Unveiling the Shadows of Homestead Heritage: Former Member Speaks Out

The words came popping up on my Microsoft Edge Browser — "Living In a ‘Cult’ Was All She Knew — until a traumatic birth pushed her to escape." This blog may be a challenge for survivors to read. Please practice self-care. "Living In a ‘Cult’ Was All She Knew This was the title of an article from the Independent News. After reading the content I decided to write about this real life story. Tabitha and Noa Haugh, two former members of Homestead Heritage, a religious community near Waco, Texas bravely escaped a cult and recently challenged the leaders of the picturesque facade of Homestead, who then paint a starkly different picture of life within it's boundaries. Read full article here. Their accounts, along with other former members, describe a life of isolation, limited choices and not being able to experience the aspects of modern life like movies, dating, or even getting a simple haircut. and that being homeschooled hampered their ability to make informed decisions or pursue diverse career paths. Former members of Homestead Heritage have described the group as "controlling, likening it to a "cult" where personal autonomy is severely restricted." According to them, nearly every facet of their lives was managed under the constant threat of losing their salvation. They also mentioned that questioning the authority of the church leaders was seen as equivalent to challenging God Himself. The most concerning are the allegations surrounding medical care, particularly in childbirth. Noa Haugh's account of her traumatic birth experience under the care of an allegedly unlicensed midwife named Amanda Lancaster raised serious questions about the community's approach to healthcare. Noa had suffered third degree tearing as she gave birth and Lancaster had administered local anesthesia and sewed the area back together. It wasn’t until her second pregnancy that a different midwife informed her that the original suturing was incorrectly done, preventing proper healing of the pelvic floor muscles that according to her medical records led to a condition known as rectocele, where the rectum bulges into the vaginal wall causing significantly difficulty with bowel movements. Noa was encouraged by this midwife to file a complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation but could not be investigated because of the two year statute of limitations. A second woman, Morning Alexander, joined the complaint against Lancaster. She had her for 2 pregnancies while in the church; serving as her midwife both times. During her first pregnancy at 30 weeks she woke in a pool of blood. Terrified, she called Lancaster who contacted a physician who joined the church to ask if she should go to the hospital. He suggested they contact the leaders who prayed about the situation and who then gave their permission. Rather than going to the Waco hospital down the road she went to a hospital 45 minutes away because Heritage leaders had told her that the NICU head was formerly a doctor who performed abortions.

I realize that many people make the decision to homeschool to protect their children from the agenda that schools and government has for them and have spiritual beliefs that cause them to shelter them from the influences of the world. For a child raised in a home where their exposure to media, technology, or societal norms is restricted, this can created a sense of isolation or a sense of being "left out" or missing something significant but forbidden. There's benefit financially from cutting your own children's hair and not everyone has to experience going to a salon to grow into adulthood. There's a fine line between being sheltered out of protection or controlled from important experiences. But I also know firsthand the danger and harmful influence of a closed religious family or community who stifle the autonomy of the children or members where individual thinking is discouraged and it becomes "group think" with rigid rules about how you can conduct yourself in that controlled environment closed off from the world even to the point of limiting social interactions with friends and with others who can help. Survivors of cult families or communities often face numerous challenges after speaking out, including not being believed and being questioned about why they didn’t speak up sooner (which is what happened in this case). Delayed reporting can occur because survivors may not fully realize they were mistreated until they grasp the extent of their experience or have something drastic happen like what happened with Noa and only have evidence later of the extent of the incorrectly done repair of the tear and the damage that it had done. Then there is the factor of struggling with feelings of unworthiness that can cause a belief that they don't deserve help. This delay can complicate their ability to seek help or file reports, especially when it comes to statutes of limitations, further complicating their journey toward justice. All of the accounts brought forth in the article raised troubling questions for me about medical care, education, and personal freedom within closed religious communities and even more chilling was the response by the community. When confronted with these allegations, Homestead Heritage has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Their spokesperson, Josiah Wheeler, stated that "There is absolutely no truth to these allegations, and the assertion that we are anything other than an open, thriving church family is false." This response is typical of how closed communities often react to criticism, attempting to discredit those who speak out.

The community's midwife, Amanda Lancaster, while expressing sympathy for the women's experiences, maintains that her practices are legal and that mothers sign informed consent forms. However, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation prohibits unlicensed individuals from performing many of the procedures described by former members.

The experiences of those who left Homestead Heritage reveal common patterns in closed cultic communities:

Isolation from the outside world, limiting exposure to alternative viewpoints.

Restricted access to education, hindering critical thinking.

Control over healthcare decisions, prioritizing beliefs over individual medical needs.

Belief system equating questioning authority to questioning God; a powerful deterrent to dissent.

Difficulty leaving, leading to ostracism and shunning by remaining members. Struggles with adapting to life outside the community after departure.

Denial and deflection by leaders in response to criticisms or accusations.

Challenges in discerning truth due to groupthink and the suppression of differing perspectives.

After reading about Homestead Heritage's former members speaking out I think of cult, criminal, religious and familial entities who are often ready to attempt to cast doubt on these accounts. They may claim false memories, misunderstandings, misrepresentations, or attribute negative accounts to personal grievances. This pattern of denial and deflection can make it challenging for outsiders to discern the truth and for former members to be believed. One thing remains true; those who speak out are incredibly brave, and take incredible risks as outlined in the patterns of those they leave.