More Proof that BJU STILL Doesn’t Get It!

Posted on January 5, 2012 by chucklestravels

Now that the Christmas Season holidays are past the next major Christian Holiday is Easter. Easter; the reason for which Christ was born, and lived, died and rose again, is celebrated.

Those of you who are familiar with Bob Jones University know that at Easter for many years now the University does a program called “Living Gallery” in which the works of art come to life.

One may be wondering what this years production will be.

According to the brochure pictured above:

“The years new drama “Somewhere Forever” follows the story of three lives touched by the Gospel: A man facing life as a widower at age 30. An abuse victim unable to let go of her anger. A 20 something who wants to break away from his past.

When a conversation in a local coffee shop turns to matters of life and death, failure and hope, Tyler, Lizzie and Chris must decide what to do with the claims of Christ and His Resurrection. How will each respond to the fact the all will live somewhere forever?”

This brochure was actually mailed out immediately prior to the Do Right BJU protest. While I don’t know what the script of this production is, I do know what the script for those who give counseling at BJU has been for the last 30 plus years. Have the rape victim repent of any anger and bitterness s/he may have toward God. But it doesn’t stop there. They are even to ask their abuser forgiveness for anger against a man who molested or raped them. Then everything is supposed to be fine. You can hear it here starting around 17:55 through 21:15.

Weeping softly.

BJU you still really don’t get it, do you?

Counseling Shams and Scams

Posted on December 19, 2011 by chucklestravels

In an earlier post we looked at a few red flags for those of us who seek out help from a counselor/therapist.
Most importantly, please use a Counselor/Therapist that is licensed by the state in which you live. Often, unlicensed “therapists” and controlling pastors will tell a victim that it would be “sinful” and/or “out of God’s will” to seek help from a properly licensed therapist. Even a Christian therapist who possess the proper credentials. This is part of the intimidation approach that has become so frequent and familiar in the IFB and other controlling circles.

Although questionable licensed therapists certainly exist, you have some recourse if things go badly. You can report the counselor/therapist to their licensing board. You are more likely able to seek civil resources for malpractice when dealing with a licensed Counselor/Therapist due to they possess clear standards of practice and conduct from their licensing board.

Unlicensed therapists generally are not covered under the HIPPA laws. We have heard horrifying stories from survivors of unlicensed “counselors” breaking the confidentiality of their “clients.” There have been many of these stories. Unlicensed ”counselors” have been known to call abusive fathers, stepfathers, and even rapists without the knowledge of the person being counselled. If a licensed therapist did such a thing, it is likely the license would be lifted. Most of the time if you sought counseling therapy from an unlicensed therapist you have no recourse if things go badly. Particularly if it is a breach in confidentiality. They have no oversight from a licensing board for bad practise or ethical breeches to whom they must report.

Recently, Chuckles and CP were notified of two separate individuals who claimed to be licensed. Chuckles began noticing red-flags immediately with one of these “counselors” and contacted the State licensing board only to find out this person has never been issued a license. It is possible one of these “counselors” is running a scam.

Over a period of the last six months the other therapist had already been on Chuckles radar. She had told three others seeking help after a sexual assault that she was licensed when no license has ever existed according to the state board. Apparently both of these “counselors” are charging for her “services.” It is generally prohibited by law for an unlicensed therapist to charge for therapy. The only exception is the therapist must fully disclose the fact the counselor/therapist does not possess a license. If a “counselor” would fabricate the existence of a license, what else are they capable of?

Sadly, the above “counselors” who have passed themselves off as licensed, claim to be Christians.

Remember, it is possible to get a “certificate” in anything. There are plenty of places offering fly-by-night “certificates” for a few days to a few weeks of “training.” As a matter of fact, anyone with a printer can print their own certificate. It is indeed sad that those who need help, need to even worry about the details of the training and credentials. Just as you would want to make sure the medical doctor you are going to entrust yourself to, possesses the appropriate training and license, it is important to check out your counselor/therapist credentials. Ask to see their license. Check with the State Board from the state in which you live. A therapist must be licensed in the state they wish to practice to practice therapy in that state.

It is false that there aren’t any licensed Christian counselors/therapists.Both C.P. and Chuckles know first-hand the value of qualified therapy as we’ve each been “on the couch” for different reasons. The ability of a qualified, properly trained therapist to lead you through issues (you never get “over” them) so you can actually improve your outlook and make the necessary changes is wonderful. We cannot say the same about the flawed methods and outcomes these sham operators push.

