The search to uncover the meaning behind the Jesus Christians movement
Time to Read
Cults are classified as small religious organisations which usually operate under a singular leader.
Numerous cults present in society often target young, vulnerable, and trusting people. With a specific target on for people who are lonely or wish to be accepted. These individuals desire to have a community behind them.
The Melbourne founded Jesus Christians (JC) was established in the ’80s. Its philosophy lies in the belief that truefollowers “cannot serve both God and money.”
Founded by Dave and Cherry McKay, the pair used their children as tools to recruit young adults, students and backpackers.
In a YouTube comment presumably written by Dave McKay himself, he is quoted saying that all individual members survive off of AU$50 per week.
All divisions of the expansive organisation currently operate, edit and produce videos on YouTube, with the Australian branch almost exclusively recording the voiceovers for the channel.
The channel, A Voice in the Desert (AVID) has amassed more than 140,000 followers and has a steady content production schedule. Such videos are seen across the world, and are able to globally recruit and maintain followers.
After asking “Voice” (Dave) about how backpackers and foreign members survive with no job, I was promptly ghosted.
I didn’t want to share my lecturers information and offered some of my own… but I was believed to be a fraud by Dave McKay, JC founder.
I did however interview Morgan Jones*, an independent photographer, who spent a few hours in the shared home of many JC members. The home was unused, as it was originally the garage of a long-haul trucker’s but now acted as the living space of many of the organisations members. The converted space was made from of tents, housing 10 members.
Upon entering the house, Jones was surprised to find that the residence filled with individuals of all ages, as the space was occupied by many, some members even slept in the caravan that was stationed in the backyard.
With so many mouths to feed, a Jones recalls a “big van” is used, while “members go dumpster diving … they just fill it [the van] up.”
Jones was offered beers and hot cross-buns, during the visit. Jones also had a the chance to chat to members of the cult.
“They [JC 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.”
Even though the day was spent surrounded by the organised religion, Jones didn’t feel as if there was anything ill-intended going on. Jones did not feel as though they were being coerced, pressured or talked into joining Jesus Christians.
“I found it [the beliefs] interesting, specifically the one they centre their whole religion about, which is the Mark of the Beast … taken from a single bible verse essentially stat[ing] that a giant dragon takes over the world,” Jones explained.
*Name changed for privacy.
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