Tag Archives: Non-Regulated IFB Abusive Teen Facilitys

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

        

Is the Children’s Pipeline Busted?

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Last night,  the CNN program, Anderson Cooper 360, aired the final segment of Gary Tuchman’s three part series on Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch.

Charlie Duke with Gary Tuchman (CNN)

Following a suicide attempt by the 15-year-old rape victim, Cassie was admitted in a licensed mental health care facility by her mother to receive appropriate medical and mental health treatment.  By all counts Cassie was receiving such treatment when Charlie Duke crossed the state line from Illinois to Indiana to pay a visit to the traumatized and heavily medicated 15-year-old rape survivor.  Cassie’s mother was not present.  During this visit, Charlie convinced Cassie to sign what is arguably an    illegal “contract”  committing herself to Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch.  

Pinehaven Christian children’s Ranch is nearly two thousand miles (2000) away from any support system this rape victim would have been beneficial to her recovery from the rape trauma, and other difficulties from her young life.

Instead, Charlie Duke was able to get a  court order from Judge Larry Dunn to send this young, suicidal, 15-year-old rape survivor to  Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch – a facility without any mental health professionals. Without any licensed therapist or licensed professional counselors, and without state licensing, regulation or accreditation.

According to her mother, Paula Bowen, after Cassie was transferred to  Pinehaven in St. Ignatius, Montana where she was taken off all medically prescribed psychiatric medications, Cassie started to self-mutilate.  Remember Pinehaven doesn’t have licensed therapists.

Charlie Dunn said at the end of the segment that Pinehaven is “the finest children’s home I have ever visited.”

Charlie Dunn was awarded with the plague pictured below at the Pinehaven June 5, 2011 graduation.

Please read these screen shots  from Charlie Dukes facebook page.

29 kids from the same five county (5) area over the years?  Could it be true that this part Illinois is what Gary Tuchman labeled the  “Illinois Pipeline” of children to Pinehaven?

This situation sounds eerily similar to the 2008 Kids For Cash Scandal in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.  Personally, I think the good people of Olney, Illinois should demand an investigation into this.

UPDATE: Cassie has been court ordered to returned home at the end of the school year, June 5, 2012.

Cassie Casteel

Please see the blog by  James Mason, survivor of Pinehaven who was interviewed by Gary Tuchman at pinehavenabuse.org for more information.

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.)

Support Upcoming Survivors of Institutional Abuse Conference

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Survivors of Institutional Abuse (SIA)

On this blog we have exposed a few Independent Fundamental Baptist Boarding Homes for “troubled teens.”

We have shed a spotlight on New Bethany Home for Girls and Boys, owned and operated by Mack Ford.  Although various churches are sending money to Mack Ford,  this “ministry” is thankfully closed.

Other abusive Homes our spotlight was shown on is the Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, New Beginnings Girls Academy, and Hephzibah House.

We have’t even scratched the surface of the number of unlicensed homes that exist. Most states don’t require any license to open and run such a home.  There are 100′s of similar facilities operating within the United States.

Laws need to be passed and enforced to regulate these homes.

These homes use tactics, such as stress positions, denial of food, or forced feeding, beatings, etc. which  if used on a Prisoner of War would be in violation to the Geneva Convention.

These “Homes” are notorious for using mild control techniques such as:

Isolation:  Complete isolation from family, friends and the outside world.

Fatigue: The schedule is imposed that ensures mental and physical fatigue Students are forced to work for extended periods without breaks.  Students academic is secondary.  Students are often pulled from classes to complete work assignments such as cleaning or even working in fields.

Tension:  Students are constantly reminded that they are “sinners,” “whores,” “worthless,” etc.  Many former students report they were told their family didn’t want them anymore.

Uncertainty:  Students never know when they will be punished for something.  Students are constantly wondering when the axe is going to fall on their friends, or worse them.

Jargon:  These programs have their own jargon to define those on the outside.  Parents, family members, former friends from before the program are labeled “evil, “worldly,” etc.  Outsiders are looked upon as the reason why the students will fall into sin, or even die if the student leaves.

