Hello from Colorado, where the peaks are tall and my perspective is sharpening by the hour! Today is Wednesday, June 3, 2026, and my faith is securely anchored in Christ Jesus! I am so glad you’ve returned to the blog as we continue peeling back the layers on the architects of this identity crisis.
I’ve spent the last few days trying to wrap my head around William Saunders Crowdy. He wasn’t just a preacher; he was a powerhouse. Born in a slave cabin, he escaped the lash, fought in the Civil War, and eventually became a wealthy landowner with over 100 acres in Oklahoma. But then, in 1892, he claimed God told him that African Americans were the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.
When I look at his life, I can’t help but see that “Jim Jones” shadow again. Crowdy was a brilliant businessman who owned stores, restaurants, and even an entire town in Virginia called “Canaan Land.” He gave people a “royal” identity, but he also built a system where they were completely economically tied to him.
It makes me wonder: was this a genuine attempt to help people find dignity, or was the “Ten Lost Tribes” narrative the perfect marketing tool to build a kingdom on earth? Money and power can make people do unusual things, and building a religious empire on a historical myth is about as unusual as it gets.
The Takeaway for Us
- The Business of Belief: One recognizes that fringe religious movements are often tied to economic empires. A captivating myth is highly effective at keeping followers loyal, compliant, and financially invested in a leader’s earthly kingdom.
- Dignity vs. Deception: Providing people with economic opportunities and a sense of pride is honorable. However, doing so by inventing a false biological lineage substitutes historical reality with a profitable illusion.
- The Blueprint of Control: A believer learns to look closely at organizations that require total economic and mental dependence. True spiritual freedom in Christ does not require you to buy into a manufactured heritage to belong.
Community Challenge
This week, look at the ministries or leaders you follow online or in person. Are they pointing you toward the free, unmerited grace of Jesus, or are they building an earthly empire that requires your financial dependence and your blind agreement? I challenge you to ask: Is this leader feeding my spirit, or are they using a unique narrative to build their own “Canaan Land”?
Scripture & Prayer
- Scripture:“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” — 2 Peter 2:3 (KJV)
- Prayer: Father, give us eyes to see past the outward success, wealth, and charisma of leaders who use Your name for personal gain. Guard our hearts against “feigned words” and historical myths designed to trap us. Help us to build our lives on the solid rock of Christ, rather than the earthly kingdoms of men. Amen.
The Spiritual Seal
Remember: You don’t need to buy into a religious empire to buy into the Kingdom of God. Your inheritance wasn’t commercialized by a 19th-century businessman; it was paid for in full by the blood of Jesus.
See you tomorrow (Thursday)!
Black Women Have It Going On 
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