They were filled with the "elders" screaming and prophesying people dying, diseases spreadiing, etc., people speaking in tongues, falling on the ground in what I guess I would now call seizures-it sounds crazy now but back then it was perfectly normal. So I guess the county/city won't let them get away with everything! The basic principles are still taught; they have just been incorporated into other documents. How did you end up leaving/was it hard? FEBRUARY 2023 DEER COUNT REPORT_0.pdf. Sandy says she informed an elder, but instead of taking the matter to police, she says he dis-fellowshipped the individuals she said committed the crimes and forced her to accept responsibility for her part in what they deemed immoral relationships. The Observer urged Sandy to go to the police to report the individuals responsible. B) answered. And I will never forget the first movie I saw, Spiderman. Leaving you said it was difficult to leave, did many people come and go or was it more of a closed society? Homestead Heritage leaders learned of the site three days after it was launched. He went into some detail, saying it happened about five times. DeLong said he had told an elder at his church about the abuse shortly after the first time it happened. One former member, who asked to be identified only by her married name, Birkbeck, told me Ratliff was allowed to remain in the community for seven weeks after he admitted to elders his sex offenses against children. It was dealt with swiftly.. One of the other stories is told by a woman who was molested her entire life there. Through the years, he says he has learned when something might be gained from meeting with group leaders and when it wont. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. If you express interest in joining the elders have to talk to you which I guess is part of the vetting process. An example of a serious post is one entitled Its your time to die. In it, Crow writes: I just heard that someone I love very much in HH is very sick and nothing is being done. You murder their reputation and cause people to fear them, Yarden says. Its true that violations of the groups patterns can result in discipline, members say. Such people are generally shunned, at least partially, because theyre breaking a commitment to God to live out their Christian walk in the context of that specific body, members say. Exes talk of people being disciplined for eating chocolate, wearing cowboy boots or rolling up shirt sleeves. A full year would go by before DeLong once more talked with Klingensmith about the abuse, court records show. But the process doesnt involve screaming or yelling as ex-members claim, they say. Crow tells the story of seeing a woman struck by her husband several times. The group practices nonviolence. Homestead Heritage is a 1,000 member congregation located on a 500-acre, gated commune north of Waco, where God and family come first. . Skip to main content. Clinton Elder is a perfect example of how ex-members have tried to blame Homestead Heritage rather than deal with personal failure, members say. Outlets must also tag the Observer in all social media posts. Under Texas law, ministers and clergy are required to report any suspected child abuse sexual or otherwise to authorities within 48 hours of being told, otherwise they too are committing a criminal offense. We raise a few Barred Rocks and Australorps because they are a nice meat-chicken that also happens to lay large brown eggs that are favorites at our house. . 2021 The Texas Observer. South Africa's relationship to Zimbabwe, is not ANC-ZANU PF, but South Africans-Zimbabweans. All critics have to do is twist such groups views of authority into authoritarianism and many people are willing to condemn them, Wheeler says. And yea, I love their ideas of being a more self-sustaining community and getting close to nature and all that so they definitely have some great values. For the Circuit Court Clerk's 3rd . This was no isolated incident. It lists hundreds of questions, including controversial ones like Did you find it necessary to cut off relationships with old friends and family when you joined this fellowship?; What do you believe about dating?; Who is your leader here? and Are you a cult? Blair Adams composed a number of the answers. It just blew my mind, he said. To Olsons dismay, the article provoked opposition to Homestead Heritage. So many people who started to tell their stories backed out for fear of severing ties with family and friends within the compound many took months to convince to talk Some would only talk on background, others were able to provide me with compelling evidence but wished to remain anonymous. Without being too specific in your answers for my questions: How did your family get involved in this cult? Well, because i had never really been allowed to watch TV I watched a completely unhealthy amount of television for a while lol. Christina was a member back then, and she recalls Adams quoting scripture as he went into some detail about what fathers should use to beat their children with; what kind of switches to utilize and what they could be made of. Was your family's safety threatened when you left or was that not a concern? r/AMA 6 yr. ago. And at that moment I knew I was never going to another meeting.. In the