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The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism of American Power (Jeff Sharlet) ​

Overview ​

Jeff Sharlet’s book, The Family, investigates a secretive, elite network of American fundamentalists that exerts significant influence within the highest levels of government, business, and the military. The author provides an eyewitness account of his time living at Ivanwald, a residential community in Virginia designed to train young men for "spiritual war" through absolute obedience to a militant, authoritarian vision of Jesus. This movement, often called The Fellowship, operates behind the scenes to cultivate "key men" of power rather than seeking traditional converts. Sharlet traces the group’s lineage from early American revivalists to modern political figures, arguing that their theology of empire seeks to transform the world into a theocratic kingdom. By merging populist religious fervor with elite political manipulation, the organization quietly shapes global policy under a veil of intentional invisibility. Through archival research and personal experience, the text reveals how this avant-garde movement uses the language of Christian civilization to justify a global projection of power.

Jeff Sharlet’s work explores the clandestine influence of a powerful religious organization known as The Family, which operates as an invisible network connecting global leaders in government, business, and the military. By blending personal memoir from his time living at the Ivanwald residence with historical research, the author illustrates how this elite fundamentalism seeks to bypass traditional democratic processes to build a world-encompassing "kingdom" for Christ. The text distinguishes this movement from populist evangelicalism, arguing that it functions as a theocratic avant-garde that prioritizes obedience and power over faith or kindness. Ultimately, the narrative reveals a hidden hierarchy at the heart of American politics where the concept of "Christian civilization" justifies an expansionist ideology of control.

The Secret Right Vols I & II by Josh Reeves ​

Support the work of filmmaker Josh Reeves: https://patreon.com/reevesmafia Purchase Josh Reeves films, he's made over 90 documentaries: https://store.payloadz.com/results/242828-josh-reeves-download-store

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Shadow Network (Anne Nelson) ​

This source is an excerpt from Anne Nelson’s 2019 book, which investigates the Council for National Policy (CNP), a powerful and secretive organization that bridges the gap between radical right-wing politics and religious fundamentalism. Nelson traces the group's origins back to the "Conservative Resurgence" of the Southern Baptist Convention in Texas, illustrating how tactical shifts within church leadership provided a blueprint for seizing national political power. The text details how the CNP systematically integrated wealthy donors, media moguls, and political operatives to construct a "parallel universe" of information that operates largely outside the view of mainstream society.

A central theme of the work is the strategic exploitation of disrupted media landscapes and the erosion of local journalism in middle America. As traditional news outlets collapsed, the CNP filled the void with a vast media empire—including radio networks and digital platforms—to bypass traditional gatekeepers and indoctrinate specific voting blocs. By mastering voter data and digital technology, the network has successfully manipulated the Electoral College and statehouses to advance an agenda of plutocracy and theocracy. Ultimately, Nelson presents the CNP as a sophisticated machinery designed to bypass the popular will and dismantle modern democratic norms in favor of a nineteenth-century patriarchal social order.

Behind the Curtain: A Primer on "Submerged" Organizations and Elite Fundamentalism ​

1. Introduction: Defining the "Submerged" Organization ​

In the study of power dynamics, we often focus on what is visible: the lobbyist in a Brioni suit, the televised megachurch, or the ballot box. However, the most potent structures of influence operate like a Möbius strip, a visual paradox where the path from liberation and "spiritual awakening" twists seamlessly into authoritarian control. This is the domain of the "submerged" organization, a tactical state perfected by The Family (also known as The Fellowship).

Founded by Norwegian immigrant Abraham Vereide in 1935, the movement initially operated under a "formal front" called International Christian Leadership. However, following Vereide’s death, his successor Doug Coe moved the organization into a "submerged" state in 1966. This transition was a deliberate response to the decade's challenges to establishment power. By scrubbing its public branding, The Family sought a permanence that "visible" groups—subject to the whims of transparency and public accountability—could never attain.

Quick Reference: Key Terminology ​

TermDefinition from SourcePrimary Objective
The FamilyA 70-year-old "invisible" network of elites in government, business, and the military.To build a "core" of leaders to direct global affairs.
SubmergedThe tactical invisibility of an organization that operates without public branding or formal membership.To maintain influence that is permanent because it is "unseen" by the public.
MaximalismThe ambition to conform every aspect of society (and the world) to God’s will.To replace democratic institutions with a "God-led" elite hierarchy.
The Avant-GardeA small, dedicated "core" of elite cadres (modeled after Lenin's theories).To spark a revolution of power from the top down, rather than the bottom up.

The "Avant-Garde" Concept The Family derides populist religion as a "mass meeting approach" for the immature. They view themselves as an avant-garde—a term they share with both modernist innovators and Bolshevik revolutionaries. By recruiting "Key Men" who already hold the levers of power, they focus on the "sticks in a bundle" theory: separate, they are easily extinguished; together, they are ready to burn the world down and rebuild it.

This invisible influence is not generated at mass rallies, but within the fundamental organizational unit of the movement: the "Cell."

2. The Anatomy of Power: "Cells" and Political "Atomic Energy" ​

The "Cell" (or prayer group) is the fundamental unit of The Family. Its origins lie in the early Cold War, when Vereide and his associates deliberately emulated the clandestine organizing techniques of communism to recruit elites who found traditional, "narrow" Christianity unappealing.

Unpacking "Political Atomic Energy" The Family asserts that their cells produce "political atomic energy." The theory is that when powerful men reach agreements in private, "faith-based" settings, the results "radiate" quietly into the legislative and diplomatic spheres. Because these deals appear to be the unrelated actions of individual leaders, they circumvent public debate and democratic vetting. This decentralized appearance is a deliberate tactical choice to shield the "centralized" influence from scrutiny.

The 3 Most Critical Functions of a Cell ​

  1. Creating "Safe Spaces" for Power: Cells provide a private environment where men of power—including "scoundrels" and "despots"—can build bonds away from a "hardhearted" public.
  2. Spheres of Influence: Cells are organized to give members spiritual and tactical "insight" into their specific geographical areas or industries (e.g., oil, aerospace, or specific military theaters).
  3. Generating "Invisible" Agreements: Cells foster covenants that lead to no-bid contracts and "quiet diplomacy" that bypasses the State Department and traditional oversight.

These cells are held together not by policy, but by a radical philosophy of "total Jesus" that demands the surrender of individual will.

