Federal Lawsuit Accuses Pennsylvania Church Farm of Forced Labor and Punishment Practices

A federal lawsuit has been filed alleging severe misconduct at a church-related farm in Pennsylvania. The lawsuit claims that boys and young men at Liberty Ridge, an 80-acre farm in Juniata County, were subjected to forced labor and harsh punishment. The plaintiffs, identified only by their initials, allege that they were held against their will and forced into grueling work hours, in violation of federal laws against human trafficking.

The lawsuit was filed in a Pennsylvania federal court on November 17 by two former residents, now living in New Jersey and Missouri. They are suing the Ephrata-based Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church and Related Areas, its nonprofit corporation overseeing Liberty Ridge, the Mennonite Messianic Mission, and Liberty Ridge Farm in McAlisterville, along with its owner. The defendants have not listed legal representation in the online case docket.

Liberty Ridge was established in 2011 to support boys and young adult men deemed troubled, with the intention of addressing their spiritual, emotional, social, and behavioral needs. The farm reportedly engages in raising livestock, building wooden pallets, and conducting interstate trucking. The lawsuit claims that residents or their families were required to pay approximately $2,300 monthly, in addition to providing unpaid labor, often six days a week.

The plaintiffs describe a regime of harsh “consequences” for those who broke the farm’s rules, including limited diets of rice and beans, manual labor such as digging up tree stumps, and being forced to drag chains. Allegations also include the use of zip ties for restraint and threats of being ostracized from the church and separated from their families if they attempted to leave.

Juniata County District Attorney Cory J. Snook acknowledged awareness of the allegations and stated that law enforcement was taking appropriate steps, though he declined further comment. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Renee Franchi, believes only a few individuals were housed at the farm at any given time and has encouraged others with similar experiences to come forward.

One plaintiff, who spent three years at the farm starting at age 14, claims he received no pay for his labor and was denied schooling initially. These allegations raise serious concerns about accountability and justice, echoing the biblical call to uphold integrity and care for the vulnerable, as reflected in Micah 6:8. As the legal proceedings continue, the case underscores the importance of transparency and the protection of public trust in religious and community organizations.

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