Tag Archives: Independent Fundamental Baptist

Public Announcement: Support Fairhaven Survivors

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‎***** 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

Fairhaven sign shows love

Unto the Least of These~Part Four

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“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

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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

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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

        

This is NOT Playing!

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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

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Courtesy of Dwayne Walker

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. Ron Williams admits to abusing girls but his followers don't see it?

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.

You Know Someone. Everybody Does….

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Conservative statistics say that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by their eighteenth birthday.

Think about how many that is tomorrow as you attend church. Look around to your friends, acquaintances, and others. The next time you must go to the grocery store, or a sporting event or concert, take a moment and look around. This statistic means that, unless you’re a hermit, every 30-50 people you come into contact with daily is a survivor.

I know it’s hard to believe that. However, CP Traveler and others on the Editorial Board will attest that most of the survivors who reach out to us, reach out privately and admit they were either shot down years ago, and have never spoken of it again, or very likely have never told a soul, but are suffering inside.

Remember, no matter whether you believe in God or you don’t we all know someone who is a victim of a sexual crime as children/teens.

It’s time that churches recognize the problem isn’t out there, both victims and perpetrators are sitting right there in the pew.

The following commentary by Dale Hansen has been out there for awhile. It is a commentary that was about Jerry Sandusky crimes. In light of recent events, we should all be reminded once again. Survivors of a sexual crime are the only survivors we don’t talk about. May I add, most of us don’t want to even know about?

It has been more than a month now since the sex scandal at Penn State stunned the Happy Valley and changed the lives of so many forever.

Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky has said he’s innocent of the charges he faces for sexually abusing so many young kids, but he stood silently by while the Penn State president, the athletic director and the legendary coach Joe Paterno lost their jobs in disgrace.

Is that really the action of an innocent man?

But then, they stood silently by while being told that Sandusky was abusing the children he says he was trying to help.

Nobody’s innocent here, and those kids have lost their innocence forever because nobody talks about the abuse of a child.

The victim of a sexual crime is the only victim we don’t talk about, and maybe it’s time we do.

The Congresswoman from Arizona, Gabby Giffords, the victim of a gunman’s bullet to the head, became a TV show.

She was reduced to a shell of her former self. She couldn’t walk and she couldn’t talk. And when she eventually could, she thought her chair was a spoon.

And we saw it all because she was a victim and now a survivor, and we shine a light for all to see.

But the victims of sexual abuse? They stay hidden in the darkness, a reminder of the shame so many of them feel… and nobody should.

Sexual abuse of our children is the cancer that lives and walks among us, but a cancer survivor wears their ribbon proudly and we all stand to cheer as they walk by in their annual parade.

But who stands to cheer for the victim of a sexual assault? And much like cancer, we all know a victim.

It might be a child in your family… a cousin or a brother… the kid on the corner… a kid in your class.

We all know somebody. You might not think you do, but I know you do.

Because you all know me.

I was 10 years old in my little Iowa town. It really was the Mayberry of the Midwest. Everybody knew everybody (at least we thought we did).

A 16-year-old boy said, ‘Let’s ride our bikes to the ball field at the edge of town,’ but there was nobody there. He then started what Sandusky would describe as “horsing around” until he threw me to the ground and pulled at my pants.

I can still take you to the spot on the ball field where it happened. I know exactly where it was.

But then it was only 53 years ago.

He had my pants below my knees before he decided to let me go, and I don’t know why. My screams couldn’t have been heard. There was nobody there.

Maybe he was afraid of my dad, because in my hometown, everybody was.

But I never told my dad.

I never told anybody.

And too many times in the last month, I’ve had to ask myself how many little boys didn’t get away? How many lives did that monster ruin because I didn’t tell.

If he had stolen my bike… the glove on the handlebar… the dollar in my pocket… or simply punched me in the face and blackened an eye.. I would have told everybody.

Instead, I told nobody.

Because even then I knew no one talks about the sexual abuse of a child.

And maybe it’s time we do.

No one knows who actually said it, but we need to remember it now: The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.

The good men at Penn State University didn’t, and the innocence of a child was lost forever.

Talk to your children, and — more importantly — make sure that your children aren’t afraid to talk to you.

