The Concerned Christians was a religious organization founded in the early 1980s in Denver, Colorado, by Monte Kim Miller. The group was initially established as an anti-cult and anti–New Age activist organization. In its early phase, it worked with law enforcement agencies and established churches to raise awareness about mind control practices and what it described as anti-Christian bias in the media.
Miller, a former marketing executive for Procter & Gamble with no formal theological training, used his professional experience to organize public lectures and publish a bimonthly newsletter titled Report from Concerned Christians.
During the mid-1980s, the group’s focus began to change as Miller claimed to be receiving direct revelations from God. His teachings increasingly departed from mainstream evangelical Christianity and were marked by criticism of the Roman Catholic Church and the Word-Faith movement.
Miller asserted that he was the “Prophet of the Lord” and that his voice served as a direct channel for God’s messages. At the same time, the group emphasized a doctrine of complete “death to self” and the rejection of worldly systems, including American patriotism, which Miller described as an unacceptable compromise.
By the early 1990s, Miller took steps to further isolate the group from broader society. He launched a radio program titled Our Foundation, which became the primary platform for disseminating his teachings.
These doctrines focused heavily on the New Testament, particularly the Book of Matthew, and promoted extreme humility, non-resistance to evil, and disengagement from political activity. Miller taught that efforts to influence secular laws, including anti-abortion legislation, represented an unbiblical resistance to a “fallen world system” he believed was controlled by Satan.
As the end of the millennium approached, the organization encountered increasing financial and legal difficulties. In 1996, Miller’s radio program was taken off the air after he refused to pay for airtime, stating that he had been instructed by God not to do so.
The following year, Miller filed for bankruptcy after accumulating more than $600,000 in debt. During this period, he reportedly asked followers to contribute as much as $100,000 each to support the group, allegedly warning that those who declined faced eternal condemnation.
Meanwhile, Miller’s prophecies became overtly apocalyptic. He identified the collapse of the Soviet Union as a sign of the end times and described the office of the U.S. President as the seat of the Antichrist.
In 1998, the movement reached a critical juncture when Miller prophesied that a catastrophic earthquake would destroy the city of Denver on October 10. In connection with this prophecy, he declared himself to be one of the “two witnesses” described in the biblical Book of Revelation.
Miller claimed that he would be martyred in the streets of Jerusalem and resurrected three days later. Although the predicted earthquake did not occur, the prophecy prompted a large-scale departure of members from Colorado.
Between September and October 1998, approximately 78 members of the Concerned Christians disappeared abruptly, leaving behind their homes, employment, and families. Their sudden absence triggered a multi-state search by relatives and law enforcement authorities.
It was later determined that the group had relocated to Israel to await the millennium and the return of Jesus Christ. The group’s presence in Jerusalem attracted the attention of the FBI and Israeli internal security services.
Authorities expressed concern that extremist religious groups might attempt to accelerate apocalyptic events through violence at religious sites.
On January 3, 1999, Israeli authorities carried out a series of raids known as “Operation Walk on Water.” Fourteen members of the Concerned Christians were arrested in suburban areas of Jerusalem.
Officials alleged that the group intended to provoke a violent confrontation with police in the Old City in order to trigger the Second Coming. The detained members denied these accusations, stating that they were peaceful pilgrims.
Despite these denials, eight members were deported to the United States on January 8, 1999.
After the deportations, the group’s activities became increasingly secretive. Some members reportedly returned briefly to Denver and stayed in a local hotel before relocating again, this time to Greece.
In December 1999, Greek authorities deported 25 members of the group. Throughout these events, Miller’s location remained largely unknown.
He avoided public appearances and law enforcement scrutiny while continuing to communicate with followers through the group’s website and private correspondence.
In the years following the turn of the millennium, the Concerned Christians largely disappeared from public view. Researchers and law enforcement agencies have characterized the group as having evolved from an anti-cult advocacy organization into a high-control apocalyptic movement.
The group is frequently referenced in discussions of “Jerusalem Syndrome,” a condition in which visitors to the city experience intense religious delusions or psychotic episodes. Although the organization is generally regarded as inactive in terms of public recruitment, reports suggest that former members or small remnants of the group may still reside in Greece or in parts of the eastern United States.
Key Sources:
BBC News. (1999, January 9). Cult members deported from Israel.
Brovsky-Eaker, J. (2021, April 6). A brief history of a Colorado cult. Law Week Colorado.
KUSA-TV News. (2008, October 10). Christian cult still in hiding after 10 years.
Sharrock, D., & Borger, J. (1999, January 4). Case of cult-fighter who changed sides awakens Israelis to millennium danger. The Guardian.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 