News

Scott Rauscher letter to Montana and Wyoming Friends

Great Falls, MT 59403
October 20, 2023

Dear Friends in Montana & Wyoming,

Thank you for being patient with my lapses in communicating over the last several months as we are learning how to navigate important changes and safety measures with CSA and SA. We agree it is imperative that CSA and SA be dealt with directly and legally while focusing on the victim. We are very thankful for each one of you and we appreciate your patience and your support in many ways. We are truly mindful of those who are a victim of any form of abuse and every one of you that has suffered pain and loss. The ministry seeks to help and support each and every soul, and we apologize for any way that we have failed victims in the past.

It is necessary to make it absolutely clear that Robert Corfield has no part in the ministry. Anything that he has done in the past to help us workers is being taken over by others. Our hearts go out to his known victim. We also want to apologize for the very inappropriate comments that were made in a recent visit regarding Dean Bruer. We recognize how these comments continue to harm people who have already been directly and indirectly victimized.

Our staff’s desire is to be approachable and communicate openly, while using discretion where it is needed as we work in a quiet, confidential way with victims. We intend to hold each other accountable while in this growth and learning space, by open communication with the staff and you folks.

Working together is very important and essential (Ephesians 4:3 – unity of God’s Spirit). As individuals – walking in His Spirit – we make up the Fellowship, which is His Body. Each one of us either adds or diminishes to His Spirit in every meeting. This is a great privilege and also a great responsibility. We are aware that God in His mercy is calling our attention to our need to take our salvation seriously.

We are thankful that we have the Bible as our map, Jesus as the Way, and the Spirit as our guide as we travel through life together.

As the Convention season begins to wind down – and Special Meetings begin – we are looking forward to and anticipating some very helpful days ahead.

Please feel free to communicate your concerns with me or any of our staff, or with those that you feel closer to. We do wish to hear your concerns and feelings. We will also include an updated list for trauma resources.

Every good wish in Christ,
Scott R.

Call for Assistance re Ira Hobbs

There is a current and ongoing effort to take ex worker Ira Hobbs to court to convict him of his 2019 rape of a sister worker. He used a date rape drug, while his ex-sister-worker wife was away from their house. The raped sister worker was staying in the home for special meeting rounds. The hospital found the date rape drug in her blood test. They repaired the life-threatening damage that Ira did to her from the rape. It is known by many that Ira has raped and had sex with sister workers and wives for the past 60 years, as well as documented horrible molestation of children.

Ira Hobbs molested my young daughter in our home. My daughter and I have agreed to testify against him. The advocate, investigator and prosecutor are gathering evidence for prosecution. More victims, and those with knowledge of these crimes, would be very valuable as they establish the case, and show his long practice of so horribly damaging so many.

If you are willing to help in this effort, please contact me at dwgardner46@gmail.com and I will connect you with the effort.

Ira practiced this horror for much of his lifetime, and was hidden, protected, and moved from place to place repeatedly by the senior overseers while in the ministry. Fortunately he was finally put out of the work after his life time of fornication and child molestation. He was very clever on how to enjoy his horrid fornication without leaving evidence that could convict him. That is why it important to gather more evidence, victims and witnesses to firmly establish his decades long pattern of fornication, rape and child molestation. He continues it, even after being put out of the work.

Any assistance in this effort would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me.

Thank you,

Sincerely
Dale Gardner
dwgardner46@gmail.com


WINGS Note: Posted at the specific request of Dale Gardner

Call for Honesty and Truth

Good morning to you all,

There have been some issues weighing heavily on my heart for a long time, so I feel I must write to you.

It concerns, firstly, the continuing abuse of women, children and men in this fellowship, particularly spiritual, sexual emotional and mental abuse which has been brought to your notice many times, with minimal effect. It’s shocking how you’ve simply allowed multiple sex offenders to continue in the work and/or leave the work covered by lies and deceptions, watched them get married and have even given them the place of ‘elder’ uplifting and endorsing them as good, worthy, godly men instead of declaring them ungodly and dangerous to our community.