3. The Core Philosophy: "Jesus Plus Nothing" and the Doctrine of Obedience ​

The Family’s mantra is "Jesus Plus Nothing." This is a project to "take Jesus out of the religious wrapping" and strip away the "tradition" of Christianity to make Christ’s will applicable to secular power. In this framework, Jesus is not a figure of mercy for the weak, but a "warrior" who knows how to build highways, manage Social Security, and direct military aid.

Obedience Over Faith For the investigative student, the "So What?" is the total pivot from faith to obedience. The Family views the term "Christian" as a narrow label; they prefer "Follower of Christ" because it implies a soldier’s subservience. To make this metaphor concrete, wealthy members often gift one another "real blades" (swords) to symbolize that they are in a state of "spiritual war."

The "Toy Story" and "Genghis Khan" Logic To explain why God works through "scoundrels" (like the adulterous and murderous King David), Family leaders use the "Toy Story" analogy: leaders are simply "toys" created for God’s pleasure. Their morality is irrelevant as long as they are "Chosen."

This is further illustrated by the Genghis Khan metaphor. David Coe teaches that Genghis was a genius because he understood that "there could be only one king." When Genghis suffocated his enemies under a banquet table, he "didn't even hear the man's screams" because he was "submitting" to his vision. The takeaway is chillingly grokable: God doesn't need "good" men; He needs men who submit.

Traditional Religion vs. Elite Fundamentalism ​

CategoryTraditional ReligionElite Fundamentalism (Maximalism)
MembershipOpen to the masses; focus on "salvation for all."Restricted to "Key Men"; focus on the elite "core."
Public SpectacleUses megachurches, protests, and public "branding."Operates invisibly; avoids the "Christian" label to prevent alerting enemies.
Core RequirementFaith, kindness, and doctrinal adherence.Obedience and the total surrender of the will to the "Covenant."

4. Pillars of Influence: Business, Government, and the Military ​

The Family operates as a "veritable underground" that provides "spiritual succor" to the powerful while facilitating global deals.

  • Government
    • Key Entities: The Cedars and C Street House. The Family owns a pillared mansion (The Cedars) and a D.C. townhouse (C Street) where congressmen live at below-market, tax-exempt rates.
    • Historic Roll Call: Notable associates include the late Strom Thurmond, who produced confidential legislative reports for the group, and Ed Meese, who presided over Cedars breakfasts despite numerous ethics scandals.
    • Function: These sites facilitate "quiet diplomacy" that often violates the Logan Act, which forbids private citizens from conducting unauthorized foreign policy.
  • Business
    • Key Entity: "Biblical Capitalism." A "laissez-faire fever dream" that views energy deregulation and energy monopolies as God-ordained.
    • Example: Dennis Bakke (former CEO of AES) used the 1997 National Prayer Breakfast to secure a no-bid, $500-million dam project in Uganda via a "man-to-man" deal with President Yoweri Museveni, a Family "Key Man," bypassing environmental and human rights vetting.
  • Military
    • Key Entity: Pentagon Cells. Regular prayer groups have traditionally met within the Pentagon and Department of Defense.
    • Function: The Family has historically supported foreign "responsible leaders"—including dictators like Suharto (Indonesia) and Park Chung Hee (South Korea)—viewing their "order" as preferable to "godless" democracy.

5. The Strategy of Secrecy: Why "Invisible" Means Permanent ​

Doug Coe famously used the Mafia as his primary model for organizational strength, citing their "honor" and "invisibility" as the source of their power.

"His Body [Christendom] functions invisibly like the mafia…. They keep their organization invisible. Everything visible is transitory. Everything invisible is permanent and lasts forever. The more you can make your organization invisible, the more influence it will have." — Doug Coe

The "New Chosen" and the Broken Covenant The core of The Family’s sense of entitlement rests on a radical theological pivot: they believe that God’s covenant with the Jews is broken. Consequently, they view themselves as the "New Chosen," a God-led elite who are not answerable to the "din of the vox populi" (the voice of the people). By remaining "submerged," they shield their "Chosen" leaders from the scrutiny of a public they consider spiritually immature.

6. Conclusion: Synthesis for the Aspiring Political Scientist ​

The Family is not a "conspiracy" in the cinematic sense—it is something far more effective: a structural reality of elite networking. It is a "strange and dangerous offspring" of American mythology and fundamentalist zeal, recasting the language of the Gospel into the language of empire.

To understand these organizations, the political scientist must look past the "muffins and prayer" of the National Prayer Breakfast. One must see the underlying structure of Maximalism—the belief that democracy is a "clumsy" and "inadequate" system that should be quietly superseded by a covenant of "Key Men" whose only law is absolute obedience to their vision of the divine.

Final Takeaway To grok the power of submerged organizations, one must look past religious labels to the underlying structures of elite networking and obedience. In this world, invisibility is not the absence of power—it is the ultimate manifestation of it, allowing an "avant-garde" to direct the world from behind a curtain of spiritual "privacy."

The Dual Architects of American Fundamentalism: A Historical Overview ​

1. Introduction: The Two Streams of American Fundamentalism ​

To the casual observer, "American Fundamentalism" is often reduced to a caricature of populist anti-intellectualism. However, a rigorous historical analysis reveals a far more complex reality: an expansionist ideology of control that recasts theology into the language of empire. As a curriculum designer, one must view this movement through the lens of a Möbius strip—a visual paradox where the path twists from a radically democratic theory into a repressive practice.

The movement’s core ambition is often termed maximalism: the drive to conform every facet of human society to a singular vision of God. This document traces the two distinct strands of this maximalist impulse—the populist and the elite. While the former bellows its intentions in the public square, the latter operates as a "submerged," invisible network of influence.

How did a movement rooted in the "liberation" of first-century Christ-worship—a dream of revelation unburdened by church history—evolve into a sophisticated mechanism for global power? To understand the modern "invisible" network, we must return to its 18th and 19th-century architects.

2. Jonathan Edwards and the "Heart" of Elite Fundamentalism ​

The elite strand of American fundamentalism finds its progenitor in Jonathan Edwards and the First Great Awakening of 1735. While popular history remembers Edwards for the "fury" of his rhetoric, his lasting contribution to the elite avant-garde was the transition of the faith from the pulpit to the interiority of the "heart."

The Edwards Legacy ​

  • The Internalization of Fury: Edwards pivoted the movement away from mere external rhetorical fire toward a "trinity of sentiments"—fear, love, and ecstasy. This created a sentimental story that could be internalized by the believer.
  • The Softened Elite: This "heart" was meticulously shaped and softened for "elite believers," providing a spiritual framework that allowed the powerful to see their influence as a divine mandate rather than crude ambition.
  • The Burden of Light: Central to this legacy was the theological grounding of Manifest Destiny. It fostered the belief that European conquerors were uniquely burdened with spreading their "light"—effectively their power—to the rest of "naked and wild" humanity.