full version, Beechner said Olson should have questioned the leaders more closely than he did; that members believe Blair Adams has a special revelation from God; that baptism into the group involves making a blood oath promising undying faithfulness to the group and obedience to the groups leaders and a promise never to leave under any circumstances. Wow, my husband is a chef and he buys grits from there. It's crazy because the answers are either how to word it right so you "technically" aren't lying or they are straight up lies. It had to be, because they were terrified of being berated by the elders. Their silence on the Web might play into their critics claims that they have something to hide, leaders acknowledge. Im going to hurt other people emotionally if I dont, she said. Due to an editing error, we incorrectly reported that Bill DeLong told police he continued sexually abusing a young girl after admitting his abuse to a church elder. . If you are invited from there, you can come to particular Friday night meetings. So there are a lot of allegations of abuse but I never personally experienced anything like that. I had plenty of privacy growing up. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? What originally drew your parents in to joining? The truth is that group needs are never placed over family needs. Certainly, Homestead Heritage takes it seriously when someone leaves. One of the elders sons had a problem with having sex with animals and another was having sex with his sister. If the group really had something to hide, Wheeler says, why would it host so many public events? . - this is the exception and not the norm in Africa's value system and rich heritage. The Texas Observer is known for its fiercely independent, uncompromising work which we are pleased to provide to the public at no charge in this space. At least 20 people who were critical of the article contacted the magazine, says deputy managing editor Timothy Morgan. And by extension, it believes it can discredit the entire body of allegations. A Dallas news channel and some other statewide and local publications did a few pieces. I remember Blair walking past where we were sitting and touching my dad on his shoulder, and my dad started trembling and then fell to the floor., After he left, Adam Alexander went to church for a few years but then stopped. The Internet postings are a perfect example of that phenomenon, followers say. I remember how much I liked these meetings because whenever "visitors" are there, they are super friendly and everyone just seems so damn happy lol. But thats it. The motivation behind that attack, members say, is to make Homestead Heritage seem as if it deceptively recruits members, further fitting the mold of a cult. There is not a lording over their lives, Wheeler says. The family sells its products onsite Wednesday and Friday, at Sunsport. On the other hand, Olson was afraid that giving Homestead Heritage increased exposure could do more harm than good. Report abuse. The abuse continued until he turned 18. I think the key word on what members though of visitors would be "judgemental". For the claim of medical neglect, the group furnished the Tribune-Herald with medical bills, as well as affidavits from the doctor of the woman they believe Crow is referencing. The group noted that the attorney Elder hired became so impressed with the churchs handling of the matter he started bringing his family to Homestead Heritage events and continues to do so. Over time, however, Watchman Fellowship and anti-cult activists have run out of truly dangerous groups to pursue, Wheeler says. Anyway after that we did have several weird instances of people following us and coming up to our house in the middle of the night but I can't really prove it was them and honestly I don't care. He met with Homestead Heritage leaders as well as some ex-members. And I think thats why some people turned to child abuse. They have gotten even Better at hiding abuse and Lying to cover it up. But dig a little below the surface, and the idyllic veneer of this place begins to peel and crumble. Size: 6 PackColor: Brown Verified Purchase. Yikes. Yes! He said the leaders attempt to control every aspect of a members life. Hey Reddit, I was raised in a religious cult located in Waco, TX for the first 16 years of my life. The hope is the person will realize the disadvantages of living outside the group, drawing him or her back into the fold. He limped for about two weeks after that. An attorney I spoke to said one defense to a charge of assault can be force necessary to discipline a child. To make matters more complicated, when a religious community is involved, the state is reluctant to interfere. But the wholesome, carefree appearances portrayed on publicity videos, according to some who have left, is a facade, masking a quiet culture of abuse. Luckily he still turned himself in but it makes you wonder how many times this doesn't get reported. More. Although the group was founded by Blair Adams, he has no more authority than the other ministers, they say. I am a male and all the people who said it happened to them are female, so maybe that has something to do with it. Thanks! Idaho, The Walk. In 2007, the Waco Herald-Tribune ran a feature that voiced some of those concerns of spiritual