The Controversial World of MLM's... And What Nobody is Talking About.

In this video, we delve into the world of MLMs (Multi-Level Marketing Companies) and explore their allure and controversy. And let me tell you... MLMs can be one of the strangest and most intriguing phenomena in the business world. I never intended this video to be as long as it did. But the more research I did, the more I decided that I needed to cover. It took me many, many hours and almost 2 months to do this research.

I have yet to see MLMs addressed from a Christian perspective. The *real* fuel for why I did this deep dive has to do with my background in New Thought and what I started noticing hidden within MLMs that needs to be talked about. (And it's not New Age.) I'm calling this the "dirty secret of MLMs."

My goal is to approach this with fairness but also firmness. I think there’s generally a lot of (understandable) anger and bitterness with some of the anti-MLM crowd, and I wanted to approach this from a different angle. I made this video with no resentments but with a genuine interest in the topic, your stories, and a love for people and truth. I actually had a really wholesome experience doing this research.

My view on MLMs might evolve as time goes on. But this is where I currently stand with MLMs. Thank you all for your help with this.

And thank you to my friend Phoenix Hayes for helping edit, especially the parts where I had to do a voiceover 🫶

Timestamps:
Part 1: Definitions. What is an MLM?- 06:06
Part 2: Finances. Are MLM's Pyramid Schemes?- 21:01
Part 3: Mental and Emotional. Are MLM's Cults? - 49:10
Part 4: Spiritual. MLM's Dirty Little Secret- 01:23:10
Final Thoughts- 01:47:10

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💡SEMINARY💡:

[ukuleleworship]

Years ago I had two different times I was "invited to a party", eager to make friends in a new community, only to be sold overpriced junk be women who really didn't have an interest in being friends after all. The third such party invite came, and I told my husband I didn't really want to go but these ladies don't take no for an answer. He gave me carte blanche forever after to tell people "my husband won't let me go to these parties or buy these products". He actually doesn't care about them. But he cares about me, and how hurt I was by these fake friendships. A+ husband. Still married 30 yrs later.

[brown_recidivist]

If someone messages you that you haven't seen since high school asking you to go for coffee you are probably being recruited into a pyramid scheme lol

[sharifuller]

These are a disaster for friendships because you end up turning friends into customers. The relationship is changed - damaged- sometimes irreparably.

[Waterlily]

Update: We left. Thank you to anyone who prayed for us. God made things clear regarding this matter in our lives.
You know, I was one that messaged you with a pretty positive view on mlms and how it changed my life for the better. However lately, I feel myself being pulled away from it the closer I get to God. My heart is currently on fire for apologetics and I’ve stopped listening to the resources supplied by upline and my eyes have been opened to the new thought teachings that are taught there. I’ve started speaking against some of the things they say and have been feeling upset when I hear people twisting the Bible all out of context to make it fit the business. Yes it has been a great experience and that’s only because it’s where I found God in. Lately, things just feel wrong. I’m going to keep praying on it and see where God pulls us. I fully submit to His will. Definitely pray for us.

[scottgriffith]

I was invited to an MLM sales pitch. The speaker compared getting people to join with sharing the gospel. "How can you say you love your neighbor and yet not invite them join up? It's like not telling them about the gospel." I knew, right then, this was a scam.

[bethann]

I was in MK for years. Loved the products. Didn't like asking people for money or to join so that they could spend more of their money. So, I was very low producing for my upline. The thing that broke it for me was when my director (who I really didn't like personally) was giving a pep talk and told us that if we wanted to succeed, we needed to be just like her (perfect hair, nails, dressed to the nines driving a company Cadillac). I realized that I didn't want to be her, I wanted to be me (far from perfect!).

[SuzanneMerrow]

The major life skill I learned being in an MLM is to use the word NO.

[emilyolson]

Boy. Do I have some stories for you. I was in the "pink bubble" for awhile. Until my director repeatedly called me as I was IN THE PROCESSION TO MY GRANDMOTHER"S FUNERAL, because if I didn't place MY order, she didn't get HER bonus. She even begged me for my credit card number so she could do it for me. It was awful.

[CynthiaFuller_]

Whenever I see the MLM acronym, I think of: Many Losing Money
Peace and Blessings my brothers and sisters! Great topic Melissa❤

[nonaccount]

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER - THANK YOU! I am so sick and tired of Christian women who reach out of the blue to "get together" and it's clear I'm just a marketing scheme for them. It's demeaning when you thought it was going to be about our mutual relationship in Jesus. It's wrong. At the least ladies, please tell people UPFRONT why you are reaching out to them. STOP FAKING IT just to get a meeting. Secondly, so many MLM's are New Age schemes. You are so spot on with the other issues. The core issue I have is how it changes their view of people - especially at church. They no longer see people as a fellow follower of Christ but as a "business opportunity". If you are in a MLM - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN HOW YOU START TREATING OTHER LADIES!!!