By anchoring power in the sentimental "heart," Edwards provided the elite with a rationale for authority that felt joyous and humble even as it remained intensely proud. But if the elite sought the silence of the heart, how did the movement learn to shout in the streets?

3. Charles Grandison Finney and the Populist "Revival Machine" ​

A century after Edwards, Charles Grandison Finney and the Second Great Awakening birthed the visible, populist strand of the movement. If Edwards provided the internal "heart," Finney engineered the "revival machine"—the theatrical tools necessary to rally the masses into a formidable political base.

Finney’s genius lay in his understanding of the public spectacle. By building the nation's first megachurch in lower Manhattan, he demonstrated that faith could be used as a tool for mass mobilization. Making a spectacle of faith provided the foundation for public power, translating the tent revivals of the past into the political networks of the future.

Far from being a private affair of the soul, a theocratic strand has been woven into the American fabric since 1630. It began with John Winthrop’s declaration of the New World as a "City upon a hill," a mythology later invoked by Ronald Reagan to describe a "shining city" blessed by God. This strand seeks to weave religious law into the state, viewing the nation not as a legal entity, but as a divine instrument of history.

As we look at these two legacies, we must ask: how do the secret cultivation of the elite and the theatrical bellows of the masses currently find common cause in the halls of power?

4. Comparative Analysis: Populist Spectacle vs. Elite Invisibility ​

The core differences between these two strands dictate their strategic engagement with both domestic and global politics.

CategoryPopulist FundamentalismElite Fundamentalism
Primary AncestorCharles Grandison FinneyJonathan Edwards
Strategic MethodTheatrical spectacle / Public rallyingInvisible cultivation / "Submerged" influence
Target AudienceThe Masses"Key Men" (Government, Military, Business)
Political BattlegroundDomestic politics and individual moralityManipulation of global politics and empire
VisibilityPublic Square / Bellowing intentions"Submerged" / Secretive cells

While they appear distinct, these "two Jesuses"—the ecstatic god of the street-corner ranter and the well-mannered Lord of the country club—have merged into a shared "mood" that underpins American authority.

5. The Philosophical Bridge: "Jesus Plus Nothing" ​

Modern elite fundamentalism, represented by the seventy-year-old network known as "The Family" (or "The Fellowship"), bridges these histories through the leadership of figures like Abraham Vereide and his successor, Doug Coe. Their unifying philosophy is summarized by the formula "Jesus + 0 = X."

This "Jesus plus nothing" approach strips Christ of his "religious wrapping"—denominations, rituals, and traditional Christian labels—to equate "God’s law" directly with political work. To explain the strength of this bond, Doug Coe famously utilized the Mafia analogy. He argued that the "Body of Christ" should function like the mob, emphasizing that invisibility is permanence: "Everything visible is transitory. Everything invisible is permanent... the more you can make your organization invisible, the more influence it will have."

The Modern Avant-Garde: Pedagogical Characteristics ​

  1. Revolutionary Cadres: Adopting the term "avant-garde" from its Leninist ancestry, the movement emulates elite cadres to spark a revolution of "biblical capitalism" and "spiritual war."
  2. The Cell Structure: Deliberately emulating Cold War communist organizing, the Family uses "cells" to recruit elites who shun the "mass meeting approach" of populist fundamentalism.
  3. Political Atomic Energy: These cells are designed to produce "political atomic energy"—deals and alliances that radiate quietly, circumventing the "clumsy machinations" of democratic debate and the State Department.

This strategic evolution has created a "religion of both affluence and revolution," where "key men" view themselves as a chosen core responsible for changing the world through secret covenants.

6. Conclusion: The Enduring Mood of American Power ​

The trajectory of American fundamentalism remains a Möbius strip. While the movement began with a democratic dream of returning to a pure, first-century revelation, it has twisted into a "maximalist" practice of authoritarian control. Whether through Finney’s theater or the Family’s "submerged" invisibility, both strands view their work as "evangelism"—a project to conform the world to a specific vision of divine order.

Ultimately, as historian Perry Miller observed, this is less a coherent theology and more of a "mood." It is a mood of fear and pride, a martyr’s faith in the hands of the powerful, that continues to drive the uneasy politics of empire and the projection of American power across the globe.

Sociological Profile: The Avant-Garde of American Fundamentalism and the Ivanwald Socialization Model ​

1. Contextual Framework: The Invisible Network ​

The association known as "The Family" (or "The Fellowship") represents the avant-garde of American fundamentalism—an elite, institutional core that recasts traditional theology into the language of empire. Operating for decades as International Christian Leadership before adopting a strategy of "submergence" in 1966, the organization functions as a sophisticated, "invisible" network. Its strategic importance lies in its deliberate placement at the highest echelons of government, business, and the military. By focusing on "key men" rather than the masses, the Family exerts a quiet but profound influence on global power, functioning as a "veritable underground" of believers dedicated to a vision of God-led leadership.

The organization’s core philosophy of "submergence" allows it to bypass democratic scrutiny. The primary reasons for this pervasive secrecy include:

  1. Strategic Invisibility: As leader Doug Coe posits, "Everything visible is transitory. Everything invisible is permanent... The more you can make your organization invisible, the more influence it will have."
  2. Protection of "Key Men": Secrecy shields powerful figures—including those Coe describes as "scoundrels" and "despots"—from a "hardhearted" public unwilling to believe in the divine intentions of the powerful.
  3. Bypassing Oversight: Invisibility facilitates "quiet diplomacy" that circumvents traditional vetting processes and the State Department.
  4. The Mafia Model: Coe explicitly instructs that the Body of Christ should function "invisibly like the mafia," emphasizing the efficacy of total, secretive loyalty.

This "elite fundamentalism" stands in stark contrast to "populist fundamentalism." While populist movements engage in public spectacles over individual morality—such as anti-pornography or anti-abortion rallies—the elite avant-garde is concerned with "Christian civilization" and the manipulation of global politics. This allows the Family to target high-status demographics—the "poor in spirit" among senators and generals—using a "mood" of power rather than rigid doctrinal rules. The primary site for the development of this elite cadre is Ivanwald.

