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The Jonestown Mass Murder-Suicide: Jim Jones
James Warren Jones was born in 1931 in rural Indiana. His sense of self-importance emerged early, and by the 1950s, he had appointed himself a Christian minister.
He began preaching in small churches around Indianapolis, harboring ambitions of founding his congregation.
In order to raise funds for his dream church, Jim Jones tried out some colorful business ventures, even selling live monkeys door-to-door at one point.
In the mid-1950s, Jim’s dreams of leading became reality when he opened his first church, the People’s Temple of the Disciples of Christ, in Indianapolis.
Then, in the mid-60s, Jim moved his small congregation to Mendocino County in northern California. By the 70s, he had relocated his headquarters once again to San Francisco and established another temple in Los Angeles.
San Francisco became the stage for Jim Jones’s rise to influence. He gained favor with the media and public officials by donating to charities, supporting programs for the needy, and even helping gather votes for politicians during elections.
Initially, the People’s Temple established impactful social programs, offering a free dining hall, rehabilitation services, and legal aid for those in need. Jim’s…
