The Missionary Church of the Disciples of Jesus Christ is an evangelical non-profit religious organization based in West Covina, CA. The group consists of 2,000 to 3,000 members throughout North America and Latin America. Members, referred to as missionaries, who come from a variety of different socio-economic backgrounds, dedicate their time to spreading the word of God. Training before becoming missionaries include reading and studying the Bible daily, praying and communal events. Using the Bible as their source of doctrine, adepts carry out various activities such as spiritual counseling, disaster relief teams, seasonal programs that consist in the distribution of food and toys for the community, missionary training programs, and charity works through the collection of donations.
The group believes in the tenets of the New Testament and uses the Ten Commandments as their moral and spiritual guide. The missionaries are best known for their distinct uniforms which include white garments decorated with burgundy stripes. They also observe the Sabbath, the biblical Laws of Health, Divine Healing and adhere to the Discipleship as a way of life.
Beliefs and creed
Their creed in a nutshell may be found in the What We Believe section of their website. It is a Christian-Judeo denomination distinguished by the observance of the Sabbath and emphasis in the Second Coming of Christ. Its theology corresponds to the Christian teachings of biblical infallibility and the Trinity. Although similar in beliefs to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, it differs in the belief of a more rigid system of keeping the Sabbath and the keeping of the Commandment by avoiding images of all sorts in their homes and on themselves.
Baptism
The doctrine embraces Trinitarianism, immortality of the soul, and immersion baptism as the first step towards salvation as cited in Matthew 28:19 on their official website. According to the Bible those ages 12 and up may be baptized.
Keeping the Sabbath
Every Saturday, members gather to commemorate the commandment which declares that the seventh day be kept holy. Any daily activities are paused on this day and instead are replaced with worship from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
Practices
Discipleship
Those who wish to become full members of the organization, can become disciples. This position designates members to become learners of the Bible with combined worship.
Evangelism
This organization is also known for their door to door preaching approach. Members can be seen spreading their literature in the form of pamphlets and offering bible studies.
Faith healing
Through a strict prayer routine and a spiritual mindset, those who are granted the discipleship, carry out activities that involve praying for any one who is in need of being healed of a spiritual or physical illness. This activity may be carried out either in public or in private.
Dietary guidelines
Members ascribe to the dietary laws described in Leviticus and requires members to eat accordingly. Eating unclean animals such as pork is forbidden.
History
Background (1922–1929) Ernest William Sellers (better known as Daddy John) was born on August 30, 1869, in Portage County, Wisconsin. His family were members of the Methodist Church. In 1924, George Smith, a Christian missionary, was said to have revealed the doctrine of Christ to Ernest. In the years 1922 to 1924, Sellers started preaching in Cuba in his own place of business where he sold toys and sorts. Sellers would later turn this same business establishment into a worship center called "Misión Gedeon" (Gideons’s Mission). In 1928, Sellers was greeted at his place of living by two spiritual beings who revealed to him that images of all sorts could not be present in any form. After this meeting, Sellers declared September 30 to be the "Day of the Holocaust" in which all images of all types would be brought by the parishioners to burn at a bonfire in commemoration of the Second Commandment. Sellers started to preach the revealed doctrine, visiting eight countries in the Americas before returning to Cuba in 1930.