The Aggressive Christianity Mission Training Corps (ACMTC) , also known by aliases such as the Holy Tribal Nation, Free Love Ministries, and the Life Force Team, is a militant Christian fundamentalist group. Sociologically, it is classified as a high-control new religious movement (or "cult") characterized by extreme isolation, paramilitary structure, and authoritarian leadership. While once active in California, Oregon, Texas, and New Mexico, the group’s operations faced significant disruption following federal and state interventions in 2017.
Historical Context
• Founders: The group was founded by James Green and his wife, Deborah Green (who also used the name Lila). The couple adopted the rank of "General" to command their followers.
• Origin Story: In the early 1980s, the Greens established "Free Love Ministries" in Sacramento, California. Their background included stints in counterculture movements and later affiliation with the Salvation Army, from which they purportedly drew the inspiration for their "aggressive" evangelical style. Following a 1988 lawsuit in California, the group fled and eventually established a secluded, militaristic compound in Fence Lake, New Mexico.
Core Beliefs and Practices
• Worldview: Members viewed themselves as soldiers in “God’s Army” engaged in spiritual warfare. They embraced an apocalyptic, "black-and-white" view of the world, categorizing society as inherently evil.
• Rituals: Practices included speaking in tongues, exorcisms, and prophecy—with Deborah Green often positioned as an "oracle" with direct communication with God.
• Lifestyle: Members were subject to strict prohibitions, including bans on modern technology (television) and outside entertainment. Adherence to a rigid hierarchy was mandatory, and members were often isolated from family and the broader society.
Organizational Structure
The ACMTC functioned as a rigid, hierarchical, paramilitary organization. The Greens maintained absolute authority as "Generals," demanding total obedience from their followers. The group utilized a rank-based system, often requiring members to wear military-style clothing and participate in "missions."
Key Data Points
• Membership: The group was always relatively small, generally estimated at fewer than 100 members.
• Locations: Operated historically in Sacramento (California), Klamath Falls (Oregon), and near El Paso (Texas), before establishing their primary base in Fence Lake, New Mexico.
• Finances/Assets: The group historically raised funds through communal enterprises, such as custom framing shops. Following legal actions in the late 1980s, significant assets were seized by courts.
• Legal Standing: The group is frequently the subject of law enforcement investigations regarding human rights abuses and child welfare.
Controversies, Criticism, and Lawsuits
• Legal Challenges: In 1989, the group was ordered to pay over $1 million to a former member, Maura Schmierer, who cited abusive treatment and forced separation from her children.
• 2017 Raid: Following a two-year investigation, authorities in New Mexico raided the Fence Lake compound. Members—including the leadership—faced charges ranging from child sexual abuse and child abuse resulting in death (specifically the case of a 12-year-old who died of the flu without medical care) to bribery and failure to report births.
• External Criticism: The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has designated the group as a hate group, citing their literature, which contains anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.
Sociological Impact
The ACMTC represents a classic example of a "closed" religious system. By forbidding medical treatment and external communication, the leadership exerted total control over members' bodies and minds. For many survivors, the experience resulted in profound trauma, requiring significant intervention from specialized support organizations.
Self-Description vs. External Perspective
• Self-Description: The group characterizes itself as "aggressive and revolutionary for Jesus," claiming to be a legitimate, dedicated Christian ministry. They often framed outside criticism as "malicious attacks" or religious persecution.
• External Perspective: Media, government agencies, and cult-watch organizations describe the group as an abusive, paramilitary cult that exploited vulnerable individuals, ignored health and safety laws, and radicalized its members through isolation and dangerous doctrine.
Current Status
Following the 2017 arrests and the subsequent collapse of their primary compound, the group's current status is fragmented. It is no longer considered a functional, singular entity of the size or influence it once held during its peak in the 1990s and early 2000s.
References & Suggested Reading
• Sources:Columbia Magazine, The Associated Press (AP), The Times (UK), and reports from the Southern Poverty Law Center.
• Suggested Reading:
◦ The Oracle’s Daughter by Harrison Hill (2019/2020s coverage).
◦ Archival records from the James T. Richardson New Religious Movements Collection at San Diego State University.
◦ Documentaries/Media: Escaped a Cult (National Geographic, 2012).
Inside The Rise And Fall Of America's Paramilitary Religious Cult
This video features an interview with author Harrison Hill, who provides a detailed, firsthand account of the group's internal life, the escape of Sarah Green, and the eventual legal downfall of the organization.
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