As the teaser for WFAAs investigation says: Some fear for the children that remain in the community.. If Africans "enjoy" abuse as part of . . Youre not even allowed to talk to girls, and masturbation is forbidden, he said. But rather than report DeLong to police, as required by law, that elder, George Klingensmith, decided to pray about it with him instead, according to both DeLong and Klingensmiths statements to officers. . Get our latest in-depth reporting straight to your inbox. Basically you are agreeing to serve them as representatives of God and that you are going to hell if you break away from them. For one thing, some of the writings are works in progress, Wheeler says. We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. An attempt to make Homestead Heritage appear clandestine and shadowy is apparent in Arnns first post on FactNet.org, members of the group say. Four members, I discovered, had been convicted of sexually assaulting minors, but I uncovered further allegations of sexual abuse of children that had never been reported to authorities. . It was to set the record straight, especially for those outside the group to whom Elder had given his epistle. Their storyline as a whole presents a blatantly false and misleading characterization of our non-violent, peace-loving Christian community.. Once that frame was built around the group, Arnn could introduce the idea of spiritual abuse. The group is still learning and members simply dont have the skills to be self-sufficient in all areas yet, they say. 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. 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. 388 Halbert Lane, Waco, TX 76705 (254) 754-9604. The community that's known today as Homestead Heritage began in the early 1970s as a small peace church in the lower east side of Manhattan, New York, in an area known as "Hell's Kitchen". We rely on the generosity of our readers who believe that this work is important. Nothing like how they are later on. 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. Their silence on the Web might play into their critics claims that they have something to hide, leaders acknowledge. 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. The rationalization that Elder and other ex-members have engaged in, the group says, has left those ex-members vulnerable to Watchman Fellowships manipulation. Its literature stresses simplicity, sustainability, self-sufficiency, cooperation, service and quality craftmanship. But the wholesome, carefree appearances portrayed on publicity videos, according to some who have left, is a facade, masking a quiet culture of abuse. Homestead Heritage is one such group and is especially easy to single out, Wheeler says, because its beliefs are fundamentally at odds with the prevailing mores of todays Western society. 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 told me she is considering counseling. There is not a lording over their lives, Wheeler says. Now Daniel, what kind of man writes that kind of a letter and then makes someone else sign his name to it? Arnn says in the e-mail. Others helped with the story but, because they still have family members inside the community, refused to speak publicly. Waco, Texas Contact Suggest edits to improve what we show. Requiring members to adhere to group patterns is no different than a football coach requiring players to meet certain standards of conduct, Wheeler says. If, for example, a member was asked whether the children there are allowed to go to college, she said they were taught to say something like: Well, if anyone really felt God leading them to do that, then of course he would be able to. The problem with that, she said, is that what they meant by God leading them actually meant if the leadership tells them God wants them to do that. Such meetings tend to flow week to week and would likely prove difficult for a visitor to make sense of, he says. So glad you were able to escape! Its only logical, they say, because without the family, there would be no group in the first place. 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. 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. . 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. Im going to hurt other people emotionally if I dont, she said. Whats so frustrating about those accusations and others like them, members say, is that theyre almost impossible to categorically refute, at least publicly. 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. Wow, my husband is a chef and he buys grits from there. In fact, according to court records, DeLong claimed the abuse stopped after he confessed to a church elder. At first my mom wasn't going to leave and they were going to have to get a divorce and stuff but luckily she got out as well after a bit. 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 first posting about Homestead Heritage went up on April 7, 2005. Wheeler reported the phone call to the McLennan County Sheriffs Office, but officers couldnt trace it. So far, they havent learned of any group with a greater amount of revelation in all areas, they say. How did you end up leaving/was it hard? "A Texas Observer investigation has found allegations of child sex abuse involving at least six members of the Homestead Heritage community. Homestead Heritage is an agrarian- and craft-based intentional Christian community. That causes some people, like the ex-members, to make claims of abuse against those who continue exercising such discipline, they say. And I will never forget the first movie I saw, Spiderman. So basically not many people leave but a few have over the years. All of the Texas Observers articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions: You can chip in for as little as 99 cents a month. He intends to plead guilty, according to the McLennan County DAs office. But it does mean people cannot continually commit unrepented sin and enter heaven. Crows sister is married to Adamss eldest son. The Homestead Acts were several laws in the United States by which an applicant could acquire ownership of government land or the public domain, typically called a homestead.In all, more than 160 million acres (650 thousand km 2; 250 thousand sq mi) of public land, or nearly 10 percent of the total area of the United States, was given away free to 1.6 million homesteaders; most of the . Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. They let me do this and didnt have enough concern to take him away, she said. 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. She cites the example of Heavens Gate, the UFO religion founded by Marshall Applewhite in which 39 members committed suicide in 1997. Homestead Heritage, on the other hand, lets members decide how much, if any, contact to have with family members who leave. But yes, they do have great food! Read Our Story Watch Video Read Our Blog Frequently Asked Questions Partners must notify. He pleaded guilty and didnt offer up anything in mitigation. 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. And I think thats why some people turned to child abuse. He told me tonights broadcast is explosive stuff.. We hadnt been in the fellowship very long and a member who had been there a while told me that was what was necessary. WFAAs investigation is believed to have found further evidence of abuse what Shipp describes as compelling personal testimony and physical documentation that Elders of Homestead either knew or should have known that children were being sexually and physically abused within the community., In his entire career, Shipp says hes never had to work so hard to corroborate allegations of an important story. Well, because i had never really been allowed to watch TV I watched a completely unhealthy amount of television for a while lol. You brought me into this world and gave me my name. Ex-members have intentionally tried to stoke those fears by comparing Homestead Heritage to the Branch Davidians and other cults, members say. He limped for about two weeks after that. Some Anabaptists, for example, practice familial shunning. I mean, we had a garden back then that I liked but I still do! 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. But my dad stayed in town and started speaking out on web forums and to news reporters about what was happening. If there is one thing on which most ex-members agree, it is the level of control the leaders of the group exert on their followers. Members still go to local stores for some needs. The baptisms are super intense. You murder their reputation and cause people to fear them, Yarden says. (Everyone always seemed friendly and relatively normal when I visited, so just wondering.). To Olsons dismay, the article provoked opposition to Homestead Heritage. That approach also ensures people know exactly what awaits them if they join Homestead Heritage, members say. On occasion they do, members say. As I got older I heard stories and read articles about what happens there. 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. That doesnt mean every time someone sins theyre in danger of going to hell. I also used to get super emotional in movies, I would cry when the actors did, laugh with themman, that was awesome. He has been decried by numerous religious groups for misrepresenting and faking his credentials. Although Elders letter to church leaders criticizing Homestead Heritage was hurtful, that wasnt the reason the group wrote a formal response, members said. Such treatment might sound harsh, Homestead Heritage members acknowledge. What can we do? On the issue of who can be saved, its true Homestead Heritage has three levels of membership, leaders say. 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. Many churches once employed a probationary period. Whenever they quote our literature, member Nathan Tittley says, you really have to watch the ellipses.. 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.