and other locations to his location and ensure the women who were transported to him took Plan B emergency contraceptives.
Text messages
Court documents revealed the text messages Taylor and Brannon allegedly sent to the call center workers from 2020 through 2022.
Oct. 6, 2020, at 5:31 a.m.
Brannon allegedly texted several members of the media team, saying “Media team no going to sleep until the Mosaic video is done!”
May 5, 2021, at 12:26 a.m.
Taylor reportedly texted one of the call center workers, “You’ll have to raise $164K today!! Each hour you fall behind consequences will start. . . We will mess with the food. You will fast from the regular food or abstain for a while normally. . . As of now there’s a 21 day peanut butter and jelly regiment life before! . . . [those] who do not push in their calls individually and as a team with the right amount of people and closing numbers by 6 p.m. they don’t eat dinner at all. . . if they do good afterward this time then at the end of the night they may get a snack before bed but not much and this regiment will go on every day for 21 days until they obey. . . Take away the food!! There will be other consequences!! We must make them fast and pray!!”
Sept. 11, 2021, at 3:55 a.m.
Taylor allegedly texted one of the workers, “Those in the top 9 that don’t do well will stay up and close and stay on top of the delinquents. . . Put the pressure of them not having their time off. . . nor food. . . they will fast!!”
Sept. 19, 2021, at 9:10 p.m.
Taylor reportedly texted one of the workers, “How is it in 5 hours you’ll have only raised $6K. . . THIS IS A MARATHON!! You’ll are not taking this serious enough!! THIS HAS TO STOP!! Nobody gets lunch or dinner!! You’ll are going to press for another 5 hours!! Make sure no one eats until these numbers change. If they don’t change in the next 5 hours you’ll are going to work until 4 a.m. !! . . . Now stand up and tell everyone they are not eating (have they eaten I hope not??) Also that over the next 5 hours if they don’t make up for this they are not going to be tonight until 4 a.m. . .”
Sept. 19, 2021, at 10:21 p.m.
Taylor reportedly texted one of the workers, “Make them all stand and tell them if the punishment of 4 a.m. don’t work I’m going to make it worser and worser. . . They are going to get their beds out of my house and sleep in the garage!! Everyone piled in there!! This ruthless bootcamp is going to get worse and worse. . . until they do what we are telling them. . . their will only be soup, bread and water for all the degenerates every day. . . nothing else. . .”
Sept. 21, 2021, at 3:52 a.m.
Taylor reportedly texted one of the workers, “Let everyone know we have to raise at least $50k by 12 midnight if this happens the top 9 and those who did well can rest but the others who didn’t. . . will stay up until 4 a.m. and study notes and they will wake up at 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. . . . If they don’t do good the first 5 hours 9-2 p.m. they will not get lunch and for dinner they will only have soup and salad and water.”
Sept. 21, 2021, at 7:57 a.m.
Taylor allegedly texted one of the workers, “POUR WATER ON EVERYONES FACES THAT’S HALF WAY SLEEPING AND NOT WORKING WAKE THEM UP NOW!! . . My next level of judgment tomorrow is that it won’t be to just 4 a.m. it will be every hour you waste in the day will be added on past 4 a.m.!! TELL THEM ALL TO STAND NOW AND YOU THROW WATER ON THEIR FACES ! Especially the people not doing anything or helping bring in the money !! You tell them I don’t care about them being sick !! . . .”
Oct. 27, 2021, at 3:32 a.m.
Taylor allegedly texted one of the workers, “I can’t be kind to you letting you start later and sleep in. . . I can’t be kind with non of you ! If this doesn’t change in the next 2 hours !! You’ll are working until 4 a.m. and then getting up at 8 a.m. in the morning to start again !! Mon of you including top closers will not be able to get away with not working and raising the money we need or meeting our goal when we are in a dire push !! NOW I DONT CARE IF YOU ARE TIRED !! You’ve crossed the line !! You are going to work all night and get up in the morning !! I want all the name of those who are not helping with this push or doing their work or not showing change. . . NOW. . . They are going to the homeless shelter !! . . .”
Group texts
According to court documents, Taylor and Brannon used a group text chat called “Military Bootcamp 5 Taylor” to communicate with the call center workers. Here are the following messages investigators found:
March 10, 2022, at 11:12 p.m.
Taylor allegedly texted the group, “You’ll are not going to bed tonight until you raise this $33K let’s go!!”
March 15, 2022, at 1:44 a.m.
Taylor allegedly texted the group, “POINT BLANK. . . If you don’t work you can’t eat.”
