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ZIONSVILLE, Ind. (AP) There are over 500 witches in the Indianapolis area, a Californian who claims to have been a witch before finding Christianity charged here recently John Todd, a 28-year-old who reportedly lives in the Los Angeles area, made the charge while speaking to a church group that is apparently heeding his warning that witches are conspiring to con quer the world. Todd has told members of the fundamentalist First Baptist Church that witches, who call themselves the Illuminati, have in filtrated political, military and business concerns and are prepar ing to take over the world ‘John Todd has spurred folks to draw nearer the heart of God,” said the Rev. H. Eugene Riker, who is the church's pastor. ‘He's stirred people more than any speaker we've had. Todd, who claims that he was part of the Iluminati’s highest de cision-making councils until he converted to Christianity in 1972, has urged the fundamentalists to stockpile a year’s supply of food and purchase guns to defend them selves. He's made three visits here in recent months and the church is bringing him back again for three days in September. ‘You'll find out there are four conglomerates in the world, and everything's led by them (the Il luminati),’’ Todd said. ‘I'm trying to tell you the house is on fire. It's up to you whether you get out or not He said the impending crisis with the Illuminati could come as early as 1980 ‘We trust what he says as the truth,’ church member Beverly Ferguson said. “We must believe there are witches, since we believe the Bible. We as Christians identi fied with him as a Christian.” Todd's warnings have lead the church to buy five truckloads of storable food, Riker said. The pastor said the church also plans to buy dehydrated food in the fall Riker said that although no group purchase of guns will be made through the church, con gregation members have been arming themselves, he said. In tapes which Todd sells, he said, ‘‘Killing and defending are two different things’ and argued that it is a Christian's duty to defend his family ‘We rejoice that God has saved John Todd,”’ Riker said. “We re joice that he has sent him our way that we might hear his testimony and our hearts might be stirred. — Riker said Todd's predictions seem reasonable, adding, ‘‘] know wickedness will abound and no peace will come until the Prince of Peace comes.” However, not all members of the church agree with Todd. One man in his 20s, who asked to remain unidentifed, called the ideas his parents had picked up through Todd ‘absurd’. He said he was afraid his parents were being set up for some sort of con or “crazy scheme’ .Even if Todd isn't conning them, this guy is nuts, he said. When asked why he wouldn't challenge his parents, the man re plied, ‘Because if I told them what I believe, I think they would feel I was possessed by the devil.”
Newspaper Details
Anderson Daily Bulletin
Anderson, Indiana, US
Mon, Jun 05, 1978
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Ken M.
NA, 24 Jun 2026
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