Author: wingsfortruth2

WINGS Note: A reader received the following email from Doug Morse and felt compelled to respond. Her reply follows below.
Doug’s letter was posted at Letter from Doug Morse

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On Sat, 25 Jan 2025 at 19:53, Douglas Morse [email redacted]> wrote:

Hello [names redacted],    

I did not here back from you last week, and I was too sad … ashamed … to try again. But this weekend I am sending out a letter to folks who I feel I must contact. You are on this list of course.  One day we will chat again, I’m sure.

You can’t imagine how humbled to the dust I feel in writing this awkward communication to people I deeply care for. However, I am wanting to communicate to folks, and feel the responsibility to do so, on a personal level. I feel compelled to express my feelings to you directly.

First, and foremost … you have not been betrayed my friends. This is a great test, not just for myself but all who have known me.  I’d ask you to please not be hasty in judging me solely on the man who failed miserably sometime in the 80’s. That is not the man you have come to trust in and care for. We believe in the power of God to transform and recreate. I hope and believe you have seen and felt this over the years you have known me. What I have represented to you in recent decades as far as conviction and character is genuine.

I will attach the letter I have put together. In the next day or so this will be sent individually to a number of people as I want to do it on a personal level. I do not wish to have it broadcast over the grapevine or internet. However if someone I have not sent this to would like clarification you may read it to them with discretion.

I am very sorry on behalf of the man that has disappointed many people because of his past. I find peace in being able to assure you that man is not the one you know now.

respectively, in God’s mercy …. Doug

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 From: [name and email redacted]
Date: Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 11:30 p.m.
Subject: Re: from me, to you
To: Douglas Morse

Hello Doug

I feel compelled to answer your email as honestly as possible, and the most effective way for me to do that, I think, is to address a few things you said, starting with:

“First, and foremost … you have not been betrayed my friends.”

I beg to differ. You have spent the better part of two years having heart-to-heart conversations with folks like myself who are openly advocating for CSA survivors. You have listened to us pouring out our grief over having our trust shattered by the ministry that we have respected so highly, and you have even asked for our input on documents relating to this crisis. You have had over thirty years to come clean, and these past two years, you have been confronted time and again with opportunities to do so, and you have chosen not to. So, yes, we have been betrayed once again, but it feels worse this time because we allowed you into our vulnerable space.

“I am very sorry on behalf of the man that has disappointed many people because of his past. I find peace in being able to assure you that man is not the one you know now.”

I find it odd that you have referred to yourself in the third person here, I wonder if it’s because you’re trying to disassociate yourself from the reality that you, Doug Morse, committed CSA against a minor.

That feeling carried through when I read your “accountability” document.

You refer to the Child Sexual Assault you committed as: “an incident of misconduct “; “inappropriate” and even “a brief event”

I am amazed, and heartsick that, after all we’ve gone through in this Fellowship, and after all you yourself have expressed about it, that you would minimize the crime of sexual assault in this way.

“I took ownership on the accusation as I did then.” How Doug? What did “taking ownership” look like for you? Did you admit what you had done to anyone – the boy’s parents? Did you turn yourself into the law, seek help to control your urges, step down from a place of trust and authority? No, you didn’t – you did the following: “When it happened the two of us addressed the situation immediately whereby I took full responsibility and expressed remorse.  We agreed that it was satisfactorily resolved.”  This was one of the most alarming parts of your accountability document – which part of being abused does the victim need to “address”? Did you feel “the situation” was something he was partly responsible for? Again, I’m struggling to understand how you could possibly feel that you “took full responsibility” for the crime you committed against this minor.

“we have remained friends” – CSA has profound and lasting impacts on a person, I’m sure this young man carries scars from this “brief event” even if, from your perspective, you see him as your friend.

“I do not know why it has been brought forward recently after all this time.” And yet you’ve witnessed historical CSA cases coming out of the woodwork these past two years and even expressed that it was good these things are being exposed. Why would it be any different in this case?

“I will continue to practice what I have implemented the past 35 years but with an even greater diligence.”  What practices have you implemented? I, along with many other moms, have hosted many young people’s evenings when you’ve been in town because you’ve been the worker who packs the games; you’ve been the worker who takes the teenage boys to squash games, hiking etc etc – you’ve surrounded yourself with kids all through the decades. I’m not sure I’d call that being careful.