2. The Ivanwald Crucible: Socialization and Recruitment ​

Ivanwald is a two-story colonial house located at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Arlington, Virginia. Its strategic proximity to the "Cedars"—the Family’s opulent headquarters and retreat for political leaders—is essential for its function as a training ground. At Ivanwald, young men are socialized into the movement’s worldview, preparing to return to the world not as individuals, but as "soldiers" in an "army of God" engaged in "spiritual war."

The "ideal cadre" is typically male, educated, and born into affluence or proximity to power. Key examples include Zeke, a finance professional with a pedigree linked to the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations; Gannon Sims, a Senate aide to Don Nickles; and Dave, who was sent to Ivanwald as a "gift" arranged between his father and former Representative Steve Largent to "cure" a case of college liberalism. These men often possess specific vulnerabilities—a search for clarity or a desire for a "Jesus who is like your best friend." Recruitment is strictly exclusive; one is "recommended" by a mentor.

The daily regimen at Ivanwald is a precise pedagogical instrument designed to reshape the individual.

Pedagogical Components of Elite Fundamentalism

ActivityStated DisciplineSociological Objective
Manual LaborRaking leaves, cleaning the toilets of congressmen.Hierarchy/Service: Stripping the ego to reinforce the duty of serving "key men" and God-ordained leaders.
SportsHigh-intensity basketball, wrestling, and "tests of manhood."Masculine Bonding/Will: Developing the competitive drive and camaraderie required for the "army of God."
Prayer/StudyBrief morning sessions; memorizing strategy-oriented verses.Identity Breaking: Instilling the "revolution" mindset by removing traditional "religious wrapping" from Christ.

A central tenet of this socialization is the concept of being "broken" by God. This psychological process demands the surrender of individual agency to ensure absolute obedience. In this model, the hallmark of the cadre is not "faith or kindness," but unquestioning submission to the leadership’s vision. By breaking the individual, the organization ensures they function as a refined "weapon" for the movement's geopolitical ambitions.

3. The Reshaping of Identity: From Individual to "Weapon" ​

Socialization at Ivanwald facilitates a transition from the traditional "born-again" experience to becoming a "remade" follower of Christ. In this framework, the individual functions as a component of a collective "revolution." This remaking involves a fundamental shift where personal agency is replaced by the belief that one is an instrument of a divine, authoritarian will.

This loss of agency is codified by the "Toy Metaphor" utilized by David Coe. He instructs cadres that they are "just toys... created for God. For His pleasure, nothing else." By internalizing the status of a "toy," cadres justify the actions of "key men" chosen by God. Under the doctrine that "Jesus elects his leaders," the actions of a chosen leader—regardless of perceived immorality—are beyond human judgment.

The organizational structure is built on a "Covenant" model of brotherhood. This is not traditional religious fellowship, but a "Mafia-style" bond of honor and secrecy. Doug Coe emphasizes that the strength of these bonds is what allows a small "core" to change the world, citing the following figures as successful historical examples of covenant power:

  • Adolf Hitler
  • Vladimir Lenin
  • Ho Chi Minh
  • Osama bin Laden

The ideological core of this remade identity is the phrase "Jesus Plus Nothing." By removing the "religious wrapping"—the rules and rituals of organized Christianity—the Family integrates spiritual devotion with secular power-seeking. This "biblical capitalism" suggests that God’s law and the laws of the market or state should be identical, enabling cadres to pursue corporate and political interests with the conviction that they are performing the work of the "total Jesus."

4. Ideological Evolution: The Möbius Strip of Fundamentalism ​

The ideology of the Family represents a historical trajectory described as a "Möbius strip"—a paradox where American fundamentalism has traveled from "radically democratic" roots to a "repressive," authoritarian practice. While early revivalists emphasized the "heart," the modern Family has evolved into a mechanism for elite control suited to empire. This ideology is termed "Maximalism": the ambition to conform every aspect of society to God’s will through the influence of God-led leaders.

The residents of Ivanwald and the broader network devalue democratic norms in favor of a "Kingdom" model:

  • Democracy: Deemed "inadequate" and driven by the "vox populi" and "clumsy machinations" of legislative debate.
  • The Kingdom: Driven by a "Jesus elects his leaders" model, where cells produce political "atomic energy"—deals and alliances that radiate quietly out of invisible believing groups.

A critical component of this self-perception is the "New Chosen" doctrine. The organization’s core members claim that God’s covenant with the Jews is broken. Consequently, they view themselves as the "new chosen," a spiritual elite tasked with spreading "light"—equated with their own power—to the rest of humanity. This perception fuels an expansionist ideology that justifies the manipulation of international politics as a form of "evangelism."

5. Geopolitical Projection: "Quiet Diplomacy" and the Cult of Power ​

The domestic "cells" of the Family act as radiators of influence, projecting ideology into international diplomacy and corporate interests. The primary tool for this projection is the National Prayer Breakfast. While appearing as a bland event of "civil religion," it serves as a recruitment hub that facilitates "face time" with the President, effectively circumventing State Department vetting. The 2007 event drew high-profile figures including Benazir Bhutto, Prince Bandar, and a Sudanese general linked to genocide in Darfur.

"Quiet diplomacy" frequently intersects with "Biblical Capitalism." A notable case study is Dennis Bakke, former CEO of AES and a Family insider. Bakke, a self-described "cultural imperialist," used a 1997 Prayer Breakfast meeting with President Yoweri Museveni to secure a $500-million dam project in Uganda. The liaison for this project was Christian Wright, the son of a Prayer Breakfast organizer. Wright was later accused of authorizing $400,000 in bribes to ensure the project’s advancement, demonstrating how the movement’s "evangelism" serves as a cover for economic expansion.

These operations are often facilitated through the C Street House, a Washington townhouse run by a Family affiliate. Home to several congressmen, it is registered as a church to avoid taxes. While the Family highlights "Success Stories" in diplomacy, these are generally exceptions to their support of oppressive regimes:

  • Success Stories (Exceptions): The 1978 Camp David prayer call; the 1994 prevention of civil war in South Africa via Chief Buthelezi.
  • Despotic Facilitation: Suharto (Indonesia), Park Chung Hee (South Korea), Museveni (Uganda), Costa e Silva (Brazil), and Carlos Eugenios Vides Casanova (El Salvador).

6. Final Synthesis: The Strategic Impact of the Avant-Garde ​

The Family is not a "fringe obsession" but a sophisticated, invisible network that has shaped the "uneasy politics of empire" for over seventy years. By focusing on the socialization of elite cadres, the organization ensures a continuous supply of "key men" who operate at the intersection of religious fervor and geopolitical influence.