[tvtreasurechest]

Aside from the fact that very very few people ever make any money and in fact usually lose money, these MLM's tend to prey on Christians. But yet I haven't heard anyone besides yourself in Christendom speaking about this! Thank you for speaking out about this.

[cheripatterson]

Kind of reminds me of being in an abusive/narcissistic marriage. Alot of manipulation, gaslighting, shaming, and blame shifting. It's a relationship that's hard to escape. The victim is left an empty shell of themself.

[malhumoradosinnombre]

I watched Mike Winger's entire Benny Hinn video. I can watch this, let's Go😅

[rsforchristjesus]

MLM people can only look at others as a means of their own gain, while telling themselves it is to help others. I was involved, thank God, no more.

[daraharvey]

The fact that MLM’s seem so manipulative is the biggest red flag for me. Any company that needs to control how you think in order to thrive is suspect, to say the least.

[richandfrancescaarriola]

It’s so funny because their favorite quote is “you can own your own business.” Well if I own my own business how come I have to give a commission to someone else ?? That’s not my own business. Lol. 😂

[harmshoney]

thank you for covering this so gracefully. my husband & i left amway a year & a half ago after 10 YEARS. we are healing from so much, there is a lot of cultic behavior, pride, idols, etc. it's incredibly isolating & we spent *thousands* of dollars on products (most never used), meetings, conferences, etc. the misuse of scripture is soooo insane & it mixes in a lot of new age & new thought in regards to manifestation, affirmations, & the power of words. God forbid you say you're sick or sad.. "stop being negative. your words prophecy your future!". we were *always* told that if you saw this business, it's because "it's God's will for your life!" & we definitely read all the books you mentioned.. our "team" was very big on olsteen, creflo dollar, kenneth hagin, the copelands, td jakes, terri savelle foy, todd white, jesse duplantis, joyce meyer, etc. "kingdom mindset" was *constantly* preached. & if you ever had a moment of sadness, doubt, etc.. you were living in fear. & so many false converts!! we've watched dozens of people leave the business & become insanely lost - new age, witchcraft, & a brutal hate for God. it's incredibly sad to see.. & you were definitely spot on with a lot of the key themes/words. so incredibly toxic. thank you for this!

[SheilaArkee]

Excellent, Melissa! One of my very first experiences with an MLM – and there have been many – was at a Mary Kay meeting. I was duped into thinking I was going to get a free facial, but didn’t realize I had to do the facial myself! I also went to a Mary Kay meeting for sales consultants, and I will never forget everyone danced in a circle to the song Pink Cadillac before the meeting even got started. There were also tearful testimonies. The saddest thing for me about MLM’s is how they’ve ruined social constructs. It’s impossible to tell when you meet someone new if they genuinely want to be your friend, or if they see you as their future downline.

[musicgirl_gwyn]

I grew up as a daughter with a mom who did an MLM, and watches her often support other MLM’s her “friends” are involved in.
I watched when she finally made the decision to step down within the company and all of her friendships changed because she was no longer apart of the “group.”
To this day, I can still see the prosperity gospel clouding her judgement at times. She has called herself out verbatim with using “Christianese” it’s so weird that you used that term.

But what’s scariest to me after listening to this video and going through counseling is realizing that the “mlm positivity” is what often drives a wedge between me and my mom. It is so scary to think that she still looks up to prosperity gospel pastors and isn’t involved in a good Christian community anymore. I often worry about her faith but man, this gave me words I didn’t have.
Thank you for the in depth deep dive. I pray that this changes lives and pushes others toward the real Gospel, reading it right out of the Bible and having good Bible literacy, not just “claiming pretty verses.”

[karenburns]

I “sold” stampin up! For a few years. I say sold in quotations because I got into it to get the discount on products I loved. However I was often forced to buy the new product line to do demonstrations because you can not do them with older product. I had a great customer base for a couple years, women who were have a lot of fun with the craft tools and the draw for the “free” product when hosting. Then one of my consistent customers wanted to become a demonstrator and we were all set for her to be my first downline. I was a bit nervous about it because she would then be taking over all the home parties I was doing, taking my customer base. Guess what happened? My UPLINE got her to sign under HER behind my back!! I lost everything I had worked for three years plus my friendships with those women. And I had a craft room filled with current product I didn’t really want. Needless to say they went to garage sales for a tenth of their original cost. In retrospect, the best thing I got out of it is a wariness of other mlm traps and my desire to create beautiful cards with my own artwork.