Sick Puppy: Jack Schaap

Posted on March 14, 2013 by chucklestravels

The Chicago Post Tribune reports.

Preacher: Sex with 17-year-old was Lord’s work

BY Teresa Auch Schultz tauch@post-trib.com

Former First Baptist Church of Hammond pastor Jack Schaap’s affair with a 17-year-old girl last summer not only wasn’t wrong but was desired by Jesus Christ.

That’s what he claimed in one of several letters he wrote to the victim during his crime, couching the sexual relationship as part of her personal salvation and something Jesus Christ wanted.

“In our ‘fantasy talk,’ you have affectionately spoken of being ‘my wife,’ ” Schaap wrote in one letter. “That is exactly what Christ desires for us. He wants to marry us + become eternal lovers!”

Federal prosecutors included the letters in the government’s sentencing memorandum for Schaap, which was filed Wednesday evening in U.S. District Court in Hammond.

Schaap has pleaded guilty to causing the girl to be transported to Illinois and Michigan last year for a sexual relationship. Schaap resigned from the megachurch, one of the largest in the country, last summer after church members discovered his relationship with the girl and reported it to local law enforcement.

In his letters to the girl, Schaap often discusses how he helped save her from self-destruction, helping to put her on a “better path of living — that’s what we call Righteousness.”

In another letter, he talks about how he wanted their time together for three days — which appears to reference their time in Michigan — to show her how much she matters to Jesus Christ.

The girl and her family are still dealing with the ramifications of the relationship, according to letters they wrote to the court.

The girl wrote about how she spent her entire life in the church, listening to Schaap preach three times a week and being taught that he was a messenger of God.

“He told me to confide in him, to trust him, and he made me feel safe and comfortable around him as a man of God,” she wrote. “(Schaap) preyed on that trust and my vulnerability.”

In another letter written to Schaap, she says she was shocked when he first kissed her. When she asked if it was wrong, Schaap told her it was OK.

“You told me that I was sent to you from God, I was his gift to you,” the letter says.

She admits that by the time they were discovered, she thought she was in love with him and at first didn’t admit he had victimized her.

Now she’s had to transfer schools, and her family was told it wasn’t safe for them to return to the church, according to letters from her parents. The girl writes that although she still struggles every day, she is determined to “get through this and grow from it.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Koster says in the sentencing memorandum that Schaap started grooming the victim in April 2012, after an administrator at the girl’s high school, run by the church, emailed Schaap about how she was “frightened, confused and emotionally traumatized” and in need of guidance.

The administrator wrote that he told the girl to let other people guide her life for now and to trust her leaders.

Schaap encouraged her to talk to him about a past romantic relationships and to view him as a friend. The two called and texted each other frequently, including 662 times in the month, before he was discovered. Phone records show he instigated contact in all but five of those days.

The government’s filing says he duped church employees into helping transport the girl across state lines, telling them the girl was “in an extremely vulnerable state” and that he needed prolonged alone time with her to help her.

However, he really took her to his personal property in Crete, Ill., and to his cabin in Cadillac, Mich., once spending 36 hours alone with her. When the employee grew concerned about the girl’s continued absence and texted Schaap, he claimed the girl had fallen asleep on his couch.

He also engaged in sexual behavior with her in his office at the church during a youth conference, according to the government’s filing.

Schaap later lied to his staff when they grew concerned about the amount of time he spent with the girl by claiming the girl was on her period and was just resting on his couch. A staff member found photos of the two a few days later, which led to the federal investigation.

Koster disputes claims in Schaap’s own sentencing memorandum that he was stressed from the church’s decreasing finances and having to work 100 hours a week to make up for fewer staff members.

“The only way (Schaap) could have been working 100-hour weeks during the time period investigated by the government is if he’s counting the many hours he dedicated to grooming and sexually abusing the victim,” Koster says in the filing.

She defends the government’s agreement to recommend a 10-year sentence for Schaap, noting he agreed to plead guilty even before he was charged.

The victim dropped her request for restitution as her doctors still cannot estimate how much help she will need to recover from the crime. Defendants convicted in such crimes are legally required to pay their victims’ medical fees through restitution.

Schapp is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday morning.

Public Announcement: Support Fairhaven Survivors

Posted on September 15, 2012 by chucklestravels

‎***** PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT *****

Ladies and Gentlemen:

One year ago on September 22, 2011, Anderson Cooper’s 360 Program Ungodly Discipline Series focused on Fairhaven Church Academy in Chesterton, IN.

During the interview, 10 former students described disciplinary techniques that went beyond acceptable classroom corporeal punishment, including a young man who described a water torture incident on a teen trip outside the country and Dr. Voegtlin’s adopted son’s account of being forced to wear a dress.

After the special aired, the community rallied in protesting the church for several weeks and putting pressure on the school while showing support for those abused by their methods of child correction.

