Report abuse. . I believe in God but I dont believe in religion, he told me. 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. FEBRUARY 2023 DEER COUNT REPORT_0.pdf. It was so bad when he came out; he shook all the time. In 2009, another member, 23-year-old Joseph Ratliff, was sentenced to 100 years for aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child. What originally drew your parents in to joining? Why would it open itself up for discussions with local theology professors and students? His father eventually became a leader and, as Crow puts it, he grew up in the upper clique, spending most of the week at church leader Blair Adamss house. Homestead has been around since the 80s and have moved and changed names many times. And by extension, it believes it can discredit the entire body of allegations. C) they use the bible and their own "literature". 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. If you are invited from there, you can come to particular Friday night meetings. Its true that violations of the groups patterns can result in discipline, members say. She's really thinking "this worldly woman is wearing pants instead of a dress, she is going to hell.". The basic principles are still taught; they have just been incorporated into other documents. George W. Bush even got them to build his ranch in Crawford. They let me do this and didnt have enough concern to take him away, she said. The more hes learned, the more hes been impressed, he says. What was the basis behind the cult and did they use any pre-existing religious doctrines like the Bible and one of their own? Anyway, I've got some time and I'm more than open to any questions you have, as long as they don't identify me! Perhaps some day those efforts will pay off in the form of shoes produced by members, they say. Olson described the sect as a mix of Pentecostal fervor with Anabaptist simplicity and accountability. He wrote although they dont use the word Trinity in teaching about the Godhead, his close questioning detected no aberrant teachings about God., Olson noted that the group made decisions by consensus; babies were typically born at home; and prayer and medicine were combined for health and well being. Please notify us by email that the article will be republished at, Abbott Wants to Deny Undocumented Kids a Public Education, Border Security Is a Financial Black Hole that Will Consume Us All, Two Executions, Many Questions about Mental Health, Innocence, Remembering a Social Justice Lawyer Extraordinaire. If you still express interest and the elders feel like you are into the "vision" (basically you are more likely to agree with them) you can start visiting regularly on Friday nights. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? . According to court papers, his victim was an 8-year-old boy. Others were affiliated with anti-cult groups or those that defend Christian doctrine. His attorney, Darren Obenoskey, told me what the church did or didnt know about his clients crimes never came up. Then, after the negativity of Adams condemning someone, the service would once again become uplifting. And in July 2011, 31-year-old Richard Santamaria, another member of the community, was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a minor. Those steps were critical, Homestead Heritage followers say, because they allowed Arnn to convince ex-members that Homestead Heritage is a cult. But ever since all that I've changed in the sense that Im not angry at all at them but I do think it is important that people do what they can to spread the truth and make the world a better place. But I've gotten to the point where I've realized that life isn't about running away from something, it's about running towards something better. Even when people break the rules, the discipline is not as some Homestead Heritage ex-members claim, the group says. They don't practice any sort of sex Ed and enforce strict abstinence and it leads to a lot of the kids (and adults) doing some really weird sexual stuff. Ex-members have intentionally tried to stoke those fears by comparing Homestead Heritage to the Branch Davidians and other cults, members say. There are many different types of stables in use today; the American-style barn, for instance, is a large barn with a door at each end and individual stalls inside or free-standing stables with top and bottom-opening . This is normal and was accepted in HH (if your condition is considered spiritual or a judgment.). That approach also ensures people know exactly what awaits them if they join Homestead Heritage, members say. The truth, however, is that Homestead Heritage members live a simple, self-sufficient lifestyle as much as possible, the group says. You went to group functions and then as a guy I would have had to go to one of the lower elders and tell them God had told me I should marry a certain girl and then that process would have begun. So I didn't personally experience that but it did happen and it is surprising to me how many other people I have talked to that have left have told me it happened to them. According to internal documents published by the Observer, church law states that religious matters within the community are not the proper province, of the corporate State and its investigative, police and judicial services. The obinvestigation also discovered families broken apart, and allegations of physical abuse and mind control. The charge that Homestead Heritage leaders profess to be Christ in the flesh is a perfect example, he says. Three members have been convicted of sexually assaulting minors. So far, they havent learned of any group with a greater amount of revelation in all areas, they say. The abuse continued until he turned 18. Before they died, its members couldnt keep suppressing these normal human feelings and emotions so some of the men had themselves castrated. Whatever the case, Homestead Heritage followers voice concern that the callers prediction seems to have gained traction. I was pretty young at the time and the leader keeps separate from the followers except to preach. However, when the father, Warren Owen, wrote a letter to Arnn laying out conditions under which a meeting could take place one of which was that the