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ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (UPI) Members of a central Indiana congregation are making prepa rations to defend themselves against a group of witches with a “one world government belief’ and which is willing to do anything as a means to that end. The citizens, who are arming themselves and stockpiling food, are members of the fundamentalist First Baptist Church of Zionsville, a com munity near Indianapolis. They are taking advice from a self proclaimed former witch that they must prepare for a war against witches. Besides stockpiling canned and dehydrated food and buying weapons, the members also are even considering the purchase of property in Chris tian retreats, according to the Rev. H. Eugene Riker, the pastor. The moving force behind the actions is the preaching of John Todd, a 28-year-old Californian who claims to be a “born again” Christian who once participated in the high deci sion-making councils of a group of witches called the Mummati. “John todd has spurred folks to draw nearer the heart of God,” explained Riker. ‘“He’s stirred people more than any speaker we've had. Todd said he was born and raised in witchcraft, but six years ago was “saved” from the pagan religion. From the pulpit, he strikes an awesome figure — at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. Riker said Todd has preached at his church on several occasions — the last in late March — and will return in September. He added Todd also has engagements at several other Indiana communities this fall. Todd preaches that the Illuminati has plans for creat ing a major crisis as early as 1980 through disruptive strikes of the food and transportation systems and that everything in the world is owned by four conglomerates. The base for Illuminati in the United States is the Council on foreign Relations, according to Todd. He charged the financial backing is from David Rock efeller and the Standard Oil Co. The evangelist says the strategy to combat the witches is to stockpile food for three months to a year, have firearms to defend one’s self and, if possible, purchase land and move to ‘‘almost impregna ble Christian retreats.” He also has suggested so called “‘Jesus gardens” in the backyards and Riker explained that some members have tore up the yards to plant food stuffs. Most of those reacting to the talks appear to be middle-aged or older members of the congregation. Some younger persons reportedly are at odds with parents because of their actions in response to Todd. An man in his 20s, who didn’t want to be identified, said that he felt Todd was setting up the people for a con game. But he added he had not discussed that with his parents. “Because if I told them what I believe, I think they would feel I was possessed by the devil,” he concluded. Todd, in some of his talks, even suggested that people should be only certain types of weapons because they were safe. Others, he said, were made by companies controlled by witches and were sabotaged to blow up. Riker is the first fulltime pastor at the church and has posted a sign outside the building proclaiming, “‘The Old Fashioned Church Preaching the Old Fashion Gospel.” He told his congregation after one of Todd’s visits: “We rejoice that god has saved John Todd. We rejoice that he has sent him our way that we might hear his testimony and our hearts might be stirred.”
Newspaper Details
Greensburg Daily News
Greensburg, Indiana, US
Mon, Jun 05, 1978
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Ken M.
NA, 24 Jun 2026
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