5 things to know about Profundity Yours, a group causing concerns in East Texas

Final 12 months, a group known as Profundity Yours moved into Cass County. Led by a girl named Linda Good McGillis, the group and its members say they hope to construct a self-sustaining group in rural East Texas.

Throughout their first 12 months in Cass County, the group stored a comparatively low profile. However after they bought the one restaurant in the tiny city of Marietta this March, rumors and scrutiny began following the group. Some locals grew to become involved Profundity Yours is a cult.

Listed below are 5 things to know about the group and locals’ response to their presence:

Associated:Eccentric group strikes into East Texas city. Residents fear about speak of ‘ascension’

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Who’s Linda Good McGillis?(*5*)

McGillis was born in Portland, Ore., and grew up in Montana. She started gaining a following in new-age non secular communities on YouTube and Fb about 10 years in the past.

She managed Fb teams the place followers may assist each other deal with and confront trauma, and introduced herself as a stargazer and lightworker — somebody who sought to assist others attain soul-awakening epiphanies.

As McGillis started gaining extra of a following, one thing switched, some followers stated. Whereas it had at all times been troublesome to succinctly describe McGillis’ ideology — she informed her followers they shouldn’t have any beliefs — they stated she grew to become extra arcane in her recommendation and extra immodest in her descriptions of herself.

McGillis described herself to followers because the Alpha and Omega. She stated she was the “I’m.” She in contrast herself to Jesus Christ. Her beliefs may appear esoteric to most individuals, however they made sense to a few of her core followers.

Linda Good McGillis poses for a photograph on the Ole City Cafe in Marietta.(Tom Fox / Employees Photographer)

Who’re members of Profundity Yours?(*5*)

Profundity Yours members come from all over the world. Many have undergone a type of deep trauma, and located group in the teams McGillis arrange on Fb.

About a dozen folks stay completely on the ranch, although the inhabitants fluctuates as folks from all over the world come and go. A number of of the group’s core members work in the restaurant.

What have former members stated?(*5*)

The Dallas Morning Information spoke with two former members of the group, Michele Nahas and Vicki Grunstad, who described their preliminary interactions with McGillis and her followers as therapeutic whereas each had been coping with trauma. Nahas’ son had been killed and Grunstad was caring for an in poor health and growing old father.

McGillis lavished them with love and a spotlight. However they each stated she would take their trauma and switch it in opposition to them. They stated McGillis was inclined to matches of screaming rage.

McGillis didn’t present a remark in response to the allegations from Grunstad and Nahas.

The Marietta metropolis workplace constructing (proper), volunteer firehouse (middle) and previous mercantile constructing line Central Avenue throughout the road from Linda Good McGillis’ Ole City Cafe.(Tom Fox / Employees Photographer)

What do locals suppose?(*5*)

Some Marietta residents have welcomed Profundity Yours, saying they aren’t bothering anyone, have labored to combine themselves in the group and have made the meals served in the city’s solely restaurant higher than it ever has been.

Others aren’t as welcoming. A number of residents who spoke with The Information described Marietta as a God-fearing city in the Bible Belt, and that the group’s beliefs go in opposition to their deeply held spiritual ideas. Residents have additionally stated they’re involved about McGillis’ common-law husband, who’s serving a federal jail sentence on fees associated to baby pornography, making Marietta his dwelling as soon as he’s launched from jail.

An anti-Profundity Yours marketing campaign on social media has triggered some Marietta residents to worry the group.

What are their future plans?(*5*)

Profundity Yours hopes to construct a self-sustaining group for members on their ranch in Marietta, the place they develop their very own meals.