Doug, I’m trying to come to terms with the shock and heartbreak that the news of your CSA has brought to our family and many others ….. it’s not a matter of unforgiveness or a lack of mercy, but as you yourself expressed in a previous document you asked for my input on, and I quote:

“Child abuse is a sin and a crime, and as a crime, it is a societal problem. We must understand that forgiveness does not mean a lack of accountability or punishment for the evildoer.
The act of justice actually demonstrates the biblical love of neighbor. In fact, reporting sexual abuse is an act of love. In condemning an abuser’s actions, society vindicates survivors as being wronged by their offenders.
Reporting a crime can also be an act of love for the broader community because it prevents the abuser from harming others. And it can be an act of love toward the abuser, as it holds him or her accountable and invites repentance.
True reconciliation, when it is possible, requires fully acknowledging the evil of the abuse and the harm it causes, displaying active repentance of the evil done, and offering restitution to the victim. These actions do not impede reconciliation; they are prerequisites for it. If offenders refuse to be confronted with their abuse, it suggests they have not fully come to terms with their victims’ dignity, the evil they have done, and the pain they have caused.”

I couldn’t agree more with what you wrote here, I hope you read through these words you put together, and find the willingness to take them to heart, and put them into practice. I wish you well in this effort and I do hope you can find your way forward with honesty.

Yours in His mercy

[Name redacted]

WINGS Note: A reader has sent us this letter from Doug Morse, with their comments inserted [marked Comment: and styled italic].
Morse was in the work from 1982 to 2023 in Canada (BC, Alberta and The Maritimes). There are multiple allegations against him.

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CONFIDENTIALITY – DO NOT FORWARD THIS COMMUNICATION ON – OTHERS ARE RECEIVING THIS INDIVIDUALLY.

Comment: For multiple generations now, this CONFIDENTIALITY has been used as a disguise to cover up a multitude of behaviors that are immoral and illegal to try and salvage a person’s reputation along with the church reputation.  Doug, that boat has long since sailed and based on the allegations against you, as well as your admittance to allegations, everyone connected to this church should know exactly where you stand.

Accountability

Definition: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for ones actions.

Comment: When reading this definition of accountability, it is a true definition, however the words following don’t backup the definition of Accountability.
MISCONDUCT Definition – unacceptable or bad behavior by someone in a position of authority or responsibility.
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Definition – Child sexual abuse, also called child molestation, as a form of child abuse in which an adult uses a child for sexual stimulation.

I feel terrible … as I should, for the distress I have caused others. I have no one to blame except myself.

Comment: It is interesting that you start this letter with how you feel along with looking for a place to put your blame, yet realizing you come up short.  How do you feel about the child whom you violated?  This is not about blame, this is about accountability, remember?

This letter is meant to clarify what has recently transpired. Last week I was approached to answer for an incident of misconduct 36 years ago.

Comment: Doug, I think it is important to call a spade a spade.  You will see that I added a few other definitions to the header of your letter.   A misconduct is when you stole some kids mascara, or filled your car with fuel from a company fleet card.  What you were approached to answer about wasn’t an incident of misconduct!!  You were called to answer about an incident of Child Sexual Abuse 36 years ago.

I took ownership on the accusation as I did then. It was a brief event where I was inappropriate while in a place of authority. The individual was under the age of legal consent being 17 at the time.

Comment: It is a good thing to hear that you have taken ownership, although your word choice here is interesting in the fact that you still call it an “accusation”.  If you had of taken ownership of this event, 36 years ago, as you state in this paragraph that you did, you would have reported this to the minor’s parents, the ministry and the law.  You would have removed yourself from a place of authority, and done your time in the correctional and legal arena.  You have fooled yourself Doug, into thinking that you have taken ownership and accountability for these actions.  Another thing that is EXTREMELY telling is how you have minimized this CSA as a “Brief Event” with an “individual under the age of legal consent being 17 at the time”.  For that CHILD who you sexually abused, this wasn’t a “Brief Event”.  This was a LIFE CHANGING event that they have carried with them since that fateful day you abused them!   You were the adult, they were the child and it doesn’t matter if they were 7 years old or 17 years old.

When it happened the two of us addressed the situation immediately whereby I took full responsibility and expressed remorse. We agreed that it was satisfactorily resolved. And for the next 36 years we have remained friends and in contact without ever speaking of my failure that day. I do not know why it has been brought forward recently after all this time but except it as the will of God.

