In an exclusive and revealing interview, former members of a secretive prayer group, identified only as “The Covenant Circle,” have opened up about their experiences, shedding light on the mysterious inner workings of the group that captured the attention of many across the nation. The group, which was shrouded in secrecy for years, has come under intense scrutiny following the exit of several former members who have now decided to speak out about the pressure they faced and the reasons they ultimately chose to leave.

The Covenant Circle, which operated both online and offline, was a prayer-focused fellowship that initially attracted individuals seeking spiritual growth, healing, and a deeper connection to God. However, as the group’s influence expanded, so did its methods and teachings, many of which raised questions and concerns among outsiders, including family members of the participants.

The Appeal and Transformation

According to Ejiro, one of the former members who agreed to share her story, the group initially appeared as a beacon of hope for those seeking to overcome personal struggles. “When I first joined, it felt like a safe space—a community of like-minded people coming together to pray for each other and grow spiritually,” Ejiro explained. “At the time, I was dealing with personal challenges, and the group offered support, encouragement, and guidance.”

Members were invited to join exclusive prayer sessions where they would participate in intense spiritual exercises, including fasting, deep meditation, and long hours of prayer. The group’s online platform became a space where individuals could engage in discussions, share prayer requests, and even offer testimonies of personal breakthroughs. The group’s leadership, however, maintained strict control over its members, with directives on how to live, pray, and engage with the outside world.

“It was a very tight-knit community,” Ejiro continued. “We were encouraged to make the group our priority. People would talk about how they felt ‘transformed’ after joining, how their lives had improved. But there was also pressure to distance yourself from anything or anyone that didn’t align with the group’s teachings.”

Increasing Control and Isolation

As time went on, members began to notice subtle shifts in the group’s leadership style and teachings. Ejiro mentioned that the group’s founder, a charismatic but somewhat elusive figure, began making increasingly authoritarian decisions. “It started out innocently enough, but the deeper you went, the more the group became controlling,” she said. “It was like they wanted to make us believe that the outside world was full of distractions, and that the only path to true spiritual fulfillment was through them.”

One of the most controversial aspects of the group’s methods, according to the former members, was the way in which they were encouraged to cut ties with family members who did not fully support their involvement in the group. “We were told that the people who didn’t understand our commitment to the group were hindrances to our spiritual growth,” Ejiro revealed. “At one point, we were even asked to block family members on social media if they questioned our involvement.”

This tactic, known as “spiritual distancing,” caused deep rifts between group members and their loved ones, particularly for those who had been drawn in by the group’s promises of personal transformation. Family members grew concerned, feeling that their relatives were becoming increasingly isolated, and some even feared that the group was taking control of their loved ones’ lives.

“We refused to block our families, and that was one of the reasons we eventually left,” said Ejiro. “There’s only so much you can disconnect from your family before you start to realize something is wrong.”

The Breaking Point

While the group maintained that its teachings were rooted in the Bible and the pursuit of righteousness, many former members began to feel uncomfortable with the level of control and the demands being placed on them. “There were constant requests for money, for tithes, for special offerings, and we were told that these things were necessary for our spiritual progress,” another former member, Ugo, shared. “We were told that giving more money would bring us more blessings and breakthroughs, and at times, it felt like we were being manipulated.”

The group’s leadership also began to preach about the idea of “spiritual superiority,” where members were led to believe that they were more spiritually advanced than non-members. This idea was reinforced by members who were seen as “spiritual guides,” who often received preferential treatment from the leadership.

For Ugo, the realization that the group was veering into dangerous territory came when a member of his own family, who had been part of the group for years, began to show signs of deep emotional distress. “This person had been brainwashed into thinking that they could only find peace through the group’s teachings. It was devastating to watch,” Ugo recalled.

The Decision to Leave

For Ejiro and Ugo, the tipping point came when they were encouraged to participate in a special “deliverance ceremony,” which they later realized was a form of emotional manipulation designed to bind the group members even more tightly to its teachings. “They made us feel like we were ‘lost souls’ if we questioned anything,” Ejiro shared. “That was when we knew we had to leave.”

Ejiro and Ugo, along with several other former members, quietly distanced themselves from the group and eventually cut ties with the leadership. “Leaving wasn’t easy. There was a lot of fear and guilt because we were made to feel like we were abandoning our spiritual journey,” Ejiro said. “But we had to choose our own mental and emotional well-being.”

Since exiting the group, both Ejiro and Ugo have sought support from therapists and spiritual leaders who helped them process their experiences. They have also been working to repair their relationships with family members, many of whom were hurt by the rift caused by their involvement in the group.

Moving Forward: A Warning to Others

Today, Ejiro and Ugo have become advocates for individuals who may be caught in controlling or manipulative spiritual environments. They both urge others to question any group that demands excessive loyalty, isolates its members, or pressures them into making life-altering decisions that could jeopardize their well-being.

“We want people to know that true spirituality doesn’t come with isolation, manipulation, or guilt,” Ugo said. “We didn’t join the group because we wanted to be controlled. We joined because we were searching for something greater, but we realized that sometimes, the greatest thing you can do for yourself is to stay true to your own beliefs and family.”

As for the group, it remains active, though many former members have warned others to approach with caution. While they do not claim to be a “cult,” the methods and practices of the group have raised red flags for those who have experienced its inner workings firsthand.

For now, Ejiro and Ugo are focusing on rebuilding their lives and encouraging others to seek spirituality in ways that empower, not control. Their story serves as a cautionary tale for those who may be seeking answers but find themselves in a situation where the cost of spiritual fulfillment could be too high.