Secondly, it is despicable the way you have covered the guilty and blamed, shamed and continually intimidated the victims, to keep the truth hidden. Do you have any idea of the trauma and shame these victims and their families go through for their lifetimes afterwards? Not to mention the exorbitant medical expenses.

We opened our hearts and homes to you all, as celibate servants of God, sharing everything we had and giving you our full trust, only to discover decades later the shocking extent to which our families have been abused and blackmailed into keeping quiet. This is absolutely devastating!  The betrayal of trust, the abuse of your authority, the lies and deceit that took place to cover up these sins committed under our very noses, whilst caretaking the Harare Conv grounds, is horrific and defies belief! 

Please don’t accuse me of having a hard, bitter and unforgiving spirit, because this is not so!  I am not looking for retribution for past offenses. I have a grave concern for the present and future safety of everyone in the fellowship, especially the young, innocent children, vulnerable adults and unsuspecting new workers. I feel I cannot stand by without voicing my concern, disillusionment and disgust!  Even if you yourselves are not guilty of these atrocities/crimes, covering and/or condoning these shameful deeds of others makes you guilty!

I, therefore, can no longer listen to you preach God’s precious gospel whilst these matters are not dealt with, so I am withdrawing from the meetings until such time as this situation is rectified. 

This does not mean I have abandoned God. I am standing for honesty and truth and will continue serving Him.

Greetings

Gwen Bartlett


WINGS Note: Written by a 92 year old lady who lived on convention grounds in Zimbabwe for 30 years.

An Alarm and Call for Action

This message is addressed to the dear, godly friends and workers of the fellowship that has been called the truth for about 125 years. It is also a message that the corrupted and perverted friends and workers, and those who have hidden the perverts, should consider. It is written by me, ex member Dale Gardner, who was put out of the fellowship, more than 35 years ago, by the head overseers of the eastern United States, because I had exposed the fornicating, raping, child molesting senior worker, Ira Hobbs. I long to again be in fellowship with the Godly workers and friends. I still consider them my people. But only if and after they totally separate from the horrid sexually perverted and corrupted friends and workers, and the concealers, that are presently so deeply ingrained in the fellowship. The leaven that Paul described, has worked very deeply in our fellowship.

Have you read the account, in the book of the Judges chapters 19- 21, from thousands of years ago, of the horror of the death of the Israelite concubine, raped to death by the Benjaminite sodomites? I plead to you dear and Godly friends and workers of the fellowship  that you would read and consider that horrific account that God has chosen to leave, as direction, for how to respond when sexual immorality is present among His people. As you consider this horrific account, please remember the words of our Saviour to two of the churches in Asia. His statement was directed to the churches, not the fornicators in those two churches. He said, “I am against you, because you allow fornicators among you”. Do you understand that our Lord and Savior is against us, the fellowship that calls ourselves the Truth, because this fellowship has allowed fornicators to remain among us for the 125 years of its existence? It is reported that William Irvine declared that he started this fellowship as an experiment. He was a fornicator himself, fathering an illegitimate child, with some reports that he continued in sexual perversion. How can it be that a corrupted and fornicating overseeing ministry has been able to so control the fellowship, hiding the fornicators, and freely raping and molesting wives, sister workers and children in this fellowship that calls itself the truth? It is so obvious that the time is long past that the friends should have been awake, and put out the fornicators as quickly as they were discovered. God gave directions through Paul and John as to how to separate fornicators from the church. Have we thought seriously about why we did not do this? We need to start thinking and then take action. The action must be much more than just talk and words. What a horrific mess we are in because we have been sick and sleeping for 125 years, allowing evil fornicators and overseers to control and put us to sleep.

It is long past time to take action! What is the action we should take? There are many thoughts and ideas on this question, and a number of actions are happening. This is very good. However, to date, it appears that there are extremely limited results as far as forcing out the corruption, including the leaders of the corruption. It is now very difficult, and maybe impossible, because of how long and deeply the leaven has corrupted so many in the fellowship, both workers and friends.