meeting include others from the group besides Owen Arnn never replied. It was published in the February 2005 edition of Christianity Today, a magazine distributed throughout North America. If he walked by and patted you on the shoulder, it was as if God shined down on you. A fourth has been charged and will likely soon plead guilty. Heritage Acres Homestead Sticker HomesteadMoma (60) $2.50 FREE shipping Organic Onion Chive Live Plants SPRING PLANTING Bare Root Plants Herb Hardy to 30 Below Zero Cuisine Multiplying Perennial plus Self-Seeds AllButTheFarmSink (122) $3.00 Homestead Heritage Pottery/Ceramic/Signed Kelle/Vintage treasuresbyirma (85) $43.15 FREE shipping A Dallas news channel and some other statewide and local publications did a few pieces. And when you dont find joy in everyday life, you go looking for pleasure elsewhere, anywhere you can find it. Luckily he still turned himself in but it makes you wonder how many times this doesn't get reported. Not only have lies about the group been publicly aired on the Internet, he says, but now theyre being picked up by the news media. Its because of their doctrine. Jeff is the son of James Easter, the . 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. She cites the example of Heavens Gate, the UFO religion founded by Marshall Applewhite in which 39 members committed suicide in 1997. Posted by stripesfordays. He also wrote the reason outsiders were forbidden from attending Sunday church meetings was that theyre reserved for disciplining members in front of the entire congregation. 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. Crow tells the story of seeing a woman struck by her husband several times. Also a lot of people who leave get real addictions to hardcore porn. DeLong then told the officer that sometime around March 2003, he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl, according to his statement. Ex-Homesteader Jeremy Crow told me if anyone in the community sinned, they couldnt be forgiven unless they confessed to a leader. In fact, one of their members from the Arizona branch ended up torching her house and burning herself and her kids in it. 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. They reject the idea of once saved, always saved.. Nor do we hold any personal animus towards the media personnel involved. 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. Howard Wheeler, a member who acts as the groups unofficial spokesman, recalls being awakened at 5:32 a.m. by the ring of the telephone. She finds it hard to date people and often worries about the children still living in the community of Elm Mott outside of Waco. And as long as the leader is allowed to act without any checks and balances, they tend to become more and more domineering., Homestead Heritage has made new members sign and notarize a resolution obtained by the Observer, which states, among other things, that each openly, voluntarily, under no coercion agrees, even should [they] leave the fellowship to never bring before the public outside our church any disagreement the individual may have with the church, any accusations of wrongdoing or any charge or suit or court action against any of its members., It says all disputes should be settled within [italics theirs] the confines of the church covenant., Tellingly, it also states: Since the church is the Bride of Christ, we do not view its marriage relationship to God as a public spectacle; nor for us is religion an agent, or the proper province, of the corporate State and its investigative, police and judicial services.. Many are trying to rid themselves of the discomfort of sin that forced them to leave the group, Wheeler says. If the group really had something to hide, Wheeler says, why would it host so many public events? Welcome to our online showcase of unique, traditional, solid wood furniture. 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. It would go on and on like this. It was, he said, an intense mix of Pentecostal preacher with fire-and-brimstone judgment. John said his father was a leader one minute and demoted the next. You brought me into this world and gave me my name. The Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau includes Homestead Heritage on its list of recommended attractions for schools groups. Its not fair to them and its not fair to us to have someone who comes in thinking they know and they dont know, Wheeler says. I was planning on leaving the instant I turned 18. Of all the interviews I conducted for this story, one was particularly distressing. They include such challenges as suicidal tendencies, faltering marriages and family dysfunction. To Olsons dismay, the article provoked opposition to Homestead Heritage. Then only if they decide you can be forgiven can you be forgiven, he said. Interestingly, though, the Texas Administrative Code on minimum standards for discipline in child-care homes says corporal punishment, which includes hitting a child with a hand or instrument and placing a child in a locked or dark room with the door closed, constitutes harsh, cruel or unusual treatment., Adam Alexander grew up in Homestead Heritage. His parents were teenagers when they joined the group, and his dad was a one-time leader. 10/06/2020. One day, the church member found a CD in his room and asked where Alexander got it. The two main distortions, members say, are that the group believes salvation comes through works and that it is imparted to only an elite few. He theorized founder Blair Adams wrote it. 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. They strictly enforce dress codes (I remember an elder yelling at me for wearing a T-shirt). On the issue of who can be saved, its true Homestead Heritage has three levels of membership, leaders say. We hadnt been in the fellowship very long and a member who had been there a while told me that was what was necessary. Promotional materials distributed by your outlet, including all social media work, must include cites for the Observer and our reporter. Crow also has an explanation for his comments about medical care. But my dad stayed in town and started speaking out on web forums and to news reporters about what was happening. Homestead Heritage is a 1,000 member congregation located on a 500-acre, gated commune north of Waco, where God and family come first. They have allowed their memories to become altered by Watchman Fellowships tainted information. Because of all the crazy things that go on in the world, (people) are a little suspicious, Wheeler says. Our safety was never threatened but when when we left I moved out of state to go to college and get away from them. 