WINGS is aware of numerous highly credible allegations of child sexual abuse (CSA), and adult relationships including sexual abuse, by workers and members, together with worker actions to hide cases and avoid publicity. Due to legal issues, WINGS only posts reports of allegations and convictions that are available on public records.
For over a decade WINGS has been advocating for change to address Child Sexual Abuse within the fellowship. WINGS website records numerous convicted workers and friends, but is missing others due to lack of confirmed details.
The timeline below shows some of the major actions over the last ten years. It shows that there has been public awareness of the problem of child sexual abuse within the fellowship for many years, but, despite this knowledge
- There has been no unified standard position or approach to preventing and addressing CSA or supporting those impacted whilst within the fellowship;
- Overall response has been limited, with some areas implementing awareness and prevention training 10-15 years ago and others yet to do so;
- Areas that have introduced written policies, worker codes of conduct, and training are not transparent about compliance or breaches that are occurring;
- Despite some training and awareness, there have been ongoing efforts to hide and obscure details;
- There is no transparency about the management strategy to keep children safe where there are open allegations or convicted perpetrators;
- Support of survivors, and believing those speaking up, remains adhoc with victims not always being believed with some even being shut down and treated as mentally unstable;
- There is no indication that the issues surfacing in USA and Canada and also reported in UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Latin America are being communicated to and managed properly in all other countries;
- Workers continue to be moved between areas and countries without transparency about any allegations or behaviour concerns.
The 2023 notification that Dean Bruer, a previously revered worker and overseer, was a sexual predator and had spent a considerable amount of time and money in motels, unleashed a storm of reports on social media of other cases of abuse:
- So far 6 workers / overseers have been removed or stepped aside
- More than 250 cases of abuse have been lodged with a small team who are supporting victims and seeking to prevent further abuse – see https://www.advocatesforthetruth.com/
It is apparent that the global fellowship does not have adequate or consistent standards for dealing with child sexual abuse, or for inappropriate worker adult relationships. Despite being considered a unified worldwide fellowship, it is in fact managed as a series of local groups run by overseers who meet to achieve some alignment but are not fully consistent, neither as regards CSA, doctrine or acceptable practices.
| 2013 | A Code of Conduct was developed by WINGS, with the support of several workers and friends, and issued to provide a model for overseers to use in their various territories. https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/01/csa-code-of-conduct-2013/ |
| 2013 | A concerned couple from Texas wrote to 43 overseers and several elders regarding child sexual abuse and sexual immorality among friends and workers https://wingsfortruth.info/breaking-the-silence-2/letters-from-friends-and-workers/usa-friends-to-workers-and-elders/ |
| 2014 | A letter was sent to North Houston elders recording concerns about tolerance for Child Sexual Abuse and adult relationships by workers. https://wingsfortruth.info/further-letter-to-north-houston-elders/ |
| 2019 – 2021 | Child Safety Codes and Policies were issued in Australian States Victoria, Tasmania, NSW, ACT, South Australia, Norther Territory, West Australia and Queensland. https://wingsfortruth.info/resources/ |
| 2021 March | British Colombia elders were issued a confidential letter regarding workers Walter Burkinshaw (under Police investigation) and Aaron Farough (charged and subsequently convicted). https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/09/merlin-affleck-letter-re-walter-burkinshaw-and-aaron-farough-march-2021/ |
| 2021 | A Child Safety Policy and a Code of Conduct were issued to British Columbia workers https://wingsfortruth.info/resources/workers-code-of-conduct-british-columbia-2021/ |
| 2023 March | Overseer Doyle Smith issued a letter to friends confirming that overseer Dean Bruer, who had been found dead in a hotel room in June 2022, was a sexual predator including rape and abuse of underage victims, and that he had spent a considerable amount of time and money in motels. https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/03/24/letter-from-overseer-regarding-dean-bruer/ |
