@Cindy Stoveken
Cindy, my heart breaks for you! Who knew when we all left training that some of our children would have to go thru these things. And we could not get help when we knew about it! Far too many children, far too many, had these experiences. And someone dares to say these never happened? They were made up? Who would even want to make up these horrible things? All the irregularities we saw are now making sense! It was a culture of control. Those who led knew secrets they had to keep. It went on for years—and the secrets are dark and deep. Now, finally, some are coming to light. To our horror. And where is the contrite and repentant heart on the part of ntm that we were taught about? Where?

Being a parent of a child who was emotionally and physically abused at Fanda as well as my own sexual abuse my heart is grieved over what Liars had to say. Often people who have not been abused can not even begin to understand how abuse affects a person’s life. I constantly struggle with my own self worth. Once while walking past the little dorm I heard the dorm mom berating a child for wetting the bed. My own child had an issue with this. I made it clear to the dorm parent she was NEVER to berate our child for having these accidents. My child walked around for days or even weeks on the side of their foot. I was told that NOT ONE ADULT ever questioned her about her foot. She also had sand worms completely wrapped around her fingers and toes. When I questioned her dorm mom, her response was well I gave her the medicine and told her to apply it. What idiot expects a 7 year old to care for their medical needs. In regards to the teachers being great I had one tell me they had to reduce my son to tears before he was able to apply their teaching to his own understanding. Another teacher told me she did not like girls. That teacher misused her position and had a close friend on the school committee spank my child. She was totally clueless as to why she was being spanked. On top of that the field committee was putting them in the dorm our child was to be in. There was NO WAY we would allow them to care for our children. We asked the field committee to allow us to live at the school. Their response was that they couldn’t promise us this would happen. Therefore, for the sake of our children who God gave to us and expected us to care for we left the field. I feel sorry for you Liars and yet thankful you never had to go through these hard times.

Why is there no objectivity here? No perspective?

People either seem to jump on the bandwagon and bash NTM or fail to acknowledge any wrong doing at all.

I loved my time as an MK, absolutely the best years of my life. I was never abused but my heart goes out to those people that suffered at the hands of abusers.

Just so we’re straight, abuse on any form is far from OK. But ask yourself if NTM as an organisation condoned or encouraged any of this? Do you really believe that people who gave up everything to serve the Lord somehow wanted abuse to go unseen?

NTM is guilty of many things – ignorance, pride but they are not guilty of abuse. What they should be doing is offering full and unreserved apologies to anyone affected and doing everything in their power to change rules and procedures to eliminate this from ever happening again.

You know an other thing? At no point have I seen any finger pointing at the parents. They are the ones that chose to accept the terms of NTM. Where are they in all this? They were happy to send their kids off to boarding school knowing full well how they would be handled it. If I thought for one second my family was suffering abuse of any kind I would be on the first place home.

Unfortunately, bad things happen to people. Its called sin. No one is perfect, no one. You will find people that abuse people in every single walk of life. Christian or not, people will follow their own dark desires of their heart and justify it to themselves.

NTM doesn’t abuse people, people do.

I read and read and read, and all I see is that NTM gives a lot of lip service but nothing ever changes. Constantly hiding abusers. Making excuses. Having information for years and doing nothing. Until members of NTM themselves who perhaps are truly doing good for The Lord stand up and say that they aren’t going to stand for this type of behavior any longer, it will simply continue. It is shameful that members continue to make excuses and say that this type of behavior was all in the past. Has history taught NTM nothing?? Abuse prevails, story upon story continued to be revealed and yet members turn a blind eye and continue to promote. Stop going to College fairs, stop pouring money into media. Clean house. Get rid of the filth and stop making excuses. Until churches and individuals pull their support stating that they will not abide by this type of ungodliness, it will continue. No more. It must end. The Franks, the Les’s, the Gary’s, who are all soooo sorry. And nothing. No punishment. No consequences. Enough is enough members of NTM, get off your cowardly rumps and as you all so proudly boast, for others to do, take a step of faith that God will go before you and demand that your mission get it’s act together. Or walk. Leave. Join a mission that has a good reputation. If you can find one. Or better yet, how about you who are decent, start a new mission. With standards. One that doesn’t see children as an after-thought. For all of you NTM MK’s who have suffered , continue to suffer at the hands of these foolish and evil people, you are not alone. So many of us who read your words are praying for you, fighting for you and are proud of you. Stay strong. You are brave. You are important. You are somebody and your value is infinite!

