Content warning: These events are loosely based on the cult led by Jim Jones called the People's Temple during the 60s and 70s and was the biggest mass suicide that the world has seen.*

"Common Mattie, it will be fun and totally revolutionary!" Alfred begged, pulling on Matthew's large shirt, and was quickly shrugged off because he would be damned if Alfred stretched his shirt.

"No, Al, I don't think so, seems like a little much," He said softly, keeping his eyes on the book he was reading, his long hair falling to the sides of his face creating a blond veil.

"It is like a church mixed with a rally, they are the head of civil rights right now, dude," Alfred pleaded, whining like a little boy. Maybe if he annoyed Matthew enough, he would give in. Besides, it was a good cause. He had seen what miracles could happen when they came together as people for a better world! The energy of the room and the love in the air was enough to get Alfred high and hooked on this church.

"What is it called?" Matthew said, giving into Alfred's puppy dog demeanor. "The People's Temple! Groovy, right? People of all shapes and colors! And the

minister guy who spoke, wow Mattie you wouldn't believe it. That man really knows how to speak to a crowd!" Alfred beamed. This man named Jim Jones had blown him out of the water.

"I've seen him in action, dude! He's a miracle worker, I swear to God!" He continued to bolster, his hand on his heart.

"I am not sure if I believe in faith healing, it's usually always a scam," the brother responded. He was usually always the soft-spoken and kind-hearted of the two but even he could begin to smell a rat. This isn't the first time that Alfred has tried to convince Matthew to go to a service. Organized religion during their day and age was stifling with all their rules. It did sound different but he just wasn't ready to try out another belief system.

"Just come to a service with me on Sunday! Pretty please?" Alfred begged, he had seen firsthand how the reverend Jim Jones worked miracles and spoke words directly through God. Lest he forget the pure excitement of the crowd and of everyone coming together. The civil rights unrest in the sixties had opened the door to a country at peace. They were lucky they lived in progressive San Francisco and away from most of the unrest in the country. However, even in this proud town, there was still hatred and judgment in the streets. Alfred nailed in that this church was the place that was going to lead the country into peace and that it was the new home of love and acceptance.

"Okay, I will try it. I'm not a big church person, Al," Matt reminded, but he gave in mainly so Alfred would stop bugging him about it. He often gave into Alfred's wild whims

because he knew he would not drop it until they said yes. Alfred could talk people out of and into anything, his charismatic personality was addicting. "You won't be sorry, dude," Alfred assured. He had stumbled upon this new church that showed up in San Francisco, California a few months prior and was hooked immediately. The outpouring of love for the human race really fit their name, the People's Temple. It was founded by a man named Jim Jones. From the first service he attended, he knew this was where he belonged. During the heat of the civil rights movement, the Peoples Temple was the crown jewel in Alfred and the rest of the attendees' minds. The strangest thing he discovered was that Jones was an atheist. His main goal was social equality and to free people of the opiate of religion. From what Alfred understood, it means freeing people from the structure of organized religion. People are often blinded by their beliefs and what a Christian should be. They turn to their beliefs in times of great need and cherry pick what fits their agenda while warping the image of "God". Alfred often shared works of Karl Marx he came across in his studies in college. Marx believed that religion is the vice of the world, while not fully agreeing with him, Alfred believed that mainstream religion is the bane of the world. They needed something beyond that and bigger than that. Alfred needed to see to believe. Matthew on the other hand was on for the ride with Alfred, keeping him out of trouble. His personal beliefs are muddied, he was burned before and he needed something real. He was hesitant on starting something completely new. Alfred had a long complicated relationship with religion since he was around ten years old. It wasn't until he was in his twenties did he realize his religious trauma. The teachings of his childhood church preached fire and brimstone, any sin you'd be condemned to hell. Additionally, it was a whites-only church at the time and that never sat right with Alfred. Matthew gave up religion years before Alfred did. There were many things that their church damned to hell such as the black community and gays, they preached hate when God was supposed to be loving. This left a sour taste in the brother's mouth and the second they were eighteen and out of their parent's house, they stopped going to church altogether. Alfred was surprised that the church could be so different from the typical cookie-cutter church. They didn't believe in a God that was made in the people's image and their opinion of what God should be.

