My name is Connie Wagner (Furr), and attached is my story of Hephzibah House. I am sending this mostly in response to a letter to the editor from Rev. Ronald C. Purkey.
I have to say the question about proof of the 10-, 20-, and 30-year-old charges would be me and Susan. I left there 25 years ago in July. I was there from October or November 1980 to July 1983. That would be your proof, an actual person. It upsets me that these pastors and people can say, "Oh it did not happen and these accusations are not true." Two questions for you - Did you get to talk to any of the girls or only those that were recommended? Did you live there every day or just visit? Those two questions actually make a big difference.
Just like Pastor Williams stated - fire department and safety people have been there to check safety regulations. My question again - Did they talk to anyone or just those that were approved?
Out of the approximate three years I was there, we had guest speakers, but were not able to talk to them. I do not recall anyone coming to inspect for fire safety unless, of course, it was while we were at school at the Pierceton Road location.
I guess I am not understanding why it is so hard for some people to believe things like this happened, and it does affect a person tremendously. My concern now is no one having to keep going through this. I had a niece that went there as well. I went to visit her. Things had changed so much. They were no longer at the School Street location. A lot of the rules still applied. When I asked Naomi if paddlings were still being done, her response was, "No, the parents have to come and do it if it needs done." I ask the question now. There was a girl from Brazil when I was there. Are her parents going to come all that way to paddle her? What parent would drive that far to do that? Even Ohio, Virginia, etc.
Please, before you readers just say I know him and he would not do that, or I was a speaker there and that was not happening, do the research and talk to people, get online. If Hephzibah House is doing these things we say, then check into it. Let's make it right. Not just for us, but for others there and others that may pass through. I believe God would expect that from us.
I appreciate you taking the time to listen. I am sorry if I am too abrupt, but it upsets me when I hear someone say we are lying because they visited or know Pastor Williams. It may not always be what it looks like on the outside. We had our requirements while we were there, and we had no choice but to go by them. Once you go through that, many paddlings and being treated that way, you learn to go by the program whether you want to or not. I also do not feel I am wasting a lifetime of anger and fighting. I feel I am standing up for others that cannot and in my life today - that is what I do. I put myself last and my family and others first to the best of my ability. Once again, this is not about me, it is about those that remain or those that will continue to pass through. Please just check into all the research you can and let's stop the abuse.
I believe there was a reason that we were not allowed to have a reunion or even get to know the others. Maybe because things would have been shared about the abuse and as long as we are kept apart the better off Hephzibah House would be.
