Sam Childers | |
|---|---|
 Sam Childers arriving at a book signing of Another Man's War | |
| Born | 1963 (age 61–62) Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable works | Another Man's War |
| Notable awards | Mother Teresa Awards |
| Children | 2 |
Sam Childers (born 1963), also known as theMachine Gun Preacher, is an American motorcyclist, author, and Christian. A member of theHighwaymen Motorcycle Club, Childers became well known afterDateline NBC broadcast a profile of him byKeith Morrison and Tim Sandler that documented his interactions withJoseph Kony, the leader of theLord's Resistance Army in 2005. Childers subsequently dedicated his life and resources to rescuing children in thewar zone ofSouth Sudan. Childers and his wife Lynn founded and operate Angels of East Africa, the Children's Village Orphanage inNimule,South Sudan, where they currently have around 185 children in their care. Childers also has orphanages and homes inUganda andEthiopia with another 160 children in his organisation's care.
In 2013, Childers received theMother Teresa Award for Social Justice.[1][2]
Childers was born inGrand Forks, North Dakota, the son of Paul Childers, anironworker and formerMarine.[3] Childers had two older brothers, Paul Jr. and George. He also had a sister, Donna, who died of a heart problem before she was a year old. While he was growing up, his parents moved the family from place to place, following construction projects.[citation needed]
In the spring of 1974, shortly before Childers turned 12, his family moved toGrand Rapids, Minnesota. Going into seventh grade he discovered cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol and heroin, which led to many years of drug addiction, drug dealing, and alcoholism. Childers also developed a love for motorcycles and the lifestyle that led him to become a member of theHighwaymen Motorcycle Club.[4][5][6][7]
Childers married a woman named Lynn before converting to Christianity, and had a daughter (Paige) and a son.[citation needed]
Childers converted toChristianity in mid-1992, with the help of his 1st wife, during arevival meeting at anAssembly of God church. That same evening Childers' pastor allegedly prophesied that he would go toAfrica. At the end of 1997, Childers made his first trip toSudan. In that first trip and the many that followed, he was exposed to the acts of theLord's Resistance Army (LRA),[8] which he described as atrocious.
Not long after his first trip to Sudan, Childers and his then wife Lynn founded the Angels of East Africa, the Children's Village in Southern Sudan.[9] The Children’s Village currently houses and educates over 180 (figures update 2021) orphans,[10] with over a thousand children rescued since its conception.[11] The staff at the Children's Village are primarily Sudanese orphans and widows themselves.
Childers details the events of his life and his experiences in Africa in his bookAnother Man's War.[12] The book bears the endorsement fromSouth Sudan PresidentSalva Kiir Mayardit: "The Reverend Sam Childers has been a very close friend to the government ofSouth Sudan for many years and is a trusted friend."[13]
In November 2009, Childers appeared onDebra Peppers' television showOutreach Connection inQuincy, Illinois. He revealed that he also rescues children abducted in northernUganda.[citation needed]
In 2011,Relativity Media released abiopic about Childers entitledMachine Gun Preacher, which was based on Childers' bookAnother Man's War. The film was written byJason Keller and directed byMarc Forster. The cast featuredGerard Butler in the title role,Michelle Monaghan as Childers' wife Lynn, andMichael Shannon as his best friend Donnie.
In 2014, a documentary with the same title was produced by Angels of East Africa, and filmed/edited by Australians Kevin Evans and Zac Simpson. It was released globally by Heritage Films in Australia and in North America by Vision Films (US).
Childers did a speaking tour of UK churches, organisations, businesses, rehab centers, and prisons in 2018. He was interviewed on video in Tamworth, UK.[14]
Childers has faced criticism over his actions and representation of himself.Foreign Policy cast doubt on Childers' stories of rescue, stating that "[i]t would take a miracle for all of Childers’s claims to be completely true." It also asserted that the operations of other aid workers are imperiled by Childers' actions. Additionally, theSPLA distanced itself from Childers, stating via a spokesman that "The SPLA does not know Sam Childers."[15]
In 2014, Childers' home and ministry properties were the subjects of a raid by theFBI and theIRS.[16][17] In 2019, Childers was cleared of all charges by the FBI and the IRS.
Other criticism includes allegations that orphanages started by Childers have been poorly run, and that Childers has not made a visit in years.[18][19] AVanity Fair profile compared Childers' demeanor toward some villagers as "bullying."[20]
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