compiled from various sources and reformatted for exFamily.org by W.C. The Children of God, a.k.a. The Family, 1968 - current day
California, the state dubbed the Land of Fruits and nuts and the mother of exotic cults, has borne many unorthodox and liberal ideas and practices. In the late 60s, a time when counter culture was sending tremors throughout traditional American society, thousands of teens and young adults 'dropped out' of their normal everyday lives and disappeared into cults. Many of these drop-outs were discovering that drugs were not the solution to their problems. They were seeking God. In those boom days for cults - groups such as the Hare Krishna were a common sight in the hearts of major cities. Young Americans loudly invoked a pagan god, swirling colorfully in their dhotis and saris, wearing marks of the Lord Krishna etched on their skin, made from mud from the shores of holy rivers of India. The sounds of their drums and finger cymbals, accompanied by the exuberant chant of ancient mantras, echoed off the walls of modern skyscrapers and chilled or thrilled the souls of the bustling citizens in the streets. There were also other sights and sounds - dirty, long-haired hippies were also raising their voices on the streets. Over the din of the Krishna one could sometimes hear a bearded hippie crying, "If you don't got Jesus, you don't got nothin', man!"
The Jesus Revolution Many of the youth had also turned to Jesus. Upon dropping out and disappearing, some of them resurfaced as 'Jesus Freaks', proselytizing en masse on street corners, on the beaches and in the parks. These 'Street Christians', and 'Revolutionaries' as they were called, pushed tracts, instead of drugs. They were high on Jesus - the 'Jesus Revolution' was growing by leaps and bounds. In 1968, a brand-new cult was born. David Berg, a former Christian and Missionary Alliance minister, was operating an independent Christian ministry. In Huntington Beach, he ran a coffee house where he preached to the hippies. His teenaged kids worked with him, 'winning the souls' of many who frequented the beach. Berg helped them turn off of drugs and onto Jesus. From this small beginning, the group spread throughout the U.S., Europe, and eventually grew into a worldwide movement, incorporating beliefs and practices that have deviated far from its original tenets.
Berg's End-time Army Berg's sect was called the Children of God. New converts were called 'disciples'. They were expected to submit to God's new elite 'end-time' Christian army, and to work full-time in preaching the gospel. Berg preached that 'disciples' should 'forsake all' to serve God. Converts were told to give up everything - to leave family, friends, loved ones and all worldly connections behind, to become full-time missionaries. Bible verses such as Luke 14:26, 33 were used to prove that this was not only scriptural, but in fact required of all true followers of Jesus. Such philosophies struck a responsive chord in the hearts of the already altruistic and rebellious youth - 'forsaking all' was radical and new. But it meant more than just leaving a former life behind. 'Forsaking all' also entailed surrendering all 'worldly' assets and possessions to the group, to 'share' them with their newfound community. Verses Acts 2:44, 45 from the bible were used to implement this. 'Disciples' were told they were going back to the true original Christianity practiced by the 'Early Church'. It is alleged that on a number of occasions, new converts were even asked to collect their inheritance before it was due, just like the prodigal son in the Bible. But it was not a shameful act since Berg had prophesied that the world would end in the 70s, and before then, God's work needed funding.
Selah Practices and PR facades Biblical names were promptly assigned to each new convert. They were not allowed to know each other's 'system name'. This was explained as a precautionary measure to protect themselves from anti-Christ forces which were persecuting the group. If members did not know each other's real names, they could honestly answer accusers in ignorance. This was particularly useful if someone was looking for a lost loved-one. The practice was called being 'Selah.' Later, when specific predictions of the return of Christ did not manifest, the selah practice was explained as a continued necessity, to help disciples get ready for the coming persecution by anti-Christ forces, a time when true Christians would have to live underground. On realizing that angry parents and detractors were looking for the group's controversial leader, Berg himself dropped out and went into hiding. He kept his own whereabouts a secret from his own followers, explaining it as a necessary move, to focus on writing the MO letters. Very early on, the group adopted a policy of not disclosing what their true beliefs were, deeming them too 'strong meat' for 'babes' and cause for attracting unnecessary attention and trouble. They did not appreciate any scrutiny from outsiders, nor believe in transparency. Thus, the practice of PR fronting was developed and members became adept at showing outsiders a facade, while leading very different lives and adhering to radically different beliefs on the inside.