@Completely Believable

A conversation with a NTM rep – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_So9cpPRZ-w

I am sick reading about the abuse at boarding schools! My husband and I and two boys were students at Waukesha years ago. What made me upset especially at “boot camp” was the favoritism of students . none of the staff seemed to care to get to know us and the brown nosers went on to crash and burn either on the field or before they left . the staffs children were abusive and my husband was sorely taken advantage of because of many skills he had. One being a body mechanic. Everyone coming through there had free body work done because it was expected of him because he was their servant. Staff had no trouble telling people about their badattitudes,when ttheirs was arrogant. I could go on, but I know that this is about abuse, but this is the first time I have ever had to voice the hurt ntm had on my fa.oily. we were asked to leave because they could t figure out what was wrong with us.! We love the lord and wanted to serve. We were asked by Stuart briscos church to work in east Africa and we said no because we believed so much in ntm. These revelations let me know that I’m glade we didn’t subject our boys to possible abuse.

Glad to see blogs like this speaking out and providing some accountability to churches and missionary organizations.

I am a pastor’s kid who was physically abused by my Calvary Chapel pastor step-dad.

My brother Paul, his blood son, says this pastor molested him in addition to the physical child abuse.

This stuff happens. It happens in secret behind the scenes and many won’t see it b/c abusers don’t invite people into the rooms while they are abusing children.

I encourage victims to speak out and hold the leaders of these organizations accountability. It can be very healthy to confront the abuse you’ve suffered and to try and raise awareness to the issue to help other kids avoid such a fate.

Thank you to the folks who started this blog. It is a growing trend and good to see!

@Completely Believable

We recently considered and investigated joining NTM, but while we were waiting for replies we did some research and were horrified to find out what was being covered up. We approached several reps about the historic abuse. One was honest and replied with integrity, the others didn’t want to discuss the matter.
Thank you for your honesty, it has confirmed that we made the right decision to find another place to serve.

Completely believable, spiritual and emotional abuse can be as soul-altering and scarring as sexual abuse (there should not be a hierarchy of abuse, in my opinion – and I have endured pretty much every kind of abuse). I suspect you will find good companionship on the Fanda Forums.

I just happened upon this site when looking for an address. There has never been an opportunity to express my hurt at the hands of NTM, until now. I was not sexually abused, but most definitely spiritually and emotionally abused. My husband and I went through training with NTM, served one year stateside, then left. During training, my infant son was held down in his crib in the nursery, being “taught” to be quiet. I was told repeatedly that I just needed to spank more and harder! I was young, naive, and timid. I did not know then that my son was autistic. I’m certain the abuse at NTM made him worse. We thought we had to endure the sick mind games in order to be missionaries! Oh! How I wish we had packed up and left after the first sickening incident! There were rumors that the board knew of the abuses, but there was no intervention, no help, no hope. We left many years ago, but whenever I think of NTM, I have a sick feeling in my stomach. Unfortunately, the report of sexual abuse is no surprise. My son is grown and doing fine, by God’s grace. I pray for those of you who suffered this heinous sexual abuse that God will heal you completely, that you will find the peace that passes understanding, the peace found in Christ alone. I ask God for a heart to pray for the abusers as well. Honestly, I am not there yet! But I know God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. There are many blessed, godly, appropriate, effective missions agencies translating the scriptures and reaching the lost, doing God’s work God’s way. I’m not sure NTM should continue.

@Liars

Wow.
@Bonnie – I don’t know you, but these kind of charges must be super hard no matter how healed you are now. Hugs of support for you and kudos for your courage.

I have read a whole lot of this site and the GRACE report and I believe the voices on this site. Even if I did not believe you, the caustic nature of ‘Liars’ attack is enough reason to dismiss his/her words. Not simply because they are so mean, but because that level of intensity shows that Liar, most probably, actually has something else feeding their rage, other than belief that you all are lying.

I hope this encourages you at least somewhat, against the blows that (I think) these words would cause me if I were in your shoes.

@Liar
Many of the abused at Fanda did not know there were other victims until this website brought them together.
Others at Fanda could have had a wonderful experience and did not know about any of this.
You have ignored the documentation here.
You can’t evaluate (notice I am not saying “judge”) based on your own subjective experience alone.
There are facts here. And a report based on an investigation done by professionals.
I am more than disgusted with what you had to say.

