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Jesus Freaks?
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. — Mark 16:15
The Ottawa Citizen
March 11, 1972, North America
So they do, on a cold, sunny late winter afternoon on the Mall.
They skip and walk, singing updated hymns. A youth who passes them comments: “See what Jesus freaks are turning into nowadays.”
At the corner of O’Connor and Sparks, they stop and pause. In groups of two and three, they clasp arms and pray. A woman who notices remarks to her companion, “They’re putting on a play or something.”
With shouts of “Praise God”, “Revolution! For Jesus! Ottawa! For God!” the nondescript band of nine breaks up to go witnessing.
They walk up and down, talking to people who’ll listen and the gist of every message is Jesus is good for whatever ails you.
The Children of God are in Ottawa.
Jesus Revolution
The six-member group is but one colony of the most publicized out-growth of the Jesus revolution. The children number only 2,000 in all but they’ve …
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Jerusalem Quits Errant Ways to Join ‘Children’
Tucson Daily Citizen
December 24, 1971, North America
Instead, just three weeks ago she joined the new Tucson colony of the Children of God, a four-year-old fundamentalist sect that has been linked with bitter controversies throughout the country.
As “Jesus revolutionaries” Jerusalem and her dozen or so fellow disciples at 1609 E. Silver Lake Road scorn drugs, premarital sex and material goods and goals. They hold to a literal reading of the Bible and believe the world will soon end.
Like more than 1,500 other Children living in nearly 50 US colonies, most of them in Texas and southern California, the fervent youths now living here subject themselves to a rigid lifestyle.
Their authoritarian ways are in stark contrast to the formerly permissive habits of typical converts such as Jerusalem, but somehow seem to attract the lost, lonely and depressed.
Before this month, Jerusalem was a University of Arizona art student – a senior set to graduate this …
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Soul-Saving Mission of Commune
Ellenville’s Children of God
By Wade Burkhart, The Sunday Freeman, Kingston, N.Y.
December 19, 1971, North America
Every day is like Christmas, a day of thanksgiving, joy, praise and dedication to Christ, say the Children of God. When Christmas comes, it is more a holiday party than the holiday of holidays.
The Children of God are an evangelical, fundamentalist sect of young people, dedicated to preaching the Gospel and saving souls. According to Mike Ainis, and group Spokesman, the commune in Ellenville is one of about 30 or 35 in the United States. There are four other settlements in Canada, and four more in Europe.
From 60 to 70 people reside in the Ellenville commune. It is a family-type atmosphere with everything held in concert. Their moral code is strict (no drugs, intoxicants, premarital sex) marriage is sacred and revered, and the saving of souls is everyone’s mission.
There will be some special activates for Christ’s birthday. They intend to have a tree and decorations, and perhaps …
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