The documentary traces the beliefs that Shifflett embraced and taught, which his followers gullibly beleived, that empowered him to tyrannize over his church and ultimately gave him immunity as he brutalized, enlaved, and molested church children. That the homes own former staffers arent sure of the year speaks volumes about an industry so poorly regulated that state officials cant verify whether certain homes even exist. Its board of directors reportedly voted for closure in 2001, but rumors abound that New Bethany boarded girls as late as 2004. Dr. Ron Williams founded Hephzibah House in 1971. Terms of Service apply. This Williams woman was seriously misguided at best, possibly had mental health issues, or far, far, worse. A reform school in Kosciusko County, facing allegations of neglect and abuse from former students, has closed. But Lucinda, another former student, is defending the work she says Pastor Williams has done at Hephzibah House. While it is unlikely they will ever be arrested and prosecuted, surely Indiana law enforcement and child protective services can find ways to eradicate the stench coming from Hephzibah House. *, In March 2010, the House passed the Keeping All Students Safe Act, a bill that would have banned the use of seclusion and physical or chemical restraints by any school that benefits from federal education money. I am very sorry to say I won my own husband by my dress and actions. After Word had been there for almost seven months, his watch escaped. I came across this documentary about Hephzibah House yesterday and wondered if anybody here has seen it Then there's this story from a Williams son: That wasa little bit interesting. The Lord has shown me the role of the woman in the home. What do normal 18-year-olds do?" They also endured exhaustive corporal punishment. I know that there's hundreds of girls that this is huge for them and this is a relief and I'm so happy for them. Which is crazy, just insane, because there's 300 of us out here that have PTSD, says Mary. Repentance means to turn around, change, be different. These people are sick, and not in the have compassion for way, but in the complete fruitcake doing really bad stuff way. Copyright 2023 The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser Powered by Flywheel. When that could've been easily fixed with Metamucil or putting us on a better diet," she said. Hephzibah House is a private Christian boarding school for teenage girls, founded in 1971 and located in Winona Lake, Indiana. Translated from the original Hebrew, Hephzibah literally means, "My delight is in her.". (Please read Who's to Blame For the Tragic Death of IFB Missionary Charles Wesco?) They wear balanced, simple and modest clothing. You do have to sign in through some type of cable provider to watch it: https://www.aetv.com//living-in-sin-inside-a-/full-special aetv.com Watch Living in Sin: Inside a Religious Reform School | A&E Just last year, prosecutors in Blount County, Alabama, charged Jack Pattersona Roloff protg and founder of a boys home called Reclamation Ranchwith aggravated child abuse. It sounded like a discipleship program, Jeannie Marie recalls. Sick. Interestingly, Hephzibah House is not mentioned as a ministry on the churchs website. Other girls? Even then I wanted to be beautiful. The average household income in the Highway 88 area is $57,996. The Cassells offer the listener a front row seat to the enormous conspiracy of lies that only slowly began to unfold in 2005.These interviews are pulled from the podcast, with very little sound added, but they are powerful in their own right, without adornment. "The things that are happening at Hephzibah House are definitely cultish. Hephzibah Discover a selection of 70 vacation rentals in Hephzibah, GA that are perfect for your trip. The position we have taken is hated not necessarily by the world as much as it is by fellow Christians. While those who run the school say it wasn't their choice or desire to close, former students, like Mary Kumar, tell us they're overjoyed. Getting through by phone also proved challenging, and calls were monitored. Women: no skills, need to marry & have kids This is false. Hephzibah House - UnGodly Discipline - CNN report 60,646 views Sep 1, 2011 274 Dislike wdtony 730 subscribers Anderson Cooper Of CNN reports on allegations of abuse at Hephzibah House, a. Ben Williams says this is just one step in the healing process. Pastor Dave Halyaman is an assistant Director of Hephzibah House, and Assistant Pastor at Believers Baptist Church in Warsaw, Indiana and has held these positions since 1990.Brother Halyaman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from California State University Los Angeles in 1978, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Theology from Hyles-Anderson College in 1987. (Rapiers ex-wife Dee told me she sent Guy to recover at her mothers Texas home before returning him to his parents.). Want Dr. Phil to Investigate a Situation or Possible Scam? The girls