Comment: Doug, I think you pride yourself as a bright man. To see you think that anything in this paragraph has any validity to it is quite laughable.  When someone, in a place of power, sexually abuses a child, there is no equality of power where “the two of us” could equally address a situation of CSA.  I also question if your expression of remorse was actually a fear of this child saying something and you getting caught.  As a survivor of CSA, I can speak with authority that this “friendship” you have had over the last 36 years with this child you abused is NOT a friendship, it is an Abuser/Victim relationship.  The last sentence in this paragraph exposes your true stance on CSA.  For you to say that you do not know WHY it has been brought forward is very telling about your deep seeded stance on CSA.  After all that has been hidden and “swept under the rug” for the last several generations, which you have been masquerading as an advocate for the last few years, one would think that it would be EXTEMELY clear to you why this CSA is being brought to light.  I do agree that this is of God.  God brings to light, all that is hidden.  Can you imagine, how this person who you sexually abused 36 years ago feels as they watch you present to this group of hurt and wounded church members, who have trusted you, a persona of an innocent man? 

I have voluntarily stepped away from any church community functions and must now live my remaining days in such a way as to prove the past 3+ decades represent the person God wants me to be.

Comment: I have so many thoughts here.  Doug, you have deceived many people by your lack of transparency.  People who have been already hurt and injured.  You have taken from people their kindness, their love, their trust.

I have also been instructed to ‘reinvent’ my life from this point on which requires safe and firm parameters in my personal relationships. I will continue to practice what I have implemented the past 35 years but with an even greater diligence.

Comment: You have also been given some other instructions.  You have been asked to “Do the right thing and turn yourself in!”  Report to the RCMP, in the community the CSA took place and let them know what you did.  Once, you have done that, you can look at your reinvention.

Once again, I am grieved at the distress and hurt and disappointment I have brought to so many of you.
My earnest prayer is for the healing ministry of Christ Jesus to bring peace to the church community, those ministering, victims and even for myself.

Comment: Doug, at no point in this communication have you stated your grief and distress and hurt that you have brought to the child you sexually abused.  At no point have you expressed your grief, distress and hurt and disappointment at your breech of authority.  It seems like you are grieved, at the distress and hurt and disappointment you have brought to so many people because of how it is going to affect YOUR future.

I have sincerely sought to be a part of a solution to the sorrow of recent years in our church community.
With this matter at hand God has conveyed to me that I am not the man to do this, no matter how good my intentions have been.

Comment: Doug, you have deceived yourself to believe that you have sought to be part of a solution to the sorrow in recent years in our church community.  If you had been honest with yourself, you would have been transparent in your past behavior, not kept it in a box hoping that no one would find out.  You would not have roamed this province masquerading as an innocent man.

Please except this poor effort to express what I am feeling in my heart.

Comment: I do accept this poor effort as an expression of how you feel in your heart.  This letter expresses very clearly that you are very sorry that you have been outed.  It has also expressed your lack of remorse towards the child you sexually abused and the vast number of people who you enticed and beguiled to support you emotionally and naturally over the last few years, as well as your many decades in the ministry.

Doug Morse

* I must also acknowledge the great measure of kindness and trust many of you have shown me these past decades, unworthy of such as I am. And even the Christian kindness extended my way this past week, so greatly appreciated and needed.

* Psalm 51 was my experience years ago. I believe I have reflected God’s grace since then, demonstrating to His Glory, what He can accomplish in broken, repentant lives.

* I have been in touch directly with some of you and will reach out more in the days ahead. Currently I am trying to find a place to live, and just keep my head above water. Your patience is valued.

Clyde T. Corneille, a professing man in Louisiana, was convicted on 10/21/2024 on the charge of indecent behavior with juveniles.

Clyde was given a 5 year suspended sentence (meaning he does not serve time in prison unless he offends again within a given period of time), 3 years probation, and permanent placement on the sex offender registry.

Clyde was originally arrested for this offense in October of 2020. He was allowed by Louisiana overseer Robert Eberhardt to attend Effie convention in 2021 and 2022. Robert was aware of the allegations against Clyde. Those in attendance were not informed by church leadership about Clyde’s arrest and pending charges. In 2023 he was asked not to attend convention due to increased pressure from concerned church members.

