The Endtimers
March 16, 2007 by cavman
The place is Lake City, FL. It is on I-75 between Gainesville and the Georgia border. One of my elders went their on business recently and saw some unusual folks. A few questions prompted him to learn more about the group people call The Endtimers.
In 1984 Charles Meade and his followers moved there. Things … well, changed. Ordinary citizens fear their town is being taken over, forcibly, by the Endtimers. One lady found members “claiming her business” in the name of Jesus, and has discovered uninvited real estate agents inspecting her property. After other acts of harassment, she bought a pistol, just in case.
Over 1,000 people follow the ex-Ball Manufacturing Co. employee in the early 90’s. He claims “he has visited the evening star, walked with God along the Milky Way, healed the sick, revived the dead and “in the name of Jesus” commanded would-be robbers to drop their weapons.”
The purpose of End Times Ministries, according to sermons gathered by Cult Help and Information is “”God’s going to have a mighty army in this end time. The army that he spoke about in Joel. And you’re some of the people. This generation here is the one that’s going to bring Jesus back.”
“He talks about establishing a Society of “the greatest people that ever walked the face of the Earth.” And he talks of himself, as someone doing something that has never been done.”
People’s problems are due to evil spirits, some of which produce odd signs. A man supposedly gained weight after having an overweight surgeon operate on him. During surgery, the “fat spirit” left the surgeon and entered the man. Mustaches are prohibited as a sign of the “spirit of homosexuality.” Women beware of the “lipstick spirit” so the don’t wear make-up. They dress in calf-length skirts with shoulder-length hair.
- Newspapers, radio and television are instruments of the devil.
- Animals—even images of animals —harbor demons, therefore End Timers don’t have pets. (A former member says that she placed masking tape over pictures of teddy bears painted on her child’s crib for fear that demons would leave the teddy bears and enter her child.)
- To say that you are tired is a sin, as God’s people are to be empowered with supernatural stamina.
- It is a sin to cry, for if you cry you have “lost your joy.” (from CH+I)
They don’t go to doctors, and have home births. Their incredible fear of demons places them under the careful watch of Meade and other leaders. Some say it goes beyond watch to control. They are all very private, and very suspicous of outsiders. In typical cult fashion, he tends to isolate followers from their families and outsiders. Their kids don’t play with non-End Timers, and are usually paired & married by Meade before they are 18. Also typically, he considers all other churches to be apostate. Surprisingly enough, many of them are well educated people- unlike Meade. But education is not the solution to hearts longing for someone to tell them what to do. And all people are looking for that- even anarchists. The heart not following Jesus, will settle for many a horrible substitute. Charles Meade is another one of those.
I’m starting to feel surrounded by cults here in central Florida. We seem to attract them like white on rice: Clearwater, Miami, Lake City at the least. Here’s hoping it doesn’t end like Jonestown, Waco or Heaven’s Gate.
Hi,
I have been trying to get information on this group for a few weeks now…. You wouldn’t happen to have any more info., would you?
Sorry, just the material in the links for now.
I live just north of Lake City. These people are a real mystery to most of us. They are a close nit group and they own most of Columbia county. They are major business owners. A friend of mine worked with a member once and said that Meade sends young, promising men in search of a job in (for example) a title search company and the object is to rise to the top as quickly as possible and take it over. I don’t know how much of that is true, but they are a strange group. They scare me and I know I’m not alone in that feeling. It’s like an epidemic….people needing to follow someone. I don’t understand it. They all live in their own subdivision, and there is a cadillac parked in every garage. No kidding. Their church is gaited and looks much like a palace. Scarey stuff, if you ask me.
