Hey Former MK,

I believe your sixth point is absolutely essential to our evaluation of NTM as a whole. NTM leadership has put themselves on par with God. The funny thing is, it’s not biblical.
There is nothing biblically authoritative about a “mission board.” Supposedly, NTM exists to “assist the local church.” But they don’t listen to the local church. They take local church members from the church and then manipulate them into serving their own agenda.
“we’re not the church . . . but you have to submit to us,” are common arguments I’ve heard within NTM. Then they manipulate you through mind control and try to tell you, “you have a heart problem,” if you won’t submit to them.
These tendencies, to me, are signs of a cult . . . and cults tend to hide their serious screw ups . . . especially when they cover up serious sins, and offenses.
If doubt is cast upon their character, how else can they control the masses?

Former MK’s fourth point shakes me to the core. These responses are pitifully lacking the kind of anger to root out sin, whether alleged or actual, and is not sufficient or acceptable.

Grace and mercy are truly with you, victims, if you can be this strong and patient with something that reads, to this outsider anyway, like utter obfuscation of justice and truth.

This is about bring down the power of sin in people’s lives. NTM is doing a great harm in misleading the abusers to think what they are doing in OK by just asking them to say sorry. The abusers need to be held accountable so they will seek true repentance.

Because of the sinful nature of man we need to keep this subject very much in people’s minds. So we can help those who are molested then they will know what happened to them is wrong and they are not alone or to blame.

NTM is a unique mission in its purpose and has been effective in reaching many tribal groups. I for one , and many others, do NOT wish to see NTM destroyed. If I wanted to, I could have many years ago. God WILL repay, and I must make sure I do not pass along the same mentality and abuse to my children. If I do , then I will be held accountable before God.

If NTM is damaged through this, it will be due to the inaction of the mission’s leadership (then and now) not dealing with the immorality, sexual and physical abuse, and the sin of pursuit of power and position in the ranks– not the many MK’s trying to piece their lives back together.

You wanted this statement to be posted!?! Are you not ashamed? What are you made of? Why didn’t you request that the Eagles NOT post it?

“In recent months, a number of MK’s have come forward to express anger, frustration, and hurt as a result of abuse which occurred in the NTM Senegal field during the 1980′s & ’90’s.”

Did this sort of thing only happen in Senegal? Why are they trying to limit it to “the NTM Senegal field”? B.H. worked in PNG. Is he aware of a single case where NTM discouraged outraged parents/ relatives from reporting sexual abuse of children to the authorities? How many families has NTM lost from the Philippines over this issue? How about South America?

Try this: NTM did not come forward to openly and honestly deal with sexual abuse of children on many of their fields, things which have been going on for years. This abdication of responsibility has resulted in countless former MKs and their families suffering needlessly.

“Though NTM has taken some steps in the past to address some of these complaints, the responses were too little, too late.”

Try this: NTM has taken many steps in the past to keep this abuse as quiet as possible, to avoid dealing with it and has waited until there were public complaints that could not be ignored before it did almost nothing. NTM has dismissively said that they don’t know what all else they can do to help the victims. NTM has hidden behind the idea of “protecting the Lord’s work” and brought shame and disgrace to His Name in the process.

“NTM acknowledges its failure to satisfactorily respond to the disclosures of this awful abuse.”

Try this: NTM acknowledges its failure to satisfactorily respond to the disclosures of this awful abuse when it occurred as well as since. It is ashamed that it waited until the victims came forward to even show any concern, all the while masquerading as the “shepherds” of thousands of missionaries around the world, people from whom they demanded respect, arrogantly setting themselves up as God-given leaders.

“The current leadership of NTM has unanimously determined that this issue must finally be addressed in a comprehensive manner which serves those who were abused and ultimately serves our Lord and Savior.”

It is proper that NTM wants to address things in a manner that serves those who were abused; that is the least they can do, and they have a reputation for always doing the least they can do. What about those who covered it up? What about those who knew about those who covered it up? What about a system that encourages – almost requires – cover ups?

“Current leadership”! As if to distance themselves from the past. Where were the “current leadership” when these things were done?

Try this: All members of the current leadership of NTM who were aware of sexual abuse of children in the past and did nothing, even if they were not leaders at that time, will resign or take other action commensurate with their failures, showing by their actions their acceptance of responsibility. None who were leaders will remain in any leadership position, or ever accept one in NTM again. They accept that they have been traitors to the people they pretended to shepherd, that they were complicit in the abuse of MKs and they have forfeited any claim to trust.

It is more than a little disingenuous for NTM to refer only to Senegal. I had a FB friend who is in NTM (who has since unfriended me) who didn’t even realize I wasn’t in NTM anymore. He sent me a few messages on FB. Here are some excepts. As you read, please bear in mind that he is on YOUR side!

#1
Curious as to how you came across the links on the NTM Abuse. Have you ever been in one of Scott Ross’ sessions at Refresher Course on abuse? The cases against NTM are MANY!! And sadly the majority of them are documented as being “true.” We went through it here on our field and we lost a lot of families over it.

#2
We didn’t know specifically about the abuse in Senegal, but we knew about what happened here in the Philippines and when we sat in the session on abuse at Refresher Course, we found out about the MANY cases [I don't think he means law suits; I think he means accusations or allegations of sexual abuse of children] that had been brought against NTM because of abuse over the years. It is not a new problem, it is just that the mission has gotten “wise” in knowing they have to handle it and deal with it in more recent years.

#3
Believe me when we say that we understand everything that is being said in this blog. We are outraged and we are not quiet, but we are not bitter and we are not wanting revenge.

I’m not saying anyone on this blog is but we also do not believe that putting our problems out there for the world to see is Biblical. We know that the enemy of our souls is out to destroy what God is doing and he will use anything he can get his hands on to do just that.

It seems there are a number of people on this blog who would like nothing more than to see NTM destroyed, but that will not make things right. God said “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.”

NTM is a man made organization with all the problems that comes with that. Is NTM wrong in this? No doubt, but we also see those on this blog not following Biblical principles.

As I said, we are not quiet – but the world and its system will not have the chance to hear what we are saying to our own leadership. Paul spoke against this very thing to the church in Corinth and we in turn have taught this principle to the tribal church. I cannot go against what we have taught them here.
/End of email excerpts/

The arrogance, the pride and the abuse that has characterized NTM for decades has always been overlooked because of the fine work that so many good people in your organization are doing. It is past time to stop hiding behind the fear of “harming God’s work.”

How dare any of your people say that the people on this blog are not following biblical principles! There is exactly no relation between believers in a local church and NTM and its employees. None!

Even in a local church situation, there comes a time when sin is exposed to the world. It is not “christian” to keep it covered up! Shame on such horrible theology. NTM has no more claim to being preserved than AIG; it is, as your missionary admits, a man made organization. It is not divinely mandated; it has pretended to be for too long.

You have escaped scrutiny because victims were embarrassed, ashamed or otherwise reluctant to come forward. Others have been shamed out of coming forward, lest the Lord’s work be hindered. This has gone on for too long – a day would be too long! – and I am glad the Eagles have come forward. Now, it is time for NTM to come forward and quit the “damage control” and begin some real openness, real transparency.

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I hope that through this blog, NTM will begin to see the deep and ugly cancer that is within their mission.
I hope for your sake, and for the sake of any and all abused mk’s, that NTM will finally do the right thing.