FL- Evangelical mission staffer arrested
An overseas missionary from the Sanford FL-based New Tribes Mission (NTM) has been arrested on child porn and child sex abuse charges. Now, it’s crucial that NTM uses its vast resources to reach out to others who may have seen, suspected or suffered his crimes.
Given NTM’s disturbing track record on children’s safety, church officials must take aggressive steps to help law enforcement convict Warren Scott Kennell.
If they do little or nothing, it will be clear that little or nothing in this troubling organization is changing.
NTM claims 3,300 “missionaries” across the globe, making it the second largest Christian missionary organization in the world. (http://www.ntm.org/)
In the 1980s and 1990s, at a Christian boarding school in Senegal, “child abuse was widespread and routine” and “much of this behavior was criminal.” These are among the stunning conclusions found in a hard-hitting, 68 page investigative report about NTM released 2.5 years ago.
The report, prompted by increasing complaints from victims, was compiled over the course of a year by a five-person team. It identifies, by name, 20 wrongdoers, both those who committed and/or ignored and concealed abuse. The document contains multiple recommendations for action, including the creation of a “perpetual” $1 million fund for victims. It also urges that 8eight “negligent” staff be forced to donate 10% of their salary to the fund and that 17 staff be “terminated from membership.” (At least one offender still works for NTM now in its Florida headquarters.)
A copy of the report is available on a website run by victims: http://fandaeagles.com/2010/08/grace-final-report-on-ntm-fanda/ OR at http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2010_08_28_GRACE_Fanda_Report.pdf
The disclosures are similar to ones that erupted in the 1990s involving abuse at an evangelical boarding school in West Africa called the Mamou Academy which was run by a Colorado Springs-based group called the Christian and Missionary Alliance. A 2009 documentary film called “All God’s Children” brought renewed attention to the scandal.
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2010/09_10/2010_09_02_Edwards_SanfordsNew.htm
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director