Additionally, the delegates to the 70th Annual Convention of the American Council of Christian Churches, meeting October 18-20, 2011 at the Bible Evangelical Methodist Church of Lancaster, PA, passed a resolution which resolved “that any guilty of the aforementioned sins be rebuked, that they be called upon to repent, to repudiate these practices, and, where criminal offenses have occurred, to submit to civil authorities in order to pay their debt to society. And be it further resolved that we call upon Bible-believing churches everywhere to raise their voices in condemnation of these atrocities.”

Now that the Porter County Sheriff has opened an investigation and begun investigating the claims of victims who have come forward, we would like to ask the community to help us support these brave souls on the anniversary of the original report.

FAIRHAVEN PROTEST
Sunday 8:30AM
September 23, 2012

SPREAD THE WORD!! Bring signs, sweatshirts friends and a loud voice to unite with the voices attempting to bring restoration and justice to the Chesterton community.

Thank you again to all who have worked tirelessly on our behalf whether in law enforcement, politics, or as community organizers. We appreciate you, your help and support.

Fairhaven sign shows love

Unto the Least of These~Part Four

Posted on September 15, 2012 by chucklestravels

“Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

We are continuing our series Unto the Least of These.

Today we’re posting, with her permission, Kim Holt’s account of her first day at New Bethany Girls Home in Arcadia, Louisiana. The following is posted, as it was written in Kim’s own words.

My First Day at New BethanyBy Kim Holt

When we pulled up to the gate it was opened and my mother and her 3rd husband got of the car. I really don’t remember the walk in the door. The next thing I remember I was taken to the bathroom to change into this uniform . That is when I realized my mother tricking me to get measurements at some ladies house. The girl that was with me was taller than me. Her name was Cindy. I was taking stuff out of my wallet when I realized I had a letter from Johnny telling about being a divorced kid was so terrible that he felt so alone. I started to rip it into smaller pieces when this girl says you can’t put stuff in the toilet and she picked it all out piece by piece. I got the uniform on. My mother had left while I was in the bathroom, not even a goodbye. I was taken over to get lunch. I was shown how to get my tray and then I heard someone say I know that chick I know that Chick. It was that tall girl Laura from the detention center. She was hushed up cause if the staff knew we would not be able to talk. At that very moment I now knew where she got sent to. The pill I had taken just before I got there was still working as I wasn’t scared yet. They didn’t make me eat. I remember being taken back to the home when I saw a girl named Robin walking towards me. She said things will get better. I just looked at her like she knew what I was thinking. Well, I went in the front door and took a right at the center and was lead to where I would sleep. I was faced with bunk beds and at the foot of the bed was that trunk I picked out for my mothers honeymoon. I knelt down and opened the locks. I lifted the lid and there were two sheets of paper. It was what my mother had now reduced me to and in her handwriting. I was crushed. I knew she was gone so I wasn’t sticking around. I stood up and walked right out the front door. There was a girl sitting at the front door and I went right past her. The next thing I know I was surrounded my about four or five girls. The tall girl grabbed me from behind and I threw her off. They immediately stopped and all looked at me. I was terrified, but I wasn’t going to show it. All at once they all rushed me and knocked my head against the cement block wall. I have a hard time dealing with what happened next. I was put on the couch just inside the front door. I was being pushed down and then made to stand. I was crying about as hard as anyone could cry. Crying hard would be putting it lightly. They were completely surrounding me. They told me if I didn’t cooperate that they would do things to me and I didn’t really want to find out. Then they took me and carried me down the hallway and back to the room . I was still yelling and kicking. There was a girl getting something out of the closet. Her name was Charlene. She had to get in the closet because there was no passing room. I was brought into the room and laid flat on the floor. I went to get back up and they all jumped on me again. This woman with long white hair, Ms. Shipman started “Praying the Devil out of Me.” I started yelling, “Oh My God where did she send me to.” I was crying so hard that I couldn’t see the girls face that was sitting on me. Her name was Sylvia. I started yelling for them to get off of me. I had a girl sitting on my feet grinding my ankle into the hard floor. Her name is Paige. I had one on each arm, Cindy and I don’t remember the girl on my left arm. and one sitting on my chest. I was so strong that it took a long time for me to wear myself out. I wasn’t one to cuss, my bad word at that time in my life was”Man”. I started using words like “Bitch”. All of the things that I had put back all of those years of not protecting me was coming out. Finally, I started banging my head on the floor. Another girl got scared and put her hand to catch my head which ended up smashing her fingers. The woman with white hair said, “She’ll stop when it starts hurting” But, I just couldn’t stop crying. I was finally let up and put on a bottom bunk to rest. By then it was supper time. I don’t remember eating but given a chance to shoot hoops and told that I had best accept where I was going to spend my next year. Once I got back to the room again, the biggest girl decided that she didn’t want to be my “Watcher” as she was a senior. So, the girl who got her fingers smashed Sandy became my watcher. She watched me for a month, I was on silence for two weeks. She watched me for a month and then she was going home. She taught me how to survive at New Bethany. When she was fixing to go home she made me make her promise which I had no problem doing because she had spent her last month teaching me how to stay alive in such a hard and difficult place as New Bethany. She made me promise to not bite my fingernails for a month that she would be back in that time. I was a serious nail biter. Well the month went by and I hadn’t bit my fingernails, not once and that was huge success for me. She didn’t come back but I had fingernails and I still do to this day. I became known as The Basketball Star from Indiana.

