MK forum

@anotherMk: My parents never pressured any of their kids to enter the pastoral or mission ministries. Both my father and grandfather served God in the pastorate, and my parents served as missionaries on the field in Brasil for nearly 14 years. They continue to serve as home-based missionaries with a mission headquartered in Pa. I am thankful they let us find God's leading for our lives vocationally speaking. They gave us the benefit of their wisdom when asked. They also nurtured within us the desire to utilize outside resources, in addition to God's Word (i.e., godly counsel of others, personality tests, and gift assessment) to best maximize the decision-making process. Never once did they imply that to follow them as missionaries was the ONLY path to choose. I know many of my MK friends, raised in NTM, felt pressured to do the "Waukesha-Camdenton-field route", else they risked ostracization or being viewed as a "second-class" Christian.

To be sure, I also have many NTM MK friends whose parents did NOT pressure their kids one way or the other. They allowed God to lead, while being open to advising their kids on all the alternatives for serving an all-knowing, all-powerful, and infinitely creative God Who can utilize the many talents He's instilled in all of us in any number of ways and vocational callings.

So glad you allowed your kids to listen to God and His leading, not some "corporate missional mentality" that states "broad is the way to hell (i.e., uselessness, waste, not a "true calling" or God's "perfect will"), but narrow the road of being a New Tribes Missionary as the one God REALLY wants for His children."

And yes, indulgences are still available after midnight on the quandra for those who know the secret knock and give the highest bid!

I watched the Martin Luther movie recently so now I know about indulgences. Very weird and sick what went on back then unfortunately it is repackaged and marketed differently today but still the same old thing with the TV evangelists.

I'm not an MK but as a current member I want to know that the organization I'm with has integrity. I've been feeling bad for all those who have in the past tried to do something but have not had support from the past leadership or the Mission as a whole. I think the current leadership does have the will to follow through with addressing the abuse but they are overwhelmed by the scope of it. We do not have the money or the people to deal with this we really need some help. Not sure why it's taking so long to come to a decision on the rest of the investigations. I would like to see Grace continue to have a role because the MK's have confidence in them and they did a good job on Fanda. We need a lot more help. Help, Help, Help! Is there anybody out there who can help?

I don't want to see current members asked to help in addition to the ministries they are already doing. I would like to see people become trained or have outside people hired to work on this full time. I think this needs to be given high priority not just by the leadership but throughout the mission. I think that the work needs to take second or third priority until such time that we can get a proper process established not just something that is done when we have the time, money or people to do it.

What kind of help do you think is needed, Tuti?

I'm trained in much of nothing but a little bit of something.

Actually, I have worked as a database manager, proofreader, researcher and done document layout and formatting.

I can type very well.

I'm willing to help as I can. I can't help full-time because like most of you, I have a family with children still at home. And we homeschool. But I'm willing.

@ Mrs. M: I'm going to guess that Tuti is saying that she would not like to see pilots pulled from duty, missionaries move out of tribes and supply people leave their duties in order to deal with the outstanding issues of child abuse.

I'm going to guess that you would agree with that! But, I also think I know what you are saying. . .

There is an awful lot that NTM missionaries COULD do that does not seem to be getting done. I think a lot of this could be done without abandoning the valid work in which they are engaged.

Most NTM missionaries are pretty good communicators. They could post once a week on this forum, as Tribers, even using a screen name. Their voices count, believe me. (So does their silence!)

Not all the information about this is located at 1000 East First Street, Sanford, Florida. A lot of it is in the heads of missionaries on the field, retirees, and current field leaders. They could send any information or tips they have to GRACE and/ or the Fanda Eagles. Is this being done?

Too late now, but they could have signed the petition. If even 2,000 names of active NTM personnel (nowhere near the grand total possible) had showed up on that petition, the effect would have been fantastic. This was not done.

The only - the ONLY - factor that has produced any movement in NTM is intense negative publicity. NTM missionaries could add to that, not hunker down and hope it blows over.

MKs who are current members are very well placed to make a difference. If they have been convinced that they are going to make that difference by being quiet, they have been seriously misled. But, they do not bear the full responsibility - other NTM missionaries can, and should, do a lot more.

Sure. I'd love to turn over a few tables in the temple.