We all were. Throughout, they would vacillate between positive and negative, and all meetings were conducted by the imposing Adams, standing behind the lectern with his booming voice. 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. In 2009, another member, 23-year-old Joseph Ratliff, was sentenced to 100 years for aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child. Homestead Heritage is a 1,000 member congregation located on a 500-acre, gated commune north of Waco, where God and family come first. DeLong then told the officer that sometime around March 2003, he sexually assaulted a 6-year-old girl, according to his statement. So happy you did this, so thanks for taking the time to share and answer questions! Contrary to Elders subsequent assertions, nothing in Homestead Heritages public response, issued in the form of a book, was confessed to a minister, the group says. Homestead Heritage: Does This Group Remind You of Your Former Church It turns out Arnn was wrong, an error he attributes to the letters bombastic tone, which he says several people told him sounded like Adams. At the crux of those punishments is isolation from the group, with disfellowshipment being more severe. The hope is the person will realize the disadvantages of living outside the group, drawing him or her back into the fold. There is not a lording over their lives, Wheeler says. This was no isolated incident. They talk of secret meetings and secret documents. And they preach that they are representatives of God. All rights reserved. And if a child is brave enough to tell, its going to take an awful lot of guts for anyone inside to do anything about it., One ex-member I spoke to, John (not his real name), said members of Homestead Heritage are repressed emotionally, spiritually, psychologically and sexually. 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. When you work these cases, you need all the help you can get as far as testimony is concerned, he said. A clue is in the leadership structure. While there arent documents nonmembers are forbidden to see, the group generally doesnt load down visitors with a stack of books. A Texas Observer investigation has found allegations of child sex abuse involving at least six members of the Homestead Heritage community. Youre not even allowed to talk to girls, and masturbation is forbidden, he said. I'm not really sure what drew my parents into joining but they come across as a "counterculture" community and my parents were (and still are) very into growing food and animals and living off the land as much as possible. Driving up to the pretty caf, built of log and stone and nestled among cedars at the side of a single-track road, you would think youd stepped into another era. Edit: for grammar. Heritage Breeds on the Homestead: Oldies, but Goodies Texas Observer exclusive: Waco religious group accused of child abuse, beatings and cover-ups. According to several ex-members I spoke to, the only person who has never fallen from grace in this way is Blair Adams. But after praying and studying Scriptures, they came to the conclusion they should not only give Elder the money he sought, they should give him more. The Sedona Historical Society (SHS) will host an evening of entertainment and wine tasting on Saturday, March 4, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Sedona Heritage Museum. But I do like the back to basics ideology. Three members have been convicted of sexually assaulting minors. 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. On the issue of who can be saved, its true Homestead Heritage has three levels of membership, leaders say. I pray to God and cry my tears. Among the signatories is Carolyn DeLong, Bill DeLongs wife, who according to court records, also knew about her husbands pedophilia a year before he went to police, allowing the abuse to continue. Most of the accusations were written by ex-member Jeremy Crow. All critics have to do is twist such groups views of authority into authoritarianism and many people are willing to condemn them, Wheeler says. Also, it is illegal in the state of Texas not to turn someone in instantly if they admit to abusing someone and I don't understand why nobody arrested the people at homestead. My mother and I would go out there sometimes when driving through from Fort Worth between 2007-2010; it never occurred to us that it was a cult. Wheeler and other followers are convinced the driving force behind the attack is Watchman Fellowship researcher Phillip Arnn. Through the years, he says he has learned when something might be gained from meeting with group leaders and when it wont. But the group points to the example of Jesus when he was questioned by Pilate before his crucifixion. 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. Wow, my husband is a chef and he buys grits from there. Theyre well known in this city of 125,000 along the Brazos River as harmless religious folk devoted to an earlier, simpler way of life. He was the greatest thing that ever lived. . A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18. It was published in the February 2005 edition of Christianity Today, a magazine distributed throughout North America. The group is led by a contingent of 20 men called ministers who are similar to what other churches call elders. I was told the leadership was trying to get him counseling and help before they turned him in because they didnt want him to go to jail., Bill DeLongs son Andrew, then an employee of Brazos Walking Sticks, a company affiliated with Homestead Heritage, pleaded guilty to four offenses of child sexual assault, waiving his right to a jury trial and his right to appeal. Years ago, such action was common in churches, members say. Experts say this is a classic tactic employed by cults to maintain control; that members (and elders) are reprimanded in front of the rest of the congregation one day, and love-bombed the next. Officer Brad Scaggs escorted the bulky 54-year-old to the interview room and pressed the record button on the video machine. Some people might think its absurd to assume that just because such developments have occurred, the dire prediction about Homestead Heritage coming to a violent end will also come true. At Homestead Heritage theres an order to the authority: Blair Adams is at the top. 