DETROIT – Federal authorities revealed the living and working conditions call center employees for a church organization across multiple states, including Michigan, endured.
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.
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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 allegedly claimed regularly that if someone failed to obey his orders and commands, they were defying God and would 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.
Multiple court documents filed in federal court detailed how Taylor and Brannon allegedly treated the organization’s call center workers.
No payment for workers
Officials said Taylor and Brannon did not pay any full-time workers for their labor.
Taylor and Brannon were allegedly the two of only three members of the church who received a salary.
How workers trusted Taylor, Brannon
Taylor used various methods to gain the trust and establish loyalty to keep their workers motivated in their jobs in the call center, court documents claim.
Taylor, who claimed to be God’s best friend, allegedly lured his workers, promising to fulfill their spiritual hunger, make them feel special through “love-bombing,” and promise them a unique closeness to God by serving God through his church.
Taylor also said that they would have to enter a “20-year process” through faithful service for the workers to have the most desired given to them, officials said.
Brannon allegedly parroted these promises in staff meetings.
The two allegedly taught the workers that Taylor is God’s best friend and his second-in-command, and God will bring his Kingdom on Earth through Taylor. They were also allegedly told that working full-time would guarantee a place in the “Kingdom” and become ready to face God as Taylor had.
Taylor and Brannon also allegedly made other significant false promises to the workers.
How duo was able to control, manipulate workers
Taylor and Brandon took control of their workers once they drew them in, officials claimed.
Taylor and Brannon are accused of physically and mentally weakening their workers and subjecting them to daily public humiliation and psychological abuse.
Court documents claimed the workers were working more than 20 hours a day. They allegedly had severe sleep deprivation and were housed in cramped living situations without privacy or adequate bedding.
In some instances, officials stated that the workers were denied food and medical care.
The duo allegedly forbade their workers from having relationships and would punish them for breaking this rule.
Taylor and Brannon allegedly isolated workers from the outside world by breaking up marriages and other relationships. This forced them to block family members who questioned Taylor.
The duo is also accused of mentally and physically wearing down the workers who resisted or questioned what they were told.
Court documents claim Taylor and Brannon created a “climate of fear” through psychological manipulation and physical violence if the workers made a mistake, complained, did not meet quotas, or left the organization.
Rebuked workers
Taylor and Brannon were allegedly rebuking their workers by yelling at them while standing inches from their faces. Officials said they called the workers wicked, racial slurs, Lucifer, and other names, as well as demanded that they get on their knees and repent to remind them they will face eternal damnation if they don’t comply.
According to court documents, the rebukings could last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the situation. They were also threatened to be “put out” into a garage or a homeless shelter along with the rebukings.
“Workers truly feared that burning in Hell or meeting with some catastrophic end would be the consequence of defying defendant Taylor in any way,” officials said.
The workers would also be deemed traitors if they did not obey and would be condemned or cursed as a punishment, officials said.
Since around 2020, Taylor was not living at any call center, so he communicated exclusively via cellphones with the workers. He allegedly instructed and entrusted Brannon to carry out his orders and punishments.
13 workers shared one room
According to court documents, about 57 call center workers for the organization were found living in a house in Tampa.
Brannon allegedly lied to authorities on who lived with her in the Tampa home. According to officials, she lived “with her son and six co-workers.”
Investigators said that while multiple call center workers were sleeping in a single room, sharing one bathroom with many sleeping directly on the floor, Brannon had her own “lavishly” furnished multi-room bedroom suite with an ensuite bathroom.
Investigators also noted that about 13 people were sleeping in living quarters above the garage, sharing a single bathroom.
Related --> Feds reveal Michelle Brannon’s luxury lifestyle, new evidence in forced labor case
Children also worked in call centers, feds say
After federal agents executed more search warrants at properties owned by the organization, they learned that multiple children were working and living in the call centers.
Officials said some of the children were separated from their parents for years.
One child told federal agents about her own emotional, psychological and physical trauma during her involvement with the organization.
Texts reveal treatment of workers
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!!”
Read more texts here --> Texts from church leaders reveal treatment of call center workers in Michigan, other states
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.
Out on bond
Brannon was arraigned on Sept. 30 and is now out on bond. She is staying at a home in Northville, Michigan, pending her trial.
During her bond hearing on Oct. 1, it was revealed that the place she is staying at in Michigan was paid for by current church members. A judge said she has 30 days to figure out how to ensure no church members are supporting her living situation.
Brannon is expected to be back in federal court on Nov. 3, 2025. A jury trial has been scheduled for Nov. 18 at 8:30 a.m.
Details on Taylor’s court appearances are limited.
Read more here --> Church leader arraigned in Michigan court on forced labor, money laundering conspiracy charges