The Family International

Formerly known as the Children of God, The Family International (also referred to as The Family or TFI) is a religious movement that started in California during the late 1960s. According to their official website, The Family is an "international Christian fellowship dedicated to sharing God's Word and love with others."¹

Fast Facts

1. Founded: 1968
2. Origin: Huntington Beach, California
3. Founder: David Berg
4. Considered by many to be a cult²
5. Formerly known as: The Children of God, Family of Love
6. 10,000+ members¹
7. In over 100 countries¹
8. Phone number: (800) 4-A-FAMILY
9. Email: family@thefamily.org

Ricky Rodriguez Murder-Suicide

In 2005, former Family International member Ricky Rodriguez, 29, murdered his nanny, Angela Smith, and then committed suicide. Karen Zerby, Rodriguez's mother and the leader of The Family International, faced allegations of sexually abusing her son; she reportedly had sexual intercourse with him when he was 11 years old. No official charges were filed, however.²

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