You can watch Kim’s video testimony here.

Mack Ford is far more prolific alleged child sex abuser than Jerry Sandusky.

Bienville Parish Sheriff Department what’s the deal?
Bienville Parish District Attorney WHY didn’t you prosecute?
Federal Bureau of Investigation why didn’t you follow-up when it was reported that Mack Ford raped girls across state lines?

Guest Post: The Abusers Haven

Posted on July 28, 2012 by chucklestravels

Why do we keep hearing and/or reading, “Forgive your abuser and move on with your life?”

I have to speak up about something I have continually seen reoccur within the ranks of the Advocacy/Activism/Survivors/Alumni groups online. I’m talking about way before Facebook was ever even thought about. What I’m referring to goes back much farther even than when I came to the harsh realization that the IFB children’s home of which I was a former resident, New Bethany Home for Girls in Arcadia, La., was not just a surreal, multi-million dollar con job of a “home for wayward girls/boys” that nobody would believe existed because (I thought for years)it was the only one of its kind. But I don’t want to get off track too much, so I’ll try to get to the point and not ramble.
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I have seen, within the archives of the “Survivors of New Bethany” website on Multiply, going back for quite a few years, those who (appear to?) deem it necessary to pop up like a bad penny occasionally and declare that those who were abused should forgive their abuser. And now, after having become a member of several groups comprised of survivors of IFB/religious institutions where they themselves were horribly sexually/physically abused, or had direct knowledge of it happening, I sadly, not to mention infuriatingly see how commonly, and loosely given this advice is. Much like the be-all-end-all of wonderful, Godly instruction. Frankly, it makes me sick and tempted to punch something. It’s a good thing I value the use of my hands so much.
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Has anybody really tried to figure out why there are some who feel like this is good advice to give? And where the hell they would come up with such a horrible idea? Primarily when sexual/physical abuse is a factor, and the abuser has very little chance of being stopped or held accountable? My conclusion is that the “forgive and move on” idea was firmly planted in their heads. Healthy logic and reasoning do not coincide with this concept. I’m tired of our religious leaders stressing the importance of “forgiveness” within their churches and institutions, especially with children, beginning at a very young age, in order to assure that the guilt of speaking up about things that are wrong is set like concrete within the psyche of each individual human being who is under their umbrella. And with this being done primarily to protect the reputation of their “leader”, church or institution, it reeks of evil. The very opposite of safety, love, holiness and the spiritual well-being of every person.
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I have no doubt, however that there is the occasion where a well-meaning person, hoping to help a hurting individual will, with this deeply-ingrained and years-long taught “forgiveness” concept, will suggest that another person “forgive and move on” from those who have wronged them. When this suggestion is given to someone who is, or has suffered from abuse, then the giver of this advice has left their logic and reasoning at the door. The “forgive and move on” advice in such situations needs to be recognized for what it really is. And by that, I mean it is a conveyance of a pre-programmed idea, crammed into the head of the advice giver, that has no more logical sense than repeating the same word over and over again until it’s lost its true meaning. (Much like memorizing whole chapters of scripture under the threat of being beaten and humiliated. Knowing how to recite huge passages of scripture, over and over and over again, totally annihilates the meaning of what has been memorized. Like saying the same word over and over again until it sounds just plain silly.)
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I see the “forgive and move on” (FAMO) concept as the very same. Unsuspecting people say it to others without understanding the hidden meaning behind why they have been taught to say it. All they know is that it’s supposed to be the right thing to say. And, yes. My conclusion is that it is something taught, rather than learned or experienced with a guaranteed healthy outcome. There is no way that telling someone who is, or has been abused, that everything will be okay if they FAMO, even resembles logical sense. And every person alive has a sense of logic, or even better, a conscience……..until it becomes twisted and perverted under the direction of a leader or leaders who are given free reign to do it, whether by a consenting adult or defenseless children.
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There is a multitude of us who had the FAMO (or forgive and forget) concept branded into our brains and hearts. For some, who have also suffered abuse, it seems that the only way to alleviate their own anger, fear and guilt, is to cling to this concept, because they are psychologically and spiritually unable to revert themselves back to logical thinking, or else they are simply afraid to, as thinking outside the box of their religious instruction is alien to them. For others,and for more reasons than I could list, there develops an epiphany. “What if this is all wrong?” (For me, personally, my realization was worded “I have been fed a line of bullshit my entire life! I’m outta here!”-followed by a descent into a hole of feeling worthless and undeserving. It’s been a hard climb back up. But now, no one does my thinking, or feeling for me.)
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Sexual and physical abuse of children is wrong. Inside, outside and upside down. Wrong. And evil. And inexcusable. Regardless of who the perpetrator is. A pastor, church elder, teacher, coach, parent, whatever.
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“But our Brother in Christ has been disciplined within the church, sent away for awhile, and now we must “lift up our fallen brother.”
“It’s under the blood!”

