Residents of a quiet town in western Maine are looking for ways to prevent a religious group of ‘barking’ men from returning to their area.
Locals in Kingfield were surprised when members of Legendarios, an evangelical movement founded in Guatemala, first set up camp in their town last year.
They say three further camps followed this summer.
The religious group’s latest retreat hosted more than 700 men, according to its social media posts.
Residents in Kingfield, which has a population of fewer than 1,000 people, are used to seeing hikers and skiers, but claimed the massive influx of worshippers had proved disruptive.
Locals told the Bangor Daily News that members arrived in multiple tour buses at Deer Farm Camp, named it ‘Patriots Valley’ and that their activities disturbed the neighbors.
The crew cleared unauthorized paths in the woods, according to the residents. They were also accused of marching and chanting both day and night.
A spokesman for Legendarios said the group had not broken any laws.
Locals residents accused the religious group Legendarios of organizing retreats that they claimed caused a disturbance (Stock image)
The group said it is seeking to reach out to the local community in the hope that it can be accomodated again in the future (Stock image)
He said he had been granted permission from the landowner and also spoken to members of the town’s Shiloh Pond Committee, which oversees some areas around Deer Farm Campground.
Kendrys Vasquez, a local leader of Legendarios, said the group had no intentions of cutting new trails.
‘There were opportunities to make the space a bit better,’ he said.
‘The idea behind it was to provide safety for everyone participating, keeping in mind the beauty that the area has to offer.’
The group said it is seeking to reach out to the local community before it returns.
The Legendarios movement started 26 years ago in Guatemala and boasts of 19,741 members in the US.
It is ‘an initiative combining adventure with powerful encounters with God, designed specifically to challenge and transform men,’ the group said on its website.
Vasquez said that the crew finds a location that is quiet so that members can connect with nature and god.
Kendrys Vasquez, a local leader of Legendarios, said the group had sought to improve the area (Stock image)
Residents believe its activities are far from quiet.
Lance Dutson, who lives close to the campsite, said the group chants and ‘barks.’
‘This pond acts kind of like an amphitheater,’ he said.
The town’s select board is considering hiring a lawyer to find a way to stop the group from returning.
