David E. Taylor

David E Taylor
Personal life
Born (1972-08-03) August 3, 1972
Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Children3
Alma materJohnson & Wales University
Other names"Apostle"
Religious life
ReligionChristianity
DenominationNon-denominational Christianity
ChurchJoshua Media Ministries International, Kingdom of God Global Church
PhilosophyEvangelicalism
Websitehttps://joshuamediaministries.org

David Edward Taylor (born August 3, 1972) is an American religious leader and televangelist who leads the Kingdom of God Global Church (KOGGC), formerly known as Joshua Media Ministries International (JMMI).[1][2] Taylor, nicknamed 'The Apostle,' is known for his teachings on prosperity theology, faith healing and charismatic preaching, as well as his claims of receiving face-to-face revelations from Jesus Christ.[3][4][5]

In August 2025, Taylor and KOGGC executive director Michelle Brannon were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of forced labor, conspiracy, and money laundering.[6][7] Federal prosecutors allege that the ministry operated a coercive scheme across multiple states, exploiting followers to generate approximately $50 million in donations.[8][9] Taylor has pleaded not guilty and attributed the charges to racial bias.[10] As of February 2026, he is in custody pending trial.[11][12]

Early life and education

David Edward Taylor was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, the seventh of nine children of Rev. James Houston Karl Taylor and Katie Mae Burford Taylor.[13][14][15] He attended both Pentecostal and Baptist churches. Taylor has said that during his adolescent years, he became involved in what he refers to as a "worldly lifestyle" or "gang life."[16][17]

Taylor's official biography from his ministry asserts that when he was 17 he had a vivid dream in which Jesus appeared to him "face to face."[17][18] He claimed he was born again after the event, which inspired him to dedicate his life to Christian ministry.[1][19] In 1992, Taylor graduated from Johnson & Wales University before pursuing ministry full time.[17][20][21]

Joshua Media Ministries International

Taylor has been the president and CEO of Joshua Media Ministries International (JMMI), also referred to as Kingdom Family Church or the Kingdom of God Global Church (KOGGC), since 2008.[2][6] According to IRS filings, the church and ministry's goal is to "spread the good word of Jesus Christ throughout the world."[22] The ministry has locations in Taylor, Michigan; Houston, Texas; Tampa and Ocala, Florida; and Chesterfield, Eureka, and Wildwood, Missouri, which have functioned as both worship centers and call centers for fundraising and prayer lines.[23][24]

Taylor's public ministry is based on his stated "face-to-face" dreams and visions of Jesus, which he presents as continual revelations that inform his teaching on national and global issues.[4][25] In sermons and advertising materials, he has linked these experiences to claims of spiritual insight into world affairs, such as end-of-days prophecy and the fate of the United States.[9][18] Taylor has associated himself with other charismatic and prophetic Christian leaders (i.e. Benny Hinn, Kathryn Kuhlman, Rod Parsley, and Terry MacAlmon)[26][27] through conferences and media appearances over the years. He has been criticized for controversial statements, such as claiming to have raised a woman from the dead via Facebook.[18][28][29]

In 2019, an investigation by The News-Herald claimed that Taylor's multimillion-dollar church in Taylor, Michigan, was "cult-like" and examined the pressure to make large donations. In 2021, Trinity Foundation and MinistryWatch reported that the IRS removed JMMI's 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, also criticizing Taylor's fundraising methods and the use of luxurious real estate connected to the ministry.[16][30][31] In 2020, gospel singer Vicki Yohe, who was previously in a relationship with Taylor, accused him of being a cult leader and sleeping with over 100 women.[9][32][33]

