Doug, Cindy and their dogs Buttercup and Ari in their truck in the trailer park get ready for a long day of running errands on behalf of the community in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Doug, Cindy and their dogs Buttercup and Ari in their truck in the trailer park get ready for a long day of running errands on behalf of the community in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Cindy takes a mobile call while on her way to the community thrift store in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Cindy, originally from Texas, first learned about Doug on the internet. She moved to Missouri to join him and his budding community. They have no

Cindy takes a mobile call while on her way to the community thrift store in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Cindy, originally from Texas, first learned about Doug on the internet. She moved to Missouri to join him and his budding community. They have now been married for ten years.

Cindy stops the car to offer prayer to one of the Fellowship's members.

Cindy stops the car to offer prayer to one of the Fellowship's members.

Doug and Fellowship members take a break after moving a new delivery of second-hand furniture into the thrift store in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The store must bring in at least $500 every day in order to help the community stay afloat.

Doug and Fellowship members take a break after moving a new delivery of second-hand furniture into the thrift store in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The store must bring in at least $500 every day in order to help the community stay afloat.

Detail of a wall of Doug's thrift store. The store must bring in at least $500 every day in order to help the community stay afloat.

Detail of a wall of Doug's thrift store. The store must bring in at least $500 every day in order to help the community stay afloat.

Doug manages the movement of boxed goods which are often gifted to other Christian organisations, distributed to homeless people or sold in the Fellowship thrift store. The warehouse houses everything from boxes of the board game “Monopoly”, hospital

Doug manages the movement of boxed goods which are often gifted to other Christian organisations, distributed to homeless people or sold in the Fellowship thrift store. The warehouse houses everything from boxes of the board game “Monopoly”, hospital beds, clothes horses and bulk crates of kitchen towels.

Doug prays with other Fellowship members in the trailer park where the majority live, wearing a "Jesus" t-shirt.

Doug prays with other Fellowship members in the trailer park where the majority live, wearing a "Jesus" t-shirt.

Fellowship members join Doug in a moment of reflection at a worship meeting circling a bonfire in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The Fellowship of the Martyrs have fortnightly gatherings at Doug’s plot of land called “The Liberty Farm.” These meetings

Fellowship members join Doug in a moment of reflection at a worship meeting circling a bonfire in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The Fellowship of the Martyrs have fortnightly gatherings at Doug’s plot of land called “The Liberty Farm.” These meetings are often accompanied by food and song.

Sean, who has been with the community for around three years, wishes to resolve anger management issues through group prayer at Liberty Farm helped by Violet, Doug and Cindy in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Prayer continues as rain begins to fall.

Sean, who has been with the community for around three years, wishes to resolve anger management issues through group prayer at Liberty Farm helped by Violet, Doug and Cindy in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Prayer continues as rain begins to fall.

A member of the Fellowship listens to Doug's sermon.

A member of the Fellowship listens to Doug's sermon.

The community’s bicycles stack up alongside cars, trailers and RVs at Liberty Farm located 3.3 miles outside Excelsior Springs close to Rocky Hollow Lake.

The community’s bicycles stack up alongside cars, trailers and RVs at Liberty Farm located 3.3 miles outside Excelsior Springs close to Rocky Hollow Lake.

Doug in his at-home office in his trailer at Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Doug in his at-home office in his trailer at Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Cindy embraces Kerry, a Fellowship member, when she comes to settle a misunderstanding in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Cindy says she tries to encourage Fellowship members to communicate any grievances to her or Doug as soon as possible rather than l

Cindy embraces Kerry, a Fellowship member, when she comes to settle a misunderstanding in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Cindy says she tries to encourage Fellowship members to communicate any grievances to her or Doug as soon as possible rather than letting it stew.

Cindy, Doug and their dog Buttercup record a YouTube Live video in the trailer they call home in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Their YouTube channel has 21,000 subscribers as of September 2022.

Cindy, Doug and their dog Buttercup record a YouTube Live video in the trailer they call home in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Their YouTube channel has 21,000 subscribers as of September 2022.

Doug and ex-US Navy veteran Josh regularly visit supermarkets in the area to collect out-of-date food which would otherwise go to waste in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Food is then delivered to those living in the trailer park or spread on tables out

Doug and ex-US Navy veteran Josh regularly visit supermarkets in the area to collect out-of-date food which would otherwise go to waste in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Food is then delivered to those living in the trailer park or spread on tables outside Doug’s thrift store for needy customers to help themselves.

A member of the Fellowship who struggles with addiction issues hugs Buttercup the dog. Cindy has been doing her best to help her get a job in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

A member of the Fellowship who struggles with addiction issues hugs Buttercup the dog. Cindy has been doing her best to help her get a job in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Ross, who currently lives in his car with his wife and is hoping to join the Fellowship, shows off his religious tattoos at the farm in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The tattoos were hand-poked by another inmate during his time in prison using a guita

Ross, who currently lives in his car with his wife and is hoping to join the Fellowship, shows off his religious tattoos at the farm in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The tattoos were hand-poked by another inmate during his time in prison using a guitar string and ashes.

Cindy cares for a woman and her dog at Liberty Farm in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The police had just dropped off the woman, who was recently released from the hospital, at the farm at the woman’s request.

Cindy cares for a woman and her dog at Liberty Farm in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The police had just dropped off the woman, who was recently released from the hospital, at the farm at the woman’s request.

Cindy and community members Aaron and Chris wait at the entrance of a cave located on Liberty Farm’s land for the drizzle to clear so they can begin lighting the bonfire for the evening’s worship in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

Cindy and community members Aaron and Chris wait at the entrance of a cave located on Liberty Farm’s land for the drizzle to clear so they can begin lighting the bonfire for the evening’s worship in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

The entrance of the cave, used to house members of the Fellowship of the Martyrs.

The entrance of the cave, used to house members of the Fellowship of the Martyrs.

For the Love of God

Doug Perry calls himself the reluctant leader of a controversial religious community known as the “Fellowship of the Martyrs.” Approximately 50 people live in trailers in a mobile home park and adjacent farm on the outskirts of Excelsior Springs, Missouri; their proximity to a nearby lake has led some in the town to refer to them as the “Rocky Hollow Cult”.

Doug says that in 2004, God told him to save humanity from the New World Order – a secret totalitarian world government – and that Christians needed to unite against it. He believes he channels God’s will in the books he self-publishes and the YouTube videos he regularly records. To help cover the Fellowship’s expenses, Doug runs a 12,000 square foot warehouse and thrift store stocked with donated goods.

Meanwhile his wife, Cindy, manages the people in their community by mediating disagreements, encouraging volunteers to help fix broken trailers, and helping those struggling with addiction, financial insecurity, or mental instability to find their feet.