Mountaintop Ministries Worldwide

A secretive Christian movement that isolated its members and was plagued by scandal, financial misconduct, and allegations of abuse.

Mountaintop Ministries Worldwide (also known historically as End Time Ministries and Meade Ministries) is a non-denominational Christian organization based near Lake City, Florida, United States. Originally founded by Charles Meade in 1984, the organization evolved from a network of informal house churches into a centralized religious community in northern Florida, before undergoing a significant rebranding following a series of controversies in 2015. Today, the remnant congregation continues under the name Christian Fellowship Church.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Former Names	End Time Ministries; Meade Ministries
Founded	1984
Founder	Charles Meade (1916–2010)
Headquarters	5037 SW County Road 240, Lake City, Florida 32024
County	Columbia County, Florida
Denomination	Non-Denominational / Independent
EIN	45-2670583
Peak Membership	~2,000
Current Status	Restructured as Christian Fellowship Church

History

Origins and Early Growth (1970s–1980s)

Mountaintop Ministries Worldwide traces its origins to the early 1970s, when Charles Meade — born December 24, 1916, in Oil Springs, Kentucky — began preaching the Gospel to young adults across the United States. Meade conducted meetings in living rooms, garages, college campuses, and informal gathering spaces, attracting a following particularly among college-aged young people drawn to his countercultural, faith-centered message.

Meade’s core theological message centered on living “above sin,” rejecting worldly trends, and trusting in divine providence for blessing and provision. This resonated strongly with the spiritual searching common to the 1970s youth culture. Meade eventually built a loose network of house churches spanning 14 states, operating under the name End Time Ministries — a reflection of his emphasis on biblical prophecy and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.

Theologically, the group incorporated elements of Pentecostal Christianity, including belief in faith healing, speaking in tongues, and active supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, blended with Meade’s own prophetic interpretations of scripture.

Relocation to Lake City, Florida (1980s–1990s)

In the 1980s, Meade proclaimed a divine revelation that the state of Florida — and specifically Lake City — was to become the permanent headquarters of his ministry. He designated Lake City as “The Promised Land,” claiming it would be supernaturally preserved from coming national and global disasters. Over the following years, the vast majority of members from across the 14 states relocated to this small city in northern Florida.

This relocation came with significant social consequences. Members were instructed that family and friends who refused to move were part of the sinful world and were to be shunned and cut off. For approximately 25 years, members maintained little to no contact with outside relatives or communities. Critics and former members later described this period as the organization’s full transition into cult-like behavior.

A 1998 New York Times article on doomsday groups documented Meade’s apocalyptic worldview, noting that some 2,000 followers had relocated to an underground bomb shelter constructed on Meade’s property.

Peak Growth and Controversies (1990s–2000s)

During the 1990s and 2000s, Mountaintop Ministries — then operating as Meade Ministries — reached its peak membership of over 2,000 followers. A large worship center was constructed in the mid-1990s on County Road 240 near Lake City, featuring seating for more than 2,000 congregants and an architectural design described as resembling an overturned Noah’s Ark — intended to serve as a symbol of divine refuge and to attract new members.

The organization’s growing profile attracted attention from national news media and law enforcement. The FBI reportedly investigated the group in the 2000s in response to allegations of illegal activities, including the stockpiling of weapons.

Internally, the organization became increasingly restrictive. Members who were deemed insufficiently generous in their financial giving faced shunning. Attendance at sporting events was grounds for expulsion. Entertainment such as movies and board games was prohibited. Former members described a culture of pervasive control over nearly every aspect of daily life, from finances and relationships to medical decisions, with conventional healthcare routinely discouraged in favor of faith healing.

Death of Charles Meade and Leadership Transition (2010–2014)

Charles Meade died on April 10, 2010, at a Veterans Administration hospital from medical complications, at the age of 93. Control of the organization passed first to his wife, Marlene Meade, who served as head of the church until her removal in 2011.

Leadership was then assumed by Meade’s grandson, James Burbach, who initiated sweeping reforms. Burbach quickly moved to dismantle the restrictive rules of the Meade era, declaring an open-door policy with the philosophy that “the only rule was there were no rules.” Outreach programs were established, estranged families were reunited after decades of enforced separation, and former members were welcomed back into the congregation.

As part of this reform effort, the organization was renamed Mountaintop Ministries, a deliberate departure from the Meade family name, to signal a break from its insular past. The church established a presence in Mexico, membership reportedly doubled, and fundraising campaigns in 2014 raised over $2 million.

2015 Scandal and Collapse

In December 2015, the organization experienced a catastrophic crisis. Multiple women publicly accused Charles Meade of having engaged in sexual intercourse with them when they were minors, continuing into their adult years. The allegations sent shockwaves through the congregation, triggering demands for transparency about the church’s leadership and financial operations.

Whistleblowers disclosed that funds raised during the previous year’s campaigns had not been directed to legitimate outreach, but had instead been used to fund lavish lifestyles for self-appointed board members and falsified missions that were actually casino and entertainment trips.

The revelations prompted a historic confrontation. At what became known as a “final” church service, enraged members confronted leadership in a three-hour public deliberation. The gathering concluded with over 1,200 members leaving the church permanently. The church formally closed, and the remaining small group of former followers rebranded once more, operating under the name Christian Fellowship Church. This remnant congregation continues to meet in Lake City, focused — according to reports — on attempting to address the wrongs of the organization’s five-decade history.

Leadership

Leader	Role	Period
Charles Meade	Founder and Senior Pastor	1984–2010
Marlene Meade	Acting Head	2010–2011
James Burbach	Senior Pastor (Reform Era)	2011–2015

Beliefs and Practices

Mountaintop Ministries Worldwide historically espoused a blend of Pentecostal Christian theology and the personal prophetic teachings of Charles Meade. Core theological positions included:

Belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Practice of faith healing and rejection of conventional medical treatment
Speaking in tongues and other charismatic spiritual gifts
Strict personal holiness standards, including abstention from popular entertainment and sports
Communal financial sacrifice to support the ministry

Critics — including cult awareness organizations and former members — have described the organization’s former practices as consistent with high-control religious groups, citing the systematic shunning of non-members, restriction of outside information, financial exploitation, and leaders’ claims to exclusive divine revelation.

Physical Campus

The main worship center, built in the mid-1990s, is located at 5037 SW County Road 240, Lake City, Florida 32024, in Columbia County. The building was constructed to seat more than 2,000 worshippers and features a distinctive architectural design. The property also historically included communal living arrangements for members who had relocated from across the country. USA Churches lists the congregation as Non-Denominational / Independent.

Legal and Financial Status

Mountaintop Ministries Worldwide Inc. is registered as a nonprofit religious organization with the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 45-2670583. As a church, the organization is not required to file an annual IRS Form 990 return. The organization is classified under NTEE code X20 (Christian).

Media Coverage

The organization has been the subject of coverage by several regional and national outlets over the decades:

New York Times (1998): Documented the group’s apocalyptic beliefs and communal underground shelter as part of reporting on doomsday groups.
WCJB TV-20 (2012): Broadcast a segment titled “Former ‘End-Time’ Group Speaks Out,” covering the post-Meade reform era.
Lake City Journal (2015): Published a feature in which Mountaintop Ministries Worldwide leaders discussed their mission and addressed questions about their congregation.
Lake City Reporter (2012): Published “Going Public,” a front-page story on the organization’s transition.