Homestead Heritage is one of 14 affiliated communities worldwide. Now, these former members are going public, raising alarming allegations of the organization’s past practices to expose a pattern of abuse. In 1973, former Pentecostal minister Blair Adams founded the community. It grew from an unconventional church in a converted disco to city-wide activism in New York City. Adams wanted to connect with the ‘lost’ in an impoverished inner city area notorious for its crime and despair. Over the ensuing decades, the community found its way east across the country and eventually settled in Colorado. There, they founded Rehoboth Ranch—Rehoboth is a Biblical name meaning a place of peace, where warring shall cease.
That vision of peace didn’t last long. As serious incidents came to light, important questions demanded answers about the Society’s own practices. Unbeknownst to them, by 1979 Rehoboth Ranch’s bucolic dreams were about to come undone following a shift 3,000 kilometers from paradise. When reports of egregious animal abuse began to surface, investigations from Child Protective Services started up. The refuge was soon turned into an environment shrouded by horrifying claims. This progressive transformation resulted in one bad news bombshell after another.
It wasn’t until 2005 that Homestead Heritage was first in the news for a documented instance of child sexual abuse. Unfortunately, this incident was just the beginning of a more alarming trend in our community. By 2013, at least seven of the members had been convicted of child sexual abuse—most of those cases being instances of incest. Among the respondents was Joseph Ratliff, who was given a mind-blowing 99-year sentence for the rape of an eight-year-old boy.
As the accusations list grew, so did concern over Ratliff’s direct access to children. He often oversaw adolescent males at art shows and during their employment on landscaping teams. Danny Schwennesen, former member of Homestead Heritage, tells his difficult story. Unlike thousands of other victims, he believes that Ratliff began sexually assaulting him when he was only 11. This dangerous narrative has fostered a culture of fear among current and former members. They are particularly concerned because Ratliff is set to be released on parole soon, having served his minimum sentence. He has hinted at returning to Waco, which has kept everybody on edge.
After Blair Adams died in 2021, Homestead Heritage’s leadership made a change. An all-male committee, the Council of Elders, assumed control. This change has raised concerns among former members about the future direction of the community and its ability to address past issues effectively. Incredibly, today the organization claims 1,200 members strong. It rhetorically shapes almost every community mentioned above, including Greycliff Mill in Montana, home to some 50 ‘traditional’ families.
That contrast between the proclaimed values of the community and the accusations leveled against it makes for a very tense environment. Members have described experiences with isolation tactics and the use of fear to discourage members from speaking out against leadership or blowing the whistle on abuses. This dynamic raises critical questions about accountability within the organization and how it impacts those who live under its influence.
As these allegations have been made public, many like us have called for increased transparency and accountability within the community of Homestead Heritage. Now the community’s leadership is under enormous pressure to acknowledge the community’s violent past and guarantee that its members will be protected from future violence. The daily discussion about these topics showcases the internal struggles — and the beauty — of communities that prioritize a classic lifestyle. They are up against all the challenges of today’s reality.