An Internal Society The group defined its own social structure and created its own internal regulations. It put together couples, and held their own wedding ceremonies called 'betrothals'. Or, leaders could break up relationships at will after 'hearing from God' that it was His will. Members lived in 'colonies' run by 'shepherds' and 'provisioned' (begged) for food and needs. Later, literature was sold as a means of support. Medical care was replaced by prayer for healing, and bad health was attributed to lack of faith or a punishment of God. Children were told they were adults by the age of 12. Corporal punishment on children was not unusual. It was within such an isolated and controlled environment, devoid of critical thinking and scrutiny, with members having nothing to loose, having burned all their bridges to live such a secretive alternative lifestyle, that Berg was able to introduce yet stranger and even more radical doctrines.
Law of Love Berg further endorsed radical and naïve altruism, and taught that the only law was love, and that God looked only at the motivation behind our deeds - nothing was wrong or unlawful as long as it was 'done in love'. Polygamy and swinging was one welcome result of that doctrine. Adultery and fornication was practically abolished as a sin. Even cruelty and acts of domestic violence were sometimes commited in the name of love. Using that basic 'law of love' principal as a platform, he launched his flirty-fishing or 'FFing', campaign, where mostly female members were taught to be whores for Jesus in order to win converts and favors. Birth control was forbidden, and children born as a result of this 'ministry' were called 'Jesus Babies'.
Second Generation Children Thousands of children were born into the group, many of them 'Jesus Babies' with no links to their biological parental heritage. The latest demographic info indicates that children form at least more than two thirds of the Family. Children were as a rule brought up under strict conditions and were often herded around and used as child labor. Mo letters taught members to use children as PR fronts - to calm suspicions and open doors. They were drilled in what to say in public, in keeping with the 'selah' practice. Many recently departed 'SGAs (Second Generation Adults) have testified how they lived in fear, with the constant awareness that they had a public face to show, and that any wrong moves they made could endanger their own families. It is documented that some children were moved about and assigned foster parents within the group. Sources indicate that in many such cases, the children had no means of contacting their own parents. Explicit videos of dancing female members, including children, were made for Berg, and circulated throughout the group. In such a sexually charged environment, children were sometimes sexually abused. Detention centers called Victor Camps, some with armed guards, were used to house and re-educate wayward teens. Formal education (home-schooling) past the 6th grade was deemed unnecessary by Berg.
Non-Profit Organizations The group renamed itself The Family, to appear more fundamental and family-oriented in the eyes of the public. As a strategy for fending off bad publicity, the leadership decided the group had to have some 'good works' to show for all its claims, and proceeded to set up a network of front organizations. Most are registered as charity organizations and non-profit entities, and disavow any connections with the Family. Through its charity organizations The Family oversees a number of humanitarian aid projects around the world - some of which might indeed be genuine, and some which (recently departed members and primary sources allege) under closer scrutiny might reveal that they fall in the category of 'taking already donated blankets from the Red Cross and redistributing them while doing a photo-op', or 'absorbing homeless children with no options but survival into their own group'. Nevertheless it has won the support of some governments and local authorities, and continues to play the PR game of buffered statistics well. The FCF (Family Care Foundation) is a charitable foundation based in San Diego and started by top Family leadership. Family leadership Queen Maria (Zerby) and King Peter (Kelly) endorse and support the activities of FCF. Family members were instructed to tithe directly to the FCF. The current president of FCF Grant Montgomery served as prime minister, the number four officer in the Family, for several years. It is currently operated by Family members and non-members. The FCF currently supports the activities of many Family Homes which are registered as FCF projects. Two other major operations by the Family are Aurora Productions and Activated Ministries.
Slippery Escape Artists Disenchanted ex-members who try to claim compensation or pursue legal action against the group often find themselves with no recourse, having no legal names of specific offenders, and no knowledge of their whereabouts. Using these PR and 'selah' methods, the group has been able to evade authorities and avoid lawsuits. Until the well publicized court case of 1994 in the UK, members tended to uproot easily in the face of bad publicity, law suits or criminal investigations - Berg taught them to live out of 'fleebags' with a few basic belongings and emergency funds, and to be ready to follow pre-planned escape routes and become incognito at a moment's notice. Sources indicate that establishments such as 'homes' and 'ministries' are still known to disappear overnight. The whereabouts of its leaders are a secret even to high-ranking members. Doctrines are hard to pin down due to their inconsistency over the years. They can change at any time according to the whims and prophetic utterances of its leaders. In the face of bad publicity, diversionary announcements are made about their stance on critical issues. As their own writings will indicate, the group has made public statements from time to time which do not necessarily reflect their true beliefs. The group has gone through extensive revisionism over the years and attempted to destroy publications to cover its past. New sanitized versions of literature have appeared, and many new publications with written directives which may be incriminating are classified 'RAB' or read and burn.
Some Major Historical Facts
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