I have been reading with a heavy heart the stories about the young women who endured abuse at the Hephzibah House, located on Pierceton Road.
Back in the late '70s, up through the mid '80s, Ron Williams and his wife brought the young women to a church I once attended with my in-laws just off Fox Farm Road. (I don't want to mention the church name without their permission, but those in attendance during that time period will remember the young women attending Hephzibah House). If I remember correctly (and I may be wrong on this statement), the Williams were asked to leave the church and that's when the Williams started their own church. Some of the young women came to my in-laws' home on a few occasions with Ron Williams and his wife.
The thing that struck me most about the young women was that they did not speak and they made no eye contact with anyone. I thought at the time something was going on at the Hephzibah House, but was assured they were troubled young women and were being well cared for. I wish now I would have gone with my gut feeling and question what was actually happening under the care of Ron Williams and his wife. In fact, during the time period that I was around these young women, the Hephzibah House was located in Winona Lake proper, prior to their moving out on Pierceton Road.
I am sending e-mails to Governor Daniels and our local representatives asking that they do an intense investigation of the Hephzibah House, the staff and most importantly Mr. and Mrs. Ron Williams. I encourage everyone reading this letter to please do the same. Our community needs an independent, outside investigation done either by the state, or, as another e-mail mentioned, Dateline NBC - not an investigation by people and organizations in this county that most likely have been turning a blind eye due to influences of Mr. Williams or, God forbid, monies received to turn a blind eye.
If the accusations are unfounded, then the Williams should be allowed to continue with their ministry, but if the accusations are found to be true, then this house of torture needs to be shut down immediately and Mr. and Mrs. Williams held accountable for their actions. This is the least we can do for the former students, present students, and future students of Hephzibah House.
