Key Takeaways
- The Two by Two Church, also known as The Church With No Name, is a secretive fundamentalist Christian sect with alleged historical child sexual abuse cases.
- Over 200 alleged perpetrators have been identified across Australia and New Zealand through a hotline set up by former member Jillian Hishon.
- The church has no formal governance, and former members claim that allegations of abuse have been historically buried, allowing alleged abusers to move freely between households.
- The FBI’s Omaha Field Office is leading an international investigation into abuse allegations across the sect’s global network.
- The church has applied to join the National Redress Scheme, but its application is pending due to a lack of registered legal entities in Australia.
Introduction to the Two by Two Church
The Two by Two Church, also known as The Church With No Name, is a secretive fundamentalist Christian sect that operates without formal governance. Very little is known about the group, but former member Jillian Hishon has devoted hundreds of hours to listening to an estimated 280 victims of historical child sexual abuse from within the church. Her hotline, The Brave Truth, was set up in 2023 and claims to have identified over 200 alleged perpetrators across Australia and New Zealand. Former members, including Hishon, say that the scale of historical abuse is staggering, with over 200 alleged perpetrators reported in a relatively small church of around 7,500 members in Australia.
Allegations of Historical Abuse
One survivor who was sexually abused from the age of 10 by a former minister has chosen to speak out for the first time. She claims that the minister, who was dismissed from the church in 1980, continued to attend home gospel meetings up until he was jailed in 2023. Despite being released from prison, the victim claims that the former minister shows no remorse and has not attempted any rehabilitation. The sect confirmed that the man at the centre of the allegation had been a minister up until 1980, but the ABC understands that he was dismissed following claims he inappropriately touched young girls. The church has stated that it will cooperate with any FBI request and that it is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child, young person, and vulnerable person.
Investigation into Abuse Allegations
The FBI’s Omaha Field Office is now leading an international investigation into abuse allegations across the sect’s global network. On its website, the agency said it was seeking victims and witnesses who may have information about criminal behaviour within the group, which operates across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. The ABC understands that investigators have spoken with New Zealand victims who have filed reports, but are yet to take any action in Australia. The Two by Two Church has stated that it will cooperate with any FBI request. The church has also engaged an independent specialist investigation firm, Kooyoora, to assist with their child safety and allegation processes across NSW, ACT, SA, and NT.
Financial Secrecy and Lack of Governance
The Two by Two Church does not have or use physical churches, instead holding meetings or conventions in big sheds or tents, hosting up to 450 people at a time. Ministers, often two at a time, live inside members’ homes, travelling between gospel meetings and annual conventions with nothing more than a suitcase to their name. Former members said that this practice led to countless instances of historical abuse occurring in private homes, where children were accessible and unchecked. A submission to a Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into cults and fringe groups alleged that the sect operates with "no governance", leaving survivors of abuse unable to access the National Redress Scheme. The submission also claims that the sect has no registered legal entities in Australia and its finances are not transparent, with secret family trust accounts that could hold millions of dollars.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The Two by Two Church has applied to join the National Redress Scheme, but its application is pending due to a lack of registered legal entities in Australia. The inquiry into cults and fringe groups is due to submit a final report to Parliament in September next year. In the meantime, former members and survivors of abuse continue to speak out about the historical abuse they suffered within the church. The FBI’s investigation into abuse allegations across the sect’s global network is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what actions will be taken to hold the church accountable for its alleged failures to protect children and vulnerable individuals.