Additionally, Robert allowed Clyde to attend fellowship meetings after his arrest and made no attempt to inform members of his meetings until pressured to do so several years after his initial arrest.

WINGS Note: Multiple sentences are served consecutively, not concurrently, in Arizona.

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https://abcnews.go.com/US/member-secretive-christian-sect-sentenced-120-years-prison/story?id=116460154

Member of secretive Christian sect sentenced to 120 years in prison

Raymond Zwiefelhofer was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material.

ByLauren Lantry December 7, 2024, 2:01 AM

Former elder of secretive 2×2 Christian sect sentenced to 120 years in prison

An ABC News investigation into the 2×2 Church, a Christian sect so secretive most people have never heard of it, has uncovered allegations of child sexual abuse and coverups.

An ABC News yearlong investigation into the 2×2 Church, a Christian sect so secretive most people have never heard of it, has uncovered allegations of widespread child sexual abuse and subsequent coverups.

During the investigation, ABC News spoke with dozens of alleged victims of child sexual abuse across more than 30 states.

Photo – Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry

As part of the ongoing investigation by law enforcement, Raymond Zwiefelhofer was convicted of 10 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material and was sentenced to 120 years in prison last month.

“In total, there were 87 files that were determined to be child sexual abuse material or sometimes known as child pornography,” Catherine Fu, a Maricopa Deputy County Attorney, told ABC News. “The 10 charged files were a combination of photos and videos, and they were all depicting children under the age of 15 engaged in either exploitive exhibition or sexual conduct.”

Zwiefelhofer, 61, maintains his innocence.

He was a tech CEO in Arizona, but he was also a member of the 2×2 Church, according to ex-members ABC News spoke to. He was an elder in the community on and off for decades.

“I’m not guilty. Again, I like to get that – make that clear,” Zwiefelhofer said during his sentencing hearing. “I would love to know how the jury found that I knowingly did this.”

ABC News reached out to Zwiefelhofer’s attorney multiple times for comment and did not hear back.

“An elder leads a group of members in their home through church services,” Cynthia Liles, a private investigator, told ABC News. “I would say there are almost always children present in the home meetings.”

MORE: Secretive Christian sect ignored sexual abuse for decades, congregants allege

Nationwide, it is illegal to possess child sexual abuse material. The minimum sentencing in Arizona is 10 years for one count. Zwiefelhofer was sentenced to 12 years for each count. “The 2×2 Church has a significant problem with child sexual abuse,” Liles said. “It’s systemic.”

Liles has been looking into allegations of abuse within the insular community for years, and says she works regularly with the FBI.

“I have notified the FBI of over a thousand accounts of child sex abuse and sex assault within the 2×2 Church community,” Liles told ABC News.

A group photo at a 2×2 Church convention in the early 1900s.
Courtesy of Cherie Kropp-Ehrig

What makes the 2×2 Church so unique is the way it operates. Ministers of the church, known as workers, live with members in their homes, usually for a few days at a time.

Many former members ABC spoke with say some of the church leadership knew about abuse allegations, but did not report it to the proper authorities. Instead, the leadership would often move alleged abusers to different states.

While there is no singular head of the church, ABC News did reach out to overseers – the dozen or so men in charge of the community. While ABC News did not hear back from the overseer of Arizona who oversaw Zwiefelhofer, the former and current overseers with whom ABC News did speak all denied that widespread sexual abuse has been taking place within the 2×2 community.

The FBI announced their investigation into the 2×2 Church in February, encouraging anyone who thinks that they might be a victim to come forward with information.

In a rare and exclusive interview in June, ABC News sat down with the FBI.

Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Omaha Field Office, is leading the worldwide investigation into the organization known by outsiders as the Two by Two church.

“Let’s say you arrest one person, two people. Is that it?” ABC News’ Kyra Phillips asked.

“The FBI focuses, in general, on bringing cases from local to global,” Gene Kowel, the Special Agent in Charge of the investigation, said. “The FBI doesn’t stop at just an initial arrest. We will follow the evidence wherever it leads.”

“Raymond Zwiefelhofer is one of most likely thousands,” Liles said. “We’re getting reports of child sex abuse and sex assault committed by the highest level in leadership down to the regular members.”

“Hopefully there will be more arrests and convictions coming,” Liles said.

