It is official, I am no longer the minister, nor am I part of the fellowship and community that we started here in Central Texas. The separation was mutual and involved theological and spiritual differences we have with the new eldership of the Church. While the differences were theological and spiritual and not personal, there are hardships that have been imposed upon us for the last twelve years which have multiplied of late, making us unable to even fulfill many of our obligations in a timely manner, including a surprise demand by the elders for thousands of dollars which I never owed (and which they now, belatedly, admit I didn’t owe,) and now with this separation, we have been denied even the donation payments for the past month when I did work and preach and counsel for dozens of hours on the Internet, which payments were already past due in order for me to make my land payment. In effect, after twelve years of being maintained at less than 1/2 of the poverty level – and after forgiving that debt owed to me for those twelve years by the Church – we have now been mostly denied even those payments due for the previous month so that we are now without the ability to even pay for August’s land payment. I should mention that at least one of the families have not altogether cut us off retroactively, thank God, though I expect we will have our internet cut off any day now and we do not have the ability to pay to keep it on right now. We are not dismayed or upset. God is good and in charge and he is no man’s debtor. He will provide. We still have the ability to feed ourselves from our land, which is God’s providence.
I will not, as has always been my policy, get into any public discussions or disputations about the errors or failings of others. I own up to my own shortcomings, I don’t defend myself, and I leave it up to God to make things right.
Our goal is still to build a pre-industrial farm here that you all can visit, to continue to provide materials for others to learn the gospel and to grow in Gods graces, and to provide these materials — as we always have — for free to those who want them. We would not like to ask for straight charity, but there are ways you can help and still get something out of it. I will be linking my Patreon from this page so that people who want to can still receive the Genesis commentary and other materials, will be able to donate monthly if they desire. If you go to the Patreon page, there are now two patron levels (1 for $5 to receive the weekly materials, 1 for $100 for overall ministry support) that will allow you to help us keep up our work. In addition, you can donate to our GoFundMe to help us build the infrastructure at the farm so we can not only provide for ourselves, by God’s grace, but we can provide a place for you and others to come and learn about Agrarianism and Off-Grid living.
Our love and prayers go out to everyone in the community here in Central Texas. Our love and care for you is not at all diminished, and we pray for you and hope the best for you and all your loved ones. May God richly bless you.
Do pray for us as God leads us into this new era of our lives.
Michael and Family
Go to Michael’s Patreon to SupportGo to the GoFundMe to Support the Farm Project
Sorry to hear about all of this disruption, Michael. I’m sure it’s not easy.
My thoughts and prayers are with you guys.
Thank you, Rob. You have been a great help and support for a long time. Thanks again.
It’s what friends are for.
I’m so sorry your going through that
I am sorry to hear of your parting with your community. I have learned very much from you through the years and hope to continue to do so. I will help when circumstances allow me to. My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours. And God willing I hope to come down there and meet you and see your place.
Hello Michael,
I am very sorry to hear that things have went bad with your fellowship. We have never met, but I have greatly enjoyed your books that I have and listening to past episodes of your old show on BTR. From your statement it appears that you are doctrinally unchanged in any significant areas; I am glad if this is so. You have been both a spiritual and an agrarian inspiration to me. If this makes you feel any better, just this Monday I put up a blog post on Christian Agrarianism, in which I give a shout out to you, your book SOOG, and the separation that you personally took.
I hope you own your land in an air-tight way, and can continue your life there. From your old BTR show, I know that David Sifford was your close friend, and I hope that their is no ill will between you and he as a result of whatever has happened. I will be praying for you and your family.
Joe
MIchael you did the right thing. As Christians we are not conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds. We work and live in this world but we have an eternal outlook, seeking for a city as Abraham did whose founder and maker is God. Christ was the most humble person that ever walked on this Earth. He gave and gave all the way to the cross so that we may have a hope of salvation.
Michael,
I am truly sorry to hear that the fellowship has been discontinued. We both realize that it is God’s pleasure to see his children walk in unit but sometimes that doesn’t happen exactly like that. I would repeat much of what Joe Putnam had to say but he summed it up so well. Continue to do what it is you do for the glory of God’s and the Kingdom of His dear Son, Jesus Christ all under the leadership f the Holy Spirit and leave the rest to Him as I know you will. Be strengthened and encouraged my Brother in Christ Jesus.
Michael, sorry to hear about problems you are having but the Lord will provide and you will overcome. I met you in the late 90s when you were a speaker with the Prophecy Club in Nashville, TN. You mentioned the name Osama Bin Laden as someone to be concerned about. That was years before 911 and I have always wondered how you knew he would be a person of interest years before that eventful tragedy. I also spoke with you at a y2k show in Smyrna, TN a short while later. You are a talented writer and visionary. Living off the grid and being an agrarian is something I very much envy and a road I wish I could of chosen. Unfortunately like many I’m plugged into the Matrix and have not been able to free myself from the system. I would love to visit your farm and get an opportunity to gain some wisdom of your lifestyle and ways. I encourage you to keep on serving the Lord as He has called you and know you are a positive influence on May people you do not even know. God Bless.
I’m sorry to hear of the discord in what has been your community. I have been a fan of your teachings and philosophy, and that which you are trying to accomplish, since way back when you first wrote SOOG and before you began writing fiction in earnest. Since, I have kept up with your activities and read most all of your novellas and short stories. I’m a huge fan of your lifestyle and what you are trying to accomplish. I only wish I had the courage, fortitude, and means to build a homestead/community as you have done. I desperately want to leave our modern techno-world behind, as much as is possible. In that quest, though my attempts have been mixed, you have always been an inspiration. I wish you the best and hope that the difficulties will pass; the absence of your knowledge, dedication, and inspiration in the future would be a great loss to all those who truly believe in and strive toward the lifestyle espoused in Surviving Off Off Grid. That book gives hope to those of us who feel our civilization has gone too far down the road of technology. God Bless.
Michael, I am so sorry to hear that your fellowship broke up. Just keep the faith knowing the LORD will provide.
So are you going to continue your homestead where it is and still provide a working homestead that we can learn from?
May the LORD bless you and your family. Please keep us notified as you continue your walk. Blessings William.
That is the plan, William. And thank you. Michael