Editing The Family International (section)

=== The Children of God (1968–1977) ===
The founder of the movement, David Brandt Berg (1919–1994), was a former [[Christian and Missionary Alliance]] pastor.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.davidberg.org/mission/history |title=History – Mission |website=DavidBerg.org |access-date=2016-08-13 |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822171609/http://www.davidberg.org/mission/history |url-status=live }}</ref>  Berg started in 1968 as an evangelical preacher with a following of "born-again hippies" who gathered at a coffeehouse in [[Huntington Beach]], in [[Orange County, California]].   In 1969, after having a revelation "that California would be hit by a major earthquake", he left Huntington Beach and "took his followers on the road".<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/>

They would [[proselytism|proselytize]] in the streets and distribute pamphlets. Leaders within The Children of God (COG) were referred to as ''The Chain''.  Members of COG founded [[commune (intentional community)|communes]], first called colonies (now referred to as homes), in various cities.

Berg communicated with his followers by writing letters. He published nearly 3,000 letters over a period of 24 years, referred to as the ''Mo Letters''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidberg.org/mission|title=The Man – Mission|website=DavidBerg.org|access-date=2016-08-13|archive-date=February 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220045437/http://www.davidberg.org/mission|url-status=live}}</ref> In a letter written in January 1972, Berg stated that he was God's prophet for the contemporary world, attempting to further solidify his spiritual authority within the group. Berg's letters also contained public acknowledgement of his own failings and weaknesses,<ref>{{cite book |last=Chancellor |first=James |year=2000 |title=Life in The Family: An Oral History of the Children of God |publisher=University of Syracuse Press |location=Syracuse, NY |pages=64–67}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=July 2016}} for example, he issued a Mo Letter entitled "My confession -- I was an alcoholic!" (ML #1406 Summer 1982) relating his depression after some of his closest supporters quit in 1978.<ref name="Chancellor-2000-11"/>

In 1972, a Mo Letter reportedly entitled "Flee as a Bird to Your Mountain" was interpreted by some members, including Ruth Gordon, author of ''Children of Darkness'' about the cult, as a warning to leave America. "God was going to destroy the U.S. ... and we had to get out."  This, along with the pressure members felt that parents were trying to "rescue" children who had joined CoG, encouraged members to "[migrate] abroad—first to Europe, eventually to Latin America and East Asia".<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/>

By 1972, COG stated it had 130 communities around the world,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefamilyinternational.org/en/about/our-history/|title=Our History|website=The Family International|access-date=2016-08-13|archive-date=August 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822075611/http://www.thefamilyinternational.org/en/about/our-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> and by the mid-1970s, it had "colonies" in an estimated 70 countries.<ref name="Niebuhr-1993"/> BBC reported 10,000 full-time COG members in the 1970s.<ref name="Brocklehurst-Hell-2018"/>

In 1976,<ref name="davidberg.org" /> Berg had introduced a new proselytizing method called [[Flirty Fishing]] (or FFing), which encouraged female members to "show God's love" through sexual relationships with potential converts. Flirty Fishing was practiced by members of Berg's inner circle starting in 1973, and was introduced to the general membership in 1976.<ref name=Origins />