The Brethren is the most commonly used name for a religious movement founded by Jimmie T. “Jim” Roberts in the early 1970s. The group has never adopted an official name but has been referred to variously as The Travellers, The Road Ministry, Body of Christ, The Brothers and Sisters, The Assembly, and The Church. Members often simply call it The Brothers.
Roberts was born on June 5, 1939, in Paducah, Kentucky, the son of a part-time Pentecostal preacher. His mother attended a nontrinitarian church, a belief that would later shape the group’s theology. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Roberts worked as a hairdresser. Around 1970, he became disillusioned with what he saw as the secularization of mainstream Christianity. He concluded that the end of the world was imminent and that spiritual purity was the only path to salvation.
Determined to live out the teachings of the New Testament apostles, Roberts began forming an itinerant ministry. By 1971, he was actively recruiting from the Jesus Movement, particularly in Colorado and California, calling followers to abandon their possessions, families, and former lives.
The early group adopted a communal lifestyle, preaching in public areas, including college campuses. Followers were encouraged to give up all belongings and live simply. All resources were pooled and redistributed based on need — used for travel, food, or materials to sew clothing. In some cases, new members gave their money to older ones; in others, they were allowed to manage it themselves.
The Brethren quickly developed a distinct appearance and structure. Men wore tunics and long beards; women wore handmade, modest dresses and kept their hair uncut. Both genders lived strictly separate lives. Women began sewing their own clothing upon joining, were discouraged from speaking too much, and could be rebuked for doing so.
From the start, the group maintained strict celibacy. Sexual or romantic contact between members was forbidden, and even casual interaction between men and women was minimized. Laughter, dancing, and even children’s play were prohibited. New recruits were warned that leaving the group would result in eternal damnation.
Roberts was known to his followers as “Brother Evangelist” and “The Elder.” He exercised significant control over the group, assigning travel routes, pairings, and discipline. Punishment could be severe — some members were told to isolate themselves in remote areas for months or even a year before being picked up again.
The group’s theology is millenarian and apocalyptic. They believe the end times are near and that only complete separation from worldly society can lead to salvation. They reject modern medicine, often refusing treatment even in serious cases. Several members have died from curable diseases. Eyeglasses, deodorant, and most hygiene products are discouraged, though not banned.
The group avoids graven images, covering logos and designs on all products. Books are seen as dangerous and spiritually misleading. Although coloring is permitted, creating new images is discouraged. Members are forbidden from discussing sermons, fearing that interpretations might lead others astray.
The Brethren became known in the media as the “Garbage Eaters” after they were observed salvaging discarded food from dumpsters. While the name stuck, the group rejects it. They prefer to describe their food practices as a spiritual discipline of simplicity and humility.
Members live nomadically, typically traveling by hitchhiking or walking in pairs or small groups. They often sleep outdoors and camp wherever they find shelter. Each team is periodically reassigned at private gatherings, where they receive new instructions and companions. The group has no central headquarters and avoids staying in one place too long, especially if they suspect they’re being followed.
A minimal hierarchy exists, with members designated as “Older Brothers” or “Middle Brothers” based on time in the group. After Roberts’s death, leadership was passed to Jerry Williams, known as “Brother Hatsair,” and three other elders.
In 1975, the group attracted national attention following a deprogramming case in Arkansas. Throughout the late 1970s, members such as Rachel Martin began publishing personal accounts, and media coverage increased. The press was often negative, portraying the Brethren as manipulative or extreme.
After several police raids and arrests in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Roberts instructed members to cut ties with their families, avoid legal systems, and maintain secrecy. Members now refuse to work with lawyers, calling them “the arm of flesh.” The group dropped largely out of public view around 1980, though recruitment and travel continued.
Concerned families organized the Roberts Group Parents Network, a support group for those whose loved ones had disappeared into the movement. These parents claimed that members were deliberately moved to prevent reestablishing contact. Some reports of kidnapping fears and avoidance tactics continued as late as 1998.
Roberts died on December 6, 2015, in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 76. His official cause of death was listed as metastatic adenocarcinoma of unclear primary origin. After his death, leadership transitioned smoothly to the elder council.
The Brethren continues to operate under the same reclusive, nomadic conditions as it did during Roberts’s lifetime. Members still travel without permanent homes, live in isolated pairs, and reject all aspects of mainstream society.
Key Sources:
Guerra, J. (2000). From Dean’s list to dumpsters: Why I Left Harvard to Join a Cult.
Lopez, R. (2000, November 28). Cult Targets College Students. WFAA.com.
Ranney, D. (2006, February 8). Family believes cult lured daughter. The Lawrence Journal-World.
Smailes, L. (2017). Cult Sister: My decade in one of the world’s most secretive sects. Tafelberg.
Sunday Times (2017, March 7). I joined a secretive American cult: SA woman’s gripping memoir.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 