Something I found while browsing Facebook...This is a picture of Brad Buser, a very big name in New Tribes Mission. While I was in training, he was a recruiter for NTM. He is standing with Gary Earle, the man who NTM recently refused to fire (They allowed resignation) for abusing children in Papua New Guinea. I'm not sure whose children are in the picture, and I blocked out their faces anyway, but why are they in the same room as this man who abuses children? Why do so many current New Tribes missionaries "like" this photo, including Ron Lindsey, president of the New Tribes Bible Institute, who would certainly know who Gary Earle is? Why didn't a single person speak up and ask for Gary Earle's sincere repentance? This is not just a reunion. This man was forced to come back to this corner of the world because he injured children on purpose.
For a bigger picture of who Gary Earle is, please see this post over at the Fanda Eagles: http://fandaeagles.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1362
And if you believe NTM has really changed, here are some recent thoughts from NTM MK survivors who continue to follow up on NTM's slow, questionable investigations. Their voices matter more than anyone else's on this topic. Listen and feel with them. These quotes, and their reasons for feeling this way, can be found here: http://fandaeagles.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1402&start=30
"I make no apologies if some feel that I just keep pounding the negativity drum. I think I have been saying the same things, over and over, for four years. But the reason I keep writing is that nothing has improved. NTM's response to our concerns has never been about what MK abuse survivors need. It has been -- and continues to be -- about protecting the mission." -Raz
"I wish I had not been trusting. It will not happen again." -Allbetter, in reference to sharing his or her story of abuse with the current investigators.
"GRACE was the last good decision made by ntm that was beneficial to MKs." --Mosquito Bite
"It's a bit like finally being invited to spend thanksgiving with "the family" after years of wishing and hoping to get an invitation. Only to find that there is no turkey and you are the replacement." --Bemused
"Cowards then, cowards now I say." --Aussie
Edit on December 30, 2014: It has been brought to my attention that Brad Buser was dismissed from NTM at some point during my training, so many of the people I trained with were there as a result of him and are friends with him, but it seems that was not officially the case from then on. Many of the followers at a blog called ALTA-FORMA are with NTM, and the consensus on and around their Facebook page seems to be that Buser is a good guy. Secondly, NTM ended up forcing Gary Earle to resign instead of allowing him to retire, like they originally intended. Allowing a child abuser to resign instead of firing him is still an inadequate response. I have modified the sentence above about him being allowed to retire and changed it to "resignation.")
An NTM leader and recruiter was jailed for sexual abuse some years ago. NTM covered up his absence by telling his colleagues that he was on "mental health" leave. No investigation was done to see how many victims he really had and inquiries into this matter get a threatening response.
ReplyDeleteThen there is the case of Scott Kennell. Jailed for 58 years for raping a 12 year old. NTM's response was that they were trying to determine if he committed his crimes in work time. Attempts to find out how victims were helped have shown that there has been no help offered.