Former Member of 'Cult' Church Where Teen Was Beaten Says Members Are Shamed, Forced to Perform Chores

The former member of a controversial New York church where six members were recently arrested for beating a 19-year-old to death has described the church as more of a "cult" where church members are publically "shamed" by the pastor. 

Chadwick Handville, a former member of World of Life Christian church in New Hartford, New York, recently told the New York Times that he would describe the secretive church as more of a "cult," with members being forced to perform chores and undergo shaming from the church's founder and pastor, Jerry Irwin.

"Everybody who's gone there is a victim of abuse," Handville erecently told the New York Times. "This was a cult. This was not a church; I don't care what words they use on the building. The spirit of that place was not freedom."

 "It ruined a lot of lives," Handville added.

The small World of Life church has been the subject of several media stories this past week after six congregants were arrested for brutally beating a 19-year-old to death in a bizarre "counseling session" that was reportedly meant to convince him to repent from his sins.

Among the six arrested in connection with the beating include the boys' parents and older sister.

The boy's 17-year-old brother was also severely beaten and discovered by authorities lying in the upper portion of a house during a search following the 19-year-old's death.

New Hartford Police Chief Michael Inserra has said that the counseling session took place when the two teens were called to "confess to prior sins and ask for forgiveness," adding "We have not determined what this punishment was for."