My husband and I visit Homestead Heritage on a regular basis. The atmosphere is happy and productive. We love shopping and eating at their deli. I am an organic gardener and I buy much of my supplies from them. At least once a year, I buy pottery there and sometimes things from the grist mill. I encourage everyone to visit Homestead Heritage and step back in time when the air was clean and things were done naturally. For those who are nervous about visiting because they feel someone will try to convert them, I can assure you that this will not happen. I never knew Homestead Heritage was associated with a religious group or church until this horrible press. If you go, be sure to notice the beautiful wood working of the children, you will behold beauty far beyond that found in any fine furniture store.
— M. G.
Submitted on: August 14, 2012, 11:08 am
I cannot put words to what I feel at the moment because I’m speechless. What I will say is that all the love and beauty I was raised with in Homestead was accurately portraited in this response to the media.
— J. M.
Submitted on: May 19, 2012, 5:53 am
I heard this morning about the slander and watched this video. My experience with Homestead Heritage truly changed my life and that of my husband who passed away in 2005. We never became members of the fellowship, but regularly visited and attended small group worship weekly. Because we were at that time heavily involved in prison ministry, and HH had not yet begun this same endeavor, we felt to maintain our associate status with HH, and use the majority of our time at the prisons in Texas. This was a very difficult decision, but as both of us were in volunteer chaplaincy with the state, we would have left some of our dear friends who were incarcerated and who had begun a new life with Christ. When my husband passed away in Colorado, my dear friends at HH met us at the family gravesite in Lorena, TX to say Goodbye. Though I am living in Arizona now, I often think of my friends at HH with deep love. They are amazing Christians who are committed to living the way of Christ.
— S. W.
Submitted on: April 28, 2012, 1:53 pm
This was an intelligent and comprehensive rebuttal. I appreciate the way this was done in a Godly manner, resisting the urge to slander or show hatred in response. Our family has been in contact with people at Homestead Heritage for many years and this has been a constant policy: love, openness and intelligent, Godly motives. Our love and prayers are with you.
— A.B. & C.D.
Submitted on: March 27, 2012, 4:36 pm
The video was excellent. It was a standing ovation in my heart. It shows the truth so plain and clear. So I can say to whoever did this article about homstead heritage, GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM. THERE IS SO MANY OF THESE CASES IN THE U.S. WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO HURT INNOCENT PEOPLE AND CHILDREN? IF ANYBODY IS ABUSING THE KIDS IT’S THE PERSON WHO WROTE THAT HIDEOUS ARTICLE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK HH.
— W. M.
Submitted on: March 14, 2012, 5:22 pm
As I watch this video, all I can do is weep. Every word spoken is true. This is the heritage I left. This is the heritage I am determined to join again. If my voice counts, then please let it be heard that the accusations published in the article by the Texas Observer are absolutely false. Publishing them is an awesome way to up your readership, particularly in this season of sensational abuse exposés. But it is a shameful abuse of the power a journalist holds. God bless each and every one of you there, living your life of joyful, selfless love. I have put the limits of human love to the test in this church and found no limits, only faithful, honest, Godly lives and hearts. When I left, I too had to find many justifications for leaving paradise. Thank God I had the humanity and speck of character to keep it to myself till I began to grow up and finally face reality.
— L. D.
Submitted on: March 1, 2012, 10:20 pm
Well done. I think this video and web site accurately portray the Community that I know and addresses well the slanderous article in the Observer. I am sorry that such wonderful folks are being put through this kind of inquisition, but you should know that your many many friends continue to admire, respect and love you all. I pray for your strength and perseverance through this and I pray that the few disgruntled people that are being used in this effort to hurt you will rid their hearts of evil and find forgiveness and peace.
— D. J.
Submitted on: February 27, 2012, 2:18 pm
I was here for 26 years, and like Amanda said, when you experience something so wonderful and you walk away saying you can’t do it and you can’t live up to the standards and somehow you have to justify what you’ve done. I know that there is no justification for living wrong. And the people that are slandering such humble people just can’t live with themselves. Everything in the Video is so true, all I could do was watch it and weep because they are so open, honest and the most loving people, this is home and I hate to hear people so bitter, I just want to ask them “What is wrong with living right”. I love and support ya’ll all the way.
— B. M.
Submitted on: February 27, 2012, 1:34 pm
You say that the ex members are “hostile” well of course you will say that. If anyone was to say ANYTHING bad about HH then will be considered hostile whether it is true or not. You can say that you do not engage in any abuse. I am sure in your eyes it is not abuse. It is abuse. You tell members that if they leave they will fail. They will end up on drugs and/or in jail. You also say that if a person leaves they are going to hell. Not only hell but a worse hell because they have been “shown more light.” You say that the reason people speak out against HH is because of their own problems in their lives that they cannot face. That is just a cop out. You are using mind control, brainwashing and fear tactics to control people.You speak of all the visitors that visit and all the praise you have recieved from the media. All of which comes from the annual fair which is like a press conference, it is inteneded to be presentable to the public. What these people do not see is what is behind the facade of perfection. How about answer why you do not allow the public to attend Sunday services? Why do you need a whole book to give people the answers to questions people ask? The truth is you do not want to risk somone saying the wrong thing to the wrong person and could possibly tarnish your perfect reputation. I hope that this article and others blows the lid off your whole shame Christian “church.”If you had any idea how I felt growing up there, how abused and isolated I felt. But that doesn’t matter all that matters is “the eternal soul” right? I am now a staunch atheist who can refute every one of your god claims. I can see the falacies of your arguments. Luckily I am no long afraid. I not afraid of going to hell. Once I realized that Idid not have to fear hell I was freed. I am a free thinker and nobody can take that from me.I am sure that this comment will not be posted because anyone who says anything negative about you is automatically wrong.
— T. M.
Submitted on: February 11, 2012, 5:09 pm