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. Church elders failed to promptly inform law enforcement of sexual abuse of children, as required by state law. Promotional materials distributed by your outlet, including all social media work, must include cites for the Observer and our reporter. B) answered. So I guess the county/city won't let them get away with everything! If children at Homestead Heritage misbehave, many parents practice corporal punishment. Women wear long dresses and long sleeves. The Internet postings are a perfect example of that phenomenon, followers say. Or was it strictly on their own? The editors note explained to Christianity Today readers that Beechners thoughts had been echoed by others and that Homestead Heritage elders deny the charges of coercion, abusive discipline or teaching non-biblical doctrine. It then encouraged readers to contact both Homestead Heritage and Watchman Fellowship for more information. Crows sister is married to Adamss eldest son. Today, she said, some of the kids of group leaders do online college what she refers to as their cameo students.. 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. HOMESTEAD HERITAGE - 127 Photos & 64 Reviews - Yelp In response to my story, the church published an extensive rebuttal in the form of text and video. Has your community ever intentionally covered up cases of child abuse among your . They've been doing lots of really terrible things, and it's getting worse. Posted by stripesfordays. Lt. Clay Perry of the McLennan County Sheriffs office told the Observer that officers decided not to pursue a prosecution against Klingensmith. It is a very long process in which they get extremely serious and make you say a whole bunch of vows and then they dunk you in a huge tank. This was also refused. 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. The baptisms are super intense. Church leaders follow the biblical pattern of first going to someone in private about the offense. Whatever the case, Homestead Heritage followers voice concern that the callers prediction seems to have gained traction. Adams, now in his mid-60s, taught that the end times were near and his followers needed to learn to live off the land. I read once about a guy who's family was involved in Scientology and his mom finally packed up him and his brother and left their brainwashed dad and took off because they knew they wouldn't be able to leave any other way. 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. If parents arent spending enough time on their childrens education, thats because of choices they make, not the group. February 2023 Deer Count | The Town of Okotoks EDIT: What about the people who interacted more with the public? They used to get pissed at me when I would climb the fence to fish this pond. The Branch Davidians and their apocalyptic saga here made people realize how dangerous aberrant groups can be, they say. If the group really had something to hide, Wheeler says, why would it host so many public events? They lie and steak and have decieved many. But he has found its leaders and followers not only extremely theologically literate but also uncommonly gracious. If members see such a person in public, they might say hello. Such distortion is one reason why Homestead Heritage opts not to post on the F.A.C.T.Net board, members say. Did you have any personal interaction with the founder at all? We hadnt been in the fellowship very long and a member who had been there a while told me that was what was necessary. 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. According to court papers, his victim was an 8-year-old boy. But the alleged victims refused to speak publicly, and the details of their stories couldnt be independently confirmed. Hey, I meant to ask you this earlieris your username a reference to Monty Python?? The church also created an online petitionasking former members to sign a statement that said although they were no longer associated with Homestead Heritage, the church ministry would never tolerate, much less promote, make exception for, or cover up the heinous crime of sexual abuse of children. The petition said any publication associating the ministry with such behaviors is defamatory. The truth is the group believes salvation comes through grace and that Christs blood alone cleanses them of sin, members say. Another charge leveled at the group to make it appear cultic, members say, is that leaders exercise authoritarian control. But that doesnt protect it from others who might be stirred to act out of prejudice, Yarden says. That doesnt mean every time someone sins theyre in danger of going to hell. I was planning on leaving the instant I turned 18. 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 Christians in the group," Arnn says, "but the group is not Christian." Homestead Acts - Wikipedia This whole process takes years. 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. People would dance in the aisles and speak in tongues. 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. Others were affiliated with anti-cult groups or those that defend Christian doctrine. 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. Homestead Heritage Cult - Cultbusters Galactica Theologically it therefore is considered to be a cult of Christianity. 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. Three members have been convicted of sexually. To back up its claim the document is not secret, Homestead Heritage presented the Tribune-Herald with affidavits from nearly 50 people who say it was read and that copies were distributed during a meeting in Colorado in 1988. Those steps were critical, Homestead Heritage followers say, because they allowed Arnn to convince ex-members that Homestead Heritage is a cult. Others dont want to admit they freely made a decision to join a group they later ended up disagreeing with, he says. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. I think the key word on what members though of visitors would be "judgemental". Idaho, The Walk. 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. Because there was no context for the truth that he had.. 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. Contact; Hours & Location; Menu; Make A Reservation; Nothing like how they are later on. 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. It has grown to a 140-acre operation. I sat down with Sandy (not her real name), for whom every day is a struggle coming to terms with what happened to her at Homestead Heritage. Repairs launched at local landmark | Mt. Airy News But dig a little below the surface, and the idyllic veneer of this place begins to peel and crumble. It also leads into the supposed teaching that people who leave the group are damned, they say. I believe in God but I dont believe in religion, he told me. 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. Basically you were allowed to work in the public faces of the organization unless you showed signs of rebellion. 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. 