Editing Peoples Temple (section)

===Indianapolis expansion===
Jones used the convention meetings with other Pentecostal speakers to gain wide publicity, and Jim Jones continued to disguise the fact that he was using religion to further his political ideology.<ref name="raven49" /> Those conventions drew as many as 11,000 attendees,<ref name="raven49" /> as James Warren Jones and the other preachers conducted "healings" and impressed attendees by revealing private information—usually addresses, phone numbers, or [[Social Security number]]s, which [[private detective]]s could easily discover beforehand.<ref name="raven49" /> Jones and Temple members also drove through various cities in Indiana and [[Ohio]] on recruiting and fundraising efforts.<ref name="raven57">Reiterman 1982. p. 57.</ref>

The Temple stressed [[egalitarianism|egalitarian]] ideals, asking members to attend in casual clothes so poor members would not feel out of place, and providing shelter for the needy.<ref name="raven54">Reiterman 1982. pp. 54–55.</ref> While the Temple had increased its African-American membership from 15% to nearly 50%, in order to attempt further gains the Temple hired African-American preacher Archie Ijames (who had earlier given up organized religion).<ref name="raven49" /> Pastor Ijames was one of the first to commit to Jones's [[socialism|socialist]] [[collective]] program.<ref name="raven54" /> In 1959, the church joined the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]], and was renamed the '''Peoples Temple Christian Church Full Gospel'''.{{sfn|Wessinger|2000}}{{page needed|date=July 2025}} This affiliation was a successful attempt to both raise the dwindling membership and restore the reputation of the organization.

In February 1960, the Temple opened a [[soup kitchen]] for the poor and expanded their social services to include rent assistance, job placement services, free canned goods, clothing, and coal for winter heating.<ref name="raven54" /> Jones and his wife Marceline helped to increase the Temple's soup kitchen service to an average of about 2,800 meals per month.<ref name="raven54" /> The Temple's public profile was further elevated when Jones was appointed to the Indianapolis [[Human Rights Commission]]. He engaged in public attempts to integrate businesses and was the subject of much local media coverage.<ref>Reiterman 1982. pp. 68–72.</ref>