Monday, September 4, 2023
Dear friends and fellow servants,
It is needful for me to express thoughts and feelings that have come to me over the past few months. When I arrived on the Missouri/Arkansas staff in April of 2012, I now realize there are judgements I could have made and actions I could have taken at that time that may have prevented immoral conduct during the time I have been on this staff. It is said when laws of the land are broken, ignorance is no excuse. I understand that I failed in giving information regarding Ira that would have prevented arrangements for sister workers to stay in Ira’s home. I’m very sorry for the lack of action that would have prevented sexual abuse. My present knowledge of both perpetrators’ pursuits and laws regarding actions committed by them enables me to seek to make proper judgments in the future, should it be my lot to do so.
Sincerely,
George Peterson
WINGS for Truth 
If you wish to remain on the staff…it’s time to spend more time reading and praying. Because poor choices are made when the Spirit is not present. It doesn’t matter what the laws of our land are…WE are to follow a much higher standard, and have NO FELLOWSHIP with Evil! Following the scripture…Makes this whole mess a lot easier to deal with, doesn’t it?
Hats off to henoffour,
Thank you for your apology George it is appreciated. However a young woman was brutally raped, which could have been avoided had you used Godly wisdom. Sadly that was lacking. I don’t know you George, God knows you through and through and you know yourself somewhat.
I am concerned that you state your present knowledge of laws etc, enables you to make proper judgement in the future. While it is good to have that knowledge, it’s the Holy Spirit you need to be begging for, and paying attention to.
We are hearing so much about courses and such, perhaps all workers should join law enforcement for a few years before going in the work.
I’m being facetious, please no excuse for lack of Spirit, it is what it is……..
I think we ALL need to spend more time reading and praying..we all need to spend more time kneeling in prayer.
Can someone please educate Mr Peterson that “immoral conduct” is not the same thing as drugging and violently raping someone so badly they end up in hospital. This apology is empty to me, if after 5 mos, he still can’t fully express the horror IH instilled on his survivors.
It’s okay George! We accept your apology. But, could you speak up for everyone in the back when you explain why in April 2012 you didn’t do anything? Was that Gods decision? Or was that your decision? And if it was your decision could you explain how sometimes elder workers and overseers aren’t led by the spirit. And if you were led by the spirit could you then explain why the spirit has now changed its mind? Thanks.
If it wasn’t for the three Advocates For The Truth ladies (Cynthia, Lauren, Sheri) strongly suggesting to Doyle Smith that he come clean about Dean Bruer back in March, none of these apology letters would have been issued and things would be going on as normal in the group. Really need to give credit to these three and also to Wings for posting all.
Yes, thank you Ladies of Truth, Cynthia, Lauren, and Sheri!
Yes Max, so thankful for Cycnthia, Lauren and Sheri…and especially thankful for our Heavenly Father, causing a great avalanche of criminals and enablers, beginning with Dean Bruer, to come tumbling down. God is continuing to do a might work but He also wants us to do whatever we can do as well~
That is exactly what haunts me, Max. If the DB thing had not been leaked, we would all be blind and none the wiser… and the coverups would be continuing. This was not by choice, it was forced, and it makes all these “apologies” essentially meaningless.
Anon- you hit the nail on the head!
It is very very evident that nothing would be changing if not for all who have confronted this evil that has happened and been allowed , head on. What does that say about this ministry? They have caused more damage than they will ever maybe admit. They still speak of the crimes so lightly. They cannot expect the respect they have enjoyed for so many years.
I meant to say “Trust and respect, mainly trust”
@Max – exactly. I was reading John 2 this morning, and realized that God in His work was using those He could move, to help Him in His work. Wouldn’t that be wonderful if we all could be so sensitive to God that He could use us?!!
George, I appreciate your heartfelt apology. I don’t know what allegations you knew of Iras past abuses or when you knew them. My understanding is that Ira has never admitted to his crimes. I know when the first allegations ever came out his brother Joe Hobbs must have believed them because he said with tears in his eyes, ” o if he would just be like David and say I have sinned”.
In this country we are all on a journey from growing up with the strong belief that a person is innocent until proven guilty. That belief has failed us greatly. It has allowed criminals of all breeds to continue in their crimes. Laws have slowly changed, but not nearly fast enough. Perhaps Iras crime against the sister worker would have been prevented with others knowing what you had heard? Or he might just move on to another victim? Only God knows. As I understand the authorities were investigating, but not charging. For almost 60 years I have valued your spiritual advise please continue on.
