The Buffalo News Janet Gramza April 27, 1997 When the phone call finally came, Laurie Johnson’s heart soared. After an eight year search for her two sons, authorities had found them in a small town in Florida. But the moment she had prayed for held little joy. When she finally met them, her sons refused…
Teen Magazine 4/97 It’s weird how we found out about the New Kingdom Church. When I was 4, my Mom had some film developed- but it was accidentally sent back to the New Kingdom Church instead. They returned it with some papers about what they said was the “best community in the U.S.” My Mom…
Source: Buffalo Evening News Gene Warner 1996 The South Towns woman summed up her frustration in one short sentence: “Ive already lost my daughter.” The woman’s daughter, who is in her 30’s, is a member of the Community, a town of Hamburg group of about 40 people who live together, dress in modest clothes, shun…
Twelve Tribes in the news on US TV, mid 90′s 12 Tribes US TV News 1/3 by exttmetoo Twelve Tribes on CBC Canada 12 Tribes US TV News 2/3 by exttmetoo 12 Tribes US TV News 3/3 by exttmetoo
Letter to Community Member, After reading the letters of Obadiah to Roger and Joellen Griffin, I can’t help but express my disappointment with the narrow minded judgments based on flawed (at best) teachings of Yoneq concerning those who leave the Community. Why didn’t you also publish the letters that Roger and Joellen wrote to you? …
The Twelve Tribes appear on the Jerry Springer Show. People looking to reunite with their loved ones members of this cult are on the show asking for help. Members defend their position. Show aired in March 1994. Video graciously provided by Brian Birmingham
The Chronicle March 23, 1983 Juan Mattatall, a defector from the Northeast Kingdom Community Church of Island Pond [now known as “Twelve Tribes] who is trying to get his own three year old daughter back from Europe in the custody of cult leader Eugene Spriggs, has reportedly helped bring another defector’s child home from Spain….
The Palladium Times Andrea Schrader December 16, 1991 Scriba – A pained expression came over her face and her eyes widened and welled with tears. “I’m afraid of repercussions the church might take against my children because of what I’m doing,” she said. Laurie Marrano Jonson’s children have been missing for two years. The Northeast…
Chattanooga Times January 10, 1980 Bill Casteel Steve and Elizabeth Petty spent approximately one year as members of the Vine Christian Community Church. Disappointed and disillusioned, they finally walked away from the group. It took them a year to put their lives and their marriage back together. “It took us a year to repair the…
The Associated Press John Donnelly June 25, 1985 Montpelier, Vt – The FBI has turned over to federal prosecutors a case involving allegations that the founder of a religious sect in Island Pond sexually abused a young girl in 1982 or 1983, FBI officials have confirmed. FBI Special Agent Joseph Skrzat of the Albany, N.Y….