The Brethren

The Brethren is one of several informal names for a nameless religious movement created by Jimmie T. "Jim" Roberts. Other names include The Travellers, The Road Ministry, Body of Christ, and the Brothers and Sisters. The movement's members shun material things and family, living essentially as vagrants and doing odd jobs to pay their expenses. The movement's way of life has led to accusations by detractors that it is a cult, while supporters would say that the inclusion of the group in "cult" lists is part of the anti-cult movement or Christian countercult movement, which denominates any group a "cult" that does not fit the anti-cult group's doctrine or practice. Origins Jimmie T. Roberts (also known as Brother Evangelist Roberts), son of a former Pentecostal minister, created the movement around 1971, drawing together followers of the Jesus Movement across the United States. Roberts had become convinced that mainstream churches were too worldly and wished to create a wandering discipleship patterned on the New Testament apostles. He began recruiting a core of followers in Colorado and California. At first they adopted a communal lifestyle. Jim Roberts died on December 6, 2015, in Denver, Colorado at the age of 76. His cause of death is listed as "metastatic adenocarcinoma of unclear primary." Upon Jim Roberts’ death, the leadership role of the organization was passed to Jerry Williams; A.K.A. "Brother Hatsair" and three other elders. Beliefs Beliefs are prominently millenarian and apocalyptic, centered on the teaching that humanity is in the end times and that members must purify themselves in preparation for the end of the world. The movement directs new members to sell their possessions and break ties with their families as a necessary part of discipleship. Any finances generated are distributed according to need. For instance, money might be used for material to sew clothing, traveling expenses, or cooking spices. In some cases new members' money was given to older members, but in other cases it was kept by the individual to do what they would with it.