April 24, 2022, at 9:04 p.m.
Taylor allegedly texted the group, “Repent now n***** all of you get on your knees now and repent !! NOW !! You have pushed God and I too far !! . . .IM DONE !! EVERYONE GO INTO THE TAMPA GARAGE TONIGHT !! THIS WILL NEVER STOP UNTIL YOU CHANGE COMPLETELY.”
May 12, 2022, at 6:39 p.m.
Taylor allegedly texted the group, “WARNING TO THE WHOLE STAFF - . . . it’s too expensive for us to provide for the amount of people who won’t learn to close !! So I’m only buying enough for the few at this point who have applied the training and have learned to close !! . . If you don’t work (effectively) and learn closing like we told you then you won’t eat !″
May 26, 2022, at 11:35 a.m.
Taylor allegedly texted the group, “WARNING - FROM APOSTLE Michelle deal out consequences to all the closers. . . that are not bringing in their amount. . . garage in Tampa and take away food now !! I want those in Ocala who supposed to be doing their work but are not punished and out in the garage and their food taken away.”
May 27, 2022, at 7:20 a.m.
Taylor allegedly texted the group, “JUDGEMENT - These numbers are bad !! . . 7 of the top closed need to go in the garage in tampa now !! . . Also I want food taken away . . . Michele deal out consequences to all the closers. . . that are not bringing in their amount. . . Garage in tampa and take away food now !!”
July 31, 2022, at 12:02 a.m.
Taylor allegedly texted the group, “You are getting up at 8 a.m. also !! I want cold water thrown on those who drag and won’t get up ! A big bucket of water. MICHELLE. . . ENFORCE THIS !!”
Oct. 19, 2022, at 11:46 p.m.
Brannon allegedly texted the group, “FROM APOSTLE WARNING . . . TENT AND GARAGE JUDGMENT STARTING TONIGHT FOR 7 DAYS IF AFTER 7 - 14 Days There is no change it’s the public shelter for 1 solid month.”
Oct. 21, 2022, at 4:57 p.m.
Brannon allegedly texted the group, “WARNING FROM APOSTLE. . . TOP 6 YOUR LOW NUMBERS EACH DAY. . . IT HAS TO STOP NOW. . . You will be punished constantly until you obey and train your hear and mind to obey the training. . .”
Additional forced labor allegations
According to court documents, Taylor would hold lengthy meetings, which often lasted three to six hours.
In the meetings, Taylor allegedly demanded that the workers raise more money, warned them for not meeting his monetary goals, explained the power God gave him, rebuked workers for disobedience and cursed those who stopped working for him or spoke negatively about him.
The workers were often operating in a state of sleep deprivation due to the amount of work required and lengthy meetings, court documents claim.
Taylor and Brannon reportedly required the workers to ask for permission to leave their housing or call centers and controlled their access to transportation.
Taylor and Brannon also allegedly denied workers medical attention.
Court documents state that the duo demanded the workers to apply for a government-funded EBT card, claim to be homeless and give the card to Taylor and Brannon or to a church staff member who reported to the church leaders. They then reportedly used the EBT cards to buy food for the staff.
Used donations for luxury purchases
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Kingdom of God Global Church received millions of dollars in donations each year through its call centers.
Taylor and Brannon allegedly used most of the money to buy luxury properties, luxury vehicles and sporting equipment including a boat, jet skis and ATVs.
Taylor reportedly received about $50 million in donations since 2014.
Taylor and Brannon made the following transactions between 2018 and 2025, according to court documents:
- 125 lbs. of super colossal red king crab legs, six seafood shears and 30 crab cutters: $10,353.44
- Mercedes Benz: $63,195.94
- Bentley Continental: $70,000 down payment
- Crownline Boat: $105,595
- Bentley Continental: $15,000 down payment
- Bentley Mulsanne: $50,000 down payment
- Mercedes Benz: $14,908
- Mercedes Benz: $13,695
- Mercedes Benz: $12,485
- Five ATVs: $31,805
- Two jet skis and one jet ski trailer St. Louis Power Sports: $24,332
- Two jet skis and one jet ski trailer Holzhauer Pro Motorsports: $24,962.20
- Rolls Royce Cullinan: $123,028.09 lease signing payment
- Bulletproof automotive: $33,930
- Bulletproof automotive: $32,630
- Bulletproof automotive: $37,500
- Bulletproof automotive: $18,302.76
Federal charges
Taylor and Brannon face multiple charges including Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor, which carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000, Forced Labor, which carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000 and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, which carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the properties involved in the money laundering transactions.