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. Most people in there buy into the fact that Homestead is the only route to heaven and while they are miserable they would never leave. According to several ex-members I spoke to, the only person who has never fallen from grace in this way is Blair Adams. The truth is the group believes salvation comes through grace and that Christs blood alone cleanses them of sin, members say. But the alleged victims refused to speak publicly, and the details of their stories couldnt be independently confirmed. Then came a so-called recovery workshop in April 2005, a forum for ex-members to discuss their experiences. Even more damning for Arnn, they say, is the fact Arnn commissioned the articles. Alexanders faith has been shaken by Homestead Heritage, and he is not willing to join another institution that claims to help him reach God. Local ophthalmologist Scott Smith, 45, says hes all too familiar with the phenomenon. A total of 4.03 inches was logged, which is 0.31 inches or 8.3% above normal for the first month of the year for Mount Airy, which averages 3.72 inches. The group especially noted the persecution of Jews throughout history, saying one of the weapons used against Jews was wild claims of a secret conspiracy to take over the world. When my dad said he was leaving they started coming over to our house for hours a day for over a week, calling threats of hell and generally scaring the shit out of me. With this kind of story, it becomes extremely difficult for any individual a reporter, historian, scholar, anyone to sort out all of the complicated claims, Morgan said in a recent telephone interview. Consequently, they have begun eyeing any group outside the mainstream. He then said the group would come to the same fiery end that the Branch Davidians met in April 1993. One of the elders sons had a problem with having sex with animals and another was having sex with his sister. Did you encounter anything like that or have someone tell you about that sort of thing? Publications, Forms and Documents. D) I never once would have dreamed of calling it a cult, that was unheard of for members. I didnt think about the effect this would have on a child, particularly one who was home-schooled and all he had was his family. He told me tonights broadcast is explosive stuff.. It is the same group. Members still go to local stores for some needs. Glencore says the Aboriginal heritage application under federal law covers 156 square kilometres or 15,600 hectares, which is more than 20 times the size of the area involved in the Glendell IPC decision. On occasion they do, members say. In an email, one elder, Dan Lancaster, wrote of the groups concern that countering in a public media forum a laundry list of sour grapes accusations and distortions would, at best, simply lend credence to a characterization of our community that is misleading. Instead, Lancaster suggested meeting in person to talk completely off the record. The Observer asked for a telephone interview instead. For years, some former members of Homestead Heritage say they felt power- less to counter the stream of glowing news media reports about the local religious community. The story served as an introduction to the church to anyone outside Texas. Church elders failed to promptly inform law enforcement of sexual abuse of children, as required by state law. Beechner contended this could be for sullen countenances, wearing cowboy boots with tall heels, plucking eyebrows or eating chocolate.. Idk all I know is it really is an awful place and I am so glad to be out of there. Im going to hurt other people emotionally if I dont, she said. And most of the young people that wanted to go to college left the group because they werent allowed anyway. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. Visitors see traditional craftsmen and women who bake their own bread, sow their own crops, make their own furniture and build their own homes. He is a bizaare guy, has secret escape routes set up for himself if anything goes south, multiple houses all over the US-he has a ton of money. It was dealt with swiftly.. For this story, I spoke to 14 former members of the community. "A Texas Observer investigation has found allegations of child sex abuse involving at least six members of the Homestead Heritage community. (Arnn) cant tell a total charlatan.. . A spokesperson for Child Protective Services said that every case is different, but using something other than your hand, leaving marks or bruises, or hitting in the face could constitute abuse. The McLennan County Sheriffs office wouldnt release details of the cases against Bill DeLong, Andrew DeLong or Joseph Ratliff, even though they are part of the public record. Most of the accusations were written by ex-member Jeremy Crow. I'm a former member of Homestead Heritage, a cult located in Waco, TX. While there arent documents nonmembers are forbidden to see, the group generally doesnt load down visitors with a stack of books. As for one of the things they are mentioning in the article, recently a member turned himself in for having sex with his 13 year old daughter. End result: Homestead Heritage became a scapegoat for ex-members. The Observer found more allegations of sexual abuse of children that have never been reported to the authorities. Church leaders follow the biblical pattern of first going to someone in private about the offense. Homestead Heritage -- Waco Religious Commune Accused of Masking Abuse Been There Done That 36 subscribers Subscribe Like Share 12K views 6 years ago Part 1 of WFAA's investigation on. More importantly, though, Homestead Heritage wants its beliefs to be imparted in a more personal manner. Because there was no context for the truth that he had.. He intends to plead guilty, according to the McLennan County DAs