The church promoted a blend of Christian and traditional religious values and practices, including a belief in the role of women as spiritual mediums.
By 1958 the organization adopted the controversial rejection of all earthly authority.
It began having its own courts and refused to pay taxes or be registered with the state.
This violent confrontation led to the deaths of approximately 700 members and the arrest of Alice Lenshina.
Alice was released in 1975, but imprisoned two years later for trying to revive the movement's strength.