| This announcement was followed by various letters from overseers about Dean Bruer, some with minimal detail and many having similar content. Some said that all brothers will now be taking the ‘Ministry Safe’ course (but no mention of sisters doing so). Some noted that the training was required every two years or so; had been done for a number of years; had been done for ten years… Some requested that the letter be not shared. https://wingsfortruth.info/breaking-the-silence-2/letters-to-friends-and-workers/ | |
| 2023 March | Overseers announced that Mark Huddle would step down from being overseer due to allegations of inappropriate behaviour. This was later clarified to include abuse of children https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/07/dale-shultz-merlin-affleck-rob-newman-scott-rauscher-doyle-smith-darryl-doland-letter-to-wa-n-id-and-ak-elders-and-friends-april-2023-re-mark-huddle/ |
| 2023 April | British Columbia overseer Merlin Affleck held a meeting with elders in Kelowna BC to discuss child sexual abuse and sexual abuse |
| 2023 April | Overseer Darryl Doland reported “I want to personally apologize for the times I have ‘tuned out’ the muted cry of a wounded, frightened person and left their plea for help unheeded. I am saddened and deeply sorry to know that my responses (or lack thereof) have hindered justice and/or healing in some way.” https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/14/darryl-doland-letter-to-wa-n-id-ak-workers-elders-and-friends/ |
| 2023 April | A couple who own convention grounds in New Brunswick issued a letter reporting emotional /psychological /narcissistic abuse and sexual misconduct by workers, and actions by overseers to cover up and dismiss the abuse. https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/16/adult-adult-abuse/ |
| 2023 April | A Canadian sister worker reported multiple cases of abuse by co-workers and actions to suppress knowledge of these activities, https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/22/letter-from-canadian-worker-alanna-mcdonald-to-friends-april-2023/ |
| 2023 April | Worker John VanDenBerg was removed from the work due to allegations of child sexual abuse. https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/25/letter-by-rob-newman-overseer-of-california-re-removal-of-john-vandenberg-from-the-work-april-2023/ |
| 2023 April | Quebec/Atlantic Province issued a ‘CSA Information and Resources’ document to friends. https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/25/letter-with-csa-information-and-resources-issued-by-ray-hoffman-to-quebec-atlantic-friends-april-2023/ |
| 2023 April | British Columbia friends wrote to workers with their concern about the multiple cases of sister workers leaving the work after being traumatised and disciplined for speaking out about CSA and SA cases in the past https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/26/letter-from-friends-to-overseer-merlin-affleck-and-vancouver-workers/ |
| 2023 April | Braydon Dutton was removed from the work due to inappropriate and unbecoming behaviour. https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/26/braydon-dutton-removed-from-work/ |
| 2023 April | John Mastin was removed from the work after confessing to sexually abusive behavior involving a minor during his time on Pohnpei. https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/05/01/wa-n-id-ak-workers-elders-and-friends-notified-that-john-mastin-is-leaving-the-work-due-to-child-abuse-in-pohnpei/ |
| 2023 April | South African worker Kingsley Stone was removed from Mt Ranch convention after concerns were raised by multiple sister workers. https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/05/03/message-from-rob-newman-california-overseer-re-removal-of-kingsley-stone-may-2023/ |
Note: The table above is only some of the key events over the last ten years. There are also other important letters, convictions, charges, etc not listed.
WINGS for Truth 
I was in the work in the 1990’s when a brother on our staff was removed from the work for this very thing. As others have reported it was swept under the rug, hidden from the friends. I was astounded, disturbed and could not believe that we who are supposed to follow God’s word and deal with corruption correctly, had it swept under the rug!! Unbelievable. Now almost three decades later, guess where we are. I feel that if those who were removed also had faced LEGAL consequences this behaviour would not have taken such a hold. Satan is working overtime folks. He always starts at the top
Having left the truth at the age of 17, I’m saddened and feel terrible for all those who suffered and lived in such an unsafe environment. Thank you to those brave enough to come forward, you are truly God’s ‘workers.’