abuse but after its publication, ex-members claimed the story didnt go nearly far enough. This is the authority of fatherhood, of love, of brother and sisterhood.. The program is a cooperative partnership with Heritage, the Department of Human Services, law enforcement, health and human service providers and others in the community. Then came a so-called recovery workshop in April 2005, a forum for ex-members to discuss their experiences. The short teaser on ABCs Dallas affiliate WFAA says its two-part investigation (the first airs tonight at 10pm) exposes the secret lives behind the walls of a seemingly perfect community outside of Waco. But as congregations have become more consumer-oriented, many have dropped church discipline. Alex Hannaford writes about the death penalty, crime, prisons, religion and human interest issues for the Telegraph, Times and Guardian in the UK, and to GQ, The Nation and the Texas Observer. Our family made it out although it was very difficult to leave. Members believe they would have prevailed in court, too, after Elder brought legal action against them. Years later, he asked her about it, but she denied it had ever happened. Thats some kind of evidence, Wheeler says. Scroll down for video Unreported abuse: Blair Adams, church leader at Homestead Heritage, has been accused of covering up widespread abuse of children and teenagers Sexual exploitation of. He then said the group would come to the same fiery end that the Branch Davidians met in April 1993. Thats all just a lie, Wheeler says. He is driven by a difference of opinion over doctrine, they say. The children are all home-schooled. Attorney Jeff Blackburn, a crusader for the innocent, fought injustices across Texas in his improbable, utterly original, and often profane life. At the crux of those punishments is isolation from the group, with disfellowshipment being more severe. 3rd Annual Law Day Art Contest Rules and Information: The Circuit Court Clerk, Jacqueline Smith, is calling for artwork from all local students enrolled in the 2022-2023 school year in the County of Prince William and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, including private, home based, and public schools. They tell anyone on the outside theres a plurality of elders but in a regular church, those elders are chosen by the members. For both posts, and several others, the group provided the Tribune-Herald with documentation it believes shows Crow to be a liar, or at least wildly careless with the truth. The thinking is that if critics can be shown to be lying about one thing even small matters it stands to reason theyre lying about other allegations. That was basically the gist of every 8 hour long Sunday "meeting". Homestead Heritage certainly has its quirks, Olson says. Thanks! Its the same sort of shift that happened in Germany between World War I and World War II as anti-Semitic propaganda took hold, says member Tsafrir Yarden. As for the invitation to meet with the broader group, Arnn says he didnt take Owen up on it because he felt it would prove a waste of time. We at Homestead Heritage hold no ill will towards any of the former members who instigated and participated in this slanderous media attack against us (which has found two venues but is really one story with common sources). She's really thinking "this worldly woman is wearing pants instead of a dress, she is going to hell.". They also believe people have an obligation to leave Homestead Heritage if they fail to keep walking in greater light meaning greater revelation from God or if they feel called to leave by God. DeLong then told the officer that sometime around March 2003, he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl, according to his statement. In my story on Homestead Heritage for the Observer, I interviewed Sandy (not her real name) who told me that she was abused by two different men in the church from the age of five. So basically not many people leave but a few have over the years. We just dont believe obedience to God is negated by some kind of cheap grace.. And most of the young people that wanted to go to college left the group because they werent allowed anyway. E) The were having a meeting and screaming at some kids and the kids were crying and I guess that was the last straw for my dad. Another false allegation is that Homestead Heritage is not conducive to a healthy family, members say. If a member were to do something as former member Bob Beechner claims he was required to do leave a pregnant, bed-ridden wife to work on church literature that person would be behaving irresponsibly. But I do like the back to basics ideology. There are things I just cant forget.. The Town has declared parking bans for the purpose of snow removal on Monday, March 6 and Tuesday, March 7 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. along the following maintenance routes (weather dependent): March 6: Cimarron Boulevard from 32nd Street to Cimarron Drive. I remember sitting on my bed and realizing I was going to have to change what I thought was reality and in my head it felt impossible. The only times Homestead Heritage has refused to give or sell its literature to someone was when members concluded a persons motive was to attack, not learn. Did others leave the cult at the same time? While its