James Manning is the pastor of ATLAH World Missionary Church which also operates two private religious schools, Great Tomorrow’s USA Elementary/Middle and Atlah High School.. Manning is a vicious homophobe advocating that gay people be stoned. He advocated that former President Obama be hanged. He claimed Starbucks puts semen in its coffee. He has been accused of abusing the children who attend his school.
In an example of the kinds of psychological abuse inflicted on students, one child was locked in a pitch dark basement for eight hours at a time, three days in a row. His parents approved the punishment. There are many allegations from other students as well of psychological abuse and brainwashing. Manning controls many more aspects of members’ lives than a normal church, even controlling their finances for several members. The church employed several members even withholding wages to force families to discipline children.
When a recently graduated girl shared that he was harassing and touching her, she made a recording which she shared. When he was asked about it, he expelled the students and persuaded their parents to kick them out. He refused to grant them diplomas.
- Huffington Post: ATLAH Church Is Classified as a Hate Group. It’s Able to Run a School Anyway
- WNYC: Private school at Harlem church accused of abuse