office. Crow, who left the group seven years ago, said young men growing up in the community are made to suppress their desires and sex drive. On the other hand, Olson was afraid that giving Homestead Heritage increased exposure could do more harm than good. So honestly I was never for my parents speaking out and all that but if they hadn't, I doubt this info would be out there. At the family level, fathers are above wives and children. This story has been corrected (see below). It was founded by Blair Adams, a tall, imposing, bearded man, and his wife Regina, who according to one former member, had broken away from a Pentecostal church in Austin a few years before. . I still am to an extent but I love interacting with people now. G) Most people who leave end up rejecting everything they ever thought they knew about life and it gets people into all sorts of trouble. I mean, we had a garden back then that I liked but I still do! Its redemptive. When we are walking by faith, everything is covered under the blood of Jesus, Wheeler says. 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. Officer Brad Scaggs escorted the bulky 54-year-old to the interview room and pressed the record button on the video machine. There are things I just cant forget.. But in those examples, and all of the others given by the group, ironclad proof that ex-members are purposefully lying is elusive. But honestly the definition of "cult" seems so open, I'd prefer to just say that they cut off members from outside contact. You can see it here. Bringing an offender before the entire community is one of those steps, members say. A Texas Observer investigation has found allegations of child sex abuse involving at least six members of the Homestead Heritage community. John, too, said he was beaten as a child until he had bruises on his skin. As for John, he said his effort to maintain a relationship with his parents, who are still members of Homestead Heritage, has been emotionally taxing. It was really the tone we removed, he says. Years later, he asked her about it, but she denied it had ever happened. Birkbeck said she spent time each weekend with him, and even though she was not assaulted in any way, she is concerned she was left alone with a child molester. They say it's for "nurses, doctors and teachers" but they don't use any teachers. But I didn't realize how cut-off the people, especially the children, were from the outside world & how much control the leaders had over them. Church policy, according to internal documents, states that religious matters within the community are not the proper province, of the corporate State and its investigative, police and judicial services. In fact, our investigation has exposed a litany of tragedy: families broken apart, child abuse and allegations of mind control, cover-ups and secrecy. In interviews with the Tribune-Herald, Homestead Heritage members repeatedly described the allegations of their critics and ex-members as incendiary, inflammatory or insidious. Members continually compared the claims to allegations made against persecuted groups, including Anabaptists, blacks and victims of the Salem witch trials. One ex-member of Homestead Heritage sent me a copy of commonly asked visitors questions a publication not meant for anyone outside the church. Many churches once employed a probationary period. And that took a very long time. As for the information about the ranch, he says he was just repeating what his father once a group leader told him. I had plenty of privacy growing up. At Homestead Heritage theres an order to the authority: Blair Adams is at the top. Edit: for grammar. But stranger things have happened, he says. I pray to God and cry my tears. Watchman Fellowship defines Christian orthodoxy very narrowly and seeks to label everyone who falls outside those confines as un-Christian, Homestead Heritage leaders allege. Some Anabaptists, for example, practice familial shunning. A full year would go by before DeLong once more talked with Klingensmith about the abuse, court records show. and pray about it. He did everything he could shy of getting involved., In his statement to police(warning: graphic material), DeLong said he also told his wife, Carolyn, about his crimes a year before he gave himself up and that the couple just prayed and cried over what happened for a long time. The officer asked him if his wife ever told him to turn himself in and he said they just prayed and were hoping something would change.. I live in Big Timber Montana where a large group of heritage has moved in here. My requests to interview Ratliff and both DeLongs in prison were turned down, and none of the men replied to letters sent by mail. At the crux of those punishments is isolation from the group, with disfellowshipment being more severe. Correction: In an earlier version of this story, we incorrectly reported a detail of the child sexual abuse at Homestead Heritage. When he answered, a sinister voice with a foreign accent started speaking, he says. But my parents didnt have a clue. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. Was your family's safety threatened when you left or was that not a concern? 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. It was a cut-and-dried case, he said. You didn't date. Waco, Texas Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. 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. Why? Wheeler says. You murder their reputation and cause people to fear them, Yarden says. And at that moment I knew I was never going to another meeting.. They really are good at using fear to make you believe that there is no safety in the world except for them. Heritage's Elder Rights Program focuses on the prevention, intervention, detection and reporting of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. That belief isnt arrogance, longtime member Joel Stein says. But yes, they do have great food! Leaving you said it was difficult to leave, did many people come and go or was it more of a closed society? It has grown to a 140-acre operation. A stable is a building in which livestock, especially horses, are kept.It most commonly means a building that is divided into separate stalls for individual animals and livestock.