Jimmie T. Roberts

For others with the same or similar names, see Jimmy Roberts (disambiguation).
Jim Roberts
Religion Christian sect known as the Brethren
Personal
Born June 5, 1939
Paris, Tennessee
Senior posting
Based in United States
Title Brother Evangelist
Period in office 1971–present

Jimmie T. "Jim" Roberts (born June 5, 1939) is the founder of a religious movement known as the Brethren (alternatively The Body of Christ, the Brothers and Sisters, or the garbage eaters).[1]

Roberts was born in the American South, the son of a part-time Pentecostal preacher. He later joined the United States Marine Corps. Around 1970, He became convinced that mainstream churches had become corrupt and that the last days were imminent. Roberts began recruiting followers to his apocalyptic views, advocating a lifestyle based upon an itinerant example he found in the New Testament accounts of Jesus sending forth disciples.[2] Within the movement, he is known as "Brother Evangelist".[3]

After several incidents during the late 1970s and early 1980s, both Roberts and the group became extremely secretive and disappeared from public view, except for occasional mentions in books and the media.[1]

Bibliography

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Melton (2003), pp. 1131–1132.
  2. ^ Melton (2003), p. 1131.
  3. ^ Walker (2007), p. 74.

References

  • Melton, J. Gordon (2003). Encyclopedia of American Religions (Seventh edition). Farmington Hills, Michigan: The Gale Group, Inc.. ISBN 0-7876-6384-0. 
  • Walker, James K. (2007). The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7369-2011-7.