News

WINGS Note: This note was issued after a workers meeting was held at Hunter ND on Friday May 19th with visiting Lyle Schober. No saints were involved and that appears to be specifically justified by the quoted scripture instead of choosing transparency.  The attachments mentioned below were not provided.

From: Perry Pearson [email redacted]
Date: Sat, May 20, 2023 at 8:36 PM
Subject: Yesterday’s gathering, Hermosa preps, summer privileges
To: Perry Pearson [email redacted]
Cc: Paul Haakenson [email redacted]

Our dear friends in the Dakotas,

The Dakota workers gathered yesterday for an encouraging workers meeting in the morning.  An informal meeting followed with open discussion relating to present topics of CSA/SA, reporting these crimes, further education, and guidelines for convicted offenders were addressed.  A letter regarding these matters is forthcoming that the sisters & brothers on our staff are composing.  We recognize they have travel today and have meeting responsibilities tomorrow.

We are attaching the Hermosa prep dates with the convention helpers we are expecting.  Teenagers have spent time at Hermosa preps in years past.  This year, we ask that parents/guardians accompany their minor children coming for work days or a day during the week.   If they spend the night on the grounds during preps, please notify the prep crew & plan to remain with them.

We have also attached the upcoming summer privileges for the Dakota staff.

Some in recent times have asked what workers meetings are.  Workers’ meetings are very much like a Sunday morning fellowship meeting, where we seek to edify, exhort, and comfort one another.  John 13-16 seems a fitting passage as Jesus spent the last night of His young life with His apostles pouring out to them.  Later the apostles wrote of this meeting.  A workers meeting of Paul, Peter & James happened in Jerusalem – later Paul wrote of that in Galatians 1.  Later we read of the apostles assembling in Jerusalem to understand the matter of the Jewish law being imposed upon the Gentiles – this one was about doctrine.  They evidently spoke one by one.  Those that it would have affected the most – the Gentile saints, amazingly, were not invited. This was detailed and the letter was delivered to the Gentiles, causing one of the instances in the New Testament of great joy.

In reflecting on things we heard yesterday morning, the word purity stands out.  The church is worthy of a pure ministry, and is crying out for it.  Words that stand out from yesterday: consolation, comfort, bowels & mercies, reconciled, commitment, take heed, be still, peace, a sweet smelling savor, walk in love, Eph 5:9 is the light we’ve been called into, gold, white raiment, and eye salve.  These are all so pure.  The church is worthy of these virtues.  We heard of Ps 46 twice, though not this verse: There is a river, whose streams make glad the city of God – obviously flowing contrary to nature, as the river that proceeded from the Throne of God, and flowed, dividing into little streams to each believer – and above all, it was pure water that gave eternal life.  The church is worthy of this.

With appreciation for each, 
Your brothers, Paul & Perry

To our Friends in the Texas/New Mexico Fields, 

As communicated previously, the Texas/New Mexico staff came together on May 11-13, 2023 for the specific purpose to raise our awareness of SA/CSA and the danger it presents, to equip ourselves with appropriate practices that prevent and/or address problems when they arise, and, above all, to reinforce a professional standard of behavior that reflects the testimony of our Lord and Savior. The workshop was conducted by several of our friends and each presented on a topic within the scope of their professional expertise. Even though we are not a formal organization their expertise is applicable to our fellowship.  The topics covered were:

• Sexual Abuse and Child Sexual Abuse (SA/CSA)
  • Laws and regulations requiring reporting of SA/CSA
  • Agencies authorized and mandated to investigate reports of SA/CSA
  • Psychological and physiological responses to, and impacts from, SA/CSA
  • Recognizing Red Flags Behaviors associated with sexual predators
  • Education regarding the signs of victims of abuse and trauma
  • Awareness of National and State resources available for education, reporting, and treatment
• Professionalism: Boundaries and Standards of Conduct
  • Types of boundaries including: physical, personal, emotional, sexual, time, and monetary
  • Considerations for managing conflicts and building stronger communications within organizations
  • Consideration of dynamics of power and communication including: abuse of power, how to respond/report, and best practices for preventing and/or mitigating impacts within organizations
  • Consideration of cultural differences/boundaries including social, gender, societal, geographical and generational
• Technology: Smartphones/Social Media – Balance and Boundaries
  • Productivity with technology
  • Becoming aware of the “distraction to destruction” threat of technology
• Leadership Versus Management: Understanding the Difference

