A non-denominational community with a deep commitment to biblical teachings and home education.
Founded in 1906, Shiloh True Light Church of Christ is a non-denominational church located in Mint Hill, North Carolina. It stands as a beacon of faith and tradition in the local community, emphasizing the importance of biblical teachings, as encapsulated within the King James version of the Bible. The church is led by Minister Mike McGee and hosts a single service each Sunday at 11:00 a.m., inviting members to engage in worship and scriptural study.
History and Beliefs
The church was established with the belief that Christ died for the sins of the entire world, affirming that salvation is accessible to all who earnestly seek Him. According to Shiloh True Light Church of Christ, every individual is born in a state of sin and can only be redeemed through Jesus Christ, the Savior. It emphasizes the necessity of accepting Christ, having faith in His divine nature, seeking forgiveness for one’s sins, and receiving the Holy Spirit. This acceptance and spiritual renewal signify the individual’s membership in the spiritual Church of Christ, steering them towards a life guided by the Holy Spirit, characterized by charity and love for Jesus Christ and God the Father.
Educational and Vocational Initiatives
Shiloh True Light Church of Christ places a significant emphasis on education, particularly through its home schooling program initiated in 1971. This program is designed to integrate Bible study into daily lessons, reflecting the church’s dedication to guiding children in the ways of God and His Son. Moreover, the church operates a vocational school aimed at equipping the youth with practical skills alongside their spiritual education.
Community Engagement and Services
The church actively engages in community service and outreach programs. This includes meal programs for the homeless and disaster relief efforts, showcasing its commitment to charity and service beyond its congregation. The church’s approach to faith is holistic, aiming to nurture both the spiritual and practical aspects of its members’ lives.
Worship and Connectivity
For those unable to attend services in person, Shiloh True Light Church of Christ offers several ways to connect and participate in worship. This includes live and recorded video services, live audio streams, and phone-in options for listening to services, ensuring that the church’s teachings are accessible to a wider audience.
In summary, Shiloh True Light Church of Christ represents a tradition-rich Christian community that upholds the teachings of the Bible as the cornerstone of its faith and practice. Its dedication to education, community service, and spiritual development reflects its commitment to fostering a comprehensive Christian way of life.
Controversies
Shiloh True Light Church of Christ has a long history of controversies and cult-like accusations. The founder declared himself to be the third angel mentioned in Revelation 14, and the church declared the world would end by 1970. The church has been also marred by accusations of sexual abuse and eventually split after two different people both claimed to be anointed.
In the case of Reich v. Shiloh True Light Church of Christ, the church faced scrutiny for its practices involving minors in a vocational training program. The program was criticized for not paying children under 16 while still benefiting from their labor. The church argued that these minors were not employees but rather student trainees, receiving “gifts” instead of wages. This stance led to a lawsuit contending that the program violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provisions regarding child labor, minimum wage, and record-keeping.
The legal disputes brought to light the church’s financial operations, particularly how it managed labor costs, material costs, and the inclusion of administrative and interest fees in its construction projects. Notably, labor charges did not account for the work of children under 16, in line with the church’s policy against paying wages to underage participants. Despite this, the minors received lump sum payments, described by the church as “gifts,” based on their experience and achievement in the program. The Department of Labor’s lawsuit against the SVTP highlighted these practices, arguing they contravened child labor laws. The court eventually ruled that participants under 16 were indeed employees entitled to FLSA protections, thereby concluding that the church violated child labor, minimum wage, and record-keeping requirements.
These legal findings underscored concerns about the church’s vocational training program and its compliance with labor laws. The church’s defense hinged on the free exercise clause and other administrative defenses, including arguments about the Department of Labor’s no-enforcement policy for certain vocational programs. However, the court rejected these defenses, reinforcing the applicability of labor laws to the church’s program and emphasizing the primary beneficiary test to determine employee status under the FLSA.
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