Please remember that a person is PRESUMED innocent until proven guilty; they are not necessarily innocent.
Something is really off with this “apology letter”. Significant time has past and a lot of water has gone under the bridge. Why the need now, to apologize? George states, “It is needful for me to express thoughts and feelings that have come to me over the past few months”. Maybe George could shed some light on why now, the last few months? The months before that, there was nothing and all was fine? George says, “When I arrived on the Missouri/Arkansas staff in April of 2012, I now realize there are judgements I could have made and actions I could have taken at that time that may have prevented immoral conduct during the time I have been on this staff”. So the workers were in the know of another workers ” immoral conduct” and just sat on it, keeping their mouths shut. Why now, when 2012 is referenced? What happened in George’s life for him to want to come clean now? This letter is more documentation showing that there has been more going on than any member knew, that the workers had tabs on. Why this culture of secrecy and to not say anything? It’s obvious those that do know what is happening in the underbelly are not ethical, moral and certainly not Christ like (“It is said when laws of the land are broken, ignorance is no excuse”). No, turning your head is not an excuse, George. I knew that when I was five. When my daughter was assaulted by a male worker, that I had trusted, the head worker and the rest of the entire staff turned their head, just like George. That is why George and his pathetic ” sympathy story ” doesn’t fly with me. There is something else to this story that was not written and only George knows what that is. Well, probably the rest of “the staff” knows, too.
For Christ- I agree, why now?
My heart goes out to your daughter, your family and every single child that went through this, I just whish I had a magical wand to erase all of this, but I don’t, I trust God will heal all victim’s and they will be the victor’s at the end.
I trust God can do the miracle were I can’t, all though I believe God can give us power to heal aswell, I just haven’t seen it happen in my life time.
@For Christ – I’m so sorry for your daughter, and your family to have had to experience this criminal behavior. I hope she/you all have had access to the help needed (I’m talking about therapy/counseling/EDMR).
I’m confused as to why so many of these men think they need education on local or state or federal laws…Has it EVER been biblically ok to abuse other people, since Jesus was here on earth? NEVER. Yet, they claim to be teachers of Jesus ministry. Mind blowing!!
“Amen” to what Max posted.!!
Isn’t it sad when people on the “OUTSIDE” have to give advice to people supposedly on the “INSIDE” ????
Yet they think they give guidance to the flock. !!!
Still following along.
Grief stricken in Ontario……..
George, You have always stood up for the underdog when no one else would. You have been an advocate for the sisters and others who have been misunderstood. It’s too bad that this has happened this way and you are being blamed for it. I believe most of us thought what IH had done was in the far past and that now he was in a situation not to hurt others. Who knew that he would commit perhaps his most heinous crime after his wife who had given him his land and a place to live and money to live off of – after her health got worse off, that he would resort to such an act – nobody could have fathomed the measures he would take to ensure his ability to commit this crime. Ah, the sins of middle and old age can be far more fatal than the ones of youth. We truly see what kind of a man he is now. And now his victim had the power to speak out in spite of terrible opposition and disbelief. Thankfully Craig came to her defense. God often asks ones to suffer, for the sake of others, like he did Jesus. So that they can be exposed and realize their need of true repentance. We don’t understand the workings of God and the scars that He allows to be inflicted, but we do know he’ll wipe all tears from our eyes and heal us completely. The just suffer for the unjust. We don’t understand it. But we do know God is just. And wrongs, though forgiven, will always bear consequences. On judgment day, when IH looks on his victims and sees the scars he inflicted, I hope that he’s already humbled himself in dust and ashes so that God can have some sort of mercy on him. But more than that, I hope that God can grant full healing to those who were victimized by such a beast who they trusted because they truly thought he represented the God of Heaven and had their best interest in their heart. In fact I can still hear his prayer today, when he asked for the guidance of the Spirit as he moved amongst God’s people. I believe if he had truly wanted it, God would have given it to him. But he just wanted access for his own fleshly pleasure and so God withheld It.
Amustardseed- Absolutely, amen!
Romans 13 NLT
“8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”[a] These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
This is one of the most infuriating, disingenuous letters I have seen from any worker. It is actually disgraceful and George should be indicted for placing a woman in the clutches of a famous rapist and sexual abuser. Ira Hobbs should never have been allowed to attend meetings from the many years ago when his sexual abuse was revealed nationally. It was unconscionable that he would have a home in which any woman, never mind a sister worker was sent.
Workers don’t need the Spirit to tell them what is wrong or right. A little common sense and human judgement would do the trick. Folks need to stop congratulating workers for writing disingenuous letters and feigning ignorance. That”s why abuse continues to today.