On August 27, 2025, Taylor and his executive director, Michelle Brannon, were indicted and arrested as part of the FBI's Operation Divine Deception after a federal grand jury charged them with conspiracy to commit forced labor, forced labor, and money laundering.[4][34][35] Prosecutors claim that beginning in 2013, followers working in call centers affiliated with JMMI and KOGGC in Michigan, Florida, Texas, and Missouri were subjected to restrictive conditions, including limited freedom of movement, long work hours, and threats of food and housing loss, while soliciting tens of millions of dollars in donations.[7][36] According to court records, ministry-owned homes in Tampa and Ocala, Florida, served as both houses and worksites, with some workers, known as “armor bearers," living in cramped garage or dormitory-style spaces.[3][4][6]

Federal documents and news reports additionally report that investigators are gathering evidence of sexual exploitation, including claims that Taylor asked women connected to the ministry for sexually explicit pictures and videos and used his spiritual authority in ways that prosecutors say were coercive.[8][32] Asset-forfeiture actions are seeking to seize cash, gold, cars, and real estate, including an $8.3 million property in Tampa, on the grounds that they can be traced back to the alleged scheme of forced labor and money laundering.[11][37][38] Taylor has pleaded not guilty and denied the charges through his lawyer and public statements, calling the case unfair and based on bias. As of February 2026, a trial date has yet to be set in federal court.[10][39]

On February 12, 2026, 'Prophetess' Kathleen Klein was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor, the third person to be indicted in the conspiracy.[12][40]

Publications

  • Taylor, David E. (2009). Face-to-Face Appearances from Jesus: The Ultimate Intimacy. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, United States: Destiny Image. ISBN 9780768431476.
  • Taylor, David E. (2011). My Trip To Heaven: Face To Face With Jesus. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, United States: Destiny Image. ISBN 9780768436549.

