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| − | ==Children of God/The Family==
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| − | <div style="float:right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 22px">__TOC__</div>
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| − | '''The Children of God''' (COG), later known as '''The Family of Love''', '''The Family''' and now '''The Family International''', is a [[new religious movement]] that started in [[1968]] in [[Huntington Beach, California|Huntington Beach]], [[California]], [[United States|USA]]. It sprung from the [[Jesus Movement]] of the late [[1960s]] and early [[1970s]].
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| − | ===Criticism===
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| − | The group has been often and heavily criticized by the press, the [[anti-cult movement]], and the [[Christian countercult movement]]. In [[1972]], an organization called [[FREECOG]] was founded by concerned family members of followers to "free" them from their involvement in the group.
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| − |
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| − | ===[[Statistics]]===
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| − | According to the Children of God, there were 130 communes or "[[colony|colonies]]" in 15 countries in [[1972]]. In [[1993]], 7,000 of the 10,000 members were under 18 years of age. Recent statistics by The Family International put full-time and fellow members at just over 10,200 in over 100 countries (around 3,800 adult full-time members and 6,400 children under 18). Some estimates have placed the total number of people that have passed through the group at 35,000.
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| − | ===[[:Category:Fronts|Programs, projects, and productions]]===
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| − | The Family International (as the group calls itself today) has various programs through which it operates. The main ones include [[Family Care Foundation]] (FCF), [[Aurora Production AG]], and [[Activated Ministries]]. However, the group has many other local foundations and projects in various countries throughout the world. For more information, please see [[:Category:Fronts]].
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| − | ====[[Aurora Production AG]]====
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| − | Aurora Production AG, based in [[Zug]], [[Switzerland]], is the copyright holder and owner of all of The Family International's revenue-producing productions. These include publications, music, and videos (i.e. ''Countdown to Armageddon'' and ''Treasure Attic''). Although ultimate control over this company is in [[Steven Kelly]]'s hands, on paper the following people are listed as running this company [http://www.hrazg.ch/]:
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| − | * Claes Furusjö (Director; Johanneshov, Sweden; former [[World Services|WS]] finance manager)
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| − | * Richard Müller
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| − | * Barbara-Maria Buzzi
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| − | * [[Ernst Steiner]] (Hünibach, Switzerland) (Alias: Byron)
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| − | * [[Michael Andrew Darley]] ([[Houston, Texas]])
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| − | * Alconsa Finanz AG (Auditor)
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| − | ====[[Family Missions Foundation]]====
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| − | Family Missions Foundation, based in Zug, Switzerland [http://www.zug-branchenbuch.com/soc175499/sozialwesen-page1.htm], receives and processes the tithes of members. The board has many of the same names as for Aurora Production AG. The two key people are:
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| − | * Christopher Smith (aka [[Steven Kelly]]; registered in Luzern, Switzerland)
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| − | * [[Thomas Mestyanek]] (registered in Los Angeles, USA; also Finance Manager of The Family International)
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| − | ====[[Activated Ministries]]====
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| − | A Family International–operated charitable foundation in Escondido, California (EIN 33-0857142). All the Directors are Family International members. Thomas Hack, a high-ranking Family International officer and former director of FCF, is the President. Activated Ministries is a licensed distributor of Aurora products worldwide, including the magazines ''Activated'' and ''The Wine Press'', both of which promote Family International beliefs and practices. It is The Family International's largest outreach operation. Activated Ministries openly acknowledges its support of The Family International and links to The Family International website. Activated Ministries has also made at least one cash donation to FCF. [http://www.activated.org] [http://www.activatedministries.org]
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| − | ====[[:Category:Family Media|Productions]]====
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| − | Family productions include the following:
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| − | * ''[[Activated]]''
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| − | * ''[[The Wine Press]]''
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| − | * ''[[Treasure Attic]]''
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| − | * ''[[Kiddie Viddie]]''
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| − | * ''[[Cherub Wings]]''
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| − | * ''[[Countdown to Armageddon]]''
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| − |
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| − | ===[[:Category:Places|Active areas]]===
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| − | Areas where The Family International have remained active for many years and are generally active today include:
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| − | * [[Tateyama, Japan|Tateyama]], [[Japan]]
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| − | * [[Budapest, Hungary|Budapest]], [[Hungary]]
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| − | * [[Lima, Peru|Lima]], [[Peru]]
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| − | * [[Bangkok, Thailand|Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]
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| − | * [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States|USA]]
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| − |
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| − | ===[[:Category:Leaders|Leadership]]===
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| − | The leadership of The Family International is headed by the following individuals. Please see the links for additional information.
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| − | * [[Karen Elva Zerby]]
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| − | * [[Steven Douglas Kelly]]
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| − | * [[Samuel Charles Perfilio]]
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