I've been to Waco a dozen times over the past ten years. I've always enjoyed the visits. One of my favorite Mexican restaurants, Siete Mares, is located on Dutton Ave across from a place where you can buy a whole roasted pig. Two the five best BBQ restaurants I've ever eaten in are located in Waco, as is a great little pool hall called Crickets. Waco has three outstanding disc golf courses, Cameron Park, Cameron Park East, and Woodway Hill (aka heatstroke hill). Cameron Park East is among the best courses I've ever played. And let's not forget Baylor University, which offers some outstanding sight seeing.
All this community goodness pails in comparison to the real draw - nutball religious cults. Waco has two. One infamous, and one just odd.
In 1993, 80 members of The Branch Davidians died in a fire after fighting it out with federal authorities. Most people think the cult died at that point, but it lived on. I have visited the Branch Davidians twice since the big event. I bought a refrigerator magnet on my second visit.
The Branch, The Lord of Righteousness sect of the Branch Davidians, now runs the site. They plan a museum, tabernacle and wellness center as part of their plans to grow the Waco site back to prominence. The new leader, Charles Pace, thinks that David Koresh misled his followers. Pace intends to represent the real church. Pace's goal is to change the cults negative image.
People sympathetic to the group planted a simple memorial of trees and placed under each one a granite stone inscribed with the names of the Branch Davidians who died in the 1993 standoff.
But Pace removed the stones, destroying Koresh’s, and is contemplating tearing down the trees, saying they are an abomination, according to the Bible. Instead, he plans to build a wall from the stones, with a new stone bearing Koresh’s real name, Vernon Howell.
In addition, Pace, foresees the establishment of “a spiritual community" on the property, with families living in separate houses or mobile homes, as opposed to the group living situation that existed under Koresh. They would attend church and seek treatment at a wellness center.
So group sex, child molestation, drug use and the other various sins of Koresh are off the public menu. Woohoo! I bet the local Waco community are flocking to the new wellness center.
The other cult
The other odd cult to occupy space in the Waco area is Homestead Heritage. I like these guys, so does one of my close friends. He lives in Waco, is a bit metrosexual, and likes to visit the Homestead Heritage craft fair. His visits are what first brought this cult to my attention. I have followed them ever since.
Homestead Heritage is the church most likely to survive a nuclear holocaust. They supposedly do everything the old school way, and are generous enough to share with the community through craft fairs. Despite their idyllic, back to simpler times, public image, recent ex-member unrest is causing a stir.
But over the past two years, a growing number of ex-members have used the Internet and word-of-mouth to call that wholesome image into question. Their basic message: Homestead Heritage is not what it appears to be.
The face the group presents to the public is nothing more than a facade, fastidiously engineered to attract new members and draw money, some ex-members say. Beneath that surface, the workings of the group are such that most people would call it a cult, they claim.
Call my a cynic, but come on! I often wonder how people can look at a group like Homestead Heritage and not think "nutball cult". Just look at what ex-members say:
...exes say they feel an obligation to speak out so others aren’t deceived. The Homestead Heritage they know is a place where a crushing workload disrupts children’s education and drains family time, where a dizzying array of rules controls followers and, most importantly, where the religious doctrine is bizarre, even heretical. The stakes of staying silent are simply too high, they say.
Homestead Heritage disputes these claims. There is nothing wrong here. Move along. Move along.
The Apologetics Index has some damning information on Homestead Heritage. The problem I perceive is not that they have made it all up - all religious do this - the problem is the cult-like behavior of its leadership. Members are sheeple, dependent on their leadership for decision making. Cult-like behavior can lead to another Branch Davidians or worse, a Peoples Temple.
I must pay another visit to Waco. Maybe this time I can hit a Homestead Heritage fair and attempt to see past the carefully crafted facade. Plus, I want to buy some of their ceramics to go with my vase collection. I wonder if they make beer?
26 comments:
I grew up there trust me its not all that you think alot of dark and shady secrets lay behind that false front. try to join them see how far you get. they wont let you go to sunday i promise you. check out factnet.org it has alot of ex members on it
Whoa, you would have to try to join and spend a few years there to find out what is really going on there! They have secret literature (like 100's of books) that only those who are members are allowed to read. They wait until you trust them, and they can convince you of their "greater light" that they allow you to read most books. A scary place, been there, done that!