It’s mind boggling the enormity of this situation.
My emotions are all over the place…I have been stunned, angry, sad, overwhelmed with grief for every victim…these evil people are people I trusted, how did I not see this?!! I’m usually pretty good at reading people, because I had to be able to as a child.
Like you, I am so thankful that it’s been exposed, so the brave can feel safe enough to come forward.
Henoffour, Thank you for all you are doing. However, just because a victim has not come forward does not mean they are not brave. Victims are brave every day of their lives. Brave enough to get up and try to live despite the wounds deep inside their very soul.
Just this past week, in bravery, I tried to come forward to someone I love very much. I was told she could not be bothered and did not want to hear about it. Brave, yet silenced once again. You cannot imagine the pain.
Continue your cry from the rooftop. We victims appreciate your care. Thank you.
In Prayer, you expressed your feelings very clearly saying, “Just this past week, in bravery, I tried to come forward to someone I love very much. I was told she could not be bothered and did not want to hear about it. Brave, yet silenced once again. You cannot imagine the pain”.
Thank you for expressing yourself! Someone very dear to me has expressed a similar sentiment and had the same reaction. You are not alone. It’s very unfortunate that the victim often gets silenced and the perpetrators get elevated. It’s so backwards. Stay strong. You will be heard!
@In prayer – I don’t think I said a victim wasn’t brave if they didn’t, but I am sorry it caused confusion. I know all of them are, and the ones coming forward definitely have scraped up bravery and courage to do so.
Henoffour – it is still not “safe” for third and fourth generation cult members to “come forward” about their CSA experience. I know – I am married to one. Even with the FBI involved, victims are still silenced and then ignored by their family members, especially if the family has members in “the work”. I know of one young person that was thrown out of the house because she no longer believed that the cult was “the only Way”. How would this girl’s younger siblings feel about telling their parents they were molested if they know they would be thrown out of the house?
@Bucky – I’m 4th/5th Generation…Perhaps not safe to come forward to the Ministry, but it IS safe to come forward to the FBI (just don’t announce it at your meeting or to your family, do it anonymously).
If a parent throws a child out because they were a victim, they need to be turned in to CPS and ALL children moved to a safer home. To further traumatize a child because you are embarrassed that it happened is abuse. We need to stop being terrified of “being thrown out of fellowship” – fellowship does not equal a guaranteed path to Heaven! If we don’t have a personal relationship with God, we won’t be heading “home” to be with Him. If we do, going to meeting or not going to meeting isn’t going to change that.
Anyone that would throw a child out over their Spiritual differences, is a horrible parent. If they were a GOOD parent, they would use that experience as an opportunity to read the Bible together (with respect both ways) and learn what the Bible says about things.
I’m sorry your wife is being told to keep quiet, but she needs to ignore the ignorant, and take care of herself. She has every right to expect her predator to be held accountable. The “worker” in the family is no more important than she is. When Jesus was on the cross with those men, he could have saved them, but chose not to, because there are consequences for immoral behavior…in this instance, it was death. AFTT also has people who will gently help your wife – that’s exactly what they were trained to do, because many are kept in silence because of oppression. My heart just aches for her! Please encourage her to not hold back, it’s not going to keep her predator from getting into trouble, because no predator has only ONE victim, but the other victims might need her courage for them to come forward.
My sexual abuse was someone outside our fellowship, but I have been mentally abused by numerous workers, and one worker tried to get back at me, sexually, for turning him in to my parents for what he did to someone else. He showed up at a convention one morning for breakfast, I was sitting with my dad at a table, and this evil human walked in and found me and quickly sat down on the other side of me, and immediately tried to stick his hands down between my legs! He got more than he bargained for – I was 16 and having NONE of it, and as soon as I jumped up and loudly stated, “Get your hand out from between my legs!” everyone got silent and my dad jumped out of his seat and realized who it was…and he was immediately removed from the grounds, the workers in his country were immediately notified, and he was threatened with law-enforcement should he return. My dad knew enough people within law-enforcement, he’s lucky he didn’t just disappear! ”Dan who?” (Dan Douglas from BC) He had been told previously that he was no longer welcome to attend, so he crossed back over the border in his quest for more victims and revenge!