If you need assistance checking out the credentials of the counselor/therapist you’re currently seeing or intend to see, please feel free to email chucklestravels@gmail.com.

RAINN offers both online and telephone resources. Another great resource is theNational Center for Victims of Crime. Both of these resources are confidential.

Bob Jones Ignores and Deletes Questions

Posted on November 2, 2011 by chucklestravels

There were many alumni and others who questioned the appointment of Charles “Chuck” Phelps to Bob Jones University’s Cooperating Board on the Official Bob Jones University Facebook Page.

Bob Jones University Official Facebook Page Logo

More than 24 hours have gone by without answers to the questions.

Bob Jones couldn’t bring itself to answer any questions about this, but instead it appears that these questions. and comments are being deleted from the official Bob Jones University facebook page.

Chuckles has expected this would be their action.

Never fear. Chuckles is here.

Chuckles saved them all.

Message to Bob Jones University! Just because you refuse to answer questions don’t make the questions go away.
You all, it seems you would have learned that not answering and deleting questions just proves the following illustration of a snowball rolling down hill. What is occurring once again, Bob, is like the snowball rolling downhill, the more you ignore it, or put more snow in its way, causes it to pick up speed. Other snowflakes who were not interested before take notice and then begin asking questions and wondering why nothing is being done. The same is true when you all make a deflection statement, then other snowflakes wonder what you are hiding, and more catch on. Just a word of advice. Learn from your previous mistakes when you have done this in the past, don’t repeat the same old same old.

Now for those deleted comments and questions.

I see a red sky dawning!

Chuck Phelps Returns To Board Of Bob Jones University

Posted on November 1, 2011 by chucklestravels

While the attention of the media, abuse survivors and others were on the trial of Ernie Willis for the rape and resultant pregnancy of Tina Anderson when she was 15, there was a sleight of hand going on. While others were focusing on what was increasingly becoming known of the actions of Tina’s pastor, Chuck Phelps who made her stand before her congregation and apologize for putting herself in a compromising situation and getting raped, the cooperating board at Bob Jones University had quietly pulled a dirty trick. While others were riveted on the fact that a 15 year old, under the direction of her pastor, the girls mother, sent her daughter to Colorado to live with friends of Pastor Phelps where she was home-schooled while the rapist paid for the plane ticket to Colorado, another move was in progress. Tina Anderson’s story continued to gain momentum in the media and on April 8, 2011 Elizabeth Vargus correspondent with ABC News 20/20 aired “Shattered Faith.” Pastor Phelps told a 20/20 producer that Tina had an ongoing dating relationship with a married man that had turned sexual in nature.

The next day or so, her former Pastor Chuck Phelps went live with a website stating Tina was untruthful. Fundamentalist Pastors and laymen on Sharper Iron and elsewhere portrayed her as a little Lolita whose wily ways hooked an innocent man into her grasp. Pastor Phelps spoke to many pastors and individuals all over the country telling them that Tina was not being truthful and that she was pressing on with criminal charges against Ernie Willis to get money.

Never mind that criminal proceedings don’t pay a dime to the victim. Any civil judgement would be a separate issue. At the time, Tina nor her husband had not filed any documents to do so. It is not known now whether the Anderson’s have done so, although it is certainly within their legal rights if they chose to.

Leaders in the IFB traveled and met every other month or so in different cities to “pray with Chuck Phelps.”

While this was going on, another magic trick was in progress in the Bob Jones University boardroom.

Then the trial rolled around. David Gibbs, III who represented both Phelps and Tina’s mother Christine Leaf lost a last minute legal “hail Mary” ploy to keep Phelps’ copious notes out of being read into the record by trying to claim, “clergy-congregant privilege.” The judge recognized that privilege belonged to the victim not the perpetrator. Furthermore any privilege that had applied died when Phelps spoke about it to all those third parties and anyone with access to the inter-web.

It was soon revealed that Tina had told the truth and Phelps had been more than dishonest from Phelps own sworn testimony in a court of law. Willis was convicted and sentenced on five counts. Because the statute of limitations is short for failure to report in New Hampshire, state prosecutors are unable to charge him. It is a long-shot that federal charges could be brought against Phelps under the Mann Act. It appears unlikely that federal authorities will be pursuing this route at this point.

Phelps left the Bob Jones University board in 2007 after he accepted the offer to become President of Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Phelps time at Maranatha was short, he was asked to leave May 2009.