And stop downplaying heinous criminal behavior. What Ira did to that worker was a violent rape, a crime demanding lengthy imprisonment. A euphemism of “abuse” is insulting not only to the victim but also to us who have heard it substantiated by another overseer. There is no case of innocent until proven guilty here!
George needs to step down and go back to grade school so he can learn what is right or wrong! Banish him so his ignorance doesn’t imperil anyone else!
Did this sister worker go to the authorities?
Rosita-
I agree this has nothing to do with the laws of the land being necessary. Wrong and right are obvious. When did immoral behavior become acceptable in our fellowship? How are these behaviors following in Jesus’s footsteps? Anyone with “common sense” knows this is wrong. Overseers, workers, elders, and saints alike need to stop making excuses referencing the law and lack of knowledge in their apologies. If someone tells a story about this happening to them, do you really think they would make it up? How awful! Regardless of whether they’re convicted or not the statistics speak volumes! Remove the temptation for these sick people, protect our children and women. These type of people don’t seem to be able to do it for themselves.
If truly, overseers, workers, elders and saints could/can not see with their own common sense how wrong a behavior like this is maybe they need to admit they were indoctrinated/brainwashed, or mentally not in a clear state of mind, when making a decision to ignore such behavior. Any person who cannot see clearly how wrong this is now or couldn’t back in the past needs to get some kind of help for themselves, and definitely not be in a place of responsibility in our fellowship.
If any of these groups of people could see it and just chose to ignore acting to protect others then that’s exactly what they need to say in these letters, and empathetically apologize to our fellowship in hopes of forgiveness. There is no blurry line here of confusion. The most important thing for them to do first is empathetically apologize, and ask forgiveness from the victims personally that they have harmed by their lack of appropriate actions. Please just simply repent and step down from leadership positions.
It is shocking after all this time that some people in leadership or not are still unwilling to see the truth of these evil behaviors! People that call our fellowship, the truth.
I pray every day that God will help heal the victims hurting, and help this fellowship to walk in honest truth with a sincere rebuilt trust. We all need to do our best to continue to ask God’s help in guidance with this traumatic situation, but most of all we need to individually each stay close in our walk with God and not lose our faith in God because of horrific things our leaders have done and are still doing.
Louise; You are quoting the “apostle God gave the Dispensation(means to dispense) the Grace of God”. Ephesians 3:1-:9. Then Galatians 2:7 – :Yes, that is the Gospel of “uncircumcision” ‘committed unto Paul; as the Gospel of the “circumcision” was unto Peter. Verse :8 further clearly explains. Peter and Paul do NOT “teach” nor do they Know the SAME Gospel. Yes, 2 Gospels.
WHY do I belabor THAT there are TWO Gospels?
BECAUSE we are so desperate to understand HOW any “MAN of God” can be so led to make such depraved and twisted destructive and violent acts; and pull-up their God given pants; step in front of people who have been told they are God’s ONLY people — and preach what the Holy Spirit revealed from God!
AND THEN all the BIG GREEN MEN destroy any who DARE condemn. Yes, it is easier to believe in outer space ships; than have our walls of reality shaken!
Spiritual Abuse is NOT understood? Does anyone have a definition???
Is it Possible everyone MIGHT need to be”responsible for their own” salvation?
That means you would need to read “your Bible as written”! not as a fairy tale we have been spoon fed! TRY reading the reality of the “apostle’s Doctrine” in Acts 2:42-:46. Is this the warm, soft, fuzzy doctrine you have been told is your example for this ONE ONLY TRUE WAY? TRY to understand why 2 Peter 3:15-:16 Peter Points to Paul and the “wisdom given to him”
WHAT is your answer? Yes, we know, it is hard to admit; but the reality will GIVE US an answer we do not want! AND explain very vividly HOW this raw, ugly, twisted behavior has been protected and allowed to continue for over 100 years!!! Contribute the cause to 2 Corinthians 11:13 – :15.
AND let us get busy helping the broken, hurting, unable to comphrehend lives of souls who are so in need of “agape love”. = Always doing and thinking of each and how to do for them the HIGHEST GOOD.
AND remember even your questioning, faltering, continuing-to-show-up IS seen as all is well — WHAT is the Big Deal? This tooo shall pass!
Sorry folks, but why is Mr Peterson responsible?
Go onto TMB – THOUSANDS of people knew about Ira Hobbs since 2007 and some earlier.
The cowards are now speaking up when they have a scapegoat (Mr Peterson).