Time to Read
Cults are classified as small religious organisations which usually operate under a singular leader.
The numerous cults present in our society often target young, vulnerable, and trusting individuals. They specifically look for people who are lonely or wish to be accepted. These individuals desire to have a community behind them.
Melbourne founded, Jesus Christians (J.C.) is an organisation that is no stranger to public and media attention.
The Jesus Christians were founded in Melbourne in the 1980s. Their philosophy lies in the belief that true followers [of God] “cannot serve both God and money” – Matthew 6:24.
The Founders, Dave and Cherry McKay used their children to recruit young adults, students and backpackers.
This begs the question; how do the members survive?
A YouTube comment presumably written by Dave himself said all members survive off $50 per person, per week.
All divisions of J.C. currently operate and produce videos on YouTube. The Australian branch almost exclusively does the voiceovers for the channel.
Their channel, A Voice in the Desert (A.V.I.D.) has amassed over 140k followers and produces content which can globally recruit and maintain followers.
After asking “Voice” (Dave) about how backpackers and foreign members survive with no job, I was promptly ghosted.
I did however interview Morgan*, an independent photographer. They spent a few hours in the home of many members. These members had converted a long-haul trucker’s garage into a living space. It was made up of tents and housed about 10 members. When they entered the house, the residence was occupied by many more people than anticipated. Members also slept in a caravan stationed in the backyard.
“They have a big van, and they just go dumpster diving, and they just fill it up.”
Morgan said they had been offered beers and hot cross-buns. During their stay, they also had the chance to talk to members of the cult.
“They, [cult members] had the police called on them a few times because their [family] thought they had just gone missing, because their child had decided to join this mysterious group of people.”
While Morgan was there, they didn’t feel as though they were being coerced into joining J.C.
“I found it [the beliefs] interesting, specifically the one they centre their whole religion about, which is the Mark of the Beast, it is taken from a single bible verse and essentially states that a giant dragon takes over the world,” Morgan said.
*Name changed for privacy.
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