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October 3, 2024 report of conviction:
https://www.12news.com/article/news/crime/jury-convicts-former-valley-tech-company-president-exploiting-children-2024/75-f694f01b-1898-4156-83b2-ef22f430fa45

WINGS Note:
Bill Easton was a worker in the folowing areas:
1967 Hauraki Plains
1968 Waikato
1969 South Taranaki
1970 Auckland
1071 Central Otago
1972 Auckland
1973 Southland
1974 South Canterbury
1975 Wellington
Willie Phyn and Nathan McCarthy were the senior workers at the time Easton left the work with the advice “in strong terms to marry quickly and start a family.” Church members were not advised why Easton was removed from the work.

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Northland man jailed for 13 years over historic sexual abuse of six boys

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/535890/northland-man-jailed-for-13-years-over-historic-sexual-abuse-of-six-boys

5:01 pm on 6 December 2024  Amy Williams, Journalist amywilliamsnz amy.williams@rnz.co.nz

William Stephen Easton, known as Bill Easton, in the dock at the Kaikohe District Court today. Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams

• A former minister of an underground sect has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges
• The charges are of historical child sex abuse spanning four decades
• The religious group known as the Two by Twos, or The Truth, is also under investigation by the FBI for historical child sexual abuse

Warning: This story covers sexual abuse of multiple victims.

A Kerikeri man who abused six boys in repeated, premeditated offending while he was part of an underground sect has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

William Stephen Easton, known as Bill Easton, has been sentenced in the Kaikohe District Court on 55 charges related to historic sexual offending against children.

The 80 year old was a minister of the Two by Twos, also known as The Truth, a secretive Christian sect.

Judge Brandt Shortland told Easton the level of his offending was “unprecedented”.

“It was very serious offending over a long period of time. The aggravating features are clear, the premeditation, the vulnerability of the young people, the absolute betrayal of trust of…children of people who looked up to you, that admired you, that respected you, because of your position in your church.”

Judge Shortland said the fact there were six victims and the offending happened consistently over many years indicated how serious it was.

Easton’s offending spanned four decades and took place around the country, involving six victims who were boys at the time. The youngest was seven.

“The predatory nature that was consistent over a long period of time and the consistency of the offending can’t be overlooked,” Judge Shortland said.

He said there was a clear power imbalance, so much so that one of the survivor’s parents did not believe them when they disclosed the abuse because of the position Easton held.

After the sentencing, the police’s lead investigator for the prosecution Detective Constable Mark Reid acknowledged the victims and their families and the ordeal they have been through.

“While the man responsible for the offending has been sentenced, police understand that no conviction will ever take back what has happened,” he said.

“He was a well-known figure in his community for many years and in continual contact with children and young people.”

Easton’s lawyer Doug Blaikie said his client acknowledged the victims and the harm his offending had caused.

He read out Easton’s apology letter in court, which said he had “deep and heartfelt regret” for his actions that caused harm he now understood.

“I can never forgive myself for this; all I can say is I’m sincerely sorry. Every day I face remorse and regret…and now face the consequences.

“I know my actions were wrong but I failed to acknowledge and understand how wrong.”

Blaikie said Easton’s offending occurred in the context of a young man growing up in a church and society that regarded homosexuality as “deviant”.

He said Easton left the position of minister of the church in his early 20s because he could see his actions were not consistent with the church’s teachings.

Blaikie said he sought counselling from the church which “today would be regarded as totally inappropriate” because Easton was advised in strong terms to marry quickly and start a family.

William Stephen Easton during an earlier court appearance. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf

Easton was emotionally conflicted as a person of homosexual disposition but that did not excuse his behaviour.

“There was clearly a power imbalance between Mr Easton and all of his victims and he exploited that power imbalance for his own sexual gratification.”

Judge Shortland acknowledged his guilty plea and letter of apology.

“There’s nothing mitigating about this offending. In many respects there was no other place but to be honest about what has been said and I appreciate that.”

‘It has caused me emotional harm for most of my life’ – survivor

It was a harrowing morning in court for the six victims and their families, as four victim impact statements were heard – all chose not to read these aloud themselves.

Before the victim statements were read, Judge Shortland said this would be an emotional day and difficult for many.

For much of the sentencing, Easton sat with his head in his hands.

One survivor who is now in his 70s said he had been abused by Easton from the age of 12 at his parents’ home.

