Twelve Tribes is Rumored to be a Cult That Preys on Appalachian Trail Hikers

The Yellow Deli is a donation-based hostel run by Twelve Tribes, which many believe is a religious cult, and the hostel is a front. There are rumors amongst many Appalachian trail hikers that they prey on those who are hiking the AT.

The Twelve Tribes is a religious-based organization, or as per their website, they state:

¨Twelve Tribes is an emerging spiritual nation. We are a confederation of twelve self-governing tribes made up of self-governing communities. By community, we mean families and single people living together in homes and farms. We are disciples of the Son of God, whom we call by His Hebrew name Yahshua.¨

They say they are doing God's work to be the light of nations. It sounds like a cult, but maybe it is just a ¨community¨, as they call it, and they have everyone's best interest in hand. Possibly they are acting as many others do, such as ¨trail angels¨—those who offer food and water to AT or long trail hikers.

Twelve Tribes founder Gene Spriggs (aka Yoneq) opened the first Yellow Deli in 1972, in Chattanooga, TN, by it has grown worldwide and has over 3,000 members, as well as 15 delis just in the USA.

As well as they have expanded to Japan, Spain, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the UK. Gene wanted to create a space where people could enjoy good food and touch hearts with those passing through. As well as they not only work together, but those who work at the Yellow Deli also live together.

Some describe it as an apocalyptic Christian religious sect rooted in the Jesus Movement of the 60s, combined with the feeling of a ¨hippy commune¨, and yes, they have dress codes. The men have beards and hair tied back, and the women wear long, baggy dresses and cover their heads with a headscarf.

As well as, when you join, you will take on a new name. They have a bus they named the ¨peacemaker¨ bus as well as they run an organic garden. They also preach that Jesus will not return until the ¨true church ¨ is restored, as described in Acts 2:32-37, which states:

"no one claimed any of his possessions for himself, but everyone shared everything he had."

They are living the way they feel Jesus would want them to live when he returns, and they can be part of the chosen few. The two locations are on the Appalachian Trail, or at least close to the Yellow Deli hostel in Rutland, VT, an organic Farm in Hillsboro, WV, and a location in Lancaster, NH.

Twelve Tribes run all and close to the AT, where they feel people there need guidance. Other locations are near further long hikes, such as the Pacific Coast Trail and the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Coincidence, I think not. Some have described them as ¨ they're all about love¨.

Not only does the group have a specific dress code, but they have some controversial teachings, such as:

• Women are subservient to men, and a woman's primary purpose is to bear and raise children.
• People of different races should not marry.
• Slavery is not just acceptable but biblically sanctioned.
• Corporal punishment is essential to raising children.
• Lying is permissible for Twelve Tribe members.

The community has also been subject to alleged child abuse, violation of child labor laws, pedophilia, and child murder. The organization is supposedly worth half a billion dollars and has changed its name five times. As well as the group denies that they are a cult, even stating on their website when asked:

¨Are you a cult?¨

¨If you mean a weird, dangerous, or oppressive religious group, no.¨

¨So, who is to say what is false, unorthodox, or extremist? When a person uses the word cult, he usually means some group he fears or dislikes. While we are, from time to time, called a cult, we are not false, unorthodox, or extremist. We do nothing other than what the words of the Bible have always called for as a reasonable response to God's love in sending His Son¨

I guess that anyone accused of being a cult would probably deny it. I have never encountered the Twelve Tribes, but I would probably stay at the hostel to see what all the fuss is about, but definitely sounds a bit odd to me, even possibly cultish.