I have never had any trouble believing all who have written their stories of abuse here. I am proud of the ones who started fandaeagles, they were and are very brave. I am of an older generation than these wonderful girls but I went to Mamou in the Guinea. Abuse was there all kinds sexual, physical, emotional, and then the spiritual abuse that threatened us with hell if we told. Liars you are the one with a problem. Have you been abused and are afraid to tell, if you tell you will find many who will support you. Abuse of children is so wide spread just look it up on the internet and you will see hundreds of stories of abuse. Fanda Eagles are telling the truth accept it.

Thanks again for starting this site it has helped many people.

@Liars Liars, I do not understand. You profess to feel compassion for those from other dorms and other countries who were hurt by abuse. And yet you attack people from your own school so viciously and personally. There is no doubt whatsoever about the fact that there was abuse at Fanda. This has been established by GRACE in its investigation, and the facts of the abuse have never at any time been disputed by New Tribes Mission or its leaders. I am amazed that the administrators of this website even cleared your comments to be published, as your words are very hurtful, ugly, and completely without merit. As a mother whose children were abused in another NTM dorm in another country, I cannot accept your professed compassion, because you show no compassion whatsoever to people who were terribly wounded in your own MK school.

Dear Liar,
You sincerely have problems that are obvious.
I’d be outraged at you if you weren’t so pathetic and complicit in inflicting pain on victims.
Read the documentation.
One of the perpetrators CONFESSED.
You are so out of place to address the victims like you did.
Start by asking yourself why you insist on calling 23 known victims liars.
Again, the abuse was evident at Fanda.
A known perpetrator CONFESSED!
We look forward to your repentant apology!

@Liars

@Liars
I didn’t see these comments from “Liars” till today. I tend to hang out in the Forum section.

Dear “Liars” I am sorry to read your comments. I am sorry you feel this way. I question your motives “Liars” in accusing victims at Fanda of lying. Have you read the lengthy report from Grace? Do you know that statistics say that less than one percent of people who report abuse are falsely making accusations? Do you think that many of these Fanda adult MK’s who now have children of their own have nothing better to do in life than make up lies about Fanda? Have you read the documents this blog mentioned when it first began? Notes between the executive committee and Senegal field committe?

Your comments are offensive to me. I know many of these Fanda MK’s and have the utmost respect for them having the courage to speak out and having enough sense of duty to try to prevent others from being abused. I am grateful for them starting this blog. I think the very fact that they posted your comments on here shows they have nothing to hide and are not lying.

To ALL attacking the girls and calling them liars
I am so sad to see all the hate aimed towards the victims here. You break my heart. You really are holding up the American culture of blaming the victim! You should all be ashamed.
Maybe you went there and the years you went there were good/ maybe the ugly truth is too horrible for you to swallow.
I have personally seen the struggles that my friend has had as an adult coming to terms with what had happened to her there.
To those judging and calling them LIARS- maybe you should take a look at yourself. It seems like you have lost any ‘Christian values’ that you got from there. Last time I knew, it was not your place to judge.

I am sorry to the many many of you from other dorms and other countries that have been hurt. It is so sad to hear. But what is worse is the ones from Fonda saying that in the little dorm they were sexually abused. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!??!? I need to stop reading your crap but I can’t. Its so sick and you must think you are so great getting all this attention. But what about the people you are accusing.? IT said my comments are “awaiting moderation”. Whatever that means. Well, my comments probably won’t be allowed on here cause for once someone is standing up for the accused. Please GET HELP, before more people get hurt by your ugly lies.

if This Had Been really happening You Would have seen it Kim. don’t let these people convince you. the fanda mks saying this are lying. I don’t know why anyone would make all this up but I was there and we would have known! ! if@Kim

I don’t Know Of anything Either And all these People saying they were abused Sexually just to get some attention make me real sick.
href=”#comment-336948″>@marthamartha

I can’t speak for the other places other than Senegal. Some of you may be telling the truth. But us Eagles had it good and anyone talking about sexual abuse like this is very sick themselves. Its sad you have nothing better to do than make up stuff about great people like we had giving us an education.

THERE WAS NO “ABANDONING” that school put Me In a position to skip a grade once back in the states. did you really want to live in the jungles with all the social issues with the natives. If they had done that everyone would be yelling about that. Be grateful. you had people invested in your care. Its time someone started standing up against these lies! all I have read makes things look all bad and about 99%of it is lies.
@Vicky Tullman

and the Teachers were GREAT.