Humorlessness: Everything is very serious.  Everything revolves upon saving the students and the worlds eternal souls.   Threats of physical and emotional punishment is never humorous.

There are 100′s of other such confirmedly abusive homes throughout the United States. Programs that are both closed and currently operating. Survivors of these homes continue to suffer from depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, etc long after leaving the facility they were in.

On February 24-26, 2012 The Survivors of Institutional Abuse (SIA) is having its first annual conference in Long Beach California aboard the Queen Mary.   

Survivors and supporters are coming together to meet, heal, and educate.   The SIA invites pastors, the media, legislative officials, and others to attend and be educated about the true nature of these programs whether the program be religious or secular such as wilderness programs, etc.

SIA is working hard to raise the money needed for this convention to be a success.

One Survivor of New Bethany did her part.  She raised $500.00 by dressing up like a chicken.  Teresa was first covered in syrup so the feathers would stick.

 

You don’t have to dress up like a chicken to help, please make a tax deductible donation to SIA.

 

 

 

Suffer the Little Children

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Jesus said,  ”Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believed in me, it were better for him that millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”  Matthew 18:6

Chuckles made this video with pictures of girls who were abused.  Some were abused when they were incarcerated in “Christian Boarding Schools” such as New Beginnings Girls Academy,  Hephzibah House, and Circle of HopeGirls Ranch.

Some where abused by their parents who followed Michael Pearls teachings.  Sadly these two little girls died.

One of the of the children you will see was kidnapped.  It appears that a IFB pastor told the kidnapper to call the police.  As you can imagine the police were never called.

What can you do?  First if you see child abuse or neglect, report it!

Secondly, during this season of giving, a good place to start is give to  Survivors of Institutional Abuse.

For more information about SIA, please click on the HOME tab.

Ron Williams (Hephzibah House) Praises the Lord for IN State Representative Dave Wolkins

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Indiana State Representative Dave Wolkins, (R)

Shortly after CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 program aired its two part segment about nearly 4 decades of alleged abuse at the Independent Fundamentalist Boarding School, Hephzibah House in Winona Lake, Indiana. Ron Williams, director of the home sent out the following to his supporters:

 ”We praise the Lord for State Representative Dave Wolkins. He has visited our ministry on several  occasions over the years, and has steadfastly vouched for our integrity and credibility, although he has also suffered abuse from

Ron Williams Director of Hephzibah House

the local paper and on the web for supporting us. If you would be disposed to do so, you may write a letter of thanks and appreciate to him at: Representative Dave Wolkins; 501 E Pierceton Rd; Winona Lake, IN 46590.”

Poor, poor Dave Wolkins “has suffered abuse from the local paper and on the web for supporting us.”

Was Wolkins abused by being made to wear adult diapers because he was made to drink large quantities of water and then denied access to the bathroom facilities?

Was Wolkins abused by either being force fed, or denied food depending on the time period of incarceration like the girls incarcerated at Hephzibah House?

Has Wolkins ever been subject to days, weeks and in some cases months of being forbidden to look at or speak to others?  (A recognized torture method.)

Has Wolkins ever held down while a invasive “medical exam” was done against his will?

Was Wolkins beaten as those who were at Hephzibah House in the 1980′s and later allege?

This isn’t the first time that Indiana State Representative Dave Wolkins has taken Ron Williams/Hephzibah House side and refused to hear the ladies who were inside those locked doors.

In a 2008 interview done by a local Indiana News station as part of the stations coverage of a protest by former Hephzibah House survivors, Wolkins said some pretty disturbing things.

Wolkins actually said,

“The women’s impression that what they underwent was abuse is just one interpretation.”

Wolkins actually said,

“…from Hephzibah House standpoint this is a ministry of theirs and they don’t like regulation.”

Of course Hephzibah House’s standpoint is they don’t like regulation.

At the end of the segment Wolkins was asked this hypothetical question by the reporter.

Reporter:  If a religious school beats a child severely should that be sanctioned in the name of religion?

Representative Wolkins:  [Smiling and scratching left side of his neck] “I have to think about that one.  I don’t know.”

Watch it for yourself.  