The innocence of a child is worth fighting for. The innocence of a child is worth the job of a coach. The innocence of a child is worth talking about.

That’s why I choose to talk about it tonight.

And it’s why at this time of year, every year, I want the Oak Ridge Boys to remind us all: “Thank God for Kids.”

Tedd Butler Sentenced to 12 Months

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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.

Defending the Indefensible With Lies and Nonsense

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A blogger posted a poorly written, long, rambling, post full of outright untruths and conjecture called, In defense of Hephzibah House.

I will warn you, this was one of the hardest blog posts I have written as the post I am attempting to review is difficult to follow.

The blogger defends the indefensible—those who emotionally, psychologically abused girls as young as 12. A place where girls were either starved or force fed. A place where, at one time, girls were physically abused by staff, including Ron Williams.

The blogger writes about gossiping, defaming and otherwise harassing Hephzibah House from which he claims are “anonymous handlers.”  Former students are not anonymous.  Most of those who blog about Hephzibah House aren’t anonymous. He then posts written “testimonials” praising the facility that are taken from you guessed it; the Hephzibah House webpage.

He doesn’t stop there.  One of the defenders he cites is Michelle Dickey who was able to get herself banned from the Fundamental Fighting Forum (FFF).  Those of you who are unaware of the FFF, go and read this site a little.  Notice how venomous some of the posters are.  Take a gander and come back, after you will realize that one who is kicked off that site, may not be the best example of credibility.

I find it interesting that the blogger who describes “professing Christians” who are outraged at the accounts of abuse by 200 or so former students Hephzibah House as being naive and believing the allegations without evidence.

Yet, he conveniently leaves out the correspondence Ron Williams sent to his supporters soon after the broadcast, UnGodly discipline aired about Hephzibah House.

Ron Williams Answers to Allegations

Ron Williams Letter to Supporters Rebuttal

The other is a woman who life before Hephzibah House was too awful for words.  She was abused in ways words are unable to describe before being sent to Hephzibah House.  The fact Hephzibah House did not sexually abuse her, made her feel safe.

This woman was used by Ron Williams and his son Don Williams to appear on Anderson Cooper a few months ago.  It angers me, that they exploited this woman who has clearly suffered so much in her life. Who clearly wants badly the approval of Hephzibah House and the Williams.  Then this blogger exploits her once again.  Problem is, he neglects to tell the truth.  Although it wasn’t her intention she verified many of the allegations such as the beatings with a chair being put over the students torso to hold the student down.  Teen girls being forced to wear adult diapers.  Below is this portion of the CNN Transcript.

 COOPER: Fascinating report. Gary, thanks. After Gary talked to Don Williams, Hephzibah House reached out and offered to put us in touch with another former student who was willing to talk about her time in the facility.

Her name is Lucinda Pennington. Her family sent her to the school when she was 15. She stayed for three years. She joins me now.

Thanks for being with us, Lucinda. You went to this house in 1988 when you were 15. You say you liked it there. Why?

LUCINDA PENNINGTON, FORMER HEPHZIBAH HOUSE STUDENT: I did. I felt safe and secure there. It was a place for me to be able to get back on track.

COOPER: You came from an abusive family situation, and they were very supportive at Hephzibah House?

PENNINGTON: Yes, very supportive. They helped me get out of the situation that I was in and helped me in taking care of what needed to be taken care of.

COOPER: Were you ever beaten at Hephzibah House?

PENNINGTON: No, I was never beaten. I did receive a spanking, but never beaten.

COOPER: What sort of a spanking did you receive?

PENNINGTON: I had cheated on a test, and even though it had been several days, they had to wait and get contact with my parents first before they could spank me.

They took me upstairs, explained to me how it was done. I had to lay down on the floor. They held my hands and my feet and put a chair across my back. I don’t remember anything sitting on it. Granted, this was 23 years ago. I got three swats, and I was let up.

COOPER: Swats with what?

PENNINGTON: I think it was just a regular paddle. Then I was let up and sat on the couch, and we prayed and talked about, you know, I shouldn’t be cheating. Cheating is lying and then I — within the three years I only received two spankings. So it wasn’t like, you know, I got them all the time or anything like that.

