Scott Williams, a former high school teacher from Ballarat East, Australia, founded the group that would later become Christian Assemblies International (CAI) in Feldafing, Germany, in the 1970s. Williams had faced allegations back home that he was indoctrinating students, and he faced the same accusations in Germany. After moving the organization to Stirling, Scotland, he again faced scrutiny by authorities before ultimately relocating back to Australia.
CAI, which identifies as a Pentecostal church, registered as a charity in Australia in 1994. Its headquarters are a 285-acre compound in a secluded valley at Dairyville, New South Wales, which is enclosed with a high wire fence. Members were reportedly connected electronically with their leaders rather than living in a traditional commune, leading CAI to be labeled as one of the first “Internet cults.”
Williams declared himself “The Anointed One” of God, claiming to be the highest authority on Earth. He predicted a coming apocalypse and a third world war. CAI members were pressured to tithe 10% of their gross income, plus additional mandatory contributions each year. Estimates suggest up to $25 million flowed into the organization through these donations. Those who gave less were investigated, fined, or threatened with divine punishment. The funds reportedly went toward building a multi-million-dollar property portfolio, with members forced to renovate these properties for hundreds of hours. Former members claimed severe punishments awaited anyone who disobeyed Williams or made mistakes.
Williams reportedly targeted young men and boys for sex, insisting that men needed a deeper bond with other men than with their wives. He created a practice called “bundschaft” — a German word for “covenant” — that was mandatory for senior men. This bond was deemed more valid than marriage and was reinforced through mass massage rituals involving up to 80 naked men. These sessions allegedly ended with Williams forcing non-consensual sexual acts, claiming the Bible authorized him to bypass commandments against homosexuality.
Williams taught that women were “satanic beings not to be trusted.” They were expected to cook, clean, and bear children. Former members reported that husbands were ordered to beat their wives with rods for disobedience, while children were beaten publicly during sermons. Some children were even separated from their parents and reassigned to other church members.
In 2009, Williams was charged with 14 counts of aggravated indecent assault, sexual assault, and sexual intercourse without consent. The charges led former members of CAI to go public, accusing the group of being a cult. More charges followed in 2010. In 2014, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation program exposed the scope of his alleged abuses. Williams died in 2015, just a year after the revelations were broadcast.
After his death, the group underwent a leadership transition. In September 2018, two senior pastors were appointed to head the church. In February 2019, the new leadership released a message to former members, acknowledging past wrongdoings and offering opportunities for dialogue. They pledged to change the group’s practices. The organization continues today under this new leadership, seeking to distance itself from past controversies.
Key Sources:
9News. (2014, July 28). Man tells of escape from secret NSW cult.
Henderson, F. (2014, July 29). Former Ballarat teacher Scott Williams accused of founding abusive religious cult. The Courier.
Meldrum-Hanna, C. (2014, July 29). Christian Assemblies International: Former members detail abuse handed out by CAI leader Scott Williams. Australian Broadcasting Corporation News.
The Sydney Daily Telegraph. (2009, July 17). CAI cult linked by the internet.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 