The Mississippi Oath Keepers and Sheepdogs, a group of citizen soldiers in Lincoln and Lawrence counties, is hoping to expand its membership to better watch over the flocks.

An informational meeting will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at State Bank’s State Room in Brookhaven.

According to its Facebook page, the Mississippi Sheepdog’s Community Preparedness Team is a group “looking to build a strong, solid network of people here in the community” who will be prepared for any man-made or natural disaster.

“We are patriots that are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain liberty and freedom for our future generations, uphold the constitution, and restore our republic,” the Facebook page reads.

The Facebook group has nearly 300 members. Administrators are Kendall Boutwell, Ron Sarich and Abby and Jeret Crider.

Boutwell said the physical group has about 20 active members and about 20 reserve members in Lincoln and Lawrence counties.

Membership is open to men, women and children age 15 and up, he said.

Boutwell, 52, lives with his family in Sontag in Lawrence County. He’s businessman who owns storage facilities and a father of six.

He and some of his likeminded friends were interested in the Mississippi Oath Keepers organization, so they started the Mississippi Sheepdogs. “We were concerned, seeing a lot of things going on in our country,” he said.

They’re an organized group, led by a board of directors.

He explains the group’s purpose:

“You have sheep, which is the vast majority of people on the Earth. They just want to go about their business. Get up every morning, eat breakfast, go to work, come home and be left alone.

“Then you’ve got the wolves. They want to devour the sheep.

“Then you have the sheepdogs. They keep the wolves at bay. They’re looking out for the problems. They’re on alert.”

Boutwell’s group is looking for more sheepdogs to join their organization. But membership involves more than just joining a Facebook group.

“You have to swear an oath to the Constitution, just like your military and law enforcement, to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, if you want to be an active member,” he said.

The group meets publicly twice a month, and participates in specialized training on designated weekends.

The training focuses on five areas: medical treatment, security, engineering, preparedness and communications.

Members learn to use ham radios, store food and water, perform first aid, build shelters and legally carry weapons.

“We are training and planning the community and the state. We’re working to have a team in all 82 counties in the state,” Boutwell said.

They currently operate two teams in Lawrence County, one team in Lincoln County and one in Warren County.

The group strives to keep good relationships with local law enforcement offices, he said, and they are committed to be the ears and the eyes of the community.

“The more good people that are concerned with their communities and their communities’ safety, and the more eyes and ears you’ve got out there, you can respond to things a lot quicker. You’ve got way more information,” he said.

The community preparedness teams benefit the county because members are able to watch over their neighborhoods. “We will defend our community if need be,” Boutwell said. “We’re not trying to take the place of law enforcement, but there ain’t but so many law enforcements. It doesn’t seem like things are getting any better.”

He said neighbors need to be trained to help each other, to be shepherds looking out for the sheep.

“We are a Christian group. We make that clear coming in,” he said. “You have to sign a statement of faith when you become a member. We’re not making no bones about it that we are a Christian group.

“Anyone who comes to our meetings know where we stand on the Constitution and where we stand on the Bible. We’re not going to be standing against God. We can stand alone if God is standing with us and still be in the majority.”

Jake Walker of East Lincoln joined the Mississippi Sheepdogs about eight months ago.

The 26-year-old boilermaker is married with two children.

He got involved for the training that is provided to members so he could better protect his family during a disaster.

“I’ve learned a ton since I’ve been in,” he said.

For more information, call Boutwell at 601-757-5523, Jeret Crider at 601-756-1084 or Seth Reynolds at 601-748-2908.