MK forum

Well, Pamela, I hear what you are saying. I think it reflects on the morals and values of the postmodern world in which we live. However, leaders need to be held to a higher standard. Anyone may correct me if I am mistaken, but it seems that the old policy was that if any missionary was guilty of immorality, BEING THE AGGRESSOR, he/she was dismissed from NTM and never allowed to return. The victim, after being out a time and going back through part of the training, could return. We have three examples of that in Tambo, Rich Hine, Bob Fisher and Terri McCall. All three where out. Though if Rich had problems in Paraguay, how did he get back in the door to Bolivia.

I believe it was in the mid-eighties when Jim Bakker fell from grace, and the fact that so many wanted him to stay on afterwards and even after he was released from prison, reflects on the lack of maturity of believers who do not understand the standard for leaders. I think some of what we read on this forum/these threads reflect also on the standard to which we feel the leaders should be held accountable, and by not acting on these abuses of which they had knowledge, we as a support group of the victims of abuse, want the leaders held accountable.

I remember what my pastor said at the time of Jim Baker's demise, "If you (the congregation) learn that I have been unfaithful to my wife, you have an obligation to put me out of the church. I would be no longer worthy of being your pastor."

Radioshack, I hear what you are saying. Forgiveness does not mean that everything returns to normal as before, whether it be the moral infidelity of a pastor - or of a husband. Forgiveness can take place, but should TAKE YEARS before the confidence is reestablished. Forgiveness does not automatically erase the consequences of the wrong. That is a total misunderstanding of the concept of forgiveness.

When David sinned against Bathsheba and Urias, he was confronted by the prophet Nathan. David recognized and confessed his sin. "I have sinned against God." But let's look at the high price David paid for his sin.
1- His baby died.
2- His son by one wife raped his half-sister, Tamar.
3- Absolom avenged his sister's disgrace by killing his half-brother.
4- Absolom rebelled and gained the heart of the people. (David did nothing.)
5- David fled from his son rather than confront him.
6. Absolom slept with David's concubines in plain sight of all Israel.
7- Joab killed Absolom against David's orders.

I do not believe that God orchistrated all these events to punish David. This could be called Collateral Damage. David paid a high price for his sin. Why does NTM think that the abusers of children should walk free? Those leaders have no concept of the high standard that God demands of leaders.
I have been out of touch with what goes on in the US, so am not aware of instances, but what you say does not surprise me.

Sad to say, Bemused, but what you and many others have experienced have caused many to lose faith in the organized church. I believe these people will be held accountable before God. Yeah, it is a lot of pressure on ME. How do people perceive me? I want to have balance in my life, have my convictions, but to love mercy at the same time.

I think Radioshack summed it up for me. The church became like a rabid dog for me, I just couldn't make peace with it. I didn't want to change the church, just be accepted by it for who I am, to find a home, but the wheels fell off years ago and I found the level of insincereity to uncomfortable.

Of course in all fairness my judgement has been clouded by the dynamics in what used to be my family. When you have a rabid dog as the patriach of the family unit, eventually you realise you are only going to get bitten if you try and tame the beast.

So now at the age of 48 I've found a peace that I've not had before, for rabid dog is far away and I no longer fear it or feel guilty for not feeding it. Oh it's not the perfect arrangement, but given what I have to work with, its the best outcome for the forseeable future.

Who is the church? I thought the church was people who believed what the Bible taught about how we should live and conduct ourselves. I know for a fact NTM missionaries had Bibles. I ask myself, "Did they ever read them?" How could they conduct themselves in such debauchery if they did? I realize people sin but why was it so massive and why did NTM not do something about it? Why did there seem so few missionaries who really cared, not only for the tribal people but for the sins that were being permeated upon children? I don't expect answers but what I expect is NTM have so much pressure on them from the Christian community that they have no choice but to close down and take care of the victims. That should be their mission, do all in their power to help the victims, nothing less. Full stop.

Alot of us wonder about all those things.
And the half has not been told.
Courage, people, and please add to the missing puzzle pieces.
BBNB brought it up again----how was it that Rich Hine was transferred from Paraguay to Bolivia?????
Why did he leave Bolivia that time?
Why was he allowed to go back 20 years later?
How did a FC member know to warn someone not to get too involved with Rich Hine?
The last time RH was sent home, someone was on the field who had experience in dealing with pedophiles.
His help was turned down by the Tambo Committee (see post on Tambo thread.)
WHY?

Why I stayed in NTM even when I knew things were goofy, to put it mildly:

There were good things, and good people, too. On balance, I felt there was more good than bad. And, in any case, the job I was doing was important, and NTM allowed me to do it.

It was easier to stay than leave. I am allergic to trauma, and very little is as traumatic as leaving NTM!

Almost all of my ministry colleagues were in NTM. I had very few contacts with "outside" missions or missionaries.

I was convinced that no other organization would take me.

I was afraid I'd take a financial hit if I left.

I had no retirement plans; if I lived long enough, I expected to end up in the NTM homes.

Although there was a lot of unfairness and arbitrary meanness in the mission, it hadn't touched me personally.

Sound familiar to anyone?

Been there! Done that! As a counselor explained to me, "For a man to lose his job, is like having a death in the family. His identity is his job, ie. NTM." So, when I finally did leave NTM, I went into deep depression. But, as a friend pointed out to me, "There is life after NTM:" Life did go on, and yes, I did find a very fulfilling ministry - not in NTM. Oh, but you aren't supposed to feel fulfilled, only to be obedient. Over the years, I have learned that if I am functioning in my spiritual gifts, then there will be fulfillment, regardless of results. On the other hand, I believe that God has so created us that if we are not functioning in our spiritual gifts, we will feel unfulfilled, because we are not doing what God equipped us to do. But try telling that to leadership.