Would be a very good thing if this list could be updated and posted on Wings – with so many perps and peds and pervs exposed since April 2023, one tends to forget about the early ones like Huddle. Interesting that Rauscher signed the Huddle removal letter and now he himself has been removed.
It’s almost like they think if they pretend to be ‘one of the good guys’ that they won’t get found out! Well, that’s now how it works, and since Scott was being so resistant, I smelled a rat…and I didn’t stop, until he was dealt with. I just hope Doyle will remove him from all duties and meetings, because what he was doing means he’s on the path to actually doing harm…because it has become “normal” to him. Notice he tried to play it off as “soft porn”?
Either get them out, or YOU’LL be out! We are coming for every single one of those in “lifted” positions (aka: Overseers). It’s not scriptural, and we aren’t interested in our fellowship being corrupted by non-scriptural behavior, from ANYONE.
While getting rid of the baddies is important, here is an analogy that needs to be kept in mind that illustrates something more important.
We all hate mosquitoes. So when we get a lot of mosquitoes, we get to work to eliminate them. Then we keep doing that, year after year. Problem is, we have still water and weeds in our yard that set great conditions for these mosquitoes to thrive. By not fixing the yard, the mosquitoes keep coming back in full force. Fix the yard, fix the mosquito problem.
The perps are the mosquitoes. We need to get rid of them when they appear. However, if we don’t fix the conditions that allow them to flourish, new ones will keep coming back in full force.
Some of the conditions:
Just a few ideas for thought.
Not sure Overseer Doyle will be any better that ex-Overseer Rauscher. Isn’t Overseer Doyle the one who tried to suppress the Overseer Dean Bruer news until the three ladies at Advocates for the Truth made him give up the computer? Didn’t Overseer Doyle select Worker Tom Hinkle (one of the Montana workers who covered up a horrible CSA case) to be his right-hand man?
@Watchman- agreed. We are NOT exclusive, nor should we be allowing any known predator – ever. Never mind “covering” for any.
Worker worship – no human should even be worshipped.
We need to be transparent to EVERYONE – no secrets! We shouldn’t have anything to hide.
The Elders should be chosen by those who live in the local area, because worker’s are generally only around the people for a night or two once or twice a year…not long enough to know much about them! The Ministry is to bring the Gospel to the people, not be managing anything. They shouldn’t be consulted about marriage issues (because it doesn’t matter what THEY think, especially because God already nailed that down in the Bible), They shouldn’t be involved in financial issues of any kind, or businesses, or family issues of any kind.
Workers do not need to ever spend the night in ANY home with children or single women (because there’s no one there to keep abuse at bay – whether by women or men). They have become so lazy that they don’t even want to participate in Bible studies at breakfast time, so really no point. Husbands, don’t allow your wives to be alone with male or female workers – ever. It would be best if they just came for a meal and went back to their own homes. Workers should have a job to help provide for themselves and their families. As Peter did (he was a fisherman, with a wife and his mother-in-law seemed to be there, not sure if he had children or not, but that wouldn’t be out of the question). Peter went out and preached, and then came back. He didn’t go stay away from home for a year/s at a time.
The FIRST time someone is proven to be a predator, they are out of fellowship, never to return. Because attendance doesn’t guarantee a path to heaven. They also, would CHOOSE not to attend, if they are truly sorry, as a drunk would choose not to stop at places where alcohol is served!
Overseer Dean Bruer, overseer Scott Rauscher, overseer Doyle? Each is an empty suit with a microphone and a lot of power. Each moves the masses. Each causes awe and wonder and amazement. …Why do people follow after these failed people who obviously are not followers of Christ? Just because people like following people? It’s unfortunate people can’t help themselves.
‘It is far easier to fool someone than to convince someone they’ve been fooled’ (Mark Twain)
Watchman: You are so very correct! In fact it is even worse.! The very mosquitoes have convinced the victims THAT they – the mosquitoes – are very Good! In fact so very good that the victim depends on the mosquito for His very relationship with God, the Father; and God the Son who is the very creator of all things: that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible….,Colossians 1:13 his dear Son,— :15 who is the image of the invisible God…. :16.
Yes, the inhabitants of the yard are so trained and warped in their LACK of self defense THAT — they cannot even SWATT and KILL the mosquitoes that are so brutally sexually and mentally abusing them. (Yes, for over 100 years, as they are fed the ‘untruth’ that it is the one and only true way that Jesus followed and taught as Jesus walked and ministered in his fleshly human body to bring God’s Chosen Nation of Israel back to God. Their Gospel was to be “Israel’s promised Kingdom of Heaven on Earth” was at “hand”=in your midst – Your King is HERE!)
Watchman:, The only solution is TO GET RID of the YARD! HOW? Actually read Why Jesus came to the Nation of Israel. Actually read what was required of the 12 apostles. Actually read the “Doctrine” of the 12 apostles as they preached in the first 12 chapters of Acts. Romans 11: will help you understand that God turned from that Nation of Israel with their Gospel of their promised, covenanted Perfect Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
Romans 11:33 gives a “clue” as to what God, through the “faith” of our Risen Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour has in His infinite Love and GRACE Now revealed to Paul. This Word of God in 2 Corinthians 12:1-:10 ”explains” the many “Revelations” God gave to his servant and minister Paul. Through the many revelations God gave to Paul was the “Gospel of the Grace of God” = 1 Corinthians 15:1 – :4. which is proof THAT Jesus ‘rose’ from the Grave = :5 – :7; :51 Paul calls the revelation of Christ’s return in the air for Christ’s body his church, ‘a mystery’. This is also a clue as to God’s PLAN God kept hid in his very own heart until revealed to Paul as Paul explains in Ephesians 3:1. “:3:, :9. IF the 4 gospels are God’s Word; and God’s will: so is the Word of Paul in Romans through Philemon.
Galatians 1:11-:12. Ephesians 3:1-“:3”, :9, Ephesians 2:4-:9, and Ephesians 1:17 Then read Romans 16:25 (which helps one understand Romans 3:21 ‘But Now’).
We were just informed of George Peterson impregnating a Mexico sister worker, who had to remove herself, raise her child by herself. The Law of our Land is: If a male does not provide for their own children; social services sues that male(NOPE, I CAN NOT CALL HIM A Father or a man let alone-minister) and Forces that male to provide “Child support”. Social Services sues that male using the NAME of that child!
In that YARD is HID millions of Dollars. Secrets, deceit and unimaginable, unbearable pain is in that yard. OH, is it possible to even bear the knowledge of what is in that yard??? Yes, we must! It must be stopped! And to think it is all being done in the NAME of Jesus: Our God and Saviour: Jesus Christ OUR Lord and Saviour. AND we are trained we CANNOT “swat” those mosquitoes who have a reign of terror; unimaginable. YES, for decades and decades!
Yes, Watchman we NEED a New Yard. God has provided even that Yard! Anyone who investigates that Yard; God and His Son Jesus Christ kept ‘hid in their Heart’ until God set aside THAT Nation of Israel aside for a season: is reviled and exiled. BUT knowing God and Christ; and their “mystery” kept secrete until Paul — is more important than being cast aside - out of 2×2’s. 1 Corinthians 2:6 – :8 explains why God’s secret HAD to be KEPT secret. That will give one chills, when it is understood.
AND we are shocked that the FBI and IRS are investigating an innocent religion??!!