could have said anything. He now runs a home for adult men on the Reclamation Ranch property and a girls home called Rachel Academy in neighboring Walker Countyand is in the process, he says, of opening new homes in Ohio, Florida, and Michigan. That Hephzibah House remains open till this day is nothing short of scandalous. Would call us, stay in touch, invite us to their weddings, so now they are leading a whole group against us which is really inexplicable to us," he said. Despite the bad PR, Christian reform facilities appear to have no trouble attracting new recruits. This woman is intentionally mean, calling older women whose bodies are aging as womens bodies do disgusting slobs and those whose bodies may have held up better slutty temptresses. Clarification: The version of this article that appeared in the magazine left the impression that Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) was concerned that HR 911 could interfere with parents rights. She's not the only one who says she suffered at Hephzibah House. For what reason? Thank you so much for helping us to spread the word about the abuse at this facility!!!www.formerhephzibahgirls.webs.com. Donations are always appreciated. He and his wife have six grown children and twelve grandchildren. I had a lot to crucify in my life. These are easy to make or to have made. Good thing his wife isnt alive. Mary Kumar is a survivor of a lockdown reform school for the wayward . The bill passed in the House, but stalled in a Senate committee. About The New Press. And yes, every once in a while they deny this but every once in a while a can of dog food would get dropped in. I told him wedon't see each other much at all (removed by over 100 miles) but after all this time I didn't want any bad feelings between us. Shut down Hephzibah house. She was monitored day and night by two buddies, girls whod been there awhile and knew the drill. I too came from a church that supported "the Double HH Ranch" and am absolutely appalled at the things I am hearing about this place. But Kumar says other medical problems were given too much focus. Hephzibah [H] [S] my delight is in her. Believer's Baptist is pastored by Don Williams, the son of Ron and Patti Williams. Oh, your holy book mandates it? Because we are disobeying the Lord a mother who wears pants will produce a daughter that may not have a servant spirit to men or her husband unless she wants something special from him. By that time, Roxy said, most girls are broken, having been told that their families have abandoned them, and that the world outside is a sinful, dangerous place where girls who leave are murdered or raped. In a locked-up basement where they never see the light of day, as a prisoner and that's over. In an open letter, Williams argued that it would effectively close all Christian ministries helping troubled youth because of its onerous provisions. They were joined by a group called the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, which opposed HR 911 on the grounds that statesdespite all evidence to the contraryare best situated to oversee the homes. Just because they closed the door is not going to give a prisoner afraid of retaliation any comfort talking about the abuse. Over a period of twelve days, it has screened more than 300 films and sold more than 250,000 tickets. A woman who wears pants or immodest dress will produce a daughter that will have either masculine character or rebellious character or the qualities of a strange woman. [MORE: See photos of life at New Bethany. I have done all I can do. What follows is an excerpt from the pamphlet: One of the hottest issues today among women is the pants issue and other areas of clothing. TELL DR. PHIL YOUR STORY: Are you involved in a story making headlines? The school reopened the next year in Walterboro, South Carolina, under a new administrator, Olin King. Mother Jones was founded as a nonprofit in 1976 because we knew corporations and billionaires wouldn't fund the type of hard-hitting journalism we set out to do. Yes of course he does. Mental abuse -- YES YES YES. (It, too, died in the Senate.) Religious reform school closes after former students allege abuse & neglect, At least 5 sent to hospital in downtown Elkhart house fire. "At night you had a 10:30 bathroom break and a 2 a.m. bathroom break, and there will be times where they take the 10:30 and they miss the 2 a.m. bathroom break. But Williams and her ilk are destroyers, packs of velociraptors in human disguise. I want to please the Lord not man. Titus 2:5 says we are to be keepers at home. Then your holy book is evil. They do an excellent job of imitating our bad qualities. There was no apparent reason for this treatment, Glover says, save reminding the girls who was in charge. The home relocated to Missouri three years later, returning to Texas in 1998 after then-Gov. At Hephzibah House Ron Williams preached from the pulpit that menstruation was called the curse because it was a curse. Hephzibah House sent a letter to their supporters saying they sent their last student away and that the closure came after their insurance carrier dropped them. Each child has an individualized treatment plan to address their specific needs. 5 Bedroom, 3 Full Bathroom w/ 2728 sq ft home built in 2019. He says he wants the community to know about the physical and emotional abuse he both saw and endured growing up at Hephzibah House. Your next investment or dream home is just a click away. I again pulled out one of my mini skirts and my shiny black boots and immediately I felt like a strange woman and I desired to dance and prance. My wife and I left a teaching position in the early nineties. (Though after reading comments from local law enforcement, its evident that any action against Hephzibah House and the Williamses will NOT come from local authorities.). Available on A&E now, the documentary on Hephzibah House (Living in Sin). We have been unable to get that confirmed with DCS. Anita Bryant is a prime example of what the Bible condemns. This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. It was founded in 1971. Unfortunately, just like there is in the public schools and public sector, there are disgruntled parents, who, instead of looking at their own child and situation, choose to talk about the school, he said. Welcome to the website for HEPHZIBAH HOUSE. 229 Hephzibah homes for sale range from $6K - $1.99M with the avg price of a 2-bed single family home of $108K. is an assistant Director of Hephzibah House, and Assistant Pastor at Believers Baptist Church in Warsaw, Indiana and has held these positions since 1990. I am not so sure any of us are really deceived deep down inside. ERA has definitely won a battle among Christian women. His psychology is messed up and he probably feels like a freak, but disguises it with the sinister behaviors. I too am a former Hephzibah student and so appreciate those who are helping get the word out! Oh, this is all part of some deitys Perfect Plan? That some of these Evangelical churches have even the barest shreds of a good society within them is happening in spite of, rather than because of, the teachings of the religion; and those teachings have a terrible effect on young people, on women, and on the rest of us when those people get political power in our government. She says students were expected to do heavy labor in addition to their Bible-based education. Instead, he offered to put me in touch with two pastors who had daughters there. If you have any information please send it to [email protected], This is a great ministry and the Williams are very kind people. Parents need to read these stories before sending their children to be tortured! King and his assistant were charged with kidnapping, unlawful neglect, and conspiracy. The bowel and bladder torture consisted of girls being given bran, made to drink lots of water at breakfast, and then denied bathroom access until lunch. The raid uncovered handguns and rifles, leg irons, and handcuffs; 11 boys were taken into state custody. Because of his practical experience in picking up the pieces of homes and families for so many years, the preaching of Pastor Williams emphasizes the Christian home and family. Kalie, Susan, and Gabby say they want to raise awareness about Hephzibah House, where they claim they experienced abuse that still haunts them to this day. We found 84 addresses and 85 properties on Highway 88 in Hephzibah, GA. When I phoned New Beginnings to ask about the familys allegations, a staffer referred all questions to Wesley Barnum, the academys attorney, who did not return my repeated calls. As a small child I desired to be a beautiful movie star and practiced the role by prancing and dancing all around the house. Let the fire marshall in for an inspection, then do surprise inspections frequently after that. New Beginnings is emblematic of an unknown number of troubled teen homes catering to the Independent Fundamental Baptist communitya web of thousands of autonomous churches linked by doctrine, overlapping leadership, and affiliations with Bible colleges like Bob Jones University. graduated from Hyles-Anderson College in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Theology. She wanted to know how Id turned out, Word recalls. [MORE: See photos of life at New Bethany. Donna estimates that the family spent $20,000 on her three-month staytuition and fees, plus the cost of counseling and educational catch-up required after Kelsey came home. You may say, Well I am too old to make any difference. I feel for any girl or woman who has ever been under the purview of this place and SHAME on any parents who sent their children there! Because if their parents who sent them there still have control over the girl she will not speak freely. I believe that documentation is necessary to keep these criminal men and criminal churches from sliding back into false images of godliness. Dr. Phil S18E80 (Hephzivah House P1) Inside A Religious Reform School - Survivors of Hephzibah House Pepperoni Pizza 136K subscribers Subscribe 49K views 11 months ago Monday January 13, 2020. Homes for Sale. I found it very odd that the so called testimonies of the complimenting parents and former students and staff all sounded to me overly flowery and sooooo similar in content and that not one testimony given so much as included even a first name! But while Williams tours the country speaking to churchgoers about home and family, his son Ben is speaking out against his father's school. [MORE: See photos of life at New Bethany. The school was founded by Dr. Ron Williams in the seventies, but his son says he's glad to see it all come to an end. Then there was the big sister treatmentestablished students, directed by staff, inflicting punishments on the newbies. Perhaps you are wondering how you can have freedom of movement in a dress. This location included Believers Baptist Church, a school and staff houses. I took that case personally, recalls Emory Rush, the now-retired sheriffs chief deputy who led the raid. The New Press amplifies progressive voices for a more inclusive, just, and equitable world. The average rent price in Hephzibah, GA, is $1,211.00. Hephzibah House, an Independent Fundamental Baptist-run girls home located in Winona Lake, IN, was recently thrust into the national spotlight after the Dr. Phil Show did a two-day expose' on January 13 & 14.I watched both episodes today and was completely horrified by the stories that the women told. Dec 1, 2020 #1 I remember thinking that it was funny that we had a great relationship with all the other missionaries we supported, but never once in the 13 years we attended there ever saw Ron Williams or had his ministry presented or shared with our congregation. A safe place where a daughter can go to have time alone to find God and her direction.. Explore rentals by neighborhoods, schools, local guides and more on Trulia! The Williamses and their lackeys have engaged in criminal behavior for decades. Petition Closed. I am sorry that these girls did not like the rules I will pray for them, An excellent documentary on this school by Jeri Massi.http://www.jeriwho.net/tlohh.html. That is true. Hopefully the more the word gets out, the fewer girls and families can be devastated by this so-called "ministry.". I mean, I think he brings up his utility bill is $20,000. Copyright 2023 Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress. Since the same root hafz means "guarding" or "taking care of," all words from this root suggest the idea of "safeguarding," and . Jay Kirksey, Circle of Hopes attorney, would not address Donnas claims, but he extended an invitation to come visit. She will suffer all the rest of her life. That is an absolute contradiction of standards and another aspect of a feminine schizophrenic personality. Years ago, Patti Williams wrote a pamphlet titled Schizophrenic Women. In response to the accusation that they conduct child labor, the school said it does require students to do daily chores but does not overwork them. I am a former student of Hephzibah House in Indiana. .. New Beginnings describes itself as a character-building facility for troubled teens, and what Jeannie Marie heard in church that day was that this might be a place for her daughter to heal. Recovery home is now for sale. Karen Glover, a Navy veteran who attended Indianas Roloff-inspired Hephzibah House as a girl, described what she calls the bowel and bladder torture. The girls were given bran, made to drink lots of water at breakfast, and then denied bathroom access until lunchtime. Those early years of our marriage were a nightmare! They do not know how to walk sit or act. This is yet another example of why I hate fundamentalism. She says humiliation is a daily part of life in the dorms and at church for Hephzibah House students. Reclamation Ranch founder Lee Patterson calls the abuse allegations bogus: The ranch, he insists, had a family-style atmosphere., We have laws to protect people from illegal incarceration, says an alum of one tough-love home for teens. etc. Dear lady, you are then gross in a bathing suit! A woman greatly influences and brings out the Godly qualities of her man by her actions and words. Hephzibah House is a small private boarding school in Winona Lake, Indiana, a small town about an hour west from Fort Wayne. "I will not shut up. They take away any feeling that you are capable of doing anything outside the home, she said. In 2008, Susan Grotte, a Hephzibah House alum, led some 60 survivors in campaigning for its closure; they wrote to newspapers and picketed outside the county courthouse in Warsaw, Indiana, near where the school is located. When Rider tried to apologize, Angela asked why she hadnt just let her die. Bill McNamara and his wife eventually took over, and when state officials began investigating the home, they moved New Beginnings to Missouri. Quote of the Day: Are Militant Secularists Trying to Take Over the United States? "I had an accident and they were like, 'Oh! Where do they get these ideas from ?? Sexual Abuse in the Name of God: New Bethany Home for Girls, Teen Group Homes: Dear IFB Pastor, Its Time for You to Atone for Your Sin, NPR Story on Mack Ford, Sexual Abuse, and New Bethany Home for Girls in Arcadia, Louisiana, Black Collar Crime: Pastor Eddy Noelsaint Accused of Rape, Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Youth Pastor Josh Henley Sentenced to Forty-Five Years in Prison for Sex Crimes Against Children, Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Student Ministry Leader Vernon Willis Accused of Inappropriately Touching Church Girls, Evangelicals are an Existential Threat to the United States, Some Atheists Think I was Stupid for not Deconverting Sooner, Black Collar Crime: Catholic School Teacher Verity Beck Accused of Murdering Her Parents, Black Collar Crime: Evangelical Evangelist Chris Brooks Accused of Assaulting His Wife, Why I Write The Black Collar Crime Series and Will Continue to Do So Despite Criticism from Evangelicals, Dr. David Tee Thinks Everyone Who is Not a Christian is an Atheist, Bruce, I Pray You Will Have Your Eyes Opened and the Truth will Guide You, Dont Dress Like a Whore if You Dont Want to Get Sexually Assaulted Says Lori Alexander. IFB churches emphasize strict obedience and consider teen rebellion an invention of worldly society, so its little surprise that families faced with teenage drinking, smoking, or truancy might turn to programs promising a tough-love fix. Or similarly lots of makeup and a bland or unkempt hair style is equally awkward. Instead, Roxy found herself on the receiving end of brutal punishments. Our humble work began in 1971, when the Lord called my wife and me to begin this unique ministry. He earned the certificate in Biblical Studies in May, 1977, and the Master of Divinity (cum laude) from Grace in 1979. Women Claim They Were Housed In Basement, Punished With Paddling, Assigned Bathroom Times At Hephzibah House, Woman Claims She Wasnt Allowed To Speak For 30 Weeks At Hephzibah House School, Claim School Denies, The Girls Who Are Speaking Out Against Hephzibah House In A Negative Light Are Lying, Claims Former Student, Women Claim They Were Made To Eat Rotten And Bug-Filled Food At Christian School, Claim School Denies, Do Not Send Your Daughter To Hephzibah House, Says Son Of Founder And Director Speaking Out For First Time, Women Claim They Had To Wear Sentence Uniforms So Everyone In Church Knew They Were Being Punished, Sponsored: Dr. Phil McGraw Teams Up With Sundae To Help Homeowners Sell As-Is. This pamphlet remains popular in some corners of the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) world. Kumar also says she didn't get proper medical care while staying at Hephzibah House. How ridiculous. He has 41 living grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Sheriff Dukes has an open invitation anytime he wants, they dont need a warrant, and same to Winona Lake police. It was discontinued because technology is so advanced, you can do blood work and figure out whats going on. Words 14-year-old brother, Doug, was sent there soon after for stealing a neighbors Playboy magazines. A private religious school does not require state certification. Authorities in the state are barred from inspecting the homes or even keeping track of them. I was left speechless after that comment. The name Hephzibah or Hafzbah expresses a very clear idea. Shoddy work by both agencies. Indeed, a lot of the kids who were forced to regale churchgoers with phony addiction stories turned to drinking and drugs to help them cope with what happened at the schools. (A criminal background check came back clean, and the teacher, who denied abusing any children, remains at Amelia.). Some of these very critics were there when I was here, and I counseled them. Just as important are the fruits of her marriage: the children. (New Beginnings has operated under multiple names in Florida, Mississippi, and Texas.) Theres still people out here that are hurt, so Im still talking. Imagine eating a bowl full of greasy kettle chips, sitting in a cold room shivering in your dreadful uniform, knowing that was to be your nourishment until supper ocurred at least 5 or 6 hours later. Today, reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget, allows us to dig deep on stories that matter, and lets us keep our reporting free for everyone. Its findingswhich detailed the use of extended stress positions, days of seclusion, strenuous labor, denial of bathroom access, and deathscame out in a series of dramatic congressional hearings over two years. The role she played was not and is not the role of a woman who is a keeper at home. Believers Baptist is pastored by Don Williams, the son of Ron and Patti Williams. For further information on their stories, please read the following posts: Bruce Gerencser, 62, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 41 years.
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