“My relationship to the offender was no more than that he was a minister of religion who often stayed in my childhood home where he was held in high regard by my parents,” said his statement.

“I told my parents but they did not believe me, instead accusing me of telling dreadful lies of this highly revered young man.”

The survivor said the sexual abuse had taken away his innocence and left him imprisoned by memories for 50 years.

He said he constantly required company, otherwise, he was tormented by flashbacks and became suicidal.

“I fear how this may have ended up if the authorities and other victims hadn’t helped us bring Bill to justice.”

Another survivor whose statement was read in court said he was 22 years old when Easton sexually abused him nearly 50 years ago and it had burdened him ever since.

“It has caused me emotional harm for most of my life with some days being worse than others.”

Easton was a person of trust whom he looked up to and should have known better.

Another survivor, now in his 50s, said he was a young high school student when Easton offered him a school holiday job that he was initially pleased about.

But he said that “quickly turned to fear and anxiety” when he realised Easton had taken him to an isolated area to sexually abuse him.

“What possessed you to take advantage of a young vulnerable boy with realistically nowhere to escape to?”

The survivor said from that time forward his life changed, he self-harmed and tried to run away from home to escape the abuse which continued for two and a half years.

He said he feared he may have contracted AIDS and for the following decade, would donate blood so that it would be tested.

He disclosed the abuse to police in September 2023.

“Explaining what you had done to me was hard. Hard to relive those experiences, but not hard to provide facts, when, where, what. I can never forget what you did to me.”

The survivor said he was open to restorative justice in the future.

Another survivor, in his 60s, said he was a young, shy, naive 15 year old when Easton sexually abused him.

“You were a member of our church ministry and had just been released from duty. As children we were taught to respect, trust and look up to our church ministers,” his statement said.

“You began taking an interest in me, taking me for drives in your vehicle…it was at this time that the abuse started.”

The survivor said he did not disclose the abuse at the time and still got flashbacks when he felt “abhorrent” about what happened to him and that had affected his ability to form close friendships.

“I feel that you have taken advantage of my naivety when I was young, when I was learning to find my own way in life. Instead you took away my ability to trust others.”

The offender and the sect

Easton was a minister of the Two by Twos, also known as The Truth, an underground Christian sect, from 1966 until he was removed from the group’s leadership in 1976.

However, insiders have told RNZ that Easton remained part of the group, attending meetings in members’ homes, until last year.

He was also listed until recently as a real estate agent on the Harcourts Bay of Islands website.

In September its director, Scott Cousins, said Easton was no longer with the company.

“Bill Easton advised us of the historic charges against him, which occurred prior to his association with our company. He immediately left our organisation. We were shocked and appalled by these charges and this remains the case,” he said.

Easton was arrested as part of an investigation into accusations of sex offending by members of the Two by Twos.

The group is being investigated by the FBI.

Police initially charged him with 17 indecent assault and sexual violation offences that occurred between 1964 and 1981, involving four victims.

A further 38 charges were laid in September relating to two more victims.

The Two by Twos have about 2500 members and 60 ministers in New Zealand.

It is not registered as a charity and had no official name or church buildings.

A hallmark of the group is that its itinerant ministers travel in pairs and stay in members’ homes.

Where to get help:

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz

What’s Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm

Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Healthline: 0800 611 116

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Sexual Violence

NZ Police

Victim Support 0800 842 846

Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00

Rape Prevention Education

Empowerment Trust

HELP Call 24/7 (Auckland): 09 623 1700, (Wellington): 04 801 6655 – push 0 at the menu

Safe to talk: a 24/7 confidential helpline for survivors, support people and those with harmful sexual behaviour: 0800044334

Male Survivors Aotearoa

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) 022 344 0496

The below letter was recently sent from the MN/IA staff. The following document includes the “Statement of Purpose” and resources.
The Statement of Purpose claims that “We have found the New Testament instructions to the Lord’s people to be a perfect code of conduct, if faithfully applied.”
WINGS is not aware of any New Testament instructions specifically about prevention of, or responding to, child sexual abuse. The workers and overseers history of failure to prevent, or respond properly to Child Sexual Abuse, suggests that application of man’s interpretation of selected bible verses is not an adequate basis for dealing with Child Sexual Abuse.

The overseer of this region is Titus Lehman.