What a crock of horse-pucky! The reality of it is that this “fallen brother” is still free to continue perpetuating the same abuses, and will likely never be held accountable for the harm inflicted on the innocent. But at least “the cause of Christ hasn’t been harmed, and we must protect the cause of Christ at all costs!” Another crock of horse-pucky. Christ can protect himself just fine, thank you. Allowing predators to continue with their prowling does not lift up the cause of Christ. It destroys it. What sounds logical to me, would be seeing that those who harm little ones be put in prison, for the cause of Christ.
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Anyone who honestly parrots the FAMO spiel with good intentions needs to realize, before they inflict any more harm on a suffering person, the real reason they had this concept crammed into them. You cannot honestly say that you yourself, independently, and with no human influence, decided that FAMO was a great idea. You are repeating what you have been taught to repeat, much like some of us recited entire chapters of scripture with no complaints. We were afraid of the consequences if we didn’t. However, if in being completely honest with yourself, you can say that FAMO worked for you personally, good for you. But you have no right to suggest that it’s right in every situation. You need to stop doing that.
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And let me mention this. By telling someone suffering from abuse that they should FAMO, you are putting yourself (in their eyes) in a position of authority to dictate to them what is or is not a “forgivable” offense against them. Not to mention trying to assert a time limit on their hurt.
Chances are very good, that in you being taught that FAMO is the solution for yours or another’s pain from suffering abuse, instead of “I’m so sorry this happened to you. How can I help?” the real and diabolical reason you had this crammed firmly in your head is because, somewhere down the line, an abuser of children may face real accountability.
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And the “Godly” leaders who command you to FAMO, or command you to say that to others ain’t having any of that.
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Before you turn the FAMO switch to on, think for just a second. If you wouldn’t give the same advice to a victim of Jerry Sandusky’s, then you sure as hell don’t need to give it to anyone else who suffers like that.
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(Disclaimer: The above essay is a compilation of my own conclusions and personal experiences. I don’t claim to be an authority on anything.)

~Teresa Frye

Unto the Least of These…..Part One

Posted on July 22, 2012 by chucklestravels

Mack Ford Shoots when sex abuse mentioned

“Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Mechille Searles is the last known New Bethany Survivor to leave us – and she did so far too soon.

As a small group of New Bethany survivors went to lay a wreath outside New Bethany’s gate in remembrance of Mechille (and others who passed away too soon), Maxine Ford, Mack and Thelma Ford’s daughter, came out to the gate. They had police-type dogs and proceeded to verbally harass these brave, grieving survivors. Maxine, apparently in such a hurry to join this “defense team”, even forgot to put on a bra. We can only imagine they were not at all pleased with this display of compassion and intended to make sure these ladies didn’t get the opportunity to talk too much about the abuse they all suffered at New Bethany.

As if the verbal assault and presence of the “guard dogs” wasn’t enough, Mack Ford landed an exclamation point on his position by firing three shots. In the video linked below, you can listen for the shots right after the subject of “sexual abuse” is mentioned. It would appear Mack Ford was neither amused nor grieved at what was being said by the survivors.

[WUBujt2-zyU]

Chuckles spoke on the phone with Simone Jones shortly after Ms. Jones returned home after her trip to Arcadia, Louisiana. Ms. Jones related that the plans were to remember their friend in a dignified way and then leave. Their intent was never to rant or protest. None of these ladies where trying to be hero’s nor do any of them wish to be called a hero. They merely felt that Mechille Searles (and others) deserved to be recognized for what they endured and what that lead to in their lives.

This is one of the hardest posts we have tried to write. It has been written, tweaked, deleted completely, re-written – all over and over. Mere words just cannot express or explain the horrors that surround Michelle’s story and those of so many like her. We have received 1000’s of pages of legal documents regarding New Bethany and Mack Ford, including legal depositions from Mack and Thelma Ford. Affidavit after affidavit given by former New Bethany residents tell of physical and sexual abuse while at that horrible place. Frankly, I’m growing sick of people talking about Jerry Sandusky when Mack Ford still sits in his compound.

This is a big case. Mack Ford admitted (in his own deposition) that he got the “burden” to start the girls home while on a mission furlough from Australia. His account tells how he met two “blonde-headed” 12 year-old little girls who were “pregnant by their own daddy.” He tells of how he got the “burden” to help little girls like these who were in deep trouble. Missing from the record is Ford saying when/how he or the pastor he worked with at the beginning ever reported their “daddy” to the authorities. Ford’s own words still make my blood run cold. He saw a huge issue, true, but rather than move to protect the girls, he launched his own “empire” working outside the laws designed to protect and punish in these cases. Do girls in that situation need spiritual guidance? Absolutely! But “daddies” like that need to punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Mack Ford’s deposition goes downhill from that point (if you can believe it). When he isn’t claiming “selective amnesia” it just heartbreaking to realize what Mack Ford has done and never been punished for. Reading through all the legal documents, we cannot for the life of us understand why Mack Ford isn’t rotting in prison? And it brings up other questions still unanswered:

Bienville County Sheriff Department what’s the deal?
Bienville County District Attorney WHY didn’t you prosecute?
Federal Bureau of Investigation why didn’t you follow-up when it was reported that Mack Ford raped girls across state lines?