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. He suspects the caller was a member of a New Zealand anti-cult group that he believes has had contact with an ex-member of Homestead Heritage. However, all of my childhood friends are gone, all my current long term friends are from when I was 16 onward. The only reason critics make claims of secrecy, Wheeler says, is to give credence to allegations that people would otherwise dismiss as ludicrous. I wish you were proud but you are not. It just blew my mind, he said. Every November, Homestead Heritage members show off their crafting, woodworking and agriculture skills at the well-attended Homestead Fair. 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. Homestead at Heritage - New Homes in Wake Forest NC - New Homes & Ideas Theologically it therefore is considered to be a cult of Christianity. He concedes that he got the type of vehicle wrong but says it was a simple mistake. Thats why the group does not have a written statement of faith, members say. Its true that violations of the groups patterns can result in discipline, members say. They reject the idea of once saved, always saved.. There are things I just cant forget.. More. More Lewd Behavior at Homestead Heritage Welcome to our online showcase of unique, traditional, solid wood furniture. Held in members homes and attended by about 100 people, their size allows visitors to get to know the group more easily, they say. Then only if they decide you can be forgiven can you be forgiven, he said. Homestead Fiber Crafts Step inside the Fiber Crafts shop, housed in a restored 19 th century barn and you'll find weavers, spinners and knitters, both young and old, carrying on the age old tradition of creating cloth and other items for the home and family. Do you think free access to journalism like this is important? He intends to plead guilty, according to the McLennan County DAs office. The Shrinking actor talks mental health, being queer, and why the Lone Star State is the perfect home for his new play Silver Foxes. So far, they havent learned of any group with a greater amount of revelation in all areas, they say. 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. But as congregations have become more consumer-oriented, many have dropped church discipline. 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. 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 church later declined to answer emailed questions from the Observer and instead chose to issue a statement: Weve become very familiar with the character and agenda of the former members behind these slanderous and inflammatory, yet typically subjective and unverifiable, accusations against us. She's really thinking "this worldly woman is wearing pants instead of a dress, she is going to hell.". To disprove Crows assertions about Adams living situation, for example, the group provided photos of his purported vehicle a Toyota 4 Runner, not a Land Cruiser as well as his home, decked out with cloth couches and run-of-the-mill appliances. 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. 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. Homestead has been around since the 80s and have moved and changed names many times. You murder their reputation and cause people to fear them, Yarden says. Members believe they would have prevailed in court, too, after Elder brought legal action against them. Homestead Heritage Homestead Heritage Furniture - Fine Handcrafted Furniture It was dealt with swiftly.. Doesnt it make you mad that your dad, who I believe is an honorable man, was made to shield for someone who does not have the courage to sign his own letter?. Then came a so-called recovery workshop in April 2005, a forum for ex-members to discuss their experiences. Although Elders letter to church leaders criticizing Homestead Heritage was hurtful, that wasnt the reason the group wrote a formal response, members said. Homestead Heritage claims most criticisms amount to secular attacks on religious freedom, but all of the ex-members the Observer spoke to still consider themselves religious. Some have nuggets of truth to them, but thats as far as it goes. Basically you are agreeing to serve them as representatives of God and that you are going to hell if you break away from them. What was your impression of him? Members produce much of their own food, whether from individual efforts such as home gardens or group projects such as Homestead Heritages cattle ranch. And I will never forget the first movie I saw, Spiderman. Homestead Heritage leaders learned of the site three days after it was launched. Beyond all of this documentation, Homestead Heritage followers allege some ex-members faced crushing personal struggles. Rooted in Oneness Pentecostalism, it denies the doctrine of the Trinity and teaches an anti-grace message denying salvation by grace alone. And if part of that is letting people know what I personally saw and experienced then I'm more than happy to do that. Hey Reddit, I was raised in a religious cult located in Waco, TX for the first 16 years of my life. This is a Christian community of farmers and crafters who offer their beautiful, handmade furniture, soaps, home decor, and products from the foods they grow on the farm such as hand-milled flours, mixes, jams, and . Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Well, because i had never really been allowed to watch TV I watched a completely unhealthy amount of television for a while lol. If he walked by and patted you on the shoulder, it was as if God shined down on you. In another effort to discredit Arnn, the group gave e-mails to the Tribune-Herald which they say show Arnn was not interested in getting Homestead Heritages side of the story before he began attacking the group. 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. This follows Februarys Texas Observer story, Heritage of Abuse in which I exposed accusations of child abuse, beatings and cover-ups leveled at the group. His female victims were 11 and 17 years old. It's funny because they believed the world was going to end in y2k and people spent a fortune on huge water resivoires and all sorts of stuff like that but my dad didn't buy into it. Did others leave the cult at the same time? Thats why a settlement was reached - not because the group had done anything wrong, they say. Homestead Heritage (Waco) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go 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.. Easter Brothers Hometown Festival planned | Mt. Airy News The festival is scheduled for April 22, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Andy Griffith Playhouse in Mount Airy, featuring a performance by Jeff and Sheri Easter.