I graduated from school about eleven years ago. My boyfriend at the time lived and his family still does live right next door to the so called church. We watched them build it and it is HUGE. You could fit several large jubo jets inside. It is also underground where weapons are stockpiled for the end of time. The phillpots (my boyfriends family) live out in the country a bit there is not alot out there. The church and there yard was only seperated at the time by a barb wire fence. The phillpots kept having dogs go missing and then turn up dead. They would ave ALOT of news and paper crews come to their house and ask to film the church from the yard. After awile and three dead dogs they went over to talk and they agreed on if the Phillpots would not allow any more media on their land to take pictures the endtimers would stop killing their dogs. (the endtimers believe animals are evil ) We were driving to their house one night and we passed the house and stopped in the driveway of the church that was still being built at the time. It was quite late several minutes later three headlights came on and trucks came after us, we didnt want to drive into his house for fear of repercussion on his animals so we continued down the road. I was very scared because I knew they are known to carry weapons. The trucks followed us several miles to the end of the road. We went to Mr Meads house once he is the leader. (it was a big deal at the time and talked about alot at school) Lake City was very much rural at the time and this weird religion moving in was big news. When you drive past his house it is surrounded by folage. You cannot see very much of the house. There are cameras all around and high up in the trees. The tiles for his roof were inported in. They are BIG on money and he spared none on hs house. Most membersdrive cadillacs or luxery cars. They all live relatively close to one another in large nice homes. I never understood how they could afford to do this because they are discouraged from formal education. They are often setup at the local walmart handing out pamplets. The women wear no makeup and wear church dresses always. You can tell them apart because they look as if they are always dressed in their sunday best. They own a ton of buss. in the area and continue to buy more. Just tought id share what info I know Rebecca
sorry for the misspelled words and letters missing from words. I typed the above with my one year old banging on the comp and my six day old in my arms feeding.
I personally baby sit for them and attended there church to see one of there children sing. They are very nice people but some aren’t as open. I live in Lake City and I never had a bad encounter with any of them. They believe that you can live life and have fun in a christian way. There are some things with meade I don’t agree with but alot of things that are said are rumors. They do believe in getting married at a young age but meade doesn’t pick the people. They do have money and they drive cadillacs as a representation of there group. They own half of our businesses and they handle a lot of realaste. Once they have met you and find out that your a good person there very kind to you. Sometimes they’ll give me a little bonus just cuz and always welcome me to feel free to make a snack for myself and etc. The woman do wear make up and the little girls have play make up. They wear skirts that are shorter than ankle length. They even wear skirts that are a little shorter than knee length. They do have pets but never cats and dogs. They don’t believe in having those. I don’t know what meade says about them. They have animals like rabbits, pony’s, and etc. The do have have babies at home, and don’t believe in going to the hospital unless its a serious emergency. To them it’s about faith. The church is absolutley stunning. There’s real gold inside. Theres a big projector in there. They believe in dressing up to go to stores and etc., but some where casual nice clothes. The teenagers tend to dress casual. There children are always dressed nicely. They where normal clothes at home. The endtimers are nice people. Some weren’t born into the religion and they convert. The ones that were born into are the ones that are usually very, very proper. It’s been a debate rather meade is really in to this with his heart or scaming. When I attended I found something’s to be weired (the control he had in the audience), but it seemed as if he was a really nice man. Him and his wife participated in he singing he seemed like he was a really great pastor. I guess we will know in the end.
Whoever is writing this crap about weapons under the church has no clue what they are talking about! There is no such a thing and that has got to be one of the dumbest (but also funny) things I have ever read. Get your facts straight people.
Oh and by the way I don’t know where the whole handing out fliers at wal-mart came from. Gosh this is amusing.
I have a friend who is in this group and just wondering if I could get any more information about this group. If anyone knows anything please post.
Thanks
I am a journalism student with the University of Florida and I am developing a story on the Endtimers. I would like to get in touch with anyone who knows anything about these people and has come into contact with them. I need someone willing to go on the record and talk about their experiences with them. Please e-mail me at chasmarj@ul.edu at your earliest convenience. Any information will be a great help. Thank you.
Coral is as close as your going to get on a true description of the End Timers. They are harmless, hard working, well dressed, but just a little different. I doubt any of them own a gun unless it’s for their own protection. I come in contact with them all the time, and they have chhilled out alot throughout the years. I see the women wearing make up, saw one in a bikini cleaning her pool, men it t-shirts working around the house, etc… I don’t think Meade is as strict as he used to be.