MK forum

Hurt-n-hopeful:

The answer to number 3 is that yes, I believe some of the boys were abused. My younger brother states he was not sexually abused, but he was abused in every other way during those years Frank Parker was dorm dad. So, yes, abuse was not just directed towards young girls, but the young boys, as well.

I just skimmed the report and didn't see any mention about NTM posting the report on their website, even the member site. Did I miss it? Is that what GRACE recommended? To post only on the member site? I see that is what they say for the names of the ones removed, but as I said, nothing about the report.

Is there a (good) reason it is not posted on the front page of the website for all to see who look at the site? That is, a link. Seems to me that true repentance would publicly acknowledge the sin. Otherwise, it seems to me that they are still covering their - well, you know.

I just read the report at http://www.scribd.com/doc/36328615/GRACE-Final-Report-on-NTM-Fanda and it says the following about Reginaldo Goulart

Reginaldo Goulart (Former Member of NTM‐Brazil) The documents provided by NTM provide compelling evidence that
Reginaldo Goulart sexually abused more than one child. Accordingly, there should
be a recommendation from NTM‐USA to NTM‐Brazil for retroactive termination and
removal from membership. This shall be evidenced by a written notice signed by
the NTM‐Brazil Executive Committee and must include:

• A general summary of the basis for the termination. • A summary of NTM’s failure to take prompt action to protect the children. • A summary of NTM’s failure to immediately report the abuse to civil authorities. • A summary of NTM’s failure to terminate Reginaldo Goulart when it first learned of the abuse. • A commitment that NTM‐Brazil shall not rehire nor provide any form of recommendation on behalf of Reginaldo Goulart. The termination notice must be placed in Reginaldo Goulart’s member/personnel file. The termination notice shall be delivered to Reginaldo Goulart and must be posted on the member section of the NTM website for 6
months and be provided to Fanda MKs. NTM‐USA shall not hire or provide any form
of recommendation on behalf of Reginaldo Goulart.

The report also says that New Tribes Mission must demonstrate repentance for the sins comitted at Fanda. They must do certain things to show repentance such as:

MK Fund
Many of the MKs and their parents suffer medical and mental health
conditions directly related to their abuse at Fanda. Many of the children of these
MKs have also suffered by seeing the pain of their parents. NTM must recognize that
its sins have, in many instances, impacted the lives of at least three generations.
Accordingly, NTM shall set aside a perpetually standing fund of $1 million for any
New Tribes Mission MK, MK parent, or MK’s child, for the payment of any out of
pocket expense related to past, present, and/or future assistance obtained as a
result of harm endured at any NTM operated boarding school. Such assistance
includes, but is not limited to, mental health counseling and treatment, medical
treatment, and medications. The claimed expenses must be accompanied by
supporting documentation. GRACE shall work with representatives of both NTM
and the Fanda MKs, to develop other mutually agreeable criteria for the MK Fund.

They also recommend a repentance retreat:
Repentance Retreat NTM shall sponsor a retreat between the NTM executive leadership and any
and all former Fanda students. The purpose of the retreat will be for NTM to
acknowledge in person its responsibility and repentance for the sins at Fanda and
its failed response to all those who were affected by such. Because the criminal and
sinful behavior of NTM was inflicted personally, GRACE believes the apology must
also be delivered personally to those MKs who choose to be present. GRACE also
prays this retreat will assist in facilitating a continuing dialogue between the Fanda
MKs and the current leadership of NTM.

Within 90 days of this report being delivered, GRACE will work with both the
Fanda MKs and NTM to develop the formal purpose and parameters of such a
retreat. It is critical that the MKs have a significant voice in planning this retreat
because they are the children who were wronged and are in the best position to
create a retreat that is genuine, meaningful, and even heartfelt. This retreat should
occur no later than 6 months from the delivery date of this report.

There are many other recommendations. I wonder if they are being acted upon.

My understand is that while the report written by GRACE is detailed and recommends action on several fronts, NTM is not legally obligated to follow those recommendations. Having said that, it is clear from what is coming forth from NTM Headquarters that they ARE acting on several recommendations from GRACE.

The area of uncertainty really revolves around what is being done specifically regarding NTM Vianopolis. While this blog is a forum for hearing from the abused, I think the posture of GRACE at this point is one of wading through not only the backlog of undealt with complaints from NTM in years past, but attempting to get up to speed on the avalanche of abuse reports now issuing forth in these and other blogs.

I applaud Ornery's activity and understand the righteous rage and indignation behind it; however, I might caution some restraint, if only to allow GRACE some time to investigate and formulate a plan. IF GRACE is presently doing that, all well and good. I know investigations and putting together a report on Vianopolis that mirrors what was done regarding Fanda takes time. I'd counsel allowing GRACE the time to do so. Having said that, I do not in any way want to minimize the pain, suffering, and anguish so many have had to deal with up to this point in time. I understand how cautioning restraint might easily be seen as simply "kicking the can down the road" and allowing the problems to continue not being addressed. However, from what I've seen, GRACE isn't about doing something by half measures.

