This is a combined letter. Two women in their 50’s, one from Australia, one from New Zealand. They are related by marriage and friends by choice, forever united due to csa in their past. Their stories should be rare, especially in an organisation where the whole purpose and ethos is centred around Godly things. Their stories should be rare even from just a human standpoint. Yet, as we all know by now, their stories have become familiar, they’re almost the norm these days.
One of the children was about 12 years old when she jumped innocently into bed with her grandfather. It wasn’t long before his hands were inside her underwear. She froze then managed to escape the further harm that had been done to her cousins and perhaps her sisters. Like the other perpetrator, this man was much respected, an elder, he even had a child in the work. No one suspected what was going on and even if they had, they would not have said anything as that is the culture of the church. Ignore it. It is not happening if we ignore it.
The other child was swimming in a public swimming pool with her family. The father of another family sat her on his knee and asked if she could feel “that”. She had no idea what “that” was but an instinct deep in her soul told her this was incredibly wrong. He caught up with her again some time later and tried to pull her underwear down. Again she escaped before further harm could be inflicted. This man was the elder of a church, he had a meeting in his home and he was revered by all. None suspected what was going on and even if they had, they would not have said anything as that is the culture of the church. Ignore it. It is not happening if we ignore it.
One of these children experienced another trauma at the age of 18. She was touched inappropriately by a male worker. Maybe he doesn’t even remember this interaction but she does. She had buried it deep in her memory until it came crashing back to her when she read a recent account of this same man. He is now out of the work due to his extremely disgraceful behaviour in a foreign country.
Through the years these women have tried to keep their experiences as children in perspective. They’ve told themselves that others were harmed worse, even by the men who harmed them. Yet those encounters have affected their entire lives. Choices they’ve made, the way they brought up their own children, their mental health and on and on. CSA continues to cause harm all throughout life. These women will not be silenced anymore. They both still attend meetings and they both are willing to do everything in their power to ensure that not one more child is harmed by powerful men within the church.
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Such a strong, powerful letter. There is no way I can change anything of the past, my option is only prayer for the victims and to assist in anyway possible in the eradication of the perps.
Hoping they can continue in assisting others while receiving measures of piece within
We stand behind these two women in asserting that these things should never have happened, and the fact that they were perpetrated by men who knew the Holy Spirit is frightening. We cannot push undesirable parts of ourselves into hiding, and expect that they will stay there. We must all acknowledge those unsavory parts of ourselves, and consciously ask for God’s help to rid us of those impulses or desires, and also seek help from human counselors, if there are addictions to unhealthy activities. We wish healing and peace to those who are wounded.
Thank you ladies for having the strength to share your stories! Thank you for shining a light on evil!
These men did not know the Holy Spirit, if they were not mentally disabled then they were Devil possed period.
I think you need to search for a better choice of words. My daughter had multiple disabilities and she had mental disabilities. So remember speak of others as you would want to be spoken about. My daughter was precious and i took care of her all her life. Please learn more about PEOPLE FIRST language, and don’t put others down, or categorize those with mental disabilities as those who are evil. She and others are the innocent in this world. Be kinder
In defence of Louise, I am sure she didn’t mean anything derogatory to people such as your daughter.
She wasn’t being unkind.
She wasn’t categorizing mental disabilities with being evil,
Sometimes it’s hard to explain certain things.
I don’t know her but I have made the mistake of saying something similar myself, quite innocently.
I would say her meaning was more, either the person doesn’t know what they are doing, ( incapable of understanding) OR they are evil.
One OR the other, leaving the one who cannot comprehend the wrongdoing innocent , and placing blame where it belongs on the one doing evil.
Written with love and care to all.
Not sure that I’ve given much clarity, but let’s be charitable as I know she is adamantly on the side of victims.
The Australian workers seem to think this is a US problem. Clearly that’s not the case.
Sara, You claim these men who sexually abused children knew the Holy Spirit. I emphatically disagree.
Jesus taught we are known by our fruit and a corrupt tree CANNOT bear good fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (self control). I see nothing of the Spirit, especially self control, in men who put their hands inside a young girl’s underwear. They are evil.
You admonish us to take an introspective look at ourselves.
May I also suggest a deep, deep, Spirit led, critical examination of a group that has such a hideous culture of allowing, ignoring, and hiding child sexual abuse.
Dear In Prayer, sometimes fake fruit can look real, fooling everyone…Dean Bruer.
Thank you, Mary Lou, for bringing our attention to this. Yes, a person can fool others by faking it, but fruit will eventually be revealed.
I met Dean Bruer on several occasions and heard him preach. Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, he had a shined up exterior and well crafted words that hid his inner wickedness.
However, the people who came to Bruer and reported sexual crimes, against both children and adults, were shut down by him (see the latest account in the July 9 post/letter to Scott Rauscher). Dean Bruer’s fruit was known to them. The many victims of this evil man, who were silenced by fear, knew his fruit.
God, in His perfect time and way, took Dean Bruer’s life in the very location (the hotel room) he used to defiantly defy God. How fitting.
And now, we all know Dean Bruer by his corrupt fruit, the exposure of which has set off the maelstrom we are witnessing today.
In life, and sometimes death, we are known by our fruit.
The Holy Spirit can speak and we can recognize or “know”the Holy Spirit but it up to us to say yes, obey, follow and be guided by the Holy Spirit. Obviously these creeps ignored the Holy Spirits prompting in their lives. Aside from the Holy Spirit they ignored basic right from wrong that that most human beings carry without the Holy Spirit trying to intervene at all. Maybe that was what Sara was inferring? I hope these wicked creeps are both behind bars.
Louise, you stated and you were right with one exception, when you said, “These men did not know the Holy Spirit, if they were not mentally disabled then they were Devil possed period”. They were possessed by the devil! Being mentally disabled doesn’t take over ones soul. I have worked with the mentally disabled and they are very fine, kind, and loving people. They don’t hurt others. That is the devil. The devil has no boundaries. Also, the devil should not be glorified with a capital “d”. The devil is a small force compared to the great God, not anything to be glorified. Louise, thank you for your comment!
Thank you for this enlightenment. I have been confused sometimes with the hateful treatment from others.
Wondering if they are evil or have some disability that causes them to do harmful things.
I really appreciate your taking the time to shine a light on this.
To Musterseed , please forgive our ignorance, which we were unaware of.💞
Hi Louis,
Thanks for that correction, I agree with you.
I have also worked with mentally disabled children in my nursing training, they are beutiful people, they are not evil in comparison to these perputrators who are evil.
Yes the devil doesn’t deserve the capital D.
Personally, I appreciate their courage for revealing the dirty incidence. At the same time it is a great lesson for those that are, habitually, careless about their children disposition at every point in time. Some useless individuals are fond of taking advantage of innocent children. It is not about devil, it is just their way. The idea of ignoring does not help. The best is to expose perpetrator of such an immoral act, particularly against under- age children.
thanks for your courage to share it helps us all to continue to fight to have this evil removed from our fellowship