What can you do if your friend might be in a cult?

Help! I’m wondering if my friend is in a cult. What can I do?

That can feel scary. There are sadly many cults who target uni students around Australia. There’s a lot to be said about the signs of a cult: isolating people from family and friends, authoritarian leadership, controlling every part of a person’s life, all sorts of abuse…

That sounds like a lot. But what can you actually do? The most important thing is to pray. God knows and loves your friend. Pray for God to soften their heart etc

If you ask them about it directly, they’re more likely to shut down and break the relationship with you. So instead, it’s often wiser just to be available, and be a good friend. Your friend may act unusually, may cancel plans, or say unkind things. But so far as you can—keep showing up and showing God’s love to them. If you can plant any seeds of doubt, that’s great, but the most important thing is to be patient with them. By doing this, you’ll contrast the cult environment and create a safe, gentle, non-judgemental space that will hopefully lead to healing and reconnection.