Chattanooga Times Bill Casteel January 12, 1980 Kirsten and Johanna Neilsen, twin sisters from the Vine Christian Community Church here – best known for several years as operator of the Yellow Deli restaurants, which have since been sold. After they were “deprogrammed,” they held a news conference at which they denounced the organization, charging that…
The Chattanooga Times/January 9, 1980 By Bill Castell Naomi Kelly spent several weeks as a member of the Vine Christian Community Church [now known as "Twelve Tribes], living in one of the church-owned houses in Dalton. Her sister, Sarah Mosley, visited her frequently in her repeated effort to persuade her to leave the church. What…
Chattanooga Times Bill Casteel January 9, 1980 Pastor W.C. Hunter, of the Words of Life Ministry and author of “How to Save Your Loved Ones from the Cults” said Tuesday that leaders of groups such as the Vine Christian Community Church “use the Scriptures to scare their followers to death.” “They twist the Scriptures, exalt…
Chattanooga Times Bill Casteel December 29, 1979 The Oakland, Calif., twins who spent four years in the Vine Christian Community here before being “rescued” and “deprogrammed” last week have a history of running away from home, Joyce Henrikson, a neighbor of the twins and the sister of church leader Gene Springs, told the Times Friday. Mrs….
April 1979 The organization’s name has changed, and so has the location, but the charges being leveled against former Chattanoogan Gene Spriggs and his following are no different than those 19 that were brought against the group a few years ago. Elbert Eugene Spriggs is the leader of the Chattanooga based Vine Community Church. Today,…
The Chattanooga Times/March 26, 1979 The Vine Christian Community Church [now known as the "Twelve Tribes], owner of the Yellow Deli restaurants and the subject of some controversy here over the past few years regarding its unorthodox style, is selling almost all of its businesses and properties here and plans to relocate the majority of…
Carolyn Mitchell January 21, 1979 Stories about the People’s Temple in Guyana have sparked interest in religious cults and have increased the invitations Melinda Horton receives to address church groups and civic clubs. A member of the Vine Community Christian Church for 15 months, Melinda refers to the group, which operates the Yellow Deli restaurants,…
The Chattanooga Times/January 19, 1978 By Alan Murray Eddie Wiseman, James Howell and David Jones said they were appointed elders of the Vine Christian Community Church [now known as the "Twelve Tribes"] by the Lord. They have all been members of the church since 1974. Wiseman, 30, is a native of Chattanooga who said he…
Chattanooga Times Alan Murray January 15, 1978 There are six Yellow Delis in the Chattanooga area, and patrons of each agree that the restaurants offer delicious sandwiches and friendly service. But the organization whose members operate those restaurants, a group known as the Vine Christian Community Church, has found itself the subject of increasing controversy…
Source: The Chattanooga Times/September 20, 1977 By Libby Wann The Yellow Deli took the six small children of Mrs.Wilma Castleberry, separated them among Yellow Deli in three states, made at least one wash dishes until “11 or 12 at night” and refused to return them to their family until the police ordered them to do…
Prev.
Next »