In the Name of “Mission Work” book about CAM/Mast

[GaryK]

So far two new people have popped up on this thread, having never posted anywhere else before, and both are unbelievably hostile to Ernie, making claims about his character just based on one post he made, that are in no way reflective of what I now of him.

Something seems very off about this.

I've noticed before that whenever a new CAM/Mast development occurs, we get new members.

[Ernie]

It is fascinating to see the modus operandi here... Shift the focus off the facts to undermining the credibility of the author. Oh that's right, I almost forgot you haven't even read the book yet. Fascinating, having a life goal of not forming conclusions until hearing the whole matter, and jumping in to a discussion like this without having read the book or having a horse in this race. But wouldn't working for CAM be considered a horse in this race? If this is the Ernest I think it is, you either used to or still do work for CAM. Come on, no horse in this race? This response is aimed to turn the spotlight back where it needs to be. Unless you can, with imperical and unarguable evidence, prove that the statements you made regarding this author are true ( which I'm fairly certain you will not be able to do honestly), then you are now re-victimizing this victim telling their story and defaming them as a person. It is more of the same. Until you apologize and begin turning the spotlight where it needs to be, what else can we believe from you? Or from CAM?

I no longer work for CAM, and like others said, you can read in the thread from a few years ago about my interactions with CAM over the time of the abuse publicity.

I'm not aware that I made any statements about the author other than to say that people like him are free to write their stories.
In my original post, I said I am interested in knowing whether the author's opinions were shaped by those who communicated with him.
Can a person not wonder something out loud in a public forum? I'm not trying to make a case that he did something wrong. Just curious about this particular detail.
Had I known that my comments would be taken the way there are, I would never have posted in this thread.

[Josh]

I do not appreciate the character assault on GaryK, either, who is another person I would consider above reproach; whilst I don’t know him very well, my time spent under his brother’s leadership as a minister was very precious to me, and Gary’s results in the mission he’s in speak for themselves.

All Gary did was question a character assault on Ernie. This kind of Bolshevist, rules-for-radicals sort of unpersoning has got to stop. GaryK is not automatically a bad person just because he won’t agree that Ernie is a bad person. Ernie is not a bad person just because he doesn’t automatically agree with everything in this new book.

[ken_sylvania]

It is fascinating to see the modus operandi here... Shift the focus off the facts to undermining the credibility of the author. Oh that's right, I almost forgot you haven't even read the book yet. Fascinating, having a life goal of not forming conclusions until hearing the whole matter, and jumping in to a discussion like this without having read the book or having a horse in this race. But wouldn't working for CAM be considered a horse in this race? If this is the Ernest I think it is, you either used to or still do work for CAM. Come on, no horse in this race? This response is aimed to turn the spotlight back where it needs to be. Unless you can, with imperical and unarguable evidence, prove that the statements you made regarding this author are true ( which I'm fairly certain you will not be able to do honestly), then you are now re-victimizing this victim telling their story and defaming them as a person. It is more of the same. Until you apologize and begin turning the spotlight where it needs to be, what else can we believe from you? Or from CAM?

I no longer work for CAM, and like others said, you can read in the thread from a few years ago about my interactions with CAM over the time of the abuse publicity.

I'm not aware that I made any statements about the author other than to say that people like him are free to write their stories.
In my original post, I said I am interested in knowing whether the author's opinions were shaped by those who communicated with him.
Can a person not wonder something out loud in a public forum? I'm not trying to make a case that he did something wrong. Just curious about this particular detail.
Had I known that my comments would be taken the way there are, I would never have posted in this thread.

I do think your comment (speculation, whatever) could have been worded a bit better. I can see why people felt you were implying that the author was simply grinding everyone's axes for them - but honestly I've done a lot worse as far as in-artful language goes.

[Grace]

Sadly it seems like no one is permitted to ask questions about the book and if one does they are immediately disparaged.

As I said before, when someone writes a memoir they reveal who they are.

A quote from the book, where the author addresses CAM.

"But you (CAM) along with the wicked system you are protecting, will be brought to shame and destruction. HE will shine a light upon the darkness you are helping to hide and deal justly with you and your heartless friends".

There are many Godly people who work for CAM, who are friends and supporters of CAM. The author really paints a broad brush in his stereotyping people affiliated with CAM.

[Grace]

This is a review on Amazon concerning the book and NOT my words, but are a good representation of my opinion.

Certainly major (and illegal) wrong was done by individuals within CAM’s organization regarding Jeriah’s horrific sexual abuse.

Generally speaking, there is some incompetence and individuals who shouldn’t be on the mission field in some anabaptist missions and absolutely there needs to be better screening before individuals are sent to the “mission field.” There absolutely needs to be policies to deal with these matters and illegal activities should be reported to law enforcement. The cover up by individuals at CAM is inexcusable.