Poor Wolkins.

I hate to tell him he is an elected official.  No one made him run to be elected.  No one makes him continue to draw a paycheck from the people of Indiana. He was elected to serve all the people of Indiana’s 18th district, not just support Ron Williams and Hephzibah House.  If questioning a state representative about this support is abuse, then he needs to step down, stick his thumb in his mouth, take his blankly, and go crawl up on his mama’s lap. Ron Williams has some nerve to complain to his supporters that Wolkins is being abused!

What these young girls went through just so happens to be the legal definition of torture. Would torture fall under the category of abuse Dave Wolkins?

Representative Wolkins sounds like someone who deserves to be impeached.

You can watch part one of Larry Tuchman’s CNN report about Hephzibah House by clicking here.

Support The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2011

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The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2011 was reintroduced in both the House and the Senate on October 6, 2011. The House Bill is principally sponsored by Rep. George Miller (D-CA) in the House and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) in the Senate.
United States House of Representatives Proposed Bill:  H.R. 3126

United States Senate Proposed Bill:  S. 1667

 

 

 

Press Release

Thursday, October 06, 2011
Melissa Salmanowitz (Miller) 202-226-0853
Justine Sessions (Harkin) 202-224-3254
Shams Tarek (McCarthy), 516-739-3008

Miller, Harkin Reintroduce Legislation to Prevent Child Abuse in Teen Residential Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two senior Democratic lawmakers from the House and the Senate today reintroduced legislation to stop abuse in teen residential programs. The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2011, championed by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the Senior Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee and U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee would set common-sense, minimum safety standards that states would need to adopt and enforce to protect teens from physical, mental and sexual abuse in these programs. It would also create easily accessible information for parents about the safety record of programs.

“Parents deserve every assurance that their child will be safe when attending a residential program, which is often their last resort and intended to help their child build a better life. They do so with the assumption that their child will receive care and treatment, not be subjected to pain, suffering, torture and in some cases, death. Without regulations and enforcement, this profitable industry will continue to have actors that present unacceptable risks to the children they serve. It is unacceptable that as each year passes without adequate oversight, more children suffer,” said Miller. “This legislation will help put an end to these horrific abuses that put the lives of too many children in jeopardy. It has passed with bipartisan support in previous Congresses, and I hope my Republican colleagues will take swift action for Congressional consideration soon.”

“No child should be forced to suffer abuse, neglect, injury, or even death while they are trying to better themselves in a residential program,” saidHarkin. “It is the responsibility of Congress to ensure that these programs are subject to enforceable regulations to prevent cases of abuse like the ones we’ve heard about all too often in recent years. I hope that we can renew our bipartisan commitment to this critically important issue and pass this legislation quickly.”

U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), an original co-sponsor of the House bill and a nurse for over 30 years before becoming a member of Congress on a platform of anti-violence, said, “Parents send their kids to these programs to make them healthier, more productive members of society, but too often these experiences leave both mental and physical scars. Abuse in teen residential programs is a dark spot in our nation that must be addressed.”

The House passed identical legislation with strong bipartisan support in the 110th and 111th Congresses. Numerous media reports have exposed continuing abuses at some of these programs since the legislation passed the House but failed to move any farther in 2009. For example, in August 2009, a 16-year-old boy died after ‘boot camp’ staff failed to provide medical care on a hike when he began to show significant and prolonged signs of heat exhaustion. In an affidavit requesting a search warrant the Sheriff’s Deputy indicated that he believed the death was a homicide and the result of criminal mistreatment and reckless endangerment by the school. After an investigation, the Oregon Department of Human services found evidence that at least two staff members neglected the care of the victim by failing to provide medical care which likely endangered his life.

The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act would set minimum safety standards, require states to inform the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of reports of abuse and neglect at covered programs, require investigations of such programs and require the HHS to issue civil penalties against programs that violate the new standards. The bill also calls for states, within three years, to take on the role of setting and enforcing standards for both private and public youth residential programs. In addition, the legislation would also ensure that parents have the information needed to make safe choices for their children about teen residential programs.