There is a "great silent" majority that lingers around Homestead Heritage -- those who recognized the aberrant theology for what it was and got out. Most though will remain in the shadows -- blackmailed into not speaking out about the abusive practices of the leadership -- under threat of loss of never speaking to friends or family again. On direction from the leaders -- members must cut-off communication with whomever they target. If you're a grandma, grandpa, fmaily member in any standing -- never speaking to or seeing kin again is a powerful constraint.
The leaders are so controlling that they told one family they "needed to get their 13 year old boy" out of town because he was "too wild". He was a normal 13 -- not the 13 old robot types they like at HH. His parents actually sent him to Florida to live with family! What kind of caring, loving, benign leadership is that? If the kid was wild -- didn't he need their character building and guidance. Of course! But becasue he wasn't a pawn, he was sent away. HH proselytizing of other churches members doesn't have any room for foks that won't toe-the-line. If it's not "cool" -- the un-cool, unco-operatives are booted out while being told that they are "going to hell".
Homestead Heritage only hurts those who either join and leave or grow up there and leave. Oh, that is not totally correct, they hurt those that are confused and think they should stay and endure partial separation because if they leave they will go to hell. (If they don't believe you are 100% with them, they don't allow you to be a part of church activities or go to Sunday meetings.)
If you visit there again sometime, ask them to explain why kids that grow up there can't get baptized due to believing the gospel, but have to wait until the leadership believes they are ready for membership? Then when they do get baptized, they have to commit to Homestead Heritage forever and if they leave they will go to hell.
Something I remember -
Blair Adams calling an emergency (prayer?) meeting in Grand Junction CO, circa 1980, which amounted to nothing more than yet another ruthless flagellation of the flock. The "printing ministry", then known as Truth Forum, was in dire need of funds in order to continue it's God ordained mission. Of course Truth Forum was God's project and Adams his only worthy mouthpiece. The reason for the failing ministry wasn't the leadership or God, but due to the sinful ways of the unfaithful congregation (sound familiar?). Two hours of blood curdling screaming, weeping, gnashing of teeth (almost sounds like hell, doesn't it?) and an endless chanting of "Thank you Jesus, Praise you Jesus, Thank you Yahwah, Hallelujah" (sounds like empty repetitive phrases, doesn't it....and what did Jesus say about this?) by the congregation. I don't know what I was thinking when I decided to take my eyes away from the floor and look at Adams but in retrospect, I'm glad I did because it was the beginning of my exit from this cult. When I looked at Adams, he was grinning from ear to ear! Everyone else in the room was in what looked and sounded to me as excruciating agony....yet he, Adams, was WELL pleased! If Blair was elated, so was God since they were one and the same, right? If you doubt this, get on your face and repent! Pray through until you DO believe it. (sarcasm)
Two weeks later Blair Adams was driving around in a brand-spanking new motor home, thanks to the generous monetary contributions of the already depleted flock! Nice. We never did get an update on the status of the printing ministry though. Why is that?
So Blair, what are you driving these days?
David koresh was not evil...in fact he was a very loving peaceful man,i lived at the compound >_> with charles..for awhile...granted..church should always be on saturday due to the fact that the holy day is saturday..look it up...the jews have it right still,but anyway charles pace isn't a good person...he is rude...hot headed...and i hope fails in the museum......Clive doyle left cause of that man =o...there is only one surviver..but she lives there for free..and she is really old...so she can't help it..she is sweet as a puppy lol,anyway...for thoughs who haven't really known what its like...its nothing but lies behind his words...he is all messed up with the bible...anyway we left as well,cause the man was a mad man..haha mad man in waco haha,anyway
God bless my friends =]
Homestead Heritage is not a cult. Unless of course you think people should be sheeples. It is a church that wants people who believe and think in a like minded fashion, and if you dont, then they dont want you to be there. How is that a cult? I have a lot of friends out there, and have yet to join their church, as I have not felt pushed by the Lord to do so.