Mack Ford is far more prolific than Jerry Sandusky.
Numerous newspaper reports from Louisiana and Waterboro, South Carolina tell of Ford-owned New Bethany homes. Olin King ran the one in Waterboro, SC. King was arrested and convicted of crimes against children.

And Ford’s “legacy” spread …
After Olin King’s arrest for beating boys, locking a 9 year old boy in a dark cell wearing only underwear, providing only a dirty blanket for “warmth,” treating them like dogs (Literally forming a chain gang by using dog leashes snapped through the boys belt loops) at the New Bethany boys home of Waterboro SC Olin King moved to North Carolina where King opened Second Chance Ranch. Olin King’s son, Doug King married one of his bosses daughters. Penny (Ford) King sent a series of unsolicited emails to a New Bethany survivor who didn’t even make the memorial trip to New Bethany. Penny’s messages, among other things, dammed the recipient to hell.

The attorney of record for King and New Bethany was at the time Bob Jones University board member. Which brings up an interesting (if not completely maddening side question) …
Why does Bob Jones University’s name keep popping up on the wrong side of these cases?

At the Memorial the survivors planned to remember all the survivors of New Bethany that have passed away:

Doug Gilmore (Note that Mack Ford claimed he had adopted Doug in his deposition. Doug Gilmore wasn’t legally adopted by Mack and Thelma, making Ford’s claim perjury. Doug Gilmore was found dead days before the Mother Jones article was released)
Angela Williams
Theresa Trahan
Joann Coltrain
Michael (Guy) Richardson
Mechille Evans Searles

Mechille Evans Searles Memorial Wreath

Pastor Ron Baity Supporter of Mack Ford/New Bethany Attacks Gays

Posted on May 29, 2012 by chucklestravels

Remember Ron Baity? The founding pastor of the Independent Fundamental Baptist church, Berean Baptist Church, Winston Salem, North Carolina who contined to support Mack Ford/New Bethany Ministries after New Bethany was closed for more than a decade.

The same Ron Baity who allowed response to be sent to a survivor of New Bethany who dared to question why Baity’s church was still supporting Mack Ford/New Bethany more than a decade after the “ministry” closed.

“Please pay close attention

1. How this church spends its money is none of your business since you don’t help pay the bills.

2. A person does not have to be a part of a church to receive help. We help people individually that do no necessarily make up a church

3. We have a reason for helping Mack Ford, which you know nothing about, and if we told you it is evident you would not understand.

4. There is a verse of Scripture that would help you if you would take time to read it. Galatians 6:1– ”Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”–What have you done to help restore him other than condemn him?

5. I trust you don’t read the first five books of the Bible since the man God used to write them was a murderer.

6. I am sure you are not reading the Psalms since David committed adultery and murder.

7. I am sure you are not reading the writings of the Apostle Paul since he was a murderer.

8. You know you should write your own book of instruction since you are about the only perfect person left.

Lisa S. Shutt

Secretary, Berean Baptist Church

4135 Thomasville Road

Winston-Salem, NC 27107 USA

(336) 785-0527

Email Address: lisashutt-church@triad.rr.com

It should be mentioned that those who are familiar with Pastor Baity’s “love” allege that email sounds like something Ron would write.

Mack Ford has been accused of raping minors. Physically abusing minors. Mack and Thelma Ford admitted in sworn depositions that they had knowlege of those who worked for New Bethany physically and sexually abusing minors.

Yet…Ron Baity contined to support this “ministry” that has been closed for a long time.
Yeah that’s the man!

Oh LOOK. Ron Baity is speaking out against gay’s who are consenting adults.

“For 300 years, we had laws that would prosecute that lifestyle,” he is quoted as saying. “We’ve gone down the wrong path. We’ve become so dumb that we have accepted a lie for the truth, and we’ve…discarded the truth on the shoals of shipwreck!”

Ron Baity doesn’t list any of the missionaries supported by Berean Baptist Church on the church website now. Ron? Are you still supporting Mack Ford and New Bethany?

Ron supports a known child abusers whose “ministry” doesn’t exist….Hypocrite.

This is NOT Playing!

Posted on April 28, 2012 by chucklestravels

Imagine three young boys – two extended family members and a friend of theirs – staying on a farm for a weekend. The prospects are endless! It brings back some fond memories of my own time growing up (even some of them spent with my brother). Boys growing up can create and take on adventures of epic proportions. As I write this, I recall how a friend and I used to pretend we were some sort of government operatives dropped in the jungle. A tree platform served as our home base and the creek was the territory we explored. Summers just weren’t long enough to contain everything we did.

Now, imagine the youngest one of the three boys, comes down from the bedroom area and sits silently on the sofa next to his adult relative. The boy, after some open-ended questions, lets on that there had been talk of “raping”, plenty of laughing by the others boys, and a whole lot of tears. And, as the adult presses for further information, a bigger story unfolds. Threats of “rape” against a girl at their Independent Fundamental Baptist Christian School, and against another boy in their class as well. The adult relative explained, in no uncertain terms, that “rape” is nothing to joke about. It’s a violent act of aggression. There is no element of “play” in it at all. And then, the parents were informed … that’s where I really wish this were just a work of fiction.