References

  1. ^ a b Kull, Katie (August 28, 2025). "Charges: Group operated forced labor call center". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Lee Enterprises. p. A6.
  2. ^ a b Wethington, Paula (August 27, 2025). "2 Michigan ministry leaders accused of running forced labor organization, money laundering scheme". CBS Detroit. CBS.
  3. ^ a b Willetts, Mitchell (October 2, 2025). "Raid of church leader's Florida mansion reveals 57 forced laborers, feds say". The Miami Herald.
  4. ^ a b c d Rodriguez, Nathaniel (August 27, 2025). "Who is 'Apostle' David E. Taylor, church leader targeted in Tampa, multi-state FBI raids?". WFLA-TV.
  5. ^ "How the Lord Brought the Healing Ministry to David E. Taylor". Joshua Media Ministries, Int'l. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "Two Self-Professed Religious Leaders Who Used Physical and Psychological Abuse to Coerce Victims to Solicit Tens of Millions in Donations Federally Charged and Arrested". Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice. United States Department of Justice. August 27, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Warren, Peter; Garcia, Michael (August 31, 2025). "FBI raid targets church leaders for labor abuse". The Courier. p. A11.
  8. ^ a b Snell, Robert (November 18, 2025). "Sex, porn allegations dog faith leader". The Detroit News. pp. 1A, 3A.
  9. ^ a b c Gilani, Hajrah (September 4, 2025). "New details emerge after Houston church leader arrested in forced labor scheme: 'People were petrified'". The Courier of Montgomery County. Conroe, Texas: Houston Chronicle. pp. A1, A7.
  10. ^ a b "There Will Be Glory After This!". Apostle David E. Taylor. Kingdom of God Global Church. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  11. ^ a b Spata, Christopher (January 14, 2026). "Kingdom of God Global Church fights for return of cash, gold seized from Tampa mansion". Tampa Bay Times.
  12. ^ a b Snell, Robert (February 13, 2026). "Forced labor case widens as feds charge third Kingdom of God leader". The Detroit News.
  13. ^ "Honoring & Celebrating the Life of the Most Precious and Virtuous Woman, My Mom". Joshua Media Ministries, Int'l. 2024-10-11.
  14. ^ "Rev. James Houston Karl Taylor". Snow Funeral Home. August 21, 2021. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  15. ^ "Katie Taylor - View Obituary & Service Information". Snow Funeral Home. October 21, 2024. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  16. ^ a b Roberts, Kim (December 11, 2023). "Trial Set in Case Against Two of David E. Taylor's Ministries". Ministry Watch.
  17. ^ a b c "Feature Presentation / About Apostle David E. Taylor / The Man – Biography of David E. Taylor". Apostle David E. Taylor [Official Site]. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  18. ^ a b c Kohler, Jeremy (2017-05-08). "Minister says buying Jamestown Mall would fulfill God's will for global headquarters". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  19. ^ Spata, Christopher (September 21, 2025). "Church accused of 'slave labor' in Florida still operating 24-hour miracle prayer line". The Tampa Bay Times.
  20. ^ Charlestonian 1991 (66 ed.). Charleston, South Carolina: Johnson & Wales University. 1991. p. 38.
  21. ^ Charlestonian 1992 (85 ed.). Charleston, South Carolina: Johnson & Wales University. 1992. p. 57.
  22. ^ "Joshua Media Ministries International - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. 2013-05-09. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  23. ^ Miller, Chaz; Willis, Brianna; Jones, Luke (2025-08-27). "Religious leaders accused of forced labor and money laundering after facility raided, FBI says". ABC13 Houston. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  24. ^ Lenny, Cathy (2022-06-16). "Mysterious religious organization purchasing property all over West County". West Newsmagazine. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
  25. ^ Spata, Christopher. "Church accused of 'slave labor' in Florida still operating 24-hour miracle prayer line". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  26. ^ "What leaders are saying". Apostle David E. Taylor [Official Site]. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  27. ^ "Products - Tagged: Interviews". Kingdom Of God Global Church. Retrieved 2026-02-15.
  28. ^ Maloney, Colin (2019-04-01). "Pastor accused of running his multimillion-dollar Taylor church as a 'cult'". The News-Herald (Southgate, Michigan).
  29. ^ Shepherd, Chuck (October 30, 2016). "News of the Weird: Religion Adapts to Technology". Andrews McMeel Syndication.
  30. ^ Mills, Chad (August 27, 2025). "'Blot on Christianity': Watchdog group says bust of ministry that had facility in Tampa was a long time coming". WFTS-TV. Archived from the original on February 22, 2026.
  31. ^ "David E Taylor Collection, with IRS Report – Trinity Foundation". Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  32. ^ a b Titus, Jennifer; Hendren, Libby (2025-09-02). "Exclusive: David Taylor's ex-girlfriend reveals red flags after FBI raids Kingdom of God Global Church". WTSP. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  33. ^ MaGee, Ny (2019-01-03). "Gospel Singer Vicki Yohe Reveals 'Sexual Relationship' with 'Cult Leader' David E. Taylor". EURweb | Black News, Culture, Entertainment & More. Retrieved 2026-02-11.
  34. ^ Alexander, Robert (August 28, 2025). "Church 'Apostle' Enslaved Workers in Florida and Texas—Grand Jury". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  35. ^ Sayles, Samantha (October 16, 2025). "Michigan forced labor case: Why prosecutors argue David Taylor should remain in custody". WDIV-TV.
  36. ^ Simmerman, Alexis (2025-08-27). "DOJ: 2 'religious leaders' charged with forced labor, money laundering in Texas". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  37. ^ Roberts, Kim (2026-01-07). "Kingdom of God Global Church Seeks Return of Seized Assets". MinistryWatch. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  38. ^ Plasencia, Ariel (January 14, 2026). "Kingdom of God Global Church seeks return of millions seized in money laundering, forced labor case". WTVT.
  39. ^ Friel, Noelle (2025-11-06). "Attorneys for former church leader David Taylor ask judge to reconsider detention order in Michigan". WDIV. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  40. ^ Shaw, Mack (February 12, 2026). "'Prophetess' accused in $50M church call center conspiracy connected to Texas". Fox 26 Houston.
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