However, I would wish that the author would not have quite lumped missionaries and organizations together to the extent that he did. CAM had/has individuals that should be held responsible.

Regarding the author’s general view of missionaries: If you read this book, try to picture yourself off of your comfy couch in the glorious USA, and instead living the life of a missionary. Really this is impossible to do if you haven’t done it, but somehow everyone seems to have opinions on exactly HOW it should be done. So start with imagining that you’ve sold/given away everything you have, left your family and friends, and moved to one of the most dangerous countries in the world (yes, Haiti). You drive and hike on dangerous, rough roads, you eat rice and beans for most meals, it’s brutally HOT, electricity and phone service are spotty/non existent. Perhaps you have even been a victim yourself at the hands of a gang. Your house or vehicle has been broken into and your personal things have been stolen more times than you can count. But you love the Lord and just have a heart to serve the dear Haitian people, working long days just to be able to provide for your family and actually have time to help people and work with them. Whether its medical work, school programs, career training, rebuilding projects, food programs, business loans. You do this day in and day out, month after month, year after year. You and your family live on a “missionary salary” (far below poverty level). You had NO idea Jeriah was sexually assaulting boys. How would you feel reading this book and the way that he generally lumps most missionaries together because there are SOME who did REALLY bad things? He seems to forget that missionaries are volunteers. Some of the harshness in this book and the lumping of missionaries together as a self centered, racist people is kinda hurtful. What do I mean? Here are quotes from the book:

“As unbelievable as my claims may sound, you need to know that the more you zoom out, the uglier the picture becomes. From CAM to other Anabaptist missions to missions from other denominations and mainstream non-governmental organizations (NGOs), groups raise a lot of money, use God’s name, make passionate speeches, and publish impressive newsletters, but the local people always seem to lose out. It feels rare that I meet a missionary who truly cares for the Haitian people.”

“They just have an agenda to follow, newsletters to write, and money to spend so they can raise even more. Only God knows how much of their motivation is pure and unselfish.”


Are there many wrong doings by some missions, and some missionary individuals? Absolutely!!!! I am truly sorry for the author’s traumatic experiences with some. These statements that he so strongly made though don’t leave much room for the good ones. “The local people ALWAYS seem to lose out”. Really????

And what exactly are they spending the money on that they’re trying to raise? (Red Cross aside) Many missionaries I know spent even their personal money trying to rebuild people’s houses after the recent hurricanes and earthquakes.

I do question why the author went to work at CAM for several years as an interpreter. He did say because it was a good job opportunity. I wish that he would have reported the known sexual abuse to law enforcement, instead of going to work with Jeriah? It kind of appears like he too, overlooked the issues.

Also, why did he work as an employee for CAM for so long if they were terrible to work for? Some things don’t make so much sense.

[mike]

Sadly it seems like no one is permitted to ask questions about the book and if one does they are immediately disparaged.

As I said before, when someone writes a memoir they reveal who they are.

A quote from the book, where the author addresses CAM.

"But you (CAM) along with the wicked system you are protecting, will be brought to shame and destruction. HE will shine a light upon the darkness you are helping to hide and deal justly with you and your heartless friends".

There are many Godly people who work for CAM, who are friends and supporters of CAM. The author really paints a broad brush in his stereotyping people affiliated with CAM.

If you were the author of this book, what way would you have of knowing about all the other things CAM does in the US and around the world, and all the people involved in its work? I think the author is painting with a broad brush also, but I think we should definitely cut him some slack on that.

[Ken]

“They just have an agenda to follow, newsletters to write, and money to spend so they can raise even more. Only God knows how much of their motivation is pure and unselfish.”

I realize you are just quoting a review of a book you haven't read. But instead of taking a single sentence out of context as the writer did, it may be useful to look at the actual page from which that quote is taken. He is actually criticizing Haitian church leaders even more...



This is what he says about and to CAM directly

[steve-in-kville]

So far two new people have popped up on this thread, having never posted anywhere else before, and both are unbelievably hostile to Ernie, making claims about his character just based on one post he made, that are in no way reflective of what I now of him.

Something seems very off about this.

I've noticed before that whenever a new CAM/Mast development occurs, we get new members.

But most are like fireworks: they go up in a blaze of glory and then burn out. Maybe one or two will hang around, though.

[steve-in-kville]

Steve-in-kville IMO your gut is wrong on this one!

Let's hope so. But all those years operating as an undercover state trooper infiltrating the Mennonites in an attempt to uncover their tax evasion scandals has my gut pretty well tuned