Twelve Tribes communities
| Twelve Tribes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Classification |
Messianic Judaism Christian Fundamentalism New Religious Movement |
| Structure | Apostolic Council |
| Region | North America, South America, Western Europe, Australia |
| Founder | Elbert "Gene" Spriggs |
| Origin | 1972 Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States |
| Members | 2,500–3,000 |
| Hospitals | 0 |
| Aid organization | . $0 |
| Official website | http://www.twelvetribes.com |
The Twelve Tribes, formerly known as the Vine Christian Community Church,Northeast Kingdom Community Church, the Messianic Communities, and the Community Apostolic Order is an international confederation of religious communities founded by Gene Spriggs (now known as Yoneq) that sprang out of the Jesus Movement in 1972 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The group is an attempt to recreate the 1st-century church in the Book of Acts; the name "Twelve Tribes" is also derived from a quote of the Apostle Paul in Acts 26:7. The group has also been referred to as The Yellow Deli People and informally as The Community. A number of experts have stated the Twelve Tribes is a cult.
The origins of the Twelve Tribes movement can be traced to a ministry for teenagers called the "Light Brigade" in 1972. The ministry operated out of a small coffee shop called "The Lighthouse" within the home of Gene Spriggs and his wife Marsha. The Light Brigade began living communally and opened a restaurant called "The Yellow Deli" while attending several churches, before deciding on First Presbyterian Church. The Light Brigade, while at First Presbyterian, caused friction with the establishment by bringing in anyone who was willing to come with them, including members of different social classes and racial groups, a practice not normally experienced within the church. On January 12, 1975, the group arrived at First Presbyterian only to find out that the service had been cancelled for the Super Bowl; for the group, this was an intolerable act and it led them to form The Vine Christian Community Church. During this time, the church planted churches, each with their own Yellow Delis, in Dalton and Trenton, Georgia, Mentone, Alabama, and Dayton, Tennessee.
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