Agape Ministries

A doomsday cult which planned to trap members on an island and reportedly intended to kill disobedient followers

1980s - 2010s

Rocco Leo, the leader of Agape Ministries, with a follower

Rocco Leo (right) hid from authorities while being charged with over 100 counts of fraud

Agape Christian Ministries was a ministry founded in the 1980s by Rocco Leo. As a child, Leo was appointed by his father as a prophet of God and claimed he received divine powers after a near-death experience when he was four. Throughout his life, he got in legal trouble for theft and running a brothel, but dedicated his life to God in prison and later started a church.

Agape Ministries wasn't particularly unique in its early years and attracted followers due to miraculous faith healings that baffled doctors. However, they became more radical as time went on. Eventually, Leo started preaching a doomsday message and told followers to donate all their money to the church and move to an island to survive.

After authorities became aware of Agape Ministries, they raided the property and discovered the cult was stockpiling mass amounts of illegal weapons and training members to use them against police and locals. The leaders had also been planning to send members to the island, prevent them from leaving, and murder those who were disobedient, according to former members.

Some members got arrested for their involvement, but Leo, who had made millions, went on the run. He was captured about a year later and had to face over 100 charges of fraud for his actions.

Religion: Christianity

Denomination: Other

Founder: Rocco Leo ("Brother Rock/Roc"; "Pastor Leo")

Founded: 1980s

Ended: 2010s (uncertain when, or if, the church officially dissolved, although Pastor Leo still has supporters today)

Location: Oakden, Australia; Fiji

Size: 60

Other Names: House of God

Anti-Medicine

Agape Ministries allegedly told terminal cancer patients not to seek medical treatment (source p. 170)
The cult instructed a woman to stop taking medicine for her debilitating illness (source p. 174)

Doomsday

Agape Ministries taught that the world would end in 2012 after microchips were implanted into everyone (source)
The cult built a "doomsday survival chamber," according to an insider (source p. 167)

Leader-Prophet

Rocco Leo claims to be immortal and that he received divine powers during a near-death experience when he was 4 (source)
Leo claimed to be God, according to a former member (source)

Murder

Leaders allegedly planned on murdering members who repeatedly broke the rules (source, source p. 176)

Separation from World

The cult planned to move members to an island, destroy their passports, throw away their mobile phones, and make them cut ties with their friends and family (source p. 175)

Unable to Leave

A high-ranking member of Agape Ministries, named "The Enforcer." made death threats to members who tried to leave, according to cult members (source p. 170)
On the island, leaders planned on destroying members' passports and would not tolerate any attempt to leave (source p. 175-176)

Unique Sexual Practices

Agape Ministries taught that even sex between married couples is "dirty" and should only be used for procreation (source)
Underage girls were allegedly "betrothed" to older men (source p. 171)

Other info:

Pastor Rocco Leo ran a brothel in the 1980s (source)
Members who questioned Leo were believed to be possessed and damned (source p. 166)
Agape Ministries reportedly trained members to attack the police with firearms if they ever "took anyone" and to kill all of the local natives if there was an uprising (source p. 167-168)
Cult members stockpiled large amounts of illegal weapons in hidden compartments (source)
More than 100 fraud charges were brought against the Leo by former members (source p. 178)
Pastor Leo was awarded the Order of Fiji 2019 Medal for "Outstanding Contribution to Fijian Society" (source)

Other tags:

Financial Lawsuit

Short News Report

Amateur documentary in support of the cult (see also parts two, three, and four)