In any event, my two cents . . . .

I am giving Ornery Thornery a standing ovation! Your anger is righteous. You have accomplished so much in these few short days. You found email addresses and wrote to many entities. I have learned from you. YES and AMEN!

Ornery: I well know your family has been silent and restrained for over 25 years regarding what happened. I am NOT advocating you be silent any longer. I was NOT advocating letting NTM off the hook. I WAS advocating allowing GRACE the time to investigate, and recommend action to NTM as it pertained to what happened at Via. THEN if NTM still desires to sit on their arses and do nothing, to say, "The h--- with them and throw them into the furnace!"

I did NOT know that Goulart still prowled at Vianopolis! That is a DISGRACE and OUTRAGE!

With regards to the Jacob/Rachel incident to which you refer, my feeling has always been Jacob should have stood up to Laban, demanded what was rightfully his and walked away with Rachel! For the life of me I still do not understand how he had to wait until morning to realize the error . . .but I digress and this is not at all the point.

Ornery, I stand with you, more than you know or realize, at the moment.

Ornery: Oh, and yes, I know the horrors visited upon people in the courtroom and have been inside one . . .many times (not as a defendant, I might add).

ornery, i applaud you as well. your efforts are courageous and necessary. the only reason NTM ever consented to retain GRACE to investigate was because our and your voices were clamoring on the fandaeagles blog for justice. once GRACE began to investigate Fanda never once did they ask us to stop our own efforts and silence our voices.

I would just like to say thank you OT for your relentless fight for justice. If anyone disagrees with righteous anger, then they have not known the God that I know. He was the same in the Old Testament as He is today. He remains unchanged!! Unfortunately a good number of us were raised with the mentality that we have no right to question authority. WE all know where that leads. My prayer is that my kids will not only grow up with a voice but that they will defend the helpless and the weak. May we all learn from the past and be aware of our surroundings. I want my kids to grow up learning the TRUTH, not institutionalized traditions or myths that were spiritualized.


BTW, can we all agree to remove the word uncle from certain names.
Just in case you have not read my story, here it is below!!


The Truth........It's hard to admit how hard it has been to even write this post! I have been in the position before where I spoke up and told the truth. The outcome-no real discipline of the predator, Pressure to forgive, family ostracized, shame and confusion, questioned on how I could possibly think of hurting people in that way.........
In 1993 I spoke out at Via and told the board about the abuse I had suffered at the hands of Frank Parker over the period of 2 years. Although he was immediately removed from the little dorm, he was given safe refuge within New Tribes. He was not asked to leave New Tribes so consequently, I had to see him every time he came on to the land. Abuse can mean so many different things. In my situation I was touched inapropriately on a regular basis. He would make me sit in the TV room with him under the guise that he needed to address some issues with me. Not only was I touched in private, but he became very brazen in that every meal I was required to sit by him while he kept his hand on my thigh. I will not go in to all the details, but some of the most painful memories were the constant fear that I lived in. Every time I spoke to my brother, sister, or adult in leadership, I was questioned extensively as to what I had said. Someone else posted the fear she had about getting dressed. because he would walk in. I became a master at getting dressed in as little time as possible. Frank always came in to our rooms at night at bed time. I have no memories of Joann coming in to say good night to us girls. Where was she when he would make me spend time with him behind closed doors in the TV room? I could go on and on about what happened, but the TRUTH is I was abused!!!!

Fast forward to the summer of 1994 in Missouri at MK camp when my best friend informed Member Care that her friend had suffered abuse at Via. What a surprise, that this was the first mention they had heard of any abuse at Via. I was then contacted by Scott Ross and Member Care. So all I can assume is that Via had never communicated with the top dogs in Sanford about Frank. That summer my parents sent me to a Christian counselor. I can honestly say that God began to heal my broken heart and I started to process and understand what had actually happened. From that point on I knew I had the choice to forgive and move on or I could live a life crippled by fear. Does my experience still effect me? Absolutely!!! Did NTM act in a Godly way and deal justly with sin? Absolutely NOT!!!! Ironically my little sister had just been expelled from Via for kissing a boy. From that point on she was treated like a criminal. She was not allowed to step foot on the land without the escort of one of my parent's beside her. Meanwhile the actual pedophile was given safe refuge and became the victim in the whole situation.

I know that other girls suffered abuse by Frank, but honestly I don't know how much they have shared. My case is on file with NTM. My counselor wrote a full report confirming the abuse and that is also on file.

Recently someone that I love dearly has displayed righteous anger on my behalf. You have no idea how therapeutic that has been. How healing would it be if NTM took on the same attitude. Why are we not seeing outrage towards sin?????

Courageous: I agree with you that we should remove the word "uncle" when addressing ones not deserving of that nomenclature.

Again, thank you for your courage. You are prayed for and stood by, more than you know!