MK forum

While I await your response, my initial defense of my pastor Sam Polson, who probably doesn't need defending:

a) he's a great guy;
b) he's been a great husband for over three decades
c) he's a believer
d) he and his wife adopted three kids from Romania
e) he pastors a church of 2,500 people....2,500 people with problems, issues, mouths, Facebook accounts, sin, etc.
f) when the ABWE stuff happened, he wasn't even yet a pastor of West Park, much less on the board of ABWE; I think he might have been a youth pastor in Ohio at that time
g) decision which he and his colleagues take can generate all types of legal problems for all types of people; (editor's note: you'll notice I never afforded the current Executive Committee at NTM the luxury of this perspective.....because I was mad as a hornet)
h) I think Sam has the spirit of Christ
i) I don't know all the facts about what happened in Bangladesh, but I think GRACE, retained by ABWE, is working to figure that out. So, right now, I would say kudos to Sam Polson for choosing GRACE, which is by the way is an element I've noticed to be very evident in his life and in the lives of others he and his wife have touched.

DDML, Please forgive me for coming across so caustic. I usually don't write and send but I go over and over what I say especially if it can sound offensive but I was in a hurry this morning and wrote and sent. Hate to say it but I was in a hurry as I was on my way to church. Anyway thank you for being kind to me. However, in saying all this I stand by what I say. My husband received an email a few weeks ago and found out that a man that was an ABWE board member when Dr. Donn William Ketcham's pedophilia was exposed said he knew nothing about it while he was on the board so he cannot be blamed for the cover up but I am certain any board member now does know all about it so I offer them no excuse. I am certain they know the case about this person I am dealing with. I finally got her to comment on the bangladeshmksspeak again as they are very upset with the Simms Showers LLP closed investigation. Her alias is C.J. and what you read will make your blood boil. I know even more of the abuses this family has endured through this man and I know who the abuser is. He is considered a hero of he faith with ABWE and has authored some books. This nonsense must stop and I believe the only way it can is through the churches and especially the board members. They must be pro active in dealing with this sin in the camp. I do know that the ABWE board is self perpetuating and we all know what that can amount to. We have talked with ABWE board members of the past and they say some decisions are made before the board meetings start and you better rubber stamp it. I am not accusing your pastor of this but I know what has happened in the past and I see no change as of yet. Full stop.

I reread your comment and ABWE only hired GRACE after MUCH persistence from the girls on bangladeshmksspeak. I admit they did but it was not their choice it was the choice of the abused girls. You notice they hired Simms Showers LLP for the other investigations. The girl I am dealing with rang GRACE for help but they were not able to help her because GRACE was only hired for the bangladeshmksspeak. They did give her some good advise but could go no further. Full stop.

DDML, You are right. It is very hard to confront, let alone a pastor. It is very easy to write on a blog what should or should not be done but when eye contact is made it is hard. I sure understand your priority right now. Your family should definitely come first. It is just when I hear about anybody connected in some higher way with ABWE whether it be missionary, financial supporter or board member I just wonder how they can do it in good conscience once they know the facts and I truly believe the facts are out there for all to see. I have been following your story about your sisters and I have so much respect for you and the way you care for them. You certainly have enough on your plate. I believe your priority is most definitely needed on the fandeagles and appreciate your care for all involved. Full stop.

Perhaps if we have a parable, this might make things just a little clearer:

Imagine we MKs go out for dinner to a nice restaraunt. We go to the "NTM" restaraunt where we all sit down and look at the lovely menu. Everything comes with a side order of blessings and the footnote says all selections are of high nutritional value. O.k. the menu is a bit pricey, but hey this is the "NTM" restaraunt, not some cheap cafe.
So we order our T-bone steaks, our scallops and our beautiful New Zealand lamb, only to have served to us tinned spagetti on toast! And when we complain to the waiter, the reply is "well it is nutritious, it is food, you should forgive the chef". So we go home and write to the manager of the restaraunt, who says "well it was nutritious, it was food, you should forgive the chef, but to make you go away I'll set up an inquiry and I'll be generous and pay for it myself". "We'll take all your details and then make some recommendations to our chefs . . . "
"Wait a minute" the MKs reply, "we want a refund or a proper inquiry".
To which the reply is "you didn't read the No Refunds policy in the fine print, and We'll take your details and then make some recommendations to our chefs . . "

This is not the update from Pat Hendrix you were wanting but the information I have from my contact with IHART:

I was interviewed by Doug Mills and Kristen Ramirez. Doug is a retired federal agent and private contractor whom IHART has employed to conduct independent interviews and prepare a report for each interview he conducts. He has been employed by IHART since February, 2012. Kristen Ramirez has a background in clinical psychology and I believe was employed about the same time to accompany Doug when he is interviewing a female. Richard Ramirez is the team leader for the investigators working on the Vianopolis investigation and presumably will be the one to compile the individual reports sent to him by the other investigators.
The information about Doug Mills was included on his handout he gave me at my interview which explained IHART's "purpose to conduct professional investigations of child abuse totally independent, and unencumbered by the bureaucracy of any organization requesting their service. They are professional investigators, motivated by deep concern for the welfare of children. They are all dedicated to determining the truth of all allegations, identifying those responsible, identifying weaknesses and failures in policies, preparing well founded recommendations to prevent future occurrences, and on certain occasions preparing reports to law enforcement for action if they deem necessary or appropriate."

Thank you for that clarification, CountingtheCost. The name Doug Mills is new to me. Kristen Ramirez (also a new name) may be Rich Ramirez's wife, but I'm not sure.

The information from the handout Doug gave you is also very interesting. Perhaps IHART's perception of their role is evolving over time. Until now, my understanding has been that the interviewers' task would be primarily to submit the transcripts or reports to their interviews to Pat Hendrix, who would forward a complete report to a recommendations panel, which would be different than the IHART interviewers.

I appreciate this additional information. I think I will contact Pat Hendrix to see if she feels the role of the IHART interviewers is different now than when this all started.

Kristen Ramirez is Richard Ramirez's daughter.

I think your understanding about the investigator/interviewer's role is still correct. Doug will be writing up a report of our interview and sending it to Richard who will compile the reports. As to what role, if any, the initial interviewers have after that I don't know.

Mistrust is still rampant.
Get a life, IHART.
Evolving.....
If that's true-----forget it.