One set of parents were appalled at this whole thing. The other father said (about the threat to rape the older girl at school), “She needs to learn to let things roll off her back.” And, as you might expect, another source uttered those golden words, “Boys will be boys.” That person, however, is a youth pastor who really should be as concerned as anybody else – even more so where kids under his direct care are involved.

As if all this weren’t bad enough, one of the boys was forensically examined a short time later. That’s where it really hit the fan. The boy admitted to being “play raped” multiple times in the shower after gym class. The perpetrator of such “fun” had, as it was discovered, learned it from his own father. I’ll stop with the details here as I know my own head is spinning so fast I’m about to fall off my chair. The thoughts such as, “This is the formula for making a sociopath” just won’t stop, so I will.

The bottom line in telling this is to bring an actual example to the table and exhort us all to be extremely conscious of what goes on around us. Had the adult relative in this story not taken the initiative to ask the questions asked, who knows when or if the deeper details would be discovered. And, as for the youth pastor and the father who pass this off as nothing of any account, I can only hope they realize these are the symptoms of something far more serious. Evil only needs a minor toe-hold to gain traction. Boys certainly can have some great times with creative play. But letting stuff like this go as “Boys will be boys” doesn’t cut it at all for this Dad of two girls. Were one of mine the girl threatened, I’m not sure there are enough restraints to keep me from placing my hands around the necks of the father and youth pastor who exude such ambivalence. And I’m pretty sure most of you feel the same way.

C.P. Traveler

Editors Note: Due to the age of those involved and the fact that Child Services and the Law Enforcement Officials are involved there are quite a few details to this, that should not, and cannot be revealed. The reason the Editorial Board is sharing this at all, is to show that there is a dangerous ambivalence concerning situations like this in the IFB school and church involved cannot be ignored. The girl had been hounded for weeks before the evening when the little boy told his adult family member. Both the pastor, the principal, and at least two teachers had been informed. Yet the situation was not dealt with, but instead allowed to continue.

Ohio Church Has Child Abuser Ron Williams For Anniversary Sunday

Posted on March 26, 2012 by chucklestravels

Picture Courtesy of Dwayne Walker~California HEAL-Online Coordinator

Calvary Bible Church of Lima Ohio celebrated its 52nd Anniversary yesterday March 25, 2012. It looks as if the church has removed its webpage, here is the Google cache version.

Since a church celebrating 52 years is a big deal, it goes without saying that the pastor would choose to have one of the pastors closest friends as a speaker.

That special speaker was none other than Ron Williams of Hephzibah House.

Ron Williams and Hephzibah House have had allegations of physical, emotional, spiritual abuse which go back 40 years.

According to the churches announcement Calvary Baptist Church of Lima Ohio has supported Hephzibah House, Ron Williams and his late wife, Patty for nearly that long.

The text below.

March 25 – Celebrating CBC’s Fifty-Second

We will Welcome Ron Williams of Hephzibah House on March 25th to help us celebrate 52 years of God’s great blessings. We have supported Hephzibah House prayerfully and financially for most of the years of its existence. Dr. Williams left secular social work to establish this ministry when he and his wife saw great need for a residential home for girls who were in great spiritual need. This work has been hated by a very vocal minority who have used the internet for several years to harass and attempt to destroy. God has preserved Dr. Williams in spite of these attacks, and we believe this ministry will continue to be a blessing. Ron Williams is an eloquent speaker, and we know we will his messages in Sunday School and church. We will have an anniversary dinner at 2:00 which will replace our normally scheduled evening times. The afternoon session will also be a PTF meeting for all school parents.

The “very vocal minority” consists of over 200 former students and supporters. A core group of former Hephzibah House residents discovered that Ron Williams would be speaking at this Anniversary Celebration on Monday, March 19, 2012. On such short notice four ladies who were within a few hours driving distance showed up to protest. Three were positioned on public property outside the church passed out these fliers. Passing motorists honked their horns in support. Read Ron Williams letter to supporters from after CNN interviews. Then Ron goes and admits to nearly every single one of the former students allegations.

Yesterday when the protest was taking place Chuckles received the following update:

Just got a little update… (names withheld)

#1) *Susie Q’s mom *Susie Q1 went in and sat through the morning service…then there was a pot luck, and she’s still there for the afternoon service, which started @ 1:30….so waiting to hear from her after the service…..

#2) Susie Q, Protester 2, and Protester 3 are the 3 fabulous ladies outside…the assistant pastor came out this morning all sweet and asked them what they were doing…he chit chatted with them being all nice…he listened to them talk, and then he asked for a flyer…he went back inside with it (p.s. the girls videotaped all of this apparently)…..

