RAINN and HBO Announce Premiere of Original Docuseries ‘Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo’

RAINN – The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network – has spent decades working to shed light on the stories of survivors of sexual abuse crimes while supporting them and their loved ones throughout their recovery. As part of this continuing endeavor, RAINN recently partnered with HBO to announce the network’s three-part documentary titled Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo. The series tells the story of rampant sexual abuse crimes against church members, including children. Unveiled also focuses on the story of survivor Sochil Martin, who previously shared her story with RAINN in an effort to inspire and support other survivors of these heinous crimes.

RAINN worked with HBO on the series to provide additional resources to victims across the country who may feel inspired or compelled to reach out for assistance in their own circumstances in light of hearing the story of the La Luz del Mundo (LLDM) church survivors. 

“We are so proud to partner with HBO and offer the National Sexual Assault Hotline as a resource for viewers of Unveiled. This documentary tells an important story about child sexual abuse and grooming. We are inspired by the survivors of La Luz del Mundo who courageously came forward, and hope this documentary brings healing,” said Erinn Robinson, director of media relations for RAINN.

Tried and Convicted

The series, directed by Jennifer Tiexiera, explores the underworld of LLDM and the abuse that many members have suffered at the hands of church leadership. LLDM has its roots in Mexico but claims to have congregations in over 50 different countries with 5 million followers, touting itself as the only true way to achieve salvation. The most recent leader, or “apostle,” Naasón Joaquín García, was tried and convicted of three counts of sexual abuse of minors.  He accepted a plea deal in June 2022.

The documentary is presented from the viewpoint of the survivors, who initially came together via a thread on the website Reddit, helping to give voice to the men and women who have suffered because of the church’s actions. The series premiered on Dec. 6 with Parts 1 and 2, and was followed by Part 3 on Dec. 7 on HBO and HBO Max.

The LLDM scandal was widely overlooked by mainstream media, and the docuseries aims to draw attention to the story and provide awareness for others suffering from the effects of the church or similar situations to reach out for assistance. “In many ways, the release of Unveiled is the beginning of healing for so many. We are honored to have an organization like RAINN to partner with and provide the necessary resources and support to anyone who needs it along the way. Not only the victims of this organization, but to anyone who has been a victim or who might know someone who has been a victim of these kinds of coercive practices,” said Tiexiera.

RAINN provides a 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE, and strives to stand up for survivors of sexual violence every day with resources available via phone, email, and live web chat, all of which preserve anonymity. Partnerships like the one with HBO help RAINN continue to share its message of hope with victims and their families on even larger national platforms, providing resources for those who find the strength and courage to reach out but are not sure where to start. RAINN has also partnered with Lifetime Television on documentaries including Surviving Jeffrey Epstein and Surviving R. Kelly to provide viewers with resources and live support when watching triggering content. The same resources are made available to HBO viewers and people in communities across the United States, thanks to RAINN’s network of over 1,000 sexual assault service providers.