Everyone’s attention was on the 20/20 report, the upcoming trial and then the trial testimony of Christine Leaf, Chuck Phelps, Ernie Willis and others. After Willis was found guilty our attention turned to sentencing of Willis. Tina was vindicated. Phelps, however never apologized, he never removed his website, nor the lies he told. Phelps even tried to take credit for Willis being convicted.

While all this was occurring elsewhere, Chuck Phelps was quietly put back on the 2011 Cooperating Board of Bob Jones Universityalong with others such as Ian Paisley, Jerry Svinsky and John Vaughn. Chuck Phelps is on the board with the current Vice-President of Operations, Marshall Franklin. Since the current president Dr. Stephen Jones is on medical leave it is widely known that Mr. Franklin oversee’s the day-to-day duties of President Stephen Jones. Mr. Franklin has been a long-term trusted friend of the Jones family, especially Stephen Jones. Chuck Phelps’ name is right there as plain as day between Evangelist Stephen Pettit of the Pettit Evangelistic Ministries and Fundamental Church Planter Robert Packer.

2011 Bob Jones University Cooperating Board Members listed in BJU Catalog Page 254

Chuck Phelps was on the board when 20/20 aired. Chuck Phelps was on the board when Brian Fuller, who has openly stated that Phelps was his mentor, denied there was a network in the IFB. Either Brian Fuller is a huge patsy, or he is as deceptive as the rest.

Dr. Bob Jones, III was present when the American Council of Christian Churches passed its resolution on abuse at the ACCC Annual meeting October 19-21, 2011. Immediately upon finding this out this afternoon, Chuckles called a pastor who was present and claims he voted for the resolution to be passed and asked him if he knew about this. The pastor said he did, but then remarked,

“We disagree on whether Chuck did anything wrong.”

Phelps spent months lying to many people’s faces, he set up a website to commit libel against a victim of rape, verbally slandered the victim all over the country, lied to the media, both lied to and about the police. Apparently this kind of behavior is ok for a Cooperating Board member of Bob Jones University. It’s apparently fine for a board member to do so, but a student would be expelled for much less.

This same man quickly added,

“Chuck didn’t do anything to hurt Ms. Anderson.”

No one has the right to say what she feels or not feel other than Tina. No one has the right to tell people how Tina should feel toward those who did hurt her. However doing so is typical fundamentalist trope. Leaders are adapt at telling others how they should feel about things, even how long a person should grieve, etc. Chuckles did remind this that man even Phelps has acknowledged his actions were hurtful during his testimony.

Leaders!

This is a perfect example of why many of us feel free to challenge your “genuineness.” Every time you are given a chance to prove yourselves, you once again prove that you are less than sincere. You have once again proven you are deceptive.

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44

Hat Tip Dr. Camille K. Lewis, PHD.

11-27-2012 CLARIFICATION …

The blog first found out Phelps was reinstated around November 1, 2011. His reinstatement dates back to 2010 and was reportedly kept “quiet” intentionally, presumably based on the upcoming trial that convited Tina’s rapist. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused regarding the timeline.

Editorial Board of the Blog

Sick Puppy: Joshua Komisarjevsky

Posted on November 1, 2011 by chucklestravels

Joshua Komisarjevsky

On Sunday July 23, 2007 two men, Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky trailed Jennifer Hawke-Petit, a pretty blonde nurse and mother who suffered from Multiple Sclerosis to her home from a grocery store.

The Petit family endured a home invasion which ended in the torture, rape Mrs. Petit, 17 year old daughter Haily Petit 11 year old daughter Michaela Petit. The two also tied up and brutally assaulted the father and husband, Dr. William Petit, a prominent Connecticut doctor, with a baseball bat and tied him in the basement. In an effort to cooperate with her captives and save her families lives, Jennifer Hawke-Petit went to her bank and withdrew $15,000 in the hope of placating her abductors, according to the 911 call from the bank employees. According to police interviews and records, as police were approaching the Petit home, the two men poured gasoline on and around Mrs. Petit and her daughters. The two daughters were still alive one of the men lit them on fire before fleeing the home. Somehow Dr. Petit managed to either crawl or rolled to a neighbor’s house. Doctors who later treated Dr. Petit testified at the trial of Steven Hayes that Dr. Petit had lost seven units of blood as a result of the assault. Hayes was the first to stand trial. Hayes was found guilty in November 2010. A few days later during the penalty phase of the trial, Hayes smiled as he was sentenced to death after the jury handed down the death penalty.

It took almost a year for Joshua Komisarjevsky was convicted on seventeen counts for these crimes. Now the penalty phase is in progress. This one is interesting.