It is so important to remember and understand that God has always taught to separate good from evil. That separation began as recorded in Genesis, when he destroyed all the evil people of the earth in the great flood. The Bible gives us a number of accounts of how God Himself, at times, separated good from evil. Other times God gave His help as His people took action to separate from evil. Then there are times when God left it up to His people to choose to separate themselves from evil. But He has made it plain that He is against the church if they do not keep separated from evil.

Some in the fellowship believe that this can be accomplished by forcing the perverted workers and friends out of this fellowship. Others believe this is now impossible because of the depth and breath of the leaven. Some understand that all of those, including both friends and workers, who have concealed and hid the fornicators are also guilty and responsible for the horrid damage to thousands of women and children in the fellowship. Oh what a mess we have allowed, and it will continue until the separation is made. Once this separation is made, the evil workers and friends will continue in their perversion, but no longer able to molest and rape the godly friends, workers, and children of this separated fellowship. Some believe this is the only long term effective answer to the horror presently allowed by the fellowship.

A very important but difficult consideration is the matter of our history of believing and calling our fellowship the truth. Jesus has made it clear, as previously referenced, that He is against us because we have allowed fornicators among us. It is very obvious that our group is far from being the truth. We can never be the truth, but we can become the Church of God as Paul called the Corinthians. Jesus is the Truth. We can become a healthy body of Christ. If we do our part, He will help us with what only He can do. So please do not think that by separating from the present corrupt, fornicating, concealing ministry, that we would be separating from the truth. Instead we would be separating from an evil that God despises. We can then become a church of believers that Christ will rejoice in, The Church of God, as Paul so beautifully called the Corinthian church.

I had thought that I would compare and contrast the horrific account of the wake up call and response, found in Judges, to the wake up call and response, to date, that God orchestrated with the death of Dean Bruer. It now seems this should be saved for another time, as this present effort has become so lengthy. If anyone thinks such a contrast and comparison would be helpful, please let me know and I will try to present a helpful account.

May God move our Godly friends and workers to understand the necessity, and be willing to take the actions, to separate from this horrid evil, and then continue in fellowship as a Church of God, no longer calling ourselves the truth, but followers of Jesus, who is the truth.


WINGS Note: Dale’s letters from 1988 and 2008 are available at https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/07/08/35-years-ago-to-taylor-wood-and-the-church/

The letters exposed long-standing abuse within the fellowship, but there was insufficient response from the ministry.

A Nameless, Insular Religious Sect Is Being Rocked by a Massive Sexual Abuse Scandal

This article was published today by VICE Media

Known to outsiders as the “Two by Twos,” a little-known community is reckoning with a far-reaching scandal over sexual abuse, accountability, and power. 

See:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7zpvm/an-nameless-insular-religious-sect-is-being-rocked-by-a-massive-sexual-abuse-scandal

From fear of worker retribution to a deeper trust in God 

My journey from fear of worker retribution to a deeper trust in God 

By Ashley (Williams) Hom  

Months ago, after reading the Canadian Elder’s beautifully expressed letter on Wings For Truth, I was moved to share my own story.  It’s taken some time to pull my thoughts together and have the courage to share my story. But that Canadian Letter has stayed with me, I have lived that letter, it echoes my own heart and thoughts. The ending of his letter, the part about not sharing his name for fear of retribution, triggered something within me and inspired me to share my own journey. My journey from fear of the perceived power of workers, to God’s help and guidance to not fear workers and their ability to “take away privileges” or abuse me (spiritually or physically).  

For context, my husband and I have a regular Sunday meeting in our home and several of the union meetings per year in our home here in Colorado. We love our fellowship meetings and the sweet friends and workers here in Colorado. 

