Sect raided in Germany on abuse fears was founded in Chattanooga

Closer to homeThe Twelve Tribes of Israel was founded in Chattanooga in the mid ’70s by locals Gene and Marsha Spriggs who broke away from First Presbyterian Church after the church closed its doors.They started the Yellow Deli on Brainerd Road with a group of young people who worked together and pooled their money to live together.In 1979 the group left to city to settle in Vermont after facing opposition from the area and having some of their members kidnapped by cult deprogrammers. In their 20-year absence from Chattanooga, the Christian sect expanded to the Midwest and West Coast, as well as in Germany, France, Spain, Argentina and England. Members homeschool their children, endorse the traditional nuclear family and support themselves through cottage industries such as organic farming, carpentry, hostels, small stores and delis.The group returned to Chattanooga after 20 years to resettle their community and open a new Yellow Deli in 2008 near the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.Their community has expanded since their return and several communal homes have been built in the Fort Wood neighborhood, but said initially an area family court had ordered the children removed after receiving evidence, then his office began a legal probe after the sticks and other evidence were found during the raids.