Shiloh Youth Revival Centers
Encyclopedia
The Shiloh Youth Revival Centers movement was the largest Jesus People communal movement in the United States in the 1970s. Founded by John Higgins in 1968 as a small communal house – House of Miracles
House of Miracles
The House of Miracles was a series of Christian communal houses established during the early Jesus Movement under the auspices of Pastor Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA...
– in Costa Mesa, CA, the movement quickly grew to a very large movement catering mostly to disaffected college-age youth. There were over 100,000 people involved and 175 communal houses established during its lifespan
Two years after the movement's founding, Higgins and some of the core members of the movement bought 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) of land near Dexter, Oregon
Dexter, Oregon
Dexter is an unincorporated community in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located near Dexter Lake , a reservoir of the Willamette River along Oregon Route 58....
and built a new headquarters which they called "The Land". The movement grew quickly until the mid-1970s when increasing competition and high turn-over rates likely slowed its growth. However, in the spring of 1978, the board members of the fledgling religion forced the resignation of the charismatic leader of the movement, John Higgins, alleging the improper use of the growing funds of the movement. Rather than fight the board's recommendations, Higgins stepped down and the movement quickly dissolved.
Several individuals remained on the Oregon property as caretakers, but an eventual legal battle with the IRS over the charitable status of incomes earned by members during the movements existence ultimately led to the complete dissolution and liquidation of the movement and its assets in 1989.
While membership in the movement was voluntary, it was also communal and required substantial commitment. To join the movement, members were expected to make a commitment to Jesus Christ and, in return, they would be given free food, clothes, shelter, and medical care. All members worked together for the support of the ministry, so all wages went into the common fund.
See also
Disclaimer:There is no connection between Shiloh Youth Revival Centers and The Lost Valley Educational Center. They are two distinct organizations.
Lost Valley Educational Center
Lost Valley Educational Center
Lost Valley Educational Center is an intentional community and ecovillage located on 87 acres of mostly forested land in Dexter, Oregon, United States, approximately 18 miles southeast of Eugene...
is an intentional community
Intentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
ecovillage
Ecovillage
Ecovillages are intentional communities with the goal of becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. Some aim for a population of 50–150 individuals. Larger ecovillages of up to 2,000 individuals exist as networks of smaller subcommunities to create an ecovillage model that...
located on the old grounds of Shiloh in Dexter, Oregon. Areas of focus for the intentional community include personal growth, permaculture
Permaculture
Permaculture is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that is modeled on the relationships found in nature. It is based on the ecology of how things interrelate rather than on the strictly biological concerns that form the foundation of modern agriculture...
, sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, and simple living
Simple living
Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather than want...
.