The socialization of these elite cadres is defined by three critical takeaways:

  1. Obedience Over Orthodoxy: Cadre development aims to produce total, "broken" submission to the organization’s leadership and its vision of the "Lord’s revolution."
  2. The Secularization of the Divine: By "taking Jesus out of his religious wrapping," the movement allows its members to pursue raw power and authoritarian alliances without the constraints of traditional morality.
  3. Elite Covenanted Brotherhood: The organization utilizes "Mafia-style" bonds to create a core that operates outside of democratic control, viewing itself as a "new chosen" elite directing the affairs of nations.

The Family defines a specific mood of power—one that is both gentle and militant, hiding in plain sight while quietly directing the currents of history.

Legislative Influence Report: The ‘Family’ and Submerged Power Networks in American Governance ​

1. Executive Overview: The Avant-Garde of Elite Fundamentalism ​

This report assesses the operational efficacy of the "Family" (or "The Fellowship"), a non-state actor utilizing theological justifications to bypass Westphalian diplomatic norms. The Family functions as an avant-garde elite network, recasts traditional fundamentalist theology into the language of empire and "maximalism"—a strategic ambition to conform every facet of global society to a specific sovereign vision. Operating as a "Möbius strip" between democratic liberation theory and authoritarian practice, the network maintains a "martyr’s faith" utilized exclusively by the powerful to enforce a "Christian civilization" model. The organization represents a systemic paradox: a movement that is simultaneously gentle in its rhetoric and militant in its application, serving as a submerged bridge between secular governance and a theological "King-dom" that avoids religious labels to maintain institutional access.

2. The "Submerged" Methodology: An Invisible Organizational Model ​

The Family’s institutional longevity is predicated on a doctrine of "submergence." This invisibility functions as a force multiplier, protecting elite influence from the transparency required by democratic oversight. In 1966, under the direction of Doug Coe, the organization transitioned from its formal front, "International Christian Leadership," to a submerged status. This shift was a response to the perceived "clumsy machinations" of public debate; by operating invisibly, the network ensures that alliances between "scoundrels and despots" appear as organic, unrelated political developments rather than a coordinated global agenda. Coe explicitly characterized this as a "mafia-style" methodology, asserting that while visible organizations are transitory and vulnerable, invisible networks are permanent and possess totalizing influence.

Organizational Guises: Active and Defunct Entities ​

Entity NameStrategic Function
International Christian LeadershipHistorical formal front; now largely superseded by submerged operations.
The Fellowship FoundationPrimary financial engine ($14M annual budget); manages global "mentoring."
The Wilberforce FoundationSpecific funding vehicle for human capital incubation (Ivanwald).
The C Street FoundationTactical entity managing the Washington, D.C. residential infiltration center.
National Committee for Christian LeadershipHistorical organizational guise.
The International FoundationActive entity utilized for global networking and financial transfers.
The National Leadership CouncilHistorical organizational guise.

3. Architecture of the "Cell": The "Key Men" Strategy ​

The organization’s primary building block is the "cell," a structure designed to bypass traditional democratic hierarchies by mimicking Cold War-era communist vanguard techniques. These cells function as "invisible believing groups" intended to generate "political atomic energy"—the capacity to forge high-stakes private alliances away from public scrutiny.

The network utilizes a sophisticated market segmentation strategy. While "populist fundamentalism" manages the mass-market voter base through domestic political theater, the Family’s "elite fundamentalism" focuses on the cultivation of "Key Men." These are individuals situated in high-leverage institutional nodes, including:

  • The Pentagon and Department of Defense: Regular prayer cells utilized for internal networking.
  • The U.S. Senate: Weekly off-the-record meetings (e.g., the Values Action Team).
  • The Federal Judiciary: Historical precedent set by Chief Justice William Rehnquist; currently maintained by "message carriers" like Ed Meese, who shepherded Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito through their nomination processes.

4. Agreements Reached in Faith: Private Covenants vs. Legislative Transparency ​

The Family operates through "agreements reached in faith," private covenants that supersede the public legislative framework. This ethos is codified in the concept of "Jesus Plus Nothing." By stripping away the "religious wrapping," the network allows "Key Men" to integrate their private faith directly into secular policy-making—from "building highways to Social Security"—without alerting opposition to the underlying theological driver.

A critical component of this covenant is the "breaking" of individual agency. As described by David Coe through the "Toy Story" metaphor, leaders are viewed as "just toys" created for God’s pleasure, possessing no intrinsic agency outside the network’s goals. To reinforce this, Doug Coe explicitly modeled the strength of these bonds on the organizational discipline of the Mafia, Hitler, Lenin, and Ho Chi Minh. This "total Jesus" of brotherhood replaces the democratic Social Contract with an elite "honor code," where the power of the covenant justifies the bypass of constitutional accountability.

5. The Geography of Influence: Human Capital and Extra-Jurisdictional Hubs ​

The Family maintains a specific geography of influence designed to isolate the elite from the vox populi:

  • Ivanwald (Human Capital Incubation): A residential facility in Arlington, VA, funded by the Wilberforce Foundation. It focuses on the psychological "breaking" of young men through manual labor and "tests of manhood," ensuring the next generation of "high priests" is conditioned for absolute obedience to the leadership.
  • The Cedars (Extra-Jurisdictional Diplomatic Hub): A pillared mansion overlooking the Potomac, serving as a sanctuary for heads of state, CEOs, and generals. It functions as a "quiet diplomacy" center where figures like Clarence Thomas or James Watt can weather scandals or forge private alliances away from the public eye.
  • C Street House (Legislative Infiltration Center): A subsidized residential townhouse for congressmen. Crucially, it is registered as a "church" for tax avoidance purposes. It serves as a tactical center for "spiritual warfare," utilizing prayer calendars to target "demonic strongholds" (secularism, Buddhism, Hinduism).

The organization utilizes a strategic redefinition of "the poor," focusing not on the literal impoverished of Washington’s ghettos, but on the "poor in spirit"—the elite leaders whose power is seen as a divine mandate.

6. Global Projection: "Quiet Diplomacy" and the "Scoundrel" Factor ​

The Family’s international operations represent a systematic subversion of the Logan Act and State Department vetting. The National Prayer Breakfast serves as a recruitment funnel, moving foreign dignitaries from public civil religion into private "man-to-man" prayer cells. The network operates on the principle that "Jesus prefers power to piety," allowing it to partner with "scoundrels and despots" without moral hesitation.

