- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:53 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A disturbing account has resurfaced from within one of the world’s most infamous cults, Children of God, now known as The Family International, after survivor Serena Kelly revealed shocking details of her childhood, including being forced to “marry” the group’s founder at just three years old.
Serena, born in a commune in the Philippines in the late 1980s, was raised under the rule of David Brandt Berg, the cult’s leader who promoted extreme, abusive doctrines masked as spiritual teachings. Berg, who was 68 at the time, arranged for Serena to become his “child bride” in a pre-birth agreement with her mother, who believed the act was an honor within the sect.
Forced Marriage At Age Three
According to Serena, Berg had already chosen her older sister as his “child” and decided he would take Serena as well, long before she was even born. At age three, she was dressed in white and placed in a “wedding ceremony” with Berg. He gave her a ring, and members celebrated what they believed was a divine union.
Serena told Unfiltered Stories,“I was given to Berg by my mum to be married. He gave me a ring… everyone was excited. It was considered a huge honour.”
Berg preached that “love should have no limits,” using this doctrine to justify exploitation and manipulation of young followers. He openly documented Serena’s upbringing in cult publications as an example of how children “should be raised,” further normalizing the abuse within the group.
A Childhood Surrounded By Exploitation
Serena also described frequent coercive acts disguised as spiritual rituals. Teenage girls, and sometimes younger, were made to dance unclothed as adults cheered, believing such acts would lead to “spiritual superpowers.” Women filmed provocative videos inside the commune, and children lived amid a normalised culture of exploitation.
“I was exposed to a lot at a very early age,” Serena said. “I knew one day I would be made to do the same.”
After the so-called marriage, Serena spent long periods in Berg’s presence. She says he insisted on “cuddle time,” which she now recognises as abusive behavior. “It never went beyond touching because I was so young, thankfully,” she said, adding that it still amounted to clear abuse masked as affection.
David Berg died in 1994 at age 75. In recent years, independent reviews claim The Family International has abandoned its past teachings and now functions as a group focused on missionary and humanitarian work.