They will not push you to join. In fact, they will make it very, very hard to join. It might take years to get baptized into "The Body of Christ."
But if you join, or even visit for a lengthy time, and decide to leave you will not be allowed to come on the property again. One family, that never joined, were told they could not come back because they could not decide if they wanted to join after a few years. Not even their kids could come to the annual fair. Sound like a cult now?
I was a part of Homestead Heritage. When suicides are occuring in the congregation it is not of God. Jesus Christ performed miracles in the lives of those who came to Him, not the nightmarish testimonies that have happened to so many in that group.
There have never been suicides in the congregation and it is ridiculous to claim so. They may be misguided about a few things but that is ridiculous and you know it. I grew up there and still have family there. When I got to the point of baptism, I didn't feel like that was what I was supposed to do with my life and moved on. (Just like all of you disgruntled ex-members should. Get your own life, quit living in the past.) They let me go with not one threat and I still have relationship with my family there. I am not the exception, just an example of how they treat normal people who don't harrass them. Instead of sitting around talking trash about them, pray for them. I believe they have a strong enough relationship with God that He can change them when He wants to. So move on, get a life and pray. I got married recently, and my family came to my wedding.
We wanted to see the HH on Saturday (Dec 17) because we were visiting Waco TX. I was brought up in a country where I was accessible to see all those self made crafts as a child and wanted to show my son how everything is done.
Happily I decided not to see anything because they refused to serve us lunch at the cafe with an excuse which I didn't see at their website. The black board at the front said they took "reservations only" after 4:30 pm for Christmas menu.
We entered at the same time with a group of white elderly people.
It was obvious that the young man at the front desk lied to us because they took the elderly group of white people before us and told us they have stopped taking people in for meals because of Christmas dinner Two Hours Before?? If this is what they teach their young men this proves a good deal about their preaching. My group had only three including the child. Other group had way more.
John C. Hung himself from a tree after a tuesday night meeting yes people have killed themselves there.
Lol welcome to the real homestead a pack of liars and child molesters
As a regular visitor to the fairs, I slowly began to notice that ALL books and literature is written by Blair Adams. That seems lopsided. Where Spirit of The Lord is, there is supposed to be liberty. I do enjoy their fair and wish I could do all those things, alas, it takes a community to do ALL those things.
I realize that this is a very old post, but still wanted to add my two cents. I know some people through work who are a part of Homestead. Upon first meeting them, i'd never heard of HH. I just assumed their way of dress was a religious thing. I later attended a fair & was incredibly impressed at their workmanship, but joked to my husband that all the people there were so happy they had to be part of a cult.
Fast forward a few months and upon telling a new friend who was traveling to Waco about the Homestead fair. I found out that he grew up there and was going back to visit family at Homestead.
According to him, he loved life there as a kid, but wanted to experience more of the world as he went through his teen years. He is well educated (through Homestead homeschooling & UT) very open minded and accepting of people.
Don't get me wrong. According to him, EVERYONE there worked. Instead of watching TV or playing video games, the kids are acting like kids did when our grandparents were children - doing chores and helping in the family business. Now days, many people would consider that in itself abuse.
I think that negatives can be found in any organized religion, but there seem to be plenty of positives at Homestead. I've even had some theology discussions with my friend and their beliefs aren't far off of most Christian denominations.
I would take all the cult accusations with a grain of salt and realize that everyone has an agenda. Just because they chose a way of life most of don't doesn't mean that they are any better or worse than the rest of us.
I have known several people in HH and don't be fooled by the facade, they are a controlling cult! They have destroyed so many lives. Howard Wheeler's (one of the leaders) own daughter was raped by cult members. When he found out, he blamed her, drove her to Louisianna in the night and dumped her at a motel with no money. She was just a young teenager. She tried to commit suicide by jumping off of a building and would have died had she not landed in some bushes. She was permanently injured from the fall, though. This cult has completely ruined my friend's lives. It tears families apart by not allowing them to see each other when one family member leaves. They have given several death threats to my friends when they left and continue to harrass them. That is how every cult works.. through fear, control, and intimidation. Don't be fooled by their sweet potato soup!