Historical and contemporary case studies of this projection include:

  • Dictatorial Integration: Networking and prayer groups for General Suharto (Indonesia), General Costa e Silva (Brazil), and General Park Chung Hee (South Korea).
  • The Bakke-Museveni Deal: Family insider Dennis Bakke (AES) utilized the Prayer Breakfast to secure a $500-million no-bid energy deal with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. This "biblical capitalism" functions as a form of "cultural imperialism," bypassing local environmental and social opposition.
  • Special Envoys: Private citizens like Doug Coe travel as "special envoys" for politicians like Joe Pitts, carrying messages and establishing "new power" in world capitals.

7. Professional Implications: The Tension Between "King-dom" and Democracy ​

The presence of a "submerged" network within the American state apparatus creates a fundamental risk to institutional integrity. The Family’s terminal goal is the establishment of a "King-dom"—an authoritarian hierarchy where leaders are "elected by Jesus" rather than the citizenry. This ideology views representative democracy as a "clumsy" and inadequate system for the "work of advancing His kingdom."

The professional risk to the Republic is the systemic replacement of the Social Contract with a Private Covenant. By utilizing secular leaders to advance a theological agenda while avoiding the "Christian" label, the Family subverts the transparency essential to democratic governance. Ultimately, the organization represents an enduring "strange American god" that thrives not through public theology, but through the private, extra-legal manipulation of power.

How the Family Uses the Phrase "Jesus Plus Nothing" ​

The phrase "Jesus plus nothing" is not a statement of pious humility; it is the mathematical formula for absolute, unaccountable authoritarianism. As wielded by The Family and its long-time leader Doug Coe, the phrase is a mechanism to strip away the moral, ethical, and historical constraints of traditional Christianity, leaving only a hollow vessel for the blind pursuit of geopolitical power.

We are forced to confront this horrifying reality by solving what the text explicitly identifies as the movement's core equation: "We must solve the equation presented by Doug Coe: Jesus plus nothing. J + 0 = X".

What does the "nothing" stand for? It stands for the deliberate obliteration of theology, human intellect, and moral law. It is "an idea that denies ideas, a fixed intellectual position that rejects the primacy of intellect and the significance of 'positions'". By excising the actual teachings of Christ, The Family secures a tactical advantage: "One who preaches Jesus plus nothing claims to be in possession of pure Godhead. Not Jesus plus the history of his believers and what they’ve done in His name, or Jesus plus the culture through which we view Him now, or Jesus plus the best efforts of the minds God, presumably, gave us, or Jesus plus humanity itself. Not Jesus plus scripture, since scripture, after all, contains a great deal besides Jesus".

By eliminating the burden of scripture—"Jesus plus nothing, remember, does not depend on scripture, its nuances, its hard lessons"—The Family weaponizes faith into a tool of geopolitical malleability. The doctrine requires zero ethical coherence, allowing its followers to align themselves with despots, dictators, and the architects of genocide without a shred of cognitive dissonance. "For Coe, it was Jesus plus nothing—a formula into which he could plug any values. It was a theology of total malleability, perfect for American expansion".

This unvarnished reality reaches its darkest permutation when Doug Coe openly praises the organizational mastery of the twentieth century's most brutal murderers to explain the phrase's ultimate utility. Teaching the mechanics of this total loyalty to politicians, Coe states: "'Look at Hitler,' he said. 'Lenin, Ho Chi Minh, bin Laden.' The Family possessed a weapon those leaders lacked: the 'total Jesus' of a brotherhood in Christ. 'That’s what you get with a covenant,' said Doug Coe. 'Jesus plus nothing'".

The chilling end-game of this theology is the complete subversion of democratic and moral accountability. The goal is not the Sermon on the Mount; it is a "social order" built on unquestioning, terrifyingly absolute loyalty. The terrifying culmination of "Jesus plus nothing" is that it is fundamentally compatible with any brand of totalitarianism. As the dossier reveals: "The Communist Party, plus Jesus. The Nazi Party, plus Jesus. The Red Guard, plus Jesus. What is the common denominator? Jesus? Or power? Jesus plus nothing equals power, 'invisible' power, the long, slow, building power of a few brothers and sisters. J + 0 = P".

If the most powerful men in Washington are governing by a spiritual formula that subtracts the entirety of human ethics to leave only blind loyalty and raw power, who is truly holding the reins of the American empire?

Additional Questions ​

Core Philosophy in the Larger Context of The Family ​

The "Core Philosophy" of The Family is not a theology of salvation; it is a meticulously engineered, invisible architecture for the acquisition and consolidation of absolute, worldly power. Operating permanently behind the facade of a Washington prayer group, The Family's core philosophy centers on the obliteration of democratic accountability, the subversion of the masses, and the unapologetic courtship of dictators, murderers, and global elites.

To understand The Family's core philosophy, one must ruthlessly dissect its fundamental mechanics, extracted directly from the movement's own confidential blueprints.

1. The Weaponization of the "Core Group" ​

The Family’s structure is unapologetically modeled on the most brutal, unaccountable power systems in modern history. The foundational unit of their philosophy is the "cell" or "core group." In a classified movement document titled "Our Common Agreement as a Core Group," the organization defines this cell as "a publicly invisible but privately identifiable group of companions".

The movement's own internal manifesto, "Thoughts on a Core Group," strips away any illusion of pious benevolence: "Communists use cells as their basic structure. The mafia operates like this, and the basic unit of the Marine Corps is the four man squad. Hitler, Lenin, and many others understood the power of a small core of people". The Family openly covets the tactical genius of totalitarianism, deliberately emulating the organizing techniques of communism and fascism to produce what it calls political "atomic energy".

2. The "Idea" and the Cult of the "Key Man" ​

The overarching strategy driving this core is what founder Abraham Vereide called "the Idea"—a trickle-down faith designed exclusively for the elite, or the "up and out". The core philosophy explicitly rejects the "mass meeting approach" of populist religion, focusing instead on capturing a ruling class of "key men" chosen by God to direct the affairs of the nation.

This is a philosophy that requires zero moral vetting. The Family routinely targets dictators, from Indonesia's Suharto (whose regime murdered half a million people) to Haiti's Papa Doc Duvalier and Somalia's Siad Barre. Doug Coe, the organization's long-time leader, summarized the philosophy of elite recruitment with chilling simplicity: "I never invite them... They come to me. And I do what Jesus did: I don’t turn my back to any one. You know, the Bible is full of mass murderers". By validating the authority of despots under the biblical doctrine of Romans 13—"The powers that be are ordained of God"—the core philosophy absolves the powerful of all guilt, claiming that "persisting in the accusation of collective guilt finally immobilizes a society".

