Tag: child sexual abuse

Sent May 4, 2023

Dear Staff,

Please share this email and attachments with the elders in your field and have them share them with those in their meeting.

Your brothers,

Darryl, Wayne, Brian

Dear friends in WA/N ID/AK,

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, there was a man who was left wounded, robbed, exposed and half dead. As events continue to unfold, there are many feelings of anger, sadness, fear, and these feelings can be overwhelming and disorienting, which is a difficult place to be in. When the wounded man was at his lowest point, another man reached out to help, and immediately the healing and hope the wounded man needed so desperately began to take shape … but it still took time and nurturing. The grief we are feeling and the wounds we are nursing these days, need more than time and courage to heal. We especially need to feel the unconditional love of God. 1know God is expressing His love to us in many ways. In addition to that, 1am aware of many other hearts working in unison with His Heart. I’m so thankful for all of your prayers, support, visits, etc. that have been like a collective hand of love reaching out to me and so many others. I would also like to be part of this ‘collective hand’ that is reaching out to you. Unfortunately, because of the volume of information I am receiving, right now, I can’t answer everyone individually. If you would like to receive brief newsletters that will keep you updated on happenings as we traverse these stormy times, please send an email to: [redacted] and simply type ‘YES’.  

In a previous email I said we would set up a website to provide more information about CSA, but we encountered some complications, so I will send our documents directly to you by attaching them to this email. They are the combined effort of doctors, victim advocates, therapists, psychologists, sister workers, brother workers and laymen. We recognize that these topics are way too large to summarize in a few documents, but our aim was to compile information that can be helpful and educational without being too overwhelming. As an investment in everyone’s safety, I urge you to take the time to read these documents carefully.

Our convention season will soon arrive and for many it won’t be an easy time. Some of us are looking forward to being together again and feel it’s exactly what will help. There are others who are more reluctant for several reasons. I hope you will feel free to attend or to stay home. I understand your feelings and support your decision, either way. As in years past, you will have the option to listen to the convention meetings by phone.

My coworkers, Wayne & Brian, join me in sending their greetings and care.

With care and thanks,  

Darryl

WINGS is aware of numerous highly credible allegations of child sexual abuse (CSA), and adult relationships including sexual abuse, by workers and members, together with worker actions to hide cases and avoid publicity. Due to legal issues, WINGS only posts reports of allegations and convictions that are available on public records.

For over a decade WINGS has been advocating for change to address Child Sexual Abuse within the fellowship. WINGS website records numerous convicted workers and friends, but is missing others due to lack of confirmed details.

The timeline below shows some of the major actions over the last ten years. It shows that there has been public awareness of the problem of child sexual abuse within the fellowship for many years, but, despite this knowledge

• There has been no unified standard position or approach to preventing and addressing CSA or supporting those impacted whilst within the fellowship;
• Overall response has been limited, with some areas implementing awareness and prevention training 10-15 years ago and others yet to do so;
• Areas that have introduced written policies, worker codes of conduct, and training are not transparent about compliance or breaches that are occurring;
• Despite some training and awareness, there have been ongoing efforts to hide and obscure details;
• There is no transparency about the management strategy to keep children safe where there are open allegations or convicted perpetrators;
• Support of survivors, and believing those speaking up, remains adhoc with victims not always being believed with some even being shut down and treated as mentally unstable;
• There is no indication that the issues surfacing in USA and Canada and also reported in UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Latin America are being communicated to and managed properly in all other countries;
• Workers continue to be moved between areas and countries without transparency about any allegations or behaviour concerns.

The 2023 notification that Dean Bruer, a previously revered worker and overseer, was a sexual predator and had spent a considerable amount of time and money in motels, unleashed a storm of reports on social media of other cases of abuse:

• So far 6 workers / overseers have been removed or stepped aside
• More than 250 cases of abuse have been lodged with a small team who are supporting victims and seeking to prevent further abuse – see https://www.advocatesforthetruth.com/

It is apparent that the global fellowship does not have adequate or consistent standards for dealing with child sexual abuse, or for inappropriate worker adult relationships. Despite being considered a unified worldwide fellowship, it is in fact managed as a series of local groups run by overseers who meet to achieve some alignment but are not fully consistent, neither as regards CSA, doctrine or acceptable practices.

Note: The table above is only some of the key events over the last ten years. There are also other important letters, convictions, charges, etc not listed.

See orginal letter at https://wingsfortruth.info/2023/04/26/letter-from-friends-to-overseer-merlin-affleck-and-vancouver-workers/

Hello Jeremy and Leonie,

Considering history is important when coming to conclusions about the elephant in the room. I was in neighbouring provinces for 34 years before coming here to BC six years ago. Yes BC has had the reputation of being a graveyard for sister workers for decades. I could give you a list of 16 names or more that have not made it in the last decade or so. Since coming here I did learn that some did not have the health to continue and that is understandable.

But several left wounded. I have had the opportunity now to personally visit with several of them and heard from them first hand about their experiences and I would encourage you to do the same. I would rather have you listen to those details first hand from these sisters themselves and I will be happy to supply you with their names and contact information if they agree. Most of them have been gracious (including auntie Betty) and silently suffered.