This is my story, my journey from fear to a deeper trust in God:  

My parents had a family cabin in Northern Montana. Beginning in the early 90s, we spent most of my childhood vacation time there, and my husband and I were married there. I moved from Minnesota to Montana to attend college full-time in the early 2000s. I knew the overseer Dean Bruer fairly well; we overlapped in a lot of different places (Wyoming and Montana meetings/gospel meetings/conventions) and I admired him and respected him. I decided to schedule a meeting with him in 2009 because my heart was hurting around an issue that felt wrong. I felt a need for understanding and mercy around an issue Dean ruled very harshly on. I drove from Missoula (where I owned a home) to Bozeman in October of 2009 to meet with Dean at the Manhattan Convention grounds. I was welcomed to the house by the woman who lived there. She was the only one home besides Dean and Scott Rauscher. I came with a tender heart and an open mind. I was originally only going to meet with Dean, but these verses came to me, Matthew 18:6 “But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”  

I knew Scott Rauscher was in the area as well, so I invited him to join our meeting, or he was already at the house, I don’t remember that detail exactly. I thought it would be helpful to have Scott in the room to hear what was on my heart. I met the men in the kitchen and then they led me to another room, they said they wanted to talk in private. When we got into the room, they shut the door behind us, and I remember the room being dark, especially given it was in the middle of the day.  

There were only two chairs in the room, the two men sat down and then looked at me and pointed to the floor. They said I should kneel or sit before them. I was feeling so humble and grateful they would meet with me, I didn’t think twice about kneeling before them, so I did. Through a broken heart and tears I tried to explain how my heart was hurting that my dad and many other faithful Godly people couldn’t take part in meetings. I’m not going to dive into the divorce and remarriage issue here, because no matter where you land on the topic, workers should not treat anyone the way they treated me. 

I was on my knees pouring out my heart before these two workers, asking for help and understanding of their thinking. I respected these two workers so much and looked up to them as leaders in our church. I asked why a man in the Bozeman meeting who was convicted of sexually molesting his three children was allowed to take part in a meeting with young adults, but people like my dad, who had been faithfully married for 30 years, a Godly man and a wonderful dad, couldn’t? My dad had been silenced in the meetings for 30 years. Then in Minnesota the workers “pardoned” him, and he could take part again after 30 years of silence in MN. However, in Montana divorced and remarried people are not allowed to ever take part in a meeting. Elders in Montana even made it a point to be sure my dad wasn’t allowed to touch or pass the emblems on Sunday.   

After asking Dean and Scott for some mercy and explanation of their thoughts on the matter, to my surprise, the two men just laughed at me, made fun of me, belittled me and asked some very odd questions, such as if my brother and I were biological siblings, which we are. But what an odd detail to ask about, given my brother lives in MN and I didn’t even know the workers knew I had a brother, it felt creepy. I remember Dean looking at Scott and saying, “can you even imagine getting remarried?!” and then they both laughed really hard, a very cold mean laugh. (Interesting how sometimes the most self-righteous have the most to hide) 

They thought the whole thing was so funny. What felt so off at the time was how the two men were in full lockstep in their thinking and words. Everything Dean said and did, Scott would agree and mimic Dean’s behavior. I remember thinking, I shouldn’t have invited Scott, now these two men are easily ganging up on me and it felt horrible and scary. Whatever I was expecting out of that meeting, this wasn’t it. There was a harsh ruthlessness to their demeanor.  

After they continued berating and laughing at me for most of an hour, I decided I’d heard enough, and the Lord put it on my heart to leave.  When I stood up to leave, they both reached out to touch me (I can’t remember who, but someone touched my shoulder and knee) and both said “don’t leave. I said “Oh, I’m leaving”. That’s when the hair on the back of my neck stood up and I thought, “Oh I need to get out of here quick!”  So, I left in a hurry! I was absolutely devastated by the experience!! 

Over the next few days, I called my family and a few close friends to share my experience. To this day those friends and family remember me calling them in despair. I’d never been disappointed by a worker before, not like that, so I was crushed. I still thought they were right, and I was somehow off the narrow way; that I was missing something. It was one of the few times I’ve had suicidal thoughts. I was just hurting so much myself, and hurting for all the people I knew Dean and Scott were affecting with their hard ruling on re-marriage.  