3. The Annihilation of Intellect: "Jesus Plus Nothing" ​

The ideological engine powering these core groups is the mathematical formula of totalitarian devotion: "Jesus plus nothing" (J+0=X). This philosophy mandates the total destruction of history, culture, biblical scripture, and the intellect itself, leaving only blind obedience to a hyper-malleable mascot.

By stripping Christ of his teachings, his ethics, and his demands for social justice, The Family created "a theology of total malleability, perfect for American expansion". This is a faith that actively scorns ideas. As Bill Bright, a fellow traveler of the movement, bluntly put it: "We worship a person, they worship ideas". Without the constraints of theology or ethics, the core philosophy demands only total, unblinking loyalty—a "covenant." Doug Coe explicitly used the architects of the Holocaust and the Cultural Revolution to explain this required devotion: "Hitler, Goebbels, and Himmler were three men. Think of the immense power these three men had... they bound themselves together in an agreement, and they died together". Coe pounded the podium, mimicking Mao and Hitler, demanding that true followers must put the "social order" ahead of their own mother, father, brother, and sister.

4. Benevolent Subversion and the Invisible Empire ​

Ultimately, the core philosophy is an engine of imperialism disguised as fellowship. "The theology of Jesus plus nothing is totalitarian in scope, but diplomatic in practice," the text reveals. "It doesn’t conquer; it 'infects'".

The Family operates inside a "Zero-Consequence Shadow Continuum," renouncing public accountability while claiming divine mandate. The goal of the core group is not to pass a specific law, but to achieve a "leadership led by God"—a voluntarily submissive dictatorship of the divine where democracy is bypassed in favor of "agreements reached in faith" in back rooms. Jesus plus nothing equals "the long, slow, building power of a few brothers and sisters. J+0=P".

If the most powerful network in the American capital openly operates on a philosophy that admires the organizing principles of Hitler, Lenin, and the Mafia to forge invisible cells of unquestioning obedience, what remaining illusions do we harbor that we are governed by the will of the people rather than the shadowy covenants of the elite?

Organizational Identity in the Larger Context of The Family ​

The organizational identity of The Family is a meticulously constructed void. They do not operate as a traditional institution, charity, or lobby; they operate as a subterranean contagion. To define themselves as a concrete organization would subject them to the fatal vulnerabilities of democratic oversight, legal accountability, and public scrutiny. Instead, The Family identifies as an invisible, shape-shifting "organism" engineered to subvert the very concept of transparency, allowing its elite members to wield geopolitical power without leaving a single institutional fingerprint.

To confront their true identity, we must strip away the sanitized veil of the "National Prayer Breakfast" and examine the brutal, unvarnished blueprints of their shadow architecture.

The Mafia Paradigm and the Cult of Invisibility The Family's core identity is unapologetically modeled on criminal syndicates. Long-time leader Doug Coe openly championed this structure to his followers, dictating that the true "Body of Christ" must operate beyond the sight of the masses: "His Body... functions invisibly like the mafia…. They keep their organization invisible. Everything visible is transitory. Everything invisible is permanent and lasts forever. The more you can make your organization invisible, the more influence it will have".

By defining themselves through invisibility, they erase all targets for their opposition. Coe explicitly mocked the traditional church for its visible hierarchies, stating, "It depresses people... when they can see who their master is. A movement that is visible is weak, vulnerable. It’s an organization, not love". Consequently, The Family operates through a labyrinth of shifting guises—National Committee for Christian Leadership, International Christian Leadership, the Fellowship Foundation, the International Foundation—to launder their actions while masking the central nerve center.

The Directive to "Submerge" As the antiestablishment revolts, civil rights movements, and Vietnam War protests of the 1960s began demanding accountability from the American elite, The Family mutated its identity to evade detection. In 1966, Coe issued a chilling directive: "The time has come... to submerge".

From that moment, the organization effectively ceased to exist on paper. Their operational identity became a ghost: "Thereafter, the Fellowship would avoid at all turns any appearance of an organization, even as Coe crafted ever more complex hierarchies behind-the-scenes. Business would be conducted on the letterhead of public men, who would testify that Fellowship initiatives were their own. Finances would be more 'man-to-man,' which is to say, off the books. The Fellowship was going underground".

An "Organism," Not an Organization The Family vehemently rejects the label of a lobby or a political action committee because such entities can be regulated, audited, and destroyed. As one of founder Abraham Vereide’s field representatives stated, The Family "should be primarily an organism and not an organization".

They maintain plausible deniability by insisting that "the group, as such, never takes any formal action, but individuals who participate in the group through their initiative have made possible the activities mentioned". This is the ultimate sociopathic loophole: the organization claims zero responsibility for the actions of its members—whether they are American generals funneling arms or foreign dictators slaughtering dissidents—because officially, the organization took no action. "The Fellowship was not a conspiracy; it was a catechism".

The Weaponized "Cell" Structure Internally, the identity of the movement relies on isolated, submerged units of absolute loyalty, directly mimicking the tactical formations of totalitarians. Confidential internal documents define their cells as "a publicly invisible but privately identifiable group of companions". They justify this structure by pointing to history's most brutal regimes: "Communists use cells as their basic structure. The mafia operates like this, and the basic unit of the Marine Corps is the four man squad. Hitler, Lenin, and many others understood the power of a small core of people".

They even advise against adopting traditional religious labels, instructing members "to avoid whenever possible the label Christian itself, lest they alert enemies to that advance".

If the architects of American empire deliberately abandon all legal and institutional identities to operate as an invisible "organism" modeled after the mafia and the Communist Party, how can the public ever hope to overthrow a ruling class that legally does not exist?

Methodology in the Larger Context of The Family ​

The methodology of The Family is a masterclass in sociopathic political engineering, meticulously designed to bypass democratic will through a strategy of "benevolent subversion". They do not lobby the masses; they operate a covert, parasite-like infiltration of the ruling class. Their methods strip away transparency, public accountability, and institutional oversight, forging a weaponized network of elite power brokers bound together by an unaccountable, totalitarian Christ.

1. The "Man-Method" and Elite Subversion The Family explicitly rejects the "mass meeting approach" of populist religion, focusing exclusively on the "up and out"—the wealthiest and most powerful figures. Founder Abraham Vereide codified this as the "man-method," a strategy recognizing that "personality" can replace ideology to preserve elite power in an age of mass movements. They do not aim to convert the weak, but to capture the souls of the strong, eradicating the leader's ego and replacing their will with Christ's. To achieve this, members are instructed to practice "political jujitsu by making use of secular leaders 'in the work of advancing His kingdom,' and to avoid whenever possible the label Christian itself, lest they alert enemies to that advance". This quiet infiltration was bluntly described by Family leader Richard Halverson as "quiet and penetrating and thorough like salt, like benevolent subversion".