I have read some of the comments. One I really do have to speak about. One commenter said all the books for sale have been written by Pastor Adams. We visited HH and bought a book written by a lady professor at an area university who moved to HH and became a member. We took a sustainable farming class there so we could teach all our horses to plow as well as ride. We have been there several times and see no problems with the place or people. They are teaching people how to do things for themselves. Does that sound like a cult, becoming more self-sufficient and independent? Thank you for listening.
So true
This is very very true. They should be encouraged to have that Christian love for outside family members. Just as Christ Jesus ( THE REAL JESUS)
teaches us. Jesus walked amongst sinners. And loves everyone. Not just the HH group. In the end God is the judge he is the master. What you sow you reap. I continue to pray for the group & people I know live there.
They haven't brain been brain washed you YET, be a where. Think for yourself.
No human is JESUS!! Jesus did for us. Learn and live by The Bible Teachings. Love your neighbors as you love yourself. HH group if only you are in their group, not outsiders even outside family!!!!!! That is not CHRISTIAN LOVE......
The Enemy has come to rob,torture,kill,deceive,steal,manipulate,enslave,etc.Blair Adams is deceived by his people,as he is deceived,so he deceives,and the foothold is of the Enemy.Like an apple that shows no sign of decay...just because somet hing looks good doesent mean it is.The apple they eat from and give is reverse enginered,artificial,dipped in wax,genetically modified,covered in pesticide and distibuted all in the name of death.Do not eat from that apple
John C. was my father and I would appreciate it if whoever posted the above anonymous comment about him would have enough common respect and sensitivity not post these lies about him. I love my dad and have lots of respect for him, I can't even express with words how much he means to me, I think of him every day and do my best to fight back the tears. Loosing my dad to suicide left a very deep wound in my heart and I do not appreciate you rubbing salt into that wound. Where the dead lie, the vultures will gather. Some of you are just nasty vultures so inevitably, you will always be looking for someone else's tragedy to feed on. All I ask is that you don't feed on my dead dad and the horrible pain myself and the rest of his family have gone through in loosing him. A comment like the one you made shows exactly what kind of person you are, you have no heart.... Also, get your facts straight! My dad didn't hang "himself from a tree after a Tuesday night meeting" like you said, my dad died early on a Tuesday morning. His death came as a total shock to all of us and to this day we don't know why he killed himself, no one does.... I do know one thing though, it had nothing to do with a Tuesday night meeting! My dad left Homestead Heritage in 2004, over 5 years before he committed suicide and although he has lots of friends and family at Homestead Heritage, he was not in any way a member of Homestead Heritage! Not only are you a heartless, cruel, insensitive and totally uncaring person, but you know nothing about the situation.
Thank you Simeon. Appreciated. I remember your dad, very fondly, from earlier Colorado times, in the 1980s.
And I do think that those who see difficulties in Homestead Heritage should seek to be respectful and sensitive in private or public discussions about individuals, and more especially those deceased. And often that will mean silence rather than seeking cheap shots.
Interestingly, about two years ago when I was up update NY I visited the community (a different one) where your aunt is involved, although I passed on staying for dinner and sharing and hearing.
Blessings in Jesus to you and your family, and sadness on the loss of your dad. This is the first time I have had a chance to say this publicly. On a Facebook forum John was included on a Memoriam post,and now we can add the 2009 year.
Steven Spencer
You don't think John C. might have committed suicide because of the despair of being "disfellowshipped" and shunned for all those years after he supposedly left? Or because he had recently learned that he would not be allowed by Homestead to attend his son's wedding which occurred just a few days after his death? Of course it is always said that "he left the fellowship". That way Homestead is never at fault. If you disagree with their teaching you have ostensibly "left", because it is always "their way or the highway". There is no room for dissent.
It was interesting, after John's death the "church" moved his family from outside Bastrop up to Waco within just a few days. His business location was cleaned out and shuttered asap. A friend of mine went to the bank in Bastrop a few days later and noticed it was short staffed. He asked what was going on and they said that everyone was at John's funeral but none of the ex-members that knew and loved him were invited. This kind of subterfuge was quite common at Homestead. Yes, there are some wonderful, Godly people there but the leadership is quite legalistic and controlling.
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