This letter may be shared to any and all that have an interest.
I am writing this with a heart that is full of sadness and pain.
I gave my testimony 2yrs ago at Winchester never believing it would be my last ever. That testimony cost me so much to give, baring my soul about CSA and how I was desperately trying to deal with the rivers of emotion and feelings of hopelessness. After walking out of the shed I had the most amazing sense of calm contentment I hadn’t had in months. I knew God had been troubling me to make me say that testimony, I tried so hard to get out of saying it, but I knew it was something I had to do.
I have been watching all of the CSA victims as they have found the courage and strength to come forward. I know what it costs each one. I have a overwhelming sense of love and hope for healing of each and everyone.
But I have had a red line in my heart that I knew I could not go over.
I have watched the USA and Canada workers and overseers given way to letting the pedophiles that walk among us being allowed to come back into meetings and fellowship.
I have watched as good people who walk with God are having their meetings removed and being removed from all fellowship.
I have watched as those that were once revered as spokesman of God have now revealed their feet of clay and their words of bondage.
I have watched as Australia is now slowly but surely going down that same path.
I am watching this pattern now coming into New Zealand and I cannot standby and say nothing.
I watched as a perp in the North Island was allowed back into meetings with nothing more than a ‘behave yourself’. While the victim was silenced and victimized by those that should have been a comfort and helping hand, and that victim has now left the fellowship.
I have watched the same thing happen in the last few weeks in NZ.
I cannot stay in a church that seems to reward abusers and punishes the abused.
I cannot stay in a church that seems almost paralyzed by indecision and ineffectiveness.
I cannot stay where our children are not safe because the established overseers are unable to put the children’s lives and souls before those who would abuse them.
I cannot stay where we would allow abusers free license to have access to our little ones, and stand aside and just let it happen.
I WILL NOT.
‘Better a millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown in the sea‘. There is no talk by Jesus here of forgiveness here.
This letter is to say that after talking to God and pleading with him, for an answer as to what I should do, I have finally had my answer.
This is my final and lasting testimony to all. I do not have a heart of anger or bitterness. Please don’t think that or tell others I do.
I have a heart of sadness and deep devastation that I have to remove myself from a church that once was my life, and fed my soul. But has left the teachings of God for the teaching of men/overseers.
We have some workers who are truly amazing and are there for the furtherance of the gospel.
But the senior overseers around the world have lost their compassion and their calling that originally was their reason for doing the work of God.
Until the people see for themselves what is happening to the church I can only see destruction.
Carol Chenery.
New Zealand.
Discover more from WINGS for Truth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
WINGS for Truth 
So many of us have shared your journey and your conclusion. We share your sorrow and disappointment. We assure you that you will find great peace and liberty and joy in being freed from bondage to rules of men. God shares himself with seeking individuals everywhere, and no human intercessors are needed.
Carol, Sara, thank you for these honest messages and your descriptions of sorrow, pain, and disappointment. Even as I’ve felt nearly overwhelmed over the past months in my own grief and sense of loss, it can help to know that others feel the same way.
These resources, which I found only recently, are helping me start to find a way through, and maybe they can help others, too:
I am so sorry for your experience. I feel pretty much the same about these happenings, and I agree with you about the so-called overseers, they have become arrogant and self absorbed and they are not able to make good and decent judgments anymore, I suppose there are still some that are trying to do what is right, but seems like there are too few to make a difference or be a help against this corruption. Thank you very much for sharing your heart. I do understand what you are saying. We must draw closer to God in Christ Jesus and accept His guidance and direction in all things. May the peace of the Spirit of God fill your aching heart as it has mine. I fear and respect my God above all other things, and I fear not man who has no hold on me, and I will do all I can help people see the truth about everything. Godspeed!
I hope you find God can always feed the soul.
There are many things to distract and disappoint , unfortunately. But such is the world we inhabit with many others. Trust in Him only and completely, has been my peace.
Congratulations on leaving the sect! In my experience, life is so much better without it. 🙂
Your letter, Carol, is poignant and close to our hearts too. We are responding also with hearts full of sadness and pain regarding all that you described so clearly. It is comforting that we are not alone but share the same thoughts and concerns.
I have learnt the devastating effects of CSA – it is an assault not just on the body, but on body, spirit and soul. For years I hid this dark secret believing I was the only one to have experienced this behaviour and tried valiantly to manage throughout life the debilitating effect it has. I now find that I am one of so many and the knowledge is beyond comprehension.
CSA, especially by a ‘worker’, is one of the most horrendous crimes to be committed, a very grave spiritual sin, performed by someone who is upheld in their role, and to inflict this on an innocent child and the fact it is generally not recognised or acknowledged properly by the overseers is beyond appalling. This results in intense spiritual, emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical trauma/grief, and the consequences can lead to health problems including PTSD / complex PTSD necessitating very specialized long term treatment.
It is comforting that the scriptures state very clearly the actions of the Good Samaritan in attending to the needs of the victim. However it is very worrying that many current overseers would appear by their actions (or lack of) that their first concern is that of the perpetrator (the ‘robbers and thieves’) rather than the natural and spiritual welfare of the victims.
How would Jesus respond to this behaviour? I believe we know the answer – He has made it very clear in the scriptures and personally to our hearts.
Our hearts and prayers reach out to all.
An update from New Zealand, a media interview with a professing man who is also a politician (Member of Parliament):
http://redirect.viglink.com/?key=71fe2139a887ad501313cd8cce3053c5&subId=506664&u=https%3A//aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.nzherald.co.nz%252Fnz%252Fnational-mp-hamish-campbell-associated-with-two-by-twos-a-religious-sect-under-investigation-by-fbi-for-sexual-abuse%252F36S6LNMWARACBL7PAJIYAZRSHE%252F%26data%3D05%257C02%257C%257Cabeba51b817f4f1f5ed408dd767fe009%257C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%257C1%257C0%257C638797013786487611%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3DvAPbapVJGeQfgctcfnkOxfF255Txy2oeq%252B3IRlfFSoQ%253D%26reserved%3D0