"I've got to destroy this paper idol!" Jim Jones preached, thumping his hands against the paper copy Bible. Cheers in agreement erupted from the crowd of people ready to break free from organized religion.

"When I was young, I saw the preacher excite the crowd over fire and brimstone," he bellowed, "I wanted to be that man! If you believe in me, I will cause the kingdoms of this racist society to become the kingdoms of socialistic freedom!" The crowd, filled with people of all colors burst into cheers of love for each other.

These memories burned into Alfred's mind, the feeling of love and togetherness was impossible to forget. The church aside, Jim had senior citizen homes and a rehabilitation center, daycare, and a medical clinic, anything he could to give back to the community. Normally that kind of support for a community cost an arm and a leg and in impoverished cities, homeless lined the streets with their children dirty and hungry. Jones was out to change that for these communities and help racial discrimination in healthcare and the work force. He even adopted children of color, black, Asian, Filipino, and was the first caucasian man to do so in the state of Indiana.

"I represent divine principle. Divine Socialism! I will not pass away, but shall stand throughout the endless ages of time!"

Somehow this man always preached what people wanted and needed to hear in a hateful society. Alfred was desperate to show Matthew that there was still love in the world and the change was starting in San Francisco.

When Alfred and Matt walked into the church, there was a positive buzz through the air, whites intermingling with black, a rare sight but a welcome one. While integration was granted a couple of years ago, there was still a separation, but in this church, it was completely different. Matthew hadn't ever seen such happy and caring people. A few came by and shook their hands, welcoming them to the church and greeting them with a loving smile. There was singing, people holding hands, some people were even dancing. The music floated around in the vaulted ceilings, filling the building with light and magic. It was overwhelming to Matthew who was new to the scene and he inched closer to his brother.

"Isn't this bomb, dude! Everyone is always so happy here, everyone gets along and helps each other! You won't believe it but he even does faith healing! I've seen him heal a woman's hands!" He explained, leaning in close near Matthew's ear. Matt paused, faith healing? That sounded a little off to him, he usually didn't believe in that mumbo jumbo, most of the time it was just grand party tricks. Matthew was not convinced and was unsurprised that Alfred was sold on the idea.

They found their seats nestled between two families. The place was packed and everyone was shoved together like sardines, but the people were so friendly, the crowd didn't seem to affect anyone except Matthew. It seemed like they were right on time when he spotted a savvy man making his way to the podium, paused to shake many hands coming his way. He seemed to know everyone in attendance and it took him a minute to walk four more steps to the stage. Every single person he stopped at, shook their hands and said a quick prayer over them. It was as if each person was a close personal friend to the reverend. Finally, he made it to the podium equipped with a microphone to reach the entire audience.

"Good morning Family!" He began, earning cheers and good mornings from the crowd.

"I came today thinking about those motherfucking bureaucrats!" Matthew almost fell out of his chair. He could not believe this Godly man said mother fucker. This man was a different breed.

"I see their greed, don't you? Keeping people apart because of the color of their skin, making people work to the bone for a nine to five job," He continued.

"Socialism is the one true way to continue to walk this Earth hand and hand!" Matthew was still stunned into silence, the last person he had heard speak this way, minus the cussing was Martin Luther King. Alfred and him attended rallies held in his honor and walked in the protests. Maybe this man was the real deal.

"'Love is the only weapon!' Shit! Bullshit! Martin Luther King died with love. Kennedy died talking about something he couldn't even understand, some kind of generalized love, and he never even backed it up. He was shot down. Bullshit! 'Love is the only weapon to fight' I've got a hell of a lot of weapons to fight! I got my claws, I've got cutlasses! I've got guns. I've got dynamite. I've got a hell of a lot of fight! I'll fight! I'll fight!"

The crowd screamed, the sound echoing against the walls and embedding their minds. The energy in the room was a drug. He was right, while equality had been achieved many people still lived with hate and the people were still divided. While Matthew was far from a radical, he saw the passion shining in his brother's eyes. This man had so much charisma, even Matthew felt drawn to him the second he began to speak. They lived in a revolution and that revolution was happening in that church on a Sunday morning.