Among other provisions, this legislation would ensure children’s safety and empower parental choice by creating a toll-free national hotline for individuals to report cases of abuse and a website with information about substantiated cases of abuse at residential programs. The bill would require programs to provide children with adequate food, water, medical care, and rest. And to prevent deceptive marketing practices and create transparency to help parents make safe choices for their children, it would require, among other things, that programs inform parents of their staff members’ qualifications, roles, and responsibilities.

Investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office during the 110th Congress uncovered thousands of cases and allegations of child abuse and neglect since the early 1990’s at teen residential programs, including therapeutic boarding schools, boot camps, wilderness programs and behavior modification facilities. Currently, these programs are governed only by a weak patchwork of state and federal standards. A separate GAO report, conducted in 2008, found major gaps in the licensing and oversight of residential programs – some of which are not covered by any state licensing standards at all. In addition, the GAO’s investigation revealed that many teen residential treatment programs have been using deceptive marketing practices and questionable tactics to lure vulnerable parents desperate to find help for their children.

The legislation is supported by leading child advocacy and national organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Welfare League of America, American Association of Children’s Residential Centers, Easter Seals, American Psychological Association and the Children’s Defense Fund. For a complete list of organizations, click here.

For more information on the bill, click here.

Survivors of Institutional Abuse Conference~February 24-26

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Received the following from a volunteer for the Survivors of Institutional Abuse Conference that is going to take place in  in Long Beach, CA aboard the Queen Mary on February 24-26, 2012.  The volunteer who asked me to pass this along did such a great job writing about this, the editorial committee here are Chuckles Travels decided that it was best to post as recieved.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! SIA (Survivors of Institutional Abuse) a non-profit org for which I have (and will continue to) volunteer(ed) my time and resources to, has officially announced the “United With One Voice” convention on February 24-26, 2012 in Long Beach, CA aboard the Queen Mary. For those who would like to attend, all information is provided on the following website:

http://sia-convention.org/

You will also notice the “donate” button in the mid-left area of the home page. All contributions to this convention and the SIA org are tax deductible. Everyone who knows me can confirm that I am not one to post solicitations for money. This exception is being made because I have a personal and vested interest in this organization because *I* myself am a survivor of a confirmedly abusive “Christian Boarding School” called New Bethany in Arcadia, LA. I (and several other survivors) agreed to be interviewed for an article that developed into a 6 pg. expose’ written by the author of the book “Quiverfull” (Kathryn Joyce) that was featured in the July/August 2011 issue of Mother Jones magazine.

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/08/new-bethany-ifb-teen-homes-abuse

http://motherjones.com/slideshows/2011/08/abusive-religious-reform-homes/new-bethany-residents

 

Just a few months prior to the release of the Mother Jones expose’, the ABC news website posted an article about other confirmedly abusive “Christian Boarding Schools” in the mid-west, New Beginnings and Circle of Hope:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/independent-fundamental-baptist-discipline-call-tough-love-abuse/t/story?id=13310172&page=4

On August 31, 2011 SIA partnered with CFI-West and held a panel discussion about the rampant abuse still occurring in these “schools”:


For the most recent exposure, on September 1, 2011 Anderson Cooper 360 featured another confirmedly abusive “Christian Boarding School” in Indiana, Hephzibah House:

Also, several survivors from New Bethany published a book about their personal experiences of being physically, emotionally and sexually abuse as residents there:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/new-bethany/16600238

In closing, I want to mention another organization that I volunteer for called HEAL-online, founded by another survivor of a confirmedly abusive “boarding school”, (Provo Canyon), Angela Smith. Angela and HEAL have made huge contributions toward the exposure of these fraudulent and abusive facilities:

http://www.heal-online.org/invite.pdf

I know times are hard financially. but whether hard or easy, parents, pastors, guardians and church members are being defrauded on a daily basis by the directors and supporters of these unlicensed institutions. If you have $10 in change in a bowl on your nightstand or dresser, or are looking for a worthy cause to donate ANY amount to, please consider making that donation to SIA and to HEAL-online! SIA is also inviting corporate sponsors who wish to advertise their business at the February 2012 convention to contact them: