From: Craig Winquist [email redacted]
Date: Sun, Jun 11, 2023 at 9:41 PM
Subject: Meeting restrictions for Ira Hobbs
Dear Friends,
We have a zero tolerance policy for child sexual abuse/ sexual abuse. Our goal is to provide as safe place for children in our meetings as we can. To minimise the risk to us as a responsible church and ministry we have made the decision that Ira Hobbs will not be able to attend any meetings where there are children present. Allegations of abuse have followed Ira for many years and so this seems prudent as an abundance of caution.
We love our children and we know they are very precious in God’s eyes. We pray for the welfare of each child in our midst spiritually and naturally.
We appreciate your prayers as we navigate these difficult times. We are trusting that God will guide all our decisions as we move into the future.
Your Brother, Craig
WINGS Note: Ira Hobbs is the former overseer of Texas who was removed from the work for allegations of child sexual assault (CSA). He also labored in the work in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
On May 30th 2008, Ray Hoffmann (overseer of Texas) distributed a letter to most members of the Friends and Workers Fellowship in Texas. The letter stated that Americo Quispe and Ira Hobbs, two Texas workers, were under investigation by law concerning Child Sexual Abuse. The letter also included an attachment titled ‘Information on Child Sex Molesters’ and an address for a web site which concerns CSA issues. See the letter here: https://wingsfortruth.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/rayhoffman-2pp2.pdf
However, until June 10, 2023, Ira Hobbs was still attending meeting with young children in attendance in Alton, Missouri. Elders pleaded with Craig Winquist to have him permanently removed from meetings in Missouri. Now he has only been removed from meetings where children attend.
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Craig W,
Thank you – this is a step in the right direction, but I understand it took A LOT of pressure by professing people to get to this point. This is still not zero tolerance policy in full compliance with 1Cor5. My understanding of the importance of complying with 1Cor5 fully for CSA cases has evolved quite a bit in the past few weeks, and I hope you can come to understand how important it is also by hearing from victims and other people who care deeply for others. Hopefully true zero tolerance policy per 1Cor5 can be realized and applied as needed without so much pressure being necessary going forward. When so much pressure is needed to do almost enough per scripture, after a decade of not doing much of anything, it is still REALLY difficult to trust that the right things will be done in future.
I thought the I Cor. 5 ex-communication was because the accused was puffed up… proud about his sin, instead of repentant. A repentant sinner (with fruits of repentance) could still be allowed fellowship, as long as children aren’t present (for the safety of children and to avoid temptation for the perpetrator)? I read vs. 9 as people continuing in sin, not repented of. I welcome correction and other thoughts on this.
Have you done any reading on Ira Hobbs stories? His repentance wasn’t genuine. Also Child Sexual Abuse is not just something that goes away in a person. It’s almost like a sickness. Who is to say there couldn’t be survivors of abuse in those fellowships? Why are we bending over backwards for a KNOWN prolific pedophile.
At some point we need to stop using the Bible as a rule book, listen to our conscience, and use plain ol’ common sense.
@kevbob the problem is, these people claim to be “so sorry” and they NEVER are being honest. That’s not being ugly on my part. That’s just a fact. They will never be cured if they ever made physical contact with their victims. Because, our medical community has given their all to find a way (targeted therapy, castration, spiritual support and guidance – with with our the ministry trying to help, because they felt that false prophets couldn’t help the person)…and after 20 years (1,920+ meetings -I say plus, because I’m not sure how many conventions and special meetings he’s attended)…he’s STILL chasing victims out of meetings, KNOWING that everyone present KNOWS why he’s at those meetings! Predators come to meetings for only ONE purpose. That’s to choose their next victim or have another chance at a child they already raped and/molested.
This can not be handled like you would two consenting adults doing something they shouldn’t have.
If you think they should be in fellowship, you need to go to prison with them!
I love our meeting and believe with all my heart that there’s hope for every soul. But, that doesn’t mean that everyone has to be in meetings to make it to Heaven. We all have to work out our own salvation in fear and trembling. So, we respect they have an addiction, and don’t force them into situations of temptation!
In Graig’s April 11, 2023 letter he said all the workers in his state were trained in Ministry Safe. Ira has been a known CSA offender since at least 2008. I have not taken the training, but common sense tells me that CSA offenders and kids are not a good mixture. Wonder why it took Graig so long to figure this out? If all the workers were CSA trained, at least one should have taken action to remove Ira from kids. Do not think CSA training worked too good with this group.
Half-measures are not a solution. Instead, it gives the appearance of an attempt to pacify without making real changes.
So unfortunate that in spite of the massive evidence and upheaval, “overseers” seem to be resisting any change to the status quo. I am beginning to have a strong dislike for the term “overseer” … it does, indeed seem that they cannot perceive the depth of the problems. It’s kind of like they “see over” all of us from such a lofty height that we are like little ants, working busily on the ground, far below their sight-line and far removed from their sphere and power of influence. It really doesn’t seem like the ministry that God planned. From what I can read in the Bible, they were to be sent out as labourers, workers, to work among the people not above them.
Good grief, why did this take so long? It’s infuriating that workers aren’t doing the right thing until they’re pressured to do so.
At least 50 years I know for sure. Cover-ups and lies are so infuriating, deceptive, destructive, deeply wounding. I hope those in power truly care and are not just being self-protective. From years of experience, somehow the latter seems more likely to me.
At this point it is pretty obvious that many overseers and senior brother workers are not interested in taking this seriously, and just doing the little they are doing because they are being forced by outraged friends.
And none of the things they are doing are addressing the underlying cultural issues that created this problem.
You hit the nail on the head, David! The ‘root cause’ that created our culture is not being addressed. And it has become quite clear that the workers have zero interest in addressing it.
Yes David, we are seeing the same thing here. There is some reactive movement from the worker group such as Child Safe Guidelines but the root causes aren’t even being considered. The Friends are discussing root cause issues among themselves but it’s not getting through to the workers as yet.
Guidelines are good but there is a laundry list of issues that need to be addressed and resolved or things will get only marginally better.
You definitely hit the nail on the head, David. I believe that they think if they respond minimally and “ride out the wave” that things will go back to the old normal. I don’t see that happening. People’s eyes have been opened and I do believe that the exposure of this mess is of God. If they think that they can override what God has planned in the exposure of what’s going on, I think they are in for a huge surprise. Do they really think that they are more powerful than Him? Horrifyingly enough, it is beginning to seem that way.
Disclaimer … I am not meaning all workers. But I do believe all overseers are responsible right now, even if by a lack of response only. It’s shocking that only four of the overseers contacted gave any response at all, indicating that the rest think they are untouchable.
No, it is not all workers. But it does not have to be.
The overseer/senior brother workers have consolidated all of the power in the ministry. They control the money, where the workers go, and who they are with. They also communicate how things are supposed to thought and talked about.
The rest of the workers it is their job to fit in, be submissive, and not ask questions. Have a good spirit with whatever comes down. That is how the system work. So all of the workers do not need to be corrupted for the ministry to be corrupt.
If the leadership is corrupt, the ministry is corrupt. And if the ministry is corrupt, the church is corrupt.
It was not fun coming to that realization. On a positive note, things are never so far gone they cannot be made right. Not sure if it will happen or not.
I agree, David. I didn’t mean to disagree with what you were saying, but it was more a qualifier, because I do know a very few who are fighting hard on our behalf.
Ira Hobbs continues to be a stain on the fellowship. His victims span multiple states, he minimized what he did, and remains part of the problem. STOP KEEPING THE WOLVES AMONG THE SHEEP AND ACTING SURPRISED WHEN THE SHEEP PERISH!
I grieve over that! He was my first companion in the work. I am horrified to think I was that close in proximity to a monster! I was 20. I wasn’t aware of any sexual abuse, but I did observe immense unmerited pride. I am more aware now how wicked that kind of pride (narcissism) actually is in when let loose like a wolf in the sheepfold!
I have no clue why he is even allowed to go to meetings period. He’s had allegations for years and letters written by victims.
It is unbelievable. 🤨
Can someone please point me to the book or letter from the man calling out Ira’s CSA in the 80’s?
Yes. Found on website ex2x2.info. Scroll down from header Writings to Letters. Scroll down thru letters to last (DG to workers). You will find his 3 letters. Hope this helps.
This may be it.
Dale & Janet Gardner, regarding Ira Hobbs abuse of daughter Jenny. 1980s, Colorado Springs CO:
https://ex2x2.info/2020/11/06/gardner-dale/
Additionally, a prior victim of Ira Hobbs, 1960s, GA. “Letter from Jean” on this site (Wings), refers to her detailed story (“Jean’s Story”):
https://wingsbts.proboards.com/thread/244
Intended for post to be direct reply to “LJ”
Thank you so much.
Oh, wow! This is absolutely horrible! I feel ashamed that my workers acted like this and wonder if anyone ever apologized for the mistreatment of this honest, upright man. The workers should not have authority, alone, to put anyone out of the church. I remember my dad being told not to let a woman come to his meeting about 15 years ago because she divorced an abusive husband and the workers threatening to move the meeting if he didn’t knuckle under. I was so proud of him when he told the workers that his home was open to her, too. This poor man paid a high price for doing what the scripture said to do!
Evidently you do not know what this man has done.
I guess I’m confused. We have the story of Ira horribly assaulting a sister worker and using a date rape drug. He’s been removed from meetings with children????? Seriously?? He’s assaulted women too! He doesn’t need to be in meetings with women!!! He needs to have his own meetings by himself….he doesn’t deserve the privilege of meeting with others. Period. I’m saddened by this mentality that he can meet with women after his history. Wake up overseers!
💯 agree. Not acceptable. Not to be tolerated. The offenders and the enablers are complicit and need to be gone.
Reading through these comments begs me to ask the question – have these crimes been reported to authorities?
Bringing them to the attention of our workers and overseers is absolutely pointless, they will do nothing about it as has been proven for decades.
The law is the correct avenue deal with these crimes and place these perpetual perpetrators out of harms way.
The term CSA is being used so that it can be spoken with children present. It is not to minimize it, in any way.
Some seem to think that child sexual predators could be allowed in meetings as long as there are no children present. Unfortunately, visitors are not told of the predators and have brought their children. The family has befriended the predator, in ignorance. This is neither zero tolerance or transparency.
Why isn’t Ira Hobbs in prison in already. He is going to rot in hell any way .The overseers have been covering up for this sick creep?????????????????????????