Then, a few months later, I didn’t get any sister workers for special meeting rounds in Missoula. (I had a room for workers and had sisters come stay all the previous years I lived there).   

So, I asked Scott at a special meeting, “Why no sister workers this year?” He said, “sometimes we lose privileges”.  

I was too naive at the time, and it took me some time to understand what he meant. I now understand that because I went to him and Dean with a different opinion and asking questions on a matter, that I would “lose privileges”.  

 It was very hurtful at the time and one of the hardest emotional things I’ve had to overcome in my life; I truly feel for those who were also physically harmed by Dean. But in God’s wisdom and help our entire family sold our beautiful home in the mountains of West Glacier Montana and moved. In the same week, my brother, Mom, Dad, and I all had on our heart that God said, “Montana is not a healthy spiritual place for you.” 

I feel so thankful that God led us out of Montana and to healthier spiritual places. We absolutely loved our home and friends in Montana and to this day I have to pray hard to not look back in remorse at our loss there, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. It’s wild that two men could have such an influence over the meetings and where we choose to live. Many years later Dean was at Juneau Convention and when I heard him speak in a Sunday meeting before the convention, I broke down in sobs and had to quickly leave the meeting and sobbed for the better part of an hour. His voice was a trigger I had no idea I had; I’d never had anything like that happen before. I can’t even imagine the emotional trauma it must have been for people who were physically abused by Dean and then having to see him again.  

I have since become stronger in myself and in my trust in God. Workers and overseers no longer have that power over me, I won’t let them. Workers only have power over our lives and meetings, if we allow them to. We the friends can pray and ask God how to operate our meetings and who should be allowed to share in our meetings and who should be allowed or not at a convention. The workers do not have jurisdiction over our private property or how we choose to encourage and show our love for those we meet with. Do we answer to God or workers? That’s a question I’ve been asking myself, whose approval am I looking for? God’s, I hope.  

Workers can’t take away what matters most, our relationship with God and Christ. The workers are not our avenue to our relationship with God, therefore not going to this church does not mean someone has “lost out”, it just means they don’t go to our church. We should pray they continue to seek God, but I hope we move away from judging people’s relationship with God based on whether they attend our church or not, that does not feel like our place. 

As my husband helpfully says, “our form is not our faith”. Our church form is intended to inspire our relationship with God and his son and bring joy to us with fellowship, if it is no longer doing that for us, when we need to find another avenue for fellowship.  

I no longer feel fear of worker retribution. If a worker takes away a ‘privilege’ because I’ve posted my experience or have spoken up, then I’ll just know that worker is self-righteous, lacks empathy and most likely is dangerous to be around. Learning which workers will take away privileges to those who speak up is an excellent filter for what workers you can or can’t trust. I learned this when everything about Dean came out. I finally understand Dean was the one off the path, not me. I shouldn’t have doubted myself all these years and should have followed my instincts and feelings about Dean. Once I had children, God put on my heart to keep myself and my kids far away from Dean. It was a very strong warning in my heart, and I shared with others to be careful around him. I will work on not doubting my instincts anymore; God has given us these instincts to know who’s safe to be around, both spiritually and naturally. 

If we fear retribution for sharing our thoughts and concerns, isn’t that the very culture that leads to the abuse that has been covered up? I feel we need to break free from the fear of overseers/workers, and ask that overseers respect our opinions and experiences, and not punish us for speaking up. Breaking free of this fear could lead to a cultural shift of abuse being appropriately dealt with. 

I feel we, the friends, need to take some accountability in all that is going on. I feel we, the friends, have given too much power to the workers, power over our emotions, power over how we operate our meetings on our private property, and power over our lives. I want to put my trust in God more than my trust in workers. 
 

On a more positive note, we are truly grateful for so many of the workers. Most of the workers have been such an encouragement to our family and have fed us tremendously! I personally know many workers who have stood up for what is right and are doing the right thing when they see or hear of bad behavior. I know workers who have reported child abuse to the authorities. I know many workers who have listened with open, loving hearts to people and their concerns. So, my hope is that we, the friends, continue to support the workers who are trying to make our church safer.  

