Christ Family

Nomadic Christians who grew drugs and believed that their leader was the second coming of Jesus

1960s - 1985

Lightning Amen (right) playing pool with followers

In the 1960s, a man who called himself "Lightning Amen" traveled around the desert with a group of followers who believed he was Jesus. Although he gained a wide following, surprisingly little is written about this movement. His followers lived a nomadic and homeless lifestyle, sleeping in parks and sometimes eating out of dumpsters. However, they are probably most famous for their drug use, which has gotten them in trouble with the law on multiple occasions. While this group officially dissolved in 1985, it likely still exists in some form, although the members would be living a much more private lifestyle than in previous years.

Religion: Christianity

Denomination: Other

Founder: Charles Franklin Hughes ("Lightning Amen")

Founded: Early 1960s

Ended: 1985

Size: about 2,000 nationwide

Location: Around the United States, especially in California. Places included Sage, CA; Washington DC; Key West, FL; Blythe, CA; Yuma County, AZ

Doomsday

Lightning Amen, the leader, was believed to be the second coming of the messiah (source p. 164)

Drug Use

Alcohol was forbidden, but members used tobacco and marijuana were used since they are natural plants (source p. 164)
Lightning Amen was sentenced to five years in prison in 1987 for transportation and possession for sale of methamphetamines. He was also found with $30,000 and a gun (source)
In 1985, 10 members were sentenced to jail for growing $900,000 worth of marijuana (source)

Leader-Prophet

Believed that the leader Lightning Amen was the messiah returned to earth (source p. 164)
Many members believed Lightning Amen was Jesus (source)

Nomadic

Preached while roaming around the United States (source p. 164)
Roamed the California desert (source)
Rejected all work, believing they were working for God (source)
Slept in parks and went dumpster diving for food (source)
Opposed to giving money to a church (source)

Renunciation of Private Property

Members were expected to sell all their possessions and give all money to the common fund when they joined (source)

Separation from World

Members tended to cut contact with friends and family outside the group (source p. 164)

Unique Sexual Practices

Members were celibate (source p. 164)

Other info:

Aggressively preached, which often resulted in arguments that the police would have to interfere in (source)

Other tags:

Communal

Secretive

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