Joshua Komisarjevsky grew up in home-schooled, in an apparent fundamentalist baptist church. His mother used Bill Gothard materials and attended Advanced Training Seminars as well.

Jude Komisarjevsky, the killers mother took the stand on October 27th and October 28th.

Jude testified that she had pulled Joshua out of public school in fifth grade, stating a teacher had been “verbally abusing him in the classroom.” His younger sister was also removed from school at the same time, testified Mrs. Komisarjevsky, because she believed her daughter was being bullied. His mother testified that around the age of 9 or 10 they noticed their son had been stealing his neighbors panties. Instead of getting help for their son, she testified that she and her husband made him apologize to the neighbors and made him miss soccer games.

She testified that after her son lost his grandfather when he was fourteen. She testified that his father had taken the boy to a soccer game. While at this soccer game, his grandfather passed away. She testified that her son “felt guilty about not being with his grandfather when he died and even worse when family members yelled at Joshua and Ben for being at a soccer game instead of at his grandfather’s side.”

Her testimony sounds like it may have been taken out of a Jack Chic tract. She testified how her “once-obedient boy” had turned into a “rebel” lured by a “satanic cult.” She testified as to why she thought her son was a member of a satanic cult was because he dyed his hair orange, wore a dog collar, and hung out with kids they thought were “bad influences.”

It was around this time Joshua was first arrested. As a juvenile he started a fire at a closed and boarded-up gas station.

In 1995 he ran away from home, when the police brought Joshua home his mother the words “death by suicide” were found written on his room walls. Instead of concerning herself with the possibility her son may be seriously mentally ill she worried that he was in a satanic cult. She testified that doctors suggested he be admitted Elmhurst Psychiatric Hospital where, according to her testimony, the doctors recommended he be medicated on “Thorazine.”

Instead of doing what the doctors suggested, she and her husband decided to send him to Cornerstone Boys Home which is a part of The Fold Family Ministries of Linderton, Vermont.

The jury listened to Jude testify how she had home-schooled both Joshua and his younger sister before Joshua was sent to Cornerstone Boys Home. Jude Komisarjevsky said that she put together school materials for the children with the help of materials by Bill Gothard.

Defense attorney Todd A. Bussert introduced into evidence the books and materials by Bill Gothard, founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, which Joshua’s mother used to home-school her children. These manuals instructed parents on how to recognize and handle teen rebellion and how to identify forces that could destroy a family. She testified that she went to seminars presented by Bill Gothard’s Advanced Training Institute International.

Sometime in there, she conveniently blames a former foster child for sexually abusing young Joshua. She claims she knew nothing about it at the time, and no police reports were made either.

A former pastor also took the stand and testified young Joshua was a ”very smart and gifted young fella.” The former pastor testified Joshua was “difficult” but he the other “side of him was very loving and very caring.”

The pastor admitted to having not seen Joshua for many years. The pastor then testified:

“If he had been my son, he probably would have gotten a few spankings, physical and verbal, and given a lot of counseling beyond me,”

Joshua Komisarjevsky’s younger sister took the stand that her brother had sexually abused her for years, starting at the age of seven. His sister also testified that her brother wasn’t violent and didn’t believe he “would intentionally kill.”

Sounds as if there was a lot of dysfunction and willful blindness present in the Komisarjesky home.

It appears that his mother is now blaming everyone and everything but her son, their parenting style of lack of, for the crimes Joshua committed. This most likely is not something new. I believe in Satan. I believe in the Devil. Without meeting Joshua nor his parents, I feel I also have met a few parents like Jude Komisarjevsky over the years too.

Parents such as Jude and her husband blame the Devil for their own devilish acts of abuse and neglect.

Evangelist Shuts Down Survivors With One Sermon Illustration

Posted on October 16, 2011 by chucklestravels

At the Beginning of every school year, Bob Jones University has opening exercises. Opening exercises consist of two evenings of evangelistic services that faculty and students are told will set “the spiritual tone” for the school year.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011 was the second evening. The speaker was Evangelist Will Galkin. This would be the last message the students hear to “set the spiritual tone” for the school year. The offending example stars about 24:50.

Evangelist Galkin chose James 4 as the text on which he would preach. Chuckles will not go into the theological misrepresentations in this post. Perhaps CP Traveler will take that up in another entry.

Will Galkin’s example is wrong on so many levels. It is hard to determine where to start!

Let’s start with a few statistics.