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Dear Iowa and Minnesota friends,

We appreciated our convention season again this year. The helpers who were sent brought us bread for our souls and it was special to have time together. We are encouraged again to sow the seed and do what we can in our fields. We appreciate everyone who was a part of our conventions, including those who were not able for whatever reason, and listened on the conference call. We keep in our hearts those who chose not to attend. We respect your choice knowing the reasons vary greatly. We do care about you all!

Most of you have received the new workers list by now. Many of us are headed to new areas of labor and are looking forward to getting gospel meetings going again and getting acquainted with new people and places. We are glad for open homes and we also respect any who have reservations about who enters their homes. Please, feel free to help us know how you feel about having company.

LaVerna has moved into an apartment in Pella and has been busy reaching out to the folks who are her new neighbors there. We certainly wish her the best. It’s a big adjustment, no doubt.

David leaves November 18th and returns February 18th for conventions in India, Bangladesh, Dubai, and a few other spots. We will enjoy following along. Dean and Kyle are going to Manitoba/Saskatchewan for the special meeting rounds. They will be away from the end of November through December.

Much time and effort has been spent searching out, reviewing, and exploring what our staff and fellowship’s responsibility is in regards to CSA/SA. Thank you for your patience in this process.

In May of 2023 a policy was written for immediate needs. It helped us at the time with situations which arose. Since then we realize it just doesn’t apply to and cover every situation. We have chosen to discontinue its use and dependence on it.

Last year a group of workers and friends explored the possibility of a policy for our fellowship. We contracted with the GRACE group, which has been helpful for other organizations. They provided a policy draft in December. After reviewing this draft, we found it did not meet the needs of or rightly represent our fellowship. Above all, with prayerful consideration, it was clear the Lord was not giving peace with these efforts. In respect to God, we have discontinued working with GRACE group for policy development. The time spent with them was not wasted as we learned much helpful information about these subjects.

All of us are more educated, aware of the impact of CSA, and alert to inappropriate behavior. It is imperative to move forward in that understanding. We would like to share our simple statement of purpose. It is attached to this email. Also attached is a document with resources and reporting information.

The Minnesota and Iowa Staff

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The following policy was initially drafted by GRACE, and modified through a review process that included approximately 50 volunteers, as well as 4 workers (Titus Lehman, John Simons, Marla Freesemann, and Roy Williams).
A decision was then made by ministry leadership to abandon the policy.

[Wings Note: Wings cannot thoroughly vet therapy funds or helplines connected with our fellowship, but we applaud all who are working to support survivors.]

October 16, 2024 

UOA Therapy Fund Helpline providing nationwide support. 

On July 1, 2024, United Open Arms (UOA) launched the UOA Therapy Fund Helpline. UOA is passionate about helping child sexual assault and sexual assault survivors, and believes each survivor matters and deserves the utmost care throughout their individual journey. Confidential business reports from the first two months of operation confirm survivors are reaching out and help is being offered. 

The UOA helpline is staffed by RAINN intake specialists. RAINN—the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network—is the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the U.S. The UOA Therapy Fund Hotline’s hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm ET. Calls after hours will be answered the next business day. 

By calling the national UOA helpline number (1-888-564-3073), survivors can be assured their call will be answered by specially trained intake specialists from RAINN. Survivors can be reassured their identity will be kept confidential and that their call-in experience will be professional. Survivors will not have to retell their story or name their perpetrator(s), making the experience user friendly and survivor controlled.* 

Once RAINN has established survivor eligibility, an independent third party claims administrator (TPA) will contact the survivor for payment details. The TPA will collect money from UOA to send to the survivor’s place of therapy. UOA is not privy to any survivor identity or places of therapy. 

UOA is thankful to donors as the fund would not be functional without their generosity. Donors can be reassured that their information is confidential and 100% of their donations go towards therapy costs. Currently, administrative fees and educational costs are being covered by donors who choose to dedicate their funds to cover those costs. Professional volunteers manage the operations for UOA and zero donations are distributed for their work. 

Generous folks have been donating in several ways: 
● Give Butter with Zelle or credit/debit cards (one time donations or reoccurring auto-pay donations) 
● Fidelity Charities 
● IRA charitable donations 
● Employer Charity Match Programs 
● USPS mail and in-person delivery of paper checks 

To learn more about UOA, visit www.unitedopenarms.org. 

*RAINN is a mandatory reporter