MK forum

Euwwwwwww! That one stinks!

Remember the carrier pigeons/ magpies/ the soccer game?
In relation to different topics, but helped us get the big picture.

They are going to prosecute bigwigs who covered up in the Penn State case now.
It's amazing how fast that one went on the road to justice. Just months!
It can be done.
Or it can be covered up for decades.................

Speaking of Penn State, Joe Paterno's statue was taken down today. Once revered and loved, the late coach's reputation has now been tarnished by revelations that he actually knew for years that Jerry Sandusky was molesting young boys, but he ignored it, or covered it up.

Do any of you wonder which living or deceased New Tribes leaders will tumble off their pedestals, when the things they knew about and chose to ignore or conceal are revealed?

And Joe and Jerry were "good christian" men, right? Oh they weren't, now that is interesting. So they were what we had drummed into us the "unsaved" who acted in depravity because they were unenlightened to the wonderful gospel. Yet they have paid a very high and appropriate price for their deeds.
Yet "good christian" men go totally unpunished, and yet they were enlightened, preached endlessly about such evil done by the "unsaved" and still haven't paid any appropriate price for their deeds.

Anyone still wonder why Bemused is not Amused?

Oh, yes, we wonder!
We have lots of questions.

Even adults were cowed into this way of thinking.
It had nothing to do with faith or good leaders.
It was just" blindly follow whoever was put there."
There are many horror stories of adults who were badly abused by "leaders."
As recently as 2 years ago.
NOT JUST IN THE PAST.
This type of abuse does not fall under criminal activity.
But it can be devastating.
And just like pedophiles, abusive leaders can be "so nice" to whomever they please.
It's a travesty for an org. calling themselves Christian to allow this to happen.

"David said to God, "Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O Lord my God, let your hand fall upon me and my family. But do not let this plague remain on your people." I Chron 21: 17

If NTM is a Christian org. this was written as an example to them. Why don't they do what they taught in their training? Acknowledge sin and name it and take the consequences.
Where is respect for an org (composed of people) who say one thing and do another?
And the sheep are still suffering without help.......

We were with ABWE for many years and mosquito bite is right. We were basically demanded to follow blindly. The problem for us was that is not how my husband operates, of which I am so glad. The boards don't want you to think outside their square. We are a product of what happens when you want out, instead you get terminated for insubordination. No, I am not bitter, I am very thankful we are out of that organization but that doesn't make it right what they did. Full stop.

So how does a perfectly rational adult person or couple end up submitting to the ultimate control of other humans?
NTM, ABWE e.t.c. were/are all voluntary organisatons, one can leave as one pleases. So what makes people stay far longer than their comfort level would suggest was good? Is it a gradual process that one doesn't realise is occuring, where one joins up and then things slowly become apparent as one gets deeper into the organisation? Is it the shame of quitting, or conversely the pleasure of the prestige of being a missionary that keeps previously rational people from leaving. Or is seeing other people terminated and ostrisized a deterent for speaking out?

My memories were that for some missionaries it was a pretty good lifestyle option. Overseas travel, lots of adventure and not a lot of accountability in that one didn't clock in and out each day. While some missionaries were diligent and worked hard, others were having a whale of a time and not a lot of work was being done. Best of all, someone else was paying for it and sometimes paying rather well.

Then there is fear of the unknown. Sometimes it is easier to put up with something, because the unkown world of the real world is a bit scary.

Just a few thoughts and more ponderings.