1 in 5 boys, 1 in 4 girls by the age of 18 report being sexually abused. Law Enforcement and Child Advocacy groups have known for years that most of these crimes go unreported for a number reasons.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Crimes Against Children’s Unit estimates every child has almost a 25% chance of being molested, with a sex offender living “in every square mile of the United States.” It is known that many children are molested by someone who is known to the child and their family. The FBI Crimes Against Children’s Unit further estimates that one in ten men have molested children. Of those men who molest, they only have a 3% chance of getting caught for this crime.

Sigh….

Now that Chuckles has caused you all to be afraid to allow your children or grandchildren out of your sight ever again, let’s for the sake of making this simple focus on the cases in which molestation was reported. Please bear with Chuckles since he is not a mathematician. If 1 in 5 boys, 1 in 4 girls by the age of 18 report being sexually abused. Think about how many people who it would be if you walk past 20 or 30 people on the sidewalks everyday at Bob Jones University. Chuckles finds it deplorable that Evangelist Galkin would use the one example of one girl making up this story because her life was “boring.” Frankly, Chuckles saw so many discrepancies in Galkin’s illustration, he is left to wonder if Galkin is the one with the active imagination.

First off, “paternal father,” really Galkin? What other kind of father would the girls biological father be?

To juice up the illustration, Galkin tells how the girl was estranged and “bitter” with (presumably) her paternal father, abused by her step-father. Her “paternal father” (presumably), is killed in a car accident returning from visiting the girl at camp. According to Galkin’s illustration, the girl then turns tail and claims she said all this because she was bored and wanted a more exciting life!

HOW DARE HE!

What will all the young ladies and young men do what were present in the amphitorium who have suffered through being sexually abused do? The abuse story Galkin just told was so outlandish, yet some think to themselves, “my story is worse than that, but it’s true!“ Maybe, these abused young people who were praying and begging God for years the abuse would stop, and it never did. Finally! Finally! The student get’s to go to Bob Jones University! Finally! The student thinks, “I can tell someone about this, get some help. I don’t know, maybe get some counseling!” Most of these abuse survivors will never talk for a long time, maybe never! Galkin just told such a survivor, no one will believe them! Furthermore, Galkin planted the seed deeply in the mind of dorm counselors, other counselors, and Faculty/Staff at Bob Jones University, to question any abuse statements they hear because the victim might only have attention-seeking problems. There’s probably just “mental idolatry” going on.

Frankly, false reports of sexual abuse/rape are rare. They do occur. However, Galkin using such a dreadful illustration to speak about sex abuse, is like comparing the Susan Smith case to nearly everyone who has suffered the death of a child. Most parents who suffer the death of their child, are not responsible for murdering their child(ren).

Of all the confirmed liars Galkin could have picked…

Why didn’t he pick this guy? Or maybe, this one?

[Stepping down off soap box!]

Write the DOE about BJU’s failure to follow the law.

Posted on September 26, 2011 by chucklestravels

In 1992, the US Congress enacted the “Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights” (http://www.securityoncampus.org/index.php?view=article&catid=54%3Afaq&id=133%253). President George HW Bush signed it into law in 1992. It requires any school that participates in federal student aid programs to:

* Notify sexual assault victims of certain basic rights.
* Notify victims of their options to report their assault to the proper law enforcement authorities.

As we all know, BJU has no such policy. One of this blogs readers has already written the South Carolina state agencies and South Carolina state elected officials about their violations of *state* laws for mandatory reporting. And two weeks ago, this same person wrote the DOE about Bob Jones University’s violations of FERPA.

But this is another violation to a different law. I’m asking you all to write officials at the Dept of Ed to notify them of this violation of the “Clery Law.” The more people that notify them, the better. Their emails are:

peter.Cunningham@ed.gov,

OCR@ed.gov,

oig.hotline@ed.gov

The first address is for the Assistant Secretary of Education, Peter Cunningham and the other two are the more usual gatekeepers.

Some other quotations you might want to include are as follows:

From the current BJU Student Handbook on printed page 51:

Non-harassment Policy

Bob Jones University provides an educational environment free of harassment of any kind—sexual, racial or otherwise. Such harassment, whether verbal or physical, is illegal and is not allowed. A student who feels he is being harassed should discuss the situation with the dean of men/women.>>

From the current BJU Faculty Handbook on printed page 27-29:

Non-Harassment Policy

It is Bob Jones University’s policy to prohibit harassment based on race, color, sex, national origin, age (40+), protected disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected in accordance with applicable laws. While it is not easy to define what harassment is, examples include verbal (including improper joking or teasing) or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of these protected attributes, and that (1) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment as defined by law, or (2) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance, or (3) otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment opportunities.BJU also prohibits harassment based upon gender. While it is not easy to define precisely what types of conduct could constitute sexual harassment, examples of prohibited behavior include improper sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, such as uninvited touching of a sexual nature or sexually related comments. Depending upon the circumstances, the conduct can also include sexual joking, vulgar or offensive conversation or jokes, commenting about an individual’s physical appearance, teasing, or other conduct directed toward a person because of his or her gender which is sufficiently severe or pervasive to create an unprofessional and hostile working environment.

