For those of you who hate NTM I suggest you read the good message from dear borther Larry Brown which I have pasted below and it was an encouragement to me expecailly the Bible lesson from Naaman. I feel so sorry for these men that there earlier statement stirred up so much dialogue that is the last thing they need is dialouge just leave them alone and let them come to their own concrete decisions why do you want to make assumptions when they have already said they are very very sorry and have repented and are undressing the whole misson to get to the bottoms of these things they just dont' know how yet but they are working on it. You have made your point now just bacdk off and let the Lord work thorough there lives to bring soles to heaven and glory not hell.
They have already taken appropriate actoin on most of the things that GRACE told them to do even though GRACE is not perfect they are not God and they make mistakes too you dont' see them taking off their clothes of there misson to expose themselves to the whole world do you?
If you want to look down on people who cant' type good and who dont' have time to fittle around with speel checker go ahead it doesnt' mean I'm worng just because I'm not polished God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and just wear the hat that fits you are not God eihter those of you that hate NTM and want us to believe you not them God raised them up not you.
Rember that it was God who showed NTM all those things back in the 1990s not GRACE and not a bunch of MKs who are not thankful for the many oportunitys they had to be raised away from there parents and with other kids why did they think they could get away with sneakng around and kissing each other do two wrongs make a right? How can these MKs feel like they were not valued when the dorm farter cared enough to punish them for kissing what do you want just to do whatever comes to mind and who cares that is of the devil and you know it.
I am happy that Larry Brown who is also the CEO of NTM USA took the time to bare his heart and share about what all they are diong and remind us all of the good things that they have done and the good Bible story from Namaan I was touched. Sin is so horrible and it has effected everyone not just the MKs but also the parents and even NTM they are victims too so how about a little love for them and not just eveyone who hates NTM has a big time complaining and beating up on them how do we even know you are all telling the truth?
Now you can read the good message form Larry Brown and please be sure to write and think him for all he has done and remind him to get on with the work of overseeing the missionarys he is there sheepherd and they need his help if soles are to be saved preach it borther!
CRITICAL DECISION REGARDING FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS
October 12, 2010
by Larry Brown, NTM USA chairman, for the Executive Board
This week, October 12-14, the Executive Board has its normally scheduled Board meetings. We will seek to make some critical decisions and we covet your prayers.
One of those critical decisions is how to handle future abuse investigations. In our last NTM eNews we made a general statement about this to let you know that we are talking about what NTM USA policies will be. Unfortunately, this stirred up a lot of dialogue which led to many false assumptions about NTM doing in-house investigations, controlling the process etc.
We want you to know that we have not concluded on a specific approach yet. We have no desire to do in-house investigations, nor do we plan to control them. Thirteen months ago, we contracted GRACE to investigate the Fanda abuse. Now we are evaluating where to go from here. The Executive Board will be processing this decision and others during this week's board meetings.
The Executive Board wishes to express again that we are committed to address any abuse allegation that is brought to our attention. All will be investigated and the appropriate action will be taken. It's painful to see this ugliness come out, seemingly all at once, but it's a journey that we are committed to walk through with integrity.
Many of you remember the mid 90s when missionaries began expressing how the paternalistic, at times autocratic, legalistic style of leadership within NTM affected them as students and as new missionaries in their ministries. Through that feedback many changes were made; the EC sent out a letter of apology for the culture that this leadership fostered, and many transitions began to take place.
Today we are hearing from those who experienced autocratic, legalistic leadership as children. They are letting us know what it felt like and how it affected them. Tragically, some were abused and had no clear way to defend themselves. Some children felt that they were less valued than the ministry. Others felt that whoever couldn't fit into a tribal work was relegated to a ministry at a school. Some feared that they would be responsible for souls lost if they revealed abuse and thus hindered ministry. These are griefs children should not have to bear and they leave lasting effects.
In some ways, this is a continuation of the feedback from the mid 90s that precipitated the change in NTM that began in 1996. Many of these children, now adults, fear that the NTM of their childhood is the NTM of today. It is not. Many of us have been working hard over the past 15 years to make sure that the changes initiated in 1996 would be on-going and far-reaching.
The crucial question we need to ask ourselves is "How are we doing with those things that God showed us back then?"
* How much are we aligned to functioning in grace as we interact? Have we reached a plateau or are we still receptive to allowing God to grow us deeper in understanding a walk of grace?
* What about child protection? A growing momentum in this area started back in 1996 when policies were established that have helped safeguard our children. Is there more we should be doing?
* What about leadership? Are we leading in grace with respect and appreciation of each team member?
Many of you have expressed that reading about the abuse that took place in NTM is heartbreaking and you feel ashamed. There are more allegations coming out. When are we going to get to the bottom of it?
I encourage you to study the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. Naaman had leprosy which is sometimes used in Scripture as a picture of sin. Naaman went to Elisha expecting that during the healing of his leprosy he would be treated with the honor befitting a man of his importance.
