In case of emergency: Without Walls Ministry organizes ‘prepper’s conference’

The idea was born of a dream. Gordon Cashwell heard God’s voice. “Come with me into my garden of forgiveness.”

Cashwell, founder of Charleston-based Without Walls Ministry, kept dreaming, and his dreams converged with real-life encounters.

The dreams led to encounters; the encounters led to coincidences and ideas; the ideas led to more dreams.

And God spoke of rain barrels, and this led to more encounters, more ideas, until it became clear to Cashwell that he was being asked by God to prepare for coming disaster.

“Things like this have happened over and over to let me know disaster is coming,” he explained in an email. “A lot of the people in our leadership began to dream about raising chickens, rabbits, grains and more. They came to me to speak with me about homesteading, water purification, ham radio and more.”

Then, another encounter — with a Columbia woman who organized a “prepper’s conference.” Cashwell decided he would do the same.

“Unless there is some great repentance, disaster is surely on the way,” Cashwell said.

In a telephone interview, he said there is a growing movement of preppers. Some are concerned about natural disaster. Others about Armageddon.

“We’re not necessarily preparing for doomsday, but we are giving people the tools to be ready, and to be ready to help others,” Cashwell said. “The more people who are prepared, the safer our city is going to be.”

What’s more, he said, “if there is going to be some sort of emergency, the poor are probably going to be hit the hardest.”

Without Walls Ministry, a group of churches and businesses that adopt neighborhoods, is sponsoring the Lowcountry Prepper’s Conference, scheduled for 6:30-9 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at First Assembly of God, 2957 Savannah Highway. Conference speakers include David Kobler and Scott Hunt of Practical Preppers LLC; Steve Nolan, co-founder of Survivalweek.com and author of “Thinking the Unthinkable”; Stan Rowland, director of the Collaborative for Neighborhood Transformation; and Anaya Meszoros, founder and director of Solarchef1.

Admission is $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Call 958-1039 or visit withoutwallsministry.org to register.

“As Christians, we’ve got to think of others,” Cashwell said.