#3) assistant pastor comes out a bit later …he asked them to stop protesting b/c there are so many honking horns that it is distracting their church service. He also asked the 3 ladies for their names, and if he could take their pictures, they told him NOPE! He wanted to obviously take that info in to Ron, but they wouldn’t allow him!!!!

Later:

The assistant pastor came out one more time and was trying to get license plate numbers etc. and this time he’s not being such a nice guy…

After this the police were called. Since the protesters were peaceful and on public property the police told the assistant pastor that the protesters would remain. The protesters were informed that the church would be calling its attorney.

Good luck with that, boys.
A local news reporter came out and interviewed the protesters. When he went to interview Ron Williams, he hid, or ran (left.)

Further….

The pastor of Calvary Bible Church of Lima Ohio is David Keith Hamblen. D. Keith Hamblen is a Bob Jones University graduate. He also was a team leader at the Wilds at one point.
The Hamblen family is related to Bob Jones University royalty, the Stratton family. Stratton Hall. According to sources D. Keith Hamblen is a cousin of former Clearwater Christian College president, Dick Stratton. Dick was at one time rumored to have been in the running to be the Vice President of Bob Jones University prior to accepting the position at Clearwater. The Hamlin family are also related to Lonnie Polson. To say his family is quite connected at BJU would be an understatement. The radio station (WMUU) owned by Gospel Fellowship Association (BJU’s mission board) aired Ron Williams/Hephzibah House for many years. WMUU was petitioned for years to remove Ron Williams from its program line-up but refused. Within hours of having been contacted by CNN producers, WMUU finally removed the program from its program line-up but continues to air Lester Roloff’s Family Altar program five times per day Monday-Friday.

(David) Keith Hamblen Bob Jones University Vintage Picture. Graduated 1974

Update as of 5pm: Looks like Calvary Bible Church website is back up.

Cases of Injustices Piled on Injustices

Posted on January 27, 2012 by chucklestravels

Back in the 1980′s, a female teacher volunteered to help one of her male high school students who was home sick for an extended period of time. I believe he was recovering from “Mono.” She promised this 16-year-old student and his parents she would keep bring him his assignments and was willing to tutor him in his home to avoid the chance of him falling behind in his studies. His name was Scott Bicknell.

What she was doing, in reality, was grooming the young boy sexually in the same way a male predator grooms his victims. This young boy was very naive and innocent when it came to sexual matters as his family were good IFB parents. He had grown up sheltered. You can imagine the effect of an older woman on the confused, raging hormones of a 16-year-old boy … from a physical standpoint, it would be extraordinarily difficult for a boy that age to resist, let alone one who was sheltered to the extent this boy was. I’ll leave the resulting encounters to your imagination based on that scenario.

When the situation was finally exposed the young boy was made to stand before his church congregation and apologize. The letter was read by his pastor but the teachers name was never mentioned.

His adult teacher …

His married, adult teacher!

The married, adult teacher lost her job as a teacher – but was never reported to the police. The principal of the school rolled his eyes when the subject was broached – reporting this to the authorities was clearly not on his agenda. This was simply a “consenting relationship” rather than a predatory one. The same teacher later went on and taught in public school in Wisconsin since she didn’t have a record of sexual contact with her one of her male students.

But, the young boy’s punishment wasn’t over. The principal told his parents the boy had to come to school, but not sit in a classroom with his friends. He was to be locked in the church basement – alone. The father taught at the school too. He and his wife relented and agreed to this arrangement as it seemed it was a better choice than what the pastor of the church and principal of the church associated school’s other suggestion – ship their son to a Roloff Home for “wayward” boys. However, the boy soon found himself in trouble for some other infraction. This time, the principal of school, expelled the boy forbidding him from ever returning to school. Furthermore, the father was fired from his teaching position for not being “capable of controlling his son.” My question is, why wasn’t the principal and pastor fired for their inability to manage one of their teachers and report a crime against one of their minor students?

Another son of Nancy Bicknell, who is 2 years younger than Scott was horrifically abused. The younger son was the recipient of a “special spanking” by one Marvin Munyan. Marvin decided to do what he demonstrated for others . Marvin Munyan was the “designated spanker” for the school. Munyan is also touted as “quite the expert” where it came to corporal punishment …

Eau Claire, Wisconsin parents worried they may not have mastered the proper

TERRY LABAN

technique for beating their children got a refresher course at a recent spanking seminar held at the Eau Claire Gospel Center. About 50 people showed up for the event, which featured a demonstration of spanking skills by Marvin Munyon and a teen-age assistant, according to a report in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. ”You spank them right here on the gluteus maximus, which God made for that purpose,” the Bible-quoting Munyon told the crowd.

According to Munyon, good parents will use paddles or switches instead of their hands–lest the children come to associate their parents’ hands with pain. And they should start spanking early–preferably at the age of two or so. “If you wait too long to begin physical discipline,” he explained, “it may be too late.”

Nancy Bicknell and her two son’s Scott and Doug Bicknell recently appeared on a segment of CNN’s Ungodly Discipline.

Munyan is now a lobbyist for “defending family values” .

The other day, Mrs. Bicknell received the following anonymous letter via the United States Postal Service.