He was offended and angry that Elisha didn't even come out to see him but rather sent his servant with instructions for Namaan to wash in the dirty Jordan River seven times. Naaman's angry reaction exposed the pride of his heart. Eventually he went to the river to wash.
Here's the point. In order to wash in the river, there was a need for Naaman to take off his clothes, exposing his leprosy just as sin needs to be exposed so that it can be cleansed. Naaman preferred that Elisha just wave over the place where the leprosy was and have it be healed.
I've asked myself, if God wanted to expose sin in NTM, how would we expect Him to do that? Would He do that in a manner that would make us feel warm and fuzzy? Would He do that in private, concealed from those we're accountable to? Dealing with sin is a heart wrenching, vulnerable and painful experience that demands humility on our part. We certainly feel that today. We're feeling the results of sin that has had such an impact on these former students, on their families and on us.
Here's the encouragement: after Naaman submitted himself to the process of exposure and cleansing. God healed him.
My challenge to you is this: let's keep ourselves in a position where God can complete His work. It's going to take courage, understanding and a commitment to stay the course. God will discipline and teach us in love. Let's not miss those imperative lessons.
October 12, 2010
by Larry Brown, NTM USA chairman, for the Executive Board
This week, October 12-14, the Executive Board has its normally scheduled Board meetings. We will seek to make some critical decisions and we covet your prayers.
One of those critical decisions is how to handle future abuse investigations. In our last NTM eNews we made a general statement about this to let you know that we are talking about what NTM USA policies will be. Unfortunately, this stirred up a lot of dialogue which led to many false assumptions about NTM doing in-house investigations, controlling the process etc.
We want you to know that we have not concluded on a specific approach yet. We have no desire to do in-house investigations, nor do we plan to control them. Thirteen months ago, we contracted GRACE to investigate the Fanda abuse. Now we are evaluating where to go from here. The Executive Board will be processing this decision and others during this week's board meetings.
The Executive Board wishes to express again that we are committed to address any abuse allegation that is brought to our attention. All will be investigated and the appropriate action will be taken. It's painful to see this ugliness come out, seemingly all at once, but it's a journey that we are committed to walk through with integrity.
Many of you remember the mid 90s when missionaries began expressing how the paternalistic, at times autocratic, legalistic style of leadership within NTM affected them as students and as new missionaries in their ministries. Through that feedback many changes were made; the EC sent out a letter of apology for the culture that this leadership fostered, and many transitions began to take place.
Today we are hearing from those who experienced autocratic, legalistic leadership as children. They are letting us know what it felt like and how it affected them. Tragically, some were abused and had no clear way to defend themselves. Some children felt that they were less valued than the ministry. Others felt that whoever couldn't fit into a tribal work was relegated to a ministry at a school. Some feared that they would be responsible for souls lost if they revealed abuse and thus hindered ministry. These are griefs children should not have to bear and they leave lasting effects.
In some ways, this is a continuation of the feedback from the mid 90s that precipitated the change in NTM that began in 1996. Many of these children, now adults, fear that the NTM of their childhood is the NTM of today. It is not. Many of us have been working hard over the past 15 years to make sure that the changes initiated in 1996 would be on-going and far-reaching.
The crucial question we need to ask ourselves is "How are we doing with those things that God showed us back then?"
* How much are we aligned to functioning in grace as we interact? Have we reached a plateau or are we still receptive to allowing God to grow us deeper in understanding a walk of grace?
* What about child protection? A growing momentum in this area started back in 1996 when policies were established that have helped safeguard our children. Is there more we should be doing?
* What about leadership? Are we leading in grace with respect and appreciation of each team member?
Many of you have expressed that reading about the abuse that took place in NTM is heartbreaking and you feel ashamed. There are more allegations coming out. When are we going to get to the bottom of it?
I encourage you to study the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. Naaman had leprosy which is sometimes used in Scripture as a picture of sin. Naaman went to Elisha expecting that during the healing of his leprosy he would be treated with the honor befitting a man of his importance.
He was offended and angry that Elisha didn't even come out to see him but rather sent his servant with instructions for Namaan to wash in the dirty Jordan River seven times. Naaman's angry reaction exposed the pride of his heart. Eventually he went to the river to wash.
Here's the point. In order to wash in the river, there was a need for Naaman to take off his clothes, exposing his leprosy just as sin needs to be exposed so that it can be cleansed. Naaman preferred that Elisha just wave over the place where the leprosy was and have it be healed.
I've asked myself, if God wanted to expose sin in NTM, how would we expect Him to do that? Would He do that in a manner that would make us feel warm and fuzzy? Would He do that in private, concealed from those we're accountable to? Dealing with sin is a heart wrenching, vulnerable and painful experience that demands humility on our part. We certainly feel that today. We're feeling the results of sin that has had such an impact on these former students, on their families and on us.
Here's the encouragement: after Naaman submitted himself to the process of exposure and cleansing. God healed him.
My challenge to you is this: let's keep ourselves in a position where God can complete His work. It's going to take courage, understanding and a commitment to stay the course. God will discipline and teach us in love. Let's not miss those imperative lessons.
No comments:
Post a Comment