Ethnos360 betrays their missionaries and abandons MKs

When I was in training with Ethnos360, then New Tribes Mission, they made a lot of promises about child safety. They assured us things had changed, good policies were in place, and they would do everything in their power to protect our children going forward.

Years later, when a brave adult missionary kid publicly shared her story, demonstrated how the man who abused her, Gary Earl, was still a missionary, still in the organization even though leadership had known for years, it shocked me. I knew of this man. He had been a class advisor, very involved with minors while I was in high school, years after her abuse had taken place.

As a missionary in South America at the time, I contacted Sanford leadership. I communicated with Brian Coombs, Larry Brown, Dan Falls, and others. They assured me they took the protection of my children seriously. They made a lot of excuses as to why Gary Earl was an exception but claimed there would be no confusion going forward. Their policies were clear. Their response was set. I needed to trust them.

Recently Ethnos360 responded to a lawsuit filed against them. That response left me dumbfounded. When asked for communication between the country where the child was abused, Indonesia, and Sanford, they said there was no communication because they don’t oversee that entity.

Let me say that again. An American child (whose parents were missionaries with the US sending entity) abused by an American missionary (also with the US sending entity) and Ethnos360 USA is saying they have no responsibility, communication, or information because that’s not their jurisdiction.

What exactly is the point then? Why do they pretend they do anything to protect children? Why are there dozens of missionaries at Sanford, and what are they doing if not overseeing, assisting, and facilitating the work of their members all around the world?

This is not what they present when you join. This is not what they present when you ask questions. This is not what they present to supporters and churches. This is not how they deal with any other issue (theological differences, church planting work, translation work, all of which they remain involved in). They are legally refusing to take any responsibility for the children they send throughout the world. Families are on their own without knowing it.

Ethnos360 could easily tell members the truth. They could say they won’t do anything. They could say that when you go to another country, you’re at the mercy of leadership there (often also members of Ethnos360 USA, but apparently, they claim, completely separate). They could be honest that it’s a mystery to them how abuse of your child would be treated and you should probably get more information from the leaders in these other countries. At least then you would be making an informed decision. But they don’t tell you that. They tell you they have great policies and training. They tell you that you should trust them. And then if the unthinkable happens, they will betray you and pretend they never said any of it.

These are the kind of leaders you’re trusting your children with if you join Ethnos360. They will tell you one thing, and then tell the Court they’re not responsible for your child if they’re in a home on their property, they’re not responsible to train members, they’re not responsible to report abuse, they’re not responsible to be in contact with the oversea entities, etc., etc., etc.

Brian Coombs, Larry Brown, Steve Sanford, Dan Falls, and others were there when leadership tried to protect Gary Earl from the consequences of his abuse. They told me that I could trust them that they would deal with abuse and protect my children, and then they sat across from lawyers and drafted a response (or at the very least approved one) that says they don’t communicate with overseas locations and don’t know anything about the abuse of one of their own.

I don’t think they’re telling the truth to the Court, but if they are, they’re lying to every single member and supporter, every single parent who believes their children are in a safe environment, that Ethnos360 cares and is vigilant to protect their kids.

Not every member of Ethnos360 has abused children, but every member gets to decide if child abuse is a deal breaker. The choice is yours. Trust this organization that is demonstrably lying, or refuse to enable them.

Amber R.