Note: "MM" stands for Marv Munyan

Few outside of the Bicknell family were aware that Doug Bicknell was not only spanked but allegedly sodomized when he was spanked as a teenage boy. As a matter of fact, Nancy Bicknell did not know these details until just a few years ago. ” Fewer knew that Marvin Munyan was the person who did this. Neither Mrs. Bicknell, nor her sons never used the word sodomy. Doug Bicknell further alleges that he saw Munyan masturbating outside of his clothes when Munyan told young Doug to ‘clean up’ after his “special spanking.” If you watch the CNN interview the reason why for the spanking was never specified, and there is no mention of sodomy.

Nancy has written that Doug was bare bottom spanked because Munyan made Doug “drop his drawers” since he wanted to insure Doug had not placed magazines inside of his pants.
What is very disturbing, is that someone who was familiar with a medical procedure Doug had last year to repair rectal tearing in which he alleged he had been sodomized said something. Doug had told this to his surgeon. A nurse who cared for him before, during or after the procedure leaked this information that was then used to further victimize Doug Bicknell and the Bicknell family. What was done here, by leaking this protected health information is not only is a breach of ethical standards, it is a criminal offense punishable by loss of her nursing license, fine up t0 $25, 000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years for knowingly divulging protected health information in order to malign and damage the person from whom it was about.

Now, because of this action on the part of the nurse, people know that Doug Bicknell’s abuse was not limited only to being whipped more than 50 times, but then he was allegedly sodomized as he was stuck 53 times with a paddle (with holes in it, no less). It was bad enough that Doug Bicknell was punished in a way such as this, but now to send this letter to his mother (which naturally found its way to the Internet) there is no way the writer can claim she didn’t do this willfully and knowingly. The information about rectal bleeding, rectal tearing, and removal of scar tissue was discussed in Doug Bicknell’s medical record. In the same medical record it was also discussed that he may have a permanent colostomy as a result of his injury, the time lapse since the original injury, etc.

The “pocket-poo” portion of the letter was a cruel reference to the fact that a 41 year old man went into the procedure knowing he may wake up with a permanent colostomy. Thankfully, this didn’t become a reality. How DARE this person write in the first sentence about how Nancy is a “precious soul in God’s sight” but then turn around and show such callous brutality.

To the “lady” who wrote this letter, you don’t know God. Stop taking His name in vain!

Doug Bicknell has suffered from the effects of this “special spanking” for 25 or more years. He has suffered the effects of the secondary wounding and the result of being a male rape survivor. Men rarely speak about these issues, and face myths and stereotypes when they do tell of being raped. Doug has done what many men do. They attempt to dull the pain of the aftereffects of being abused with alcohol and drug addiction.

May God have Mercy on Marvin Munyan! May God have Mercy on the person who wrote and published the above letter.

Meanwhile, hopefully both Scott and Doug may receive some peace and know that others are out here, mourn, and pray with him. Hopefully, we will also find a way to bring to justice the writer of the above letter. Someone who has such loose venomous lips doesn’t deserve to remain a nursing professional. She deserves at the very least, to lose her nursing job. She needs to have her nursing license revoked by the State of Wisconsin. May she also be tried and sentenced to the fullest extent under HIPPA and any other privacy laws as well.

Note: A forensic document examiner shed their insights concerning this letter with the Bicknells, and can be read here with Nancy’s permission. (The examiner was not aware of that the initials ’MM’ referred to Marvin Muyan and appears to not have any knowledge of who Munyan is, or his relationship to this case.)

Nancy Bicknell has written and recently published her book, “A Mother’s Memoirs of Two Brothers.” It is the story of great pain, the journey to spiritual healing, and hope. A added treat is all of the illustrations in the book are original artwork by Nancy. Please purchase your copy today.

Tedd Butler Sentenced to 12 Months

Posted on January 24, 2012 by chucklestravels

Yesterday, Tedd Butler received a sentence of 12 months for sexually molesting a boy who was a member of his church more than 20 years ago. Tedd Butler’s victim was five years old at the time Butler chose to molest this boy.

Even though Tedd couldn’t conjure a small apology, Tedd will be serving his time in the local county jail instead of a Michigan Prison. The accommodation’s are better at the county jail too.

I’m sure many of the members of Tedd’s flock will be coming to see him and pray for him and never practice church discipline on their pastor.

Oh we’ve heard it all before. Members of Butler’s church don’t even bother to come on this blog and comment about how we don’t understand, how Butler is a different (sort of pervert) and how he was set-up, or part of a conspiracy by the “world”, a gay conspiracy and those “bitter” ex-members against “the man of God.”

Just save it.

Tedd had to allocute to sexually abusing another boy to be eligible for this plea. The two “incidents” took place 20 years apart from each other!

No worries, the members of Gospel Light Baptist Church, will likely have their pastor back pretty soon. More than likely Tedd will serve a little over 6 months and then will be released on good behavior.

This is just a time out. Never fear, Tedd will be preying on another little boy real soon. He may be choosing his next victim right now.

chucklestravels

Tag Archives: Independent Baptist Fundamentalist