[3] They were a band of Christian guerrillas who maintained an austere lifestyle, including abstinence from sexual intercourse, alcohol, milk, eggs and pork.
[4] The Htoos came to worldwide attention in January 2000 when 10 members of God's Army seized a hospital in Ratchaburi, Thailand.
After the raid, God's Army were strenuously pursued by the Tatmadaw (Burmese armed forces) and shunned by other Karen rebels.
Their flesh-and-blood followers were estimated to be around 500 in 1998, but gradually declined to between 100 and 200 men by early 2000 after many left to find work to support their refugee families.
In July 2006, Johnny Htoo surrendered to Burma's military government with eight other members of God's Army in two groups.
[8] In 2018, Luther Htoo returned to Myanmar after meeting a woman online; as of 2020 both are reportedly unemployed and struggle with alcoholism.