BJU will promptly and thoroughly investigate the facts and circumstances of any claim of perceived harassment as confidentially as possible. Because of the sensitivity of the issues involved in an investigation, employees interviewed during an investigation are to treat the information discussed as confidential. Disclosure of such information is a violation of BJU policy and procedures and may lead to disciplinary action. Anybody, regardless of position or title, who engages in unlawful harassment of any kind will be subject to discipline up to and including termination.
If you feel you are being subjected to unlawful harassment, speak to your supervisor, department head or the director of Human Resources. No one will be subject to, and BJU prohibits, any form of discipline or retaliation for reporting incidents of unlawful harassment, pursuing any such claim or cooperating in the investigation of such reports.

Sexual Abuse and Molestation Prevention Policy
Bob Jones University does not permit or allow sexual abuse or molestation to occur in the workplace. In order to make this “zero-tolerance” policy clear to all employees, we have adopted mandatory procedures that employees, volunteers, family members, board members, individuals and victims are to follow when they learn of or witness sexual abuse or molestation.

Sexual abuse takes the form of inappropriate sexual contact or interaction for the gratification of the actor who is functioning as a caregiver and is responsible for the patient’s or child’s care. Sexual abuse includes sexual assault, exploitation, molestation or injury.
All employees who learn of sexual abuse being committed are to report it immediately to their supervisor, department head or the director of Human Resources. If the victim is an adult, the abuse will be reported by this designee to the local or state Adult Protective Services (APS) Agency. If a child is the victim, the designee will report it to the local or state Child Abuse Agency.Appropriate family members of the victim are to be notified immediately of suspected child abuse.

We take allegations of sexual abuse seriously. Once the allegation is reported, we will promptly, thoroughly and impartially initiate an investigation to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that sexual abuse has been committed. Our investigation may be undertaken by an internal team, or we may hire an independent third party. We will cooperate fully with any investigation conducted by law enforcement or regulatory agencies, and we may refer the complaint and the result of our investigation to those agencies. We reserve the right to place the subject of the investigation on an involuntary leave of absence or to reassign that person to responsibilities that do not involve personal contact with individuals or students. To the fullest extent possible, but consistent with our legal obligation to report suspected abuse to appropriate authorities, we will endeavor to keep the identities of the alleged victims and investigation subject confidential.

If the investigation substantiates the allegation, our policy provides for disciplinary penalties, including but not limited to termination of the actor’s relationship with BJU.

No one will be subject to, and BJU prohibits, any form of discipline or retaliation for reporting incidents of sexual abuse or molestation, pursuing any such claim, or cooperating in the investigation of such reports.

Thanks again for all your public support of truth and justice. Please write to the Department of Education.

Ernie Willis Sentenced~Chuck Phelps Lies Again.

Posted on September 13, 2011 by chucklestravels

On September 6, 2011, Ernie Willis was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison for of three counts of forcible rape and one count of felonious sexual assault of Tina Anderson. Tina Dooley Anderson was at the time of these rapes, … Continue reading →

Circle of Hope Girls Ranch: Place of Hope or Place of Fraud, Child Neglect and Abuse?

Posted on June 28, 2011 by chucklestravels

Recently Chuck Travels was contacted by a mother who reports that her daughter was abused and neglected at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch located in Humansville, Missouri. She and others have alleged that the CEO Boyd Householder made fraudulent statements as well. Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding Schools is a tax exempt/non-profit. Many have alleged that Boyd Householder uses Circle of Hope Girls Ranch’s tax exempt status to not only commit fraud against parents, but also abuses and neglects teenage girls. Mr. Householder is the self-described “CEO and Founder of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. Husband, Father, Grandfather.”

Boyd Householder.

Householder also calls himself, ‘Gunslinger for God.’ Why one who is entrusted with teenage girls would go around calling himself a “Gunslinger for God’ is beyond comprehension.

Parent claims this is an actual picture of the "uniform" her daughter was forced to wear at Circle of Hope. This is what the parent was allegedly charged $300.00 for.