You also might want to visit with some who are more comfortable labouring in other provinces where they feel appreciated and safe. I can supply their contact information too if they agree and you can hear it first hand from them whether the pressure they felt here comes from the brother’s side or the sister’s or both.

Another good resource would be to visit with the convention owners. You have their contact information so you can speak with them and learn about their observations during preps.

You might check with one who came here from another province in recent times and health broke after 1.5 years. She returned home and heads up a field and does fine. These are gracious people who do not want to cause trouble but they may answer a ‘yes or no’ regarding where the uncomfortable spirit they felt came from ….the brothers or sisters or from both.

I would be able to supply you with the contact information for the mother of a young sister that came from another province and it would be good for you to hear it from her regarding the change that she witnessed in her dear daughter after coming here.

I wish you could have been in the car last week as could have been in the car last week as Judy, Connie and I traveled over the Coquihalla together and had a serious brotherly / sisterly visit. It was lovely. We were coming back from a meeting in Kelowna where concerned parents and elders met to discuss and ask direct questions about CSA and other issues like you have mentioned in this email. The meeting lasted from 7 – 11:30pm and a good spirit prevailed and I believe all would agree that it was productive and good points were agreed on for moving forward.

There is a place for face to face visits. We have an elders meeting scheduled for next week and we will be having more throughout the province in the near future too. I think you will remember how I spoke to the province via Zoom a few years ago opening up the subject of CSA. Since then I have worked with sisters and brothers regarding CSA courses and Workers code of conduct and Child safe policy documents. Recently I asked Cindy-Lynn to research and send out a 90 minute CSA course and other hotline information to our elders and parents.

All this has been a learning curve for me and I am not here to say that I have done everything right, but I can also say that I hate these issues along with you and pledge to be open to better ways moving forward. I also want to remind you about the old saying …..’there are many sides to a story’ and I want to encourage you to do lots of first hand listening and learning from many sides about the history before coming to definite conclusions.

I’ve appreciated Nehemiah lately. The Kingdom was in disrepair. He observed, wept & prayed (including himself when the Kingdom suffered loss) while the enemy ridiculed. Then he inspired the people to unite and rebuild one stone at a time. They did and in 52 days the walls were rebuilt and strong again. The precious things of God (including children) could be safe again. Then they rejoiced …..and we can tool!

Sincerely, Merlin 

The only credible information I had on Kingsley at the time we took him away and before he spoke and until last night, was that five sister workers at Mountain Ranch felt extremely uncomfortable with him. About the time we took him away I was made aware by one of the five sisters that she heard from a source that could be questionable that he had been turned into a hotline.

I googled his name at that time and nothing came up. We told his overseers in South Africa what we had done and they were in absolute disbelief. When we older brothers heard last night what Kingsley said to the 15 year old girl after the Sunday morning [meeting] we were absolutely shocked.

We are doing everything in our power to get him out of the country as soon as possible. That involves interception of his passport from the Canadian embassy. We will put him on a plane as fast as we can. He is awaiting his passport in the LA area and in a home of a single man who knows what we knew before 8:00 last night. I will update our man asap.

Kingsley will NOT BE IN ANY MORE MEETINGS between now and plane time.

With great sadness, and deep apologies.

Your brother, Rob

WINGS Note:

Kingsley Stone is a South African worker who had been listed as a speaker at the Mountain Ranch #1, CA 2023 convention.

After Kingsley Stone was removed from Mountain Ranch convention last week, Jonathan Wright took him to Sunday morning meeting in the local field, and the people he met with were not notified why he was meeting with them and not at convention.

Kingsley openly “admired” the 15 year old granddaughter of the man whose home he was in on Sunday.

Jonathan Wright said Kingsley wasn’t at convention because of Passport issues. And then he took him to stay at an elder’s home who has six granddaughters.

Dear fellow workers, elders, and friends,

Our prayers are that God will help us make the right decisions as we go forward. We realize that his hand is active. This gives us hope. We are looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming conventions.

We are saddened that it has become necessary for us to ask John VanDenBerg to step aside from the ministry. Recently we have received several credible allegations of unacceptable sexual behavior, including a complaint of inappropriate touching of a minor, which has been reported to the authorities. We want to make sure that all victims and their families feel free to come forward so we can support them in every way possible — they will not be blamed. and their identities will be kept confidential. We also want to confirm again, that sexual abuse in the ministry and the betrayal of trust it represents, will not be tolerated.

These things bring sorrow and concern to our heart, and we think especially of those who are victims. In recent times, when more of these kinds of errors have been brought to light and dealt with, we are left with the feeling that God has brought about a special season of cleansing. and change going forward. In our grief, we are comforted to know that His hand is working a greater work for the good of everyone involved. Once again, we are reminded His name is a holy name, not to be profaned, and this causes us all to deeply search our own heart.

2 Timothy 2:19 ‘Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” We are thankful for the perfect foundation in Jesus. and the comfort of knowing our Father is working in these events and that He is well able to help, heal. and preserve every soul who comes to Him with a humble, contrite heart.

Thanks for your support and input. Elders, please communicate this letter to each family or individual in your meeting soon, in an appropriate way.

Your brother, Rob