COOPER: We’ve heard from other girls who were there who obviously describe what they call — refer to as abusive situations. They refer to like having to drink a lot of water and the not being allowed to go to the bathroom, being made to wear diapers. Did you see that? Did that happen to you? Why would that happen? 

PENNINGTON: No. In the three years that I was there, there was only one girl that was made to wear a diaper. The situation was she had just gotten there. Hadn’t been there maybe a day, and these girls were not angels that arrived there. This girl was determined that nobody was going to tell her what to do, when to go to the bathroom. Because we did things on a timetable, on a schedule, especially during school hours, we would have breaks and recess.

She said, you’re not going to tell me when to go to the bathroom. She refused to use the bathroom. A few minutes later she asked to use the bathroom. They said no, you had the opportunity to use the bathroom.

When they told her that she needs to go when all the groups went, she said well I’m going to stand here and pee in my pants. They said that’s fine. If you do the consequence is because you won’t go to the bathroom when you’re supposed to, you’ll wear a diaper for a day.

She said I don’t care. She did it out of rebellion and spite. When they followed through with what they told her what would happen, it only took one day that she actually wore the diaper because the next day she did what she was supposed to.

COOPER: Why do you think so many girls are giving strikingly similar accounts of being abused, if that’s not what really happened? Do you think they’re lying?

PENNINGTON: I think for them some of the things were traumatic for them because they had never been in a situation where they had been told what to do. So for them to be told when to eat, when to sleep, you know, not have the freedom to do as they pleased.

Yes, they think they were abused, I guess you could say. Do I agree with that? No. I came from a situation where I knew the difference between a spanking and beating. If someone’s never been spanked, then, yes, somebody may say I was beat.

COOPER: Lucinda Pennington, I appreciate you being on and giving your perspective. Thank you so much.

PENNINGTON: All right.

In his last paragraph he clearly is untruthful.  He claims that Hephzibah House is regulated by the government.  In fact, all government officials and agencies have denied that they have any over-site over Hephzibah House.  As a matter of fact, according to state law it is too late to make a complaint about must come from a student who is still currently enrolled to any action to take place.  That is very unlikely to happen because the staff at Hephzibah House makes double dog sure the girls don’t have an opportunity to run away and report anything.

Please see the October 25, 2011 post on this blog, “Ron Williams (Hephzibah House) Praises the Lord for IN State Representative Dave Wolkins.”

Below is a list of more blogs about concerning the abusive history of Hephzibah House.

  • Heal-Online (Advocacy Site that exposes both secular and religious suspected and confirmed to be abusive facilities.)

Sick Puppy: Tedd Butler

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On Tuesday, August 24, 2011 Tedd Butler, Pastor of Gospel Light Baptist Church, near Warren Michigan surrendered himself to police. He was a 1988 graduate of Hyles-Anderson College, and Crown Bible College in 1998. He faced two separate charges in two separate counties.  Court documents say he molested two boys,  more than 20 years apart.  One of the boys was five years old at the time of the assaults.

As usual with these cases, we saw Tedd Butler’s faithful followers blame the lying boys, the media, a gay conspiracy, the vast left-wing conspiracy, a conspiracy between the police and all of the above, and a few other things I am sure I forgot.

Most of that stopped a few days ago.

On December 13, 2011, Former Pastor Tedd Butler accepted a plea that he had touched the buttocks of a minor in the case from more than 20 years ago.  He faces a maximum of two years imprisonment for this charge.  Sentencing for this case is scheduled to take place January 31, 2012.

To be eligible for this plea, Butler was required to allocute to the second charge. Sentencing for this second offense is scheduled for January 23, 2012.

Sadly, the church has not sought to reach out to victims. When I checked a news articles comment section, there are a few still a few who are blaming the police, the DA and victims who sue, despite Butler taking this plea.  The Koolaid is strong people, and that’s just sad.

The Editorial Board here at Chucklestravels pray for comfort and healing for all Butlers victims.  We pray for Butlers wife and children.  Lastly, we pray that Butler face the full horror of what he has done, and when he is released he never serve in a position of trust around young children again.