Matthew sat on the edge of his seat the entire service, soaking up this man's wisdom. He had never seen such altruism and charisma before. He could understand how Alfred had stars in his eyes whenever Jim Jones spoke. And as he went about his week, he stayed in his mind. He had never felt such energy before, the room buzzed with electricity, jolting every single person that was packed into that church. He began to count down the days till Sunday, which he quietly kept to himself. He was cautiously optimistic, but he had only gone once and he wanted to wait and see how this would play out. Alfred was excited enough that Matthew agreed to come to the next service.

When Sunday rolled around again, the energy was high on the way. They walked on the sidewalk as people went to the doors like moths to a lamp, rushing in and greeting each other with smiles and handshakes. Matthew was used to being the odd one out but even the church members stopped and shook his hand, asking about his

day. He was so used to being invisible to people that it was a nice change of pace. He could get used to such kind and caring people.

Once inside, they found a seat crammed in between two families and waited for Jim Jones to come out and speak to them. They didn't have to wait long before he came out from backstage and made it to the podium. His hair was black and slicked back, adorned on his face were sunglasses that Matthew found strange because they were inside. He wore a black and white checkered suit and a black tie with intricate designs. He was a sight to behold, he was stern but had a laid-back attitude about him. It was not every day you find a pastor that cusses and wears sunglasses inside.

"Good morning brothers and sisters!" He called, his hand up in the air as a greeting. Everyone cheered their greeting back to him, clapping and yelling. After a few announcements, Jim began to tell them about a special person that was with them today.

"Today we have been blessed with a miracle from God. Josephine here," He gestured to a frail woman in a wheelchair right in front of the stage. Everyone's eyes were on Jim Jones.

"She has been unfortunate in health, but goddammit this woman will walk today, she will place her feet on the ground and she will walk!" He bellowed, hopping off the stage towards the woman who was nearly in tears. Everyone in the pews was shocked and amazed, ready to see Jones work a miracle on this poor woman. Matthew was very skeptical, he didn't believe in faith healings. Most of them are just party tricks and hoaxes but he was interested in exactly how he was going to heal the woman. Jim placed his hand on her head, saying a prayer over Josephine, his words echoing into the silent church through speakers.

"God, let this woman be healed! Let this woman walk on the golden steps to you Lord," He began, booming through the mic as he yelled. Matthew was beyond skeptical but he stayed silent, observing. To his right, Alfred was on the edge of his seat, watching the woman intently, maybe believing that this disabled woman would get up and walk. Jim explained to the ground that Josephine had been disabled since birth, her legs never once supporting her body. This was possible in Matthew's mind. Her legs were just skinny enough to hold no muscle to stand on, even if she could walk he doubted her bones could hold her.

He continued to pray over the woman, begging the Lord, no- commanding him to heal Josephine's limbs. Matthew had to stop himself from internally rolling his eyes. He began to love the church but this seemed like a breaking point and he was disappointed. He wasn't surprised that Alfred was sold on the community and Jim Jones.

Then, Josephine's leg twitches. No problem, she's not paralyzed she can move her legs, he thought. But she continued to move them, leaning forward, placing her feet on the carpet. No way, she's not going to get up.

She began to lean forward slowly, unsure in herself but she trusted God. Matthew began to worry about her falling over, God will forsake her. He felt wrong for not trusting in Him but miracles like this hadn't happened since Jesus walked the Earth. Her behind lifted from the chair, Matthew's mouth dropped to the floor, he refused to believe his eyes, it must be a trick.

"No way," he whispered, refusing to look away, unsure he could believe his own eyes. The woman stood, the crowd screamed, praises of the Lord hurt Matthew's ear from the sheer volume but he couldn't care less. Now standing the woman began to cry tears of joy.

"I spoke to God, God answered!" Jones yelled in victory with a few "fuck yeah"s mixed in. The woman took a step towards the reverend, and she began to run. Before he knew it, Matthew was on his feet with everyone else, watching and cheering as she ran down the isles, her hands in the air in praise.