Liars :
Bonnie or whoever started this, you are a liar and now have all these people upset because you are mentally deranged. I was there too and we all had lots of fun. The kids had plenty of time with their parents, going home every five to six weeks. Duh, we had to go to school somewhere.You definitely need help but not for what you are claiming. Man, you sure have gone a long way to get attention. Please get help and recant your lies. You make me sick.

I agree with Vicky posted 5 May 17.41. As a christian, not just one who professes but seeks with Gods help to live accordingly, i would like to ask, where in the Bible is there the justification for leaving children in the care of others while parents go out at what they say is the Lord calling, surely this is against Scripture.However it is with great sorrow that i read some of the abuse reports, my heart goes out to all those who have suffered, they can forgive but they will never forget. This is the lowest form of humanity especially when it is brought under the umbrella of professing christians. What makes it worse is that there were those who knew about it in high places and did nothing, shame on them, how can they ever mention the Lords name again, who will believe them, they have betrayed the trust of all those innocent victims. May god bless all those who have suffered at their hands.

@Joy
Why do you want to go and disturb tribes people? What have they done you?
NTM almost wiped out four Amazon tribes with the diseases they brought.
Is that Gods work? Genocide? Google the Zo’e, the Ayoreo, the Yuqu and the Nukak if you don’t believe me. Host countries should stop these “missionaries” at their borders. Despite their intentions they are not doing Gods work.

Any mission that would require or ask a parent to “sub” out parenting vis a vis a boarding school that makes it convenient to abandon the children God gave you is inherently wrong. And until this basic premise is acknowledged there will NEVER be healing. @Wiki Kid

Having experienced similar at Oliguti, (thankfully not as severe) it could be that some people would just rather not discuss painful details of their feelings, partly to spare the listeners, and partly out of privacy. I know I did that when I was asked about it many years later by a very well-meaning friend. My parents moved on thankfully after they themselves were lied about. On the positive side, I learned valuable life lessons early about religious people who claim vehemently they have a spiritual relationship with a loving God…

an MK :
@highlander
Highlander. Numonohi was one thing but the reign of terror of 1967 at Oliguti was something else. I was present when one child of 8 was hit 120 times. That number of stricks was witnessed by 2 children. Those present in the room were around 11 children and 3 teachers who participated. It took me nearly 40 years to recover. Driving fear into children for control as if an 8 year old was that threatening to their survival is crazy. None of them faced charges.
Interestingly I have spoken to the person on the receiving end and it affect him less than those of us who had to witness it.

@an MK

It is sad that so many were crushed and ruined by the abuse. However, if it was not dealt with by the leadership of NTM, then the victims will have experienced rape twice.

@Raz
I think one of the most difficult parts of the past 6 months, for me, has been watching fellow New Tribers deny and wash away all of my Husband’s abuse of the children. By definition, New Tribes Mission is a cult- nothing more. We are healing, but the anger remains.

@Abused Widow

Dear Abused Widow,
My heart goes out to you!
NTM should do everything in their power to help you and your children.
Some of us are committed not to rest until we see justice end this mess.
You have so much courage to post here.
Thank you.

Shalom !

I was shocked to read this web-page while interested in serving missions in jungle. This relate to the theology that institutionalized and organized religion are promoting!!!

True Jesus YaHshua, YHWH is calling : “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues…. Rev. 18:4

Here is a link about what you have experienced in false religions !!!
I can pray that true Jesus open your eyes, have compassions, and move on with HIM in peace! I have no words when I read what you went trough, it is demonic!!! True Jesus Love you and want you to trust HIM and HIM alone!
http://standingthegap.org/state_of_emergency.htm

Abused Widow, it is heartwrenching to hear of the ripple effect that sexual abuse has had on your family. Words fail me in any attempt to express to you how devastated I am to hear of the incredible destructiveness brought about by this man, who, as you say, is still walking free. Should anyone wonder who we are referring to, I will repost this link to an interview in which this monster openly confesses, at least in part, and then claims he has been pedophilia-free since 1993. If he thinks he has any of us fooled, he is sorely mistaken. http://www.fox43tv.com/dpps/news/local/former-missionary-admits-sexual-abuse_3825647