The leadership of the Word of Life Church have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons after beating a boy to death in a bid to make him confess his sins before God and seek forgiveness.
Reports reaching us from the United States of America reveal a church named Word of Life Church brutally beat two teenagers during a counselling session for refusing to confess their sins and seeking forgiveness from God.
In the course of the assault, one the brothers lost his life. This happened before their parents, sister and other members of the church, according to a statement by a police operative.
Police Chief Michael Inserra said investigators are still looking into what the supposed sins were.
Huffington Post reports that Lucas and Christopher Leonard, 19 and 17, were pounded with fists on Sunday at the Word of Life Church when a "counseling session" meant to explore their spiritual state turned violent, Inserra said. They were beaten in the abdomen, genitals, back and thighs, authorities said.
Lucas died and his brother was hospitalized in serious condition. Six church members including the brothers' parents and sister have been arrested.
"Both brothers were subjected to physical punishment over the course of several hours, in hopes that each would confess to prior sins and ask for forgiveness," Inserra said.
Reports have it that there is the possibility their parents have been physically abusing the boys for a long time before this public action.