I hope our fellowship will continue into the future, become safer and more scriptural. I pray that we, the friends, will search our hearts to help with this effort.  


WINGS Note: Posted with permission from the author

Letter to the hurting from Kelsay Yung

I hardly know where to begin.

Perhaps the best place is this; I am filled with grief for the people who have been abused. I am so sorry that you experienced evil. I have been doing what I can to try to be a help to the people I know. I want to do all I can to help healing. My efforts feel weak, far from enough. Words seem so empty.

For me, there has been comfort that while I am very limited, God is not. I know that hasn’t been comfort to some who have been hurt, and I’m saddened how severely faith has been damaged. I have admired the strength of survivors. I’m thankful for every one who has done what they can to help and heal.

I finally feel able to reach out beyond the ones that I know closely. I’m sorry if it seems too late, I simply haven’t been emotionally well enough myself. I’m repairing a broken heart, as many of you are. It’s been slow, because it keeps taking a beating.

There is a lot of emphasis on help, and I very much, unequivocally support anything that will help those who have been hurt. Yet I know that won’t change what has happened, and the many people who have been hurt by the ones that they should have been able to trust. Far better that it had never happened, even once. Child sexual assault (CSA), sexual assault (SA), or any kind of abuse is wrong, and shouldn’t happen. It has. Much too much, much too often. While I’m glad it’s been brought into the light, it fills me with grief and sorrow as well.

I have been dealing with so many of my own questions, and I still don’t have very many answers. I have no intention or desire to defend a system, or to justify evil. I have not, and will not, cover up CSA, SA, or other abuse. There have been so many things brought to light that I had no idea about, and each one has made me feel more sickened. It’s made me want to walk away from it all.

Rob Newman is my uncle. One grandmother spent 2 years in the work, the other grandmother had 2 sisters who were workers. Glen Yung was a cousin to my grandfather. My sister is in the work. I’m 3rd generation on the shortest “professing” branch of the family tree, with the other branches going farther. I also understand how the very fact that I have been a brother worker, and because of family connections, you may have no trust towards me.

Why do I bring up my family connections?

None of that gives me salvation. None of that makes me right with God. Being a worker doesn’t get me any closer to heaven. Being a disciple of Jesus is my hope. He is the way, not “us.” I will stand alone before God. When I die, the thing I will be most thankful for is the blood of Christ, given for me in love. And what will matter about my life is what I have done… Not what I have said, or what people think of me, or who my family is. What God knows. I have no interest in lies.

I have been in the work for the past 17 years. Mark Huddle has been my overseer for most of my time in the work. I stood behind Dean Bruer in a worker picture just weeks before his death. I’ve tried to serve with my whole heart, as honestly and best as I’ve known how. I’ve been shocked to learn of the things my fellow workers have done, and then shocked more deeply by reactions of other fellow workers. It’s made me feel conflicted, dirty by association. I have hoped to see the Love of God. It’s been hard to see.

Yet, while knowing that those sins are not mine, I am not without sin. If you look for someone to be perfect, I cannot claim even close to that. I have been quiet when I should have spoken. I’ve felt deep and strong violence inside towards those that hurt who they should have protected. Though I’ve prioritized honor in relationships, I have struggled with my attraction to women. God knows the list of ways that I have been wrong. This isn’t a letter to justify myself, or to come across as if I am on higher ground. I am not.

This is a letter to reach out to those who are hurt and are questioning. I am too.

It is in my heart, more than ever, with greater desire than ever, to follow Jesus. I know I am not alone.

I believe that God is perfect, and Jesus did his will perfectly. So there is no mistake in ANY thing Jesus did, or said, or lived. The Holy Spirit will never contradict Jesus. This has been my anchor.

