Missionary Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ
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The Missionary Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ (Sp.: Iglesia Misionera los Disc?pulos de Jesucristo) is a mendicant evangelical sect based in California's Inland Empire. Having by some accounts a few thousand adherents and being loosely connected to the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement, the organization's most visible public activity is the solicitation of donations from the public by white-uniformed associates who are stationed outside the exits of various department stores and supermarkets, and other public places. This funding ostensibly supports ministries to the drug addicted and homeless, as well as general prosletysing and church-building activities. It is difficult to obtain an objective scope of its program activities, as the church does not on a consistent basis make the requisite filings with tax authorities and municipal licensing authorities.
The church has facilities in Covina and in Bell Gardens, as well as other locations.
[edit] Foundation
The movement traces its roots to pre-revolutionary Cuba, as a maverick Gideon-like ministry leaving Bibles in hotel rooms. The rise of Castro mandated that they conduct their activities elsewhere. Their nominal founder, Apostle Rolando Gonzalez Washington, came to the United States in 1970 and founded their West Covina center. A branch was founded in Mexico in 1981.
[edit] Opposition
The Disciples are frequently opposed by the businesses their donation solicitors stand outside of while conducting First Amendment activity; Wal*Mart alone has named the Disciples in at least ten civil actions. On a more fundamental level, many people feel that the year-round legal presence of donation solicitors interferes with freedom of movement and freedom of conscience. Also, compared to the Salvation Army which is longer established and more transparent about its activities, little information seems to be available about the Disciples' financials.
