MK forum

As an NTM MK who is currently a member of NTM, I'm wondering how many of us there are on this forum. We, the MKs of NTM SHOULD have a voice in the current direction of NTM simply because we are "they". Maybe some of you can understand a bit of where I'm coming from and maybe we can find our voices...

First, I came here to read these forums because it relates to NTM, of which I am a member. I am also an MK, so the stories resonated deeply with me, though I was not sexually abused. What surprises me now is that not much that I read surprised me. I was sad when I read the GRACE report and the knot in my stomach wouldn't go away for several days. I have been on these forums reading everything for a couple of weeks, and many of the stories open a wound and evoke a sympathy that is almost too deep for words. The mounting stories did not surprise me... I am actually surprised at how relatively few people are here posting in relation to how many NTM MKs there are over the world.

Yet in retrospect I see that my reaction was rather shallow-- this was close enough to my experience and my knowledge that it took some time to even realize this wasn't normal. this was abusive treatment. how we grew up was wrong in so many ways. and this from someone who has long stood against many of the leadership issues that are discussed here. from a parent who would NEVER send their children to boarding school. from a parent who won't even let their children sleep over at friend's houses... i did twice and once i found out that it wasn't a safe place.

I would also like to say that NTM is very diverse, and even more so in recent years. we as a family have lived on several fields and the current leadership makes a HUGE difference. the current followers probably make a bigger difference, because their voice or lack thereof is what empowers or limits leadership.

As a member, I want to apologize to you who have suffered. I feel your pain as an MK. I take responsibility for it as an adult who joined this organization.

i would love to see that there are several of us here... but somehow i rather doubt that this will even get a reply (and maybe that statement is what ties me to so many of you-- the doubt that mine is a voice that can be heard)

I will reply! I was an MK that became and M...until it came time that the Field Leadership pressured me to put my children into a boarding school. Our answer was "Not just NO but HECK NO!" Of course we were gossiped about, told that Missionaries that leave NTM always wind up divorced (why??!!) etc etc. We had "embarrassed" our friends and family by leaving. We felt as though we were "no longer worthy". Thank God we left when we did! Without an inkling of a doubt the right decision was made.

I admire your desire to serve God and your openness to recognize the truth.

Thanks, Broken. I know what you mean-- the stories of what happens to people who leave are crazy. and not accurate. But you are valuable and loved... and I'm so glad you didn't put your kids in a boarding school. We have also told leadership that if it would come to them trying to take responsibility for our kids we would leave, deal-breaker. And since our kids were school age we haven't been in places where boarding is even highly encouraged.

I also wanted to say that anyone is welcome to post here, obviously. I just thought it would be neat for NTM Mk's who are with NTM to admit it here and/or elsewhere on the forum. Mostly, I guess I couldn't figure where to post what I wanted to say!

Ornery,

I don't even want to argue with you. You know, I am a good NTMer. I just let myself get walked all over, shut up, and deal with it.

Actually, I'd be glad to argue if I found something to disagree about. There are things I don't understand, mostly likely cause I haven't taken the time to really look into it. I hear you saying that the crimes should be reported. I totally agree. WHO CAN REPORT THE ABUSE? As in, can NTM's spokesperson or anyone in NTM go to the police station down the road and say "Mr Triber abused children in 1902 and we're here to report it?" I find it highly unlikely that I could go to the police station down the street and say "I read on the internet that there was abuse in an NTM school and I want to press charges." yeah, I'm an insider and I KNOW lots, but none of it happened to me personally or when I was personally present. Hard to believe, but true-- I have an incredible ability to make myself scarce when trouble's brewing. Which makes me wonder what in the world I am doing here? Can YOU go to the police station? Can any MK who has been abused go to the police station? Honest. I hear you, but I am quite confused about reporting abuse.

Which is not to say I'd be confused if I heard that there was abuse right here, right now. Or if I saw abuse. Or if my children were abused. I know that abusers belong behind bars and that the likelihood that they've changed since last week or 20 years ago is low. I also know people who have been addicted to horrible things and have come out of it by the grace of God.

Re-defining MKs has happened en masse. Have I be re-defined? Maybe by some people, but actually not by my parents who sent me to boarding school. The two are not always inseparable. Have I put my kids on a shelf while I do "ministry" and "reach the lost". At times, I am sad to say I have. I started that way, but no more. I've met amazing people who gave their kids priority, who took their responsibility to their family seriously. I hope I'm one of those people who changes the culture and norms in terms of kids now that my kids are on the older side and some people, few though they be, think my opinion matters.

So come out of your cave and finish this dialogue...

I'm not an MK, but I think I can help clarify for "another MK" some of the issues that Ornery is raising.

Joel Price’s computer was searched by law enforcement officers in May 2008. In June 2008 Joel Price resigned from his position as "Youth Pastor" with New Tribes Mission, Sanford, Florida.

On December 18, 2008 Joel Price was arrested by the US Marshals Service and released on $50,000 bond.

On December 27, 2008, the story broke in the press. New Tribes Mission was contacted by many reporters and the NTM spokesperson told the media that Joel Price resigned earlier in 2008. The spokesperson "thinks" it was because of the investigation.

The spokesperson also said that Joel Price had been a missionary in Venezuela, but only worked as a maintenance man, not with children. A few reporters found a copy of NTM’s publication (NTM@Work, Vol.63, No.2, November 2004) online (no longer available online, but I have a copy of the PDF if anyone is interested). On page seven was a picture of Joel Price going over a Bible verse with an MK. Joel had this to say in the article: "I have recently returned to Venezuela to serve at an MK school. I am teaching senior high Bible classes and plan to start a youth ministry in the coming year."

When NTM was contacted about this discrepancy, widely reported in local media, the spokesperson was "unavailable."

In March 2009 Joel Price pled guilty to possession of child pornography; two charges of distributing child pornography were dismissed. In May 2009, Joel Price was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison.

Some questions come to mind:

Are we to believe that NTM was unaware that Joel Price had run afoul of the law until his arrest? No one knew that his computer had been searched, or had an inkling why? Joel Price’s parents are NTM missionaries. His wife’s parents are NTM missionaries. No one knew? No one prepared for the inevitable questions that the press would ask?

Between his arrest on December 18 and the press inquiries a week later, did no one do any research on his past involvement with the mission, specifically his contact with children? Is the NTM spokesperson so inept as to speak to the press with no knowledge of events? Or so duplicitous as to tell an outright lie? Is this "under the blood" since it happened before NTM repented?

How could NTM's official spokesperson not have known that Joel Price HAD had contact with children in Venezuela? Or, if they knew, Why did they lie? Is it OK to lie to protect NTM's corporate image?

When the press found out about the discrepancy, NTM did not rush to make a statement giving the painful truth: "Yes, he did have contact with children, both in Venezuela and as our Youth Pastor. I should have calibrated my earlier statement differently." And they wonder why people don't trust them?

Since Joel Price’s conviction, what has NTM done to find out if any abuse did occur at the NTM school in Venezuela? Was Joel Price himself a victim?

It may is true that "NTM's spokesperson or anyone in NTM [cannot] go to the police station down the road and say 'Mr Triber abused children in 1902 and we're here to report it?'" But, they could tell the truth today, even if it is to the unsaved world of the free press. They could fire people who lie to the public, or replace people who are incapable of doing a job that reflects on the integrity of NTM, its missionaries and its supporters. They could do that. But, they don't.

Why?

I'm not discussing what DID happen, Yunker. I KNOW that's what happened. It wasn't right. I wasn't party to it.

But what I'm trying to say is, What IS happening? Is there current abuse that can be reported right now, today?

Also, have you been to the police or FBI with what you know? What response did you get?

Not trying to argue. trying to understand here what's over and what's current. and what is bad but can't be legally addressed anymore.

and yeah, you can throw sticks at me cause i'm part of an organization that has hurt you and/or yours.

Do things that happened in late 2008 count? I realize that was pre-repentance. I note that NTM still has the same spokesperson; has she repented, so lies from way back in 2008 don't count any more?

It's not a question of whom NTM has hurt. It's a question of integrity, honesty, transparency.

Actually, I agree with you guys. I'm on the same side. What NTM did was wrong, totally and thoroughly and it CANNOT and should not be excused for any reason. If we want to start listing wrongs, I have a LONG list.

And no, I'm not trying to argue with you, Kyle J. Yunker. I'm with you like you're with me. Only we are having a discussion about wrongs and how to right them. I'm not a big guy. And I'm not hot for NTM... I don't have any reason to defend them at the moment.

Someone posted on this forum a really good list of what they'd like to see happen. Things like apology, repentance, doing the right thing now. And that is my honest question. WHAT COULD NTM DO TODAY TO MAKE PROGRESS, TO BEGIN MAKING RIGHT WHAT HAS BEEN WRONG? WHAT CAN I OR YOU DO TODAY TO PROTECT CHILDREN.... and I hear the publicity stuff, but when it comes down to it I'd like a better understanding of what can legally be done.

I wish I knew how to post quotes... but I don't. yeah, sad.

Gene, 2008 counts as wrong. Are you saying NTM should get up tomorrow and make a public apology for handing out misinformation? I agree with that. Being that Joel is presently in prison, I guess I'd rather they spend their first energy going after the other perps that are still running free. But I agree, a correction of that statement, whyever it was made, would be doing the right thing.

And I like the corner, I've spent a lot of time here.... just kidding. you guys are all great.