One thing I feel sure of: our only hope as a faith, is in truly following Jesus. Many of us have searched like never before, and we’re finding that we’ve been wrong. Have accepted what isn’t true or right as if it is. Have not searched scriptures and not been as honest and real in prayer as we could have been. Have stood by quietly when we could have spoken against wrong. Have feared men more than God. Have attributed things to God’s spirit that are not His Spirit. Have done things because “it’s what we do,” rather than seeking what God really wants, what is scriptural. Have been more Pharisee than good Samaritan.

It helps to read the Bible, and the New Testament in particular, as if I don’t know a thing. Having a thought and then searching to justify it isn’t safe. It’s arrogant. Being open and accepting of what God wants, and searching for that, is what has brought me peace. Jesus brought God’s will perfectly. It’s so beautiful.

In a strange way, it’s also been a comfort to see problems throughout the Bible, and to know that God continued to work with his people. Sometimes they were bad at responding. We are the same humankind. He is the same God who is alive and working.

I’m not active in the work. It wasn’t my choice… I simply wasn’t able. No one asked me to step away. The future is unknown to me. I feel that too is in God’s hands, me being where I am. Since being “inactive,” I’ve felt Gods help and leading in very real ways. I have told Kent Williston and Darryl Doland that I’ll be needing a year at least out of the work. (I have been on  the California staff, on loan from Washington.) I’m in Bakersfield, California, and plan at this time to get a job and routine for my health.

If it would be of any help, reach out. I have withdrawn from social media, though still have Instagram… so kelsayung [@] gmail.com is probably best to get in touch if you’d like. If you are reeling, but want to truly follow Jesus, know that you have a kindred spirit in me.

This is an open letter. Share it to who you will. I will forewarn you that I’m not in the best state to be your strength… I’m weak myself. Please, know that you’re not alone.

With love and care,

Kelsay Yung


WINGS Note: Posted at the request of Kelsay Yung

Carson Wallace – additional information re Hazel Williams

From: Carson Wallace [email redacted]

Date: October 2, 2023 at 12:25:46 PM

Subject: Clarification

Just want to clarify: the message that I sent this morning concerning Hazel could be sent to the Church or kept until anyone asks. By the way, this allegation was not CSA.

Your brother,

Carson


See Hazel Williams steps aside

Hazel Williams steps aside

Good morning everyone.

This morning, it’s with a very heavy heart that I send this message to you all.

We need to pass on a little note to everyone. to say that Hazel feels that it’s time for her to step aside from the work, partly because there has been an allegation brought against her. from many years ago, so in this time of stress, it seems that, this is the best decision to make. We’re very sorry that she has had to come to this decision, but we do agree that it’s probably the best choice for her right now.

Your brother, Carson


WINGS Note: Issued by oveseer Carson Wallace.

Hazel has been assigned to various fields in Ontario, Canada since 1970s.


Note: Carson subsequently advised that the allegation was not CSA. See Carson Wallace – additional information re Hazel Williams

Harold Hilton / Scott Boswell field update #2

From: Harold Hilton
Date: September 29, 2023
To: [Redacted]
Cc: Scott Boswell

Subject: CSA procedure update

Dear friends and workers in CA, AZ, W. NV, HI, and Guam,

We feel it best to send out some updated information on our current CSA procedure.

Many have been working diligently these past months to investigate CSA concerns and allegations within the fellowship in our region. All of these incidents are tragic and we grieve for the pain and sorrow they have caused all of us, most especially those who are survivors of abuse.

We want to do all we can to be a help to the survivors. All allegations brought to us are taken very seriously.

All current allegations have been reported to the authorities.

 We also want you to know that some of our friends have offered financial assistance for any survivors of CSA who need help in covering counseling costs. Please feel free to reach out to any of the workers on our staff if you need help with this.

It has been arranged that individuals who have a record of any CSA offenses are meeting only with those who know there have been offenses and volunteer to meet with them.  They have been asked to not attend public meetings like gospel meetings, special meetings and conventions.

Thanks for all your help and prayers during these difficult days.

The California Staff