The workshop process provided valuable information that has, and will continue to, provide great benefit to us. The information presented and the related discussions in all the topic areas will prove extremely beneficial in assisting us as we strive to serve.  The workshop resulted in better informed and educated participants on many topics, but especially those related to CSA/SA awareness, prevention, and response. The workers agreed that the outcome of the workshop was not only educational but also allowed for identification of best practices for the ministry. Our discussions also resulted in the intentional empowerment of all workers, young and old, male and female, to have open lines of communication and self-advocacy.  We all agreed that there was clear evidence of the presence and leading of the Spirit throughout our workshop.

As a result of the workshop, the plan of the TX/NM Staff is to implement the following actions:

1. Develop and share a policy on identification and response to CSA/SA – in review
2. Develop and share procedures for identification of Red Flag Behaviors and how they are reported to a 3rd party professional organization for investigation – in development
3. Finalize the agreed upon internal guidelines for conduct for TX/NM Staff

We acknowledge that some of these goals will take time to complete. We are dedicated to timely establishment of guidelines/policies for effective implementation of best practices in these areas. To honor our purpose, we acknowledge that this process is an ongoing effort which must allow for continuous updating and improvement. 

We are including some SA/CSA resources for your information. We encourage you to review the information we have included. The raising of awareness enables the safest environment possible. When we know better, we can do better.

The workshop was a highly informative and deeply emotional process. Each day taxed our mental and emotional limits. We understand that a three-day seminar will not allow us to resolve all the issues facing us, but we feel assured that we are pointed in the right direction. We have already seen, even in these three days, that all workers felt the freedom to engage in open dialogue. A few of the thoughts that were shared during our days together: 

• “This is something I wish we could have done years ago.”
• “I really wish that we would have had this when I started in the work.”
• “I am glad to see the transition here into everyone being able to express themselves.”
• “It is clear that God is refining his ministry.”
• “This has been the icing on the cake of all my days in the ministry.”

After our days together, we are comforted and assured again by what Paul wrote to Timothy, Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his (II Tim. 2:19). 

Sincerely,

The Texas/New Mexico Staff

WINGS Note: These comments were circulated in a newsletter to WA N ID AK friends.

WINGS notes some important comments:

• The difficulties we are facing are more serious and far-reaching than I could have ever imagined.
• One important resource has been the friends who have engaged us in point-blank, constructive dialogue.
• All of us want change now.

A few weeks ago. I was in a remote village in Asia when I received the first email regarding allegations against Mark. Immediately I was torn. Do I stay or do I volunteer to return? When I prayed about it, the answer was very clear: I needed to offer to return, at least temporarily. Since that time, Wayne, Brian and I have been working as a team. A new overseer for WA, N ID & AK hasn’t been chosen yet.

Since coming home, most of my time has been spent in conversations where workers and friends have been pouring out their hearts. The difficulties we are facing are more serious and far-reaching than I could have ever imagined. I’m simultaneously trying to understand the problem and envision a solution. One important resource has been the friends who have engaged us in point-blank, constructive dialogue. Some solutions are especially elusive. For instance, what is the best way for us to report a concern if we witness inappropriate behavior? Of course, if we are aware of child abuse, we immediately call a hotline or police, but what about other things? We are spending a lot of time and thought on this matter.

Usually when we have a crisis, it only involves a few people — maybe a person, a family, a church, or a field. This crisis involves all of us. Everyone needs help at the same time. Many people are envisioning a different solution at the same time. All of us want change now. That’s one thing that makes our present distress so overwhelming.

One of the workers recently asked the friends in her field, “What do you need from us?” One of the replies was, “We need to see the fruit of the Spirit.” I don’t have the answers for some things, I don’t have the strength for some things, I don’t have the ability’ for some things, but I can have the fruit of the Spirit in every situation. The fruit of the Spirit is a benefit to everyone at the same time, both to us and to everyone around us. “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance’ (Gal 5:22-23).

Thanks for welcoming me home and holding me accountable. I pray desperately that I will be true to the responsibility I am given in the challenges and opportunities that are ahead of us. – Darryl Doland