INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES, SOME INSIDE VIEWS

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The second major function of our work program is training. Because nearly all attendees will, sooner or later, leave the commune, we know that the most important practical help we can give them is the ability to earn a decent living. However, a great many of our newcomers have had little or no work experience, and an even greater number have no specific marketable skills. Here they can learn efficient work habits: to be on time, to give an honest effort, to persevere through self-discipline, to work cooperatively with others, to accept responsibility and fulfill it, and to derive satisfaction from a job well done.

The third major function of our work program is the maintenance of the commune, which involves kitchen work, housekeeping, laundry, sewing, child care, gardening, auto repair, and—because we construct our own buildings—carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, welding, masonry, and so on. Because of the size of our operation, there's an office staff, and because of the nature of our mission, there are planning, counseling, and spiritual work.

Finally, our work program produces income. (We're about 95% self-supporting.) Repairing our own clothing, for example, has taken second place to the sewing of quilts and other products that can be sold. Our office staffers manage to find the "spare time" for some outside employment, and those with skills in the building trades stop working on our own projects to do paying outside work when the opportunity arises.

Our main efforts to provide income, though, are focused on the creation of industries. A few years ago, we acquired two old fishing boats. Over time, we restored them, trained ourselves in seamanship and commercial fishing, and set out onto the ocean. Today, this operation provides a large part of our cash flow.

The people of our satellite commune in Paso Robles have not yet been able to develop our planned agricultural enterprise, because of a lack of starting capital. However, they have acquired a reputation among local ranchers and farmers as quality workers.

After a year's stay, a person may apply for permanent membership in Roandoak of God. In order to be admitted, an individual must read the entire Bible... memorize Acts, chapter 2... be voted on by the entire permanent membership... and receive final approval by the pastor. These members give all they have to the welfare of the commune and become "part owners," in a sense, of the entire Roandoak of God operation. Their votes help guide and determine the future of our work. This contract may be nullified either by the person or—in the case of continual bad behavior—by a two-thirds vote of the entire permanent membership. Elders, who are usually those who've been commune members for at least five years (currently they number 15), form the basic governing body of the commune, with the pastor retaining veto and emergency-response power.

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