Steven Avery
Administrator
Some of the wackiest responses were shown on Homestead Heritage Contacts before they were deleted by the boys.
response.homesteadheritage.com
Here are two that are particularly telling.
Kay Toombs
Dear Editor: My name is Dr. Kay Toombs. I am Emeritus Associate Professor of Philosophy at Baylor University, author of several books and numerous articles and an international lecturer. In 2022 I was named by Stanford University as being among the top 2% of the most cited researchers in the world. For the past 26 years, I have been a member of the non-denominational Christian church known as Homestead Heritage. I am astounded, saddened, and frankly personally insulted by the accusations made by five or six former members, accusations that appear to be bolstered by the opinions of leaders of a “support group” for “cult members” who have presumably never met us. How come I am personally insulted? Because the accusations are patently false. I will respond to just a few. In all my years here, I have never attended a church meeting that meets the descriptions given in the article; Blair Adams was in no manner the way he has been slanderously depicted, in order to bolster the notion that he was a “cult leader.” He was greatly loved and respected (not “idolized,” “feared,” or worshipped). As for the absurd accusation that Blair parked in a parking spot separate from the congregation’s parking lot, so “he didn’t mingle with the people,” I have a parking space in the same lot as his because I am in a wheelchair. Does this suggest that I am suspect also and unwilling to mingle? As a college professor, I can attest to the fact that our children are better educated than those in public schools — and they do not have to experience the violence endemic in the public schools today; we have relationships with many Christian churches and do not believe we are the only Christians; tithing 10% of income is standard practice in most Christian churches. And, these comments are my own! I never saw the “485 page booklet “ supposed to “teach me how to respond”! Mostly I am insulted by the implication that those who live here are unintelligent, unthinking, uncaring, brainwashed , victimized, subservient, isolated from the wider culture (where I continue to lecture) and unable to make reasoned, moral decisions. And I am particularly insulted by the libelous accusation that we would “violate absolutely any moral or biblical standard” because we “worship Homestead.” The truth is we are a non-violent Christian people from all over the world and from numerous educational, ethnic, cultural, professional, and economic backgrounds and from a variety of life experiences, striving to live our lives by the commandments to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. The overriding ethic that governs our lives is the ethic of self-sacrificial love, an ethic that influences all that we do. Come and visit and see for yourself. Kay Toombs
April 10, 2025
Aliyah Jacobson
In response to the Dallas Observer Article,
I emailed Emma Ruby, the journalist who wrote this article and did a letters to the editor yesterday, both of which haven’t been answered. I am not surprised that I was ignored as I am one of the friendly ex-members who grew up in the community and is now pursuing another life while still maintaining close relationships with my family which includes nieces and nephews and my grandfather, Joel Stein who co-wrote all the literature for the community with the founder, Blair Adams.
The Adamses and the Steins, my mother’s family have been close since the founding of the community in 1973. My younger sister married one of Blair Adams’s grandson this past Valentine’s Day. I can attest to the loving and involved family that the Adamses and the Steins are. I have babysat my now brother in law and his cousins and learned to sing from Dan and Amanda, formerly Adams starting when I was 5.
And unlike the 5 to 6 ex members claim, I received a fabulous home education with my mother’s incredible teaching methods graduating when I was 17. My Grandpa Joel would often ask what we were learning. He taught me in depth about the Industrial Revolution, Evolution and Creation, the history of Israel, and many more fascinating and thoughtful conversations as we walked along the church’s property.
I left home and the community at 20 years old due to issues with me not getting along with my family, a lot of stubbornness on my part plus hereditary anxiety and other issues. I have since gotten therapy and medication for that I believe I always needed.
Upon leaving the community and moving to New York City, I went on to study to get my associate degree at LaGuardia Community College. I got this degree in early childhood education joining the honors role in the third semester though I had shockingly never been in a classroom before. I struggled with math as I have dyscalculia but with the right tutoring and studying I passed college Algebra. I have since received my Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education and music from Brooklyn college.
I have been lucky to travel to many parts of the world especially Israel where I lived for a year in Netanya near Tel Aviv teaching English in underprovished schools and volunteering with orphans and on army bases. I recently went to South Africa last year with a Jewish learning group focusing on moving forward after October 7th. So I have had a good life and it has not been ruined by my upbringing at homestead heritage as these members claim their lives have in the guardian.
The posts and allegations made by the former members claiming they were illiterate are preposterous. I grew up with them, we were in the same choirs, got babysat at each other’s homes, craft classes and activities for the fair. I know there were issues in our lives and families but that is every family and every religious or not community. We didn’t grow up in a cult, Blair Adams was not to be feared, and just because we have all chosen a different path does not mean we were harmed or that homestead heritage was completely at fault in all the mistakes in our lives.
And I also know how these former members feel about me defending the community against the lies and this article which they have made clear. They have called me a nosy busybody, a sucker for abuse and vile. I personally find these allegations very offensive. They don’t scare me from speaking my truth.
And last note, I was a journalist fellow in college writing op-Ed’s about anti-semitism on campuses and wrote for Brooklyn College’s newspaper for a year. I have been published in reputable places that you can find by googling my name. And as a semi journalist and writer, I am shocked that my story has never been included in any of these articles but I can imagine why this is because it doesn’t fit the narrative of the others in said articles.
Wishing everyone peace, healing and answers to the questions and pain they may be experiencing. Thank you.