Chuck Travels wrote to Boyd Householder requesting information on Circle of Hope Girls Ranch on June 13, 2011. As of this posting Chuck Travels has not received a response. Unfortunately, it appears that information that comes directly from Circle Of Hope Girls Ranch as to what the program is, is hard to obtain. Two websites that were at one time used by the Householders for Circle of Hope Girls Ranch have been removed from the net. One has to wonder what exactly a place that would remove their own website has to hide?

Parent reports that this is a picture of the actual shoes her daughter was wearing when the mother arrived at COH unexpectedly. Claims are the girl wore these shoes in sub-zero weather and forced to shovel horse manure while wearing these same shoes.

Former “students” of Circle of Hope claim the Mr. Householder screams and spits in girls faces, girls were either force fed or denied food depending on the whim of the staff. If a girl vomited her face was shoved in her vomitus, and much more. Girls claim that a few of them were made to preform push-ups in horse feces. Parents were charged thousands of dollars for tuition, and $300.00 for uniforms.

Parents were promised their daughters would get a quality education when in reality the girls actually received very little to no education.

It is alleged that an adult staff member of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch had sex with one of the minor girls while she was a student at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. It is further alleged that Boyd and his wife Stephanie Householder knew of this. It is alleged the Householders told the girl not to say anything that they would take care of it and notify the parents. It is alleged the parents were not notified. The staff member left and that was all that was done. No police report can be found.

Mr. Householders belligerence is not only directed to the “troubled girls.” He wrote the following discourteous letter to parents. The letter is dated October 19, 2007.

Boyd Householder Parent Letter Oct 2007 Page 1

Boyd Household Parent Letter Page 2 October 2007

One can only imagine Mr. Householder’s surly attitude toward the students if he is willing to treat parents in such a boorish manner.

Update: Circle of Hope Girls Ranch is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3). Circle of Hope Girls Ranch National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) Classification lists as a Residential Mental Health Treatment Facility.

What qualifications does Boyd or Stephanie Householder have to claim this?
There are no licensed social workers or licensed psychologists or psychiatrists on staff.
Are there any licensed nurses on staff?

In 2003 Boyd and Stephanie Householder recieved $7,100.00 as a disaster loan.

In addition to the monies Circle of Hope Girls Ranch receives for tuition, room and board and uniforms, Circle of Hope Girls Ranch is supported by numerous churches as part of the churches missionary giving program. New Beginnings Girls Academy, New Bethany, and Hephzibah House program are just three examples. Boyd Householder and Circle of Hope Girls Ranch are like similar facilities supported by churches.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of churches that support Circle of Hope Girls Academy:

Victory Baptist Church, Beaufort, SC

Grace Baptist Church, Crestline, Ohio

Calvary Baptist Church, Knob Noster, MO

Berean Baptist Church, Springfield, MO

Pastor Jeff Ables denied that the church supported Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. However, the following excerpt is from the Springfield, MO NewsLeader:

“Baxter / for the News-LeaderBenefit ride

The Big 50 Bike Ride to benefit the Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Boarding School will be May 21. The event is hosted by Berean Baptist Church, with about 35 churches participating.
Anyone who would like to donate to the girls home can send a check or money order to Berean Baptist, 507 E. Norton Road, Springfield, MO 65803. Note on the check it is for Circle of Hope.
For information, call Assistant Pastor Al Price at Berean Baptist, 833-1529.”

Boyd Householder posted this comment under Faith Promise Missions in the pastors blog for Berean Baptist Church:

“I agree! It seems like each Mission’s Conference that we have attended since becoming a member, has gotten better. Hearts are touched and changed, not only in the giving aspect but also in the spiritual aspect. The Missionaries presentations were awesome and Bro. McEntire “flung ‘er down.” Boyd Householder

Pastor Ables why did you publicly lie about not supporting Circle of Hope Girls Ranch/Boyd Householder?

In addition to the tuition, room, board and uniform fees and churches missionary giving, The Householders solicit funds through Charity Blossom and other Charity fundraising sites.

Cathy’s Story of Kidnapping, Rape, Abuse and Cover-up~Part III

Posted on June 18, 2011 by chucklestravels

This is the third part in the series, Cathy’s Story. Please read Part one and part two before continuing.