true the document is not given to members nowadays, thats because the church no longer uses it. But I'll add that before we left most people who left fell on their faces and posed no risk to them. Of all the interviews I conducted for this story, one was particularly distressing. This tasting is in partnership . But he backed off., Again, an elder was called, but his solution was that Alexander simply needed to be baptized. Regular members play an important role in ministry, too, doing everything from shaping the course of services to helping write religious literature. He told me he didnt even realize hed done it. For this story, I spoke to 14 former members of the community. A few people have left over the years. Rather, Homestead Heritage teaches that every member receives a piece of it. As for the information about the ranch, he says he was just repeating what his father once a group leader told him. According to Christina, who asked that her surname be redacted, Blair Adams began preaching about corporal punishment shortly after the group first moved from the East Coast to Colorado. This whole process takes years. Nor do we hold any personal animus towards the media personnel involved. I had some substance abuse issues for a while because it was the first time I realized I could actually control the way I felt and I'd been depressed just about my entire life lol. Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. They are trying to buy out the town, they've terrorized ppl who've left the group, and now they're trying to build a large housing area in town. The closest the group came to providing evidence that anybody acted in bad faith is information it gave the Tribune-Herald about Watchman Fellowship researcher Phil Arnn. Church elders failed to promptly inform law enforcement of sexual abuse of children, as required by state law. After a while you are baptized into the church. Within a short period of time, the country went from awarding military honors to Jewish soldiers and lauding Jewish scholars to denigrating and destroying them, he says. They have allowed their memories to become altered by Watchman Fellowships tainted information. But here is the method they use for new members. Shopping Gifts & Handcrafted items Heirloom furniture Organic grains, flour & baking mixes Groceries, meat & produce Gardening & Homesteading Supplies What was the basis behind the cult and did they use any pre-existing religious doctrines like the Bible and one of their own? Homestead Heritage, sexual abuse, lewdness. Members also point to a statement Arnn made later in that first Internet post about Homestead Heritages Sunday meetings being open only to certain people. Such an inquiry would be the minimum to be extended to a friend nation who South Africa shares a common heritage ( Ubuntu). A fourth has been charged and will likely soon plead guilty. Every November, Homestead Heritage members show off their crafting, woodworking and agriculture skills at the well-attended Homestead Fair. I wish you were proud but you are not. At one point after the launch of the Internet discussion board, he proposed a dinner meeting between himself, a former member of the church who posts online in Homestead Heritages defense and the former members father, who is still a member. Whats so frustrating about those accusations and others like them, members say, is that theyre almost impossible to categorically refute, at least publicly. Homestead Heritage is an intentional community in rural Texas. An example of a less serious post is one in which Crow says Homestead Heritage founder Blair Adams lives in a home with luxurious touches such as leather furniture and the best of appliances. He and the rest of the elders recently tried to get even more money by taking all the members' private businesses and making them part of the church so they would get a tax break but that's when the county stepped in and said no. Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. You dont question it., Most members of Homestead Heritage are so closed off from the outside world, ex-members say, that its exceedingly difficult for anyone to alert the authorities if they suspect wrongdoing. Sorry if others have asked the same questions (don't worry about answering any that have been already answered) I started typing them up when you said you were planning to do this AMA :). They just havent found it yet. Thats the anchor thats got you. If you support this mission, we need your help. Tours, Activities, Learning Opportunities, Craft Shops, Furniture and Gifts, Dining and much more. Using pseudonyms, they continue today to post their testimonies on online forums like F.A.C.T.net, a resource for those recovering from the coercive practices of cults and religions, and on Topix.com, a web-based discussion community. Homestead Heritage leaders monitor the site and investigate each allegation, Wheeler says. Others were affiliated with anti-cult groups or those that defend Christian doctrine. A year after that, Bill DeLongs 23-year-old son Andrew was told he would serve 15 years in prison after admitting four counts of sexual assault against two children. Beyond all of this documentation, Homestead Heritage followers allege some ex-members faced crushing personal struggles. We just found out they are moving in 250 MORE families. That belief isnt arrogance, longtime member Joel Stein says. Those most vocal in their criticism of Homestead Heritage have adopted the same techniques, group members say. Because there was no context for the truth that he had.. Their storyline as a whole presents a blatantly false and misleading characterization of our non-violent, peace-loving Christian community.. The way the group lives is a much stronger statement than any written document, they say. Perhaps some day those efforts will pay off in the form of shoes produced by members, they say. The three levels are simply a tool to help lead people through their ever-deepening walk with God, Wheeler says. A favorite target is any high-demand religious group, Wheeler says. However, Trimm came by his knowledge of Branch Davidian theology through legitimate study, Arnn said, and that knowledge is still sound. and pray about it. And not just on my ass. They think it must be true.. If he says take out the trash, you dont question it; if he says the sky is green, the sky is green; if he says he has to put his hand there, you have to let him. Its because of their doctrine. The group first tried community living at a ranch in Colorado, but eventually settled on a 500-acre farm in McLennan County, near Waco. All Homestead Heritage asks of such people is that if they join a church with greater light, then tell Homestead Heritage leadership where it is, leaders say. tony trotter. Basically, did you see or hear anything that corroborates that? Basically you were allowed to work in the public faces of the organization unless you showed signs of rebellion. I live in Big Timber Montana where a large group of heritage has moved in here. The religious group even wrote a book entitled What We Believe in response to Olsons request for information. He was furious., Alexander said his mother told a church elder about it, but that the elder in question did nothing. Its only logical, they say, because without the family, there would be no group in the first place. On the issue of who can be saved, its true Homestead Heritage has three levels of membership, leaders say. One of the things I learned after being in there is how you really can interpret the bible to say almost anything you want it to say with enough of a deceitful bias. Thats not to say nonmembers never come to Sunday meetings. They really are good at using fear to make you believe that there is no safety in the world except for them. When we are walking by faith, everything is covered under the blood of Jesus, Wheeler says. At Homestead Heritage theres an order to the authority: Blair Adams is at the top. Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story: This article was originally published by the, Articles cannot be rewritten, edited or changed beyond alignments with house style books. The two controlling factors in life are fear and love, and I think churches have so much potential to be a positive thing, but in the end they end up controlling people by fear.. One ex-member of Homestead Heritage sent me a copy of commonly asked visitors questions a publication not meant for anyone outside the church. When Bill DeLong gave himself up to officers at the McLennan County Sheriffs office in Waco in June 2004, he was in tears. Heritage's Elder Rights Program focuses on the prevention, intervention, detection and reporting of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Its not clear when or if the abuse ended. Each disclosed their name, together with details of the years they were in Homestead Heritage or one of its earlier incarnations, but some, fearing reprisals, asked to use pseudonyms. It is a community that former members say represses sexuality, tries to deal with crimes in house and is controlled by an authoritarian regime; a community, former members say, that operates very much like a cult. So happy you did this, so thanks for taking the time to share and answer questions! The truth is the group believes salvation comes through grace and that Christs blood alone cleanses them of sin, members say. Such distortion is one reason why Homestead Heritage opts not to post on the F.A.C.T.Net board, members say. While there arent documents nonmembers are forbidden to see, the group generally doesnt load down visitors with a stack of books. Its the persons attitude. They have a book they give members called "Questions Visitors Most Often Ask" in which they tell you how to answer questions. Or any aspects or values that you think are correct? All a member must do in such a scenario is explain the situation and the group will gladly understand, they say. Throughout the week, a steady stream of brothers and sisters arrived from Texas to help with the final push to completion. Site made in collaboration with CMYK. He even sat in on an April 2005 workshop for exes held by Watchman Fellowship, a self-described Christian research ministry devoted to exposing cults and giving voice to those who had escaped their all-controlling influence. The whole realm of pleasure, which God gave us is held suspect in so many ways by Homestead Heritage., Jeremy Crow, 35, joined Homestead along with his parents when he was 8 years old. As another former member told me, Who will believe a child over somebody else in the fellowship?