April 10, 2025
Homestead Responds to the Dallas Observer - Homestead Heritage Response
A Place to Share the Truth In response to the Dallas Observer’s recent article misrepresenting our church community, we’ve created this page as a space for those who know Homestead Heritage firsthand to share their own experiences. Since the journalist neither spoke with current members nor...
response.homesteadheritage.com
Here are two that are particularly telling.
Kay Toombs
Dear Editor: My name is Dr. Kay Toombs. I am Emeritus Associate Professor of Philosophy at Baylor University, author of several books and numerous articles and an international lecturer. In 2022 I was named by Stanford University as being among the top 2% of the most cited researchers in the world. For the past 26 years, I have been a member of the non-denominational Christian church known as Homestead Heritage. I am astounded, saddened, and frankly personally insulted by the accusations made by five or six former members, accusations that appear to be bolstered by the opinions of leaders of a “support group” for “cult members” who have presumably never met us. How come I am personally insulted? Because the accusations are patently false. I will respond to just a few. In all my years here, I have never attended a church meeting that meets the descriptions given in the article; Blair Adams was in no manner the way he has been slanderously depicted, in order to bolster the notion that he was a “cult leader.” He was greatly loved and respected (not “idolized,” “feared,” or worshipped). As for the absurd accusation that Blair parked in a parking spot separate from the congregation’s parking lot, so “he didn’t mingle with the people,” I have a parking space in the same lot as his because I am in a wheelchair. Does this suggest that I am suspect also and unwilling to mingle? As a college professor, I can attest to the fact that our children are better educated than those in public schools — and they do not have to experience the violence endemic in the public schools today; we have relationships with many Christian churches and do not believe we are the only Christians; tithing 10% of income is standard practice in most Christian churches. And, these comments are my own! I never saw the “485 page booklet “ supposed to “teach me how to respond”! Mostly I am insulted by the implication that those who live here are unintelligent, unthinking, uncaring, brainwashed , victimized, subservient, isolated from the wider culture (where I continue to lecture) and unable to make reasoned, moral decisions. And I am particularly insulted by the libelous accusation that we would “violate absolutely any moral or biblical standard” because we “worship Homestead.” The truth is we are a non-violent Christian people from all over the world and from numerous educational, ethnic, cultural, professional, and economic backgrounds and from a variety of life experiences, striving to live our lives by the commandments to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. The overriding ethic that governs our lives is the ethic of self-sacrificial love, an ethic that influences all that we do. Come and visit and see for yourself. Kay Toombs
April 10, 2025
Aliyah Jacobson
In response to the Dallas Observer Article,
I emailed Emma Ruby, the journalist who wrote this article and did a letters to the editor yesterday, both of which haven’t been answered. I am not surprised that I was ignored as I am one of the friendly ex-members who grew up in the community and is now pursuing another life while still maintaining close relationships with my family which includes nieces and nephews and my grandfather, Joel Stein who co-wrote all the literature for the community with the founder, Blair Adams.
The Adamses and the Steins, my mother’s family have been close since the founding of the community in 1973. My younger sister married one of Blair Adams’s grandson this past Valentine’s Day. I can attest to the loving and involved family that the Adamses and the Steins are. I have babysat my now brother in law and his cousins and learned to sing from Dan and Amanda, formerly Adams starting when I was 5.
And unlike the 5 to 6 ex members claim, I received a fabulous home education with my mother’s incredible teaching methods graduating when I was 17. My Grandpa Joel would often ask what we were learning. He taught me in depth about the Industrial Revolution, Evolution and Creation, the history of Israel, and many more fascinating and thoughtful conversations as we walked along the church’s property.
I left home and the community at 20 years old due to issues with me not getting along with my family, a lot of stubbornness on my part plus hereditary anxiety and other issues. I have since gotten therapy and medication for that I believe I always needed.
Upon leaving the community and moving to New York City, I went on to study to get my associate degree at LaGuardia Community College. I got this degree in early childhood education joining the honors role in the third semester though I had shockingly never been in a classroom before. I struggled with math as I have dyscalculia but with the right tutoring and studying I passed college Algebra. I have since received my Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education and music from Brooklyn college.
I have been lucky to travel to many parts of the world especially Israel where I lived for a year in Netanya near Tel Aviv teaching English in underprovished schools and volunteering with orphans and on army bases. I recently went to South Africa last year with a Jewish learning group focusing on moving forward after October 7th. So I have had a good life and it has not been ruined by my upbringing at homestead heritage as these members claim their lives have in the guardian.
The posts and allegations made by the former members claiming they were illiterate are preposterous. I grew up with them, we were in the same choirs, got babysat at each other’s homes, craft classes and activities for the fair. I know there were issues in our lives and families but that is every family and every religious or not community. We didn’t grow up in a cult, Blair Adams was not to be feared, and just because we have all chosen a different path does not mean we were harmed or that homestead heritage was completely at fault in all the mistakes in our lives.
And I also know how these former members feel about me defending the community against the lies and this article which they have made clear. They have called me a nosy busybody, a sucker for abuse and vile. I personally find these allegations very offensive. They don’t scare me from speaking my truth.
And last note, I was a journalist fellow in college writing op-Ed’s about anti-semitism on campuses and wrote for Brooklyn College’s newspaper for a year. I have been published in reputable places that you can find by googling my name. And as a semi journalist and writer, I am shocked that my story has never been included in any of these articles but I can imagine why this is because it doesn’t fit the narrative of the others in said articles.
Wishing everyone peace, healing and answers to the questions and pain they may be experiencing. Thank you.
April 10, 2025