For a long time I actually felt that I left God Himself when I left the church. It was one of the most depressing times in my life. Few of my former church friends associated with me other than to tell me I was in sin. I felt further isolation, abuse, and was fearful of the world. A well known Christian leader questioned me personally and to others that were still in the church about my salvation. One tactic that was extremely difficult for me to deal with was the “shepherding” philosophy. Other IFB churches may refer to this as discipleship groups. As practiced in many IFB churches, this philosophy requires every member to be personally accountable to another “more experienced” or more “spiritual” person. To this person, one must “be transparent”, revealing all personal thoughts, feelings, and future plans. I now understand that this personal information is not used to help the member, but to control the member.

A few years after leaving the IFB church that I had attended, I again became involved in a Shepherding Group that at first seemed harmless. I still did not understand that a person must be very careful about churches that insist members be accountable to some leader for spiritual and personal growth, especially if the group leader begins to demand transparency and accountability of the member regarding personal and or spiritual issues and personal decisions. The most upsetting thing that happened as a result of my departure from that group took place when my former shepherding group leader, his wife, and several others members of my former church became involved in my current group. This particular group was disbanded by the leaders almost a year before this time due to lack of interest and attendance of group members. Furthermore, two people in this meeting were never involved with me the whole time I was in the church.

One of my then- current church pastors asked me to meet him on a Sunday afternoon. He claimed he wanted to find out how the church could be of assistance to me because he had heard of my then recent surgery and beginning treatments for Clear Cell Chondrosarcoma a rare bone cancer. I had just returned to Greenville after being in another state for over two months for surgery and treatment. I was still very weak and sick. When I went to the church that afternoon, I found my former Shepherding group leader and his wife there waiting for me. Soon the small conference room was filled with 8 other people. One of the pastoral staff was there, but quickly added he did not know me, “which is probably a good thing.” Only two others were ever directly involved with me. The others were people I did not know personally. I knew they were members of the church. None of these people, other than the Shepherding Group Leader and his wife, ever went to my Shepherding Group. I, in no way expected to experience this very painful “intervention”, or confrontation , by the leadership, which I now refer to as a “surprise party” or “gang-up.” I was lured to this meeting under false pretenses. I have heard from other former members that sometimes such meetings are in the home of an elder or other leader and sometimes in the home of the “problem member” himself. My “intervention” consisted of a hostile and accusatory “interrogation session” that lasted for 3 hours. The group’s objective was to persuade me to confess of the “error of my ways” and of my “need to submit myself to the discipline of the church.” They went on to question the reality of my medical condition. I was told to recant my “slanderous” charges against a “spiritual leader”, obviously referring to Jim Berg. I learned from previous encounters that if I became outwardly hostile during such a ‘process’ things would become worse. I did, however, refuse to acknowledge any wrongdoing on my part. I showed copies of my oncologist surgical report as well as the actual XRAY film which clearly showed the tumor that was recently removed.

Even after all of the evidence I provided, a man who sat directly across from me and who had glared at me the whole time finally said, “Tell me about your salvation experience.” I finally lost it a little and replied, “No matter what I say, no one here will believe that I am saved. You worry about your salvation. Let God and me worry about mine. You are not the Holy Spirit in my life!”

After that outburst, the pastoral staff member said, “Cathy, you go across the hall with the women and we (the pastor staff member, my ex-shepherding group leader and the man whom I did not know) will talk about what we are going to do to help you or how we are going to deal with you. If I had not been recovering from major cancer surgery, I would have certainly handled this differently. Most likely my response would have been to leave right then and there. I was hurt and bewildered by what the assistant pastor said. However, I did go across the hall with the women. The Shepherding Group leader’s wife then asked me about a family member who was also recently diagnosed with cancer. I was exhausted, but angered by then. I said something to the effect of, “Why don’t you call and ask him yourself?” They talked at me, not to me, for a few minutes. The Shepherding Group leader’s wife closed by telling me, “We all love you, lady.” I did not make any friends when I said, “I can tell how much you love me by all the lies you have told and the knife that is sticking out of my back!” Then the ladies went around the room and prayed for me to “repent” and asked God to “convict me of my bitterness.”

I did not stay for the whole prayer session. I just got up and left the room. When I went out into the hallway, I saw through a small window in the door the men sitting and talking around a conference table. At this point, I was tearful and angry. I knew, at this point, there was nothing to lose. I opened the door and asked, “Are you all having a good gossip fest? Why is it if you were talking about me, I could not stay and defend myself?” The assistant pastor said, “You need to submit yourself to the discipline of the church.” I asked, “For what?” He said he would get in contact in a few days and waved his hand as if to dismiss me. I told him not to bother. As expected, I never heard from them but instead, soon found that my name had been removed from the membership rolls.

chucklestravels

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