2. The Mafia-Modeled "Cell" Structure The operational engine of this methodology is the "cell" or "core group," deliberately modeled on the organizing techniques of the most brutal regimes in history. In their own confidential document, "Thoughts on a Core Group," they instruct: "Communists use cells as their basic structure. The mafia operates like this, and the basic unit of the Marine Corps is the four man squad. Hitler, Lenin, and many others understood the power of a small core of people". Within these cells, democracy is bypassed entirely; members form an "invisible 'believing group'" out of which "agreements reached in faith and in prayer around the person of Jesus Christ" dictate political action behind closed doors. The Family teaches that these secretive cells produce political "atomic energy," facilitating deals and alliances that could never survive public legislative debate.

3. The Doctrine of "Submersion" and Invisibility To protect their power from public scrutiny, the Family operates as a ghost. In 1966, long-time leader Doug Coe issued a definitive operational command: "The time has come... to submerge". The organization actively destroys paper trails, warning operatives that "there is no such thing as a 'confidential' memorandum, and leakage always seems to occur," instructing them to label sensitive communications "PLEASE DESTROY AFTER READING". Coe championed this invisibility by pointing to criminal syndicates, declaring that the true Body of Christ "functions invisibly like the mafia" and asserting that "the more you can make your organization invisible, the more influence it will have".

4. Front Groups and Off-the-Books Financing The Family's methodology utilizes massive public spectacles like the National Prayer Breakfast strictly as camouflage and recruitment grounds. The Breakfast is "merely a tool in a larger purpose: to recruit the powerful attendees into smaller, more frequent prayer meetings, where they can 'meet Jesus man to man'". Coe admitted the Breakfast is "only one-tenth of one percent of the iceberg," hiding their true operations. Financially, the methodology is designed to evade audits and oversight. "Business would be conducted on the letterhead of public men, who would testify that Fellowship initiatives were their own," and "Finances would be more 'man-to-man,' which is to say, off the books". They claim they take no formal action as a group, ensuring plausible deniability while members funnel arms to despots or dismantle labor unions.

If the architects of American and global policy are actively being managed by an invisible syndicate that models its operations on Hitler, Lenin, and the Mafia to subvert democracy from within, are we citizens of a republic, or merely hostages to a submerged theocracy?

Global Influence in the Larger Context of The Family ​

The global influence of The Family is not a diplomatic mission of peace; it is a calculated, blood-soaked crusade of imperial theocracy. Stripped of its pious veneer, The Family’s international operation is a subterranean syndicate designed to bypass democratic foreign policy, funnel weapons and capital to genocidal despots, and install an invisible, worldwide ruling class governed by a totalitarian Christ. Elite fundamentalism "sees its mission as the manipulation of politics in the rest of the world".

By operating entirely in the shadows, The Family has engineered an unaccountable "soft empire" where geopolitical power is consolidated under the guise of prayer.

1. Bypassing the State: The Covert Apparatus ​

The Family actively subverts official democratic channels to conduct its own shadow diplomacy. The National Prayer Breakfast is utilized merely as camouflage, a recruitment ground where the President of the United States is used as bait. As a government informant admitted, the Breakfast allows leaders to meet "without publicity," noting that "It totally circumvents the State Department and the usual vetting within the administration that such a meeting would require".

This allows The Family to broker backroom deals that would never survive public scrutiny. The text exposes how Dennis Bakke, a Family insider and corporate CEO, used the 1997 Prayer Breakfast to invite Ugandan dictator Yoweri Museveni to a private mansion, securing a "no-bid deal... for a $500-million dam close to the source of the White Nile". The Family does not recognize international law; it operates on the sociopathic principle that "Jesus must rule every nation through the vessel of American power".

2. The Courtship of Mass Murderers ​

The Family’s global strategy explicitly targets dictators and mass murderers, believing that authoritarian power is ordained by God and is the most efficient vehicle for their "Worldwide Spiritual Offensive." Doug Coe, the organization's long-time leader, actively sought the allegiance of butchers, proudly declaring: "I never invite them... They come to me. And I do what Jesus did: I don’t turn my back to any one. You know, the Bible is full of mass murderers".

The unvarnished reality of this "fellowship" is a catalog of atrocities:

  • Indonesia: Coe helped General Suharto organize a National Prayer Breakfast to celebrate the anniversary of his seizure of power, a regime change that resulted in the slaughter of half a million civilians.
  • Central America: In 1983, Coe and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff used the Prayer Breakfast to arrange "private sessions" for Latin American generals. They forged friendships with Salvadoran General Carlos Eugenios Vides Casanova, "found liable in 2002 by a Florida jury for the torture of thousands," and Honduran General Gustavo Alvarez Martinez, who was linked to CIA death squads.
  • Somalia: The Family aggressively courted Siad Barre, a dictator whose secret police poisoned wells and raped civilians. Through Family connections, Barre was invited to the Pentagon, resulting in the U.S. "pouring guns into a country". When Barre fled, his legacy—and "the Family's gift to Somalia"—was a scorched-earth famine that starved 300,000 people to death.

3. The 100-Nation Theocracy ​

The Family's ultimate global endgame is not to convert the masses, but to encircle the globe with puppet regimes wholly submissive to their interpretation of God's will. Coe's terrifying vision for the future of the planet was that "America... will wake up and find itself surrounded by a hundred tiny God-led governments: Fiji... Uganda... and Mongolia".

To build this planetary grid, The Family operates a "Youth Corps" aimed at grooming the next generation of foreign elites. The classified objective of this program is to mobilize operatives worldwide to forge a network of "Two hundred national and international world leaders bound together relationally by a mutual love for God and the family". Programs are actively running in "Russia, Ukraine, Romania, India, Pakistan, Uganda, Nepal, Bhutan, Ecuador, Honduras, Peru, and other countries".

As one former White House official summarized the sheer, terrifying scope of this invisible empire: "The Fellowship's reach into governments around the world... is almost impossible to overstate or even grasp".

If an unelected, invisible syndicate of fundamentalists is secretly orchestrating the flow of American military power and capital to the world's most brutal dictators in the name of God, what is the true nature of the empire we blindly finance with our taxes?