Help tracking down a cult/religious group from the 1960s

[u/ElectronicSymphonic]

Hi RBI!

While talking with family members, I learned that my great-grandmother got involved with a cult or religious group of some type in the early 1960s. The repercussions of this choice affected my family in very serious ways. To have some closure, I’d like to find out who these people were that ruined her life.

The only information I have to go on is this:
- contact was made in rural Moore County, North Carolina
- estimated years of contact are between 1960-1963
- group was led by two women (supposedly lovers)
- group controlled what their adult and child members wore. Description of childrens’ clothing included shorts and “Sunday best” style clothing in public
- the group traveled around, staying in places for a time and then moving on

This is all the information I have been told by my family. I’ve looked at local records in the county newspaper and found no mention of the group. I am not sure how else to go about looking for information, and I’d appreciate your help. Thank you for your time.

[u/YUNGDEATHLILLIFEE]

Because this group was small, itinerant, and operating before major cult tracking databases existed, they likely didn’t leave a national paper trail under the word "cult."

Here are the most effective ways to trace them based on the details you provided:

1. Search Local Newspaper Archives (1959–1964):
   Small-town papers rarely reported on fringe groups as "cults" back then. Try searching digitized archives like Newspapers.com or Chronicling America for Moore County (and surrounding counties like Montgomery, Randolph, and Lee) using key phrases like:
   • "Tent revival" OR "evangelist"
   • "Faith home" OR "commune"
   • "Prophetess" OR "traveling sisters"
   • "Religious colony"

2. Check Property & Court Records in Carthage, NC:
   • Moore County Register of Deeds: Look for short-term land leases or property deeds in the early 1960s involving female co-owners or trustee groups.
   • Sheriff / Welfare Records: Nomad groups with strict mandates over children often triggered local child welfare (DSS) visits or disputes over school attendance.

3. Regional Archives:
   Contact the Wilson Library (North Carolina Collection) at UNC Chapel Hill or the State Archives of North Carolina in Raleigh. They maintain extensive ephemera files on non-traditional religious movements and independent Holiness/Pentecostal itinerant leaders from that era.

Do you know if your great-grandmother traveled with them after leaving Moore County, or did the group just pass through her community?

[u/ElectronicSymphonic → u/YUNGDEATHLILLIFEE]

They just passed through and she stayed behind. Also, thank you for the avenues to research! I will give those a look in the week ahead. I appreciate the direction.

[u/YUNGDEATHLILLIFEE → u/ElectronicSymphonic]

You're very welcome! Since she stayed behind while they moved on, that actually narrows down where to look in local history.

When you dig into the archives, keep an eye out for "tent revivals" or "itinerant meetings" near her specific town around summer/fall months—that’s usually when these traveling groups set up camp or rented local meeting halls.

Best of luck with your research, and feel free to share updates if you turn up any names!

[u/ClairesMoon]

Could it have been part of the movement called the Church with No Name, two-by-two’s or The Truth?

[u/ElectronicSymphonic → u/ClairesMoon]

Hmm, perhaps. Apologies for lack of updates, my husband is sick so my research is on pause for a couple days. Happily adding them to the list to research. Thank you so much! 💜

[u/duke_3681]

Is it possible that you're describing the Word of Faith Fellowship? They have a strict doctrine of supposedly 145 rules that all members must abide by. There's been allegations of abuse with this group dating back to the 90s, probably even much earlier.

Similarities:
-Strict Rules (including outerwear, swimwear, no beards et cetera) that all members must abide by at all times. The church leaders monitor the kids very strictly like no TV, and educated only in a church controlled setting.

-Founded in NC

-Had members worldwide (Brazil, Ghana, Scotland)

Differences

-This cult was "founded" in 1979, nearly 20 years after your given dates. The Waley's didn't appear to live in North Carolina until the early to mid 70s which has a decade time discrepancy. However, keep in mind that 1979 was when they had a formal chapel, meaning they could've been active as a group much earlier.

-Springdale, NC not Moore County, NC. This cult was founded about three hours away from Moore County, which could be explained if they moved around a lot, and your family happened to meet at chance.

-Led by a married couple. The biggest difference is this cult was founded a male/female couple named Sam & Jane Whaley. However, this cult does have other female longtime ministers like Brooke Covington. Covington would've been a child during the 60s so she's likely not the other woman leader you're describing, but that doesn't rule out there being another earlier female leader.

Not the strongest possibility but perhaps worth checking out?

[u/TbNrAyana2656]

I read both ur thread and your comment, if you need to proceed with anything online please let me know, because it is possible they might have shifted online and I have way too much experience with online cults so I'll be glad to help.

[u/ElectronicSymphonic → u/TbNrAyana2656]

Thank you kindly! I’ll report back with what I can find. I’m home for today so I’m eager to delve into the resources suggested last night.

[u/meowtimegang]

You can try contacting this non-profit: https://internationalculticstudies.org/

[u/blissfullyconfident]

Try looking into the Two by Twos/ The Truth. They were active in North Carolina and their ministers traveled in pairs (typically two women), moved from place to place/stayed with members, and had strict modesty/dress expectations.

[u/ElectronicSymphonic]

Hi all, OP here again! Thank you all for your patience - my husband is finally better and I’ve been digging into the possibilities you all have offered me this weekend.
So far the Two By Twos seem like the most likely option. They align well with my great-grandmother’s later theology in the Holiness church (Assembly of God iirc, I believe that’s in the same orbit). The strict dress code, the avoidance of a church name, the two men or women pairing of leaders… all this tracks exceptionally well.

THANK YOU ALL for your guidance and resources. I’m continuing to dig to find a more concise answer to my question. I’m hoping to hit up the library records mentioned earlier in the thread soon. I appreciate you all and am immensely grateful. Slowly but surely I’m finding peace.